Ch. 9 Not Ape
Alone, that was what she wanted to be. Marahan's stomach twisted in knots, she looked forward. Her yellow eyes meeting the back of Blue Eye's head, silently wishing it was her father's.
She tried ignoring the prince as he signed to one of the soldiers he was speaking to about what had occurred at the dam. "Humans tried to kill brother and Marahan, unacceptable! Glad they will leave! Can't be trusted just as Koba said!"
Marahan placed a hand over her mouth. The prince's words made her physically sick. They hurt worse than any wound she obtained during her years of hunting. Her body shook out of fear, anger, and sadness.
The plan to make Blue Eyes like humans failed and now she was close to losing him to Koba's influence. How long would be before Blue began to act like Koba? After what happened, it would not be long. The prince already spoke his words and had developed quite an attitude.
Marahan crossed her arms, hiding her hands into the pockets of her orange-furred skirt. It would take her time to think of a new plan, but for now, she needed to recover from her first.
She let out a breath when the army reached the colony. Without saying a word, Marahan jumped off of Blue Eye's horse and went into her hut. Immediately, the woman laid in her nest allowing herself to relax.
Mind drifted to Alex, Malcolm and Ellie. What was going to happen to them now? They didn't complete their work. Marahan wondered if this meant the end of humanity?
Deep down, she didn't want it to be true. They were the first humans she had ever met and they became like family to her. Marahan wanted to help the humans, but arguing with Caesar was not an option after what happened.
The king was in a temperamental state anything would set him off. She learned this from Maurice and her uncles about their king's moods.
And the young human took their words to heart, not wanting to ever be on the receiving end.
Her mind wandered to a point where the woman thought about what life would have been like if she was raised by humans. Obviously, her pelts would be traded in for a shirt and pants. Her hair would be neater like Ellie's, not wild and untamed.
Her dwelling, she assumed would be in a bed instead of a nest made of leaves. If the time came would she be willing to leave the apes? "Maybe." Was the reply to her innermost thoughts.
She wasn't a child anymore. If her decision was to someday leave the apes, she knew Caesar wouldn't stop her. Maurice, on the other hand, would need convincing.
A loud knock broke Marahan from her trace and she stood from her nest, confused when an out of breath Ash entered her home.
"Ash are you ok? What is wrong?" Marahan asked, the knots in stomach reforming with a vengeance. "It's Cordelia! My mother sent me to get you!" Ash stated heaving slowly.
Before he could relax, the human woman grabbed his arm and hurried to Caesar's hut. They went straight to the queen's chamber inside were Caesar, Blue Eyes, and the healers.
The pair walked inside quietly. Ash took a seat between Blue Eyes and his mother Tinker. Marahan preoccupied a space next to Caesar and with tears stared down at her honorary aunt.
She was pale as shallow breaths left her body. Her fur growing colder by the minute. Marahan touched the queen's hand and squeezed it gently. Words were lost on her lips, as she stared at the apes in the room.
Blue Eyes held Cornelius in his chest, he stood straight looking stoic. On the inside, Marahan knew he was suffering. The prince was just trying to be strong for his family.
Caesar was asking Tinker and the healers questions while looking hopelessly at his mate. For the first time, Marahan saw how weak her uncle truly was, as there was nothing he could do to fix this problem.
The healers had a limited amount of treatments, whatever illness possessed their queen they couldn't heal it. All they could do is sit and wait for a miracle or for their queen to die.
Marahan hoped for the first option and prayed in her head. She couldn't lose Cordelia; the colony would never recover from this massive decrease in authority.
True, Caesar could take another mate, but this would never happen. Cordelia was the only ape for him.
No other would replace her love and kindness.
A series of hoots were heard outside of Caesar's hut. At first, the woman ignored it assuming two apes were fighting, but soon the noise grew in volume inside the king's home.
Marahan and the apes turned their gaze toward the entrance, all except Caesar who knew from scent who was coming before him.
Marahan nearly gasped when she saw Malcolm and Ellie. Fear, filled her heart as she looked from the pair to Caesar.
The first time, Malcolm came his life was spared, that doesn't mean it will happen a second time.
Marahan felt her protective instincts flare, if Caesar commanded the apes to kill Malcolm and Ellie, she would have to intervene on their behalf.
They were not the ones who threatened the princes, it was Carver and he deserved to be punished for it.
"This my home! You should not be here." Caesar stated, not daring to look at the humans. Blue Eyes glared at the pair, this made Marahan tense.
"I understand." Came Malcolm's reply, before Ellie, interrupted him. Marahan followed her gaze to her aunt.
Marahan gave the woman a pleading look just as she and her husband began to try and reason with Caesar. "She is sick," Malcolm said as the apes in the room met his gaze.
"How long has she been sick?" Ellie asked. No one answered, but Marahan. "After giving birth to Prince Cornelius. This was a few weeks ago before you asked us for help." She said as Blue Eyes frowned at the woman's actions. He wondered why Marahan bothered to speak to the humans when they couldn't be trusted.
