Woo had been right. The news spread like wildfire, and people all over the base were talking about the long-held mystery of their commander's identity finally being solved. They were all shocked. A Monkey? How could their peace-loving, pacifistic leader be the prince of the violent Monkeys? ApeTrully couldn't be in the lineage of the most despised and feared Animals out there! But then again, his name was ApeTrully, and while Apes weren't Monkeys, it was very close.

To put it lightly, the base was in turmoil. And once Rahim headed out for his warriors, Woo was left to himself, stuck in the medical bay while Fai, Kuo, and Gho took care of him. Rahim had told him to rest, and Woo knew that when Hardwin arrived with the Monkeys, he would have to be up and about for a while, so he was being a good patient and staying in bed. With so much down time gave him time to think, and he focused on memories of Blayze and their past.

After their first two conversations, Blayze regularly came to Woo's window and they had fun. Woo's parents wouldn't have approved of a Monkey in their home, but they were focused on Woo's older brothers. Woo was the smallest of his entire family. His brothers took after his father, huge, muscular, and very athletic. Even Woo's mother was an unusually tall woman, and while she was delicate, she encouraged Woo's brothers in their physical activities while leaving her youngest to his scrolls and books.

Before Blayze, Woo had been lonely, but the small boy had finally found an intellectual equal in the young Monkey. But it wasn't the same kind of intelligence. Woo had a fondness for science, math, and inventing, but Blayze had a memory for languages, history, and folklore. Between them, they knew a smattering of just about everything. Woo would sit for hours, listening to the increasingly articulate Monkey speak of the other Animals and their traditions, legends, and anything else interesting. In turn, the little Monkey would listen to Woo's ideas and try out his inventions. They were quite the pair.

After several weeks of sitting in Woo's room, Blayze insisted that they go into the woods. Woo had sent him ahead then tentatively asked his mother if he could go and play in the forest. She waved him off, telling him to beware of any creatures he ran into. Especially Monkeys. Woo said nothing to this and ran outside, past his older brothers, who were wrestling and laughing. They paid no mind to him, and a surge of loneliness touched his heart, and tears stung his eyes.

Blayze waited for him just behind the bush where Woo had first seen his friend's red eyes. He noticed the tears immediately, and his nose twitched as he leaned forward. His furry paws settled on either side of Woo's face and he was pulled close to the inquiring gaze.

"Is something wrong, Woo?" he asked.

"No," Woo lied, trying to draw back.

Blayze tutted. "You are full of sorrow. I see it in your eyes. Do you not trust me?"

Woo shrugged, glancing away. "It's nothing."

"Nothing does not make you cry," Blayze replied, releasing his friend's face.

Woo blushed, reaching up to wipe away the tears that were beginning to leak from the corners of his eyes. Blayze watched, sitting in silence, his tail curling into a question mark. Woo could tell he wanted to wrap his friend in his tail. It was part of Monkey culture, but Woo was uncomfortable because he couldn't reciprocate. He didn't want to admit this to Blayze, but he knew it would only be a matter of time until the Monkey figured it out. He was such a people person, and he could read emotional cues better than any other creature that Woo had ever met.

After several moments, Woo sighed, hugging himself. "Mother didn't even care that I asked to leave. And my brothers didn't even glance at me. Chang and Gang were wrestling, and the others just watched and cheered. It's like I'm invisible in my own home. All because I'm small and useless."

"Small you might be," Blayze replied, placing a paw on Woo's cheek. "But you have more brains and heart than any of those brutes."

Woo was torn between amusement and offence, but he smiled. "I wouldn't call them brutes."

"Doesn't that mean a large person?" Blayze asked intently.

"It has a negative connotation," Woo replied. "It's a person who is particularly violent or savage."

Blayze considered this then nodded. "My apologies. I did not know the true meaning of that word. I did not mean to insult your family."

"You're still learning, even if you speak almost perfectly," Woo reassured him. "So what did you want to do in the forest?"

"I wanted to take you to meet my best Monkey friend. He's going to meet us by the leachy-nut tree when the sun is at its highest point in the sky. Come. We have a short walk."

