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Age of Finality
Sugriva sat on a window sill, one leg and his tail swinging out the window. The breeze was nice five stories over the mythical city of Bahimatt, and Sugriva closed his eyes to focus on the winds blowing through his golden fur. Down below children played tag with a chakram, throwing the wooden weapon at each other. It wasn't hard enough to cause serious injury, but it would leave a few bruises. Sugriva remembered his own bruises as a child, along with those his uncle added.
The bear general, Humbari, towered over the war map, wood pieces scattered about. Even with the cluster of information, the generals were certain they only marked half of what was out there. Scouts had stopped returning from the demon-infested Sankive Jungle. The Empire hid or moved the gods and samurai with such efficiency it was impossible to have accurate numbers. The demons and Empire were set to clash with each other, and either side coming out victorious would be disastrous. To the south, thousands swarmed from the desert. Rumor was that the lake, which sustained life, dried up. Eventually the desert refugees would reach Bahimatt, where it would help fill out the massive city. Maybe then they could start regularly using the ancient infrastructure.
Paws slammed on the war table and Sugriva popped out of his head and back into the room with the council. General Humbari growled, "Are you with us, Sugriva? Do you have anything to add?" It was a show of force to belittle the monkey, as they both knew Sugriva was only there for his popularity with the people.
He waived his hand in front of his face, black nails emitting smoke to obfuscate his face. "Gods, demons, and southern locusts will meet here, and we pretend the fields are fine—that tigers are not coming for us." Sugriva shrugged and looked back out the window. "We've been in Bahimatt four or five years and we know nothing about it. Let the scholars thoroughly peak under her skirt so we can discover how best to use her." The room mostly scowled at the crass analogy. Or even at any of his analogies. Colorful examples were rarely appreciated.
General Divyan said, "I agree. We send an envoy to the locusts of the south and find their numbers and intent. If they seem friendly, and we can get them here quicker, it could help us bring more of the city to life."
Nods and vocalized agreements were shattered by a roar which rung Sugriva's ears. General Humbari said, "Women open the door to help strangers. Men push the advantage. What if they get into that dome and use it against us? Send a messenger to tell them there is no room."
The dome was off in the distance, the center of the city, and no one could break in. Every now and then a scout would report a shadow slinking in or out, but then the intruder disappeared. Most questioned if the guard saw anything at all. Sugriva was certain the dome was the center of Bahimatt's secrets.
The monkey mumbled, "How did your advances work back in Sankive?" He glared at the general. "I kept Fangs from puncturing Jaya. Demons still whisper about me."
There was silence as everyone waited for Humbari to charge Sugriva, but the charge did not come. General Humbari grumbled, "The war taught me much about advancing. But this is different. These are not the Fangs."
General Divyan stood up for Sugria. "We knew what we fought with the Fangs. We do not know who approaches. We need to be cautious. We need to hope. These locusts could be simply looking for the same thing: Peace."
Prince Anka, the only one in the room who mattered, roused from his seat. “I will think on it. For now, the monkey gives me indigestion and I need to rest. Council dismissed." He waved two fingers and turned away.
Good, the voice inside Sugriva hissed. With fortune, we gave him an ulcer. Sugriva ignored the voice, as he always did.
The generals went down the stairs one by one. Sugriva never understood why those with the ability to fly and climb would waste their talents walking. The generals were not men. Even the one man present could call on wind spirits to whisk him through the air. The rest were janaav.
Sugriva dropped down from the window, gripped a rod with his tail to flip him, then landed on the rooftop. He watched the children still playing below. The sun was getting close to setting, but the kids were orphans. They would play until the master came out to usher them home. At least in Bahimatt their dwellings were far nicer than the orphans of Jaya.
One boy looked up and said, "Ghost Monkey, Feral Sugriva, come play with us." The title was no longer an insult, but a name that the kids spoke as if it was the one given at birth.
"I'm of the warrior caste. Think you can keep up?" Sugriva scratched his pits and grunted. "I cut demons in two with wood chakrams, but for you I'll bring my strength down a few notches." He flipped onto the streets paved with perfectly hewn stone. Three boys threw chakrams at him, and he twisted to dodge the first two. The third he grabbed with his tail and threw back, striking a boy in the gut.
Sugriva howled with laughter. "If this is the best you offer, go home. Sleep it off. Come back if you get better."
The boys doubled down and chased the monkey through the afternoon and into the evening, with the monkey getting the better of them each time.
When they were all exhausted, monkey crouched in front of them. "Will you go home now? The sun is down. We only have the fake light of the city to guide us." He lowered his voice, as if conspiratorial. "Some say it is dangerous when dark."
Boys with families left. The others remained. One approached Sugriva. "Feral Sugriva, they say you know many stories. Can you tell me one?"
"Stories? Stories are for old women. I have tragic experiences. You wouldn't want to hear them. Give you nightmares." Sugriva scratched at his neck.
"My parents were eaten by demons when Jaya fell. The nightmares are already there. Show me yours."
The monkey laughed, then sombered. "Your tragedy doesn't make me laugh. Your view of life does. It is sad a young boy has to be such a grown man. Let me start in the beginning. This is the story of the Venomoid Wars."