A story I did regarding my characters Dahlia the doberman and Clarence the Panda. They live in the southern half of a large valley known as the Golden Fleece Valley a series of nature communes controlled by a kingdom of sheep atop a mountain range that boarders the edge of their valley.

Kind of a beta test of thing for this world setting. As always thank you for reading and I hope you enjoy. Thumbnail is by the lovely  oli_snowpaw of Dahlia.


Hey Dahlia!”

“Hey!”

“Morning boss.”

The voices of three furs greeted the tan colored doberman as she entered into the main farm house that was the center of the caring of livestock in the Golden Fleece Commune. Being the woman in charge, Dahlia was having a hard time as one of her farm hands were injured when they were moving livestock and feed. Spraining a wrist and leg after falling from the hayloft, Dahlia was not having a good morning as she took a seat at the kitchen table as one of the farm hands placed a steaming coffee cup of coffee in front of his very tired looking boss.

“What’s wrong Dahlia? Look like crap this morning.” Brandon a possum farmhand asked seeing the dark bags under his boss's eyes.

“It's nothing Brandon. Just tired lately with Tom gone, I’ve been doing his work and still doing the paperwork and logging all the information about the animals. It has been just a hellish few days.” Dahlia answered as she picked up the cup of coffee.

Bringing the rim of the mug to her lips as she could smell the scent wafting under her nose. Dahlia just took a tentative sip as she was surprised that it was already mixed with cream and sugar just the way that she liked it. Pouring to what she could stand down her gullet, she set the mug down as she felt the warmth of the coffee spread across her body as she looked at Brandon.

“You make this?” Dahlia asked as Brandon looked flustered at being questioned about the coffee.

“Yes boss. I just see you make it the same way every time. I just figured I could do this for you to make things just a little bit more bearable for you when you come into work.” Brandon confessed as Lennard, a mouse farmhand came back into the kitchen after coming back from the bathroom upstairs.

“Yeah, we just wish we could help you more than we do. It's not cool that you have to do two jobs while we stick to just one.” Lennard stated as he joined in the conversation and even as the last farm hand Willard a rather large and tall cow hand joined his comrades as well in support of their boss.

Though as her workers continued to lament and support their boss she kept the mug of coffee in front of her lips as she drank a long sip of coffee to keep her composure as she set it down now that it was empty and she waved to calm down the rising pressure of praise and support from her workers.

“Now, now boys please. You all do your jobs quickly as if you were two men, I’d rather have you all do your jobs well and not take on the extra responsibility. You all don’t get paid enough to tackle any extra while working as hard as you all do. Just please leave it to me, I’m not going to have to do it by myself for long. They are sending me an extra person, I just hope that he just knows what he is doing without needing someone to watch him.” Dahlia commented as she pushed herself up from the table.

Tucking in her chair as she put her mug in the sink and ran some water in it as she then went towards the door.

“Do you know who they sent?” Brandon asked as Dahlia pulled the door open.

“I don’t know. I just know that he’s from the Shepard’s, his name is Clarence. A panda.” Dahlia stated as she walked outside.

“Well I just hope that he doesn’t just hurt himself and we’re down a soldier and a farm hand.” Brandon commented as he joined his boss outside for their morning duties.

Working the food prep for the animals. Brushing the animals down and milking the cows, cleaning stalls, these were some of the basics of what Dahlia and her team did on a daily basis. But being one man down, Dahlia was having a hard time finding time for all tasks as she was in the barn, a small side office where all the books were kept as she was going over the books from last night before she started on this day’s work.

She was part way through reviewing the material she heard a knock at the door as she looked up from her ledgers as she called out to the door behind her as she called from her seat in her chair at her desk.

“Come in!” She growled as she went back to her work. Realizing a mistake as she plucked an eraser off her desk and crossed out the erroneous pencil mark.

The door opened as Dahlia heard someone come in. But, without speaking she did not who it was as the door shut behind her and someone approach her desk. This had to be the new person as Dahlia swiveled out of her chair and stood up, turning to face Clarence as he stood there waiting. Dahlia was surprised as he was shorter than her but seeing how thick his body was and despite having muscles, his body had an odd slip of pudge.

Strange look for a soldier, she thought that he was going to be a thick wall of muscle but this seemed a welcome change as by looking at his face she could tell he was a young one so he should be suited for this kind of work.

“So, your Clarence?” Dahlia asked as he nodded. “You know anything about farm work?” She asked as the panda oddly had a sense of military bearing as he stood like he would before someone who out ranked him. Though Dahlia felt that perhaps it was just nerves as he answered.

“A little bit. My parents were farmers and I helped with some of the chores so I know my way around but that was before I was fifteen and wanted to join the Shepherds. Ma’am.” Clarence added after a rather long, staggered pause.

