Ch. 4 Responsibility
Marahan sat positioned in a circle among the royal council. Koba had returned from tracking the humans and explained that there were many who survived the outbreak and were now living in a forfeited camp. The apes were surprised to say the least, that humans were alive since they hadn't been seen for years. The only one around was Marahan, but that was no longer the case. The council began speaking on what to do about the humans since they didn't die off.
Koba spoke up suggesting they attack the humans before they attacked the colony. Marahan wasn't shocked that Koba wanted to do such a thing. He hated humans this included herself although she was raised by apes. Maurice intervened telling Koba that he had no idea how many weapons the humans possessed. Some of the council nodded at Maurice's comment, but Koba frowned not wanting to give up on trying to convince Caesar to take action.
Marahan saw Koba address her Uncle Rocket next to him sat Ash who was fully healed, but had a scar from being shot. "They tried to kill your son!" Koba shouted. Ash frowned at Koba recalling his incident, while his father spoke. "I follow Caesar; whatever he says I will agree with." Rocket replied. Arguing broke up out among the council of apes. Some agreed with Koba, while others sided with Maurice.
Marahan stayed out of the agreement for good measure and turned to her father. Maurice was looking over the human's supplies, one item included a book filled drawings. Marahan took the book from her father admiring the craftsmanship of the sketches. A majority of them were of trees, human buildings and artifacts.
What really caught the woman's eye was the drawing of a female human. She saw the clothes the girl wore and how her hair was styled. Marahan wondered if she hadn't raised by the apes would her life have been similar to the girl in the book. She tossed the idea aside turning attention back to the arguing apes, a frown graced her lips when Marahan heard Blue Eyes say that Koba was right.
Marahan didn't what to think of Blue Eyes at that moment. The ape despised humans and the prince just agreed with him that it was alright to harm them! She felt butterflies enter her stomach, if the colony was driven to wipe out the humans. What would stop Koba from convincing them to come after her. Marahan's worry ceased when Caesar silenced the arguments and began to speak. "Home, Family, Future." These were words spoken from the great ape's lips.
Everyone was quiet, but understood what the Caesar meant. If they were to attack the humans everything they have built for this colony could be destroyed. Maurice wrapped his large arm around Marahan while she cuddled deeper into his chest. Rocket placed a comforting hand on Ash's shoulder and smiled. Caesar glanced at Blue Eyes who shied from his father's green gaze. These three were the future of the colony and Caesar would anything in his power keep them safe.
"I will decide in the morning." Caesar signed before dismissing the council. Maurice went back to teaching his students while Marahan went back to their hut. She went to her nest and began pulling a few vines from the pile twinning each together to make a basket. Marahan hands moved fast over the vines making sure each was secure; she shook her head replaying Blue Eyes actions.
She didn't want to be mad, but the young woman was. Marahan wondered how Blue Eyes could be so naïve, as the future king of the colony of apes he shouldn't be so quick to agree with the little words Koba or anyone spat out. Traditionally, the prince must look to the current ruler for guidance. "Hey, anyone home?" Marahan sighed recognizing Ash's voice and wondered if he should be moving this much with his wound. "Come in Ash!" she shouted working on the basket.
The young ape walked inside and sat a few meters from Marahan. He looked over the woman easily seeing the anger in her weaving. "I came to check on you." Marahan locked her eyes with Ash's, her yellow gaze intimidating him. " I am surprised Blue Eyes isn't with you." She muttered roughly pulling at the small basket. "No, his highness is speaking to Koba. Not surprised, Blue Eyes sided with his decision." Ash stated placing his hand on Marahan's to stop her for a moment.
She looked up at the ape as he spoke. "I know your hurting just let it out." Ash said. Marahan tightened her hold on his hand, letting out her hurt feelings. "Caesar is a great leader and understands humans like he does apes. Blue Eyes, is like Koba-he h-hates humans." Ash wrapped his arm around her shoulder and wiped her tears with his fingers. "No, Blue Eyes agreed with Koba because of what happened to me. He has never been around other humans besides you and this was his first negative encounter with them."
