Ten-year-old Sunako glared at the kappa, having drained life-preserving water from its indented skull. “You ate my baby brother!”
The creature wriggled. “He was delicious. You should be proud.”
“You made me eat a piece of him!”
“You looked hungry. I was being polite. You could be, too. Refill my skull. I’ll not bother you again.”
Sunako grasped her water jar. “No.”
“No?”
She leaned closer. “What little I ate was indeed tasty. A farmer past that hill has plump year-old twins. Shall we?”
The kappa grinned. “I’m delighted to share.”
Sunako raised the creature’s head, quickly replenishing its skull.
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alt="Heartwood by R.J. Cannon"
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>
sizes="(min-width: 1200px) 550px, (min-width: 750px) calc((100vw - 130px) / 2), calc((100vw - 50px) / 2)"
alt="Denied by J.B. Corso"
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sizes="(min-width: 1200px) 550px, (min-width: 750px) calc((100vw - 130px) / 2), calc((100vw - 50px) / 2)"
alt="Cold Recognition by Andreas Flögel"
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sizes="(min-width: 1200px) 550px, (min-width: 750px) calc((100vw - 130px) / 2), calc((100vw - 50px) / 2)"
alt="Winter Feast by Pauline Yates"
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>