Haliya and the Serpent
On the day of rest, Haliya travelled down to Earth to bathe. The wind people had told her endless stories of the refreshing and calm waters of the sea. Although she said nothing to them, she was intrigued by their stories and decided to experience the waters for herself.
She went alone, not telling any of her brothers or sisters of her intention. She never got along with them well, preferring solitude over their incessant chatter. She thought of all of them as spoiled children, never content with what they have and continually trying to outshine one another as the night goes on.
She landed lightly on her feet on the moonlit beach. She looked around, making sure no one else was around. She unhooked her sword and her shield, laying them gently on the sand. Putting her hands on the heavy, gold adorned mask she wore all the time, she pulled if off slowly from her head. Her thick, midnight black hair tumbled from the top of her head and the ends reached her calves.
She made quick work of the rest of her clothes, revealing skin as pale as the moonlight. Her body was slim but well-toned, a body fitting of a warrior maiden.
She had just waded into the waters when she saw a dark figure emerge from the far side of the sea. Crouching lower, she hid herself from sight, only her bright eyes above the water line.
She watched intently as the figure walked towards the shore, inch by inch revealing a hard, muscled body of a man. His dark hair clung wetly to his chest and his back, fin-like parts in lieu of ears. His lower body glistened in the moonlight, teal colored scales running down the sides of his legs. Strength and power seemed to emanate from him with every stride, eyes focused on the night sky.
At last he made it to the shore and stood with his back to Haliya. He continued to look up to the sky, still and unmoving. Haliya gazed upwards as well, but could not find anything interesting in the sky aside from her brothers Banolor, Banilig and Bulan and sisters Libulan, Subang, and Mayari.
She shifted her gaze back to the man on the shore and could make out the symbol of the sea serpent tattooed on his back. She realized that this man was the famous sea serpent, Bakunawa. Although she has never met him before, his lore has become so popular that the songs about him has reached to the heavens.
She was just about to rise from the water when Bakunawa abruptly turned and dove into the water. She watched as he rapidly swam away, fading from sight within moments. Her cold heart was stirred by his masculine beauty and she felt the need to see him again. She debated on whether or not to follow him into the depths of the sea, but was distracted from the thought when she heard Subang cry out.
She watched with horror as a dark shadow leapt into the sky and ate her sister, Subang, whole! As fast as she could, she swam back to the shore and with shaking fingers put on her armor and her mask. She ascended to the sky but the shadow was no longer anywhere to be found. She saw her siblings huddled together, forming a circle around Libulan. She fainted and was laying on the floor, her face ashen and her glow gone.
The twins told her that Libulan was in the middle of talking with Subang when she saw the gaping maw of the shadow from behind her sister and Subang disappeared from her sight within a half moment. Bulan and Mayari were trying to revive Libulan but there was no response. Haliya asked the rest of her siblings if any of them saw what the shadow was but they all shook their heads.
Perplexed, the moon deities took their sister Libulan to Gugurang, the supreme being, for treatment.
The next evening, Haliya and the twins Banolor and Banilig descended from the sky to investigate. They went from town to town, asking the wind people if they saw the shadow that ate Subang. The poor people shook their heads in fright, blinded by the glow of the three moon deities. Haliya suggested that they split up to continue their investigation. She will go to the seaside to ask the sea creatures, Banolor was to go up the mountain and Banilig to check with the inland forests. They agreed to meet up at their home in the sky an hour before dawn.
Haliya swam for hours, asking all manner of creature she met along the way for clues. She briefly considered trying to find Bakunawa to ask for help, but quickly pushed the idea away. Her silly infatuation has no place in such a serious time like this. She surfaced and looked up in the sky, seeing the sun starting to peek through the clouds. She ascended quickly to the sky and waited at the steps of their home for the twins.
An hour later, the sun has fully risen and shone brightly in the day, but Haliya was still waiting for the brothers. It was unusual that they have still not come back home, considering that the day has already started. She shrugged her shoulders and went inside to sleep.
At dusk, she awoke to find Mayari by her bed, worry etched across her dainty features. The twins never came back home and the distressed Mayari wanted to descend to Earth to look for them. Haliya told her that it will be safer for Mayari to stay with Bulan while Haliya searched for the twins, as Mayari does not have any skills to defend herself in case the shadow came for her.
She gave strict instructions to Bulan to stay in the house and to make sure that Mayari does not venture outside for the night. Bulan was concerned that them staying in the house would deprive the wind people of much needed light during the night but conceded that he needed to keep himself and his sister safe.
With the safety of her siblings in mind, Haliya donned her battle armor and descended once more to the Earth. Upon landing on Mt. Pulag, she looked up just in time to see Mayari breaking away from Bulan’s hold on her, preventing her from going out. Mayari’s long hair and white dress made of moonlight thread whipped about her body as she jumped from the sky, straight to the sea, calling out the twins’ names. Haliya started to run, intending to intercept her sister’s descent when a large form darted out from the water and engulfed Mayari in its mouth. Haliya was able to make out shiny, teal colored scales before then beast plunged back into the sea.
Haliya was enraged! There was no mistaking that it was the sea serpent, Bakunawa. Hate filled her heart as she dove into the turbulent waters, trying to catch up to her sister and her captor. But alas her skills in charting the waters was nowhere as excellent as the sea serpent and as before, within moments they were out of sight.
Once more, Haliya swam for hours, asking all she met for any information on where Bakunawa could have gone. All the sea creatures cowered but stayed silent as she roared at them angrily, not wanting to endanger their lives by either angering Haliya or Bakunawa.
Frustrated, she shot out of the water and ascended rapidly to the sky. She yelled for Bulan to come but there was no answer. In a panic, she went to Gugurang’s home where she found Bulan, clutching Libulan’s limp hand tightly. His boyish features were twisted into a mask of anguish as he whispered his apologies to his half-dead sister.
Haliya sank to her knees beside him, out of strength and out of hope. She had no idea why they were being targeted by the sea serpent and could only assume that the twins were also taken by Bakunawa. The rage in her heart burned harer and brighter and she stared at her two siblings. She vowed that Bakunawa would not be able to touch Bulan. That day forward, Haliya swore to be Bulan’s protector.
It was said that from then on, Bakunawa had tried countless times to eat Bulan but would always be thwarted by the fierce warrior Haliya. At times , the sea serpent had almost succeeded and had Bulan halfway in his mouth. At those times, the wind people banged their drums and the ground to distract the serpent and Haliya would cut him with her sword.
And thus that was the ancient beginning of the lunar eclipse.