The Rooster and the Golden Horn
Once upon a time, in a lush and peaceful forest, there lived a Rabbit and a Rooster who were close friends. At that time, the Rooster was just an ordinary Rooster and did not yet have the nickname "The Rooster". Furthermore, the Rooster had not yet acquired the habit of crowing at dawn, long before dawn. The Rabbit, on the other hand, was blessed with two pairs of very beautiful golden horns. The Rabbit's golden horns dazzled all the inhabitants of the forest, making him adored and admired. Meanwhile, the Rooster felt that he was just an ordinary Rooster whose existence was barely noticed. However, the Rooster felt that his friendship with the Rabbit was not due to the Rabbit's popularity among the Roosters.
some
of the forest dwellers, because their friendship has been established since
they were small.
At
first, the Rooster wasn't bothered or jealous of the Rabbit's fame. They lived
peacefully, sharing stories and laughter under the shade of the trees. However,
one fine day, a cunning fox came to the Rooster's house.
"Hey
Chicken, what are you doing? Can I come into your beautiful and comfortable
house?" the Fox asked politely.
“Please come in, Fox,” the Chicken replied kindly, inviting his guest into
the house. “Why did you suddenly come to my house, Fox? What’s wrong?” the
Chicken asked again.
With
a sweet smile that harbors bad intentions, the Fox offers tempting cooperation.
He admitted that he really wanted the soft and delicious rabbit meat. "So
it's like this Chicken, there's something big I want to tell you, but don't be
angry," said the Fox, still with a sly smile.
“Just
say Fox, I won’t be angry,” the Chicken replied curiously.
“So, Chicken, I really want to eat Rabbit meat. . . but. . . but. . . later
I will hand over the golden horns to you. I only want to eat Rabbit meat,” said
the Fox without the slightest guilt.
Hearing
this cruel request, the Rooster was shocked and furious. He shouted at the Fox
in a loud voice and chased him far away from his house.
“What! You want to eat my friend's rabbit meat?!” shouted the chicken in a
loud voice,
"But... you will have the golden horns," said the Fox, trying to
persuade the Chicken.
“No! ! . . Get out now before I attack you! !” snapped the Chicken
furiously. Immediately the Fox ran away in a panic.
However,
the Fox was a cunning creature and did not give up easily. For several days
afterward, he continued to follow the Rooster, launching incitement after
incitement that poisoned the Rabbit's friend's mind. The Fox convinced the
Rooster that he only needed the Rabbit's meat for his meal, and in return, the
Rooster would be allowed to take the Rabbit's shining golden horns. And if that
happened, it would still be with the Fox's incitement. The Rooster would be far
more admired and respected than even a tiger, and all would bow to the Rooster
if the golden horns were attached to the Rooster's body.
"If
the Rabbit's horns are placed on your legs, the Chicken will respect you, you
will even be more respected than the tiger," said the Fox, again launching
his incitement.
"No,
Fox, I'm happy and comfortable with my current life," replied the Chicken
calmly.
“Don’t you want most or all of the forest dwellers to admire you, Chicken?”
said the Fox, continuing to follow Chicken from behind.
"No, fox, you better go, I'll be meeting my friend Rabbit soon."
The rooster gently shooed the house away. The fox skillfully continued to
instigate the rooster. He reasoned that the rabbit had always been the center
of attention and was praised by all the forest dwellers, while the rooster
seemed to have never been considered.
its existence. In fact, deep within the heart of Si Jago, there is a hidden
desire to have golden horns
The
Rabbit's enchanting golden horns. However, the Champion always dismissed those
evil thoughts and dismissed them from his mind. He believed that his friendship
with Little Inci was far more valuable than the flattery and praise that he
would receive if he possessed his friend's golden horns.
The fox who came to his house almost every day to poison the rooster's
mind, finally slowly began to be incited by the fox's words, the rooster
finally spoke out, that he had once had a desire to have the rabbit's golden
horns, but he never knew how to make it happen.
“Hmmm.. so this is it Fox, indeed, in the past, I felt like I wanted to
have the Rabbit’s horns, but I didn’t know how, because you know, right? The
Rabbit was good to me,” said the Chicken sounding desperate.
“Chicken.. when it comes to being nice, I can be a good friend to you, even
better than Rabbit,” said the Fox, which sounded very sweet to the ear. The
Chicken only glanced at the Fox for a moment and smiled slightly.
"What are your words, can I believe Fox?" asked the Chicken.
"You
can trust me, you can even trust me more than the Rabbit who always makes you
feel like you are his servant," said the Fox, continuing to instigate,
“But
I never felt that way, Fox, and neither did the Rabbit towards me,” replied the
Rooster wisely,
"But all the forest dwellers see you and Rabbit like that Chicken, if
you walk together, all the forest dwellers whisper, if you two are like master
and servant" The fox with his cunning voice, ..
“So what are you waiting for, Chicken? Do you want to be looked down upon
for the rest of your life by all the inhabitants of the Forest? Do you want to
be the Rabbit’s slave for the rest of your life? .. think about Chicken. ..
think about your future and your children’s future,” the Fox explained at
length, teasing the Chicken’s mind. Hearing the Fox’s words, the Chicken was
stunned for a moment, thinking about all the Fox’s words, which little by
little began to sound reasonable.
After
days of wrestling with his thoughts, the Rooster finally, reluctantly, agreed
to the Fox's evil proposal. Thus, the Rooster and the Fox began to carefully
plan a trap for the Rabbit.
“Fox,
let’s just postpone this plan,” said the Chicken, feeling unsure about their
plan.
“Postpone? .. postponed you say Chicken?” replied the Fox feeling
irritated,
“Yes. I don’t think this is the right time for our plan,” Ayam replied,
feeling uncertain.
“Oooh. . no way, Chicken, just calm down. . just follow all my plans, okay?
. trust me, everything will be fine,” said the Fox enthusiastically.
"Yeah... it's up to you, Fox," the Chicken replied resignedly.
They
devised a cunning strategy to trap their innocent friend. The fox would
distract the rabbit by inviting him to play away from home, while the rooster
would hide in the thick bushes, waiting for the right moment to carry out his
cruel act. This plan initially excited the rooster, imagining himself
possessing the golden horns he had always desired. However, as the day drew
near, the doubts and guilt that haunted him grew. He knew full well that his
close friendship with the rabbit would be shattered if this evil plan
succeeded.
The
appointed day arrived with a bright forest atmosphere, but behind the beauty of
its rays, there was a hidden anxiety that lurked in every corner. The Fox, with
fake cheerful steps, began to carry out his cunning role. He approached the
Rabbit who was busy eating forest sedangan in the meadow near the edge of the
forest, the place they had agreed on in their evil plan. With a sweet voice
full of falsehood, the Fox invited the Rabbit to play and look for fresh fruit
deeper in the forest. The Rabbit, who did not suspect the slightest, accepted
his friend's invitation happily. He hopped happily after the Fox, unaware of
the danger that awaited him.
Meanwhile,
the Rooster, his heart pounding, hid behind the thick bushes at the edge of the
forest. His sharp eyes watched the Rabbit and the Fox's every move, waiting for
the right moment to launch his carefully planned action with the Fox. However,
as the Rabbit and the Fox drew closer to the ambush, the Rooster began to see
more clearly the expressions on his friends' faces. The Rabbit hopped about
cheerfully, his ears twitching playfully, and occasionally stopped to taste the
berries of the forest grass growing along the path. There was not a hint of
suspicion or fear on his innocent face. He completely trusted the Fox and had
no idea that danger was lurking.
Seeing
his friend's trust and innocence, Si Jago's heart suddenly felt like it had
been struck by lightning in broad daylight. Guilt and regret surged through his
chest.
All
desire, envy, and the desire to possess the golden horns vanished. He saw the
sincerity and kindness of the Rabbit who had always been by his side, and his
heart rebelled, refusing to betray such a good friend to him. The evil whispers
of the Fox that had been poisoning his mind all this time disappeared
instantly, replaced by the voice of his conscience telling him not to do
something despicable. Finally, the Chicken came out of hiding and finally a
commotion between them occurred.
Not
far from where the Fox, the Rooster, and the Rabbit were, a large tiger was
silently watching from behind the thick trees. The wise King of the Jungle,
though he saw the intrigue and potential danger lurking, chose not to involve
himself in the affairs of the Fox, the Rooster, and the Rabbit. He believed
that each forest creature must face and solve its own problems, and the law of
the jungle would run its course.
Before
carrying out his evil plan to attack and prey on the Rabbit, the cunning Fox
tried to plant the seeds of enmity between the two friends. He approached the
Rabbit and whispered poisonous words, saying that in fact the Rooster had long
harbored deep envy and desperately wanted the golden horns that were the
Rabbit's pride. Although the Rabbit felt doubtful and found it difficult to
believe the words of the Fox who was known for being full of deceit, he could
not completely ignore the evil whispers that began to creep into his heart.
Finally, the misunderstanding and tension created by the Fox triggered a fierce
fight between the Rooster who felt cornered by false accusations and the Fox
who was filled with lust for his prey. Finally, with anger peaking, the Rooster
immediately attacked the Fox, the Rooster attacked repeatedly from several
directions.
Unfortunately,
despite the Rooster's best efforts, he was ultimately overwhelmed by the Fox's
superior cunning and physical strength, forcing him to flee for his life.
Forced to flee together, the Rooster and the loyal Rabbit fled, leaving the Fox
feeling the upper hand and increasingly eager to pursue them.
The Rabbit and the Chicken ran as fast as they could into the forest,
followed by the Fox who was still quite far behind them, when the Chicken and
Rabbit thought they would hide. Suddenly they were approached by a tiger who
had been stalking them. Seeing the big tiger in front of them, the Rabbit and
Chicken were very panicked and thought this Tiger would prey on them.
"Where are you going?" said the Tiger with a deep voice and an
unfriendly face, "want to hide from the Fox's pursuit" said the
Chicken with a very scared face, "yeah. . yes we want to hide"
continued the Rabbit with a trembling voice. Meanwhile the Tiger with his
unfriendly face got closer to the Rabbit. But the Chicken quickly chased him
away. "What do you want with my friend" said the Chicken standing
right in front of the Rabbit and Tiger, "Hey Rabbit, give your golden
horns to the Chicken" said the Tiger, "for what?" replied the
Rabbit still in a scared tone. Seeing the frightened expressions of the two
friends, the Tiger took a few steps back, “in the past the horn actually
belonged to the Rooster’s ancestor, and it was a very powerful weapon” said the
Tiger reminiscing, “so what now?” replied the Rabbit, “give the horn now to the
Rooster and let him face the Fox” said the Tiger with his order, without
thinking long, the Rabbit let go of his golden horn and immediately gave it to
the Rooster or the Rooster.
Meanwhile, the Fox who came looking for them was getting closer. After
wearing the golden Horn, the Rooster climbed on a tree branch and crowed long,
a sign that he was challenging the Fox, the Fox who saw that, immediately
jumped to hit the Rooster, but the Rooster swiftly avoided and immediately hit
the Fox. The Rooster seemed to have gotten a new strength, he hit the Fox with
full force, the Fox was shocked, "Where did you get that strength,
Rooster?" asked the Fox, with his body still lying on the ground,
"Don't you see my two feet?" asked the Rooster, "What? ?! "
exclaimed the fox in surprise, "You've killed the Rabbit and taken his
horns?" said the Fox with wide eyes, "The Rabbit is with the Tiger
watching this fight" replied the Rooster while pointing at the Rabbit and
the Tiger. Immediately the Fox directed his gaze at the Rabbit and Tiger,
knowing that the Fox was directing his gaze at himself and the Tiger, the
Rabbit waved his front paw at the Fox, as if mocking the Fox, "What really
happened to you guys?" asked the Fox, getting more emotional. Suddenly
from his place, the Tiger shouted "quickly finish this fight Chicken,
before the Fox's words poison your mind again" shouted the Tiger. The
Chicken turned to the Tiger and gave a nod, and immediately he attacked the
Fox, with his weak body the Fox was unable to stand let alone reply, finally in
his final attack the Chicken swung the Rabbit Horn which was now attached to
his leg towards the Fox's neck which ultimately made the Fox unable to move
anymore and soon died.
“I didn’t expect you to defeat the Fox so quickly,” said the Tiger as he approached
the Rooster who was still frozen in place, as if he couldn’t believe what had
just happened.
“It’s all thanks to these great horns! That’s why I was able to defeat the
Fox,” the Rooster replied proudly, showing off the golden horns on his feet.
Hearing the Rooster's words, the Tiger expressionlessly shook his head.
"It's not because of those golden horns that you can defeat this cunning
Fox," the Tiger said in his characteristically deep voice.
“Hey, didn’t you just say that these golden horns are a powerful weapon?”
replied the Chicken, showing off the golden horns on its legs more clearly.
“That’s right, but no matter how good and powerful a weapon is, it will be
useless if the one who owns it doesn’t have the spirit to fight,” said the
Tiger wisely, which made the Chicken and the Rabbit stunned for a moment,
contemplating the meaning of the King of the Jungle’s words.
"It was your passion to defend your friends and yourself that defeated
the fox. You only used the golden horns on your feet once, and that was when
the fox was already helpless. So clearly, it wasn't the golden horns that won
you the victory," the tiger continued, emphasizing the courage and
determination of the rooster and rabbit.
Hearing
the Tiger's meaningful words, the Rooster and the Rabbit felt a new, deeper
understanding of true friendship and courage. They realized that true strength
lies not in weapons or physical superiority, but rather in an unyielding spirit
and a willingness to protect one another.
Finally,
from that moment on, as a token of appreciation for his unwavering courage and
loyalty, the Rooster was bestowed with the honorary title of "The
Champion" by the wise and prudent King of the Jungle. The King then
proclaimed this new title throughout the jungle with a thunderous voice, so
that all the inhabitants of the jungle would know of the extraordinary courage
and honor that the Rooster had achieved. From that moment on, until today,
throughout the wilderness, the Rooster is always known and called by the
nickname "The Champion," a reminder of his courage and spirit.
As an expression of sincere gratitude from the bottom of his heart, and as
a symbol of the eternal friendship that existed between the two of them, the
Rabbit voluntarily and without the slightest coercion offered his precious
golden horn to the Roc. This gift, which had deep meaning, was witnessed by
almost all the forest residents present at the scene, becoming an unforgettable
moment
However,
it was truly unfortunate that, instead of feeling humbled and increasingly
appreciative of the friendship that had stood the test, after receiving a new,
honorable title from the King of the Forest and receiving a beautiful golden
horn as a gift from his loyal friend, the Rooster experienced a striking change
in attitude. He became arrogant and proud, feeling himself superior to the
other forest dwellers. He often showed off his sparkling golden horn to anyone
who passed by, in a high tone and full of excessive pride. Wherever he went,
the Rooster always walked alone with his chest puffed out and his head held
high, as if forgetting the services and kindness of the Rabbit who had helped
him so much.
After his fame as the Champion, who had golden horns that were greatly
admired by the forest dwellers spread throughout the forest, the Phoenix, a
relative of the Chicken, who was also cunning and full of intrigue, came to the
Champion at his home. With sweet pleasantries and seductive words, the Phoenix
praised the Champion's greatness and said that the golden horns he now had were
very beautiful and suited him very well, among other cunning compliments.
After
a long and deceptive exchange that night, the Ponix excused himself and went
home. The next night, the Ponix returned to the Rooster's house, carrying a
bundle of broad leaves. Inside were several long, curved tail feathers of a
beautiful, sparkling color. The Ponix gave the tail feathers to the Rooster as
a gift and to strengthen their bond, and the Rooster gladly accepted them and
immediately added them to his already beautiful tail. It was then, unbeknownst
to the Rooster, that the origin of a Rooster having several tail feathers that
towered longer and more beautifully than the rest began.
However, it turns out that Ponix has a hidden and cunning intention behind his
excessive hospitality. He actually really wants Si Jago's golden horn for his
own benefit. In a pitiful tone, Ponix begged Si Jago to lend him his golden
horn on the grounds that that night he had to go to meet the very beautiful
Fairy Queen above the Rainbow, and had to appear with a stunning and different
appearance than usual. Initially, Si Jago who really loved his golden horn,
then firmly refused to lend it. "But you already have feathers that are
almost all shiny Ponix" said Si Rooster while looking at Ponix's shiny
feathers. "But Jago, It's useless for all my feathers to shine if my feet
don't shine, it feels like something is missing" Ponix replied in a
pitiful tone of voice, "But what is the meaning of this golden horn Ponix
compared to the shine of your feathers" replied Si Rooster again.
"But come on Jago, I only borrowed it for a moment, before dawn comes, I
have already arrived here, to return your golden horn" said Si Ponix still
with his seduction. "But what if you don't come before dawn?" asked
the Rooster, feeling worried, "It's easy, Rooster, you just climb onto the
roof of your house and crow as loud as possible, if I hear it I will
immediately come and return your golden horn," said the Ponix promisingly.
The
Ponix continued to coerce and seduce with sweet words full of lies, promising
to tell the Rainbow fairy that the golden horn she wore belonged to the Rooster
as a form of respect. Finally, with a heavy heart and persuaded by the Ponix's
seduction, the Rooster lent him his precious golden horn. The Ponix promised to
return from the rainbow before dawn, that is, when dawn broke, and would
immediately return the golden horn to the Rooster without delay. If the Ponix
had not returned by dawn, the Ponix told the Rooster to shout with a loud,
distinctive rooster's voice, namely crowing, as a call for the Ponix to
immediately return from the Rainbow. The innocent Rooster finally agreed to the
Ponix's request without realizing the trickery that was being planned.
That
night, amidst the silence of the forest, Si Jago couldn't close his eyes for
even a moment. He kept awake, feeling the anxiety that gripped his heart mixed
with the hope that plagued his mind relentlessly. His thoughts focused on the
arrival of Si Ponix from Pelangi, a place he imagined to be of stunning beauty
inhabited by rain and rainbow fairies. But unfortunately, as time passed, Si
Jago's wait seemed increasingly futile. The cunning and deceitful Si Ponix
never arrived, bringing with him the precious golden horn that had been
entrusted to him. The anxiety that gripped Si Jago's mind grew even more
intense, mixed with feelings of being deceived and betrayed. Finally, with a
heart filled with pain, Si Jago jumped up onto the roof of his high house,
facing the sky that was beginning to turn pink, signifying the imminent dawn.
With all his might, he gave a loud crow, calling to Si Ponix in the hope that
his kinsman would soon return and keep his promise. Time and again the Rooster
raised his voice in pain and sorrow, but the Phoenix still did not appear, as
if swallowed by the splendor of the beautiful colors of the rainbow. Day turned
to night, sunrise and sunset marked the cycle of time that continued to pass,
but the Phoenix never returned. Since then, when the thin mist still covered
the forest and dawn began to signal its appearance at the end of the morning,
the Rooster continued to sing his crow pleadingly, calling out to the Phoenix
that had taken his golden horn. His crowing became an eternal reminder of
betrayed friendship, broken promises, and wasted trust. And so this story
continues to be passed down from generation to generation, explaining to all
forest creatures why the Rooster always crows loudly every dawn and feels a
deep longing, as if calling out to a figure that never comes, a lament of
feeling the loss and betrayal that is so great.
Lost Fireflies
In a hidden forest in Fairyland, a group of fireflies lived under the shade
of a large, shady tree. When night fell, the fireflies emerged one by one from
their nests to search for food. The tiny larvae lived with their mothers in the
cool, damp soil. Their home was no mere burrow—it was a vast underground
kingdom, large enough to house many families. They coexisted with colonies of
ground ants and termites, tiny creatures of vastly different shapes and forms.
