Slate awoke with his heart thrumming in his chest, drawn out of a deep, dark and dreamless sleep. As he rested there, staring up at the tightly-woven ceiling with a hand upon his breast, he heard his brother's husky tone bouncing around between his ears. "We are our family, she is not." His entire body, despite covered in a thick layer of fur, was plunged into a great cold sweat, his eyes blinking away sleep that glossed over his amber irises and inky pupils. Swallowing heavily, the charcoal simian rose up in his nest, eyeing the empty spot where Krissa had been resting just hours before he had finally taken to resting. Poppy, instead, resting on her side of the expanded nest, unaware of her human friend's absence. Curious, he glanced around, finding that her backpack had been opened. Slate understood boundaries, but right now his sleepy brain got the best of him. The chimpanzee slipped from his bedding and down onto his knuckles, plodding over to the human's hiking bag. He reached inside with careful hands, finding only a pair of rolled up knit socks, along with her button-up. A gust of hot air escaped him and he glanced up toward his sister with wariness, wondering if he would wake her up if he were not careful.

Like a mischievous little one, he pulled the large sack closer and began to rummage through, examining the book he had given her with intrigue. Then, beneath, he caught glimpse of something else that he found rather interesting. Yet another book, ragged and spilling with loose sheets and pieces of parchment with scrawl. A very weird contraption made of black plastic with two rings of glass staring up at him. Snaking his hand down, he placed The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe down on the dry stone beneath him before retrieving the strange object. Narrowing his eyes, Slate examined it further, turning it's alien frame around and around within his leathery hands. The inky brute prodded the clear pieces of glass, peering with apprehension. What was this supposed to do? Something foggy was visible from his end, which drew his attention forward, bringing the set to his fiery tawny depths. Slate was startled by what he saw in front of him, feeling minuscule now as his sister was now the size of a bubble. Bewildered by how something could become so far away in a blink of the eye, he just about pitched the binoculars away from himself.

Then he realized that if he broke them, Krissa would find out. Slate quickly moved them away from his face, he returned them to the backpack and leaned it back up against the wall. Never again would he go through her bag. Not ever.

Exiting his home and allowing Poppy to rest a little longer, the dark grey simian sauntered onwards, peering out and over at the group of males preparing to leave for the day. Typically he would have attended, but with Krissa's odd disappearance that morning, he was more concerned with at least figuring out where she had gone. Besides, from what he could see, Pine was among them... and he still was bitter over what had happened the evening before. Recalling the events, he felt his gut harden. From where his kin sat, smearing war paint across another's front, he noticed how his bicolored eyes flickered up toward where he was positioned off a few feet. Before he could react, however, Slate curled his lip and pressed onward, traveling forward in no direction in particular. A head of blonde hair caught his attention, immediately sparking his interest. Humans were so close; perhaps Nova knew of where the ravenette had vanished to.

The young girl was just joining two familiar faces, Maurice and Rocket, whom seemed to be discussing something rather cold sober. Feeling a frown lace his lips, he approached nonetheless. They could at least have the decency to take pause and answer his questions. Blue eyes drifted up to spot him and Nova's face pinched to his surprise, nudging Maurice with a dainty pale hand. Something seemed to be the matter, and although he didn't think much of it at first, he came to the quick realization that his pace and quickened slightly. 'Nova,' he addressed. His fellow apes turned their heads, both with grave looks upon their faces. 'Maurice, Rocket.'

A firm few grunts escaped him before his attention returned to the human in question. "Kris," he rasped, immediately getting to the point. After bringing a hand to his chest, he then gestured toward Nova, followed by gracefully curling his pinky and his fourth digit into his palm, splaying his index and middle, and bringing the pad of his lowered finger to the dark skin just beneath his right eye. 'Have you seen her?' There was a pause. Before he could really get a clear answer, Rocket's bulky frame rose with a huff and he sauntered off, giving Maurice a partial look of "this is your job, not mine". Nova's baby blues fell and she then exchanged a look with the massive orang.

A pang washed through his gullet and his chest tightened. Slate's facial features hardened. 'Where is she?' he inquired once more. 'What's going on?' he eventually demanded, beginning to become rather uppity due to their secrecy. "Tell me."

Maurice gurgled. 'She is just fine. Out with Cornelius.'

