The Great Horned God

There was always a chilling breeze right before the witching hour. A chill that would send splinters down your spine. Nothing certain of it ever came. There were never any demonic women out dancing naked beneath a melting moon. Yet children were told to be tucked in long before that time came. Safe in their god protected dream. No businesses stayed open to welcome weary travelers who were lost after making that fateful wrong turn. The men always tripled checked their front and back doors to be well secured. But let me reiterate this key thing… nothing ever happened. At least… nothing that we could see.

I’ll start from the beginning… maybe this will help. Back when mountains were merely hills. A child of three years played hide and seek with a curious shadow. It was large and demeaning in stature. Horns that curled upwards towards the sky challenged crying angels. Its eyes sparked with glints of the sun, making it seem it was only a trick of the light, but no… He lurked. He loved the child, and always urged her to come outside, but as she grew so her memory faded away. So, then the Horned God forgot the child as well, yet hoping she would one day become her own.

On a hot summer day, when the winds had died, the air was dry, and the flowers had finished their blossoming stage. The child, now thirteen, begged to be allowed to play outside. But her parents didn’t like the feel of the merciless heat, so they gave her a basket of cherries. And they said to her “When the sun has burned up your skin eat some cherries until your mouth is quenched. Then, with the seeds raise them to the Horned God and make a plea that he will guide you back home unharmed.” They meant this to scare the young girl, who feared even her own reflection. But she was unbothered by this playful warning. She took the basket of cherries and left with little notice of her mothers worried face.

The young girl, who was frail, browned from working in fields, and with large luring eyes walked happily out into town. Gripping her basket close to her chest, knowing full well thieves always hid in plain sight, she held her head high… proud of being out on her own. So, after some time she came across a jeweler who was selling pearls delicately wrapped in wire rings. The girl couldn’t help but stare at their simple beauty. “Sir, how much for one of these rings?” He greedily looked her up and down, licked his lips and replied, “A few cherries should do the trick.” The girl thought for a moment, surely, she could afford a few cherries. They were of no importance if what she gained from them was something better. “Okay, deal!” and she excitedly handed him a small handful of juicy cherries. They were the best too… the ones on the very top, crisp, and bright. The dirty man grabbed her arm and sniffed her skin, taking every bit in as he could. “Ahh, yes that will do child.” And as he let her go the girl quickly snatched the ring with the largest pearl and ran off as fast as she could.

Her steps finally slowed, and she came close to the far end of town. A dangerous place to find yourself alone. But regardless of her fear she admired the sparkling pearl that seemed to sit like an egg in a silver cage. She smiled, feeling accomplished. But strangers began to hover and glare. They wanted the basket of cherries and egg like pearl. Slowly, she became well aware of their hunting eyes, but before anyone could approach her, she came across a tea shop. It smelled welcoming, so she went in without a second thought. The floors creaked as if they were shocked to feel human feet, and the walls peeled with rot. An old lady appeared soon after the girl settled her head. The old crone was dressed in faded fabric and healing beads. The lines beneath her eyes were deeply nestled in their folds, and her hands shook slightly from being over worked. But her voice was of a mother. “Have you some tea dear?” the old lady reached for a chair for the girl to sit. “Oh, no thank you ma’am. I’m just passing through. I needed to… catch my breath.” The girl helped the lady with the chair, but the crone took the girl’s hand. “Come with me and I’ll teach you everything I know about tea. You’ll never lack, for what you need is all that you currently have. I’ll teach my gardening ways and wealth will grow in your garden as well.” The girl was alarmed at first but smiled politely. “Thank you so much for the offer, but I have a home and I should be going now.” “Be careful dear… The hour of the Horned God is near, and the devils outside still hunger for your sweets.” The girl nodded and left. By the third step she tripped…

Starving men ran towards the rolling cherries, and they grabbed what they could before the girl noticed. As she lifted her sore head off the ground, she saw her basket was nearly empty… only one cherry remained. Her parents’ advice began to ring loudly in her ear “When the sun has burned up your skin eat some cherries until your mouth is quenched. Then, with the seeds raise them to the horned god and make a plea that he will guide you back home unharmed”. The blazing sun began its tilt, it would soon be night. She quickly grabbed the remaining cherry and held it close to her chest. The pearl egg still sat proudly against her hand. The cuts and bruises from that single fall stung sharply, but she began her walk of shame back home.

