"Koba?" Caesar's voice echoed through the quiet of the tunnels, prompting the other three apes to appear beside him.
Caesar, Maurice, Rocket and Luca all stared down at the bonobo, a mixture of different feelings among them. They all couldn't believe that Koba had survived the fall, seeming to have thought that he shared the same fate as Pope. However the scarred ape had surprised them yet again with that will to live.
"How?" Caesar asked as he approached Koba and knelt down next to Malcolm.
They all watched as the bonobo closed his eyes tightly and emitted several gurgling noises, blood bubbling from the sides of his mouth as he tried to respond.
"Wait! Wait! Don't talk," Malcolm said quietly as he hovered his hand over Koba's chest as if to prevent the bonobo from doing just that but instead only prompting the injured ape to glare daggers at him.
Frowning at Koba's deathly stare, Malcolm heaved out a tired breath and closed his eyes for a moment before he turned around to address Caesar.
"Try to not make him talk. He's much too injured. I brought you all down here because he's your…" Malcolm paused, not sure what to make of the bonobo.
"Friend," Caesar finished for the man, glancing down at Koba and then back at Malcolm. "But why. Only bring. Us?" Caesar asked.
"I'm sure you are well aware that other apes might not be so keen at seeing your friend here again," Malcolm pointed out, turning to face Koba before looking back at Caesar and the others.
The man's face then perked up a bit, looking past Caesar.
"Maybe… I should have just asked you and the two big guys to come down here instead…" Malcolm corrected himself, causing Caesar to follow his gaze.
Caesar was then quite surprised when he took notice of Rocket, standing on all fours, body tense, and lips curled back slightly to bare his ivory fangs down at Koba. Blinking, Caesar slowly stepped in between the two apes whilst Maurice and Luca cautiously watched from the side.
"Rocket?" Caesar breathed out quietly, causing the grey chimpanzee to look at him.
Slowly Rocket stood up on his legs and started to sign at everyone.
"He got what he deserved. We should just leave him to rot!" Rocket signed furiously, causing Caesar to frown and both Maurice and Luca to grumble disapprovingly.
"No, we shouldn't," Caesar responded.
At this Rocket let out a bark and huffed out angrily, pounding one fist to the ground before he stood back up.
"Koba did all of this! Why should we help him?" Rocket signed angrily a low growl escaping his lips.
"Yes, Koba was the cause of this but this was only because Pope manipulated him… All of us," Maurice cooed from the side, hoping to alleviate the situation.
"I! Don't! Care!" Rocket growled out, causing Malcolm to flinch upon hearing the bald chimpanzee speak for the first time.
Rocket then took a step forward. At this, Koba tried to move but merely groaned in pain as he started to move his limbs. Thinking quickly, Caesar immediately stood in between both Rocket and Koba, blocking the bulky chimpanzee's path. Maurice and Luca were quick to react as well, quickly taking Caesar's side, all facing Rocket whom stared at them with a confused look.
"Rocket! Enough!" Caesar barked causing the bulky chimp to stop in his advancements.
Baring his teeth, Rocket glared off down to to the side before slowly meeting everyone's eyes again.
"I know why you are angry at him Rocket but Koba is not a threat right now," Luca tried to reason with the angry chimpanzee.
Huffing and puffing, Rocket glared into Caesar's hazeled hues before he noticed Maurice.
"Do not let you hate and anger consume you Rocket, like it did to Koba. Be the stronger ape," Maurice signed solemnly.
At this Rocket glanced back and forth from Koba and to the others. After a few seconds the bald chimpanzee had let out a loud shout and stomped away, climbing up into the broken cranes and tearing the metal pieces apart.
Watching Rocket take out his frustrations upon the man made structures, Caesar had let out a weary breath before turning to face Malcolm whom was keeping his eyes on Rocket.
"Is… Is he going to be alright?" Malcolm asked after a moment.
"He will…" Caesar paused and looked back at Rocket as the grey chimpanzee broke off a piece of concrete and chucked it off towards the other end of the tunnel. "...Be fine."
Letting out a weary breath, Malcolm closed his eyes to calm down his nerves before looking back at Caesar, Maurice and Luca again.
