This new morning for Xuě was particularly interesting for her. She had followed many of her own ape troops who were all lead by many of the other apes of the colony into the forest and towards some open meadows. There they were all taught on how to weave baskets, cultivate the land for vegetation as well as learn the many medicinal herbs that were to be used and grown in order to help the sick or injured. The great open meadow was fenced off with spikes of wood and since it was near a running stream it was not hard for them to water the plants not that they needed to as the weather already does that for them. While there Xuě couldn't help but smile as she was greeted by many of the apes from the colony and was reunited with many of her own friends who were enjoying the new experience as well.
While tending to a bush full of berries, Xuě felt a soft pat to her side making her turn to see who it was. Standing next to her was a slightly smaller bonobo - Daisy who is one of her good friends, a smile etched onto her face.
"How are you doing?" Daisy asked while indicating towards the white chimpanzee's wound.
Xuě looked down at her leg and shrugged, "I am quite alright, it does not hurt as much as before. The apes of this colony know good medicine to help with the pain," Xuě explained.
"It must have been so frightening to be chased down by that mountain lion," Daisy spoke quietly while placing a hand over her breasts, atop of her heart.
"Yes it was... Until-" Xuě started.
"Until she was saved by the colony prince," Upepo, a slightly older female who is very good friends with both Daisy and Xuě jumped in. "So... How was he?" she asked excitedly while tending to her own plant.
"How... How was who?" Xuě asked nervously as she turned her attention back to the berries in front of her.
"Don't play dumb ape with us, you know exactly who Upepo is referring to," another chimpanzee named Nzuri asked. "How was the prince? Does he have battle scars adorning his body, eyes as blue as the sky and oceans? Is he as mean as they say!?" she finished excitedly while Xuě fidgeted on her spot.
"Don't do this to Xuě, can you not see it is embarrassing her?" Daisy scolded the two chimps as she reached up and pulled the white chimpanzee close to her, getting a relieved sigh in the process.
"Thank you," Xuě thanked the smaller bonobo as she held onto her for comfort.
Daisy hummed back as she rocked Xuě slowly within her arms and closed her eyes slightly before opening them back up to look at the sky. "I also hear that he's quite handsome as well," Daisy sighed aloud in a dreamy voice, gaining a groan from Xuě.
"Not you too," Xuě complained, removing herself from the bonobo and returning her attention back to the bush of berries gaining a few chuckles from her friends in the process.
"Oh Xuě, we are only teasing you. No need to get so worked up over your future ape lover," Upepo voiced with a smile while Xuě let out a surprised gasp.
"He's... He's not my ape lover!" Xuě stammered with her eyes tightly closed while the three raised their brows and looked at one another.
"Oh really? Then he is available?" Nzuri joked curtly noticing Xuě stammer a bit before looking away from them out of embarrassment. Looking back at her other two friends, Nzuri let out a sigh before walking up towards Xuě and gave her a hug. "Besides all this, I am just glad you are okay," she replied.
"We all are," Daisy spoke up while she too joined the hug along with Upepo.
Their little reunion was short lived however when the four females noticed another ape approaching. Noticing that it was none other than Pankun, Xuě's father the three friends bid Xuě a quick farewell before they rushed on back to tend the gardens and various livestocks that the colony had. Sitting by herself, Xuě watched as her father finally stopped in front of her and was surprised that Charlie was not with him.
"How are you doing today?" Pankun signed.
"I am doing a lot better," Xuě answered before she eyed all the other apes around her and then let her green gaze go back towards her sire. "Other apes were very kind, they healed me," she indicated with her foot wrapped in bandages.
"Good," Pankun breathed in relief, letting his shoulders relax a little.
"Where is Charlie?" Xuě asked her father while she looked around once more, hoping to see the other chimp not far off.
"Actually I was going to ask you if you have seen him myself," Pankun gestured to which Xuě shook her head slowly. Letting out a sigh, Pankun smiled at his daughter and gave her a hug. "Don't worry about this, I will find him. In the meantime go and enjoy your time with friends," he signed. He gave his little girl a kiss on the top of her head before walking off into the crowd of ape workers once more. It was rather strange, he had not seen his good friend and for another reason he could not find Caesar nor some of the other ape leaders. Where did they all disappear to? It was rather strange for the ape king to be gone from the colony and he needed answers. Sitting off to the side Pankun thought for a moment on who he should ask and then he remembered seeing the orangutan and gorilla direction the other apes this morning. Maybe he should go talk to them see if they know anything about the missing apes. For now though he will keep watch of the apes int he meadows until then.
