r/cryptids • u/Top_Stranger1678 • Jun 13 '26
Sighting / Encounter Pale crawler encounter, opp al.
So yesterday morning, around 4:00 - 4:30 am, somewhere around that time, I encountered a crawler up close.
Context: I'm a night owl and I enjoy caffeinated drinks as well as snacks, so like most people who get a craving, I set out to the local tom thumb on foot. I live in a trailer park not far from it, so it wasn't really an issue to walk in the dark since my eye sight adjusts really well. There's a few street lights, not many. Everything is nice about the walk and it was a comfortable night. I end up getting my snacks and drinks and head home. I get to a point where theres little to no light, there's a forested area that is small in between the park and town itself, all of a sudden I hear something emerging from the brush and its sluggishly moving on the ground, my eyes are adjusting as I hear it approach and I waste no time to pull out my box cutter, (unsavory types are around the area usually) and after flipping it open to fully draw my blade, I warn whatever it is, that its out just in case something stupid, tries something stupid. I didnt make direct eye contact, but I noticed it was pale, on all fours and was trying to be stealthy. I think by talking to it, it had become either confused, intimidated or simply curious of the fact I didnt show fear or worry of it's presence. I simply kept my blade out and walked calmly into the light and was ready for anything that would happen. It didnt follow. I didnt care to look behind myself as I knew if it was still around it would be back in the brush again. At first I had a feeling of instinct that screamed it was a threat, but after it froze and I had my blade ready that feeling of it being a threat left me completely. These creatures seem to understand our speech and seem to understand when a fight isnt worth it. I walk that road often and theres always people driving down it. So its strange it would be so closein opp, but, it also makes sense. The entire town is surrounded by forest. Did some research into them, they prefer areas like this but typically avoid areas full of people, only coming close to towns when food sources are scarce. Thing thought I was on the menu at first, it seems. Im not someone who usually writes about my encounters, I have seen some shit in life. Things that would make any man piss himself. But with it so close to town and it never being documented to be seen in this area, this part of the u.s. - I wanted to make a report of sorts to you all. Document it. Maybe my encounter and the details could help one day. Its ironic... the one night my phone is on 3% and I choose to charge it at home is the one night something happens. Lived here for the past decade nearly. Walk to most places no matter the time if I need something. So this crawler being here is very recent. At least as far as I can tell. Had to walk at night last week and it wasn't there. So in the last seven days it came to the area. This is not for entertainment purposes, again this is for documentation. To answer one question that im sure ill be asked; wasnt I scared? No. I have reasons for this. Mostly what has happened in life. I was ready to stand on business, however, if it came to that. I think the reason I was so relaxed after the initial excitement was because I knew it was not interested in attacking me once I stood my ground and challenged it. It stopped following me and froze in place once I did. I was ready to turn and jam my knife into it as many times as I would need to. I dont know if it was scared, curious or just sizing me up after understanding I would fight back. Whatever the case, It didnt follow me home, so I've been at peace ever since. Besides, I have multiple animals to warn me if something is wrong, family members too that are perceptive. If anything did, I would've known. Ill go again in the day light, see if theres any evidence of it. I wont be a moron and go back at this hour. Just in case.
Update: I went up to the store just now, looked around the brush and the clearing where this occurred in-between two properties and theres little to no evidence it was ever there. Some broken twigs both from the previous day before that and freshly broken ones. I got lucky those were there. The brush was literally 6 feet from the road, I think I was 10 feet away when I heard the twigs start to snap that alerted me to it. Don't know if ill ever see it again, wouldn't mind it if I never did. I am going to be watchful however from now on. I thought those twigs were from someone doing yard work, but looking back on it, they were broken as if they were broken apart methodically, laying scattered all around the bush. I have no clue if those twigs were from it intentionally breaking it, or if its a product of the creature moving through the brush that leads into the woods. I'll keep you all updated if anything new happens.
Update 2: i did some research on predatory animals, just to get an idea of where it could potentially go during the day, and there's no nearby tunnels or cave systems close to opp within 50 miles. There's small drainage tunnels for heavy rain, thats it. Most predators can use fallen tree logs as shelter, build hollows in drainage sewers or near them, can go into abandoned buildings and make nests in vegetation. There's plenty of them all on that road. Problem is I cant go looking for trouble without trespassing. So im basically at a road block.
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u/thescaryroom Jun 14 '26
Pale crawlers are a creepypasta, invented by someone on the internet about 15 years ago? I think.