Caesar's Pearl 2 Chapter 15
Ellie had tried to talk Margo into accompanying the group into the dam with them, but she put her foot down.
Margo made it very clear that this is her mission, not hers. They could finish it themselves. She could careless about it. Ellie went to try again, but Malcolm told her to leave Margo alone.
Ellie conceded.
Afterwards Margo and Ranger were left alone with the apes, just how she preferred it.
Margo wasn't let idle for long up there.
The infant being held in Blue Eye's arms quickly stole her heart.
Margo hadn't been oblivious to how the little one kept stealing glances at her in curiosity. Perhaps it's time for them to meet.
Margo can't resist the pull this newborn has. He's completely irresistible. Also, Margo can't remember being around an ape infant this size. Caesar had been much bigger when they first met and she was a teeny tiny baby at the time so she couldn't remember it.
Might as well take advantage of the opportunity to get to know at least one of her nephews better while she could.
He's just too cute.
Margo discovered that the little ones name is Cornelius in honor of Cornelia. No surprise there.
Caesar had no problem permitting Margo to interact with his youngest son. Blue Eyes is a whole other matter. When she reached to take the baby Blue Eyes appeared like he was going to refuse, but some choice words from his father had him reluctantly obey. To make it easier on Blue Eyes, Margo did the very last thing he expected.
Copying how she'd seen others do it the past Margo bowed her head holding out a hand, palm up, to Caesar in a supplicating gesture.
Margo's never done this to him before, but he got her meaning. By acting this way she wants to prove to Blue Eyes she meant no harm by showing she knows Caesar to be the one in real control.
Blue Eye's remained doubtful, but did hand Cornelius over without further complaint on his part.
Almost within a few seconds in a bond formed between Margo and Cornelius.
The baby was an absolute joy looking at everything and everyone wide-eyed and round-mouthed. He constantly squirmed so much that it was hard to keep him in one place. One minute he was in her lap, another on her shoulders, and then crouched on top of her head. A big change compared to the icy reception Margo received from Blue Eyes.
In the heart of the moment Margo placed Cornelius on the border collie's back in semblance of the adults riding the horses. Ranger is small enough and Cornelius is big enough to where this wouldn't be seen as dangerous. Merely a fun game.
Cornelius got a big kick out of it, huffing and hooting in laugher as he bounced in Ranger's fur.
The majority of eyes were now on the three of them as Cornelius was riding Ranger around in circles.
At one point a game of tag was even initiated with Cornelius and Ranger chasing her around bringing plenty of laugher.
Margo deemed this a success.
This carefree fun was abruptly cut short.
Not much time had passed when an explosion rocked the earth underneath their feet. Startled the horses tried to bolt. It took a lot of effort for the apes to keep their mounts reigned in. With only one hand wrapped rightly around her horses reigns and the other held protectively over the baby Willow got bucked off into the water.
Once the booming dispersed and the horses calmed, keeping a hand on Cornelius so he wouldn't fall off Ranger, Margo said "What the hell was that?"
Margo had a pretty good idea, but rather it be confirmed before jumping to conclusions.
Caesar, Maurice, Rocket, and Luca definitely recognized it for what it was, too. Hooting a call to the apes across the river he waved an arm for them to come. He and the others dismounted from their horses leaving some like Margo and Blue Eyes where they were. Caesar then went over the logjam some of the other apes following him.
The infant was trembling a little squeaking in fright. The rumbling of the explosion had scared him. Gently shushing him Margo picked him and rubbed his back to calm the baby until his shaking subsided. To help Margo then handed him off to his elder brother believing this would reassure him and Blue Eyes.
It worked.
The sound was faint, but Margo caught Ellie and Alex screaming from below. Their words were intelligible so she couldn't tell what they were saying.
For close to an hour those who remained sat there anxiously waiting on their mounts. Eventually Caesar and his party returned, but they weren't alone. They dragged the humans over the logs assisting them in the climb. Carver was the last, the taut rope tied around his person indicated he had to have been hauled up. His leg was wounded. Kemp and Carver each had one of his arms thrown over their shoulders to get him over. There must've been a cave in, judging by the dust and small stones covering their fur the apes had to dig them out of the concrete. This is easily washable with the rain. Except for Carver none of the humans appeared hurt. Banged up with a few cuts here and there, but none the worst for wear.