Narrowing his eyes, he drew his head back in question, his lips flattening and drawing upward. "Cornelius?" he echoed, slightly bewildered. His prince, whom had been so reluctant to bring her into their home? Who had nearly had her slaughtered by Slate's own brother? 'Why with him?'

'They are discussing matters...' the orangutan answered vaguely. His olive-flecked gaze held something he could not exactly explain. 'About your brother, and what happened yesterday.'

Slate swallowed. So they knew? This brought on two conflicting thoughts, both fighting to overpower one another. Despite having been a stranger to the apes in the very beginning, the past four months had helped her find her place, and now she was finally beginning to weave her way into the tapestry that was their colony. It brought him pride, although he hated to admit it, and he was thankful for how accepting others had been. Nonetheless, there were still apes who weren't as inclined as others when it came to accepting her. Cornelius had been one of those, yet he had allowed her to stay... The main question was whether she was a valued member of the colony or not. If she were, perhaps they would go the extra mile to see if she wished to have Pine given punishment for his actions. If not, would they even care? 'What of it? He was being normal stupid Pine,' he excused, rolling his eyes and waving the matter off with a dismissive gesture. 'Besides, Cornelius saved her hide. She's alive.'

'That is not what I wish to speak with you about,' Maurice began to explain.

'Then what is it?' he interrogated, teeth flashing. He wasn't interested in small talk right now. Slate only frowned deeper as Nova rose and excused herself, passing her hand over the elder's shoulder. Slate's eyes followed her until the orangutan's resounding burble broke the silence, drawing his pate back around. Rising from where his rotund body rested, Maurice gestured for him to follow. Slate, apprehensive at first, shot a glance over his shoulder. Pine's leer burned into his dark coat, which only turned up the temperature of his simmering blood. With a low snarl in his direction, his twin rose from where he stood and turned his scarred mug away. Slate felt the urge to bash his brains in. Tearing his gaze away, the inky chimp glared after Maurice as he followed in suit, heading for the royal family's hut. Torches burned bright on either side of it's entrance, having yet to be extinguished once the sun were higher in the sky. The morning was still dim and the sun astray from it's usual place. The moon would most likely be visible on the opposite side of the mountain, which Slate was slightly disappointed that he would not get to see.

Maurice turned left then, which surprised him. He glanced between the auburn lout leading the way and the hut in front of them, his head tilting slightly in perplexity. Finally, after a tiny moment of inner contemplation, he continued to follow after the tutor. They headed off down along a ridge that few would follow, rounding the side of the education tree and plodding up along the ledges, peering down at the drop below. They traveled higher and higher, Slate coming to pause as he noticed the golden rays beginning to peep over the distance cusp of the oasis hills. Belong the lake glistened, the woods a sea of auburn, gold, scarlet and emerald. Was Krissa out there somewhere? Breaking himself out of his ponderings as Maurice clucked at him, urging him to keep up, he proceeded onward with careful precision, eyeing how the rocks loosened slightly along the way. They clattered and scattered, some falling over the edge and down into the trees far below. After nearly ten more minutes of climbing, they finally made it to a grassy patch, a large face of rock behind them, massive gnarled roots from a leaning sequoia traveling down in frayed ends, searching fruitlessly for water and earth. Maurice finally came to rest with a puff of air, the grass stirring. It was spongy and cool underfoot. 'Why bring me here?' he asked, eyes probing at the greying orangutan. Slate came to settle down next to him, albeit uncomfortably. 'Couldn't talk to me down in ape village?'

His companion's head tilted and his gaze gleamed mischievously. 'What is wrong with privacy?'

Frowning once more, Slate gazed off toward the scenery before him. He had to admit, it was certainly a wonderful sight. In the distance, an eagle let out a high-pitched giggle, it's great snowy head and tail visible between a body of powerful mottle wings. Taking a deep breath, he felt his shoulders relax. Maurice finally piped up once more, drawing his attention back. 'I am concerned about Pine,' he finally admitted, emerald eyes drifting off toward the horizon.

Slate kept his eyes upon the old sage. He was worried for his brother? He felt his belly wobble unexpectedly. He was too, now that he thought about it. No matter how they got at each other's throats, he adored his sibling. "Why?" he vocalized, although he knew where this was heading.

