Magic of The Golden Flower Chapter 11
It wasn't a surprise to most of the group when Aurora opted to ride with Luca instead of Maurice this time around.
When they were getting ready to leave Maurice leaned down towards Aurora extending one of his lanky arms to her offering a lift up. She looked from it and then back to him a few times before she turned her attention to Luca. Waiting to see what she would do they watched as Aurora made her way over to the gorilla. Upon reaching him Aurora held her arms up to be lifted.
Luca indulged Aurora in this. Picking her up underneath the arms he settled her comfortably behind him for the long ride. Wrapping her arms around Luca's broad back she placed her chin on his shoulder smiling. The steed didn't protest. It had hauled much heavier loads than this.
Then after Bad Ape mounted behind a disgruntled Rocket they were off.
With the humans trail now gone seriously cold the group relied heavily on Bad Ape's directions. Fortunately his memory wasn't shot in spite of not having traveled this way in years and he took them on a familiar path in the woods his mind cooked up. As he did previously Shadow kept pace with the horse's speed.
On the way Aurora became incredibly thirsty, but didn't know how to ask for a drink without breaking her cover. The opportunity arose when Caesar took out a small gourd from his saddlebags to replenish his thirst.
Aurora stared longingly at the gourd silently pleading for a drop of water. Noticing the stare Caesar lowered the gourd from his lips looking interestingly back at her.
Caesar wasn't the only one to catch onto what she wanted. Maurice was riding his horse on the other side of Luca. Grunting softly to get Aurora's attention Maurice nodded at Caesar and then slid a finger along his neck.
"Thirsty," signed Maurice.
Aurora knew what he said, but in order to keep up the pretense she simply sat there pretending like she wasn't aware. Aurora tilted her head innocently blank faced.
"Thirsty," repeated Maurice.
At last Aurora copied the motion in sign language, asking Caesar for a drink of water from his gourd canteen. Caesar stretched his arm handing her the gourd. Accepting it she nodded Caesar her thanks and drank until her thirst was satisfied.
Luca, Rocket, and Maurice all shared a secretive smile pleased their leader was beginning to accept Aurora.
Needless to say Caesar had very little water after that.
A couple of hours later the desired destination lay before them. The human zoo Bad Ape mentioned was dug far into the bottom of a rocky gorge. From their position on the edge of the forest boundary the detention facility was partially in view. Soldiers outside the compound were constructing some kind of structures in the snow. Caesar couldn't tell what they were from the top of the canyons ridgeline. Even from the benefit of the vantage point provided from where they stood the binoculars still weren't enough to get a good look at the base.
"Luca, come. Let's go closer," said Caesar, lowering the binoculars and handing them off to Luca, unstrapping the rifle from his shoulder. He then spoke what came next to Rocket. "Keep them safe." He and Luca then discreetly descended into the canyon by themselves to investigate.
Those left were forced to sit and wait anxiously for Caesar and Luca to return from their recon with Rocket dutifully standing guard. A half an hour passed, but there was no sign of them making the others start to get nervous.
What was taking them so long?
Suddenly Rocket spotted a danger no one else could see. Telling the rest of them to stay put he bolted down the slope to get to their comrades. Shadow began to follow, but Maurice managed to snatch him by the collar. Aurora kept him with them by wrapping her arms around his stomach. Fortunately Shadow didn't bark otherwise he would've blown their hiding place from any soldiers patrolling the perimeter.
A few minutes following Rocket's take off he appeared with Caesar and Luca in tow. They were horrified to find the two chimps supporting the limp gorilla, too injured to make the climb, in the middle of them much to the horror of Aurora. Luca somehow had been injured, blood seeping from an ugly puncture wound in his stomach was a dead giveaway to that fact. They must've encountered some soldiers. That explained Rockets rapid departure to aid them.
Caesar and Rocket struggled under the gorilla's massive weight, dragging him up the hillside with each one of Luca's arms flung over their shoulders.
Reaching the safety of the forest Caesar and Rocket collapsed as the others rushed to meet them with Luca falling onto his side.
Caesar rolled Luca over cupping a hand on the side of his friends face.
Luca was fading fast, but he had to speak to Caesar one last time. His breathing labored, energy drained to the core, hands trembling, he signed "At least this time…I was able to protect you."
Devastated Caesar wanted to help his friend, but the reality was there wasn't anything he or anyone else can do to save him.
Or was there? None of the apes had the power to save Luca, but someone else definitely did.
Looking at all the sad faces surrounding her Aurora made a choice. The entire time she was with the apes she hadn't showed them her magic for fear of what they'd do once they found out. She thought they'd be just like the soldiers hoarding her magic for their own greed and personal gain. Traveling with them for so long made Aurora realize they would never hurt her. They protected and cared for her. Now it was time to repay the favor in full.
Aurora comically stomped her foot in the snow. Maneuvering past everyone else Aurora purposely clambered onto Luca's chest. Luca smiled faintly at her. Her intentions unclear the apes observed quietly thinking she wanted to say her own farewells wondering what she would do.
Aurora turned to look at Caesar and what she did next shocked him so much it caused him to think back to when he spoke for the first time at the primate shelter many years ago.
"No," said Aurora, resolutely, eyes hard.
Aurora lifted her hands to the hood of the jackets she wore. Flinging them back her long golden hair unraveled from how it'd been rolled in the space. It unfurled down her back into the white snow. Taking some of it in hand Aurora placed it over Luca's stab wound. Closing her eyes Aurora opened her mouth and softly sang the incantation to heal and relieve Luca of his suffering.
Flower, gleam and glow
Let your power shine
Make the clock reverse
Bring back what once was mine
Heal what has been hurt
Change the Fates' design
Save what has been lost
Bring back what once was mine
What once was mine.
When the song reached its end the magical glow in Aurora's hair receded back into its normal shade. Slowly opening her eyes Aurora removed her hair, lacking bloodstains, from Luca's abdomen revealing the stab wound he'd sustained was nonexistent. Sitting up Luca brought a hand to the same spot, but felt no pain. He turned to look at Aurora in awed disbelief, trying to absorb the reality that he was neither dying nor dead.
Quite proud of herself Aurora smiled in cherub countenance patting his chest. She looked up, positively beaming, meeting the eyes of the god smacked Caesar, Maurice, Rocket, and Bad Ape.
What the hell just happened?!
Authors Note:
Looks like you guys are going to get what you want after all. Ha! Ha! XD