Though as that word hit her ears, Dahlia was not sure how to react to someone calling her ma’am when she was not that much older than them. But, it just might have been what came with that word that bothered her the most about it in this moment.

“Hey, cut it out with that formal, military politeness crap. Just call me Dahlia and I’ll call you Clarence, deal?” Dahlia offered as she extended a hand for the panda to shake.

Clarence reaching out to put his two tone furred hand into Dahlia’s orange furred hand as they shook on the matter at hand. With formalities out of the way Dahlia lead Clarence back outside the office as she then took him to the hay loft. The main reason for Clarence to be here as she pointed across the barn to a winch and pulley lift as Dahlia wanted to start Clarence off with something simple. She then pointed to the hay loft above.

“Okay, some simple stuff. Take the hay bales up there and bring them down, load them on the carts over there.” Dahlia said as she pointed to the carts on another side of the barn. “Once you’ve loaded them up with ten bales each, them to the other barn across the lot where the animals are. Simple?” Dahlia asked as Clarence nodded with a firm and ready nod.

“Yes Dahlia. I got it.” Clarence replied as the fire in his voice made her smile slightly as she put an arm on Clarence’s shoulder as she started past him.

“Good, I like that energy. See you in a few hours Clarence!” Dahlia called as she walked across the barn and exited out the large bay doors.

Leaving Clarence to his task as the panda stood at the base of the ladder to the loft and with a breath inward he started the climb upward. Once on top, he realized that he needed to raise the lift upwards and with a sigh he went back down to raise the lift up and then tie it up so that it remained high before he climbed up the ladder once again. With that he picked up the first hay bale and then set it on the platform before picking up the next one.

Working up a sweat as he carried each bale over. Once the lift was full he slung himself unto the steps of the ladder and quickly climbed down and lowered the pulley carefully so it did not slam down upon the barn floor. Pulling up a cart, he stacked the bales on and then set the cart aside before repeating the process twice more, taking a short break as he sat down on a box in the corner as he felt the sweat slide down his furry face as he pushed himself up with his hands on his knees and resumed his work.

At the chicken coops outside, Brandon and Lennard were each doing a job. One feeding the chickens and the other gathering eggs as they finally spotted Clarence pulling a cart of bales out of the barn.

“Wow, look at that. Took him long enough you think?” Brandon asked as Lennard came back with a full pail of eggs carefully stacked within.

“I’d say about average lately.” Lennard replied as they watched him pull the cart over towards the barn where the larger animals were kept. Dahlia coming out to meet him as the two watched them engage each other.

“Think she’ll chew him out?”

“Maybe? But we’d better get back to it before she chews us out.” Lennard replied as he went back to his work.

“Fair enough.” Brandon answered as he turned back to his work.

At the barn, Dahlia walked up to Clarence as she pointedly stated.

“Took you awhile to get those bales Clarence. You sure you don’t need any help?” Dahlia asked as she stood before the panting panda with her hands on her hips.

The sun was warmly beating down, dressed in a sleeveless shirt and overalls. Dahlia was at least able to keep cool with her clothing choice. Clarence wearing pants and a long sleeve shirt, Dahlia found it no surprise that he was panting over the pull bar of the flat cart as drops of his sweat splattered into the dirt.

“No, I don’t need any help. This is only just the first one.” Clarence replied as he asked Dahlia if she wanted the bales in the barn or to just leave them here for her.

The look that came over her face. Clarence could not tell if she was surprised or impressed by what he said as she just said to leave the cart there and go get the others. Nodding, Clarence went to do that. Pulling over a second cart, and a third, Dahlia returned once they were in the barn with the animals to find that Clarence was leaning up against a nearby fence.

“You sure you are alright there soldier boy?” Dahlia asked as she approached. “You look like you might keel over with how your sweating there.” Dahlia commented as Clarence continued to pant quietly and his sweat poured over his fur.

She could see that around his eyes was a different tone from the rest of his fur and that when his eyes were closed that the area around his eyes was encased in brown, furred circles as she smirked at how young his face looked and perhaps a bit cute with features like that as she watched him regain his energy. Pushing away from the fence post he was leaning on as he stood upon the flats of his feet.

“I am alright. Might need some water soon but, I should be good for now.” Clarence replied as Dahlia just smiled at Clarence as he seemed ready to work already.

“Well good then, I’m going to need another thirty more bales. You came at a time when we needed to restock the barn with Tom being gone, so get to it soldier boy.” Dahlia stated as she smiled at Clarence as she turned on her heel.

The panda not sure if that smile had a bit of sadism behind it as well. Though as she walked back into the barn Clarence heard Dahlia speak before she was out of earshot.

“When you get done we’ll have lunch. Then we’ll move on to the next job.” Dahlia said as Clarence stood there silently.