"This is why I only said a few apes… I knew something like this was going to happen," Malcolm muttered under his breath.
Looking down at Koba's frail form, a tight frown appeared on Caesar's face. Was Rocket right? Should they just leave Koba here? To die alone down in the tunnels? What would that make him though? Would that not break their sacred rule? If they were to leave Koba to die alone then that just goes to show that they would have just indirectly killed him and Caesar himself has had enough with more apes dying today.
"Can. You. Help him?" Caesar asked, turning to face Malcolm.
"Actually… That was the reason why I asked you guys to come down here in the first place," Malcolm responded while standing up and scratching the back of his head. "I need your guy's help to move him to a safer location."
…
Climbing up to the top of a building, Grey had settled himself down behind a ledge and gazed out at the human city. He hadn't miss the city as much, his memories were only that of ever being from the zoo that was located much further south from where he was now, all those long years ago.
Nearly an hour earlier he had walked up to Caesar had asked the ape king for forgiveness by bending his head low and raising a supplicating palm up at the other chimpanzee. He had known that after Koba's death he had to regain his allegiance with Caesar. He had been disloyal to their leader, keeping secrets from Caesar like Koba had told him to. Grey himself hadn't known that it was Pope who was manipulating his friends and had shot Caesar. If he had only known about the crazed chimpanzee's plans then he himself would have tried... No, he would have stopped Koba and Stone, preventing all of this from ever happening. Instead, Koba was manipulated by Pope to battle with the humans. Was manipulated by Pope to start this senseless war and in turn Grey too had indirectly aided in this process because of his ignorance to Pope's manipulation and it disgusted him.
To Grey's surprise as he waited there for Caesar to forgive him, the ape leader had graciously accepted his support once more, swiping his hand over Grey's supplicating one. Frozen in shock, bewildered that he wasn't turned away, Grey had lifted his head up to look at Caesar. Grey however was met with the other chimp's stern glare, as if Caesar himself was saying that that was his final chance to redeem himself. Bowing slowly in return Grey promised to make good of Caesar re-acceptance, in any way he can.
It was then when Grey had been ordered by Caesar to do various tasks around the human city. Those were to evacuate any remaining non violent humans out of the city, search for any usable supplies and defend their apes whenever it was needed. It was hard work but true to his being, Grey was doing the best he could in order to prove to his king that his trust could be worthy again.
So here he was, up high upon one of the human buildings, gazing out at the sea to see any forms of what would look like a human ship approaching them. While on lookout the sounds of footsteps behind Grey had caught his attention, causing him to face whomever was approaching him.
"I see you are on lookout duty," a gorilla with rusted color fur signed at Grey.
Grey furrowed his brows, surprised to see Red up here with him. Red, was a gorilla that was just a tad on the small side for his kind, with rusty red fur that gave him his name. What Red lacked in size though more than made up for it with his ferocity and wit, from what Grey could tell from a distance. Letting his gaze peer past Red, Grey noticed another gorilla - Rex, known for his gigantic size that rivaled Luca's.
"What are you two doing up here?" Grey inquired, letting his gaze wander from Rex back on over to Red who stood closer to him.
Red seemed to stare long and hard for a moment before he answered with another question.
"We look over human city," Red responded to Grey's question, letting his piercing acid green eyes scan over the giant buildings in the distance for a moment before letting them fall back onto the brown haired chimpanzee. "What are you going to do now?" Red had asked, prompting Grey to tilt his head in confusion.
"What do you mean?"
"I am asking what Grey is going to do now? Now that Koba is gone."
Grey took in a deep breath, closed his eyes for a moment before opening them back up again.
"I follow Caesar now."
"Follow Caesar?" Red signed incredulously. "We have fought the humans and won. Now Caesar wants to give our victory away by letting the humans go. It makes no sense. Apes still die when we try to lead humans out of city! Yet you still follow Caesar?"
Huffing out a grunt, Grey furrowed his brows at Reh's brash hand signs. He understood why the gorilla was angry. Caesar had informed them all earlier that humans, humans with weapons were coming for them. So before they all got here Caesar had ordered them to evacuate all the females, young, and wounded into the forest. As for the humans that still hid in the city, they were not to be harmed but to be lead out. That nonviolence towards the humans had some repercussions and they lost a few more apes, adding more numbers to their already large amount of dead. Breathing through his nostrils heavily, Grey closed his eyes tightly before he glanced back up at Red whom was still staring him down.
