Lydia
The final, satisfying click of a shackle being unlocked sounded just as the ape children had begun to make their way across the gap between the cages, inching along one of the steel wires high above everyone's heads.
It looked too precarious for Lydia's liking, the way children of varying ages and sizes crept along like pearls on a string, right past the unsuspecting soldiers on the walkway below them.
Her, Caesar and Rocket had managed to deal with some of the ground forces around the cages but hadn't been able to do much about the sentinels on the walls. They would just have to hope that what they had already accomplished would be enough…
At least they had found another key while Orion and Ivy had gone to get the kids, which in turn meant that once everyone had made it across to the adult cage, their parents would be free of their chains and ready to sneak down into the tunnels as well.
From the moment the first child dropped down his mother's waiting arms, the adult apes' cage was buzzing with excitement, accompanied by low, gleeful chitters from both young and old.
Lydia smiled at the many little scenes of reunion playing out all around her, though she would readily admit that she was more than a little envious as her gaze shifted from the apes around her and back to the wire above. She was, of course, looking for Cornelius, even if she had a sneaking suspicion that Orion would personally see to the Ape Prince's safety and bring him along as the last one. It would be very much like her ever-responsible elder son to do so.
A soft hoot sounded beside Lydia, and she turned her head to find Juniper standing there, also staring up at the cables stretched above their heads.
"It would seem we were right to let our children take care of this." She signed once her gaze turned to Lydia.
The human woman briefly wondered where Shale was at, since he had been at his wife's side almost constantly the entire time Lydia had been here, supporting his mate in her weakened state. She spotted him almost immediately over by some of the other male apes, all of them helping an aging female orangutan to her feet and leading her towards the entrance to the tunnel. They would have to expand it for some of the larger apes to be able to get through, seeing as there was no way a fully-grown silverback or orangutan would fit through that space. Maybe Shale and the others would see to that as well?
Either way, while she did look extremely weary, Juniper seemed to be able to move around just fine without her mate's constant help. Lydia couldn't help but speculate that maybe, just maybe, seeing her daughter grow almost an entire inch with confidence at receiving her mother's support had changed something in Juniper as well?
"I'm surprised you let her." Lydia spoke, not being able to hold it in.
Instead of being offended, Juniper gave a somewhat wheezy chuckle at her words, coupled with a small, lopsided smile.
"I was always worried about what would become of her. She was never a typical female, always wanting to play wild, picking fights instead of going to us when others angered her. I thought no male would ever settle with a female with such a wilful nature…"
She paused for a moment, her smile growing a fraction before she continued her signing.
"Then your Orion came along and showed me differently."
Lydia chuckled warmly at that.
"Can't say I haven't had the same sort of concerns about Orion." She replied, though she couldn't, and wouldn't, try to conceal the pride she felt for her son at Juniper's confession. She was pretty sure it showed on her face.
The female chimp seemed puzzled by her statement.
"About Orion? But he is a fine male ape." She signed. "What concerns could you have for him?"
Casually hooking her thumbs onto her pockets, Lydia sighed, a somewhat sheepish expression on her face.
"It wasn't as much a concern about him as it was about how me being human might have a negative impact on his life. I tried my best to give him a somewhat normal upbringing, but… I suppose it can't be helped if me not being an ape has affected him."
"I thought you told the Colonel that you were not ashamed of being human?" Juniper said, raising a comparatively heavy brow at the woman.
"I'm not." Lydia replied easily. She truly wasn't. "That doesn't mean I'm not aware of what consequences it might've had for Orion, though."
Juniper shook her head at that and laid a slender hand on Lydia's shoulder. It was a light, almost dainty sort of touch, but reassuring nonetheless. Then, she let go to sign once more.
"You don't need to worry at all, Lydia. You did as well as any ape would where your son is concerned. I can't think of anything negative that could have been a result of you being different."
Lydia gave a doubtful look at that.
"Aren't you sort of forgetting the incident that started this whole mess? Do you think Koba would've imprisoned him and Roy if I had been an ape like everyone else?"
She didn't want to mention how Roy also might not have been shot if he hadn't been inside that makeshift prison bus that night. How Orion might have been spared having to watch his father die if only they hadn't been locked up for having connections to a human. Lydia had thought a lot about that in the weeks and even months after Koba's betrayal, even if she knew it had been useless to do so. There was no changing the past, though Lydia hadn't been able to let go of the guilt she had felt.
