The man looks surprised by the information she just told him. "Garret actually did that to you?..." he said out loud in disbelief.
She huffed day.
"Believe me it was a shock to me too..." she said as she leaned back in her chair and ran a hand through her hair.
"He began to surprise me a lot during that time..." she said quietly.
Muir Woods, 3 years ago
Iris followed Garret to what seemed to be the shallow part of the river. "Were gonna sabotage their production mine. I suspect that's Grey's operation, Red powers up the Soldier's, and Onyx has said sending him info and hiding in Caesar's populace" Garrett signed seriously at the human as the rain started to lead up "Finally no rain" he sighed in relief.
Iris looked up and chuckled lightly "What's with you and rain Garret," she said as she followed him down the river.
"Rgh! Itches!" He growled scratching at his arms trying to relieve the itch.
" I always liked the rain...it always relaxed me..." she said as she watched the rain slowly became trickles.
"Rgh easy for you to say Iris" he glared back at her.
She a smile grew as she laughed at the grumpy gorilla, Garret looked at her a little surprised due not seeing her smile let alone laugh before.
I knew that would make her laugh he smiled in his mind.
"Can you see the clearing?" He asked the human woman.
The young woman quickly became serious when she saw where he was pointing "Yea..." she said quietly.
Down the stream led to a more rockier terrain.
"If you see Onyx don't ever hesitate, kill him with all of your rage same with Grey and Red...I can't have you be a liability" he eyed Iris.
The trees were getting more clearer knowing there are tree stumps ahead, Iris tightened her hold on the machete at this, she really didn't want to kill but due to recent events she didn't know if it was unavoidable, she was really afraid she revert to her inner darkness and wouldn't be able to come out.
"Iris!" He snapped his fingers at her fingers "Are you listening?" He asked.
She snapped back to reality to look at him a little in shock but quickly regain her composer. "Yea...yea I am I'm just thinking...about things," she said as her eyes quickly caught sight of an old fire watch station.
"Don't give in to the thoughts they will bring you down, believe it or not, your mind is your true enemy?" he said.
"Trust me, Garret, if you went inside my mind you would be truly scared about what you might find in there," she said as walked through dense greenery while still eyeing the fire watch station.
"Were almost there" he whispered.
*Bam!* A gunshot fired.
Iris lowered her self onto the ground on instinct and looked around in a panic. "Garret what was that!" she hissed loudly under her breath.
"Stay the fuck back or else you'll get the second shot to the fuckin head!" A female voice called out.
Iris spotted a woman aiming a weapon at them with her finger on the trigger more ready to fire again. Iris got up slowly and looked at the woman hard and emotionless "Trust me when I say this bitch that gun won't be able to protect you from me"
"Why are you out here? Are you with the soldiers?" Iris demanded from her.
"Fuck the Soldiers! I'm hunting for food!" The woman called out.
"Do I look like that to you!" Iris yelled at her enraged.
"So answer my question bitch! Who are you and what are you doing here with a goddamn filthy Ape!" She yelled out.
Iris turned to look at Garret who growling at the unknown woman "If you hadn't heard there have been killings happening up here lately we are patrolling" she told her the somewhat truth.
"Bullshit! Your not AlphaOmega" she called out.
"Trust me if you don't put your gun down right now you're going have to deal with Garret " she warned her as she eyes the gorilla who looked ready to charge.
"And your damn right I'm not of those murdering bastards," she said as she made her way over to the other woman" I'm not going to say this again PUT DOWN THE GOD DAMN GUN!" she yelled at her.
The woman rose up from a rusted car carefully lowering her rifle to reveal her face she wore blue jeans with red sneakers, a tied plaid shirt around her waist an orange shirt and very short black hair.
"You touch my gun and you die, bitch!" She growled.
Iris yanked the car door open and dragged her out, both wrestled with the gun which eventually made them fall onto the dirt.
Even though she had blows coming at her she was finally able with much difficulty to get the gun out the other woman hands and threw it to the opposite of the dirt, she then twisted one of the woman's arm, slam her into the dirt, and lift her twisted arm high behind her in the air while her knee dug in her back. With the woman now restrained in an uncomfortable position Iris let out a deep huff as she pushed some hair back with her free hand "Submit!" Iris orders hoarsely to her.
"Fuck you! She gritted grabbing a fistful of dirt with her free hand and then smeared it in her face.
Iris was blindsided as the other woman slammed her into the dirt and started to throw blows at her again The brunette was getting fed up with this and decided enough was enough she felt her rage piling up making her kick the other woman off her and jumped on top of her and started throwing her own blows at her.
