My Kelpie Friend

Chapter 3: Demon of the River

The kelpie stared at me, and I stared back. Finally after what felt like 13 minutes, it spoke again. "You may have survived nearly drowning, but I doubt you would survive this time" it said. With a scared look, I asked the kelpie why it wanted to kill me. It spoke again saying "it is my nature to kill people as a kelpie". "It is my nature to devour the flesh of souls who tread upon my waters". "You are no exception". "From the dreams, the visions, and our last encounter". "What did you hope to see or gain from this experience" it asked. "Nothing I replied". "Then Leave and never on your life return to this river it said. "And if you ever come back here again, I'll have ur head". The kelpie released it's sharp hooves from my chest and arm. It slowly backed away. I took to my feet and slowly walked away. The kelpie seemed to do the same and walked calmly back into the water. And in the moment it turned from it's hideous form back to the beautiful white horse as it walked into the river. I honestly didn't know that to think. I just started walking blindly to the top of the hill. I reached the driveway and started to walk up the hill. It had been almost the late afternoon and the sky was getting darker. I made it home and my grandmother was waiting. "Why are you back so late and soaked"? she asked almost afraid. I fell asleep near the river. When I woke up I saw my fishing line was caught so when I went to retrieve it but then fell in. I swam to shore but must've fell asleep cuz I was tried from swimming. I told her this complete BS lie but she seemed to understand and calmed down very quickly. "I prepared supper and it has been waiting for you" she said. "Thank you" I replied. I ate supper, drank a lot of water and tea. And then ended up going to sleep. At night I was tossing and turning trying to figure out what had happened today. But eventually I fell asleep after a while. While I was asleep, I began to have another dream of the kelpie. It was standing by the banks. It was almost calling me. And after I attempted, to get closer, it charged into the water and disappeared. I woke up the next day feeling tired and weird but I carried on as usual. I went over to the barn and found a small place to sit and read peacefully. After a while, one of the ranch hands came in to put one of the horses away. He saw me sitting and decided to strike up a conversation. "You still reading about that river horse creature"? "Yes, I replied. "Well it seems you have nothing but that thing on your mind" he said. "So I have" I said unsurprisingly. "Well, it's a distant legend" he said. "The legends can vary and come in different tales. From it drowning people, to people surviving, to taming it's power and strength". "One who can successfully steal the bridle can gain the control over the kelpie and force it to aid them in whatever they please". "However only very few have managed to gain the trust of a Kelpie". "There was once a time where a man in Scotland despite the odds befriended a kelpie and helped it defend its river home from colonizers who wanted to take the minerals and water". "After they succeeded, the man gave his life to the kelpie so they could be friends for eternity". "Almost like a symbol of an eternal bond". Some encounters and legends regard seeing the man dressed in a dark hooded robe riding the water spirit. Wow, I had no idea about these stories, I said. The ranch hand went on explain the kelpie is often regarded as a monster who drowns and eats people. But they aren't entirely evil. They act to ensure order, peace, and balance to nature and act as guardians of the rivers, lakes, and even ocean of Scotland. They should not be regarded as monsters. But they are a force of nature and otherworldly beings that are not to be disrespected. After chatting with the ranch hand, I began to fully understand the kelpie isn't the monster it is made out to be. This was an reminder. The kelpie had previously let me live. Instead of killing me. It showed me mercy, gave me a chance to live, allowed me to walk away unharmed. It had warned me to never come back. But I had to go back. I had to see him again. I had to make peace with it and myself. No matter what, this has to be done....