The Legend of Momakase
Long ago in a small village in Japan lived a family a four. Father, the town cook. Mother, the town seamstress. Brother, who fetched water from the well. And finally sister, who was too young to contribute. They lived a happy life and did their jobs, but sister was jealous that she couldn't help out.
"You're too young," said Mother. "Your job is to obey and help us where we ask you to."
Sister didn't like that answer but did her best anyway. Time passed and sister grew older, eventually growing tired of the meaningless tasks asked of her. She wanted her own job.
"Mother, can I do the cooking for the village?" she asked.
"No, that's your father's job." Mother replied.
"What about sewing? Can I do that for the village?"
"No, that's my job."
"Can I fetch the water from the well? Brother doesn't do that anymore."
"No, your nephew is the new water boy."
"Then what will I do?"
"You'll do what we ask you to do."
Sister didn't like this. She was going to find her own job. She went to the town baker and asked to help, but he said no. She went to the fishermen by the docks and asked to help, but they said no. She even went to the town protector and asked if she could help, but the wise Samurai warrior said no. She asked the man what she could do. He said to her: "Sometimes the best thing we can do is to be obedient and help where we are needed."
Sister didn't like that. She thought long and hard about what she could do to help the village in her own way. Then she remembered that the wild boar occupied their woods just outside the village, bashing down fences and disturbing the livestock. The Samurai had told them not to attack the boar, as while they were a nuisance, they weren't dangerous, so everyone had left them alone. But sister knew she could stop them. So, one night when the moon was full, she went out with a sword and began to hunt the boars. One by one, the boars fell to her blade, not used to being hunted. When she had finished her task, a great deer emerged from the trees and looked in horror at what she had done.
Unknown to sister, this deer was actually a great spirit who held magical properties. In a rage it bellowed at her. "What have you done?! You have killed my friends the boar!"
Sister was taken aback by the talking deer. "They were a nuisance! They attacked our fences and terrified our animals."
"They meant no harm. The boar are clumsy creatures, but hardly ever intend to do harm. And now you have slaughtered them! I made a deal with your Samurai that the boar would remain safe from hunters here. Has he gone back on his word?!"
"No, great spirit," Sister relented. "I did this on my own. I did not know they were under his protection."
"Your honesty serves you well. I shall be merciful and spare your life this night. However, this crime cannot go unpunished. Forever more you shall be cursed to roam the land aimless, and your violent acts shall be all you know. But you won't need that sword. Your fingers are covered in blood, and so they shall be forever more."
The deer spirit used his magics on Sister, transforming her. Her skin became greyed, her eyes yellowed, and her nails grew into mighty talons, able to tear flesh from bone with a single swipe. Sister looked at her new form in horror, knowing she could never go back home. The deer spirit looked at what he had done and said to sister:
"Go. Leave this place. You should have obeyed your parents and been happy with your life. For now on, you shall be known by one name: MOMAKASE. Those who meet you shall be in fear, and never again will you know the comforts of family."
And so Momakase ran into the forest, never to return to her home. The deer spirit told the Samurai what had happened, and he warned everyone of the lesson she had to learn. Some say that if you listen closely at night, you can still hear Momakase sharpening her knife-like fingers, waiting for her next meal.