The wind of the valley washing over him as he let out a sigh and with a turn he walked each cart back to the barn and then once they were set up, he raised the lift up to the top of the loft and then tied it down before heading for the ladder to start loading up hay bales all over again. Bale after bale until a nice stack of ten was laid upon the lift as Clarence went down the ladder and lowered it down to the ground. His muscles aching as he slowly drifted the lift to the floor and then he pulled a cart over to load it with the ten bales before setting it aside to get another one.

The process was the same as Clarence took a break only when he had set all thirty bales across the three carts before he put his weight into the bar and pulled them all to the barn across the way. Dahlia greeting her with every cart as she unloaded the bales and once all the carts were empty and Clarence was leaning against the fence once again, Dahlia expected that he would have changed how he was working. Taking that shirt off to let the heat wash off of him into the air instead of being trapped against his fur, but no he kept it on almost as if it was some kind of stubborn point that he refused to back off of.

“So, you ready for lunch?” Dahlia asked, as Clarence nodded.

In a moment, together they walked back to the main farm house as they were joined by the others. Once that morning chore was done Clarence, Dahlia and the others ate lunch and then moved onto an evening set of chores until the day was over. Though at the end of the day as the sun had gone down over the horizon and night took over and everyone parted ways, Dahlia was staying the night in the farm house. Dressed in long, light pants and a small shirt for bed she went to a cabinet to retrieve a bottle of whiskey as she then heard the door to the farm house open.

The fact that someone did not step inside immediately told her senses to expect something to happen but when she saw the lines of familiar shoulders and familiar sounds of effort she was surprised to see Clarence’s back as he seemed to be pulling something with him through the door. Once he was through and he swung the container around, he planted it with a thunk upon the table as he looked up and noticed Dahlia was in the room as there was a moment of silence as surprise over took him before Dahlia’s smile melted the tension.

“What’s with the bag?” Dahlia asked as Clarence watched her open a few other cabinets and pulled two cups from the shelf to the counter.

“I live rather far from the farm so I figured it would be best that I pack enough clothes to live here for awhile so I won’t have to go back and forth between my home and the farm every day.” Clarence paused as a thought occurred to him. “If it is okay that I can stay here?” Clarence asked Dahlia as he heard the popping of the cork as Dahlia then plucked a couple of ice cubes from a cold storage box.

She dropping one in a glass and the other hovered in her hand as she gestured to Clarence. Confused, he raised a brow before Dahlia just dropped the cube in anyway as his hesitation wore on her patience. The sound of rushing liquid as Clarence heard the liquid being poured into the cups as Dhalia answered him.

“Of course it is. That is what the farmhouse if for. Most of us don’t use it because we live close by, but we do stay here from time to time when there are things we have to do outside of the commune and we won’t have time to get to home and back.” Dahlia explained as she finished pouring and returned the cork to the neck of the bottle. “You can use the last room on the left on the second floor.” Dahlia stated as she then turned with both cups in hand. “You thirsty soldier boy?” Dahlia asked as she stood there holding both cups waiting for Clarence to answer.

Of course she did not wait for him to make a decision before she drank from the cup in her right hand. It was the mark that this one was hers as she saw Clarence’s mouth open, she expected a simple yes or no, nod or shake but he answered with a statement.

“We have to be up early often. Is this such a good idea so late?” Clarence asked as he watched Dahlia’s face question that statement directly.

The way her face scrunched up and her brows arched, Clarence was unsure if she was offended by what he said but she laughed soon after. Putting the tension in the room at ease as she put the cup in her left hand down upon the table.

“Man, they have you trained like good boys in the Shepherds. Don’t they?” Dahlia asked as she watched Clarence there still holding unto his large, packed bag.

She watched his face as Clarence shook his head.

“No, I guess it is just a discipline thing. But, I would love to have a drink.” Clarence replied as Dahlia watched him come around his bag.

His hand scooping up the cup as his fingers wrapped around it, fingers through the handle as he cupped it and brought it to his lips to drink. Dahlia watching him take a sizeable gulp before he swallowed and then watching his whole body shudder as it traveled down to his stomach with an audible grunting sound that escaped his lips.

“Take it easy. You want to set your stomach on fire?” Dahlia asked, a teasing laugh sneaking its way out of her lips as she watched Clarence set the cup down on the table.

“Ugh, it has been awhile since I actually sat down and drank.” Clarence confessed as he stood facing the table. The palms of both hand resting upon it a moment before he dared to pick up the cup and drink again.

“They keep you that busy in the Shepherds?” Dahlia asked as she sipped her own drink.

“Mostly. But it is mostly duty that makes one not want to drink. And then by the time that you have a day off where you don’t have to be out of bed or physically involved you don’t want to expend the effort to drink. Though this isn’t the same for everybody, those that are not looking for a career I find, are the ones that drink at the dining hall more often than not.” Clarence said as he took a more delicate sip.

