The Harvest Moon

On a small temple on the moon, there lived the Lunar god. His name was Gibbous, and he was to make sure the moon went through all of it’s phases. He too, had to make sure his moon’s light lit trails for weary travelers.

Back on earth, there was a farmer who had two daughters. One was named Lillian and the other Lilly. Both daughters were given nick names by villagers. Lillian was known as Lotus, because of her gorgeous looks, but she was truly a vain girl. On the other hand, Lilly wasn’t the most gorgeous girl around, but because of her hard work in the harvesting seasons she was known by Harvesta.

Gibbous was sent a letter from his father, and it said that it was time for him to get married. Gibbous being 18, pondered this over. He decided he would have a contest of strength, loyalty, and wits. He sent for his letter crane. “Send this to the village,”  Gibbous said, as the crane picked the letter up from his hands. The crane flew high down towards earth, passed the green mountains, and across the deep sapphire sea.

As Lilly was working in the fields, a messenger came running up. “It’s from the white crane!” he hollered. Everybody dashed out of the fields, and into the village center. The head of the village came and stood onto the stage made of bamboo. “Today we have a special letter to all the young ladies!” he said. “Gibbous the lunar god has decided to pick a bride! He said he’ll be here in our village, but won’t tell us when.” As the leader kept reading the letter, Lilly snuck back to her work. She picked up her sickle, and continued to cut down wheat.

Gibbous had changed himself into a white snow tiger kitten, and placed himself into the wheat field. He heard some whisking sounds and saw someone approaching. He noticed it was girl, and he tried to hide, but she slowly crept closer. Gibbous stayed in his place and covered his blue eyes with his bright white paws.

Lilly heard a small rustle in the wheat, and decided to check what it was. She spotted a white snow tiger. “Aww you poor thing,” she said, as she gently picks the tiger up. She quietly sneaked back to her house, and put the tiger on her bed. “Tomorrow, I should bring you back to the mountains, where you belong.” Lilly looked at the tiger’s eyes and smiled. Lilly stroked the soft fur, and the tiger smiled.

Gibbous looked at the girl. Her hands were rough but her face so gentle. “She must work hard,” he though to himself. “Lilly!” he heard a female voice yell. “Where have you been? Daddy is very upset that you missed the announcement!” “Sorry, Lillian,” Lilly said. Gibbous noticed fear in the Lilly’s eyes. Lillian walked up to her sister, and struck her hard across the cheek. Gibbous stared at her and backed away. Lillian walked out the room, as her father walks in. “Must be a good farmer,” Gibbous thought to himself, looking at the buff man. He noticed the man’s sharp eyes looking at him. “Lilly? Why do you have a snow tiger?” he asks. “Papa, I found him in the fields, and I couldn’t leave him,” she replied, stroking the tiger. Her father smiled, and sat down next to her. “Tomorrow, I’m bringing him back to the mountains,” she told her father. “Lilly! Tomorrow is September 12!” he said, shocked. Lilly nodded. “I know, but I’m afraid that he’ll be tortured by others and I don’t want that,” Lilly said. Gibbous noticed a glint in Lilly’s eyes, and nudged her.  “If you want to leave early, you should go to bed early,” Lilly’s father said, “you’re quite lucky, little fellow! Knowing Lilly she’ll do anything to help you!”

That night, Lilly started to pack and gather items she would need. She smiled at the tiger who was sleeping. “I should name you,” she said, quietly, “how about Snow ball?” The tiger flickered his eyes open, and started to lick her fingers. Lilly giggled and started to get ready for bed. She placed Snowball on one of her pillows, and placed her head on the other.

The next morning, Gibbous woke up to the smell of rice and pork. “Morning, Snowball!” he heard Lilly say. Gibbous looked up, and gently smiled. This girl was halting her work, just so he was safe. “Good job Lilly! You’ve passed the loyalty test,” Gibbous thought to himself.

After Lilly had fed herself and Snowball, she quickly jotted down a note for her father. It said: I’ve left and I promise I’ll be back on the 15th. With that being done, Lilly and Snowball headed to the mountain path. After three hours of walking up the steep path, the pair stopped for lunch.

Back at home, Lilly’s father read the note, and had told Lillian about the tiger. Sadly not realizing what Lillian was thinking. Lillian headed to her room, and planned an evil plan. “Heh, tiger fur is expensive. If I could get that tiger killed and skinned, I’ll be living in the great city in no time,” she thought to herself. She wandered around the village and summoned the best hunters. “I want you to find my sister and that tiger of hers! Kill the tiger and bring the skin to me, and as for my sister leave her to die and writher away!” she commanded. The hunters nodded and went to get prepared.

