It had only felt as if a moment had passed by as Blue Eyes was slowly roused from his sleep with the sounds of birds chirping into the air. With a still tired groan, Blue Eyes cracked open an eyelid and was greeted with nothing but the dark and nightly chilled air. Taking in a deep breath and closing his eyes once more, Blue Eyes took a moment to lay where he was, allowing his body to slowly wake.
The day before, Blue Eyes had decided that before he should venture forth into the world, that he would spend one last night in the great forest. As much as he and the other apes had made this place their home, it was due time that they moved away. Move to somewhere far and safe for them, away from the warring conflicts that the humans and apes wanted.
Opening his jaws in a long silent yawn, Blue Eyes finally sat up from his makeshift nest of branches, up in the tree and reached up to rub the sleep out of his eyes. Looking around, Blue Eyes spotted the bag that was given to him by the human friends that had found him, hanging in a tree branch, not too far from him. Getting up quietly, Blue Eyes went over to the bag and put his arms through the looping straps, swung it onto his back before climbing down to the forest floor.
Just as expected, the morning light was already beginning to shine beyond the sky when Blue Eyes made it to the forest floor. And with just a few steps forward, Blue Eyes passed from the forest's threshold and out into the open. Looking towards the east, Blue Eyes could see the sun just barely cresting over in the distance now. Its bright golden yellow rays illuminating the dark blue sky.
Making good time, Blue Eyes silently and quickly made his way across the fields, making sure to keep to the tall grass and making sure that he blended in the darker areas. Luckily there were not many predators around the area that would be a threat to an ape like himself. Only a few and those animals prefer the deeper woods, rather than being in the open like him. But, one cannot be too careful as any starving animal would do what it can to feed itself, even to venture out from the protective forest like him.
In just a few hours, with the sun rising into the sky now, Blue Eyes made it to the crest of a hill and stopped there. Taking a deep breath, Blue Eyes stared off into the vast lands that laid before him. He had often forgotten that the world out there was quite wonderful. It held many things that he, his father nor any other apes knew about. Of course he's heard tales from older apes and Malcolm about forests with trees much bigger than their structures made of stone and glass. Blue Eyes hoped that one day, if he was lucky, he would get to see these forests with giant trees.
Turning back around slowly, Blue Eyes couldn't help but take one last look at the forest that he had once called home. The place where he and many other apes grew up and made pleasant memories for themselves, along with the bad. Knowing what he knew now, Blue Eyes wished dearly that things hadn't gone the way it did with the humans and apes. Wished dearly that they could have lived in peace with each other, just like his father wanted. But… the hatred within both men and ape was too strong.
It pained Blue Eyes but he had to keep moving. The more he stalled on his journey back, the longer it would take for him to see his father and brother again, let alone his sweetheart.
At the thought of Lake, Blue Eyes couldn't help himself as he stopped in his tracks and reached up to take a hold of the necklace that hung around his neck. Thumbing the shattered stone gently, Blue Eyes remembered when Lake had given it to him so long ago.
"This is my gift to you, Blue Eyes. Be safe on your journey. And you come back to me."
Remembering Lake's message to him, Blue Eyes' grip tightened firmly over the stone, as he held it closer to his chest.
"I will," Blue Eyes said quietly as he released the object.
Closing his eyes, Blue Eyes took a deep breath before letting out a long exhale and turned southward, towards his destination in the distance. Without another word, Blue Eyes proceeded forward, leaving his old home for the last time.
…
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…
It has been roughly three days since Caesar had found himself waking up in the care of his old human friends. During his stay he had learned a great deal about the place that he and the others were in. Apparently it was called Esperanza and it also had another nearby city in which humans were now thriving peacefully.
"It wasn't always like this though," Malcolm slowed down with a sad smile.
Noticing the change in Malcolm's demeanor, Caesar shifted in his bed, sitting up a bit straighter.
"What happened?" Caesar asked.