"You Bitch! were all gonna die in this shithole if we keep this up!" The short-haired woman glared at Iris.
"Then calm down and listen to me" Iris growled at her as she grabbed her by the shoulders and slammed her back into the dirt" We are not here to hurt you " she said as she forcefully grabbed her chin and made her look her in the eyes as she took deep huffs" Because I swear if you don't calm down you won't have to worry about me you will have to worry about him" Iris pointed to Garret who was still glaring at the new woman.
"Keep that Animal away from me!" she growled pushing her off.
Iris sat up as she tried to catch her breath "Thanks for the help Garret!" she spat at him sarcastically as she glared.
"I don't care about his fuckin name get that animal away from me!" She yelled throwing mud at Iris's pants holstering her gun around her chest.
"I was hoping you two could've had some female quality time" he said sarcastically.
"Yea fucking quality time..." she growled under her breath as she glared at him before she turned her eyes back to the other woman. "Some advice...I wouldn't keep insulting him he's isn't as nice as I am and most definitely tare your arm off with his bare hands and mean literally so I suggest you cut your bull..." Iris told her seriously as she went up to her"Who are you?..." the brunette asked her.
"Carley. that's all your getting from me and I don't Fuckin care about him as long he keeps a distant and you shut up about him that's fine" she spat opening the rusted car door.
"Trust me I don't think he likes you that much ethier...and by the amount of deep hatred your showing for him and the fact you know how to use a military grade rifle I would suspect you of being Alpha Omega "she said as she crossed her arms while her eyes trailed to her gun.
"Are you kidding me!" She gave out a chuckle "a good friend of mine taught me how to use a gun and no he wasn't part of those cocks" she spat searching the glove box.
"Say what you want but New York Doesn't have it worst than California" she explained.
"I know...I was right in the middle of when they called Marshall law and when the rioting started here..." Iris told her plainly as she remembered all the chaos and death that went on in the streets"So you're passing through then?..."
"Yes," Carley muttered.
Iris sighed deeply.
"You shouldn't go waving that gun around...I'm not telling you to get rid because honestly your going to need it but don't be trigger happy...the apes here are not cruel to humans but they defiantly won't like that gun of yours pointed it at them for just being in front of you" she told her monotone.
"Your delusional or woefully ignorant, Good. Bad.. doesn't make a difference I learn that nothing is Black and White I've seen plenty of shades of Gray in every faction same bullshit but I have a feeling the animals are winning."
"I'm getting gas to pump my bike and I'll be out of this shithole, I've seen too much that could change a human" Carley spoke again fishing through components.
Iris got a little angry that she was using this as an excuse for her behavior, she then lifted up her shirt so the other woman could see her scars on her stomach and her back t this shocked the other woman greatly as she looked at them Iris could tell she never seemed a human more maimed in her life.
"I've seen more things you could even imagine girl...yet I'm not as hateful as you..." she told her.
"Yeah doesn't show me because scars like those disgust me girl" she grimaced ending her sentence mocking the word.
"I don't care how sad or dark your life is your invading my space so how about we suck up our bullshit and go with it" Carley glowered shutting the car door.
"You remind when I was young girl...very angry and very violent...you don't control anger girly it's going to eat you alive..." Iris told the girl plainly she told the girl as she started the bike.
"Yeah and I'm a mother killer, stupid bitch" Carley muttered as tired to start the bike and get away from the circus as soon as possible.
I've killed more people then you could count girly..." she said as she watched her go.
"Stupid Banana licker" she muttered again pushing through the bushes disappearing into bushes.
Iris sighed deeply as her eyes watched solemnly "That girl is hurting deeply so much she's letting rage consume her..." she told Garret.
Garrett leaned down to Iris's level I thought she would never shut up about Bananas, I think she was getting my attention" Garrett scratched his chin.
Iris turned her head slightly to look him annoyed" God Garret..." she said under breath as she made her way over to the watchtower"You're really starting to confuse me about your feeling for humans..."
"That's my job, you think I was serious?" He questioned.
"Only for the Science" he simply answered.
Iris groaned in exasperation as she faced back ahead as she began to rub her sore jaw and eye trying to relieve some of the pain.
"And I hate Science" he growled laying on the side of the watchtower standing guard.
"I haven't really been a fan of it in the last tens years either Garret" she said quietly as she began to climb the ladder.
Garrett had to ask this question bugging his mind "Is it true what she said about New York? That it's fairing better than California?" He asked.
