g．

    "It’stimeforprayer．Wouldyoucaretojoinme?"

    "I’dbehoo.”

    DimitriwalkedwithWhiteFairytothecourtyardbeforethetemple．Eaglesflewdowlingonroofsandwalls．Serpentscrawledfromthegrassawihemselvesaroundthepilrsofthetemple．Frogsleaptfrompondsandfishesswamtothesurfaceofthewater．Allkindsofbirdsflewdownaledonroofsandwallswiththenowdocileeagles．Sheep,rabbitsanddeercameintothecourtyard．Bears,wolvesandtigersbecamegentle．Predatorsstoodpeacefullytogetherwiththeirprey．DimitrisatdownamidthenumerousdisciplesofWhiteFairyandlisteoher．Hersermonwasasgeableastheillusive,multi-coloredclouds．Herfshingeyesreflectedherwisdom．

    "Survivalofthefittestisanaturalw,”shesaid,"butitisnottheabsolutetruth．Inhumans,therearethingsthatgoagainstthenaturalw．Oed，itispassion-thepurestandmostsublimefeeling．Ihopeyoutoowillpractipassionandnotbullytheweak．Donottakejoyinkilling,evenifitisforfood．Begoodtoyourownkindandtoothersaswell．Iwillweleyouwheninyourlifeyoubeehumans．Thenyouthere,andthroughprayerandgooddeeds,buildabetterfuture.”

    Dimitriwasmovedandsatthereimmersedinthought，oblivioustothefactthatthebirdsandanimalsaroundhimhaddisappeared.WhiteFairyandhermonkeyscametowardshimandshesaid，

    "Dimitri,youotstayhere．Itisteandyoushouldbeonyourway.”Dimitriwasunwillingtopartandwouldmuchprefertobeasmallmonkeyandwate-keeperforthetemple．Asifknowinghisinnermostthoughts,shesmiledandsaid，

    7

    "No，thishermit’slifeisnotforyou．Youaredestinedfreaterthings．Youmustgoforth,andthroughtrials,tributionsandadventures,buildupyourownempire．Hereisaswordandbowandarrow，SoonItoowilleandhelpyouinthebuildingofyourempire.”

    "ThankyouWhiteFairy,”saidDimitri,gratefullytakingtheonsfromherhand."Hopetoseeyousoon.”Hebowedrespectfullyaonhisway,buthecouldurninghisheadtolookbackatthegracefulfigureofWhiteFairy,standinginthemidstofhermonkeys,herwhitehairflowingandrufflingintheeveningbreeze．Soonnightfelndhecouldnolongerseethetempleoritsmysteriousaherealmistress．

    ThemanandtheoefloatedsilentlywiththetidetiantMountain．Dimitri’shandtouchedthehiltofhissword．Thatandthebowandarrowonhisbackgavehimfullfidenceofvictory．Uhemoonlight,themountainranges,whichsoresembledagiganticTitanlyiandhelplessonthehorizon,stillseemedtobestrugglingtomove，musclestautedinthisfutileattempt．Astheyapproachedtheshore，powerfulwingscouldbeheard,bringingwithitgustsofwind,asthemonstercircledtheittinghair-raisingscreamsandcroaksoftriumphasitpteditsvictim,whowasshiveringwithfear．Thenitpounceddown．Atthatpreomenthearingthegirl’scry，Dimitrishotoutfrombeheoeonabackstroke,floatingfaceupwardstowardsthesky．Hesawanenormousbirdwithawoman’sheadandsnakesforhairsnatchupDeannawithitslong，sharpdtakeofftowardsthesky．Dimitrishotatitwithhismightybowandheardanagonizingshriekasthearrowpiercedthevulnerableareabetweenthebodyandthewing．ThemogoofitspreyandDeannafellintothewater．Ohereshewasinherelementandlostnotimeinesgtosafetyfrombehewaterwithoutleavingatrace．Seriouslywouhebirdtookoffforthemountainsandfellintoadenselywoodedarea．Dimitriswamtoshoreandwalkedtow

g．

    "It’stimeforprayer．Wouldyoucaretojoinme?"

