Long ago in ancient China, there was once a thriving village. The pandas who lived there were peaceful farmers who spent their days gathering crops year after year.

But one day, a ruthless peacock attacked this village with the intent to destroy all the pandas. His soldiers nigh-effortlessly massacred the majority of the villagers, with the exception of several who managed to flee and hide within the surrounding forest. Once the peacock's soldiers had departed, the pandas emerged from their hiding places, homeless, cold and frightened. A simple farmer stood up as their leader, and brought them to a small forest hidden deep in a mountain range, where they could live in peace.

And so they lived in isolation, presumed dead by those in the outside world, unaware that something ancient and powerful lay beneath their feet…

"Woops!"

A little panda girl, no older than six years of age, toppled down the porch steps of her family's home, landing on the grassy ground with a soft thud.

"Su!" Her mother rushed out the house and crouched down beside her. "Are you alright?"

"I'm okay, mommy." Su quickly got to her feet to prove it. "I fall down all the time."

All the same, her mother spent three minutes checking her daughter's body for any cuts or bruises.

Eventually she sighed in relief. Her daughter was alright after all.

"Be more careful in future." She patted the dirt off of Su's small dress. "Now go off and play."

"Okay mommy." Su ran off as her mother retreated back inside the house.

She didn't really feel like playing in the field today, so she headed off in the direction of the forest that surrounded the small farming village where she lived. She knew she shouldn't be doing this, but as long as she stayed within sight of the village, taking a little walk wasn't too bad.

And that was what Su did.

Taking care to keep the distant field where her father worked in view, Su went into the forest and began taking in the lovely greens, browns and yellows of the forest. It was a beautiful day. A very beautiful day indeed.

Su decided that just for today, she would walk a little farther into the forest. Not too far of course. Unlike other kids her age, she was well aware of how young and vulnerable she was, and knew better not to take risks.

Su stopped walking when a large rock blocked her path. She was about to turn around and go back in the direction of the village when she realized that the rock was actually a dragon statue, crumbled and cracked with age. Something yellow and shiny glinted in its mouth.

Su took a tentative step forward, and realized that the shiny object was a coin. A coin almost the size of her head. It looked pretty and harmless, so Su grabbed the coin and began to pull.

After two tugs, the stone teeth crumbled and the coin came free.

At that moment, Su heard her mother calling for her to return home for dinner.
Tucking the coin into her dress, Su headed for home, leaving the stone dragon alone in the middle of the forest.