Yet, these differences never became a barrier. They lived peacefully,
respecting one another, and never quarreling. One quiet night, the fireflies
emerged from hiding to hunt for food. At that time, none of them had a
twinkling light on their bodies. Yes, they had not yet been blessed with the
light that would later become their trademark. Nevertheless, their spirit never
waned. Cheerfully, the male fireflies flew high until they were level with the
stalks of the weeds, exploring the silent night, yet full of natural riddles
and mysteries. Meanwhile, the female fireflies preferred to explore the surface
of the ground, sneaking among the intersecting grass roots, looking for hidden
snacks. That night, a young firefly named Sekun quietly joined the group of
adult fireflies in search of food. He was curious about the stories the adult
fireflies often told about the vast and bright outside world. Not to mention
Nono the red ladybug and Didi the little ant, Sekun's friends, they often told
stories about how the world out there was so beautiful and vast, and there was
so much other life, that made Sekun's determination to sneak out of their nest
even stronger. He wanted to prove what Nono and Didi said, and more
importantly, he also wanted to show off to his two friends, that he had also
traveled around the outside world.
And that was Sekun's first time seeing the outside world. Since hatching,
he had never been allowed to leave the nest before his wings had fully grown.
But tonight, without his parents' knowledge, Sekun slipped among the crowd of
adult fireflies. His small size made him unnoticed by anyone. Carefully and
full of curiosity, he stepped out of his dark, hidden dwelling in the ground.
As soon as he stepped out, his eyes widened. The night sky stretched wide above
him, decorated with a sprinkling of twinkling stars and the soft glow of the
moon. "Waaaah. .. so, it's true what Nono the red ladybug and Didi the ant
said, this is what the outside world is like. .." he murmured in awe, his
gaze fixed on the enchanting sky. Sekun looked down, seeing his two wings that
were now starting to glisten in the moonlight. He moved them slowly, trying to
imitate the movements of adult fireflies who immediately spread and move their
wings and immediately fly as soon as they leave the nest. The night breeze
touched his tiny body, and a mixed feeling of nervousness and happiness filled
his chest.
Sekun
tried again to imitate the flight of adult male fireflies. He carefully
observed how they opened and flapped their wings, as if the movements were so
natural and effortless.
With
excitement, Sekun watched each adult firefly as they began to lift their bodies
into the air, their wings fluttering gently but powerfully. Feeling he had
learned enough, Sekun plucked up the courage. He unfolded his young wings,
still hidden beneath his small body, and began to flap slowly.
But
unfortunately—what a shame—her wings weren't fully developed. Her young wings
couldn't yet catch enough air to lift her tiny body off the ground. She tried
harder, flapped faster, but her body remained motionless.
“Oh my.. what's wrong with my wings?” Sekun complained softly, his eyes
welling with tears. He kept trying, over and over again, hoping for a miracle
that would allow him to float like the others.
One by one, the adult male fireflies had soared high,
scattering in the night air. Now, only Sekun was left on the ground, alone.
Several female fireflies had also dispersed, exploring the gaps between the
grass roots in search of food. Sekun stared at them from a distance, his heart
filled with disappointment and loneliness, his eyes dimmed, as if losing their
sparkle like stars covered by clouds. Now only Sekun, the little firefly,
continued to walk along the grass roots. The soft moonlight helped him see the
way, bright enough to keep him going in the silent night.
Suddenly,
an idea struck him. Sekun tried climbing a tall weed, hoping to easily soar
from the heights. However, having never done it before, after only a few times
climbing or climbing a tall weed, his small body fell again. He got up, tried
again, and fell again. This continued over and over again, until an old cricket
came to him.
"Hey, firefly, what are you doing there?" said the cricket as he
approached with his small steps.
"Hey, Uncle Cricket! I'm trying to climb this grass stalk," Sekun
replied, still trying to hold on to the tall weed stalk.
"Why don't you just fly up?" asked Uncle Cricket in surprise.
"I've tried, Uncle... but my wings don't seem strong enough to
fly," Sekun answered softly, then leaned tiredly against a stalk of grass
that he had never managed to conquer.
Uncle Cricket stared at him for a moment, then smiled. "Want me to
help you fly up?"
Sekun immediately nodded enthusiastically. "Yes, yes! I want to,
Uncle!" he exclaimed happily.
"Okay. Hold on tight, okay, to my front legs. I'm going to jump and
flap my wings."
Once Sekun felt his grip was strong enough, he gave the signal, "Come
on, Uncle! I'm ready!"
"Okay, let's fly!" cried Uncle Cricket. With a powerful push of
his hind legs, he shot into the air and flapped his wings. They soared through
the night air.
"Wow! Uncle! What a beautiful view from up here!" Sekun exclaimed
in admiration as he looked down.
But
the happiness didn't last long. Uncle Cricket soon perched on the top of a tall
weed.
"Well, we're here," he said.
"Well... why only for a moment, Uncle?" Sekun sounded
disappointed.
"I can only fly for a short time, son. I'm a cricket, not like
butterflies or grasshoppers that can fly far and for a long time,"
explained Uncle Cricket with a smile.
"Okay then, Uncle. I'll stay here. Thank you very much, Uncle,"
said Sekun as he released his grip from Uncle Jangkrik's leg.
"Hey, what's your name, kid?" asked Uncle Cricket as he prepared
to fly again.
"My name is Sekun, Uncle."
"Okay, Sekun. I'll continue my journey, okay?"
"Yes, be careful, Uncle!" shouted Sekun, even though his voice
was probably no longer heard by the crickets who had disappeared among the
thick grass that night.
to
the next part of the story is also very welcome.
On
top of the tall grass, Sekun remained silent for a long time. He was trying to
gather the courage and strength to flap his wings and dive. However, the
courage wouldn't come. His body seemed to tremble every time he tried to jump,
and this happened repeatedly.
Just
as he was about to try flying again, an ant was seen climbing quickly from
below, heading towards Sekun.
“Hey, Sekun! What are you doing up there?” the ant exclaimed as soon as it
reached him.
“Hey, Uncle Ant. How did you know I was here?” Sekun asked in surprise.
"I met the Cricket earlier. He said you were around here," Uncle
Ant replied.
“Yes, Uncle. I’m learning to fly,” Sekun said quietly, without explaining
the real reason why he left the nest.
“You should still be in the nest, Sekun,” Uncle Ant reprimanded him in a
gentle but firm tone.
"Yes, Uncle... but I also want to know what the outside world is like.
It turns out it's vast and beautiful," Sekun replied, trying to avoid the
real question.
"Come on, I'll take you back to the nest. Your mother must be looking
for you," said Uncle Ant, holding out his hand.
"No need, Uncle. I'll go home by myself. You don't need to worry, I'm
an adult," Sekun declined gently but firmly.
Uncle
Ant was silent for a moment. His expression was one of disappointment. He then
turned and began to slowly descend from the grass stalk.
“Okay then, Sekun.. I’ll just go,” he said quietly, before leaving Sekun
alone on the tall grass.
Sekun
refocused. He stared at the tall grass stalk in front of him—the place where he
would attempt his first flight. Heart pounding, he took a running start, took a
deep breath, and then leaped from the tip of the stalk.
Her
tiny wings spread open. She tried to flap with all her might, though her
movements were still stiff and far from perfect. Her wings weren't as strong
and flexible as those of a full-grown firefly, but her determination far
outweighed her fear.
"Aaaaaaa!!!" Sekun shouted, half panicked, half happy, sliding
through the air like a falling dewdrop.
Just
before his small body hit the ground, his eyes were suddenly dazzled by a very
bright light. The light appeared suddenly, and almost blinded him. Sekun
staggered, shocked, not knowing where it came from. As he fell, Sekun felt his
body not touch the ground, when he realized that his body was already under the
stalk of the weeds, he looked around, and how shocked Sekun was when he
realized that he had fallen on a creature that was about five times his size.
"Hey.. heeei! Who are you?" Sekun exclaimed in surprise, jumping
back. "How did you get here?" he continued in a tone of surprise
mixed with suspicion.
"Please... help me," the winged creature whispered. Its
appearance did not resemble any insect Sekun had ever seen.
"Wow... you have wings too! You look like a dragonfly, but... I don't
think so," Sekun muttered as he continued to observe the creature with
great curiosity.
"Help... me... help," repeated the creature in a voice weak and
full of pain.
"What's wrong with you?" Sekun asked, daring to approach the face
of the creature who turned out to be a fairy.
"Take me away from here.. I can't fly anymore," said the fairy,
followed by a muffled groan.
"Y-yes.. but how can I carry you? My body is small, while your body is
much bigger," Sekun replied with obvious confusion.
"Come here... come closer," the fairy asked weakly, waving her
hands in slow motions, begging Sekun to come closer.
With a wavering feeling of doubt, Sekun slowly approached. However, after a
few steps, he stopped, seemingly considering something. "Can I trust
you?" he asked hesitantly to the dying-looking Fairy.
The
fairy could only nod weakly in response. Sekun took a deep breath, gathered his
courage, and stepped closer again.
When
she was very close, the fairy reached for Sekun's head with her trembling
hands. From that touch, a soft, multicolored light flowed, spreading throughout
Sekun's body. Suddenly, perhaps exhausted or for some other reason, the fairy
released her hand from Sekun's head and instantly lost consciousness.
Seeing
the fairy lying motionless, Sekun was struck with panic. Without thinking, he
immediately turned and ran away from the fairy, seeking help as quickly as he
could.
However, after only a few steps he ran, his body felt like it was getting
bigger. Its wings, which were previously neatly folded, now extend long from
its back. Sekun stopped, staring at the drastic changes that suddenly hit his
body. "Wow.
After
a moment of silence and realizing the changes had stopped, he turned to look at
the Fairy, who was still lying weakly on the bed of dry grass. Now, the miracle
had happened again: their bodies were now the same size.
Sekun approached Peri who was still lying helplessly. "Hey, where do
you want me to take you?" he asked while shaking Peri's body carefully.
Slowly, Peri's eyes opened. When she realized the insect in front of her was
now the same size, maybe even bigger than her, she smiled faintly with sad eyes
etched on her face. She looked at Sekun, "Take me to a safe place... a
place where no one is." Her voice was still weak and trembling.
For a moment, Sekun thought hard, searching for the right place to take the
ailing Peri. "I need the help of another insect to help you," Sekun
said, half-panicked.
"Don't... don't! The more people know about me, the greater the danger
that lurks for me," the Fairy replied urgently.
That answer confused Sekun even more. "Okay," he decided,
"I'll take you to a really quiet place. But after that, promise me
everything, okay?" Sekun said, continuing to stare at Peri, who looked
increasingly weak. The fairy simply nodded slowly, without making another
sound.
Sekun
thought hard, where would he take this Fairy, while this was the first time he
had known the outside world, this was the first time he had left his colony
nest, he didn't know the place around him at all, because everywhere there
would definitely be other insects that would see him, especially ants who
didn't know when they were sleeping, besides they seemed to be everywhere,
unlike fireflies whose numbers were only a few.
Sekun tried to take out his wings and flapped them as if preparing to fly,
a smile spread across his face when he saw his wings come out and move as he
thought, slowly he lifted his legs and flapped his wings harder, and finally
his body lifted, he tried to fly higher, and sure enough he could fly higher
than he wanted, when he was in the air he looked down at the fairy who was
still lying on the grass, when he looked straight, he saw a large and tall tree
that was not too far away. He went down and lifted the fairy towards the big
tree. He put the fairy between his head and body, he flew higher, approaching
the very large tree, the tree was very large, its branches and twigs towered
out as if it were a sky for the insects that sheltered under it, while the main
trunk was very large and towered high into the sky, Sekun flew several times
around the tree looking for a place that really did not have a single insect or
other creature there, after circling for a while, finally Sekun found a high
and shady branch, then Sekun put the fairy on the branch, then took some leaves
to make a kind of tent for the fairy. After feeling safe, Sekun asked the fairy
again. "I think you're safe here now," said Sekun while looking
around. "What else can I do for you?" he continued, looking back at
the fairy's face, hoping to get an answer. However, the fairy remained silent,
her eyes still tightly closed. She looked very weak, Sekun did not know what
had happened to her.
While waiting for the fairy to regain consciousness, Sekun stood where he was,
no longer asking questions. He examined his body, which was now several times
larger than before. He lifted his legs, wiggled them, and then played his wings
alternately, left and right, as if still in disbelief at the changes he had
undergone. "This change is too fast," he muttered as he continued to
observe the rest of his body.
Finally, the fairy regained consciousness. However, when she opened her
eyes, her face looked much older. The wrinkles on her face and skin were
becoming more pronounced and numerous. "Hey... what's wrong with
you?" Sekun exclaimed, shocked by the drastic changes in the fairy's body.
"It's okay," the Fairy replied haltingly, as if holding back
pain.
"Where are you from? Why are you here? Then, what's your name?"
Sekun asked with a barrage of questions.
"Can you leave me alone for a moment? I'll try to recover my strength
and power first. Just make sure no one outside comes in here," the Fairy
said weakly.
"Yes, okay. But later you have to answer all my questions," Sekun
replied as he moved away from Peri.
The
fairy watched Sekun walk away. After feeling a safe distance away, the fairy
slowly adjusted her sitting position, then stood up and closed her eyes. She
then spread her wings wide. Once they were fully extended, she slowly extended
her arms, parallel to their wingspan.
Just
as her hands were level with her wings, a shimmering purple light suddenly
radiated from the tips of her wings, illuminating the night air around her in a
bright purple. As the purple light seemed to engulf her, the Fairy's face and
body color suddenly changed, and her hair color also changed, along with it,
growing longer.
Meanwhile, not far away, Sekun sat with his back to the Fairy, who was
performing the ritual customary for the Star Fairies to reawaken their magical
powers. His entire body was enveloped in a shimmering yellow light. This would
restore the Star Fairies to their former glory, both in strength and
physicality.
Sekun perched on a tree branch, gazing at the bright moon. He was
accompanied by the sounds of night insects searching for food. "Who is
she? Why is her body so strange? She has legs on the bottom and also legs on
the front," Sekun muttered thoughtfully. "But why do her wings look
so much like aunt butterfly wings?" he continued, feeling even stranger
about the fairy's figure.
Meanwhile,
the Fairy's condition seemed to be improving. After all the light had
disappeared from her body and her transformation seemed complete, she raised
both hands simultaneously upward. When the backs of her palms met above her
head, another explosion of sparkling light occurred. Afterward, the Fairy sat
up, her face radiant, as if she wasn't herself just moments ago. Now, her appearance
was completely different.
A moment after the change, Sekun's body suddenly returned to its original
size. This was because the magical power in Sekun's body had been withdrawn by
the Fairy. Sekun looked at his body which was slowly shrinking back to its
original shape. "Waaah. .. waaah. .. what's wrong with this again? What's
wrong with my body again?" he exclaimed in a frightened tone. Meanwhile,
from a distance not too far away, the Fairy watched the changes in Sekun's body
while chuckling softly, her hand almost covering her mouth. While her other
hand was directed at Sekun's body, she withdrew her magical power into Sekun's
body, it looked like there was a constant light flowing from Sekun's body to
the Fairy's hand.
“Hey little insect, what’s wrong with you,” the fairy shouted as she flew
closer to Sekun. “Hey.. who are you? Where did that creature go? Did you eat
him?” Sekun asked with a frightened expression. “Hey little insect, can you
just ask one question? Every time you talk?” the fairy said with a smile.
“Yeah.. who are you?” Sekun asked in a firm voice. The fairy flew even closer
to Sekun.
“I’m Sekun. I’m a firefly… but I can’t fly,” Sekun replied, somewhat
embarrassed. Then he added, as if to emphasize his identity, “Oh yeah, I’m not
an insect… I’m a firefly.”
Fairy Mada chuckled, then replied while
floating casually in the air, “Yes, you are indeed an insect—a firefly.” Her
words sounded teasing, even a little mocking.
Sekun stared at him, confused. Mada's personality seemed to have changed
drastically—a far cry from before. He was now so agile, flying here and there,
and his speech was more lively, as if he had just regained all his energy.
"But... they call us fireflies," Sekun replied with a serious face,
still trying to explain his identity.
“They?” asked the fairy Mada as if she didn’t care. “Who are ‘they’?” asked
Mada again, hovering above Sekun’s head while spinning in small circles as if
dancing in the air. “Many… they live around where we live,” Sekun replied while
continuing to stare at the sky, following Mada’s constantly shifting flight
direction.
“Who are they?” Mada asked again, this time moving quickly and stopping
right in front of Sekun’s face, making their eyes almost level.
“There’s Uncle Cricket and his family,” Sekun said, starting to count with
his little feet. “There’s Uncle Ant, Aunt Butterfly, Aunt Termite… and many more.
They all call us fireflies.” Sekun named each of his relatives proudly. His
eyes continued to follow Mada as she flew around him curiously.
“Where are you from?” Sekun asked innocently. “Me? Oh yes. .. me?” Peri
Mada nodded slowly, then said in a somewhat arrogant tone, “I come from a place
very far away, even further than you can imagine.” She said, “Wow! Where is
that?” Sekun asked with wide-eyed amazement.
“Hmmm.. how do I explain it to you?” Peri Mada suddenly lowered her head,
continuing to flap her wings slowly. Her head was lowered, looking down, as if
there was an inexpressible sadness. Seeing the change in Mada’s expression,
Sekun felt guilty. “Sorry… then, I’ll just change my question,” Sekun said
softly, his voice sounding sad. “What is it?” asked Peri Mada without looking
up. “May I ask… why did you get here?”
The
question immediately brought Fairy Mada's eyes to life. She lifted her head and
flew around Sekun excitedly.
“Good question, young man!” she exclaimed, then brought her face closer to
Sekun’s. Reflexively, Sekun pulled away slightly. “I’m here to look for the
fallen star child near where you live,” Mada replied excitedly. “And then?”
Sekun asked briefly, expressionless. “Then… I was tasked with chasing him all
the way here,” Peri Mada continued in a mysterious tone. “Why were you like a
fish out of water earlier?” Sekun asked again, innocently.
“Huh?! What? The fish ran out of water? How do you know that fish that run
out of water will become weak?” asked Peri Mada, staring at Sekun with a face
full of suspicion.
"My mother told me," Sekun answered quietly, then stood up and
walked towards a larger branch.
"Hey.. where are you going?" asked Peri Mada while flying
following Sekun from behind.
"I don't know, maybe I just want to go home," Sekun answered
without looking back, his steps continued along the branches.
"Hey.. hey, will you help me?" asked Peri Mada, now flying
parallel beside Sekun.
"Help with what?" asked Sekun, still walking.
"Help me find the child of the fallen star," said Fairy Mada.
"What?! I... help you?" Sekun stopped in his tracks. He was
shocked—shocked that someone was actually asking him for help.
"Yes... please help me find the star child who fell into this
forest," replied Fairy Mada with a serious face.
"Yes... well, fine. If you insist," Sekun finally said, resigned.
"But... how can I help? Are you going to cast a spell on my body
again?" she asked hopefully but also doubtfully.
"Hmm... maybe," replied Fairy Mada teasingly. "But after we
find the star child, I'll give you a special gift." However, in her heart,
Mada was just talking nonsense so that Sekun would be willing to accompany her.
"Okay then. Just tell me, how can I help you?" Sekun said, then
sat down on a branch, gazing at the stunning beauty of the night. Starlight
scattered across the sky, insects flitted about in search of food, while the
sounds of other insects could be heard faintly from behind the grass and
leaves.