'From what I have been told, he tried to harm Krissa during yesterday's hunt,' Maurice pointed out. 'If this is true...' His hands hovered, trailing on what he wished to convey. 'If this is true, he may be capable of more.' He had known the old orangutan to make grave remarks, but this took the cake. His brother? Kill another? He wanted to defend Pine, but in this situation, he struggled to think of a way to make up an alibi for him. It was funny really, how he strived to protect his twin from ridicule as if he were innocent, even after their disagreement the evening before. Even after he had witnessed first-hand what his intentions were toward Krissa. Killing was one thing, but murder? Slate was unable to speak, for once, and thus he kept silent.

Pine tried to kill her, a tiny voice goaded cruelly. You threatened him just the same.

Maurice's eyes finally drifted over to Slate's tawny set. 'The reason I am bringing this up is not only because I worry for Krissa,' the orangutan disclosed. Listening carefully, he took in his graceful hands and his movements, paying attention to the wise ape's thoughts on his brother. Focusing hard, he lingered on every word, as if he'd miss something if he became distracted.

'It is because myself and others have noticed a deep hatred in Pine.. like your father had once carried.'

Slate's gut plunged, his heart kick-started by a violent burst of adrenaline. He suddenly could no longer feel his hands. A tense silence filled the gap, electricity crackling. The birdsong from off in the valley was shrill and uninvited to the chimp's ears, his coat rising slightly. His eyes slowly grew, just about bulging out of his skull. Hail? Was he talking about Hail? That made absolutely no sense, so why... No, he had to be talking about Hail. He isn't your father. He adopted you, the tiny voice reminded. You were unwanted. Slate felt ill. He raised his leathery hands. 'My father,' he echoed in disbelief, tilting his chin down slightly. He suddenly felt as vulnerable as a white-tail, settled next to Maurice with his dark face painted in bewilderment. His expression crumpled, anger replacing shock. "My.. father. What do you mean, my father?"

'Koba,' Maurice affirmed, holding a grossly earnest expression. The male flinched. His skin began to crawl, his head reeling from the bombardment of information. There was too much to take in right now- far too much. He had so many question yet couldn't find his voice in order to ask them. Unwanted. That was all that was bouncing between his ears and wriggling within the thick layer of his encephalitic matter. How? Why? Once again he ended up agape at the tutor's confession. His father was.. 'You are his and so are Pine and Poppy.'

His father was a murderer. A tyrant, a scourge. A monster. 'This is hard to take in,' Maurice comforted, attempting to make him feel better with his kind words. 'Your father's hatred for humans was a great influence for your brother.'

It all made sense now: how bloodthirsty and eager to please he had been during Koba's reign, how vein, cold and sadistic Pine had become afterwards. A great lump formed within his throat. Slate felt a great wave of anger wash over him, intermingled with grief. His head tilted away, eyes training upon the grass in something close to horror. "He.. knows?" Slate breathed. His pate screw around and he curled his lip over at Maurice's flat face.

'Koba told him, long ago.'

'And Pine never told me? Nobody thought to tell me? What about my sister?!'

The orangutan burbled, asserting that he needed to relax. Slate retracted himself back a step, yet kept his teeth bared. 'There was no easy way of explaining this to a juvenile,' Maurice clarified firmly, shaking his crown. He then proceeded on with his explanation, 'Over time, as you grew, I was afraid he may take the same path Koba had chosen. I began to believe that you would as well, but once I discovered that you had become attached to a human, I knew I no longer had to worry.'

Krissa was not human. She was family. Slate felt the first warm golden rays of sunshine as the ball of heavenly light burst up over the horizon, falling over the woods below in a growing blanket of honey. Dawn had broken. His head fell and suddenly Slate was speechless for the first time in a long while. Cognac eyes drifting up, he gazed off over the canopy of autumn and evergreen, taking in a deep breath of cool air. Emotions bubbled within his head, his head feeling as though it were heavy from all that had been dumped on top of it. "My .. mother?" he finally asked.

