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Beltina buried her face into the fur of her panda, holding it close. The low cliffs of the forest that surrounded the village of Qentassu bounded by the Qentassu River. It could not be seen, but it could be heard. The sounds of the jungle echoed down to the forest floor.
When the rustling was heard again, Beltina slowly lifted her head and looked out into the shadows. A teeth-baring grin came across her features. Her panda froze, but when no sign of the camou-furred beast was given, it slowly released its grip from ‘her’ and continued on its way. The girl then turned and burrowed into the ground.
He slowly began to creep into the shadows, stopping every few seconds to listen. It was not long before the kabukimono had spotted the small figure moving in and out of her hiding place; however, this was not as easy as the panda child pictured.
As he tried to squirm into the area, his tail became stuck in a hole. He struggled to get it back, but the kabukimono had the perfect seat. While he was in the embrace of death, the kabukimono kept his tight grip on him.
When the kabukimono pulled him out, he was instantly scared. The other otter creatures crawled out, sniffing. They all stared at the two. He knew, though, there was nothing to fear. One of the kabukimono threw the otter in their direction, laughing.
Beltina pulled herself out of the panda and looked past the group of kabukimono. She knew she had to get them out of the way so she could perform her task. “Uh…” She was silent. “Ooooh!” She cried out in her native language of Latin. Beltina stared into the distance, as if locking eyes with someone. Not being used to being an observer, or watching children play, she had a very shocked expression. “You’re so beautiful!” She exclaimed, as one of the otters played with a stick. She had never seen such a common thing used in so many ways.
The otters looked up, startled by the voice. When they saw nothing, they returned to playing. “That’s not normal,” she said. “Only I should be talking or moving in this forest.”
“You think you’re so smart,” one of the otters said to her.
“No, I know I am,” she retorted, putting on a high voice.
“That is your arrogance,” the otter said, as they walked away. “You and your panda. You’ll never prove it to be.” Beltina only smiled, knowing the otter was right.
The kabukimono closed around her. They all looked up at her, as if watching a show.
“Wow,” she breathed, “they’re beautiful!”
“Are not!” one of them shouted, making the others laugh.
“No,” she answered, “they are.”
“We’re not animals like them,” one of them said, “we’re not half panda.”
“No, you are,” Beltina said, “you just don’t know it.”
“Listen,” one of them shouted. Their voices echoed through the forest. “If you know, then why don’t-”
Beltina perked up. She shrunk back at the sound of bark cracking. “Oh! It’s my panda!” She looked at the shadows. “He knows!” she screamed, pointing at the group. The otters cried out and kicked her panda. While they were beating up the toy, the small girl climbed into the branches of the tree.
She could not hear their words anymore. She looked straight ahead, just as her panda had shown her that morning. Then she felt a shift. She landed on the ground, just in time. Her panda then became visible, as was she. “Who are you?” one of the otters asked. When they all looked up to her, they were shocked.
“Beltina,” she answered. “You can’t hide, you must come out.”
“No,” the otter said, “you’re wrong.” Beltina began to transform into…