Notes:

Hello again and thanks for all the lovely feedback and comments. Not so sure about this chapter but I hope you like it anyway.
WARNINGS: Brief descriptions of gore at the end.

It was evening by the time everyone got together. No one's hut was big enough for all of them so they all gathered at the point that Eve liked to stargaze from. Almost all of them showed up, Rama and Eshu being the only ones missing. Eve hadn't been sure whether to invite them or not considering their closeness to Koba and his buddies so she left it up to the rest of the troop to invite them if they wanted to. Clearly, no one had.

It had been a while since they had all been together like this and Eve found herself getting a tad sentimental that they bothered at all. Everyone was fully integrated into the Village now, doing various jobs, making new friends and living in their own huts so they didn't cling onto her like they used to. Not that she was upset about it – far from it, it was exactly what she'd wanted – but it was still nice to know that they would come if she called.

Sugriva was setting up a fire for them, Jambo helping collect wood to feed the flames. Jambo had been a member of the Gorilla Guard longer than Sugriva and was taking it upon himself to mentor him when Luca was too busy with the other trainees. His wife Kali sat beside him, their son Bear at home sleeping. Eve knew Kali was annoyed with her for lumbering Sky on her again and Eve promised she would explain what happened.

Yolanda and Olive were tucked in next to Eve, Yolanda playing peek-a-boo with Sky while her sister watched them affectionately. The sisters were popular with the other women in the Village and were training to be healers under Sparrow. It was hard not to like them as they were bubbly and kind; though, like Eve, they also had a sharp sarcastic streak. It was probably why Stone liked Yolanda so much. Ew. Eve didn't want to think about that.

The orangutans, as usual, sat together, quietly talking amongst themselves. Lily had sent her daughter Autumn to bed as well, leaving only her and Kopral. Lily was sweet and gentle, and she and Eve shared a bond only shared by single mothers but could be hard to talk to sometimes as she was quite shy. Kopral on the other hand was seemingly quiet out of choice, obviously unable to sign with his arms. He could sign with his feet when he was sitting down but mostly preferred to stay silent, speaking only when he had to. He appeared to like having the other apes underestimate him, content to be the quiet one that no one really noticed. He was something of an artist, painting the walls of his hut in bright dyes with his feet. On occasion, Maurice would let him draw on the walls of the courtyard, creating various scenes off memory. There were more disturbing ones depicting their time at the lab but these were safely tucked away from prying eyes in his home.

Gaia and Harley, the chimpanzees, were leaning into each other, looking perfectly content with each other as always. They hadn't made their relationship official when they first arrived at the Village (though it was obvious to everyone else in the troop) probably out of fear that Caesar's apes would not approve. Luckily for them, relationships between the same sex were not unfamiliar to the apes as it was completely normal for bonobo females to be bisexual so, in the end, no one really cared. In Caesar's view, intelligence gave apes the freedom to choose and he would not force any ape, female or male, to go with the opposite sex just because of breeding or other instincts. They had evolved beyond that.

Star and her baby Grape finished the circle ringed around the fire. Star was heartbreakingly young, forced to breed as soon as she was able by the scientists at the lab. She was very unsure of herself, constantly fidgeting and looking over her shoulder as if she expected the doctors to come back at any minute. Out of the troop, she was the only one who hadn't adapted as much as the others had, terrified of the other apes and shunning their company for the troop. Although she was nervous around Eve as well, she was utterly devoted to her at the same time, seeing her almost as some kind of saviour, even a god. To her, Eve was the only human to show her kindness and then ultimately free her from those that had imprisoned and hurt her. It made Eve a little uncomfortable sometimes but she kept in mind how little contact Star must have had with other apes and humans that were not the doctors. Eve had tried emboldening Star to be less clingy but – like Travis – she hadn't succeeded though that wouldn't stop her trying.

