I checked the chapter and noticed that the words spoken in "Sign Language" were not Italicized when I had uploaded it. Fixed them, so hopefully it reads a bit easier.
Early the next morning, Blue Eyes was checking the packs that were outfitted to the seven horses that they were taking; one for each ape and three more to carry small things that they needed. Out of the corner of his eye Blue Eyes could see someone approaching him. He had thought the other ape was one of his companions for the trip but they just stood silently off to the side quietly, as if waiting to be noticed by him.
With a annoyed huff, Blue Eyes turned to face the other ape, ready with a smart comment but froze when he met evergreen eyes.
"Lake?" Blue Eyes gestured, freezing up a little more when the smaller female seemingly stomped her way on over and stood in front of him.
From Blue Eyes' perspective he could tell that Lake looked a little crossed or better yet, irate for some reason.
"What?"
"What, what, what?" Lake snapped, repeating the sign several times derisively, her arms flailing about in anger.
Blue Eyes however just stood there, frozen on the spot staring with wide eyes. Lake had never expressed this kind of fury before and he was very confused by it.
"You weren't really going to say anything? Something like goodbye?" Lake signed furiously when Blue Eyes had failed to answer the livid female.
"Goodbye?" Blue Eyes signed back tentatively.
This however only spurred Lake to look a little angrier at him.
"You really were just going to leave! Without saying anything! Weren't you!" Lake gestured furiously.
"I… Guess?" Blue Eyes responded before reaching up to scratch the back of his head.
At this Lake gasped and took a step back, a look of shock and hurt written all over her face before her mouth was set into a deep frown.
"You are an idiot Blue Eyes! Stupid!" Lake practically yelled at the male, surprising Blue Eyes even further before she turned around and bounded away, leaving his head spinning.
Blue Eyes stood there and only watched as Lake hurried away from him, running past a very confused looking Ash and Maple whom were approaching, their hands held together. The couple paused momentarily, their heads going back and forth from Blue Eyes to Lake's retreating form. What in the world just happened? Blue Eyes thought to himself before hearing a little chuff off to the side and to his horror realized that Rocket was there, laughing at his expense.
"What?" Blue Eyes demanded from the older male as both Ash and Maple finally came up to them.
"What, what, what?" Rocket repeated the gesture playfully, in imitation of what Lake had just done.
"I don't understand," Blue Eyes signed flustered, huffing and puffing.
"Then Lake is right. You are an idiot and very stupid," Rocket contemplated with another chuff. "But do not worry. You don't have to figure anything out. She already has."
"What did you do?" Ash questioned his friend earnestly.
"I did nothing!" Blue Eyes signed back angrily, causing Ash to frown in return.
"Leave him be," Rocket signed as he got onto his horse. "Did you two say goodbye to your mothers?" he asked, with Ash happily nodding while Blue Eyes merely gestured back that he did.
"I will go and check on Lake," Maple offered but paused and turned back around towards Ash. "Goodbye Ash. Be careful on your journey. Come back safe," Maple gestured to the dark gray haired male.
"I will Maple. Goodbye," Ash answered back as he leaned in and nuzzled Maple on the cheek, causing her to to laugh uncontrollably.
Curiously Blue Eyes watched as both Ash and Maple embraced one another before they quickly separated and touched foreheads. Then the two ape slowly looked up and kissed the other upon the lips. Blue Eyes however felt that this was a moment for the two apes and quickly averted his gaze elsewhere aside from Ash and Maple. Was this what Lake and Rocket meant about him being stupid? Slowly turning back around he could see Maple signing something to Ash before she too slowly walked away. With her departure, Ash slowly faced Blue Eyes and Rocket with a dreamy smile upon his face.
"Idiot," Blue Eyes gestured.
"You're the idiot one," Ash shot back with pant-laughter, angering Blue Eyes even more.
Suddenly the prince leaped out at Ash and they both rolled around on the ground, trying to overpower the other. Rocket however merely sighed in annoyance as he sat upon his horse, wondering where these two had gathered such the energy to be wrestling at a time like this.
"Enough!" Rocket barked at the two youngsters before he let his eyes roam around the area. "Where is Ray?"
"Right here!" Ray hooted from above as he climbed down the tree and walked up to the other three apes.