"Human soldiers would have still come here. Nothing apes can do about that now," Grey signed back, lips slightly curling upwards at the gorilla.
"Koba would have found a way to stop the humans soldiers. Koba was strong. He would have killed all the humans that had slain our brothers," Red grunted.
Grey paused for a moment when Red signed to him about Koba. Unlike Caesar, Koba would have had all the humans slaughtered. He knew because he felt the same way as well… and it frightened him.
"Koba was my friend and leader. But he was driven by hatred, not sense. Pope sensed that, saw it in Koba, used that to control him," Grey signed and paused to take a deep breath. "If Koba had won and Caesar had lost... If Koba was leader now and if it were just these humans in the city then yes apes would beat them. But now... Human soldiers come for us from far away with their weapons - we may not be able to win if Koba was leader," Grey signed hesitantly, hurting on the inside for doubting his friend. "But with Caesar's guidance we might have a chance."
Grey watched as Red paced back and forth, grunting all the while; picking at his rusted color hair and fluttering his thick fingers around his face. Rex on the other hand had stood by and silently watched the both of them. After a moment Red had finally settled down and turned back to look at Grey.
"If you follow Caesar now; and Caesar is so great. Then why are apes still in the human city? Why not we all go back into forest?" Red asked with a grunt.
"Caesar has a plan. Many apes still wounded for now and are making their way slowly back into the forest," Grey defended.
"Caesar has planned before. Let humans come to do their work, then they would go away. That did not happen," Red countered.
At this Grey paused once more, taking in what Red had told him. On all accounts, Red wasn't wrong. Caesar's plan sometimes wasn't the best and his compassion towards the humans brought the more trouble than good too. Heaving out a sigh, Grey thought about Red's words which had caused him to starting doubting again; this time for Caesar…
"We need a new leader. A strong leader to lead apes away from the human soldiers then. Let us flee, away from this place. Build a new home far, far away. Grow strong," Red gestured.
The prospect of having a new leader did intrigue Grey for a moment but what would that make him if he were to betray Caesar's trust again? Grunting, Grey shot Red a look.
"I do not like this idea. There are no good apes to be new leader. Other than Caes-"
"Then you leader," Red spoke up, pointing at Grey who had stopped mid hand signing.
"Me?" Grey huffed out with wide dark green eyes.
"Koba trusted you," Red gestured at the surprised brown chimpanzee.
The rusted fur gorilla then approached Grey and stood before him.
"I understand. Caesar beat Koba. Koba was used by Pope... But even you know. Deep down," Red indicated by thumping his own chest. "Caesar is weak because he loves humans too much, like Koba had said. Even now Caesar thinks apes can have peace with humans when humans still try to kill us when we help them out of the city."
"Do not presume to know what Caesar thinks," Grey warned with a low growl as he made eye contact with Red's acid green colored eyes.
The two glared at one another for a long time before Red huffed out a deep breath, relaxing his shoulders all the while.
"You are right. I do not know what Caesar thinks. No apes know what Caesar thinks. Caesar does not explain himself at what he does… That is why we want a new leader. A strong leader. One who hates humans and will do anything to protect the apes... Like you," Red gestured, reaching out and tapping Grey in the chest.
"We?" Grey questioned. "Who is we?"
"Many of us who still follow and believe in Koba's way. That is why I ask you to lead us," Red informed, baring his eyes down at Grey.
Grey gritted his teeth and cast his eyes down towards the side, not sure what to think.
"I see Caesar. The way he looks at you. He still does not trust you because he fears you," Red signed, catching Grey's attention. "Think about it. You know I speak truth."
With that Red turned around and left Grey standing there. The brown haired chimpanzee then lowered his head, letting it hang from his shoulders to look down at his feet while many things raced through his mind. What Red said about him was very true, even if Caesar did forgive him the ape leader no longer trust him. It was humiliating to say the least, to have once been so esteemed in the colony, and now…
Heaving out a defeated breath, Grey tried to shrug it off but that feeling wouldn't just go away.
