A long time ago in a village quite far from here there lived an old couple. They loved each other greatly for many, many years, but there was one equally great sadness in their life. They had no children.
One morning as the couple came home from a pilgrimage to Chim’s shrine they heard the weak crying of a cub. They looked at each other, wondering if it was but wishes that they heard. The old furre went to the woodpile so he could kindle the oven, which his wife was already preparing. As he pulled a log from the pile, he found a tiny cub with its fur fluffed and fine. He called to the his wife, only to see that she herself had discovered a tiny cub in the ashes of the oven.
Joy and happiness filled the couple’s hearts as they held the twins; and after it was clear that none would claim the cubs as their own, they thanked the Primes for such a blissful gift. Indeed, there was nothing that their lives wanted. The years went by and the cubs grew - playful, strong, and always happy. Grandfather taught them all that young furres should know, and Grandmother taught them all that young furres should understand.
So it was that their imaginations grew just as strong as their bodies, and by the time the twins were fully grown, their behavior seemed quite strange to the other furres, and they were not invited to the other furres’ activities. Grandfather took the twins aside and told them to be more serious about life and not to play at everything. The twins were dutiful furres who loved their parents, and they tried to obey Grandfather.
It was during the years that the twins were growing up that a wicked furre gained such power over the village that none would dare naysay him. And they had good reason to fear this furre, for he was evil. The wizard had caused the crops to dry and whither in the fields and he was known to bring sudden illness and death to those furres who opposed him. The entire village lived in wretched fear.
Everyfurre, that is, except the twins, and one day the wizard came and threatened them for he could not abide the sight of their dancing in the street. The twins laughed and danced about that furre with smiles.
“You think you have great power because these furres fear you,” said the twins. “But the Dragon smiles on us and that is a greater power.”
Now, you can imagine how this infuriated the wicked furre, and seeing this, the twins challenged him to a contest of powers. The furre rubbed his paws together greedily and accepted, but demanded that it would be death to the loser.
The twins prayed and visited the shrines of the Primes until the day came when everyfurre gathered in the plaza to watch the challenge. Then they walked up wearing the most ridiculous costumes you’d ever hope to see. Their fur was painted in garish stripes and they wore vests and breeches of particolored checks. Around their necks were hung walnuts, acorns and hazelnuts; behind their ears were stuck twigs; and about their ankles were tied pebbles and shells. They rattled and clacked as they walked and the villagers began laughing at these silly furres, who went right along telling jokes and clowning with each other. The furres laughed and laughed as they had not in many years, so afraid had they been of the wicked furre.
To make the furres afraid again, the wizard summoned the Storm Serpent, Keeper of All the Waters, and commanded the serpent to drench the fields. Then he commanded the wheat and olives to spring forth - and they did!
“See that I have power over life and death,” roared the wicked furre.
The twins gave high praise to the wizard and made ready to take their turn, all the while each would address the other as Little Brother, “For we do not know which of us came first,” they explained with a smile. Then the twins became more serious and spoke in turns of something far away... something coming closer and closer... With words they pictured a rainbow down which slid the cloud furres. The listeners, quiet and with eyes glued on the twins, were carried into what seemed a trance as they anticipated the cloud furres arrival, and their long endured burdens and cares were lifted from them.
Then suddenly the twins slapped their paws together and a puff of cloud formed and a clap of thunder split the air with a flash of lightening. In the fields, the furres saw dancing figures and heard beautiful singing, all mixed with the gentle patter of rain. The villagers were astonished, but realized with humble hearts that they had received a blessing like none other. Then they saw the wizard lying dead in a puddle, struck by lightning which had given him the penalty he had demanded of the loser.