Nature's Sign

Chapter 6

I walk towards the bamboo forests. When we reach the beginning of the bamboo forests, we see the Panda guards.

"What are those Pandas doing?" Johnathan asks in a whisper.

"Their Bamboo guards, they guard the Bamboo Forest. Don't worry, they won't hurt you," I whisper back.

"Halt," The first guard says.

I recognize him as Reggie.

"Hi, Reggie. I came to visit Bamboo," I say.

I look at the second guard.

"Say, I don't recognize you. Are you new?" I say to the second guard.

"This is Peter, he's new. Peter, this is Alexa, a friend," Reggie says.

"Nice to meet you," Peter says. They move aside, and allow me to pass.

"No, not you," Reggie says to Johnathan.

"Oh, I forgot. Don't worry, he's with me, Reggie," I say.

Reggie stares at Johnathan for a minute, then moves aside and lets him pass.

"What was that?" Johnathan asks me.

"They don't like strangers, but they know me, so I can come anytime I want, though," I answer.

We walk through the bamboo and emerge in a panda village. Bamboo houses crowd the place. Some are on the ground, others higher off the ground. One in particular stands out. A giant bamboo home, house of the Panda Royal Family, sits highest in the bamboo trees.

On the way to the Royal Family's house, every panda we see says hi to me, and stares in wonder at Johnathan. When we reach the Royal Panda Family's house, we stop.

"Hey! Bamboo!" I yell.

A little panda head emerges from the house. Bamboo comes out and slides down a bamboo pole. I catch her when she reaches the bottom.

"Johnathan," I say, "This is Bamboo."

Johnathan stares at Bamboo. Bamboo is like Flame and Sky, she is magic, but her favorite size, is bigger then Flame and Sky's. Bamboo is big enough to sit on my hip.

"Who is this, again?" Bamboo asks.

"This is Johnathan. He's an Elemental," I say.

"Put me on his head," Bamboo says, demandingly.

I reach out my arm towards Johnathan's head.

"Just stand still, "I say to Johnathan, "Don't worry, it won't hurt. She's just going to find out if she can trust you."

Bamboo crawls up my arm and lands on Johnathan's head.

"Hm," Bamboo says, as she lays down and then stands up and leans over to look at Johnathan's face, upside-down.

She crawls off his head and back onto my arm. I let her sit on my head. Sky and Flame look up and say hi to her from my shoulders.

"I trust him," Bamboo says, "But, he needs to comb his hair."

Johnathan shrugs.

"My hair is always messy. If you don't like it, don't sit on my head," Johnathan says.

"Hey, can we go visit Snow?" Bamboo asks.

"Sure," I say, "That okay with you, Johnathan?"

"Yeah, and you can call me John for short, if you want," Johnathan says.

"Alright, lets go!" I say.

We walk back to where Reggie and Peter are standing.

"Reggie, tell my mom that I'm going with Alexa to see Snow," Bamboo says.