Reference: "sign language", "speaking", thoughts

Enjoy!

Three apes were out hunting small game. The trio weren't having much luck since they only managed to catch two squirrels. The little critters couldn't be considered much of an appetizer. The bonobo, Koba, hoped to catch at least four rabbits and was quite frustrated that they couldn't find any. Come to think of it, they didn't find many animals out today.

Maybe they needed to get farther away from the village? The noise of the Ape Village carried throughout the forest and those with keen hearing could pick up on it the best. Yes, that must be what's scaring the game away.

The scarred ape grunted before turning to his two friends, "Must go deeper into the forest. We need to bring back hares. Squirrels won't do."

Stone, a gray-furred chimpanzee, shook his head in annoyance. "Koba, we've been out here for hours. We aren't going to catch much else." The last of the three, a brown chimp named Grey, huffed in agreement.

Koba gritted his teeth in frustration. He turned away from the two as he thought of his decision. They've been out here since the sun was the highest in the sky and now the star was beginning to dim as night approached. However, the bonobo's pride wouldn't let him give up. He snorted before speaking: "Go back. Koba will continue. Without you two." The ape looked at the chimpanzees with a frown.

"Not safe for apes in forest past dark. Let us all go." Grey signed, eyes full of concern.

Koba hooted reassuringly. "I will be fine. Will be back before dawn."

Before Grey could sign his opposal, Stone placed his hand on his hands to stop him. "Alright. Grey and Stone will go back. Be careful, friend."

Koba nodded his head in thanks and the two chimpanzees used the trees to get back to the village. Now that ape was alone, he could be stealthier. That was the most likely reason why his prey was scarce. His two friends were strong but lacked the skill of stealth. He sighed, he knew he was being irrational. The ape didn't even like eating such small game. The flesh was more bone than actual meat.

But he had to get something, the apes were going through a food shortage and winter was approaching. They needed whatever he could get. The apes were fortunate enough to have three winters of plenty after their first two years of famine and death. Now they may experience the same suffering they had during those times. Koba didn't want to go back to that.

Apes. Together. Strong. He reminded himself. So long as the apes remained united, they would endure this just as they preserved through past obstacles. Suddenly, he heard a rustling close to where he was standing. He quickly climbed the nearest tree, fearful that there was a mountain lion or even a bear prowling the forest floor.

The rustling was interrupted by a thundering sound that continued to echo throughout the forest. Koba knew that sound and he was sure it made its way to the Ape Village where his people would also recognize the horrific sound. Humans. He thought with a growl, angry that they would dare cross into ape territory. This forest belonged to the apes. The cities belonged the humans where the bald, hideous creatures could scavenge like rats and kill each other like savages all they wanted. They had no place in the apes' home.

He reached the source of the sound rather quickly. The location was obviously a human campsite. In the center was a dying fire. The tent next to it was slightly unzipped but Koba was unable to see much from the outside. He used his spear to move aside the flappy door before he entered. There was a human inside, a man to be exact. Fortunately, he was dead. There was a gunshot wound to his head and he was holding the source of the bang sound. The man's finger was still on the trigger. Koba quickly grabbed the gun, irrationally worried that the human would use it in him. Better safe than sorry.

He held it in both his hands, examining it carefully. Koba wondered how it worked. How did the humans make such powerful weapons? It made the apes' weapons look so primitive in comparison.

The ape was so caught up in the engineering of the revolver that he didn't notice someone approach him until the intruder gasped in shock.

"P-papi?" Spoke a soft voice. Koba snapped his gaze to the entrance. There stood a brunette girl. Her eyes were wide with shock and disbelief. Koba noted that she had different eye colors; one was brown, the other blue. He followed her gaze to the dead human then looked back at the girl.

He could see a resemblance between the two. This man was her father and he took his own life. He left his child alone in the world. His face scrunched up with disgust as he looked back at the corpse. Only a human would do such a cruel and selfish thing. Monsters is all they are.