Once he got to them the young orangutan turned to look up at Blue Eyes curiously and Blue Eyes couldn't help but slump his shoulder even more, now knowing that Ray too had seen his little bout with Lake.
...
"You sure about this Ellie? I mean… You're just going to be alone here?" Malcolm hesitated as he hefted the pack over his shoulders.
"Y-yeah what if something happens?" Alex asked from the side.
"I know what I'm doing. And if what you say is true then those apes will need your guidance," Ellie said as a matter of factly as she finally closed the opening of the backpack within her hands before handing it off towards Alexander. "Besides, having you two around will only stress him out even more than need be," Ellie indicated with a head nod back into the house, into the room where Koba was still sleeping.
"I… I don't know Ellie… I'm just… Caesar said… What if something happens to you? What if he hurts you?" Malcolm protested, worry laced within his voice.
Ellie however made eye contact with her husband and then to Alexander, smiling all the while.
"Don't worry about me. He won't hurt me... I've done this more often than you two can imagine," Ellie reassured both Malcolm and Alex. "Besides, we really do need to know what is down south of here and what better way than to send you two along as well right? I'll stay here. Help with what I can. I'll be fine. I promise."
"Yeah but…" Alex started but stopped when Ellie turned to look at him.
"I know you are worried about me. But you two have to go. What if they find other humans? And who knows if those humans will be friendly or not to apes? If they aren't friendly, our newfound friends will most likely get killed. And we don't need that. No more. Please Malcolm, Alex, they need our help. That is why you two must go with them. Before it is too late," Ellie explained.
Both Malcolm and Alex looked like they were going to say something but held their tongue, knowing well, that Ellie was right. Slowly Ellie had then pulled them both into a strong hug.
"I love you two. Take care of each other. Please," Ellie whispered.
"We will, I promise. We'll come back. We'll come back to you," Malcolm said slowly, eyes becoming wet.
"I know," Ellie answered as she held onto them a little tighter.
The small family stayed like that for a little while longer before they all finally released each other.
Ellie then watched as both Malcolm and Alexander walked away from her, slowly disappearing into the direction where Rocket and the others were supposed to be going. Silent tears rolled down her face as she watched both her new family soon disappearing over the hill, bringing a hand up to her mouth Ellie finally wept to herself.
Meanwhile in the other room, still laying upon the sofa, Koba merely stared out the window as he listened to the muffled cries of the humans woman outside the door.
…
Judy busied herself as she tended to their newly wounded apes. She was fearful at first when they had all arrived but had let out a relieved breath when their males were not wounded as terribly as she had thought. Judy and a few of the other females had asked Cornelia to take it easy for the time being, knowing that her queen was still recovering from her sickness. Cornelia though, being quite the stubborn ape that she is, refused to sit by while she could help out here and there.
As Judy herself was helping some of the apes, she saw Lake running in from one side of the crowd, all the way to the other side, looking quite crossed. To her surprise, she saw Maple following after her daughter, trying her best to catch up to her. Curiously setting her things down, Judy made her way on over to investigate and found the two young females sitting by themselves.
"He's stupid. So stupid," Judy could see Lake signing angrily to the poor brown haired female before she buried her face within her hands.
Letting out a small hoot, Judy called out to her daughter and Maple, causing them to turn their heads towards her. To her surprise she sees that Lake's eyes were red and puffy while Maple was trying her best to comfort her.
"Now, what seems to be the matter?" Judy inquired as she slowly walked up to them. "Lake. Why are you so sad?"
"Mother, why are boys so stupid," Lake signed again, rivers of tears flowing down from her eyes.
At this the older female was confused and turned towards Maple for some kind of clarification. The brown furred female frowned slightly looking at Lake for a little bit before turning back towards Judy.
"Blue Eyes was leaving and he did not say anything to Lake," Maple explained with a sad cooing noise as she reached out and rubbed her daughter's arm gently.
At this, everything clicked into place and Judy now understood what was causing Lake's distress. She then reached out to her daughter, pulling her in close into a gentle hug.
"Do not cry Lake. This is not Blue Eyes' fault. He has a lot going for him right now and it must have just slipped his mind," Judy reassured with a warm smile.
"I know he is busy but. At least he could have said something to me. Did our time spent together not mean anything to him?" Lake gestured back.
