The next morning, Koba woke up with an upstart from a loud sound, a sound that he'd thought he would never ever hear from again. With his heart pounding from within his chest, Koba quickly leaped out of his bed and rushed out of his front door. As soon as he emerged from his dwelling, Koba's good eye scanned around to see if they were under attack and all seemed to be normal as confused apes emerged form their homes as well. His good eye soon spotted Maurice standing atop of the stone platforms with Rocket just beneath it.
"Maurice? Rocket? What is going on?" Koba signed as he stopped in front of the two other apes.
"Do not know. Just heard loud noise," Maurice signed back.
"Sounded like gun," Rocket gestured, noticing Koba's eyes widen slightly.
"Gun?" Koba hissed with is fur bristling.
Before either apes could say more, Caesar made his presence known as he had quickly descended the steps and looked around the colony. Everyone then again turned their attention towards the top of the wall as one of the bonobo's gestured quickly, saying that he heard the noise had come from southeast from there. Caesar nodded in thanks to the other ape before he gestured to all the able apes to make haste and follow him into the forest.
Not liking this, Koba glanced around quickly and picked up one of the spears off of the side before he followed Caesar, Maurice, Rocket and the other apes into the forest.
Keeping in stride with many of the apes as they rushed through the forest, Koba could hear the familiar frantic cries from Blue Eyes and then something else. This other sound that he heard in tangent with Blue Eyes' own frantic calls did not belong to an ape but yet it sounded so familiar. Only one other animal could make such a horrid sound and it ignited something deep within him, causing him to quicken his pace and with double the vigor.
Soon enough the apes scaled over the ridge and Koba was met with an ugly sight of several humans, all huddled together and holding their guns out while Blue Eyes was standing in front of Ash just a few feet away. Landing on the ground his eyes widen slightly when he took note that Ash was bleeding from the left shoulder. Setting his good eye upon the humans once more Koba bared his fangs down at them. Before he could make an advance though, something big and grey flew past him, heading straight to the two young apes. Blinking several times, Koba was quite surprised to see that the blur was none other than Rocket whom stood protectively over both of the youngsters.
Koba then noticed Caesar making his way slowly onto a tree stump and waved his hands to calm down the rest of the apes. Koba couldn't help but tilt his head in confusion at their leader. Didn't he know that the humans were holding onto guns? Weapons that could kill them with one shot? Why would he put himself out in the open like that?
"They shot Ash! Shot my son!" Rocket hooted frantically, drawing Caesar's as well as everyone else attention.
"Rocket, wait," Caesar signed to his frantic brother, hoping to calm him down before turning his attention back to the humans.
As the apes glared down at the group of humans one of them suddenly shouted.
"We don't mean any harm!" the human had announced.
At this point Koba himself was fuming with anger with his cheeks expanding as he breathed forcefully. Didn't mean any harm? Did they not see that they had just wounded an ape? They would always destroy and harm things before stating that they did not mean any harm. Words of lie, such is the way with humans. They really do never change Koba continued to think to himself.
Observing Koba and the rest of the apes noticed the humans talking quietly among themselves as they shifted around uncomfortably. Good writhe in fear he continued to think. A little moment longer dragged on and then the human I the blue coat slowly lowered his weapons and raised his arms as if to show that he wasn't dangerous.
"Go!" Caesar suddenly shouted at the humans.
Koba couldn't help but huffed out a momentary grin as the humans jumped back at the commanding voice from Caesar. When they didn't move, Caesar then jumped down from his perch, landing in front of the human in blue and glared at him, whom started to back slowly away while muttering.
"Go!" Koba shouted as well, echoing Caesar's earlier bellow of warning.
With that the humans stumbled around like buffoons as they quickly turned tail and ran off down the trail with the angry cries of apes roaring behind them.
Glaring at the humans as they leave, Koba then noticed Maurice walking off down to the side of the trail and picked up an item that one of the humans had dropped.
Maurice seemed to have regard the items for a moment as he turned the objects in his hand over once before he lumbered on over to where Caesar was still keeping his eyes on the retreating humans. Giving a soft rumble, he grabbed Caesar's attention and offered his friend the bag with the strap in his right hand.
As Caesar studied the bag he handed it back to the orangutan and turned his attention back down the trail.
"Koba!"
At the sound of his name, Koba step up next to Caesar, awaiting for his orders.
"Follow!" Caesar said aloud and gestured at the same time.
Caesar needn't say no more as Koba quickly got on all four and trailed after the humans, followed by both Grey and Stone.
…
Koba , Grey and Stone sat within the trees as they watched the humans frantically get into their vehicles while shouting obscenities at one another. While they sat there and waited the three apes were then joined by a fourth ape.
This ape was yet another chimpanzee with dark fur and fierce green eyes. Although what makes him different though was that the whole left side of his head, all the way down to the neck area was covered in scars, in the shape of fishnets. Pope is this chimpanzee's name and just like Koba he had also been the by product of human experimentation and torture.
