The Cloud Shepherd
Once upon a time, there was a lovely young couple, Giles and Fiona, who lived on a rich and vast plain that ended at the edge of a majestic mountain range that seemed to touch the sky.
Between the mountains was a dark and jagged valley, known as Thunder Valley. Legends said that one day, from its dark mist, a great king would emerge.
A Quiet Life and Fiona's Departure
Giles and Fiona were happy with their quiet lives. They took great care of their farm, their animals, and their home. Whatever happened, they were always together.
Until one day, Fiona decided to visit her cousins.
— I need to take these clothes to Mable, but I'll be back in a week. — Alright.
So Fiona left, bidding farewell to her husband.
Longing and the Unexpected Storm
Giles did the same chores every day as usual. However, towards the end of the week, he began to miss Fiona.
— Fiona is coming today! I can't wait! She'll be here soon!
But even after sunset, there was no sign of Fiona. As it grew darker, a storm was ready to begin.
— Oh, no! Maybe she's on her way? I'll go check!
So Giles went out, battling the wind and the cold rain.
Giles, Carried by the Wind, Reaches the Cloud Shepherd
— Ugh! Oh, this rain is too strong! Whoa!
The wind swept him up, and he landed on a small cloud.
— Oh! No! No!
It flew through the dark valley and among the mountains, his heart hardened with fear.
— Oh, no! Oh, no!
Meeting the Cloud Shepherd
— Oh, what lovely weather! Isn't it? — It's fantastic! — Thunder is like a melody to me! — Oh! — Huh? What? Who is this place? And who are you? — I am the Cloud Shepherd, and here I create and control the weather. Who are you? — I, I am Giles. I was just looking for my wife.
Giles, the Cloud Shepherd's Prisoner
— Little Eye, since you see everything, can you tell me if he's telling the truth? — Yes, Shepherd! I saw him looking for her, but he got lost in your storm and was brought here. And his wife has returned. — Little Ear, since you hear everything in the world, can you tell me if he's telling the truth? — Yes, Shepherd! I heard his wife telling him she would be back in a week, a few days ago. I also heard her humming as she returned. — I understand. Yes, yes, can I leave now? — Oh, no! You've seen too much. From now on, you will stay here and work for me. — What? No! Please, let me go home!
Giles pleaded with the Shepherd, but he didn't listen.
— You will start work tomorrow. These two will take care of you. — No!
Discovering the Weather Bowl
So the next day, Little Eye and Little Ear took Giles to the top of a mountain, where something like an enormous bowl was carved into the middle of the mountains.
— Huh? Wow! What is this? — Over there, that is the Weather Bowl. Here our king creates the right weather for the clouds. See? — Wow! — Come on, I want to show you something else. — Wow! What are all these? — Here we keep all the ingredients for all the different types of weather.
Giles Learns to Create Weather
Giles looked in amazement at the different bottles. Some small, others larger, filled with thunder, lightning, and rainbows. He watched and observed how the Shepherd created the weather and was even allowed to make his own storm.
— I wonder what else I can add. Hmm. Like this. Now let's see what comes out.
Fruits began to combine with the mixture.
— Oh, it's so warm! How nice it would be to rain lemonade or candy! — Candy doesn't fall from the sky! What is this? It smells like strawberries? — It doesn't taste like strawberries! Lemon? — Yay!
Homesickness and the Secret Plan
Giles also made sure the weather was good for his dear Fiona, about whom he asked daily.
— Little Eye, Little Ear, what is my beloved wife doing? — She's taking care of the farm animals. — But she's sad, for I hear her saying: "How much I miss my dear Giles!" — Oh, dear, I've been here for almost a year and have no chance of escape!
Giles tried to escape countless times, but, being surrounded by huge precipices, he had given up.
The Warning and Giles's Idea
One day, he suddenly heard Little Eye and Little Ear whispering continuously.
— What is it? — Oh! Giles, I hear someone in the distance secretly planning to conquer the village tomorrow and destroy it! — What? Tomorrow? — I see him! It's the thief king from Black Lake! He's gathering his army! — No! I must save Fiona! I must warn them! Please, Little Ear, Little Eye, help me! — I'm sorry, Giles, but that's human business. We cannot get involved.
Giles was very worried, but he couldn't do anything. Suddenly, an idea came to him.
The Unprecedented Storm
He went out and reached the store rooms.
— Thunder dust, ice dust, and lightning dust.
He emptied the entire stock. He put the bottles in a bag and carried them up to the Weather Bowl.
— Now, I hope this works. For Fiona!
He emptied everything into the Weather Bowl. Bottles and bottles full of thunder and storm ingredients, which began to mix, forming a storm so dark and menacing that it had never existed before.
Saving the Village and Returning Home
The mixture reached all the clouds, which let out a mighty roar as if they were a thousand angry lions. Giles ran from there, waited for the right wind, then threw the wildest hurricane into the mixture.
— Oh!
The clouds rose menacingly and headed towards the plain, where they suddenly unleashed their fury upon the earth.
— Oh, dear! — What a powerful storm! Luckily, we're inside!
But those outside weren't as lucky.
— What is this? — Retreat! The tunnel is cursed! — What? — Oh! My ears have never heard such a storm!
The storm tempted and shook even the huge mountain, waking the Shepherd.
— Oh! What's happening?
He ran towards the Weather Bowl, but it was so dark he couldn't see where he was going. All the other helpers were terrified and hid, all bewildered.
Giles, who was watching everything, hesitantly decided to escape again, jumping onto a large storm cloud.
— Oh, no! Wait! Listen to me!
The cloud couldn't be controlled and threw Giles directly towards the ground.
— No!
Thus, Giles returned home. The thieves retreated, and the storm began to calm down. People looked out the window and saw Giles emerging from Thunder Valley through the dark mist.
— The legend is coming true! — He's the king! — Giles! Oh, Giles! — Fiona! Oh, I'm so sorry I left you!
The New King and the Moral of the Story
The villagers acclaimed their new king, and Giles and Fiona lived happily together in their new kingdom. Giles defended the people he loved.
This shows that love for someone gives you the right solution, if you work hard and put your mind to it.
Do you wonder what happened to the Cloud Shepherd? Well, when he found out Giles caused the commotion, he got angry.
— I'll get my revenge on you! My lightning will find you in an instant! Where are my things?
He was utterly shocked when he saw that there was nothing left in stock. He got angry, for he knew he would have to wait patiently to gather all the ingredients again.
— Once I gather what I need again, he'll see!
But even though he said that, when he had gathered all the stock again, the Shepherd was so busy with the coming of autumn that he completely forgot about Giles.
I believe Giles showed us that with logic and presence of mind, you can always escape the storm.
