As Uta and Stella ascended the craggy mountain, they reached a plateau where a troop of black-furred apes loitered amidst the jagged rocks.
"Oh, look! There they are!" Uta said cheerfully, pointing at the creatures.
"Y-Yes, I see them…" Stella replied, her voice unsteady. Unlike Uta, who had bounded up the rocky terrain without breaking a sweat, she was thoroughly winded and slightly disoriented.
The Demon Apes reacted instantly to the intruders, baring sharp teeth and screeching in a cacophony of aggression.
"Ukikiki!"
"Giii-giii!"
"Ooga-ooga!"
"Wow, lively bunch," Uta observed with a grin. "It's like a safari out here."
"There are so many of them…" Stella said, her tone a mix of caution and awe as she took in the scene.