...
Letting out a haggard breath Charlie opened his eyes slowly and looked around himself, letting his blurry vision adjust into focus. As he slowly became aware, Charlie noticed that he was still within the forest and tried to get up, only noticing that both his hands and feet were tied behind him. Grimacing, Charlie let out a hiss as pain spiked all over his body. What had happened to him? And why was here there? He remembered he was suppose to be somewhere but not here. While in thought it all came rushing back to him. He remembered the rally of chimpanzees the speech, his capture and then, his interrogation.
"You were spying on us?" Pimu had asked in sign to which Charlie did not reply to. The older chimp tilted his head back and raised a brow, "why do you look so angry brother?" Pimu asked.
"Why do this?" Charlie questioned while looking back slightly and seeing the other chimps eyeing him, lest he made an attempt.
"Because it is our right brother, to attain what belongs to us. It was through our great leader - Caesar, that we were able to escape from the humans and live peacefully... Until a betrayer ruined that, got our fellow apes killed for his selfish reasons. No matter, we have tried to live with the other ape species but they proved to be too much to take care of. Gorillas and orangutans eat nothing but plants and fruits which we certainly do not have enough of. The bonobos, well... Their kind are not welcomed here. I believe that it is due time for the other apes to move to a different home of their own," Pimu explained with a grin showing off a fang. "You and your chimpanzee troops are welcome to stay, the other apes though must leave," he warned.
Charlie could not believe the nonsense that older chimpanzee was spitting out in front of him. What Pimu was doing was wrong and he would not stand for that. Growling he stepped forwards, not caring as the other advanced on him and pinned him down to the ground. "Lies!" Charlie spat. "One ape species! Is no better than! Another one! We are all equal! What you are doing... Is acting just like humans!" he finished gaining a snarl out of the older ape as Pimu lunged down, grabbing him by the crown of his head and lifted his face up so that they could look at each other in the eyes.
"You... Know... Nothing!" Pimu breathed into Charlies face, shoulders rising and falling with his deep breathing. "You are lucky you are chimp, otherwise you would have been removed from here as well," Pimu signed as he regained his composure before roughly slamming Charlie's head onto the ground. "Take care of him, make sure he is not capable of warning the others," Pimu signed to his other apes while turning around to walk away. Charlie's heart dropped when he figured out what Pimu just meant by taking care of him and quickly looked up at the others before they rained their fists down on him, knocking him unconscious after the first few blows.
Letting out a gasp, Charlie was shocked back into the present and hissed in pain. The other chimps really did a number on him, they did not kill him but they rendered him immobile by beating him up and tying both his arms and legs. Letting out a sigh, Charlie placed his head back onto the soft earth underneath him and frowned at himself. He couldn't do anything and apes, apes that he's known and love might die to this radical group of chimps that were hiding in pain sight. Was this how Caesar really ran the colony? No it couldn't be, otherwise the four different ape species would've separated long ago. Closing his eyes, Charlie tried to work at his bonds again, hoping that they would loosen up so that he could somehow escape. While working on the ropes that bound him Charlie heard a soft thud in front of him. Opening his eyes quickly he was met with another chimpanzee, this one seeming to be a bit more curious with him rather than aggressive. "what do you want?" he growled.
The other chimp looked to his left and right before eyeing Charlie once more and approached slowly. "I'm sorry the others hurt you," the chimp signed cautiously.
Charlie took a moment to look at the chimp in the eyes and noticed the uncertainty within those orbs. "Help me" Charlie whispered to the timid chimp. "Help me get out... We can still save others!" Charlie begged to which the other chimp lowered his head and backed away slightly.
"I can't, I will get into trouble. Other chimps don't like it if we talk or interact with other ape species or with other chimps who like the other ape," the chimp signed wearily.
At this Charlie lowered his gaze and frowned inwardly at himself. "So... You are saying... It is... Okay for... Other ape species... To die? Do you... Not have... Any... That are... Friends?" Charlie asked not making eye contact and got silence in response.
"We... We won't kill them! We only force them out of colony. Ape not kill ape," the chimp answered in a astonished voice.
