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THE ABDABS

1ST SEPTEMBER - 31ST NOVEMBER

Abdabs were discovered back in 1931 by a young girl named Milly who was visiting her Aunts house with her Mother for morning breakfast. Her Aunt believed that children should be seen and not heard, speak only when spoken to and in all honesty, "one is better off without them". When Milly, who was inquisitive and intelligent, was excused from the table after finishing her toast, she left quietly to explore her Aunt's grand old Victorian rooms.

 

At the very top of the stairs was a small door that lead to what was once the Maid's bedroom, but had been turned into a storage room for her Uncle's mad passion for collecting curiosities. Her Uncle was currently travelling in Africa, but had brought back trinkets and gifts from all over the world over the years. There were dusty cases filled with the most radiant silks from India, that when you opened them they shone like gold. There were cabinets that had little drawers stuffed with interesting rocks with tiny meticulously written labels he had collected in Peru. There were carefully organised shells from the Northern hemisphere, given to him by whalers leaving from Scotland. 

 

The most interesting thing that Milly found was a tiny skull and a pair of delicately preserved feet. The skull was surrounded by a thick fur ruff, and as she reached her hands around it she felt that the feet were attached to some short, dense pelt. She lifted it down from the shelf carefully. It was a little totem animal, but this collected curiosity had no label or note from where it was from, or even what it was... As she turned the creature over in her hands, she nearly dropped it in surprise as she felt it wriggle! It was alive! Its head was just a skull, but as she watched it, wide eyed, it turned its head up at her and let out a little whistle.

 

 

Scampering down the stairs with the creature cradled carefully in her hands she burst into the morning room, making her Mother and her Aunt jump and spill their tea. Without words and breathless but grinning from ear to ear, she shoved her hands in her Aunt's face and opened them carefully. The little creature sat quite happily, and squeaked at her. Milly's Aunt screamed so loudly it made the chandelier rock, then fell backwards in her chair, stuttering and yammering, tea all down her front and her little dainty feet waving in the air. It was such a ridiculous sight Milly couldn't help but double up laughing, and the animal in her hands let out an unmistakably happy trill.

 

All her aunt could say was "adaabaadaba baa-aadaa abababadaa!" 

 

And so the Screaming Abdab got it's name. 

 

Milly never found out where her Uncle found it, or what it actually was, and she and her Mother left so quickly she didn't have time to put it back. The Abdab now lives quite happily in her bedroom, whistling and squeaking, sometimes screaming out of sheer joy, and keeps her company.

 

Abdabs are noisy, they delight in loud reactions and will mimic them. Whenever Milly is feeling a little sad, the Abdab she found lets out a scream exactly like the one her Aunt let out upon seeing it, and that memory never fails to make Milly laugh, even if it is initially startling.

Between the 1st of September the scurrying under your bed, the gnawing in the walls, gnashing of teeth in the closet and screams in the night start and won't stop until the 31st November! When you feel that damp chill in the air then you know it's...

Abdabs are easily recognisable. They look like mice but with bone legs, manes, no arms and skulls for heads! They're usually quite friendly though, although each species has it's quirks... Which will be your curse? Caberfeidh, corvie or the terrifying Screaming Abdab?

 

ABDAB SEASON

MEIKLE ABDABS

Meikle /  'meekle'

Adj: (Scots Doric) small, little

 

Meikle abdabs are the smallest abdabs, they measure just 2" tall. They're also the loudest abdabs, capable of producing squeaks up to 98db. 

 

It's recommended not to encourage these pests into your house as they have been known to scare pets and eat holes in furniture. If you ever find unwanted abdabs in your house please call Hamish McTavish the ghoulie remover, I can give you his number.

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corvie

Corvie  /  'cohr-vee'. Noun:  (Scots Doric) crow

 

Corvies love to collect shiny trinkets and gather them into a pile. If all your jewelery or pennies go missing then it's usually a corvie's doing. 

 

They mainly eat meat so perhaps not the best abdab pet for the vegetarian or vegan but won't turn their nose up at some fruit. NOTE: NEVER EVER FEED THIS CORVIE LYCHEES

 

 

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nathair

Nathair / "nar-har". Noun: (Scots Gaelic) legless serpent

 

Nathair are bitter and vengeful abdabs and will bite and fight their way out of any corner. They hold a grudge for decades, so try not to cross them... 

 

Their name "nathair" is adopted more from their temprament rather than looks. They only eat once a month and can only sleep in cold places (if your nathair goes missing check in the fridge).

 

Nathair think they are smarter than they actually are. Nasty bite though.

 

moosie

Moose / 'moose'. Noun: (Scots Doric) mouse

 

Moosies are chewers, they use their teeth for everything. Particularly good at making irritating holes in your furniture. Don't let them roam about unattended or you will have lots of screaming guests, they are really difficult to catch. In olden days before we had professional Abdab Catchers people used to have to get all the neighbours round to help usually in a state of panic, hence the saying "theres a moose loose aboot the hoose!"

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PIC

Pic / 'peek'. Noun: (Scots Gaelic) pike (fish)

Pic are vicious little biters, they are awful things! Just look at those teeth! They will chomp their way through anything, and their favourite snack is cute fluffy ducklings! Keep them away from anything adorable or they will just tear it to shreds. Pic live on rocky shores of remote Highland lochs, scurrying through the shore debris waiting for a tasty treat to come their way. 

MUCKLE ABDABS

Muckle / 'muhckle'

Adj: (Scots Doric) big

 

Muckle abdabs measure 3" and up and tend to be a little quieter and spookier than the meikle abdabs. They make not squeak or squeal but they do howl and groan. Whether that's a good thing or not is a matter of opinion...

 

They tend to hang around in woods and abandoned houses so you don't see them quite as often as meikle abdabs. 

 

 

SCREAMING

SCREEEEEAM! Screaming abdabs make the WORST noises, whooping, whistling and hollaring until they get your attention. They're excellent at mimicry so don't let them watch any horror films unless you never want to sleep again.

 

These abdabs are really only suited to the most experienced abdab handlers or deaf people.

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CABERFEIDH

Caberfeidh / 'cahber-fey' Noun: (Scottish gaelic) Deer, stag

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Caberfeidhs live in dense and ancient pine forests. They tend to be quite foul tempered and show off a lot to impress the smaller abdabs. They make a characteristic hollow groaning noise which some people say sounds like someone blowing a raspberry down a didgeridoo.

 

 

 

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CRYSTAL

Crystal abdabs are paired with Crystal Kittens, the type of crystal they have tends to denote their temperament. These abdabs have hands, so you have to be really careful around them in case they try to pick things up. Come to think of it, you should hide all pointy objects and poisons from these abdabs...

 

Peridot crystal abdabs have an unearthly aura about them on full moons. Amethyst crystal abdabs seem to be able to summon MORE abdabs to cause additional mischief... Carnelian abdabs are said to feel spicy to the touch and should never be left unattended.

 

Golden Crystal Abdabs are particularly rare and only available during the Crystal Kitten kickstarter. They are incredibly smart which makes them extremely dangerous...

 

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RUDA

Rúda/ 'roo-deh' Noun: (Scottish gaelic) Ram, tup

Rudas roam the open, boggy moors of the Scottish highlands that sometimes seem to go on for eternity. They represent the lost souls of the people brutally cleared from the land by greedy landowners to make way for sheep grazing. Rudas feast on sadness and bring a sort of misty damp feeling to any room they are in. They aren't seen as often as the other abdab species due to the inhospitable places they live in - not many people venture far enough into the wilderness to see them.

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© 2015 Maddy Norval

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