Bukavac

Bukavac is a terrifying demonic creature from Southern Slavic folklore, described as a six-legged monster with gnarled horns and a long tail. It lurks in lakes and swamps, emerging at night to terrorize villages and drown unsuspecting victims. Its eerie cries can be heard before it attacks, giving rise to its name which means "the howler".

According to legend, Bukavac was created when a particularly wicked soul drowned in a lake, transforming into this monstrous form. It's said to have power over storms and can whip water into deadly whirlpools. Villagers would avoid lakes at night and sometimes make offerings to appease the creature.

Bukavac represents the dangers lurking in untamed nature and served as a cautionary tale about the perils of wandering near water bodies at night. Its legend may have originated to explain mysterious drownings and disappearances near lakes in the Balkan region.