Long time ago, when the ancestor spirits still roaming freely in Genta, mingled with the living people, there was an old female named Mama Ruba who has pyschic powers, connecting the heaven and earth. She prophecized, telling stories, spreading laughters among the people of her tribe, Genta tribe. The legend says, Mama Ruba was not born out of a female human : a female eagle laying her egg on the beach shore, and when it cracked open from the inside, a beautiful young girl with a golden skin, blue hair, and emerald eyes came out of it. Her gaze was as sharp as an arrow, ready to break whoever has a malicious intention, and bad characters. The liars, and the cheaters hate her. But, she did not care at all about those haters. At that moment, Genta was occupied by fifty people, so there was only one or two liars and cheaters. Besides, she understood that she came from the sky, there was no need to pay too much attention for one or two haters, she is a woman with a mission, she should spread her wings and show others how to fly.
And that was what she did, spread her wings.
Latu Maliru, the head of the tribe adopted her as a daughter. Some of Genta people believe that she is a goddess, or at least half of a goddess, therefore she should stay with the best family. Ima Datana, the wife of Latu Maliru, hugged the girl so tight when the girl's feet landed on the floor of her house. She looked so happy, she started humming, then reciting a poem ;
blessed are you who came like a morning dew
a young lady so fair, all the beauty in the world seems so unfair
who is she, the daughter of an eagle, who laid her blessing upon this island
who are we, mortal who stands upon the earth, asking for the rain and the sunshine to fall down in a just manner, the eagle flew
but the daughter stays, with us, within us
spoke your words, and spill your tunes
we will drink for wisdom, and never get drunk
let the festive season begin, let us dance
for a daughter has been given to us!
Right after she sang her poem, thousands of birds flew in the sky, and the wolves howled so loud, everyone cheered up! But, what came out from Ima Datana's mouth was not coming from her heart. There is another woman, a little version of herself insde her heart, who grunted and growled over her husband's decision. She believed that it was an act to humiliate her, because she could not bear son or daughter. Her husband could easily have a proof that the god in the sky love him, and granted him a daughter, although his wife could not conceive.
Ima Datana felt like an infertile land, where nothing could grow out of it. And, the sky laughed at her by sending a daughter for her husband. She had to raise and take care of someone who is not hers as if that person belongs to her. And, what if that young woman fall for her father? Her little self started to whisper so many disgusting accusation toward her adopted daughter.
"And what should we call her?"
One of the peoole who gathered around the house asked Latu Maliru.
"Ruba. And when I am getting older, you will call me Mama Ruba.'
The girl had spoken. Everyone agreed. It supposed to be a happy ending, a happy life, but there is no such thing as happy ending. Later that night, when everyone was sleeping, Ima Datana made up a plan. If her husband could get daughter from the sky, from a female eagle, why didnt she get a son from the earth? Why didnt she get miracle for herself? To whom she has to pray? Little did she know, the female eagle was her husband long lost lover ; Alma.
**
"Latu Mahiru! Latu Mahiru! Latu Mahiru! My only lover, the one who cast all of my sadness into the air, could you listen to my cry in the spirit? My flesh and bones had dusted, but my feelings lingered because love is stronger than death. I turned myself into a dolphin, swimming around your ship, but you laughed at me. What a funny dolphin! I took a butterfly shape, and you did not notice me because you are too busy dealing with people around you. Then I pray to God the creator to turned me into a mighty eagle, so I can soar near to the Sun, and far from above i can always see you. The Creator, full of love and compassion, not only turned me into an eagle, but blessed me with an egg that would be a living form of my own love…" --- Alma
**
Latu Mahiru woke up from a nightmare. His heartbeats racing, his breath runs short, and sweat covered his body. Somebody tried to kill him, but he couldnt see that person's face. He didnt even know whether that person is a man or a woman, or half human. All he could remember was he ran…and ran…and called for help from God, from the spirits of the land, from his parents. There was no help. He felt a knife stabbed his heart. There was pain and blood, anger and sorrow.
Then he woke up, just like that. His bride, a woman from another island whom his parents took as a a wife for him, was sleeping peacefully like a baby. He did not touch her. He could not. There is no love but responsibility to make the parents happy. He didn't know whether the woman, Ima Datana, love him or not. How to know her true intention? But he was glad when he met her for the first time. Finally, somebody helped him to make his parents happier.
He counted it as her act of kindness, and every act of kindness should be repay with not only a short thank you, but also another act of kindness. That's Genta tribe rule. Therefore, he treated her like a little sister, not a lover.
As he looked at her face carefully, there was pain in his chest, and tears running down his cheeks. He knew who wanted to kill him. In fact, she did not want to kill, she wanted to take her lover to the spirit world, out of jealousy….