Shuihiko

The crisp, cold wind that whistled through the high-altitude bamboo groves carried the scent of cherry blossoms, a smell that always made Shuihiko’s map crinkle. They insisted on being the lead explorer for the refuge Shokei-moji had built, citing their guiding lanterns and an adventurous spirit. No one mentioned that their spirit was far better than their sense of direction. Their first official mission was to find a new patch of sweet bamboo shoots. With a look of furious concentration, Shuihiko led their party on a three-hour journey that ended right back at their own front gate. Their greatest navigational feat was leading a supply run into the Panda Council’s annual poetry reading. These days, their missions are more local. Shokei-moji asks them to chart the fastest route to the well, and Shuihiko draws a detailed map, lanterns glowing.