This time his posture remained firm and he did not flinch under the burn. That was more to Dahlia’s liking as she listened to Clarence speak.

“So, even the army around here as some useless assholes laying around?” Dahlia asked as Clarence nodded.

“Doesn’t every walk of life have people like that?” Clarence asked as he took another sip of the whiskey in his cup.

“I guess they do.” Dahlia replied as she took another sip to match Clarence. “So which one does that make you? Considering your down here on the farm instead of the barracks training and what not?” Dahlia asked as she wondered why they choose him to come down here as a replacement.

He looked physically fit, he had manners and attitudes of a soldier but what was it that he lacked? Skill? Was he lazy, was he a drinker, skirt chaser, rule breaker? These questions swirled around Dahlia’s mind as she matched the panda sip for sip. Though she paused with the rim at her lips when her answer was naught but a shrug.

“I don’t know. There are some that just know what they want to do and they do it, some just do something because it is the right fit for them to live the kind of life they want and there are some that just don’t know what they want to do so they just join and hope for the best. I feel like I’m more like that last one.” Clarence answered as he took a long sip, the cup finding rest on the table before he picked up his bag and slung it over his shoulder. “Well, see you tomorrow Dahlia.” Clarence said as he then turned his gaze forward.

Dahlia offered him a nod with a gesture of her cup before she quickly gulped the rest down. As Clarence went up the stairs and she heard the door shut, Dahlia let out a sigh as she set the cup down and realized that Clarence had only left half of the amount she poured in his glass.

“He is a weird one.” Dahlia whispered quietly as she took the cup from the table and then drank the rest of the contents. “Better follow suit.” Dahlia said aloud as she then climbed the stairs and crawled into bed into her spare room that was part of the farm house.


Two weeks later…

The small crew got used to the familiar sight of having Clarence around. Though as he went about his morning work, finally trusted to be on his own unless it was necessary for him to be paired with or meet up with someone else. Clarence got used to the silence but one day when it was lunch time he opened the door to the farm house to find it empty as no one was in the kitchen when he came inside.

Feeling a sense of suspicion starting to well up inside of him. Clarence crept forward carefully as he expected some kind of ambush or sneak attack to happen at any moment though once that feeling faded away from him, Clarence sat down, ready to drink from a water skin he had but that was when suddenly everyone else burst in on him. Forcing him to drop the skin and stand up with a start but, everyone tried to assure him once he reacted that everything was alright.

“Relax Clarence. We didn’t mean to startle you like that.” Brandon assured as Clarence fell back down into his seat.

“Yeah, its just after a couple of weeks we figured it was time for some question and answer time. Get to know the soldier boy that has been working with us for so long.” Dahlia stated as everyone pulled up a chair.

Surrounded on all sides at the table. Dahlia, Brandon, Lennard, and Willard sat around Clarence as they set an empty cup and with a bottle of whiskey opened they filled it and slid it towards Clarence. As a token to put him at ease while instead of having lunch, they did what they said was going to happen as Dahlia as the boss had the first question but she first gave the rules that if Clarence did not want to answer the question or any part of a question. He could take a sip of the whiskey in his cup and they would move on. With that she dropped the first question onto the table.


“So how did you know when you first wanted to be a soldier boy?” Dahlia asked.

Once the question was on the table, all eyes were on Clarence again as they waited for him to take the floor on the conversation.

“Well I did not want to originally.” Clarence began as he inhaled and slowly exhaled. “I was born to a family of farmers in a different commune at the edge of the valley. They thought that I was going to be a farmer too but when I was in school and I started getting into scrapes, not starting them. Breaking them up, that I had a talent for protecting people. Specially later on in school when I started getting bigger, people often left people alone if I was associated with them because I would defend them aggressively and a fight was not in their best interest.” Clarence said as as he let his answer wash over the others at the table.

At first there was only silence before Brandon added on.

“Hah, I can see why. Given how thick you are, you and Willard are a force to be reckoned with. I wouldn’t want to get into a fist fight with you all. Just saying.” Brandon stated as the possum just leaned back in his seat.

There was some muttering from everyone at the table before the next question was asked, the ball was passed to Brandon the possum as he asked.

“So, that explains how you know about farming. So, if your in the Shepherds how long have you been serving and what is your rank?” Brandon asked as the possum leaned back in towards the table.

Ready to hear the answer, Clarence did not take a sip to avoid the question. As he answered with a straight face.

“I’ve been there for three years at the most. I have achieved fourth rank, I hope to make it to a leadership position though I don’t know if I want to go that far.” Clarence answered.

As the next question came from Willard.

“I bet you use a big weapon don’t you? Like a hammer?” Willard the large cow asked as Clarence shook his head surprisingly.

