Bataar was the CHOSEN sacrifice for this year. “There’s no point mourning about it,” they thought,
“What’s done is done - at least we’re safe for another year.”
A cold breeze swept across the sky. Flickers of snowflakes drifted in the hazy sunlight, filling
the air with a fresh, cosy chill. Very soon, the ground was carpeted with layers of soft white snow
brought by the northern wind. Just as the people and animals were rejoicing, the snow got heavier
and heavier, as if winter had arrived early, much earlier than it should. Very soon everything was
buried in thick relentless snow. People and animals alike were crying out for mercy. Casbuh, the
Snow Demon, sneered at their struggles, and blew blizzards from its frozen jaws. He showed no
mercy, for his heart was cold and hard like stone. He clutched his icicle talons tighter and just as
he was about to draw the last breath out from the poor souls, a massive raging cloud of stormy
dust roared from the south, charging forth like the entire fleet of the desert sand.
“They’re mine, they’re mine!” bellowed Elesunbug, “I alone have the power to decide ‘who
to die’ and ‘when to die’!” She covered the earthlings with a layer of fine silky sand and thawed
them with her warm breath.
The two mighty demons challenged each other, filling the sky with their beastly roars, trying
to overpower and swallow the other. Suddenly, Casbuh released his grip and collapsed. Powerless
as he was, he crawled back to his polar lair. Elesunbug took up her reign once more in the cold
Gobi Desert.
For the first time, men and animals saw the graceful face of Elesunbug swaying in the sky.
And for the first time, they were grateful for her presence.
