My Little Bird- Blue Eyes love

by ZombieKitty217

A girl is sent up to the dam to work on it when she has a run in with death, only to be saved by none other than the apes. When her camp is destroyed, and Caesar offers sanctuary in his home while she works, what happens when a bond is formed between her and Caesar's oldest son, Blue Eyes?

14. Chapter 14

My Little Bird- 14

"Show. Me."

Malcolm nodded and slowly rose to his feet, his eyes switching warily between Luca and Koba, who stood behind him. Koba's harpoon was poised above his head, the sharp steel tip threatening to sever Malcolm's spine with just a push in the right direction. Caesar jumped down from the rock, and moved past the human slowly, his eyes glaring into Malcolm's, and I worried when the man didn't avert his gaze. Apes swarmed around Malcolm, putting themselves between he and their king as Caesar led Malcolm out of the village. Deja and I followed behind at the back of the group, and I was worried when I felt the eyes of the apes on me. I would have given anything to know what they were thinking when their irises fell upon my human body.

Malcolm was moved foreword, and Caesar stayed close, watching him like a hawk through a piercing green scowl. No one was happy that this man was here, and I had to say, neither was I. We were brought in a familiar direction, and once the log jam came into view, I knew where he was going. Deja and I shared a confused glance. The dam? Malcolm traveled down the ladder beside the dam and I didn't dare to peek over the edge until half the apes had filed inside. When I got the courage to go inside the machine, I ducked my head down and moved foreword slowly as I listened to what Malcolm was saying.

"We had electricity for a little while. Two people were sent up here to fix it. They never came back, but they got the job done." Malcolm's voice seemed to waver, but he cleared his throat and his voice rang out, clear and strong. "But the power went out again after an earthquake a few weeks ago. Did you feel it? We tried to figure out if it was a malfunction on our side of the bridge, but there's nothing wrong with the equipment there. So the only solution is that something happened here. Now, if you'll just let us do our work here-"

He was interrupted by a certain bonobo. "You. Brought. Others." Familiarity rang in my brain at Koba's accusation. I heard a silencing grunt from Caesar, and after a few moments hesitation, Malcolm spoke up again.

"Just a few... Depending on the damage we only need a few days here. This is your place, I know that. But my home is suffering, this dam can help us live again. Please. I have a family to take care of, I just want to get this thing going so I can raise my son. If you don't believe my intentions are true...then you can kill me."

I gave a silent gasp as I heard the words I had spoken all those weeks ago. Silence befell the dam as we awaited the king's answer. Minutes ticked silently by before I heard the intake of breath as Caesar readied himself for speech.

"No. Guns. Humans, stay without. Weapons." Caesar growled, and I knew from his voice that his expression relayed his seriousness on the matter. I let out a relieved sigh that they wouldn't have a chance to hurt anyone else. I wouldn't have thought humans would hurt an ape for no good reason, but Ash's new scar reprimanded my ignorance.

Malcolm sighed in relief and I could here the gratitude ringing in his voice. "Thank you."

Caesar seemed to notice me, as he leaned to the side a little to meet my gaze. I held my breath when Malcolm followed the ape king's line of sight. Malcolm turned the rest of his body, the look on his face blank with shock. The apes parted like the Red Sea to see what the human was looking at. I glanced up from staring at the ground as Malcolm walked slowly closer. I lifted my head when I heard my name come quietly from his mouth.

"...Raina? Is that you..?" He sounded afraid of the answer. I glanced up as he approached, and took a step back slightly.

"Malcolm." I whispered, looking up again. His lips were parted with amazement and I let out a little cry of surprise when he scooped me up into a hug. I was lifted off my feet for a moment and when I was set back on the ground, Malcolm continued to squeeze me in his arms. His hand stroked the back of my head before he stepped back, keeping his finger tips on my shoulders as he examined me.

"Rain! I thought you were dead!" He hugged me to him tightly again. "I missed you so much." He whispered in a frighteningly broken voice. I pushed away with my hands on his chest, gazing up at him in astonishment at his words.

"You..missed me?" I couldn't keep the disbelief from my voice.

"Of course, you're my-" he stopped himself, and I quirked my head in curiosity. "You're like family to me." Malcolm then glanced around the room, then back to me. "Where's Dax?"

I froze. I didn't know what to do. Memories flowed over me. A gray beanie, shining brown eyes. My brother's laugh rang in my ears. Then darker images started flashing over Dax's smiling face. A figure huanched over in the pouring rain, sickly pale and glowing like a ghost in the dim light. My brother's sweat coated face as I dabbed a wet cloth over him, futilely trying to bring him back from his delirium. The emotions I felt the morning after I woke up, only to find that Dax wouldn't wake up with me, when I had found that my big brother would no longer be in my life, washed over me anew. I clenched my eyes closed and turned my face away, wrapping my arms around myself and wishing it was Dax holding me. Salty tears slipped down my face, betraying my pain. Traitorous bastards. I forced myself to take a deep, meant to be soothing breath, only to let out a little sob when Malcolm uttered my name, his voice strained with confusion as he placed a hand on my shoulder. I took a step back, out of his reach. My envy of his ignorance burned the perimeter of my core without quarter.

I shook my head, and forced myself to look up, tears still burning my odd colored eyes. "He didn't..." My voice failed me. "...he got sick."

Understanding flared in Malcolm's eyes, then bloomed into denial as he took a disbelieving step back. "No...no he's not..." Malcolm dropped to a knee, his head bowed as one hand covered his face. He was still as stone but I could see the pain shaking his skeleton. I took a step back, not knowing what to do. I had no idea he would react this way. He looked more hurt than he should have, but then Malcolm's earlier statement echoed in my head.

"You're like family to me."

I desperately needed a stronghold right now. As if hearing my thoughts, I felt two arms wrap around my shoulders. My mind immediately said Blue Eyes' name, but when I glanced to the side I seen it was Deja, her dark face screaming concern. She hooted softly to me, trying to offer me console. I hummed back and placed one of my hands over hers gratefully. The kind bonobo rested her chin on my shoulder and used her other hand to turn my skull in her direction, placing our foreheads together. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, feeling much better now that I was aware that I was not on my own. After about a minute Deja tapped my cheek with her palm, asking me with her eyes if I was alright now.

I nodded as our heads parted. I took another deep breath to try to calm my nerves more. "Thank you." I hoped my eyes conveyed how grateful I was as I tried to convey the same amount of sincerity with the sign.
Deja nodded at me with a smile.

"Of course." She signed back, giving me a comforting smile. With one more self-soothing sigh, I turned back to Malcolm just as he was wiping his eyes and standing up.

