Do you think that Slate would have slept if he could have? Yes. Had he? No, not for the past two months. He had tossed and turned within his residence, the moss and leaves that made up his bedding strangely uncomfortable. The only winks he had managed to catch were brief and troubled. It was early morning and Slate was finally pulling himself from his living quarters with a sniff of discomfort. Yet another unpleasant night's rest only to wake up to the constant chorus of birdsong that drifted up from the valley. He shared his family's hut with Poppy, nestled in the treeline and separate from the clumps of homes further down along the way that bled slightly off into the woods; they had their own privacy, which was nice. As he moved he was aware of how his bones were weary and stiff, his joints feeling older than they should at his age.

Pondering on this, he knuckled his way up to where the path finally reached the main camp. Yawning, he crossed along the thick dirt and mingling roots through the exposed grounds, eyeing the withered old dogwood that leaned over and gave shade to the ledge. It had long since bloomed, it's branches barren of the spring's beautiful flowers. Many were eager to see it blossom during the spring.

Ambling up an outcrop of stone, he gazed out at the rosy sky and the mist drifting through the lower-lying mountains and over the lake beneath. Off in the distance was the continuous rocky desert the colony had crossed those meager three years ago, when war had hung over the Muir Wood and they had all been forced to flee. So many things had changed and so quickly too. The apes were situated further up the mountainside, finally and officially moved into their new home. It had taken nearly a month to build the homes needed and move the elders, females and children to where they all had truly belonged as a group for nearly two-hundred now. Initially the plan had been to stay near the lake, but with the recent discovery of the perfect survey of the land from the cliffs, they had decided it was safer up there. Elevation was quite beneficial.

The journey up the main path had been a steep one, but it had been completely worth the risk. Rocket's worries had been extinguished as soon as he had witnessed the view for himself. The huts were built along the many paths along the ledges and overhangs, their crops being grown in clumps further away, down near where Hail and his wife lived. During the evenings or the waking hours of the day, torch light could be seen speckling the side of the Simian forest's great peak. The main entry point to the ape village was where most of the royal family stayed, and along the borders were stationed at least four sentries at each checkpoint.

If any creature attempted to sneak in, they would surely be spotted, and would have a hell of a lengthy climb up those steep, stony, winding paths.

It had been a long couple of months yet they had passed by within a flick of a buck's tail. Slate hadn't seen hide nor hair of Krissa, although this was mostly given to his sudden workload. Of course he had been more than willing to help with the move, but her sudden disappearance had puzzled him to say the least. Perhaps it was time to leave her to her human things. He had his tribe to look after, especially now that his uncle Hail and he had been closer than ever now. Still, as Slate was settled there, observing the new home, he struggled to fight the uneasy feeling in his gut.

Settling back on his haunches, he scratched his chin gently. Others seemed to be stirring and wakening as the sun slowly rose up into the milky sky. A few males reached the main camp and crouched together, readying to relieve the sentries of their watch and swap out shifts. As he watched Sage joining the sentry group, he wondered where his brother was. Pine hadn't been present much, mostly seen with Spoon or working on building the huts that were still in construction. The scarred male was now living with his mate, which had come up so sudden that Poppy and he hadn't had much say in things. Not that they would have had a say to begin with, Slate remarked inwardly with a twitch of his upper lip.

The further Pine drifted away, the more he infuriated him.

A sudden throaty burble drew his attention away from the oasis that stretched out before the camp and toward the hulking auburn figure of Maurice. The orangutan's olive depths gleamed intelligently as he took the chimpanzee before him in. Plodding not far behind him was the long-legged human of his, her pale hair tied back in a ponytail. She eyed him wearily. 'Hello,' she signed as she passed by her teacher and he, giving the wise ape a pat on the shoulder. Maurice's throat pouch resounded once more, and then he settled down not far from Slate with an audible thump. The distant hoots of communicating apes drifted up into the air, drawing his attention back. It wasn't until Maurice moved closer that he realized just how awkward he felt around him.

'Morning,' he gestured curtly.

Maurice allowed a hiss to escape from his nose, which evidently ended with the chimp adjusting himself so he could look directly at the orang. 'Good morning,' greeted the greying orang. 'You look tired.'