"I'll tell you later," said Fairy Mada softly.
"But... why did your body look so weak and powerless before?"
"Ahahaha. .. you're still questioning that?" Peri Mada landed
beside Sekun, smiling slightly. "I've had a very long and tiring journey.
It drained all my strength and power, and I had to conserve my strength, and
now everything is back to normal again!" she exclaimed with a happy tone
of voice and movements.
"How long was your trip?" asked Sekun curiously.
"Very long. .. hundreds of sunrises and sunsets," Mada replied,
staring straight ahead, as if reminiscing about the time that had passed.
"Then, there are more than Uncle Thousand Feet's legs," Sekun
muttered, occasionally glancing at him.
"How many legs does Uncle Thousand Legs have?" asked Mada with an
amused smile.
"My mother said there were so many. Almost as many as the dots of
light visible above the horizon," Sekun replied, trying to explain as best
as he could.
Fairy Mada couldn't hold back her laughter. "Ahahahaha! Who ever
counted the dots of light in the sky?" she said, continuing to laugh.
"Yes, at least that's what my mother said. And Nono the red ladybug
also told me that," said Sekun.
"Who is Nono the red ladybug?"
"Oh, he was my good friend. But since he could fly, he never came back
to our nest under the tree," Sekun answered, his voice soft, there was a
note of longing in his memories.
"Then, do you only have one friend or best friends?" asked Fairy
Mada
"No,
I still have one more friend, his name is Didi the Ant," Sekun answered in
a low voice,
“Then? Where is Didi now?”
“Hmm.. I don't know, it seems like he and his family moved somewhere,”
Sekun answered, looking down.
“Okay. I’m sorry that you’ve lost your two best friends,” said Fairy Mada,
pretending to care.
"So.. when do I start helping you?"
"Just wait. Later, just as the air starts to get colder, he will be
visible. And that's when we will chase him," replied Fairy Mada as she
flew again, circling Sekun's body with a small, soft light. "Why is
that?" asked Sekun with an innocent face, "hmmm. .. how do I explain
it to you?", frowning at Sekun while her two fingers seemed to scratch her
chin that wasn't itching, "Just tell me the truth" Sekun replied
again, feeling as if there was a secret that Fairy Mada was hiding.
“So, it’s like this, young man, in the land of stars there,” Fairy Mada
pointed up at the sky, Sekun also looked at the direction of Fairy Mada’s index
finger, “Oh, that’s what’s called a star, huh?”, asked Sekun, “Yes, it’s a
star, but let me explain everything to you first,” said Fairy Mada, impatient
to finish her explanation, “Yeah. . Okay,” Sekun answered briefly,
“children of the star fairies, .. mmmmm” Fairy Mada thought for a moment,
while looking at Sekun,
“Well, it’s probably like your children here,” Fairy Mada pointed at
Sekun’s head, Sekun just glared at Fairy Mada, “when they start to have their
own light, at the same time their light tails also start to grow, and when the
wind blows the light tails will lengthen and the colors will increase, so the
naughty star children… mmmm…” Fairy Mada was silent for a moment, she glanced
back at Sekun who was still listening intently to her story, “yeah, like you,
wandering alone at night, the star children are like that too, they wander in
the horizon alone trying out their light tails.”
"I'm
just curious to know what it's like outside," Sekun interrupted,
“Yes, that’s right, the star children are also curious to try, their light
tails and curious to see the outside world” Fairy Mada answered with a slightly
raised voice, “then, where is your light tail?” Sekun asked looking behind
Fairy Mada, “listen carefully, the light tail will disappear after some time,
.. mmmm. .. it’s like a sign that we will soon be from children to adults”
Fairy Mada explained a little about the process experienced by the Star
Fairies, while Sekun just listened, actually not understanding what Fairy Mada
explained.
“ooh. . so that's how it is?” said Sekun, nodding slowly, as if he
understood what Fairy Mada was explaining. “do you understand what I'm saying?”
said Fairy Mada, bringing her face close to Sekun's, while glancing
suspiciously.
"Forget
it, forget it, so what are we going to do after seeing the fairy child Bintang fall
here?" asked Sekun, still curious.
"I'll
show you how later," Fairy Mada replied while looking up at the sky,
"I
think you've already explained a lot," said Sekun flatly without
enthusiasm,
“Oh yeah? Okay then, you be quiet and listen to my commands.” Said Peri
Mada standing beside Sekun while continuing to keep her eyes as if watching
something in the sky.
Suddenly, from the sky, one by one, the star children seemed to fall from
the sky, the sparkle of their light was very amazing, Sekun shouted that he
wanted to be like a shooting star that had a flaming tail, or the back of his
body could light up, "I also want to have a flaming tail! !! " Sekun
exclaimed while jumping with joy.
Fairy Mada, who was near Sekun, simply smiled at Sekun's behavior.
"What's wrong with you, little insect?" asked Fairy Mada with an
amused smile.
"Hey.. I also want to be like that star child, his tail lights up!
Yeah.. I want to have a tail that lights up!" Sekun exclaimed
enthusiastically, as if he was making an important request.
"But there has never been an insect whose tail lights up," said
Fairy Mada jokingly.
"That's why! I want to be the first insect whose tail lights up! Come
on... can you lend me that glowing tail?" Sekun could now be heard
whining.
"Hmm.. but what should I do? What will the other fireflies say if you
come home and your tail is lit up?" asked Fairy Mada, deliberately making
Sekun think.
"It's easy! Just lend your glowing tail to all your firefly
friends!" Sekun answered lightly.
"Ooh.. that's impossible," replied Fairy Mada which immediately
made Sekun sad and gloomy.
"Okay then. Oh yeah, it seems like I've been out of the nest for a
long time. I should probably just go home," Sekun said in a weary tone and
a gloomy face. He walked to a small branch and hopped from one leaf to another.
Fairy Mada followed him.
"Hey.. where are you going?" asked Fairy Mada.
"I want to go home. Mother and the others in the nest must be looking
for me," Sekun replied while continuing to jump from leaf to leaf.
"Yes. .. yes. .. it seems we need to have a serious talk," said
Peri Mada, intending to stop Sekun, but Sekun no longer wanted to listen to
her.
"Okay... okay, young man. I'll grant your wish, but there's a
condition," said Fairy Mada, who was still flying above Sekun's head.
Hearing Fairy Mada's words, Sekun immediately stopped jumping.
"Can I trust you?" Sekun asked flatly, but in his heart he was
very hopeful.
"Yes, of course," replied Fairy Mada with a smile and a wink.
"I think I can trust you. Tell me what the conditions are, hopefully I
can do it," said Sekun.
"It's easy. .. you just need to repeat your request earlier."
"Which request?" Sekun answered confused.
"The one you shouted earlier, 'I want a tail that can light up too!
'" Fairy Mada imitated Sekun's voice and movements. Seeing Fairy Mada
imitate him, Sekun felt a little embarrassed.
"Ooh, that one.. but you're such a bad impersonator! I'm not as weird
as you just acted."
"So what? Do you want your tail and all the fireflies to light up or
not?" Fairy Mada's face looked serious.
"Yes... yes, of course I want to!" said Sekun while jumping for
joy.
"Quickly shout your wish as loud as you can, young man!" shouted
Fairy Mada. Without hesitation, Sekun immediately shouted, "I want to be
like that shooting star! I want my tail to light up too!!" shouted Sekun
with all his might.
Seeing Sekun's behavior, Peri Mada burst out laughing, but Sekun didn't
care. "Yes... yes, okay. I'll make your tail and your friends' tails light
up," said Peri Mada.
With
graceful movements, Fairy Mada flew around Sekun. Suddenly, a light emerged
from her hand, which then formed a small staff. She swung the staff toward
Sekun, then swung it four more times in the air.
From
the tip of his small wand, glittering golden light emerged. The light slowly
formed a magical circle that surrounded Sekun's tiny body, eventually
enveloping his entire being. Sekun stood there, stunned, his eyes wide and his
mouth hanging open.
"Listen, Sekun," said Fairy Mada softly, her eyes closing for a
moment. "When a natural being on this earth utters a sincere wish from the
depths of his heart, just as he sees a shooting star passing by, the universe
will record that pure wish."
Suddenly,
the night sky trembled slightly, as if responding to the fairy's words. A
miracle occurred. One of the descending stars suddenly turned gracefully. It
dived rapidly, its light a dazzling silvery white. Sekun was surprised, but
also amazed, and reflexively closed his eyes.
When
she dared to open her eyes again, an extraordinary sight greeted her. Her body
now radiated a soft, warm light from her tail. The light felt comforting, like
a mother's embrace, and its colors danced, resembling the beautiful colors of
the shooting star she had just seen.
Fairy Mada smiled broadly, her eyes shining with joy. "Now, Sekun,"
she said cheerfully, "you are the first firefly to receive the gift of
light from the stars. And know that every firefly child born after you will
inherit this magical light of yours."
Sekun, still mesmerized by the magic in his tail, asked softly,
"But... why me, Fairy Mada?"
Fairy Mada approached, gazing lovingly into Sekun's eyes. "Because you
have the courage to dream and a pure desire. The starlight on your tail is a
symbol of undying hope, and also a sign that even the smallest creature can
hold a glimmer of starlight within itself."
Since
that magical night, whenever a shooting star lit up the night sky, the forest
children would whisper with hope. They would then search for a small, soft,
twinkling light among the grass. There, they would find fireflies dancing
merrily, carrying messages of hope from the fallen star to earth.
And
that's the story about the origin of the beautiful light in the tail of a
firefly.
And... that's also why humans believe in miracles: that when a star falls,
we can make a sincere wish, hoping that our dreams will come true.
A Weasel and a Goose Egg
That
afternoon, under the shade of the dense, shady forest trees, an old civet
walked wearily. Its fur was dull, its movements were sluggish, and its stomach
kept rumbling. Despite its advanced age and its former strength, it continued
to walk—circling among the undergrowth and spreading tree roots, hoping to find
food. However, it found no prey. Gripping hunger made each step heavy, and its
vision began to droop.
In his despair, the old weasel stopped in a small gap between the roots of
a large tree. Sunlight filtered through the leaves, dancing on the ground in
golden light. He took a deep breath, trying to absorb the warmth that had
always given him strength. Memories of the past when this forest was still a
friendly hunting ground flashed in his mind. Suddenly, his eyes caught a small
movement in the bushes. With the last of his strength, he approached—hope
growing in his heart. Behind the dense leaves, a small mouse was stealing seeds
from the ground. He tried to catch the small mouse, to make it his prey, but
failed, the mouse moved nimbly away from the weasel.
Finally,
in desperation, he returned to walk through the forest. After walking a long
way through the quiet forest, the Weasel arrived at the edge of a lake whose
water was calm and sparkling in the midday sun. On the surface of the clear
lake, a flock of graceful white swans were seen playing happily. They swam
calmly, occasionally dipping their heads into the water looking for food, or
chatting with each other in soft voices. Seeing the sight of a flock of swans
so close and looking helpless, suddenly an evil intention arose in the mind of the
already hungry Weasel.
“Hmm… how can I catch one of those geese?” the Weasel muttered to himself,
his cunning eyes tracking their every move. He hid behind a large fallen tree
trunk, carefully observing the behavior of his potential prey. He pondered for
a long time, searching for the most effective way to trap one of the geese.
Finally, after a few moments of contemplation, a cunning idea occurred to him.
With a faint grin on his old face, the Weasel then approached and hid further
behind the thick bushes at the edge of the pond and began to shout in a voice
that was faked with panic,
“Heeeeeeeiii… heiiiiii… run quickly! Save yourselves! The hunter is coming!
The hunter is coming! He is carrying a big arrow and spear! Quickly hide!”
shouted the Weasel, trying to trick the flock of geese.
Hearing
the hysterical screams, the flock of geese, who had been playing happily,
suddenly panicked and became frightened. Without thinking, they immediately ran
and flew low, trying to save themselves from the threat they had just heard.
Some rushed towards the middle of the lake, while others tried to fly away from
the edge of the lake towards the dense trees on the other side. In that moment
of chaos, the Weasel took a golden opportunity amidst the panic of the flock of
geese. He quickly came out of hiding and tried to catch one of the geese that
was panicking and having difficulty flying. But unfortunately, the Weasel's
efforts, which were old and no longer agile, failed. He managed to catch none
of the panicked geese. They were too agile and managed to evade his slow
ambush.
Deeply
disappointed and with a growing hunger, the Weasel walked listlessly along the
now deserted edge of the lake. He grumbled to himself that his cunning plan had
failed miserably. Suddenly, as he was walking with his head bowed, his fragile
foot stumbled against a hard object. Startled, the Weasel looked down and saw
the object that had tripped him. It turned out to be a fairly large goose egg
lying on top of the dry grass mixed with dirt.
“Haaaa! !! Teluuurrr? ?? Finally I have a big meal today!” shouted the
Weasel in joy, his eyes sparkling at the unexpected bounty before him. His
disappointment at failing to catch the goose instantly vanished, replaced by a
hunger that would soon be satisfied.
"This egg is so big, so if I eat it today I definitely won't finish it
all. I'll save the rest for tomorrow, heheheheh," the Weasel muttered with
a satisfied smile, imagining the pleasure of eating delicious goose eggs for
the next two days. He immediately picked up the egg carefully and found a safe
place to enjoy his find. Fatigue and hunger seemed to disappear instantly,
replaced by the anticipation of the delicious meal that was right before his
eyes.
However, just as the Weasel was about to find a comfortable place to eat
the goose egg he had found, he suddenly paused and began to think. “Hmm… if I
only boil an egg this big, it will be enough for today and tomorrow. After
that, I have to go back to the trouble of finding food again. What if…” The
Weasel trailed off, his eyes staring at the egg with a changed look. “What if I
just hatch this egg? I’ll take good care of it, protect it from harm, and then
when it’s big, I’ll eat it. That way, I won’t have to worry about starving for
a long time,” he muttered, a more long-term idea starting to fill his mind.
The
musa hid the goose egg he found in a hidden, dense bush, where no one could
find it. After that, the musa wandered around the forest, looking for someone
who could help him incubate the goose egg. The musa continued to wander through
the forest, trying to figure out how to make the goose egg hatch safely. He
knew he didn't have the warmth of a mother goose to incubate the egg. At that
moment, in the midst of his confusion, from behind the bushes not far from
where the musa was walking, a majestic eagle appeared in pain. An arrow with
dark feathers was still stuck in one of its wings, blood dripping slowly down
its beautiful feathers. The eagle groaned in pain, his voice weak and full of
despair, "Help... help... I'm dying..." the eagle groaned from behind
the bushes,
Hearing
the Eagle's heartbreaking groans of pain, the Weasel, previously filled with
cunning plans, was suddenly touched by compassion. Even though the Eagle was a
much stronger predator than he was, the Weasel couldn't bear to see another
creature suffer. Without hesitation, he rushed to the Eagle as it lay weakly on
the grass.
"Eagle,
who made you hurt like this?" said the Civet, slowly approaching the Eagle
who was still in pain.
“There was a group of hunters chasing me and shooting arrows at me all at once,”
said the Eagle in a voice that held back pain. “Calm down, Eagle, I will help
you,” said the Weasel in a soft tone, trying to calm the bird of prey. Then
carefully and with all his might, the Weasel pulled out the arrow that was
stuck in the Eagle’s wing. The Weasel then looked for several types of forest
grass that he knew had healing properties. Patiently, he chewed the grass until
it was soft, then applied it to the Eagle’s still bleeding wound. The Eagle
winced in pain as the Weasel treated his wound, but he tried to restrain
himself. After a while, the Eagle began to feel a little better, the pain in
his wing starting to subside.
“Weasel… thank you so much, you saved my life. What can I do to repay you
for this priceless kindness?” the Eagle said hoarsely but gratefully, gazing at
the Weasel with a gaze now filled with warmth.
“Oh well… never mind, Eagle. Next time, you should be more careful, don’t
get hit by a hunter’s arrow again,” the Weasel replied sincerely, expecting
nothing in return. He then turned around, ready to leave the Eagle to return to
contemplating the fate of the goose egg he had found.
“Hey… wait a minute, little friend! Where are you going in such a hurry?
It’s clear from your face that you’re having a problem. May I know what it is?
Who knows, maybe I, with my powers in the air, can help you,” the Eagle
exclaimed, stopping the Weasel in his tracks. Hearing the Eagle’s sincere words
offering help, the Weasel was momentarily stunned. He didn’t expect that the
creature he had just helped would be so considerate of him. With his face once
again gloomy, the Weasel hung his head dejectedly, thinking about the dilemma
he was facing.
“It's like this, Eagle,” the Weasel began his story in a slightly hesitant,
but hopeful tone,
“I… I have eggs,” said the Weasel, but before the Weasel could finish
expressing his intentions, Rajawali hurriedly cut off the Weasel’s words, with
a surprised tone of voice, “You have eggs? Since when can Weasel lay eggs?”
Rajawali said in surprise, while looking at the Weasel from the bottom of his
feet to the top of his head.
“I wasn’t the one who laid the egg, I mean, I found a goose egg on the edge
of the pond outside the forest. I plan to hatch it, but I don’t know how,” the
Weasel explained, still in a tired, unenthusiastic voice. “Are… are you willing
to help me incubate the goose egg?” the Weasel asked again, asking for the
Eagle’s help.
Hearing the Weasel’s request, the Eagle paused for a moment, gazing
thoughtfully at his new friend. Then, he smiled gently. “Ooooooh, so that’s how
it is,” the Eagle said with understanding. “What a coincidence, I’m also
incubating my own egg in the nest. Okay then, Weasel, let me incubate the Goose
egg you found. That way, both eggs will receive equal warmth,” the Eagle said kindly,
wanting to repay the old Wolf’s kindness.
Hearing the kind offer from the Eagle, the Weasel felt very relieved and
happy. His face looked cheerful, he seemed to have found a new hope in his
life. “Really? You are willing to help me, Eagle?” said the Weasel with a
radiant face, full of enthusiasm. The Eagle just nodded and smiled. “I am very
grateful!” said the Weasel again with sparkling eyes. “Wait here a moment,
Eagle, I will take the goose eggs first, you don’t go anywhere,” said the
Weasel still with his happy expression.
"Don't
worry, Musang, I'm not going anywhere, I'll wait for you here, Rajawali will
never go back on his word," said Rajawali, proud of himself and his
colony.
"Without
further ado, Musung immediately ran to retrieve the goose egg, which he had
hidden in the bushes, and then returned to the eagle. Without hesitation, he
carefully handed the goose egg he had found to the eagle.
However, before the eagle carried the egg to its nest, the weasel made a
request, slightly pleading. “But, eagle… when the swan egg hatches, please let
me be the first thing the gosling sees before it sees you. I want to be the
first person it recognizes,” the weasel said, slightly pleading.
The Eagle smiled again at the Weasel's unique request. He understood that
the Weasel might have had an emotional bond with the egg, even though it hadn't
hatched yet. But what the Eagle didn't know was that it was just a ruse by the
Weasel, to make himself look good in front of the Eagle. "Okay,
Weasel," replied the Eagle understandingly. "Later, when the Swan's
egg is about to hatch, I will definitely come to you and tell you," the
Eagle promised. "Okay then, Eagle, don't hesitate to tell me immediately,
when the Swan's egg is about to hatch, okay?" said the Weasel reminding
the Eagle.
“Okay, okay, I’ll take my leave now. I’ve been away from my nest and eggs
for too long.” After saying his promise, the eagle carefully carried the egg in
his strong, sturdy claws, then slowly flew gracefully towards his nest which
was at the top of a tall tree.
