-Sounds Of The Waterfall-
After a hard day's work, Lake had found herself a secluded area by the waterfall. She tiredly rested herself upon some of the stones and turned to look up at the sky. There in the dim light the stars started to dot the heavens, casting the night with their twinkling lights. There was no sound to disturb her peace, nothing but the sounds of the waterfall to fill the night air. Soon enough though, she could hear the sounds of approaching pats, causing her to turn around to see who it was. To her surprise Lake saw that it was Maple, he good childhood friend, emerging from the inner caves to greet her.
"Hello, Lake," Maple greeted.
"Maple," Lake responded in kind.
The brown haired female walked on over and settled herself right next to Lake and gently leaned her head upon her shoulders.
"Is everything alright?" Lake asked curiously.
Heaving a deep breath, Maple closed her eyes for a moment before finally exhaling.
"I am just tired," Maple signed slowly, to which Lake responded with a small smile. "The fight between the human soldiers just continues. Several moons ago our warriors went off to fight, to destroy the human dam… Many came back hurt. Others… I did what I could but we can only do so much. Even the ones we tried to save. I-"
Maple couldn't continue as she turned her head away as tears fell.
"I know," Lake responded as she reached out and took a hold of Maple's hand. "Many of the young ones… They will never ever see their fathers or brothers again. It hurts me a lot when I see the little ones expecting to see their fathers and brothers, only for their mothers and sisters to tell them that they are not coming back. Their cries… It hurts me deeply so. But I must be strong for them. We will be strong for them. Understand?" Lake asked.
At this, Maple sniffed and nodded slowly and Lake relaxed herself. The many months after Blue Eyes and the others had left, has been difficult for everyone . There were rarely any days of peace for what was left of the colony as things had to be taken into consideration and much planning had to be done. Their warriors and Gorilla Guards would leave the safety of the waterfall and fight the human soldiers, leading them astray through the forest. Sacrificing themselves so that their families may survive the next day.
As the two sat there by the falls, listening to the cascading waters; Maple let out a light laugh, gaining Lake's attention.
"What is so funny?" Lake asked her friend.
Maple blinked at Lake before curtly turning her head away and a embarrassed smile enveloped her features.
"What is it?" Lake asked curiously, now intrigued.
"Just remembering when Ash had first approached me," Maple reminisced. "He was so… direct that I didn't know what to do."
"I remember that well," Lake beamed. "It was just after we were just learning about the beginnings of motherhood that Ash walked right up to you and gave your your favorite food and flowers."
"That he did," Maple smiled warmly. "After that he started to show more and more. He would help me carry many things, even when I told him he did not need to… but he did anyways. He always brought me food and water and…" Maple trailed on.
"It just shows you how much he likes you," Lake gestured in as well.
"And. You. With. Blue Eyes?" Maple then asked.
At the mention of the sky eyed ape, Lake couldn't help but roll her eyes in annoyance and harrumphed on the spot.
"Blue Eyes is so… I can't even think of what to say right now. But it took him a long time. Even when I approached him," Lake responded with a grunt.
At this, Maple smiled warmly, remembering her friend's attempt at the oblivious young prince a while ago.
"You can't blame him though, Lake. He is prince. He has to do and learn things differently than many of the other apes our age," Maple gestured to the other female. "He does not have time to learn and be much with the others like we have."
Lake breathed deeply through her nose but relaxed her features.
"I know, and I understand. It is just hard sometimes. I honestly do not know why I went after him in the first place. I don't even know if he is right with me," Lake gestured slowly.
"Do you like him though?" Maple asked curiously.
At this, Lake simply nodded slowly.
"And does he like you in return?"
"Now that he knows, yes," Lake gestured.
"Then that is all you need to know," Maple signed back, a gentle smile upon her lips, causing Lake to mirror it.
As the two spoke more and laughed about the times when they were young and reminiscing about the past. Bot Lake and Maple groomed one another and simply sat by the falls, letting their memories filled their minds and beings about better times. A time without pain and suffering like now, if just for a little while.
"What is the matter?" Lake asked, noticing the change in her friend.
"I miss him, Lake. Ash. I miss him very much. I miss his smile, his laughter and when he holds me close. I know he is safe with Blue Eyes and Rocket. But he is still with… with…"
"Koba." Lake finished for the other female who huffed.
"I do not understand. Why did Caesar send Koba with them? He was the one who started all of this did he not?" Maple grunted out.
Lake took in a deep breath and reached out, taking her friend's hands into hers and held it for a moment.