"Mist," uttered Maurice. Slate's throat tightened. Twig... Lake. He now understood why Maurice had discouraged his attraction toward the beautiful female chimp. What did that make him then? Half-breed. Mixed blood. Mixed genes. Tawny eyes drifting down, he gazed at his hands, studying their wrinkled surface and his dark nails, then the lines upon the flesh of his palms.. Distracted from his thoughts as the orangutan rose from his place, he watched him amble off somewhere, long sinewy arms hoisting himself up along the ancient roots spilled over the surface of the craigs and rocks behind the two. Numb at this point, Slate returned his attention to the rising sun, the sky becoming rosy, fog drifting up over the lake. The sudden thud of Maurice's body returning to the small plateau merely earned a glance over his shoulder. Slate was unable to bring himself to look in the orangutan's direction- that was, until he caught sight of something in his hand. A spear pointed skyward, old and carved, yet sturdy and reliable. Cautiously, he took the weapon when passed to him and began to examine in further. A pang suddenly flushed through him. This was Koba's.

'Was meant for Pine, but you fit it better,' Maurice praised, blinking graciously and dipping his concave mug. 'He was an excellent hunter, just like you. Passionate, strong, loyal.'

There was an odd pause as he felt a slight flicker of pride within his chest. He couldn't fight the faint smile lace his lips. The outcross male then felt it fade as his thoughts of frustration returned. 'Still tried to kill Caesar,' Slate piped up, gritting his teeth. 'You say Pine will end up like him, thought I would too.' His grip tightened around the weapon in his hand, finding newly-found strength and ire within him. His next words were potent and dark, yet inscribed with deep emotion. Maurice watched he rose to his hind legs. 'Do I look like a monster to you?!'

Once again, there was that look again, as if he were seeing something in him that he could not. As if he were recalling a faint memory, or looking upon someone he had once forgotten and now recognized. Within that moment, he realized just what he had been seeing in him that day back in the Education Tree. Slate couldn't bare it. He let out a breathy growl and turned away from Maurice, storming back off down along the ridge in the morning's candied light.

Slate didn't even notice that his prince and Krissa had returned. He stormed right past them and straight for the females resting in the sunshine under the dogwood and enjoying their breakfast. "Mist, Poppy, where?" he demanded, holding his father's spear tightly in his grip. When they failed to answer him immediately, he signed sharply and barked, "Where?"

A few of them flinched before a familiar head rose, light emerald eyes hard. 'Down at the apricot grove,' Lake replied, her flat lips curling into a frown. She then softened slightly, tilting her head. The bones hanging from her crown clamored gently. 'Are you okay?' Ignoring Lake's concern, Slate stalked off once more, anger welling within his belly. He couldn't stand it; each step was agony as he pushed himself forward down the slope and along the ledges. Finally he was brought to a cleared area with two massive wild apricot trees, picking the late developed fruit from it's branches. Some tended to the vegetables off a ways and some were further off harvesting nuts and leaves. Once again, he demanded for them, before he finally spotted them. His heart wavered.

Slate felt his throat tighten and his features softened as soon as he saw Poppy's young face. Mist's head followed, looking up from her basket. He felt as though he were now glued to the spot, staring at the two females and seeing the sudden shocking similarities between the two. Maurice hadn't been lying. Not when he could even see Koba in his brother's features.. not when he slowly felt his hair begin to bristle at the thought of his own damn reflection. Mist's face held a pleasant expression of greeting and motherly warmth. It haunted him, knowing that this was how she looked at all three of them, including Lake, even after Twig's death.

His eyes remained glued to Mist's face. Anger and heartbreak burned within those handsome eyes of his. "You knew," he growled. Her smile began to wilt and Poppy glanced between the two. Cautious, the small female noticed the building emotion upon her elder brother's face, and took a step toward him. A soft peep of question escaped her as she signed, 'Brother?'

Mist's eyes fell upon the weapon in his hand and Slate followed her emerald set, then quickly returned his attention to her crestfallen expression. 'You knew all this time and didn't tell us?' Heads began to turn, curious about the drama.

Poppy grew fearful. 'Slate? What has gotten into you?'

"Ask our mother!" he snarled, voice cutting through the sudden silence.

Poppy let out a squeak and shied away, taking a step back. That's when confusion painted her petite features. Her head turned and the two both came together to stare at their mother; Slate glowered and Poppy gawked. 'Mother?' she signed apprehensively.

Mist glanced from one to the other, beginning to shrink back. "I wanted to protect.. you.." she tried to explain. Her eyes pinched and began to watery with emotion. 'Koba wanted to keep it secret after I told him I was in love with Button.'

