Chapter Text
The first moments of her life happened quickly. She was brought into sudden awareness by the crack of stone, alone on top of a mountain. The ambient quiet that followed was a stark contrast and the young monkey could do nothing but listen to the sound of birds and feel the wind rustle her fur.
Catching her bearings, she got to her feet and a thought popped through her mind that she needed to show respect. She bowed to the four directions and was surprised by the sudden rush of energy that raced through her body. Suddenly, beams of golden light burst from her eyes and shot out into the sky.
There was a moment of silence. While the surge had been brief, it still left the little monkey stunned. What was that? When an answer was not immediately forthcoming, she gave up and began to look around.
There was a lone tree perched on a mossy stone and a ring of bushes and pillar-like stones around the edge of the peak – not much to look at. The monkey appeared to be alone, and she chirped curiously, hoping for a response. More silence. A sad whine escaped her throat, and a lonely feeling crept into her chest. She curled up into a ball and wrapped her tail around herself.
The monkey sat there for a few minutes, processing her isolation. When she felt calmer, she got onto all fours and walked over to the edge to look for a way down. If there was no one up here, she would simply have to go looking for them. There also didn’t seem to be anything to eat, which would eventually be a problem.
Peaking over the edge, she saw a craggy outcrop that she could use to climb down. She carefully lowered herself onto the ledge and began the slow process of climbing down the side of the mountain. After what felt like hours, more trees came into view and the monkey’s stomach began to growl: she needed food. But she’d never seen food before; she hoped that the instincts that had led her this far would help her find something.
Soon, her feet touched soft soil and trees towered over her head. The monkey looked in awe of all the forest around her. There were so many new colors, and sounds, and smells. She sat down and took it all in. The rustling of leaves, the chirping of birds, the colors of fruits and flowers, their sweet smells. Her stomach growling again interrupted her daze and she followed a particularly sweet smell to a tree full of round, pink fruits. She licked her lips and climbed up into the branches. Picking the largest one she could find, the monkey held it to her nose to smell. It smelled sweet and the skin was fuzzy to the touch. She gave it a gentle squeeze and found it slightly firm with a little give. She stuck her tongue out and gave it a cautious lick, finding it to have little taste. With a shrug, she gave it a cautious bite and warbled at the taste. It was sweet and juicy. She pulled it away from her mouth and saw that the inside was a warm yellow. With a cheerful chirp, she dug in, happily devouring the delicious fruit.
She sat in the tree until she’d eaten her fill, and the pits littered the forest floor. The monkey climbed down and continued her walk, chirping curiously in hopes someone would respond. Soon the sound of rushing water filled her ears, and she followed it to a great waterfall. She watched the water tumble down from the cliff into the rocky river below. That’s when she heard it: the chitters of other monkeys.
Excitedly, she followed the river and saw a group of monkeys playing. Calling happily, she ran over to them. At first, they were confused, but they soon welcomed her into the troop. The mothers took her in like one of their own cubs and she had a home.
They named her Shíhóu, the Stone Monkey.
~x~
Shíhóu had a home and a troop that loved her, but she felt different. She knew she was a cub herself, but she was bigger than most of the others, bigger than many of the adults. Her appearance differed from them too. Her fur was a golden orange, her hair was curled, there were speckles across her nose and cheeks, and her eyes had a golden glow.
But it wasn’t just her appearance that made her feel separate. Shíhóu learned that she could do things the other monkeys couldn’t. She was stronger, faster, more agile, and she radiated golden energy when excited or angry. The rest of the troop loved her, and Shíhóu knew that, but it still felt alienating. She longed to have someone like her to talk to.
Shíhóu pulled her knees to her chest and wrapped her tail around her ankle. The leaves of her skirt rustled as she moved. She watched the other monkeys play and let out a lonely coo. One of the older cubs saw her and ran over.
“Are you sad?” he chirped in concerned curiosity. She uncurled herself and gave him a small smile.
“A little,” she answered. “But I’m okay,” she chirped reassuringly. She ran a hand through her curls and huffed when her fingers snagged in some knots. The other monkey noticed and began to groom her, and the act was soothing enough that Shíhóu was able to push the loneliness to the back of her mind and settled into the sensation of fingers picking through her fur.
They stayed like that until Ma came to collect her.
Shíhóu may feel lonely now, but she knew she wasn’t really alone.
