"Freak!" Riverbisquit gave the Squelpie a powerful smack with her flukes. She noted with savage glee one of its teeth decided enough was enough and abandoned mouth for freedom.

As Riverbiscuit readied herself for another attack, she hoped Conk-Out had something up his nonexistent sleeves to save the little pegamousie, because if the little girl drowned, this whole fight would be for naught.

The Squelpie of Bibil Brook was that rare breed of river monster of the modern day – it hadn't been put out of everyone else's misery yet. Said to have been wicked before drowning and transforming into a monster, the Squelpie had an unfortunate taste for the occasional young mousie. Riverbiscuit might have been petite, but she was no pushover while riled, much to the Squelpie's regret. Even so, she still needed the crazy prepared Conk-Out's help in rescuing the little pegamousie.

The Squelpie is based on the kelpie of Scottish legend, a shape-shifting, horse-like river monster that preyed on the unwary. The kelpie was essentially a nursery bogie, an imaginary creature invented by hand-wringing mothers to scare their kids away from treacherous rivers and remind young women to be careful of good-looking strangers.

Water, water everywhere and not a drop to drink.

(Ooby dooby do-wup, Gotta catch-up.)

I see that I've made an obvious error with Riverbiscuit. The water should be pushing her bosom up instead of down.

Art © 2015 Marvin E. Fuller