Like Star, Eve was cradling Sky in her lap, too young (and stubborn) to be left alone. She'd had to pluck Sky off from Luna's back several times already as the little girl kept trying to ride poor Luna like a horse. At her side, Bad Ape was staring off dreamily into the dark, looking he didn't have a thought behind his eyes. Next to him, Travis sat upright, his chest puffed up. Eve could almost hear him thinking I told you so. Banshee had settled into the rock face above, staring down at the rest of them. Eve was pretty sure he hadn't been invited and yet there he was, the nosy bastard.

"... And he told me not to go in the woods anymore. Said it's not safe for me, whatever that means ..." Eve finished lamely, feeling like she hadn't properly emphasised how off it had all felt.

The troop gazed back at her, thinking over what she had just told them.

Travis was the first to speak. "Knew it."

Eve threw him a scathing look. "We don't know anything. That's why I'm asking all of you for your opinion. And if you've heard anything."

Yolanda shook her head. Know nothing. Only hear the usual things about you.

Which meant the normal insults apes hurled her way for being a human. Nothing out of the ordinary.

Jambo agreed. I have heard nothing either. The Gorilla Guard do not gossip and Koba forbids his apes to speak of you or your daughter.

Eve's stomach fluttered. She hadn't expected to hear that. Although she suspected it was more to do with the fact Koba didn't approve of bullying a child than for her benefit, it was fine by her either way.

Rama and Eshu among them, Olive added bitterly.

Have they said anything to Koba? Eve asked. Anything about what happened at the labs?

"Not if they value their skin," Travis growled.

Many of the apes rumbled in agreement. They all felt betrayed by Rama and Eshu.

Even if they have said anything, it won't be about him, Sugriva reasoned. They would be putting themselves at risk too by saying anything.

Some in the troop nodded. It made sense.

It is strange though, Kali mused. Why all this secrecy if it was just some creature Koba scented?

He hates humans, Harley interjected. Even if he did find something, he probably wouldn't tell Eve anyway.

That's true ... Eve started.

If that's true, why are Cloud and Rain so afraid? Sugriva insisted. I saw the way they looked at you and Koba. They were afraid.

That does worry me, Eve agreed. Cloud told me he couldn't tell me anything or he will hurt me. I'm guessing Koba. He was absolutely terrified. Both of them were. They were eyeballing me the whole time when we got back to the Village.

Travis hissed. "Wouldn't let him hurt you! He try to since the very beginning!"

Eve put a calming hand on Travis' shoulder. "It won't come to that," she said. "Caesar wouldn't allow it."

Travis sneered. "Hasn't stopped him so far."

Eve bit her lip. It was true that Caesar hadn't stopped Koba from spewing his hatred of her but he had stopped Koba from hurting her, especially in the beginning when it was clear that Koba wanted to kill her. But did that mean that Koba had just resorted to plotting her death in secret?

"We don't know that he's done anything!" Eve argued. "Even with that incident with the cougar, there is no proof that Koba has tried to hurt me. No matter how much he hates humans, he would never go against Caesar. They're like brothers."

"Maybe hate for humans stronger than love for Caesar," a low, gravelly voice suggested. Kopral.

Everyone turned to him. When he rarely spoke aloud it was usually because he had something important to say. And when he did, everyone paid attention.

Eve met his serious gaze. "You have a point," she admitted. "But I don't understand why he hasn't done it already. He's had plenty of opportunities."

"Not you then," he said. "Someone else. Something else. Something Caesar not like if he knew."

"Someone else ..." Eve questioned. "Another human?"

Kopral nodded slowly. "Perhaps. Would explain why he not tell you. Also explain why he not want you back in woods."

"Oh God ..." Eve breathed. "You don't think they followed us, do you? The soldiers?"

Star cringed and clutched Grape tightly. "No," she whimpered. Bad Ape gulped, and though he looked just as scared as she did, he reached out and held her hand. She clutched it tightly.

After five months? Sugriva said doubtfully. Why wait that long?

Eve shook her head. She'd been damned if she knew but the thought still chilled her blood.

White bear ...

The whisper echoed in her head and she fought off a shiver. Why were those words still ringing in her head?

