As the dark portal solidified and pulsed with a bright gold light, a dapper green and gold ringed Feline stepped into view followed by a warm breeze. The scampering Goblin Gourds stopped in their tracks transfixed on the new arrival and the unfamiliar kinsman cradled in his hands. A fascinating yellowish orange light shone from its eyes that actively scanned the rows of Sproutlings as they parted for the Cat, whispers of "Shadaa" and reverent "Ooooohs" arose from the crowd of pumpkinheads as they passed.

Zaveen stood as the Cat drew closer, both maintaining blank solemn expressions until they were at arm's length and broke into smiles. The Cat laughed as they briefly embraced, "I never could keep decorum at these things, everybody is so somber." Zaveen rolled his eyes, "Don't even get me started on all that ceremony junk." He eyed the jack o'lantern as flames licked at the corners of its mouth, "Is that....?" The Cat nodded, his monocle glinting in the moonlight, "From the Horseman's own private patch, for a phantom he drives a hard bargain, should have just stolen it not like he'd miss one."

Zaveen chuckled as he took the lantern, making calming noises as it looked around anxiously in the exchange to a new person. The glowing smile returned and the flames in its eyes flared with new vigor as Zaveen stroked the rustic orange squash. "Yeah, you can't wait to grow big and strong huh?" Zaveen patted the lantern as it shook and jostled back and forth in his hands. With no further delay Zaveen tossed the jack o'lantern up into the glowing green dome above them. A loud cackle could be heard for miles as the pumpkin collided with the green light and began spinning in mid-air. The green light began to fold and wrap itself around the gourd as it picked up speed. The light shaped into vines and tendrils that braided themselves and solidified into a hulking muscular body that towered over the Cat and Demon. Its torso was cased in a hard brown husk like armored bark. It looked around questioning as the much smaller sproutlings all gave it a wide berth, not quite sure what to make of this new behemoth.

"Well Zavi you have absolutely outdone yourself this year!" They watched as the Sproutlings gradually closed in around the Colossal, a Peeper was the first brave enough to approach and reach up, the Colossal looked relieved as it scooped up the miniature and set it down for a ride on its shoulder. The Peeper stood on the green boulder and peered out like a sailor in the crow's nest before shouting from his perch, "Landooooo!" The Sproutlings let out another cheer that rang out like a chilling chorus as they set out behind the trudging behemoth and his tiny passenger, off to wreak every kind of havoc.


~To the freaks and creeps, reavers and shrieks; a happy harvest this haunting season from your favorite Cheshire, the Chimerical Charlatan!~

Art by BelAssa