Woo followed Blayze as he trotted along on his four paws, talking about the trees, which Woo knew by heart. He began to point out trees and list characteristics and scientific names of each. Blayze listened eagerly, but excitement and nerves bubbled just below the surface of his beaming smile. Woo was rather disappointed when they got to the rendezvous place. They sat down under the boughs and Woo leaned back, taking a deep breath. He looked into the branches of the tree, and a yell burst from his lips as a pair of wide blue eyes stared down at him. Blayze glanced at him in surprise. When he saw that Woo was looking up, he raised his eyes to the branches and let out a shriek of joy.

With ease, the red Monkey skittered up the tree and began to chitter and chatter to the blue Monkey that had surprised Woo so badly. Woo watched them curiously. There was the air of familiarity between the two Monkeys, and their casual touches and almost automatic preening told Woo that they were indeed best friends. Woo felt a little left out, and when Blayze and the blue Monkey looked down at him, grinning, he looked away, afraid to be seen as insensitive and rude. Blayze snorted and they hopped down.

"Woo," he said with a smile. "This is Hardwin, my best Monkey friend. Hardwin, this is Woo."

"Woohoo?" the blue Monkey asked. "Fun, fun time shout?"

"No," Blayze laughed then spoke rapidly in his own tongue.

Hardwin listened then nodded. "Woo. I Hardwin," he said leaning forward, his gaze intense. "Never seen Human before. You small. All small?"

Woo's cheeks flushed, and he shook his head. "No. Not all Humans are so small. I'm…"

Blayze noticed his embarrassment then turned to squeak at Hardwin, chittering quickly. Hardwin continued to gaze at Woo, fascinated. When Blayze finished talking, Hardwin reached over and poked Woo's cheek.

"Human like Chameleon?" he asked.

"What?" Blayze asked.

"Color change. No peachy no more. Him red."

"That's a blush, Hardwin," Blayze giggled. "He's embarrassed."

"Em…?"

Blayze spoke in Monkey again, and Hardwin perked. "Ah. Hot face!" he said triumphantly.

"Yes," Blayze said. "Hot face."

Woo's face certainly felt hot, and he glanced away. Blayze wrapped his tail around him, ignoring Woo's attempts to get away. He pulled him against his furry body, smiling.

"Don't be that way, Woo," he scolded playfully. "You don't have to be embarrassed around us. Hardwin's my best friend. He'll be your friend, too! And friends laugh and have fun, even through the blushes."

Woo finally laughed, nudging him and grabbing the end of Blayze's tail. "Is it possible for me to learn Monkey-speak?"

Blayze's entire face lit up. "You want to learn Monkey?"

"Yeah," Woo said. "I'm not so good with languages, but I think I could learn your tongue. For you and Hardwin."

The red Monkey beamed then Hardwin giggled. "Him have hot face now, too."

Woo studied the white face, trying to catch the signs. It wasn't as obvious as a Human's color change, but there was certainly a pleased, sheepish quality in the simian's face. Woo grinned, poking Blayze's cheek.

"Take your own advice," he teased then tugged lightly on the long, red tail.

Blayze squealed and spun around with joy. Hardwin danced with him, a fluid movement of such grace that Woo was transfixed. The red Monkey had told him of the most prized skill of the Monkeys, the thing that they all practiced and perfected, but to actually see his friend dance was surreal. When the two Monkeys parted, they turned to see a wondrous expression on the small boy's face.

"You've got to teach me that, too," he said breathlessly.

"Tricky, tricky," Hardwin said.

"Hardwin's right, Woo," Blayze said. "I think we should start with language lessons. Now, you will say 'hello' in Monkey speak. Easy to start with."

Blayze made a noise that sounded halfway between a squeak and a shrill whistle, and there was the chatter of teeth at the end. Woo stared at him for a moment, unsure of what he was to do. Blayze smiled.

"Repeat it," he laughed.

"Say it again?" Woo asked hesitantly.

Blayze repeated it, and Woo struggled to produce the same noise. Apparently, he'd said something that wasn't 'hello' because both Blayze and Hardwin burst into merry peals of laughter. His face warmed again, and he crossed his arms and glared at them.

"I'm trying, Blayze! Don't laugh," he groused.

"You're right, you're right," Blayze sighed, gesturing for Hardwin to stop laughing. "Let's try again. You'll get it. Laoshi says its harder for Hu-mans to learn our tongues than the other way around."