"Let's not panic," she said, trying for a soothing tone. "We might be worrying about nothing. It might be a case of Koba getting embarrassed that his little day trip went horribly wrong and he's threatened Cloud and Rain to keep quiet cuz he's an asshole. They're petrified of him at the best of times." It wouldn't be hard to imagine Cloud and Rain being scared witless by Koba making a few idle threats. He was scary enough as it was.

Travis looked at her disparagingly. "You don't believe that."

"Right now, I don't know what to believe!" she snapped. She took a second to breathe. "Look, while we were out there Luna tracked down this cabin while we were looking for Koba. It wasn't much but something ... didn't feel right."

Travis rolled his eyes. "A cabin in the woods? Really?"

"Yes, I know, like the movie," she sighed. The others in the troop stared at them blankly. "But that's not the point. I told Luna to track Koba or the scent he was following and that's where she led me. It looked like it could have been occupied by something, human or animal. Maybe that's what Koba found."

Travis growled. "You make excuses for him," he accused.

Eve glared at him. "I'm not! What I'm doing is trying not to jump to conclusions. Even if I did tell Caesar all this - and without proof - what is he going to do? Really? Who is he going to side with? His best friend or the human?"

Travis looked down. That had shut him up.

Seeing his face and the concerned ones of the troop, Eve calmed herself, feeling a stab of guilt. Gently, she took Travis' hand into her own. He lifted his head back at her.

"I know you're worried about me," she said, addressing the whole troop. "But we need to stay calm. Throwing around accusations and antagonising the other apes isn't going to help. Remember – we don't know anything. Not yet anyway. But that doesn't mean we can't find out."

Bad Ape's eyes widened. "What that mean? You go again?" When she didn't say anything, he started shaking his head. "No, no, no, no ..."

"When do we go?" Travis said eagerly.

"Soon," Eve said uncertainly. "I would say tomorrow but that would be too obvious ..."

"We should go," Kopral asserted. "If wait any longer, more time to hide things."

Travis nodded vigorously in agreement.

"Okay," Eve said. "So, if Travis and I leave in the morning ..."

"I'll go," Kopral announced. The troop gaped at him in shock. He shrugged. "Need more people. Apes not think I a threat."

I'll go too! Yolanda said. Males think us weak. They'll suspect nothing if I come too!

Olive scowled at her. Well, if you're coming, I'm coming too! I'm not making all the bandages by myself!

"No!" Eve exclaimed. "You can't all go! They'll notice if we all go! Koba will notice."

Yolanda tossed her head defiantly. Doesn't matter. What's he going to do against all of us? Let him try and stop us!

"We're not turning this into a fight," Eve warned her.

Won't be a fight if no one gets in our way, she replied stubbornly.

Eve sighed. There would be no convincing her, especially if Olive wanted to go too.

She looked at Sugriva. She could tell he wasn't happy with this.

On duty with Luca and Jambo tomorrow, he said. Can give Luca an excuse to explain why you're leaving again, he added reluctantly.

Jambo gurgled in agreement.

"Okay," Eve said. "So, me, Travis, Kopral, Yolanda, Olive and Luna will go tomorrow." They nodded. "It might be a long trip," she warned them. "It took us a long time to get to that cabin. We'd probably still be there if Banshee hadn't found us."

Banshee tilted his head curiously when he heard his name.

Yes, Eve thought. If only you could tell us what you saw that day. She was starting to wonder if Banshee was really unable to communicate or whether it was just because he didn't want to. He couldn't be that much of an asshole, could he? Not at a time like this!

What about Sky? Kali asked, visibly worried about having to take care of her again.

"It's okay Kali," Eve said. "I'm taking her with me."

The whole troop gawked at her, appalled.

Why? Kali said, looking like she was questioning Eve's sanity. Surely it will be dangerous! And what about feeding?