"Koba imprisoned anyone still loyal to Caesar's ways. You know that, Lydia… And the consequences of his hatred were not only limited to those he held captive…" Juniper was quick to point out, casting a meaningful, sideways glance at Tinker and Rocket, who stood together, overseeing the reunion of the many families. Unlike Lydia, Juniper and many others all around them, they wouldn't get to be reunited with their offspring…
Because Ash was dead, courtesy of Koba himself... And he hadn't been inside that prison bus.
"His choice still haunts us." The fatigued female chimp stated sadly.
Lydia gave a solemn nod of her head, letting her eyes wander back up to the metal wire again to look for her boys. Immediately, her heart was flooded with relief.
"Here they come." She breathed, watching as Ivy made her way past the top of the adult's cage, Orion following close behind with Cornelius clinging to his back, as Lydia had guessed he would.
They were the last to make it across and, with a heavy thumping-sound, landed on the ground a few yards away from where Lydia and Juniper stood. Both mothers rushed forward to greet the trio, Juniper wrapping her arms around her daughter in a fierce embrace. One of Orion long arms pulled Lydia to him as Cornelius scrambled to the ground and rounded the adult male's leg, cooing eagerly as he reached for Lydia as well.
It was a trembling sigh that left her as she picked up the Ape Prince and kissed the crown of his head. It had been agonising to be so close and yet so far away, unable to comfort the child as he had cried for both Caesar and Lydia herself. To have both of them here now, in her arms…
Lydia didn't want to ever let these two apes go again. For a moment, she doubted she would actually be able to.
But then the Ape King had stepped forth, having also seen the two adults arrive with his last living son, and Lydia was suddenly more than happy to set Cornelius down on the ground, crouching beside him as she pointed to his father.
"Look who's here…" She spoke gently, a smile playing on her lips.
And when she looked up to gauge Caesar's reaction to finally being reunited with his son, Lydia could barely contain the quiet, sob-like gasp that left her. She couldn't remember ever seeing him so happy and relieved, his green-and-golden eyes glistening with unshed tears and his arms outstretched as he crouched down in front of Cornelius, who bolted forward with a soft cry.
The Ape Prince was promptly wrapped up in a desperate embrace, the sound of his cooing mingling with Caesar's huffs and whispered words of comfort.
Lydia got up from her crouch and took a brief moment with Orion to just stare fondly at the heartfelt reunion, their arms slung around one another.
"Good job, you two." She praised the young pair at her side.
But even though Orion did look pleased about her approval, he soon got a deep, serious crease between his heavy brows.
"Mother… Red was there. He came with Flint and Sampson. They ambushed us inside the cage." He said in a tense voice, making Lydia's eyes widen with newfound worry and confusion. "He… He helped us. Killed Flint and let us go with the children."
"Why?" Caesar was first to ask, suspicion clear in his voice. He was still holding Cornelius protectively to his chest, but his eyes were now hard and serious again as he looked to Orion for an answer.
Why indeed, Lydia thought, casting a sideways glance through the bars and into the children's cage. Red was nowhere to be seen.
Orion shook his head.
"I do not know." He said, and Lydia could easily see the frustration Orion felt at that. "He only said that he was 'saving himself'…"
"I hope that doesn't mean he intends to rat out on us." Lydia spoke, sharing a look with Caesar, who pursed his lips critically. After everything that had happened, she didn't think it'd be all that out of character for Red to try and gain favour with the Colonel by tricking the apes into thinking that he was helping, only to go to the madman and make it appear that he had actually prevented a prison break.
Caesar didn't seem as concerned as Lydia, which told the woman that he, at the very least, had a faint idea as to what the gorilla might have tried to convey with his words to Orion and Ivy.
Even so, Lydia didn't trust Red as far as she could throw him. Caesar had been wrong before.
The Ape King set Cornelius down, holding on to the child's hand as he inclined his head towards the hole in the ground a few yards away, through which they were all going to escape.
"We can't worry about that now. We must get everyone out." He concluded, earning himself a collective nod of the head from everyone present.
As they all began making their way towards the underground tunnel, however, Lydia made sure to discreetly linger at the back of the group and grabbed a hold of Orion's wrist to make sure he did the same. He turned with a brow raised at her and a concerned twist of his mouth.
"Mother…?"
Lydia bit her lip, even though it still hurt from having been split a few days ago and hadn't completely healed. Then, gathering herself, she sighed heavily and finally looked Orion directly in the eyes.
"Stay with Ivy and her parents, okay? And take care of Cornelius for now." She instructed, proceeding to stuff her hand into her coat pocket. "I'll be right behind you."