After an hour's struggle, he could finally say, "Hello, I am Woo," in Monkey-speak. Blayze was pleased with his progress, assuring him that he was doing quite well for a beginner. And Woo had gone home, practicing the sentence he'd learned. And he'd fallen asleep that night, more determined than ever to learn his best friends' tongue.

Woo smiled to himself. He'd driven his family up the wall with his language practice. They didn't know what he was doing, and they finally assumed that he was just making those strange noises for attention, just like he spouted random facts for attention. But that was the beginning of his journey to stop caring what his family thought of his every action. He'd cared more about pleasing Blayze and Hardwin than what his family thought of him.

A frown hovered about his lips as he considered his relationship with his family. They had left their home after Woo's misadventure with Blayze and the rebels. Woo had forced them to move, and it was a good thing he had. Severne had destroyed their home less than three days after they'd moved. And they weren't the only ones.

The memories that pricked at his mind were painful, so he shook them away, refusing to go there right now. He heard the low murmur of voices, and Woo turned to see what was going on. Lin Chung stood there speaking to Gho. Woo watched with mild interest as Gho nodded and gestured to him before leaving. Lin Chung approached after making sure that nobody was around.

"Woo," he said in his calm, steady voice. "Are you well?"

"Better, Lin Chung," Woo said. "May I help you?"

"What are your plans with the Monkeys and Panthers?" Lin Chung asked, fingering the feather on his staff.

"They are to have rooms for themselves," Woo said.

"Where?" the man pressed.

"On the other side of the base."

Lin Chung thought about that, pursing his lips. "Good. But will they be allowed everywhere?"

"Just like any other Animal who has joined Big Green."

"But can you trust the Monkeys?" Lin Chung pressed.

"I can, yes," Woo said. His dark eyes glanced over the grey hair. "I noticed you aren't worried about the Panthers."

"I've…had dealings with them," Lin Chung replied evasively.

"I know," Woo answered. "Rahim said it would be interesting to cohabitate with you again, considering you deny that you are who you are."

Lin Chung paled, his grey eyes widening as he stepped back. He looked terrified. "How… You… You know? A-About that?"

"Blayze and I are good friends with Rahim," Woo said calmly, staring up at the ceiling. "We know all about what and who you are, Lin Chung."

The man flushed. "And you never told me," he said accusingly.

"It never came up," Woo replied. "Unless you want us to announce your connection with the Panthers to the whole base?"

"No!" Lin Chung gasped.

"Then don't blame us. We haven't told anybody," Woo said. He finally turned to gaze into Lin Chung's fearful eyes. "Rahim told me that he will not speak of what you are while he's here. He is bringing your mother, and the other Panthers will probably stare, but they have been ordered to say nothing to you or your friends. They are not to acknowledge that you know them at all."

Lin Chung's face pinched in pain, and he looked away. "Oh. That's… That's good. I'll… I'll be going now."

Woo softened as the man turned and walked toward the door. "Lin Chung. May I offer you some advice?"

The warrior paused, but he didn't say anything.

"I understand what it is to lose your family," he said gently. "Don't make this mistake or you'll regret it for the rest of your life. Rahim is your father, Lin Chung. He loves you very much, even if you're Human."

Lin Chung placed a hand on the door frame then turned, tears gleaming in his eyes. "Even Bàba doesn't know what's wrong. How do you?"

"Because I've spent more time with Animals than almost every other person in this base," Woo said. "And it's easy for Humans to feel inadequate when comparing themselves to their amazing abilities and skills. But the way Rahim speaks about you, Lin Chung, leaves no doubt as to how much he loves you. I suggest you find time to talk to him about your doubts."

Lin Chung stood there for a moment, then let out a deep sigh. He passed a hand over his face, and his features seemed to shift, his hair darkening a bit, and his expression took on an animalistic quality.

"What if he doesn't understand?"

"You won't know until you talk to him," Woo said. "Think about it."

Lin Chung's features smoothed back into his Human form, and he nodded. "I will. Thank you, Woo."

The man turned and walked away, leaving Woo alone again. The small man didn't mind, and he sighed heavily as he closed his eyes to rest. He missed Blayze so badly. What if he was doing everything wrong? Adding the Monkeys and Panthers to their roster, talking openly about what Lin Chung was, revealing what Animal their commander was, everything suddenly seemed to be too much, and Woo turned away from the door and began to cry. Why was everything so complicated? No answer came to mind.