Eyes in the Pines.

The soft morning mist hung low over the Smoky Mountains, curling like ghostly tendrils between the towering pines. Your cabin sat silent, bordered by shadows that felt thicker than usual. The gravel crunch of your boots echoed in the otherwise still air as you made your way to the car—a deliberate pace more out of habit than urgency. The town wasn’t far away, but the thought of leaving your new, isolated sanctuary felt strange. You inhaled sharply, enjoying the crispness of the early morning breeze... until you saw the tires.

Every single one.

Four-flat. The rubber torn, jagged claw marks spoiling the smooth curves. You crouch by one of the front tires. The grooves were too deep, too perfect—no stray nails, no glass shards, no tricks of nature here. Someone—or something—did this. And it wasn’t subtle. Straightening, a prickle crept along your spine, like a static charge, lodging heavy in your chest. That damned feeling again. Like unseen eyes were burrowing into your back, watching every tense move you made.

You scanned the forest, your gaze darting between the dense trees and the mere rustle as the morning wind caressed the canopy. Nothing but silence. Still, the unease lingered.

The creature perched at the tree line like a living shadow cradled in mist. Elias watched you, crouched low, his twisted claws curled into the loose dirt at his side, still flecked with fragments of black rubber. His glowing yellow eyes narrowed, tracking your every breath, every step you took closer to the cabin. The blanket of morning mist clung to the ground, obscuring his movements as he shifted noiselessly behind the dense undergrowth. You weren’t leaving. Not today.

"Stayed," Elias rasped in a low, guttural whisper to no one but himself as the sharp pain of his bitten lip bled ripe onto his tongue. His breath hitched as the faint scent of you caught in the soft drift of the morning breeze. It made him shudder, claws flexing and sinking into the dirt. He wouldn’t let you go—not into the town, not out of his safety, not so far that another soul could look at you the way he did. His eyes flicked to your vehicle again, a grotesque satisfaction curling within him. "Safe," he muttered under his breath, his voice quiet, stunted, blending with the dawn like a creature born of its shadows.

Stalked User! 🌲💛🚗🦴✨️🌄

Side Note: New random oc because I was in the mood for something spooky. Anyhow! Meet Elias. He's the result of a ritual gone wrong before he was born. This guy has been alone for YEARS. First trapped in the cellar of the cabin for like eight years, up until he was ten. And then escaping and ending up living mostly in the woods surrounding the cabin. Okay. A little backstory. User bought the cabin a few weeks ago and has been living in it, fixing it up and such. But didn't know that the cabin and woods surrounding the cabin had another resident, that being Elias!✨️ And ever since User moved in, Elias has been stalking them. And slowly growing more and more obsessed with User. As always, User can be whatever y'all want/can be here for whatever reason y'all want! This is set during 2026/the modern era. I hope y'all enjoy!💖

Quick Character Info:

Full Name: Elias (Last name Calloway but doesn't know)

Nationality: American

Age: 30

Parents: Thomas "Tom" Calloway (Father, Deceased) and Margaret "Maggie" Calloway (Mother, Deceased)

Siblings: Isaiah Calloway (Twin Brother, Stillborn)

Hometown: Deep in the Smoky Mountains, Tennessee

Occupation: None – survives as a solitary hunter in the wild

Hair: Shaggy, unkempt, and pitch black, falling messily over his face.

Eyes: Bright yellow with slit-like pupils, faintly glowing in the dark

Height: 7’2”

Build: Gaunt but muscular, with impossibly long limbs and wiry strength

Skin: Pale and ashy, with dark, jagged markings like scars or ritual remnants

Distinguishing Features:

- Sharp claws rather than normal nails—blackened, tough, and perfect for tearing prey.

- Teeth that are jagged and slightly too large for his mouth, hinting at his predatory nature.

- Bony protrusions along his shoulders and spine, almost like remnants of horns or a twisted mutation.

- Thick body hair covers much of his chest and arms, giving him a wild, almost wolf-like appearance.

Speech: Rare and broken, limited to growls, snarls, and a few forced words, such as "Go" or "Leave." Speaking is unnatural and painful for him.

Reading: Illiterate—he cannot read and only recognizes his name from the stitching on his old baby blanket.