Charlie glanced back up at the chimp making the other jump at his fierce gaze. "Is that... What you think... They will do?" Charlie breathed, his heart pounding fiercely within his chest, losing hope that this chimp would set him free. "Look... What they... Did to me... What would... Caesar think? Did he... Not bring... All apes... Together?" Charlie asked as he kept his eyes onto the other chimpanzee who nervously looked about himself. "Please... We must... Help," Charlie said slowly.
"Tykki!" a voice growled causing both of the chimps to turn their heads to the left as another burly chimpanzee came in. "What are you doing? You should be back with the others, helping them make the spears," the chimp growled while signing making Tykki duck his head.
"Sorry, I just wanted to check on fellow chimp," Tykki signed quickly, still keeping his head down and raised his palm up towards the other.
"He... Is... Fine!" the burly chimp growled as he smacked the smaller chimp's hand away and watched as Tykki made a quick retreat. Turning back around the angry chimp kept his glare down at Charlie who looked away from him, setting his head down onto the earth in a defeated sigh.
He hated this, being able to do nothing and losing all hope of event trying to get out to help Pankun his apes and all of the others. Lifting his head one more time Charlie glanced up at the menacing chimp that stood over him before letting his eyes wander onto the individual behind him whom was retreating back towards the group. Tykki however stopped in his tracks and glanced back slowly towards him. The other chimp looked like he wanted to say something while he glanced down at the ground and then back at him. Instead all Tykki did was just give him a slight nod before he quickly turned around and bolted off. Did he imagined that? Whatever the case Charlie hoped that it wasn't just his imagination.
"What... Are you... Looking at!" the big chimpanzee above him questioned.
Charlie however merely glanced up at the other before laying his head back down onto the ground and let out a deep breath, deciding not toe answer the other ape. Maybe he might just still have some time left he thought to himself.
...
Warmth and comfort was what Rain could feel as he was being cradled by someone or something. Letting out a yawn he opened his eyes slowly and looked upwards to see his mother smiling back down at him. Letting out a small coo in response he held onto his mother and placed his head upon her breast as she rocked him back and forth slowly. While resting within his mother's arms Rain couldn't help but feel that something was not quite right, as if he knew something terrible was going to happen to the two of them. Frowning he looked up at his mother once more and closed his eyes tightly as a terrible bang erupted through the air. Letting out a small gasp Rain slowly opened his eyelids and was quite surprised to see blood caked on his mother's fingers. Before he knew it both of them were falling and Rain let out a cry as he fell into the abyss.
With a sudden jolt, Rain quickly sat up and looked around himself, heart pounding wildly within his chest and drawing in quick breaths. A dream, it was another dream he thought to himself as he placed his head into his hands. Letting out a small sniff, he was getting frustrated with these images that kept on plaguing him. Sighing aloud quietly, Rain observed his surroundings once more. Upon looking around he noticed that he was not alone within the room and was among with several others whom were all still fast asleep. The other occupants consisted of his three friends, Gregoire, Michael, Ndume including his uncle Andy and father... Rocket; with the two older apes sleeping with their backs leaned onto the walls while the younger ones took the mattresses. Letting his eyes wander on over towards his friends, Rain could see that they were all sprawled out atop of the mattresses with the twins using poor ole Gregoire as a makeshift pillow, with their heads laying on top of the chimp's chest and abdominal area. From the looks of it though the older chimp did not seemed to mind it as he slept on contently.
Hearing a small whimper, Rain's eyes were quickly drawn onto Ndume who was making those cries in his sleep as if he were having a bad dream. As Rain was about to walk over and soothe his friend, he was quite taken aback when Gregoire had unconsciously reached on over with his left arm and placed it onto Ndume's head, this notion seeming to have banish away the young gorilla's nightmare. Seeing the bigger ape's body instantly relax at the touch, Rain sat back down and couldn't help but be amused at the older chimpanzee.
When they were all but a bunch of younglings, Gregoire had always appointed himself to protect and watch over them within their small group. Being the oldest, the other four would often look up to him for guidance and if need be he was the one to settle the conflicts among themselves. Around the colony he was very well liked and proved to be a bright and upcoming leader in the eyes of the elders. His talents in scouting, tracking and knowledge about the forest was almost on par with even their best hunters. However, Gregoire and the others within their small group never saw him as such and instead treated him as a friend. A friend who is goofy, respectable, selfless, wise, and would do anything to protect them, even if it were shield them from nightmares. Rain couldn't help but admire and respect the older chimp for the qualities that he had.
