Miyubi

On the night the freezing winds finally stripped the last cherry blossom from its branch, Miyubi's training ended. Their guardian, Ritami, had always taught them to read the patterns in the city's purple sky and find meaning in the rustle of bamboo. But that night, the only lesson was loss. A creature of shadow and frost, a nightmare that slipped past the Panda Council’s watch, cornered them in a silent alley. Ritami shoved Miyubi behind them, meeting the attack with their simple carved cane. The wood splintered, and so did Miyubi’s world. They now carry the broken staff, a tool too damaged to fight with, and wear the red panda mask Ritami gave them. It hides their face, but not the memory of the one they lost.