Lovely. My first thought was she was a selkie... interesting how cultures as widely divergent as the Celts and Tlingits independently conceived nearly identical "mythical" beings.
This was so beautiful. Thank you for the cultural note as well, I've heard tales about selkies but it's wonderful to learn new indigenous folklore. Instant fan!
This is a beautiful love story. The first thing I thought was that she was a selkie, like everyone else.
I can see where a Kushtaka would be considered a trickster, as otters love to play tricks on people. Nothing evil, just a peculiar sense of humor.
Thank you for this story, and I understand why it wanted to be written. It's almost as if a Kushtaka was whispering in your ear, or haunting you with a bone flute.
I read the first few lines and knew this was really good, so I saved it until my day started to wind down. Then I found how extraordinary it is. So precious!
I love this so much! I love selkie stories but I didn't know about the Kushtaka - now I kind of want to find one 😉
Lovely. My first thought was she was a selkie... interesting how cultures as widely divergent as the Celts and Tlingits independently conceived nearly identical "mythical" beings.
Reminiscent of Celtic/Norse Selkie stories. Didn't Anne McCaffrey write a couple of books based on them?
Brb having feelings.
This was so beautiful. Thank you for the cultural note as well, I've heard tales about selkies but it's wonderful to learn new indigenous folklore. Instant fan!
Such a beautiful story, and beautiful writing.
What a sweet love story! :) I enjoyed learning about the lore behind the Kushtaka.
I really enjoyed this contemplative story about feeling trapped, and the incorporation of the Kushtaka was really cool!
Oh, this was nice. I've always liked otters, and I'm a softie anyway, and this, this was perfect.
This is a beautiful love story. The first thing I thought was that she was a selkie, like everyone else.
I can see where a Kushtaka would be considered a trickster, as otters love to play tricks on people. Nothing evil, just a peculiar sense of humor.
Thank you for this story, and I understand why it wanted to be written. It's almost as if a Kushtaka was whispering in your ear, or haunting you with a bone flute.
I loved this! And I love the idea of being able to slip between the two skins as an otter. I wonder if i can make that happen...
A beautiful little story - I loved it. Thanks.
This was just lovely. It reminded me of one of those uplifting and endearing standalone episodes in the X-Files. Like When the ghosts stole Christmas.
What's a fishmaid?
https://talebones.substack.com/p/something-in-the-water
😉
Oh, okay. I thought it was going to be like an alewife or something but then I couldn’t find it via search 😄
I love this sweet story and the peek into some unfamiliar (to me) folklore!
I read the first few lines and knew this was really good, so I saved it until my day started to wind down. Then I found how extraordinary it is. So precious!