Chapter Three: Past Is Another Land

It was an odd feeling, Ari mused as she watched her new human sleep, to feel so protective of a creature that was so different. The harshness and wariness that the human projected while awake had fallen away during her slumber, leaving her youthful face peaceful and slack. This wasn't the first human Ari had convinced her father to take in, but it was the first one that had never been owned by an ape. Despite not having a brand her attitude and speech patterns would have been a dead giveaway. Looking closer Ari noted that the clothing she wore was also different than that normally worn by human slaves, or even those recently captured. A thick burlap material had been sewn into functional pants cinched at the waste via a hemp belt and a light cottonish material was crafted into a fitted shirt, which was covered by a vest. However, unlike other human clothing these items had a bit of flare put into them.

Ari rocked back on her heels as she continued her observations. A lock of dark hair had fallen in front of the human's eyes. With a gentle touch Ari reached over and push it aside. "Gavroch, don't," mumbled the still asleep Marsi. A smirk touched Ari's lips as the human pouted in her sleep and rolled to one side. This instance also sparked questions regarding the human and where she had come from.

Finished with her observations Ari moved away quietly. The few hours she had alone in the evenings were her favorite time of day. With practiced ease she withdrew her journal, hidden within her mattress, and began to chronicle the events of the day.

Today I found a human. Wait, let me start from the beginning. I managed to escape the watchful eyes of Seiger and Master Nordral and ventured off into the forest. As I was enjoying the freedom of being alone a human ran into me. I had to bring her home because she fell and hit her head. There was blood everywhere – it was aweful. Seiger had followed me so I made him carry her back to the house. The best news is, however, that my father is letting me keep her! Dr. Kimba came and made sure she is going to live and does not have any diseases. Now she is mine.

This human is different. I know, I say that about a lot of humans, but this one really is. Instead of mimicking speech like an ape she uses odd word combinations such as "don't" and "can't". It is truly fascinating. I can tell she is scared, but she is trying to be brave. Her name is Marsi. She views herself as a person, not an item to be owned. This only strengthens my belief that humans are capable of their own culture and government. What right do we apes have to own them? It would take a lot of work – I mean – not all humans are like Marsi. Our house humans would not have the slightest idea what to do with freedom. No, they must be taught and given the opportunity.

Yes, these are heretical ideas, but they ring with such truth; more so than the idioms spouted by the religious leaders. I know that there are human rights groups, but father says they are blathering idiots. Do they believe as I do? What would be so wrong with humans having their own way of life?

On another note I think that Lt. Thade noticed me at the state dinner the other night. My father has finally decided that I am old enough to attend some of the feasting instead of being sent away with a nurse and the children. The lieutenant is very handsome. Not tall for an ape, but he has a regal bearing. Unlike many of the other soldiers in attendance he seems to actually have a brain and enjoy using it. My father briefly introduced me to him. I can say without a doubt he made my stomach flutter, but I am too young for him. Why should be notice a silly fifteen year old? I will put such notions aside and concentrate on more important matters.

Ari sighed as she set down the pen. Who could understand the complexities that a teenage ape faces? Before meeting Thade she had had no interest in the opposite sex, unlike most all the other females. With a frown she decided that she would not act the love sick fool and would put any notion of Thade returning her attentions away. With a seven year age difference the aspiring lieutenant would have no time for dalliances anyways.

A stab if guilt pieced Ari's heart as she recalled the reason why she had needed to escape today. It had been six years ago that day that her beloved mother had been taken from her. Each year she made a pilgrimage into the forest to be alone and grieve. Running into Marsi had deprived her of that opportunity today.

Flashback

'Ari, come quickly!' called her older brother, Galen, who raced up the stairs towards their parent's bedroom. Ari, the youngest and only female child of Senator Sandar and his wife Sari followed her brothers up the stairs wondering what the matter was. When they reached the upper level of the house all the apes were starting to become frightened, never had their father allowed them to come home early from school unless something was dreadfully wrong. Finally after what seemed like an eternity their father opened the door and beckoned his children to come in, Dr. Bourl and his young apprentice Kimba crowed around the bed trying to ease Sari's pain for the time.

