Chapter Text
Spring had just begun to rear its head; trees growing back their leaves from winter and flowers bursting from the ground. The sun was shining bright down on the thriving land, gleams of sunlight casting shadows that stretched like they were living beings themselves, waking up with the rest of the land. The sound of birds chirping fresh in the air, as animals shook off sleep and left their respective homes.
A winding path went through this forest, but it was less a path and more an indentation. Years of large groups of both people and their horses had made their marking on the land. What once was just grass surrounded by trees soon turned to a plain dirt path, helping to guide anyone lost in the forest to a nearby town.
A soft wind blew in the trees, taking along with it a couple of fallen leaves and petals. Macaque enjoyed the serenity of it, watching all of the foliage fly past him. He readjusted the red cloth around his neck, and continued trotting down the road. The Brotherhood needed to take a stop at a nearby village, and chances are they were already far up ahead.
The dark furred Simian had some extra things he wanted to do before leaving, and despite Wukongs whining had encouraged the rest of his Sworn Brothers to go on without him and that he would catch up. They trusted him enough, and so they headed on the path first and let him do what he needed to.
Truthfully, what he wanted was some quiet. He did care for them, but sometimes he wonders if they have a curse that if they stay quiet for too long they will die. Even with his ears glamoured, and his hearing muffled without them, his hearing was still heightened and sometimes it felt like if he had to hear another loud noise, he would snap the table in two.
And so, to avoid drastic and sudden reactions like that, he takes breaks.
He hummed a little tune to himself, the sound pleasant with the joined melody of the birds. Sometimes it felt like they followed along with him directly, working with him to make the most beautiful song in the forest.
The sweet song was unfortunately cut short, as Macaque saw up ahead the silhouette of a bird he knew exceptionally well.
Peng.
To describe Pend would be confusing. Sometimes he would be insulting and harsh, critiquing every action he does and word he says. The next he would be praising his plays or his songs and let him hide beneath his wings from the sun. He was an Enigma.
Macaque silenced himself, and tried to read Peng for any indication of his mood. He was striding forward with confidence and a slight smirk on his face. Once his eyes settled on Macaque, he began to walk faster towards him.
Once Peng was a couple feet away, Macaque spoke first, having not gotten a good read of the blue feathered Eagle. “I wasn’t expecting to see you Peng, I thought you and the rest of the Brotherhood left early?”
Peng kept walking until they were side by side, and kept good pace as they kept moving down the path. He snorted at Macaques inquiry. “Obviously. You were taking your sweet time getting down there, and Azure got worried you might have been lost.”
Ah. That’s why.
Somehow the thought that Peng only came because Azure was worried made him upset. ‘Maybe,’ his mind pipes in ‘You want someone to come look for you on their own accord.’
He quickly shuts that thought down. He doesn’t care if Peng didn’t come of his own accord. He let out a small ‘mm’ to distract himself before speaking “Obviously not if you found me. Just taking in the sights y’know?”
Peng grinned a bit at that. “Must be a very good sight if you aren’t slinking around in the shadows.”
Macaque scoffed. “ What do you have against shadows?” It’s become almost a running gag with the two. Peng insults his shadow abilities, and Macaque bites his tongue to not snap back.
Folding his arms back behind his head, Peng turned to look at him. “Who said I had anything against them? I’m just mentioning the obvious fact that you always use them.” He obviously seemed to take joy from getting Macaque to return his jabs, or even converse with him.
Biting the inside of his mouth, Macaque let out a small laugh. “Whatever you say man. Don’t expect me to portal you out the next time you get caught badmouthing some random leader.” He jokingly shoulder bumped Peng in the side at the reminder of the first, and not the last, time that Macaque has had to drag Peng out of a situation.
Peng happens to have no subtly with insulting people but when you need to lay low you don’t want to start random fights.
“If he didn’t want to be insulted he should have simply been a better leader!” Peng sputtered out, which got a genuine laugh from Macaque. What Macaque didn’t see though was the light blush that went across Pengs face, watching him throw his head back in laughter.
”B..Besides I could have gotten out of there on my own. And don’t you remember when I had to save you from that Tiger guy?” Peng managed to regain his composure just long enough to recall, and remind, the time Peng had to drag Macaque from a window and fly him out after the not so subtle, and extremely one sided advances of a Tiger demon. Technically Macaque could have got out on his own, but he decided to let the Eagle have his moment.
”Fine Fine, we are even then.” Macaque managed to force out after his laughing fit was done. Gods he was glad Peng was in a good mood. When he was insulting he was just irritating and an annoyance but when he was happy? Macaque could see him as a real friend.
The thought prologued his smile, and the two continued their small chatter. Peng would gossip about something he heard in the town they were headed to, and Macaque would listen with full concentration. Occasionally they would bump together and a warm fuzzy feeling would fill Peng until he shoved it down as far as he could with thoughts of what to do when the return home.
The two were so preoccupied, Macaque by the small jokes and gossip Peng would tell him and Peng by the way Macaques tail would swish when he laughed, and the way his eyes would almost crinkle completely shut when he smiled, that the two didn’t notice the Jealous stare from in the trees, coming from a small Yellow and Blue bird.
Wukong glared at Peng specifically, and swore he wouldn’t let him beat him again.
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Checking the Sun in the sky, Azure Lion began to worry. “Shouldn’t Macaque be here by now? I know he said he had something to do, but the town is fairly close by..”
The brotherhood all sat at a small table outside of an inn they had purchased some rooms at. It had been a couple of hours and yet Macaque had yet to arrive.
Yellow Tusk let out a small ‘hmph’ “I’m sure he’s alright, he’s very good with directions and knows his way around. I’m sure he just got caught up and is almost here.” Yellow Tusk knew the silent Macaque decently enough. He knows that he sometimes gets overwhelmed, as he expressed this to Yellow Tusk one day.
’It’s nothing against any of you guys it’s just-‘ Macaque had started, but was obviously beginning to get nervous about the entire thing. Yellow Tusk knew he had to reassure him. ‘Don’t worry about it, I understand. Everyone needs some time alone at some point.’ He had said and cut Macaque off with a small pat to the head. Macaques unease and almost instantly vanished and was replaced with gratitude, which made Yellow Tusk smile. Despite his reclusive behavior, the All Hearing Macaque was a good friend.
”He will be here soon.” Yellow Tusk tried to assure but Azure wouldn’t drop it. “I don’t know, what if he got lost? Maybe I should go look for him..”
Peng could see out of the corner of his eye as Wukong registered his words and went to leap and speak, but Peng moved quicker and stood.
“I’ll go search for him. It would be easy, and I’ve got nothing better to do anyways.” He crossed his arms and tried to seem nonchalant but Yellow Tusk saw through it. Luckily he stayed quiet.
Azure hadn’t noticed though, and clasped his hands together. “That would be good! I do have faith in Macaque but it never hurts to be safe. Thank you Peng.”
Peng let out a small smirk to Wukong, who sent a fiery glare in return. Yellow Tusk spared a look to The Demon Bull King, who returned it with an identical stare of dread.
War was coming