The Land Archaic

Five - A night torn asunder

"Forgive only Aba

                  for I am young

                     I did not intend my words to be so

                        But I do understand, Aba"

  These are the words Laang had thought of saying. But he did not.

   He had only missed his father's outraged storm out of the torogan, with a stern, angered look. His father the Datu made clear to him his position. Disappointed. How outraged must his father be.

   Laang followed his father's long strides toward the beach. Out of the torogan came a twilight as likely as it should be, red as the god Adlaw permits its sleep. Wind as calm as a beast is fed, fire heating, cooking. As if nothing had occured beforehand. Not a serpent god beneath the subtle seas.Undisturbed yet very ominous and darkened. The earth stretched after him, and seemed tiring. His father must have walked so hard. Disappointed. He smelt the same likable flavour of the wind that had kissed oceans far and far in the world of Maharlika. Flavour of his childhood. A childhood disturbed by the one who is along that beach. An awakening and a disgusting arousal.

  The sun god Adlaw had his daylight in its slumber as it always had. And as it is, so did the god's spouse Bulan awaken from the tranquil dark. The dark sky had crept out and in, in the once picturesque heavens, along with its mother the moon. And as it did with out any doubt, Laang called his father the Datu.

"Aba!..

          Aba! heed!"

                  Aba!" cried Laang.

 Datu Sari ang Daga heard his son call from afar. He didn't know then that he was followed. But even though, he didn't bother to turn about. The anger he once had remains. He can never face his son in an unnatural poise as this. He stopped in the white, blissful sands that seemed gray in the night. He felt his feet in the caress of the urgent earth. A dire call of becoming, but a man one with the earth, as the blood of the gods he has.

 "Laang" as he thought to himself.

  His son. The only child he once knew as like himself.

A child. A child not anymore, but not less.

   His love for Laang shall be known when he succeeds him. And it is himself, the  Datu who should teach a child the ways of the ancient as the witch wielded it be.

   How he missed him dearly. Laang who had cried in his babes when he touched the sea and came for the arms of his protecting father. Laang who asked for the kid's milk when his mother was tired. How he missed the innocent.

  But Laang. Is innocent no more. He was a man, and a boy learning. And he wanted to face him. As a man of dignity does.

"Aba" said Laang.

"My son" as he whispered a greeting.

  Alas! a tremor can be felt even in the cascades of sands. The village had trembled in this unnatural surprise. The waters that was once subtle became a blue beast of mischief. It grew tall and darker. And the beloved evening that once was turn into grim, as a red moon arises to be seen.

  Low and Behold the curse of the Blood Moon.

"Aba! Look at the sea!

         Aba turn away!"

  As the datu finally heard his son calls, he looked at the menacing ocean. The god serpent has it's head aroused from the deep. Its blue eyes locked in a man that was called Datu Sari. And without warning came a thunderous splash of the disturbed waters, and summoned the Bakunawa. It leaped once again to the heavens,

High and Tall.

  But it halted floating below the red moon. It's threatening visage towards the island of Makaraig.

"Aba! 

    Come now!"

  But the Datu was now astounded. Stunned by the serpent's gaze. His son was lost to him.

A call of birds could be heard, a call of life. Fleeing from the mindless god that awaits its fill. And the serpent descended from the heavens and fell into the mouth of the generous ocean. And as it fell, the seas did rise and towards them. And thrusting its sheer weight into the white sands of the village. Unwavering.

"ABA!!!!!!"

 Datu Sari ang Daga who once was the father of the island of Makaraig. Had gone and devoured whole by the sea that had cared for him.

  For the Blood Moon arises, and it shall take what is fated for her.