Koba and the others glanced at the arriving ape as he landed next to them but paid him no further heed turning their attention back to where the humans were.
"Are those all the humans?" Pope asked as he noted two of the vehicles rumbling to life.
"Yes, all six of them," Stone answered.
"They are moving," Koba grunted, standing up.
The bonobo then leaped into the air and took a hold of a branch, swung himself over and reached out for another as he pursued the vehicles. Grey, Stone and Pope were quick to chase after the scarred ape as they followed Koba down the slope of the forest all the way to the edge where they could see the giant bridge where they had run across from so long ago. As they trailed after the humans deeper into the city the four of them settled on top of a building that was crowded with vegetation, enough to cover them from searching eyes.
"Lots of humans still," Grey noted, gaining a growl from the bonobo beside him.
The four of them then eyed the giant tower that stuck out from behind the human wall with several cranes perched high in the sky.
"What do we do?" Stone asked, turning to look at Koba.
"We inform Caesar," Koba simply gestured back, his good eye still glaring up at the tower a moment more before he roughly turned around with a huff.
…
Making it back to the edge of the redwoods Stone and Grey scouted on ahead. Following closely behind the two apes Koba heard a hoot behind him, causing him to stop atop of a branch.
"What is it?"
"We should tell Caesar to attack the humans? Not good to have them so close to the forest and our home. Could pose a threat to us all," Pope gestured, landing on the branch besides Koba, gaining a grunt and nod from the bonobo.
"I agree, humans very dangerous. That is why we must go back quickly and inform Caesar of this," Koba signed back to Pope whom merely smiled at the bonobo.
"And if he doesn't attack the humans. What then?" Pope asked, noticing Koba mull over his words.
"Humans will attack... Apes will die... Maybe put apes into cage. Again," Pope breathed, as he traced a hand over his own scars, "remember human cage?" he finished.
Koba stared at the scarred chimpanzee for a long while before his features changed to that of determination and he glared at the other ape.
"Caesar will not! Let that happened! To us!" Koba rebuked before leaping away, leaving Pope behind.
The scarred chimpanzee merely scoffed at the bonobo before glancing behind him to stare at the remains of the human city. Narrowing his green eyes at the humans tower, Pope slowly followed after the three apes.
…
The moment they reached the gates, Koba and the other apes ran right into the center of the colony and called out for their king. Koba turned to look at Grey and Stone whom nodded at him before they ventured off and sat down by the side of the stone platforms. Pope on the other hand merely offered a glance of acknowledgement before he bounded off and took a seat next to two gorillas as they observed the council meeting from afar.
"What did you find out?" Red, a gorilla with a tinge of reddish brown fur that covered most of his head, travelling all the way down to his shoulders, asked as Caesar's council started.
"See for yourself," Pope offered, gesturing at Koba whom was furiously signing and pant hooting.
"There are more humans?" Rex, the other gorilla with dark fur asked amused, turning to look at Pope whom was observing Caesar's council with quite some interest.
"Yes… quite a few," Pope answered absentmindedly as he watched Koba struggling to gain some support, turning to Rocket whom shot the scarred bonobo down by stating that he only follows Caesar's choice.
You're not going to sway Rocket there friend, he's already offered his loyalties to Caesar. Pope mused to himself as he watched Koba desperately now turning to Ash and get the young chimp to agree with him about attacking the humans.
Not him either. Pope chuckled quietly while Red and Rex stared silently.
As the panting and hooting escalated among the council members Caesar's voice suddenly cut through the air, silencing all the apes around him. Pope on the other hand was not amused by this and merely frown at the chimpanzee's outburst.
"Home. Family. Future," Caesar had spoke and signed towards his council members, turning towards Koba and lifting the other ape's face up with his finger, meaning well by it.
"He will decide by morning? Why not now? It is not that hard to decide if we should attack the humans or not" Rex mocked, gaining a scoff from Red who stood.
Both Pope and Rex glanced up at Red who narrowed his eyes at the council members before the russet gorilla stomped off.
Rex then turned towards Pope and noticed that the scarred chimpanzee was rubbing his chin particularly as he eyed the apes still sitting by the platforms. Returning his sights back to the council platforms Rex noticed that Koba had bounded off after their king. He stared as the scarred bonobo had started to converse with the chimpanzee.
I wonder what they are talking about? Rex thought to himself.
With a grunt, Rex rose onto his feet as well and dusted himself off. Glancing back down at Pope, Rex noticed that the scarred chimpanzee was keenly observing both Caesar and Koba intently. With a huff, Rex took his leave, leaving Pope to his thoughts as he kept his sights upon the two apes from afar.
…
"Isn't this exciting? We get to see the humans!" Ash gestured while pant hooting and applying white paint onto his chest.
"I don't understand why you are so excited. The humans shot you," Shell, a chimpanzee with a single white colored ear, as he was aptly named for, gestured at the eager ape.
"Maybe because he's developed a love for the humans," Flint, another young chimpanzee mocked before returning to apply more war paint onto himself.
