Fujinoka

Fujinoka remembers the burn in their lungs and the slick stone underfoot, the only sound louder than the falls being the echo of another’s boots matching their own. Their rivalry was born on the great rock stairs of Waterfall City. The other chimp was pure force, scaling walls and leaping gaps Fujinoka had to navigate with precision. But Fujinoka had finesse. A sharp flick of their fan could catch the waterfall's updraft, turning mist into momentum. Their mask hid the strain of the climb, projecting a calm they rarely felt. Every day was the same race, a silent, desperate dash from the fishing docks to the plaza. They never spoke of it, but the shared, breathless nod at the top forged a bond stronger than any oath, training each other to be the city's finest guardians.