On my faded sheets I lay in slumber one serene night; when, by accident, I tripped into the Sea of Tranquility. The midnight waters tugged at my nightgown as I swam towards the silvery surface, embarking upon what I knew would be a most enlightening journey. Upon breaching the surface, Luna cradled my face to her bosom and left a faint kiss on my right cheek.
Her waves beat me to the shore of Canons, at the bank of Insight. The cool night air left my soul steaming from the calm waters. Stepping gingerly to test for sharp stones, and detecting none, I gracefully drew on the landscape.
Before me on that shore was spread the great grass green waves of Scripture, without end as they ascended towards the horizon. Many were the hillocks and valleys that I had traversed before. Many more were the tomes left untread by my bare feet in previous travels. With great joy in my heart did I resolve to explore this vast country and alleviate the burden of ignorance placed upon us all at birth.
Long have I enjoyed the feel of the night's flora between toe and heel while the crab and twins dance across the sky. Often have I visited with the poets who frolic in the glades with immortals and revered their correspondence. As often even as I have longed to hold in my embrace my demoness of the airs, but that is another fancy for another time.
It was while lost in these thoughts that I did suddenly feel a tug at my hem, which did nearly disturb my shadow from my legs. Glancing at my stitchings as casually as I might, I beheld a solitary predator whose eyes did implore me to be still. Kneeling down that I might better embrace him, for I felt a strange kinship with the tailed beast, I asked of him our destination.
"Harken and remember, brother, that our ends may be more readily accomplished." He began with his long tongue struggling to escape his teeth, "I bring to you the love of all our clans for making the essay to this place, but be not deceived by its face."
As he was, so was I, without the discomfort such a transition would imply. Turning a pointed snout to me and then indicating my attention ahead, he stalked forward and crouched low at the lip of a valley. I followed suite, making myself scarce from the light below us.
"Before we begin, know this now and feel our pride in you, our brother. Your efforts have been successful and worthy of more than the form I give you." Shielding my eyes from the glow, I thanked him for such high praise and commended him for his own work as my guide throughout the night.
Nodding agreement, with our humility once again intact, we turned our eyes on the valley below. Before my eyes was stretched a blanket of fleece, enough to make me salivate uncontrollably. Forcing my eyes to focus one from the flock as my target was made difficult due to the sheer mass of that supple flock.
"Wait, brother, he comes swiftly with crook in hand to protect his lambs." No sooner had my companion gave air to his concerns did a righteous man of noble bearing wade into that ocean of white. It was from him where the glow arose, and indeed he did carry a gnarled stick of ash with which to maintain his treasure.
Crestfallen, I stared at my impossible hopes contently chewing the grasses the shepherd directed them to. I was mesmerized by the audacity of this man who should think himself my better for his care of my prey. For such confidence in his immunity did he carry in his bearing that I knew he had dealt many blows to raiders such as us.
"It is the same night after night, my brother: He leads them to green pastures of his choosing, he keeps them close to his heart and denies us our daily bread. We are made impotent by his strikes and our numbers are far less than when once Terra was her own mistress."
"How," I began, "did she loose so much heart that this should fill the void? What of the others? Those whose form originally I shared?"
With eyes shut against the memory of times long past, my companion began his oration, "When you were among your pack, still a cub held close to your mother's tit, he walked the face of our world. Seeing among all Terra's creatures, these most timid creatures could profit from him the most, he claimed them as his own."
"We laid siege while he gathered them to his breast, and many a time scattered his work to the winds. However, it came that we were too prideful, and our boasting did send deep a thorn into Terra's side. The thorn contained a seed of hatred that once sown had to run its course."
"The seed grew to fruition and we all did eat of it. The sweet taste soured our stomachs and turned us against one another in our irritation. In our rage did we war upon one another, feeding on brothers' blood until the rivers and seas ran red with pain."
Here did he pause in his lecture, so that a tear could course down his furred cheek. Considering my question carefully, I opened my mouth to speak. No words rolled from my tongue, for he made a warning gesture towards his muzzle and halted my tongue.
"No brother, let me finish this tale before you draw me into conversation again. In our blind aggression, we neglected to check the shepherd's progress. During our kin war he had grown strong and we were fewer than needed. He dispatched us with all haste to the corners of the earth and gathered the flock in his hand."
"With such might did he deny us our meat that the most active of us swiftly fled for higher grounds. No longer do the great predators stalk the world due to them. We are as shadows in daylight now, running from the light of the shepherd."
"What of my family?" I sputtered, "Surely the great cats have survived the cane?"
Sighing long and low, my companion crushed my heart in his teeth as gently as he might, "It is with a heavy heart that I tell you of your clan's departure for their sky fortress and of it crashing into the ocean. You may well be the last of your kind."
Absorbed in my despair, I hardly noticed the world about me until, with a sharp nip, I was awakened. Searching my flesh for the vandal to no avail, I then turned my attentions back towards the flock. It swayed below us still with its keeper in unison.
"Take heart, my brother, for we have yet to loose this war. By keen mind and stealth have our ancestors fought since the beginning of time and surely by this we will ravage our enemies still." He smoothed the fur of his back and then mine to comfort our pain.
"Within the hay our brothers lay with skins to use as cover. The secret behind the shepherd's divine power we've discovered. I shall tell, use it well, and keep it from no other. Take it back down the track I brought you on, my brother."
He said to me, "Of John by three and eight twice does he rule them. In these and other numbers is the key to his power. Put money in thy purse and hasten to build a fortress. Find gold in the flock to line thy pockets and herald his inscriptions. Keep your mind sharp and feed yourself on the bounteous land that the Sea of Tranquility brought you to, as I caught you when we began. Put on their skin and mingle, spreading the knowledge I have given you. When the timing is right, we will strike from under cover."
At this he stood and made his farewells, leading me back to the water, "Farewell, oh my brother, guard yourself well and know that my love goes with thee!" He shouted from the banks as I slipped out of the covers of my bed.