From: mike@xenocyte.com   
      
   On 28/10/2015 07:10, Jymesion wrote:   
   > On Wed, 28 Oct 2015 05:30:45 +0000, Mike M  wrote:   
   >   
   >> I don't think there's any single word that in and of itself encapsulates   
   >> all those ideas in a totally intuitive way - demon itself does not, as you   
   >> recognise.   
   >   
   > Thanks for the idea, but I see now I should have stated I need   
   > something which conjures images of something to be feared.   
   >   
   > A major part of the opening is the protag finding what she always   
   > believed was terrible can actually be quite nice.   
   >   
   > When she was thinking kindly thoughts, she met a lady, but it turned   
   > out the lady is an 'x' who became kindly to reflect those thoughts.   
   > (Is that as clear as old shoe polish?)   
   >   
      
   Ah, yes. A bogeyman / boogieman / bogle is probably the closest in myth?   
   As that traditionally feeds off your own fears, it would become whatever   
   those fears imagine. Pergaps it could also become the good things one   
   hopes for (a la "imaginary friend").   
      
   The only obvious thing I can think of is werewolf (or were-"whatever the   
   creature's other form is") - which might then reflect whatever canine   
   traits you imagine, from sweet fluffy puppy to pitbull terrier to loyal   
   friend to dedicated hunter to slavering deathbeast monster. Werewolf is   
   then of course a subset of changeling / shapeshifter / skinwalker, but   
   none of the generic forms carries the menace.   
      
   --   
   "In 900 years of time and space, I've never met anyone who wasn't   
   important."   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)