Disclaimer: I don't own Tarzan, just this idea...
Summary: An AU what if? What if Kerchak hadn't died?
I had this posted...then deleted it..tore up my notebook pages and tried to forget this plot bunny...I failed...now I'm redoing it.
Chapter One
Long, Hot Summer...
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Kerchak wasn't mourned, he was left to be one with the jungle. Kala was silent and sullen for days, but otherwise let her mate go peacefully. Tarzan took over as leader and guard of the family, using Kala's experience and knowledge to guide him.
It was a full year before the jungle changed once more.
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Six miles from Dumont's trading post, the Family was enjoying the fresh termite mound hatchings.
Until metallic clangs burst into the air.
It was too close to comfort, the sounds echoing harshly in jungle.
"Tarzan..."
Kala was already counting the babies and young ones, making sure they each got back to their mothers.
"I'll check."
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Terk followed as Tarzan swung quickly towards the harsh sounds, the last time they'd heard such noises had been the first and last time hunters had come to the jungle. When cages were being constructed.
Their memory was right, there was now a tall, chain link fence blocking off a section of the edge jungle by the coast, the top was taller than Tantor's back and had fanned wire ridges, preventing anything from climbing up the fence in or out.
"Why the heck is dere a fence? Dumont promised nta ta let any more hunte's in 'ere."
Tarzan merely nodded, jumping down from the tree, "Check around the fence, see how far it goes, I'll talk to Dumont."
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Inside the trading post, Dumont was speaking rapidly in french with a lady dressed like Clayton had been when arrived. Tan shirt with pockets, long cargo pants and thick work boots, there was no scarf tucked under his chin, but her rich blonde hair was pulled into a messy bun to keep it out of her face. Another person was asleep under a light blanket pulled over all of them except their boots, laying on a pile of bags and a bundled net.
"Sacre blu! Oh pardon madame..."
The lady laughed as she turned to face Tarzan, "You must be the man of the jungle Dumont has been warning me about. I apologize for intruding."
"Cage."
The lady nodded, "I am from America, I help animals who have been injured and return them to their homes. Someone brought an animal that had been abused from England, when asked, we helped and then brought the animal here to come home. The cage will leave when the animal goes free, in a couple weeks, it won't move or anything, just metal, nothing else."
Tarzan didn't relax, especially when the lady picked up a case from the floor, allowing Dumont to examine the contents.
A black gun.
"No guns."
Dumont sighed loudly, swearing in french viciously.
The lady glared before holding up the weapon, "These only hold darts, meant to put an animal into a deep sleep, and will only be used on the one we are releasing if something goes wrong, I swear."
Again Tarzan didn't relax his stance but nodded stiffly, the lady's case only held a few feathered end metal darts, and there was only one case like hers that he could see.
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Terk had circled the entire fence besides the side along the human camp, only four tents and one was just a covering for heavy boxes, not that many people. Coming back around, she saw the gate, just inside was a huge wooden box, similar to a cage yet solid with a few holes. Inside on a thick bed of dried grasses was a sleeping gorilla, deeply snoring...
Kerchak...
Tarzan hadn't believed Terk until he saw the sleeping silverback himself. The lady with Dumont had already taken her two companions to their tents after checking on the gorilla, saying he was still "knocked out" by one of the darts.
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Closer to sunset, the male awoke with a snarl, stumbling from the crate and into the darkening trees. Cheryl the blonde watched him stumble, bumping into a few trees before regaining his coordination and running as fast as he could to the limits of the fence, a strangled snarl each time he found the limits.
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Kerchak had reached the farthest section of the fence from the humans, heaving for air as he shook the fence angrily...they'd done it to him again...drugged him and moved him...how many times until it ended...
"Kerchak?"
He looked up quickly, he hadn't heard his name is so long it hurt. Terkhanna...Kila's daughter, Kala and his niece...she had grown a little, but not to the point he didn't know her. Terk crept closer, slowly until he shifted his crouch into a relaxed sit, softly humming her name as she rushed forward, hands slipping in between the fence links, smaller than his...
"Yer alive...yer ok!"
The silverback nodded, leaning into her touch, it wasn't Kala, but it was family...
Tarzan caught his attention next, crouching on a branch above them watching, and now searching for something.
"Aw man the Family, dere still up rive'."
Tarzan waited for Kerchak's order, he was still leader. "Go Tarzan, keep them safe."
"Yes Kerchak, I'll bring them here in the morning, it will be safer then."
The silverback had already accepted that Terk would leave with her best friend and cousin yet she didn't, settling to lay against the fence next to him as he settled down for the night, as close to his family as he could be.
"Terk...go, it's not safe."
" 'm not leavin' ya, not when ya jus' got back home."
Home...
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The night passed without worry, but Terk had to hide in the morning when Cheryl and a red head like Jane came looking for Kerchak, coming within a few yards of him cautiously before the silverback snarled, roaring and pounding the ground until they left slowly.
By the time neither could hear them, and the loud clang of the gate had rang out, the family had arrived. Terk, Tarzan, and couple of their young male buddies stayed in the trees as guards. Leaving the family to huddle close to Kerchak, touching him, humming happily, and making sure he was alright. It was a bit overwhelming for the male and he didn't let himself speak much. Then the family moved, letting another member through.
Kala
Sorry for deleting this! I really mean it! I didn't mean to! I regretted it right away but couldn't bring myself to fix it...
Review? even if it's to yell/flame me?
Please?