Nanairo

On the second day of the unnatural snowfall that blanketed The Dojo, Nanairo found a tiny, emerald-green frog half-frozen near the training grounds. While others trained, Nanairo warmed the creature, tucking it into a pocket of their wanderer’s coat. The frog, whom they named Kero, became an unlikely partner. Kero had an uncanny sense for weather and safe passage, tapping a rhythm on Nanairo’s shoulder to signal danger or clear paths. They were a strange but effective pair, the fierce explorer and their tiny guide. The partnership ended in a marshland skirmish when Kero leaped to intercept a poison dart meant for Nanairo. In their memory, Nanairo fashioned a patch, a perfect replica of their small friend. They still explore with the same intensity, but now they travel for two.