She stopped climbing for a couple seconds" Honestly...I don't know... I haven't left this state in 10 years but I heard some rumors" she said as she began to climb again.
"Maybe I'll go check it out because once everything is resolved out here I plan on leaving..." she said as made it to the top of the hatch.
"hm..." he grunted.
The hatched didn't want to budge but after a few hits it popped right open allowing her to go inside which she made meet dust as soon as she did, she looked around to see an old table, small fridge, a bed, and a radio.
"It...it turned out bad..." she replied grimly.
"How bad?" he asked.
" He threatened Zane, had a breakdown, hit me in the face, and Caesar pounced on him..." Iris said as she continued to look around.
Garrett's brows raised in alarm "Why would we be threatened his best friend?"
"Because he told him that us being together wouldn't be good cause we are both broken..." She said as brought herself closer to stare out the window" and because he pretty much yelled in rage to the whole tribe when he found out what Miley and I did..."
"What did he exactly say to Zane at the trial" Garrett asked seriously.
Iris walked back over to opening to look down at the gorilla" He said and I quote " Next time I see you I will kill you" and he then a made gun reference with his hand" she told him solemnly.
"That's not Mikey talking, that's Onyx talking" Garrett said grimly.
"I know..." she looked at him with grave eyes" I'm really scared Garret...of what he's becoming... it's like a darkness is taking over him..."
"Iris, how long have you been gone away from Zane and Mikey?" He asked.
"About 5 years..." she told him quietly.
"I having a theory that's telling me that rape wasn't the only thing Onyx intended, I know he was using mind indoctrination on the kid" he growled.
The young woman face became serious at this"What do you mean Garret..." she asked lowly but afraid of the answer.
"Think about it Iris, 5 years gave Onyx a long time to abuse the kid, I fear he's influencing the kid to talk, think, and be like him" Garret said grimly.
Iris didn't want to believe it, in fact, she dreaded the very thought but she knew the gorilla was right after she the chimps recent actions, showing personality traits that weren't his at all, Iris held her head starting to feel light headed she then looked to see that the sun was near gone from the sky. "Shit!" she hissed under breath as she began to quickly climb back down the ladder"It's almost night I need to get back!"
"No, Were going to the camp Grey established" Garrett growled grabbing her arm"This is your chance to help the tribe a little longer, were close let's just get this over with" he sounded frustrated.
" Garret if I don't go now they going to come looking for me! And if they see you!..." She grunted in frustration" Things aren't going well right now me disappearing isn't going to make it better..." she said she began to look at the sun and back to the gorilla in distress she then closed her eyes tightly and shrugged the male off her "Fine!" she said in frustration as she brought her eyes back to his.
"Your kind can't see in the dark so they're more likely going back to the village by now that and the others will notice if they're gone so now's a good time to look around it...but we have to do this quick..." she told him dead serious.
"Good, I was afraid I would do something drastic to get you to come with me" he spoke gruffly walking ahead from the fire station.
Iris tightens her grip on the handle of the machete and followed Garret in a huff.
"Look over there" Garrett pointed at the base camp "Do you see Grey?" he signed at Iris as he handed her the binoculars to enhance her vision.
Iris took them and began to look around the rocky terrain and so far she couldn't see any sign of life "No..." she said as she shook her head.
Iris then caught sight of the chimp Grey who looks like he was checking over things before they headed back to the village.
"Your eyes were fooling you Iris, they were hiding, be smart next time" he pointed at his head motioning the word smart.
Iris rolled her eyes at this but then flinched when she heard the scream making herself lower down behind the rocks but still watching the scene ahead.
The group stiffened to hear the scream, Chimp's and Gorillas with Orangutans flooded out of the hut's in alert two chimps dragged a familiar woman in the orange shirt to their leader Iris widened in shock when she saw who it was.
"Why did Carley come here?" Garrett scratched his chin questioning himself.
Iris saw the chimps shove Carley down in the mud forcing her to look up Grey in the flesh.
"Where is the rest of your group?" He lowered down eyeing Carley, the only response he got was a spit in the eye.
Iris was right when she said this girl was like her and because of that she knew this girl would piss them off very soon and probably end with her having spear stabbed into her chest.
"Dammit they'll kill her..." she hissed quietly.
Grey wiped his eye staring at the Human with no emotion "break her nose" he simply signed"Maybe she'll answer after losing some blood and tie her up" he ordered retreating to his hut.
She began to try to sneak her way over there "No!" Garret grabbed her by the scruff of her neck.