"I believe your time spent together means the whole world to him," Judy gestured back with a smile, reaching up to wipe away at Lake's tears. "I am sure he just has a hard time expressing it," she concluded.
Lake had a unsure look about her but her mother continued.
"It was very much like that when I had met your father. At first he did not want anything to do with me but eventually he came around. He was not very good with words but he expresses his love in many other ways. It is the same with the king and queen. Tinker and her mate, Rocket," Judy explained. "He loves you Lake. I can see it in the way he looks at you. The way he helps you while you both tend to the wounded the way he offers you food when he sees you not eating. I am sure he too has a hard time telling you that he likes you. That is why I believe he is leaving without saying anything, because it is easier for him to not say anything at all, understand."
At this Lake sniffed quietly and wiped at her eyes before nodding her head at the older female, understanding.
"He will come around the more he thinks on it. And when he does come back I am positive he'll know exactly what to say to you. Just give Blue Eyes some time," she finished, noticing her daughter looking a little more hopeful. "Now, let us go and not dwell on this," Judy suggested as she turned around and lead the way.
Wiping away at her eyes, Lake turned to look at Maple whom still sat by her side.
"Thank you," Lake thanked the brown haired female.
Maple however smiled and gave Lake a great big comforting hug. "We are best friends are we not? Come, let's go with your mother to help the others."
With that said between the both of them the two younger females then trailed in after Judy back to the medical area.
…
Once everything was set and done, packed and ready with their guns strapped around them for protection, they all rode out on their horses. No one really talked much during their silent ride on their horses. Blue Eyes couldn't help himself as he kept staring back at the human tower, seeing it becoming smaller and smaller the further they rode away from it. Oh how he longed to be by his mother, father and brother's side already.
"Forwards. Blue Eyes," Rocket voiced aloud, startling the young prince and the other two. "We must keep moving," Rocket gestured to the three younger apes as he turned to look at them.
Blue Eyes, Ash and Ray all looked at one another before they all nodded in unison. They were really doing this, they were leaving the colony and who knows when they will be back, if ever? So moving forward they did.
Not too soon after, in their riding the four apes could see two human figures standing by the end of the road. They all pointed their guns at the two humans and slowly rode up to them, only to lower their weapons in surprise.
"Oh good, I had thought we were too late and had missed you guys," Malcolm beamed up at the group.
Rocket, Blue Eyes, Ash and Ray looked at each other in surprise at the appearance of Malcolm and Alexander by the roadside.
"What. Doing here?!" Rocket demanded, turning back to face the man.
"We'll… Since Caesar told me that you guys were heading south from here. I'd thought that Alex and I would join you all," Malcolm answered back in a hesitant voice.
"No. Go home," Rocket said sternly before strapping his gun back into place. "Too dangerous. For you," Rocket struggled to say, still not used to speaking aloud.
"It's dangerous for you as well," Malcolm shot back taking a step in front of the horse as Rocket was just about to kick his steed forward. "Look. I know Caesar said for me to stay with my family but uh…"
As Malcolm continued on to talk with his father, Ash's bright green eyes slowly glanced on over to where Alexander stood and the two stared at one another. He then swung his feet over and climbed down from his horse, walking on over towards the human teen.
"Ah-lex!" Ash huffed out, beaming up at the teenager.
"Hey Ash! Blue Eyes! Ray right? How's it going you guys?" Alexander answered with a smile.
The white flecked faced chimp smiled and puffed out his chest at the greeting while Blue Eyes and Ray merely nodded once in return. From among the younger apes, Blue Eyes had then noticed something, that the human family was missing a member. He then made eye contact with Alexander.
"Your mother? Where?" Blue Eyes asked the teenage boy, piquing Ash and Ray's interest as well.
At this, the boy's eyes widen momentarily before he heaved out a sigh and glanced down to the side.
"She didn't come with us. She's taking care of Ko-... Uh… She's taking care of someone important… Supposedly… But we're coming back for her. After my dad and I find a new home that is. Maybe with you guys?" he said hopefully.
At this Blue Eyes furrowed his brows curiously. Who in the world were they taking care of that needed Ellie to stay behind? He was going to inquire more information from Alexander before the voices of his uncle and Malcolm had attracted all of their attention again.
