Woo! Right before New Years! (for me at least, XD). I hope you all have had a fantastic New Years everybody! Please enjoy chapter 24!
Later that afternoon the traveling group found a secluded spot to rest for the rest of the evening. They all tied up their horses, with the apes climbing up into the nearby trees to nest in while both Malcolm and Alexander resting beneath them.
While he sat within his tree next, Ash peered down at both Alex and Malcolm, finding it rather odd that the humans were resting upon the ground. But then again the gorillas did it as well, so he didn't find it that much odder than usual. Glancing off to the side, he watched as Ray had built himself a small nest and had quickly turned in for the rest of the night, immediately drifting off to sleep. Rotating around to look behind him, he could then see both his father and Blue Eyes signing to each other while there was still a little bit of light out, most likely discussing more plans about their journey. With a deep breath, Ash had then turned his attention away from the two other apes and set his gaze upon the darkening sky, watching as the beginning of twinkling starlights dotting the heavens.
After a while of just looking up at the stars, Ash felt someone tapping him on the shoulder, causing him to turn and see that his father had climbed up next to him.
"How you doing son?" Rocket gestured with just the barest of the sun's light showing his signs.
"I am well father," Ash answered back with a warm smile, then tilted his head at the older ape. "You father?"
"Tired… But I am well,," Rocket rumbled with a deep chuckle as he rubbed his son's head fondly before placing their foreheads together.
"You rest father, I will take first watch," Ash signed back to the older ape, gaining a nod from his sire.
Watching the older chimp making himself comfortable in one of the tree's branches, Ash turned to look at Blue Eyes and offered his friend a smile as well. His friend however merely deadpanned back at him before going up to nest in one of the other nearby trees. Taking in a deep breath and letting his gaze roam around the darkening land. Ash soon enough let his mind wander elsewhere. Wandering back to the ape colony, to where his mother, his sweet Maple and the rest of the apes were at. Oh how he longed to be back with them, all of them. During their journey he had often pondered on how the rest of the apes were doing back in the city. Were they okay? Did they have food to eat? Were they being protected? Of course Ash knew that his uncle Caesar would do everything in his power to protect his mother, Maple and the rest of the apes but Ash himself couldn't help but worry, even if he didn't show it.
Sighing, Ash's face fell as he let his gaze fall a little bit, thinking back to when they were about to first leave on their journey.
"Ash!" Ash had heard his uncle Caesar call for him, causing him to look up from his spot with maple.
He could see that his uncle needing him and Ash stood up slowly and walked on over to where his uncle stood. He could see the older chimpanzee did not look well still but Caesar still stood strong and proud among the apes.
"Yes uncle Caesar?" Ash asked hesitantly.
"Follow me," Caesar responded simply before turning around and leading the way.
Ash curiously turned to look at Maple and could see the confusion on her face as well. He quickly gestured to her that he would return before following his leader to a secluded spot, away from the busying apes. Standing there, Ash hesitantly look around as it was just him and Caesar nearby some of the human buildings. He looked at his uncle's backside before the older ape slowly turned around to look at him. Lowering his gaze a bit, Ash had thought that Caesar had brought him here because he had done something wrong but then Caesar spoke up.
"I need you and Blue Eyes to find us a new home."
That perked the young chimpanzee up, causing him to tilt his head in confusion.
"Find a new home?" Ash questioned, not understanding.
At this Caesar nodded and walked up to him.
"I need you to journey with Blue Eyes, Ray and your father down south of here." Caesar gestured.
"But why? Is our home not here Caesar?" Ash questioned.
At this, Caesar smiled at Ash but the young ape could tell that it was a different type of smile. While smiling indicated that one was happy, Caesar's looked… Sad.
"Apes are no longer safe here, fighting with the human soldiers. And if we are to keep apes safe and have a future. We must find a new home," Caesar explained slowly.
At this Ash lowered his head and thought for a moment until he nodded slowly, understanding. He then glanced back up at Caesar and questioning look upon his features again.