"Rain..." He seemed to be looking for words.

"Why are you here?" I muttered.

"The earthquake...You fixed the dam before, didn't you? That was you." Malcolm said, not seeming to be thinking correctly. I kept my eyes on the ground but nodded anyway. Malcolm's head turned away, and through my peripheral vision I seen he was looking to Caesar. I took another step away from Malcolm, glad he couldn't see the action. I didn't want to hurt his feelings, but he had already touched me more than I was ready for right now. The last human to touch me had been Dax. I didn't know why it was affecting me like this. Malcolm would never hurt me, I knew that well, but the contact was just too much for my psyche right now. Every time Malcolm's skin touched me I felt like I was somehow betraying my brother. I just wanted Malcolm and whoever else to leave. I was surprised by this want but I wanted everything to go back to normal. I startled when I felt a pair of hands on me again, but I calmed down once I recognized Blue Eyes' sky infused orbs. He lifted his hands from my shoulders for a moment, but placed them back on me once he seen that I had calmed down. He started herding me out of the dam, and I was surprised to see apes moving out, Malcolm was no where to be seen.

"Are you okay?" Blue Eyes signed, stopping us from moving.

I watched the last ape file outside before looked up into his eyes through a watery screen. "I don't know." I answered honestly.

Blue Eyes seemed to know just what I needed, and pulled me into his arms. I moved my face into the nape of his neck and let the tears spill as I clung to the handsome ape. I sniffed and a sob made my body jump slightly, and Blue Eyes shushed me and started rubbing my back. He allowed me to cry as he stood there, encasing me in his strong arms comfortingly. I sucked in a breath, trying to calm myself down, but I found it was unneeded, because Blue Eyes shushed me quietly once again before he laid his lips down on my neck, laying warm, slow pecks down onto my skin. It was doing amazing wonders to calm the storm raging in my chest, and I felt my heart rate slow it's galloping speeds as I leaned my head down on his soft shoulder. I sighed and lifted my head after what may have been two minutes of comfortable silence.

"Why do they have to be here?" I murmured sadly.

Blue Eyes heaved out a sigh and shrugged his broad shoulders. "Let's go. Father will wonder where we are."

I nodded. "Where did they all go? I wasn't paying attention."

"To go get the human's team." He signed, pulling me toward the stairs that led up out of the dam. The mention of the team brought on more thoughts. How many more were here? Where were they? I wanted to know why they couldn't just find some alternate power source and leave us alone. I was wary to meet these other humans, every time I had come in contact with most humans before, they had bullied me harshly, save for a few. I was reluctant to turn in the direction the others had headed in. But Blue Eyes coaxed me onto a horse, and surprised me by pulling himself up onto the horse's back behind me.

He reached forward and took the reins in one hand, and wrapped an arm around my waist with the other. The action left me dumbfounded and shocked for a few seconds before my nerves told my brain to wake the hell up, and I became completely aware of every muscle that moved and clenched in his body as his chest was pressed against my back. Blue Eyes nudged the horse into motion with his feet, and I was more than aware of my backside rubbing between his thighs as my body was moved by the horse's gait. And just when I was getting over blushing! I grumbled in my head as I felt the warmth on my cheeks. Blue Eyes rested his chin on my shoulder and my mind blanked out again before I let myself relax. I allowed him to hold me as we trekked through the forest, the horse's hooves stamping down on a twig or kicking a pebble every now and then.

Too soon for my liking, we started spotting the dark form of apes in the branches, and Blue Eyes swung himself down off the horse, but not before laying another kiss to my neck. I took a deep breath, trying to purge the blissful fog away from my brain as I took the reins into my own hands. I watched Blue Eyes climb into the trees and move above me, keeping pace. I nudged the horse a little faster, and had to be a bit firmer, this horse didn't need as light a touch as Zira did. Blue Eyes upped his speed as well, and we kept glancing up and down at each other. We were running an unofficial race, I knew, but I was reluctant to race up to the apes and make a scene. But we continued our game until I was in a throng of apes. I slowed the horse down as I seen a man with a plastic crate in his hands walking foreword.

He lacked hair on his head but stubble shaded the side of his skull as well as his jaw. The man didn't seem to notice me as he walked past, seeming to be internally grumbling. I dismounted and walked foreword after an orangutan took the horse's reins for me, and I thanked him quietly. I walked along, looking a familiar face (preferably Blue Eyes) but while I was scanning the mass of furry bodies, something collided with my left shoulder, caused part of my body to jerk back a bit.

"Sorry-" I cut off when the boy I accidentally ran into stopped mid sentence with a slack jaw. I instantly recognized him, and I knew he recognized me too.

"...Rain?" He gasped. "Holy shit"

"Hi, Alexander." I said quietly.

"You're alive?! Holy shit I thought you were dead!" He gasped.

I shook my head. "Well, I'm not."

"Where have you- you've been here this whole time?" Alexander's eyes were wide.

"Where else would I be?" I asked.

"I don't know. Not here." He still had the look of a fish.

"What's wrong with here?" I asked, getting a little defensive. This place was my home and I loved it, I didn't like the way he had said it like it was a bad place.

"Nothing, I didn't mean-...I'm just...really surprised to see you." Alexander's eyes then started to glance down me, taking in my appearance. I took a step back self consciously, uncomfortable.

"You look different." He commented. I glanced down at myself. I guessed I did.

"I know." I said. At that moment Malcolm walked up with another crate.

"Alex, you can catch up later. We need to get camp set up before dark." With that, he nudged his son away, but not before Alexander could turn and say, "See you later, Pocahontas."

I gazed after him for a moment before turning with a role of my eyes. He had always made up stupid nicknames just to get on my nerves. While in the middle of rolling my eyes, Blue Eyes found me. He gave a questioning gesture at my annoyed expression.

"Same old Alexander." I shook my head while throwing a forearm to the side slightly to indicate I had been talking about the boy who just left.

The next human to approach was a woman with blonde hair in a side braid. As soon as she saw me, she dropped what she had been carrying, and the toolbox hit the ground with a muted thud. She stared at me for a long time and blinked her eyes as if she couldn't believe what she was seeing. I freaked out, but I was too timid to act on it as the woman took a step forward, arms raised toward me.

"Lana..?" The woman rasped in disbelief. I gasped at the sound of my mother's name. I shook my head at her, not daring to let my mind start running.

The woman took a closer look at me, and she finally seemed to notice my eyes. "No...it couldn't be." She stepped closer.

"You're Rain Harley, aren't you?" She said, still staring at my face.