"Come on! This is important for my family too! Look, it's not just for us but for the safety of your group as well. What if there are humans where you guys go to? Alex and I can scout it out and see if they're good people or not and maybe prevent these new humans from attacking you guys," Malcolm explained.
Blue Eyes could see that his uncle was getting rather irritated by the human but aside from that Blue Eyes had kept an ear open during their conversation. From the looks of it, Malcolm seems to know these roads much better than they did and had made some great arguable points as well. Maybe these two could help them after all? Besides they were looking for a new home as well and having a small band could prove useful, especially if they were to come across humans that could maybe be reasoned with.
"Let them come," Blue Eyes said suddenly, causing all heads to turn to him.
"Are you sure Blue Eyes?" Rocket questioned.
"Yes. Uncle Rocket. They want to find a new home too. If father was here. He would… He would allow these new human friends to travel with us. At least until they can find a new place to call their own," Blue Eyes answered back, turning to look at Malcolm.
Rocket huffed through his nose and glanced from the young chimp back to the two humans. He seemed to contemplate for a moment before letting out a small grunt and faced his horse southward.
"You are leader now," Rocket gestured to the young prince before turning to smile back at him.
"Thank you. Blue Eyes," Malcolm thanked the young prince from the deepest part of his heart.
"Together. Friends. Future. Peace," Blue Eyes simply answered.
…
Sitting silently by the still sleeping Winter, Glade tilted his head to the side as he fondly watched the white haired gorilla sleep. Letting his green eyes wander on down to the Winter's hands, Glade couldn't help himself as he noticed the younger gorilla's hands wrapped tightly in bandages, his own doing, taught by the humans had tried to help them during their stay. Heaving out a breath, Glade had let his eyes wander back up to the sleeping gorilla's face and couldn't help but smile warmly at how relaxed Winter looked.
While sitting there Glade couldn't help but think back when they were all but very small apes. Glade himself and his fellow kin were a joyous bunch of apes, expressing their love and happiness in a myriad of ways to the other great apes. This though had backfired for them, especially the males, as the other great apes species were not quite as in tune to their way of… Celebrating.
Although even with the other ape species not used to their way of things, Glade did not let that bother him and moved on with a smile upon his face. It wasn't until he met Winter who had been sitting alone after being the first to have been caught during their little game of "Find the Ape," did Glade approach the younger gorilla.
"What wrong? Why are you alone here? And Sad?" the bonobo had asked.
"I don't like this game. Others find me too fast," the young gorilla had pouted with a sniff as he furiously rubbed the back of his arm.
"They find you too fast?" Glade had asked as he moved on in to sit next to white haired gorilla.
"It's because I am different. Because I have white hair, not black or brown. Others always find me first. I don't like it," the small gorilla grunt signed.
Glade looked the smaller gorilla over once before he reached out and touched the gorilla's shoulder, inspecting the white hair.
"I like it. Very different," Glade mused with a giant smile.
The small gorilla gave Glade a odd look.
"My name Glade," Glade introduced.
"Winter," the small gorilla answered back.
That was the first and last time the two had spoken to each other and it certainly was not the last. Eventually the two had other duties to attend to. Winter was obviously put within the Gorilla Guard and eventually left the other apes to be tutored by the other gorillas while Glade himself had gone off to spend times with both the bonobos and chimpanzee of their colony, learning the trade of crafting, hunting and fixing. Eventually the two had become so busy that time eventually flew on by, with days becoming week, soon month and eventually years. Glade would often still see glimpses of Winter from afar but that was about it, they hardly ever spoke to each other again, until now that is.
Looking past Winter's sleeping form Glade could see a few of the apes from afar giving him odd looks. Sighing to himself, Glade averted his eyes elsewhere, used to these kinds of stares that were directed at him. However out of curiosity, Glad had let his eyes wander around and felt uneasy when he noticed that many other apes were looking at him oddly as well, some even glaring. These looks that were directed at him was starting to confuse him. Sure he had been given odd looks before but this was something new, like they were keeping an eye on him, like something was wrong with him. The sounds of stirring brought bonobo back in from his thoughts and he eagerly turned back down at Winter whom slowly opened his bright green eyes.
"Glade?" Winter signed in surprise, flinching when he felt pain upon his hands.