"Why choose me Caesar? Blue Eyes, my father and Ray should be enough for this journey. I am not good with them. I can't even protect myself."
Again Caesar offered him a smile, but this time it wasn't one that was full of sadness but one full of warmth and admiration. A look his own father would always give him.
"You are very brave Ash and very strong. But you must go with them. Blue Eyes is intelligent, your father capable, and Ray has great insight but you," Caesar paused in his signing to place a hand upon Ash's shoulder. "You are their happiness. Full of joy. And they will need that from you. To keep their minds from straying back here. To keep them together. To keep them going."
At this Ash's mouth hung agape just slightly as he stared into his uncle's golden green hues. Full of honesty and warmth.
"Will you do this for me Ash? Help Blue Eyes, your father and Ray on their journey to find us a new home?"
Ash had paused and looked away for a moment, thinking to himself. What Caesar was asking of him, was quite a lot. To leave his mother, Maple and the other apes behind… Traverse into the unknown. But then he guesses that Blue Eyes, his father and Ray were asked the same thing… And what ape would he be if he were to decline this offer and leave Blue Eyes and the others? Turning back to look at his uncle, Ash nodded.
"I will do as you say Caesar. I will travel with Blue Eyes, Ray and my father. I will help them find us a new home," Ash answered back.
Ash then paused a moment more, thinking on what Caesar had said about him. That he is to be their happiness and joy on their journey. He then smiled up at Caesar, showing him that he will do just that.
"Thank you. Ash," Caesar answered back with a warm smile as he saw Ash's.
The ape leader then slowly bent down and placed both of their foreheads together.
With the vision of him and Caesar fading from his memory, Ash heaved out a sigh to himself while he sat there. Keeping the others happy and their mind from wandering back to the colony had been difficult but with Malcolm and Alexander joining them, it made things a little easier. At times it was rather hard for him too as he would often think back of the apes and the colony and felt deeply saddened by leaving them. But he had to be strong, for Blue Eyes and the others. He had to keep smiling, to give them something to be happy about, to keep them all going on this journey. So that they could find a new home. A place that is safe for all apes.
Ash knew naught how long he stood watch there, all he knew was that it had become rather quite dark and that it was hard to see now. With only the light of the moon to blanket the land in its luminescence. Guiding the nightly creatures in their activities within the dark.
Hearing a crack, Ash whipped his head around, to see what was the source of the noise. His heart pounded loudly within his chest and he slowly unfastened his gun from his back, holding it at the ready. His eyes darting around within the darkness, using what bit of the moon's light to pinpoint who or what was making that noise. Glancing down at the ground, Ash could see that both Malcolm and Alexander's dark forms below, seeming undisturbed by the strange sounds. Whatever it was, it definitely is not a ground creature and is using the trees to move about instead. So he'll have to be very careful to see. Hearing a crack off towards his side, Ash immediately pointed the end of his gun at whatever the creature was.
"Ash it's me!" Blue Eyes voice cut through the darkness.
"Blue Eyes!?" Ash breathed out a sigh as he lowered his gun, absolutely relieved that is was his friend instead of some other creature.
Seeing the shadowy form of his friend approaching him on the branch, Ash quickly put away his gun and frowned at his honorary brother.
"I almost shot you," Ash grumbled.
"Sorry," Blue Eyes responded just as quickly. "Came to take over watching duty."
Grunting in response, Ash closed his eyes and opened his mouth in a long yawn. Not realizing how tired he was. He scratched at his neck as Blue Eyes made himself comfortable upon his perch. The two friends then just sat there upon the large tree branch, both staring out into the darkness for a moment before Ash grunted, letting Blue Eyes know that he was going to go rest.
"Ash wait!" Blue Eyes said softly, reaching out to touch Ash's arm, making his pause and turn to look at the prince in the darkness.
"What is it Blue Eyes?" Ash responded back in a quiet voice.
Ash could see his friend's head lower slightly, looking up at the starry night sky before turning to look at him.
