The forest fell silent when Elan Mum made her choice. High above the roots and stones, she clutched the branch with trembling hands, her heart pounding louder than the cicadas. Below, the Bad King Daddy Monkey paced with heavy steps, his shadow stretching close to where her tiny puppies huddled together. Their small cries were thin, fragile sounds that cut through Elan Mum’s chest like thorns.
She was torn between instinct and fear. Every fiber of her being wanted to gather her babies close, to shield them with her own body. But danger pressed in, and staying still meant risking everything. With a breath that felt like breaking, Elan Mum leapt. The air rushed past her as she flew from branch to branch, escaping just long enough to draw the threat away. It was a desperate gamble, born from a mother’s love and a painful hope.
From above, she watched. The puppies shuffled together, confused but alive, their eyes searching the leaves for her familiar face. Elan Mum’s heart ached as she circled back, keeping distance yet never leaving them from sight. Every step of the Bad King Daddy Monkey near them felt like a blow to her spirit, but she stayed strong, planning, waiting for the right moment.
Time stretched. Finally, the danger drifted off, distracted by the forest’s endless noise. Elan Mum returned quietly, wrapping her babies in her arms. Their warmth steadied her shaking breath. She groomed them gently, as if smoothing away the fear they had shared.
That night, under a pale moon, Elan Mum held her puppies close. The forest was still dangerous, but love had carried them through. In the painful beating of her heart, she promised to keep flying, keep fighting, and never stop choosing her children—no matter how high the leap or how deep the fear.
