Chimper #3555
Chihona the Polite keeps three guiding lanterns slung across their weathered pack. The first is for lost travelers venturing too deep into the wilder parts of The Heart of the Forest, its steady flame a beacon back to the amber-leaved clearing. The second glows with a pale, soft light that soothes territorial spirits, a silent apology for trespassing on their grounds. The third lantern, however, is never lit. It is a promise, filled with the sweetest oil and fitted with a silver-spun wick. This one is for the ancient creature they met in the deep woods, the one that answered their panicked blade not with claws, but with a question that shook the earth. Bleeding and humbled, Chihona offered a bow instead of a fight. The scars on their face are a reminder of their foolishness; their unwavering politeness is the shield that has protected Aki's domain ever since.
