Sonu and Kanak

**Sonu and Kanak** are two marmots that make a brief appearance in *Aru Shah and the City of Gold*. They are the guardians of the golden road and reside at the Dahlonega Gold Mine Museum.

## Sonu and Kanak

Sonu (left) and Kanak (right), standing in front of Aru and Kara

## History

Sonu and Kanak are known to be one of the earliest marmots, guarding the golden roads. Before the Potatoes and Kara show up, their last tourists had visited around a thousand years ago. They had an interview in the fifth century with Herodotus, where they were called "gold-digging ants" after a mistranslation.

## The Pandava Quintet

### Aru Shah and the City of Gold

Sonu and Kanak are first mentioned in *Aru Shah and the City of Gold*, when the Potatoes and Kara are looking for a golden road to take them to Lanka. Aru Shah is the first one to spot them and calls them “demon hamsters”. The hamsters introduce themselves as Sonu and Kanak. Sonu and Kanak explain that they are actually marmots and not hamsters. The marmots say that they can take the Potatoes and Kara to see the gold roads. Aru asks about the road to Lanka in particular, but Sonu says it is off limits due to a tour group being misplaced years ago. The marmots lead the Potatoes down the stairs into a cave, where they begin the tour of the gold roads. First, Sonu leads the Potatoes through a door to a souvenir shop. However, Aru stays behind because she sees wisps of white moving across the glass door, forming images of people walking and falling down from exhaustion. Kanak appears next to Aru and sadly explains the meaning of the name Dahlonega, and says that the images represent the Trail of Tears. Kanak then warns Aru that the gold road to Lanka is unforgiving, and does no one's bidding but it’s own.

Aru joins her friends in the middle of a courtyard with three archways, one of which is covered with fog. Aru assumes the fog-covered one is the road to Lanka. In the middle of the courtyard, Sonu conjures up shelves and racks full of souvenirs. It says that once the Potatoes and Kara purchase something, they can go through the archways and explore, but the Otherworld-cities road is closed because it is too unpredictable. The group plans to buy some souvenirs, then cause a distraction and run to the third archway. Aru and Kara stay behind to pay for the keychains, while the others start heading to the third archway and prepare to cause a commotion. Sonu says that their souvenirs will cost a thousand of something, not necessarily money. Kara says that they can pay the marmots with a thousand particles of salt, and Sonu happily accepts. As soon as Aru and Kara pay, they make a dash for the archway. The souvenir store comes to life, and the merchandise and the enraged marmots attack them as they escape.

## Appearance

Sonu and Kanak are tall rodents that come up to Aru’s knees when they stand on their haunches. They have gold fur, beaver-like noses, half-moon ears tucked close to their heads, and round black eyes. Aru remarks that “if they were demon hamsters, they didn’t look very demonic.”

## Personality

Sonu has a more cheerful demeanor, and is enthusiastic and friendly when talking to the Potatoes and telling them about the gold road tours. Kanak is more subdued and has an overall grumpy personality, appearing to be rather pessimistic and not liking the visitors who visit the gold mine museum.