D.C. LACHENY NOVELS
Forest Mysteries Part One:
Do Terraflippers Exist?
By Liam Summer- Associated Reporter for the Tribal Flair
Are there creatures in the forest protecting the animals? Do they really help some people and punish others?
They are known as the Terraflippers.
Some believe that large cicadas chirp through the forests, while others are convinced that tiny woodland creatures roam the trees, passing messages to one another. Countless stories about Terraflippers have been hitting the media, and this piece aims to shed some light on the debate.
What do you think? Are Terraflippers real or fake?
The Believers
"I sprained my ankle and was lost in the woods for a few days. I followed the clicking sounds to safety."
Young Clamorian Scout
The Skeptics
"Stress can affect how memories are created and stored."
Howard Tattersall, Ph.D., Proof Required Magazine.
The Scientists
"We are in the middle of searching for a cure so looking for tree fairies is not our priority."
Dr. Deni Atiffe, Researcher for the Institute
An evening scan of the forest trees. Are these Terraflippers?
Courtesy of the Hadrean Library.
The Believers
Tales of mysterious tree dwellers have grown in number since The Great Meteor Crash occurred. Shamans believe that they worship Colossal Paw. Some people have called them the protectors in the forest, while others have reported having terrible misfortunes. These are their stories:
​
*Note that some of the names have been changed for privacy.
​
"I jumped out of my lady’s car. We'd been arguing, and I ended up getting stabbed," said the owner of a general store in Sarvisik. "I ran into the woods to escape her and heard this strange rhythmic tune somewhere nearby. I followed the sound, thinking that I could find safety in numbers.... and what could be better than blending into a forest drum circle? As I walked to the center of the sound, I tripped on a giant paw print on the ground, but I didn't see anyone playing a djembe or anything. I continued following the clicking sound and found an area with cabins where I used the phone to get help. The authorities followed up with me a week later and told me that they found my now ex-girlfriend lost in the woods. She was cryin and delirious, but the crazy part of the story is that she kept saying, 'Terraflippers are real! They are real!' Poor lady got locked up, but she's getting the help she needs."
***
"I was running from a robbery gone bad and hid in the woods. The more I hid, the more the clicking sound followed me... the authorities eventually found me."Clamorian Inmate
***
“I was on an outing to the woods with my troop when I tripped and fell down a bushy hill. I sprained my ankle and was lost for a few days living off water from my canteen. I followed the clicking sounds to safety. The troop master later confirmed that they also heard clicking sounds that led us to find each other.” Young Clamorian Scout
***
"My police car broke down near the end of my shift, and I was heading back to town while the other officer stayed with the vehicle. I was alone," recalled the person who wished to remain anonymous for the piece. "The sky was dark, making it very hard to see, and I was jumped from behind. When I awoke, someone had stolen my uniform. I was left in the woods with a few nasty scratches, lost, and thought I was going to die. I suddenly heard clicking sounds in the wind and felt compelled to follow the sound. I was reunited with the other officer who went looking for me, saying that I was gone for a while.” Purlextian Police Officer
***
Leon Pinsky of the Pinsky Media Group believes Terraflippers are as real as Colossal Paw, another mysterious creature he has actively searched for. "I am offering a reward to anyone with photographic proof of Terraflippers, and I will double it if you can also get one of Colossal Paw! Only serious submissions, I can easily spot the deep-fakes."
The Skeptics
People throughout the seven tribes have claimed to have interacted, whether good or bad, with these woodland creatures, but there is no evidence of their existence.
​
Sketches have been created but have been inconsistent in creating a proper profile. Some artists have drawn fat glowworms on trees, while others have drawn mushrooms with faces and so on.
​
Heaps of jokesters have posted stories online claiming proof, but skeptic specialists uncovered a few online accounts that kept reposting the stories under different usernames to gain traction.
​
Most researchers still believe Terraflippers are as real as Colossal Paw.
​
“These are tales being retold by the bored… morally judgy mushrooms helping people and a giant cat that’s never seen… yeah, sure. What’s next? Genetically altered monsters?” Said Deni Atiffe, Researcher for the Institute. “We are in the middle of searching for a cure to the outbreak, so looking for tree fairies is not our top priority.”
He had nothing to say after the curt reply.
​
I spoke to Howard Tattersall, Ph.D., who writes for Proof Required Magazine, hoping to get his opinion about Terraflippers.
​
“They are not real," Howard said. "Stress can affect the way memories are created and stored. What all these people have in common is that they got lost and scared in the woods at night… This creates a greater likelihood of seeing imagined fears. Think of it as their minds playing tricks on them.”
​
When asked about Mr. Pinsky's claim, he simply laughed. “If he finds real proof, I’ll chip in on the reward offered.”
What does science say?
Terraflipper advocates theorize that mushrooms evolved to a new phase of evolution, allowing them to communicate in the wind and through the tree roots.
​
The adult males have a length range of 13- 30 centimeters, while the females range around 15-23 centimeters. No terraflipper has been weighed, but they would be in the ounces category based on the size. The creatures are described as alert, in constant communication, and nocturnal. Their diet is unknown, but enthusiasts speculate they dine on fresh dew on the tree leaves.
​
The Tribal Flair reached out to several top biologists and was met with some excited but mixed reactions.
​
A few academics theorize that Terraflippers can be found in wooded areas throughout the seven tribes and have started conducting experiments to increase community engagement.
​
James Kohlbeck, a researcher at the Institute, wants to conduct more studies throughout the tribes. “Whether we are searching for a new species of animal, plant, or fungus, it is exciting to think that life has continued to thrive after The Great Meteor Crash. The best way to discover whether this is truth or myth is through data gathering."
​
Charles Krauffman, a researcher from the Hadrean Library, recently published an opinion piece regarding Terraflippers. “We have collected too many stories coming from the different tribes that have strong similarities. We recently conducted a test using infrared scanners to monitor the heat from the trees and are awaiting the results.”
​
Funding for experiments has been slim to nil. Dr. Kohlbeck, however, remains optimistic that the scientific community will eventually come around. "Money has always been an issue when pushing for studies on controversial topics, and this is a hot button because the public is more concerned with the outbreak than funding for a creature that may or may not exist."