#mama courage

[journey-to-the-au]

Just the two mamas in respite whilst their baby boy tries to catch a nap.

[wolfsonic]

Fire on the mountain

So before I begin this, I entirely blame @journey-to-the-au for this, cause I rememeber they mentioned that Liu and Rin Rin and the others of the main group survived the attack on the mountian, but they didn't say anything about any of them not being hurt in the process. Am I about to make myself cry by writing this? Yes. Yes, I am. And, please, if i get anyone wrong or mix up anything with the timeline, please let me know, and I'll fix it, but ENJOY THE ANGST ANYWAY!

TW!!! Death, injures, child injury, fire, and the destruction it brings

(if I forget any let me know please, but I think that's all of them)

"GET EVERYONE IN THE WATERFALL CAVE NOW!" XinShu's scream had rang across the mountain hours ago. The celestials that attacked the mountain have all but left, leaving the smoldering remains of the once great forest. Leaving the remaining monkeys scrambling to look for survivors or any food that was salvageable. In some parts, fires still raged, making Liu cough from the smoke.

Ma, Liu, and XinShu were a part of the few ok enough to search the mountain. Beng was in the cave tending to survivors. Thankfully, he had kept his herbs stored away in a smaller cave attached to the waterfall cave, so they remained untouched by the fires. Unfortunately, he had lost most of his equipment in the attack. Ba had taken a serious burn to his back, Chestnut having minor scratches from the ordeal was tending to him after Beng had looked him over.

Courage and Wisdom had made it safely to the cave, thanks to XinShu. But, that only left one monkey unaccounted for. One Liu was despretly trying to find.

Rin Rin.

The Marshal held a tiny cub in his arms as he raced back to Waterfall Cave. The little thing looked to be a month old. His mother long since passed, protecting him from most of the brunt of whatever happened to them. A cut was across his side. Thankfully, it didn't look too bad, but Liu didn't want to take any chances.

When he finally entered the cave, the sight of many hurt monkeys made his heart sink. He swept the crowd and looked for Beng while simultaneously hoping Rin Rin had finally made it to them. Liu raced towards medicine monkey, calling out to him. The stress lines on Beng's face showed brightly as he gently took the cub from Liu's arms. His tiny, pained whimpers from the child was the only thing Liu could hear.

Everything else felt muffled to him, as his panic to find Rin Rin grew, before he could sink further, a gentle paw rested on his shoulder. The Marshal turned to meet the eyes of Courage, and the mute monkey gently cupped his face before she made an exaggerated breath. Liu held onto her as he fought to get his breathing under control.

[You can not search if you don't have a clear head. You will find her.] She signed to him when he finally was able to calm down enough to make out what she was saying.

"Thank you." Liu said softly, before gently letting the older monkey go, she nodded before he turned and raced back out of the cave, passing by Ma who led a group of monkeys into it.

Liu searched, his panic continuing to grow each second he couldn't find Rin Rin. What felt like an eternity, a pained voice spoke making him stop in his tracks. "Liu..."

He immediately whipped his head, searching for his moonlight. Before he could stop himself, he called out to her, his voice desperate. "RIN RIN!"

A pained whimpers was all he received back, and immediately he followed the sounds. Not caring for the increasing burn marks that littered his hands, arms and back. He had forgone his armor ages ago, after it got melted beyond repair in the first attack of the celestials. The first thing he spotted was the tattered remains of the flower Rin Rin wore proudly. One he had picked for her himself, it was then when he looked up he saw the sight before him.

Rin Rin looked up from where she laid, meeting his eyes her own swam with relief at the sight of him. A barely mature tree had fallen due to fire, one of its many branches currently had the smaller monkey's leg trapped. Tiny flames still danced along its bark, one of them being too close to Rin Rin for his liking, and Liu immediately raced towards her.

Without a second thought, he grabbed the branch trapping her, and slowly began to lift it. He held back any sound of pain, as the very hot bark touched his palms. When finally it was high enough, Rin Rin scooted out from under the tree branch. The Marshal dropped the branch before immediately checking her over.

Soot and dirt covered her once pristine fur, old and fresh tears trailed down her cheeks, Liu gently leaned down lookin over the ankle that had been trapped. It was swollen, his panic brain couldn't tell if it was broken or just sprained. Thankfully it looked to not be burned, which was a small blessing.

Liu after the check immediately pulled her into a hug, careful not to aggravate anything, one she returned. Sobs of pain mixed with relief came from her, only making him cling tighter to her. After a bit, he spoke gently to her "I'm going to pick you up. Ok?"

Rin Rin could only nod, and with as much care and gentle apologies, Liu held her close to his chest as he began to walk back to Waterfall Cave. That's when he finally got a good look around, and realized where they were. One of Flower Fruit Mountain's many berry fields, the once beautiful field now laid smoking.

Liu bit the bottom of his lip at the sight but, continued his trek. Focusing on the shaking form in his arms, one of his hands gently kept Rin Rin's face hidden in the crook of his neck. Keeping her from seeing the majority of the remians of their once thriving population. Liu fought the urge to cough.