She fished out her family necklace, the one she had taken off upon being thrown into the adults' cage a few days prior, and showed it to Orion just as his gaze began to turn stern at her words.
"I promise, Orion." Lydia said as she pulled the leather string over her head and down around her neck. It was comforting to once again feel the weight of the fangs and claws resting against the top of her sternum.
The use of his actual name rather than a term of endearment, coupled with her putting the necklace back on, seemed to placate Orion somewhat, as he no longer looked like he was about to protest. He still shot a meaningful, sideways glance at Caesar's back, though, to which Lydia could only give a nod once his eyes were back on her again. That single look was all she needed to know what was on his mind…
Yes, she was staying here for the Ape King's sake. She was still determined to help him. To pull him out of the darkness. She owed it to Cornelius…
And also, she loved Caesar too much to not, at the very least, try – despite the recent strain on their relationship.
Orion's lips formed a thin line.
"If he comes out without you, Mother… I am coming back to get you."
Lydia sighed once more, this time in slight exasperation. She was aware that Orion had lost a lot of faith in Caesar after everything that had happened, and she did truly feel touched by her son's determination to protect her, but…
"Orion, Caesar had faith in you when he agreed to send you in to get Cornelius and the other children." Lydia spoke with just the barest hint of sternness in her voice. Then, it turned soft once more as she reached up to lay a hand on his shoulder. "How about you had some faith in him now? Or in me, if no one else?"
After a moment's consideration, Orion reluctantly nodded and grabbed the centrepiece of his own necklace, his stare earnest and meaningful.
"I will, Mother." He agreed and leaned forward to put his forehead against Lydia's own.
It was a deal.
Soon after that, mother and son made their way over to the rest of the colony, its members all gathered around the hole in the ground leading to their escape. It was decided that the children, being the apes' future, would go first, followed shortly afterwards by their parents and the rest of the colony.
And the first one to be sent down into the darkness was Cornelius. The Ape Prince and future king.
Though clearly reluctant to leave Caesar's side again, he dutifully let himself be lowered down through the hole and into Maurice's waiting arms. At least he was met by a familiar, welcoming face.
Lydia could only give a soft smile of encouragement as the prince shot one last longing glance up at her before he disappeared. She hoped it had been convincing enough. All she had really wanted to do in that moment was follow and make sure he would be alright, instead of standing here and schooling her features like this as everyone, including Orion and Ivy, left as well.
But Lydia had to stay. She had to make sure Caesar would get out as well – because something inside her told her that he hadn't completely let go of the grudge he felt against the Colonel.
The fact that he had turned away from the escape-route when just a few apes remained inside the cage only confirmed her suspicion, and she could only stare at his broad back as he made his way to the edge of the enclosure.
Rocket chittered lowly at her, laying a hand on her upper back and urging her to go as well. He was unsuccessful, however, and soon realised why Lydia was suddenly so distracted.
The human woman got up from her crouching position beside the hole and, closely followed by Rocket, went to the Ape King.
Unlike the colony's second-in-command, who gibbered and panted as he signed at Caesar, Lydia stayed quiet as she followed her lover's intense gaze – up to the Colonel's quarters.
"Caesar, what's wrong?" Rocket asked concernedly though Caesar, for a long while, said nothing.
Then, he turned to his trusted second and, in a voice that seemed almost resigned to Lydia, urged the two of them to leave as he inclined his head towards the hole leading down into the tunnels.
"Hurry. You must go."
"Without you? No..." Rocket signed almost dejectedly.
Lydia stayed quiet, watching the conversation between the two old friends play out. It wasn't just her who cared about Caesar and wanted him to be safe, and Rocket had known him far longer than Lydia herself had. She didn't want to intrude on what she knew to be an important conversation between the two – though inclined to protest as well, she'd have her say when the time was right.
Caesar sighed, his eyes downcast.
"Maurice was right… I am like Koba." He spoke, his quiet sense of self-discovery almost startling to Lydia.
She had never expected him to admit it – much less say it out loud. He had been so furious when Maurice had pointed it out, and even more so when Lydia had agreed to the statement. For him to make this sort of confession now…
Lydia didn't know if she should be proud of him or give in to the ache she felt at hearing him utter these words.
"He could not escape his hate…" Caesar continued, undaunted, turning back to stare through the open door of the Colonel's balcony and uttering his next words in a grudging whisper. "And I still cannot escape mine… He took too much from me. Hurt too many that I love."
Lydia was certain that Rocket noticed the not-so-subtle sideways glance Caesar directed towards her as he turned back and said those words, but for whatever reason, he chose not to comment on it. In fact, he only nodded seriously and let Caesar reach forward and pull his forehead against his own, just as Orion had done with Lydia just before he had left.