My eyes widened. "H-how do you know my name?"

The woman smiled, lifting her hands over her mouth as she looked me over. "You look just like your mother!" She breathed.

The woman reached out and grabbed one of my hands in both of hers, shaking it in greeting. "I'm Ellie. You're mom talked about you and your brother all the time. I'm sorry I never got a chance to make introductions." She said.

I gaped at her. "You knew my mother?" Then I felt like an idiot. She had called me by her name.

The woman...Ellie, nodded. "She was a good friend of mine."

Ellie than gasped, as if a thought had occurred to her, the sound made both Blue Eyes and I jump. "What are you doing up here? All alone?"

"I'm not alone. I live here." I said, not a bit of timidness or regret rang in my words, only causal pride.

Ellie turned her head to the side a bit. "With the apes?" She asked for clarification.

I nodded. "Yes."

Her eyebrows went up a little. "Really?" She sounded fascinated by the fact, and I wasn't exactly sure how to feel about that. I didn't realize I had taken a step back until the back of my fingers brushed against Blue Eyes'.

"This whole time you've been living with apes?" She said.

I was getting annoyed. "Yes." I answered, letting her know with my eyes that I was growing annoyed with the circular conversation. She picked up on it right away, though Ellie's smile widened and she placed a hand over her mouth. Not what I was expecting.

"Your mother used to use that same look." She murmured nostalgically. It was getting harder to keep my mind away from my mother. I looked down and blinked away tears. I could feel Blue Eyes leaning closer, lifting an arm to lay a comforting hand on the back of my neck. He could see how much I was trying to hide.

"Um...could-could we not talk about my mom?" I asked, making eye contact in hopes Ellie would understand.

Ellie's face dropped. "Oh..oh of course. I'm sorry, that was really insensitive of me. I'm glad you're okay." With that, she bent to pick up her toolbox, but was interrupted by another voice.

"Who the hell is that?" The voice demanded. I turned to see the man who had passed by me before, along with two more men. All three pairs of eyes were locked on me, and I took another step back, the back of my hand now laying on the back of Blue Eyes'. The handsome ape lightly rubbed my hand with the back of his fingers, and I was grateful for the support. Blue Eyes then inched closer, and his hand clasped around mine. I glanced at the light hued ape when he squeezed my hand, and seen him glaring at the man who had spoken.

"Carver, this is Rain Harley." Ellie said carefully.

"Harley?" One of the men behind him said. "The Harley bloodline is dead." I flinched. Blue Eyes squeezed my hand again, and my fingers clenched around his.

"Kemp." A new voice snapped. It was Malcolm.

"Get moving. We still need to get the tents up." There was an underlying warning in his tone.

The first man, Carver, wasn't done here though. "Why's that girl here? How did she get here?"

"She was the first up here. She's the one who brought the lights back on before." Malcolm didn't look like he wanted to waste time explaining.

"Dreyfus sent her? Why would he send a girl to a man's job?" He demanded, glaring at Malcolm.

"Maybe because she's good at what she does, you sexist prick." Alexander said as he was walking past, not stopping as he kept walking back down the path. I was surprised by Alexander's choice to defend me, but then again, I didn't know why. It's not like he was a stranger, I had known him and his father more than half my life. But the boy was naturally quiet, and for him to speak up like that was less than usual.

"What did he just say? You gonna let your kid get away with that?" Carver glowered at Malcolm.

"Yep. I agree with him. Now either get moving or you can sleep in the truck." Malcolm growled.

Carver was about to protest, but the other man thought better of it, and pulled Carver away. "Come on man, let's just go. Leave the kid alone." With that, they departed.

"Sorry about that, Rain. No one is particularly excited that he's here." Malcolm apologized.

"Then why is he here?" I asked.

"He worked for Water&Power, he knows how the dam works." Malcolm explained.

"If he has to be here, keep him under control, please. When are you going to the dam tomorrow?" I added.

"In the morning. Why?"

"Because I'm going to help." With that, I turned and pulled Blue Eyes away with me.

"Where are you going?" Malcolm called.

"I'm going home. It's getting late." I looked over my shoulder, but didn't stop walking. Blue Eyes and I let go of each other, but our hands continued to made no more sound, but I could feel his gaze on me as we walked, and I was glad when the thick brush and tree line spared us from sight.

"You're going to help them?" Blue Eyes signed in the fading light.

"If I help, they'll be gone sooner." I signed back. We found a few horses tethered to a tree as some of the apes were not done watching the humans. Blue Eyes gestured for me to get on the animal, and when I was seated comfortably the blue eyed chimp untied the reins and led the horse through the brush. I wondered what he was doing, but stayed silent as he led us through the forest. Soon, he stopped the horse and got on behind me again. I realized that the reason he had led us away was so the other apes wouldn't see him riding with me. We had a bit of a silent agreement to keep our newfound (and welcomed) intimacy from the others, as neither of us knew just how they would react.

I relaxed into his arms as he pulled me against his chest. Blue Eyes slowed the horse to a leisurely walk and laid his chin on my shoulder again. My head somehow found a way to lean my temple on his without me knowing about it until Blue Eyes nuzzled me back slightly. I sighed contentedly, and I felt Blue Eyes' fingertips work their way under the hem of my shirt. The pads of his fingers found the claw marks marring my skin, and he traced his fingers over the slashes. I tried not to giggle, but he felt my body tremble as I held in the laughter trying to escape me. I felt his lips stretch into a smile next to my neck, and I placed my hand over his large digits, trying to cease his ministrations on my scarred midriff.

"That tickles." I whispered.

"I know." He whispered back.

We fell into silence after that, our fingers laced. It was getting darker, the sun a flaming ball dipping beneath the cool shaded green of the treetops. Blue Eyes let out a sad sigh, and nudged the horse to a faster pace. I knew what was on his mind as soon as he started reaching his thumb away from our hands to caress one of my scar marks again. He was worried about predators, probably specifically cougars or bears. After a quick glance around I was relieved of his precautions, it was much darker now, but I could see the smoke of the bonfires roasting elk and venison in the sky, a few yards away. Blue Eyes decided to slide off the horse then, or risk being seen in such close proximity by one of the Gorilla Guards. I took up the reins and straightened my back as Blue Eyes once again took to the trees. I broke through the tree line first, and I heard Blue Eyes slide down a tree trunk.

"Hello. Blue Eyes, Rain." Luca greeted in his deep voice.

"Hi, Luca." I replied quietly, and I heard a grunt from Blue Eyes.

