The forest was alive with its usual morning symphony — the chattering birds, the rustling leaves, the soft splash of the river weaving through the heart of the jungle. Everything felt calm, peaceful, and routine. But hidden beneath that serenity, an unexpected incident was about to unfold, one that would prove just how brave and intelligent a tiny baby monkey could be — especially when the one he loved was in danger.
CUTIS, the gentle and thoughtful young monkey, had taken the baby monkey out for their usual morning adventure. CUTIS loved exploring, observing, and teaching the baby new things. The troop trusted him deeply because he had a natural ability to stay calm in difficult situations. The baby monkey adored him even more — to him, CUTIS was like a wise older brother, someone he followed everywhere, someone he copied, someone he trusted more than anyone.
That day, they wandered farther from the main troop than usual. CUTIS wanted to show the baby monkey a secret spot — a peaceful little clearing near an old but strong mango tree, where ripe fruits often fell untouched. It was CUTIS’s favorite thinking place, and he wanted to share it with the little one.
The baby monkey jumped excitedly around him as they approached. “CUTIS! Mango! Mango!” he screamed in delight, running ahead.
“Slow down,” CUTIS laughed, watching the baby’s excitement. “The fruit isn’t going anywhere.”
But as they neared the clearing, the quiet forest suddenly shifted. A strange, sharp sound sliced through the air — not one they heard often, but one that made CUTIS’s heart skip.
A whip-like snap. A harsh metallic clang. Rustling that didn’t sound like leaves.
CUTIS’s ears perked up instantly.
“Baby, come here,” he called sharply.
But the little monkey was too busy dancing around the mango tree to notice the tension in CUTIS’s voice.
CUTIS stepped forward carefully, scanning the ground, the bushes, the branches. And then he saw it — a snare trap hidden under leaves, its metal wire glinting faintly in the sunlight. Humans sometimes set these traps near water sources, and they were dangerous even for adult monkeys.
CUTIS froze only for a moment, but in that moment everything changed.
The moment he stepped forward to pull the baby back, his foot caught the barely visible wire.
Snap!
The trap reacted instantly — tightening around CUTIS’s leg with a fierce, unforgiving grip.
CUTIS cried out, stumbling and falling to the ground. The wire tightened further, pulling his leg painfully. He struggled, but the more he moved, the tighter it became.
The baby monkey whipped around, eyes widening in terror as he saw CUTIS writhing.
“CUTIS!! CUTIS!!” he screamed, rushing toward him.
CUTIS forced himself to stay calm. Panic would only make things worse.
“STOP!” he shouted. “Don’t touch it!”
The baby monkey froze, trembling, confused and terrified.
CUTIS breathed heavily. “Listen… listen carefully. I need your help. But you must do exactly as I say.”
The baby nodded frantically, tears forming in his big round eyes.
CUTIS knew the adults were too far to hear his cries. And even if they did, they might not know how to release this kind of trap. They needed help — fast. And the only one who could get it was the tiny baby monkey.
“Go get Mom,” CUTIS instructed. “Run fast. Bring her here.”
The baby monkey took one step back, but something made him hesitate. CUTIS grimaced, pulling on the wire. It didn’t budge. The baby’s heart pounded; he didn’t want to leave CUTIS alone.
But then — something remarkable happened.
The baby monkey didn’t run for help.
Instead, he looked around — slowly, carefully, thoughtfully.
His panicked breathing steadied.
He had watched CUTIS solve problems so many times. He had seen how CUTIS stayed calm, how he observed before acting. And now, for the first time, the little one tried to think the same way.
He moved closer, but not too close to the trap. He studied the wire, the small wooden trigger, the bent stick anchoring the snare. He remembered how CUTIS always looked at the source of a problem, not just the part he could see.
CUTIS watched him, surprised. “Baby… what are you doing?”
But the baby monkey ignored the fear inside him and focused. He slowly moved around the trap, crawling under branches, scanning the mechanism the way CUTIS always scanned everything. Then he spotted it — the tension stick holding the wire tight.
His eyes lit up.
CUTIS saw it too. “The stick… if it moves, the wire might loosen.”
The baby monkey nodded fiercely. “I do it! I do it for CUTIS!”
He grabbed a fallen mango and pushed it toward the tension stick. The mango rolled, hit the stick lightly, but not enough to break it loose. The baby monkey tried again, pushing harder this time. The mango bumped the stick — but still too softly.
CUTIS winced, the wire digging deeper. “Try something heavier,” he urged gently.
The baby monkey scanned the ground, found a thick branch, and dragged it determinedly across the dirt — struggling, panting, slipping, but refusing to give up.
Finally, with a sharp cry, he shoved the branch forward with all his strength.
Crack!
The tension stick snapped loose.
The wire instantly relaxed its grip around CUTIS’s leg.
CUTIS gasped in relief, pulling his leg free and rolling away from the trap.
The baby monkey jumped into his arms immediately, shaking and sobbing into his chest.
“CUTIS! CUTIS hurt? CUTIS okay?” he cried, clinging tightly.
CUTIS held him close, stroking his tiny head with gentle reassurance. “I’m okay… thanks to you. You saved me.”
The baby sniffed loudly and wiped his tears on CUTIS’s fur. “I smart like CUTIS?”
CUTIS smiled warmly. “Smarter. Today you were braver than even me.”
The little monkey beamed through the tears, proud and overwhelmed.
CUTIS examined his leg — it hurt badly, but he could walk. Together, they slowly made their way back to the troop. The baby monkey stayed glued to CUTIS’s side the entire time, refusing to let go, watching every step as if protecting him from the world.
When they returned, the troop was shocked by the story. Adults hugged the baby tightly, praising his courage and intelligence. CUTIS’s mother cleaned his wound carefully, whispering her gratitude.
But the baby monkey refused to take all the praise.
“I just did what CUTIS teaches,” he said softly. “I think first… like CUTIS.”
CUTIS’s heart swelled with pride.
That day, deep in the forest, a small baby monkey proved that courage wasn’t about size and intelligence wasn’t about age. It was about love, trust, and the determination to protect the one who had always protected him.
And from that day on, CUTIS never looked at the baby monkey the same way again — because the little one had shown that even the smallest heart could be incredibly smart… and unbelievably brave.