“I use a mace.” Clarence answered but then his shoulders shrugged. “I don’t know if you would consider that heavy as a hammer. But it is pretty heavy for most soldiers to use. Most favor a spear or hand axe and shield. There are alot of weapons one could use if they are willing to save the money and not spend it on drink, clothing and jewelry.” Clarence said as there was mutterings on Clarence’s answer that is before suddenly they were interrupted when a foot soldier came through the door into the kitchen where they were talking.

“Oh your here.” The feline footsoldier stated as he was not expecting to find Clarence so easily but that made his mission easier as he had to just relay a message. “Your needed back at Shepherd headquarters.”

“Right now?” Clarence asked.

“Yes, please come with me.”

Clarence just pushed himself away from the table. Leaving the full glass of whiskey there as he pushed his chair in before he left the area of the table.

“Well, that was pretty fun. I’ll be back later I guess, sorry about this Dahlia.” Clarence apologized as he walked past his coworkers at the table.

Four sets of eyes watching the panda’s back as he walked out of the kitchen and away with the feline footsoldier that had come to retrieve him. The worry about if he would be coming back sank into their minds as Brandon stood up with everyone but once a moment had passed and they felt confident to talk and move. Brandon picked up the whiskey that Clarence had not touched on the table.

“I do hope that he’s coming back. He was pretty good and we could have used someone like him more than just temporarily.” Brandon stated as he drank down the whiskey with one gulp.

Biting back the burn as the rest of his fellow workers seemed to agree.

“Well, he is a soldier boy. He has to do what he signed up for, speaking of which we still have a job to do. Let’s go boys.” Dahlia commanded as Brandon set the glass down upon the table.

“Yes Boss.”

“Right away D”

“You got it Boss.”

Each employee said in turn as they went outside to continue working. Their lunch break over with a small meal before they went back to the fields and barns to tend to the animals and do their daily tasks. Though worry started to set in as Clarence was not back that night or the next day, though as he returned that night he ran into Dahlia in the farm house’s kitchen as he walked inside.

“Hmm?”

Dahlia was surprised as she turned around at the door opening. Finding that it was Clarence walking in the door at this hour as she was having a late dinner. The smell of fresh meat cooking filled the room as Dahlia turned with a skillet in one hand.

“Oh Clarence. Your back, what happened? Everything alright?” Dahlia asked as the panda seemed more stoic than usual. But as Clarence answered with a nod of his head and a straight forward.

“Nothing. They just needed to go over somethings. Sorry that I was missing for the day. I’ll do some extra tomorrow to make up for it.” Clarence offered as he was heading straight for the stairs.

Not interested in the food but Dahlia still had her doubts as she held the panda by saying his name as he turned his head to gaze in her direction.


“You hungry?” Dahlia offered as she might be cutting down her meal but it was worth sharing as she did make a bit more than she expected.

Watching Clarence debate on her offer made the room feel tense as Clarence turned and Dahlia internally breathed a sigh of relief as he took a seat. She seperated the meat and made some simple sandwiches with some chilled vegetables and all the fixings. It was a simple meal as Dahlia ate in silence with Clarence as she point blank asked the question that was on her mind.

“So, are they taking you back?” Dahlia asked as Clarence seemed to not budge under the direct impact of that question.

Instead he just swallowed the food he was eating before answering.

“No, I shall be here just as long as what was agreed upon when you were told I was coming. I will be staying until your other hand is healed up.” Clarence replied as he then went back to eating steadily.

Dahlia slowly watching the sandwich disappear in Clarence’s hands as he drank small sips of water between bites that he seemed to have difficulty swallowing. She had more questions that she wanted to ask but as she watched the sandwich disappear and Clarence emptying his glass of water. Her hesitation caused the time to run out as she heard the glass hit the table and then Clarence pushing back in his chair.

“Thank you for the food Dahlia. I’ll see you tomorrow, good night.” Clarence said stoically.

Dahlia could barely make the words audible as she replied.

“Good night, Clarence.”

She listened in silence as he walked up the stairs, down the hall and into his room. Sighing, she did her best to shake the sinking feeling that was settling in her stomach as she walked up stairs. Her bare feet hardly making any sound on the wooden stairs as they creaked with her weight as she shut the door to her room. Falling into bed, Dahlia sighed once again as she rolled over and faced the wall as she pulled the blankets her body to her shoulders.

Unable to shake that something was afoot she went into a restless sleep as once the sun came up she would have to work again.

A few days later…


It had been a few days since Clarence was called back to his headquarters and returning a day later. Though his work has continued to be excellent as expected, Dahlia is working near the animal barn one day when she can hear Brandon and Lennard talking as they are shoveling out the stalls while the animals are in the pen.

“Dude, you have got to be kidding me.” Lennard stated as he dug his shovel into a pile of dung and dumped it in a wheelbarrow.

“I am not Lenny. Why would I lie to you about what someone else is doing?” Brandon retorted as he dumped some more dung into the wheelbarrow.

