"Again?" Asked Blue Eyes.
"Again." Confirmed Caesar.
Blue Eyes repeated the action, clutching the rock tightly in his hand as he continued to smash the brown herb below it. Caesar would have to leave to lead the hunting party soon, but he wanted to spend just a few moments with his son before dropping him off with Maurice first. He was teaching him a method to make medicine out of herbs. He doubted Blue Eyes would ever use it, but it's a useful thing to know just in case it was ever needed.
It was almost winter, so most days had been cloudy and rainy lately. That was the reason why there had been more hunting parties than usual: cold weather meant more demand for warmth, which meant more fires and more fur pelts. It also meant food going scarce, which gave more need to gather as much food as they can find before it ran out.
"Are you going to go again, Father?" Blue Eyes put his tool down to ask.
Caesar could see the curiosity in his son's eyes and smile. "Yes." Blue Eyes was still a little too young to join him, but he could tell he couldn't wait until the day he can.
"Will Uncle Rocket go?"
"Of course he will."
"What about Uncle Koba?"
"I hope so." Caesar signed with hesitant hands. Koba was one of the most skilled hunters in the army and was the best at taking down grizzlies. He never said it, but Caesar always saw the spark of joy that showed in the scarred bonobo's eyes every time he participated in the hunt. It had to be his favorite activity..Which made his behavior all the more troubling. "He didn't come last time." Or the last huntings since..Fall, it felt like.
Blue Eyes tilted his head curiously. "Why does Uncle Koba, Uncle Luca, and Uncle Maurice keep missing the hunts? It's so much fun!"
The Ape King couldn't suppress a small laugh. "Uncle Luca is the leader of the Gorilla Guard. He's not missing anything at all. And Uncle Maurice isn't a hunter, Blue Eyes. He's your teacher, he teaches you things."
"But Uncle Koba isn't a Gorilla Guardian and he's not a teacher. He'a hunter, so why doesn't he hunt?"
Good point. Even at his young age, Blue Eyes was a rational individual. Sometimes, it made Caesar wonder if his son was an adult trapped in a child's body.
"Hunters get sick, Blue Eyes. With all this weather, I'm surprised we aren't all in bed for the season." That was the excuse Caesar had given for Koba's odd behavior. Fall and winter were the most common time for sickness to come to the village. Just last winter, there were only twelve apes who could hunt. All the others were sick. Admittedly, Koba wasn't one of them, but that didn't mean he couldn't have gotten sick this time.
"But I saw him just a few days ago!" Argued Blue Eyes. "He was sitting by the fire with Stone and Grey! He seemed ok to me!"
"I know, I saw him too." Caesar could picture the scene just as clearly as his son could. Koba, sporting one of his bear skins, was talking with Stone and Grey-both of whom were recovering from the sickness themselves.
Though it was a relief to see Koba again, there was something off about him. The Ape King and his honorary brother hadn't exchanged any words, but somehow their eyes had found each other. As soon as it did, Koba had abruptly left the fire and that was the last time he had been seen.
The look in Koba's eyes had stuck with Caesar ever since.
Welcome to my very first ever fanfic! =D Please review if you like it!