In the vast frozen reaches of the Siberian tundra, where the winter wind howled like an ancient beast and the snow shone like powdered bone, the Sakha people spoke of the Abaasy. These were not spirits born from gentle dreams or harmless shadows. They were beings forged from fear, chaos, and the oldest fires of the underworld. Their presence meant sickness, confusion, and the unraveling of the delicate balance that held the world together.
According to the elders, the Abaasy dwelled deep beneath the earth in a realm of ice and darkness. When the barrier between worlds thinned during storms or long winter nights, they slipped through cracks in the ground, wandering the tundra in search of human weakness. Some appeared as twisted forms with too many limbs. Others looked like withered giants with burning eyes. Still others came as whispering voices carried by the wind, urging mortals toward madness.
One winter, when the sun barely rose and the cold cut like sharpened stone, a series of strange misfortunes befell a small Sakha settlement. Livestock grew weak and died. Children screamed in their sleep. Hunters returned home confused, unable to recall their path through the snow. The people whispered of the Abaasy. They believed the spirits were near, seeking to pull the living into their frigid realm.
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At the edge of the village lived a shaman named Aiyla. She was known for her calm spirit, her mastery of the drum, and her ability to walk the line between the worlds. When the first signs of sickness appeared, she listened to the wind and felt an unsettling energy beneath her feet. She knew the Abaasy were rising.
That night, she prepared for a spiritual journey. Wearing her sacred furs and bone ornaments, she beat her drum in slow rhythmic pulses that echoed across the snow. The villagers watched from afar, hoping her courage would protect them all.
As the sound of the drum deepened, Aiyla felt her spirit loosen from her body. The world around her faded and she found herself standing at the border of the underworld, a barren landscape lit by a strange icy glow. The ground cracked beneath her, releasing steam that smelled of decay. She heard footsteps.
The Abaasy emerged from the shadows. Their bodies twisted, their movements unnatural. They circled her like wolves tasting the air. One spoke in a voice like breaking ice. It accused the humans of forgetting sacred rituals and allowing the land to fall out of harmony. Another spirit hissed that the community had grown arrogant and careless. Their misfortunes, the Abaasy said, were only the beginning.
Aiyla stood firm. She did not deny the spirits. She knew that her people had indeed grown distracted with new concerns, forgetting the traditions that once kept harmony between the worlds. But she also knew that not all punishment was just. She told the Abaasy that fear would not bring balance. Only guidance could restore the order that had been broken.
The spirits lunged at her. Their cold hands grasped for her soul. Aiyla struck her drum and summoned the voices of her ancestors. A warm light rose around her like a shield. The Abaasy recoiled, unable to enter its glow. She chanted prayers older than memory, calling for the restoration of bonds between humans and the unseen world.
The largest of the Abaasy stopped and listened. Its expression softened, though its face was still strange and fierce. It said that if the humans renewed their rituals, respected the land, and honored the spirits, the chaos would cease. Aiyla bowed her head in agreement.
When she awoke, the villagers gathered to hear her words. They prepared offerings of milk, carved wooden charms, and sacred herbs. They cleansed their homes and held a ceremony to honor both the helpful spirits and the dangerous ones. Over the next days the sickness lifted, children slept peacefully, and hunters found their way with clarity.
The elders said that Aiyla had not defeated the Abaasy. Instead, she had reminded them that balance was a shared responsibility between the living and the unseen. The spirits returned to their underworld realm, waiting for the day when humans might again forget the old ways.
And so, the Sakha people continued to tell the story of Aiyla and the Abaasy. It taught them that courage can confront even the darkest forces, and that respect for the land and the spiritual world keeps chaos at bay. The tundra remained harsh, but it was no longer feared as a realm ruled by demons. It became a place where harmony could be maintained, so long as humans remembered their place in the great circle of existence.
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Author’s Note
The story of the Abaasy reminds readers that darkness is not always an enemy but a warning. Balance between the seen and unseen is maintained through respect, ritual, and humility. True courage is not the absence of fear but the strength to confront powerful forces with wisdom.
Knowledge Check
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Who are the Abaasy in Yakut lore?
Answer: They are underworld demons that cause sickness and spiritual disorder. -
Where do the Abaasy dwell?
Answer: In the icy underworld beneath the earth. -
Why did Aiyla journey into the spirit realm?
Answer: To confront the Abaasy and restore balance to her community. -
What did the Abaasy accuse the humans of forgetting?
Answer: Sacred rituals and respect for the spiritual world. -
How did the villagers restore harmony after Aiyla’s return?
Answer: Through offerings, cleansing rituals, and honoring the spirits. -
What lesson does the story teach?
Answer: Balance requires respect for both nature and the unseen forces that shape the world.