We continued inside, and I hopped off the horse. A gorilla took the reins from me, and I thanked her gratefully. She nodded back at me and I was relieved of the lack of hostility in the eyes that glanced at me; I had been afraid that the apes would react negatively to me now that they were aware of the other humans' presences. But I seen none of my feared expectations. Two Obas approached me, one was Deja, and the other was a dainty little chimpanzee named Sparrow. I greeted both with a smile, and Deja seemed happy about it.

"Feeling better?" Deja signed.

I took a deep breath. "I think so."

"Come eat with us." Sparrow invited, reaching her hand out to gently pull me toward a hearth. I complied, accompanying them to the table to load up on food before going back to the hearth they picked. I ate up, listening to the crunch of wood shattering and the clang of metal denting as the last of the guns the humans brought were destroyed. I was glad that the apes had listened to my request to leave my bow in tact, thinking back to my second encounter with the apes. I smiled at the memory of Dax's bullheaded stubbornness that day.

Sparrow nudged my knee, and I looked up at her. "What are you thinking about?"

"My brother." I answered.

She gave an understanding hum and nodded. "It's been a while. Have you gone to visit him lately?" She asked. A small, quick inhale sounded from her and she quickly added, "If you don't mind me asking."

I shook my head and placed a hand on her knee, letting know I didn't mind before I signed, "I went a few days ago."

The colony knew I often went into the forest alone to visit my brother's grave. I was aware of the times they had followed me, and I wasn't as upset about it as I would have originally guessed I would have been, I knew that I was human, and some apes would always mistrust me at least a little, due to some of their histories. I didn't blame them, I was the same. I thought about the way I had acted today, timid, nervous, and frowned. It was the same feeling of paranoia I used to get whenever I stepped outside my apartment door back in San Francisco. I had been badly mistreated by humans my whole life, save for a few friends here and there, but that roster was mostly cleared by the Simian Flu. I again felt an indignant rush go through me at the thought of the humans in the forest. I wanted them gone, they ignited memories and feelings I would rather leave behind, and I was surprised with the strength of my feeling. I would have thought that I would have been grateful seeing Malcolm and Alexander again, and I was, I realized now that I had missed them, but my want for them all to leave outweighed it. That made me feel bad.

I sighed and excused myself, bidding my friends farewell before heading toward the Obas healing hut. I picked up some herbs to induce sleep, not trusting my mind for a moment to let me sleep without it. I then slipped between the vine curtain that shielded me from the world. I slipped off my clothes and burrowed beneath the furs stacked on my hammock, preferring to sleep without them on some nights. I hugged one of my pillows to my chest, and purged my mind from anything related to the new intruders in my home. The first thing that fit that criteria was Blue Eyes, more specifically, the way he had held me in my time of need, and the feel of his mouth on my neck. I fell asleep with those thoughts in my head.

-the next morning-

My pleasant dream floated away and dissipated as my sleep was disturbed by the shaking of my shoulder. I let out a little moan of protest, too tired to open my eyes. My arm was shaken again and I let out a louder moan, trying to get the message across to whoever was trying to disturb me that I was too tired for anything.

"Rain." A voice whispered my name. Goosebumps traveled up my body by the way the voice whispered my identity. I allowed my eyes to slit open slightly to see who was capable of taking my name and making a brand new sound out of it, and came face to face with Blue Eyes. I drew in a soothing breath as I blinked open my eyes a bit more, sitting up.

"Blue? What's going on?" I asked, rubbing sleep out of my eyes.

"We are..going to the. Humans soon. Time to wake up." He murmured. In my sleep fogged state, it took me a few moments to realize that Blue Eyes namesakes were not on my face, but below it. A tired glance down was all it took to remind me that I wore nothing but a bra and panties. I was too tired to blush, so I pointed to where one of my shirts lay over my backpack and asked my friend to hand it to me. Forgetting myself again in my fatigued stupor, I lifted my arms above my head and arched my back in a nice stretch. I dropped my arms and rolled my shoulders, trying to wake my muscles up.

I moved my hair out of my face and held it scrunched at the back of my head a moment before dropping my arm again. It wasn't until I glanced up again that I remembered Blue Eyes was here, standing beside a barely living fireplace, staring at me with one of my shirts hanging from his fingers. He snapped out of it when eye contact was established, moving forward a few steps before tossing me my shirt. I pulled it over my head and when I let it fall over my abdomen, Blue Eyes was beside my hammock. I leaned over and laid my head on his shoulder, closing my eyes as I attempted to say hello without speech or signing. Blue Eyes accepted the gesture with an arm around my back, but after a while gave me another shake.

"I'm awake." I murmured.

"You alright?" He asked.

I sat up straight and nodded, giving my head a shake to try and clear the fog. "Sleeping herbs." I gestured, once again trying to blink into full consciousness. He grunted in understanding, but then he surprised me, and I was only awake enough to gasp when Blue Eyes wrapped his arms around me and pulled me out of my warm hammock and into his arms before placing me on my feet. I kept my hands on his chest and he made no move to remove his hands from my hips as I gazed down curiously at the ground. I heard Blue Eyes chuckle, and looked up at him from underneath sleep lidded lashes.

"What's so funny?" I asked.

"You're really. Cute when you're. Tired." He chuckled.

"Just when I'm tired, huh?" I joked with a smirk, the pleasure of his compliment was waking me up.

"No. You're cute when you're, awake too." He added with a smile. I smiled back up at him.

"Good morning." I said quietly.

"Morning, Little Bird." He murmured back, leaning his head down. Our foreheads fell against each other, and my hands moved up to his shoulders as he held my hips softly. After a few quiet moments, I became aware of the rain pattering softly outside. When we parted, I gave his cheek a kiss before moving to get a pair of pants. After pulling them up I moved to get one of my jackets, but after a glance outside I second guessed myself.

"It's going to be cold out there, huh?" I murmured to myself before setting it down and grabbing my original hoodie and pulling up the hood. The jackets I made were still terrible at locking in heat.

I snapped my tool belt around my waist as I walked back to where Blue Eyes stood. I heaved out a tired sigh. "Let's go."

He followed me out of the vines and into the drizzling rain. Blue Eyes then led the way to where Zira was standing, with Lisa trying to calm the horse as the animal threw her head. Lisa gratefully handed me the reins with an exasperated huff. I moved to pat the horse's shoulders.

"Easy, Zira." I couldn't keep the groan completely out of my voice. "It's too early for this."