Nose twitching, Slate paused and took his time in replying. 'Bad nest. I think I need to replace it,' he dismissed. The orangutan's had lowered and he peered at him with curiosity. Their small-talk came to an end, the two sitting in an awkward silence. Maurice seemed completely comfortable with this though, and reached over, picking up a stray twig. Bringing it to his lips, he began to strip off the bark, munching away.

At first the air was tense as Slate was acutely aware of Maurice's presence, the orang being the only other primate to know of his little secret- but then the appearance of a specific chimp drew his attention. Lake. His eyes followed the dark female, the beads lining her long face swaying as she traveled up the path and into the core of her home. She paused, seeming to take in the view just as he had when he had reached the camp. Her leer then washed along the walls of the camp before gracefully falling upon Slate's observant amber set. A smile tugged at her lips in greeting and she panted softly in his direction, which left the male with warmth spreading within his belly. It was abruptly extinguished when Lake wandered over to Nova, who was nestled in a pool of visiting, grooming women.

Ah, he remembered Poppy excitedly telling him how the dark chimp had taken interest in Blue Eyes.

He had been happy watching the two court one another and eventually become mates, dismissing any sort of vague interest he had had for her. Slate recalled how nervous his friend had been the night of the ceremony, and how he and Sage had encouraged him. They had been married for perhaps six months before their spark had been reduced to smothered embers by a bullet between Blue Eyes' ribs. Despite her vulnerability, Slate had never seen Lake so strong. During that morning the apes had left the caves in the Muir woods and began their journey, even in the work camp, breaking their backs and starving as they slaved away at the wall; she had been a beacon in the dark. Slate had never found another female so attractive. Since their freedom and Caesar's fall, they had had brief interactions, yet nonetheless he sometimes pined for the female, catching her while she was cooking or out helping Maurice teach the little ones. That shy little smile she had… it was always something that he found would give him hiccups in his chest.

Slate realized that his coat was beginning to prickle and immediately turned his gaze away from where Lake now sat. 'Lake is a clever female, but many males look at her like you do,' Maurice suddenly remarked. Was it that obvious? Narrowing his cognac tones at the orang, he gave him a once-over. His sour expression only seemed to amuse the greying orangutan. 'You'd best search elsewhere.' Grunting, he shrugged off Maurice's comment. There was yet again another silence. Slate shifted slightly. The bird song drawled on and for a while, the chimp began to relax in his elder's presence.

Then he piped up again, bringing his attention back to his large, rotund face. 'Have you run into the human lately?' Maurice's question was so blunt and sudden that Slate felt as though the wind had been punched from his throat. His tawny eyes widened ever so slightly, brow raising skyward. The orangutan's gaze bore into him, anticipating his response.

'No,' he replied after a beat, actions faint so as to keep it between the two of them. 'She's probably gone. Dead maybe.'

Nodding, the orangutan finished his twig and allowed it's remains to fall at his side. 'You smelled like her strongly one day,' replied Maurice. Slate grunted, uncomfortable with his remark. Had they really? Or was the old geezer simply trying to frighten him? Maurice's hands twitched once more. 'Some males looked suspicious, although said nothing. Would you have told them?'

Slate's chin tilted up. "No," he huffed, eyes shooting off and away. The chimp then let a puff of hot air hiss out through his nose. What else was he supposed to say? Could he even trust Maurice to keep quiet? Swallowing gently, he turned his cranium and shot the royal family's hut a brief gander, making sure that they conversation was indeed confidential. The dark grey simian grunted deep in his throat, softly. 'She is...' Slate hesitated. 'Kind. Different. She is not like soldiers. Not dangerous like Grey and Koba said.'

His head turned and Maurice once again gave him that look of distant recognition, as if he saw something within the other ape that brought back memories. Whether they were good or bad, he was unsure. Realizing just what he had said, he took a deep breath, eyes sincere for the first time in a long time. His usual austerity was gone, yet nonetheless hung in the background like a looming cloud. 'Is she a friend?' Maurice asked. 'Your friend?'

Slate felt a twinge of anger in his chest and fought the urge to growl at him, his brisk attitude returning. 'No,' he signed sharply. 'She's human. Humans are no good. Threat to ape life.' There was a heavy silence as Maurice eyed him, brow lowering.