Rocket marched over to his horse grumbling. He aimed a dirty look at Carver. Helping the human who'd shot his son was difficult for him, but he did it for Caesar. Caesar, Luca, and Maurice, also, got back onto their horses with the rescue ended.
When the humans got to a empty spot on the shoreline free of logs between the water and the dam Willow got a good view of Carver's injury. The skin on the bottom half of his calves close to the ankle was sliced open blood seeping from the cut. The abrasion was deep, but the bone wasn't visible. All Carver needed were a couple of stitches, a splint, and he'd be good as new.
Ellie her medical supplies out to treat Carver. Alex was helping her while Foster and Kemp took care of their own wounds. Carver cried out in pain as stitched the skin back together.
Margo glared at Carver without pity. In her eyes it was well deserved karma.
As Ellie and Alex were wrapping bandages around Carver's leg and applying antiseptic to it in order to keep everything firmly secure Malcolm went to Caesar.
"Thank you," said Malcolm, gratefully. "You saved our lives. We've got a lot of debris to clear now. We might need a bit more time."
"How long," asked Caesar.
Before Malcolm could provide Caesar with an estimate the baby chimp, grown tired of sitting in his brothers arms, launched itself onto the horses neck riding its leg to the ground. Blue Eyes frantically tried to catch him, but the infant slipped through his fingers. Dismounting Blue Eyes rushed to grab the baby, but the little one bounded towards the humans.
When the baby was close enough he hoped onto Ellie's back. Ellie jumped shifting to see what was on her. When Ellie saw the baby climbing onto her shoulders using her hair as leverage she relaxed.
Ellie was startled at first, but quickly adapted.
Caesar was, too. He'd dismounted from his horse and was now standing beside Malcolm.
Blue Eyes stayed a safe distance just keeping a vigilant watch visibly tense. Ready to spring in should the need arise.
Margo did the same, keeping a hand on Ranger's back should the order be given out.
The exuberant newborn was completely irresistible. Climbing over Ellie's arm the baby jumped onto Alex's lap staring at all of them in fascination. Fascination reflected in their eyes. Ellie and Alex laughed at the baby's antics. Alex had his hands cocooned around the baby to prevent him from falling and Ellie gave it her finger, which the infant eagerly took.
Even the impassive Foster was unable to resist the infant's charms lips upturning in a tiny smile.
"Hey, buddy," said Alex.
The infant slid down Alex's leg where he began playing with the laces of the boy's shoes.
"Hey…hey…," murmured Alex, softly.
The only person whom seemed unaffected by the baby was Carver, choosing now to ruin the moment.
"What are you doing? Are you finished," said Carver, agitated. He then caught the look Alex shot at him. "What are you looking at?"
Smiling at each other Alex and Ellie got back to the task at hand.
Bored with Alex's shoes the baby expanded his sights to explore. Going over to Carver's open toolbox he crawled inside. Sitting down he tugged away at a rag covering the majority of the contents…revealing the shotgun Carver had buried inside.
"Hey! Hey," shouted Carver, lunging at the baby swatting at it with his bandana. "Hey, get out of there!"
Screaming a warning Blue Eyes got directly in Carver's face shoving him back. The baby ran for safety. Margo picked up Cornelius in her arms, holding him close.
Instinctively Ellie pulled Alex away from Blue Eyes, but Kemp and Foster weren't so smart. Both of them tried to get to Carver, Blue Eyes shoved them, too baring his fangs at them.
Carver used this distraction to retrieve his gun. Grabbing it from his toolbox he pumped it pointing the nozzle at Blue Eyes. "Hey," he yelled. "I'll kill you!"
"Carver, what're you going," shouted Kemp, hands raised.
Eyes narrowed Blue Eyes hissed at Carver.
Carver never got the chance to pull the trigger.
Out of nowhere Ranger charged Carver straight on tackling him to the ground. In the process Carver's grip in the shotgun had loosened to where it flew out of his hand, landing just out of his reach.
Carver landed on his back with Ranger on top of him.
Carver cursed moving to shove Ranger off of him when he froze.
Rangers muzzle was inches from his face, but it wasn't in an approachable manner he's regularly known for.
Gone was the friendly and easygoing border collie. Now that entire persona was replaced with a hardcore protector.
Rangers lips were completely pulled all the way over his teeth revealing sharp canine as he growled, tip of his nose inches from Carver's face. Ranger is fully prepared to go in for the kill, ripping out his throat.
While Ranger may not know Blue Eyes quite well yet he sees the apes as his family. And he always defends family.
