Morning came quickly, and Wukong didn't waste any time. He shook the girls awake, earning groggy grumbles in response.
"Get up! You want to live on this mountain? Then you've got to be tough!" he barked.
Climber stretched and immediately grabbed her stick. Little Sneak rolled over, trying to ignore him, while Firebug sat up slowly, her expression less than enthusiastic.
"No time for whining. Let's go!" Wukong strode out of the cave, and the girls followed, their footsteps dragging a little at first but growing steadier.
The day's lesson began near a series of uneven rocks leading up a steep hill.
"Listen up," Wukong said. "Today, we're learning how to move like the wind. No thinking, no hesitating—just action. Watch."
Without another word, he bolted up the rocky path, hopping from stone to stone with effortless precision. When he reached the top, he turned and called down, "Your turn!"
Climber didn't need any more encouragement. She darted forward, her stick left behind as she focused entirely on the path ahead. Her footing was unsteady at first, but she quickly found a rhythm, bounding up the rocks.
"Good! Faster next time!" Wukong shouted.
Little Sneak approached the rocks more cautiously. She hesitated at the first jump, testing it with her foot before hopping to the next one. She didn't move as quickly as Climber, but she reached the top without slipping.
"Careful doesn't win battles, but at least you didn't fall," Wukong said with a smirk.
Firebug stayed at the bottom, her arms crossed.
"What's the holdup?" Wukong called down.
She stared at him, then at the rocks. Instead of climbing, she turned and began circling around the base of the hill, scanning for another way up.
"Oh, come on," Wukong groaned, bounding back down. He stopped in front of her and gestured to the rocks. "The challenge is here, not over there. Now move!"
Firebug frowned but reluctantly approached the rocks. She climbed slowly, her movements deliberate, and reached the top last.
"Not bad," Wukong admitted. "But next time, stop overthinking."
Later, Wukong took them to a shaded grove where a stream cut through the middle.
"Time for teamwork," he said, gesturing to a pile of sticks and vines. "You're gonna make something that floats. Figure it out."
Climber was the first to dive in, grabbing sticks and laying them out in what she thought looked like a raft. Little Sneak helped, tying vines haphazardly around the sticks. Firebug hung back, watching them work for a moment before stepping in and rearranging everything.
"Looks like you're the brains of the group," Wukong muttered, watching Firebug take charge.
They worked together, their roles becoming clearer as the project took shape. When they finally pushed the raft into the water, it floated—barely—but Wukong clapped anyway.
"Good enough," he said. "Now, let's see how long it holds up."
The girls stared as the raft drifted down the stream, wobbling precariously. It sank halfway through, but by then, they were already laughing at their success.
As the day wore on, Wukong noticed something strange about the girls. Climber's movements were growing sharper, more confident, like she was starting to understand how to control her body better. Little Sneak, while quieter, was showing a knack for spotting useful items, her small hands always busy picking things up and testing them. Firebug, despite her stubbornness, had a natural ability to analyze and adapt to challenges.
He didn't say anything, but the thought nagged at him. They weren't ordinary kids.
By the time they returned to the cave, the girls were worn out but in high spirits. Climber was practicing spins with her stick. Little Sneak was sorting through a small collection of rocks she'd gathered. Firebug sat by the fire, her gaze distant, as if deep in thought.
Wukong leaned against the wall, his staff resting at his side. "You're surprising me," he said under his breath. "Maybe you're more than just a bunch of kids."
He shook the thought away. There was no use speculating. Whatever secrets these girls had, they'd reveal themselves in time.
For now, Wukong was content to watch and teach, wondering just how far they'd go.
As the fire crackled in the cave, Wukong leaned against the wall, eyes half-closed but ears perked up. The girls were dozing off, their exhaustion from the day's lessons catching up to them. Climber snored softly, her stick held tightly in her small hands. Little Sneak shifted occasionally, mumbling incoherently in her sleep, while Firebug lay still, staring into the dying embers of the fire.