He was not a leader, Grey himself knows this. But Red's reasoning of Caesar did make sense. Caesar did care more about the humans. Maybe a little too much. They were not allowed to kill the humans as they fought back when they were lead out of the city; apes died because of this and it had pained and angered him to lose more brothers to the humans… But what Caesar didn't see he didn't know and Grey had been a witness to some of these… Human terminations; he revelled every moment when a human fell over and did not get back up when an ape shot at them in self defence.
The big question is though… What should he do? Should he keep on following Caesar's rule? Or should he step in as a new leader and like Koba, destroy the humans in order to save their apes? Or did what Red had suggested and take what apes that would follow him to a new home, one far away from all of this fighting.
Rex on the other hand stared at Grey a little longer, watching the indecision run through the brown chimpanzees dark green eyes. With a puff of air Rex too turned around and before he too followed Red down the building.
"Do you think he will come join us?" Rex asked Red once he got down onto the street with the other gorilla.
"Who knows…" Red responded to the other gorilla.
"What you said to Grey. Really disturbed him," Rex complimented.
"I only tell him truths and what he wants to hear," Red simply signed back before moving on, both of them leaving Grey on the roof to his troubled thoughts.
…
Winter was standing at the end of the streets with several of the other apes that were stationed there to keep watch as apes slowly exited the city and headed on back towards the forest. Peering with his bright green eyes, Winter shuddered and grimaced as he saw many of his wounded brothers traveling with the females across the Golden Gate Bridge. Winter eyed the apes that bore the wounds from the battle with the humans. The sickening sigh had caused Winter's heart to pound against his chest and for the life of him, he couldn't stop his body from shaking as well.
He hated himself for thinking this but he was extremely glad that Luca had made him and several of the other apes stay behind to watch the females when they had all gone off to attack the humans in the city for killing Caesar, or so they thought. Back then, Winter had argued and wanted to go fight with his brothers. Now though, he was glad that he didn't and he despised himself for thinking that way.
Why? Why did it all turn out like this? In his many years of growing up in the colony they had never experienced something like this. They had lived in a time of prosperity and peace. And that moment all came crashing down when they were found by the humans just a few days ago. Oh how he desperately wished for things to go back to the way they were. He had even closed his eyes tightly and begged for it, only to open his bright green eyes and was met with more wounded that was walking in front of him.
At the sound of a grunt behind him, Winter turned around and was surprised to see another gorilla approaching him. Ajax was a gorilla that was at least seven summers older than Winter himself. The other gorilla's back already showing that silver sheen when young adult gorillas had transitioned into adulthood. To Winter, Ajax is a proud and strong warrior from the Gorilla Guards and an ideal example of what one should be. Although Ajax himself did not talk much but when he did it was usually very little, and to the point much like Luca.
"Yes?" Winter signed uneasily as he eyed a small band of apes that had came with Ajax.
Ajax breathed out through his nose while he stared down at Winter and then at the female apes, along with the wounded ones as well, whom were making the trek across the bridge. He turned around and signed something to the troop behind him, all nodding at what he had gestured before they too followed the other apes across the bridge. Watching them go, Ajax soon faced Winter once more, causing the white gorilla to jump slightly at the sudden reaction.
"Apes in city need food. You and other apes go into forest to bring nourishment back for them," Ajax signed while pointing at the large band of apes that were getting smaller as they moved further and further away.
"But I was told to keep watch here by Luca," Winter gestured back, confused.
"I watch now. I will explain to Luca. You go," Ajax informed.
Hesitantly, Winter glanced at the apes that were making their way across the bridge before looking back at Ajax who silently nodded once at him. Letting out a relieved breath, Winter nodded back at the older gorilla and quickly followed the troop that were to bring back food for the apes.
Ajax watched as Winter hastefully caught up with the others as they headed towards the forest. He had always known that Winter was not what the others thought he was. He had seen Winter for what he is and the white gorilla was not a fighter, not by a long shot. However what Winter lacked in courage as a warrior he did make up for it by being a great forager, able to pick out roots, hidden berries and among other things where other apes had failed, just like Ajax himself.