"Do you… Do you think we will find it? A new home? For apes?" Blue Eyes asked, his voice full of uncertainty and doubt.
Upon hearing this, Ash couldn't help but frown slightly, hearing the uneasiness and fear within Blue Eyes' voice. Taking a deep breath, Ash turned to look at the moon for a moment, letting the silence come between the both of them. What doe he say? What can he say? Blue Eyes had been given such a burden by his own father that Ash himself couldn't comprehend it. Would they ever stop fighting? Would they ever find a new place to call their own? A home? These were questions of doubt that Ash had to ask himself as well. He wasn't a thinker, he knows that with Blue Eyes being the more to use his head when it comes to matters like these. But maybe he could alleviate his friends doubt? Share in this burden that was given to him? He couldn't help but remember Caesar's words. Asking him to help Blue Eyes in his time of need, which also extended to Ray and his father. With a long drawn out breath, Ash finally turned to look at Blue Eyes once more, a smile upon his features, even if Blue Eyes couldn't see his face in the dark.
"I think. That we will find a new home for apes. Not today. Not tomorrow. But someday. In the future. That is why your father sends us. That is why he trusts us with this journey," Ash responded.
"How do you know?" Blue Eyes questioned.
"Just feeling," Ash simply responded with a cheery voice before he reached out and placed a knuckle upon Blue Eyes' chest. "Hope."
As Ash sat there, he could see Blue Eyes' shadowy form no longer slouching, seeming to be pondering on what he had just said. He could then see Blue Eyes lifting his head a little higher and shoulders becoming a little straighter. The prince had then reached out and placed a hand upon his shoulder.
"Thank you, Ash," Blue Eyes said softly, his voice seemingly lifted, no longer holding that bit of doubt within it.
"Welcome, Blue Eyes," Ash responded, reaching out and placing a hand upon Blue Eyes' shoulder as well.
Yes, he was going to do what Caesar asked of him. Whenever the others are feeling down he will be there for them. To lift their spirits and give them a sense of hope so that they all could stay on their path. The path to find them a new home and bring everyone a brighter new future.
…
Winter watched from afar as Luca and Ajax had gone off to be with Caesar and the others apes. Walking through the parts of the city streets and keeping an eye on the injured and the females as they made their way towards a building to hopefully hide all of them, Winter had spotted Glade sitting by the streets with another ape. Curiously, Winter ambled on over and noticed that the bonobo was grooming another ape with a withered arm - Juno. The two smaller apes noticed him approaching and Glade beamed up at him.
"Hello Winter," Glade gestured to which Winter nodded once back before turning his green eyes to the other ape.
Glade curiously looked from Winter and then to the other chimpanzee sitting next to him before something lit up within the bonobo's mind and he stood up abruptly.
"Winter!" Glade said happily as he bounded up to the white haired gorilla and took him by the hand, leading him back to where the other ape with the withered arm sat. "Winter! This Juno! My good friend!" Glade said aloud happily. "Juno, this Winter!" he finished excitedly, introducing the both of them to each other.
Hesitantly, Winter looked down at Glade before he turned back to the other chimpanzee named Juno. Juno however narrowed his eyes at him and tilted his head slightly before he gave Glade an odd look.
"This one?" Juno signed curiously to which Glade nodded exuberantly while Winter continued to stare at the two confusingly.
At this Juno's face lit up and he had let out an amused humming noise before he beamed back up at Winter, face full of happiness and mirth. The withered armed chimp then stood up and approached Winter, going around him once, looking him up and down first before finally stopping at his front again.
"Hello Winter," Juno greeted.
"Hello..." Winter gestured back, not understanding what was going on between these two smaller apes in front of him.
"You are Glade's friend?" Juno asked.
At the question, Winter turned to look at Glade who merely beamed back up at him. Reaching up to scratch at the back of his head, Winter did not know how to answer Juno. Even though he had met Glade just days ago, he wasn't sure if that would consider both he and Glade as friends yet per say, as far as he knows. But then again… He didn't really have many friends as well and Glade has been staying around him a lot longer. Has been kind to him. Helping him...
