[A single dark jade-skinned monkey runs from an ocean of claws reaching out to grab her, her long deep blue-fur tail swaying behind her. However, they are unable to grab her form, feeling as illusionary as the apparitions that appear as she moves.
A frame over another frame, it feels like she is in a different plane than all the hands reaching out. Their ragged yellow sash tied around their forehead floats off their face, revealing round eyes that are almost emotionless in their focus for escape.
Perhaps the reason for his escape has to do with lotus-headed staff gripped in his hand. Its refined appearance is the opposite of his worn-down clothing other than his decorative, brightly beaded boots. Though it may be unfortunate she ended up in this maze, she continues to run - perhaps holding onto the little luck she has to get her through. This is Teoh Sang Io.]
[Early in the morning when the sun is only barely peeking from the horizon, Sang Io walks down the soon-to-be busy street with a bag in hand. Though there are barely people around other than the store owners getting their shops ready for the day, two young children happen to bump into Sang Io without a care as they head off to school.
Sang Io gets pettily angered by the matter, deciding to redirect their emotions to the closest adult. They spit out the stick from the chicken satay they had been eating, landing it on a shopkeeper’s head. The shopkeeper is surprised and about to reprimand the perpetrator, but quickly becomes unbothered and throws it off once they see who had done it. Sang Io clicks their tongue as they were unable to get a rise out of the other.]
[Another older shopkeeper in glasses and a comfortable fit walks out with his sturdy, wooden cane. He notices the scene, but simply lets it go as he sighs and taps Sang Io’s tail. The tail reaches in the bag and hands him another satay that he resignedly accepts and goes back in. The tail waves goodbye while Sang Io also reaches down to eat themselves, a bit bored now no one is interacting with them.
To relieve the dullness of the morning, she steals a pink patterned batik from the shop, stuffing it in her jacket tied around her waist. However, from that point there is nothing more to do, so she just waits. From the early dawn to the bright light of morning, she squats in front of the particular clothing and souvenir store. Occasionally she snacks on the hours-cold satay. By the late morning, her bag is simply left with bare skewers that were once eaten.]
[The older man Bah Chik comes out once again from his shop, looking over Sang Io behind his shoulder.]
Bah Chik: Sang Io, get out. Been here too long.
[There is a moment of silence as Sang Io willingly ignores him. He gets up after a moment, smiling.]
Sang Io: Sorry to bother… Bah Chik Uncle.
[A sound of fabric can be heard plopping on the ground the moment she stands up. The two look below to find the batik Sang Io stole earlier is crumpled on the ground. Sang Io’s tail lightly pats it as if to put more emphasis on it. Bah Chik immediately gets frustrated, though tired as he scolds Sang Io.]
Bah Chik: Sang Io!
[Sang Io shyly shrugs as she looks away, a nonapologetic smile on her face.]
[Sang Io swiftly snatches the batik before she runs off, escaping before Bah Chik gets even more frustrated. He yells out again to him.]
Bah Chik: SANG IO!
[Sang Io looks behind for a moment, an even goofier smile on her face as she winks.]
Sang Io: Love you Uncle!
[Sang Io runs away cackling. Bah Chik sighs as he gives up on chasing her.]
[The streets are now crowded with people shopping and heading to their destinations. Sang Io quickly slides between them as they run to a more secluded area, then easily jumping on the incrementally taller rooftops.]
[Sang Io climbs up the building, sitting once they feel satisfied. They take the moment to look at what they stole, finding out it would be useless for them to wear. After all, it is a baby-sized shirt. Not only that, it doesn’t fit Sang Io’s aesthetic at all. They groan, but let go easily as they toss it behind them.]
[As they sit on the rooftop, they begin to hear some faint laughter. Curious about the noise, they peek over the rooftop to find an odd trio of pirates. They all have animalistic qualities, though anthropomorphic in nature. The tallest among them Sniger appears as a tiger, though with the tongue and lower body of a snake. The shorter two appear as a lizard with large ears - Snizard - and a seal with snail antennae and shell - Sneal.]
Pirates: You hear? That little s’monkey against the sea! Child thinks so much of herself.
[Sang Io rolls her eyes, implying she knows of them and what they’re talking about. She grits her teeth as she is already annoyed by having to watch their interaction.]
Sniger: I assumed Hung Juk Hoi would tell her about the box.
[Sniger makes a menacing, knowing face.]
Sniger: But now I know she trusts me more.
Snizard: She’ll let you be in charge of the mission Daai Go!
[Sniger’s face softens into a silly smile as he hears the praise from Snizard. Snizard happily keeps talking.]
Snizard: Let’s take it for ourselves and finally be rich!
[The three of them laugh at their grand idea. On the other end, Sang Io’s face has distorted into disapproval of the three. It relaxes as they start thinking about their options.]
Sang Io, thinking: Should tell her…
[She decides quickly she doesn’t care as she picks her nose.]
Sang Io: Eh. Busy.
[Her thoughts quickly become disrupted by the trio again. Sniger looks arrogant at this point.]
Sniger: It’s so easy!
[Sang Io formulates a plan in her mind as the three continue to speak. She smirks to no one but herself.]
Sniger: What was that? They’re in Tinzhiu?
[Sang Io slowly gets up, only staying a bit longer to hear any more information.]
Sneal: Correct. We’ll find a big crack in a small bone.
The Trio: So easy, so easy! We’ll be rich! We’ll be rich!
[As the three laugh without a care, Sang Io heads out, jumping up to higher and higher rooftops, the sound of the bustling street of Ke Png Lo becoming more faint.The circular nature of the city below becomes more apparent as Sang Io keeps moving. He moves quickly and quietly, though it would be more accurate to say they move as if they are flipping through frames of an animation or sheets of paper strung together - neither one being able to create a sound. Only his headband and tail flows as he moves.
The city below is decorated with many large buildings packed closely to one another in curved shaped patterns. A breeze flows between the clouds, carrying the ocean scent from the edges of the city to the center. All these things are not nostalgic at all to Sang Io, but she will always remember its name as Pulau Singa Laut.]
[As she makes it to the top of one the largest temples in the city, she leans against a bronze structure on the roof and looks out to the ocean. Squinting to find the correct one, she is able to eventually see Sniger’s junker boat, aptly labeled with his name and face on a flag that is gently floating in the breeze. It is pleasantly docked in an easy-to-access area, perfect for Sang Io.]
[Sang Io huffs out a laugh, smirking as she’s about to enact her plan.]