The Seal Hunter and The Selkie King

Selkies are magical creatures found all around the coast of Scotland. They look just like regular seals but when the moon is bright in the night sky, they shed their skins on the beach and dance in human form.

Not everybody believed in Selkies though. Donald the seal hunter either didn’t believe or he just didn’t want to know. He made his living by hunting the seals around his home and never paid attention to those old stories. To him, a seal was nothing more than a way to make money.

One day, Donald saw the biggest seal he had ever laid eyes on, sunning itself on the rocks. He knew how valuable a skin of that size would be so he crept up and plunged his knife in deep. The animal bellowed in pain before diving into the sea, taking Donald's best knife along with it.

Donald was furious at losing his prize. He wasn’t happy about losing his knife either. The hunter was still sulking about it that night when there was a loud knock at the door. A stranger stood outside asking for the famous seal hunter. His master needed a number of skins and requested that Donald visit his hall that night.

This wasn’t an opportunity to turn down. Donald climbed on to the stranger’s horse and off they sped. He started to get worried as they galloped near the cliffs. That worry turned to sheer terror as the horse dived straight off the edge and hurtled towards the crashing sea.

Donald was dragged far below the waves until they came to a hidden door in the rocks. On entering he saw dozens of weeping seals, all watching him closely. As the hunter moved into the great hall, he saw a familiar sight. It was the enormous seal from earlier, lying with a bloody gash in its side.

Donald was presented with a blade and a cold dread came over him. He instantly recognised his best knife.

His guide explained, “Donald, we are no ordinary seals. We are Selkies and even though you have slain many of our kin, we mean you no harm. I brought you here because you are the only person who can save our King. Only your hands can close the wound that they opened.”

Donald was distraught at the pain he had caused these creatures. He stepped up to the dying Selkie and reached out his hands. Slowly and tenderly, Donald pushed the wound closed and to his surprise, it started to heal over. The Selkies all barked their approval as Donald sighed with relief.

The Selkies agreed to return their captive to his family but not before he made them a promise. He was never to hurt another seal for the rest of his life. The former hunter wouldn’t have dreamed of it after this night. Before long, he was back on dry land and escorted to his cottage. As he watched his Selkie guide ride back to their watery kingdom, Donald put his hand in his pocket. There he found enough gold to make sure his family wouldn’t suffer after his promise to the Selkie King.