"We can bottle your milk and take it with us. I know you think it's crazy but I've been leaving her alone too much, thinking that it'll be good for her, but she's my daughter. She needs me. And if we're truly in danger I want her by my side. I'll make room for her in my backpack and she can sleep in there with her blankets." Kali went to say something but Eve pushed on. "If you said nobody could hurt me with all of you there, then nobody should be able to hurt her either," she pointed out.

The troop grumbled, giving in but still not happy.

"All right," Eve said, getting up. "Then that settles it."

The troop rose, happy to finally go to bed. Bidding everyone a goodnight, Eve, Sky, Travis, Sugriva, Bad Ape and Luna headed home. Eve kept her hand firmly on Ape's arm the whole way as he was prone to slipping and tripping on the stone walkways even in daylight. She had been the same at first but by now she could easily navigate the Village, having memorised all the paths and trails off by heart.

Opening the flap for the others, Eve waited for them to go in. Travis smiled at her as he passed, pleased that they were finally doing something about Eve's 'assassination attempts'. Sugriva just glanced at her gravely. She was about to walk in when Banshee appeared, toddling awkwardly on his little legs.

"Oh, you coming as well?" she asked, confused. He never did this.

Gazing at her blankly, he staggered into the hut silently, plopping himself near the entrance.

"Okay ..." Eve muttered, more baffled than annoyed. Since when had he gotten so sociable?

Tucking their blankets around them, Eve settled into bed, Sky nestling into her chest. She could see Banshee still sitting by the doorway, his eyes fixed on it like he was watching out for something. Protecting them. But protecting them from what?

Nonetheless, she was glad that he was there. If someone did try to get in, the whole Village would know about it. There's more to him than what he shows, Eve thought. If only he would speak ...

It took her longer to sleep this time but when she did, she was back at The Ark.

2020

Evie hates The Ark. She hates how the houses all look the same: plain, ugly squares dotted in lines across the settlement. She hates having to live so close to strangers that she doesn't trust not to rob or hurt her. She hates how the people look at each other, so mistrusting and spiteful. She hates having to eat their small, shitty rations instead of hunting or foraging for food; 'poaching' and 'trespassing' in the woods bordering The Ark is forbidden. But most of all she hates that Mama, Sugriva and Travis are gone. Especially Big Poppa.

Big Poppa is dead and the others are gone, probably as good as dead. A part of Evie is missing, the part that she thought she had lost when Dad disappeared. And again, when Mom died. Then Aunt Kate. And now Big Poppa.

When they first brought her here, she had raged and screamed, demanding that she see Mama and the others. They being the 'government' people that run The Ark. She tried explaining to them that the apes were not dangerous and that they had taken care of her and Amber and Danny but they wouldn't listen. They told her that she was traumatized, imagining a relationship between her and the apes to compensate for the deaths of her family. They said that Big Poppa's attack on the soldiers proved it and that they were 'forced' to put him down. Even when she argued that she and her siblings could prove that Mama and the others were intelligent, they shook their heads in false sympathy, telling her over and over again that she and Amber were 'mentally disturbed', and that Danny had said nothing about the apes being smart.

They told her that they were sending Mama, Sugriva and Travis to a facility for apes. They explained that as they (being apes) were a risk for the Flu, they would have to be contained for everyone's safety. When Evie pointed out that apes didn't spread Flu to humans and that only humans spread it, they changed their tune, saying that they were taking them away for their safety as other people would think that they could spread the virus. She wanted to believe them so badly but she knew that they were lying. No matter how much she begged to see them, they would not let her go.

Evie and Amber are still angry with Danny for that. Though he insists he didn't mention Mama and the others' intelligence because it would put them in danger, Evie and Amber think he didn't even bother trying to defend them. In fact, they're certain that he is happy that the apes are gone. As if to make up for it he tries to be encouraging, saying that this could be a good thing, being a part of a new community, rebuilding civilization. Evie and Amber ignore him, which is hard to do when they now live in a tiny box.

