I WILL FIND YOU.

Chapter 39: My Animal

Knock... knock

"Young Master, lunch is ready." Auntie Feifei said. Minda was relieved for the distraction. He had been sitting in the study staring at the second cup that would be his with no ideas.

"Coming." Minda said as he tried to move his wheelchair. However, after using his left hand to hold the teacup it was now stiff and sore and he couldn't turn the wheels. Thankfully, Auntie Feifei came in and was quick to help roll him out of the room where Kai was waiting.

"Kai, you're here?" Minda asked.

"I told you I'd stay nearby." Kai said.

"You didn't have to wait out here? You could have read a book or something in the garden." Minda said.

"I was in the garden playing with the two leopards until I saw your servant come over."

"You were playing?" Minda asked curiously. The only thing he did with the leopards was cuddle and sleep.

"I grabbed some old clothes and made this ball. They like chasing after it and rolling it around." Kai explained as he passed the cloth ball to Minda.

The two little leopards were excited and tried to climb up Minda's legs. Kai helped them get up on his lap before taking over as the one pushing Minda's wheelchair. Curious Minda waved the ball in front of their little faces and watched them stare at it excitedly.

"Hehe, they really do love it. Let's play together after lunch." Minda said.

"Does that mean you're finished with what you were doing in the study?" Kai asked.

"No. I think it will take a few days to finish but I'm done for today." Minda said. He would have liked to do more but he was not only stuck on the design of his cup but his hand was starting to ache.

"In that case we can play with the leopards together after your nap." Kai said.

...

For lunch Auntie Feifei made bone soup, a light vegetable stir fry, and rice. She made a lighter lunch because she was making a roast out of the ibex for dinner and knew Minda was looking forward to eating it.
Minda's veracious appetite from the morning was gone. He wasn't nauseous and he was able to eat but the amount was a lot less.

"Are you feeling okay?" Kai asked.

"I am."

"You're quiet."

"Sorry, I've just been thinking." Minda said.

"About what?"

"That is..." Minda hesitated to tell Kai because he was trying to determine what his animal should be for his secret wedding gift. Then, he realized Kai would be the perfect person to ask.

"Kai, what animal am I?"

"What do you mean?"

"If you had to choose, what animal would I be?" Minda asked again. Minda stared at Kai with his big soft eyes. He had never thought about it but one animal did come to mind.

"A red panda."

"What?"

"You remind me of a small red panda." Kai repeated.

"What is a red panda? Is it like a panda that is red instead of black and white? I've never heard of them before."

"They aren't found around this area. They live in the western forests. They are a little larger than a cat and have red and black fur with white on their face. They don't look like pandas." Kai tried to explain.