Enemy?

As I reach the very top, I pull myself up and roll over onto my back. I huff a few times and feel my stomach growl, demanding food I don't have. As I go to sit up, I feel something hit my head again! I jerk and turn around to glare at the little monkey chilling in the tree above me.

I flip the thing off and watch with disbelief when it flips me off! He looks at his finger and pulls up his other hand, flipping me off with both as I sigh and say "That's all on me..." I turn around and walk through the bushes to see Thane crouched down in front of me.

His hand was on the dirt like the was looking for something but he just silently stands and asks "What happened?" I frown and ask "Why do you think something happened?" He frowns in disappointment and says "The marks tell me something happened but if that isn't enough, you're covered in scratches, leaves, and... are those sucker sticks?"

I frown in confusion and say "What?" His eyes were on my head so I quickly reach up and feel around but I don't feel anything. Thane lifts his hand and pulls something out of my hair and puts it in front of my face with a look of confusion.

That cheeky little... I turn around and glare up at the tree but I can't see anything. Thane pulls something else out of the back of my hair, making me flinch as I turn around and see another stick. I sigh as Thane says "Talk"

I look back up at the surrounding trees before grabbing Thane's arm and pulling him away before saying "That thing that attacked me at the first base is back! It attacked me again and... long story short, it's a monkey! A vicious, cunning little monkey who likes suckers!"

Thane watches me with concern before looking back to the bushes. He silently watches them before looking back to me and asking "When's the last time you ate?" I frown at the question and say "I ate when we were at the last base, with everyone else. Why?"

He twirls the sucker sticks in his fingers before saying "Maybe you should lay off the sugar until we get to the next base." I gape at him and hiss out "Do you think I'm making this shit up!? How could I!? It's a tiny little white monkey with razor-sharp teeth and tiny little white wings! It likes suckers! That's why it kept attacking me!"

Thane tosses the sticks and grabs both my arms before saying "Okay, okay. I believe you, okay? Just calm down and stay close. That way... if it comes back, whatever it might be, I can keep it off you, okay?" I open my mouth to plead my case again but words fail me.

I deflate and nod my head before saying "Sure... thanks." Thane gives me a small smile and pats my head before saying "Let's go clean up with the others. They found a small creek." I nod and wave at him as if to say 'Lead the way' before following. Stupid monkey...

As Thane and I make it over to the creek, I see a few of the guys had their shirts off as they try to clean up. I walk until I'm upstream before planting myself down next to the creek. I try to ignore the guys as I dip my hands down into the ice-cold water and splash my face.

After washing my face and brushing my teeth the best I could, I lean back to see the little monkey doing the same thing! I fall back and land on my ass as I look at the thing with wide eyes. I quickly glance at the others to see none of them paying me any attention.

I look back to the money to see my blade held by its tail. I nervously lift my hands and say "I don't have any more suckers." He tosses the blade at me, making me jump but he clearly wasn't trying to hit me. He was returning it... huh.

I pick the blade up and slip it back into the sheath strapped to my thigh as I say "Thank you..." He gives me a creepy toothy grin before flipping me off. I feel myself grinning as I flip him off and nod my head.

"Valen! Let's go!" Conner yells making me jump. I turn to see they were packing up to leave but when I look back, the monkey was gone. I stand up and dry my hands off as I look around for signs of him but when I don't find him, I decide to leave.

Luck seems to be on our side today. The sun was out and strong, it was going to be a hot day. Cruz was driving again today so the rest of us load up in the back of the truck. As I reach the truck, a large hand appears before me.

I look up to see Thane holding his hand out for me. I lift my hand and claps his as he quickly pulls me up. Conner pats the top of the truck, signaling Cruz to take off as Thane and I sit down. We were technically off-road so we all hold on as Cruz tries to make it to the next base without going back to the main road.

If the Ragers really are hunting us, the main road will be a death trap for us. As we continue through the woods, I can't help but enjoy the warm sun. It was helping me dry off and since the rain yesterday, I've been a little cold.

Now that I was able to dry off, things should start looking up, right?