Luna is still with them but it's not easy. The people at The Ark do not give rations for Luna, saying that it was their responsibility, so she has to catch whatever small animal is wandering around the settlement. She doesn't always catch something so sometimes they all have to give up a part of their rations to feed her. It would be so much easier if she could hunt in the woods but it's blocked by the barbed wire fences surrounding The Ark. They say the fences are meant to keep them safe but Evie doesn't feel safe. She feels trapped.

Evie and Amber don't like to take Luna outside the house for too long. It's cruel but they can see the envy in the other residents' eyes – whether out of hunger or greed Evie doesn't want to know. They only take her for walks when they are all together but even then, it's dangerous. They don't have weapons anymore as The Ark people took them when they were first brought here. They are defenceless.

It's been a few weeks since they've arrived and people from the military come to talk to them. They offer Danny and Evie places in the US Army unit currently stationed at The Ark. They explain that they rotate units to guard The Ark every six months, meaning that by the time they have finished their training, the unit will be moving on. Evie refuses immediately, not wanting to work for the people that murdered Big Poppa. They warn her that to be able to stay at The Ark she and her siblings will have to earn their keep and contribute towards the community. When Evie bites back that if that's the case then why can't she leave they don't answer her.

Danny convinces her in the end, arguing that they will be forced into it whether they like it or not, adding that Amber might suffer if they don't. He reasons that by joining the army they'll get access to weapons and have some kind of authority over people. Evie likes the idea of being able to have a weapon and agrees, knowing that she doesn't really have a choice.

They train at the barracks by the perimeter of The Ark. They do it on the condition that they do not have to live there, not wanting to leave Amber alone, and the Colonel, McCullough, agrees. The training is hard and the Colonel makes no exceptions for them but eventually, they get into a routine. Evie almost comes to enjoy it. She finds she likes learning things, like how to assemble and disassemble a gun, how to shot a target properly, how to fight. The Colonel believes in the importance of hand-to-hand combat so he allows her to have knives so that she can practise how to use them in combat and how to disarm someone with one. She practices her knife throwing on the target boards, using handguns and rifles too. Danny learns how to snipe, having a good eye for targets. Every day they get better and better, becoming the soldiers the Colonel wants them to be.

As it turns out the lead soldier that caught them by the store is the Colonel's son, John. She thought she would hate him but she doesn't. As soon as he saw her at the barracks, he went over to apologize, regretting that things went so far. She was surprised, thinking that if anything he would be the one demanding an apology for stabbing him. He seemed genuinely sorry and Evie reminded herself that he had been the one trying to calm things down. And, let's face it, he was too nice to hate.

Except for Danny. Danny didn't like John. He claimed it was because John was too righteous and cocky but Evie knows full well it's because he's jealous of him. Despite the Colonel never showing any favouritism towards his son, Danny resents John anyway, doing anything to impress the Colonel, his brand new father figure. It's pathetic.

Sometimes she thinks about what could have happened if Big Poppa hadn't charged at the soldiers ... She could see why they had been afraid. They didn't know Big Poppa wasn't going to hurt them. But then, to be fair, they shouldn't have been pointing guns at them in the first place. In the end, Evie supposes, it doesn't matter. They only would have locked him away along with Mama, Sugriva and Travis.

But one thing hasn't changed – she' hasn't given up. She still has hope that Mama, Sugriva and Travis are alive. No, those people might think that they've fooled her into submitting but they're wrong. She's only waiting, preparing for the right time to fight back. And when it's finally time, she is going to find Mama and the others and she and her family are going to get the fuck out of here, with or without Danny.

But it's not until the doctors show up at their door that she starts to get really worried. A man, Dr Breck, is with them and he tells them that he and his colleagues have come to take some blood samples from them. He says that it is very important as their blood can help find a cure. It makes sense to her (all three of them are immune to the Flu) so she lets them do it, a quick prick in her left arm. She'll become very familiar with that feeling in the future.

They take blood from Danny and Amber. Dr Breck is supervising when they do it to Amber, hovering over them like a vulture. He technically does everything right – he makes sure to look Amber in the eye, enunciating his words so she can read his lips – but there's something about him that Evie doesn't like. His niceness seems fake, artificial; a robot trying to act human. But the thing that disturbs Evie the most is the way Breck looks at Amber with those hungry, dead eyes.

