VUNK - N/A TIMELINE (THE VOID)

(Timeline Tuesday #9)

Natural animals wandering into The Void only to return with strange and mysterious mutations is nothing new. There is always potential for even minor timeline tears to lead directly into the endless cosmic abyss.

Vunks are one such species that evolved within The Void itself. While some creatures mutate under Voidal influence within their own timelines, Vunks call The Void home and do not hail for any particular reality.

In many ways these creatures resemble the natural skunk from our own timeline, sporting four legs and a small, rodent-like head upon their fur-covered bodies. These creatures also feature the familiar color pattern of natural skunks, with stark black bodies and a distinct white strip running the length of their back.

The similarities end, however, when confronted by the unusual clustered eyes of the Vunk. These pale yellow organs resemble those of an arachnid, rather than a mammal, and serve to help the Vunk spot its prey in the depths of The Void. Vunks also have usually long claws, which are sharpened to a point and help this species tear through flesh while hunting.

The most distinct feature of Vunk's is their putrid stench, similar to that of a skunk, but evolving to produce devastating effects on any lifeform that’s unfortunate enough to cross their path.

Vunks have two states of scent release: passive and spraying.

When the Vunk is passive, its stench will cause nausea and irrational fear in most lifeforms. The smell is so toxic that victims will often exhibit signs of extreme sickness: vomiting, sweating profusely, even having trouble with their balance. The areas of their brain that control fear and anxiety begin to fire spastically, producing a variety of effects but mostly resulting in the intruder quickly retreating. Because of this, Vunks are ruthless and aggressive hunters, understanding that once they’ve been smelled there is little time to spare before their prey disappears.

The active spray of the Vunk, however, is much more devastating. Anyone directly sprayed by this creature’s scent glands will immediately fall into a state of Voidal madness, losing control of their sanity as the overwhelming cosmic Void consumes their mind.

While these creatures mostly keep to The Void, they have been known to wander into other timelines in search of food.