“The volery is only for birds!” Sumayang Galura’s voice boomed.
“But they have feathers,” the Kingfisher intoned.
“Feathers do not make a bird. Besides, they are feral, they cannot even talk! What use will the volery have of them?”
“But, your grace, we may need them for…”
“For!?”
“Pets, maybe?”
The great bird sighed. “I have nothing to do in these dawn hours. You may plead your case.”
“Thank you, your eminence. To start, may I bring you to my home, in the lush forests of the Ibalon.”
=——————————————–=
In the times of my ancestors, the jungles were untamed. Creatures both wild and savage walked among them.
Until the humans came.
They called him Handyong, a respected warrior and what I think of as godsblooded.
He transformed the land, fighting the demigoddess, Oryol, she of the scale.
The warrior eventually won over the beasts.
The serpents. The sarimaw. The Punong. The carabaos. The crocodiles.
All those were exiled. Except for the sharks.
They are simple creatures. They want nothing more than to live by the waters and fly over the waves.
I go to you, greatest among birds, to ask for a boon.
The land in which these sharks call home is threatened. Encroached upon by the human fleshlings.
They fancy themselves children of Handyong, trying to fit the land to their wants, their demands dripping with greed.
They need a new place to live and as those that are part of the feathered home, our shared ability to fly may entice you to open our doors to these creatures.
You may wonder why I care so much for these beasts and it is a familiar story.
The humans destroyed my trees and the rivers I fish in. I fled to the volery, my only sanctuary.
The pating na pakpakan aren’t harmful, my liege. They can be tamed, just like the one I present today.
If you reject us, there will be nothing left. The rivers of their home will find itself poisoned with the chemicals these humans these humans dispose of in the name of their so-called progress.
There are not many of them left. There are some I brought to the ponds of the volery.
We are all of the sky. The winds lift them up as they do to the other denizens of our kind.
Please, first among birds, consider my plea.
=——————————-=
“I have heard what you have to say and I ponder the minutia.”
“Yes, your grace?”
“They are animals, if we open the volery to them what will they eat? We have birds that are dwarfed by their form. Will they eat our brethren?”
“They need not remain physically in the sanctuary. The volery opens to many worlds, many realms. They can find their prey there and return to safety.”
“I can tell that they mean more to you than I could possibly fathom, but I will ask this: are they ready to protect their new home?”
“Protect from what, honorable one?”
“Things are moving in the celestial layers. Gods and spirits vying for power. Beats such as yours, displaced by avarice and death. New spirits being formed from changes in the climate. There are many considerations we must think of. If they are no use to the volery then I must decline your request.”
“Please, great one, they can be tamed. They will be part of the defence of our home. Their jaws can crush rocks and their flight is as fast as one of our swiftest peregrines.”
“Show me.”
“Excuse me, first among birds?”
“If they are as powerful as you say, show me. Fight one of our fiercest warriors.”
“The Garuda?”
“You have a fortnight to prepare.”
“We do not need that long. We can do battle now.
=———————————=
The fight was swift and brutal. The Garuda pointed its spear at the pating na pakpakan, but there were too many.
Two sharks flanked the giant bird, biting at its flesh.
They ripped off its right arm and the blood misted the air.
“Enough!” Sumayang Galura’s voice shook through the volery.” You have proven their worth. Garuda! Gor to the Ngio-ngio and have yourself healed!”
“I bow to your word. So these creatures have a new home?”
“They do. But they are under your care, kingfisher. If anything done by them will harm the volery, you will be held accountable.”
“I know that day would never come.”
“Confident and arrogant.”
“I only act according to my beliefs.”
“Go then. Take your pets and remember, they will answer when they are called.”
“They will defend our home.”
“That may be sooner than you might think.”
=———————-=
Part of the Volery
Written by Karl Gaverza
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Inspired by the Pating na Pakpakan (Tiburones) description in the Ibalon
Pating na Pakpakan Illustration by Gladys Domalaon used with permission from Rob Martin of Pine Box Entertainment and Secret Garden Games
