Shattered Stars

There weren’t always dragons in the valley… but there were always flowers. I walked throughout a meadow- and basked in the glory that surrounded me… far ahead of me, the trees split the sky and the field I stood in. The sky was completely clear- almost uncomfortably so. Flowers filled the grass at my feet, and I joyfully laid in them. Nature was one of the things I loved so much- an endless paradise surrounded me, and too did a feeling of euphoria- far from unusual, but in this case it was almost suspiciously so. A soft breeze started enveloping the area. My eyes opened back up at this, and I sat up glancing to where the wind blew… “Wind?”

I stood up after noticing the grass didn’t move with the wind, but I could hear the telltale sound of air rustling leaves. The wind then abruptly shifted direction- as if sensing that I was now paying attention- and I felt the sense of adventure quickly return to me. I wasn’t sure why I followed it without a second thought- maybe I was just in that good of a mood. Nevertheless- a joyful expression of awe crossed my face, and I finally got up and started running in the direction of the wind. It felt so natural to me- so easy. I paused at the treeline for a split second, and carefully pulled a tree branch down to eye level. “I’m so glad you’re here to comfort me whenever I’m upset.” I continued to run through the trees… until what I saw in front of me slowed my pace. My face grew of worry as my legs slowed to a stop on their own- and I took in the sight before me… smoke.

Smoke was emanating from what seemed to be a collection of water bottles in a pile. My face grew to anger as did the flame. Then… I felt the wind. That same wind that had led me here now started to circle me- as if embracing me. However, the moment the flame ignited a small branch and began to spread up the tree, the wind slowed briefly… then wind then turned ferocious- and sped towards the flame. The wind encased the flame and began to violently circle it. The flame shot into the sky as a vortex bloomed. The sky turned red- then black- and violent lighting struck nearby trees. Now… the massive fire whirl started moving. The wind suddenly gusted so hard it was difficult to stand- and so I collapsed. On my knees the raging storm had reduced my sight to see nothing but the light from the fire whirl. It shot to the left… towards Benguet. The storm finally cleared- as did my vision. Just as I had witnessed the village had been reduced to ashes… my eyes finally shot back open- to the roof of our hut.

Maybe 20 of them surrounded me- my mother holding me in her arms. “Kinatawan!” I immediately came to and spoke my mind. “Inay- I had the vision again- It means something!” I froze and gasped, “The Village!” I jumped up to run outside- before my mother grabbed my arm… she didn’t want me to see- I didn’t care. I burst through the empty doorway. The ground… was all there was. I fell to my knees and continued observing. Where there were once large huts were now… nothing. Where there once were trees there are now… nothing. My mother put her hand on my shoulder- “You fainted… then the storm came, it was unlike anything we have ever seen…”

I slowly stood up to turn around. The villagers stood behind her in shock and awe- as if I was the one that had brought this great destruction. What caught my attention however, was the makeshift window behind them. The crowd split for me as my gaze was in awe at what laid behind the hut- just outside the village… The luscious forest was seemingly untouched. I finally asked the question that everyone seemed to have, “The storm… spared us? How? How did no one lose their life?” I turned to see a crowd of unsure faces… except one. My mother stepped forward, somehow managing a calm, at peace demeanor- “It’s because of you. The storm was sentient”

I stared in shocked amazement- not at her comments, but at the silence of the people who stood behind her. Not a single one had spoken a word thus far. My mother had always been the crazy one, constantly spouting about gods and goddesses, about how someone in the village would become the “new savior”. But… in this chaos, in these circumstances, and in these seemingly impossible odds… it finally made sense to them. One stepped forward, “Kinatawan… new daughter of Suluan.” The young man knelt down in a posture of respect… and another followed- much to my mother’s smug satisfaction. “Kinatawan, I must tell you about her… Anitun Tabu.” I inquired, and she began her explanation…

“Anitun Tabu- the goddess of the wind, she was the daughter of two deities herself- but took the form of a human girl. She had the ability to command the weather, and was even rumored to have the ability to control time… and was deemed a witch by her people. She became accustomed to living amongst the trees, and is even said to have made friends with a local homeless girl named Actrite who fled her home due to her love of nature- Anitun’s only friend she’d ever known. One day however, Anitun found Actrite had been slaughtered- and hung on a spike. Anitun finally snapped- and drew up a storm from her fury. Her immense hatred spawned an aspect to her she hadn’t discovered until then… fire. She rampaged each island, leaving it a furious blaze- until her father, her true father, punished her for her fury- locking her away for a ten-thousand year sentence…”

I stood up and looked outside once more… and Inay continued, “but every day- the destruction of the only thing that brought her comfort in life, the green- sparks her rage hotter- and her father fears losing control of her.” I thought back to my vision… and I hesitantly asked, “Does… Anitun hate littering?” Inay paused at this, “If I knew nothing about love except the forests I was forced to grow in, I too would hate it being disrespected. Yet somehow… I feel it isn’t that simple.” I kept my gaze outside, but was still confused, “Why would I be the key to this? I hadn’t even heard of Anitun Tabu until today-“ Inay remained unphased, “Who knows? What I do know is of your burning passion for the green- and humanity..” She motioned to the hut- and then to what was once the village, “I’ve had strange things happen throughout my entire life Kina- but by far, you are the strangest one. You’ve witnessed what has happened, yet you hold no fear. You are no ordinary woman- who are you?”