Ellie nodded at the information and began pulling out a small pill bottle. She held it out to show the apes. "We have medicine that can help her."
Marahan felt a sense of relief fill her heart at Ellie's words. The woman was truly a God-sent. Her yellow eyes went to Caesar, her relief grew to worry.
Caesar had to approve the medicine. And by the look of the situation, there would be no approval, unless the king was convinced.
"Don't trust you," Caesar said, what came next was unexpected. "But I do." Marahan's words rang through the tree house. All eyes were now Maurice's daughter.
"Uncle, forgive me for speaking out of turn. Our methods of healing are not as advanced as the humans. Aunt Tinker has made this clear and Ellie has the cure for the queen's illness. I understand your mistrust, I myself feel betrayed. But my king, it was not Ellie and Malcolm who tried to harm Cornelius."
Caesar turned from Marahan to Ellie, then his mate. His mind conflicted, but he admitted Marahan spoke the truth just like her father.
The human woman waited patiently, her eyes pleading to the ape. "Uncle please, I don't want to lose the only mother I have ever know." Caesar took in a breath and took Marahan's hand, giving it a comforting squeeze.
The king gestured for Ellie to come to the queen. The older woman took two pills from the bottle and began crushing them.
"One day. You stay one day." Caesar said his hand still attached to his niece. Malcolm tried to protest but was cut off by the king's voice. "One day!"
With that, the human male kept silent and shrank back when Marahan glared at him. A warning for the man not to push his luck, after the girl was generously able to convince Caesar to allow them to stay.
She gave Caesar's hand a squeeze, before releasing it. Marahan watched Ellie give Cordelia the antibiotics, then place the bottle back into her pack.
Behind her, Marahan felt Blue Eye's gaze baring into her back. His anger rolling off his body in waves. She resisted the urge to turn around and face the prince if she did it would end in another argument.
Marahan was at the point where she was tired of Blue Eyes disdain toward the humans. True, the young woman was in the process of thinking about another plan to change his perspective, otherwise, a part of her felt drained from his negative speech.
This speech brought on by Koba, who was slowly poisoning the mind of the next ape king.
Marahan took a moment to find her peace, she couldn't get angry not when good things were finally starting to happen. She turned to Caesar who was talking to Ellie and Malcolm.
"Ape will help," Caesar said. Immediately, Blue Eyes protested. "I will not help!" the prince said frowning at the ape king.
Caesar didn't reply to his comments, instead, his eyes went to Cordelia. Marahan, on the other hand, was not pleased.
Humans just saved his mother's life and he repays their kindness by refusing to help them. "Stubborn ape," Marahan muttered facing her uncle. "I will help and gather the troops for you."
Ash hooted, gaining everyone's attention. " I will help too, my king." He said moving next to Marahan.
Caesar nodded accepting their offers, his hand gently graced his mate's face. With one last look, the king walked outside with Ellie and Malcolm.
Ash and Marahan hurried behind Caesar making noises to gather the army.
Once they were outside, Marahan was quickly pulled toward the treehouse. "You are not going, humans, can't be trusted, Marahan! They are blinding you!"
The woman's temper grew. She ripped her arm from Blue Eyes. "You are not yet king and the only one who is blinded here is you!"
Blue Eyes tried to grab her again, but instead, Marahan grabbed his wrist to stop him.
"Leave me be. It's best if you don't come. Koba won't be with us and you believe what he tells you!" she yelled letting her pent-up emotions out.
The prince stood there shocked, while Marahan escaped, following the army out of the colony.
"Marahan?" The young woman turned to Ash, sadness in her eyes. "He has become so much like Koba! He hates humans with a burning passion and it is pushing me further from him! I hate it! I hate Koba and I hate him!"
She buried her face into Ash's back, fresh tears soaking his fur. "Not true. I know you love him."
The ape slid his finger under the woman's eye catching her tear. Marahan sighed. "I won't deny it. I love Blue Eyes so much. But I can't be with him not like this."
Ash nodded. "I understand, but the Blue Eyes you love is still in there don't give up hope."
"Thank you, brother," Marahan stated hugging the chimp.
The group reached the dam in record time after kicking Carver out of the group. The man was locked in one of their cars, Marahan assumed that was the human's way of exiling him.
Everyone went inside of the structure, helping the humans the best they could. Apes were gathering tools, repairing machinery and surveying the building for danger.
Ash and Marahan were gathering tools, giving the items to either Malcolm or one of the other men.
She noticed they were running around fixing all they could do.
This wasn't a surprise after all Caesar had given them one day to get their lights back.
Marahan looked around not seeing her uncle, she walked over to Ash. He was trying to find a tool for Alex.
"Where is our uncle?" she asked the male. "In the back thinking. He worried about the queen and Blue didn't make anything easier."
Marahan bit back a growl at the mention of the prince. Ash was right, this situation was worrying Caesar, he already had enough on his plate today.
