Mythological Creatures (old version)

each-uisge

     The each-uisge, a water horse found in the Scottish highlands, is perhaps the fiercest and most dangerous of all the water-horses. Often mistaken for the kelpie (which inhabits streams and rivers), the each-uisge lives in the sea,sea lochs, and fresh water lochs. The each-uisge is a shape-shifter, disguising itself as a fine horse, pony, a handsome man or an enormous bird.

     If, while in horse form, a mortal mounts it, they are only safe as long as the each-uisge is ridden in the interior of land. However, the merest glimpse or smell of water means the end of the rider, for the each-uisge's skin becomes adhesive and the creature immediately goes to the deepest part of the loch with its victim. After the victim has drowned, the each-uisge tears him apart and devours the entire body except for the liver, which floats to the surface.

     In its human form it appears as a handsome man, and can be recognized as a mythological creature only by the water weeds or profuse sand and mud in its hair. Because of this, people in the Highlands are often wary of lone animals and strangers by the water's edge, near where the each-uisge was reputed to live.

     A Highlander encountered a water horse in its human form and fired his gun at it twice with no effect, but when he loaded it with a silver bullet and fired again the man retreated and plunged back into the loch. The each-uisge is unpredictable. It has been known to venture forth on land and attack solitary individuals, while other times it will allow itself to be used as farm labour until its owner gets on its back and is carried into the loch. In their predatory hunger water horses may even turn on their own kind if the scent of a previous human rider is strong enough on the monster's body.