The reborn primordial...

Nightlight

Shuffling and clanking can be heard as an angry sigh echoed throughout the sky, Bats scattered at the noise as it pans over to Zhu Bajie hiding behind Sha Wujing from Sun Wukong

The Monkey king starting a "game" of chase as he then starts zooming across camp in an attempt to wack Zhu with his Ruyi Bang, The monk simply watching with a crossed face
Demanding the piglet to face the consequences of his actions before Bai Long Ma chimed in

"Shouldn't we focus on finding the baby instead of trying to kill each other..?"
The suggestion made the other 3 glance at each other as Bai and Sha simply facepalmed and groaned in annoyance
"Why don't ya use the golden vision of truth?"
Sha suggested as Wukong perks up laughs a bit

"Oh, Right!
I forget I can do that!"
He told truthfully with a hearty laugh before his eyes shine gold, Looking around and seeing traces of magic in the distance
"I see some magic was used over there, DID THE CUB USE MAGIC?!"

He exclaimed in question and made the others worry
"At such an early age?
Don't tell me it's gonna be a Wukong repeat!"
Zhu Bajie exclaimed with a dreadful tone as Wukong turned his head with a offended expression, Shakily raising his staff before Sha Wujing placed his hand over his to lower it down

"GUYS!
Focus, Let's follow the trail and see where it leads.
I'm sure the cub shouldn't have gone THAT far."
Bai Long Ma told with a huff as the group of pilgrims gathered and began searching for the cub

[...Meanwhile...]

The cub felt something move off their eyes but was spooked to see that...they couldn't see
The area they where in was dark and even felt a bit cold, Their ears perked up to laughter as they saw a weird shadow outlined with a purple hue on the wall

It had a creepy smile as it spoke
"Hello... Twilight..."
The cub tilted their head in confusion before attempting to crawl to the person on the wall, Only to see it suddenly move to another section on the wall

The cub tried to keep their eyes on the shadow but fell on their butt while trying to turn, They were bewildered
Their expression turned to one of silent frustration as their tail thumps against the ground in a huffy manner
A giggle came from the shadow on the wall before it stepped out into the real world, Crouching in front of the cub before flashing his toothy grin with narrowed eyes

A jolt as he says
"Boo!"
The cub flinched as it waved it's arms around in fright, Falling on it's back before it rolled and sat on it's knees
The six eared Macaque's expression went from one of mischief to one of shock, The cub had activated some of it's power and became a tiny shadow monster

Growling at Macaque as it's fur was on end, Narrowed eyes and all 8 ears folded back
He couldn't help but give a bewildered expression with a smile, Chuckling at the cub before holding his paw out towards it
"You...really are my kid, Huh?"

The tiny shadow monster took a few steps forward and approached cautiously, Sniffing his paw with narrowed eyes until it felt some scratching under it's chin
Releasing satisfied chirps as it smiled cutely and nuzzled it's cheek into his paw

"Alright, I'll admit it...
You are pretty cute."
Macaque told truthfully before slowly picking up the tiny shadow monster, To which it clung to his scarf quite tightly and hid it's face
He felt that it was shaking a bit and looked around
"Huh... Afraid of the dark..?"

He thought out loud before walking over to a candle, Trying to light it one handed was a difficult task but he managed to do it
The sudden light illuminating the cave caught the cub's attention real fast, It turned it's head to lay it's eyes on the tiny flame that burned away at the wick in a calm manner

The cub eased it's grip on the scarf as the shadow monster retreated within, Macaque guessing that the baby felt a sense of safety once more
He sits down crisscross and sat the cub on his lap, To which it was trying to eat it's own paw and he went deep into thought
Would he really need to sacrifice an infant just to get back at his...

No, He couldn't possibly
That's not why he kidnapped it
He prayed that he didn't have to as the cub stared into his eyes, He hitched his breath as his eyes widened in realization
"No-
I can't, Not again..."

He spoke out loud as he turned his head away from the cub, He pinched the bridge of his noise with his free paw until he felt a tug on his shirt
Glancing over wearily to see the cub tilted it's head into confusion, The end of  it's ears wiggle a bit before trying to reach for his face
Making grabby hands as it chirps with a cute smile, He was surprised that it wanted to be so close to him...

That it... showed signs of love towards him...
He couldn't help but sigh in defeat as he picked up the cub and brought it up to his face, Feeling it's tiny paws tug at his hair and squish his cheek a bit
The giggling, the tail wagging and overall happiness it expressed made him crack a tired smile

He closed his eyes as his face showed he was internally debating something... Considering that... just for now... He would drop his glamor that caused 4 more ears to pop out from both sides of his head, His black fur faded into a snow white as the scar on his face that was given long ago became visible
The baby stared in surprise...

It squeals with joy before nuzzling against his face, The sudden affection caught The six eared man off guard as he was surprised it didn't freak out at the horrible sight
...If it was a horrible sight...
The cub curls it's tail around from his forearm up to his wrist, He felt the end of it's tail thump against his arm in delight as it clung to him

He didn't know what to do in this moment, A flurry of emotions overcame him as he regretted not caring if the baby died at birth when he and Wukong fought
The warmth of a loved one made his heart ace as it was something he hasn't felt for a while, He began to tear up a bit but squinted his eyes shut in denial

Pinching the bridge of his nose once more before speaking from his crooked frown
"You're killing me, Kid..."