The Kelpie

Hae-Won ducks through vines obscuring the cave entrance and gasps. Hidden in the bare caverns, a secret oasis thrives. Through widened eyes, her gaze glides across deep pools of liquid sapphire, cascading into one another and connecting in the center. Lilies rest on the surface, while bold flowers compete for Hae-Won’s attention beside the water. The humid, warm breeze is a welcome reprieve from stale air of the caves before, and Hae-Won closes her eyes, relishing the tender blanket's embrace. Though no sunlight penetrates the ceiling, fist-sized crystals emit pale, tinged light, illuminating the lush space. Vines hug both the gems and stone, the glossy flowers growing on them tinted by the jewel’s light. A rustle shatters the peace, and Hae-Won’s eyes dart to the source.
A horse wrought from midnight lifts her head from the center pool, and Hae-Won’s breath catches. The horse’s coat is not that of shadows or the dark, nor the elegant shade of grace and beauty. No, her coat is the deep color of mystery. In every twist of her lithe body, ebony ripples dance across her body, telling a story Hae-Won aches to learn. Goosebumps rise on the girl’s arms as the creature lowers her head and steps closer. Hae-Won follows suit, her dreamlike movement carrying her to the horse’s side. Hae-Won lifts her hand, slowly. When the horse does not react, she steps closer. As Hae-Won moves, a thorn pricks her leg, drawing blood, and she yelps. The horse jolts back and yanks its head away, eyes wild.
“Shh, it’s okay,” Hae-Won murmurs, heart thudding. The beast’s eyes remain stormy but her muscles relax. To the girl’s surprise, the horse kneels down after a minute of soothing. Hae-Won touches tingling fingers to her parted lips, and ignoring the blood running down her thigh, climbs on. Sliding into an awkward position, Hae-Won leans left, but finds herself unable to move. Sweeping sweat from her brow with a trembling hand, Hae-Won attempts to shift her balance again, yielding the same result. Her chest constricts, caged heart thrashing. The horse rises. Hae-Won gasps and grabs its mane, bonding her hand to the creature’s tangles. Gripping her nauseated stomach, Hae-Won whimpers. “Stop, stop, don’t move.” To her surprise, the horse whinnies and turns its head, motionless. Dark lashes ring those feral eyes, and the horse cries out again, revealing sharp incisors. Hae-Won’s stomach flips. When the horse shrieks again, Hae-Won screams with it, crying out for help. Her wails intensify as the horse charges to the pools, and she gasps, flailing her arms and legs in a final, desperate attempt. The creature’s hooves crash into the water. Hae-Won takes her last gulp of air and screams. No one hears her in the depths.