"Caesar, we could still stay and help," Malcolm spoke up, standing next to his horse.
Caesar raised a hand to the human and shook his head slowly.
"You have done enough. My friend. You and your family must leave. Seek other humans. Tell them of apes who only want peace. Please," Caesar responded.
Malcolm took in a deep breath and let out a long drawn out sigh. He then looked around and met the eyes of his family and their traveling companions before meeting the ape king's gaze once more. Straightening himself up, Malcolm then walked on over to where Caesar stood and stood before him. For a moment the two stood like that for a long while before Malcolm finally reached out and embraced Caesar strongly.
"Goodbye, Caesar. My friend. Please be safe," Malcolm said quietly.
"You be safe too, Malcolm. And goodbye," Caesar responded.
After both Caesar and Malcolm released each other, Ellie and Alexander both walked up to the ape king as well and before anything could be said, Ellie, like Malcolm before her, wrapped her arms gently around the ape king and hugged him.
"Goodbye, Caesar. Please be safe. You, your family and the rest of the apes," Ellie spoke quietly before releasing Caesar and doing the same with Cornelia.
Alexander however merely shook hands with Caesar at first before the ape king himself, pulled the young teen into a strong hug as well.
"Thank you. All of you. For helping and caring us apes. We will not forget you. All of you," Caesar spoke up.
"And we, you," Malcolm answered as he held onto both Alexander and Ellie firmly.
...
Both Rocket and Ash were both being held onto by Tinker, who was busy wiping away at her eyes and giving her two boys very strong hugs.
"You eat and take care of yourself, Ash," Tinker doted on her bigger son before she turned to her mate. "Rocket, look after Ash and Blue Eyes. They are depending on you."
"Yes, mother," Ash pant chuckled as he hugged his mother before releasing her.
Ash then noticed Maple waiting expectedly for him and he gave his mother one final hug and forehead touch before he made his way on over to where the brown haired female stood. Walking up to Tinker, Rocket merely smiled and gently kissed Tinker upon the lips before he too hugged embraced her strongly as well.
"Maple!" Ash gestured happily as he stood in front of the brown haired female.
"Ash," Maple breathed as she stood there, her hands held close to her body.
Ash was confused and was about to ask what was wrong but then he was suddenly engulfed in a strong hug by Maple. Feeling her body trembling into his, Ash relaxed and slowly wrapped his arms around Maple and stroke her back.
"I. Will miss. You," Maple sniffed.
"I will. Miss you. Too," Ash replied as he hugged Maple a little tighter into his body.
The two chimps pulled away from each other and brought their lips together before touching foreheads. They both stayed like that for a moment before Maple leaned back in and placed her head upon Ash's chest, hearing the strong thumps of his heartbeat beneath his breast. Now she understood why her mother did this. The sound of the beating heart, was like that of the drums that they strum for times of great celebrations. Except this one was constant and let her know that everytime it thumped, it pulsed with life, the life of her beloved.
"Ash, you come back. To me?" Maple asked hesitantly, turning her head up to look into leafy green eyes.
"Yes. Will come back. To you," Ash answered in a low soft voice.
The two chimps gently kissed each other once more before they both walked away, in each other's hands.
...
"Son?"
Blue Eyes turned at his father's voice and waited expectantly for the older ape to say more. Caesar opened his mouth, as if to continue to say something to the younger chimp, but in the end decided not to. Blue Eyes was a very much grown up male now and he was already branching out to be a wonderful heir and leader to the apes. Caesar himself couldn't believe how much Blue Eyes had grown in the past twenty moons, since his return with the others. Instead, Caesar carefully hugged his eldest son, after Cornelia did and pressed the both of their foreheads together.
"I know that I do not need to tell you this. But take care of yourself, son."
"Yes father, I will," Blue Eyes gestured back with a small smile to his lips.
"Find us a new home. Our future lies with you."
Upon hearing this, Caesar noticed that Blue Eyes had a look of doubt upon his face and the younger chimpanzee looked hesitant for a moment.
"Father. What if I-"
"You will," Caesar interrupted Blue Eyes and held the younger chimp's gaze. " I know you will. Because you are my son," he finished.
Blue Eyes looked down to the side again, seeming to be in deep thought. That did not last long however, as the younger chimp took a deep breath and straightened his back, turning to meet his father's gaze once more.
"I will come back father," Blue Eyes spoke up, before turning to hugged his teary eyed mother. "I promise. I will come back to all of you."
Smiling, Caesar joined the family hug as well. He very much wished that they did have to part like this, after so soon of coming together like this. However, the forces of the world would not permit this for them. So, they cherished every last moment of it in what they can. After Blue Eyes was released from his mother and father, he reached out and let his little brother play with his fingers for a moment.
"Be safe, little brother. Do not give mother and father a lot of trouble," Blue Eyes gestured, earning a chirping laugh from Cornelius as he tickled the baby chimp.
