It’s a full moon, and as the mists slowly roll above the lake, the sound of the waterfall can be heard clearly. This is the favorite meeting place for the “hidden ones”, the beings who try not to show themselves to humans, known as the Cryptids. Tonight, the Mermaid has called the meeting, and everyone quietly gathers at the rocks in and around the lake. The Faeries arrive early, making sure to brighten up the area so that everyone else can see each other, appearing as dancing lights surrounding the waterfall. The Mothman gets there quickly, as does the Jackalope and the (Alien) Grey. They chat with the Mermaid as the Lake Monster, the Giant (Mutant) Crocodile and the Furry Trout swim over. The Leprechaun and the Chupacabra keep their distance from each other, they never have gotten along very well. Finally, the Sasquatch and the Werewolf arrive, late as usual, but politely apologetic. Once they have all made themselves comfortable, the Mermaid states the reason for the meeting: The nearby town is being overrun by rumors of a Lizardman prowling around their houses. It’s highly unlikely, as Lizardmen haven’t been known to be in the area for years, but still it’s a good idea to ask around and see if any of the other Cryptids know anything about it. After confirming no one has seen one of the secretive reptile people anywhere, they agree to keep a lookout and let the others know if the rumors turn out to be true. All Cryptids must register with the Mothman if they plan on staying in this territory for any length of time, and that is made very clear by the hidden messages scattered around nearby, invisible to humans but easily seen by the Cryptids. They’ve been using Alien ink for centuries for just this purpose. After chatting and catching up with each other, the mysterious beings take their leave, and soundlessly disappear back into the darkness. The Mermaid sighs, wishing she could have found out more information, and silently dives back down to her hidden cave buried deep under the bottom of the lake. She hopes that if there is a Lizardman nearby, he is more agreeable than the last one they met. He was discovered to have been trying to unify the local Skyfish to help him take over the Mothman’s mountain home! Incredibly rude. Everyone knows that Cryptids have to stand together, or those nosy humans will run them ALL out of the territory! Rendered in Daz Studio Iray. Postwork in Pixelmator Pro. No AI used.