"Well… as you've already known," Malcolm started as he peered out the window to see Maurice and Nova interacting with some of the other townsfolk, who kept a respectable distance. "When Alex, Ellie and I had first arrived, there was a civil war of sorts going on between the people and the military personnel who resided here. The dispute was over resources between the two factions. Funny enough, it was found out that the military was keeping secret about their own being infected with some sort of new virus. Because of that, there was an outbreak that got out of hand and well…"
When the man had become quiet and crestfallen, Caesar couldn't help but tilt his head.
"You said that there were infected?" Caesar spoke after a moment. "What happened to them?"
The man was quiet, as if he were in deep thought. Eventually Malcolm turned his gaze back to Caesar and slowly shook his head.
"The military here had only one solution in taking care of the ones that were exposed instead of seeking other options," Malcolm explained.
At that, Caesar lowered his gaze and nodded, understanding.
"But, hey," Malcolm said as he went on over and sat beside Caesar's bedside. "Don't worry yourself over what happened to us," Malcolm assured with a hopeful smile. "That's just something in the past. Actually, after that whole thing, the people overthrew the military and found a way to coexist with what remaining exposed people we still have. Sure, the adults most likely won't be able to recover but that doesn't mean that we have to outright kill them. But there's still hope. The children, the ones that were exposed to this new virus. They are still here and show promise that there may be a way that we humans may still recover from all of this. So, don't you worry,"
Hearing Malcolm informing him that they were going to be okay, Caesar couldn't help but return the man's smile as well. Of course the humans would find a way to solve the illness. They were quite resourceful after all, especially in dire times like this. That was most likely how they knew how to deal with Nova, with such experiences that they've had already.
Maybe things weren't so bleak after all.
…
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…
After gathering what lumber he could help with, Ash tossed them onto the pile to be broken down, so that they could start to build out their homes for their new lives. Taking a deep breath and stretching his sore limbs for a moment, Ash took a quick look around to see all of the apes doing their part to help rebuild their lives. Yes, they may be beaten and battered but their spirit to live on was strong and he could see it in every single one of them.
Out of the corner of his eye, Ash noticed an approaching ape and couldn't help but smile warmly as he saw who it was. With a platter in hand, Maple made her way towards him and stood there as he reached out to gently caress her cheek with a thumb.
"What are you doing here?" Ash asked.
"Just wanted to see you," Maple answered.
"Sorry, I have been busy since my father," Ash apologized.
"What are you apologizing for? Your father left you a great responsibility and it is understandable that your attention would be elsewhere," Maple gestured back.
"But it shouldn't be. Not from you," Ash signed back.
Ash then brought both his and Maple's brows to each other, standing there quietly and soaking up each other's presence before pulling back.
"How are you?" Ash asked.
Maple smiled tenderly as she placed her head upon Ash's chest, hearing the strong heartbeats beneath it.
"As long as you are here, I am well," Maple answered softly.
Circling his arms around Maple, Ash placed his snout atop of her head as he held her protectively.
"That is good to hear," Ash said softly.
The two apes stood there for a moment before Maple sighed and took a step back, confusing Ash for a bit.
"I worry for Lake," Maple explained as she looked off into the distance. "She has been by herself as of late and is very distant from me. It is as if she is not there sometimes. I wish I can help her."
Hearing the news from Maple, Ash couldn't help but frown. He had seen many of the other apes going through the same process Lake is. She, like many others, had lost their loved ones in this war. Blue Eyes was his best friend and was taken from them not that long ago. The pain that Lake and many of the apes are going through. Whether it be their loved ones, fathers and or brothers.
It is unbearable.
Ash quietly reached out and took Maple's free hand and looked her in the eyes.
"I know that it is painful for Lake. As for many others. But… give them time," Ash reassured Maple.
As much as Ash was trying to lift up her spirits, Maple couldn't help but slowly nod in response to his words.
"I know…" Maple sighed.
As the two stood there, Maple suddenly perked up, as if she had remembered something.
"I brought these over to you. Thought you may be hungry," Maple suddenly said aloud.
Ash was very surprised when he was presented with the platter that was full of berries. Huffing in amusement, he took a hold of the object.
"How about we eat them together," Ash insisted.
Before Maple could say anything, Ash had already took a hold of her hand and was leading her to a private spot so that they could enjoy their food together.