The days passed slowly for the Weasel. Day and night he waited with great
hope and curiosity for news from the Eagle. Every day he always looked up at
the sky, hoping to see the silhouette of the Eagle's wings bringing good news.
Until one early morning, when the dew still moistened the leaves and a thin
mist still enveloped the forest, suddenly a loud cry was heard from above,
"Musaaaaaaaaaaaaaang.... musaaaaaaang, wake up!" The Eagle's voice
echoed in front of the Weasel's simple house. "Musaaaaaaaaaaang! Wake up
quickly!" he shouted again in an urgent tone.
Shortly after, the door to the Weasel's house opened slowly. The Weasel
emerged, eyes still droopy and fur slightly disheveled, trying to gather his
wits. "What's wrong, Eagle? You woke me up so early in the morning?"
the Weasel replied, yawning widely, trying to chase away the sleep.
“Your goose egg is about to hatch, Weasel! I saw it moving around in the
nest. I immediately flew here to tell you. Maybe the gosling has hatched! Let’s
hurry up and go there!” said the Eagle from the air while flapping its wings.
Hearing that, the Weasel’s eyes widened at the news brought by the Eagle. His
drowsiness immediately disappeared, replaced by joy and a feeling of increasing
impatience. Without thinking, the Weasel immediately ran as fast as he could
towards the tall tree where the Eagle’s nest was located. “Wooooi! Wait for me!
!” shouted the Eagle while flapping its wide wings, then flew after the Weasel
who was already far ahead.
"Weasel, now hold on tight to my leg," the eagle shouted,
extending its strong claws toward the weasel. "I'll carry you up to my
nest. Come on, come here quickly!" the eagle continued.
“But… wait a minute, Weasel,” the Eagle suddenly stopped flapping its wings
and descended closer to the Weasel. The Eagle stared at the Weasel with a look
of suspicion that had returned to its mind. “I want to ask you something,” the
Eagle said suspiciously.
“Ask what, Eagle?” the Weasel replied patiently, even though he himself was
impatient to see the goose egg that was about to hatch and was a little
surprised by his new friend’s hesitation.
“Could it be… you’re going to eat the gosling? And it’s your breakfast
today?” the Eagle asked in a probing tone, trying to read the honesty in the
Weasel’s eyes. His suspicions were aroused by the Weasel’s enthusiasm in
wanting to immediately take the Gosling.
“Aaaaaah, no way, Eagle!” the Weasel quickly denied it, looking a little
hurt by the accusation he considered baseless.
"I promised to help you hatch this egg. How could I bear to eat a
helpless little creature, especially after we've been waiting for it to hatch
together?"
Hearing the Eagle's sincere answer, the Weasel felt ashamed of his own
prejudice. He sighed and lowered his head for a moment. "I'm sorry, Eagle.
I'm just... just a little worried," he said softly. However, deep in his
mind, the image of the fat, delicious gosling was still there, mixed with the
guilt and pity that had just filled his heart. "Come on, Eagle, quickly
take me to your nest! I can't wait to see it hatch," the Weasel said in a
now more sincere tone, trying to chase away the evil thoughts that were still
there.
“Yes, that’s all right then,” replied the Eagle, relieved to see the change
in the Weasel’s demeanor. He began flapping his broad, powerful wings, creating
a gentle breeze, then carefully lowered the Weasel onto the edge of his large,
comfortable nest on a sturdy tree branch.
Upon
arriving at the nest, the Weasel discovered that the goose egg was already showing
signs of cracking. Fine cracks were growing wider on its surface, and faint but
increasingly frequent sounds could be heard coming from within. Wasting no
time, the Weasel immediately acted as if he were a mother goose. He approached
the egg with gentle and affectionate movements, making soft, gentle sounds like
a mother goose calling to her young, then carefully cradled the egg in his
small, warm hands.
And…
creek… creeeek… creek… the sound of the egg cracking grew louder and clearer,
breaking the morning silence in the forest. Finally, slowly but surely, the
goose egg hatched. From inside the shell that had broken into two parts, a tiny
gosling came out, its feathers still wet and fluffy, pure white like cotton.
The gosling looked cute and adorable, looking around with its round, innocent
eyes and confused looks.
Seeing
the touching sight, the Weasel initially felt overjoyed. He had witnessed the
miraculous moment when a new life emerged from the egg, just as he had hoped.
However, his expression suddenly turned gloomy and sad. There was a strange
feeling that was deeper in his heart than before. It turned out that after
seeing the gosling so small, weak, and helpless, the Weasel really couldn't
bear to continue the evil intentions that had been in his mind from the
beginning. He actually felt concerned and sorry for the tiny creature that had
just begun its life. The gosling too, without knowing anything about the
Weasel's evil plan, had already considered the Weasel as the first person he
had seen, as his biological mother. He meleeed the Weasel with an innocent and
hopeful gaze, making soft sounds as if seeking protection and warmth from the
first thing he had seen. The Weasel's old, hard heart suddenly softened, filled
with an unexpected feeling of pity and compassion. His evil plan to eat the
gosling that had been in his mind since the beginning was now completely
shattered, replaced by a feeling of responsibility and protection for the
little creature that had now trusted him with complete trust.
"Civet, now you hold tightly to my leg, I will take you to fly to my
nest," said the Eagle hurriedly to the Weasel, looking anxious and wanting
to immediately confirm the condition of the swan's egg.
“Yes… yes, just a moment, Eagle,” replied the Weasel as he approached the
Eagle, who was flying low, continuously flapping his wings, as if impatient to
return to the nest. “Yes, come here quickly,” replied the Eagle again,
increasingly urgent.
When the Weasel was close enough to the Eagle's outstretched leg, the Eagle
suddenly descended again, approaching the Weasel as it walked toward him at a
slightly hurried pace. "But wait a minute, Weasel," the Eagle said in
a more serious tone than before, stopping the Weasel in its tracks. "I
want to ask you something very serious."
"What else do you want to ask, Eagle?" the Weasel replied,
slightly annoyed and impatient. He felt like he had been waiting too long, and
he was eager to see the newly hatched goslings. The Eagle's suspicions made him
feel a little hampered.
“Could it be… that gosling, you’ll end up eating it, huh? And it’ll be your
breakfast today?” asked the Eagle, his eyes filled with unconcealed suspicion.
He stared intently at the Weasel, trying to discern the truth behind his new
friend’s expression. There was a nagging doubt in his heart, considering that
weasels are also predators of all kinds of birds.
The weasel was shocked by the question. “Eagle! There’s no way I could eat
a baby swan!” the weasel replied defensively, though in his heart, the image of
delicious roasted swan meat briefly flashed through his mind. “I just want to
see it and take care of it,” the weasel replied in a stuttering voice.
Rajawali frowned, not entirely convinced by Musang's answer. "You
know, Musang, I've been incubating this egg with great love. If you have any
ill intentions, I won't let you near it," Rajawali said firmly, his voice
full of warning.
The weasel felt pressured by the eagle's words. "No, eagle! I promise,
I won't hurt the gosling. I just want to be his friend and protect him,"
the weasel replied sincerely, trying to reassure the eagle.
“I hope I can trust your words today and in the future, Musang,” Rajawali’s
words were enough to make Musang depressed, “I warn you not to eat the baby
goose,” Rajawali said again with a serious expression.
“No way, Eagle! I couldn’t possibly bear to eat that baby goose,” the Weasel
quickly denied it, his voice faked conviction, though deep down, the image of
tender, delicious young goose meat was already in his mind. He tried hard to
hide his true intentions behind pretenses.
"Then why did you incubate the goose eggs if not so you could
eventually get goose meat?" the Eagle asked again, his eyes still filled
with deep suspicion. He sensed that his new friend was hiding something.
The Weasel took a deep breath, trying to form words that would touch the
Eagle's heart. "I... I just want someone to take care of me in my old age,
Eagle," the Weasel answered in a low, false tone. "Someone to care
for me like a child cares for its parents. I'm lonely, Eagle... I have no one
left." The Weasel even pretended to shed tears, wiping his eyes with his
front paws so that the Eagle would look on with pity.
And sure enough, hearing the Weasel's heartbreaking words, coupled with the
fake tears that covered his old face, the Eagle's gentle heart finally melted.
He felt sorry for the Weasel who looked so lonely and longing for affection.
"Okay, Weasel," said the Eagle in a tone of voice full of concern.
"I believe you. Come on... quickly, hold my claws tightly." The Eagle
continued, then he flew low right above the Weasel's head, extending his two
sturdy claws.
The Weasel immediately grabbed the Eagle's claws with all his might,
holding it tightly "Come on, Eagle, quickly take me up to your nest!"
said the Weasel in an impatient tone, he couldn't hide his cunning joy behind a
sad expression.
“Yes, all right then, hold on tight, Weasel,” the Eagle replied, though a
pang of doubt lingered in his heart. He began flapping his broad, strong wings
again, carrying the Weasel who was clinging tightly to his feet, then soared
high towards his nest at the top of a towering tree.
In
an instant, they soared into the air, leaving the ground behind them. The wind
blew fiercely, and Musang felt the incredible sensation of soaring. The scenery
below was breathtaking, with lush forests and lakes glistening in the morning
sun.
After a while, they arrived at the Eagle's nest, nestled at the top of a
large tree. The nest was made of strong branches and surrounded by dense green
leaves. The Weasel jumped down carefully, her eyes immediately fixed on the
goose egg that was about to crack. Pretending to be a mother goose, she acted
like one and gently cradled the egg. "Come on, gosling, come out! Mother
is here waiting for you," she said softly, trying to calm herself.
Crackle... crackle... crackle! The crackling sounds grew louder, and finally,
from within the egg shell, emerged a cute, white gosling. Its feathers were
still wet, and its round eyes gazed curiously at the world. Seeing this, the
Weasel was overjoyed, but then her face fell. She remembered her original evil
intentions, and her heart filled with guilt. "How could I have done such a
cruel thing?" she thought, feeling trapped in a difficult dilemma. Looking
at the helpless gosling, who had come to regard her as his real mother, the
Weasel felt concern and pity. “He's still a baby, and I can't betray him,” he
muttered to himself. Finally, the weasel gave up his initial intention to eat
the gosling. He decided to care for the gosling as if he cared for his own
child. With great affection, the civet began to teach the gosling how to find
food, recognize the sounds around it, and how to hide from danger. They spent
days and nights together, sharing laughter and happiness, until it didn't feel
like the years had changed. The gosling grew into a mature swan, with beautiful
feathers and a sweet voice. The Weasel felt proud to see the development of the
gosling that he had cared for with all his heart. However, in his heart, there
was a feeling of anxiety that would not subside. He knew that one day, the
gosling would leave him to look for its real parents.
"After all, swans and weasels are so different," thought the
Weasel, realizing the reality he had to face. He couldn't keep the gosling by
his side forever. One day, as they were playing by the pond, the Weasel looked
at the gosling with affection. "You've grown big and strong. One day,
you'll fly high and explore the world," he said softly.
The gosling looked up at the weasel with bright eyes. “I will always
remember everything you taught me. You are my mother, and I love you,” she
replied sincerely. Hearing those words, the weasel’s heart felt warm, but also
filled with sadness. He knew that the time of separation was drawing near. As
the days passed, the weasel felt a growing tension in his heart. He watched the
gosling fly low over the pond more and more, practicing flapping its wings. “I
must give it freedom,” the weasel thought, though his heart was heavy.
Finally,
one quiet afternoon, when the Weasel was too old and felt that his end was
near, he called to the gosling he had been caring for with such love. In a weak
but sincere voice, the Weasel began to tell the gosling everything.
“My child, there is something I want to tell you,” she said, her voice
trembling. “It all started when I found an egg on the edge of the pond. At that
time, I was confused and didn’t know what to do. However, I asked the mother
eagle to help me incubate the egg until now. And now, I feel so grateful
because I have you in my life.” The gosling listened intently, her eyes
glistening with tears. “Mom, I don’t want to lose you. You are everything to
me,” she said in a voice full of emotion.
The weasel smiled weakly, “My child, every creature in this world has its
appointed time. I have lived a meaningful life with you. Now, it’s time for me
to go. Remember, I will always love you, no matter where I am.”
With
those final words, the Weasel closed his eyes forever. His departure left a
deep sadness in the gosling's heart. All the forest creatures who witnessed the
moment were moved. They respected the Weasel who had been both a father and a
mother to the gosling.
With
great respect, they buried the Weasel properly. Unlike other animals that
usually end up in the forest and become prey to vultures, the civet gets the
respect it deserves. They dug a deep hole and placed the Weasel in it, covering
it with leaves and beautiful forest flowers.
After
the funeral, the gosling felt a great sense of loss. He wept almost every day
for the weasel, remembering all the wonderful memories they had shared.
However, not long afterward, several other forest dwellers, such as the eagle,
the jungle fowl, the deer, the mouse deer, and others, came to advise him.
“Gosling, Mother Weasel has gone, but remember that she is always in your
heart. She wants you to move on with your life and find happiness,” the Eagle
said gently.
"Yes, you should continue your journey. Winter is coming soon, and
your comrades are flying north to avoid it," Deer added in a soothing
voice.
The gosling nodded, though his heart still felt heavy. He knew the Weasel
wanted what was best for him. With renewed determination, he wiped away his
tears and decided to move on. "Okay, I'll go find my flock," he said
enthusiastically.
With
steady steps, the gosling began to explore the forest, following the trail he
had seen. He soared high, flapping his wings energetically. Along the way, he
encountered various forest creatures who offered him encouragement and support.
After some time, the gosling finally found his flock, which was flying
north. They welcomed him warmly, and he was happy to be back with them.
"I've learned a lot from Mother Weasel, and I'll always remember it,"
he said to his flock.
With
renewed vigor, the gosling flew with his flock, exploring the clear sky. He
felt freedom and happiness, but deep in his heart, the Weasel was always there,
a part of every step he took.
The
cold and harsh winter arrived, but the gosling wasn't lonely. He knew that even
though the Weasel was gone, his love and teachings would always be with him.
With determination and courage, the gosling was ready to face any challenges
that lay ahead, using his memories with the Weasel as a source of strength
throughout his life .
Agarwood Fairy (origin of the fragrance of Agarwood)
Once upon a time in a faraway land, there was a
peaceful and quiet village, the village was surrounded by a very dense forest.
However, there was one forest location that was very sacred to the local people,
namely the forest in the direction of the sunrise, for tens of thousands of
years, maybe even hundreds of thousands of years, none of the villagers around
or even the villagers in the country dared to go to the forest, they were very
sacred to the forest, because since thousands of years ago, the forest every
morning and evening blew a fragrant aroma to the villages near the village, the
aroma was very fragrant even though it was only for a few moments every morning
and evening. Once there was a group of people who were curious to know what the
source of the fragrant aroma was. They dared to enter the sunrise forest area.
But none of them returned, after that there was a very powerful person who also
tried to enter the forest, but until now no one knows his fate, from the talk
of the local people from year to year, if people who enter the forest and do
not return, it is believed that they have been eaten by the guardian of the
sunrise forest. But actually in the sunrise forest the atmosphere is almost the
same as other forests, besides being inhabited by various forest animals, in
the sunrise forest there are also many very large trees, the trunk width of
which is more than five meters. But there is one special tree in the sunrise
forest, in one very large tree, dwells a fairy who has been there for thousands
of years, the fairy is very fragrant, she comes out of the tree in the morning
and evening. Because through the morning sunlight the fairy gets food from
nirvana, as well as in the afternoon. The fragrant aroma is smelled when the
fairy comes out of the tree trunk where she lives, then her body is exposed to
sunlight, by the wind the fragrance of the fairy's body is carried by the wind,
to the surrounding villages near the forest. That is why the residents of the
villages around the forest only smell the fragrance of the rising sun from the
forest in the morning and evening.
One
morning, thick fog blanketed the treetops, and the drizzle that had fallen
since dawn had yet to subside. Amidst the cold, damp air, a young man walked
slowly with several buffalo along a path along the edge of the sunrise forest.
The
young man's name was Sagah. He had been an orphan since he was five years old.
His parents had migrated and never returned. From then on, Sagah was raised by
his grandparents. However, their time together was short-lived. Several years
later, Sagah's grandmother passed away, followed shortly after by his
grandfather. Since then, Sagah has lived alone in the village.
Sagah's
days were spent tending water buffalo—some inherited from his grandfather,
others belonging to neighbors who entrusted them to him. This was his routine
from morning to evening, every day. That morning, Sagah braved the cold by
wearing a simple robe made of leaves—similar to teak leaves—glued together with
small sticks like bamboo sticks. Although simple, it was his only protection from
the rain. After tethering his water buffaloes one by one in the pasture, Sagah
hurried to a small hut left behind by his grandfather. The hut stood beside a
large rock on the edge of a stream. Not far from there, flowing clear water
that led to the main river, located quite far from where he herded.
After taking off his leaf robe outside the hut, he took some dry logs on
the parapets hanging from the ceiling of his hut, after taking some logs, he
took the tools he usually used to light a fire, not long after smoke began to
billow from inside the Sagah hut, he began to place some cassava sticks on the
edge of the fire, after making sure everything was ready to be left, he turned
to look at his buffaloes.
The sound of trickling water in the creek, combined with the sound of light
rain on the leaves and the thatched roofs of the huts, added to the peaceful
and tranquil atmosphere of the morning. A thin mist blanketed the valley,
hiding the usually majestic hilltops. The scent of wet earth and fresh leaves filled
the air.
Sagah looked at his herd of animals one by one, suddenly he was shocked to
find out that one of his herd of animals was not in its place or missing, in a
panic he ran out of the hut, towards the place where he tied his buffalo, and
indeed his buffalo was missing one. He looked around hoping that his buffalo
was still around the grass, but unfortunately that hope was dashed when he
counted his buffaloes again and he didn't find one more of his buffalo, with a
feeling of panic, he noticed the footprints of his buffalo leaving the grass
field, and the footprints led to the Sunrise Forest. Because of the panic and
responsibility for the loss of one of his buffaloes, the fear of entering the
Sunrise Forest which was sacred by the surrounding community slowly faded, he
continued to follow the footsteps of his buffalo's brother and without
realizing it he began to enter the Sunrise Forest, he continued to go inside.
He hadn't gone far into the forest when the atmosphere suddenly changed
drastically. It was a stark contrast to the harsh weather outside the forest
where he had left his buffalo.
It
was as if another world lurked beneath the dense trees. The forest—known to
locals as the Rising Sun Forest—offered a completely different view from where
Sagah had previously tethered his buffalo.
Outside
the forest, the sky was still gray and overcast. The light rain that had been
falling since last night hadn't let up, and the cold air cut to the bone.
However, as Sagah stepped into the forest, everything changed—as if he had just
crossed the boundary between the real world and the other world.
Sunlight
warmly illuminated every corner of the forest, filtering through the gaps in
the leaves without a single drop of water falling from the sky. The air within
the forest was much warmer and fresher, carrying the pleasant scent of wet
earth. The sounds of nature were clear and rhythmic—the chirping of birds, the
rustling of leaves, and the gentle moans of unusual forest creatures.
Sagah
walked slowly, his eyes scanning his surroundings with curiosity and caution.
Several animals passed by him, but they showed no fear or alarm. A horse, a sun
bear, and a wolf simply passed by him—as if Sagah were nothing more than a
shadow worth noticing.
