Mythical Creatures [EDITING]

Unicorn

In the depths of the forest a creature emerges from behind a tree. Beautiful in radiance and with a shining white coat of fur, this awe-inspiring creature trots briskly between the trees. One single horn protrudes from the center of its head, standing tall and proud. You try to chase after it, but give up after a short while, knowing that you'll never be able to overcome the prideful beast. The unicorn is too fast to be caught by man.

What is a Unicorn?

A unicorn is a legendary creature that is known to possess magical abilities. Though in modern day this creature is thought to be nothing more than a myth, ancient cultures wrote of it as a real animal. In fact, it was included in many natural history books of the time.

The most popular depictions of the unicorn are known by Greek and European accounts and mythology, though there are similar unicorn-like creatures that have been recorded throughout the world. There were many interpretations of the beast – some saw it as the incarnation of purity and grace. Some believed that the horn of the beast had the power to provide cures for sickness and the ability to serve as an antidote for poison.

Because of its supposed magical abilities, the unicorn and its horn was greatly sought after by anyone with means in the early ages. It was common for those of great wealth or nobility to attempt to procure a horn to protect themselves against attacks or to extend their lifespan in general. In fact, many 'horns' were sold by traders who came from the north and south. While these were not unicorn horns (they were either rhinoceros horns or narwhal horns), they sold for many times their weight and gold and proved to be a very profitable industry.

Asian Unicorn

In Chinese mythology, there are many accounts of a creature that is known as the . This creature is often thought to be the Chinese equivalent of a unicorn, though it also has the properties of a chimera.

The qilin is known to have the body of a deer, a lion head, green scales, and one long horn that was its defining characteristic. There is also a Japanese beast of similar makeup that is called the kirin, but it is known that this creature is based off of the qilin.

The qilin are peaceful creatures and are known to be very magical and powerful. The qilin are thought to be able to walk upon grass without disturbing a single blade. However, since these creatures did not want to harm the ground, they were often thought to walk on clouds or water instead. They were also thought to be good judges of character. Many ancient stories show these creatures as being able to know if a person was good or evil just by looking at them. They are peaceful in nature and only punish the wicked.

Also similar to unicorn mythology, qilin are often seen as a symbol of fertility. Although they were not hunted for their horns, they were often shown in art work as bringing infants to families.

African Unicorn

In Kongo oral traditions, there is a creature called the Ababda that is very similar to a unicorn. This creature is known to be about the size of a donkey and is said to have the tail of a boar. While it is known to have two horns instead of one like a unicorn, the horn of the Ababda is known to serve as a cure for many illnesses. Perhaps most importantly, however, the Ababda horn is known to be an antidote to many poisons.

South American Unicorn

The legend of the unicorn can be found in South America as well – specifically the country of Chile. This creature is called the camahueto and is known to possess many of the qualities of the unicorn.

The camahueto is a creature that is very similar to a calf or bull. However, instead of having two horns, it only has one. The camahueto is known to be hunted by the machis (medicine woman) because their horn is known to possess the cures to illnesses. The machis are known to stalk the camahueto until she is able to capture it with a lasso and tear out its horn. After she has caught it, she bandages the opening and lets the beast continue on its way.