Grinex, his massive shoulders hunched, scanned the sickly terrain. "How are there so many getting beyond the barrier, Grax? Are the Angels loosening their protection? We're finding more Els than ever." His voice was a low growl of concern.
Grax squinted, his gaze fixed on the distant horizon. "No, Grinex. You heard what the Angel said to us. Their vigil is constant. Their might is unwavering."
"Then why are so many here?" Grinex pressed, thumping his axe butt on the ground in frustration. "It feels like a tide, pushing against us."
Grixie, ever the calmer presence, offered, "Perhaps this is simply what Joy has permitted, Grinex. A test of our own resilience."
Grax turned to his loyal warrior, his eyes stern but understanding. "Grinex, Joy is our protection, our light, but He isn't our personal assistant. We bears must do our part. We cannot become complacent. If the Angels were to leave us completely, even for a moment, we would be overtaken in minutes. We have been given mercy, an island in the sky when the world below fell. Let us be thankful for that, and work harder to honor it."
Grinex lowered his gaze, his ears flattening slightly. "My apologies, Leader Grax. I misspoke."
Grax laid a comforting paw on Grinex's shoulder. "It's alright, old friend. These are strange times. The air itself feels different." He squatted, picking up a shard of blackened ground. "Look."
He pointed. Far off, beyond the familiar outline of the valley, dark, churning clogs of smoke rose several acres out, thicker and more volatile than usual. "The war between the humans and the bacterias must be intensifying below. And that also means the humans may be winning, or at least pushing back the Els, forcing them to find new, weaker territory. Like our perimeter."
They continued their patrol, the rhythmic crunch of their paws the only sound. As they neared a particularly dense thicket, Grax's keen ears twitched. A faint rustling. Grinex immediately gripped his axe, his fur bristling. Grixie lowered her stance, her own axe ready. "We have company," she murmured, her voice a low warning.
Suddenly, a hidden figure burst from the trees, a shimmering sword in its hand. It struck down with startling speed, aiming for Grinex. Grinex, reacting with lightning quickness, moved in, blocking the blow with a resounding clang of his axe against the sword. The mystery figure, light on its feet, immediately sprang back, disappearing back into the foliage.
Grax, Grinex, and Grixie's eyes widened in unison. Grixie, a gasp escaping her, slowly lowered her axe. "Monkey King!"
Just as she spoke, the mystery person was fully revealed: the Monkey King himself, a wiry figure with ancient, intelligent eyes and a mischievous grin. He giggled, a sound that resembled the crackle of dry leaves. "Ahhh, long time no see, my fellow bears! Still as spry as ever, Grinex!"
Two other monkey soldiers emerged from the bushes behind him, their posture ready for a fight, then relaxing as they recognized the bears.
"Monkey King, what are you doing here?" Grax asked, his voice a mix of surprise and wary welcome.
The Monkey King laughed, his voice raspy and wise, resembling that of an old man who had seen too many sunrises. "What do you mean, Grax? You bears aren't the only ones responsible for protecting this forest, are you? This territory belongs to us all, in a way."
"I know, but I thought we were only working on shifts," Grax replied, a slight frown on his brow. "Our assigned patrol areas."
"Yeah, yeah," the Monkey King waved a dismissive hand. "I heard there was an uptake in bacteria monsters, more than usual. So I figured, why stick to shifts? I've decided I would come here more frequently. A little proactive defense, eh?"
Grinex "Smart idea Monkey king, the bacterias are far ore dangerous than parasites, they actually corrupt everything they touch, more patrol means more containment".
Suddenly, a young man, slender and dressed in what looked like patched-up human clothing, emerged from the bushes, clutching a large, gleaming clay cleaver blade. He pointed it directly at Grinex, his eyes squinting. "Monkey King! Look! It appears to be a large bacteria that resembles a bear!"
This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.
Alias: Kellix
Age: 15
Race: Human
Height: 5'6"
Hometown: Deer Point (Skyland)
Tribe: Monkey Tribe
Abi Level: 47%
Art Class: Painter
Expression Style: Clay-based constructs
Signature Ability:
Clay Construct Creation – Can form monsters, walls, and temporary clones from hardened Abi-infused clay. His main weapon is the Butchers Clay Clever.
Grinex roared, indignant. "You stupid human! I am a bear!"
The Monkey King smacked the young man, Kellix, on the back of his head with a light but firm thwack. "That is a bear, you fool!"
