He took Braxill in, from his curious eyes to the subtle bear-like ears. "He's... a child," the Monkey King finally observed, a hint of surprise in his tone.
Gravixor, standing nearby, whispered to Grinex, a worried flicker in her eyes. "Do monkeys... eat humans?"
Grinex shrugged, equally uncertain. "I don't think so. They usually stick to fruits and insects, don't they?"
The Monkey King's attention returned to Braxill. "So, you're the boy with imagination, eh?"
Braxill, never one to be shy, tilted his head. "What are you?"
The Monkey King blinked, a faint smile touching his lips. "Hmm, I'm a monkey."
Braxill's eyes widened. "Wait, that's what they used to call my ancestors! Those who had skin like mine were called monkeys in the ancient books!"
The Monkey King looked genuinely confused. Grinex, trying to clarify, stepped forward. "I think some humans believed they were primates, Monkey King. Like, distantly related."
"Oh," the Monkey King mused, a new understanding dawning. "So there is reverence for Monkeys in the human ecosystem?"
Grutix snorted to quietley to Gravixor. "He's not talking about evolution, It was an insult!"
Gravixor, her eyes widening comically as she grasped the insult, quickly whispered into Grinex's ear. "Oh, goodness, that's so cruel!"
"What is it?" Grinex whispered back, leaning in.
Gravixor whispered something to Grinex that made his eyes widen too. "That's unforgivable!" he muttered.
The Monkey King, growing impatient with their hushed tones, cleared his throat. "Hey, why are you all whispering?"
"Yeah!" Braxill chimed in, eager to be included. "I wanna hear! Tell me the secret too!"
Grax, Grinex, Grutix, and Gravixor all scratched their heads, avoiding eye contact, desperately trying to change the subject.
"Anyway," the Monkey King said, giving up on the secret, "take me to your leader, Grax. I am here to discuss important matters. And Coyote Nyte Fang will be here shortly."
Grinex, Gravixor, and Grutix gasped in unison. "Nyte Fang is coming?" Grinex shivered. "She is scary."
Grutix grimaced. "Those eyes."
Gravixor shuddered. "Those teeth."
"Yes," the Monkey King confirmed, a serious expression returning to his face. "Evil times are approaching, my friends. We need strong allies."
"Coyote!" Braxill exclaimed, his imagination already sparking. He instantly imagined a powerful, sleek coyote, its fur gleaming, and then, with a mischievous grin, he mentally hopped onto its back. The imagined coyote, vibrant and real, scurried off into the trees, carrying Braxill on its back for a joyful, brief ride.
Later, after his fanciful ride, Braxill sat alone beneath a large, ancient tree. A young man with bright, intelligent eyes and finely crafted cybernetic parts, Kellix, approached him. Kellix's cybernetic hand glowed faintly as he idly shaped a small bird from a lump of clay.
"Imagination," Kellix mused, looking at Braxill. "That's an awesome power, Brax."
Braxill looked at Kellix's glowing hand. "But so is your clay!"
"Thanks," Kellix grinned. "Yeah, it sometimes takes a lot of Abi in order to create objects."
"Abi?" Braxill repeated, tilting his head. "What's Abi?"
Kellix paused, surprised. "You don't know what Abi is?" Braxill shook his head. "In short, Abi is like life essence. It's the spiritual, artistic, and emotional life energy present in all living beings. It fuels abilities born of artistic will, passion, and soul. Everything has Abi."
"Even animals?" Braxill asked.
"Yeah," Kellix confirmed, "but it's a different kind of Abi. It's more primal, connected to nature directly, not filtered through the Art system like ours."
"Where did you learn all this?" Braxill wondered. "Was it in a library?"
Kellix chuckled. "A library? I have no idea what that is, kid. I learned everything from my teacher, Hielo. She's an artist in the Saber Class who fought alongside my father. He was also an artist, and a brave one too. He fought against the last king who ruled over Deer Point before Mr. Green."
"The last king?" Braxill asked, intrigued.