Glade smiled warmly and reached out for the albino gorilla's hand but paused momentarily, meeting Winter's eyes for permission. When there was no objection from the white haired gorilla, Glade tentatively continued and took a hold of Winter's palms and turned them over. He looked down at the wrappings and saw that they needed no immediate replacements but would most likely so later.
"How do you feel?" Glade asked as Winter sat up on his nesting cot.
"Hand hurts. But will be better I guess," the gorilla responded.
Relieved to know that Winter was not in any other sorts of pain, other than the ones on his hand, Glade smiled up at the big gorilla.
"That is good to know," he gestured as he stood up and stretched his sore limbs.
"Did you… Stay here. With me?" Winter signed slowly, curiously.
Lowering his arms from his stretching, Glade tilted his head as he looked at Winter. Even when sitting, Winter was about nearly a head taller than the bonobo and Glade couldn't help but find it quite amusing.
"Glade did. Just to make sure Winter is okay," Glade waived it off absentmindedly as if it had meant nothing.
When he didn't see Winter sign back to him from his peripheral, Glade had slowly turned his attention back to the white gorilla, curious as to why the other ape had gone quiet.
"Thank. You," Winter breathed with a smile.
Upon hearing Winter's deep and husky voice, Glade's eyes widened momentarily but then immediately beamed back at the timid looking gorilla.
"Winter. Welcome," he answered back, his voice light and heartfelt.
…
The small group of six rode out silently along the trail down south, none of them really talking much, except the occasional exchange between Malcolm and Rocket on which way they should go. This however was mostly due to practicality as Malcolm and Alexander were not fluent in the ape's sign language and the four apes sometimes struggled to understand Malcolm's endless amount of spoken language. Needless to say, the group really needed to work on their communication with each other and with what little they had in common they tried to work with that.
"I forgot my sketchbook," Blue Eyes perked up when he had overheard Alexander speaking to his father.
"It's okay Alex, it's with mom. She'll take care of it," the man reassured as he reached on over and patted the boy's shoulder.
There it was again, the two humans mentioning their third member who was not with them. What were they hiding from them?
As they all rode silently into the outskirts of the city, everyone had noticed that Rocket was acting rather oddly. The older ape would dart his head to and fro, stopped for long periods on his horse and stare off into the distance. As if he were looking very far away, seeing something that they all couldn't. To Blue Eyes seeing his uncle act like this was rather odd for him, mainly because Rocket was the most down to earth among the older apes and was rarely distracted from his mind. But now, seeing the older ape like this brought a sense of concern within him.
Ash had then silently rode up next to the older chimp and tapped him on the shoulder. "Father, is something wrong?" Ash had asked.
"No, nothing is wrong. Do not worry son," Rocket answered, reaching out and affectionately rubbing the back of Ash's head.
Seeing Rocket displaying such love to Ash, made Blue Eyes' heart ached as he remembered his own father.
Before he had all left, the older chimp had come up to him but did not say anything. Instead, Blue Eyes felt his father embracing him, pulling him into a strong hug.
"You are going to be a leader now. Be safe son. Listen to Rocket," Caesar had said.
"I will father," Blue Eyes had answered back.
As the memory faded, Blue Eyes turned to look at Ray and could see the hurt within the young ape's eyes. Ray had recently lost his father and Blue Eyes couldn't imagine what was going through the orangutan's mind. Blue Eyes instead reached out and placed a hand upon Ray's shoulder, startling the young ape from his thoughts. When Ray made eye contact with him, Blue Eyes merely offered a small comforting smile to the other ape whom sniffed silently before smiling back as well. Malcolm and Alexander however merely observed silently, allowing Rocket and Ash to have their small moment.
Eventually the small group came upon a slightly more open and wooded area in the hills. They all watched as Rocket brought his horse on over towards the gate like fence and merely stopped there. At first the younger apes looked at each other, confused as to why Rocket had brought them here but the two humans seemed to have noticed something that they were unaware of. Just then, Rocket had got off of his steed and landed on the soft ground with a thud, looking past the chain-linked fence with darkened eyes. Blue Eyes, Ash and Ray all didn't understand why the older ape had lead them here as they could see beyond the fence was just another building, angular with a dome at the top. Peering their eyes at the building though, they could make images of apes like them upon the walls.
