Characters: Elena Gabriella Véga, Julia Matthews, Malcolm, Ellie, Alexander, Caesar, Tanner Gore, Hope El' Chaidez, Blue Eyes, Ash, Augustine, Koba, Maurice, Rocket and Luca

Rating: PG-13

Romance, Humor, Violence

Chapter 12: Dying to catch my breath

It all came crashing down so fast.

My fear poured through me, we were running as I knew it. The smell of smoke lingered, I turned and the side of engulfed of flames. I begin to gasp in horror and shock.

Fire.

The image I saw.

I continued running with the group, Maurice told us to run as Blue Eyes was mounted on the rock that Caesar would stand upon. Holding a hat and a gun, his words still rang through my ears.

"Human Gun!".

He sounded so distraught, which meant one thing.

Caesar was shot, and the flames were fast. My vision became true.

I couldn't dwell on it now, we were running for our lives from the raging apes that were fumed with such hatred and were vengeful.

I stumbled over a ditch, but Malcolm quickly followed as he grabbed Tanner's collar of his shirt and pulled the rest of us in the ditch. All of us hugging closely.

Before closing my eyes so tightly, I heard Kemp's and Foster's screams. And my mind went straight back to the apes I knew in a flash.

Caesar, Milo, Lydia, Piper, Augustine, Ash, Rory and the few others I befriended.

Then there was Blue Eyes.

Whatever happens tonight, will have an outcome.

Meanwhile, The Colony~

The hoof steps rang loudly on the gravel. Making its way quickly across the bridge to the entry way of the Colony.

Gunshots were already fired through Blue Eyes ears as he looked around. Filled with much hatred and was vengeful.

Promised both his younger siblings and his distraught mother that he'll avenge Caesar's death.

Blue Eyes was indeed feeling a sense of distraught. Thinking back to the golden eyed girl that he was now with. Feeling betrayed in a way.

He shook the thoughts away as he and Augustine made their way through the armory. Scaring off most of the humans that were armed with such a weapon that murdered his flesh and blood.

His eyes were brought up to Koba as he slid off his horse with Augustine. Both the young apes looked to Koba as he carried two guns.

Koba handed the guns lightly to both guns.

Blue Eyes glanced at the weapon and back to the ape that he thought of as an uncle. Augustine grunted as he shook his head and backed off a little.

His lime, emerald green eyes stared shockingly at the ape he's called Father.

"No, are you insane?..." Augustine spoke clearly, "We are, using the weapon, that has killed our king! Made by man!" His strong voice was raised just like the fallen kings, and he shook with such anger.

Blue Eyes was shocked by his best friends words.

"I respect my king, but I will not follow ape, that is of bloodlust" Augustine said quietly as he shoved the gun to his father.

The older ape glare ruthlessly at his son, and shoved the gun back in his arms, "You follow me now..." Augustine looked down at Koba snarling slightly as the bonobo walked off.

"Do not, trust him Blue Eyes" Was all Augustine said as he mounted on his horse with Blue Eyes.

Blue Eyes was hesitant to take the gun, though this was for his father.

He glared up as he urged his horse to start running alongside Koba. Gripping the firearm fiercely as he ran through the street lights of the fallen San Francisco. Letting every bit of anger pour through him as he raced along many following apes raising his gun.

The blasts came quickly from the guns as Blue Eyes began to screech in anger, pointing his weapon at any human.

Augustine had his firearm lowered as he urged his horse to turn slightly, he would not be apart of this bloodbath.

The blue eyed ape grunted in pain as his horse threw him off. He stumbled on the gravel ground that was of covered bits of rocks and pieces of glass.

The young ape stood up, and fear took the most of him more than hate. He looked upon the apes that followed his father.

It was a bloodbath as many were shot, Blue Eyes took shelter as he hid behind an old vehicle. Taking in everything, though ducked out of the way as more bullets fired as he covered himself.

Just then, he caught sight of the darkened furred ape, Augustine. Who quickly covered Blue Eyes from the chaos that was happening and quickly had Ash by the arm.

Never firing his weapon once, the bright green eyed ape threw his gun to the side.

The three watched his father's madness uncover as he killed many, carrying the weapon that killed Caesar. Luca, Maurice and Rocket watched as well in astonishment and fear of the ape they had been friends with.