"Your an idiot if you go in suicidal" He pulled out a handful of arrows from his sack "We improvise" he said tactfully.
Iris turned to glare at him "How!?" she spat at him.
He pulled out a lighter flickering it heating the arrow "you see those barrels, that's how you improvise" Garrett scowled pulling out the makeshift bow. He placed the arrow in carefully heating the steel tip adding spits of flame then aimed and shot them at the camp. The barrel's instantly exploded burning some apes near them, Carley looked up in surprise. Grey exited his hut in fury to find out what happened he looked upon in shock to see fire destroying the camp, ape screeches and hoots could be heard as they rushed around to control the blaze.
"Let Grey do his part and then we'll save her" Garrett waved at Iris.
"Who did this!" Grey howled witnessing him the destruction, he went to help the others put the fire out, with them distracted Iris snuck her way over to Carley as the flames hid her from sight. She took out the machete and began to cut the ropes "You just love getting yourself into situations don't you girly" she sarcastically as she cut.
"Your such a sad excuse of waste" Carley spat at her face.
"I've been called worse than that now com'on" she told her authoritatively as she boasted her up by her arm roughly and dragged her out of the camp.
Carley all of sudden pushed her down "Hey She's the one you're looking for! " She shouted bolting into the forest "Nothing personal cunt!" Carley shouted disappearing into the woods.
Iris moved some lose hair or her face as she watched the girl that sold them out take off" I would say I'm surprised by what she did but that would be a lie" She growled under breath as she stood back up with Garret's help" I already knew the girl was a little shit..."
"People do desperate things to survive Iris" he grasped her hand pulling her up "Now let's run like hell" he said.
He didn't have to tell her twice as she ran through the trees, while she was angry with Carley she honestly didn't hate her, She so used to the killing, backstabbing, and stealing by her own kind over the years that it made her numb.
"Now they won't find us right now" Garrett panted laying on the ground resting near a tree "You'll be almost home soon" Garrett spoke again.
The brunette nodded in thanks as she handed the machete back to him she then made her way through the now dark woods sore and emotionally exhausted replaying the day's events in her mind. She then saw a fire coming towards her it looked like a torch then a familiar gorilla appeared.
"Luca..." Iris replied weakly.
She held a hand above her eyes due to the brightness of the flame.
"What're you doing here?" She asked while covering her eyes from torches bright light.
Luca looked at her sternly and his eyes widen a bit when he saw bruising near her eye and chin.
"I could ask you the same thing, what happened to your Iris" he signed to her demanding an answer. She touched her sore chin at this " I went rock climbing and fell off...I'm fine" she said as she walked passed him only for him to grab her arm "I know what you been up to..." he said seriously.
"You snuck off with a Gorilla, who is he?" He signed.
Iris looked at the hand holding her arm and then back to him" He's helping with something Luca..." she said as she gently took his hand off her arm" Something important" she told him sincerely.
He frowned at her "Why are you protecting him?" he signed.
She sighed deeply " Trust me Luca he's not the one you should be worried about there are bigger problems going right now..." she told dryly.
"I suspect something is going on but I don't have enough proof yet" she explained to him, making him huff deeply.
"We have a guest at the tribe.. an ape came, then another a human, it's getting chaotic there" Luca signed.
"I find the Ape..strange, he claims to be a worshipper of the sun" Luca signed.
Her brow raised at this as he led her back to the village.
Her face fell to confusion at this "Worshipper for the son..." she said perplexed.
"He calls himself Helios, he believes we all should praise the sun stupid crap, He just some sun-loving priest" Luca signed.
"Great a crazy..." she said under her breath.
"Be careful around he already set up his small totem of the sun and he was giving a hut to sleep in" Luca warned as he and Iris were close to the gate.
" Did the human come here with Malcolm?" she asked.
"Caesar didn't tell me, he wanted you to know yourself" he signed.
They both can hear chanting, one the apes near the gate soon caught sight of them causing them to go tell Caesar.
A red Gorilla appeared on top of the gate peered down at Luca and Iris his whole body was in tribal paint with insignias of the sun "Praise the all Sun!, Your safe sister of Caesar, your brother has been expecting you" he bowed respectfully to her.
Iris was quite taken back by this, the gate slowly opened "Like I said" Luca signed.
"Yea..." she said as she brought herself closer to Luca while still eyeing the religious nut.
Luca wrapped a hand around her shoulder holding her close but not to tight "Stick close" he whispered.
"Here my dear child, your friend wanted to give you this" Helios smiled offering a small wrapped package.
