Wow! I was not sure where to go next with the story but after a bit of a break I decided I missed these guys and came back for a continuation of sorts! At this point I have Tarzan to be around 11 years old and ready for a new adventure. Thanks for sticking with me.
Today they were heading toward the gulley in the far north east. At this time of the year the termites would build huge funnels sometimes a few feet into the air. The apes loved to eat there, but it was sort a dangerous trek. They would have to venture through uneven and ragged terrain. It was also pretty close to lion territory, so tension was a bit high today as they left behind their home.
"Let's move out," was Kerchak's gruff call. Excitedly Tarzan bounds over to him with his dagger on his hip in a woven leather sheath and a spear in hand. His pups dance around him feeding off his happy energy. Tarzan felt a thrill of excited anticipation pass through him. He loved when the herd travelled and today would be the day he would prove himself to his father. He had been honing his vining and spear skills so that on a day like today he would be allowed to scout.
"Dad! Can we walk ahead a bit? Be a look out?"
Kerchak looks at his small son. Sure, he had grown some but to Kerchak he looked so young and fragile. He was a fourth the size of other apes his age. He had many skills that they didn't have but he was not nearly as robust or strong as the others. The answer came easily.
"No." A crushed expression flirts across his face and Kerchak has to look away.
"I will be careful! I will be in the trees and they will be there," Tarzan indicates to his pups who bark in agreement. Obi and Neo had proved to be ferociously loyal and protected him in the past. They had grown quickly and were now fully mature wolves but that did nothing to ease Kerchak's mind.
Suddenly an idea came to Kerchak, "If you can get Terk to go and convince Catile, then you can go."
Tarzan looked devastatingly happy and scampered off to find them. Kerchak had honestly been surprised when Catile had allowed Terk, he was so sure she would never let her daughter much for his bright ideas, Kerchal sighed heavily as he watches his son leaping through the trees while the other three travel on foot beneath him. Kerchak regretted letting him do it, but it made his son feel so important, so why did he feel so badly about it?
As usual Tarzan had his dagger and spear and had even given Terk one. Terk was pretty unsure of it, but had seen it cut through raw meat pretty easily so she had no worries of its effectiveness. And while she held it awkwardly, it could still be used sufficiently in defense and that's all Tarzan wanted.
Kerchak had been exceedingly reluctant to let them scout ahead, but they were very insistent.
"We will be super watchful. Of all the times to let us do this, this is the most important," was Tarzan's argument and his dad had to agree. And off they went.
Tarzan swung from vine to vine and kept his eyes on high alert. After about an hour, they were a good distance ahead and stopped to rest.
They sat near a pond and got rehydrated. "So Terk, are you hungry yet?"
Terk replied, "Are you kidding? I was starving before we even left! Mangos only fill you up so much! Let's go find some berries."
Berries had always been her favorite, so he agrees to search for some. Spotting a promising bush, he calls her over and together they sit down to eat. Suddenly, Neo's shackles raise and he snarls. A cackle sounds. Tarzan was not familiar with the sound and looks around. Obi leaps into the brush and reveals a hyena. Several more approach and Tarzan raises his spear. Obi lunges at the hyena nearest to Tarzan and that incites all the hyenas to attack Obi.
"Terk. Run and take Neo with you! We will catch up. Go back and find Dad. Hurry!"
Terk and Neo run in the direction in which they came and Tarzan tries to help Obi who was becoming overwhelmed by the number of hyenas. Knowing Terk was going to be fine as long as Neo was with her, he focuses on his wolf. One hyena was biting into his ruff, so he stabs that one in the leg, jerks the spear end from the offending limb and swings it down like rod against the animal's back. He fights them off of Obi but he is bleeding profusely and favoring one leg. He grabs the limp wolf and runs after Terk. The hyenas chase them for a while but give up after about two hundred yards. He hears his dad crashing through the jungle and knows that Terk made it. He lays Obi down and does not have to wait long for his Dad to show up.
Kerchak smells them before he sees them and what his smells, he doesn't like. Blood.
Finally he sees them. His small child crumpled over the broken figure of his beloved wolf brother. He looks fine, but Obi is thoroughly mangled. He sees large gashes and heavy bleeding and it is all he can do to keep from expressing how grave the situation is. Before he can even offer any advice, Tarzan takes his dagger and beats the blade into a rock.
Wordlessly he searches through the fragments and finds a crude needle. He pulls out threads of his long hair and ties that to a thick blunt end of his sliver of rock. Confused by his actions, Kerchak watches as Tarzan threads the wolf's skin together. After about twenty minutes, the largest wounds are closed and Tarzan begins gathering plants.
"Medical herbs to fight any infection," He offers in explanation. This was not that strange as the apes were smart enough to recognize what plants helped certain ailments but Kerchak was still fascinated to watch him work.
Neo and Terk soon entered the clearing. Neo whines pitifully and lies down next to his brother. Kerchak leaves to settle the group and Terk and Tarzan lie down with them and fall asleep listening for Obi's steady breaths.
I feel like I took several liberties with Tarzan. I know he should have no medical knowledge, but he is a human and we are pretty innovative so I feel like it is possible. Also. I am aware that gorillas habituate a different region of Africa than savannah animals such as hyenas and lions; however, this is a fanfiction story about a feral boy who talks to apes. Therefore, I can incorporate whatever pleases me.
Thanks
REA
