Magic of The Golden Flower Chapter 12
An awkward pause followed in the wake of Aurora's unveiling. No one spoke a single syllable or moved an inch. The only sound being the whistle of the wind in the trees and Shadow's panting. Bad Ape was pointing at Aurora's hair his eyes as big as melons.
Caesar was the one to break the ongoing silence lingering in the group.
"You can talk," he said, instantly suspicious.
Like him all thought she'd lost her ability to speak like the dying soldier encountered on the road. Now that she proved the contrary Caesar wanted to know why Aurora didn't talk to them before now.
The fact that Aurora could speak mattered little to Rocket. He had something far bigger on his mind.
"Forget she can talk! Her hair was glowing," signed Rocket, erratically. "It was glowing! And Luca was dying before! How the hell is he still alive! That wound should've killed him!"
"There are a lot of things you don't know about me," signed Aurora, shyly, her symbols without error.
If anything the ape's shock increased tenfold.
"You know sign," asked Caesar, eyes narrowed in suspicion, muscles tensing.
"Yes, my father taught me. I'm sorry to have surprised you, but I can explain," signed Aurora, meekly, a bit skittish.
"Perhaps you should tell your story from the beginning," suggested Maurice, acting as the mediator.
"We don't have time for that. The soldiers in the base will soon realize two of their number are missing. They'll come looking for the perpetrators that did it," protested Luca, referring to their tangle with the Alpha Omega patrol.
"Then we move to a different position," countered Maurice.
And that's exactly what they did. Gathering the horses the group then retreated a distance overhead, but still where they could see the border facility. Aurora didn't have time to roll her hair back into the hood of the jacket so Shadow picked up the end in his mouth and carrying it the entire time. He dropped his burden when they got to the chosen secluded spot.
As they all sat in a consecutive circle Aurora's hair flowed down her back over the snow.
Awed Bad Ape went to touch it, but Shadow would have none of it. Like he did the last time Bad Ape tried something like this Shadow snapped his teeth at him in a clear warning for the ape to back off. And Bad Ape did retreating to a different venue in the circle.
"So, Aurora, I believe you have a story to tell us," signed Maurice.
Meekly nibbling on her bottom lip, visibly nervous, Aurora began telling her story all the way from past to the present. As she was talking she kept a cautious eye on the apes deciphering their reactions. Caesar's face and posture revealed nothing, but she could tell he was angry when she got to the abuse. Rocket, Maurice, Bad Ape, and Luca looked at her with compassion. By the end of the tale Aurora was emotionally exhausted from these painful memories.
"So now you know everything," said Aurora, tiredly. "I didn't tell you guys the truth because I didn't know if I was safe. The only apes I ever met were from Alpha Omega. When I saw you at the farm I thought you were them coming to take me back to the Colonel. I was wrong. They hurt me, all you've done is protect me. You don't think so, but you've all done so much for me already. I wanted to repay you for the gentle kindness you have given to me."
On the final part she looked at Luca. Aurora smiled at the gorilla and Luca smiled back. Now they had their answer as to why she helped him and a lot more.
Nodding, tapping his chin thoughtfully, Rocket signed "This does explain why that soldier we encountered on the road was so intent on you. He realized who you were and wanted to use your hair to regain his strength."
"Even if I wanted to I couldn't have been able to heal him. While my hair can heal practically any injury, for some reason I can't heal those who've been taken by the virus whole," said Aurora. "All of the soldiers knew this. In his loopy condition he must've forgotten about it."
"What was his job when you were with the humans," asked Rocket.
Aurora diverted her face, squeezing her arms. She murmured "He was one of the soldiers that guarded me all the time."
Grunting softly to draw Caesar's focus to him, wisely, Maurice signed "Caesar, this must stop. It's not too late to join the other apes."
"We cannot turn back! After what they almost did to Luca, what they tried to do to you we must not falter," protested Rocket, objecting vehemently, bordering on the irrational.
"Please," pleaded Maurice, imploringly. "I know how much you have lost, but we nearly lost another this day. It's not worth the risk. And no matter what we do, our revenge will not bring your family back. Also, do not forget, it's not just about you anymore." They all looked to where Aurora was curled against Luca. "The longer we remain here the more likely we are at being discovered. The humans will take her back when that occurs. Do you really want Aurora to be subjected to abuse at their hands again?"
Caesar didn't answer. He just stared at Aurora's miniscule form, her big owl like violet eyes blinked radiating warmth and trust.
"Caesar, you know me. I would follow you anywhere, do whatever you asked," signed Luca, refreshed, enveloping a massive arm around his tiny savior. "But on this I do agree with Maurice. The circumstances have become altered. Barging in there without a plan…it's too rash. It's not worth it anymore."
The opinion had been voiced. Now it was up to Caesar to decide the next course of action to take.
Reasonably in a logical way they were right. If the group continued on the outlook was bleak. But Caesar was too far gone. His desire for blood overshadowed his judgment. He'd invested too much of himself into this venture. It was, more or less, the principle of the thing. Dead set, He had to see the mission through till the end.
"They must pay," seethed Caesar, steadfast, glowering over the snowy terrain at the facility, furious at the horrendous tortures this sweet innocent child endured at the hands of these despicable humans and the terrible fate that nearly befell Luca.
Caesar's blood was boiling for vengeance.
Maurice saw this and it tore at his compassionate soul. Reaching to place a hand on Caesar's wrist, mournfully, Maurice signed "Now you sound like Koba."
Aurora had no clue who this Koba was, but he must've been someone that held big significance if Caesar's reaction was of any indication.
Stung by Maurice's remark Caesar's face darkened considerably at the one ape he always thought he could rely on no matter the obstacle.
Rocket and Luca exchanged an uneasy glance. Comparing the mighty Caesar to the fallen Koba, calling the two similar in any way was blasphemous, unthinkable.
Caesar stared at Maurice, his gaze steely.
"It was a mistake bringing you all. This is my fight. I will finish this alone," growled Caesar, rising and claiming his shotgun. "Go. Now. Join the others."
Caesar then turned head, make a break for the border facility. The rest watched him go wide eyed. Standing Rocket profusely hooted at Caesar for him to stay. His pleas fell on deaf ears.
"Please don't go," begged Aurora, grabbing hold of Caesar's forearm. "If you go down there the Colonel will kill you. You won't come back alive."
Shadow whined pawing at Caesar's leg.
Gently prying Aurora's fingers off of his arm, caressing Shadow's head, Caesar said "Not if I kill him first."
Authors Note:
Oh boy, here we go. X(