However,
these animals were clearly no ordinary creatures. Their body coloration was far
from ordinary. Their skin shimmered in soft shades of predominantly pearly
white, interspersed with hints of pale blue, purple, and gold. And most
strikingly, each of them possessed a pair of wings attached to its back.
Not
feathered wings like those of birds or swans. Their wings were more like a
natural extension of their own bodies—textured like skin, yet faintly glowing,
gently pulsating as if alive.
Sagah stood frozen for a moment, awed and confused. His eyes widened at the
strange creatures he had never seen before. Their shapes resembled animals, but
they were too alien to recognize—as if they came from another world. Although
they didn't appear ferocious, Sagah kept his distance. Curiosity battled with
his wary instincts.
He
took a deep breath, calming himself. Then, without further thought, he resumed
his steps, continuing his search for his beloved buffalo. From his mouth came
the distinctive calls he usually used to call the buffalo. But there was no
response. All that was heard was a flock of small birds that suddenly flew away
in panic, flapping their wings as if trying to escape from something unseen.
Sagah
kept walking, still calling the same call, hoping his buffalo would emerge from
behind the bushes or tall trees. But the Sunrise Forest seemed to have
swallowed the animal whole. There was no trace. No sound.
The
further he went into the forest, the more a strange yet soothing scent began to
fill the air. The scent wafted into his nose, vaguely reminiscent of a newly
broken morning or a slowly setting dusk.
“This scent... like the scent of morning and evening,” Sagah murmured
softly, his voice almost drowned out by the rustle of the wind through the
leaves. He continued walking again.
"Where did that buffalo go?" he muttered again, frustration
starting to creep in. It was as if his buffalo had been swallowed whole by this
sunrise forest.
After
a long journey through a forest filled with countless wonders and oddities,
Sagah's hope began to wane. His steps grew heavier and more unsteady, and his
determination to find his buffaloes slowly faded. Physical exhaustion and
confusion began to erode his resolve.
From a distance, Sagah saw a towering tree, so large and ancient, as if it
had stood there for hundreds of years. Its branches spread wide and lushly in
all directions, creating a wide shade. Beneath the tree, there was a stretch of
grass growing lushly as tall as an adult's span, looking so dense and soft with
a warm yellowish green color. Without hesitation, Sagah slowly walked towards
the tree. As he got closer, Sagah felt the fragrance that was initially faint
but now became stronger, creeping into his nose—a scent he couldn't describe,
like a mixture of flowers, and something he had never smelled before. The
deeper he inhaled, the more a strange, calm, and gentle sense of peace and
happiness enveloped him.
When
he finally arrived under the shade of the large tree, Sagah immediately lay
down on the grass. He took a deep breath. The soft grass was like a natural
wonder, and the calming scent of the tree filled his body and mind with a sense
of peace.
"Hmm.. " he sighed softly as he closed his eyes. "In my
entire life.. this is the first time I've felt something like this."
He
was silent for a moment, letting the wind caress his face, letting the scent
wash over his tired soul.
"This is the first time in my life I've felt this peaceful,"
Sagah whispered softly, closing his eyes to fully savor this magical moment. An
idea suddenly occurred to him. "I want to stay here. I'll build a house
here," he murmured again, lulled by the magic of the sunrise forest.
But suddenly he was startled and woke up, as if he remembered something.
"Wow! !, . My buffalo, it seems I left them a long time ago," said
Sagah suddenly waking up, realizing the fate of his buffalo that he had tied in
the grass near the creek outside the forest.
He then stood up and walked away from the place, when he had only taken a
few steps away from the tree, suddenly his steps stopped and he turned back to
the tree, for a moment he thought while looking at the big tree trunk, "I
have to take a little of that bark to put in my bedroom, so that my room smells
as good as this tree" said Sagah to himself, his eyes fixed on the part of
the tree that looked like a branch that had been broken for a long time, then
approached the tree trunk, after the distance was very close, he took out a
kind of machete that was hanging on his waist, he peeled the part of the tree
that he had noticed earlier, the part that had turned black like a rotting or
old branch, Sagah hurriedly peeled the bark of that part, until it was as wide
as a tray, after he finished peeling the part of the bark that he wanted, he
hugged the bark, then ran away leaving the tree trunk with the bottom part that
had been peeled off.
Sagah continued running through the dense Sunrise Forest. His breath was
labored, but his pace didn't slow. He no longer cared about the strange
whispers drifting from behind the trees, or the strange lights dancing on the
leaves. All he could think about was one thing: how were his water buffaloes
tethered out there?
The faster he ran, the more the boundaries of the forest and the pasture
where he tethered his cattle became faintly visible in the distance. A glimmer
of hope burned in his chest. However, every time he slowed down, or even
stopped to look left and right,
The forest scenery suddenly vanished. All that remained was the silent
greenery, the lush, cool forest seemingly endless.
The Sunrise Forest seemed to play with the perception of time and space.
Sagah understood that speed was the key to getting out of the forest, for a
moment he was silent as if planning something, he glanced at the bark in his
arms as if it was one of the encouragement to get out of the forest
immediately. He took a deep breath and hugged the bark tightly then immediately
ran as fast as he could, his gaze straight ahead, he kept running, the view
outside the forest became clearer as he ran faster, the closer the grass
outside the forest appeared, the more his enthusiasm to get out of the forest
burned, and finally with a final jump he seemed to be thrown out of the sunrise
forest, his body floating several meters in the air as he crossed the border
between the sunrise forest and the outside world where he came from, finally
his body landed on the wet, muddy grass.
Suddenly,
he awoke, his breath hitching. Then his gaze swept over each of his buffaloes.
Strangely, everything seemed as it had always been—as if time had stood still
since he left that place to enter the Rising Sun Forest. Even the buffalo that
had been missing now looked peaceful, tied to its original spot, as if it had
never gone anywhere.
"This... this was when I was just about to head to the hut,"
Sagah muttered, confused. He frowned, trying to remember. "I thought I'd
been gone for more than half a day, but...?" Sagah stopped himself.
The
sky remained gray. A light drizzle continued to fall, creating a pungent,
earthy scent. There was no sign of the rain letting up. Sagah stood frozen.
Time seemed to circle, returning to its starting point. Then, slowly, her hands
reached her stomach and chest—searching for something that shouldn't have been
lost so easily.
“Where’s the bark… where’s the bark?!” he exclaimed in panic.
He
turned quickly, his eyes scanning the muddy ground. And there it was—lying
there behind him. He breathed a sigh of relief and bent down to pick it up.
But
there is something odd.
The
bark wasn't wet at all. It was clearly stuck to wet mud and drizzling. Even
stranger, a soft, faint light could be seen shimmering through the cracks,
barely visible unless one looked closely. The light felt warm on his fingers.
With trembling hands, Sagah lifted it and brought it to his nose. The scent...
was still the same. A sharp yet calming fragrance, unchanged in the slightest,
just like when he was still in the Sunrise Forest—a place he had just passed
through, or... perhaps he hadn't truly left yet?
Suddenly,
a gentle breeze blew, as if whispering in his ear. He turned his head
instinctively, but there was no one there. Just the forest, drizzling, and
quiet. However, as he looked toward the trees in the distance, something caught
his eye. A shadow. Thin. Almost invisible. But Sagah knew he hadn't seen it.
The shadow stood at the edge of the forest, silent, as if watching him. Then
slowly, the shadow faded—like mist swallowed by the morning light.
Her heart was beating fast. But strangely, it wasn't fear she felt.
Instead, it was... a kind of calling. An unfinished bond.
With
a piece of warm bark in his hand, Sagah walked slowly towards his wooden hut.
Drizzle was still falling, soaking the leaves and blackened soil. The wind
brought soft whispers from the forest.
Upon
arriving at the hut, Sagah stored the bark in the safest place in the hut.
Then, as usual, he returned to his routine. Not far from where he tethered his
buffaloes, lay a fairly large garden. There grew a variety of plants—tubers,
vegetables, and spices—that sustained his life. In that garden, Sagah spent his
days in friendly silence.
Towards
evening, he bathed his buffaloes one by one by the banks of a gently flowing
creek. The water was clear and cool, occasionally filled with small ripples as
the buffaloes' hooves churned the mud. Once finished, he herded them back into
the pen, securing the bamboo fence with a knot of rattan rope.
That
afternoon, something felt different.
With
a few taro tubers in hand and a few fish he caught in the river, Sagah walked
home. He tucked the bark neatly into his shirt. He wasn't sure why that
afternoon felt strange… or special. But deep down, he knew—something had
changed. Perhaps it was the bark, its faint yet soothing scent, as if
whispering a secret.
Upon
arriving home, Sagah headed straight to the kitchen at the back of the house.
It looked dirty and messy, with several cooking utensils lying around,
unwashed, and the wooden floor looked extremely dirty, with hardened dirt
everywhere.
He placed the taro on a wooden table, then hung the fresh fish near the
pile of firewood. Afterward, he washed his feet and hands with water from the
jar and splashed it on his face.
Then
he went into the room, inside the room was not much different from the
situation in the kitchen.
It was a mess, with things and fabrics scattered everywhere. There, she sat
for a moment on her bed, taking the bark out from under her clothes. Carefully,
she tucked it under her pillow. Only then did she return to the kitchen to
resume her afternoon activities: lighting the stove and preparing her dinner—as
if everything was going as usual.
But
it's not.
In the midst of her busy kitchen, Sagah's nose suddenly caught a familiar
scent—the sweet fragrance that always enveloped the village every morning and
evening. Normally, she wouldn't have thought much of it. "It's about
time," she muttered to herself. But this time, the scent felt different.
Stronger. Closer. As if its source were inside her own home.
Her
hand stopped. She glanced around the kitchen, trying to find the source of the
aroma. Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. Once. Twice. Three times. The
knocking sounded hurried.
Quickly,
Sagah stepped to the front of the house. As soon as the door opened, he found
several people standing in front of it. Among them were Pak Daro—his own uncle—and
Layuk, his childhood friend. Their faces looked worried, but more than that,
they looked curious.
"Uncle? What's wrong? It's not usual for you to come this late at
night," asked Sagah, trying to hide his anxiety.
"Yes, Sagah," replied Mr. Daro, sniffing slowly toward the inside
of the house. "We came here because of that scent... it seems to be coming
from your house."
"That's right, Sagah," added Layuk. "Even those of us who
were passing by on the hill could smell the fragrance from there. It was very
strong."
Several
other people who participated just nodded in agreement.
"What did you bring back from the garden?" asked Mr. Daro,
narrowing his eyes. "Since you came home, your house has suddenly become
very fragrant."
Sagah swallowed, trying to remain calm. "As usual, Uncle. Just brought
some taro and a few small fish."
Uncle Daro still wasn't satisfied. "Or... did you go somewhere else
this afternoon?"
"I'm busy in the garden, Uncle," Sagah replied quickly. "I
still have to look after the buffaloes. Including yours too, right?"
There
was a moment of silence. Only the sound of crickets could be heard in the
distance. Finally, Pak Daro nodded slowly.
"Okay, it's almost night. We'll go home first."
One by one they left, down the path in front of Sagah's house. Once they
were out of sight, Sagah closed the door gently and breathed a sigh of relief.
Her heart was still beating fast. She couldn't tell the truth. She knew that if
Uncle Daro knew about the bark, he could ask for it... or even take it by
force.
From
the front room, Sagah walked quickly to her bedroom. She carefully pulled out
the pillow.
That's
right.
Colorful
dots of light flickered on the piece of bark it was hiding behind. The light
danced slowly, forming shadowy silhouettes. From a broken branch in the bark, a
faint figure slowly emerged—like a spirit, or perhaps the shadow of a being not
of this world.
The creature hovered for a moment... then simply vanished into thin air,
without a sound, without a trace.
Sagah
fell silent, his eyes wide with amazement. But strangely, there was no fear
within him. Instead, there was a warm silence and a deep curiosity. What
exactly was that bark? And what was the meaning of the figure that had just appeared
before him?
The night was growing late. That night, when Sagah couldn't sleep. He just
lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, which was full of spider webs hanging like
a thin curtain of night. Every now and then, his eyes would glance to the side
of the bed, where he had placed the piece of bark—the thing he had deliberately
picked up that morning in the Sunrise Forest. Ever since the strange flash of
light had disappeared, his mind had been restless. The bark looked ordinary.
Nothing more than a piece of tree trunk. In the middle was a blackened branch
break, like an old wound. On the other side, brittle pieces of bark clung to a
fresh layer, as if old and new were intertwined. Sagah slowly rose. He sat on
the bed and reached for the bark, then turned it over in the dim light of the
oil lamp. There was no strange light, no magical vibrations, only a thickening
silence. But there was something... something he couldn't ignore.
“Hmmm… why do I feel like there’s something in this thing?” he muttered
softly, as he lay back down. His hand still gripped the bark as if grasping for
some unfulfilled curiosity. Soon, his eyes slowly closed. He fell into a deep
sleep—too tired to continue asking. However, the night wasn’t completely
peaceful. From the darkest corner of the room, a figure appeared silently. Its
silhouette was faint, as if made of living mist. Not long after, the figure
slowly transformed into the form of a beautiful young woman, wearing an elegant
pink and ivory dress. Her body glowed in the darkness of the night, but the
light wasn’t blinding. She approached, stood by the bed, and looked at Sagah’s
face with an inexplicable gaze—a mixture of curiosity and caution.
The
figure then seemed to fly, his body felt very light flying here and there, he
went to the living room, then headed to the front room, walking along the old
wooden floor that still looked sturdy, even though it looked dull and dusty.
Then he went into the kitchen, touched several objects as if he wanted to fix
something, then returned to the room. And before dawn revealed the darkness,
the figure just disappeared—dissolved with the piercing cold and the whispers
of the night that never sleeps.
That
morning, Sagah woke up from her deep sleep. As usual, she rubbed her eyes with
a face still heavy with sleep, The fragrant smell like yesterday afternoon
returned this morning, the whole house felt very fragrant, Sagah sat on the
edge of her bed with her eyes half closed, then after that she walked to the
kitchen to prepare breakfast before going to the buffalo pen and her field.
While walking to the kitchen she tried to find the source of the fragrant
aroma, However, once her consciousness fully recovered, she was stunned. There
was something different. The kitchen that was usually messy and full of
leftovers from the previous day's activities, now looked very clean and shiny.
The floor that was usually dirty was now shiny, the kitchen utensils were
neatly arranged as if they had never been used before, truly like they were
new.
With
hurried steps and a nervous breath, Sagah walked into the front room. Once
again, an unusual sight greeted her. The entire room was perfectly organized.
Items that were usually scattered around were now neatly arranged in their
places. There was no dust, no clutter—just a calm and order that was foreign to
the house. Several old, worn tables in the room now looked as if they had been
freshly varnished. Even the curtains, which had been untouched for years, now
looked clean and fluttered gently in the morning breeze.
Sagah stood frozen, confused and amazed. Who could have done all this in
one night?
With
a mixture of fear and curiosity filling her heart, she entered her room. And
the wonders continued. Her room was not only clean, but it looked like a royal
bed: immaculate, fragrant, and covered with thick, soft linen, far from
ordinary.
He sat on the edge of the bed. His eyes stared at the clean ceiling,
without a single strand of cobweb hanging from it. Silence reigned in the room.
Slowly, he turned his gaze around the room, his eyes blank, trying to
comprehend what was happening. In the hanging silence, his lips trembled as he
muttered softly,
"Is this the work of my parents' spirits...? Or perhaps the work of my
grandparents' spirits?"
A
small smile appeared on his face, a smile full of emotion and longing that had
been suppressed for a long time.
"They're still looking after me, it seems," he said softly. His
previously gloomy face now seemed radiant. There was a warm light in his eyes—a
light that hadn't appeared since the departure of his loved ones. With renewed
vigor, Sagah prepared to herd the buffalo and cultivate the fields. He gathered
his equipment and stepped out of the house. A smile graced his face, a strange
yet beautiful smile—not forced, but one that came from deep within. His steps
felt light, full of enthusiasm, so different from usual.
Several
people passing by on the street stared at him with surprised looks. One of
them, Petu, greeted him with a frown.
“Hey, Sagah! Yesterday afternoon and this morning… something was strange
about your house, wasn’t there?” he asked suspiciously.
Sagah raised an eyebrow, feigning surprise. “What’s wrong with my house?”
Petu quickly replied, “It smells wonderful. From yesterday afternoon until
this morning, I could smell the fragrance coming from your house. It’s still
there now.”
Off guard, another resident chimed in, "Yes, Sagah. I can smell it
too. The scent is coming from your house." Sagah chuckled. "Maybe the
wind direction has changed, so it seems like the scent is coming from my
house," he said with a smile.
"Never mind... I'll go to the buffalo pen first, okay?" he
continued, still smiling cheerfully. He walked away, leaving Petu and Lengah
standing still, wondering silently. The scent was real. And for some reason, it
made anyone who smelled it feel at peace.
“How strange,” Petu muttered, his eyes following Sagah’s cheerful figure as
she walked down the hill toward her buffalo pen. “What’s wrong with her this
morning?” he asked, turning to Lengah, who was standing beside him. “Maybe her
buffalo is about to give birth to decennials,” Lengah replied with a light
laugh. Petu shared a small smile, but his expression quickly turned serious.
“But… yes, there’s something different about Sagah today. Usually, every
morning she always has a gloomy face. She walks slowly, as if she has no
enthusiasm for life.”
Lengah fell silent. They both watched Sagah's back as it slowly disappeared
around the bend in the small road. "Since her grandparents died, she
hasn't smiled anymore. Her face is always sad... like she's carrying a heavy
burden she can't shake," Petu continued softly, as if speaking to the
morning breeze that gently blew around them.
“It would be great if he could smile again, like before… when his Grandpa
and Grandma were still around,” Lengah said as she walked with Petu towards the
fields.
Meanwhile,
Sagah continued walking toward his buffalo pen. From a distance, he spotted a
figure who appeared to be waiting for him. The closer he got, the clearer the
face became. As Sagah recognized the person, his smile widened. He immediately
quickened his pace.
“Uncle Daro! You’ve been here all this time?” Sagah greeted cheerfully as
he arrived before his uncle.
"I just got here too, Sagah. But it's unusual for you to come to the
barn so late," Uncle Daro replied, patting his nephew on the shoulder.
"Yes, Uncle. I was really tired yesterday. It rained heavily all day,
and one of your buffalo got loose. I searched for it for a long time... but I
finally found it," Sagah explained as he began to open the barn door.
"After that, I went straight back to the fields, afraid I'd neglected my
work."
Uncle Daro nodded, but his eyes held deep concern. “But you’re okay, right,
Sagah?”
"Yes, Uncle. As you can see, I'm fine," Sagah replied with a
smile. His hands worked tirelessly, unfastening each of the wooden bars
covering the cage.
“Okay then,” Uncle Daro finally said, somewhat relieved. “If anything
happens, please come to my house immediately, okay?”
Sagah nodded as he continued working. “How are the buffaloes, Uncle? Are
they all healthy?”
“Just look at them for yourself,” said Sagah, pointing into the cage.
“They’re all healthy and fat.”
Uncle Daro smiled with satisfaction at the condition of the animals.
"Thank goodness. Okay, Uncle, let's get back to work, okay?" he said
as he walked away.
Sagah
stood silently, watching his uncle leave. He continued to stare until Uncle
Daro's figure disappeared behind the weeds and wild trees on the hills.
As usual, Sagah patiently resumed his work. One by one, he let the
buffaloes out of their pens and led them to the expanse of green grass where
they usually grazed.
After
all the buffalo were busy grazing, Sagah slowly walked back to his wooden hut.