~x~
Unbeknownst to her, Shíhóu’s life changed one night during a storm. It was pitch black out and rain pounded against the ground outside of the cave her troop was sheltered in. The only light was the occasional flash of lightning, and the rumble of thunder filled the sky. The wind howled and the branches of trees snapped.
A tree fell outside, and the sound scared the youngest members who clung to their mothers’ fur. Shíhóu was huddled with the rest of the troop, held close to Ma’s chest, when she felt the energy inside of her shift. Golden light briefly lit the cave as her eyes flashed. Something had changed, she felt it, but she couldn’t think of what.
How could she have known that somewhere else on the island, a young monkey’s life began when he fell out of a shadow?
~x~
The first thing he became aware of was the feeling of rain against his fur. He took a moment to orient himself before pushing himself upright. It was dark but he could see through the shadows to the forest around him. The wind ruffled his wet, muddy fur, and he wrapped his arms around himself with a shiver. He felt his ears twitch, trying to process all of the sounds around him. Lightning flashed over his head, startling him, and the clap of thunder that followed pounded through his head. His hands flew to cover his ears, and he screeched in distress.
When it was finally quiet, he got to his hands and feet and ran in search of shelter. He found an alcove in the side of the mountain and pressed himself into the back. Shivering, he hugged himself and his tail curled around his waist. The monkey whimpered and he tried barking for help: no one answered. He curled in on himself and protected his sensitive ears from another roll of thunder. A sad coo left his throat, and he settled in to spend the night alone.
He was so cold and tired that he didn’t see the way the shadows curled around him, wrapping him in their dark embrace.
~x~
When he opened his eyes, the sun had risen, and the sky was clear. He cautiously climbed out of the alcove and looked around. Branches had fallen and fruit was scattered across the forest floor. The monkey’s stomach growled, and he picked up the first fruit he saw. It was a reddish-purple and he gave it a sniff before taking a bite. The inside of the fruit was juicy and yellow, and he hummed at the tart aftertaste.
The monkey had almost eaten his fill when he heard it: the sound of other monkeys. Quickly finishing the fruit he was currently eating, he followed the sound. He climbed over fallen trees and avoided muddy puddles. The noise was a lot further away than he had thought and he scratched at his sensitive ears.
With a huff, the monkey prepared for a long walk.
~x~
Shíhóu was playing with the other cubs when the new monkey found them.
She heard the rustling of the bushes and broke away from the others to investigate it. When she was clear of the leaves, a surprised chirp left her mouth. Shíhóu was almost nose to nose with a black furred monkey who was, to her surprise, like her.
His dark hair and fur were dirty and unruly and the mask around his eyes was a deep red. He had the same gold eyes as Shíhóu and, oddly enough, had three pairs of ears.
“Hello,” Shíhóu chirped, tail curling in delight. “I’m Shíhóu.”
“H-hello,” the monkey chirped in reply. His ears twitched and briefly flashed different colors.
“What’s your name?” Shíhóu cooed curiously. The other monkey tilted his head with a confused warble. “You don’t have one?” He shook his head with a sad trill. “My troop can give you a name. Wanna meet them?”
The monkey's ears twitched again, and, after a moment, he nodded. Shíhóu let out an excited trill and dove back into the bushes. She stopped when the other didn’t immediately follow and turned to watch him hesitantly emerge from the brush. He looked around, seemingly taking in the light reflecting off the river.
The troop chirped excitedly when they saw Shíhóu but stopped when they saw the new monkey. He stopped, startled at all the new eyes on him. After a moment’s hesitation, the troop ran over to greet the newcomer, chirping excitedly. All of them greeting at the same time was loud and the dark-furred monkey’s hands flew up to cover his many ears. His eyes screwed shut, and he let out a distressed whine. The shadows seemed to ripple around him and Shíhóu felt a strange energy.
Worried, the other monkeys settled down and exchanged concerned glances. Shíhóu weaved her way through the crowd and gave him a soft coo and offered to groom his messy fur. The simple act always soothed her when she was distressed, and she hoped it would help him too.
Slowly, he lifted his head, and Shíhóu saw that his eyes were glowing a deep purple. He gave a tentative nod, and she settled down behind him. As gently as she could, she began to pick through his fur and soon his hands lowered from his ears. He settled down and the strange energy dissipated. Seeing that the newcomer was calm, the troop approached again and, much quieter, greeted him.
