The Hidebehind

Summary: The Hidebehind is a mythical creature from American lumberjack folklore, known for its ability to remain unseen, always hiding just out of sight. It's notorious for targeting lone travelers in the Pacific Northwest forests, particularly at night, silently abducting and devouring them. The creature is said to repel alcohol, thus loggers claimed whiskey kept them safe. Some interpret the Hidebehind as a symbol of the forest’s unknowable dangers.

Description.

The Hidebehind is a legendary creature from American lumberjack folklore, said to stalk the dense, shadowed forests of the Pacific Northwest. As its name suggests, the Hidebehind possesses a supernaturalThe term "supernatural" refers to stories or narra More ability to remain unseen — always hiding just behind your field of vision. Turn around, and it slips behind a tree. Stop moving, and you’ll never spot it. It’s not invisible… it’s just never where you’re looking.

Described as tall, thin, and terrifyingly gaunt, the creature is said to have long, spindly limbs and shaggy black fur. Some say its eyes glow faintly in the darkness — but no one who has seen it directly has lived to tell the tale.

The Hidebehind is most infamous for targeting lone travelers, particularly at night. Its preferred victims are said to be drunken loggers, whom it silently abducts and devours — hiding their bones so well that no trace is ever found.

Behavior and Abilities

Origins in Folklore

The Hidebehind story first appeared in the late 19th and early 20th centuries among American lumberjacks working the vast northern woods. As an explanation for the mysterious disappearances of fellow workers, the Hidebehind became part of the Fearsome Critters canon [2]Fearsome Creatures of the Lumberwoods, With a Few Desert and Mountain Beasts, by William T. Cox (Washington, D.C.: Judd & Detweiler Inc., 1910) — a blend of genuine backwoods mystery, tall tales, and cautionary myth.

Paul Bunyan stories, early campfire lore, and collected oral accounts from Wisconsin, Oregon, and Washington all reference the creature. Though often passed off as exaggerated storytelling, some researchers of cryptozoology and psychological folklore see the Hidebehind as a symbol of the forest’s unknowable dangers — or a manifestation of pareidolia and forest paranoia.

In the Field

Signs of a Hidebehind’s Presence:

• The sensation of being watched, yet seeing nothing.
• Disappearing companions with no sign of struggle.
• Sudden, eerie silences — even birds stop chirping.
• Shadows that shift unnaturally, as if something just moved out of view.

Warning: DO NOT enter deep forested areas alone at night. Those who do may never return.

Did You Know?

1. In some modern adaptations, the Hidebehind is interpreted as an interdimensional predator, existing just out of sync with our perception.
2. Urban legends continue to grow around unexplained disappearances in national parks, with some conspiracy theorists attributing them to the Hidebehind.
3. The creature has inspired appearances in horror games, literature, and even a brief mention in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them [3]Rowling, J.K. (June 28, 2016). “Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry”. Pottermore. , solidifying its place in both folklore and pop culture.

Encounter Classification

Trait	Value
Intelligence	⚫⚫⚫⚪⚪ (Cunning predator)
Aggression	⚫⚫⚫⚫⚪ (Highly territorial)
Stealth	⚫⚫⚫⚫⚫ (Master-level)
Supernatural Factor	⚫⚫⚫⚫⚪ (Perceptual distortion)
Survivability	⚫⚫⚫⚪⚪ (Avoid at all costs)

Legend Says

“I heard it behind me, every step I took. Every time I turned, nothing. But it was there. Breathing. Close. I ran, but it never had to. It just waited. Behind every tree. Behind me.”

– Last entry from the journal of a lost hiker, found outside Mount Hood, 1978.