nature is a balancing act. there are many sides. they remain in balance not because of any innate peace and harmony of nature, each side taking its turn and letting the others do the same. but rather because each side is at war with the other, constantly trying to defeat one another. human beings are part of nature, as are all things on Earth. perhaps they take a larger, more active role in this war than other elements do, because of their intelligence. their actions can easily affect the entire planet. but most of them are merely unwitting combatants in the war. they don't really know there is a real war going on. few know there is a war at all, other than perhaps a metaphoric one, and fewer still rise high in the ranks of any army in the war. but some few know the truth. Dave D'WARD has risen to the rank of commander of Ground Forces for the White Clouds. the WCs archrivals are the Grey Clouds. Commander D'WARD fights the GC and their allies at every opportunity, even while maintaining a respect for the necessity of their continuing existence. also, he gets to beat up on one of their allies, the waves, whenever swimming in the lake on a windy day.