He stood there, watching the animals, letting his thoughts wander. Memories of
the strange events that had occurred since yesterday and this morning flooded
his mind.
He was still confused, unable to piece together the series of events that
had come one after another. Everything felt strange—the buffalo he had thought
was lost, the unexpected journey into the Rising Sun forest, and the strange
bark he had brought home. The bark emitted a sharp, mournful aroma, wafting
from inside his house.
Not
only that. Last night, he saw strange specks of light glowing around the house.
And this morning, when he woke up, his house had changed drastically. Clean.
Tidy. As if an invisible hand had tidied everything up. The sweet scent of the
bark still hung in the air, adding a magical touch to the morning atmosphere.
However,
life goes on.
As
usual, Sagah returned to his routine—a job that never bored or tired him. He
carried it all out with diligence and attention. Perhaps that's why Uncle Daro
entrusted Sagah with herding some of his buffalo.
The
weather today is sunny. The sky was clean without clouds, even though the wind
that was blowing still felt cool and cool on the skin. With the weather this
sunny, Sagah was able to finish work in the fields faster than usual, and
return home before the sun slipped to the west.
That
afternoon, as the sun began to set in the west, Sagah had just finished herding
his buffaloes back to the pen. With a cheerful heart and a tired body, he
walked home. However, when he arrived at the yard, he stopped in his tracks.
His eyes widened in astonishment. The yard, which was usually filled with weeds
and scattered branches, now looked completely transformed—neat, clean, even
looking like a lovingly tended garden. There was not a single weed, not a trace
of dried leaves or broken twigs. Sagah stood there, frozen, his heart filled
with a huge question mark.
“Is this the work of my grandparents’ spirits again?” he whispered to
himself, half afraid, half confused.
She
didn't even dare step into her own yard. Her eyes scanned every corner of the
now unfamiliar yet beautiful courtyard. It turned out she wasn't alone. Several
of her neighbors were also standing near the fence, watching Sagah's yard with
curious gazes.
“Sagah, when did you do all this?” exclaimed Todi, one of his peers who was
standing at the front.
Sagah took a breath, then replied in a steady voice, “It was early this
morning, before the sun rose. I couldn’t sleep, so I thought I’d clean the
yard.”
But
from the looks on their faces, it was clear that the reply was not immediately
convincing.
“Alone? There’s no way you could have done all this alone. Who helped you?”
Nono asked suspiciously, pointing to the now-perfect lawn.
"Yes, No... this morning three of my family members from the
neighboring village stopped by. They helped out for a moment, but then they
went back," Sagah replied. This time, his tone sounded a little nervous.
“Oh, I see...” Todi muttered, still looking doubtful.
Without waiting any longer, Sagah hurriedly excused herself, “Yes, I’m
going in now. .. there’s still a lot to do inside.” She quickly walked into the
house, leaving her neighbors still standing in the yard, looking at each other,
with questions lingering in their minds.
With a racing mind, Sagah hurriedly opened the kitchen door and stepped
inside. He remained standing, leaning against the wooden pillar near the
fireplace. "Who did all this? Who? . . . Who?" he muttered, his voice
a jumbled mess, as if his mind couldn't yet piece together the logic of what he
had just seen.
Her
gaze then fell on the dining table. There, a wide, bright blue cloth stretched
out, with delicate white lace trimming the edges, covering the entire table.
The cloth seemed to be hiding something. Slowly, Sagah approached. She didn't
immediately pull the cloth away. Instead, she circled the table once, as if
trying to assess the situation from all angles. Then, she stopped, standing
still on the left side of the table.
"What's this? It seems... there's a cooking aroma coming from under
this cloth," he muttered, scratching his chin, which wasn't itchy. The
aroma was getting more and more tempting, making his long-empty stomach rebel
loudly.
Finally,
with slow movements and full of curiosity, Sagah lifted the covering cloth. And
again, he was surprised.
"Who else is this?!" he screamed, his eyes wide with disbelief.
"Aaaaachrrrrggg!!" he screamed in frustration, a mix of anger,
confusion, and... hunger.
He felt like he was being toyed with. However, beneath the annoyance, the
hunger gripping his stomach was more urgent and needed to be addressed. "Hey!
Whoever you are, or whoever you are who did this... thank you! I'm
hungry!!" he exclaimed loudly, as if speaking to the air. Without
thinking, Sagah began to eat each dish on the table. All of the dishes were
familiar to him—typical dishes usually served at big village feasts. Special
foods that he rarely enjoyed in his daily life.
He
ate with gusto, like someone who had just returned from a long journey without
food. It had been a long time since he had touched such exquisite food.
After
her stomach was full and her curiosity had subsided somewhat, Sagah walked to
her bedroom. She flopped onto the bed, resting her full back against the worn
mat. Sleepiness came like a wave, irresistible. Before long, her eyes closed
and she drifted off to sleep, sinking into a deep, peaceful sleep.
As
usual, while in his small hut watching over his buffalo, Sagah enjoyed the
serenity of nature around him. From the direction of the creek, a beautiful
woman appeared, seemingly familiar to him. In her arms, she carried several
freshly washed taro tubers. Drops of water still dripped from the tubers'
skins, falling onto her clean, white feet.
Seeing
the woman struggling to carry all the taro, Sagah immediately got up and rushed
over to her. He took some of the load off her shoulders with a quick but gentle
movement.
"Gaharau, why didn't you just call me earlier?" said Sagah in a
worried tone, while taking some taro from Gaharau's embrace.
Gaharau smiled, warm and reassuring. "It's okay, I can carry it all
the way to the hut myself," he said, though he eventually let Sagah take
the entire yam from his arms.
They
then walked side by side along the small, slightly uphill path to the cottage
on the small hill. Dusk began to fall, creating a warm silence between them.
Arriving
at the hut, Sagah went straight to the clay stove where the water in the pot
was almost boiling. Carefully, he put the taro one by one into the pot, then
adjusted the position of the firewood underneath. He blew the flame slowly
using a long bamboo stick that resembled a bamboo flute, making the smoke rise
thinly into the air.
Gaharau,
who had been watching her with a loving smile, slowly approached. He hugged
Sagah from behind, warm and reassuring. In that silence, the two of them looked
so happy, as if the world belonged only to them.
"Sagah," Gaharau said softly, his voice soft but full of meaning,
"will you take care of me... until we grow old?"
Hearing
that, Sagah was silent for a moment. Then, he stood up straight, pulling
Gaharau's hand to stand with him. His eyes stared deeply at the woman he loved.
"Never mind getting old," he said quietly, but with conviction.
"Even when I die, I will still take care of you."
He
then hugged Gaharau tightly, burying his face in her fragrant hair, soothing
like the scent of earth after the first rain. In that embrace, it was as if
time stood still for a moment.
However,
a small splash of boiling water in the pot brought Sagah back to her senses.
She quickly released his embrace and pulled out some wood from the stove to reduce
the heat, preventing the water from overflowing and wetting the stove.
While
waiting for the taro to cook, the two of them sat relaxing in front of the hut,
watching the cattle graze peacefully. Gaharau leaned her head affectionately on
Sagah's shoulder. The breeze played with her long hair, occasionally obscuring
part of her beautiful face. Sagah's heart beat fast, filled with an overflow of
love and happiness he had never felt from a woman. All this time, not a single
village girl had bothered to even glance at him. Gently and lovingly, Sagah
stroked Gaharau's hair, as if time had stopped and she didn't want to leave
this beautiful moment.
Faintly, from a distance, Sagah's ears caught the sound of a rooster
crowing. As time went on, the sound got closer and closer, until it felt very
disturbing. Sagah jolted awake, intending to chase away the rooster that was
crowing right near his ear. However, as soon as his eyes opened, he found
himself surrounded by the pitch black darkness of the night. Sagah took a deep
breath. It turns out, that happiness was just a dream. Even so, the remnants of
that flowery feeling still felt real. He smiled bitterly to himself.
"Gaharau?" he whispered softly. "Who is Gaharau, and where is
he?" he continued, full of questions.
He headed to the kitchen, taking a sip of water to quench his parched
throat. Then, his steps focused on the kitchen door, reaching for a machete
hanging nearby. With machete in hand, Sagah stepped out, heading to his yard.
He trimmed some tree branches that were overhanging the yard. Diligently, he
tidied up the trees growing around his house, combing through every branch and
twig that looked out of place. Without realizing it, dawn began to break,
coloring the sky with shades of orange and yellow. Life in the village slowly
returned to life. Nono, Todi, and several of Sagah's neighbors passed by his
house, greeting them with pleasantries. "Sagah... you're so diligent, no
wonder your yard looks like a flower garden," Nono said as he passed. "Yeah,
No, to make it look even more beautiful," Sagah replied with a faint
smile. "Are you getting married, Sagah?" Todi chimed in, his tone
full of teasing. However, this time Sagah chose not to respond. He just watched
the backs of his two neighbors as they moved further away down the road in
front of his house.
When
finished, Sagah collected the twigs and leaves he had pruned, then threw them
into the valley which was not too steep behind his house.
The
days passed so quickly. It had been nine days since Sagah brought home a
strange piece of bark from the forest. From then on, strange things began to
fill his life. Every time he returned from the fields, there was always a warm
meal neatly served on the dining table. His house was always clean, fragrant,
and orderly, as if invisible hands had worked flawlessly.
Never
once was anyone seen coming to help, but the miracle kept repeating itself, day
after day.
One
morning, as Sagah had just left for his buffalo pen, several neighbors, driven
by curiosity, sneaked into his house. They were suspicious, feeling that Sagah
was hiding something. Furthermore, ever since the distinctive aroma of the
Rising Sun Forest began to waft from his house, the strangeness became even
more apparent. Every afternoon, sounds of activity could be heard coming from
the kitchen—footsteps, the clatter of cooking utensils—but no one was ever
seen.
When they entered, the house was... too neat, too clean, too fragrant. But
most surprising of all: they couldn't touch anything. Every object was like a
shadow—real, but empty. Like touching air.
Rumors
spread. Stories about the oddities in Sagah's house became the talk of the
town.
Some
residents finally gathered the courage to ask him directly. But Sagah simply
smiled and said it was all just the result of his hard work. But deep down, he
knew: something was amiss. There was a presence unseen, yet real.
The
question that bothered him the most was one: Who is Gaharau? The figure of a
woman who appeared in his dreams almost every night, was so real, so
familiar... like a lover he had known for a long time, even if only in
dreamland.
On
the ninth day, Sagah returned home earlier than usual. There was a restlessness
he couldn't contain. A determination was growing quietly in his heart.
With
hurried steps, he entered the yard and headed straight for the kitchen. He was
stunned.
The
food was already served on the table. It hadn't even been covered with the
cloth as usual. What made her heart race was that all the dishes were still
piping hot, with thin wisps of steam dancing in the air, as if they had just
been cooked.
He
stared out the window. The twilight slowly crept down over the horizon. His
gaze hardened.
It
is time.
The
next morning, even before the sun had fully risen, Sagah was already in the
barn. He led his buffaloes out to the pasture, then waited in the small hut. He
waited for midday, when the strange activity at his house usually
began—according to neighbors.
Towards
noon, Sagah approached his house again. He hid behind a bush, paying attention
to every corner of the house.
At
first, nothing happened. The house seemed quiet. There were no sounds coming
from the kitchen, as people had said.
He almost gave up. “I’d better get back to the fields,” he muttered under
his breath.
But after walking a few meters, he stopped. His instincts screamed. He
peeked again. . . and sure enough, he saw a woman walking from the bedroom
toward the kitchen. Soon, sounds began to be heard: the clatter of utensils,
the rustling of footsteps. It was just as everyone had described.
Sagah
froze. His heart was beating fast. His hands were cold. He's afraid. Afraid of
making a wrong move, afraid of regretting it for the rest of your life if this
is just a dream.
But that face. .. Gaharau's face.
“Could it be… that’s him?” he whispered, wiping the sweat from his
forehead.
He
took a deep breath, then slowly crept out into the yard. When he reached the
kitchen door, he steeled himself—and kicked it open.
Inside,
stood a woman. Her face was exactly like the one in his dream.
“Gaharau? !” he exclaimed in near disbelief.
The woman turned her head and smiled gently, as if she had been waiting for
him for a long time. "Why have you just come?" he asked, while still
busy in the kitchen.
“So... you really are Gaharau?” asked Sagah, shaking.
“Yes, I am Gaharau,” he replied while looking deeply at Sagah.
Sagah still stood stiff. “Your face... I'm afraid this is just another
dream,” he said in a trembling voice.
Gaharau approached, holding Sagah's hand gently. “Does this feel like a
dream?” he whispered.
Sagah
didn't reply. His hands were shaking violently.
"You're not dreaming, Sagah. This is real. I've been waiting,"
said Gaharau calmly.
“Waiting?” Sagah repeated, confused.
“Yes. Since the first day those dreams came to you.”
He poured water into a clay cup and handed it to Sagah. He sat down and
said, “I’ll tell you everything. But promise me… this is just for you. If you
break it—”
“What will happen if I break the rules?”
“You will return to your old life. The eleventh day will be the beginning
and the end. You will never see me again, ever.”
"How come? "
“Because I have chosen you. You are the best. You are my soulmate.”
Sagah took a deep breath. “Whatever you tell me today, I will guard it like
my own life.”
Hearing that, Gaharau smiled and gripped Sagah's hand tighter. "I
trust you. But don't disappoint me... Don't make a fatal mistake."
“I promise,” Sagah replied softly, his eyes starting to get wet.
At
the dinner table, Gaharau started telling stories.
He
had been watching Sagah for a long time, since his youth in the fields. As
Sagah grew into a mature and honest man, Gaharau knew—he was the one he had
been waiting for.
He
was the one who caused the buffalo to get lost, so that Sagah entered the
Sunrise Forest. He was the one who whispered the instructions to take the
bark—where Gaharau had lived for hundreds of thousands of years.
She
is a forest guardian fairy. She protects the forest from greedy people who want
to cut down the fragrant trees. Those who violate her will be cursed. And the
curse cannot be undone, even by her.
“Why did you choose me?” asked Sagah.
“Because you’re the only one who entered the forest without ambition. Even
when I sent strange animals to attract your attention, you didn’t bother them.”
“Hey.. those animals, you sent them?” asked Sagah, wide-eyed.
“Yes, that’s all me,” Gaharau replied, smiling softly.
Sagah stood up and took a deep breath, walking towards the door as if
looking for fresh air. In front of the door, he took another deep breath, then
after that he turned to Gaharau who was still sitting near the dining table, as
if waiting for the final sentence from Sagah, “Gaharau, how about we get
married?” Sagah asked firmly, “Yes, I want to, but you have to remember, never
tell anyone about my origins,” Gaharau said, looking at Sagah with full hope,
“I won’t, Gaharau, even until I die, I won’t tell anyone about your origins,”
Sagah promised again.
Finally, Sagah contacted the village head and asked for Gaharau's hand in
marriage. She explained that Gaharau was the child of a distant relative from a
neighboring village, whom she had been betrothed to when she was a child.
Gaharau, like her, lived alone, without parents, siblings, or grandparents.
And finally the wedding day of Gaharau and Sagah arrived, they married
quite simply, only attended by neighbors and a few people, after marriage they
lived like a normal married couple, every morning they both went out to the
fields and returned in the afternoon.
“Sagah, I am a fairy I cannot give you children, do you mind?” said Gaharau
approaching Sagah when they had just finished dinner,
"I know you're a fairy, and I don't mind if we don't have children,
and I won't look for another woman just to have children," Sagah replied,
tightly gripping his wife's hands. Hearing Saga's words, Gaharau became even
happier, reassuring himself that he had chosen the right person for his life
partner.
However,
out there, many people were jealous of Sagah, because his wife's beauty was
much more beautiful than the village flowers in the village. This was the first
time that the old and young men had seen a woman as beautiful as Gaharau. Her
skin was pure white, her hair was long and black, making all the men in the
village want to have a wife like Gaharau.
Gaharau and Sagah live day after day full of love and happiness, not once
are they heard making a fuss or fighting. Until one night when they were just
about to sleep, from the front they heard the sound of someone knocking on the
door of their house, "Sagah! .. Sagah, are you asleep! !" the
person's voice knocked on the door of Sagah's house. "Who is that?"
asked Gaharau, surprised, because it was unusual for someone to come knocking
on their door at night like this, "You wait here for a moment, I'll come
to them," said Sagah, then rushed out, leaving Gaharau alone in the room.
Sagah walked to the front room, then opened the door, “eeh Sagah Sorry to
disturb you at night” said Todi casually, “yeah what is it Di' why are you guys
coming so late” replied Sagah with an unhappy tone of voice, “we wanted to let
you know, in two days we have a harvest party, a harvest party” continued Nono,
“yeah you have to come Sagah, because how many times have you never come to the
harvest party” said Todi persuading Sagah, “I will try my best, my wife and I
will come” replied Sagah, “yeah you have to, come, we will pick you up later”
said Todi, “yeah. .. yes okay” replied Sagah again. Hearing Sagah's reply they
were very happy, as if their purpose there was only to wait for a reply that
Sagah and his wife were available to come to the harvest party. They then
excused themselves from Sagah's house, “Sagah went back in to meet his wife,
“what's wrong, why are we chatting for so long? " asked Gaharau, "ooh
they invited us to the harvest party in two days" Sagah replied looking at
his wife's face, "do we have to come?" asked Gaharau, "yeah
let's just come, I've been to harvest parties many times and never come"
replied Sagah smiling, "okay let's just come" Gaharau replied, and
after that there was no more conversation, until they fell asleep at night.
And finally the awaited day arrived, in the morning Sagah prepared their
offerings to the Harvest Festival, Gaharau cooked several types of food, while
Todi, Nono and several other people had come several times to remind Sagah not
to be late, "why do they have to come several times to remind us?"
asked Gaharau, suspicious of Todi and his friends, "let's think well,
maybe they really hope we come, because since my grandfather and grandmother
left, I never joined them again" replied Sagah trying to think well. In
the afternoon, the person came again, and luckily Sagah and Gaharau were ready.