The king had to deal with his teenage son being corrupted by one of his generals, a sick mate and his youngest son, who was almost killed.
She didn't know how things could get any worst.
"Found it!" Ash said triumphantly giving the tool to Marahan. She shook her head, giggle at the proud look on his face at finally finding the right tool for Alex's job.
" Great only took an hour." She said moving to find Alex, who was a few meters from Maurice.
She was debating, whether or not to tell her father about what happened between her and Blue Eyes, but decided against it.
Maybe later, but not now. Work needed to be done, before nightfall.
Marahan began to walk over to Alex, but paused when she saw Koba climb into the dam, behind him was Blue Eyes.
The ape looked outraged, a deep scowl on his face as if he was out for blood.
She froze in terror.
Her first instinct was to go to her father for protection, but she fought against it, swallowing her fear.
She was a member of the army same as him and if he harmed her, Koba would be punished by Caesar and Maurice.
Marahan knowing this, went to Alex giving him the tool. He gave her a smile, then moved to the other side of the room.
Unfortunately, the boy got in Koba's way and was pushed to the ground.
"Hey!" Alex yelped, causing the ape to move his attention back to the boy with the intent to kill.
Without thinking, Marahan jumped on Koba's back, attempting to pin him to the floor.
Koba tried shaking her off, but she held on to protect Alex from his fury.
Koba slammed his back to the floor, causing the woman to let go and groan as she felt pain in her back.
She had no time to defend herself when his fists slammed down on the right side of her hip.
Marahan cried out in pain, the sound causing Maurice and Ash growl at Koba.
When he tried to hurt her again, the bonobo was stopped by Rocket, standing over the injured girl.
"Want Caesar! Where Caesar! Caesar!" Koba yelled moving away from Rocket and Marahan.
Caesar slowly walked out his eyes holding anger as he saw his niece on the ground with Rocket, Ash, and Maurice surrounding the female.
Maurice brought his daughter into his chest, arms encircling her as Rocket and Ash checked her injury.
"Humans attack your sons and you let this human female convince you to let them stay! You love humans more than apes! More than your sons!"
The reaction was immediate, Caesar relentlessly attacked Koba. Marahan looked on feeling no remorse for the general.
The apes cheered their king on, agreeing Koba went too far hurting a general's daughter and insulting Caesar's ideals.
When Caesar was done venting, Koba rose from the floor. His face caked with blood.
"Forgive me." The bonobo said raising his hand out for the king to touch. Once Caesar stroked it Koba fled, avoiding the angry glares from the army.
Blue Eyes stood motionless at what had occurred, he didn't know what to as he went from his father to an injured Marahan struggling to stand.
Her eyes met Blue's, the stare held deep pain and hatred in the yellow orbs. The prince felt trapped and proceeded to climb the ladder leading out of the building.
"Oh no, you don't!" Marahan wrenched herself from the arms of her helpers and hurried up the ladder. She only stopped when the open air hit her lungs.
Blue Eyes was a few meters from her with his back turned. He was mute, shoulders slumped in guilt.
"How could you! Not only did you refuse to help the humans, but you tell Koba about the incident from earlier! Look at me Blue! Look at what he did! He could have killed me if Rocket hadn't intervened!"
The prince did as he was instructed, his gaze seeing a large purple and black bruise on the side of her hip.
"Humans are dangerous. I wanted to protect you." He muttered attempting to avoid her gaze but failing.
"I don't need your protection! I can take care of myself! Why can you get that?" she replied.
"Humans can't be trusted. They tried to kill my brother!" Blue Eyes shouted, his signing becoming rapid in movement. This showed how upset he was at Marahan for being easily misled.
"Craver is the one who shot Ash and attacked Cornelius! He can't be trusted! Ellie, Malcolm, and Alex are trustworthy! They have been kind, taught me many things about who I am and welcomed me like family! I no longer feel this way when I am around you!" Marahan yelled trying to make Blue Eyes understand her.
"You are ape not human!" Blue Eyes protested.
"Look at me Blue! Really look at me! I am different! I have no fur and I can't do many things the apes do! I am human! Stop saying I am an ape! I am not nor will I ever be! If it wasn't for the fact that I was raised by Maurice, I would probably be with the humans!"
"You choose filthy humans over apes?" Blue Eyes muttered. Marahan stared at the prince, for the first time she didn't see Blue Eyes instead she saw Koba. It was too late to save him from the hatred, it was now part of him.
"Yes. Yes, I would." She whispered her mind playing tricks on her. For a minute, the prince's eyes seem to change to a murky green like Koba's.
"Then you are not ape. You never were." Blue Eyes humped as he walked to his horse and rode off not looking back at his former friend.
Marahan fell to her knees, palms gripping the gravel. There was nothing left of the prince to save.
She heard footsteps behind her and looked to find Ash kneeling to her level.
"I'm sorry Ash, but you were wrong."