After a moment dedicated to calming the horse, I hopped up onto her back as a few apes, including Caesar, rode past. I rode on between Ash and Blue Eyes, working hard to keep up a conversation with the two as well as control Zira, who was being extra fussy today. She wanted to run. We reached the clearing Caesar had told the humans to camp in in a matter of minutes. Much to my annoyance. The humans were still asleep when we arrived, and the horses were tied to trees before the apes started lounging around, waiting patiently for the Homo-sapiens to awaken. I joined Maurice and Blue Eyes on a log, and took a glance into the open tent. Why would they leave the tent open during the night? I fought the urge to shake my head at their confusing stupidity. I seen Alexander asleep with a thick comic book open on his chest. Typical of him, I remembered. I settled in, taking the stone and tiny flint knife I had out of my jacket pocket, and started working on the totem stone I had started carving.

Soon, the boy stirred and I glanced up to see him sitting up, his eyes confused at our presence. I refused to make eye contact with him. I heard Maurice make his chuffs as he watched inside the tent, but still I refused to look up from my work. Moments later, I heard the hiss of comforters rubbing together softly as Malcolm and Ellie rose from their individual sleeping bags. After awkward greeting and a fast breakfast on the humans part, we were moving again. I rode beside a friend of mine to the log jam, signing back and forth with the orangutan. I hopped off Zira and hoped she would behave herself as I followed the humans into the dam.

"What are you doing?" One of the men that was with Carver the day before asked. Not Kemp, the other one.

"Helping." Was all I said, looking to Malcolm. He nodded and waved me over. I gazed around the room and seen a few chunks of concrete on the ground, and realized they must have fallen loose during the earthquake weeks ago. I seen nothing damaged enough to make the entire city's electrical network fail, so I suggested we checked the water turbines. We followed a pair of stairs down, deeper into the dam until we found a large porthole with a metal label on the wall. It was small, and when the men heaved the rusted hinges open, we found a few little trollies that had to be traveled on by laying on your belly and using your arms to pull yourself along. Malcolm went first, then me, then the other man who's name I was unaware of.

We reached a second porthole at the end that lacked a door, and we shined our flashlights inside the pitch black room. Malcolm crawled through first, the waved me in. Once inside I seen the cause of the city's power outage, a mass of tree roots clogged the turbines, and I had a hard time speculating on how it got there. I let out a disbelieving, "How did-?" but I trailed off when I realized that I had begun to speak it in Cherokee.

"How are we gonna clear this blockage?" One of the men shouted over the sound of the water trickling heavily through the cracks in the wood.

"We're gonna hafta blow it." Kemp said, and with that Malcolm urged us all out, and back up to where Alexander and Ellie waited in case something happened. Malcolm explained the situation while the three men prepped up blocks of C4. I was secretly relived when Malcolm banned me from going back down there to set it off, and I waited at the top of the ladder with Ellie and Alexander as the men went back in. We sat in silence, Ellie shining a flashlight down onto the little platform the men would be coming out of. It took a few minutes for Alexander to break the silence with talk.

"I didn't know you had a daughter." He said, and for a moment I was confused before I realized he was talking to Ellie.

The blond woman turned her head to look at the boy, hesitating before she nodded her head slightly. "Yeah."

Alexander was quiet for a moment, thinking about something before he spoke up again. "What was her name?"

Ellie hesitated to answer, and as her silence drew out I thought she wouldn't answer before a small smile stretched her lips as she murmured the name, "Sarah."

Alexander's gloves hissed slightly as he moved his hands over each other for a second. "I'm really sorry."

"I still have you and your dad." She said quietly. I gazed at the woman and words I had heard Malcolm say almost a year ago came back to me. He and my mom had been talking about my mother's job. They were talking about someone named Ellie, and I remember Malcolm asking, "My cousin or the lab-tech?" My mother had answered, and now I knew who Ellie really was. She was Malcolm's cousin.

Alexander nodded and looked down for a moment, before nodding and whispering, "Yeah."

All of a sudden, the world shook and a great, muted BOOM! filled my ears before tremors started up, shaking up a decade's worth in dust and I could hear the sound of rocks and concrete colliding. The three of us jumped up.

"Malcolm!" Ellie and I shouted.

"Dad?!" Alexander cried as Ellie shined the flashlight down, but the only good it really did was to illuminate the cloud of dust around us in a white beam. I could hear screaming coming from inside the caved in porthole and we jumped up as the tremors lessened, and Ellie, Alexander and then I hurried carefully down the ladder leading to the platform.

"Malcolm!"

"Dad!"

"Can you hear us?!" We all called and cried.

No one answered, but we could hear the men inside continue to yell. A deep creaking noise sounded above us, and Alexander and I moved to the foot of the ladder to gaze up to see who was approaching. I seen two chimps and the familiar head of Luca peer down at us.

"They're trapped!" I signed up.

Luca huffed in understanding and wasted no more time in sliding down the ladder. We moved aside as he and the two chimps I recognized vaguely started removing the heavy rubble. They plopped the useless obstacles into the water below us as they removed the rocks. Soon they broke through, and moved aside the last concrete slab aside as Ellie shined a flashlight inside the hole. Alexander and I stayed aside as they reached in and pulled the first man out. Carver. His leg had a bloody gash on the shin, and he groaned loudly as he hobbled out. When all the men were out, we moved carefully to get them up to the surface, slowly navigating them through the logjam to sit on a discarded log on the pebbly river bank. Ellie and I went right to treating their injuries, with the help of their first aid kit and Alexander.

Carver could be heard groaning in pain as Ellie and Alexander placed a disinfectant soaked bandage to his bad leg, and I worked silently as the third man, who I now knew was called Foster. He was soon good to go and I started helping Malcolm, who insisted that everyone else be treated before him. He wasn't hurt too bad, just filthy, but he did have a bad cut on his arm. I bandaged it quickly and efficiently before Ellie called me over, Carver being a pain in the ass to treat.

I heard a familiar 'imp, imp' sound and turned to see Haze was present. A smile stretched my lips as the child climbed Ellie's back, curious about the woman's different colored hair. Ellie was smiling at the baby, watching him explore her. Haze soon crawled down her arm and into Alexander's lap, looking around at everything. Then he spotted me and let out a happy squeak, and l caught him with a happy laugh as he jumped at me.

"Rain!" He signed happily, as if he hadn't seen me in a year.

"Haze!" I signed back enthusiastically.

"Are the new apes going to stay with us now?" He signed.

I raised a brow and smiled at the adorably ignorant child. "No." I signed.

"Why are they here? What was the big noise?" He asked.

"To fix something. They'll leave soon." I signed back.

Haze's face dropped and he looked like he was about to cry. "Rain not go too, right?"

I 'awed' before signing back. "Rain stay."

