The jungle was peaceful, the sunlight filtering through the dense trees as little Lenny, a young and playful monkey, swung from branch to branch. He was full of energy, laughing with the wind as he played. But his fun was about to take a painful turn.
Out of nowhere, Rose, an older and fiercer monkey, appeared, her eyes narrow with frustration. Her fur was dark, and she moved quickly, her sharp gaze fixed on Lenny.
“Hey! Watch where you’re swinging, you little nuisance!” Rose barked at Lenny, her voice full of anger.
Lenny froze, startled by her sudden harshness. “I’m sorry, Rose! I didn’t mean to—”
Before Lenny could finish, Rose lunged forward. In one swift motion, she bit him hard on the arm. Lenny screamed in shock and pain, the sharp bite making him fall from the tree.
The other monkeys watched from afar, frozen in disbelief.
Lenny clutched his arm, tears streaming down his face. “Why, Rose? Why did you do that?” His voice trembled, hurt both from the bite and from the confusion of the sudden attack.
Rose stood over him, her eyes cold and hard. “You’re always playing around, being careless. You don’t take anything seriously. Maybe this will teach you to pay attention.”
Lenny winced, his tiny body shuddering in pain. “But I… I was just having fun… I didn’t mean to upset you.”
The other monkeys began to murmur, looking at Rose in disbelief. She had always been tough, but never this cruel.
One of the older monkeys, Elder Mira, stepped forward. “Rose, that was too harsh. Lenny is just a baby. You cannot treat him like that.”
Rose’s expression softened for a moment, but her pride kept her from fully showing remorse. “He needs to learn. The jungle isn’t kind to those who don’t pay attention.”
Lenny, still sobbing softly, rubbed his arm where the bite had left a mark. Elder Mira gently approached him and helped him to his feet.
“It’s okay, Lenny. Come with me, and we’ll take care of that bite,” Elder Mira said, her voice soothing and kind.
As Lenny was carried away to safety, Rose stood alone, watching them leave. Something deep inside her stirred, and for a moment, she wondered if she had gone too far. But she quickly turned her gaze away, too proud to admit it.
