Mammals
Rats: If seen by day, these furry vermin appear to be nothing out of the ordinary. Of course, as Landel's is a hospital, it may seem odd to see rats about. During daylight hours, rats keep to themselves and occasionally chew on the furniture. Annoying, but hardly dangerous. At night, it’s a different matter altogether.
Once the lights go out, the common vermin turn into something else entirely. Weighing roughly ten pounds and reaching lengths of up to a whole foot, these rodents are one of the most common creatures you’ll encounter at night. They have razor sharp molars and need no provocation to bite. Their claws, curved down and pointed, can cause a good deal of damage as well.
Their bites, if left untreated, can cause infections of a common variety - leading to fevers and nasty scars. Luckily for the patients, the nurses will disinfect most of the wounds in the shift to the daytime. If a patient is attacked early in the night and the bite is left untreated, by the end of the night, the wound will begin to itch and burn, causing difficulties in breathing as the fever sets in. The nurses will treat this when the patients sleep and by morning, the patient will have a lingering ache, but nothing more.
Despite their wicked teeth and claws, rats are easy to kill. They’re delicate-boned, with spines and skulls easily crushed by force. They also detest the light, and will run from a strong flashlight beam to the eyes. They are found everywhere in the building.
Dogs: Landel's is bordered by heavy forest and mountain range, and the forest is home to packs of wild dogs. During the day, these feral creatures stay within the sanctuary of the woods. At night, however, they come out in search of prey.
Most of the wild dogs around Landels look like regular mutts. A few more recognizable breeds may have mingled in, but overall they look like a cross between a wolf and a German Shepherd. At least from a distance. Up close, it’s clear that these are no normal dogs. Eyes glow red in the moonlight, and their skin is raw and open, broken up by patches of putrid, rotting flesh. Muscle and sinew glisten in the breaks of skin, and here and there bones can be seen.
Dogs are found on the edges of the grounds, and will actively seek out human prey. They are predators, and will go for the throat and the legs when attacking, attempting to tear out the jugular or hamstring of their victim. Their teeth are their strongest weapon, designed by nature to rip and tear and shred. And there are more than forty teeth set in their eight inch-long jaws. As they tend to travel in packs, they make for difficult and potentially deadly opponents. Not to mention their keen hearing. However, they have weak points. A good solid blow to the hips or hind legs will effectively immobilize these creatures, and they have a sensitivity to light. Take out their hearing, and they’re disoriented and unable to keep their balance.
Cats: Cats are often kept at mental health facilities for the sake of the patients. Studies have shown that the presence of pets help to calm inmates and foster a sense of normalcy. They’re a large part of therapy sessions, and doctors encourage contact between patients and animals.
When night falls, it’s another story entirely. Doubling in size when the lights go out, cats are less common than rats but still one of the creatures patients are most likely to run into. While dogs and rats rely on teeth, cats do more damage with their scythe-like claws. Retractable and remarkably strong, their claws are capable of flaying skin to the bone if they get a solid, well-placed swipe in. They’re intelligent creatures, capable of hiding and lying in wait for their human prey. They have remarkable hearing and are surprisingly noiseless considering their size. While its claws are its biggest weapon, the cat’s teeth are strong and sharp as well, and their bite can sometimes lead to infection if not properly treated.
Despite being light-boned, cats are agile and quick. They’re susceptible to blunt force, but a slit throat or blinding are probably the most effective ways to take out these animals.
Squirrels: Squirrels are everywhere, and Landel's is no exception. During free time in the courtyard, these fuzzy critters will hop around and chitter, and often beg for treats. Sometimes you may find yourself on the receiving end of a thrown nut. Generally, they’re cute but annoying.
There is nothing cute about the squirrels when night falls. They reach sizes larger than the cats, easily weighing around two hundred pounds. They’re tough-skinned, protected by a layer of fat, and remarkably fast for their size. While they may not have a predator’s teeth, those blunt incisors made for cracking nuts can just as easily crack bone. With two hundred pounds of force behind their jaws, these are not creatures you want to face alone.
They do have weaknesses. With remarkably poor eyesight, they not very intelligent animals. Playing dead will often get them to leave a patient alone and wander off in search of more lively prey. While their thick layer of fat protects them from bruises and broken bones, a knife to the gut or throat will certainly slow them down, and their skulls are surprisingly susceptible.
Grizzly Bears: Like their normal kin, these creatures are 1,500 pounds of muscle and reach up to 8 feet tall on their hind legs. Like most of the mammalian creatures within the Institute, these creatures look close to normal from a distance but horrifying on closer inspection. Matted fur, rotting flesh, pus and dried blood stain their bodies. Patches of fur are missing in places, exposing rent flesh and glistening muscle.
They are unnaturally hungry creatures, never satisfied. They attack with their front paws, tipped with long yellow claws, and their teeth. Their two main attacks consist of standing on their hind legs and attacking with paws and claws, and barreling into their prey to knock it down with their bulk before resorting to teeth.
They keep to forested areas.
Mountain Lions: Similar to the bears, these creatures have only been physically enhanced a small bit. They stand only three to four feet at the shoulder, and nine feet from head to tail tip. Their bodies show the tell tale signs of rot and disease that mark them as something other than a normal wild cat.
They have an amazing ability to leap, covering up to 18 feet, and can run at speeds of up to 40 miles per hour. Their massive paws are capable of gripping prey, using their razor-sharp retractable claws to hook flesh and muscle, penetrating deep enough to scratch bone, and then they tear into their prey with teeth and hind legs. Their calls sound like a woman screaming...
Big Horn Sheep: Standing four to five feet in height, the horned creatures that roam the mountains around the institute are a terrifying sight indeed. Red, maddened eyes, hulking, twisted bodies, cloven hooves stained with blood and gore, and the horns! Great curved instruments of death ending in lance-like tips. Their coats are dark and mottled, rotting away from their frames, like dead things brought back to life. Sometimes, at night, they can be heard pounding down the rocky mountain trails…
These creatures are fast, and attack with hooves, horns and teeth as well as their sheer bulk. The truly terrifying thing is, the big horn sheep will appear when a patient is at their most vulnerable, close to the edge or over a precipice. One wrong move and the sheep might just send you flying off the mountain to your death.