I finally looked at her, then at the group, then slowly walked outside… Me and Inay stared at the ocean- towards Homonhon. There was a massive black cloud racing towards the island. “I don’t know… but I want to- how do I stop her?” Inay pulled out… an oyster shell. I was perplexed, not at her response, but due to the shell itself. The shell would have been nothing special… if it didn’t gleam a golden aura. “What is this?” Inay got close, “If you don’t know your destiny yet- destiny will know you first.”

It didn’t take long for all of us to craft a boat from what was left of the village. I hugged my mother and thanked the group of people. I made sure to look brave, excited, determined… but only two of those were true- I was terrified, but as I sailed to Homonhon, I kept myself encouraged- even as I drew closer, I continued to witness a black opaque fog shrouding the entire island. Unholy shrieks rang through the ahead sky. I approach the shore- and finally pass through the layer of black fog. I jump off the boat and immediately start traversing towards Yolanda Village. Bolts of lighting strike the buildings- but the shape of the bolts… almost like hands- ripping the buildings apart, off their foundations, where the inconsistent extreme winds shoot a couple into the sky. I am horrified… a body has leaped out the building and is hurtling towards the ground. I run faster- I will not let this life be taken- not stolen. Pieces of ground are lifted around me into the sky, bolts of lighting race me to the destination. It happened so slow, I’m maybe 10 feet away… 10 feet too late. The body smashes into the ground, as do I. The storm finally pulls ahead from the immediate area- leaving but the sound of rumbling in the distance. As I finally open my eyes, I’m shocked to see the body hovering just an inch above the ground- before finally dropping, injured, but alive. I look up, finally having a wide reaching view of the massive firestorm- and there it is. A colossal being that seemed to bend the storm around its will. It had wings, but it was no natural creature. Shrieks echoed in the distance, and they reverberated in my soul.

Then… I look around me- it’s all gone; devastated… and there’s more of them. Bodies littered the ruins of what was once a town- yet almost every body I checked was alive. If I had thoughts during these moments, they have since been forgotten. I finally stand up- and start making my way to the next town over- where the storm has traveled to.

As I approach the next town- this time I size up the surroundings. It lies halfway up a mountain. Purple ash blew through the town, but through that, a bolt of lighting lit up the sky- and through the ash, I saw 2 silhouettes: one of the tornado, and one of the mountain peak. I don’t care how difficult it will be, I will immediately start traversing the mountain once I reach it. As I head up the war torn road- I see her once more. She hovers over the town- almost like a puppet master controlling her toys. I see a building stripped of its foundation- and decide it's time. Purple winds and burning ash scatter the sky as I grab the odd shell from my pocket. I reach for the sky with it- “Anitun Tabu-“ The moment I speak her name the air suddenly shifts. The wind switches direction, and finally- a face peers out of the clouds. I was terrified- and it showed. I shook as I held the shell to Anitun- as some sort of offer. The demonic being might have been huminoid… but it was wrong. Some of its features resembled a dragon or monster- mutated beyond what it originally was. It seemed to completely ignore the shell- instead focusing on me. It releases an enraged cry, and an arm made of purple wind materializes. It rears it back- and with lighting speed backhands me. I start flying but- somehow, it seems my flight slows dramatically. I managed to land 50 feet away, but the fall wasn’t nearly as impactful as you’d expect. In fact- it felt like something cushioned my landing.

I still crashed into a still intact building. I… I can’t do this. There’s nothing more powerful than her rage. I kneel down, defeated, until… I see a glimmer of light in the right side of my vision. I look to my right- and there sits… a mirror. The mirror is heavily cracked… and I just stare into it. My mouth slowly hangs open on its own, as what Inay told me rings through my mind, “If I knew nothing about love except for the forests I grew up in…” “What I do know is of your burning passion for the green- and humanity” My eyes widened, and I pulled out the golden shell… It has a small opening in it. “If you don’t know your destiny yet- your destiny will know you first.” My mind was finally at ease- as I now understood. I stood up and looked down at the shell, “I am… Kinatawan of the philippines- daughter of Suluan.”

I ran out of the building with a sheer level of determination I hadn’t felt since arriving. I ran to the exact same spot- but realized it was not enough- so I started scaling the mountain. When I finally reached the top, my vision was nothing more than a purple and black mess. I glanced down at the town- now engulfed in a massive flame. I spoke barely above a whisper… “Anitum… I know who you are” I felt genuine sympathy for her- I continued to speak softly into the apparent void, “You aren’t a demon at all-“ I was cut off by another shriek, and this time she showed herself, a massive winged humanoid. Her wings were earth shatteringly large, but it was her eyes that got me. They weren’t pitch red like I was expecting, but a deathly hollow. She let out one final shriek, before letting out one massive flap of her wings. A wall of fire engulfed my vision, yet I stood firm. The fire engulfed me… and it was hot. Yet as I opened my eyes, I realized the fire had been misdirected by… wind? The goddess was as stunned as I was, even more so when the breeze of wind gently lifted me off the ground. I then realized I had been holding the shell in front of me, and finally… I started playing it.