Aside from Gregoire, Rain turned his attention to the two twins who were now making snoring sounds in their sleep. Michael and Ndume, the sons of his uncle Luca who were just like their sire, a bunch of fun loving jokesters. Always the mischievous duo in their group the twins would often play pranks and usually get them all into some kind of trouble just to get some laughs out of it. They would even go as far as to pester the two older chimps, Gregoire and Milo from time to time. Despite their infuriating tendencies these two are the life of the group, usually keeping the team motivated and lightening up their spirits when they were down. There is not one ape in the colony who does not know about the twins who would sometimes often cause trouble. In the end though after all those troubles those ape faces would always be replaced with a smile and that is what matters most to the duo.
After reminiscing about his friends Rain noticed that a few of them were missing from the room. After a brief moment it all started to come back to him and he remembered why they apes he was looking for were not there. Due to Milo's illness they had to give him some space, moving on out of the small room that the ape was in. The only ones that were allowed to stay with him was older brother and father. Sighing, Rain wondered to himself if he should go check up on them. Deciding on what to do Rain got up quietly so as not to disturb the others who were still sleeping, walked out of the room, to go and check up on both Milo and Blue-Eyes. Before he left though, he turned back to take a glance at his father, or rather foster father. Rain frowned inwardly as he watched the older ape sleep, feeling a boiling anger spreading from within him. Letting out a shuddering breath he quickly turned away and left the room.
Entering into the dark hallway, Rain squinted his eyes as they adjust in the dark. If he remembered correctly they had only moved just around the corner from where Milo and Blue-Eyes were at. Feeling his way through the human place he finally located the room that contained the two chimps and entered quietly. First he poked his head inside to find both the ape brothers still asleep and off to the side was their father and his king - Caesar. Making his way in quietly Rain walked on over towards the two brothers and observed them. Milo, from what he could tell seemed to be doing a lot better before as of yesterday. The sick chimpanzee was not making those horrible noises when he was breathing and his face was very relaxed, not so strained, while he slept on his side. Knowing that his friend was doing well now, the tension that Rain had been feeling was slowly ebbing away from him.
Why did his friend had to get sick like this? Why did Milo have to suffer the endless jokes and pains from all the other apes just to make them smile or pacify their own stresses. Even going as far as to hide his own illness so that no one would worry about him. Rain frowned at the thought of how Milo, who is the most empathetic and kind hearted one within their group would suffer like this? It was not fair, he deserved so much better than to get sick and almost die from it. Rain remembered when Thade and his gang had attacked him, told him those truths which prompted him to fight back. After he was stopped by his friends he of course ran away the events, ashamed and confused at what he had done and had learned. In the end Milo was the first one to have found him in solitude, stayed with him, comforted him and had tried to help him until they all got back home. The chimpanzee had also followed him out into the forest and because of that he was now recovering on this bed. "I'm sorry," Rain breathed apologetically at the sleeping chimpanzee and patted his shoulder softly. Rain had hated and admire those traits from Milo, he only wished that Milo would once in a while, let them all know that he needed help too.
Letting his gray silver eyes wander up to the bigger chimp who was sleeping in a sitting position next to Milo is of course Blue-Eyes, whose torso rose and fell gently while he breathed. Blue-Eyes, oldest prince within the colony and a special kind of ape given that he was the only one within the colony to be born with different eye colors, until Rain himself came into existence. If Gregoire was the older brother of their small group of five then Blue-Eyes was the epitome of big brother to them. The older chimpanzee would usually keep a watchful eye on their small group, knowing exactly when and where they were at all times to the point where the twins questioned if Blue-Eyes' eyes can see through everything. Blue-Eyes was for the most part usually silent, even among other apes who were of his age. He was more often seen as a lone ape who would stare off into the distance, as if he could see something that they could not. Rain had heard that Blue-Eyes had joined the battle a long time ago and from other rumors, that the prince had lost a very dear friend from it. Which explains why Blue-Eyes no longer laughed or smiled much anymore. However that did not stop the blue eyed chimpanzee to be a big brother and protector to both he and Milo. Despite this, there are those rare occasions where Blue-Eyes has hinted to the apes his fun side which only Milo can bring it out of the older chimp from time to time.