"I do not understand it myself but I believe in Caesar's decision," Lake responded in kind. "Whatever reason Caesar did what he did, he must know something that we ourselves do not understand. Like sending Koba with the others. Remember, Koba was not always bad to us. He was kind and loving as well… just like Pope was. But we until then, we found out that Pope was the cause of all of this too. So I do not know," Lake finished.
The two were silent once more, contemplating on what had changed so much between then and now. Thinking on what could have been done differently or what could have transpired if they had never met the humans in the first place. Would they have just existed like nothing has happened? Or would they eventually be found out anyways? There were so many possibilities.
Hearing a soft hoot, both Lake and Maple turned their heads and noticed a very heavily pregnant Tinker looking right at them.
"There you two are. I was wondering where you both were," Tinker gestured as she came up to the two younger females.
"Is something the matter aunt Tinker?" Lake asked quickly, standing up to meet with the older female.
Tinker stopped in her tracks, seeing the worried faces upon the two younger females and gently she reached out and took their hands.
"Nothing is the matter. Just wondering where you two were," Tinker hummed as she gestured at the two.
Relief showed upon both Lake and Maple's faces before they reached out and gently hugged Tinker.
"What were you two doing all the way out here for?" Tinker asked curiously.
"We were just talking about Blue Eyes, Ash, Rocket and Koba. Wondering how they are doing," Lake responded, before she caught herself.
At the mention of both Ash and Rocket's names, a sad frown enveloped the older female's features and Tinker gently placed a hand upon her big belly.
"I am sorry aunt Tinker. I did not mean to-"
"It. Alright," Tinker breathed quietly while she looked down at her distended belly.
Both Lake and Maple looked at one another, not sure what to do but Tinker lifted back up her head and simply smiled warmly at the two.
"I believe. They will come back. I do not know when but maybe soon," Tinker gestured.
"Maybe, very soon," Maple said as well, gaining an nod from the older female.
"Come you two. It is getting dark now. Your families must be worried about the both of you," Tinker signed to the both of the younger females.
At this, both Lake and Maple agreed as they all went along with Tinker back into the safety of their new home. A home that was hidden behind the falling waters, shielding them from the outside world.
...
While Tinker lead the two younger females back into the caverns she ushered the two to their families as soon as possible. Once they all had left, Tinker turned herself in for the rest of the evening as well, making her way back to her own sleeping quarters. It was a generous area, big and round, with a giant nesting area made of the softest branches and leaves that could be found. Crawling into it, Maple laid there all alone as her thoughts wandered to her two missing boys.
It had been a very long time now since her beloved Rocket and sweet little Ash had gone off into the unknown world. There was not a day where she didn't think of the both of them. Wondering if they were alright or not. She tried to keep her dark thoughts about them as far away form possible, but sometimes they were just too much and she would go into a secluded spot to silently cry by herself. It is here now she is now allowing herself to cry again, at missing both Rocket and Ash. Oh, she hoped that they were alright. That one day they would both come back to her, safe and sound, and be within her arms once more.
With a shudder, Tinker buried her face within her hands and silently wept into them. While crying to herself, Tinker did not realize a few figures had approached her chamber and was a little startled when she felt a hand upon her shoulder. Gasping, Tinker looked upwards and was surprised to see Cornelia, a little sleeping Cornelius within her arms, and both Lake and Maple. Sniffing and wiping away at her eyes, Tinker sat up in her nest and curiously looked at the other three.
"Cornelia? Lake? Maple. What are you all doing here?" Tinker had asked.
"To be with you," Cornelia simply answered with a warm smile as she entered the nest and laid down next to Tinker.
"What about Caesar? Your families?" Tinker asked.
"Caesar is fine. He is still very busy at the moment and I have already let him know that I was here," Cornelia explained.
"Mother and father said that I could come," Maple chimed in next. "Mother says that her stomach has been acting up so they will need much of the nest as possible."
"And I have already asked my mother and father too," Lake finished as she laid in as well.
"Why did you all come here?" Tinker questioned, curiosity enveloping her features.
"Because I wanted to say sorry," Lake responded.
"Because we need not be alone," Cornelia answered next.
"Because you are my beloved's mother and therefore that makes you my mother too. What kind of daughter would I be if I cannot take care of either of my mothers," Maple said lastly.
Upon hearing this from Maple, Tinker could help but smile as joy and warmth filled her being. She reached out and hugged every one of the other females firmly, glad that they were all there, just for her.
"Thank you. All of you," Tinker sniffed.
"Let us sleep now," Cornelia gently shushed her friend and laid down next to her, keeping little Cornelius close to her.
After that the four of them were lulled into a gentle slumber, with all their worries and sadness pushed away by the sounds of the waterfall.