They named him Liù’Ěr Míhóu, the Six-Eared Macaque.
~x~
Míhóu settled into the troop well. While he got more used to the noise, he was prone to headaches and still needed time away from them where it was quiet. So, it was no surprise when Shíhóu looked around and couldn’t find him.
Breaking off from the rest of the troop, she followed the river towards the big waterfall, tracing Míhóu’s scent on the breeze. She found him perched on a mossy stone in the middle of the pool under the shade of the bamboo trees. He was watching small fish swimming in the shallows, tail bobbing contentedly behind him. His black fur was damp from the water and his ears twitched, tracking the sounds of the jungle.
Shíhóu walked out onto the path-stones and slipped into the water. She swam over to Liù’Ěr’s rock and propped her arms up on the edge.
“Needed quiet time?” she chirped.
“You know how loud it gets,” Míhóu grunted. He turned his head to look Shíhóu in the eyes and scooted over to make room for her on the rock. She climbed out and sat next to him. The water settled and the fish returned.
“Seems like you have a favorite spot,” Shíhóu teased. “This is the third time I’ve found you here.”
“It’s quiet here.” Míhóu’s ears flicked, flashing their usual colors; Shíhóu wondered what they meant.
“Even with that big waterfall?” she cooed, gesturing to it with her tail.
“It’s soothing,” Míhóu chirped. “It drowns out a lot of the other stuff I hear. Even the stuff I can’t place.”
“It certainly is pretty,” Shíhóu trilled.
They sat in silence after that, enjoying the scenery. A flock of birds flew overhead and Shíhóu watched them, wondering where they were going. She didn’t know how long they sat there before Ma and Liu came looking for them.
“There you two are,” Ma grunted, walking out onto the path-stones. “We were starting to worry about you.”
“Míhóu just needed his quiet time,” Shíhóu teased with a warble. Liù’Ěr glared at her, making her laugh, to which he responded by pushing her off the rock into the water. Shíhóu broke the surface and gasped for air and pouted at him laughing at her.
“Alright, that’s enough you two,” scolded Liu with a bark. He joined Ma on the path-stones. “It’s getting late and you’re both going to need a groom, or your fur will mat.”
“We’re coming,” Shíhóu whined, swimming over to the older monkeys. Behind her, she heard Míhóu slip into the water as well and swim after her.
“Your fur is a mess. Look at your curls,” Ma chastised, picking at Shíhóu’s hair. She ducked away from Ma’s mothering as Míhóu climbed out of the pool, shaking the water from his fur.
“We were appreciating the waterfall,” Míhóu chirped, ignoring Liu inspecting his equally messy hair.
“Appreciation is fine, but you cubs be careful around it,” Ma warned, removing her hands from Shíhóu’s fur. “Mysterious things happen around that waterfall.”
“What kinds of things? Is something behind it?” Shíhóu asked. She was curious by nature and the prospect of seeing what mysteries were behind that waterfall piqued her interest.
“No one knows for sure. But monkeys have seen things,” Ma chirped. She turned and began the walk back to the troop, Liu and Míhóu following her.
Shíhóu was left standing there watching the waterfall. Nothing seemed unusual about it, at least not to her. She wondered what could possibly be behind it. Ma was clearly worried about something happening, but Shíhóu couldn’t think of what.
“Shíhóu!” Liu screeched, snapping her out of her thoughts. She turned, casting one last glance at the waterfall over her shoulder before scampering after them.
She could satisfy her curiosity another day.
~x~
An opportunity for a closer look at the waterfall stubbornly evaded her. Every attempt she made to sneak away was thwarted by Ma. It seemed like Ma could see right through her and was determined to keep her out of trouble. Whenever Shíhóu thought she had a chance, she would feel the older monkey’s eyes on her. It was like she knew the instant the thought crossed Shíhóu’s mind. While she was having fun with Míhóu and the other cubs, the thought of what could possibly be behind the waterfall wouldn’t leave her mind.
Shíhóu kept herself busy throughout the day until the mothers called them over for food and their evening groom. She was handed her favorite fruit, a peach, and Ma settled behind her to pick through her fur.