'You're too proud,' pointed out the auburn simian. 'You sound like-'

"Maurice," a young voice broke through their conversation. 'Why didn't you wake me up?' Slate's head rose and he straightened up, acknowledging the next male to approach. Dark hair and a pale face made him a worthy advocate for any female's desire. Cornelius was getting older, now at the age of five, and maturing well. The more Slate looked at the prince, the more he saw Caesar and Cornelia. The chimp's deep forest-green eyes fell upon his own set, to which he responded with a respectful grunt and shuffled over, offering more space between he and Maurice. Thankfully, the prince would not only be changing the subject, but he would be separating him from the inquisitive orangutan.

The next to join was a near hairless figure, stone-grey in color with two golden-flecked eyes. The bulky chimp came to settle beside Slate, upon his opposite side. 'Slate, how's the hunting?' signed Rocket. The aging male was guardian of the young prince alongside of Maurice, the two being left Cornelius in exchange for their king's life. It had been a solemn few months after Caesar's fall, the entire tribe unsure of how to move on. It hadn't been until Rocket had finally pulled himself together that order had returned and a plan had been formed. Still, it was evident that the pain had hardened him. Tinker even admitted so.

'Pine is out leading the first party,' he responded nonchalantly, glancing over at the arch in the trees and the sandy beginnings of the pass. 'Didn't have to ask him. I've been skinning and constructing in his place.'

Rocket's grey head bobbed. 'You two are fine hunters. I expect nothing less,' praised the chimp. He then looked him over as he scratched his worn cheek. 'You look tired.'

Really? Slate pant-chuffed softly in amusement. 'Hard work, lots.'

'You and the other males are bringing in a lot of food,' Cornelius interjected, joining the conversation. 'Makes me wonder what I could catch.' Suddenly Slate didn't feel so comfortable. Most of the royal family surrounded him, speaking to him like he belonged there. It happened far too often, and although he appreciated it, Slate wasn't one to really talk with others unless Pine were around.

'I'm sure Pine would like you to join him,' Slate suggested politely. 'Hunting is good this season.' Although it was encouraged, the prince would usually spent his day visiting with the females and helping tend to gardening; either that, or he'd be off learning with Maurice. He would make a wonderful warrior one day… once he fit in his father's shoes. Rocket and the orangutan would surely mold him soon enough to make a glorious king.

"How is… Poppy?" asked Cornelius. The two had been good friends when he had been growing up. Slate felt sympathy for the prince. He had lost his father at a young age, and so when he had been bounced between member after member, he had grown closer to his young friends than his advisers. Even Lake had noticed this.

'Well,' Slate responded. "Still wants to… work in medicine."

'She needs more confidence,' Rocket piped up, dry croaks leaving his throat. His face was stern and cold. 'She has potential, she just needs guidance.'

Maurice burbled and their heads all shifted to look upon the orangutan. He shot Rocket a glance, then the others. 'She should speak with Tinker. Sparrow and she would surely take her under their wing.'

Slate's attention had followed Cornelius, watching the busy bustle of the grounds not far from them. After a while, Rocket huffed and rose, taking his leave. Observing as the grey chimp sauntered off, most likely in search of his mate, Slate wondered if maybe it wouldn't be that bad of an idea of bringing more up to him rather than Maurice. He seemed to have the right attitude about what to do with humans.

The prince nudged him out of the blue. 'Do you think Rocket would let me go with Pine?' The male remained silent, glancing over at Maurice. The orangutan shrugged. 'I have wanted to for a while. If you'll have me..' Slate couldn't help but smile softly, brows furrowed.

'Not my call,' responded the brute. 'You're old enough to, though. Maybe the next hunt Rocket comes too?' Reaching over, he gave the prince a tap on the cheek. Giving him a tilt of his head and a grunt, he finished, 'Patience. It's what your father would do.'

This clearly didn't sit well with the restless young Cornelius. It was obvious that Rocket wasn't fond of the idea of him going hunting with a big party. He was protective. Cornelius cast his eyes away and shied from Slate's touch. 'Rocket is not my father.' Hauling himself to his quads, the prince leapt from where they were settled on the outcrop and made for the opposite direction. Slate frowned.

