"The Moon Shines On Death..."

Nectar

BULAN

"Let's just take a dip! The wind people tells me the water is always at the right temperature... not too cold, and never too hot. Plus, the lake is one of a kind. Its waters have healing properties.

"And aren't you the least bit curious to sample the taste of the wine made from sweet nectar? We've both seen how those rare flowers are so beautiful from up here, their fragrance alone makes me want to visit Lake Tranquility at the foot of Mt. Madjaas." My sister Haliya pleaded.

"Really Haliya? You'd like to swim in the lake, but not give a care to what the god of death has gone through just to entice us to visit? Those rare flowers you're so excited about are his creations. That lake was hand made by Sidapa himself, dug with his own bare hands. Didn't you see how he gathered fresh dew drops from heaven to fill Lake Tranquility?" I asked.

"I didn't ask him to tire himself and go through all that trouble, did I? He voluntarily decided to do all that by himself. Plus, who'd want to spend time with Sidapa? He's grumpy! Moody. Always hungry. He's also brooding most of the time. He never goes anywhere without a dark cloud around him."

"If you were given the responsibility to sentence people to death I'm sure you'd be a brooding mess yourself. It's not easy to end someone's life, and watch everyone who loves him get thrown into a pit of sadness. Their cries echoing in your mind incessantly, a constant reminder of how you are the cause of their grief.

"Anyway, the lake is owned by Sidapa. It would be proper to ask for his permission first before we take a swim." I explained.

"Fine. Let's just go down there please? I am so curious to see the lake up close. I'll leave you to deal with Sidapa while I frolick with the mermaids. See if you can lift the corners of Sidapa's lips upward, instead of that frown that seems so be forever plastered on his face. You're good at cheering people up. You've had a lot of practice with your ethereal siblings. I for one am living proof of how easy it is for you to lift my spirits up whenever I'm sad." Haliya replied smiling.

"What! You mean now? We just climbed the sky. Won't the light diminish if we both went missing?" I tried to postpone the visit.

"There's five other moons left! Our other siblings can pretty much handle things while we're gone. It's just for a short while anyway. Unless we get drunk on nectar wine?" Haliya said, giving me a mischievous look, and trying to convince me.

"Well, we should send a group of our wind sylphs first to inform Sidapa of our intention. We shouldn't drop in unannounced. We wouldn't want to inconvinience the god of death in any way now would we?"

"Speak of the devil." Haliya pointed to where Sidapa walked slowly towards the lake. He had a permanent scowl on his face. He stopped midway to talk to the fireflies that formed a pathway from the sky to Sidapa's lake.

I tried to listen, the winds carried his words so that both Haliya and I could hear it. He was thanking them for helping light the path to his lake. Sadness was evident in his low voice. Disappointment and a resigned vibe seemed to be his predominant feelings.

I heard him say that the fireflies were free to disperse, and go about their own business before he recruited them for this undertaking. Again he thanked them, before sending them on their way.

He mentioned that he was on his way to speak with the mermaids, and told the blinking insects to approach him there if they had any concerns. There was a slight change in his attitude. Kinder? Less cruel? Something. But it was evident none the less.

"Oh no. It seems he' giving up. We should go down. Now!" Haliya started giving orders, and immediately an entourage of our finest wind sylphs started floating towards Lake Tranquilty.

"Remember to diminish your light once we reach the lake Haliya. We don't want anyone going blind because of our radiance." I reminded my sister before I began my descent to meet the god of death, hoping it was not too late to take him up on his offer for a visit.

I commanded the wind to carry me gently, remembering to dim my light as I got closer to the ground, descending gracefully the iridescent sky towards the black figure of the death god whose disposition changed enormously when he saw me smiling at him.

My bare feet hovered over the soft soil. I was an arm's length away from the massive figure of the death god who towered over me. His height alone diminished my stature, yet he looked overwhelmed, extremely happy to see me.

Before I knew what I was doing, I gently reached out to touch his cheek to comfort him. His head turned, gently laying his cheek farther to connect with my right palm. His eyes closed, and he sighed.

I couldn't help it, I felt that I was glowing more than I should, and I realized right there and then that we... connected.