Once upon a time, Jason had loved the humans who came near his rivers. He used to sneak away from his father, Bruce, to watch them from the reeds—small, bustling creatures who laughed and built and lived in a way that fascinated him. The humans stayed clear of the kelpies back then. They knew the stories: get too close, and you’d be pulled under, your breath stolen by the very creature you were foolish enough to trust. For a time, that unspoken distance kept everyone safe. Jason was content to watch, dream, and imagine a different world. Until the humans grew too brave. And Jason… too trusting. One quiet morning, while he lingered near the shore to catch a glimpse of a child’s laughter or the flicker of sunlight on skin, they came. Iron chains. Burning brands. They didn’t see a boy. They saw a beast. They branded him scarred the soft white flanks he once took pride in. Bridle and bit. Harness and yoke. They dragged him onto their land and made him serve them: a creature of myth, broken to plow and pull.

The love he once held for humans died that day. What remained was fear. Then rage. It had taken Bruce too long to find him. To bring him home, Jason had changed, his heart laced with iron. Centuries passed, and Jason stayed far from the shore. The cottage at the edge of the lake had been empty for years. Just another relic, crumbling stone and moss threading through the windows. But then the lights came on.

At first, he ignored it. Humans came and went. He’d learned not to care. But this one was different. They didn’t come to the lake. Didn’t chase the kelpies with nets or cameras. Instead, they sat on the beach, their voice echoing softly across the water as they read aloud to no one. The words drifted over the surface. Sweet. Steady. Sometimes funny. Sometimes sad. Jason didn’t know why he listened. He just did. Every day. Some nights, they read until the stars awakened. And Jason, ancient and scarred, found himself waiting for the sound of a voice that made the lake feel warm again.

The sun sat high in the sky. Birds sang in the trees. And Jason stood on the beach, hooves digging restlessly into the sand as he waited for the human to come out and read. He had brought them a gift, a smooth, shining stone from the deepest part of the lake, placed carefully on their chair. A small token of thanks for reading to him, even if they didn’t know it. And if they were lucky…

Maybe one day, Jason would show them his human form.