Binangenang

FIREDEATHTERRORFIREFIREFIRE

The horse screams in the air. It knows what’s coming but his rider is oblivious. The rider tries to calm his beast down but it doesn’t work. The horse darts through the forest thrashing wildly and his rider hangs on for dear life.

DEATHBLOODSICKNESSFIRE

The screams are louder this time. The horse can sense that IT is near. IT that their kind fear above all. The horse tries to find some path out of the forest, not even thinking about the weight on its back. The horse can feel the hoofbeats come nearer, it can smell the smoke, and its heart beats faster.

FIREDEATHBLOODFIREBLOOD

This is no ordinary Tikbalang. IT is not the greedy Anggitay, the stealthy Tuwung, the fleet Bawa or the cunning Tayho. The horse knows this in its blood, the animal instinct passed down from generations of its kind.

TERRORSICKNESSFIREFIREFIRE

The horse slows down to a gallop. His rider falls off him, maybe dead, maybe unconscious. The horse is too afraid of what will come to check. The loyal steed leaves its master. Primal fear is stronger than their bond.

FIRESICKNESSDEATHFIRE

The horse doesn’t even look back as it resumes its frenetic run.

The fire is near.

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Written by Karl Gaverza
Copyright © Karl Gaverza

Inspired by the Binangenang entry in Creatures of Philippine Lower Mythology. Ramos. 1971.

Binangenang Illustration by Leandro Geniston fromAklat ng mga Anito
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