At last, the doctors go to leave. Dr Breck hangs back, talking to Amber about heading to his facility so that they can look into getting her some new hearing aids. Evie's ears prick up. If The Ark won't even give them decent rations, why would they start giving away free hearing aids?

"Where's this facility? Is it near here?" Evie asks. "I should probably go as well so I can translate for her. I'm guessing there's not a lot of people around that know sign language."

Breck's face twitches and his eyes narrow into angry slits. He quickly covers it up with a forced smile, peeling his lips back from his big white teeth, but not before Evie notices.

"That won't be necessary," Breck says stiffly. "I'm sure there will be personnel on site that know sign language. We have a wide range of doctors from different professions so it shouldn't be a problem."

"But you don't know that for sure. I should go just in case," Evie presses. "Where is this facility anyway? Is it far?"

"That's classified information," Breck says coolly. "Not that you have the right to know such things. I would focus on doing your job rather than asking pointless questions Miss Taylor."

Smiling condescendingly, he turns to Amber and ruffles her hair like he's petting a dog. Amber, who wasn't that so sure about Breck in the first place, glares at him and smacks his hand away.

Breck's body is rigid with shock and he snatches his hand away like it's been burnt.

"My apologies," he hisses through his teeth, barely managing to sound pleasant. "I'll be seeing you all again." He pauses mid-swing as he opens the door. "Very soon," he adds, staring straight at Amber as he says it. He whirls on his heel and slams the door.

They stand in silence for a while.

Wow. What a dick, Amber says.

They all laugh, feeling a little less tense but Evie doesn't fully relax. She knows this isn't over.

The sun had barely risen when they moved out. The morning air was nice and cool, dewdrops sparklingly in the weak sunlight. Sneaking through the Village without disturbing any of the other apes, Eve, Sky, Luna, Travis, Kopral, Yolanda and Olive met outside the Ape Gate. They'd had to get past a sleepy Luca at the Ape Gate but Sugriva told him that they were just getting some fresh air. The fact that Sky had been with them, snugly tucked into Eve's backpack with her cloudlike hair peeking out of the top, seemed to convince Luca that they weren't up to no good. He let them go, warning Eve not to be so long this time.

Hoping effortlessly over the Ape Gate without any of the Gorilla Guard seeing him, Banshee jumped into the trees and swung alongside them as they trekked down the mountain. He was coming too apparently.

"Okay," Eve said when they'd gotten far away enough, "I'm not exactly sure where Cloud and Rain were but I think I can remember where the cabin is. If we get Luna to follow the scent again, we might find something ..."

There was an excited hoot and a figure dashed into view. Find what? Ash asked eagerly. He was holding a wooden spear in his hand, several fish run through it. Behind him, a suspicious-looking Blue Eyes edged out from behind a tree, also holding a spear. Still wary of Eve.

Crap.

Eve straightened up and put her hands on her hips. "Nothing," she said defensively. "What are doing listening in on other people's conversations anyway? Didn't your parents ever teach you that it's rude?"

Blue Eyes puffed up cockily. Am a Prince, he said haughtily. I can listen to what I like.

Eve couldn't help the snort that escaped her. "A Prince?" she gasped sarcastically. "Why I'm sorry, I didn't realise. Please accept my humblest apologies, my Prince. A lowly servant like me should have never said such a thing." She even did a mock curtsey to top it off.

Travis, Yolanda and Kopral snickered. Even Ash snorted. Olive just rolled her eyes.

Blue Eyes seethed with embarrassment. You can't talk to me like that! I'm the Prince and I demand to know where you are going!

"That's none of your business I'm afraid."

It is! Otherwise, we'll come with you anyway!

Ash nodded in support.

"Nope, not happening. You're both too young anyway."

Am not! Blue Eyes pouted. I'm old enough! Tell us or I'll go to Father.

Resorting to blackmail. A classic tactic used by children.

