By Skylar Lee

Over the seas and past the horizon, where time and men were always young, lived a group of people. They had once hunted animals for meat in the fields and gathered herbs and fruits in the forest, but a disease had driven the animals away and buried the plants back into the ground. Though man never died, he could still hunger. One man, Hingya, seeing his family stricken with famine, sought the aid of the Great Mountain Beast in the East, Vatanu. 

‘Oh Great, Generous, Vatanu of the Mountains Tall and Rivers Deep, please help my people,’ Hingya begged.

The Beast Vatanu looked through his long silver hair. His yellow horns shone in the sunlight as he spoke, ‘I will help your people to find what was once plentiful. But only if you pledge to give yourselves to me, as a servant to God.’ 

Hingya promised to the deal, as men were of duty to do so in those days. Vatanu descended into the forest and with his great roar scared the disease away and the animals out of hiding. He dug with his long claws and uncovered edible roots and plants. The people were overjoyed. They praised Vatanu and pledged themselves to him, as a servant to God. They made offerings to the Beast and taught their children of his power. 

A year passed and winter came through, colder and harsher than ever before. The tips of their fingers went blue and their shoulders became covered in ice. The people sent Hingya to ask for the aid of the Great Mountain Beast in the East, Vatanu. 

‘Oh Great Giver Vatanu, of the creatures and plants abundant, please help my people.’ 

The God took pity on the man, watching him with eyes of emerald. He said, ‘I will help your people to find warmth in a land with no heat. But only if you pledge to give yourselves to me, as a servant to God.’ 

Hingya promised to the deal, as men were of duty to do so in those days. Vatanu descended again and taught the people how to gather sticks and flint to craft a fire. Warmth blazed through the settlement. He taught them how to weave the skins of animals into cloaks and how to build structures to protect themselves from the cold. The people were overjoyed. They praised Vatanu and pledged themselves to him, as a servant to God. They burnt fragrant herbs for him and taught the children of his fire. 

Another year passed and the people became tired with their daily struggles. They observed the birds in the trees singing freely and became enchanted with the sound. Hingya asked again, the Great Mountain Beast of the East, Vatanu, for his help. 

‘Oh Great Giver Vatanu, of the fire that warms and the fur that protects, please help my people,’ Hingya said.

Once again, Vatanu, with his long, shimmery tail, knew what Hingya sought. He said, ‘I will help your people to sing like the birds and dance like the reeds in the wind. But only if you pledge to give yourselves to me, as a servant to God.’ 

Hingya promised to the deal, as men were of duty to do so in those days. Vatanu opened his great mouth and let forth a beautiful, musical sound. He flew down to the people and taught them song and taught them dance. The people were overjoyed. They praised Vatanu and pledged themselves to him, as a servant to God. They sang and danced for him and taught the children of his voice. 

The next year, Hingya’s hair had turned grey, his hands had wrinkled with work. He perished in his sleep, a peaceful death. The people sought the aid of the Great Mountain Beast of the East, Vatanu. 

‘Oh Great Gifted Vatanu, of the sound that smiles and the dance that is endless, please help our beloved Hingya.’ They spoke in sad, soft voices. 

Vatanu, looked through his long silver hair with his emerald eyes. Vatanu, with a tail that shimmered and yellow horns that gleamed in the light, spoke.

He said, ‘I cannot help your dearest Hingya, for he has pledged himself to me, as all you have done, as a servant to God.’ 

The people were distraught, and Vatanu was saddened by their anguish. But Hingya had promised to the deal, as men were of duty to do so in those days.