AtoZ Day 25: Y is for Yarrow, Yara- Ma- Yha- Who

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Yarrow

Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) is a common plant and when collected during August as it flowers it can be used as a herbal remedy for many things. What makes it interesting is that it can be used to help a person generate a psychic shield and hence protect them from 'psychic vampires'.

Creature Feature:

Yara- Ma- Yha- Who

This is an Australian Aboriginal monster and he's a nasty little blighter. According to Villains Wiki he is a small man shaped creature between three and four feed tall with an oversized head, huge mouth and suckers on the end of his fingers.

He uses these suckers when an unsuspecting victim sits under his fig tree as he jumps down on them and uses the suckers to drain their blood until they are weak and helpless. However, all is not lost, even though the Yara-Ma-Yha-Who is going to eat you. He has such a big mouth he swallows his victims whole. However, then he takes a drink, has a nap and then regurgitates his victim.

The victim is now a little shorter and has a slightly redder tinge to their skin, but they come back to life.

However, if a victim is unwary too many times they will eventually become one of these creatures as well. (Wikipedia, God Checker)

There is a great animated film by Blanca Martinez with this monster here on vimeo.

Movie Recommendation:

Sorry, no rec today because I couldn't find one I had seen beginning with the letter Y. Here's a picture of Lee Pace from Breaking Dawn because he's pretty instead.

Floral 

(#25 in The Diverse Life of Ianthe Jawara, Vampire)

by Natasha Duncan-Drake

Ianthe felt her panic rising. The priest clearly knew what he was doing and it seemed everything to this point had been a ruse. She had walked right into a trap. It was strange though; the tingling in her limbs hadn't come back even though the priest must had returned to his attack.

As she stood there, trying to work out what to do a light smell wafted up to her nose. It was herby and flowery and it tickled a memory in the back of her mind. Her Great-Nan had had a plant that smelled like that in her garden. It had been what seemed like so long ago, but the fragrance brought the recollection back as sharply as if it had been yesterday. She had been maybe five at the most, and it had been a sunny, summer day. She had followed her Great-Nan around the garden listening to everything about the plants and herbs that looked so pretty. The memory came with an ache; that had been the last time she had seen her Great-Nan before she died.

The plant was called yarrow and her Great-Nan had been adamant it was good for cuts and bruises. Clearly it was good for more than that.

As the scent permeated through her head she managed to twitch her hand. Warmth was spreading from the region of her hip and where it moved through her body the heavy feeling began to dissipate. It could only have been one thing; Mila's pouch.

"That's not possible," the priest said as she lifted her arm.

"You'd be amazed what's possible," she said and shuffled one step forward.

The immobility was leaving her and she sent a mental thank you to her ancient friend. However, it was only going slowly and she could see what was coming next.

The priest picked up an axe and charged at her.

It was stunning what adrenaline could do, even for a vampire. As he swung at her she somehow managed to throw up her arms. Where the strength came from she would never know because her arms moved as if they were made of lead. It took everything she had to catch the handle as the sharp head came towards her and she felt the jarring through her whole body. It was enough to make her wonder if she was mortal again.

"No!" the priest screamed.

He was pushing against her grip, trying so hard to hit her and he was stronger than a normal man. However, he was simply no match for her as more and more strength returned. The priest snarled his rage, but she held firm.

"You have lost," she said, looking for any shred of reason in the man's eyes.

"Never," he spat in her face and jerked away.

She knew he was going for the loft hatch, but she wasn't fast enough to stop him. Her body was still sluggish. Throwing the axe to one side she all but threw herself after him, but the hatch was open. Now he wasn't hiding she could tell he was not quite a normal human. He was faster as well as stronger and she knew she could not let him get away. Forcing herself to move more quickly with every step she chased him to the ladder.

He looked up at her, finally with fear in grim lines of his face before he set off running. Ianthe simply jumped through the hole; there was no way she was letting him escape this time.

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A few of us discovered that we all had supernatural themes for the AtoZ so we got together and did a mini list. If you also have a supernatural theme (ghosts, monsters, witches, spells etc), please feel free to add yourself to the list.

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