The Story of Sol and Luna

by: Saso

Sol was a young and excellent hunter who was very smart but had not learned how to control his
temper. His tribe, the Worangjong, went out hunting every day in the early light, walking many
miles to find sufficient food for the camp. Sol, as a newly initiated young man now joined the
men on their hunting expeditions. His tribe was renowned for their technique and discipline. But
Sol soon became disenchanted; he was tired of the long days and the little food he collected. The
fifth time in a row he knew that he would get very little food again because he caught no food.
So, when the rest of the hunters in his tribe went to the river to wash their weapons he decided to
stay back and take their catch.
On their return the elder men knew he had taken their catch. Wonag, the elder of the hunters
reported his action to Biami. Since he was young and foolish, Biami took pity and committed
him to complete harsh labor for two months. This included hunting for twice as long, washing,
cleaning and staying up all night to watch guard. Sol was ashamed and embarrassed but was
thankful for the lenient punishment. He worked extremely hard to complete his assigned jobs
because he wanted to regain the respect of the tribe members and earn the right to work and hunt
with his friends.
During his nighttime watch guarding, he heard a loud wail a few kilometers away and decided to
go. He saw a beautiful young maiden crying. Sol went over and asked ‘why are you crying’ and
when the beautiful maiden looked up, Sol saw her dreamy eyes and immediately fell in love with
her. Sol took Luna back to her tribe as she requested and they made an agreement that every
midnight they would meet each other at the same place. So, from the next day onwards they met
each other at the same place at midnight. Sol knew if anyone found out about it, he would get in
big trouble but he didn’t mind as he was always eager to see Luna. One day, during their
romantic journeys in the forest, Luna took Sol down to the out of bound water. It was the home
of Bunyip, the evil spirit of the world. Luna held Sol’s hand and she said, ‘You are my bright
light in the world. But I will become yours if you do one thing for me. Bring me your totem of
the kangaroo.’ This flabbergasted him as he knew once and for all the worst law to break was the
eating of your own totem. He left the place in a hurry not wanting to look back at her face when
she screamed out ‘come back’ and he returned to his camp site. Sol lied on his head looking up at
the stars of Mirrabooka for guidance.
Meanwhile, Luna was so angry with Sol, she headed down to the home of Bunyip. She asked
Bunyip to put a curse on Sol. But Bunyip was also angry that Luna didn’t persuade Sol to bring
his own totem. They made an agreement if Luna had brought the kangaroo to Bunyip, she would
get her parents back from the dead. So, as Luna requested Bunyip put an evil spirit on the tribe of
Worangjong but it was Luna who was the evil spirit. The evil spirit of Luna haunted the tribe of
Worangjong. She terries the tribe bringing darkness all day long with no light. Food was scarce
in the tribe since darkness roamed their tribe. Nothing could save them. Nothing. Nothing.
Nothing. Not even Biami could save them as the spirit was a person. Sol, during this madness,
 still went every midnight to the same place Luna and him agreed on and waited for her. But,
every night after their argument, Luna never turned up.
Sol didn’t know that Luna was the terrifying spirit. Sol just thought that his lover has abandoned
him and Luna didn’t want to be with him. One day, when Sol abandoned the idea of going again,
he stayed at the camp. The evil spirit had been haunting Sol’s tribe for a week and the effects of
the spirits on the tribe hadn’t worn down. As Sol looked up after he saw something fly across his
face, he saw the face of the spirit. He saw a beautiful face and, on that face, he saw dreamy eyes
like Luna’s. Then he realized it was her. Luna. Luna was the evil spirit. Then Sol knew what he
must do. Sol shouted out to her ‘come down, come down. I have brought my totem to you.’ So,
Luna, now the evil spirit, came down, and immediately, Sol hugged her knowing at his own
expense that he will also turn into a spirit. Both of them floated into the sky and they became the
extension of Mirrabooka arms.
But Biami, knew the person and the time was right and turned Sol into a bright light which
Biami called the Sun. Then he turned Luna into a dark light which he called the Moon. Biami
said to the tribe that the Sun represented the light of the world, the saver and will always lead
you in the right direction. Then Biami warned them off the Moon which represented the evil
spirits, the misleading people in the world and to never follow their direction.