    "I’dbehoo.”

    DimitriwalkedwithWhiteFairytothecourtyardbeforethetemple．Eaglesflewdowlingonroofsandwalls．Serpentscrawledfromthegrassawihemselvesaroundthepilrsofthetemple．Frogsleaptfrompondsandfishesswamtothesurfaceofthewater．Allkindsofbirdsflewdownaledonroofsandwallswiththenowdocileeagles．Sheep,rabbitsanddeercameintothecourtyard．Bears,wolvesandtigersbecamegentle．Predatorsstoodpeacefullytogetherwiththeirprey．DimitrisatdownamidthenumerousdisciplesofWhiteFairyandlisteoher．Hersermonwasasgeableastheillusive,multi-coloredclouds．Herfshingeyesreflectedherwisdom．

    "Survivalofthefittestisanaturalw,”shesaid,"butitisnottheabsolutetruth．Inhumans,therearethingsthatgoagainstthenaturalw．Oed，itispassion-thepurestandmostsublimefeeling．Ihopeyoutoowillpractipassionandnotbullytheweak．Donottakejoyinkilling,evenifitisforfood．Begoodtoyourownkindandtoothersaswell．Iwillweleyouwheninyourlifeyoubeehumans．Thenyouthere,andthroughprayerandgooddeeds,buildabetterfuture.”

    Dimitriwasmovedandsatthereimmersedinthought，oblivioustothefactthatthebirdsandanimalsaroundhimhaddisappeared.WhiteFairyandhermonkeyscametowardshimandshesaid，

    "Dimitri,youotstayhere．Itisteandyoushouldbeonyourway.”Dimitriwasunwillingtopartandwouldmuchprefertobeasmallmonkeyandwate-keeperforthetemple．Asifknowinghisinnermostthoughts,shesmiledandsaid，

    7

    "No，thishermit’slifeisnotforyou．Youaredestinedfreaterthings．Youmustgoforth,andthroughtrials,tributionsandadventures,buildupyourownempire．Hereisaswordandbowandarrow，SoonItoowilleandhelpyouinthebuildingofyourempire.”

    "ThankyouWhiteFairy,”saidDimitri,gratefullytakingtheonsfromherhand."Hopetoseeyousoon.”Hebowedrespectfullyaonhisway,buthecouldurninghisheadtolookbackatthegracefulfigureofWhiteFairy,standinginthemidstofhermonkeys,herwhitehairflowingandrufflingintheeveningbreeze．Soonnightfelndhecouldnolongerseethetempleoritsmysteriousaherealmistress．

    ThemanandtheoefloatedsilentlywiththetidetiantMountain．Dimitri’shandtouchedthehiltofhissword．Thatandthebowandarrowonhisbackgavehimfullfidenceofvictory．Uhemoonlight,themountainranges,whichsoresembledagiganticTitanlyiandhelplessonthehorizon,stillseemedtobestrugglingtomove，musclestautedinthisfutileattempt．Astheyapproachedtheshore，powerfulwingscouldbeheard,bringingwithitgustsofwind,asthemonstercircledtheittinghair-raisingscreamsandcroaksoftriumphasitpteditsvictim,whowasshiveringwithfear．Thenitpounceddown．Atthatpreomenthearingthegirl’scry，Dimitrishotoutfrombeheoeonabackstroke,floatingfaceupwardstowardsthesky．Hesawanenormousbirdwithawoman’sheadandsnakesforhairsnatchupDeannawithitslong，sharpdtakeofftowardsthesky．Dimitrishotatitwithhismightybowandheardanagonizingshriekasthearrowpiercedthevulnerableareabetweenthebodyandthewing．ThemogoofitspreyandDeannafellintothewater．Ohereshewasinherelementandlostnotimeinesgtosafetyfrombehewaterwithoutleavingatrace．Seriouslywouhebirdtookoffforthemountainsandfellintoadenselywoodedarea．Dimitriswamtoshoreandwalkedtow