"San Bruno Primate Shelter," Malcolm said aloud, causing all of the young apes to turn their heads towards him as he too dismounted from his horse and walked up to the chain fence.
It was then Blue Eyes, Ash and Ray noticed the letters standing on the edge of the roof of the building.
"Is this where you came from?" Malcolm asked, turning slowly away from the domed building to look at Rocket.
The three younger apes followed Malcolm's gaze from the building towards the older chimp. Though, Rocket had kept quiet, seemingly still lost within his own mind.
"Yes," Rocket finally answered after a long while. "Here… Rocket here. Caesar, here. Maurice, here. Your mothers, here," the older ape had then paused for a moment, before heaving out a sad sigh. "Buck."
Ash had quickly dismounted from his horse and walked on over towards his father, placing a gentle hand upon the older apes shoulder for comfort. "Father…" he voiced.
Blue Eyes, Ray and Alexander glanced at one another before they slowly climbed down from their horses as well and moved on over to join Rocket, Ash and Malcolm, the apes strapping their guns to their back.
"This is. This is the place where father began the fight?" Blue Eyes signed towards Rocket.
Rocket merely nodded in response to the young prince, eyes set upon the building. "I had almost forgotten. But then. I started to remember. Things looks so familiar," he signed back turning to look about while he idly scratched at his shoulder. "So very long ago."
Frowning, Ash reached out and touched his father's shoulder again, knowing well that this place was nothing but bad memories for the older chimp. They've all learned about the great escape from their teacher Maurice and how Caesar had bravely, along with the other apes from the shelter, had freed the rest of them throughout the city. Seeking refuge within the protection of the forest that they live in now.
Taking a step through and past the old fence, Blue Eyes made his way towards the building, his gun held at the ready, unsure of what he was feeling deep inside of him. Was it curiosity? The want to know how everything had started? As he moved on, it was as if Maurice's stories about his father's rebellion had come to life. So many things was led back to here, so many stories of how it had all started. Stopping momentarily, Blue Eyes looked back and could see that Ash and Ray had quietly followed him as well with their weapons held at the ready, with the two humans not too far behind them. But then noticed that Rocket was still standing at the other side of the fence, looking on.
"Are you coming?" Blue Eyes asked curiously, causing everyone who was trailing after him to follow his gaze back on over towards Rocket.
Rocket's dark eyes blinked several times before he huffed out a breath and shook his head. "No. Never go back there," he gestured uneasily.
Hesitating, Blue Eyes glanced from the building back towards Rocket. On one hand he wanted to go back to where his uncle stood and continued on their journey but on the other hand wanted to see what was inside, no… He needed to see what was inside. Taking in a deep breath Blue Eyes closed his eyes tightly before turning back around to look at Rocket.
"I go inside. Will come back soon," Blue Eyes gestured to the older ape before eyeing both Ray and Ash.
"I go too. Must know," Ash signed to both Blue Eyes and his father.
"I go," Ray simply gestured his dark green eyes warily taking in the building.
The three young apes then turned their attention to where Malcolm and Alexander stood, the two humans vaguely trying to figure out what they were signing to each other.
"Stay or go?" Blue Eyes asked simply.
"We're coming with you," Malcolm answered just as fast once he figured out that they were all debating to venture forth or not.
"Then I stay here with horses," Rocket gestured back to the three young apes and two humans.
With that said and done, Blue Eyes, Ash, Ray, Alex and Malcolm continued forward until they reached the entrance to the place. Standing before the broken doorway they had all glanced at each other warily before entering into the foreboding darkness that awaited them.
Stepping tentatively inside the small group of apes and humans had found themselves within an office setting of some sort. Towards the end there was a long hallway stretch and to the right of that hallway laid an opened doorway, it's interior dark. The group slowly spread out from one another, each going into opposite sides of the office to look about the many things that were strewn about.
"Dad, there's a map here. Think we can use this?" Alexander had spoken out as he pulled a piece of large paper from the desk.
"Yeah, good find Alex," Malcolm had answered walking on over to where his son stood.
Apart from the two humans, the other three apes were still looking around the place. Ash however had kept his light green eyes upon the doorway that stood ajar. Letting his curiosity getting the better of him, the dark grey chimpanzee entered the doorway.
The other's froze when they heard Ray hooting softly and had disappeared into the door that Ash had gone through. Curiously the rest had followed and soon found themselves walking through a dark corridor with small iron bars lining up to their sides.