But was the girl a monster? She was an innocent child left alone in this cruel world. The child was at the mercy of Mother Nature. She was left to Koba's mercy.

The ape frowned at that, clearly unsure of what he was supposed to do in this situation.

Suddenly, the girl ran to her father's body. Mourning him as she cried begging him to get up. This irked Koba. Was she stupid? The man had a hole in his head. There was no way he was getting up from that.

"Father is dead." He spoke, coldly. The girl looked up, seemingly just aware of the simian's presence. She looked into his eyes, determined to prove him wrong. Koba saw know fear in her eyes. Has she met apes before?

"No-no, he's n-not! He's j-j-just sleeping!" She yelled at him. Koba could only roll his eyes. The girl started muttering to her father. The ape was unfamiliar with the language she spoke in. "Papi. P-por favor, no m-me dejes. No-no me dejes."

Koba frowned at the girl's stuttering and fumbling over her words. He wondered if she always spoke that way or if it was just the grief affecting her speech. As she continued to cry over her deceased sire, Koba noticed how thin the man was while the girl looked to be well-fed. She only looked scruffy and her hair was in need of a good grooming. Her father must've spent most of their resources on his child.

He grumbled to himself.

What was he going to do about this? Was it even his decision to make? He should consult with Caesar but knew he couldn't leave the girl alone as nightfall was approaching fast. He didn't want to bring her to the apes' home since she could still be a threat. Child or not, the only good human is a dead human. At that thought, he looked at the gun in his hand. His eyes then drifted to the girl who's back was to him. The ape slowly raised the gun and pointed it to the child, whom was too busy mourning to notice the threat to her life.

Koba stared long and hard down the short snout of the revolver. He breathed heavily, trying to bring himself to pull the trigger. What choice did he have? The child had no one left. She had no place in the world. He reasoned that this was a mercy killing. The ape would simply be helping the child avoid a miserable and painful life as an orphan.

He held his breath as his finger slowly tightened on the trigger.

Click.

Click. Click.

The girl swung her body to face the ape making that sound. She finally got a good, long look at the other person inside her tent. What she saw caused her to gasp.

She knew what an ape was but this one with the way it sneered at her and with its ugly scar down his milky-white eye didn't look like one. It looked like a monster. It's not too far from what she pictured the boogeyman looking like or el cucuy as her father once called it.

However, this monster wasn't going to kill her with sharp claws and fangs, no, it planned to kill her with her father's gun. The same one he used to kill himself. No. This can't be real.

"No-no! Please d-don't hurt-hurt me!" She begged as tears continued to stream down her cheeks.

Koba pulled back the gun, giving it a puzzled look. It didn't work. Oddly, he was grateful for that revelation. There was no blood on hands. Then it occurred to him, he tried to murder a child! A defenseless child! There was no honor to that. If anyone found out what he tried to do…

He shook his head repeatedly. The ape breathed rapidly, clearly panicked at the prospect of his leader finding out. He knew Caesar held a soft spot for humans and would no doubt be furious at Koba's attempt to kill one without probable cause. It would be worse if Caesar knew it was a little girl he tried to kill.

Unexpectedly, he felt something grab his arm. He looked to see the girl staring at him with a worried expression. She was concerned about his well-being after he tried to kill her? Was she insane?! She literally begged to be unharmed a couple minutes ago.

He was quick to compose himself after shrugging her off with a disapproving grunt. He stepped outside to collect his thoughts. Koba knew killing her was out of the question and so was leaving her. He knew those two options led to the same outcome; her death would be his fault. He paced around the campsite as he thought on what to do.

He knew he only really had one choice.

Marina watched as the ape exited the tent. She decided to call him Feo because he was so damn…well ugly. The child looked down at her dead father. Her heart broke once more and she struggled to hold back her tears. Momma said crying is a waste of water and to never do it. She told herself. Unfortunately, she couldn't stop herself from vomiting at the scene. The gaping hole in her parent's head, the blood pooling around his body, and the tent walls covered in blood and brain. It was all too much for her young soul to bear.

