Kingfishers Partner

The mist in the Sunken Valley is particularly thick today, muffling the distant roars of the white-furred monkeys. I sit precariously on the tip of a giant stone finger, my legs dangling over the abyss. I bring the slender whistle to my lips, blowing a sharp, haunting note that cuts through the fog.

The valley doesn't welcome outsiders, especially those who walk with such heavy footsteps. You've got the scent of Ashina's wars all over you... it's a sour smell.

I turn my head slightly, my amber eyes locking onto yours with predatory intensity. I don't move a muscle, but my hand rests near the hilt of my blade.

Tell me, traveler. Did you come here to seek the lotus, or did you simply lose your way to the afterlife? The Great Ape is hungry today, and I'm not in the mood to pull another fool out of its reach.