[Step back, mortal. I'll handle this.]
Bakunawa hurriedly transmitted a message in my head, and I nodded at her. I felt the cold haze lingering on my legs as I moved a step back.
"Don't ignore me you despicable hooman!" The little girl with blue bunny ears stomps her feet, dismantling the foggy smoke on the ground around her.
I smiled wryly at the little girl. Yet, my friendly smile only made the little girl even more angry. The little girl gritted her teeth, dashing forward to me.
However, Bakunawa came in front of me, removing her cloak as she showed her face. The little girl stopped instantly, staring at Bakunawa confusedly.
The two stared at each other in silence. I think they are both speaking to each other through telepathy. Not entirely sure how things work.
After a while, the little girl suddenly gasped in shock. "A…a sacred beast…?!"
Bakunawa nodded affirmatively.
The little girl frowned, looking antsy. "You! I don't know who you are, but you shouldn't have brought a hooman to this place! Go back and leave! You guys are not welcome here in Pariah Sanctu—"
"Ynez, don't be rude to our guests, didn't I tell you that two visitors will be coming?" A gentle feminine voice of a woman resounded behind the dark woods shrouded with mist.
Slowly, a figure came into view, walking out from the shadows behind the bush.
The woman has the upper body of a human; her lower body from waist down to her legs is a figure similar to a horse, and in the middle of her forehead is a single horn similar to Bakunawa.
The woman smiled at me and at Bakunawa. "It's been a long time since the Pariah Sanctuary had a wandering guest, and two unique individuals at that," she commented, staring at me in particular, then her eyes went down to Pula's body covered in dark thick fabrics.
"But Sister Anggitay, the other one is a hooman, and the hooman is holding a dead body!" The little girl said, pointing at me with her small finger.
I smiled harmlessly at her, but the little girl only gnashed her teeth in anger.
The woman named Anggitay peered her eyes sternly at the little girl. "Ynez, must I repeat myself to you? I told you that we will be having two visitors today, didn't I?"
Ynez frowned, but she nodded at Anggitay.
Anggitay smiled softly at Ynez. "Well, go gather the others to prepare a welcoming feast for our guests."
Ynez still had an unhappy expression on her face, but she still left obediently while glaring at me. Afterwards, Anggitay turned her head to me then to Bakunawa.
"Now, tell me my dear Bakunawa, to what do I owe the pleasure?" Anggitay said, squinting her eyes at Bakunawa.
I glanced at Bakunawa, and she stared back at me.
[Anggitay is a sacred beast like me, the guardian of the forest. Anggitay must have already heard from the spirit of the trees that we're on our way here to Pariah Sanctuary.] Bakunawa explained.
I nodded understandably. "I see, let's go talk to her then," I said, walking.
However, Bakunawa pulled me back, grabbing my shoulder.
[Wait here, and let me handle this.] Bakunawa transmitted as she started walking, stopping in front of Anggitay.
I'm left with no other choice but to wait.
Anggitay and Bakunawa stared at each other with solemn faces. They are both probably talking through telepathy again. Because Bakunawa can't speak fluently in the modern language of humans. And when I volunteered to teach her, Bakunawa disdainfully refused.
According to Bakunawa, she would rather struggle communicating through telepathy than learn how to speak the language of humans.
So, I didn't pursue the matter again since Bakunawa can still understand everything in the human language anyway. It's just that Bakunawa feels repulsive speaking the language of humans, so she never tried to learn to talk fluently with the human language.
During the journey with Bakunawa. I came to know that the reason why she hates the human race so much is because of her sister Bacobaco. Bakunawa got separated from Bacobaco because of the human race, is what Bakunawa told me. I don't know the specific details since this is where Bakunawa stopped her story-telling.
As I waited for the two sacred beasts to finish their secret discussions. I felt an intense stare from my left. I turned my head to the side, and I saw another little girl with deer horns and ears.
I smiled at the little girl, waving at her. "Hello, I'm Nasrin…"
Yet, as soon as the little girl noticed my gaze, she quickly ran away, hiding behind a tree and poking her head out as she shyly stared at me intensely. I retracted my hand, scratching the back of my neck awkwardly.
