Suri Ikun and the Two Magic Birds: An Indonesian Folktale from East Nusa Tenggara

Chapter 1: A Big Family in Timor

Once upon a time, on the island of Timor, in East Nusa Tenggara, there lived a farmer with his wife and fourteen children — seven boys and seven girls. It was a big, noisy, happy family, and they lived off the crops from their large garden.

But even with such a big garden, there was never quite enough. Almost every night, a wild boar came sneaking through the fence to dig up and destroy the crops.

One morning, the farmer gathered his sons together, worry written all over his face.

Farmer: "My sons, that wild boar will ruin us if no one stops it. From now on, each of you will take turns guarding the garden at night."

The sons nodded — though not all of them meant it.

Chapter 2: Suri Ikun the Brave

Out of the seven brothers, only one was truly brave: the youngest, named Suri Ikun. His six older brothers were cowardly and more than a little jealous of him. The moment they heard a boar grunting in the dark, they would drop everything and run home as fast as their legs could carry them.

Suri Ikun was different. Whenever he heard that low, grunting snort in the bushes, he simply picked up his bow, took aim, and fired — calm as anything.

Each time he brought a boar home, it was his eldest brother's job to divide the meat among the family. But out of spite, the eldest brother always gave Suri Ikun only the head, keeping the best cuts for himself and the others.

Eldest Brother: "Here — this is your share, Suri Ikun."

Suri Ikun: "Thank you, Brother. This is more than enough for me."

Even though there was barely any meat on a boar's head, Suri Ikun never complained. He respected his brothers and never let bitterness take root in his heart.

One day, their father's grinding stone was left behind in the middle of the forest. He asked his eldest son to fetch it — and the eldest son, in turn, dragged Suri Ikun along to help him find it.

Chapter 3: Left Alone in the Dark Forest

By the time the two brothers reached the forest, the sky had already begun to turn grey. Everyone in the village knew the old stories — that when night fell, evil ghosts wandered among the trees.

Suri Ikun's heart pounded with fear, but he kept close behind his brother, determined to finish the task. What he didn't know was that his brother had already slipped away down a different path, abandoning him deep in the forest.

Suddenly realizing he was alone, Suri Ikun called out into the darkness.

Suri Ikun: "Brother! Brother, where are you? Wait for me!"

No answer came from his brother — but something else did. Voices rose from the shadows between the trees, calling back in a tone that sounded almost like his brothers.

Ghosts (disguised): "Over here, Suri Ikun! This way!"

Suri Ikun followed the voices deeper and deeper into the forest, his heart growing heavier with every step. It was a trap. The evil ghosts had mimicked his brothers' voices to lure him further from home — and the moment he stepped close enough, they seized him.

Suri Ikun: "Let me go! Please, let me go home!"

Ghost: "Not yet, little one. You're far too thin to eat. We'll keep you a while longer — until you've grown."

Chapter 4: The Two Hungry Birds

The ghosts locked Suri Ikun away in a dark cave deep in the forest, feeding him just enough to keep him alive. The cave was cold and gloomy, but by a small gap in the rock, a thin beam of light crept through — and through that same gap, Suri Ikun spotted two baby birds, thin and starving, chirping weakly nearby.

His own stomach was empty too, but he couldn't bear to see the poor creatures suffer.

Suri Ikun: "Here, little ones — you need this more than I do."

Every day, he broke off a piece of his own small meal and pushed it through the gap for the birds. Years passed. Suri Ikun grew from a boy into a young man, still trapped in that same dark cave — but the two birds, fed faithfully all that time, grew into enormous, powerful creatures.

Chapter 5: The Escape and the Golden Palace

The two grown birds never forgot Suri Ikun's kindness. They watched and waited for their chance to repay him.

One day, when the ghosts finally opened the heavy cave door, the birds struck. With sharp claws and powerful wings, they attacked the startled ghosts and drove them back.

Bird: "Climb onto our backs, Suri Ikun! We will carry you far from here!"

Suri Ikun didn't hesitate. He climbed onto the birds' backs, and together they soared high above the treetops, over hills and valleys, until they landed in a beautiful, high place far from the cursed forest.

Only then did Suri Ikun learn the truth — the two birds he had once fed with his own meager food were no ordinary birds at all, but magical creatures of great power. Using their magic, they built Suri Ikun a magnificent palace, complete with loyal guards and servants to attend to him.

And so, the boy who once received nothing but a boar's head — and never once complained — came at last to live happily in his own shining palace.

And that is the end of the tale of Suri Ikun and the Two Birds, a folktale from the land of East Nusa Tenggara.

Now you can experience Suri Ikun's adventure yourself! Help him take aim at the wild boar, feed two starving baby birds, and fight off the evil ghosts of the forest — complete with voice narration and an Indonesian/English language option. Play the interactive game below!

References:

1. Agni, Danu. 2013. Cerita Anak Seribu Pulau. Yogyakarta: Buku Pintar.
2. Komandoko, Gamal. 2013. Koleksi Terbaik 100 plus Dongeng Rakyat Nusantara. PT Buku Seru.