Tobi and Cookie hop along the tops of buildings in the city. Their objective is a chimp sanctuary Tobi's owner spoke of: placed near a zoo in a forest within the city. The both of them carry with them their weapons fastened to a belt on their hips: macuahuitls fashioned of cut wood and glass. Tobi and Cookie had practised in their use with eachother using training versions, but they have yet to have to use them. Tobi believes they might have to, however; as Tobi's owner had warned them that many humans believe chimps caused the Simian Flu crisis and would be hostile.
They hop onto the top of another building where Tobi makes the sign to stop.
"Why stop?" Cookie gestures.
"Stop, look map," Tobi gestures back. Cookie takes the map from his side pouch and hands it to Tobi. Tobi analyses the map and looks to the sun's position.
"Far?" Cookie inquires.
"No. Close there." Tobi responds, pointing to the south, "wood close road."
Cookie holds a hand up as he hears indistinct talking. Tobi and Cookie lie down on the roof. They wait as the voices stop beneath them. They hear a door open beneath them: Tobi investigates. He looks down and sees no one.
"They in," Tobi notes.
"We go" Cookie gestures. Tobi nods. They proceed across the buildings, headed along a large road toward the wooded park.
They reach the park and Tobi checks the map to find the location of the sanctuary. He leads the way to it and they enter. It is an old cement building, with solid metal doors and gates barring enclosures.
"Silent," Cookie notes.
Tobi draws his macuahuitl.
"What you doing?" Cookie signs.
"Need be careful," Tobi responds, "We check, see if they here."
They scope out the sanctuary, and do not find a single denizen. They find plenty of signs they were there, and a lack of signs of violence.
"Tobi," Cookie says, "Look at this."
Tobi heads over to Cookie. He looks upon what Cookie is: an open door to an outside area enclosed by bars. They investigate and find the bars eaten away by corrosion and plant life, leaving a sizeable gap in the corner farthest from them.
"What we do?" Cookie gestures.
"I not know," Tobi answers.
"They close here. They out there," Cookie signs.
"We not know them. They may attack," Tobi signs.
"They our hope against humans."
"They not know us. Never see us. We need be careful. We keep distance."
"We need look for them."
Tobi nods in agreement. They squeeze through the hole and walk throught the trees, weapons drawn. They walk, and they hear rustling in the trees. Tobi and Cookie stop to look around. For many uneasy minutes they stand ready to fight. They hear more rustling and notice movement in the distance. They see a black figure amongst the trees: one of the chimps. The chimp begins to make a loud, repetitive call. Tobi and Cookie step back a few paces. As the chimp raises its call, more rustling can be noticed in the trees.
"Run," Tobi says. The two stow their macuahitls and run on all fours back to the derelict sanctuary. They run throught the broken enclosure and close then lock the door behind them. They look out to see if the chimps followed them. A few chimps look investigate around the enclosure. Tobi and Cookie crouch down under the door's window.
"They are hostile. They attack if we too close," Tobi signs.
"We cannot give up," Cookie signs back.
"I not give up."
"We keep distance, like you say. They adjust to us, we get closer. We contact one or two."
Tobi nods.
"We look around for supplies," he signs. The two of them look around the derelict sanctuary for any food or water. They find in the sanctuary's store room only various knick-knacks. They look around for a staff room. After they find it, Tobi checks the refridgerator: It has long since stopped working, but it contains a twelve-pack of bottled water with only one bottle missing.
"Water!" Tobi says.
Cookie had looked through the cabinets and found various packaged food: Granola, breakfast, and candy bars.
"Food here," Cookie says.
Tobi points to the water faucet.
"Check water."
Cookie turns the knob for the faucet. Brown water trickles out.
"No good," Cookie gestures.
"These go few days, maybe," Tobi signs.
"We hunt more food, find working faucet in city."
"No need. Map says pond here."
"Those chimps," Cookie signs fiercely.
"We avoid them. They get used to us. Eventually."
"How long?"
"Could be a while."