"Come on! . . Sagah it's time, let's go" Nono exclaimed when he came
to Sagah's house and saw Sagah and Gaharau ready. Their eyes were all very
captivated by Gaharau's beauty that afternoon. The feeling of envy towards
Sagah grew, because how could a child who was less sociable and withdrawn like
Sagah, get a wife as beautiful as an angel like Gaharu, there was a pause their
gazes were all focused on Gaharau, Sagah quickly stood in front of his wife,
“hey. . hey. why are you looking at my wife like that! ” exclaimed Sagah, “your
wife is very beautiful Sagah, does she still have a younger sibling or older
sibling?” asked one of them, “they are gone, my wife is an only child like me,
and alone like me too” replied Sagah sounding annoyed. Seeing the behavior of
those people, Gaharau immediately covered his head with a shawl, so that his
face was only faintly visible. “Come on. .come on let’s go now” Sagah
continued, “Sagah, you and your wife just walk in front, you guard from behind”
Nono said, “oh no, you guys just walk in front, let my wife and I walk behind
following you” Sagah said, hearing Sagah’s reply just now, they looked at each
other as if they were discussing in silence, “Okay then, we walk in front, you
two follow from behind” Todi said, and immediately walked. They walked side by
side to the open field where the harvest festival was often held. When they
arrived there, the atmosphere was already quite lively, each person brought
their belongings to the front, for a moment to be distributed again to the
others. Not long after the harvest festival had begun, they played traditional
musical instruments both wind and percussion like drums and others. They began
to distribute the food they had collected in front, some began to dance to the
music, some were already seen very drunk. Nono and Todi and several other
people came to bring Sagah their village's special drink, they then drank it
together, Sagah did not know that they had an evil plan behind all their
kindness. That night Sagah drank very much, because for how many years Sagah
never came to the harvest party, even after several years of marriage, this was
the first time she came to the harvest party. Sagah began to lose control, her
speech began to become slurred, seeing that Gaharau immediately carried her and
took her home, "Sagah, you've drunk too much, let's just go home"
said Gaharau who was starting to worry about her husband's condition,
"Don't worry dear, I'm fine, we'll be home soon" replied Sagah who
was already looking unsteady, "Yes Gaharau, you go home later, we'll take
you again, we'll carry Sagah back to your house" said Nono who apparently
hadn't drunk a single sip of the drink, they deliberately made Sagah very
drunk. “Come on. . sagah let’s go to the fountain to wash your face so that
your drunkenness will subside,” Todi invited then carried Sagah, followed by
Gaharau from behind but was intercepted by Todi, “gaharau you just wait here”
said Todi blocking Gaharau. Finally they took Sagah away in a drunken state,
after seeing Gaharau’s distance was quite far from them. Finally they carried
out their evil plan, Todi, Nono and several other people who were jealous of
Sagah’s wife’s beauty, dug up all of Gaharau’s secrets, and in a drunken state,
Sagah revealed all the secrets about his wife who turned out to be a fairy from
a fragrant tree, in the Sunrise forest, he said that gaharau was a fairy
figure. that’s why they couldn’t have children, even though they had been
married for a long time, they had been married for five harvests (5 years) but
they didn’t have children, because his wife was a fairy. When all that was said
by Sagah, suddenly a very bright flash of lightning came from the sky and then
followed by a very loud booming sound. Gaharau knew that what he had been
worried about had happened, he rushed to where Sagah and his friends were, With
tears on his face, Gaharau came to Sagah, he didn't say anything, he scratched
while shaking his head, "Gaharau. .. I'm sorry!" Sagah exclaimed,
reaching towards Gaharau's feet, but Gaharau didn't want to be touched by
Sagah, he tried to avoid Sagah, "Gaharau, my dear wife. . I'm sorry, I
will not repeat all this" Sagah coaxed again while crawling trying to
reach Gaharau's feet, he didn't care about the dozens of people around him who
were watching him, Meanwhile Gaharau's body began to emit dots of light, and
Sagah knew what it was a sign of, he screamed struggling, "Gaharau. ..
don't Gaharau. .. don't leave me", Sagah's voice struggled and begged. But
Gaharau didn't care anymore. The light dots increasingly swarmed around his
body, many approached to get Gaharau but they were all thrown very far when
they tried to approach Gaharau. After the light dots had formed a circle and
covered almost Gaharau's body, Wings faintly emerged from Gaharau's back, after
the wings were completely out of his back. .. the light grew brighter,
illuminating the open field where the party was held. . after the light grew
brighter. . suddenly Gaharau disappeared with the light, and suddenly the
atmosphere became silent, Sagah shouted calling his wife, .. "gaharau! !!
!! , forgive me, don't leave me alone again Gaharau" Sagah's voice
struggled until it was short of breath, . He then took the horse that was tied
to a tree on the edge of the field, he immediately took it and immediately
directed the horse towards his house, it seemed like his drunkenness
immediately disappeared knowing his wife had disappeared, he rode the horse
very fast, until finally he arrived home, when he arrived in front of his
house, everything was back to normal, the yard was dirty and messy, like an
unkempt house, he immediately went into his room looking for the Gaharau bark,
but the bark was gone, the condition inside his house was also messy and shabby
like when he had not brought the bark to his house, . He cried again and called
his wife, he then went to the yard of his house which had returned to being
shabby and dirty as before. There he called out to his wife again, but only
emptiness was what he got, Gaharau was no longer there, he had disappeared who
knows where.
Not
long after, many people flocked to his house trying to calm Sagah who was
almost crazy after being left by Gaharau. The village elders tried to advise
him, but it was ineffective. Finally, the greatest shaman in the village gave
him a potion which finally made him unconscious, until morning came.
The next morning, when he woke up, he immediately called his wife's name,
"Gaharau. . where is my wife, last night I was just dreaming right? "
he said looking around his bed, but no one was there, he went back to look for
the piece of bark but it was gone, . He then stood up, staggered out of the
house, he walked towards the Sunrise forest, after half a day of staggering
walking he finally arrived at the Sunrise Forest. However, the atmosphere in
the Sunrise forest was no longer like when he first entered. with his hoarse
voice he called out to his wife, finally he arrived at the big tree where he
took the bark, but the tree seemed to have lost its magic, or the tree no
longer had any magic, now the tree was no more than an ordinary tree, Sagah hit
the tree trunk while calling out to his wife, However, Gaharau had disappeared
who knows where, the tree was still fragrant, but it was no longer as fragrant
as before, the fragrance was only around the tree.
Since
then, many villagers in the village came to the tree and peeled its bark and
then took it home, even though the tree still gave off a very small fragrance,
the enthusiasm of the residents was very great to come to the Gaharau tree,
some even stabbed the tree trunk with hot iron hoping that the Gaharau Spring
would come out, to the point that the tree trunk had dozens or even hundreds of
hot iron stab marks.
From
that moment on, the tree was named the Fragrant Agarwood Tree.
Due
to extreme heartache, Sagah committed suicide by hanging his body from the
trunk of a Gaharau tree.
Note: Don't promise just to get what you want, but promise with a sense of
responsibility and full commitment to the promises you have made.
![]()
Once upon a time, in Fairyland, specifically in the
Rainbow Palace, there was a commotion. This commotion was nothing new; in fact, it had been going on for quite some time. Among
the beautiful rainbow colors, there were two unusual ones: the Black Rainbow
and the White Rainbow. The Black Rainbow was at the bottom of the rainbow,
while the White Rainbow was at the top.
Each
color of the rainbow represents a rainbow fairy, reflecting the colors of the
fairies. From Red, Yellow, Green, Orange, Blue, and so on, each color has a
fairy who guards and cares for the beauty of the rainbow. Black Rainbow, at the
bottom of the rainbow, felt neglected by the bright rainbow fairies. Every time
she saw the bright rainbow fairies crossing above her, forming a beautiful arc,
like the Red, Yellow, and Green rainbow fairies shining beautifully, her heart
was filled with sadness and jealousy. She always felt that she was the least
important rainbow fairy among the rainbows.
“Why do I always have to be at the bottom?” Black Rainbow complained to
herself. “I want to be in the middle, so I can stand out like the other colors
of the rainbow. I want to be noticed too!” With strong determination, Black
Rainbow began to ask the rainbow fairies to change her position. “Please, give
me a position in the middle! I want to show that I too have beauty,” she
pleaded hopefully. However, her request was not accepted by all the rainbow
fairies. They felt that Black Rainbow’s presence only brought darkness and
sadness.
Only the White Fairy understood the Black Rainbow's feelings. She, too,
felt isolated, despite her position at the very top. "I'm always covered
by white clouds," the White Fairy lamented. "Even though I'm at the
top, I feel insignificant. My white color is often considered ordinary and
unattractive. I want to show that I too possess beauty and power," she
said, emphasizing each word.
When
the long dry season arrives, when rain never falls throughout the season, the
rainbow fairies are busy collecting water droplets according to their
respective colors. They prepare for the arrival of the rainy season, working
hard to create the water droplets that will revive the earth.
As each fairy was diligently working, the White Fairy approached the Black
Rainbow Fairy and said gently, “We both feel the same way. Let’s unite and work
together. If we all stand up for our rights, perhaps we can change our position
with the other rainbow fairies,” the White Fairy said, persuading the Black
Fairy to cooperate with her.
Black Rainbow felt encouraged and influenced by the White Fairy's words.
"You're right. We must work together to demand this change. If we unite,
perhaps we can show them that we too possess unique beauty, if we are brought
closer and placed among them," she replied with renewed vigor.
With
determination, the Black and White Rainbow Fairies began to plan their plan.
They approached the other colored rainbow fairies one by one, begging them to
move over and give the Black and White Rainbow Fairies their center positions.
However, the other colored rainbow fairies refused. Unable to accept their
refusal, the Black and White Rainbow Fairies became enraged and began to ruin
all the other colored rainbow fairies' preparations. All the colored water
droplets were destroyed by the Black and White Fairies.
As
chaos spread, the once-bright sky became chaotic. The perfectly prepared and
arranged colors began to fade, while gray clouds rolled in, obscuring the
sunlight. The other rainbow fairies panicked, trying to save their remaining
colors, but the Black and White Rainbow Fairies had already wreaked havoc and
ruined everything.
As the atmosphere grows increasingly tense, the two rainbow fairies realize
that their actions have not only destroyed the beauty, but also threatened
their very existence. In the chaos, the Black and White Rainbow Fairies begin
to feel the impact of their actions. Will they continue down this path of
emptiness, or will they find a way to right their wrongs and create a new
beauty together?
However, amidst the commotion, a wise old fairy named the Twilight Fairy
appeared. In a gentle but firm voice, she spoke to them, “Hey, my children,
what are you doing? Why have you chosen the path of chaos to attain your
desired position?”
The Black Rainbow Fairy defended herself, “But this is all unfair to us,
Your Majesty.” Meanwhile, the White Rainbow Fairy added, “Yes, Your Majesty.
Why are we being placed in such a disadvantageous position?”
Hearing the two fairies' defense, the Twilight Fairy simply smiled as she
watched them. "You don't know, many people once coveted your
position," she replied. "Because the other rainbow fairies were
jealous of you," the Twilight Fairy continued.
The two fairies looked confused by their new discovery. “Why is that, Your
Majesty?” asked the Black Rainbow Fairy curiously. “Because throughout the dry
season, you two—the Black Rainbow Fairy and the White Rainbow Fairy—didn’t have
to work hard to form or create your rainbow-colored water droplets. You were
helped by the white and black clouds in creating those water droplets,”
explained the Twilight Fairy wisely.
However, these two stubborn fairies still defied the Twilight Fairy's
words. "But, Your Majesty, didn't they also have the help of the Aurora
Fairy, so they could collect the colored water droplets from the tip of the
Aurora Fairy's light?" asked the White Rainbow Fairy, as if she knew
better.
"From your perspective, you're wrong, White Rainbow Fairy. They are
the ones who help the Aurora Fairy radiate her sparkling light from the
northern and southern hemispheres, through the ice crystals they create,"
the Twilight Fairy explained firmly.
The two fairies remained silent as they listened to the Twilight Fairy's
explanation. "Because you have made a grave mistake, you must be
punished," the Twilight Fairy continued with a sharp gaze.
“But Your Majesty, we only want justice!” replied the Black Rainbow Fairy
in a pleading voice.
"Justice is fought for through truth, not by fighting against it to
create justice that suits ambition and emotion," replied the Twilight
Fairy. "And to bring true beauty, justice is not born from coercion, but
from balance and harmony."
The Black Rainbow Fairy looked at the Twilight Fairy with teary eyes. “But
we’re tired of being pushed aside! We want to be recognized as part of this
beauty too!” she exclaimed.
The Twilight Fairy smiled gently. “I understand how you feel. But look what
happens when you choose destruction over discussion and cooperation. The
rainbow we love is now almost completely gone. Is this what you wanted?”
The
White Fairy and the Black Fairy looked at each other. For the first time, they
realized the consequences of their actions. The once-bright rainbow had now
turned into a dull, gray haze. No more colors shone, no more beauty radiated
from the sky.
Slowly,
guilt began to creep into their hearts. They didn't want the rainbow to
disappear forever, but they also didn't want to return to their position of constant
neglect. They began to wonder if there was another way to gain recognition
without having to cause all this chaos?
The Twilight Fairy observed their expressions and smiled slightly. “If you
truly want to make a change, whether small or large, don’t start with chaos or
destruction. Let’s first create togetherness, without involving personal
interests. Once a good atmosphere of togetherness is created, then you can
express the changes you want, along with the reasons and the good for all of
us. Not by force or destruction, as you have done,” the Twilight Fairy
explained wisely. The Black Rainbow Fairy and the White Rainbow Fairy pondered
for a moment. They realized that perhaps there was another way to achieve their
goal without having to destroy the existing beauty. However, a big question
haunted their minds: would the other Rainbow Fairies accept them back after the
chaos they created? After all, the Black Rainbow Fairy and the White Rainbow
Fairy had destroyed the hard work of the other fairies.
The
Black Rainbow Fairy and the White Rainbow Fairy were no longer allowed to be
part of the rainbow. As punishment for their actions, they were both
transformed into clouds—the White Rainbow Fairy became a white cloud that
appeared during the hot sun to provide shade, while the Black Rainbow Fairy
became a black cloud that brought rain when the season arrived.
"Now, this is your new home," said the Twilight Fairy as she led
them to the Lord of the White Clouds and the Lord of the Black Clouds. The two
fairies lowered their heads weakly, feeling a tightness in their chests from
their mistake.
"We both feel so guilty. Can we be returned to where we belong?"
the Black Rainbow Fairy begged hopefully.
"Yes, we truly apologize," added the White Rainbow Fairy, admitting
their mistake.
"Your mistakes may be forgiven along with the punishment you
undergo," replied the Twilight Fairy calmly.
"But... will we be able to return to being Rainbow Fairies after this
punishment is over?" asked the White Rainbow Fairy, full of hope. However,
there was no answer. Everyone present was silent—including the Lord of the
White Clouds and the Lord of the Black Clouds. The Twilight Fairy also fell
silent for a moment, trying to form words to convey something greater,
something that would change the lives of these two fairies forever.
"Look, do you realize how big a mistake you've made?" asked the
Twilight Fairy seriously.
Black Rainbow Fairy looked down. "Yes... as a result of our actions,
the rainbow will not appear at the end of the rain like usual."
The Twilight Fairy shook her head slowly. "No, it's not just that.
Because of your actions, the ecosystem of the fairyland has been damaged. The
order of the seasons has become chaotic and disordered—the winter, rainy, and
dry seasons no longer function as they should. Many living creatures down there
will suffer from this imbalance."
Hearing this, the White Rainbow Fairy felt even more guilty. "We
didn't know the impact would be this severe. Your Majesty, we are truly sorry.
We accept any punishment for this grave mistake."
"Yes, we accept any punishment. In fact, I don't think we deserve to
be Rainbow Fairies anymore," replied the Black Rainbow Fairy, kneeling
beside the White Rainbow Fairy.
The Twilight Fairy took a deep breath before finally saying, "That's
what I wanted to say. From now on, you two are no longer Rainbow Fairies. You
will never be accepted back into the rainbow order—ever." With that, the
Twilight Fairy stripped the two fairies of all their former magic and special
qualities. Now, they were no longer the Black Rainbow Fairy and the White
Rainbow Fairy, but the Black Cloud Fairy and the White Cloud Fairy. After
handing them over to the Cloud Lord, the Twilight Fairy took her leave and
departed, leaving the two to their new fates.
The Lord of the White Clouds smiled gently. "Calm down. Being a black
cloud or a white cloud is not the end of everything. This is just the beginning
of your new journey."
"Yes," replied the Lord of the Black Clouds. "Here, you will
learn many new things. But remember, never repeat this deliberate mistake
again."
The
two now-transformed fairies could only stare at each other. They realized that
their lives had changed forever, and now, they must learn to accept the new
destiny that had been laid out for them.
The long dry season is almost over, signaling the imminent arrival of the
rainy season. However, one question has been nagging the rainbow fairies: what
would the world be like without rainbows at the end of the rain?
The
remaining rainbow fairies were filled with worry. They knew that without the
rainbow's colorful particles, the world would lose its beauty after the rain.
They rushed to find a way to recreate the rainbow particles before the dry
season truly ended.
After
a long discussion, they agreed to work together to find a solution. The
Twilight Fairy, the wisest among them, appointed the Green Rainbow Fairy and
the Yellow Rainbow Fairy as leaders in this important mission.
"We must find a way out before it's too late," said the Green
Rainbow Fairy with determination.
"How about we ask the Rainy Season Fairies and the Dry Season Fairies
for help? If they're willing to delay the rain, we'll have more time to create
new rainbows," he suggested.
The
Yellow Rainbow Fairy nodded in agreement, and without wasting any time, the two
of them immediately went to the Rainy Season Fairies.
"We come with great hope," said the Green Rainbow Fairy in a
pleading voice, bowing her shoulders respectfully. "We beg your wisdom to
delay this year's rainy season, just for a little while, so that we can
recreate the rainbow."
The Rain Fairies exchanged glances. One of them finally spoke, his voice
soft yet firm. "We understand your concerns, but the universe has its own
rules and timetables. We cannot violate them," he replied kindly, as if
aware of the burden on the rainbow fairies' minds.
Another fairy chimed in, "If the rainy season is delayed, the world
will experience disaster. A long drought will cause rivers and lakes to dry up,
plants to die, and aquatic life to perish. Farmers will lose their crops, and
people will starve."
The
Green Rainbow Fairy and the Yellow Rainbow Fairy fell silent. They realized the
devastating consequences if the rainy season didn't arrive on time. With heavy
hearts, they said goodbye.
"Thank you for your wisdom. We will find another way," said the
Yellow Rainbow Fairy.
They
left the place with heavy steps, contemplating the words of the Rainy Season
Fairies. It was true that delaying the rainy season would have disastrous
consequences for life on earth. However, they couldn't just let the rainbow
disappear.
"We should try talking to the Dry Season Fairies," said the Green
Rainbow Fairy. "Perhaps they can help us in other ways."
With
hope still remaining, they continued their journey to the Castle of the Dry
Season Fairies.
At
the Dry Season Fairy Palace, they seemed to have known about the arrival of the
Green Rainbow Fairy and the Yellow Rainbow Fairy, when the two Fairies landed
in front of the Dry Season Fairy Palace, they were greeted by the Dry Season
Fairies who had been waiting for their arrival.
"Welcome, Green Rainbow Fairy and Yellow Rainbow Fairy. We've heard
news of your arrival," said the oldest Dry Season Fairy in a soft yet
authoritative voice. "How can we help you?"
The Green Rainbow Fairy took a deep breath before speaking. "We come
with great hopes. The rainy season is coming soon, but we fear the world will
lose the beauty of rainbows at the end of the rain. We want to recreate the
rainbow droplets, but we don't have enough time. Can you help us?" the
Green Rainbow Fairy asked in a hopeful tone.
The dry season fairies looked at each other. There was a moment of silence,
until finally one of the cheerful young fairies said, "We understand your
concerns. However, we also have a duty to maintain the balance of nature. If we
prolong the dry season, there will be unavoidable consequences."
The Yellow Rainbow Fairy immediately chimed in, "We don't want to
upset that balance. We just want to find a way for rainbows to still grace the
sky after the rain. Is there any other way we can do this together?"
The oldest Dry Season Fairy nodded slowly. "We may not be able to help
you directly, but we can offer some advice to help you solve your
problem."
The Green Rainbow Fairy and the Yellow Rainbow Fairy's eyes lit up with
hope. "What is it?" they asked almost simultaneously, feeling a fresh
breeze blow across their faces. They waited eagerly, hoping there would be a
way for the rainbow to continue appearing in the sky after the rain had
stopped.
"Go to the Rain Season Fairies, ask for their help in giving you the
raindrops they have," said the Head of the Dry Season Fairies in a soft
but dignified voice.
"That's right, the Chief is indeed very wise!" exclaimed the
Yellow Rainbow Fairy with a beaming face.