Cornelius stopped though, the pale-faced ape rising to his hind legs at the distant sound of alarm calls. Confused, Maurice straightened up as well- in fact, the entire clear had stopped what they were doing as suddenly Sage came racing in, sand flying up behind him. A great ruckus suddenly erupted as others began to cry out, fur rising on end. The hunting party had arrived. There was a flurry of dark fur as a gorilla strode in among the collecting apes, all crowding around what they had successfully caught. Soon, the hoots and hollers of excitement turned into elated screams, and as Slate peered forward through the bodies, he caught sight of a flash of faded blue and violet. Uncomfortable being in a place he needn't be, the male jumped from where he had been settled and skirted through the ballistic throng of apes, all spears and flashing teeth. He eventually came to an overhang and leapt, pulling himself up to watch the struggle as someone was being dragged into the community. The crowd pushed forward until they finally came to surround the boulder in which Maurice and now Cornelius were positioned. Rocket soared up with a powerful jump and whirled around, pant-hooting until his lungs would surely burst in order to silence the mob. It wasn't until Cornelius had had enough, his hand rising and a violent roar escaping him that the entire clear fell deathly reticent. Apes hung from the dogwood tree, stood in the treeline and rocked restlessly; a few females, including Nova, were settled off on the edge, watching apprehensively. Off in the distance, a squirrel chattered.

Suddenly, something was shoved from the front of the crowd, revealing the item in question to be a human girl. Her head of stark dark-chocolate curls hung in her face and plastered to her sweaty brow, her button-up shirt half tucked and falling off her bare shoulder, her once bronze skin smeared with earth. Slate, feeling his gut tighten, crept along the edge of the stone ledge, trying to get a better look. Finally, he hopped down directly beside the outcrop and met his brother's gaze.

"Pine!" called Cornelius, panting fitfully. "What is.. the meaning of .. this?"

Of course his brother was behind this.

"Caught human… tried to escape, tried to hurt apes!" Pine thundered. Her crown slowly rose, her arms hugging her trembling body. The crowd chattered and barked, the scarred brute raising her longbow and quiver up in the air above his head in triumph. "We bring here. Human needs to be punished, killed!" As Slate looked upon her, he caught sight of the face he had admittedly never wanted to see ever again, let alone within these walls. Her gentle caramel complexion was sprayed with freckles, her heart-shaped face slowly turning up toward the counsel above.

Krissa's hazel eyes were wide, damp with tears that had cut through the layers of dirt upon her cheeks. The glimpse was soon ended as suddenly her bag was tossed toward her, colliding with her back. The girl scrambled to grab her bag, keeping her body low and eventually bringing it to her chest.

Maurice barked and signed, rising to his hind legs to address the crowd as well as Cornelius. 'We do not know this human,' he reasoned. 'She could be harmless.'

"She shot Quill!" protested Pine. The apes reacted with whoops and hoots once more. "Could hurt more!" Boy, was he ever loud when excited. Slate edged closer to his brother, hoping Krissa would not notice him and spot him this close. Nobody needed to know. Nobody needed to know. Pine's fur was bristling, his chest heaving as he took deep breaths of air, most likely to make up for how his heart raced. A permanent scowl marred his features, his spear directed straight toward Krissa's head.

'Where did you find her?' signed Cornelius, clearly not happy with the sight in front of him.

'By the river. She was following it, looked like she was traveling,' a gorilla, Marshal, disclosed.

"I was just moving downstream!" Krissa suddenly burst. The entire colony was staggered by her interruption, some cocking their heads and glancing with open mouths and jaws up at their leaders. "Please, I-I was just defending myself. I didn't want to shoot him!"

"Lie to king!" shrieked Sharp, who was swaying from foot to foot next to Pine, eager to spill blood just as he. "The only good human is a dead human!" His name was certainly appropriate, compared to his voice. Pine's hand moved sharply, and in correlation, the silverback pushed past Slate and grabbed a handful of her hair, yanking her head up and exposing her throat. The snarls and hiccups of sound erupted once more, only to die out as Rocket raised his hand, exchanging a glance with Maurice. There seemed to have been some conversation between the two advisers and the young prince.

'You understand sign?' inquired Rocket, brow lowered in bewilderment.

Wincing, she swallowed heavily and her lips parted. "Yes, I do," Krissa replied, her eyes squeezing shut as Marshal raised her up further.

'Let her go,' Maurice ordered. The gorilla seemed to hesitate but eventually conceded and tossed Krissa back down to her knees. Her head bowed once again and she stilled. Suddenly, Pine shoved his spear into Slate's hands and strode out into the middle of the scene, up next to Krissa.