"I do not! Besides, it was an accident. You were there Blue Eyes. Tell them," Ash turned to his best friend whom was busy applying his own warpaint.
Blue Eyes on the other hand narrowed his eyes at Ash and let out a grunt before he turned back towards his reflection on top of the waters and traced a trail of red with his thumb onto the middle of his forehead. Once finished, Blue eyes knuckle walked on over to where Ash stood.
"We need to be careful around the humans Ash. Who knows what other danger they pose," Blue Eyes signed, gaining a sad whine from the other chimp.
There was a crashing noise and the young chimpanzees screeched as paint suddenly flew out of nowhere and landed on them, sans Blue Eyes as he was lucky to be just far enough from the splatter.
Fox, a bigger chimpanzee, hooted and turned around to see who was the culprit that had thrown the paint on them and saw a white gorilla with a apologetic look on his face.
"Sorry! I-I slipped," the white ape gestured apologetically as Fox, Shell and Flint stomped towards him.
"Look what you have done!" Fox growled as he pointed to the ruined warpaint on his torso.
"It's just paint. We'll just reapply," Ash quickly got in between Fox and the white gorilla.
"Not when this one is around!" Fox gestured before pointing an accusing finger at the gorilla whom seem to shrink into himself. "He's always causing things to go wrong," Fox finished.
"He said he was sorry. Just calm down," Ash signed, hoping that Fox would just let it be.
Before things could escalate even more there was a loud thud, causing all the apes to turn around and see Rocket standing up.
"What are you all doing. We are leaving," the nearly hairless grey chimp signed before turning around and taking off.
Fox glared at the white gorilla once more and with a huff turned around to follow Rocket and the others.
Blue Eyes and Ash was about to follow suit but was suddenly stopped by the white gorilla whom tapped Ash's shoulder.
"Thank you," the ape had signed.
Ash merely perked up and smiled at the big white ape while Blue Eyes merely scoffed and knuckle walked off.
…
Like a dark mass of ants covering the buildings and roads the apes slowly converged towards the center of San Francisco. With their spears held tight and eyes on the lookout for any signs of danger the only sounds that one could hear were the pants and hoof beats of the horses.
Leading them was none other than Caesar who rode on his horse with his chest held high flanked by his most trusted of apes. Letting his eyes wander towards his left, Caesar watched as his son, accompanied by Ash looked around curiously. Of course many of the younger apes had never seen the human city before and it all must be so new to them. Be as it may though, Caesar and the older apes knew just how dangerous what the human buildings could be potentially hiding within them. So Caesar was quite glad to find out that many of the younger apes were able to contain their excitement from straying too far from the group.
Eventually the apes made it to the humans settlement. Upon seeing them the humans had quickly dispersed and huddled beneath the entrance of the tower that housed them all. Soon enough the human from the day before had walked out and approached the apes, albeit cautiously.
Caesar glared down at the man as he approached with his horse and then glanced back up at the humans behind him.
"Apes! Do not! Want war!" Caesar announced, gaining shocking murmurs and gasps from the human colony. "But will fight! If we must!" Caesar finished before glaring down at the human in front of him once more.
Throughout all this Blue Eyes observed the humans, noticing their fear of them. Peculiar, because he had been informed throughout all his life that humans were nothing but monsters that would torture their kind but from what he could see they were just as fearful as they were of them. Noticing his father turning back towards him, Blue Eyes got off of his steed and approached the human with the bag held in his arms. Stopping in front of the human, Blue Eyes sized up the man momentarily before tossing the sack at the other creature's feet and stalked back to his horse.
Keeping his eyes on his son as the young ape walked back to his own horse did Caesar slowly faced the humans once more. He then noticed the man in front of him bending down to retrieve the small brown back, looking back up at him with what seemed to be a thankful glance. Letting out a huff Caesar then turned his steel gaze back up at the humans behind the man.
"Ape! Home!" Caesar shouted, pointing behind him, "Human! Home!" he pointed towards the tower.
Caesar paused for a moment to let that all sink into the human's mind, letting his eyes roam around at all of them before settling back down onto the man who stood before him.
"Do not. Come. Back," he warned the man in front of him then turned his horse away and slowly trotted off, followed by the rest of the apes.
Koba on the other hand, glared at the humans, turning his attention down towards the man who had walked up towards Caesar earlier. With a huff, he turned his steed around and followed suit. If the humans knew what was good for them then they would stay in their settlement within the city and leave the apes alone in the forest.
And here ladies and gentlemen is chapter 2, now on with the introduction of new characters for this chapter...
Pope and Rex are from the Dawn of the Planet of the Apes Comic 6 issue series by "BOOM! Studios" and will play major roles(if you haven't already known) in my fic.
Fox, Shell and Flint are making cameos from the WFTPOTA: Revelations book.
Red should be known by now and will play some roles later.
Everyone who is reading the story should already know who the white gorilla is.
If you enjoy the story please leave a comment or two and I'll be working on chapter 3 in the meantime.