Chimper #902
One combat pole they mostly used as a walking stick, a pair of tactical goggles found by the river, and the lingering scent of strawberry milk. In The Great Panda City, Hatsuyo was known for their clumsy verses celebrating the adventures of the minstrel, Shijin. The elders smiled, seeing a sweet, tranquil soul destined for scholarly pursuits amidst the bamboo and cherry blossoms. They didn't see Hatsuyo practicing stances late at night, the pole smacking against the cold ground, mimicking battles they'd only read about. The songs were not enough; a story had to be lived to be understood. Leaving was not an act of rebellion, but a pilgrimage toward their own unwritten verse. The goggles still don't fit right, and they trip more than they would admit. But each stumble is a line in a new song, one no one else has ever heard.
