Monkey Business

When The Red River Comes

The day we messed up

"Tatara, I'm heading out" I could never tell whether he was in or out, he didn't come home last night so I presumed he was with Kumatetsu. Maybe I'd see him as I left? He was so careless sometimes! I prayed I could explain the blood stained hammock before he returned, otherwise I doubt he'd listen and make me see the nearest medic

Though I wasn't a beast of any kind, I was a known local. Not everyone knew I was human since I normally used a hood or some kind of cover to hide the beastly features I didn't have but today...I just didn't have the energy to hide myself, plus - the lady knew I was human anyway, that's why she started selling more well known methods foraged from my home-world

"I'm sorry I'm out, but I started making my own - I've been using them for years and they work wonders!" I took whatever help I could get before she helped me homing knowing all too well the first day was the worst...or at least that was the plan. Reality was that we'd barely left the stall before a ruckus broke out in the centre of the market

No. It couldn't be, there was no way! Well there was a small possibility but I hoped it would never happen, life was just taunting me today...children when I could never bare my own, cramps and blood to remind me to try and products that could fail. A monk saved the child before two very familiar voices filled the air, ones I'd been waiting to hear all night

Kumatetsu...and Tatara - what had they done now? A joke gone wrong? That bear was so desperate to become lord, he'd try just about anything! Humans were never meant to be involved in beast business such as lords and apprenticeships, "why don't you-" I was just about to beg for him to be returned home when a stabbing pain surfaced in my abdomen causing the monkey's eyes to fill with concern

At this moment in time, I became his main priority - whatever was going on with the child could wait and Kumatetsu could do without him but I was just fine. I guess he'd never really seen me like this before since he was usually out or sleeping somewhere, even though it was his house - I was the one who 'put food on the table' so to speak although it wasn't some mighty job

"Let's get you back home" the ape looked from me slowly walking away hunched over in pain to his idiot-of-a-friend and back not knowing who to tend to first , the whole situation was a mess! And we all knew it. "She'll be fine - she just needs rest, I'll make sure she gets some" that seemed to ease his decision a little but I knew it would linger in the back of his mind

The woman did as she stated and took me home, made me sit while she hung a fresh hammock and lured me in with some sort of makeshift bag filled with something hot so I guessed water before the woman threw on the thin blankets "I'll tell your customers their commissions are on hold, take the rest of the day off" her hand stroked my cheek before she settled into the chair as I drifted off to sleep

Rocking gently back and forth, my eyes gradually took back in the world noticing how when I fell asleep it was mid-morning and now it must've been late evening...crap! I slept all day?! My hands moved to steady the hammock only to lose my balance, - as I began to fall, two hands held just under my arms as I came face to face with Tatara who's tail was still wrapped around the end of the cloth

He gently pushed the upper half of my torso that was currently being held up by him alone back onto the hammock then continued to peep over the edge "you gave me quite the scare, in the market. Don't think you're going anywhere anytime soon" his hand ruffled my hair slightly before resuming rocking the swing while watching my every move as if I were to break at any moment

"I'm okay, I promise - things should improve over the next few days. But my commissions- you- dinner-" he started shushing me as I listed all the things that should've been done today, normally I'd be the one listening to how his day went - not the other way around. It's strange to believe we were once just housemates, then he confessed when I finally found somewhere else

Sure, it wasn't your typical relationship nor was it commonly heard of but we were happy - not many people could say they'd dated a monkey...but I could. It didn't matter that I was just a little bit taller than him, or that he occasionally left sheddings around the house but it was all worth it in the end, even when we fought! We always made up in the end! We'd learnt how to act like adults with each other!

"I am capable of taking care around here y'know? I did manage before you" at a normal time, I wouldn't of taken any notice but now I was sensitive - I heard this as him saying he didn't need me anymore, that I was a waste of space...that I meant nothing to him. Of course this wasn't what he meant at all, from his point of view - he was stating that his life wasn't solely in my hands which was good...he would've died by now if it was

I hadn't always been so great at taking care of myself let alone others, my mother often sent me on my own to the market but that was the extent of my independence. Things only really started when I decided to move out although I guess they had to - Mom wouldn't harbour me forever and I wanted to see things for myself! Apparently little me was quite inquisitive none the less

Not everything changes with age...