There was blood all over the bed, the sheets and the floor. Panic came over Ari as she saw her mother lying helpless on the bed surrounded by strange medical instruments, what had the doctor done to her mother! Just as she was about to run to her mother side her father caught her and held his precious child close to him so that she would not get in the way of the doctor who had just helped Sari give birth. The young ape had been born dead and its mother was not strong enough to live either, this was the reason that Sandar had sent for his child to come home so early. He was brought back into reality as Ari struggled to get away from him and go to her mother; both of her brothers, Nat and Galen were standing in the door way not sure what they should do.

'Sons, come over here,' Sandar drew his sons close to his side, this might be the last time that they were all together as a family, 'quickly, quickly! It will be all right, you will see. It will be all right in the end.' It was more for his own comfort that Sandar said these words. Galen buried his head in his father's senatorial robes to hide the tears that were coursing down his face, while Nat just stood by his father's side trying to be brave, but Ari wasn't sure what she should be doing. Why was she not allowed to see her momma and why was her brother crying? All these thoughts ran through her nine year old brain.

After a few minutes Dr. Bourl and Kimba started to gather things up. 'Senator Sandar, I have done all that I can for your wife. She is as comfortable as I can possibly make her at this time. I would suggest that you leave her to rest today and tomorrow.' As much as he wanted to tell the Senator that there was not much hope for his wife, he did not want to upset the children.

'Doctor, please, tell me… Will she-'the words stuck in his throat, '-will she live? Don't try to soften the blow it would be too hard.'

Bourl sighed, this was not going to be easy but it was all part of being a doctor. 'There is very little chance that she will live to see the mornings light. She has lost a lot of blood, in the best case scenario, she could possibly live throughout the week, but chances of that are very slim. I would suggest that you and your children say goodbye for she passes on the realm of Semos. Kimba and I will be cleaned up shortly then we will leave you to yourselves.' With that Bourl began to pack up his medical things and directed Kimba to do the same.

The young gorilla was very good at the medical practice and would one day make a great doctor, so Bourl had taken him under his wing to show him the ropes. Bringing him to what was supposed to be an easy birth sounded like a good idea, but when the mother miscarried things had gotten messy quickly now the good doctor did not have any hopes of Kimba ever wanting to practice medicine again. 'Come, Kimba, we will leave them alone to grieve in peace.' They left the Senator and his family alone with their beloved wife and mother.

'Momma!' Ari finally free of her father's arms ran to the bed where her mother was lying. 'No, momma, please don't leave me. I love you!' Tears streamed down Ari's face and hit her mother's pillow.

'Hush, Ari. Big apes do not cry now do they?' Her mother gently stroked her daughter head, trying to put away her own pain. 'Galen, come here and give me a hug. How was your day at school today?' Sandar could hear the stress in his wife's voice; she was being so brave, trying to act like everything was normal. 'Nat, you are getting to look so much like you father. I heard that you had a game yesterday against the neighboring team. Did you win?'

'Yes, mother. I only wish that you could have been there! We beat them by at least fifteen points because their defense was not strong enough. I hope that you feel better soon.' Nat, the oldest of Sandar and Sari's children was almost out of school and very involved in all the sports he could be, but he was also very compassionate when someone was hurt.

Ari sat by her mother watching as she listened to her brothers talk about school and everything that had been happening. Noticing her daughter's unusual silence Sari only half listen to what her sons had been doing while she had been unwell. 'Daughter, what interesting things have you been doing?'

'I made a new friend, momma. Her name is Anna.'

'That is a very unusual name for an ape, is it not?'

'Oh! She isn't an ape, momma; she is the new human girl that Jiane's father bought for her. She is very much more interesting that Jiane. All she wants to do is play dolls and talk about males,; with this conclusion Ari made a face of disgust.

