Kakiko

The red panda mask was a gift, painted with clumsy but earnest hands. When Kakiko first arrived in the high-altitude city, their war paint and ancient sabre kept others at a distance. They wandered the bamboo-lined streets in silence, a shadow against the purple-hued sky, accustomed to being feared. But the local children saw something else. After Kakiko used their intimidating presence to scare off a gang of bullies, the little ones weren't afraid. They were grateful. They presented Kakiko with the mask, a token of thanks. Kakiko has worn it ever since. The freezing winds no longer feel so lonely, and the war paint is often smudged by small, sticky fingers—a mark of honor from the only ones who saw the protector hiding underneath.