"Yeah," Kellix nodded, his expression darkening slightly. "Before Mr. Green, there was King Jiguzo. But what makes this king far worse is that he started off for the people and against the smaller factions in the royal government. He was a champion. But then he just randomly changed his politics. Some say he was bought by other islands who offered resources for his cooperation. He just... turned."
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Braxill, unable to process everything he was hearing, shifted uncomfortably. "Kellix," he asked, his voice softer, "what's the outside world like? You know, the Zoner areas?"
Kellix's eyes hardened. "I haven't been to the Zoner areas in years, Braxill, but I know this much: it's hell on Earth." Braxill registered his words, the innocence in his eyes dimming slightly. "It's just humans," Kellix continued, his voice low. "They starve. They hurt. They cry. Most are lonely. There are Zoner Knights who do their best to protect them, but their hands are tied behind their backs due to the Royal Branches. The King starves them of resources, keeps them weak and divided."
"This is wrong," Braxill whispered, his fists clenching. "Somebody should stop them."
Kellix smiled, a determined glint in his eye. "Well, Brax, that's why we're here. The Monkey King understands the situation, and that's what makes him such a great leader. He knows what it means to be brave, just like my father. And together, we'll take down the King!" He extended his cybernetic fist. Braxill's eyes lit up, and he eagerly accepted, giving Kellix a firm fist bump.
The Three Leaders
Later that evening, in Grax's chambers, a heavy silence hung in the air. Grax sat at his large table, the Monkey King perched thoughtfully on his left. Across from them, radiating an aura of unsettling calm, sat Coyote Nyte Fang, her eyes gleaming with an ancient, predatory intelligence. The mood was thick with an almost comedic tension.
"Are you two going to talk," Nyte Fang finally broke the silence, her voice a low growl that sent shivers down one's spine, "or are we going to just look at each other all day?"
Grax cleared his throat, awkward. "Right, umm, yes. Monkey King, you should speak first."
The Monkey King chuckled nervously. "Hahaha, yes, my apologies, Nyte Fang. Your presence is always mysterious, and quite intimidating." He then abandoned the pleasantries. "We are here to discuss an alliance to wage war against the Royal Family."
A palpable weight filled the room, the gravity of the declaration settling over them.
"Go on," Nyte Fang commanded, her eyes fixed on the Monkey King.
"The King cannot be trusted," the Monkey King asserted. "He's already increased oppression onto the human zones, stripping them of their freedom and dignity. He's currently waging war against the Els for their land, expanding his territory through force and destruction."
"Why is what he does to humans our concern?" Nyte Fang retorted, her voice sharp. "The humans will always do foolish things to each other?"
"It's our concern," the Monkey King countered, "because foolish humans spread their foolishness onto us. Their greed for land impacts our territories, their wars pollute our air, and their suffering eventually leads to their expansion onto our lands. Fighting bacterias seems like a good cause for us all, yes, but fighting bacterias and oppressing your own people changes the context entirely."
Grax whispers "I thought she was in agreement with this".
Monkey King whispers "She's here isn't she".
"One could argue you're reaching," Coyote Nyte Fang stated, her gaze unwavering.
"Am I?" the Monkey King challenged. "Or am I simply stating the obvious? Let's not forget, before the Els came, humans fought other humans to protect that land. As animal territory, it was called White Flower, and those humans were called Activists. I am pretty sure the current humans ruling are not activists."
Nyte Fang narrowed her eyes, truly grilling him now. She shifted her gaze to Grax. "What do you make of all this, Bear Chieftain?"
Grax cleared his throat, sensing the turning point. "I agree with the Monkey King. Not only that, but I can feel it. And I've been watching the Angels in the sky. They seem to be..."
Coyote Nyte Fang leaned forward, her focus intense. "Seem to be what?"
"I don't know," Grax admitted, frustration in his voice. "But a child came to our village recently, his name is Braxill, and he has the power to imagine. An Angel told me the boy would... 'God has not removed his protection from your tribe in this beat.'" Grax paused, looking at his allies. "I didn't understand what the word 'beat' meant, so I asked the boy."
"And what did he say?" the Monkey King prompted, curiosity piqued.
