The afternoon sun lay warm over the edge of a small village where the forest met human homes. A troop of monkeys often wandered here, searching for fruit scraps or enjoying the cool shade near the water jars. Among them was a young mother monkey named Rena, carrying her tiny baby, Lulo, against her chest.
Lulo was only a few weeks old—soft, fragile, and innocent. He clung to his mother with tiny trembling fingers, always curious but never ready for the dangers of the human world.
On this day, Rena felt comfortable. The village seemed quiet. A few chickens pecked at the ground, and a distant radio played music from a house. She loosened her hold just a little, allowing Lulo to explore the branch near the wall. He climbed only a few steps away from her, giggling softly.
But nearby, tied to a post outside one of the houses, a large husky named Koda watched the monkeys with alert blue eyes. He was strong, energetic, and playful—but also unpredictable. To him, the forest monkeys were strange creatures, small and fast, awakening his instinct to chase.
Rena didn’t notice him at first.
Lulo crawled down the wall, wanting to touch a shiny piece of plastic blowing in the wind. Rena followed slowly, checking the area—but she never saw the husky tense, never saw the fur along his spine rise, never heard the low growl building in his throat.
And then it happened.
Koda lunged.
The rope around his neck was long. Much longer than Rena expected. With a powerful leap, the husky reached the base of the wall just as Lulo touched the ground.
Lulo screamed—a tiny, terrified scream that stabbed through the air.
Rena’s heart stopped.
Before she could reach him, the husky grabbed the baby monkey in his strong jaws. Not out of cruelty—out of instinct. But the result was the same.
Lulo’s body jerked in the dog’s teeth. His soft skin broke instantly, and a sharp cry escaped him, thin and weak. Rena charged forward, screaming with a sound so fierce, so desperate, that even the husky hesitated for a heartbeat.
But the damage was done.
Rena reached Koda, hitting him with both hands, biting his fur, pulling his ears. She was wild—driven by pure, burning terror. The husky tried to shake her off, confused, reacting on instinct to defend himself. But finally, startled by her ferocity, he dropped the baby.
Lulo fell to the ground, limp.
Rena rushed to him, scooping him into her arms. Her hands trembled uncontrollably as she examined the tiny body. Bite marks covered his side. Blood seeped into his fur. His breaths were short, weak, almost fading.
She groomed him frantically, trying to wipe away the blood, whispering broken, trembling sounds. She pressed him to her chest, rocking him, protecting him from everything—even though the danger had already struck.
Villagers stepped out of their houses, shocked by the noise. Someone grabbed the husky’s rope and pulled him back. Others watched helplessly as the mother monkey cried out in agony.
Rena didn’t look at them. She didn’t care about anything except the tiny life in her arms.
She climbed up the nearest tree, carrying Lulo close. She settled on a thick branch, her breathing ragged. Lulo’s tiny eyes fluttered open, full of pain. He reached a little hand toward her chin, his fingers barely moving.
Rena pressed her forehead to his, whispering soft, trembling calls—apologies, love, pleas for him to stay with her.
But Lulo’s breathing grew slower.
The forest wind grew still.
The world seemed to hold its breath.
Rena groomed him gently, her hands no longer frantic but slow, shaky, full of desperate hope. The troop gathered around her quietly, staying close, watching with fearful eyes.
Lulo let out one final, soft sound—so faint it barely reached the air.
Then his body relaxed in her arms.
Rena froze, unable to accept what she felt. She rocked him gently, kissing his head, licking the wounds, trying to warm him back to life. Tears dripped from her eyes onto his fur. She hugged him close, refusing to let go, refusing to believe her precious baby was gone.
The sun dropped lower, casting long shadows over the village.
And still, Rena held her baby, crying softly into the fading light—her heart broken, her world shattered by the bite of a single moment.