While Blue Eyes was entertaining his little brother, he noticed his mother look behind him and she warmly smiled as she tapped his shoulder.
"Look who is here, son."
Curiously, Blue Eyes followed his mother's gaze and soon found himself staring into evergreen hues. Silently, he walked on over to where the female was standing and stopped before her.
"Lake."
"Blue Eyes."
For a moment the two didn't speak nor sign to each other and simply just stared. Blue Eyes then breathed deeply from his nose and he leaned his head down, with Lake following suit, letting their foreheads touch one anothers.
"You are leaving again, aren't you?" Lake gestured with small hand movements, finally turning her head up to look at Blue Eyes again.
Blue Eyes smiled sadly at Lake. It had only been about nineteen moons since he's come back, but during that time both he and Lake became more closer with one another. Everytime he would go help out in the skirmishes to stop the human soldiers from closing in or finding out where they were, he was always greeted by Lake who would worried run up to him and hug him. Eventually they stayed by each other's side longer and longer, only leaving each other's company when duty calls them, to fight and to heal. It pained Blue Eyes to see Lake looking like this. However, if things were to keep on going as it is, then they will definitely lose more than what they've already have. Caesar and the council had agreed that Blue Eyes, Ash and Rocket were to continue their journey again, while escorting Malcolm and his family to a safer place. There was objection to this of course, with Blue Eyes, Rocket and later Malcolm when he found out about it but the decision was final.
"I have to go. Find us a new home. So that we do not live like this. Running and fighting for our lives everyday. Living in fear and wondering if we will be able to survive the next sunrise."
"I know and understand, Blue Eyes. But you just came back," Lake responded with slow sad hand movements, a couple of tears falling from her eyes as she turned her head down to the side.
Blue Eyes took a finger and slowly lifted Lake's face up so that they were staring at each other again.
"I will come back. To you," Blue Eyes said softly.
At this, Lake couldn't help but sniff as she wiped at her eyes once more and they both hugged each other lovingly once more. Knowing well that it might be a long time before they see each other again, if ever again if this way continues.
As they pulled back from each other, Lake reached under her ring of necklace that she wore and pulled out something. To Blue Eyes' surprise, he saw her pulling out a smaller necklace, this one made with a leathery rope. Tied to it though is a beautiful blue stone that varied in light to dark blue hues.
"I found this, when we were in the human city. I thought of you when I picked it up. It had a different string made of silvery stones. But it broke, so I tied it with this," Lake informed.
Blue Eyes stared at the stone in wonder before Lake held the loop open in front of him. Curiously blinking once, Blue Eyes stood still as Lake reached up and around his neck, tying the string so that the necklace stayed in place for him.
"This is my gift to you, Blue Eyes. Be safe on your journey. And you come back to me."
Reaching up to touch at the stone that hung over his chest, Blue Eyes met Lake's evergreen eyes and smile warmly at her.
"I will," he responded.
Letting go of the stone, Blue Eyes then wrapped his arms around Lake and embraced her lovingly once more, feeling her wrap her arms around his torso tightly.
Hearing the approach from behind, Blue Eyes finally turned around and could see his traveling companions waiting for him. There stood Ash and Rocket, the father and son duo who is yet again tasked to go with Blue Eyes' journey to find them their home. Right behind them were of course the three humans, whom they were suppose to lead away from the war, to a better place where they could tell the tales of the apes to other humans. Letting his gaze fall on over, Blue Eyes finally noticed their last companion - Koba.
Blue Eyes knew naught himself why his father had chosen for the bonobo to accompany them on their journey or even trusting the one eyed ape at all. However, Blue Eyes couldn't help himself as he could see the fresh new wounds that adorned the bonobo, knowing well that those bruises and scars did not come from their skirmishes with the human soldiers. Maybe, in a way, it was best for Koba to leave with them. Who knows what would happen to him if he stayed behind with the apes who still blame him for what he partially did. Sure his father would do his best to keep the apes form attacking the scarred ape, but how long would that last? So, maybe this journey that they are about to embark would ease the apes. Also, if Koba were to act out again, they did have Rocket who was keeping his piercing dark green eyes upon the bonobo. Feeling a soft squeeze on his hand, Blue Eyes met Lake's gaze once more and they both touched foreheads before they finally left to go join the others.
...
"You. Going. Too?" Grey asked.
From his spot, Koba turned to Grey incredulously, seeing that the brown haired chimpanzee was slowly making his way on over towards him.
"What are you doing here? You should still be resting," Koba gestured quickly, before he reached out and took a hold of the still healing ape.
Grey simply smirked in return once he was next to Koba's side.
"And me laying down without seeing you and the others off? You should know me, Koba," Grey chuckled gently as he gestured back.
