Little Crook gently stroked Great Sage with branches and leaves. Doggie stopped fooling around too and stayed quietly by Great Sage's side.
Bai Yaoyao carefully examined the monkeys' bodies. They seemed to have been torn apart by an enormous beast's teeth. The wounds were all similar, suggesting a single mutant beast had killed them.
"Great Sage, you still have us. We..." Monkey crouched on the ground, comforting him softly as he held his hand tight.
Before he could finish, a noise came from inside the artificial rock formation, like someone stepping on leaves.
Everyone hurried to shield Great Sage behind them. They all seemed to have suddenly forgotten that Great Sage was a mutant beast who could kill a level-three zombie with one punch...
All they knew was that Great Sage was hurting right now. He needed protection and comfort, and they wanted to keep him safe. Nothing else mattered. He was their companion.
Even Stone, who was always reserved and spoke little, and Lulu, who never paid these beasts any attention, felt the same.
Suddenly, Great Sage felt as though he could breathe again. Looking at the people around him, he felt a deep warmth. Was this what it meant to have companions?
Bai Yaoyao climbed straight onto the rock formation. She had intended to break it open with Spatial Cut, but a sudden burst of squeaking made her realize something was off.
She took a few steps forward and peered into a rocky hollow. Three monkeys were huddled in a circle, sheltering two little monkeys between them. The noise must have come from the little ones, whose mouths were now being covered.
As soon as Bai Yaoyao took another step forward, the three larger monkeys bared their teeth and glared at her, as though trying to scare her