"Tomorrow's another day," Wukong muttered to himself. But even as he said it, his tail swished thoughtfully.
The next morning arrived with the sun painting the mountain gold. Wukong was already outside, practicing a few lazy swings of his staff. He wasn't trying to show off—well, maybe a little—but he knew the girls were watching him through the cave's opening.
"Don't think you're getting a day off," he called out. "Get out here. You've got work to do!"
The three stumbled out, still groggy but knowing better than to argue.
"We're climbing today," Wukong said, pointing at a tall tree whose branches reached far into the sky. "This one."
Climber's face lit up instantly. She didn't wait for instructions before running over to the tree, testing her grip on the bark. Little Sneak stayed back, eyeing the tree warily, while Firebug folded her arms.
"It's just a tree," Wukong said with a smirk. "Don't tell me you're scared of a bit of height."
Climber started climbing, her small hands and feet finding easy holds as she made her way up. Wukong nodded approvingly. "That's the spirit!"
Little Sneak hesitated but finally followed, her movements slow and cautious. Wukong couldn't help but notice how quietly she moved, as if she didn't want to disturb even the tree itself.
Firebug, meanwhile, walked up to the tree and stared at it.
"You gonna climb or just glare at it all day?" Wukong asked.
Instead of answering, Firebug grabbed a vine hanging from one of the lower branches. She gave it a tug to test its strength, then started pulling herself up using the vine instead of climbing the trunk.
"That's one way to do it," Wukong said, chuckling.
When all three reached the first thick branch, Wukong leapt up to join them, balancing effortlessly as if the branch were solid ground.
"Lesson time," he said, crouching to their level. "This tree is like life. If you want to get to the top, you've gotta figure out your own way. Climber, you're good at moving fast, but don't rush. You might miss something important. Sneak, you're careful, but don't overthink—sometimes you've gotta take risks. And Firebug..."
He paused, watching her tug on another vine. "Stop trying to outsmart everything and just climb the tree like the rest of us."
Firebug frowned but said nothing.
"Now," Wukong continued, pointing up. "First one to the top gets the biggest fruit. Go!"
Climber darted upward, her hands and feet moving like they'd been made for climbing. Little Sneak followed more cautiously, her eyes scanning for the best holds before making each move. Firebug stayed back for a moment, studying the branches above before finally starting her climb.
Wukong stayed behind, watching their progress. Climber was fast, but she slipped more than once, forcing her to stop and regain her balance. Sneak was steady but slow, her careful approach keeping her from making mistakes. Firebug, despite her initial hesitation, climbed with a methodical precision that surprised Wukong.
By the time they reached the top, Climber was laughing, her small hands grabbing the largest fruit she could find. Sneak arrived second, slightly out of breath but smiling softly. Firebug came last, her face red from exertion but proud of herself for making it.
"Not bad," Wukong said, leaping up to join them. "You're getting better."
The view from the top of the tree stretched far beyond Flower Fruit Mountain. The girls stared in awe at the vast world below, their earlier fatigue forgotten.
"See that?" Wukong said, pointing to the horizon. "That's what's out there. That's why you've gotta train—so you're ready for whatever comes your way."
The girls didn't respond, but their wide-eyed expressions said enough.
As they climbed back down, Wukong couldn't shake the feeling that something about them was changing. They were stronger than he'd expected, smarter, too. Whatever potential they had, it was starting to show.
Back at the cave, the girls were sprawled out on the ground, too tired to do anything but rest. Wukong sat near the entrance, his staff resting across his lap as he stared out at the darkening sky.
"Not bad for a bunch of kids," he said softly, a small smile tugging at his lips.
But deep down, he knew they weren't just kids. Something about them felt different, and he couldn't ignore it.
"Guess I'll just have to keep an eye on you," he muttered.
The sound of the girls' soft breathing filled the cave as Wukong settled in for the night, his mind already planning tomorrow's challenges.