Also known as: Pine Demon, Wood County Lizardman, or Wood County Lizard Demon

Smaller than its South Carolinian cousin, Hesink is a reptilian humanoid that walks on two legs and runs on four. Growing as large as 7 ft in length (from snout to tail) and 350 lbs, this lizardman is covered in multi-hued gray and brown scales with short tufts of fur on its knees, elbows, the top of its palms, and bottom of its feet, as well as pointed scales on its back.

On its belly, white scales brighten its form, speckled with black and pale blue dots; additionally, as males reach maturity, black, blue, and green stripes develop on its sides. The reptile has three fat fingers and three long toes, all ending with deadly, dark green claws; its face is horrendously ugly to humans, having a thin, gaping, toothy mouth fouled by dental decay and decomposing bits of food between an undulating, runny snout, and large, gold, glowing eyes.

A relative of Scape Ore Swamp’s lizardman, Hesink is a land-based reptilian instead of an aquatic one; though it lacks gills, fins, and webbing, it has a formidable tail, a larger mouth, stronger bite, and faster gait. The creature prefers living in the mountains near rivers, creeks, and lakes; it has been spotted in two states: West Virginia and Kentucky.

Daily Life and Development

As a cold-blooded creature, Hesink suns itself on large trees, its scaly skin and sharp claws gripping bark with ease, holding itself upright while resting. The reptile spends most of its life in close proximity to tall, thick trees, as they prefer warming themselves on foliage instead of flat stones in the open. Males take large stretches of territory, marking boundaries with gashes on trees and stone; females, however, are not territorial and may cross through males’ domains or meet females along their travels, responding to either with indifference outside of mating season. When a male—or other intruder—trespasses into another male’s property, they flash the bright scales of their belly and hop up and down, baring their teeth and whipping their tail into the dirt after each jump. Fights over land result in merciless altercations, the loser often mortally wounded. Males are also notorious for attacking vehicles—both moving and stationary, occupied and empty. If parking lots or roads are found near their living quarters, they will react to them as they do to trespassing males, attacking them after sending a warning. After a violent encounter, Hesinks sidle back into the cover of their forest. During mating season, males are especially aggressive, seeking out fights with other males, and even being documented to listen for cars, chasing them for half a mile or less before disappearing.

Mating season occurs from early spring to mid-autumn, with 1 - 2 clutches laid by females. At this time, females begin consuming a larger amount of food, preparing for laying. Hesinks eat a wide variety of invertebrates, such as spiders, beetles, ants, moths, butterflies, bees, and any other they come across; the creatures also prey upon small mammals, like rats, cats, squirrels, or small dogs, in addition to small birds and fish. The largest of Hesinks feast on larger prey, like deer, cows, or other grazing livestock.

Males attract females by leaving behind their scent; once they meet, males run around the female on two legs, displaying their brightly colored bellies and flashing their colorful stripes. If the female enjoys his display, she takes him as a mate. After mating, the couple goes separate ways—females to nest and males to find new mates.

Females lay their eggs in pits dug with their front and back claws. After 4 - 7 oblong, cream-colored eggs are deposited, the clutch is loosely covered with dirt and left to its own devices, hatching in 9 - 12 weeks. Most of these eggs never hatch; instead, many are eaten by ants or larger predators or are simply stepped on.

Juveniles fare less well, growing slowly and being targeted by numerous predators. By the end of their first year, the reptiles reach 1 - 2 ft in length and are able to breed; their second year is marked by a growth spurt of 3+ ft, with each consecutive year an additional 0.5 ft in length gained. At most, Hesinks live ten years.