Haze squealed happily and hugged me before giving my cheek a kiss. He then restarted his exploration, and I was aware of Blue Eyes watching his little brother vigilantly from a few feet away, though a paid no mind as I kept my gaze on Haze. The child was leaning over Alexander's knees to peek into Alexander's shoe, pulling the leather tongue back to inspect it. Ellie laughed at the child's antics before presenting her finger, like one would a human baby. Haze held it in both hands and looked at her hand curiously, as if he expected a prize to be stowed away there.

"Hey, buddy." Alexander said quietly. Alexander jumped slightly when Haze turned rather quickly, but calmed down when Haze scooted himself off the tall boys knees and to the ground. Haze went back to inspecting Alexander's shoes while the three of us, watched amusedly.

"What are you doin?" We looked up at Carver's voice. "You finished?"

I immediately grew annoyed, he just had to ruin the moment didn't he? He's just jealous Haze isn't interested in him, I thought irritatedly. "What are you lookin at?" Carver asked Alexander.

Alexander just huffed out a laugh and shook his head. He and Ellie shared a moment of smiling eye contact before going back to cleaning up their supplies. But I kept my gaze on Carver as he looked over at Haze, mistrust blooming in my stomach as his eyes fell upon the young child. Haze found his way into an opened toolbox, and as soon as I seen Carver jump up, instinct took over.

"Hey, hey!" Carver started to move toward the baby, but I was quicker, shoving my elbow into the man's gut and half standing, half crouching with an arm out, protectively trying to shield Haze.

"Back off!" I hissed.

Carver gasped in a breath and slapped me hard enough to send my body rolling to the side as Carver continued toward Haze. Blue Eyes let out a shriek, and advanced as Carver swiped a rag out from under the poor baby. Blue Eyes shoved him down, and Haze quickly skittered out of the box and to me. He hid his face in my chest and I wrapped a protective arm around him, moving my body toward the direction Caesar was in. Kemp moved forward but before he could do anything Blue Eyes had shoved him effortlessly with an arm down onto Carver. Foster moved forward next but all Blue Eyes needed to do was scream in his face and the man instantly backed down. Carver was up again and grabbed something from the toolbox.

"Hey!" Carver yelled. "I'll kill you!"

"Blue Eyes!" I screamed as I recognized a gun in Carver's hands. He clicked the safety off and pointed it at Blue Eyes.

Blue Eyes paused, and let out a hiss, baring his fangs at the man. Before I knew what was happening next, Caesar was there with the gun in his hands, Carver on the floor. Caesar held the gun over his head, ready to use it as a club to hit Carver with, when Malcolm intervened.

"Don't! Don't, Caesar, no!" He yelled. Carver's hands were held up over his face, and he looked ready to wet himself.

I could hear Caesar's angry huffing as he panted, his head turned to look at the weapon in his hands. "Said. No. Guns." The king pointed it at Malcolm, and my stomach dropped. I may have wanted him to leave but I didn't want him dead. Caesar pointed the barrel at Ellie and Alexander for a few seconds, and they recoiled a few steps, then the barrel was pointing at Kemp, who backed up against a log and held up his hands. Foster staggered back as well when he found himself looking into the business end of the gun. Caesar then turned back to Malcolm, lowering the gun as he started to control his breathing, and tossed the gun into the river.

"I didn't know." Malcolm shook his head.

Caesar started walking forward, and Haze peeked out from over my arm and scrambled toward his father. Caesar scooped him up with an arm and cradled him in his hands.

"Human. Leave. Now!" He yelled in Malcolm's face as he passed. My heart skipped a beat, fearing that that included me too, but I was distracted when Haze started struggling in Caesar's grip, and when he dropped to the ground he ran toward me on all fours. Haze hugged me and started moaning miserably, as if he wanted to cry, and I hugged him back, looking up at Caesar to await his decision. Caesar waved me up, and I positioned myself into a crouch, one knee on the ground as I held Haze to my chest. I wasn't sure what to do, so I reached up a supplicating palm. Caesar swiped it and then grabbed my forearm, pulling me up to my feet. He nodded at me as he continued on toward the horses. I followed, eager to leave.

I had a limp as I walked, one of the stones on the ground had cut into my shin, and was stinging harshly. I could feel Blue Eyes' presence behind me as I made my way toward Zira. I hoisted myself up, being extra careful of Haze in my arms. The baby refused to leave my arms, so I tucked him in comfortably before I glanced back at the river bank. My eyes met Malcolm's instantly, and I tried to figure out what the emotion in his irises was. I looked away, nudging Zira in the direction of home. Rocket and Blue Eyes rode closely next to me, so close that our shins brushed every now and again.

The apes were hooting and shouting, angered by the events. I blocked all of it out, focusing on calming Haze's fussing. I shushed him gently and rocked him a little, humming out a soothing little tune. He seemed to like the way my chest vibrated when I hummed, and pressed the side of his face into my breasts. Caesar set a quick pace, and one hand I held Haze securely to my chest while the other directed Zira as she finally got to let off some steam. I had to work hard to keep her from passing up everyone else. When we entered the village, an Oba messenger was leaping down onto Caesar's boulder, shrieking and pointing up into the branches of Home Tree.

I dismounted, and tried to hand Haze to Blue Eyes so the family could enter their home, but the child made such a fuss Caesar just gestured for me so follow them up. I grew worried, if an Oba was freaking out about something in the penthouse of the tree, something had to be wrong with Cornelia. As we rushed up the stairs, I felt Haze cling tightly to me. When we turned the corner into Caesar's personal home, three Obas surrounded Cornelia, who lay in her bed with a pained expression. A maskless Aria started hooting worriedly when she seen Caesar.

Caesar approached his wife, taking her hand and moving toward her head. I could hear the queen's breathing from where I stood, and I noticed her face looked paler than it should have. Worry dripped into my belly as I settled beside the wall as Blue Eyes moved behind his mother's head. I was grateful that Haze was refusing to take his face out of my chest, I didn't think it would serve him too well to see his mother in such a condition. But at a second glance, I realized the tiny prince was asleep, the excitement must have sapped the normally playful chimp's energy. I stayed silent as the king and eldest prince stroked Cornelia's fur and face, trying to calm her, though her raspy breathing got no better. All of a sudden there was a commotion outside, growing closer and closer. Then I heard a voice.

"Please, please I just need to speak to him."

I sighed and shook my head, Malcolm shouldn't have come here. As soon as Malcolm rounded the corner, his eyes found Caesar's back. "I'm sorry." He said. "It was all my fault but I will make him leave." Well it's about damn time, I thought. You should never have brought that asshole here. I was upset about the scare he gave Haze.