When everyone was finished, the cubs all settled down for their evening story. Shíhóu loved them. Her imagination ran wild when she heard the tales of strange creatures from strange, far-off places. It was Liu’s turn to orate, and he climbed up onto a rock overlooking the troop.
“This is the story of an ancient immortal and his home behind a curtain of water,” Liu warbled. The mention of a water curtain caught Shíhóu’s attention. “Long ago, a powerful immortal traveled the continents seeking knowledge and fortune. He had great powers few could match. The immortal defeated many powerful foes in far off lands.” Shíhóu’s eyes sparkled. She loved these kinds of stories: of warriors and their heroic escapades. Míhóu, she knew, was also a fan of stories with action and she saw his tail twitching in excitement.
“Great beasts, vicious creatures, and cunning demons all feared mention of his name,” Liu barked. “Everywhere he went, he would free villages from their tormentors. The people he saved showered him in riches as thanks for helping them. The immortal gained awesome wealth, but he was not yet satisfied. He ever hungered for more knowledge, taking whatever he found.
“The immortal traveled until he had learned all that he could. ‘I have traveled far and wide and have learned all of the world’s secrets. With all the knowledge I have, I could challenge the great scholars of heaven,’ he boasted and declared his greatness to the very clouds.” Liu glanced around the troop meeting each cub’s eyes.
“The gods did not appreciate having their wisdom challenged, and soon the immortal learned of his mistake,” he growled, ominously. The youngest cubs trilled in fear before being soothed by their mothers. “He took his vast riches and fled, searching for a place to hide from their wrath. The immortal scaled mountains and crossed seas, until he found a cave hidden behind an enchanted curtain of water.”
Shíhóu was practically vibrating with excitement, and she hoped golden light wasn’t radiating off her fur. Was there a cave behind the waterfall? Was it enchanted?
“He used his great wealth to build a fabulous manor there where he could live in comfort, safe from the eyes of heaven,” Liu trilled, gesticulating in a way that awed the cubs. “And this is where our story would end, if not the fateful day the immortal disappeared. No one knows for sure what happened. Some say he gave up his immortality to share his knowledge with the world; others say that the gods finally found him. All that is certain is that he left behind his home and treasures still hidden behind the water curtain, waiting to be found.”
“Where is the cave?” Shíhóu chirped. She could feel the golden energy sparking off her fur and knew she must be glowing in the dim light. Ma gave her a strange but knowing look that Shíhóu chose to ignore.
“The cave’s true location, little one, is a mystery, but some say it is here, on this very mountain,” Liu cooed. “Many have search for this treasure, but all have failed. It is said that only those deemed worthy will be able to find it. But that same legend also says that it awaits a very special monkey, willing to brave the danger and leap through the water curtain and be granted the title of the Monkey King.”
Something in the story resonated within Shíhóu, and she couldn’t quite explain what it was. Was the waterfall actually the water curtain from the legend? She had to know more.
“Is it really here, on the mountain?” Shíhóu trilled, eagerly.
“It’s just a story,” Liu warbled climbing down from the rock.
“But if someone found it…”
“That’s enough, Shíhóu,” interrupted Ma. “It is late, and time for sleep.” Around them the troop was dispersing. The youngest cubs had fallen asleep, carried away by their mothers, and the yearlings were being ushered to their nests. Liù’Ěr yawned and his eyes seemed to shine purple in the dark. Reluctantly, Shíhóu followed their lead, laying down in the nest she shared with Ma and closing her eyes. Míhóu settled into his nest next to hers and chirped a soft goodnight.
Shíhóu tried to sleep, she really did, but she couldn’t escape the feeling in the back of her mind that there was something she needed to do. She tossed and turned, trying to get comfortable, before giving up with a sigh. Quietly she climbed out of her nest and carefully, so as not to wake the others, walked down to the river. She made it about halfway to the waterfall when she was caught.
“What are you doing up?” chirped Míhóu. It’s no surprise he heard her: he heard everything.
“I just need to take care of something,” Shíhóu trilled, continuing her walk. Her hope that he would accept her answer and go back to sleep was dashed when he followed her.
“You’re going to the waterfall, aren’t you?” Míhóu asked, his dark fur appearing to be one with the shadows.
“And? Are you going to tell on me?” Shíhóu squeaked. She pointedly avoided meeting his eyes and just kept walking. That nagging feeling in the back of her mind drove her onwards.