Blue Eyes was starting to understand the names his mother had called this building. She had named it the Underplace, and sometimes the Maggot Hole. While certainly the area was nowhere near underground, it sure did feel that way as they all passed through it, the walls enclosing in on them like tunnels.
Soon enough they all finally reached a large room, one with the large dome they had seen outside at its ceiling. Blue Eyes, Ash and Ray all stood there, breathless at what they saw. It was as if it were in a dream from the stories their parents had been telling them when they were all small. There in the middle stood the artificial tree that the older apes had spoken of, and the walls that were painted to resemble the outside world. To them however everything seemed so much smaller than they had imagined.
"This is…" Ash started, at a lost of words as he walked up to the fake tree and touched it.
"Like teacher Maurice's stories," Ray whispered as he too walked up to the artificial tree and looked at it.
"This is where… It all happened. When father and the others escaped. Escaped from the humans," Blue Eyes voiced as he looked about his surroundings.
"So this is where it all started. For your parents," Malcolm stated as he heard the three younger apes, he too looking around himself along with Alex.
As Blue Eyes thought about it, it then dawned on him and he quickly, strapped his gun and ran back towards the way they had came, Ash and Ray quickly following him along with Malcolm and Alexander.
"Blue Eyes. What's wrong?" Ash spoke softly, looking about to see if they were in any immediate danger.
Blue Eyes however approached one of the iron bars and eyed the metal plating on it.
"I had thought. These were for storing food," Blue Eyes breathed haggardly in a shocked voice.
Curiously both Ash and Ray approached their friend and looked at the metal plate that Blue Eyes was looking at. There they could see a name written on it, a name they all recognized. Cornelia, it had read in faded letters.
"These! Cages!" Ash huffed out in shock, backing away and letting his head whip around to see all the different cells lining up the long hallway.
The three young apes, along with Alexander now turned to look up at Malcolm whom was staring at one of the cages, his face dark and a frown set upon his lips.
"It wasn't right," the man had said aloud. "The way we treated them, in those days. It was all wrong," he breathed turning to look at his son, Blue Eyes, Ash and Ray, noticing the look of hurt on their faces.
"Is this true dad?" Alex probed, not quite understanding it himself.
"Yes Alex. It's very true. We humans… Did terrible things," Malcolm responded with a shuddering sigh before turning to meet Blue Eyes and the others. "Unforgivable things."
Blue Eyes couldn't help but bare his fangs a little as he looked at the man but grunted and turned his head away. He knew that Malcolm and his family did not do this to his parents but it was very hard to control his anger, now knowing that his parents had suffered from the hands of humans. Ash and Ray on the other hand still had looks of hurt written on their faces as they looked around through the cages.
"Why humans. Do this?" Ash asked Malcolm wondering if the man had an answer to his question.
"I-I… I don't know. Humans… That's just how it was," Malcolm huffed out. "I'm sorry."
"This. Where they. Stayed?" Ray voiced as well as he walked on over to look at another nameplate that was now faded. "Dingy. And so little. Hard to believe apes in here. I would have gone crazy," he finished.
"You and me both," Alex agreed as he walked up to one of the holding cells and touched the bars.
Blue Eyes stared into the the tiny box-shaped room that held his mother. He closed his eyes and tried to imagine being in there, with the door shut closed. Even though he knew he wasn't caged in here, he could practically feel the building's walls trying to squeeze him in, cutting of his breath. Now he understood why Maurice refused to talk about this place. Why he never understood what his father and uncle Rocket were trying to say. He was very fortunate to have grown up among the trees that reached upwards towards the sky, horizons that spread forever from all directions, and the endless vast sea.
To be in one of those tiny cages, all cramped in, unable to run, to climb, to taste the sweet falling rain, nor feel the wind and hear the hush and crackling of the dancing leaves. This was all too much for him. This way of living… it was unthinkable… Unacceptable. No ape could live in such a place and not go crazy from it. That most likely explain some of the symptoms from a lot of the older apes.
However looking back at the cages, Blue Eyes knew that his father had endured here with his mother and aunts and uncles living here much longer. He knew that before the great awakening, apes might've been different but now… He just couldn't imagine it. They might have not been as smart now but they were still apes were they not? And apes were meant to be in the forest, not in tiny cages like these, within the darkness and hidden from the sky above. The building was surely worthy of the names Underplace and Maggot Hole.
