Soara

How can you take a warrior seriously when they wear a whole salmon on their head? The bamboo cutters of The Great Panda City have a running bet on it. They see Soara every day, using an apple stick to point out the best cherry blossoms to their quiet ward, Natona. Soara’s grin is a permanent fixture, stretching wide even as they haggle for dumplings. But the old-timers watch their eyes. When a stranger gets too close to Natona, the grin stays, but the light behind it chills like the high-altitude wind. They arrived one day, Soara carrying Natona, both soaked as if they'd walked right up the waterfall. The city sees a fool with a fish hat. Natona sees a fortress.