"Then, what about our rainbow colors, Chief?" asked the Green
Rainbow Fairy in a worried tone.
The Fairy Leader of the Dry Season smiled. "Perhaps you could ask
Fairy Aurora for help. She'd probably be willing to share some of her colorful
treasures."
"Very well, thank you for your valuable advice, Chief. We will now
take our leave," the two fairies said, saluting, and then they flew away
from the castle with burning enthusiasm.
The
two rainbow fairies divided their duties. The Green Rainbow Fairy immediately
headed for the Aurora Fairy Castle, while the Yellow Rainbow Fairy flew to the
Rainy Season Fairy Castle. Upon arrival, she immediately confronted the Rainy
Season Fairy Leader.
"I have come to ask for help from the Rain Fairies. Please give me a
few drops of rain so that we, the Rainbow Fairies, can recreate the beautiful
rainbow arc in the sky," asked the Yellow Rainbow Fairy hopefully, without
further ado.
However, the Chief of the Rain Fairy shook his head slowly. "We cannot
give you our water drops."
The
Yellow Rainbow Fairy fell silent. Her heart suddenly filled with sadness. Her
hopes seemed to be dashed in an instant.
"It's not that we don't want to help," continued the Rain Fairy
Leader, "but because our rainwater supply is fixed and cannot be reduced
in the slightest." The Rain Fairy Leader explained their true situation.
Hearing this, the Yellow Rainbow Fairy lowered her head in dejection. In her
heart, she muttered, This Rain Fairy is truly unfriendly. ..
He was at a loss for words to persuade further. With a heavy heart, he
sighed and said, "Very well, Chairman. If that's the case, I'll take my
leave."
With
unsteady steps, he left the Rainy Season Fairy Palace, in his mind he was still
trying to find another way for the rainbow to decorate the sky again.
"But perhaps we can help you provide the rainbow water droplets you
need throughout the rainy season. But can you do me a favor first?" said
the Rain Fairy, offering a glimmer of hope to the Yellow Rainbow Fairy.
“What is that, Chief?” asked the Yellow Rainbow Fairy, immediately turning
around expectantly.
"Could you go to the Black Cloud Fairy and deliver a message from me?
Ask her for a few clumps of black clouds so I can turn them into water,"
the Rain Fairy requested.
Hearing
the request, the Yellow Rainbow Fairy immediately agreed. Without delay, she
flew straight to the palace where the ruler of the black clouds resided. Upon
arrival, she confronted the Chief of the Black Cloud Fairies and recounted her
entire journey, including the reason for her visit.
After
listening to the Yellow Rainbow Fairy's explanation, the Black Cloud Fairy
Leader nodded and said, "I can give you the black cloud clump. However, I
need the help of many fairies to gather it.
Because the dark clouds that we have prepared for the rainy season cannot
be reduced, even a little.”
The Yellow Rainbow Fairy frowned, then asked curiously, “Aren’t there
enough fairies here to gather additional black clouds?”
The Black Cloud Fairy Leader sighed before replying, “We have many fairies,
but they can’t finish it in a short time.”
The Yellow Rainbow Fairy was silent for a moment, seemingly in deep
thought. Then, she looked at the Black Cloud Fairy Leader and asked, “Then,
what can I do to help you, Leader?”
asked
the Yellow Rainbow Fairy
"Can you help me gather the fairies? We need to ask for their help to
gather the black clouds. We have already collected all the big black clouds,
now all that is left are the small clouds," said the Black Cloud Fairy
Leader in an anxious tone.
Without
wasting any time, the Yellow Rainbow Fairy quickly said goodbye and hurried off
to find the other fairies. On her way, she encountered the Green Rainbow Fairy,
who had just returned from Aurora Fairy Castle.
"What is your business with Fairy Aurora?" asked the Yellow
Rainbow Fairy curiously.
"No problem," replied the Green Rainbow Fairy with a smile.
"She's willing to help us with her colorful light reflections."
"Then, what about you?" The Green Rainbow Fairy asked back.
Hearing
that question, the Yellow Rainbow Fairy fell silent for a moment. She took a
deep breath before finally recounting her journey—from meeting the Rain Fairy
to finally arriving at the Black Cloud Fairy.
After listening to the long story, the Green Rainbow Fairy nodded firmly.
"Okay! Then let's gather all the fairies in this universe!" she
exclaimed enthusiastically.
Without
wasting any time, they immediately returned to the Rainbow Fairy Castle to
announce this to all the rainbow fairies.
Upon
arrival at the Rainbow Fairy Castle, the two Rainbow Fairies conveyed the news
they had brought from the outside world to all the residents of the castle.
"So, Fairy Black Cloud asked for our help to gather as many fairies as
possible to help them collect the remains of black cloud," Fairy Yellow
Rainbow explained in a serious tone. “Those clouds will be turned into water by
the Rain Fairy, and then, those water drops will be shared among all of us.”
"Then, what about the colors of the rainbow?" asked the Purple
Rainbow Fairy, voicing the same concern.
"Yes, how can we create those colors in such a short time?" The
Red Rainbow Fairy added, emphasizing their anxiety.
Hearing these questions, the Green Rainbow Fairy smiled reassuringly.
"You don't need to worry about color," she said.
"No need to worry how?" The Red Rainbow Fairy interrupted in an
anxious tone.
"I've met Fairy Aurora, and she's willing to help us by lending us her
light colors," the Green Rainbow Fairy explained. "She said that,
most likely, in the next few seasons, she won't be able to shine as brightly as
usual."
"Why is that?" asked the Purple Rainbow Fairy, curious.
"Because this season, a lot of the ice at the poles is melting, so the
light reflection might not be optimal," replied the Green Rainbow Fairy,
repeating the explanation she received from the Aurora Fairy.
"Alright, if there are no more questions, let's gather all the fairies
in the universe's horizon to come to the Black Cloud Fairy's castle," said
the Yellow Rainbow Fairy enthusiastically.
Without
wasting any time, they immediately scattered, flying across the universe. Their
mission was clear: gather as many fairies as possible and bring them to the
Black Cloud Lord's Castle. They enthusiastically invited every fairy they
encountered to come to their destination.
The
Yellow Rainbow Fairy immediately returned to Rainbow Rain Castle to deliver the
message from the Lord of the Black Clouds. Upon hearing the news, the Chief
Rain Fairy without hesitation ordered all the rain fairies to depart for the
Black Cloud Castle.
Not
stopping there, the Yellow Rainbow Fairy then flew to the White Cloud Lord's
Manor. With great respect, he conveyed the purpose of his visit. The Lord of
the White Clouds, understanding the importance of this meeting, immediately
gathered all his fairies and ordered them to go to the Castle of the Black
Clouds.
Likewise,
Fairy Chief Aurora and her entire colony joined in this grand journey. With
their beautiful glowing lights, they moved toward the designated destination.
After
some time had passed, almost all the fairies had gathered at Black Cloud
Castle. The Lord of Black Cloud was stunned by the sea of light that filled his
castle. He had never before witnessed such a large number of fairies. His eyes
sparkled, his chest heaving with awe.
"In all the millions of light years I have existed, this is the first
time Black Cloud Castle has been visited by so many fairies," he murmured
in amazement.
"We are ready to receive your orders, Chief!" exclaimed the
Yellow Rainbow Fairy loudly.
The call was immediately greeted by all the fairies present. Their voices
echoed across the universe. "We are ready to accept the Chief's
orders!"
The Lord of the Black Clouds took a deep breath, then in a firm voice he
said, “Very well then! Please help me gather the remnants of the black clouds
that are still scattered throughout the firmament of this universe!”
Without
hesitation, the fairy chiefs led their respective colonies. They scattered,
moving swiftly, gathering the remnants of the black clouds still floating in
the sky. With enthusiasm, they carried out the Lord of the Black Clouds'
command, sweeping the remnants of the black clouds from the universe's skies,
bringing new hope to the universe they loved.
As
the fairies scattered to gather the remains of the black cloud, two fairies
remained frozen in place, as if reluctant to move. The Yellow Rainbow Fairy and
the Green Rainbow Fairy exchanged glances before turning to face them. There
was something familiar about the two fairies, even though their appearances
were now so different.
“Hey… aren’t you the Black Rainbow Fairy?” asked the Yellow Rainbow Fairy,
approaching one of them hesitantly.
The fairy stared at him for a moment before shaking her head slowly.
“Perhaps you’re mistaken. I’m the Black Cloud Fairy,” she replied in a flat
voice.
Meanwhile, the Green Rainbow Fairy stepped closer to the other fairy. She
stared at her intently, trying to recognize the face that had once been so
familiar to her. “I knew it… You must be the White Rainbow Fairy, right?” she
said softly.
However,
the fairy remained silent. Her calm eyes now seemed distant, as if she were
reluctant to acknowledge her past.
The
Green Rainbow Fairy grabbed her hand, trying to pull her out of the enveloping
silence. Slowly, she brought her closer to the Yellow Rainbow Fairy, who was
still chatting with the Black Cloud Fairy.
"So.. you are now the Black Cloud Fairy and the White Cloud
Fairy?" said the Yellow Rainbow Fairy in a low, sad tone, looking at her
two old friends alternately. with a deep sadness radiating from her eyes when
she saw the drastic changes in the two fairies who had shared laughter and joy
and sorrow with her. Among the fairies of the universe, the Rainbow Fairies
were the most admired because they had their own charm, in terms of appearance
and posture they were very striking from all the other fairies. And now her two
friends had a smaller body posture, adjusting to the posture of the black and
white cloud fairies, their appearance was very very different. That's why from
the first time they met the two Rainbow fairies, they were insecure and tended
to not want to admit their past.
With a gloomy face, the Black Cloud Fairy replied, "Yes, now we are
banished to the black clouds and white clouds. We admit our mistakes and
stupidity... We accept this punishment."
White Cloud Fairy nodded slowly, her voice flat. “That’s right. We’re now
clouds and will never be rainbows again.”
Hearing
the words of her two former comrades, the Green Rainbow Fairy without
hesitation grabbed the White Cloud Fairy's hand, while the Yellow Rainbow Fairy
tightly held the Black Cloud Fairy's hand.
“Will you help us fix our rainbow?” the Green Rainbow Fairy asked
hopefully.
"Whatever your mistakes, we've forgiven you. Now's not the time to
find fault, because that would be pointless," he continued in a warm
voice. There was no anger, no resentment—only sincerity radiated from his face.
"Yes, now the most important thing is how we fix our rainbow like before,"
continued the Purple Rainbow Fairy, who had just approached them. "After
all, you are still part of the rainbow family."
The
eyes of the Black Cloud Fairy and the White Cloud Fairy filled with tears.
Without hesitation, they hugged their former comrades tightly, as if the wounds
in their hearts had been erased by the warmth of sincere friendship.
“Come on… Let’s fix our rainbow,” said the Black Cloud Fairy, this time
with a smile that was once again blooming.
They
all looked at each other and nodded firmly. Smiles of familiarity lit up their
faces, as if no conflict had ever separated them before.
Above
the horizon of Fairyland, the atmosphere was different than usual. Today, the
usually peaceful sky was filled with fairies busily gathering up the pieces of
black clouds that had just begun to form. They worked together skillfully,
guiding the pieces towards the Black Cloud Fairy Castle.
Among
them, the Rainbow Fairies seemed the most enthusiastic. They eagerly gathered
the black clouds and fused them into a larger clump. Afterward, the Black Cloud
Fairies and White Cloud Fairies took over, carrying the dark clump to the
castle, where many more black clouds had already been brought by the other
fairies.
Now, in front of the majestic castle of black clouds, a thick, dense black
cloud had formed. The Yellow Rainbow Fairy, with a hopeful expression,
approached the chief ruler of the Black Cloud Fairies. "Chief," she
exclaimed with burning enthusiasm, "do you think we still need more black
clouds?"
For
a moment, the black cloud fairy leader stared at the dense cloud. Then, with
slowly flapping wings, she soared above it. After a moment, she moved to the
side and swooped down toward the yellow rainbow fairy waiting for her.
"I think this is more than enough to produce the water droplets you
need to create beautiful rainbow dots," said the black cloud ruler in a
firm and confident tone.
"Very well then," replied the yellow rainbow fairy with a
relieved smile. "Now, please order the fairies to stop their work."
Without
hesitation, the black cloud fairy leader straightened her body. In a loud voice
that echoed through the sky, she gave the order to halt the work. Instantly,
the roar of the fairies' work died down. They all stopped in unison and
gathered back in droves at the majestic black cloud castle.
"Alright. .. I thank you very much for your help. For now, everything
is done. You may return to your respective castles," said the Black Cloud
Fairy Leader with great authority.
The
fairies dispersed in an orderly fashion, returning to their original places
with a sense of relief. Except for the rainy season and aurora fairies.
From
a distance, the Chief of the Rain Season Fairies floated toward the Black Cloud
Fairy and the Yellow Rainbow Fairy, who were deep in conversation. Soon, the
Aurora Fairy joined them, followed by the rainbow fairies of various colors who
gathered around, ready to plan their next move.
“How is it, Rain Fairy? Is this enough?” asked the Black Cloud Fairy, as
the Rain Fairy landed by her side.
"Wow, this is more than enough! With this amount, the rainbow fairies
won't have to bother collecting water drops for three seasons!" exclaimed
the Rain Fairy, her voice trembling with excitement.
"We only need it for this one season," said the Green Rainbow
Fairy, "For the rest, just return it to the Black Cloud Fairy." She
continued.
"That's right," replied the Yellow Rainbow Fairy, "One
season is more than enough."
"Isn't that great?" said the Rain Fairy, her laughter ringing
out, "It means you have free time to relax and play for the next two
seasons!"
“A lot of leisure time,” snapped the Black Cloud Fairy Leader, his eyes
sparkling, “How do you agree?”
"Oh, no, thank you. We still have a lot of homework ahead," replied
the Yellow Rainbow Fairy with a warm smile, not intending to refuse the
kindness of the Rain Season Fairy Leader and the Black Cloud Fairy.
"Okay then. Come on, children, let's turn this cloud into water
droplets. The rest, we'll return to its owner, Black Cloud," the Rain
Fairy Leader called out to the other rain fairies. Swiftly, they set to work,
carrying out their respective tasks.
"Then, after this, what should we do?" asked Fairy Aurora after
waiting for her turn to speak.
"After the water droplets are created by the Rain Fairy, we will herd
them to our castle. There, the Chief Fairy Aurora may lend some colors
according to the current rainbow color sequence," explained the Yellow
Rainbow Fairy.
Hearing
that explanation, Fairy Leader Aurora nodded firmly, waiting for further
instructions.
It didn't take long, finally the water droplets were formed according to
the needs of the rainbow fairies. The head of the rain fairies came back to
approach the rainbow fairies. "How, friends, is this enough? Or do you
need more?" said the head of the rain fairies to all the rainbow fairies
who were still in their original places, "enough, chairman, that's more
than enough, we thank you very much for your help" replied the yellow
rainbow fairy, "don't be shy, friends, this is just a trivial job for
us" said the head of the rainy season fairies while laughing. "Yes,
that's all, chairman, after this we will take it to our castle" said the
yellow rainbow fairy, "okay then, friends, we'll take our leave, thank you
for today, you have made us have fun, don't forget to let us know immediately
if you need more help" said the head of the rain fairies, before the
yellow rainbow fairies had time to reply to his words, they had disappeared
over the horizon. , then the rainbow fairies said goodbye to the head of the
fairy ruler of the black clouds. “Chief, thank you very much for helping us
this far, you have done us a great service,” said the yellow rainbow fairy to
the chief ruler of the black cloud fairies, “you don’t need to talk like that,
this is not because of me, but the cooperation of all the fairies in the
universe,” replied the ruler of the black cloud fairies, “Okay then, we will
take our leave now, there are still things we have to do immediately,” replied
the yellow rainbow fairy.
The
rainbow fairies carried water droplets that had been placed in a special
container for the rainbow fairies, followed by the aurora fairies behind them
who also went to the rainbow fairy castle. Meanwhile, behind them were the
yellow and green rainbow fairies. When he was about to leave the black cloud
castle, he saw below the former black rainbow fairy standing not far from the
black cloud castle, he looked up and saw the rainbow fairies flying away from
the black cloud castle.
Seeing the former black rainbow fairy, who looked at them from below. The
yellow and green rainbow fairies seemed to chat for a moment and returned to
face the ruler of the black cloud fairies. "Sorry, leader, we're back
again, there's something important that we ask for a moment," said the
green rainbow fairy, hearing that the black cloud leader felt something
strange. "What is it, please reveal it, I will help as much as I can and
as hard as I can," replied the black cloud fairy leader. "Okay then,
you apologize in advance," said the green rainbow fairy, then fell silent
for a moment, the black cloud fairy leader just stared at the two rainbow
fairies, waiting for the continuation of his words, "we beg you, can we
take home our sister, the black rainbow fairy?" said the green rainbow
fairy which immediately made the black rainbow fairy leader confused, and
thought for a moment. "Yes. . yes, please, I don't stop you from taking
her home, but after this, you also ask permission from the dusk fairy, because
she entrusted her to me," he said giving permission, but still having a
sense of responsibility. "Okay then, after this we will talk to the
twilight fairy," replied the green rainbow fairy.
The ruler of the black cloud fairies went to call the former black rainbow fairy,
from a distance it seemed like the two of them were talking about something, it
was seen occasionally that the former black rainbow fairy was seen shaking her
head. After that they came over to the green and yellow rainbow fairies.
"Please talk to the three of you, I will leave you" said the ruler of
the black cloud fairies, after that he left the three of them. "Let's go
home to our place, we have all forgiven you and the white rainbow fairy".
Said the green rainbow fairy while holding her friend's shoulder. "No,
here now is my place. You can forgive my mistakes and the white rainbow fairy,
but punishment will never be able to forgive anyone who has made a
mistake" she answered firmly, while holding her friend's hand which was
still holding her shoulder. "All of us rainbow fairies have agreed to ask
the twilight fairy to forgive the mistakes of both of you" added the
yellow rainbow fairy trying to convince. The former rainbow fairy shook her
head, “never mind, thank you for forgiving us, we will all be friends forever,
we will remain brothers, but let us serve our punishment with the life we are
living now, we will always see you at the end of the twilight after the rain
stops” explained the former black rainbow fairy, “oh yeah. . the white one also
said he will always miss you” continued the black rainbow fairy again. Her two
friends hugged her and whispered, “no one will replace your place forever, take
care of yourselves” said the yellow rainbow fairy, then let go of her hug, and
immediately flew followed by the green rainbow fairy. The former black rainbow
fairy just watched her two friends fly back to the rainbow castle.
Author Biography
Full
Name: Arnoldus Leo Karra
Email: arnoldleokarra@gmail. com
WhatsApp: +628953746 83982
Instagram: @arnolduskarra
Preferred Genres: Historical Fiction,
Fantasy, Children's Literature
About the Author:
My name
is Arnoldus Leo Karra, a writer of children's fiction and fairy tales,
passionate about history, local culture, and myth. I have completed several
historical fiction novels and several children's fairy tales. My stories are
known for blending mystery, conspiracy theories, and rich cultural elements,
offering readers a profound and thought-provoking experience.
In
addition to historical fiction, I also write fantasy-based children's stories
with strong moral messages, set in imaginative and colorful worlds. I believe
that storytelling is a powerful bridge for passing on values and heritage to
the younger generation.
In the
future, I will write more historical fiction and inspirational fairy tales with
strong moral messages, like my previous works. I'm also open to collaborating
with anyone interested in creating animation or films. Thank you.