“The Malady and the Moon-eater”
Art: Kat Hirigoyen
When a god gets sick, who do you call?
The Gintuan Islands are famous for their magical veterinarians. Tattoos called batoks appear on the most talented and symbolize the kind of enchantments they have on flora and fauna. In a world where each country’s flourishing is at the mercy of the animal gods, every student’s career is sealed. But when three childhood friends and star-graduates of Araw Academy are thrust into the most tumultuous war of the century, what choices do they make to ferry their stories to the other side?
Doctor Daniri and the twins, Doctor Habagat and Doctor Amihan, face each other in this re-imagined world of Southeast and East Asia where fantastical creatures freely roam the ground, sea, and sky. From the dog-sized koi swimming in the hushed ponds of Ninemu, the fire-breathing ember-scaled dragon skulking the mountain range of Xie San, the pink-toed spider languishing within the jungles of Mheung Khiao, to the Bakunawa—the great celestial-eating sea serpent of the Gintuan Islands.
Grant Awardee (Individual - Writers, Toronto Arts Council - 2023)
Grant Awardee (Recommender Grants for Writers, Ontario Arts Council - 2022)
Longlisted (First Chapters Contest, Voyage - 2021)
Get to know the gang…
HABAGAT
“The southern monsoon”
Araw Academy Program: Veterinary Medicine - Megafauna Husbandry
Occupation: Bakunawa Temple - Head Priest
Batok:
(Visual: caribou horns - not pictured) Allows user to assume complete control of a creature’s mobility for a limited period of time.
(Visual: bakunawa swallowing the moon) User’s life force is linked to the Bakunawa’s, cannot be a certain radius away from the god without suffering harm.
2 Truths and 1 Lie:
1) Has a twin brother he doesn’t particularly like.
2) Despite graduating top of class at Araw Academy, decided to enter into the Bakunawa priesthood.
3) Kept his promise to Daniri and traveled the Great Ilog with her so they would achieve their dream of becoming an infallible veterinarian duo.
DANIRI
“Decaspermum fruticosum (‘Patalsik’) plant”
Araw Academy Program: : Veterinary Medicine - Surgery Specialist
Occupation: General Practitioner - Nomadic
Batok:
(Visual: ripples, rapids) Allows user to exchange life force and emotions to stabilize and calm patients, magical anesthesia.
2 Truths and 1 Lie:
1) Almost graduated top of class at Araw Academy, was narrowly beat by her rival.
2) Ampon, her dwarf dragon, was a gift from Habagat.
3) Stayed home in the Gintuan Islands to help rebuild the country during the Great Ilog war.
AMIHAN
“The northern monsoon”
Araw Academy Specialization: Pathology - Medicinal Botany
Occupation: King’s Court - Head Researcher
Batok:
(Visual: malunggay leaves) Allows user to enhance and speed up the effects of plant-based medicines
2 Truths and 1 Lie:
1) Has a twin brother he doesn’t particularly like.
2) Despite proclivity to remain in his lab, became one of the leading field medics during the Great Ilog war.
3) After the Great Ilog war, insisted on preserving his title at the King’s Court by refusing to join Daniri on her travels.
Bonus material…
FAQs…
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The manuscript is going to be completed by summer 2024. Hopefully, after that a physical book can be placed in your hands before 2026.
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The manuscript is going through revisions currently. There’s about 300 pages to cut and wallow through.
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As of now, I don’t! I’m eager to either find an agent or get in talks with publishers as the project progreses.
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Hmmm, you don’t say?
…And a sneak peek!
CHAPTER 1
Five years after peace.
Like a slowing heartbeat, the ocean-blue light in the room softened. The tattoos that curled around Daniri’s elbows and wrists faded to black as her magic fell back asleep.
She glanced below at her cupped hands. A newborn otter was wriggling in her palms, its fur still wet and matted. Its eyes were tightly shut. Its tiny chirps were shrill and weak, searching for milk, for warmth, for its mother, for some reassurance that even though no one asks to be born, fate would be kind to it now that its life was set furiously into motion without so much of a choice. One of those was a broad assumption.
Daniri cleared her throat. Maybe it didn’t want milk.
This project is possible thanks to:
