Baatar spread his broad wings and soared into the sky, surveying the barren lands to find
safety. Narrowing his eyes, he abruptly swooped down and picked me up with his powerful claws.
My heart was pounding with fear as we glided through the bleak sky. To my relief, we finally
landed on a rocky ledge away from the sandstorm.
“Here, brother, we should be shielded,” said Baatar in a comforting voice.
By now, it was midnight and the desert was encased in a cocoon of ice. Shivering from the
cold, I was led by Baatar to a small, dark den. I sat down to catch my breath. Alarmingly, Baatar
gave off a raucous shriek. “ARGH! ”
I jumped up in shock and saw a ghastly creature slithering eerily across the cave. It was a
gargantuan viper! The reptile’s malevolent eyes gleamed hatefully. Dripping with venom, the
monstrous fangs were poised to strike, charging straight at me.
“Get away from my brother!” Baatar intercepted the attack, banging his head directly at the
creature. The snake lunged again with rage and impaled Baatar with its pointed teeth. “Squawk!”
My brother screeched in excruciating pain, but he continued to strangle the snake with all his
might. As he was about to crush the serpent to death, the beast gave Baatar a massive bite, and
then collapsed lifelessly on the ground.
My tears fell down uncontrollably as Baatar withered in mortal injury. Dripping with blood
that tainted his feathers in sorrowful red, the dying eagle muttered feebly, “My brother, don’t be
sad. It’s my honour to protect my family. Whenever you’re lonely, a soaring eagle will forever look
after you for eternity.”
As Baatar winced in pain, his somber face turned as white as chalk. Suddenly, the sky erupted
in flame, consuming the sandstorm in its divine brightness. Baatar’s eyes glistered with tears,
reflecting the melancholy desert sky. His body began to radiate with light, then vanished in the
silver moonlight.
“Baatar!” I wailed. “Where are you?”
With a mighty bang, I was magically whisked away. Grief-stricken, my mind was in a
whirlpool of misery and confusion, and then I lost consciousness…
Squinting my eyes, I awoke in a yurt. The shaman stood next to me. In a consolatory voice,
she spoke softly. “The god has revealed the ordeal that your brother endured. Do not mourn over
Baatar. He did not die in vain. He loved his family so much that he was willing to sacrifice his life
for you. We should all be very proud of him!”
The story of my brother was passed onto many Gobi tribes. My fellow Mongolians and eagles
became inseparable hunting partners and trusted comrades. Whenever I saw my tribesmen
with their eagles, it would remind me of my brother who sacrificed himself to protect his clan,
who stood boldly in the face of death, and exemplified the power of unconditional love. Baatar
certainly lived up to his name, the true Gobi hero!
