Starting note: I've added a list of my OC characters as even I've started getting confused with the names lol. It's not super important to remember them all as not all are major characters so don't worry if you don't but you can look at this list if you need reminding.

The Troop

Evelyn (Eve) – Daughter of Gillian and George

Travis – Chimpanzee; Pet of human family

Sugriva – Gorilla; Son of Mama and Big Poppa

Sky – Orangutan; Daughter of Eve

Luna – Husky; Eve's dog

Jambo – Gorilla; Father of Bear

Kali – Gorilla; Mother of Bear

Bear – Gorilla; Son of Jambo and Kali

Yolanda – Bonobo; Sister of Olive

Olive – Bonobo; Sister of Yolanda

Lily – Orangutan; Mother of Autumn

Autumn – Orangutan; Daughter of Lily

Kopral – Orangutan

Rama – Chimpanzee

Eshu – Chimpanzee

Gaia – Chimpanzee

Harley – Chimpanzee

Star – Chimpanzee; Mother of Grape

Grape – Chimpanzee; Son of Star

Mama – Gorilla; Mother of Sugriva

Big Poppa – Gorilla; Father of Sugriva

Eve's family

Amber – Sister of Eve and Danny

Danny – Brother of Eve and Amber

Gillian – Mother of Eve, Amber and Danny

George – Father of Eve, Amber and Danny

Kate – Sister of George

Prologue

Maurice had just finished teaching at the school when they heard it. It was early afternoon and he had been hoping to explain the concept of the alphabet to the younger apes while he still could hold their attention. The assortment of tiny apes, while delightfully eager and energetic, were easily distracted, especially when they knew the males were due back from the hunt.

Hooting at a young bonobo whose eyes had visibly glazed over at the back of the class, Maurice desperately tried to recapture their attention, sketching the letter 'A' on a chunk of slate and holding up it for the class to see.

Caesar and he had agreed that it was important that the apes learnt human words and letters despite what some of the other apes said. Maurice could understand why many of the apes would want to shirk anything human but he also felt that apes could learn a lot from humans. Humans were capable of being extremely cruel creatures – he would know – but he also knew that they were undeniably clever.

Besides, it seemed they would have to contend with the world the humans had created – even seven winters after the rise of the apes, you could still find signs of humanity, whether it was the crumpled plastic packets occasionally floating in the wind or the lonely, sighing buildings sporadically dotted about in woods. The human lights, the fires and the screaming that had followed the rise, however, had long since died out.

Suddenly, a chorus of hoots signalled the arrival of the hunting party. Knowing the pretence of a class was now doomed, Maurice dismissed the children, who promptly clambered over to the gate, hooting, and squealing with excitement, the toddlers being immediately scooped up by their disapproving mothers.
As per usual, Caesar, Rocket, and Koba were the first to ride through the gate, swiftly followed by the rest of the party, all donning their war paint and carrying several deer carcasses.

Maurice rumbled approvingly – it seemed like their hunt had been successful.

Caesar was dismounting from his horse as his son, Blue Eyes, eagerly awaited him below. At his tender age, Blue Eyes still clung to his father, following him wherever he went. That would change as Blue Eyes grew up, Maurice knew. Adolescence tended to make apes … difficult to say the least. But it was nice to see while it lasted.

Maurice had just raised his hand in greeting towards his friend when a piercing, mournful howl rang out from the trees. A sudden stillness settled over the village; the apes rendered mute by the scream. There was a beat of silence before another, much sharper shriek sounded across the village.

There was something about the howl that made Maurice's hair stand on end. They all knew the sound of a wolf's howl – in fact, in the years after the rise they had all become accustomed to the strange calls and sounds of the woods' wildlife. But this was different. Much different.

Maurice and Caesar looked at each other gravely. More trouble. Most likely more human trouble.

In the end, it was decided that Caesar, Koba, Rocket, Luca, Maurice, and a handful of other apes would investigate the howls. Caesar had not wanted Maurice to come with them at first, worried that he may get hurt, especially as he was an ape not known for hunting or fighting skills. But, of course, Maurice insisted. He could more than take care of himself and, besides, he needed to know. Caesar did not argue – he knew better than to disagree when Maurice was being stubborn (but then and again, when wasn't he?).

They set off on their horses, unable to tell how far away the howls were. The cries carried over the woods easily, seeming to physically bounce off the trees. Echoes, Maurice thought, yes, that is what the humans called it.

The howls were constant, tapering off briefly as if pausing for breath before picking up again. Sometimes they sounded like an ape hooting, quick, short whoops. Other times, the call was long and sombre, almost sounding like a song.