"Yes?" Winter answered back with a grunt nod.
At this Juno's smile widened a bit more before he reached out and placed a knuckle upon Winter's chest before drawing his hand back and placing it upon his own torso.
"Then Winter. Is my friend. Too," Juno said slowly.
Upon hearing this, Winter blinked several times and he looked back and forth from the two smiling apes before him. For reasons unknown to him, hearing that from the other ape warmed something deep within his being and he couldn't help but return back those infectious smiles.
"Then I. Am. Happy. To have Juno. As friend. Too," Winter answered.
With that, the three apes whom were considered oddities, found themselves pant-laughing and signing merrily with one another. Forgetting that they were ever considered different but saw each other as good new friends, enjoying each other's company.
...
Red gruffed as he watched Caesar and the other warriors of their colony formulating a plan on their next move. Ever since the failed attempt at the beach, they had all but pulled back from the fighting and diverted their attention to lead the human soldiers around the city instead. Caesar was being careful by dragging the soldiers around as he kept the females and wounded in a building within the human city as taking them across the bridge to the safety of the forest was no longer an option. Caesar had also regulated most of the Gorilla Guards into defending the wounded and females as well… Quite the smart move, their leader.
He narrowed his eyes at Caesar before hearing approaching footsteps behind him. Turning around, Red was met with Rex and Pongo, both approaching him and looking about.
"Why did you call on us two Red?" Pongo signed as he approached the rusted haired gorilla.
"If we are to start a new life away from Caesar, we must lead the females away from here," Red stated causing the two to look at him questionably.
"What are you talking about? Caesar has now deemed the bridge dangerous for the females to cross. He has closed it off for all of us," Pongo shot back.
"And that is where we come in," Red gestured slowly to both Rex and Pongo, the two looking at each other curiously before eyeing Red again. "I have a plan to make Caesar let the females go back to the forest."
Red then signed slowly and close to his chest, just so that Rex and Pongo could see. As Red finished with his proposal, he finally lowered his hands and watched the other two apes in front of him with his acid green eyes.
"Did you tell Grey of this?" Rex asked.
"No. Grey does not need to know. He will not approve or allow it," Red signed back simply.
"What makes you sure this will work? It could kill everyone," Pongo warned.
"It. Will. Work," Red said calmly, eyeing the two.
Pongo looked up at Red for a moment longer before he lowered his shoulders and heaved out a breath before nodding. Rex on the other hand seemed hesitant for a moment as well before he finally nodded, agreeing to the plan.
"Remember. This is only between the three of us, in order for this to work. No one else must know. Not even Grey," Red gestured.
"Understood," both Pongo and Rex signed back.
Grunting with a nod, Red dismissed the two other apes and slowly turned back around to look at Caesar and the other apes of his inner circle. Soon they would all be free of Caesar's rule and be free to leave and seek a new life. Far away from here.
...
The next following morning after they had left the singing humans behind and rested within that secluded area, the group of six came upon the coast. Seeing the large body of water that seemed to expand endlessly before them. With an excited hoot, Ray had quickly dismounted from his horse and went bounding off towards the surf. Darting across the sands and began playing tag with waves as they came rolling in. Soon enough Ash had soon joined his side, both of them slapping at the small waves of water and doing handstands upon the wet sands, pant-laughing all the while.
Blue Eyes on the other hand, had taken it upon himself to secure both Ash's and Ray's horses before he had perched himself upon a rock. As he watched both of the apes play in the surf, Blue Eyes couldn't help himself as he looked a little cross at them. Seemingly frustrated that these two weren't taking their journey to find them all a new home seriously. Rocket, Malcolm and Alexander had all came up to the young prince and sat around him but didn't notice that they were all looking at him a bit warily, seeing his agitation, nor did he see them looking at each other concernedly as well.