"Oh, you're going to tell on me? Yes, I can see how much of a big boy you are now," Eve teased.

Blue Eyes' face crumpled and Eve instantly felt like shit. She'd gone too far – as usual. He's only a kid, she reminded herself. And you've embarrassed him in front of his best friend.

She softened her tone. "Look, I'm sorry. I don't mean anything by it, I was just joking around. It's what I do with my friends. Trust me, you'd know if I did mean it."

Blue Eyes softened slightly. It's okay. I'm sorry too.

"That's okay. Just don't talk to people like that. They don't like it."

Blue Eyes bobbed his head sheepishly. He then looked up at her hopefully. So, are you going to tell us where you're going?

Eve sighed. "We're just going exploring. It's nothing exciting I promise."

"Should go," Travis said abruptly. "Must have places to be."

Blue Eyes and Ash shrank a little under Travis' stare and Eve shot him a reproving look.

Yes ... Ash said dejectedly, pulling at Blue Eyes' arm. Let's go Blue Eyes. We need to smoke the fish.

Reluctantly, the two of them loped back to the Village.

"Nice," Eve murmured. "They're not going to forget that."

Travis looked back at her, unapologetic. "Needed them gone. Now they gone."

"We need to go," Kopral croaked from behind them. "Not have much time if they tell parents."

"You're right," Eve said. "Let's go."

Without further ado, she led them deeper into the woods.

How much longer? Olive complained.

"I don't know," Eve admitted, on the edge of giving up.

They had been walking for what must have been hours and still hadn't found anything. Initially, Eve thought that the way they were going was familiar so they kept going, following Luna's lead. However, with the sun rising higher and higher in the sky as they tramped on through the woods, it became apparent that they weren't getting anywhere. Occasionally Eve would recognise a certain tree or patch of earth and get excited, only to realise that she'd seen it before. They were literally going in circles.

I thought you said the cabin would be close by, Yolanda added, tired and fed up.

"It was!" Eve insisted. "I could have sworn it was!"

But was it? She was beginning to doubt herself. It had been quite far from where they'd camped for the night. And not even Banshee, who had been the one to find her, could find the cabin, scoping out the area from above only to return with no sign he'd seen anything. Maybe this was too much for just one day ...

"Perhaps we stop now?" Kopral suggested. "Take break?"

Eve glanced at everyone – all of them were exhausted and, quite frankly, pissed off. Nodding, she carefully unslung her backpack, plopping it and Sky on the ground. Slumping against a tree trunk, she let herself slide down it, looking tiredly at Sky. The little girl stared back at her, burbling happily. Stretching out her long arms with a big yawn, Sky tipped out of the bag, slowly tilting onto her face. Eve immediately went to get her but she crawled out from under the pack, gurgling cute little giggles. Staring at Eve determinedly, she pulled herself onto Eve, her little legs kicking up in the air, and sat upon Eve's lap, looking very pleased with herself.

"Good girl," Eve said aloud and in sign.

Sky watched her hands with interest but didn't sign or say anything back.

"Are you hungry?" Eve asked her.

Sky's eyes grew bigger and she squeaked in excitement.

Eve rummaged through her backpack, yanking out one of the bottles Kali had prepared. "Food?" she said to Sky, emphasising the word and sign.

Sky smiled and bounced a little, arms eagerly reaching out for the bottle.

Eve pulled the bottle back a bit. "Food," she prompted, giving the bottle a shake.

Sky whined and clawed at the air, trying to snatch at the bottle. Still, she wouldn't say anything. Her whines got louder, dangerously close to crying.

"Fine," Eve grumbled, letting Sky snatch the bottle. She drank greedily, guzzling and gulping the milk in seconds, grinning up at Eve with a cute milk moustache when she was done. Eve couldn't help but laugh. "Don't look too pleased with yourself," she said in mock annoyance, picking Sky up and swishing her gently side to side.

"Still not talk," Kopral said unexpectedly.

Eve turned to him and shrugged dejectedly. "No. Nothing I do seems to work."