Braxill's reply echoed in Grax's mind. "He wasn't sure either, but he said it must be significant to time. Like a segment, or a rhythm."
Coyote Nyte Fang registered his concern, her keen mind processing the new information. "I have never known you to be a bear who has ever cared for a human child, Grax. But it seems divine intervention has taken its course. If this is what the Angel said, then no more needs to be explained." She stood, her decision made.
The Monkey King and Grax watched, curious, as she stood to her full, imposing height. "I, Nyte Fang, leader of the Coyote Tribe, will join your alliance to wage war against the Royals."
The Monkey King's face broke into a triumphant grin. "Yes! So it's final!"
Nyte Fang's expression remained stern. "I will share this conversation with the leader of the Lizard Tribe. Their support will be crucial."
"I always knew you were wise, Coyote," the Monkey King said, bowing slightly.
Nyte Fang offered a rare, thin smile, a silent acknowledgement "May joy be with us all".
A Confused Heart
Meanwhile, outside, Braxill and Kellix sat leaning against a tree, their faces a light shade of red. Braxill, lost in thought, imagined images of beautiful women, their forms shifting, appearing and disappearing in the air before them.
Kellix whistled softly. "Woah, that one's hot! I can't lie, kid, I like 'em really skinny with brown hair and tan skin."
"Mmm-hmm," Braxill hummed, nodding vaguely.
"What's your type, kid?" Kellix asked, nudging him playfully.
Braxill sighed, his gaze distant. "Skin like snow, black hair, orange eyes, and has a scythe and wears all gray."
Kellix raised an eyebrow. "That's pretty specific. You got an eye for someone, huh?"
"Kinda," Braxill admitted, a sad smile touching his lips.
"Well, who is it?" Kellix pressed.
"She doesn't seem to like me very much," Braxill confessed, his voice barely a whisper.
"Oh, sorry, kid," Kellix said, his playful tone softening. "Sometimes it's like that. You can't always make people like you."
"What do I do when someone doesn't like me?" Braxill asked, his eyes filled with a childlike sadness.
"You can't do anything," Kellix answered, his voice kind but firm. "You just have to accept it. That's the brave thing to do." Braxill's eyes saddened further. Kellix quickly tried to cheer him up. "Cheer up, kid! Yeah, sometimes people just don't appreciate us, but we have to turn our attention to those who do."
"Like Gravixor?" Braxill offered, a faint spark of hope in his eyes.
Kellix winked. "If she's a hottie, then yeah!"
Just then, the Monkey King's voice boomed from nearby. "Kellix! It's time for us to head back!" Beside the Monkey King stood Hielo, a stoic figure with a finely crafted saber at her hip, watching Kellix with a slight smile.
Kellix jumped up and ran over to them. Hielo nodded to him. "You made a new friend, I see."
Kellix grinned. "Oh yeah! Brax is awesome!" Hielo's gaze shifted to Braxill, still sitting alone by the tree, a small, sad figure. Braxill looked up and couldn't help but Notice her beauty.
Hielo
Age: 90 (In this world humans live till their late 400s)
Pronouns: She/Her
Place of Origin: Deer Point
Affiliation: Rebell of the Monkey Tribe
Height: 5'6
Japanese
Art Class: Saber Class
Braxill 'Wow she's beautiful, I love the bears but for some reason I feel....alone".
Nyte Fang passed by them, accompanied by two silent coyote soldiers, their eyes sharp and watchful.
Hours went by, and the sun slowly set, painting the sky in hues of orange and purple. Braxill still sat in the same spot, lost in his thoughts. Finally, Gravixor approached him, her massive, comforting presence settling beside him.
"Hey," she said, her voice soft.
"Hey, Gravixor," Braxill replied, his voice flat.
"What's wrong?" Gravixor asked, nudging him gently. "I've never seen you so down like this."
"I've been thinking about a lot," Braxill admitted, his gaze fixed on the darkening horizon.
Gravixor blushed, a subtle warmth spreading across her face. "Like what? A person?"
"Yes, but also... nevermind." Braxill suddenly got up and hugged Gravixor. Her cheeks burnt fire red and she understood he needed her in this moment. She embraced him.