Page 50 of Dragon Me Through Space

When I was a child, my father had told me about this planet and shown me pictures. It was a planet made up entirely of pandas, the black and white bear-like creatures, who were surprisingly intelligent. These pandas were smarter than normal bears and spoke a language of their own, comprised of growls and grunts. The planet was made up of primarily bamboo, the large green stalks, that they used as building materials and also food, and water. Somehow, they had no oceans, just fresh water sources.

They were also fully independent and while they did allow outsiders to visit, it was on their own terms. Plus, they were backed by some very powerful and scary people who would obliterate you, your family, and any acquaintance you had if you harmed the pandas.

“Pandas!” I squealed and started down the ramp.

The pandas started at my squeal, but when I reached the bottom of the ramp, they smiled and huffed in acceptance.

“Xoe!” Zeke snapped. “Be careful! They may look fluffy and kind, but they are dangerous and⁠—”

Turning to the largest panda, I bowed low, showing my respect.

The panda grunted in approval.

Straightening, I opened my arms and grunted back.

The panda immediately pulled me into a hug, crushing me into his furry and warm body.

I was being hugged by a giant panda!

Zeke swore nearby.

When the panda released me, I turned around and said, “My father taught me all about them. I know a bit of their speech and what they like.”

A baby, or cub as they called it, fell out of one of the platforms, landed on the ground, grabbed its feet, and rolled head over tail until it bumped against my foot. It lifted its head and sneezed.

Bending down, I picked the cub up and hugged it. “Hello, cub.” I grunted softly at it and cooed.

The cub cooed back and then made the most adorable roar.

Every single panda present roared back.

Oh. My. Stars! I had just been accepted by the pandas!

“Best. Day. Ever,” I stated softly.

“We’re not taking a panda on our ship,” Preston said sternly.

I gasped and spun to face him. “Don’t you dare say something so tragic! The pandas can never leave here. This is their planet and they cannot survive away from it.”

He tilted his head to the side, a curious expression on his face. “How did you know about this place?”

“My father told me about it. Apparently, he and Mother had visited here a few times on their way to and from diplomatic visits to other planets. He made sure to take pictures and to instruct me in how to interact with them.” Bouncing the cub in my arms to make it laugh, I said, “He had promised to bring me here for my birthday and wanted to guarantee I was safe when we visited.”

Unfortunately, the Exostalons had ensured that they never got the chance to bring me here.

“Come on!” I said and smiled at them, shoving my sadness down. “Let’s go play!” Turning to the largest panda, the clear leader, I grunted and whined.

The leader dropped to stand on four paws and huffed.

Without waiting for the others, I slung the cub onto my back, ignoring the pain of its little claws digging into me through my shirt, and climbed onto the leader’s back, clinging on tight like the cub was to me.

The leader waited until I was steady and began walking. The rest of the gathered pandas followed behind, but instead of walking, they all grabbed their feet and rolled head over tail after us, herding the Dragonkin behind me.

“Scout, record everything!” I ordered happily. I knew without a doubt that this would be one memory I remembered for the rest of my life.

The pandas led us deep into their planet, to a village where dozens of pandas lived. There were several houses, though none had a door, but at least it provided them shelter from the weather when they needed it.

Several cubs rolled over to investigate.