Ajax was a warrior through and through, with a hardened heart of steel and was born for things such as this but for Winter? This was no place for the white gorilla and Ajax knew this. That was why he sent the younger gorilla away for now so that Winter could do something he was good at and have a moment of escape from all of this violence.
...
Making his way back with the others, Blue Eyes, Ash and the others soon came upon the masses of apes that were injured during the battle. Taking refuge among some of the more structural buildings and were being tended to by the females that had stayed behind. Bidding Fox, Shell and Flint a farewell both Ash and Blue Eyes went on to seek their family members.
While the two weaved through the many apes in their path a soft hoot had caught both Blue Eyes and Ash's attention. Turning their heads in the direction of the noise the two young males saw a brown haired chimpanzee waving her hand at them. Blue Eyes knew this female chimp, her name is Maple and was just about their age. She was a tad smaller than many of the other chimpanzees but she was very beautiful in her own right; bright brown hair with equally lively lime colored eyes.
Blue Eyes was quite surprised though when Ash suddenly bolted from his side and practically sped towards the young female, barreling into any unfortunate ape that had gotten in his way. As soon as Ash had reached Maple though the two quickly embraced each other in a hug and then started to converse in sign. Curiously, Blue Eyes followed Ash, confused as to why his friend had suddenly left him behind like that. Approaching the two, Blue Eyes stood off to the side as he observed Ash and Maple gently pressing their foreheads together. Seeing both Maple and Ash smiling in contempt with their heads pressed against one another, Blue Eyes suddenly felt a sense of loneliness that he couldn't quite explain. After the two had stepped away from each other did Maple notice Blue Eyes and shyly waived at him.
"Hello Blue Eyes," Maple greeted with a warm smile to which Blue Eyes nodded slowly back.
The three then awkwardly stood there in silence before Ash cleared his throat and turned to look at Maple.
"Are you alone here?" Ash had asked.
"No. I am here with Lake and our mothers. We are tending to the wounded; both apes and humans," Maple answered, indicating to many of the apes that surrounded them as well a few of the humans far off to one side.
"Isn't that dangerous?" Blue Eyes asked as he noticed the humans.
He knew that not all humans were bad like he was taught by Koba, thanks to Malcolm, Ellie and Alex but they should still be weary nonetheless. Maple however shook her head at Blue Eyes and a smile spread across her features again.
"Humans over there are good. When we helped them, they helped us too." Maple explained before a small frown crossed her lips. "Other humans did not like that those humans were helping us and tried to attack them. So the warriors lead those humans who would want to hurt us and the good humans out of the city."
Humming in response, Ash side glanced at Blue Eyes, seeing that his friend seemed a little lonely off to the side before a mischievous smile slowly crept upon his lips.
"Where. Lake?" he asked in a gruff voice, still not used to using his vocal chords but knew that he had gotten Blue Eyes' attention.
Curiously Maple glanced up at Ash wondering as to why he was asking for Lake. The male then tilted his head at Blue Eyes and Maple followed the gesture with her eyes. It then finally dawned on her what her Ash was indicating. With a small cooing hoot Maple rubbed the top of her head underneath Ash's jaw line feeling the bigger male hug her for a moment before she pulled away.
"I'll go get her," Maple signed, taking one last look at the confused Blue Eyes before she hurried away.
Watching Maple take her leave, Blue Eyes shot Ash a questioning glare that was very much akin to Caesar's.
"Why are you asking for Lake?" he had inquired from Ash and for some reason feeling pretty heated that another male was asking for Lake in particular.
"Nothing important. Just wondering where she is," Ash responded while casually scratching away at his neck, just like Rocket would do many a times.
At this Blue Eyes frowned at his best friend and was about to ask what Ash was up to when they both noticed Maple returning, with Lake in tow. When Maple and Lake reached the two males she had let go of Lake and walked on over to where Ash stood. The two signed to one another before they both turned to look at the confused Blue Eyes and Lake again.
"We're going to go see where we can help. You two enjoy each others company," Ash signed with a big grin on his face while his friend's eyes widen tremendously.
