The Monkey Trails
By: MJ Tiger Star
Published by MJ Tiger Star Publications
Dedicated to Grandma Gertie, who always thought my stories were cute.
I heard a rumor about a series of trails called “the monkey trails”. I was intrigued about why the name included “monkey”, so I decided to see for myself. Monkeys by nature are very similar to us as humans. We both form strong relationships, create rivalries, display signs of depression, anxiety and fear. We also fight one another, especially when loved ones are in question.
But as monkeys and humans, do we support one another? Wandering around the village of Linquestria in October, trying to find a common place, person, business, within our community to invoke common ground among all of us, I was very curious to find this so-called “monkey trail�. Since I had only heard of it and didn’t know which direction to look, I put it up to the universe to
Soon I saw a tribe of young people exiting this field and saw the sign that said ‘Welcome to the Monkey Trail’. I giggled and said, “Thank you, universe.” As I was waiting, I watched this tribe walk out of the bushes and then around my car. At first, I was kind of intimidated, but then realized they were just a tribe of young walkers building close connections with one another. I
this potentially magical place. I drove up and down Rivers way trail, drove around the collegiate and explored the back roads of Rivers Way trail. My gut told me to go to the other side of Rivers Way and I started driving around. I found myself at a dead-end at the end of River Road. Looking out at the field, the universe told me to pause and wait.
I stepped out of my car and felt anxious and scared, as I had no idea what to expect. I started the modest walk across the field and found markings spray painted on some of the trees like the sign was. I knew for sure at this point I was definitely in the monkey trails. My imagination started activating as I smelled the aromas of the trees; that musky, sweet smell you get in autumn.
I started walking and saw a little dog that looked like Toto from ‘The Wizard of Oz’ and a woman wearing a long blue jacket. At that point I got the distinct feeling I might have been picked up by a tornado and landed on the yellow brick road. It wasn’t that different as all the leaves on the ground were orange and yellow. I realized I had no idea where I was going or what to expect.
I wasn’t sure if this trail was going to have lions, tigers, bears or booby traps. As I continued walking, I came across these talismans and signs sprayed on the trees. Some of the images were hearts, rainbows, and flowers. It seemed magical in my imagination. As I continued to walk and walk, I came across various challenges, huge craters in the ground probably left from the battles of the monkey tribes. There
There were exposed roots, spiny burs and fallen trees. I stopped in this open area that had little black, white and red berries. As I was admiring these colourful berries, I must have fallen asleep in the sweet but sharp aroma I was experiencing. They had a sedative effect on my mind and body. I took a rest by a little waterfall that was half frozen but half flowing; a chilling warning from nature that our unpre-
dictable winter season is on the cusp of reality. I was engulfed with the peacefulness of the monkey trails. I decided to do some more walking on the yellow and orange path. As I was admiring the scenery of this magical Monkey path, my pilgrimage made a sharp turn of fear. I had tripped and rolled my ankle in one of the booby traps of the Monkey trail,
the snair root! It grabbed my ankle with no mercy and pulled me to the ground. I couldn’t release my foot from the trap! I struggled and struggled, only to get wound up even tighter. I thought it was the end of my pilgrimage, and I was accepting my fate. My situation soon made a turn for the worst. There was a black and white wolf with ice blue eyes, and it’s brown and white smaller mate.
They ran towards me and the fear was getting the better of me. My mind started racing, ‘Was I going to be eaten?’ ‘Were these giant wolves going to drag me to their cave and feed me to the whole pack?’ I closed my eyes and went into the fetal position, waiting for my uncertain doom of what was yet to come. They came to me and investigated what I thought was
their trap, but there was a sense of caring that came from these giant wolves. Unexpectedly, they started to lick me and push their rear ends into me, as these wolves must have needed a hip scratch or something. And then a solitary Samaritan spoke through the bushes, and told his wolves to “be nice�. He had a mysterious aura about him, almost mystical.
He came out of the bushes wearing a dark grey trench coat, a half-pointed hat and a walking stick. The man came to me and said, “Good morning, young man.” as he helped me untangle my foot. “You have to be careful with those snare roots. The monkey tribes place them there to catch people in the night. If they catch you, they will whisk you off to their caves to turn you into
a monkey with their magic monkey rituals. Young man, what are you doing here anyways?” I responded to the mysterious man, “I keep hearing these rumors of the monkey trails, so I decided to check them out!” The man answered, “Well it is a very pleasant walk. I take my wolves here every day to ensure no one is trapped in
the snare roots. Those booby traps are everywhere.� I said thank you for the help and asked if he could direct me out of the monkey trails, as I seemed to have been turned around in this constantly changing trail. The man guided me to the proper trail and said “Follow the talismans on the trees back to the beginning of the trail. Those talismans are there to help guide walkers back to
the entrance. The monkey magic in this trail is powerful and changes the trails every hour.� I thanked the Samaritan for his help and found my way back to the entrance.
A story of exploration, trials and challenges in a magical place just in my back yard. I had tripped and rolled my ankle in one of the booby traps of the Monkey trail, the snair root! It grabbed my ankle with no mercy and pulled me to the ground. I couldn’t release my foot from the trap! I struggled and struggled, only to get wound up even tighter. I thought it was the end of my pilgrimage, and I was accepting my fate.