Hanover, WV

as reported by Agent Sam Cook

It was a crisp spring morning and far too cold to be in the water, but Sam couldn't wait any longer. She dragged her boat down the ramp, the lake stinging her bare feet. With a yelp, she pushed it off the asphalt, hopping into the kayak. A towel ready, she dried her feet and slipped them back into her socks and shoes.

Aside from the early-rising birds, Sam was the only one here. No other cars sat in the lot, and no other boats were in the water. It was quiet, peaceful, and perfectly clear. Shivering, she zipped up her jacket; the early morning dew had made its way onto her sleeves, sending a shiver down her spine.

Adjusting slightly, she paddled into the gently rippling, green water and away from the boat launch. She didn't come out here to exercise or adventure; it was just a routine she enjoyed. Rhythmically paddling, building speed, she rested the pole on the boat, allowing the water to carry her a bit as she stared up at the tall, bare rock faces. A waterfall flowed not too far away; she floated past it as she had many times before, appreciating its sound and beauty.

The sun a little higher, it set a golden filter over everything. Looking up, new graffiti was scrawled on one of the cliffs with white spray paint: Kenny loves Shirley. The light around her suddenly dimmed; peeking over her shoulder, a mist had unknowingly grown in the boat's wake. Its transparent tendrils reached around and above. Behind, the sky's bright blue disappeared, the rock walls vanished, and the water reflected the stark greys and whites.

While it was only fog, Sam felt a knot of fear in her belly. It was unusual for mist to appear like that. Curling up as the wet, cool clouds overtook the kayak, she shivered. A splash broke her stare into the void; to her left, she saw it: a white horse standing knee-high in the water. It snorted, wagging its head up and down, flicking its tail, and stomping with another splash. A long, gray mane blew behind it like a flag; strands and tendrils stuck to its neck and back, damp. It stared side-eyed at her, black pupils rolling around and exposing white. The waves lapping against her boat, the kayak slowly spins in a wide circle, but Sam's eyes remain transfixed on the horse.

Seeing a horse in the middle of a lake would be strange in most places, but there was something even odder about this one. Parts of it were almost see-through, its hair and rump swirling in intricate patterns. With a stark realization, Sam noticed her hair was not blowing; there was no wind to move the horse's hair or the fog around it. Mouth agape, fist-sized pieces of the animal broke off, churning and dissipating into nothingness; the missing portions were replaced slowly, like growing fog on a windshield.

Throwing its head back, the horse whinnied, raising both front legs into the air and stomping into the water; instead of shooting water out from its splash, dense fog jetted out. Barely perceptible, she saw the vague shadow stomp down once more. The fog was so thick it made Sam feel claustrophobic; it was not only wet and cold but sticky and a darker shade of gray. The sun was completely blocked from view, as were all of her surroundings. She spun in a gray void.

Sam could hear the echo of the horse splashing away, its neighs permeating the hazy atmosphere. Cold seeped deeper; her teeth chattered. Paddling hesitantly, she sought rock or shore to find her way back. The fog only began to subside after an hour. Its bright gray and white tendrils receded towards the dam, accentuated by the budding woodlands, dark water, and colorful, perfectly clear sky.

Ghosts, Horses, and Those of the Water

Nestled between a series of triangular, rolling hills that taper up into the curving lines of mountains is a quiet lake - the R. D. Bailey Lake, specifically. Fed by the Guyandotte River and maintained by a dam, it is regularly visited for fishing, swimming, boating, and hiking. It is also home to a Kelpie: the Stallion of the Mist.

Kelpies are misty, foggy, or aqueous paranormal entities that appear near, within, or on top of water sources; they die if some part of them does not keep into contact with this binding agent.

Bodies of water are natural gateways for Kelpies; they can slip between the earthly and paranormal planes through lakes, rivers, and other water types. The transition occurs when the animal simply submerges themselves or steps deeper into the water, entering their destination upside down. Certain locations within these sources are particularly potent for crossing the paranormal and earthly planes, allowing non-Kelpies to use them under ideal circumstances. 

Some kelpie's waters function as window areas as long as the Kelpie lives. Others, like the Stallion of the Mist, utilize fog as a conduit to move between dimensions; the thicker the fog, the thinner the veil that separates the two planes. The organism cannot make its transition at any time, however. It requires much energy. Most Kelpies have an advantage through their source under specific environmental conditions. For the Stallion, it is clear days on early mornings in the spring or autumn. Other paranormal entities may hitch a ride to the human world, or unlucky organisms on R.D. Bailey Lake may accidentally find themselves trapped in the paranormal world, during these prime times.

What does it look like?

The Stallion of the Mist resembles the Appaloosa horse, one of the most popular breeds in the United States. Appaloosa horses have a complex, leopard-spotted, multi-layered coat with a mottled pattern around the eyes, rump, and muzzle. The color and pattern of this paranormal entity most closely matches the 'blanket' or 'snowcap': a solid white covering the horse with a contrasting base color. The Stallion of the Mist is white and dark grey.

While the Stallion of the Mist is horse-like in appearance, it also has traditionally paranormal qualities, like translucence, an actively changing body, and a warbled voice. Its form swirls like billowing, rising smoke, and breaks apart in sections, creating little clouds that add to the foggy atmosphere its activity generates; these small puffs disintegrate quickly. Its tail and mane are especially ethereal and wispy, always wavering behind it, even without a breeze.

What does it eat?

This kelpie absorbs energy from its natural surroundings, specifically light reflected off of it. The morning light provides the sustenance it needs but cannot obtain in the paranormal realm. It feeds by releasing a dense, sticky, grey fog, which gathers and traps light energy; expanding to its full reach, the fog condenses, bringing the kelpie what it has gathered.

Energies consumed by paranormal entities are imperceptible and intangible to earthly beings. What and how they eat can be difficult to visualize, study, and comprehend.

Safety precautions

The Stallion of the Mist is not dangerous or problematic, only inconvenient. When it crosses into the earthly plane, it brings a steep temperature drop and dense fog; the environmental condition change is sudden and can last up to two hours before vanishing almost instantaneously.

This entity cannot be forcefully summoned, but it can be killed; if briefly cut from contact with the lake, it will perish. While dangerous and ecologically damaging entities are exterminated, the Stallion of the Mist is protected. The BCWPA studies the animal to gain a greater understanding of kelpies and paranormal entities in general, and the Interdimensional Exploration Unit uses it to gain quick access to and from the paranormal plane.

Sources

1. R. D. Bailey Lake - Wikipedia
   

2. Appaloosa - Wikipedia
   

3. Correspondence to the BCwPA

See also: the Voritorvita: Eaters of Life