Before Blue Eyes could say something, Ash turned tail and lead Maple away quickly, leaving him behind with an also confused looking Lake. Sometimes, Blue Eyes just didn't understand Ash and his strange antics as he watched his best friend and Maple disappear from view. With a low growl, Blue Eyes looked down to the side and heaved out a agitated chuff.
After a few moments there was a small hoot that had caught Blue Eyes attention, causing him to turn his head towards the source of the noise. So caught up in his anger at Ash for abandoning him, Blue Eyes had momentarily forgotten that Lake was still there with him. Feeling bad for actually forgotten about the female chimp, Blue Eyes reached up and scratched at the side of his head.
"Hello Lake," Blue Eyes signed to the female.
"Hello Blue Eyes," Lake gestured back, a warm smile upon her lips.
The two stood there in front of each other and Blue Eyes tried to think of something to say or do but finding it extremely difficult because Lake was looking at him.
"How are you?" Blue Eyes signed in a rather questioning manner, to which Lake laughed quietly behind her hand.
"I am doing well Blue Eyes," Lake answered. "And you?"
"I... Am fine..." Blue Eyes gestured back slowly.
"That is good to hear," Lake responded.
While Lake had answered him, Blue Eyes had noticed that Lake had taken a step towards him and his breathing slightly quickened. Lake had stopped right in front of him and stared into his eyes. Lake's gaze were not challenging, Blue Eyes felt, more like she was searching, looking for something from him.
Blue Eyes had known Lake since he was small. Both he and she would often times play with one another along with Ash, Maple, Fox, Shell, Flint and the others at Maurice's school. However, as they all grew up, the young boys had all gone off to their games of tag, play wrestle and pretend-spears with the older males while the young girls had all gone to learn about play crafting and mothering with the older females of their colony.
Back then Blue Eyes hadn't thought much about Lake at all while he was with Ash and the other young males; too busy showing off their bravado and strengths against one another. Recently though, Blue Eyes had begun to think more about the females of his age group and his mind kept on wandering back towards Lake in particular.
Lake was so close to him now that Blue Eyes could practically smell her without even trying and it was intoxicating. Lake's scent was that of fresh morning dew which caused his heart to start hammering within his chest and knees to buckle slightly. Observing Lake, Blue Eyes then took notice at how slightly longer her hair was compared to his; with small bits of beads and shells woven into her fine soft locks. Letting his eyes roam down, Blue Eyes took in Lake's supple form before he let his gaze wander back up and stared into her almost evergreen glowing eyes as if she could see straight through him. He didn't quite understand these feelings that were overcoming him but surely they must mean something correct? He just having a extremely hard time pinpointing what they were.
The two stared at one another for a long time before Lake slowly reached up and gently traced her fingers across the red scar marks that ran across Blue Eye's torso.
"Still hurt?" Lake asked to which Blue Eyes shook his head side to side slowly, letting a low hum when she had touched him.
With a smile Lake drew her hand back and then noticed how messy Blue Eyes' fur was, full of dirt, debris and small leaves. She glanced up at the blue eyed chimp for a moment before she reached out and started to comb through his coarse fur. She was grooming Blue Eyes, noticing how the male in front of her would tense up slightly where she touched him but then felt him relax soon after. Looking up at Blue Eyes again, Lake couldn't help but let out a small chortle as she noticed Blue Eyes' still confused expression.
"W-what. Doing" Blue Eyes asked in a uneasy voice.
Of course he knew what Lake was doing but he was just so knew to all this that he just blurted the first thing that came to his mind. At this though Lake continued to laugh under her breath.
"I'm cleaning your hair, silly. You are dirty," Lake responded, gaining a frown from the bigger chimp in front of her.
Blue Eyes was still very clueless.
It was a little bit later when both Lake and Blue Eyes reared their heads up when they heard several other female obas calling out towards them. Lake glanced back at Blue Eyes and offered him an apologetic smile.
"I have to go now," Lake signed apologetically to which Blue Eyes only responded with a single head nod.
Again, Lake couldn't help but let out another small chortle at Blue Eyes, confusing him even further than he already was, before she slowly turned around and walked away.
What just happened? Blue Eyes had thought to himself as he stood there and watch Lake leave.