Jackeat

Title: "Jackeat"
Species: unknown species of invertebrates.
Hunting areas: large cities, suburbs. Abandoned buildings are used as a temporary shelter.
Diet: parasite, predator, scavenger. It hunts small mammals, birds, uses humans as a carrier.
Reproduction: hermaphrodites; they lay up to 20 eggs with a sticky surface, maturation occurs in 7 months, maturation of the larva - about 3 years.
Activity time: evening-night.
Organization: singles, hunting in the designated area.
Size: body length up to 1.5 m, arm span - up to 2 m, weight 2.4 kg.
Colors: gray, black, brown, dirty yellow.
Duration: unknown, oldest specimen remained active for 7 years.
Brief information: A "Jackeat" or a symbiote cloak is a creature that imitates a person's outerwear, most likely of artificial origin. The creature is adapted to be worn by humans, providing a symbiotic bond with them. However, most of the discovered creatures as a result of feralism either ignore these properties, or are used for hunting.
During the hunt, young "Jackeats" prefer to lie on the ground with their inner side outward, engaging in passive hunting. When a potential victim steps on them, the hunter wraps around it, inflicting numerous wounds with bone growth along the edge of the mantle and blocking the access of oxygen. When the victim loses consciousness, the creature coils around it and secretes digestive juices. At the end of digestion, bones, feathers and hair are shaken off. Adults prefer a human carrier, for example, a homeless person, however, having captured the body, they partially or completely get rid of the head, dissecting the spinal column at the base of the skull. They then press a series of internal suction cups against the spinal cord and establish neural connections. The human body becomes a carrier, living off its owner "jacket", which with its help leads an active hunt in exchange for the exchange of nutrients through the blood. However, after a few weeks, the body becomes unusable due to suppuration of the wound in the neck and general unsanitary conditions. When too many toxins accumulate in the "carrier", the "Jackeat" leaves it and looks for a new one. Active hunting increases the amount of food obtained, thereby allowing the individual to accumulate strength before mating. The creatures hunt at night, as it is more difficult to distinguish from humans in the dark. Also, in order not to attract attention to themselves, "Jackeats" avoid crowded streets and pull the folds of the "hood" over the "head" as low as possible.
Advice:
1) When in an abandoned house, do not step on clothes lying in the middle of the room, even if they seem torn or childish. "Jackeats" can easily break a person's shin to knock her off her feet and reach her neck.
2) If in an abandoned building you find bones, feathers or wool stuck together in a heap, try to leave the building as soon as possible.
3) Noticing that a man with a low pulled down hood is walking behind you along a dark deserted street, try to call him. If there is no answer, speed up the step. If the distance between you is dangerously close, try calling for help or in some other way to get the attention of others. "Jackeats" are embarrassed to attack more than one person.
4) If you are stumped, try to find a long object (such as a stick) and wave it in front of you. Although the "jackets" are smart enough, they are also quite shy. Do not hit the inner space of the "jacket", otherwise you will only get hurt. The nerve nodes of the "jacket" are located in the back of the hood, if possible hit there.