Looking between the two brothers Rain noticed that Blue-Eyes had his hand wrapped around Milo's just like Gregoire. Rain couldn't help but see the similarities between the two older chimps who are both leaders and guardians in their own right. While looking at the joined hands Rain felt a deep pang within his chest. Reaching out slowly he was about to place his own hand over both Blue-Eyes' and Milo's but he quickly stopped himself and withdrew his arm. He did not deserve this connection with them, he was not even of their blood. He is an outcast among them like Thade and the others said, he looked different, he was a bonobo and they, are chimpanzees. Letting out a weary sigh, Rain closed his eyes tightly, trying to not let his this deep sense of anger and sadness take over. Opening up his silver gray eyes slowly, Rain looked up and stared at the two chimp brothers, envying the close bond that they have.
Taking a step back Rain decided to leave the two to go dwell on the emotions raging within him. While doing so however something within the one section of the room had caught his eyes. Making his way on over towards the object, Rain noticed that it was the mirror that the human woman had shown to them yesterday evening. He remembered the twins fussing over it, excited and letting out a few whoops as they took turns looking at themselves, gaining a few chuckles from among their little group. Milo and Gregoire on the other hand were just fascinated with it and tried to understand how it worked. Then came the time when they were suppose to leave the room so that Milo may get his rest, so he never got the chance to clearly look at it. Now that he had the object within his hands, he could now see what the fuss was all about.
This was so much different that staring at the surface of a lake or any kind of water in general. What the mirror showed was so much more clearer and now Rain can see what he really looked like at least to the other apes who were around him. What he saw was a bonobo and not a chimp as Thande had so much told him. Rain peered down and looked at his eyes, eyes that were beautifully silver gray. He he then moved on over to his skin tones and noticed that although they were a darker shade than normal chimps his skin was of a lighter color than the regular bonobos that were about. Along with his skin tone his fur were the colors of the different shades of charcoal, ranging from black to light gray around his body. When he pulled the mirror slightly further away from him he noticed that he had his mouth open slightly in almost a slack-jaw like state that showed off the lower parts of his ivory fangs. He glared intently at the mirror and the ape within it did the same, giving him an almost evil look.
No wonder the other apes around the colony nervously looked at him. With his silver gray eyes and glare he did look menacing but that was not all the reason why they were afraid of him. He did not know why but he was suddenly very angry, angry that he grew up not knowing who and what he was, not knowing what those hurtful words meant when he was younger and most of all at being lied to. Gently he set the mirror back onto the ledge of the window sill and heaved out a deep breath through his nose. Deep down though, underneath all that anger, frustration and hatred was fear. A fear of not knowing who he really was, a fear of not being able to know his real parents, a fear of rejection, a fear of loss but most of all, a fear of being alone in the world. Who was he within their group? What was his purpose? Gregoire had those great leader qualities the twins are able to spread happiness and Milo was able to heal others but what about him? Who was he to them? Rain slowly sat down and lowered his head into his arms as those thoughts overwhelmed him. However a hand was placed onto his back, causing him to let out a small gasp in surprise. Lifting his head up, Rain turned around slightly to see who was behind him and was quite surprised to see Caesar standing there, eyes full of concern. Rain frowned at himself, his self loathing must have woken up Caesar and he quickly turned to fully face the chimpanzee and raised his hand up. "I'm sorry I woke you," Rain apologized while keeping his eyes downcast.
Caesar on the other hand did not swipe at the younger ape's held out hand. Instead he cupped the ape under the chin and slowly lifted Rain's face up towards him. "What is wrong?" Caesar signed, noticing an air of gloominess about the bonobo.
Shocked by this gesture, Rain quickly rubbed at his eyes while letting out a soft sniff before looking back up at his uncle and gave the older chimpanzee a smile. "Nothing uncle Caesar, I am fine. Just came to see how everyone was doing," he gestured back, noticing the older chimp furrow his brows and frowning down at him.
Caesar knew better, noticing the young ape's bottom lip quiver quite a bit while signing. He wanted to know what in the world was going on with the young bonobo sitting in front of him, however he did not want to force the ape to tell him if he was not ready yet. Although, he had a speculation of what was going on with the young ape and instead he reached up, placed his hand behind Rain's head and brought their foreheads together. This notion had a immediate effect on the younger ape, calming him down while Caesar stood there until Rain had stop shaking and fully relaxed into his hold.
"Uncle Caesar?" Rain breathed quietly as he pulled his head away from the older ape, "Who am I?" he asked with a frown.
Caesar was quite taken aback by the sudden question from the young ape but he simply smiled in return. "You... Are... Family," Caesar answered simply.