Lena bit the inside of her cheek and aimless moved her tail in the water. It was seconds before she finally looked up from the water and stared at Erin. Lena spoke softly, "The creature was a Wendigo. They are truly frightful mythological creatures. To me, I can think of few that are as bad as they are."
Lena sighed. Myrtle rubbed her friend's shoulder.
Erin took the pause an an opportunity to ask, "what exactly is a Wendigo? I have never heard of it before."
"In my tribe we were told tales of Wendigo's and truly they are an evil species. Nothing good." Lena shook her head. "A Wendigo is not born it is created."
Lena let that sink into the human's mind before she continued. "Wendigo's are generally born human. Then something happens. While the reasons may be vastly different, the end result is the same. A person's soul becomes so corrupt and malevolent that they slowly become a Wendigo. They develop a hunger that they cannot satisfy. Over time their body transforms, with taught flesh, and jagged teeth. Wendigo's have long nails meant to rip apart flesh and their eyes slowly darken. They live to try and satisfy their hunger of living creatures, their flesh and spirit, but they are never sated."
Lena wore a grim smile on her face. "Fortunately they are not created that often nowadays, but that wasn't always the case. This isn't just a 'bad person' this is a human that is so corrupted that the change in their soul impacts their outward appearance and transforms them from a human into a monster."
Erin thought for a moment. "Can they be killed?"
Lena nodded her head. "Yes but, the more flesh and spirit they consume the stronger they become. The one we faced was very powerful, simple weapons, even with our abilities we couldn't kill it."
"I had to find my tribe for the true way to kill the beasts, the best way."
****
In the summer of 1910, Lena and Myrtle headed up North, to the plains in Canada looking for Lena's tribe, her father's tribe. It took them an entire summer to find her people. In September of that year and after they were nearly ready to give up they found the tribe.
Lena walked into the village first in search of the village elder. The tribe she had separated from had all died their humans deaths. This tribe was all new people and there was no-one that she would remember or whom would remember her.
Lena walked through the town. Several eyes peaked out at her. When an older woman grabbed her by the wrist. "You're back?"
Lena smiled she had been remembered, but then confusion spread across her face. Everyone she knew was dead, how could they know her?
"I'm sorry?" Lena called out.
"We've heard stories about you. About your mother and father. You are a woman of the water."
Lena smiled, of course! Their oral traditions. Their oral traditions would help them to kill a Wendigo.
"I've come to seek your help."
"Our help?" Then the woman looked at the woman behind Lena, Myrtle. She furrowed her brows and put Lena behind her. The woman held out her hand and pointed at Myrtle. "Leave, you are not welcome here."
Myrtle took a step back, surprised by the harsh words.
Lena put her hand on the older woman's shoulder, "She is with me. We," Lena indicated herself and Myrtle have come for answers."
The woman looked wearily at Myrtle, if the water nymph was okay with that creatures presence, then who was she to judge? "Come, let us go to the elder's home."
Lena and myrtle followed behind the woman into a simple home of the village elder, it was well lit and homey. Lena felt nostalgic of her own family home, when she lived with the tribe. When she had her mother and father.
Lena greeted the village elder and Myrtle followed suit. Myrtle hovered towards the entrance, ready to make a run for it if they wanted to attack her.
After greetings and introductions Lena spoke, impatiently, "I'm sorry to disturb you like this so suddenly, but how do you kill a beast? I have been told the stories of Wendigos, but how does one kill it?"
The village elder reached for Lena's hands and held them tightly. "You encountered a Wendigo?"
Lena nodded solemnly, "Yes, down in Northern Michigan. A small town was wiped out by this beast. It was incredibly strong. We were no match for it. Our skills paled in comparison to it's abilities."
The elder nodded, "For the strongest of the Wendigo's I give you this knife. You must cut out what is left of it's heart. Then you must set the heart on fire. That is the only way to kill the strongest of the strong. This knife will aid you in piercing it's skin."
Lena took the knife and bowed low to the elder. "Thank you. Take care."
Lena turned to leave, but the elder continued to speak. "May I offer some advice?"
Lena turned back and faced the elder who had taken a step closer to her. "I didn't know it at the time, but there is a war brewing. You must find the Lady of the Lakes, otherwise you are doomed to fail."