As I blew into the shell- time seemed to freeze. The tune produced from the unique shape of the shell was the most calming melodic thing I’ve ever heard. The soft flute-like track almost seemed to transport me back… to the meadow. I was there again… The flowers surrounding my feet made me want to lay down, bask in the bright sunny day. That same breathless tree line that stretched on all sides of my vision. Then… I saw something else. A young girl just a few years younger than me, maybe 15, bent over on her hands and knees facing me- crying- the only other noise I seemed to hear besides the shell… the woodland flute melody continued to play in my mind as I stood tall- and brushed my hands against the flowers as I approached. When I knelt down, I couldn’t help but let out a cheerful expression while reaching for her chin. She looked up at me- and no longer was she a goddess, she… was human. Her expression was so overcome with emotion- joy, sadness, anger. She embraced me, “You aren’t a demon, you’ve just been overcome by one- yourself.” She had been so tormented by others in her life, she had come to believe humans were evil… “They might not understand you…” I motioned down to the bright flowers- soft flute still playing in the background- “… but I do.”

She never spoke a word, yet at me saying this, her expression slowly changed to awe- to shock- the exact same expression I had what felt like days ago when I looked at myself in the cracked mirror… She believed humans were evil for so long… she had forgotten who she was. She seemed to have come to the same conclusion, as she kept glancing between me… and the grass. She looked away, ashamed, before I walked towards her and put a hand on her shoulder, “You aren’t a goddess, you’re a demigod, because you’re part human… so am I.” A calmness now radiated from her, and she finally looked up at me, and softly smiled. Her eyes began to glow a bright white, and the flowers around us bloomed to otherworldly amounts. Finally as she ascended into the air, her eyes exploded in a blinding white light that engulfed my vision.

I came to, exactly where I had been left, suspended in mid-air by the wind. Yet, whereas before the wind felt jerky and almost unpredictable, it now felt calm and controlled. I was mere inches from the massive face of Anitum. Her massive hollow eyes began to crumble away as amazing purple irises replaced them. Every single flame in the radius was flushed out and a light rain had begun to fall. Her wings no longer burned with a white hot rage, but simmered to a soft haze. The demigod’s expression represented that of someone who awoke from a coma. Her expression finally changed to mine in that moment- pure joy.

With a simple lift of her hand, the purple smog proofed into gold glitter showering the sky. The wind gracefully blew around her- transforming her from the massive humanoid- to a human size standing before me. Her skin was vibrant purple- and her eyes gleamed a lively sapphire. Yet as she smiled, her purple skin faded into a tan brown color. Wind once more breezed- but this time around her… there were flower petals. Her hair wrapped itself up into a single long braid with countless flowers in it- and her eyes shifted to a bright green. She turned to the village below, and with a simple wave of her hand, rebuilt the entire thing with the wind. The sky finally cleared and I was slowly put back onto the level with the village. The people- finally gathering around me, all witnessed the demigod floating above us, blocking the sun and causing rays of light to shine off her form from behind. She finally grabbed my hand, and offered something… another shell… white in color- and gestured for the one I had been holding.

For a second I held out my hand- before recoiling. Anitum looked confused, but I explained, “Let this be a constant reminder of who you are…” She smiled and nodded, signaling to me that’s exactly why she wanted to keep it. She gestured for me to play the new shell, and that I did. A far more upbeat wind sounded throughout the air- and to my amazement… those who were unfortunate enough to suffer severe injuries… started standing up- completely healed. I looked back to Anitum- who almost had a smug look on her face, before she closed her eyes and began to rise. The wind carried me with her, to the top of the mountain. This time… she played the golden shell. I watched in absolute bliss as the island transformed from the charred remains, to a green paradise. Without another word, she gracefully rose above viewing distance, like a mythical being should… and vanished.

As I walked through the meadow, I found myself finally letting nature overtake me… and I softly collapsed onto my back. The starless night held one lonely dot. I reached my hand up and started tracing a line across the cosmos. My fingers pressed against the void- and swirled around the dot. I sniffed out the dot with my hand- and it then felt warm. That is when I knew- all would be well… until the wind returned. It lifted me off the ground… and I caught off guard. I noticed something falling from the sky. It seemed to be caught as it diverted course and sputtered around like a leaf slowly falling. It finally landed in my hand… the golden shell. The wind moved in such a way as to tell me something… something was wrong. It abruptly shot to my left and raced into the forest- guiding me to a soft glow in the distant forest. I wasn’t playing it, but the I heard was the soft tune of the golden shell slowly become more distorted the closer I came- carried by the wind…