“No, I won’t tell Ma you’re about to do something stupid while pointedly not listening to her,” Míhóu grunted. “Are you sure you know what you’re doing? I don’t want to see you get hurt.”
“I don’t know,” Shíhóu chirped. “It just feels like something I have to do.”
“I’m pretty sure you can live without knowing,” Míhóu cooed. He jumped up onto a fallen log, ears fanned out, before continuing to follow her.
“It’s not just being curious,” Shíhóu trilled. “It feels important. Like something is telling me I need to do this.”
“If you say so.”
They spent the rest of the walk in silence. Crickets chirped and fireflies drifted across their path. The mountain was beautiful at night, even if she was rarely allowed to see it. Soon the sound of rushing water reached her ears, and the waterfall came into view. Shíhóu bounded out onto the path-stones and looked up at the great water curtain.
“This is it,” she chirped, mentally psyching herself up. Before Shíhóu could jump, there was a rustling in the bushes behind them.
“Shíhóu, wait…” Míhóu squeaked.
“And what do you two think you’re doing?” Ma screeched, emerging from the brush behind them. She was livid.
“Uh, well…” Míhóu stuttered, nervously scratching behind his ears. Ma shot him a glare, ending his argument.
“Shíhóu, I expected. But I’m disappointed in you, Liù’Ěr Míhóu,” Ma growled. Míhóu’s ears pressed flat against his head. She turned her gaze onto Shíhóu. “I should have never let Liu tell that story. I knew it would lead you into trouble.”
“But…” Shíhóu squeaked.
“No buts,” Ma interrupted with a bark. “The two of you are going right back to your nests and you’re going to say there. I’m not about to let you both get hurt.” Míhóu glanced at Shíhóu over his shoulder.
“Yes, Elder,” he warbled.
Shíhóu’s brows knit in frustration, and she turned back to the waterfall in protest.
“I don’t need your attitude, cub,” Ma growled. “The waterfall is dangerous!”
“I have to do this,” Shíhóu barked. She felt the golden energy inside her flare and could see it reflected in the water. The waterfall seemed to almost ripple in response to her power and her eyes widened in shock. Was that an enchantment? She’d never seen one before, but water didn’t behave like that. She steeled her nerve and prepared to jump.
“Shíhóu, wait!” she heard Ma and Liù’Ěr shout behind her. She ignored their protests and took the plunge.
For a moment, she was blinded. Her senses were consumed by the rushing water. There was a building warmth inside her and golden light flared in her eyes and radiated from her fur and then, as if by magic, the world cleared. She coughed, water clearing from her throat, and she needed a minute to catch her breath. Shakily, Shíhóu got to her hands and feet and looked around.
It was dark, but she could see that she was in a cave. She thought for a moment before she reached for that well of energy that was always inside her and attempted to draw it out into her eyes or her fur for light. After a few moments of concentration, she managed to produce enough light to look around. There wasn’t much to see at first, but her eyes landed on what looked like steps. That had to mean someone had been there, right?
Excited, she charged up the steps and soon the path widened into another cave. And there it was: an abandoned manor. Chittering, she ran to the main door and looked around. The place was huge! Through the dust and gloom, Shíhóu could see the beautiful murals and carvings, and all kinds of stuff she had never seen before.
She had to share what she found!
Shíhóu ran back to the waterfall and looked around for the way out. Where were the path-stones? Cautiously, she touched the water curtain and the golden light around her hands sparked. She watched in wonder as the waterfall radiated golden light before the water parted.
Ma and Míhóu were waiting for her on the other side. Their arms were thrown over their faces, protecting them from the blinding light piercing the darkness. After a moment’s hesitation, they uncovered their eyes and stared at Shíhóu in awe.
“Shíhóu! You’re…” Míhóu trailed off and stared at her with wide, sparkling eyes. It was in that moment that she realized she was still radiating golden light and that she must have been quite a sight.
“Little one,” Ma squeaked. She watched Shíhóu for another moment before she dropped into a kowtow. “My king.”
Shíhóu was stunned at the display. She exchanged a glance with Míhóu before he too bowed – she didn’t know what to make of that.
The blinding light must have woken, not only the troop, but other monkeys and gibbons on the mountain, because soon they were gathering around the pool. One by one they kowtowed before their new king.
Shíhóu didn’t know for sure how this would change her life, but she was eager to see what the future held.