"Ku!"
"I know Mini, I know. But she'll only be gone for a few months" Ricardo comforted the baby Raijin Hippo, "and I promised to keep you safe in the mean time."
"Ku..."
Due to the nature of this trip back to Roaring Tide, Patriarch Zhen Shi determined it was probably a good idea to put their best feet forward via a showing of their skills.
As such, they had coaxed Tiny the Raijin Hippo to act as both guard and carriage beast, while also bringing with them several treasured aether beast goods ranging from 1st grade beast eggs to 4th grade cores.
However, it was due to this nature that Mini was left behind as a consequence. Partially out of fear that they might confuse her as being one of the gifts, and partially out of worry for her safety because this a long ass trip.
This was also why several of the youngest children were left behind to be in the care of Aranea and Lucille, despite the rest of the family going to Roaring Tide.