They had ridden some distance, carefully guiding their horses through the trees. They were unfamiliar with this part of the woods and the light of day was slowly fading. They would have to go back soon if they did not find the source of the wails.

They were close, Maurice guessed. The wailing, blaring from a distance, was practically ear-splitting now. He was about to say as much when the cries cut off abruptly.

Suddenly, a small, dark shape burst out of one of the trees above them, leaping onto another tree further along.

The apes hooted in alarm, some of their horses twisting and bucking in fear. Maurice put a soothing hand on his horse's neck to reassure her, quickly stopping her rearing.

The shape turned, staring at them. Bright green eyes peered down at them from a small, furry white face. Looking closer at the shape, Maurice could see its body was covered with black fur, accompanied by oddly long arms and legs draped around the tree trunk. An ape perhaps? Maurice wondered. No, a monkey. I have never seen an ape like that before.

The monkey/ape gazed down at them for a few moments before visibly jerking its head to the left, further into the woods. After appearing to wait as if to make sure that the apes had seen the gesture, it scampered down onto a branch before launching itself from the tree, catching the branch of the tree next to it with its strange long arms and swinging in the direction it had indicated.

The apes looked at each other nervously.

It wants us to follow it, Maurice said.

No, Koba said, it's too dangerous. It could be a human trick.

How? Maurice said sceptically. It looks like an ape. It might need our help.

Koba grunted. Might be a monkey trained by humans to lead us to them. To trap apes.

Caesar had said nothing so far, looking deep in thought. Rocket, as usual, was looking to Caesar to decide.

Maurice turned to Caesar. We should go and see, he insisted. We might not have seen an ape like that before but it must be one. It has our green eyes and seems to be Changed like us. We must offer to help it!

Caesar looked at Maurice, thinking. Eventually, Caesar spoke. "Be careful," he warned gravely. "We go slow … go together."

Relieved, Maurice immediately set off in the direction the ape-monkey had gone, only just keeping up the pretence of being slow. The others followed behind at a steady pace, all the while Koba growled uneasily.

It was not long after that Maurice saw the ape-monkey waiting on a tree further ahead of them. This time, the ape-monkey was much more urgent, its head and arms lurching violently, pointing deeper into the woods.

Maurice quickened his pace, ignoring the shouts behind him. Whatever the ape-monkey wanted he knew he needed it fast.

And that is how he almost fell upon them.

They were a small group of apes of all species and ages, huddled fearfully together. There were ten or more, Maurice guessed, mothers, elders, children. Half in shock, Maurice froze upon his horse, meeting their alarmed stares with his own.

As the others trotted up behind him, the ape-monkey leapt down from the tree by the group, looking up at Maurice expectantly. Hearing the gasps and whoops behind him, Maurice knew that his friends were seeing what he had seen.

"What … is this?" Koba gasped.

As Maurice turned to Caesar, he saw that Caesar had gone still, his breath cut off as if the air had been stolen from his lungs.

A single male chimpanzee had stepped out from the huddle, carrying something in his arms. The male had several scars, bearing deep cuts and slash wounds on his face and chest. He tramped towards them, awkwardly but gently cradling the bundle he was carrying as if it were a baby. Trailing at his heels was what appeared to be a blue-eyed black and white wolf, which periodically glanced protectively up at the bundle.

Maurice peered at the bundle sprawled across the chimp's arms as he approached. When he finally saw what it was, Maurice rocked back on his heels and gasped.

The 'bundle' was, in fact, a human girl. Excluding her head and feet, her whole body had been clumsily wrapped in several moth-eaten blankets. Her dark and matted hair was unbound, hanging straight down except for a few hairs that had plastered to her face. Her face was unnaturally pale, almost grey, and her eyes, dark and bruised, were closed. Each breath she took appeared to be a struggle, her chest heaving desperately. Her breath was wet and rattling. As Maurice looked closer at the girl, he could see a single, thin trickle of blood running from her nose.

The chimpanzee, instinctively sensing that Caesar was the leader, stood before him and stared at him beseechingly.

"Help her," was all he said.

Notes:

Hi, thanks for taking the time to read my first fanfic! I've had this story in mind for a long time, and with the lockdown happening, I thought it would be a good time to start writing it.
Just as a side note, the story will include characters and events from both of the books and the comics though some of the events and what happens to the characters will be tweaked slightly.
I would appreciate any criticism or reviews so I know whether to keep going with the story but please be gentle since it's my first one!
Thanks and stay safe :)