Marahan sniffled understanding what Ash was telling her. "Even if he comes to dislike humans, Blue Eyes will always care for you." Ash whispered grabbing a strand of leaves and attempted to hook them around the basket. Marahan giggled at his sloppy handiwork and proceeded to fix his mistake. " Thank you." She signed with her hands. "I won't make it easy on Blue Eyes though."
Next Morning…
Marahan was dressed in darker colored pelts, war paint edged on her face. As she followed Maurice, Ash and Rocket to Caesar's treehouse to retrieve their horses. The armies were being organized by Koba and his close companions. Weapons were handed to every ape including Marahan. Today, the army would venture to the humans' camp to make sure they stayed in their territory. Although they were bringing weapons, Marahan knew it was for precaution in case some of the people didn't agree, but Caesar already warned the apes that this wasn't going to be a fight to the young woman's relief.
Marahan stood next to Ash, both were watching Koba commanding the armies as if he were their king. Ash made faces and moved his arms, mocking Koba's commanding voice, sending him and Marahan into a fit of giggles. They paused when the older ape glared at them and both moved toward their fathers. Rocket motioned Ash to him once he had found his horse. Maurice on the other hand struggled to get his horse going.
Marahan watched amused as her father tried to bring the horse to her. "Looks like Memes is giving Maurice trouble again." A voice muttered as Marahan glanced behind her to see Blue Eyes positioned proudly on his horse. Marahan frowned, disliking how attractive he appeared similar to a real prince charming.
"Memes is not to be blamed. He's an older horse and this is a normal routine in the morning." Marahan replied smiling as Maurice got control of the horse. "You're welcome to ride with me, if you want." Blue Eyes asked. Marahan stood on her hind legs and faced the prince. "I will ride with my father. I wouldn't want to ride with you my prince, if you and Koba undermine Caesar's authority and decide to attack the humans!"
Blue Eyes was taken aback by her statement wondering if had somehow offended Marahan. Before he could utter a word, the young woman walked to her father and was positioned on the horse. Marahan held tight to Maurice as they joined the army ranks with Caesar in front. "Move out!" He shouted as the army followed their king through the forests.
When they reached the humans camp, the horses were moved to stand in front of the ape army. Marahan made herself comfortable behind Maurice, her ears drums pounded when she heard the sounds coming from inside the compound as it slowly opened.
Marahan nearly gasped at the amount of humans that occupied the area, besides the group of humans she encountered in woods. These were the first she had seen, a part of Marahan wanted to leave the horse and interact with them, but this was not why their army was here. She took a breath remaining focused on the mission despite her curiosity. "Are you alright?" Marahan looked up to her father, his l large head turned to face his daughter.
"I am well." Marahan whispered her gaze going forward to the humans again. Her form stiffened at the sight of a man walking in front of the crowd. It was the same man from yesterday who had addressed Caesar. He tried to apologize for the man who shot Ash, but her family forced them to leave. Marahan took a breath, she didn't blame her ape family and that man's actions were considered unforgivable.
She watched as Caesar approached the man. He looked to the people addressing every human present. "Apes do not want war, but will fight if we must." By this time the humans were frightened, some even went further inside the compound as Caesar pointed to the forest, then to the compound to set the boundaries between them. "Ape home, Human home." Caesar bellowed.
The crowd shivered as Caesar's attention moved solely to the man. "Do not come back." The king demanded, moving his horse to signal the army to leave. Marahan held tight to her father, the woman's gaze never leaving the man until they were far into the forest. "They won't be returning. After that speech, I wouldn't." Ash said breaking the ice. His horse traveled directly behind Maurice as to speak with Marahan.
The orangutan didn't mind as his interaction was comforting for Marahan. "Me neither, I think it was necessary, after all you could have died from being shot. With the humans in one territory and us in ours, peace will be kept without the means of war." She stated. Ash gasped in shock. "When did you become so wise?" Ash signed. "It comes with having a father for an educator." Marahan replied not noticing the look of pride on Maurice's face.