Iris looked at him a little nervously, while he hadn't done anything to hurt her she couldn't help shake this bad vibe she was getting from him "My friend?..." she asked emotionless.
"The one with a broken tooth, he asked me to give you this my child" he spoke.
She hesitantly took it from his hand and put it in her pocket "Thank you...I would like to talk more but I need to go see Caesar now" Iris said wanting to get away from him quickly.
"May the sun bathe you in warm glow my child" he smiled bowing in respect.
Luca sensing her discomfort gently dragged her away from as he led her away "I got you" Luca whispered escorting her safely.
"Luca something isn't right about him..." she told him quietly as they made their way up the wooden stairs.
"He's a priest...they always don't seem right" he spoke.
"No...no it's something else...there's something about him..." she said as she as she looked at Helios slightly, he stared deeply at her smiling waving his hand at her.
"You need rest but you have to talk to Caesar first" Luca signed.
She nodded in response before she quickly went up the steps not wanting to be in the new gorilla's plain of sight.
Mikey stared hard at the meeting happening right now away from him, never did he thought that another human knew Caesar Or that he would smile so warmly at her, he remembered his face turning from shock, disbelief and then joy when he first saw the human woman and then went over to hug her tightly. She sat next to the humans Malcolm and Ellie and was talking with Caesar, she appeared to be middle-aged and Indian as the chimp looked her over then all of the sudden Iris came onto the scene bringing all the attention onto her.
"Iris" he whispered seeing her safe.
" Caesar before you say anything-" the young woman then immediately cut her self off and her eyes widen in complete disbelief when she caught sight of the woman.
"There you are it's been too long" the woman smiled in her seat.
Iris could feel a tear run down one of her unblinking eyes as she slowly but hesitantly made her way over to her "Caroline..." her voice trembled.
"It's been so long how many years has it been?" The older woman gave a sad chuckle raising up from her seat opening her arms.
"9 years..." Iris replied quietly, she could now feel tears stream down her eyes no longer being able to hold it in "Mom!" the younger woman said as she rushed over to her and wrapped her arms tightly around the older woman.
"Mom..." Mikey whispered clutching onto the cage bars.
"Hello sweetheart..." she told her softly as she held the younger girl who now towered over her slightly close.
"I thought you were dead..." Iris sobbed into her shoulder, breathing in the scent of her hair trying to reassure herself that Caroline was really here.
"Iris" Caesar spoke getting the girl's attention "We have much to discuss..." his voice indicated serious tense.
She pulled away from the older woman to look at him not before she wiped her face "Caesar if it's about today-
He motioned his hand for her to stop, he snapped his fingers motioning Lake to bring him a cloth wrapped in blood.
"I'm so sorry Iris" Lake signed sadly.
Iris took the cloth from Lake slowly as she eyed it carefully"What's going on?.." she asked seriously.
"Why didn't you mention you were pregnant..." Caesar spoke with tired eyes.
Mikey became icy tensed hearing the last word that came out of his leader's mouth.
Iris looked at him dumbfounded at this but then started to laugh hysterically confusing the apes and the humans "Pregnant! I'm not pregnant!" she said as she laughed.
"It's not a lie Iris" Lake spoke seriously showing her the blood-stained cloth.
"What does this cloth have to do with anything?" she asked as she chuckled.
"You think this is a joke!" Cesear slammed his fist down causing everyone to flinch.
"Caesar..." Cornelia spoke softly as she rubbed his shoulder.
"Yea I kind of do considered I've never been with a man before in my life!" she frowned at him" I mean the only one I've been with is!- It was then she froze in realization making her turn her head towards Mikey with eyes wide in disbelief. Mikey retreated away from the bars cushioning himself close to the rock wall burying his face in his hands.
"T-that can't be... it's biologically impossible..." she stuttered as turned her gaze back to Caesar.
"That's what I thought until Lake found your cloth and gave it to Ellie to inspect because she was worried that you were sick... "
"I looked at your blood Iris you are pregnant..." Ellie told her seriously.
"You will be the first to have a hybrid child..." Lake signed.
Iris didn't know how to take all this as she looked at them with shock
DunDunDun ! So here you guys are a new chapter sorry it took me forever I only recently got down with school and I didn't have inspiration for the longest time but I'm back now ^^ I would like to thank my good friend Marianof cintra for helping with this chapter and for letting me use her characters Mikey, Carley, Helios, and Garret she awesome :) You can see more of them in her POTA story New York Becomes Ape i hope you guys do too :D well I hope you enjoyed it ^^