Koba huffed but couldn't help but meet Grey's smirking face with his own as well. Turning to look back at the others, Koba took in a deep breath. He couldn't believe it's already been about twenty moons, since his return. During that time, Grey had led them all to a hidden waterfall, to which the apes could all hide for the duration of the fight with the human soldiers. They have had some skirmishes with the humans, with both sides losing fellow men and apes alike in the process. However, they were able to keep the humans from finding where they were at. Now, since Grey is doing a lot better now and no longer needing Ellie and Malcolm's medicine, Caesar deemed it time that they leave for safety.
"I wish Stone was here to see this. To see you go and help the apes," Grey gestured.
At the mention of Stone, Koba frowned inwardly. Caesar was the one who informed both he and Grey of Stone's fate and the two apes mourned for the loss of the friend, who among with many others, fell during this war.
"I did not want to go. I really wanted to stay. Stay and help Caesar, you and the other apes fight the human soldiers," Koba gestured slowly. "I don't understand why Caesar would be sending me away."
Unbeknownst to Koba, Grey had kept a critical eye upon his scarred friend. Even if he was wounded as such, he still had eyes and ears that worked well and from what he's seen from the other apes, Koba didn't really know that they all very much hated him still. Hate… That feeling for which is so strong, that it very much so overbearing. Especially to the lives of the apes that had still decided to stay and fight. Maybe the reason Koba was being sent away by Caesar was most likely that the bonobo's presence did more harm than good. That was just his speculations of things of course, who really knows. Instead Grey kept up his smile, turning back to face Koba and patting the scarred bonobo on the shoulder.
"Whatever the reason is. You, Rocket, Ash and our prince, be safe," Grey gestured back. "We are now depending upon you."
"Not much I can do," Koba gestured with a frown but huffed with a smile, "but, we will."
Koba then climbed up upon his horse and turned to look at his other traveling companions momentarily before finally turning back to look down at Grey.
"You be safe too, my friend," Koba gestured to the brown haired chimp, to which Grey merely grunted with a smirk in reply.
…
As they all got on each of their horses, the traveling crew of seven all looked upon what was left of the ape colony, whom all stared back with hopeful gazes. Everyone was deathly silent, not knowing exactly what to say in this situation. For a moment Caesar simply stared at the small group and was about to speak, until Blue Eyes cleared his throat first and held his fists together.
"Apes. Together. Strong!" he said aloud.
There was a rumble of hoots and cheers from the apes of the colony and they all followed suit with their prince, all holding their fists together to show their unity. To show that they were all in this together, till the very bitter end.
Meeting the proud gazes of both his parents and beloved, Blue Eyes stared at them for a long while before he gestured a goodbye to all of them and turned his horse around, to leave on their journey. Following suit, the traveling companions also joined the blue eyed prince as he lead the way out of the forest to lead the humans to a safe destination and find the apes a new safe home.
Instead of looking forward, Koba turned his head back around and looked at Caesar as his horse followed the others. The both of them made eye contact, Caesar's gaze looking calm while Koba's looked hesitant. Koba's mind and body was telling him to defy Caesar's request to go. To stay and fight with the ape he's come to admire and love all those years ago. However, the longer he stared into Caesar's golden-green eyes the more it felt as if his king and friend was telling him to trust him. To believe in him and take this journey, away from the fighting. As much as his heart ached, Koba knew that this is what his Caesar wanted and if that is what he wanted for him, then he will do this without question. No matter how much it hurt him.
So, Koba kept his single working golden-green optic upon the chimpanzee king as he slowly rode away. He looked at the other apes that were staying behind as well. He could see Maurice, looking calm and hopeful for them. He noticed Luca standing tall and strong, ready to defend the apes at any given notice. He could see both Cornelia and Tinker, tearfully watching them go, holding onto each other for comfort. He saw Grey and Andy and their respective families, watching them move forward. He then took in the looks of all of the apes that were watching them go. Finally his gaze landed upon Caesar's again and they both held each other's gaze, until the trail dipped towards the left and their eye contact finally broke away from each others.
And Finally! It is the end of my run of the "Revelations" story line. I know it was a tad short and seems a bit rushed but if anyone is confused of anything or what has happened, do let me know and hopefully I can get it straightened out for you all.
Anyways, I had a blast writing this, if you loved it, please do leave a comment or two. If not, that's alright too. Apologies to all who wanted the humans to stay, unfortunately this is a very Apes-centric story with the human characters playing only minor roles within it, but they are still very important to the story.
I'll be slowly working on the next chapter which will detail an anthology of sorts, of what is happening or has happened during the 2 year time skip. I'd reckon it's only going to be one chapter with many different viewpoints of the apes within the story. After that, I'll go ahead and start on my version of "War for the Planet of the Apes," and hope you guys and gals stick with me till the very end too!
Again, Thanks everyone to all who have read and left a comment here. You are all very much appreciated for taking the time out of your time to leave me some notes and or feedback. I can't thank you enough for that. Whelp, Happy Readings, Everyone!