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fandomhigh2020-03-12 03:04 am
arboreal_priestess) wrote in fandomhigh2020-03-12 03:04 am
Entry tags:
The Cryptozoologist's Field Guide, Thursday, Per 2
The Danger Shop had been transformed into a large meadow, complete with many natural pools and ponds. Wandering around that meadow was a large herd of absolutely beautiful horses; tall and proud with long necks, strong legs, and large, gentle eyes.
"The problem with convergent evonlution," Verity said, looking warm and slightly golden from their week in the Philippines, "is that you end up with species that look incredibly close to other species, but with vastly different behaviors, temperaments, and diets. While this is good for many cryptid species, as it provides excellent camouflage, it can be bad for people who are think they're dealing with one animal and end up dealing with another."
One of the horses reared and whinnied, showing a mouthful of wicked teeth that did not belong in the mouth of an herbivore.
"Such is the kelpie," Verity continued. "They are water-horses, which means you will often find them close to large, deep bodies of water. Once you climb onto their backs, you cannot get down again until they choose to release you. Which they will - after they have dragged you down to the bottom of the closest lake or river and drowned you. They only release their magic after you're dead. Specifically, so they can eat you." Cheerful, no?
"Because they are obligate carnivores, their usual prey are animals that come to the water for drinking. When fully submerged, Kelpie are generally hard to see, leaving the unwitting to come and drink from the rive or lake they are residing in, only to be dragged off the shore. These days, their human prey are often caught sunbathing and swimming than by attempting to catch a stray horse."
Verity gestured to the horses in the meadow. "Today, we're going to see how capable you are of spotting the kelpie in a herd of horses. Once you find the safe horse, you can take it for a ride and then you're done with class. If you accidentally pick a kelpie though..." She nodded to one of the ponds in the meadow. "You're going to get dunked. Good luck!"
"The problem with convergent evonlution," Verity said, looking warm and slightly golden from their week in the Philippines, "is that you end up with species that look incredibly close to other species, but with vastly different behaviors, temperaments, and diets. While this is good for many cryptid species, as it provides excellent camouflage, it can be bad for people who are think they're dealing with one animal and end up dealing with another."
One of the horses reared and whinnied, showing a mouthful of wicked teeth that did not belong in the mouth of an herbivore.
"Such is the kelpie," Verity continued. "They are water-horses, which means you will often find them close to large, deep bodies of water. Once you climb onto their backs, you cannot get down again until they choose to release you. Which they will - after they have dragged you down to the bottom of the closest lake or river and drowned you. They only release their magic after you're dead. Specifically, so they can eat you." Cheerful, no?
"Because they are obligate carnivores, their usual prey are animals that come to the water for drinking. When fully submerged, Kelpie are generally hard to see, leaving the unwitting to come and drink from the rive or lake they are residing in, only to be dragged off the shore. These days, their human prey are often caught sunbathing and swimming than by attempting to catch a stray horse."
Verity gestured to the horses in the meadow. "Today, we're going to see how capable you are of spotting the kelpie in a herd of horses. Once you find the safe horse, you can take it for a ride and then you're done with class. If you accidentally pick a kelpie though..." She nodded to one of the ponds in the meadow. "You're going to get dunked. Good luck!"
Listen to the Lecture
Re: Listen to the Lecture
Nina was super okay with having a bunch of horses and kelpies around today because, like, they provided ample things to look at that weren't Liam
if he was therebecause she was still kind of down and out of sorts and weirdly embarrassed about the whole conversation they'd had yesterday.So.
Horses.
That could eat her. Okay. Cool.
She would not actually let herself get eaten but Nina definitely considered the idea of being put out of her misery for a moment but, like, it just didn't seem like a suitably dramatic way to go…