As they were all looking about the all jumped when they heard the clatter of gunfire that had erupted from outside. Then they all heard it again, except it was a little closer. Blue Eyes had only given Ash and Ray a momentary glance before he grunted and raced off back towards the exit pulling his gun down from his back. Malcolm and Alex though were already ahead of him.
Coming to a skidding stop besides the two humans, Blue Eyes and the others were met with bullets by the entrance of the place. Looking up, Malcolm had too unsheathed his weapon and was firing back at whomever was shooting at them, but at what, Blue Eyes did not know. From the cover of the doorway they all could make out Rocket, whom was crouching behind a car. The older ape then leaned out from the vehicle and returned fire at something as well.
"They're up there!" Malcolm shouted over the gunfire, jerking his chin towards a wooded hill. "I'll go left! You all stay here and cover me! I think I can flank them!'
Blue Eyes and the others wasn't exactly sure what the man had meant as he spoke too quickly for them, but as Malcolm started running for cover, Blue Eyes saw something moving within the trees. For a moment Blue Eyes stood still once more, fear taking its hold on him again just like it did while he was on the bridge. But then he saw Rocket flinch and jerk as he clasped a hand onto his shoulder as he was struck with a bullet. With an angry bark, along with Ash's they both stood up and fired their guns at whoever had dared to shoot at them. Out of the corner of his eye, Blue Eyes was relieved to see that his uncle was not too badly wounded as the older chimp ran up to the cover of another car whilst Malcolm did the same.
They all stopped firing and then waited, all panting heavily and hearts pounding within their chests as they expected more gunfire. Then, for what seemed like a long time, nothing happened. Rocket and Malcolm had advanced once more before the older chimp waved Blue Eyes and Ash to the first car he hid behind. While Ray and Alexander quickly followed to the spot that Malcolm was previously at. Rocket and Malcolm nodded to each other before they both moved into the trees from two different directions. The four youngsters kept their eyes upon the trees eagerly as more time passed between them.
Finally after a long while, Malcolm and Rocket reappeared from the trees.
"Whoever they were, they're gone now," Malcolm spoke up as he kept his head turn slightly back from where they came, just in case. "We'd best get going while we're all in the clear.
Rocket agreed with Malcolm and with that they all mounted back up on their horses and rode away and quick as they could. Blue Eyes and the others couldn't help but cast frequent glances behind them to see if they were being followed. If there were followed though, they all couldn't see them.
Once it seemed like they were finally in the all clear, Malcolm had looked around at everyone to make sure that no one was injured before turning towards Rocket.
"How many, do you think?" he had asked.
"Don't know… Three? Maybe four?" Rocket answered.
"That's what I thought too," Malcolm responded lowly before turning to look at Blue Eyes. "I do not think they were locals of the area. Maybe they're the people that attacked you guys on the bridge."
"Humans?" Blue Eyes questioned.
"That'd be about my guess," Malcolm replied. "A few of us came down here last year and it was pretty much empty as from what I can remember. We haven't seen any signs of human activity all this way. We must have brought these humans with us."
"They follow this far?" Ash questioned.
"Maybe follow further too?" Blue Eyes growled, his teeth baring.
"Yeah…" Malcolm answered quietly.
"Why?" Ray asked simply.
Malcolm didn't answer at first but thought on it.
"You think they're after us dad?" Alexander spoke up this time, joining in on the conversation. "Because… You know. We helped Caesar? Helped the apes?"
"That's a possibility," Malcolm answered. "Why waste men on a few apes whom are running away from the fight? They're already outnumbered as it is."
"Should we split then? Go our separate ways?" Alexander suggested.
"Alex, your mother said-"
"No!" Blue Eyes' voice cut through the air suddenly, gaining all of their attention. "We not split. Apes will keep you two safe. Together, we're strong. Understand?" Blue Eyes said aloud.
At this both of the humans nodded and didn't argue the point any further. Blue Eyes however couldn't shake this uneasy feeling though as he glanced behind them again, trying to see if they were being followed still. When nothing came into view the young prince heaved out a sigh as he pushed his horse onward.