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."
Chapter TwoThe Story of the Venomoid Wars and Puncture Day
Age of Men 806
Bajjo dug with ferocity through the soft dirt. Soil sprayed across the three soldiers behind him, and Sugriva regularly spat it out. Mud frothed on his lips.
In janaav form, Bajjo had black fur and a white stripe from his head to his tail. He had fierce claws and a snout. The attitude was always there, as it was for all honey badger janaav. He called back, "Can hear fighting. Diggin’ through guts instead of earth soon."
Sugriva jabbed, "Not as fast as some of your brothers, if they're already in the pit."
"Can dig through your innards, so watch it monkey boy," he snarled. "Can't even take your janaav form. All man or all monkey," Bajjo scoffed. The remarks put a pit in Sugriva's chest, but it didn't matter. He could still fight better than any man and most janaav.
Labda, the only man on their team, elbowed Sugriva. "You always rile him up. What for?" Labda was a large man with a massive beard and long curly black hair. His arms were covered in a thick, raven coat of hair so illustrious some thought it a tell that he was a janaav. At