"That's sister Lampong, a sacred beast like sister Anggitay, and she is a little shy towards strangers, but sister Lampong can be very friendly once you get to know her." A husky feminine voice resounded from somewhere.
I glance, roaming my eyes around, looking for the source of the voice. However, I saw nothing but trees.
"Are you looking for me?"
The tree near me squatted down, leaning near to my face as the smoke came out from her mouth. I took a step back, feeling startled.
The tree stood up again, putting the large cigar between her mouth as she chuckled a little. Her skin is dark, blending with the surrounding. And her tree-like body has a nice hour-glass figure, standing at 9 feet tall.
Too tall, isn't she?
"It's been a while ever since the last time I saw a soul wanderer, what's your name, young one?" The tree-woman asked, staring at me with her dark green eyes.
I blink my eyes. "I'm Nasrin, and you are…?" I replied automatically, looking absentmindedly at the talking tree-woman.
"Wild rose?" the talking tree-woman said.
My brows furrowed, baffled. "Pardon, I don't think I understand," I said.
"I mean, your name Nasrin means wild rose," the talking tree-woman explained.
"Oh…" I replied, nodding my head as I mouthed an O shape.
The talking tree lifted her branch in front of me. "I'm Capriana from the Kapre race, nice to meet you Nasrin," the tree-woman named Capriana said, winking at me playfully.
I nodded, shaking her hand full of leaves. "Nice to meet you Capriana," I said, still absentminded.
After we shook hands, Capriana retracted her branch-like arm as her eyes stared at Pula's body covered in a dark fabric.
"Well Nasrin, I'll be sleeping now, alright? I'm nocturnal after all…" Capriana mumbled as she yawned, closing her eyes, then she started snoring.
I glanced at Lampong who was staring at me intensely. As soon as I turned my head, Lampong hid behind the bush in a panic, and then she peeked her head out right after.
I smiled, looking amused.
[Mortal, come here. I'm done speaking with Anggitay, but she wanted to have a private conversation with you.] Bakunawa transmitted over my head.
I glanced over my shoulder, looking at the two of them. Bakunawa and Anggitay are both looking at me. However, Anggitay seems to be staring at me with narrowed suspicious eyes. And Bakunawa seems to be worried with her brows pulled upward together.
I swallowed, feeling a little apprehensive. I straightened my back as I approached them.
Bakunawa tapped my shoulder. [I'll be right over there while I wait for the two of you to finish talking.]
"Mm," I hum in response.
Bakunawa tapped me again on my shoulder then she left, standing on a far distance.
"Hello soul wanderer," Anggitay said with narrowed suspicious eyes.
"Hello," I replied simply.
"I heard that you're looking for the family of your dead familiar?" Anggitay asked with probing eyes.
My brows creased hearing Anggitay easily say the word I'm trying to avoid. "Yes, if you know a red-rabbit clan or a sacred beast who is a mother of a red-rabbit halfling, then please help me send a message to them about Pula," I answered in a business-like face and tone. Neither friendly or unwelcoming.
Anggitay nodded understandably. "May I see the body inside that fabric, so I can determine?" Anggitay asked.
I took a deep sigh as I nodded heavily. Afterwards, I kneeled on the ground, opening the wrapped around Pula's body. It took some time since I wrapped Pula's body five times.
To be honest, I didn't dare look at Pula again after I wrapped her body with fabric. Because I can't stomach seeing Pula's rotting body.
After taking off the fourth fabric, my hand trembled as I carefully opened the last fabric wrapped around Pula's body. As soon as I opened the fabric, I lifted my head up. Not daring to look.
"This is indeed her, the halfling born from Alice," Anggitay gasped, covering her mouth in shock.
"Who is Alice?" I asked.
"That's the name of this halfling's mother," Anggitay explained.
My eyes lit up as I hurriedly said, "Can you tell her about Pula?"
Anggitay frowned as her brows pulled upward together, then she shook her head helplessly.
My brows weaved together. "Why?"