“Fair enough.”

Lennard recognizes Brandon’s position but, he argues.

“But I seriously doubt he’s been doing it everyday.” Lennard argued.

“Dude, that is the thing. I thought it was a fluke too but, he’s been doing it the last few days. I’ve been getting up early to check too and he’s never late, he’s always on time.” Brandon replied as they arrived they scooped the last bit of dung into the wheelbarrow of the current stall.

Putting the edge of his shovel down and leaning on its handle. The two heaved a sigh from their efforts as just then the barn door nearest them slides down and a familiar voice floats in.

“And just who is doing what every morning?”

Dahlia asked as Brandon and Lennard jumped as their boss appeared from around the barn door. Entering the barn with her two workers as they are startled to know that their boss has been listening in. Though it is far too late for them to play the fool and they answer her truthfully.

“Its Clarence.”

“What about Clarence?” Dahlia asked pointedly.

She was not one for gossip. While she knew it went on in their little commune, rumors and word spreading about in whispers and talk between two people she was never one to care for or participate in it unless it was something of importance to know. Though this had her curious as as Brandon spilled the beans.

“He has been jogging before work. Every day for the last few days.” Brandon confesses.

“What’s so odd about that?” Dahlia asks as she did not wonder where Brandon had seen Clarence doing this but what made him think it was odd.

“What’s odd about it Boss, is that he jogs by my place. Which is pretty far from the farm house that he’s been staying in for the last few days. And then he does not take the paths that go back toward the farm house. He continues on straight down the road as far as I can tell. So for all I know he is running a mile at least before we even have to get up for work and then shows up right on time. Dude is a beast.”

Brandon spewed out as Dahlia seemed to think about what Brandon shared. Lennard even thinking about such a feat as Brandon shared that extra bit of information as they both mused on Clarence’s athleticism. However, Dahlia broke the brainstorming session as she clapped her hands together.

“Well, that is enough musing about the soldier boy. We still have work to do. Let’s get back to it.” Dahlia said as Brandon and Lennard returned to work as she went back outside the barn to resume her own work.

Though Dahlia did not leave the information that Brandon shared alone. Over the next few days she tried to catch Clarence doing this strange ritual but on the first two days she fell asleep staying up as she was sure that she could hear Clarence exercising in his room at night but she was not awake to hear him leave.

Though the third night she vowed to head to bed early. In the hopes that she would wake up to catch Clarence leaving very early in the morning and while she did not hear the door to his room open, she did hear the front door shut as she then realized that she had hit pay dirt. She was not going to run after him but she would be ready and waiting for him to get back as she did not stay in bed.

Making sure that she did not fall asleep waiting again but as she stood in the silence waiting she was sure that she heard the sound of the shower stall out back running as she then took that as her cue. Putting on some light pants and a warm, long sleeve shirt Dahlia made her way downstairs and approached the shower stall that was running. The expensive device heated pumped water and was very costly but made showering outside at least a tolerable experience as there was a small changing room built in front of the actual showering room. A set of curtains divided the outside, from the changing room, and the actual shower itself.

The sound of rushing water tickled Dahlia’s ears as she knew that it had to be Clarence in there and that he had nowhere to go. When the water stopped, and she could hear the faint sound of the curtain opening she waited and she hoped that she did not catch the panda naked as she opened the curtain and confronted the panda head on.


As Dahlia threw the curtain back she expected to catch the panda naked but she was surprised that he was pulling on his pants but they were not past his knees as his head was already jerked towards the front as he locked eyes with Dahlia standing there in the shadow of the stall entrance. There was a moment's pause as they stared at each other before Clarence just pulled his pants off the rest of the way, latching the pants closed.

“Something I can help you with Dahlia?” Clarenced asked as he button his pants and then went for his shirt that was on the small table that was provided for those bathing.

“Nothing really. I just wanted to talk about something.” Dahlia stated straight away as Clarence picked up his shirt and prepared to put it on.

Dahlia could see that definition of Clarence’s body. His arms, his abdominals, his pectoral muscles. Dahlia had seen these before but she had not seen the rather almost iron rigidity that Clarence’s body displayed but it seemed ruined by a chubby pouch in the base of Clarence’s stomach. As Clarence’s shirt rolled across his body covering it from view, Clarence replied.

“Sure, what about?” Clarence asked stoically.

Dahlia expected him to answer like that but, she persisted and was not going to let it get to her as Clarence sat down on the bench to put on his socks and shoes.

“I have been hearing you leave out early in the morning before work and coming back in time. What’s that about?” Dahlia asked casually as she watched Clarence finish dressing.