'We should kill her. We don't know what she could do!' Pine demanded, gestures violent. Slate, although hesitant, raised his brother's spear and directed it toward the human girl, joining the others. She was just a human; a murderer of his kind just like any other. 'If we do not, there could be others. Human could come back and find ape colony.'

'And if she is innocent of others, what then?' Maurice protested.

"It is.. better to be safe!" his brother countered, his scowl souring, like he had eaten a plum still green. 'Best destroy the threat!' The rest of the crowd seemed to agree with this, vocalizing their support. This did not last long though. Rocket chuffed, following with a burble in Maurice's voluminous throat pouch. 'This is not your decision,' the chimp signed. 'You were to hunt, no more no less. Need I remind you of your place-'

Suddenly Cornelius's pale hand shot out, silencing the argument between the council and the soldier. His eyes were dead-set on Krissa. "Humans… kill my father," the prince began. As if listening, the survivor's head slowly rose. Slate's grip shifted on the spear, weary. The prince turned to his advisers, forest depths crackling with emotion. 'You expect me to have them spare her?' With that, Cornelius turned to the crowd. "Do what you.. want with her!" he barked. The apes erupted in both glee and terror, and Slate straightened, staggered by the amount of heartlessness his young leader had. His attention then fell to Krissa, his heart hammering in his chest. Should he have stepped in before this had been decreed? Should he do it now? Stand up for her? The pressure became too much and he felt as if his head were swimming. Turning, the ape tossed Marshal Pine's spear and he pushed his way through the group, retreating.

"Stop.. no, please! Please, I'm alone! I'm alone, I'll do anything!" Slate had made it to the back of the ring with the mingling stragglers, waiting to hear her screams and smell the familiar bittersweet tang of copper in the air. "I'm the last one! I'm the last one!" No, he had hoped she had disappeared. Slate had hoped she would never show her face to him again. This was the price he paid for letting himself be tricked by that filthy animal. The only good human was a dead one. Images of what Koba had done pulsed within his aching skull: the merciless killing, the blood, the humans in cages-

Maurice suddenly rumbled, subduing the cacophony of the ape colony. Astonished that there had been an interruption, the dark grey chimp turned himself around and slowly approached the dogwood tree, ambling up so he was just high enough to see what the orangutan had to say. 'Your father also cherished humans. They raised him,' signed the orang. His lengthy fingers reached out and gently brushed the birthmark upon Cornelius's dark brown chest. His knuckles then pressed against him. 'Without humans, you would not be standing where you are today.' Cornelius glanced between his tutor's hand and his olive tones. There was a silence so heavy that a pin dropping could startle the entire congregation. Something passed over the princes' features. Rocket's hand also snaked its way up to his shoulder. Finally, his eyes fell and he turned, dropping his his quads and galloping away.

Maurice slowly lumbered in pursuit and finally Rocket addressed the colony. 'The human shall live until the prince and the counsel have decided her fate.' Groans and whoops were their response; there was a clear divide in the ranks, but his word was final. Slate couldn't help but feel his grip loosen on the tree, having turned his knuckles white from the tension held in his body. The older chimp then turned and followed after the other two. The meeting was concluded and the colony began to disperse. Pine, livid, turned to Krissa. Her eyes rose slowly, but as soon as they met his elder brother's bicolored set, the scarred chimp's hand shot out and struck her across the face. A cry escaped her. Marshal reached down and hoisted her to her feet as if she were weightless, the silverback restraining her as they dragged her to the dogwood tree. Slate, apprehensive, watched as she was forced to sit while they began to bind her dainty hands behind her back. 'No food, no water. Not until Cornelius has an answer…' Pine ordered the gorilla.

The human was now here, in his home, and Slate knew that Pine would certainly not listen to their prince for long.

It's only a matter of time, he figured as he watched the blood dripping from Krissa's freckled nostrils, until Pine would do worse to her.

And Slate wasn't sure how he'd react.

Author's Note: Voilà!~ Krissa has now been introduced into the ape colony (and was met with a not-so-warm welcome to say the least). This is a big step for the strong, and a huge drama bomb, which I am happy I decided to post now. There's so much more in store from here, so its time to kick it into overdrive. Welcome to the jungle, kids!

Once again, thank you guys for your reviews and continuing to follow Slate and Krissa's journey so far. I'm so happy to hear from you guys, so keep the PMs and the comments up. It really helps me get my butt in gear and get writing out these chapters!

Thanks so much, love ya! See you in the next chapter pals~