Rocket still didn't look pleased with the idea of leaving without Caesar, though he made no further protests on the matter, simply jutting out his chin and giving a firm nod of understanding at his king.
Then, he turned to Lydia.
"Come, Lydia." He signed at her as he stepped over to her. "We should leave."
He gently grabbed onto her upper arm in an attempt to direct her towards their escape route, but stopped and stared in mild confusion and, perhaps, trepidation once he realised Lydia wasn't budging.
She put a hand over the one he had on her arm and gently pried it off, shaking her head.
"I'm staying here too, Rocket."
Both apes turned to stare at her, Caesar with what seemed to be a startled, almost pleading look in his eyes, while Rocket merely looked taken aback.
"Lydia." Caesar spoke grittily, though there was no anger in his voice. "This is too dangerous."
There was no real fight in his voice, Lydia realised. It was almost like he knew he wouldn't be able to change her mind, but felt like he had to try anyway, just in case he would be successful with it… For once.
"I agree with Caesar, Lydia. You must come with me, it's not safe here!" Rocket chimed in, worry clear in his features. He was far more animated in his protest than Caesar.
She gave a small, fond smile at him. He was a good friend, both to her and to the Ape King. One of the best and truest she had ever had, actually.
But she couldn't let that deter now.
"Do you remember that night Roy died, Rocket?" Lydia asked gently, and both he and Caesar looked mildly confused by the question.
The balding ape nodded nonetheless.
"Do you remember what you told Caesar that night? When I wanted to go with you all to face Koba and he refused to let me?" She asked further, still in that calm, gentle tone of hers.
A small frown appeared on Rocket's face as he tried to remember, while Caesar watched the exchange calmly. He had probably already figured out what she was going to say, while Rocket still clearly needed her to be a little more specific.
She didn't give him time to recall before she deigned to remind him herself.
"You told him that I'm not a normal female. That I never had been and that he shouldn't treat me like one either."
Rocket understood the meaning behind this immediately, though looked like he still wanted to argue but couldn't come up with a counter. They had been his own words, after all, and they had been true. Lydia wasn't like the other females. He knew that, Caesar knew that, and Lydia did too – heck, everyone in the colony did.
"Besides, I would like to get my bow and hunting knife back." Lydia added with a small, careful smile.
It was a shoddy attempt at diffusing the tension with humour, the three of them all knew that as well. Even so, Rocket, at least, managed to give a huff of a chuckle, shaking his head at Lydia before his features once again turned serious.
"Protect each other." He instructed, his gaze shifting between Caesar and Lydia now. "We will all be waiting for you two."
Lydia, now equally serious in her expression, nodded dutifully and stepped forward to embrace her long-time friend. Rocket's grip, though not suffocating, was as fierce as Lydia's own as he returned the gesture, and she fought hard to keep her emotions in check as a lump formed in her throat.
She would get out of there. And so would Caesar!
He left after that, letting go of Lydia and adjusting the gun slung across his back before he trudged towards the hole in the ground. He only gave a firm nod at them both as a last farewell before he jumped down into the darkness with a soft 'thump', leaving Lydia alone at last with the Ape King.
A brief, tense silence ensued after that.
Even though he had been unexpectedly passive, calm even, in arguing about Lydia wanting to stay here, she somehow still thought he would scold her once Rocket was out of sight. Had thought he would try to convince her himself, by means of harsh words, if he had to. Lydia was preparing herself for it, out of habit by now, as he stepped up to stand in front of her.
He drew in a deep breath, only to exhale it in an almost resigned manner.
"I wish you would have gone with Rocket…" He spoke calmly, his green-and-golden gaze shifting down towards her hand almost as if he wanted to reach out for it.
She beat him to it, though, sneaking her hand into his own and squeezing it reassuringly.
The last time they had spoken one-on-one had ended in disaster and some really hurtful things had been said that night. It wasn't like Lydia had forgotten, and she knew Caesar hadn't either. But right now, that didn't matter to her. She just wanted to find comfort in his touch again and, more importantly, make sure they both got out of there once they had dealt with the Colonel.
Everything else could be talked out when this was all over.
"I promised I'd stay with you through it all, didn't I? Whether you would like it or not." She reminded Caesar with a soft look in her eyes which, for the briefest of moments, had a small smile appear on the Ape King's face.
"Yes." He nodded, brushing his thumb across the back of her hand. "And I'm glad you are coming too."
