Kokage

The bite of the high-altitude wind was a familiar feeling for Kokage, but the stiff collar of the green uniform was not. Their partner, a recent graduate with spotless boots and an encyclopedic knowledge of Panda Council regulations, saw Kokage as a problem to be managed. This ‘trainee’ was old, with a wrinkled mouth and a well-worn adventure sword that spoke of a life lived far from the discipline of The Great Panda City. Kokage never offered explanations, only quiet observations, their resting eyes missing nothing from beneath a worn red fox beanie. The true test came during a border patrol, when a tremor not found in any manual shook the bamboo groves. The youth quoted procedure; Kokage drew their sword. They still don’t always agree, but these days, their partner walks a little closer, listening not just for orders, but for the quiet wisdom of a world beyond the city walls.