What was this thing nipping at my heels?

Question

When I was a little girl, my mother used to tell the story of the night she left a relative's house to go home in the dark. She was supposed to spend the night, but got homesick and set out for home on a very dark night. In Oklahoma, in this area, you had to walk through the "bottoms" or lower lake bed through a bunch of trees. She said she knew the way and was not afraid until she felt something nipping at her heels. She began to run and could feel the presense of something right behind her, nipping at her heels and could also hear panting.

I never was sure what she was experiening until one night when I took a shortcut through an orchard one night and felt a presence, as well as the nipping and panting. My heart was pounding!

Has anyone else heard a story like this or experienced this themselves?

Answer 1

Yes, it's an old Native American legend. The Turosheebas, a tribe which used to live in Oklahoma, used to tell the legend of the Swinleeyabo. It is basically a small fish that grows in the presence of humans and sucks out their soul through the soul ducts in their heels.

Be careful, they're dangerous.

Answer 2

Sorry, that was me.

Answer 3

I think you panicked.

I think what you felt as "nipping" was actually weeds or over growth surrounding your feet as you ran through the field.

And the panting either could have been coming from you, or the swooshing sound one hears when the pants legs rub against each other.

Like the swooshing sound you hear with corduroy.

Answer 4

I have heard of the story related to an Indian Nation that was told to keep young children from wondering to far.

However unless you had marks it is my opinion that your imagination was running off.

You were doing something you probably should not have done, and the story your mom told you came into your mind sub-conscience therefor you had a dog sized creature nipping at your heels. Doing exactly what it was meant to do in the Indian story...scarring you as you did something you should not have done.

Answer 5

Its an Old native american story. It is baby fish that are biting out your soul. Be carfeul.

Answer 6

jack frost? to the girl who said rats grow as big as dogs give me some of wot your on girl I want to see rats as big as horse's

Answer 7

IDK...what it was..but I sure wouldn't take that path again! Sure it wasn't a big  rat? They  can be as big as a dog.

Answer 8

I used to have a cattle dog that did exactly that, not really paranormal.

"The size of a puppy"

Okay not a cattle dog, maybe a Jack Russel?

Answer 9

My answer is,mostly you're imagination.You were spooked because of your mothers scary tale.She heard it from someone else and was spooked the same as you.I've no doubt you'll pass it on to spook the next generation.