Table of Contents
Where does it live?
What does it look like?
What does it eat?
Where do they sleep?
How do they interact with each other?
How do they reproduce?
What do they do in the winter?
Can you lure or befriend them?
How are they differentiable from other bigfeet?
Where does it live?
Apple Devils are a species of bigfoot that currently resides in the south to southeastern portions of West Virginia; they can predominantly be seen in Watoga State Park, Calvin Price State Forest, and these surrounding areas.
Living near fresh food, large water sources, and within the safety of dense forests, Apple Devils nest and socialize in tall, sturdy trees. When looking for new nesting locations, these bigfeet will tend to choose places that are close to fruit-bearing trees and shrubs, or near quiet, commercial or private orchards. While they prefer to live near to their favorite foods, if a location is devoid of resources or sparsely vegetated, they will settle farther away, making occasional trips for treats. Extra provisions are stored on the fringes of the nest until temperatures begin to decline.
What does it look like?
These bigfeet are one of the smallest known—growing only to be between 4-5 ft tall & 100-150 lbs—and one of the least well-known. The creatures have a distinctly sour, rotten odor that is produced from small glands under the arms and neck; this musk is transferred throughout the hair during grooming. Wild Reds’ bright, ruddy brown tresses cover most of the bigfoot (aside from the typical bare places: face, hands, and feet), forming a “chin curtain” and patches on the upper lip and knuckles, which expose very little of its dark tan complexion.
What does it eat?
Unlike other bigfeet, Apple Devils subsist on a completely vegetarian diet; they consume a variety of fruit, blossoms, leaves, bark, herbs, and seeds. They are preferential towards persimmons, elderberries, raspberry bushes, pawpaws, red mulberries, and shadbushes (in addition to any fruit-bearing trees/vegetation not native to West Virginia).
Where do they sleep?
Apple Devils do not dig dens or repurpose caves and mines; instead, their treetop roosts are comprised of branches twisted together and lined with leaves, grass, and twigs packed with mud. These nests can span across several trees depending on the number of inhabitants. From below, the bedding resembles a normal canopy of trees, and during the winter, they resemble a very large bird nest. An entire troop (approximately 3 - 6 adults with offspring) shares one domicile, but only the dominant bigfoot’s musk is applied to the construction.
How do they interact with each other?
There is a simple hierarchy in Wild Red society—a leader that makes decisions for all others in the group. This alpha can be male or female, young or old, and challenged at any time (seemingly once every two years). The largest, strongest, smartest, or loudest Apple Devil is not the alpha, but the one that can open its eyes and mouth the widest, eliciting the most anxiety from the other beasts, is. Challenges are quiet, huddled displays of frozen visage, where contestants take turns expressing their most frightening, extended faces. Over time, lesser bigfeet will turn their backs to an alpha, submitting to their dominance and bravery.
This species of bigfoot is very skittish—jumping at the movement of shadows or small mammals—so it is not very surprising that seeing even their own species’ glistening fangs and pupil-less eyes fills them with panic and unease. Most often, a female will lead the troop (they are usually a bit stouter, more aggressive, and have larger eyes). Under a female’s authority, few offspring are born. Other than reproductive rights, alphas can change where the troop lives, determine how much food is stored away, and how early hibernation is to take place.
The beasts do not loudly call to one another or utilize knocking, but communicate through soft, deep “harrumphs”.
How do they reproduce?
Only alphas are permitted to mate, with an alpha female arbitrarily choosing a mate once per year and birthing 1 - 2 young; however, when a male becomes alpha, he mates with all females in the troop, producing numerous children.
Apple Devils carry young for nine months before giving birth, after which they are kept in the nest and nursed for a year. Once they have grown to the size of a human toddler, they are taught the basics of life: foraging, nest building, grooming, fleeing danger, and socialization (social/grooming activities are similar to modern chimpanzees). A youth stops growing at age four and reaches maturity at age six; a matured bigfoot leaves their family’s nest after waking up from their sixth year of hibernation. The beast seeks out a new troop that will either accept them as a member/leader or a location to begin a troop of their own.
What do they do in the winter?
Hibernation occurs in their nest, which is filled with soft dirt, debris, and plant matter to combat gradually freezing temperatures. Apple Devils’ breathing, heart rate, and bodily processes slow at this time, though they will infrequently awaken to eat and perform bodily functions. The creatures lay in a huddle under the bedding, where they share warmth until the spring thaw.
Can you lure or befriend them?
As in other species of bigfeet, Apple Devils will take gifts left from them, though they only receive gifts of food. Leaving fruit on a fence, piece of wood, or rock on the edge of a property may bring an Apple Devil near.
Unexpected sounds or sights can scare away the creatures, but even in such a case, they will not present a threat and vanish before your eyes. They cannot be approached slowly. They also do not develop bonds with humans and will never display curiosity, reciprocate gifting, or grow more tolerable of human activity/presence.
How are they differentiable from other bigfeet?
There are several unique aspects in each bigfoot species, the Apple Devil being no different.
SIGHT The most striking oddity found in this beast is their pupil-less eyes. Their eyeballs are a uniform, milky white hue that reflects light and glows slightly in the dark. Wild Reds have excellent night vision, as almost all of their activity takes place from sunset to an hour after sunrise. Their sight during the day may be impaired, as when faced with bright lights or unexpected shadows, they flee in terror, knocking over any objects in their path.
TEETH Though most bigfeet have large canines, it is rarer for them to have long, outwardly curving ones; this may be beneficial for daily life—allowing the creatures to use them as tools that pierce tough fruit, cut branches/vines, scrape bark, and for dominance displays.
FACIAL FEATURES The face of an Apple Devil also contains several fatty pockets underneath, creating ridges along the cheeks.
GAIT Apple Devils are quite dexterous and able to run for long distances. Their lungs and leg muscles are much larger than an average primate’s, though their bones seem to be less dense and more prone to damage. They do seem to have one adverse mutation: their severely “S” curved spines that restrict much of their torso’s mobility, giving them a hunched appearance.
HANDS Similar to primates, the phalanges of their hands and feet are almost uniform in length (aside from the thumbs); rough skin, hardy, “chip” nails, and elongated appendages are great for climbing, gripping, and a speedy escape.
DISAPPEARING ACT It is unknown how Apple Devils exactly do it, but they do have the extraordinary ability to become invisible when frightened or threatened. It is hypothesized that their bodily oils act with light (or the absence of), their skin, and adrenaline to contract their cells into bending or altering the light around them.