Kellix rubbed his head, still squinting at Grinex. "Oh... must be the pollen in my eyes, then." He then knelt down, comically peering at the tree right beside Grinex. "I'm sorry, Grinex! My vision is sometimes distorted."
Grinex threw his paws up in exasperation, his voice a comical scream. "I'm right here, you human fool! Look at me!"
Grixie chuckled, a warm, rolling sound. Grax joined in, a deep rumble of amusement. "Humans really are funny creatures," Grax remarked, shaking his head.
"They really are," the Monkey King agreed, a knowing smirk on his face.
Kellix, oblivious, stood up straight. "Ni hao, Grixie, Grax, Grinex!" he chirped, bowing slightly.
A Shifting Alliance
Later, the two tribe members walked together, their combined patrols efficiently checking the final perimeter. The air was heavy with unspoken thoughts.
"I hear the human zones have been in pretty bad shape," the Monkey King said, breaking the silence, his voice dropping to a more serious tone. "Especially since the King's extreme directions in his political rule."
Grax's expression remained neutral. "I am aware."
"Do you think it's something we should be concerned about?" the Monkey King pressed, glancing at Grax. "Their stability affects the whole sky-world."
Grax paused, considering his words carefully. "I don't think so. The God of Joy is watching over the animal kingdom. Our path is clear."
The Monkey King scoffed good-naturedly. "True, Grax, true. But he doesn't shield us from every occurrence as you would say. Remember, humans are the demigods of the world, and he tends not to interfere with their free will, even when it leads them astray. You and I both know, Grax, authoritarian human rulerships have been the demise of many civilizations before, many of our ancestors went extinct due to such tyrants, the shortface bear and Giant orangutang. Deer Point is no exception to the chaos it could unleash."
Kellix, who had been quietly observing, puffed out his chest. "Look, we shouldn't cower to anybody! We should be brave! Bravery is all you need to accomplish anything!"
"That's right, boy!" the Monkey King affirmed, patting Kellix's shoulder with a grin.
Grax stopped, turning fully to the Monkey King. His voice was low, laced with caution. "What are you suggesting, Monkey King? We go against the King? Against the human rulers of the other zones?"
The Monkey King sighed, the sound like wind through bamboo. "It's something to consider, my friend. I'm just worried about the future of animals. The increase in Els... the oppression of the human zoners. It all feels connected, like a storm brewing."
Grax: What are the other anamic tribe leaders saying? Do they share the same worry?
Monkey "The Coyotes feel the same but the Lizards are always trying to play it safe".
"There was a time when the current king was seen as a porgressive force, how humans can change so quickly I'll neve runderstand" Grax admitted, looking out at the vast, cloud-filled expanse beneath them. "But the animals will always find peace in Joy, as long as we remain true to His path."
"You never stop talking about Joy, do you, old bear?" the Monkey King chuckled. "Welp, I guess you're right, things do change. In fact, there's a little rumor making its way through the animal kingdom... that you bears have finally found a soft spot for humans."
Kellix immediately spun around, his eyes wide, looking at Grixie. "You guys have a human in your colony now? Who is he or she? What's their Art class? Are they in the painters class like me? Do they use color? Are they good?" He peppered Grixie with questions, his excitement overwhelming.
Grixie, completely overwhelmed by the barrage, just blinked. The Monkey King, with a comical groan, pulled on Kellix's ear. "Calm down, son! You're smothering them!"
"Yes," Grixie finally managed, a fond smile gracing her lips. "We do have a human child, a little boy named Braxill. But he is much different from other children."
"How so?" the Monkey King asked, intrigued.
"He does not have much memory of his past," Grixie explained. "He just... stormed into our tribe, head bleeding, with no explanation. But he has been a tremendous help to us bears. He has a unique power, the Art of Imagination."
Grax nodded, a proud glint in his eye. "Even Grinex likes the little cub."
Grinex grunted, then admitted, "The kid really is special. He brings us more honey than we've ever seen."
The Monkey King's eyes gleamed with curiosity. "A human with imagination, and no memory? I can't wait to meet this Braxill one day. He sounds like a true visionary."
They stopped by the final checkpoint, the boundary between their territories. The conversation had shifted, deepened.
"Well then, Grax," the Monkey King said, a serious note returning to his voice. "This is it. We part ways, my friend."
Grax's gaze was steady. "Monkey King, were you serious about going against the King?"
The Monkey King's expression hardened, all traces of humor gone. "Yes, Grax. Very serious." With a final, meaningful look, he and his monkey soldiers vanished into the thick forest, leaving the bears to ponder his words in the growing twilight.