The panda standing up as he tapped the toe of his shoes against the floor to make sure that they were solidly comfortable on the bottom of his feet. As Dahlia waited for an answer, Clarence faced her and though she was not intimidated by the fact that was a few inches shorter than her, she was by the fact that he had the training and skill that surpassed her own to fend her off should she get aggressive with him. Dahlia remained firm in the door, making sure that Clarence could not leave without walking into her if she did not move but his answer came soon enough as he took a few steps forward.

“Nothing really. Just training.” Clarence answered, his stoic tone seeming to arouse Dahlia’s suspicion further.

“You don’t honestly expect me to believe that?” Dahlia questioned Clarence as he came the rest of the way.

Standing next to her, Clarence looked upwards at her slightly with their small height difference as Clarence’s face remained stoic and straight but eventually his lips curved into an impish grin.


“No, honestly I did not.” Clarence replied as their face off continued. “Though if you want to know. Then how about a bet?” Clarence offered as Dahlia was surprised but her nod could not have come quick enough.

With the challenge laid down Dahlia expected something far outside of her abilities. But, instead he issued a very simple challenge. The next morning they would have a race along a jogging route, a route that as Clarence laid it out Dahlia could see the path in her head as she could agree to the terms. First one back wins, if she won he would tell her what he was up to. If he won she would drop the subject entirely. With the issue settled, she stepped backward out of the door frame and let Clarence pass her. Heading back to the farmhouse, Dahlia sighed as soon as he was out of ear shot as she wondered what she had just herself up for as she too went into the farmhouse to start the morning meeting.

With the challenge issued, Dahlia went to bed early as she knew that in the morning she would have to race Clarence to figure out what he was up to. Though she went to bed early, she felt that she got as little sleep as possible and adrenaline was propping her up as she put on her shoes and some light clothing as she was surprised when she walked out of the farmhouse door to find that Clarence was waiting for her as he stood out in the distance towards the road that fed into the rest of the commune.

“Did you even sleep last night Clarence?” Dahlia asked as she started to warm up as Clarence did before they would run this race.

“I did.” Clarence replied quickly. “Rather soundly.”

“You soldier boys are a strange bunch.” Dahlia replied as she finished her stretching and did a little bit of a warm up as Clarence moved to take up a position and warm up with her.

Once Clarence felt he had enough of a warm up and took up a starting position, Dahlia took a spot next to him as he asked.

“Do you remember the route?” Clarence asked as Dahlia nodded.

“Of course I do.”

“Good, let’s do this.” Clarence replied as Dahlia felt the adrenaline in her system reach a new high.

As Clarence gave a short count down and once it reached zero he took off running as Dahlia matched his opening pace. Surprised at the panda’s endurance as they soon rounded the first curve with their quick pace. Though as Dahlia felt the urge to pull ahead to give herself a bit of assurance that Clarence would remain behind her lean and she could win this race she pushed ahead. Using a portion of her stamina to make a lead enough that when she looked behind her Clarence was doing his best just to keep up and as Dahlia rounded a corner.

She was sure that she had enough of a lead now and settled into her normal pace as she was sure that Clarence would have to push with all of his might to catch up and perhaps that would leave him winded enough if she held back to push ahead of him in a surprise finish. Though as Dahlia felt that her victory was assured, as she came around the final corner she was not surprised to hear rapid footsteps behind her. It was Clarence trying to catch up, his pace was pretty fast but she could not tell if it was his full speed considering his size.

Though she should not look back, everything was telling her not to look back. Dahlia did indeed turn her head, just to peek and see where Clarence was and she was surprised with how close he was. Just a few lengths behind her from the massive lead that she had but then she thought that maybe he was just giving her that lead, making her comfortable until he then upstaged her with a come from behind victory!

This revelation came as a surprise that she thought Clarence would not dare to pull off given how good natured he was. But as she was sure as his footsteps behind her that this was his intention as Dahlia heard the footsteps get closer as they entered into the final stretch. With the tension pressing on her, Dahlia thought it was time to make the final push as she put everything she had left into sprinting ahead. The sound of her feet hitting the ground filled her ears as she increased her breathing rate as she hoped to leave Clarence in the dust but as she dared to relax a moment she could hear Clarence still coming up rapidly behind her.

When he caught up with her, Dahlia was not sure how the thicker panda was finding all this stamina to keep up with her but as he started to pull ahead of her, Dahlia did her best to try and keep pace with him as she could tell that he was using his full speed now to try and pass her. And it was working, as Clarence was pulling steadily ahead as Dahlia felt her hope start to fade away as Clarence’s pace started to carry him further away but not wanting to lose Dahlia pushed in with her will power as with a shout worthy of a warcry she charged forward to try and pass the panda. But even with her desperation it proved not enough as she found herself able to reach out and with the barest of her finger tips touch his shoulder as he sprinted ahead and crossed the finish line first.

