Peluda

 


Peluda, known as La Velue in French, is a dragon from the River Huisne in France. It was known by many names in the Medieval era, including the Shaggy Beast in English, yet today it's best known by it's Spanish name Peluda. Peluda was most well known and feared in the High Middle Ages period and early Renaissance.

Peluda had a snake's head and tail, an egg-shaped body that was covered in thick fur. From between the fur was porcupine or hedgehog like quills that were tipped in poison. It stood on four sturdy tortoise like feet. It was the size of a large ox. Peluda was green all over, even it's fur.

According to legend Peluda existed from the early days of creation, on the day when God created all the things that swam in the sea and crawled on the Earth. During the flood, Peluda tried to climb on the ark with the other animals being loaded on. Noah and his family fought Peluda off and refused to let it on board, knowing it would devour all the other animals. Yet Peluda survived the flood anyway, thanks to being a semi-aquatic creature who could survive in the rising waters.

After the flood Peluda wandered the Earth, devouring everything in an area and moving on until it came to the River Huisne. There it terrorized the people of the people of the river valley, especially around the city of La-Ferté-Bernard. Peluda would come onto shore and devour humans and live stock alike, and burn crops with its fiery breath. It would then retreat back into the river before the locals could retaliate. However even if they did attack, Peluda's poisonous spines kept them at a distance, and their weapons could barely find their way through the thick fur.

While Peluda would eat anyone or anything that crossed its path, it was especially fond of devouring children and young maidens. One day Peluda tried to attack L'agnelle, the most virtuous maiden in the community. Her fiance attacked Peluda and chopped off its tail. This was the only weak spot not covered in fur. Peluda subsequently bled to death. After this the victory was celebrated in La-Ferté-Bernard and nearby Connerré. Peluda's hide was supposedly stuffed and kept in the community as a trophy, although it's unknown where the pelt is now if it ever existed.


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