2. Tfalgos
Pronounced ‘Fal’ - ‘goss’
There is an exceedingly rare creature that crawls up out of the ground after remaining dormant for long periods of time. Surviving documents show the length of time recorded between sightings has spanned from as much as a thousand years to as little as a hundred or even as few as twenty, or five. Some consider it futile to even attempt to anticipate the creature’s movements in terms of years, or rather cycles, others claim this approach to be, not only futile but also entirely inaccurate. – An enthusiast might better understand the creature’s behaviours as a response to certain ‘Happenings’, possible rumblings or vibrations in the earth, and it is to be supposed, the movements of those above ground as well.
We possess a wealth of testimonies; chance sightings, stories, folklore, written accounts, and sketches, like the one below ... All of which, serve to flesh out our understanding of this extraordinary being.
The creature in question possesses many names that vary slightly from country to country: The ‘Toppler’ for instance, or ‘Plough Dog’, or ‘Shifter’, the list goes on, ‘Ship Rat’, ‘The Shipper’ ‘The Tumbler-Turn’, ‘The Till-Till’, ‘The Ferrier’, or ‘The Usurper’, though perhaps the most accurate of all is, ‘The Cede’ ... Yet the one that is most widely and commonly used is, ‘Tfalgos’.
In Mythology, Tfalgos was a Demigod, begot of Goddess and a beguiling Troll. First, Tfalgos was cast out from the realm of the Gods and then again from his home amongst men. His mother charged him with the worthy task of wandering the earth in search of those who wished to make their peace with Life before he took them to meet with Death. It is said, he had an unnerving presence, matched by an unflinching gaze and he always told harsh truths. Though it is also said, he possessed more friends than enemies, alive or dead, and everyone spoke his name with respect. His appearance was so disconcerting however that his Grandfather would not allow him to beget children and dissolved his genitals. It is after Tfalgos our creature is named.
In appearance, the closest known animal we might well associate in our minds with Tfalgos is the common rat. Though, the usefulness of this concept only extends so far. Tfalgos is far larger than any ordinary rat. The Capybara of South America, the largest of the rodent species would look dwarfed alongside Tfalgos. He seemingly possesses the ability to adjust his size according to the load he has chosen to carry, or flatten himself out entirely. His natural coat, if it may be so called, appears to be made up of a sort of fibrous sinew, that is in turns both sticky and malleable - suitable for organic life to graft onto if necessary, and can stiffen up on impulse, should he need to provide a firmer foundation for his passengers.
Like his namesake, it is believed Tfalgos has a purpose. It is said that when strife, discord or calamity visits itself upon a given stretch of land or its people. Tfalgos will burst up through the earth and remove that entire region and its inhabitants to safety. Descriptions tell of how generations of people would travel on the back of Tfalgos for decades without ever stopping, and then one day, suddenly without warning, Tfalgos would plunge back into the earth to sleep again, and the land that had once belonged in one country became the territory of another.
There is a story, tells of a young boy, Trico, was his name, from Haanoshee... his country, had waged terrible, senseless war upon its neighbour, Kitaa, and so it was that Tfalgos came to carry the boy and his people away to prevent any further bloodshed ... One wonders if another of Tfalgos’ kind emerged from the earth in defence of Kitaa ... - We can only hope ... Accounts tell of how the boy, Trico, became utterly fascinated with his rescuer, and though it was strictly forbidden, each night, he would climb down below the very foundations of his village, Shimwae -a very cold and mountainous region ... to be near his new and beloved friend, whom he insisted, could be as mischievous as he was loving. One can imagine that the journey down towards Tfalgos’ head must have been treacherous! It was a wonder the child never fell to his death! Trico found that once he had made it to the outermost reaches of the lower layer of his village, he could rely upon the animal to support him as he picked his way through the giant fibres of his coat.
Long after the Country of Haanoshee had been resettled in peace, and the ancient Tfalgos had returned to the earth, Trico would return to the lush green lowland hills of Zendul, that used to sit upon Tfalgos’ right shoulder, to be alone and remember his friend.
Despite growing up to be strong and handsome, and having a wife whom he adored, despite becoming a father, and having many friends and living a comfortable life, the loss of Tfalgos still troubled him. How could Tfalgos ever truly know what he had meant to him? After all this time, did he even remember the little boy named Trico? That thought seemed impossible! Trico harboured an almost, inexplicable, sorrow, deep within him, and though he had hidden it well over the years, it had never left him.
Time passed, Trico grew old, he still the made the long journey up into the hills of Zendul, just as he had always done, only now with the help of his young grandson, to support him. On one such pilgrimage, having reached the summit of his climb, Trico sat down upon the grass, looked out upon the starry night, and said,
“Tfalgos, I am old now ... an old man. I should have died long before, like so many of my friends ... - like so many Kitaans that fell on their side. This is the last time I shall climb these hills, the last time I shall marvel at the sky above me. This freedom, this beauty ... Your gift to us ... Know that I did not forget you, My Friend. Wherever you are now, wherever you are ... I did not forget ...”
The grandson, made anxious by his grandfather’s mood, urged him to take his hand and return home, but Trico would not budge. He knew he would never see home again. It was then Tfalgos rose out of the earth and rested his great head upon a hill.
Overjoyed, Trico hurried to embrace his friend, after much hugging and tears and laughter - and scratching behind the ears, for that is what Tfalgos had always enjoyed best, Trico motioned for his Grandson to join them, the boy was about to advance when he looked up at Tfalgos and halted in disbelief. Tfalgos had opened his enormous mouth.
Fearlessly, Trico took a step towards it before looking back at his Grandson, the boy nodded, understanding, then Trico stepped into the animal’s mouth and he and Tfalgos disappeared back down into the earth.
The boy ran to get to higher ground so that he might catch another sight of Tfalgos but by the time he reached a suitable place to look down upon the valley, the creature and his grandfather were gone. To this day, Tfalgos has never been seen again, but there will come a day when he is sure to return.
By Robyn Hunt (C) 2020
Beast Design and Illustration by Claudia Jeffreys
