Tag: dailyprompt-2131

When you can’t pick just one: mythical creature edition

Taylor BurianLeave a comment
Daily writing prompt
What are your favorite animals?
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Last year, I answered this prompt talking about real animals, and how I came to love otters as one of my absolute favorite animals. I also ended that post mentioning dragons and phoenixes as favorites, but how they were mythical creatures rather than real animals and that I would discuss them later.

Well, it’s time.

I don’t know that I can really recall WHEN I fell in love with dragons, not like how I can pinpoint it for otters, but they’ve been a favorite of mine for a really long time. Phoenixes I could probably be more precise, as I came around to those probably 15 years ago, partly because Fawkes from the Harry Potter franchise reminded me of their existence but mostly because I learned of how they are opposite dragons when it comes to mythology (and specifically in terms of Yin and Yang in Chinese culture).

For dragons, one of the things that really grabbed me is how prevalent they are throughout world history while maintaining cultural uniqueness. From the different magical elements (like fire and water) to the different physiology’s (two legs, four legs, or even no legs) there is just so much to consider on how they fit into the mythos of our own world at the same time that we utilize them as inspiration in the fictional worlds we create!

As for the phoenix, well, sadly, my knowledge is not as extensive. I know that they are primarily representative of the element of fire, and that they seemingly defy the cycle of life and death through the power of rebirth. I just like how they seem simpler and sit opposite dragons. That’s all, really.

Dragons are, in my opinion, the greatest.

When you can’t pick just one: animal edition

Taylor Burian2 Comments

What are your favorite animals?

Such a simple question, and like all the other simple questions so far, I’m digging in deeper. Favorite animals (thankfully plural) now versus in the past. What I learned about them that made me like them in the first place.

To start, I never really knew much about specific animals, so I couldn’t say for any particular reason why I liked polar bears. I just did, but that is, I assume, a very common thing for kids to do. I could be wrong, though. Aside from our pet cats, I liked polar bears through most of elementary school.

After polar bears I don’t think I ever really had favorite animals, at least none that I can recall. Throughout middle and high school I was engrossed in playing video games and reading the occasional book. Somewhere in there I ended up reading The Pearls of Lutra by Brian Jacques, which followed several different kinds of animals including some otters. At the time I didn’t think much of it, but it was my first book from Brian Jacques which made it more memorable to me than the handful I read later on.

I mentioned the book earlier because I think it helped sew the seed for my eventually liking otters as a favorite. Although I never really went out of my way to learn about them, I learned more about them over time, watched little clips and videos, and they grew on me. So much so that I made my first Pathfinder character have a sea otter as a familiar.

Well, those are all REAL animals. My favorite mythical ones are definitely dragons (I know, shocker) and phoenixes. Maybe I’ll discuss those later.