Casyrole

Once, many hundreds of years ago, the Casyrole roamed freely and in great numbers over the northeastern American landscape. Now, there are but a few.

Nobody has seen the Casyrole in recent times, so nobody knows for certain what it looks like. But it is widely believed that the Casyrole is a beastly-looking, hideous creature. Some have called it the New Jersey devil, maybe because, in modern times, this evil-looking animal was believed to have been first seen in New Jersey.

Legend has it, the Casyrole stands about nine feet tall. It has blood red eyes that glow and see in the dark. It has great horns - twisted but regal. It has a huge beak, and teeth as long and sharp as a lion's. It has arms like a man’s and claws like a dragon’s. It has the body of a horse, forelegs of a deer, and hind legs of an eagle. It has a tail with two claws at the tip.

Although the Casyrole has wings - wings of a great bat - it does not fly as mightily as a bird. It hovers, it skims, it bounds great lengths - but it has never been known to fly more than a hundred feet at a time.

Because of its gruesome appearance, the Casyrole is often feared and despised. The truth, however, is that the Casyrole is a gentle creature. It would not hurt a human soul - nor harm another creature unless necessary for self-preservation. The Casyrole eats wild berries, fruit, tree bark, and roots. But man used to hunt and kill the Casyrole like vermin - almost to extinction. However, it is human in heart and would not fight back to kill. Thus, its numbers dwindled, and soon the Casyrole retreated to the woods, unseen by human eyes for at least the last few hundred years.

ii. Mpuka Balesh, Prince of Casyrole

The bravest and greatest of the Casyrole nation was its young prince, Mpuka Balesh. His father, the King, was a descendant of Cro, who had brought the Casyrole from the old world - thus saving it from extinction - and had established his kingdom in the new world. Mpuka Balesh's mother, the Queen, had died while giving birth to him.

Mpuka Balesh stood tallest among the Casyrole, and in spite of his youth, he was indeed the wisest. He would lead the Casyrole to survival - and victory in its times of greatest tribulation. He proudly wore a pendant around his neck, made of green, solid rock, carved into the likeness of a Casyrole. His father had given it to him in his earlier years, as a sign of passing on the throne.

Mpuka Balesh had a mate - hair as golden as the sun at sunset, tall, beautiful, and fresh as a wild daisy in the spring. The loveliness of her voice, and her song, would cure the worst of maladies. Her heart was as beautiful - and her countenance as strong - as precious life itself.

Mpuka Balesh loved her golden-haired Casyrole, and had many exciting adventures with her and their son, Roanoke - the future prince. This is their story.