hairy baugala (bah-ew-gala)

zachary wood

Joe was walking through the woods when he happened across a path he didn't recognize. He had no other plans that day and decided to see where the unfamiliar trail led.

After about a mile Joe exited the dense wood and came to a small clearing. There was nothing in the clearing but a set of stairs that was only about 5 steps, going down into the ground. Stuck into the ground was a sign.

Do not enter! the sign read.

Do not enter! Home of the Hairy Baugala

There was a giant ornate door at the top of the stairs, and Joe, being of the curious sort and having no idea what a Hairy Baugala was, decided to see if the door would open. Joe pushed on the door and it smoothly swung inward. Past that door was an iron gate which had a wheel connected to a chain. Joe gingerly turned the wheel until the massive gate opened.

There was another sign. "TURN BACK!" the sign read.

Joe, slightly unnerved, collected himself and proceeded to the next door. This door was made of pure steel and required one to slide a giant bar out of the way so the door could open. These doors also swung open with ease.

Another gate, another door, even a drawbridge followed, and Joe became weary that this was some sick prank. Joe finally came to a door with another sign that read "PLEASE DO NOT TOUCH THE HAIRY BAUGALA."

Joe pushed on that massive final door, and without so much as a squeak the door swung open, revealing a dark room with a cage. The bars on the cage had to have been about a foot thick, Joe estimated. He couldn't fathom what could be inside such an intimidating cage. There was a torch on the wall, which Joe grabbed before slowly approaching the cage. Silhouetted by the flicker of the torch was a massive, brown shaggy creature, asleep on the ground. Its hair was thick and long, and its hands the size of his head. He looked closer and saw that each claw was bigger than his hands, and the thing’s fangs -- they were terrible.

Joe stared for a long while and approached the beast. Another sign came into view. “DO NOT TOUCH THE HAIRY BAUGALA.” As if in a trance, Joe neared the so-called Hairy Baugala. What seemed like hours went by, and the torch flickered as Joe stared in awe, transfixed on the Hairy Baugala.

The beast snored deeply and rolled over, coming flush against the massive cage closest to Joe. Unable to control himself any longer, Joe ignored all the warnings and reached out a pointed shaking hand. He stroked the creature ever so gently.

Nothing.

Then, an ear-piercing growl emerged from the creature’s mouth as its eyes opened, staring directly into Joe's eyes. The Hairy Baugala stood to its full height of over 8 feet tall and shrieked. The torch went out.

Joe backed from the cage in fear as the beast smashed the bars. Once the bars held fast, twice the bars groaned and on the third strike the bars shattered like glass. The beast howled so loud the chamber shook.

Joe turned and ran in fear. He crossed the drawbridge, went through door after door, closing what he could as he went. Behind him he heard pounding, groaning and doors exploding open as the monstrous beast slathered and howled. The steel door shut, then the iron gate shut. He reached the entrance, shut it and ran up the stairs into the clearing. Joe huffed and puffed, momentarily hearing nothing. At last he was safe.

BANG BANG BANG SMASH!!!! The door smashed open and the beast emerged. Joe screamed and ran towards the woods, the beast right behind him. Trees cracked and exploded from the sheer force of the beast as it continued in pursuit. Joe looked back in terror, hit a stump and fell.

The beast was on Joe in a moment, towering above him. It knelt over Joe, drool dripping onto his face. The Hairy

Baugala reached out its long massive arms with its razor sharp claws, and touched Joe.

The Hairy Baugala spoke, "Tag, you're it," and took off.

The Warrior And His Spirit

sorina doiculescu

Stars are piercing the darkness of the night, intensifying the void between the earth and the creator. You can see a face, tired, muddy with a red mark shaped like a hand. After so long even he does not know if it’s paint or if it’s blood.

With intense gaze, the majestic eagle stands beside the warrior, facing the last part of his journey. Sending courage and compassion for his next steps in the circle of life.

The warrior breathes deeply into the cool air of the red sky. He gets up on a hill, watching the sunset away towards the other side. His vigour is fading, but his hope is always rising.

The Eagle and the Warrior are one.

With his golden beak, he pulls out from his right wing a feather gifting it to the warrior. “I bestow this blessing to protect your spirit and your honor, to guide you and give you the power and understanding of the talking feather.”

“It was a good ride my friend, you brought me bravery and strength on the battlefield where I defeat with honor my darkest fears”, the warrior voicing out his thankful thoughts.

The eagle turned to him and with a flap of his wings he whistled:

“Fear is like a worm that eats the rusted armor from the warrior’s flesh and leaves it rotten in the mud. For if I wasn’t there you would have seen the other side of the blade with ferocity dismounting your heavy head around your shoulders.

Now go, go back to your village and teach others about the power of the spirit, teach others to look up in the sky and make one with the creator, tell your story to your children and grandchildren, guide them through the circle of life and show them the light of every pathway that they take. Now this is your burden to carry on for generations, as my entity has come to an end on this earth and I will be watching from the stars.”