In the village, Maurice carefully lifted Marahan from Memes and proceeded to feed him. Marahan remembered they were running low on fruit and decided to grab a basket from the hut. She didn't get far when a female ape from Caesar's treehouse came to theirs. She wore a toothed necklace and yellow leaves strapped around her mouth to resemble a veil. Marahan recognized her as one of the queen's maidens, otherwise female apes who acted as a support system for Cordelia.
The ape bowed lowly very aware of the human's status compared to her own. "Marahan, daughter of General and Councilman Maurice of the orangutan army educational division. There is an emergency and your presence is requested. Please follow me." The ape signed as Marahan patted her shoulder indicating that she would follow. This was a common occurrence when receiving a message from the ape royal family.
Only difference is the servants bowed to fellow royals or council members. "Lead me." Marahan said following closely behind the female as her mind buzzed. She wondered what the emergency was and how bad. Marahan heard from a healer that her Aunt Cordelia was bedridden after Milo's birth due to illness, but she hoped the queen's sickness wasn't bad.
Marahan never had a mother, but if there was anyone who she could say was close, the queen came to mind. She pinpointed every moment of her childhood and Cordelia was always part of it, mostly because Marahan, Ash and Blue Eyes spent more time in Caesar's tree than hers and Ash's. The reason, Rocket trained soldiers every afternoon at his treehouse and Maurice was busy with his students at the craving rock.
Marahan sighed, remembering their childhood as her and the ape female climbed the tree to the main room. To her surprise, the female continued to move further into the tree, apparently the main room was not where she was needed. Marahan observed the area as they walked carefully as they were on a woven bridge with rope, wood and thick vines.
They entered a wing of the treehouse that seemed a little familiar to Marahan, but she couldn't put her finger on it. She was ushered into a room, then the female bowed, leaving the woman there. Marahan stared at the area confused until, she turned and froze. Behind her was a hammock and inside laid the crown prince of the apes, this was his bedchamber. "About time, I'm relived the messenger worked." Blue Eyes stated.
Marahan frowned. "You used one of your mother's handmaidens to get me here? Is there even an emergency, involving Aunt Cordelia or Uncle Caesar?" the woman asked not daring to hide her anger as her hands moved rapidly in the air. "If there was Maurice would have told you." He replied climbing out of the hammock to stand in front of her. "Selfish prince! Why am I here?" Marahan muttered, sitting on the ground.
Blue Eyes did the same, his gaze moving to her hand. He reached to touch the soft appendage, but Marahan moved it from it. "You are upset. Ash said you would be. Is this why you didn't ride with me to the human's camp?" the prince asked. Marahan crossed her arms attempting to look away from the future king of the apes. She nearly growled when her yellow irises landed on his blue orbs. Marahan was almost mesmerized by the intense color. Her heart began hammering, why did he have to be born with those eyes.
Blue Eyes was the only one in the colony born with the color, everyone else either had grassy green or murky yellow. The woman growled not able to resist his pleading baby blues. "I'm angry. Due to you agreeing with Koba!" Marahan replied looking from Blue Eyes again. The prince placed his hand under her chin bringing her gaze back to him. "Uncle Koba?" Blue Eyes said as Marahan brought her hand to hold his wrist.
"Koba is no uncle to me. Hatred for humans. Hatred for me." She released his wrist, but he encircled Marahan by the shoulders pulling her close and inhaling her scent. Marahan having no choice allowed the prince to do so as she placed her hands on his chest. "You are ape." Marahan took a breath, she placed Blue Eyes hand against her own, so he could see the difference. "Born human, raised ape. Both are alike capable of good and evil. Humans not bad, do not kill."
Blue Eyes moved his head to the side in deep though. Marahan saw the conflict and gently rubbed his arm to get his attention. "Caesar knows all about humans. Trust him to teach you." The ape sighed. "I'll try." Blue Eyes went to unbind their hands, but Marahan kept them. "I will forgive you, if you promise to see good in humans. As you saw in me." Blue Eyes nodded and pulled Marahan into a hug.
A look of worry and uncertainty plastered on his face as he recalled Koba's words: "Humans evil, never good like apes. Apes always better, never trust humans. What Koba had said was right, he was unsure if he would keep his promise.