The gun fire stopped quietly, and many apes quickly followed Koba inside to capture and imprison the many humans.

Blue Eyes had second thoughts now, Koba was mad with bloodlust just like Augustine told him. As Ash began to follow the young ape put his arm in front of him and shook his head slowly.

His father would have never wanted this.

These humans were innocent, not part of the murder that was presented in the forest as screams tore through his head of the frightened humans.

Next morning, Lena's POV~

I barely slept at the chaos of the night, not wanting to sleep at all. Hope urged me to get out of the ditch with Julia who was shaken up by the experience.

"You don't think they went into the city do you?" Julia asked urgent, "I-I hope not..." I stuttered quietly.

"Come on...we should look for the cars" Hope explained and we nodded, walking alongside Ellie and Alexander as Tanner walked with Malcolm.

My thoughts kept on trailing back to Blue Eyes, this was a chaotic time for the both of us right now. Unable to be fully together by the outcomes of both species, like Romeo and Juliet.

Without noticing, my eyes trailed to the left as I saw a darkened figure and I got closer as I almost gasped in surprise.

Caesar was present as he laid limp on the ground. A gash wound present on his shoulder, just like how my image predicted, Ellie quickly yelled for Malcolm.

I shrank down to my knee's as I looked at Caesar. Emotion began to overtake me and I bit my lip hard, I didn't want to cry. I steadied my breathing slightly as my hand shook when I reached to put my hand on his arm.

My eyed widened as I heard beating through my ears. Which were slow, I looked up and saw Caesar's chest rise slowly as he looked towards me.

"Oh my god..." Julia whispered next to me, automatically going to Caesar "Malcolm!" Julia cried out, and he came racing towards us. I offered to help pick up Caesar with Tanner and Malcolm back to the trucks quickly, ignoring the heavy weight.

We placed him gently in the back of the truck, and I panted slightly as I saw Julia hop in the back like Hope instructed her to.

The Ellie got out the first aid kit; Bandages, and some medicine, nothing to operate for the wounds.

Hope cleaned off Caesar's wound as she put alcohol on the towel and Caesar turned his head up to her, "My son...My f-family...where?'" Hope shook her head slightly as she looked at him with sympathy.

"I don't know, I'm sorry...Try not to speak, you need rest" Her voice soothed quietly as she rubbed his shoulder and had Julia place her hand tightly on the towel which was laid on his chest to stop the bleeding.

Hope and Ellie faced us, both worried.

"He's lost a lot of blood" Ellie explained quietly.

"Is he gonna make it?" Alexander as concerned as we both glanced at the weak ape.

"I don't understand" Malcolm began, and Tanner joined "Where the hell did Carver get the gun?".

"Ape".

We turned our heads back to Caesar, and I squinted my eyes confused as Malcolm leaned closer.

"What?"

"Ape...did...this" My eyed widened and my hands trembled slightly, my whole vision was true. That scared me even more.

Julia placed her hand on his shoulder "We will help you Caesar, relax for now" She said quietly and I took a long look at the older ape.

Caesar's eyes were pale, and he was weak, his eyes were reddened as well. We needed to get him some help right away.

We all quickly got in the truck, leaving the other two behind.

Tanner turned his head to me, his dark blue eyes blazing with worry "Are you okay Lena?" He asked and I did a brief nod "Of course" I needed to be strong in this situation.

I'm not going to be some girl that's dwelling on what's happening right now, the same girl that made the same mistake when she was thirteen years-old, and I'll focus on what's important.

Which is to get through the madness that has been unleashed.

I just hope that Blue Eyes is focusing on what's right at the moment as well.

Malcolm drove his way through the forest, we quickly got out of the Redwoods. Though Caesar explained he wanted to be someplace else, not in the city.

I kept on glancing back at Julia who had her hand pressed on his wound to stop the bleeding and I looked back to the front.

After what seemed like forever, we drove through an old neighborhood. Thick with lush environment like the Colony. Many of the houses were in bad shape from years of no touch ups.

I turned as Caesar panted slightly and he sat up. Grunting slightly as Julia tried to hold him down, but his hand was patting on the window of the car.

"Caesar what is it" I asked as I leaned closer and he nodded his head towards one of the houses, and I snapped my head towards Malcolm.

