The Pinapha Texts

A collection of religious tales detailing the life of Danaa'd, Immaculate Dragon of Water.

EXCERPT: The Twentieth Lesson of Danaa'd

The first monster was many, having harvested the imperfections of nature. It was not the mightiest to escape the spear of Danaa'd, nor the swiftest, but his crimes were distressing. It was known as Bakunawa, eater of moons, eater of men, and in its wake left naught but ruin and the racket of false worship. The men of Pinapha would bang iron pans to ward off the beast, and the women of Pinapha would play pipes in hope of soothing its wrath.

Four days and four nights she sailed towards the island, her boat freshly painted in scarlet to remind the Mothers of Storms to keep to their duties. And though the Mothers of Storms brought great winds and dark clouds, demanding obeience for allowing her travels, the Daughter of Currents ignored their piteous wails. They then asked for gifts of obsidian or children in exchange of speedng her journey. With a hand she indicated the stone, with another to her womb: 'Here are the tears of my brother; here is the world. An unwomanly mother prevents the future.' and the storms abated.

It was known that the behemoth was immune to spears, so Daanad fashioned for herself claws of sharp obsidian bound tight to each hand. Standing on the shore she met Bakunawa, and gesturing with her spear Danaa'd asked of the monster:

'How came you to be immune to my spear?'

To which the Eater of Moons replied, 'Mine is two births and a protean shape. Anything built of straight lines is without permeance. All that travels by the shortest route misses the heart.'

Luckily, the claws were curved and therefore could cut into the flesh of the demon, and before the sun was up it was bleeding from many wounds. Danaad did not slay the creature outright for to do so now would release the the perversities of nature into the world. Soon Danaa'd had traced the dragon lines true again, and Bakunawa was ready to be slain.

The monster grew into a giant-form, too terrible for the islanders to look upon.

{OOC: to be continued...]