A sentiment that Margo shares with him which is why he attacked.
Still holding Cornelius in her arms Margo walked over to Carver, feet crunching on the rocks underneath her feet.
No one dared to move a muscle not even the apes.
Finally Margo stood over Carver in a point where he could see her over Ranger's shoulder.
The inscrutable impassive expression on her face sent chills down Carver's spine as he raised his hands up to show he didn't have a weapon in his hands anymore.
Yeah, that's not going to stop Margo from doing what needs to be done.
Malcolm was extremely nervous. By hiding a gun and then pointing it at one of the apes Carver already messed this up. One wrong move could end up with all of their group dead instead of just one. Recalling what Dreyfus said back in the city he thought about the pistol he brought along with him, but then it hit that it was destroyed.
Carver's fate is in Margo's now. That's not even close to being encouraging.
The longer everyone stood around the louder the volume of Ranger's snarls got. He wouldn't hold back much longer.
"I should let Ranger rip your throat out for what you were about to do. I must say it is quite tempting. You've done nothing but annoy me since I met you. I must say getting rid of you would be a big favor to everyone, from what I've seen," sneered Margo, silkily.
Carver gulped, his hands beginning to tremble slightly.
"But…that's not my choice to make," said Margo, keeping one arm wrapped around Cornelius as she placed the other on Ranger's neck. "Off, Ranger."
The change over Ranger became instant. The bristling fur raised on his neck and spine slowly lowered and his stiff posture relaxed somewhat. A low growl still rumbled in his throat as he backed up until his paws were on solid ground again.
"Good boy," said Margo, scratching him behind the ears for a job well done.
Ranger licked her fingers as they meandered around the flabbergasted humans towards what she saw as a safe zone.
"You Bitch," screamed Carver, snatching up the discarded shotgun and now aimed it at Margo's back.
Big mistake, threatening her in front of Caesar especially with a gun.
The brotherly instincts that Caesar had suppressed deep in his mind all these years instinctively returned tenfold at turbo speed.
Quicker than anyone could comprehend Caesar crossed the distance. Snatching the gun from Carver's hands Caesar banged the butt of it into the human's chest knocking him off balance and onto the ground. Carver made a very big error in judgment. Caesar was a leader, yes, but he was, also, a father and Carver's actions threatening his family were enough to provoke his anger. With Carver defenseless on the ground Caesar raised the gun high prepared to shatter the man's head with one blow.
"Don't! Don't," shouted Malcolm, hand outstretched. "Caesar, no! No."
The silence that resulted was so deafening another explosion could go off and no one would hear it.
Slowly Caesar turned away from Carver facing Malcolm examining the weapon in his hands. "Said no guns," growled Caesar, aiming it at Malcolm, his hands in the correct positions to shoot.
Malcolm froze.
Caesar then aimed the gun at Ellie and Alex.
"No, don't," begged Ellie, moving to stand in front of Alex.
"Please," beseeched Malcolm, his heart pounding in his chest.
Caesar pointed the gun next at Kemp and Carver. Grunting angrily in fast breaths Caesar seemed to consider finishing them off right then and there. Then he surprised them all hurling the shotgun through the air into the river.
All of the humans visibly slumped in relief. That was an extremely close call.
The heat in Caesar's glare directed at Malcolm said it all. He'd made the terms allowing the humans to pass through his land very clear. He was demanding to know why this gun hadn't been handed over when told. Malcolm was the leader he was supposed to have control over those under his command. The fact that he didn't was questionable.
Shaking his head, Malcolm said "I didn't know."
Margo rolled her eyes. Yeah, like they were going to believe that.
Advancing towards Malcolm held a hand to Margo so to retrieve his son.
Cornelius released a frightened whimper from his experience, but went to his father without complaint.
Putting himself in Malcolm's face, stopping short of physical contact, Caesar growled "Human leave now!"
Going to his horse, Blue Eyes following, Caesar hooted and grunted loudly giving the order to all the apes to go home.
The ones already across the river disappeared into the trees. The one still on the other side were a little slower. When the royal family were seated on their horses that's when they left.
Margo and Ranger were the last ones, the former riding a horse loaned to her by the tribe.
Glowering at Malcolm and his group, fuming, Margo spat "Idiots!"
Margo then kicked her horse into a gallop with Ranger trailing after her leaving them in the dust.
Authors Note:
Well? Was it everything you all expected it to be? ;D