Betong could not sleep that night, still thinking about the story that Lolo Isko had narrated to him and his animal friends. He also felt happy for he was able to reconcile with his animal friends. He felt a sense of peace as he was freed from his attachment to his new-dog friend whom he would be returning to his rightful owner.

Late that night, he was so happy that he could not sleep. He peeped out the window to greet his friends, the bamboo dragons who were swaying and dancing in the moonlight as the bamboos and dragons were one. Then he saw another figure sitting in a lotus position talking with the bamboo dragons. It was Lolo Isko who, like Betong, had the gift of seeing and talking to the dragons and to animals too. Betong went out of his nipa hut because he wanted to ask him some questions.

Lolo Isko seemed to be in deep conversation with the bamboo dragons so Betong politely coughed, “May I disturb you, Lolo Isko for I want to tell you something.” Lolo Isko obliged with a smile. Betong continued, “Lolo Isko, I have just talked with Monkoy, our dog friend and he said that his masters live in a place called the Walled Kingdom. Do you know the way to this place?” Oh yes, Betong,” Lolo Isko answered. “The Walled Kingdom is the ancient center of the Spring Kingdom of Kasibulan. It is where King Diwa and Queen Dalisay with Princess Dana lived in the olden times. It was once a very beautiful and rich kingdom, verdant with trees and flowers, filled with gold and other rich minerals.”

“Is that so? Why is it called the Walled Kingdom?” Betong queried.

“Before it had no walls and everyone was free to enter and go out of the kingdom. But Prince Sakeem later became king with his wife Lukring as his queen, and afraid that their thrones would be stolen from them, he ordered fortified walls built so as to safeguard their powers and their stolen treasures. For people who are obsessed with power build a lot of walls. But inside where all is splendid, Sakeem and Lukring, his voluptuous wife have collected all the gold and precious stones from the land. They harvested and stored many fruits inside. Then, they built different palaces made of gold, bamboos, coconuts, and pines. Cutting down many trees, they exploited the minerals of the Spring Kingdom just to satisfy their own greed. To protect themselves, they built these fortified walls from attackers as rebellion was in the hearts of many men and women who would not submit to the rule of Sakeem and Lukring. They feared that Princess Dana would return someday to steal the powerful magic pearl which had now blackened and lost its luster as the evil in men and women have grown. For this reason that the once beautiful river of Marikit that flows in the Kingdom has turned black and filthy, killing many fishes and animals and causing different diseases and sicknesses in people, especially in children.”

“What a sad story, Lolo Isko,” Betong sighed. “Hopefully Princess Dana will soon return to restore the glory of Kasibulan.” Betong added. Destiny is on the side of Dana as she is well-loved by the Father Creator of the universe and sooner and later goodness will prevail, but we have to do our part, Betong, by doing good deeds to all creatures and this will help restore the magic pearl to Dana’s good hands,” Lolo Isko continued.

Betong asked, “One question still, Lolo Isko, how come our village is protected from Sakeem’s evil hands?” Lolo Isko narrated, “A long time ago, people were becoming wicked in our village of Bahag-hari in the Rainbowland, but since the people have changed their ways and now take care of the pine trees and bamboo forests, it has become enchanted and disappeared from the map of Kasibulan. The bamboo dragons, the pine spirits and fairies, the river muses, the banana dwarves, the flower fairies, have all concentrated their powers here making our forest so enchanted and protecting it from the onslaught of evil men. But that will surely not last as peoples’ hearts change easily and they succumb to vices and greed. So we have to be very vigilant.”

Betong continued, “Another question, Lolo Isko, why do we both have this gift of seeing the bamboo dragons and talking to them, and to other animals too?”

Lolo Isko answered, “Only children and people with pure hearts can talk to animals and the bamboo dragons. It is such a privilege you have received that you must put into good use always. It’s for a purpose that you have been given this gift, Betong, for who can listen sharply to the melodious songs of the birds or their fears when little children terrorize them with their slingshots, or who can understand the needs and worries of an aggressive dog about to be butchered by drunken men, or the pains and efforts of a hardworking carabao that never complains, and the concerns of mother cats or hens for their chicks and kittens. Only with pure and free heart can really understand them, or who can hear the shrieks of the bamboo dragons as the bamboos are being cut or the pine spirits who weep when pine trees are chopped and burned? It is for this purpose that you were born so that you can understand and care for them.”

“Oh, what a big responsibility, Lolo,” Betong sighed as Lolo Isko patted him on the back, “But you know, Betong, you should not be burdened by this gift, for there is always a consolation. The sun, the moon, the stars and the wind smile down at us if when they see that we are doing our best, that is, when they see us humans love one another, care for each other, and when we don’t fight and kill each other and then take good care of all the creatures of the Father Creator of the heavens and earth. The winds caress us even more; the rain falls down more gently to quench the thirsty, dry and dying earth.”

But in these days nature in the lost kingdom of Kasibulan is crying out, for evil has grown stronger in men and women’s hearts and this is why you have to go to the Walled Kingdom to return your dog-friend to his real masters and for a greater purpose. Don’t be saddened nor lose heart as you see the havoc done by Sakeem in the Lost Spring Kingdom. Be strong and steadfast. Keep love burning in your heart for this is the law of nature and nature then will be always on your side. Moreover, you will meet people who will help you along your way for there are good people in the Walled Kingdom too, and they’re just waiting for the right moment for Princess Dana to recover the magic pearl from Sakeem’s hands. But you have to be very clever and smart, since the allies of Sakeem, the crocodile and vulture men are very tricky and sly.”

“Oh! What a new adventure. It seems like fun but a little scary too, to be up against those creepy crocodile-men and vulture-men,” Betong moaned sleepily.

“Okay, Betong, go now to sleep, as you will have a long journey of about a month’s time before you reach the Walled Kingdom,” Lolo Isko encouraged.

“Good night, Lolo and good night, dragons,” Betong bade them sleepily as he entered the nipa hut and the dragons bent down closely to caress him. Lolo Isko continued in his lotus position, still conversing intently with the bamboo dragons and praying for more wisdom and blessings, especially for Betong as he was about to encounter the bigger problems in life—the great battle between good and evil.

Yanong Liwanag