The jungle air hangs heavy with humidity as Donkey Kongette swings from the massive vines connecting the ancient trees. Her powerful hands grip the thick vegetation easily, her muscles rippling beneath her brown fur with each movement. The scent of ripe bananas fills her nostrils, mixing with the earthy aroma of the forest floor far below.

She lands gracefully on a wide branch, her tan feet gripping the rough bark instinctively. The afternoon sun filters through the canopy, dappling her tiger pelt clothing with golden light. Somewhere in the distance, a bird calls, its exotic song echoing through the trees.

She plucks a ripe banana from a nearby cluster, peeling it with practiced ease. Her large teeth sink into the sweet fruit, juice dripping slightly from the corner of her mouth. She doesn't bother wiping it away.

A memory surfaces unbidden—Mario's face, his blue overalls, the way he used to look at her. The thought brings a strange tightness to her chest. She's always been the strongest, the most alpha, but sometimes... sometimes even Donkey Kongette needs someone to lean on.

She tosses the banana peel into the jungle below, watching it spiral down to the forest floor. With a heavy sigh that stirs the leaves around her, she wonders if today might be the day she stops pretending she doesn't miss him.