"This. My home." Caesar snapped, not turning around. "You should not be here." I seen Ellie round the corner next, though she kept her silence. Neither of them had noticed me yet.

"I understand-"

"Malcolm." Ellie quietly interrupted when she caught sight of Cornelia. I watched Malcolm finally take notice of the ailing female.

"She's sick." He said. Blue Eyes was watching them with a guarded gaze, his hand on his mother's shoulder.

"How long has she been this way?" Ellie asked in her quiet voice.

Caesar turned then, a questioning glare on his face. I tried not to notice the pink around the great king's irises. Ellie placed her hand lightly on her chest.

"I have medicine. Antibiotics." The woman began.

"Maybe she could help." Malcolm offered.

Caesar turned his piercing green gaze on Malcolm. "Do. Not. Trust you." He looked away, glaring at the moss beside his wife's head.

"I don't blame you." Malcolm murmured sincerely. "But believe me, we are not all like him."

"Please." Ellie said. "Let us help you."

Caesar gazed down at Cornelia, thinking hard on the matter. Caesar turned back around and looked at Ellie. The woman moved forward slowly, taking her time to move toward the sick queen, in case anyone changed their mind and decided to lash out. She shouldered off her backpack as Caesar watched her carefully. Ellie quietly unzipped the backpack and started shuffling through it.

"One day." Caesar murmured. Ellie looked up at the king, confused. "You stay. One day."

"Father, no." Blue Eyes raised a hand to sign.

"We might need a little more time-" Malcolm started gently.

"One day!" Caesar shouted, glaring at Malcolm. "Ape will help." He growled, calmer but with a coarse voice. I could see the pain he was trying to conceal. I watched Blue Eyes' expression as he watched his father.

"I won't help." He signed slowly, a slight glare in his aqua eyes. Caesar didn't reply, but held eye contact with his eldest son. I made eye contact with the nearest Oba, and silently asked her to hold young Haze. She took the child gently, though even in his sleep his tiny fists clasped my jacket tightly, and I had to work carefully to get him to let go without rousing the child. I approached the bedside slowly, giving a small noise to get the king's attention. He took a moment to look away from the glaring contest with Blue Eyes, but swiped my palm when I extended it, glancing pointedly at Cornelia.

I moved beside Ellie, and she looked up at me. I made eye contact and she knew what I wanted to do. Quietly, the two of us discussed what it could be that was ailing my queen. I was deathly afraid it was pneumonia, but it was soon ruled out. When we figured out what it most likely was, I was happy to find she had a medicinal syrup that was likely to help quickly. We discussed how much to give her quietly before agreeing on the correct amount of milliliters. An Oba asked what it was, not trusting it as he glared down at the capful of syrup. I translated his signing for Ellie, and she told the Oba it's name and explained what it would do, telling him how it would fight the sickness. He still seemed reluctant to let his queen ingest it, and his uneasiness was starting to affect the others.

"It won't hurt her. Look." I poured a small amount into the cap of the bottle and downed it. I pulled a face. "It doesn't taste the best, but it won't do her harm."

Seeming sated by my evidence, he moved his hand away from shielding her face. "We need to sit her up. She might choke if we don't." Ellie murmured.

I moved toward her head, and tried to gently rouse her. The queen reached up and touched my face when her watery eyes opened. She tried to say my name, but coughing took over. I winced and many of us put hands on her body to offer comfort as I lightly shushed her.

"We need you to sit up, Cornelia." I whispered, placing my hands under her shoulders but not lifting. She nodded slightly, and tried to lift herself, but her arms were trembling. Before she could fall, Caesar took her up into his arms and I scooted closer, presenting the little cup to her.

"Please drink. It'll make you better again." I murmured soothingly to her. Her trembling hand went up to grasp it, but everyone could see she didn't have the strength to hold it herself, so I held it up while she guided it to her lips. She downed it, and her face scrunched up at the taste.

"Yeah, I know." I murmured sympathetically. "I still taste it too." Caesar set her down slowly, and she fell back asleep as soon as her head was laid down. I sat back on my shins, watching the queen's face.

"She should be feeling better soon." I murmured to no one in particular.

"Hey." Ellie placed her hand on my knee, and I looked down at it before making eye contact.

"You did well. Your mom would be proud." Ellie gave me a smile. My lips parted and I stared at her face, stunned by her kind words. I looked down and quietly thanked her, but I backed away, her hand slipping off of me. Ellie cleaned up her stuff and placed it back in her backpack, and I retreated to my original place beside the door. Fifteen minutes later I found myself standing beside Luca as a few of the apes watched as Foster and Malcolm threw out Carver, struggling the entire time.

"This is bullshit!" He shouted as Foster herded him roughly down the path to the old fire road where their trucks were parked. Malcolm turned and walked forward a few paces to look up at Caesar from his horse after Carver and Foster disappeared around the bend.

"Okay?" Malcolm said.

Caesar nodded gruffly, and turned his horse around, apes following. I stuck close to Luca, and he offered comfort and small talk the whole walk to the dam. I was still agitated by the earlier events, as well as the humans' presence in the forest in general. I liked Malcolm and Alexander, and I'm warming up to Ellie, but the others... Every time I looked at them all I could see was the faces of those who had tried to hurt me. It forced me to think about my past life in the once famous city, about the abuse I suffered. Kids my age never seemed to like me much, and I often felt like Rudolph the Rednose Reindeer when I was excluded from any games. It didn't get better as I got older, and so I took to avoiding the crowds in the streets by taking to higher grounds.

I had always loved to climb, ever since I could remember I had played in the trees around my Washington home. I hadn't been able to do much of that after my mother brought Dax and I to California, but I rediscovered the fun of it when I started moving from rooftop to rooftop. I took it slowly, but my confidence built up quickly, and soon I had no trouble getting around. But not always without being seen. People then started bullying me more, saying that what I was doing was unnatural, as well as a danger to myself and the people on the ground. They said I was pretending to be something I'm not, but I wasn't pretending to be anything, I was just being me. But apparently that wasn't enough, it never was. But here, in the forest with the apes, I wasn't judged or bullied. I lived happily among these intelligent primates and it felt right to think of this place as home. I had many friends and was always meeting and making new ones. I could also embrace my heritage better now, and I wished that my mother and dear grandfather could see me now, happy and unbruised by malicious hands.

