Several days later Gentle Bear came home leading a young girl by the hand.  "We have a new house guest," he explained. "They just sent her in from one of the villages.  They've been having a great deal of trouble with her."
    2  "Yes," inquired The Voice, "and what kind of trouble could one so young cause?"
    3  "She's been leading a group of young people," Gentle Bear explained, "who have been raiding the neighboring villages, freeing stock from the butcher's yards, and chasing them into the hills.  She's been leading the local Warlock a merry chase. But as she never tried to sell any of the animals, they didn't quite know what to charge her with."
    4  "It is hard to charge a child with love," The Voice commented, "for that is why you did this thing, isn't it, little one?"
    5  The girl said nothing, but stared at the floor. "Come on," coaxed The Voice, "tell me why you chased off the animals."
    6  "So people wouldn't eat them," the girl answered, "so the butcher wouldn't kill them.  It's cruel."
    7  "Most butchers," explained The Voice, "are not cruel. They know how to be gentle and quick.  Most do their job well, without causing undue pain."
    8  "But they still cause pain," the girl insisted, "and that is cruel.  Why should the animals suffer to make a man's belly fat?"
    9  "The animals," continued The Voice, "do not mind being our food as long as we are not cruel to them.  We feed them, protect them, and when it is time, they fulfill our needs.  It is part of life. I understand your feelings, but it is something you must learn to live with."
    10  "I still don't like it," the girl snapped, "I don't like anybody that hurts animals, and I don't like this place.  There's no animals here, and cities stink!"
    11  The Voice laughed.  "No one has ever curbed your tongue when you have something to say!  You will make a fine addition to my Circle!"
    12  Gentle Bear shook his head,.  But, as usual, he accepted The Voice's decision.
    13  "All this time we have been speaking," announced The Voice, "and I do not even know your name!  What are you called, little tormentor of butchers?"
    14  "I am Thorn Blossom Fox," the girl answered.
    15  "Good," said The Voice, "welcome to our Circle, Thorn Blossom!  You will have to sit outside and observe awhile, until we get a male to balance you with.  But that should not be long!"
    16  "Who cares about your crummy old powers, anyway?" the girl snapped, "I've got more important things to do!  The people in this city abuse their oxen, and these stables and barns are not fit for anything.  Show me my room.  I want to put away my things and see if there's anybody around here that loves animals."
    17  The Voice laughed. "You know," he announced, "I think The Lords have touched this child for a special purpose!"
    18  As usual, he was right. Thorn Blossom soon became a terror in the city.  She formed a society to protect animals, and wherever  her followers went, they spoke against those who misused them.  As her legend grew, farmers began to put her symbol over the door of their barns, believing that it would protect their animals against disease and theft.
    19  And though she joked about not needing The Voice's lessons, they all knew she used The Power of The Lords, for she seemed to find abused animals without even looking. No ox carts left her city overburdened, or no animal worked a pump without feed and water.
    20  Though at first she was cursed, soon the city came to love her, and her ideas and attitude spread throughout the land. "As we have a partnership with The Lords," she taught, "we have also, a partnership with animals.  They are our brothers, our sisters.  We are all one family, of one blood.
    21  We would not abuse our children, how can we abuse the beasts that loyally serve us?  When we treat them well, they are happy with us, and work hard.  When we mistreat them, they despise us, and avoid doing what we ask.  So is it not better to treat them with kindness?"
    22  This became the Creed of her followers, and through their efforts, Laws were made that protected animals.  Soon, foreigners in The Land of Spirit laughed and said, "These crazy children of Spirit!  They treat animals like people.  Do they not know that they are only dumb beasts?"