Book 3: Heart Strings

Chapter 2: Water Works

Heart Strings

Chapter 2

Water Works

He was bigger than Yomi that was for sure. Tao was going to be a tall monkey like his father. Both Wukong, and Macaque were taller than most monkeys. Tyla just figured it had something to do with being males. But then she saw other male monkeys of their species and they were significantly taller than they were. Even MK was shorter than them, but then again he wasn't a full monkey. According to him only his mother was. Both of which died from a plague that swept through their village when he was just a boy. Wukong saw it fit to adopt him after he was able to lift the staff. MK was incredibly grateful, not only that he now had siblings too. Plus he was an uncle.

The loud splash that showed everyone in the vicinity was what caught Tyla off guard. She giggled and looked down at her son. She was putting on his small bathing suit so he could play in the shallows with the other kids. He was only two years old now, but just as tall as his Aunt Yomi. Tyla put her feet into the water and lowered Tao in. Yomi held out her hand for him to take. Yomi could swim, but not very well yet. She was 7 years old and just as adorable. Her hair was at least down to her shoulders and poked out just as much as Tyla's dead but looked to be a mix of Tyla and Raya's.

Tao sat down in the water and started to blow bubbles like Yomi was doing. Soft giggles were heard from the other children who joined in on the swimming lesson.

High above sat there watchful guardian. Much to Wukongs dismay Macaque was more active in Tao's life then he had before. Tao didn't seem to mind either.

When Macaque first showed up Tao was very iffy about Macaque and didn't want to go near him, hiding under his mothers arms, pillows, blankets, behind trees. Even crawling into Yomi's lap to hide from the big monkey's gaze. Finally after a few weeks of this Wukong sighed as the toddler hid under his arm. He picked him up and deposited the toddler onto Macaque's lap and leaned forward.

"Stay." Macaque didn't like the forcefulness and threw a pillow at Wukong. Wukong bristled at Macaque but realized just what Macaque had done. The infant curled himself into Macaque's arms and whimpered looking at his grandfather. The king rejected the little monkey and gave him to another. After a little while Tyla sat down next to macaque solidifying to action. Wukong sighed and looked at Macaque.

"MK will be King after me. He will throw the majority of the males out that offend him. You know that right? Even...the smaller ones." Wukong said to them. Tyla looked up at MK who sat making a basket and waved his hand at them. Tyla smiled at her little brother. He was good with his hands and loved to build things when not saving the world. He held the basket out to a female monkey who had only just had a baby a few days ago. She smiled at the gift and lay her baby inside it. She nuzzled the young prince before walking off into the trees.

"He will be a good king, I will not say otherwise. But...he's mostly a young male and the females are the ones who need to be watched. How about you watch the males, train them to protect the females...while we look out for the females in the meantime?" Tyla offered. "Maybe if we're lucky..." She looked up at MK who softly poked sleeping Yomi awake. She jumped up and looked around. She giggled pushing away MK's tickling fingers.

"Maybe if we're lucky he'll find a mate." Macaque patted his sons back. The toddler's lip poked out. Sticking his tongue out at Wukong who stood up and quickly to reprimand the toddler. Macaque turned away from Wukong and walked toward the houses. Since then Wukong hadn't tried to reprimand the little boy. Macaque was the father now, not a King but he had made it obvious that he wasn't going to let Wukong do as he pleases with his son.

It is all too obvious that if they had a romantic relationship before it was long over and Tyla wasn't sure what happened between the two, but she didn't want to pry.

That was a few weeks ago. Now Tyla and Macaque seemed to have ironed some things about raising their son. They didn't live together, but they lived close to one another just in case something happened and the other was needed.

"Suna!" Tao threw his arms in the air. The friend he had grown up with was there. Suna and Tao were the same age even though Suna's mental capacity was the same, their ages were similar.

"Tao!" the young fox spirit walked over and cuddled the toddler and sat down in the water. It was hot outside and Suna loved the feel of the sun on her fur. It has gotten more shiny today.

"How's she doing in school?" Tyla asked.

"A little...odd. At least it's preschool and she can meet new friends. But there are some who aren't too happy that there's a fox spirit there." Pigsy said looking at Tang who sighed.

"I was hoping she'd be welcomed, she is a child after all." Tang once again was still wearing his normal frock but at least he switched from a heavy color to something more lighter because of the heat.

No one seemed to notice anything was wrong with Tang.