On the trail Lilly and Snowball were up at least 4 miles. “Lilly,” Gibbous thought to himself, “you’re so warm, and caring.” Night fell, and after walking for a good 9 hours, the pair was tired. Lilly picked up Snowball, and whispered, “You’re so cute! Your fur is so soft, and those eyes of yours are like the roaring rivers.” Gibbous nuzzled her, and saw a bright smile come across her face.

The next morning the hunters left, and Lilly and snowball started to walk again. The village hunters followed their dogs scent, and quickly found where the two have been. With the hunters 3miles behind them, Lilly and Snowball came across a raging river. “I don’t know how we’re going to cross, but I bet there’s a way. If the God Gibbous could without his magic, we could too!” Lilly told Snowball. Gibbous smiled brightly, and followed Lilly. Lilly found a some logs, and also found some vines. She quickly built a raft, and built herself a rudder, paddle, and sail. “Are you ready, snowball?” she asked the young tiger. Gibbous nodded and leaped onto the raft. Lilly too got on the raft after pushing it in farther. The strong current carried them down, but Lilly tried her best to get across.

The hunters noticed the raft drifting down, and they quickly followed. Gibbous quickly sensed someone was near, and turned to see a couple of other rafts. He noticed they were about to shoot someone or something. Lilly aware of the hunters following them, quickly paddles and controlled her raft. Then her ears caught the sound of a roaring waterfall. Out of nowhere there was a shooting sound. The hunters were shooting at them with their rifles. One hit the raft, and the raft was starting to fall apart. Suddenly Lilly felt a sharp pain in her arm. She noticed blood, and realized she was hit. Unable to control the raft, Lilly and Snowball banged into a group of sharp rocks. Their raft shattered, and the hunters laughed in victory. Gibbous was in rage! His sapphire eyes turned into a bright silver. Gibbous summoned the river God Tides, and commanded him to drown the hunters.

Tides who was about to fall asleep, heard the command. “Oh, Gibbous,” he thought to himself. Tides created a huge whirlpool, and the hunters were quickly pulled in. Tides chuckled to himself, and told Gibbous he did what he was commanded. Gibbous smiled, and thanked his friend. His eyes went back into the sapphire blue.

Lilly and Snowball luckily landed on the other side. “Lilly, congratulations. You’ve passed the strength test,” Gibbous said to himself. he walked over to Lilly, and started to lick her wound. Lilly looked at Snowball and smiled. “Thank you! You’re such a good friend. I don’t know how to repay you,” she said, trying to get up. Gibbous pondered over the words Lilly said, and purred.

When Lillian had heard about the drowning of the hunters, she was so angry. She’d sent a letter to the hunters that lived up in the mountains, telling them about the tiger and her sister. The hunters received the letter and headed out.
Lilly quickly patched her arm up, and made lunch. The two had fish, rice, and pickled vegetables. Lilly sighed. Tomorrow would be the 14th and the village would have the harvest festival preparations that day. The two fell asleep, and Gibbous woke up to a rustling sound. He sensed a rumbling sound, and guessed it was a rampage of boars. Gibbous quickly went into action. He tried to wake Lilly, so she wouldn’t get hurt again, or even die. Lilly woke up after she felt a small nibble on her arm. She jumped up to the sound of the rumbling. “Oh my god! Boar rampage!” she yelled as she quickly gathered everything up. Gibbous had scurried up a tree. “Snowball,’ Lilly yelled, “catch!” Lilly tossed up her knapsack and Gibbous caught her bag in his jaws.

In the forest, the hunters Lillian sent, were making noises to scare the boars. The earth god Leaf, saw Lilly and Gibbous, and the hunters in his crystal water mirror. Leaf grunted, and slammed his fists against his solid, oak desk. “Such fools, hunters are,” he said, “trying to kill the best farmer I’ve had in a million years!” Leaf muttered a few words and sent his children to take care of the foolish hunters.

In the forest, the hunters weren’t aware of the earth god’s rage. Leaf’s children were animal and plant sprits. Each decided to take care one of the hunters. While the hunters were making noises, none of them were realizing some were disappearing. Leaf grinned, after all the hunters disappeared.

Lilly remembered what her grandfather had taught her. It was a lesson of how to stop a boar rampage, with out hurting the boars. She quickly dashed into the bushes, and built a few nets made of vines. She lined her nets across the forest floor, and hid quietly. Then as the boars headed into where Lilly had put the nets, their hooves got tangled. After the boars struggled to get free, they gave up. Lilly quietly and slowly cut the boars loose, and the boars headed on their way. Gibbous leaped down from the tree, and landed beside Lilly. “Lilly, it’s time for you to see my true self,” he whispered.