As the sun lowered, shadows came out to play. They danced and teased the forest trail that led back to her loving home. Things were moved, switched, and bewitched to give it a different glitch. She could hear their laughter deep within the hidden hills, but no amount of tears would bring about their yield. Nothing but a sacrifice. The girl, knowing what the forest shadows wanted, looked down at her last cherry. It was still bright and plump, ready to be devoured. Her mouth ached to be quenched, and her feet seemed to go numb from the burning flames of wanting to be her own. With what was left of her dignity… she called upon the shadows, who were still laughing, “I call upon the tricksters of this forest, and ask a simple favor. In return I will give you my last cherry to do with that you will.” A curious demon stopped his playing and answered the poor girl. “Give me your cherry sweet one and I’ll do what you ask.” She handed the demon the fruit and whispered her request in his ear. But he laughed in her face. “I could never do such a thing! My sisters and brothers would only dismantle my efforts. However, thank you for this sweet taste child, I’ll remember it always.” His devilish grin faded as the moon rose to Her rightful place in the sky.

The girl fell to the ground once more, this time knowing her doom was close at hand. “I have nothing left to give. All the retched men of this earth have taken what they wanted and left me here to die!” She sobbed horribly into the dirt, making a small pond around her limbs that soon became a massive lake. Its waters grew higher by the minute, consuming whatever was in its path. Yet, the girl remained afloat on a small piece of land that would not sink beneath her salty tears. Her head felt as if it was about to burst, and her eyes burned like hot coals, but when she thought all was lost, she caught a glimpse of the pearl egg… still shinning. She carefully unwrapped the pearl from wire cage and held it high into the sky.

“Horned God! Hear me! I call upon thee to please save me from my own drowning! I will give you the only thing that is left of me!” She was frantic in her calling to Him, but her wounds grew deeper, and her body was now weak. She needed to be saved.

Silence filled the air, all was still. And when she thought it was the end, a dark beast appeared in a cloud of smoke. His horns reached high and proud, his legs pulsed with furry, and his eyes glowed a deep cherry red. The girl rubbed her eyes to see the Horned God clearly. He was a Bull. He towered over her like a tree, and his breath reminded her of the burning sun.

“Horned God…” the girls voice shook. “Have mercy on me, I only ask that you guide me safely home, and in return I will give you what is left of me.” The Bull threw back his head in glee. “And what do you have for me? There is only one way I could save you now.” The girl showed him the pearl… and the Horned God softened his stare.

“Sweet child, this precious thing you offer is more than what any mortal has ever given me. I would happily take you home… but I cannot. You have drowned half the town, and I’m afraid your home is no more.” The girl was in disbelief… she began to weep once more “How could I have been so naive?!” She screamed up into the sky. “Take heed, for I can still do one thing. Accept your divinity and I will make you one with your lake. Your pearl will be a prize to whomever is brave enough to swim through your depths. When someone retrieves your pearl, offers it to me, your home and loved ones will be here waiting… and you may be with them once more.” The girl nodded, accepting her fate. Her body flowed with the gentle waves, dissolving into a peaceful sleep. The pearl… sank to the bottom, where it still rests today.

No one dares to go near the lake once the witching hour is near, for the wind carries the girls cry, and it sends a shiver down your spine. If a lost soul dares to venture near, the great Horned God challenges the damned one by throwing them deep within the lake. None have returned. And that is why all who live here near this lake, never leave their homes once the hour is near, for none are brave enough to retrieve the poor girl’s pearl… but now I ask you… Will you please retrieve my pearl?