Once she finished bringing back up her dinner, she grabbed her orangutan teddy. She could tell that it was a bit heavier than usual. However, she didn't pay that observation much thought.

Marina knew she was getting too old for this toy but she loved King Louis. He was her favorite gift from her father. It was now all she had left of him. She looked back at his body before exiting the tent. He's not coming back…

Her only hope for survival was Feo. The very ape who would've killed her had her father not used the last bullet.

Now outside, she looked for Feo. He was nowhere to be seen. Instead of looking for him, she decided to change her clothing which had some blood on it on top of its usual griminess.

Once changed, she was unsure on what to do. Feo wasn't coming back. She assumed he went home to his family. Her eyes began to water. Who was going to take care of her now? Marina knew she wouldn't survive out here on her own. She needed her father. She wanted her father back! Why did he have to go? Was it her fault? She knew her dad wasn't eating well. He always gave her his food. "No tengo hambre, mija. You eat." He would say. She should've made him eat. It's her fault this happened.

It's her fault he's gone.

Thoughts like these continued to run through her mind as night fell.

Koba sat on the highest branch of the first tree he saw. Down below, he could faintly hear the human child crying. No doubt still grieving over her deceased father. He sighed, today did not turn out the way he expected.

He was at a loss even though he already decided what he was going to do with the child. Koba supposed he was just unsure on what was going to become of her once he brought her to the village. Her fate ultimately fell into Caesar's hands. The bonobo knew Caesar wouldn't turn her away.

That left the question on who would take her under their wing. Maurice would make a fine candidate. The old orangutan was wise and would make a good mentor for the child. He also didn't hold the same hatred and mistrust towards humans that Koba and many other apes did. He'd be a good surrogate father for Two.

Two. He named her after her differing eye colors. Koba figured he'd give her a name instead of just calling her 'the child' all the time. Once the sun set and darkness took hold over the forest, Koba decided to see if Two didn't wander off.

He found her trying to restart the fire. He could tell she was cold since she was shivering. He groaned. What did he get himself into?

He approached her slowly, careful not to startle her. He didn't want her a potential scream to attract any nocturnal predators on the hunt. Two seemed happy to seem him again. Her eyes filled with hope and she gave him a beaming smile. This took the bonobo off guard since no one had ever been that happy to see him before.

Quick to hide his emotions, he put on his trademark scowl. He grunted out. "Go to sleep. Will start fire myself."

She tilted her head, puzzled. "I'm not-not t-tired. Let me-me h-help."

Koba bared his fangs as he snarled out. "Said go to sleep!"

This frightened her. She took a few steps away from him. Her gaze briefly went to the tent. Koba realized she didn't want to sleep where her father's corpse still lie. He should know better than to let his temper get the better of him, especially when it comes to children. Ape or human, they were both sensitive.

"Fine. Can help." Koba resigned. Once he reignited the flames, he gestured for Two to keep the fire from going out while he quickly gathered materials to keep the fire alive.

Once the fire was stable, she obeyed his command to go sleep. She didn't sleep in the tent which came as no surprise to the bonobo. Instead, she grabbed a blanket and slept near the fire. Koba watched her sleep, he frowned at the orangutan toy clutched close to her chest. He wondered what Maurice would think of such an item.

He glared at the flames for a few more minutes before he too decided to rest. It had been a long day. Morning would no doubt bring another tiring day. Koba did not look forward to bringing a human to the village.

He hoped he wouldn't come to regret the decision to spare her life.

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

So yeah as you can see I'm back and with a new story! I don't exactly know what my update schedule for this will be since I'm in college and whatnot. I hope to at least have one or two chapters out per month. I do have outlines for the first five chapters, I just need to find the time to actually write them.

Also the feedback I get on this also determines how soon an update will come out.

Anyway, let me know what you think!