"But she understand you?"

"Yeah, I'm pretty sure she does. She just won't repeat anything." Eve sighed. "It's almost like she chooses not to. I don't know why. I can't help but wonder if things would be different if ... if she still had her Mom."

Kopral shook his head. "Can't think that. Don't know. So why think?"

"I don't know. It's true, I know but I can't help it. Sometimes I think that having another orangutan as her mother would have been better for her. At least then they'd know what they were doing."

Kopral tutted. "Don't be stupid. Too smart to be so stupid. Sky lose her mother. Could have gone to another mother but didn't. She choose you. That's no different."

Eve ran her hand along Sky's back, not meeting Kopral's eyes. "But –"

Kopral growled irritably, cutting her off. "No. Sky choose you. That what she want. Cannot help what happened to her. She speak in time or not at all. Not matter as long as she happy and healthy."

Eve bowed her head. He was right – she was getting too wrapped in her own paranoia and self-pity. "You're right," she breathed. "I know you're right."

Kopral looked offended. "Course I right. I always right."

They both laughed. He wasn't wrong - the guy knew everything.

Eve lifted her head, noticing that Luna wasn't sat by her side. She looked around, seeing everyone except for Luna. "Travis, where is Luna?"

He whipped his head around, not having noticed that she was gone. "Saw her go ahead," he said. "Thought she would come back."

It was normal for Luna to come back if no one was following her. That was unless she had found something.

Eve carefully tucked Sky back into her pack, sliding the straps onto her shoulders.

"Luna," she called. Nothing.

Getting to her feet, she motioned for the others to get up. "Quick! She might have found something."

They groaned but ultimately did what she said.

Following Travis' directions as to where he thought he'd last seen her, they hurried through the undergrowth.

You better not be getting into a fight with another goddamn cougar young lady! Eve thought, starting to feel panicked. She had thought Luna would know better than to pick fights with wild animals much more vicious than her but now, after the 'incident', but you could never be sure with her.

"Luna!"

They finally found her circling a clearing, ignoring them completely. She was sniffing intently, her nose never leaving the ground. Carefully scanning the rocks dotted about the grass and the single, still living, tree that had fallen across the middle, Eve felt that she would have recognised this place instantly if she had been there before.

"You been here?" Travis asked.

Eve shook her head distractedly, her eyes on Luna. She kept coming back to a certain patch of grass, shoving her nose straight in it. Peering over Luna, Eve examined the grass, trying to see what Luna could have found, but saw nothing. Kneeling beside Luna, she combed through the tufts of grass with her hands but still couldn't find anything. She could have been combing through bear piss for all she knew.

Find anything? Yolanda questioned.

"No," Eve said, frustrated. "Nothing I can see anyway."

"You sure you weren't here before?" Kopral said doubtfully. "Could be following your scent."

"I'm sure." Eve studied the clearing, not sure what she should even be looking for. Wriggling on her belly, Luna shuffled forwards, sniffing at the underside of a rock. She paused, seeming to consider the scent, before digging frantically at the soil underneath.

"Wait ..." Eve muttered and she gently pushed Luna aside. "There's something under here."

Using her foot, she tipped the rock over, having to kick it quite hard to shift it. The heavy rock rolled over slowly, exposing the bottom. Eve frowned – instead of dirt caking the rock, it was splattered with something shiny and wet. Why would it be ...?

Then she registered what it was.

The others gasped. "Is that ...?" Travis whispered.

"Yeah," Eve said, "it is."

Slowly lifting the rock, Eve stared dumbly at the blood, hair and gore that had been hidden underneath as the others watched in horror.

What the fuck?!

Notes:

So now Eve is one step closer to knowing what happened with Cloud and Rain! Question is what is she going to do about it now that she knows?
On an additional note, I may be slowing down with this story. As well as uni work, it's hard to tell if there is real enthusiasm for this story to go forward so please let me know if you would like that to happen in the comments. I would really appreciate it.
Stay safe everyone!