Home was a disaster! Families were crying over their dead fathers, husbands, and uncles. Lilly’s father was worried, and was wondering how his young daughter was. He passed Lillian’s room, and heard her saying something about the hunters, Lilly, and the tiger. “Lillian!” he thought to himself. He walked into his room, and thought for a moment. Then there was a big slash of light. Lilly’s father looked up and saw two figures. “Huh! Oh great god and goddess Stella and Onyx!” he said, deeply bowing, “shall I get you something to eat? Please make yourself home!” “Leon,” Onyx said in his low voice, “we heard a white snow tiger appeared in this household.” Leon nodded. “Yes, my daughter Lilly is taking him back to the mountains. I’m deeply worried because my other daughter is trying to kill her and get the fur of the tiger,” he told the two gods. Stella grinned at her husband and whispered, “I believe Gibbous has found the one.” Onyx smiled and nodded. “Thank you, Leon. We’ll be on our way now,” Onyx said, taking his wife’s hand. With that being said, the two disappeared.

After another two hours of walking, Lilly stopped. “Well you’re home, Snowball,” she said picking him up. “Oh, I’ll truly miss you!” she added, starting to cry, as she embraced him. Gibbous licked her tears, and nuzzled her. Finally, a bright, white light gleamed. “Snowball?” Lilly asked, confused. She looked to what she was holding, and saw a young, silver haired man. “Oh, Lilly,” he said. “Snowball?” Lilly kept repeating. “Lilly, I’m Snowball,” Gibbous said, “but my true self is Gibbous.” Lilly was stunned. She was standing here in the arms of the lunar god. “Lilly,” Gibbous whispered, “I love you.” Lilly, still crying whispered, “I love you, too, Gibbous!” Gibbous let go of her, and went onto one knee. He pulled out a small silver box, and opened it. Inside was a silver band, with a crescent moon shaped diamond. “Lilly?” he asked. “Yes?” Lilly replied. “Will you marry me?” Lilly smiled, and hugged him. “Yes, Gibbous, yes!” she said. The two hugged and kissed. Gibbous healed Lilly’s wound, and gently kissed it. “I’m sorry to have put you in so much trouble,” he said. “It’s ok, it was worth it,” Lilly said.

The other gods smiled, and the air goddess sent a wind to tell Lilly’s father the news. Lilly’s father was so happy, he was in tears. Lillian looked at her father puzzled. He dashed to the village head’s hut. “Oh, Leon. Is there something wrong?”  the head asked. “No, sir. It’s just that my daughter is going to marry Gibbous. He was wandering if they could get married here on September 15th. The day of the harvest festival,” Leon explained. Lillian was outraged when she heard this. The head was stunned, and quickly nodded yes. The two headed outside, and the head gathered everyone around the platform.


“We should go to the village now,” Gibbous said, taking Lilly’s hand. Lilly nodded, and Gibbous lifted her into the chilly night air.

“Look!” hollered a young boy, as he pointed to two figures in the air. Everyone looked up and saw Gibbous and Lilly. The two landed right beside the head. Lillian stomped up to the platform, and screamed. She pulled her arm back to strike Lilly, but someone grabbed her arm. Lillian turned her head, and noticed Onyx. Everyone bowed, when they saw all the gods and goddesses standing there. “Disappear you wretched girl!” Onyx yelled. With that, Lillian disappeared into thin air. Gibbous embraced Lilly and gently kissed her tender lips.

Finally Leon announced the marriage proposal between Gibbous and Lilly. Everyone cheered in joy, and too the  gods cheered. “Tomorrow we’ll prepare for two special events,” the head said, “the festival and this lovely couple’s wedding!”

The next day, everyone was scurrying around for preparations. Lilly and her friends were making their dresses, and Gibbous and his friends designing the fields. The cooks and Leaf made the meals, and the 3 foot strawberry cake. After 9 hours of preparing the village was prepared.

That following day on September 15th, Gibbous and Lilly got married, and the Harvest festival began. During the party, Gibbous asked Lilly, “what’s the nickname people call you?” Lilly smiled, as she took her husband’s hand. “My nickname is Harvesta,” she replied. Gibbous smiled, and placed a hand on Lilly’s cheek. “That is a interesting nick name,” he said, chuckling. “How about we name this full moon, the harvest moon,” he added, “after the gorgeous, courageous girl I’ve married.”  

The End!