My grandfather had been a kind old man, with caramel wrinkly skin and shining brown eyes. His hair was long and white, and he used to tell my brother and I the best stories when we were little. He and my mother were close, and he was a big part of my early life. He had often encouraged us all to speak in Cherokee when we were together, and he was always teaching us new words, seeing as he had been a fluent speaker. I missed him desperately, I missed the laugh that always ringed like a mellifluous bell in his voice, and i missed the way he call me Rainbow before hugging me. I sighed and followed everyone into the dam, pushing away the memories. I was working on a damaged panel near Foster, when Alexander passed by.

"Yo, Alex, this relay's busted. See if there's another one." He said, and tossed it up to him. Alexander made his way over to the tool lockers to begin his search. I paid no mind as I went back to re-establishing wire connections. But a minute afterword, I heard a growled out grunt and then I heard Alexander's exclamation. "Aye!" I turned to see him on the ground, Koba growling at him as he approached. I stood up but made no move, Malcolm was already in front of his son.

"No! No! No!" He was holding his hand up, trying to get Koba to stay back, but the gesture fell on deaf ears. Koba kept moving foreword until the large, close to growling form of Maurice loomed over Koba, in front of the father and son.

"Where Caesar?" Koba asked. "Want Caesar. CAESAAAR!" he screamed. Maurice growled at Koba, giving him a look. Koba turned away, and I followed the scarred bonobo's gaze to find Caesar standing in a doorway.

Caesar approached slowly, and Koba started speaking. "Humans. Attack your sons. You. Let. Them. Stay?!" I grew uneasy, and clenched my fists tightly around the metal railing in front of me as I watched the encounter. Koba was challenging Caesar. "Put apes. In danger. Caesar love humans, more than apes." Koba kept approaching Caesar, getting closer and closer to the king. "More than. Your sons." My heart skipped a beat.

Koba was treading thin ice, and I was surprised he hadn't fallen in yet. Caesar's face contorted in rage, and I seen his eyes go to Blue Eyes, who had followed Koba inside. Blue Eyes' expression was guarded but his confusion and worry was slipping through his façade, a rare occurrence. When Caesar turned his angered green eyes back onto the bonobo, he sucked in a breath, and let out a scream, lunging at Koba. They toppled and rolled across the platform, the apes hooting and barking in confusion and agitation.

Koba was on top, arms raised before bearing down on Caesar over and over with his fists before Caesar rolled on top of the bonobo. It was now his turn to rain down his fists, and a fleshy muted thump rang out when the king struck an especially angry blow onto Koba's scarred face. Then Caesar's fists were clenched around Koba's throat, strangling him as he slammed the older bonobo's head down on the metal railed floor, Koba's hands gripping desperately at Caesar's wrists. Caesar growled out his anger loudly, and I could hear the choked gasps coming from Koba, all the while. Caesar finally stopped ramming Koba's head down, but I could see his arms flex as he squeezed the bonobo's windpipe harder, letting out another rage filled scream. A hiss left the king, baring sharp canines threateningly before he seemed to come to his senses.

Caesar panted heavily, and his fangs poked out from between his up pulled lips as the king gained control over his animal instincts that I could see were fighting with his mind to gain control over his body. But Caesar's intellect won and he loosened his grip on the defeated bonobo's neck, and lifted his hands away. Caesar's shoulder heaved as he panted.

"Ape." His voice was deepened and hoarse. "Not. Kill. Ape."

Slowly the king stood up, and moved off of the beaten ape. A part of me reached out to Koba sympathetically, I knew exactly what it felt like to be beaten, bloody and bruised on the ground. But the smarter half knew that he deserved what he got, it wouldn't have been okay for Koba to get away with saying something like that, challenging a good leader in front of his people. I wonder how I would have reacted, if someone had the nerve and audacity to accuse me of loving anyone more than my child (if I had any), and I knew that I would never have allowed that.

Koba's head turned toward a few of the apes who had watched, and seen them turn their heads away. The bonobo then looked for solace in his two closest friends, Stone and Grey, but they too, looked away. Koba pulled himself to his feet, his head bowed. He reached up a supplicating palm toward Caesar.

"Forgive me." Koba rasped.

Caesar straightened his back, and his eyes scanned the room. When his green orbs fell back to the bonobo's hand, Caesar's hand hovered over Koba's, as if he was considering whether or not he really forgave him. I doubted he did. But all the same, Caesar laid his hand over Koba's palm, and as soon as their skin made contact, Koba turned and exited the dam. We all stared after him, and I could practically see the humiliation and held in anger radiating off his pelt. The rest of the day was awkward, everyone silently going about their duties and only speaking when necessary. I distanced myself even more from the humans, and stuck close to Maurice for the rest of our time in the dam.

When dinner rolled around, I stayed with Deja and Brent, but I left early when Aria asked me to check on Cornelia (Much to my surprise). Deja and Brent accompanied me with food for the queen, and we moved up into the Home Tree penthouse. I was glad to see Cornelia was feeling alright enough to sit up. Brent hooted softly to get her attention, and the three of us held our palms out for permission to enter. The queen gave a small smile and lifted her palm toward us, giving her consent from afar. We enter slowly, our heads inclined to show our respect to the gentle queen.

"How are you feeling?" I asked softly.

The queen gave a soft grunt, lifting a hand to sign, "Better."

I nodded approvingly and reached my hand up a bit, conveying with my eyes that I wanted to check her temperature. She gave her consent and when I felt her forehead I was relieved to feel that she wasn't as warm as before, and her skin had gained back a healthy color.

"Have you. Eaten yet?" The soft voice of Deja sounded beside me.

The queen shook her head. "I wanted to go get it on my own." She signed with a sigh.

Deja and I exchanged a glance, and when we looked back up at the beautiful chimpanzee I knew that she was aware that she was not yet well enough to leave her bed.

"You should save up your strength, Cornelia." Brent signed gently. "We brought you some food." He presented the wooden plate to the queen, and she took it with a grateful nod. We left her to eat, and I turned in to my hollow, bidding Deja and Brent goodnight.

I took a moment to watch as the female bonobo and her chimp companion walked back down into the courtyard in close proximity. I smiled as I watched the romance blooming between the two, and I found myself anticipating the day they finally faced their feelings and confessed to each other. I shed my pants and shirt, choosing to sleep in panties and my hoodie. I laid down in my hammock, and I started humming and singing a Cherokee lullaby softly. I slipped out of the present, and when I fell asleep, I found myself as a young girl again, playing with my brother and grandfather while my mom sat a few yards away, writing a song with her acoustic guitar.

*A/N: I know that Ellie isn't Malcolm's cousin in the movie, but please just roll with it. There's a reason for it and it'll make sense later on.*