Rocket, without saying anything to the young prince, soon hopped off of the rocks and slowly made his way towards Ash and Ray. Malcolm and Alexander had exchanged nervous looks, wanting to say something but not wanting to intrude on the ape affairs. Blue Eyes however perked up his head, noticing that the older chimpanzee was making his way on over to both Ash and Ray, most likely going to discipline them. For a moment Blue Eyes was going to call out to Rocket, to tell him that he needn't to discipline the others but at the last second and for reasons unknown to him, he didn't. He knew that his father had put him in charge of their expedition, with Rocket agreeing that he should be leader. But whenever he saw the older ape, Blue Eyes himself felt like he should submit to Rocket in respect.
Rocket, after all, had been the Alpha before his father was. Being well versed in the ways of the world, unlike him. And for that unknown reason, it just felt wrong to give orders to his honorary uncle. Malcolm and Alexander looked like they were holding back on wanting to say something to stop Rocket as well but stayed quiet. So Blue Eyes, Malcolm and Alexander just sat there and watched, all of them feeling a bit sorry for Ash and Ray, who were just taking the time on their long journey to have a little fun.
They all watched anxiously as Rocket drew up to both of the young apes. Ash and Ray stopping in their play within the waters, looking up at the older ape, to see what he would do. Rocket glowered at the both of them and both Ash and Ray glanced warily at one another before they both lowered their heads a little, a look of anxiousness overcoming their features.
While the three stood there the surf slowly rolled up once more. As the small wave drew near Rocket pulled back his arm and then suddenly hit the surf, splashing it onto both Ash and Ray, surprising the two momentarily. Staring up at Rocket with shocked expressions on their faces the older chimp had then opened his mouth, letting out a series of pant-laughter before both Ash and Ray shrieked in unison and splashed the older ape back. The two young apes they pant-hooted in laughter as well as they began to run while Rocket chased them.
Blue Eyes continued to watch in astonishment as they all tumbled about in the surf, play wrestling with each other, hooting and screeching in laughter. Mouth hung agape in shock still, Blue Eyes couldn't believe what he was seeing before him. Hearing a couple of noises beside him, Blue Eyes turned his head quickly to see both Malcolm and Alexander laughing at the three other apes jovially.
"Looks like they're all having fun. Don't you think?" Malcolm inquired from Blue Eyes, turning to look at the young prince.
"Apes should not be having fun. We should be searching for a new home," Blue Eyes grumbled back with a frown.
"Oh come on Blue Eyes. Learn to lighten up a little," Alexander hopped in on the conversation, causing Blue Eyes to grunt in answer.
Looking away from the two humans, Blue Eyes gazed back upon Rocket, Ash and Ray, the three apes having quite the merry time together. Seeing them all so happy and laughing. Blue Eyes felt a powerful urge to join in on their fun, and almost did, but something stopped him - he wasn't sure what. But watching them all so happy from afar, he felt a little better. With everything that has been going on lately; Ray losing his father and both Rocket and Ash almost losing each other. Having experiencing death or close to death, the three apes now had one another to lean on for this journey. Maybe that was what had kept him from joining them, feeling that he might be intruding on something that was private between the three, while he himself had only lost an uncle… And uncle that he couldn't save...
But then both Ash and Ray ran up and threw wet sand in his face, surprising him out of his thoughts. Staring at the two with wide eyes, Blue Eyes looked around and found out that it was not just him but at both Malcolm and Alexander as well who had been assaulted with the wet ball of sand. The three of them stared at both Ash and Ray with wide surprised eyes before Blue Eyes had let out a mock hoot-pant along with laughter from both Malcolm and Alexander as well. All leaping down from their perch upon the rocks, onto the beach and gave chase to the two apes that had thrown wet sand at them.
And for a little while, Blue Eyes did not worry about death, or war, or what he might or might not find in the south. All he could think of now, was splashing sand and water at whomever he can within their small group, enjoying a merry time together by the surf, pant-laughing all the while.