This week on Myths and Legends, it's a tried and true formula, a talking dog that leads you

in a terrifying, dangerous situations, so basically Scooby-Doo with substantially more

murder.

Also, giant dads that collect human action figures. The creature this

week is a little mouse deer whose adorable dancing leads to moral conundrums. This is myths and legends episode 357 dog days. Dog Days.

This is a podcast where we tell stories from mythology and folklore. Some are incredibly popular stories you might think you know, but with surprising origins.

Others are tales that might be new to you, but are definitely worth a listen.

We're back in Icelandic folklore by way of 19th century English writer Lenora Lang, who apparently did all the work translating and writing

what would come to be known as Andrew Lang's, her husband's, fairy books, what he's best known for today.

As for this story, the history is cloudy. There are

absolutely saga elements to it and the character does take a trip to Yotenheim,

but this definitely tends more toward folk or fairy tale, not being tied to history like a legend or religion like a myth.

We'll jump in with Prince Ring, who has just gone hunting in an actual dark forest. This isn't normal on a hunt, right? Prince Ring started to say before he got a mouthful of tree branch.

Again, Prince Ring, I know you're less fun. Tree Branch, again.

Prince Ring, I know you're less fond of adventures than men of rank usually are in these days,

and you're not famous for strength or feats of arms.

But no, this is not normal on a hunt, his father's huntsman said.

Okay, you don't have to start every sentence with that. I know I'm new at this, Prince

Ring said. But it was nice to know that even by medieval hunt standards,

this was a little weird. It was. They were out chasing a hind, a deer, and after they ran their horses so hard that the animals

gave out beneath them, the forest became a literal dark forest, getting so black that they couldn't

see five feet in front of them.

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