Kaocho couldn't get enough of the puppies. Their enthusiasm, their thrills in the simple pleasures, and their innocent glimmering eyes. She felt as if she could connect with the young ones even better than adults. She always felt comfortable with them... No need for anxiety. No need for fear. They adored her as much as she adored them. Imagine her excitement when she stumbled upon little Kipenzi and his friends. They were thrilled, as any pup would be, to hear a good story. That was something Kaocho was more than willing to provide.

After a moment of pondering which story she would tell, the reddish dog finally began her tale. She was enthusiastic in her voice, making the fairy tale much more captivating... especially to young Kipenzi.

"I was in this land that was being terrorized by giant, circular, colorful monsters. They go around crushing everything and asking, 'Do you know who I am?' in big, booming voices." Kaocho disguised her voice to be quite deep and intimidating, similar to the monsters she was describing. "When all they get is a scream for a response, they crush something and laugh. The other dogs and lions blocked the entry and exits to all the caves. I think it was the authority's attempt to keep everyone inside as they secured the place. Everyone inside started panicking, finding the nearest hole to look out and see what was going on. I couldn't see any of the monsters, so I was relieved.

Eventually I was able to escape that cave, but the number of monsters outside had grown drastically. I could hear them shouting 'Do you know who I am!?' off in the distance. I ran across the desert, but I was way too exposed there... So I ran into the forest so I could hide in the trees and foliage as I got closer to the monsters making destruction. It wasn't long before I was attacked by vicious forest bugs. They were as big as my paw, and gnawed at my neck and my ankles. Imagine a dozen giant ants chewing on your flesh! I ran back to the desert, cursing the forest and its bugs. Now I was stuck - I was either to be exposed to the giant monsters or get attacked by vicious forest bugs. I chose exposure.

As I got closer to the circular monsters, I came up with an idea about how to 'defeat' one. I approached one very cautiously from behind. When I got close enough, I realized these monsters weren't one hundred lions tall like I believed... but they were barely as tall as me. Finally the monster noticed me, and swung around, shouting 'DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM?!'" Her voice was so booming that Kipenzi and flinched, but remained completely captivated. "He was readying his attack before I said.. 'Yes, I do.'

The monster looked stunned. He stopped his attack and just stared at me, wide-eyed. 'What? You do?'

'Yeah, I know who you are. You're my best friend.'

The monster began to shrink. 'Oh... I am... I am!' He turned into a rock, which I carried with me to meet the next monster, and repeated my strategy. Once I had befriended three monsters, it was getting difficult to carry all the rocks..."

"That's stupid!" Kipenzi yipped boldly, interrupting the story and causing Kaocho to rip from her story-telling 'flow'. It was nothing she wasn't used to. "Monsters don't just turn into rocks like that!"

The older female just smiled. "Is that so?" She said, casually gazing over her shoulder in search of three round rocks. With a dainty paw, she pushed them in front of the pup. "Then... how do you explain these, Kipenzi?"

Wide-eyed with wonder, the pup stared at the rocks. His imagination took advantage of his common sense and he completely fell for Kaocho's clever trick. "Wwhhooa!" He exclaimed, prodding one of the rocks cautiously with a toe. "Can they turn back?"

Kaocho laughed, impressed that her silly trick had worked. "Back into monsters? No, they can't... But if you listen very very closely..." The dog whispered and leaned closer to the rock. "Sometimes you can still here them... Whispering..."

Kipenzi's little eyes look stunned as he looked from Kaocho's face to the rocks at his paws. Carefully, he pressed his ear against one of the rocks. Listening... Concentrating so hard that he began to squint his fiery-colored eyes.

Kaocho snagged the opportunity to play with the pup again. She leaned into the pup's ear and whispered in the same monster voice she used for her story... "Do you know who I am...?"

"GAH!" Kipenzi fell over backwards, his back plopping against the dirt and grass as he squirmed and flailed in an attempt to get to his paws and defend himself against the little "monsters."

Kaocho couldn't help but laugh. She laughed until tears came to her eyes, and the force of the chuckles caused her to buckle over until she looked much like Kipenzi did when he was startled. With a deep breath and melting giggles, the female finally returned to her paws to give Kipenzi a nuzzle. "Stay young always, little friend."

Kipenzi was bewildered. Did not she hear the rock whisper, too? Why was she laughing so hard that she was crying? Kipenzi's guard slowly declined as he came to realize that the rocks were no threat... even if they had just whispered. Kaocho had taken care of them and their rampage, after all. Kipenzi giggled with the nuzzle, and licked the older dog's nose. "I don't think so, Kay! I think I'm gunna grow up big like you and turn monsters into rocks." He grinned so wide that nearly all his teeth were showing.

Oh how Kaocho prized the youth. Innocents was only her second favorite quality among the pups. The first, was their constant ability to be blissful. The older dog was almost envious of this trait. "I bet you will. Just remember my story, and if you ever come across any giant circular monsters, you will know what to do."

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