Caesar's Pearl 2 Chapter 14
It was a calm night. There weren't any mishaps, free of any sort of mischief on both sides.
When the humans awoke in the morning the found apes waiting for them inside their camp. Rocket and Ash on one side of Alex, Ellie, and, and Malcolm's tent while Maurice was on the other. The closest to the humans he was staring at the thick comic book spread across his chest.
Alex woke up first and he was met with the face of the old orangutan. His alarmed movements woke up his father and Ellie. Peeking out the opposite flap Malcolm spotted the gathered crowd of apes waiting for them outside. Amazed, undetected, Malcolm thought they must've been there since dawn with no one the wiser.
Footsteps approached the tent from a corner outside that the three of them couldn't see. They tensed, fully expecting one of the apes to step inside invading their personal space.
To the contrary Ranger stuck his head inside through the flap, barking at them in greeting. Malcolm, Ellie, and Alex instantly relaxed.
A couple of seconds later Margo stuck her head inside.
Dryly, she said "You coming out, or what?"
Carver, Kemp, and Foster woke up soon after. The humans took their packs and any extra equipment they required to get the dam working again. The apes, out of curiosity, escorted the team and to monitor the humans activity's to ensure they didn't try any funny business.
When they got to the dam the majority of humans crossed the logjam while the apes chose to hang back preferring to keep on the shoreline. Most of the apes were crowded on the other side of the river standing guard where paths would lead to the village, but Rocket, Luca, Maurice, Caesar, Blue Eyes were stationed at the edge of the logjam with the adolescent chimp holding the new baby. As they stood there watching the humans clumsily climb over the logs to get to the catwalk leading to the entrance Caesar noticed one of their number was missing, someone who should've been present because of his position on the council.
Turning his head searching for the missing ape, Caesar signed and said "Koba, where?"
"Still angry," explained Maurice, shrugging. "Said he was going hunting."
Caesar nodded, but was concerned. Maurice failed to elaborate on the type of prey Koba was pursing.
That in itself raises serious red flags.
One human wasn't going into the dam, choosing to remain on firm ground.
Margo and Ranger were staying above.
No one could know that the next time all of them were above ground together that all hell would break loose.
Authors Note:
What do you all think is going to be different about the incident with Carver this time around?