Anggitay sighed. "I'm sorry, Alice is also dead," she mumbled.
"What?" I uttered out of shock. "Then what about Pula's father? The red rabbit clan?"
Anggitay sighed again as she shook her head. "The red rabbit clan was hunted down by the adventurers and tamers about ten years ago, and currently, the whereabouts of the survivors of the red rabbit clan is unknown," Anggitay said in a depressing tone.
I swallowed hard, feeling a sense of loss.
"I…I see…" I replied in a trance.
No wonder Pula approached me to get her revenge. It turns out that Pula is just like me. Pula had no family left in this world. That thought made me feel sad and regretful for Pula. I should have treated Pula more gently.
I covered my face with both of my palms, feeling the liquid coming out from my eyes. I bit my lower lip, choking any sound, making them all stuck on my throat.
I can't let Pula hear or see me cry. And I don't have the right to feel this way. It's because of my selfishness that this happened to Pula.
"I'm sorry," Anggitay mumbled softly.
I shook my head, wiping the tears in my eyes as I sniffed. "Don't be, it's not your fault," I muttered, wrapping Pula's body again.
"You can arrange her funeral here, and bury her next to her mother," Anggitay said.
I nodded. "I think Pula would love that," I said, tying Pula's body.
Afterwards, Anggitay gathered everyone in the sanctuary to introduce me and to grieve Pula's death.
For three days, everyone in the sanctuary mourned Pula's death together with me. We didn't eat meat. We only ate carrots and fresh water.
Bakunawa explained that this was the traditional custom for holding a funeral in this world. The grievers can only eat the favorite food of the dead. It was also like you are eating the last meal on behalf of the soul of the dead.
After three days, Anggitay made me dig a burial ground next to Miss Alice's grave. Only the closest family member or friend of Pula can dig a grave and bury Pula's lifeless body. It was said that the deeper the grave, the easier it is for the soul to travel to the afterlife.
So, I dug up non-stop wishing Pula could travel safely to the afterlife. If Bakunawa didn't stop me, I might continue digging up, but Bakunawa said that the griever can only dig for three days. Anything more than that will only bring curse to Pula's soul.
After digging for three consecutive days, I stop digging instantly. I don't want to harm Pula's soul and bring curse to her journey in the afterlife. So, after digging for three days, I mark the date today in my heart. Because today is the day that I will finally bury the coffin containing Pula's body.
Before closing up the grave, each individual in the Pariah Sanctuary threw a carrot inside the hole.
They said that this is called Pabaon, a tradition of including the possessions or important items of the dead to its grave. Because it was believed that these things might help the soul of the deceased in the afterlife. In Pula's case, she doesn't have anything, so we decided to give Pula her favorite food as a Pabaon. This is to hope Pula will have an easier journey in the afterlife with the Pabaon.
Today, July 14, 1658. I closed the grave of Pula.
With the shovel on my hand, I scoop the soil back inside the hole to cover and close it up.
While I'm scooping up the soils. Everyone in the Pariah Sanctuary is chanting a song together. A song I have no idea about.
Bakunawa said that this is how funerals in this world are completed. By singing to the dead a farewell song and wishing the dead a good sleep.
Well, the song sounded mellow and melancholic.
"Little one, little one,
sleep now
Your mother is not here,
She went to buy some bread
Little one, little one,
sleep now…"
As the song echoed in the foggy forest, I was also praying in my heart. With every scoop of soil thrown on Pula's grave, I prayed.
I'm praying in my heart to all the Gods and the Goddesses in this world.
Even though I do not think of them as my god or my creator, I still prayed to them. Because they are the creator of this world. The world where Pula used to live.
I prayed asking these unknown Gods and Goddesses to guide and protect Pula on the afterlife.
I prayed despite not believing in these heavenly beings.
For Pula's sake, I'll bow my head to another God.
Even if my own God Creator considers this as a sin. Even if I get myself condemned to hell. If praying to these strangers will have Pula's soul rest in peace, then only this once, I'll pray to these gods and goddesses that I don't believe in.
Just this once.