It was a bright, sunny afternoon in the lush jungles of Borneo, where a small family of monkeys played happily among the towering trees. The baby monkey, Cutis, was the youngest and most energetic of them all. His golden-brown fur shimmered in the dappled sunlight as he swung joyfully from branch to branch, his tiny fingers gripping the vines with natural agility.
His father, a strong and protective monkey named Balu, watched him with pride but also with a hint of worry. Cutis was daring—sometimes too daring for his own good.
“Be careful, Cutis!” Balu called out as the little monkey leaped from one tree to another.
But Cutis was too caught up in his adventure to listen. He wanted to prove he could climb as high as the older monkeys. With a determined look on his tiny face, he scampered up a tall tree, higher and higher, until he reached a thin branch near the top.
Then, disaster struck.
The branch, weakened by age and weather, suddenly snapped under Cutis’s weight. With a loud crack, he tumbled down, his small body spinning through the air. Time seemed to slow as Balu’s heart pounded in his chest. He raced toward his falling son, but he was too far away.
With a sickening thud, Cutis landed hard on a lower branch, then rolled off and hit the ground. A sharp cry of pain echoed through the jungle.
Balu rushed to his side, his hands shaking as he gently scooped up his son. Cutis whimpered, his tiny face contorted in pain. His right arm hung at an odd angle, and there was a small gash on his forehead where he had hit a rock.
“Oh no, no, no, Cutis!” Balu murmured, panic rising in his voice.
The other monkeys gathered around, their chattering filled with concern. An elder monkey named Goro stepped forward and inspected Cutis closely.
“His arm might be broken,” Goro said gravely. “He needs help immediately.”
Balu didn’t hesitate. With Cutis cradled in his arms, he took off through the jungle, leaping from branch to branch as fast as he could. His heart pounded, not from exertion but from fear.
The emergency room for injured animals was deep in the jungle, where kind-hearted veterinarians worked tirelessly to save the lives of those in need. Balu had never needed to go there before, but now, with his precious son hurt, he moved with desperate urgency.
When he arrived, panting and exhausted, he found a young veterinarian named Dr. Lina, who immediately rushed over when she saw Cutis’s condition.
“What happened?” she asked as she gently took Cutis from Balu’s arms.
“He fell from a tree—please, help him!” Balu pleaded.
Dr. Lina nodded reassuringly. “We’ll take good care of him. Stay here.”
Balu watched as she carried Cutis inside. The moments that followed were some of the longest of his life. He paced outside the small wooden clinic, his tail twitching anxiously. The other monkeys who had followed him waited nearby, offering their silent support.
Minutes stretched into what felt like hours. Finally, Dr. Lina emerged, her face calm but serious.
“Cutis has a fractured arm, but it’s not too severe. We’ve set it in a small cast, and he has a few bruises, but he’ll be okay with some rest.”
Balu let out a deep breath of relief. His little son was going to be okay.
Moments later, Dr. Lina brought Cutis out, his tiny arm wrapped in a soft bandage. He looked groggy but managed a weak smile when he saw his father.
“Papa,” he whispered.
Balu hugged him tightly. “Oh, Cutis, you scared me so much!”
Cutis nuzzled against his father. “I’ll be more careful, I promise.”
The other monkeys cheered softly, relieved that their youngest member was safe. As they made their way back home, Balu carried Cutis on his back, making sure his little son was comfortable.
That night, under the starry sky, Balu watched over Cutis as he slept peacefully. The jungle was full of dangers, but it was also full of love and care. And as long as Balu was there, he would make sure his little Cutis was safe.
It had been a big incident, one that had shaken him to his core, but in the end, Cutis was alright. And for that, Balu was endlessly grateful.
