Born To Lead Chapter 13
Willow didn't fare any better than Malcolm.
Traveling back to the village nothing was spoken between Willow, Caesar, or Blue Eyes. There was no need to. Those near them could practically fear the tense atmosphere radiating from the trio forcing a few to distance themselves from the three.
Willow kept her head cowed avoiding eye contact at all cost. For her this prolonged silence was worst than if he'd just began yelling at her losing his temper. Blue Eyes was far less subtle. Blue Eyes literally glared at her the whole way home. His body language revealed he was ready to go at it the moment the dismounted their horses.
Well Willow wasn't going to give him that chance.
In the village the returning troop was met with eager and anxious apes wanting to know how things went in the city with the humans. In all the commotion Willow bolted leaping from her horse leaving it for to be taken care by another ape fleeing for her families oak tree. She climbed and jumped inside before anyone could catch her.
To Caesar, icily, Koba signed "You need to go talk to Willow. Risking herself like that she almost got herself killed out there. Almost got us all killed."
"I know," signed Caesar. "I'll go do that now."
"Too late," signed Rocket, pointing at the oak tree. "Blue Eyes already beat you to it."
It was true. Blue Eyes was scrambling up their family tree to get to Willow. If the expression on his face was telling enough then this wasn't going to be pretty.
Inside the family dwelling Cornelia and baby were resting. Willow moved quietly around them so not to wake them up. She knew how exhausted, worn out, her mother was so she wanted the woman to get as much sleep as possible.
So when Blue Eyes came in growling Willow shushed him gesturing towards their mother and brother. He understood so instead of vocalizing he decided to keep signing as best he could under the circumstances.
Blue Eyes signed "You had no right to do what you did in the city. I was supposed to return the humans things not you!"
"I have every right," argued Willow, arms crossed. "If I hadn't stepped in there wouldn't have been a proper hand off. You probably would've thrown the bag instead of handing it to them. It was more memorable and respectful the way I did it compared to you. Now they'll be second-guessing themselves concluding that we want peace. You'll see. It'll work out."
Blue eyes scoffed "The delusions of a dreamer."
"Not if I don't think so," signed Willow, calm and collect.
"I'm sick and tired of you always doing what you want when you want," signed Blue Eyes, growling aggressively. "You always get away with everything."
Willow stood so they were at even height, eye to eye, posturing. She opened her mouth to argue, but was stopped.
"Enough," ordered Caesar, stepping out of the shadows.
Upon sighting Caesar the twins shut right up.
"Son, leave," signed Caesar, stone-faced. "I wish to talk to your sister alone."
Casting one final glare at Willow, Blue Eyes exited the dwelling.
Caesar turned towards Willow, whom met his rage head on.
"What in the world did you think you were doing," demanded Caesar.
"I did what was right," signed Willow.
Caesar chastised "You could've been shot."
"But I wasn't," insisted Willow. "The humans read my body language and saw I wasn't a threat." All I did was try to do what you would've done to following your his example. Is that so wrong," signed Willow.
Angrily, keeping his temper under control, Caesar signed "I admire your intentions, Willow, I really do. But you were reckless and impulsive. I won't tolerate it."
"Do you really mean that or are you just saying what you want so badly to say to Blue Eyes," signed Willow, eyes cold. It was a low blow, but needed to be said.
That stops Caesar in his tracks. Connecting a nonverbal exchange passes between them. Caesar's face was blank not giving anything away.
Turing to head to her bed Willow halted mid-step. Cornelia was wide-awake staring at her with somber eyes. She'd woken some time during the argument having seen most of it learning what happened and more.
"How much did you see," asked Willow.
"Enough," signed Cornelia, which translated to pretty much all of it.
Slumped over Willow sat on the edge of the bed. She signed "I did what I thought was right. Nothing you or anyone else say can change that. What I did wasn't done to hurt them, Mother."
In spite of being weakened by whatever was ailing her, Cornelia sat up, signing "Willow, you need to be more understanding of your brother."
Groaning, burying her face in her hands, Willow signed "Oh not you too."
Solemn, Cornelia signed "Life is a lot harder for him than it will ever be for you."
"I know. I know," signed Willow, "but one of the reasons why I work so hard is so I can help Blue Eyes and Father. I can't help it if that desire sticks me into situations they don't agree with."
"True, but there are times when one must be flexible to meet the needs of others even when that person doesn't think so. Do so out of duty if not want," signed Cornelia, the wisdom in her words not lost, gently lifting Willow's chin. "We're family, all of us. If we break apart we have nothing left."
Willow heard what her mother was saying, but it wasn't that easy.
Cornelia saw Willow's confliction and felt compelled to do more. All apes in the tribe had ability to speak though few seldom actually used it. When then did, unlike Caesar and others like Koba, it wasn't really that neat and clear. Cornelia was among the few who could speak as well as Caesar. She rarely spoke let alone sang, but mothers got to do what a mother has got to do. Especially when her daughter was in distress.
You've seen the damage words can do
When full of thoughtless pride
Now heed the wiser voice in you
That calls to be your guide
The flowers reaching for the sun are all uniquely blessed
But though each is special not a one is better than the rest
Bloom, bloom, may you know
The wisdom only time breeds
There's room, bloom and you'll grow
To follow where your heart leads,
Bloom and may you bring
Your brother to the vast bouquet
There's room, bloom, learn one thing
Your gifts are meant to give away.
Cupping her daughters face, Cornelia signs "You are your fathers daughter, stubbornness and pride. Mind what he says, but remember you may hear a voice inside. Willow, that voice inside is who you are."
Smiling, all negative emotions dissipating as her head cleared, Willow snuggled against her mother like she did when she was a toddler, signing "Thanks, Mom."
Mother and daughter touched foreheads a loving tender moment shared by them.
Willow then holds the baby as Cornelia grooms the paint from her fur. She played with her little brother distracting him so Cornelia could finish.
They'd been at this for a while, all traces of the paint gone from her body, when screeches erupted from outside.
Handing her little brother back to Cornelia, Willow peered through the boughs to see what the entire ruckus was about. A large crowd was gathered in the center of the village with all the apes watching the path leading to the gates. Zooning in on her people's screeches, hoots, and shrieks she discovered there was an intruder in their village. Caught inside the gates as he was trying to sneak in.
Said intruder was dragged into the light by the Gorilla Guard dumped unceremoniously into the mud flat on his face in the rain. Only when he was roughly tugged onto his feet did Willow recognize him finally getting a good look at his face, eyes wide.
Hooting softly to direct Willow's attention back to her, Cornelia signed "What is it?"
"There's a human," signed Willow, rapidly, running of their home. "A human has come." And by the looks of things it was the same exact human who came out to meet them in the city. The human was alone and unarmed with no way to defend him against almost a thousand apes.
What the hell was this guy thinking?!
Authors Note: Got a little competition for you guys. Anyone who can guess which movie this song came from get to have one question answered for them involving either Dawn or War. Good luck. ;D