"Malcolm, stop the car!" I ordered, and he did so as he stopped in front of the house. I looked and saw a certain symbol on the windows of the home.

I shook my head slightly, that was the symbol of Caesar's home in the village.

Julia quickly opened the back doors as we both climbed out, Malcom and Tanner grabbed Caesar's torso awhile Ellie grabbed his legs and I tried to get the front door which was stuck.

I took a deep breath as I used my leg and kicked open the door with such force, it opened to my pleasure. I quickly helped Alexander move away a table from the nearest couch and Julia set down her backpack as she spread out a blanket for Caesar and had Caesar placed on the couch.

Turning, I saw many photos, one caught my eye though.

I picked up the dusty photo, and blew off the dust. I then was in shock.

It was of a young ape around Blue Eyes age, with light, chocolate black/brown fur, but it seemed there was a tint of black mostly. No grays, and tanned skin, along with a young man who I immediately recognized from the news when I was a child.

Will Rodman.

The man looked at the younger ape with such love, and had a proud look as the two were present together.

It all made sense.

Caesar was the young chimpanzee who led the rebellion of apes ten years ago.

I handed the photo to Julia, Alexander and Tanner and they all stared at the photograph shocked.

Ellie then announced that both her and Hope do not have anything to operate on. I knew that Ellie kept most of the equipment at the apartments.

"I'll Go" Malcolm announced, and Hope followed "I'll come with you, I know where most of her equipment is at" Malcolm nodded, I didn't want to protest right now about going.

Hope looked back to Caesar as she made her way towards him, rubbing his shoulder softly. Trying to soothe him as he made a few grunts in pain.

"We'll come right back to help you Caesar...just rest" She spoke quietly.

Caesar smiled weakly as he brought his forehead to hers, and she was startled by the sudden gesture. Hope smiled though as she sat up, and turned to me and Tanner "Make sure nothing happens" She said sternly, and we both nodded as she headed out quickly with Malcolm.

Ellie ordered us to look for anything in the house; supplies for that matter, we left the other two trucks in the forest with our stuff. Since we needed to get Caesar to safety quick and to help him.

Upstairs I was scrambling through old medicine cabinets, the house was pretty ransacked by others that been here. Julia managed to find some women's clothes in drawers, and men's clothes.

I heard footsteps come upstairs as I saw Tanner, and he looked at me.

"Can we talk?" I looked at him as I brushed my hair behind my ear and nodded, "Sure".

We made our way to one of the empty rooms, and Tanner turned to me.

"You and the blue eyed ape huh?".

I felt myself wanting to just run when he said that, and I tipped my head trying to act innocent and confused "I'm sorry?".

"Lena, you don't have to lie..." He explained as he walked towards me "I saw you two together yesterday, kissing, and I want you to know..." His gaze went towards me and I rolled my eyes.

"You want me to know that it's so flipping weird that I was making out with an ape?" I explained, feeling a bit angry "No!" He said.

"No, I, you...it's hard for me to explain it, but you two seem happy together I noticed it, and I want you to know that I moved on and I'm happy that your happy with a guy that will make sure that your even happier" Tanner smiled softly, "I have no problem with your guys relationship".

I stayed quiet, shocked "How..." I started to begin "How are you and Julia taking this so calmly!" I lightly patted him on the shoulder "It's odd that someone is accepting our relationship so easily, most would think it's uncanny" I claimed as I ran my hands through my hair.

In all honesty I didn't want to be discussing this now, not in the situation that we're in.

"Hey calm down dork, you guys look great together, I guess you would say it's...chemistry? What you two have" Tanner said and I nodded slightly "I like him...a lot Tanner".

"Good" He smiled and was about to walk away until I grabbed his arm and smiled "I hope you find someone Tann" I said, and he nodded, smiling walking back downstairs.

Oh boy...

Getting caught making out with an evolved chimpanzee, who happens to be a prince by my ex.

How nice...

Still odd that people are taking this so easily, but I am trying not to complain about it.

After awhile of rummaging through more cabinets and closets to find supplies, I heard the door open and ran practically down stairs. I stopped in my tracks as I met eyes with him.

Blue Eyes.

Stay tuned for Chapter 13!