Liu tried desperately to keep the walk back as smooth as possible, finally after what felt like hours, the cave was in sight. Making a immediate bee line towards it. The Marshal once again looked around for Beng, seeing him sitting down, Ma was next to him holding his hands, and talking to him gently.

A voice broke through the silence as Chestnut raced towards them. "Rin Rin! Marshal!"

The monkey gently tugged Liu forward fretting over both of them. Which Liu tried to brush off himself to direct it more towards Rin Rin. At the call Beng shot up. "I'm sorry Beng." Liu said seeing the tired eyes of the other as he approached. Beng just waved it off before motioning for Liu to put her down.

With gentle coaxing, Rin Rin finally let go of Liu from the hug but, kept her hand into his own. Beng first checked her leg, his face pulled into a frown before making a snapping motion with his hands. Rin Rin asked softly "do you have stuff to fix it?"

Beng nodded before walking off toward what little supplies he had left. He returned with a salve, some herbs, splints, and a wrap. Beng with gentle hands reset the foot with the splints and wrap, Liu cooing softly to Rin Rin with words of encouragement. Then he moved to adding salve to Rin Rin's scraps, before finally giving her herbs to eat. Beng then turned to Liu thrusting them as well as the salve into the Marshal's hands.

"Beng I don't need-" Liu was cut off by a gab in his good side, and he immediately looked as an irritated Rin Rin.

"Don't even think about not taking them, your breathing already sounds bad!" Rin Rin said with a glare, bringing Liu to notjust how raspy his breath has gotten. Liu just nodded making Beng relaxed before the medicine monkey walk off. Ma gently leading him to lay down and finally rest.

Liu looked at the Monkey's around them. Chestnut had returned to Ba's side, but the General was sound asleep. So all she did was curl up next to him to fall asleep as well. Wisdom, Courage and XinShu all say in a small circle, he immediately averted his gaze when he realized they were hugging one another. Beng had his head in Ma's lap, grooming him gently as she spoke softly to him.

Finally Liu turned his gaze to Rin Rin, her eyes still looking at him. He then relented and ate the herbs he was given. The Marshal's face screwing up at the taste, but thankfully the pain in his throat seemed to lessen. Before he could do anything, Rin Rin took the salve and started applying it to his burns. Taking great care, especially with the ones on his hands. "You hurt yourself because of me." her pained whisper made Liu look at her.

He leaned down and gently rested his forehead to her own. "And I'd do it again. If that ment taking you away from pain." Fresh tears slid down her cheeks at the vow, the two sat there as the fires dwindled down to nothing outside the cave.

[journey-to-the-au]

Nothing brings peace to Wisdom and Courage more than slumbering knowing that their child is safely dreaming under their gaze.

[journey-to-the-au]

Some of our favourite babies in doodle form!

——————————————————————-

Twitter+Twitch

[journey-to-the-au]

This just crossed my mind, we all know Wu Kong as Wu Kong, but did his mothers Courage and Wisdom ever give him a name themselves? Like he has a name that only they can call him?

Well his first name was 'Stone Monkey' obviously but his mama's call him: Bǎoshí - which roughly means 'Gemstone'.

He's their little gem. <3

It's also why Granny Aster called him her 'Little Ruby'

[journey-to-the-au]

WHAT WERE BABY WUKONGS FIRST WORDS ?! What was his first everything with his Mommas?!?

Wukong's first words were of course; 'Mama'.

They taught him his first steps.

His first forage.

How to handle pain and sadness.

How to navigate dangers.

The rest of his family helped but his mothers were there for him for almost all his firsts.

His uncles however taught him his first prank.

[journey-to-the-au]

It's grandparents day where I'm at so I was wondering if you have any headcanons about the grandparents of huaguoshan? If you want to of course.

Hmmmmmmmm;

Aster was the story telling grandma when she was around and loved above all things telling her little ruby all about his grandfather that he never got to meet. She would delight in the way Wukong's eyes would light up.

When Courage and Wisdom became grandmamas they didn't really change, other than the fact they are once more given the swing to spoil littles as they did with Wukong and Xinshu. Their favourite thing to do is load up said grandchildren with sugary fruit and send them back to their parents. (Xinshu doesn't appreciate it)

[journey-to-the-au]

Not super related to current topics, just lil curious. Do Wisdom and Courage dress up a lot since Wukong probably brought many gifts from travels, not just the jttw just travels in general, or are they more closer to Rinrin where if it is a special occasion they dress up but other times just go natural like most of the monkeys on the mountain?

I just feel wukong would have gotten them a few outfits as gifts when he was told women love clothes or jewelry and so on. Know he would get them stuff they also like just feel he would also have gotten them human and celestial beauty/fashion so figured i would ask their position on the clothes in the least heh.

They're much like Rin Rin and a few monkeys who prefer their natural state.

But every now and then, when there's a big feast, or celestials visit or there's a big celebration to be had (like in the case of the Betrothal AU the wedding of their son) they will dress up in all the fingery given to them. Wukong has sticky fingers and would get them the SHINIEST and PRETTIEST things.

Nothing but the best for the Queen-Mothers.