His pace ran him a few steps past the actual goal as Dahlia was already slowing once she had crossed the line and was left with her hands upon her knees. Struggling for each breath as she could hear Clarence slowly walking over to her. His steps were staggered as there would be a pause between each step as he seemed to be worn out himself and paced himself getting back to her position. But once he was at her side and she could see his body looming nearby, Dahlia gathered her breath to speak.

“Damn, I didn’t think you, you would be so fast.” Dahlia breathed out as she gripped her fingers unto the balls of her kneecaps. Letting her nails press into the flesh as she drew each breath into her lungs.

“It isn’t always about speed, or strength.” Clarence started as he then took a few breaths.

“Oh? What is it soldier boy?” Dahlia asked as he answered.

“Its endurance. You don’t have to be the one, that gets the kill. If you can make sure that you, last long enough to get there, then you have already one.” Clarence said as Dahlia felt that she had enough breath in her lungs to stand.

She turned to face Clarence as she took in what he had said. Realizing the truth that she had been so focused on beating him that she had put in all the effort, that she had been trying to kill him in this race and all he did was use what he had to keep up with her and when she was finally worn out, with nothing left to give he had all he needed to just push past her.

Damn, the grimace on her face at this revelation made her feel stupid for even trying this against someone that she already felt was a bit head of her. But now, it was a reality but as she stood there grimacing she felt a hand on her shoulder.

“Just so you know. In a couple of weeks, when you have to move livestock to another commune. I’m going to be guarding you as well as working here until then. So I’ve been training to make up for the work I’m doing here while I was away from my usual drills.” Clarence explained as his hand left Dahlia’s shoulder.

Wait, did he just tell her what this was all about? Even if she lost the terms of the bet? Feeling her face twist with a bit of anger of having to do all this and even though she did not win, he just told her anyway she walked after Clarence and touched his shoulder for his attention as she rounded past him.

“Wait, you just told me anyway?” Dahlia asked but she didn’t let Clarence get a word in. “Then what was the point of all this?” Dahlia questioned as she stood in front of Clarence as her vigor as renewed anew.


“I just wanted to test you. I was going to tell you either way I just wanted to see how far you would go for it. I’m glad to see that you live up to your title as boss and from what I have heard you live up to your hard working reputation.” Clarence said as he walked past Dahlia as he left her standing there flabbergasted.

Though it made her wonder just who he was talking to? Dahlia felt a surge of glee rising up within as she used a moments burst of energy to dart past Clarence and dash ahead.

“Thank you for the kind words soldierboy. But, I’m using the shower first.” Dahlia declared as Clarence just snickered in response.


“Ladies first.” His answer came.

As Dahlia felt the rush of cool water slowly turning warm. She felt ecstatic inside as she then took the clothes that she had prepared and exited the shower to let Clarence get clean before their day actually started. Though in the weeks to come, Clarence found himself working closely with Dahlia over the time but this did not escape the notice of the other workers as Brandon and Lennard saw them working and talking.


“So Clarence, are you worried about this? Is it really going to be that dangerous?” Dahlia asked as they worked on shoveling hay into the animal stalls.

“It is not always that dangerous. But, the Observers our eye and ears have reported that criminal activity around the communes is on the rise and they have information that says that they are planning to steal our livestock on our next passage. So they are making sure that there are extra soldiers on the run in a week.” Clarence explained as they worked.

“Are you worried about being in battle?” Dahlia asked as she was unsure of Clarence’s experience with battle.

Time in service was one thing but, it did not actually reflect his experience in combat. Training was one thing but people don’t die in training, people don’t fight dirty in training, but this was the real deal and she could not deny that there was a pang of worry in her heart that any of them might not make it home and be buried in the communal cemetery.

“I’m not worried.” Clarence replied as he loaded up another hay bale for Dahlia to scoop into a vacant animal stall. “As long as I keep calm, rely on my training and my comrades I shall be fine.” Clarence stated as Dahlia seemed satisfied with his answer.

Though after eavesdropping on their conversation and unable to hear much of anything at their distance. Lennard turned to Brandon.

“So what do you think they are talking about?” Lennard asked as Brandon shrugged.

“Dunno, but they have been hanging out an awful lot lately since last week.” Brandon replied.

“You don’t think, Clarence is trying to put the moves on the boss do you?” Lennard asked as Brandon seemed to grin at the implication.

“I don’t think so but, if he was? I say he is succeeding wouldn’t you?” Brandon asked as Lennard looked again at Dahlia and Clarence in the distance. But it was then he felt Brandon’s hand tap his arm for attention. “Though tell you what. I bet after the Cattle march to the next commune. I bet he makes his move. Three weeks coin says he does.” Brandon wagered as they both pushed away from the fence where they were observing the pair.

“You think so? I think that is a crazy bet but, I’ll take it.” Lennard said as he shook Brandon’s hand to seal the bet as they returned to their work before they were noticed and time moved forward.