Sari's brow wrinkled, she did not approve of apes owning humans and treating them as slaves, it was not right in her opinion. 'Really, now did he?' She shot her husband a death glare. How could he allow their youngest to be around such repulsing things! 'I am sure that you were very polite to her and treated her with all the respect that you do your other friends.'

'Why should she?' Galen spoke up, 'Anna is nothing but a stinkin' human. She doesn't deserve any respect.'

'Galen! I would have never-'

'Do not speak to your mother in that way, son.' Sandar did not agree with his wife's strong views on the slavery issue and preferred to ignore them.

'Go on, Ari, your brother did not mean to interrupt you,' Sari encouraged her daughter.

'I tried to be nice to her because I knew that you would like it and I wanna be just like you, momma… When I get big! Jiane was not very nice to her because she said that her papa didn't care and the girl was supposed to do what she wanted her to. It made me sad and I told her to stop, but she would not.'

'Yeah! It was great,' broke in Nat, 'then Ari to a swing at her and knocked her down. She sure does hit hard for a female!'

'You did not do that, did you Ari?'

'Yes, momma, I did. She made me so mad, but we are friends again and she said she would not boss her around like that again.'

Sandar was afraid that his children were wearing their mother out. 'Children, I do not wish to tire your mother out so maybe we should let her rest for a little bit then come back a little later. Come, go down stairs.' Gently he pushed his children out and sat down on the side of the bed and took his wife's hand in his. 'Love… I cannot to lose you; you seemed so strong around the children.'

'Sandy, please- I cannot stand to be here and leave our other child alone in death. Please, do not make it harder for me to go.'

'Are you in pain?'

'Not so very much right now. Stay with me for a while. Please?'

'Forever my love,' Sandar laid down beside his wife on their bed. They both closed their eyes; while Sandar drifted into a peaceful sleep his wife's spirit left her body and floated away to the heavens never to return to her beloved family. Almost immediately after Sari had passed away Sandar was aware that something was not right, he gathered his wife's body up in his arms and cried because it felt like part of him had also died with her.

End Flashback

Ari surreptitiously glanced at the sleeping human before wiping the tears from her eyes. It would not do to have her new human think her weak. As much as Ari believed in human rights it had not crossed her mind that the human might understand the pain of loss she was experiencing. Feeling somewhat relieved Ari collected her focus and resumed writing, working past the ever lingering pain.


N/A: I have decided to place a strict demarcation between ape speech and human speech. It isn't necessarily 'cannon' as seen in the movie, but I feel that it is important. Humans' have a 'slang' that is not used within Ape society, which is more formal.

Ditzy Anon –Thank you for the kind review. I am certain, however, that it could be made more perfect since I am terrible at proofing my own work. But thanks none the less.

Nolee – Thank you and I hope you continue to enjoy this chapter as well.

HPLover – And yes, my venture into higher learning is forcing me to update at least once a week. I know, quite the change from every two years. Thanks for the praise.

ThadeAri Lover – Thank you for the kind words. I appreciate everyone who reads this story.

Eerie Iri – Thank you very much for the in depth review. I appreciate your feedback. This story is being based off of my original, but things will also change. As I am sure you could see in this chapter. I am attempting to keep everyone in character as much as possible. Perhaps I will continue the old one for the sake of humor as sort of a crack!fic. I think that there is a lot more behind Ari and Thade than the movie allowed us to see. I am really excited about exploring their relationship under a new microscope.

Blackwolf – Yes, it is meant to look at Ari and Thade, but it also allows for a look at how 'tame' humans and those not brought up in Ape society interact with apes and each other. Talren is a secondary character. He is actually an accident. I decided I couldn't just have Marsi running off on her own as I don't want her life to parallel Ari's too much, but then I realize I couldn't just leave Talren off on his own. I recently re-watched the movie and have gained some interesting ideas regarding both Marsi and Talren. Thanks for your review and I hope you continue to enjoy.