Chapter 1: Girgandale
As time passes on, there are many things that change and for the land of Shavron it was no different. What was once a united country gradually became a land separated by one‘s status in birth instead of ideals in one‘s character and truth. The judges, who were chosen by the Holy One, were now elected by the citizens. It was an effort for independence, for the ways of the Lord seemed archaic to them, although religious ceremonies towards God were still considered in style.
With this new era came a new idea of casting the joy of serving the Holy One aside for embracing the shackles of serving the self will. The old ways of Gideon, Deborah, Samson, Gabriel, and many other names of great recognition were long forgotten. The judges, who were suppose to remind the citizens of their history and their relationship with the Holy One, turned out to be the most corrupt of all.
The country was divided into three territories, each distinguishing the class system. Lower Shavron was for the peasants of the land that were either forced into that way of life, or held fast by the strong hand of the upper class‘s greed. Middle Shavron was for creatures that lived well or was born into such a circumstance, and finally there was Upper Shavron; and as you have guessed, it was for those creatures with money to spend, money to splurge, and money just to torment those who had little. The aristocrats, or the jerk-o-crats as the lower class loved to say, cared very little of either God or their fellow creature. Yet that is not to say that all of them were jerks, but enough of them were to earn such a title. But let‘s leave this brief summary of current events in Shavron and focus on what God was doing.
It was a fresh and warm morning in the small town of Girgandale. It was the newest city in Shavron and the population was relatively small, only a hundred creatures since its beginnings of ten years lived there. Girgandale was an agricultural town where farmers would send their produce to the larger cities; and despite their importance, they were considered the least when it came to prestige and nobility. The small town rested snugly near the bottom of Lower Shavron; and although the venom of aristocracy had swept through most of the country, Girgandale, for the moment, was spared. Within this town was born the Holy One's Son.
Along the main road he came: a red panda pushing his small cart full of farming utensils and seed. He wore a large brimmed hat to keep his head cool from the summer heat, a red shirt, and a lightweight cloak positioned over him like a cape. He passed by a group of youngsters playing a game of tag. When they saw him, they ran to him with great joy calling his name as if he had returned from a victorious battle. One of the youngsters tagged the panda. Now Kleos, for that is his name if you already forgotten, was not hesitant to bless children when they came to him.
So he played tag, taking a break from his work.
A group of farmers were able to descry the scene from their work of toil, and couldn‘t help but to smile. From the playful scene; a door, from a home that sat by the road, opened. A plump female grizzle bear appeared. The bear came out to sweep the dirt and dust that had gathered over night on her porch step. With the sound of giggling and galumphing, the bear‘s attention quickly sought out this disturbing occurrence. She watched the frolicking of the panda with the children and her look was not pleasant at all. The bear took it upon herself to end the incessant play, caring not what happy emotions she would crush under her disdainful fit of the morning.
"Alright right that's enough, all of you come here this instance," she cried, "Hurry now don't linger!"
The children went over to the grizzle bear. She told them all to find another place to play. The children complied, sending Kleos back to his cart.
No time for playing," said the grizzle bear, "My husband needs to finish that field of yours---hop to it!"
He continued up the road that led to a small cottage on a hill overlooking a field ready to be prepped for the season. It was the home of the red panda and he was commonly known by the town as the "The Farmer Upon the Hill." The panda parked the cart near the fertile ground of his farm. He diligently worked with a hoe to break the soil to plant the seeds that rested by his side in a woolen sack. Whenever he finished with digging a row, he would spread the seeds carefully making sure that they fell on the good soil.
There were many days that Kleos stayed with his trade, but one day news spread that he had given his farm to Amber‘s husband Aesop, the head farmer in Girgandale. No one knew why, and all were asking for what reason.
"Time to work the work that I have been given to do." replied Kleos.
He must be talking about farming was the common thought. Maybe he found better land to plant crops or maybe he had been called by one the upper class to work in their gardens. Nonetheless, this saying was not easily perceived. With minds still wondering over the farmer‘s actions, Kleos left the town.