Shadows Are Where Secrets Thrive

BathTime

You go by the dojo again but that was to no prevail. You honestly didn't know much about him now that you think about it. You decided to go to every store around town that sells anything with plum flavoring. You knew he liked plums so that might help track him down. Every store you went to, you asked about a dark fur monkey-looking guy who likes plums. People mentioned seeing him but no one knew anything. You asked random people on the street but none knew who Macaque was. You wondered how lonely he must feel because he apparently didn't spend any time finding friends. You start to think about how he likes quiet places and dark because it works best with his abilities. You start to think of anywhere secluded around the town. You look to the horizon while thinking and then you see it. A mountain range that no one visits because there is no life, vegetation, or anything there besides well rocks. You grab onto your bag strap while you start jogging to the train station to catch a ride to see how close you can get to the mountains before you have to start hiking.

After an hour the train drops you off. There was one person running the train station and you asked about Macaque but he said he didn't know anything.

"There were a few like explosions and a rock fall that was super unnatural the other day so be careful if you are going up towards the mountains," he said. You nodded at him gratefully for the information because a few days ago Macaque was super hurt which means that could have been when he got in a fight with Mk and Wukong. With your newfound motivation, you start off at a steady pace up the hiking trail. Every now and then you would call for Macaque. You knew his hearing was amazing so you didn't need to constantly yell it. It then hits you that he could also be ignoring you. He could have heard you but just decided not to answer. You made it about a mile from the top when you saw a sign reading loose rocks and warning you about rock falls. You shrug it off. You have been unfortunate a lot but you have never heard of someone around here being injured or worse on this mountain. You continue on your mission, losing hope of ever finding your runaway monkey.

"Macaque," you yell but quickly stop when you see a pebble fall from above you. In a moment of hope, you assume that it's Macaque and yell again. You saw a few more pebbles drop and then heard rocks grinding on another rock. Yeah, that was not Macaque you think to yourself as you start to back up. You were sure not to make any more noise in case the rocks decided to fully give out and crush you. You think to yourself how attractive of a pancake you would be. You look up and sigh when the rocks above you stop moving. You look away and then hear them shaking, you look back up and see them tumbling down at you. You try running even though the rocks in front of you were also falling. You panic as you decide a pancake wouldn't be a good look. You cover your head waiting for impact but feel yourself be swallowed by the ground instead. You then look around you and see that you are now in a cave. There is a little fire and a pile of plums in one corner. You look towards the darkest corner and blink. You then notice a purple glowing shadow growing at you from the corner.

"Macaque, oh my god I've been so worried," You say as you go to approach him but you notice you can't when your legs are chained to you.

"Macaque, why am I chained up?" you ask as you stare towards the shadow who faded back into the shadows to re-appear next to the fire.

"I only saved you because it was the right thing to do," He says without looking at you, "I know a murder isn't welcomed at your house so I'll send you home after you tell me why you were being so reckless," he says. You thought he was mad at you for a second but then noticed he was also worried because you almost got crushed. You laugh a little which caught him off guard.

"Macaque, were you worried about my safety?" you asked. You could see a slight shade of pink on his face.

"I think that is a little dramatic to say I was worried but...," he says but you just start laughing. He looked at you confused and annoyed when you interrupted him.