"Koba?" Poppy questioned, utterly perplexed and bewildered. Her pygmy frame shrank further.

This was rich. "Yet.. he told .. Pine," rasped Slate.

Mist's jaw dropped. She looked between the two, blinking vigorously. 'My.. children,' she finally signed. Poppy slowly took a step back, as if afraid her mother's touch would burn her. Slate, looking onward, scowled much like Koba had once. He then wheeled around and turned his bristling spine to his family, knuckling away. He couldn't feel anything right now, nor calm his wagging tongue, and thus took his leave. The field was left in silence, aside from the birds above.

He couldn't find Krissa. Slate was settled up in the dogwood tree above the main part of the ape village, his eyes staring off toward the horizon, back toward his old home in the Muir Woods. His mind ghosted toward the idea of his father's body, long since deteriorated in the rubble of a fallen building in a ghost town... devoid of humans and apes alike. In the past. That's where he had been laid to rest. Slate curled his lip and wrinkled his snout. The outcross ape then allowed his opticals to scower the forest canopy and the endless amount of sequoias swaying in the autumn breeze. A gust of wind caused the branches to sway, Slate riding along leisurely without a care in the world. His father was a monster, his mother was untrue. That was his lineage and it made his skin crawl. Not only that, but he had failed to give Twig a proper older brother figure before his untimely demise. All sound became muffled and he shut his eyes, giving into the darkness as he held his father's old spear in a snug grip. He felt alien. He felt disgusting, as if he had lost himself within a few simple, short minutes.

It wasn't until he heard an alarm call that he tilted his cranium and peered of toward the entrance. From where he sat, he could hear his family's cries growing louder and louder, contributing to the chorus of howls and hoots of alarm. What on earth was going on now? Pinching his eyes, he strained to see what was going on, his attention finally falling on the male he loathed. For a split second, he could see Koba's disfigured face let out a roar of triumph, only for him to come down from the clouds and come to the realization that his twin brother was leading the troop in. They had a prisoner, bound by the nets used for capturing black-tail and white-tail alike. The person in question? He was human, dressed in a faded greyish-blue pullover, torn jeans and combat boots. His heart palpitated. He came to his senses. Another human? Where was Krissa? Slate ambled down a few branches so he could get a closer look. The male had a head of dark hair and olive skin, his face scuffy and unshaven. A growl rumbled within his chest. The same routine took place.

Rocket, Maurice and Cornelius waited atop the ledge, and the human was forced down into the stone and mud. A grunt escaped him as Marshal shoved his face into the grime below him, obligating him to bow. Silence fell as Cornelius raised a paw. 'Another human, Pine?' Rocket observed, clearly angry. 'Have you not learned your lesson?'

'Too many humans. Could lead others here!' Pine declared, eyes searching for the ravenette. From his short time knowing Koba, he could remember the sound of his voice and could pick it up in his brother's vocals lickadisplit. Ire began to burn so hot within Slate's veins that he was sure his blood would scald his heart. How could he say such a thing, after such a long time of working with Krissa! He knew that Krissa had been alone- he had seen it with his own two eyes. Pine was as blind as a worm.

'Should have left outside!' Cornelius gestured, teeth baring.

"Blood must spill!" Pine screamed.

"Kill the human!" shrilled another ape from not far off.

"Hey man, just lemme go!" the human begged, speaking through bloodied teeth. There was an obvious swelling in his left eye from where he had struggled. "I won't- won't come back, I promise!" Marshal suddenly brought his spear down into the young man's ribs, causing him to shriek in pain and grab for them. They would most likely be bruised or cracked now. Slate couldn't help but flinch. The apes surrounding went ballistic as he coughed in pain, crawling around in the mud and looking up at their leader from where he cowered. Cornelius's eyes washed over the clear, then to Maurice. Slate began picking out faces of anger and mistrust, and some of fear. One in particular caught his attention: Nova. She stood, staring at the man in the ground with a look of horror on her face. Then, all at once, he found Krissa, trying to push her way through the ring of apes.

What on earth was she doing?! Slate ambled from branch to branch, attempting to call out to her to get her to stay back, but was drown out by all the cries. She couldn't possibly know this human, could she? Pine, bellowing at the top of his lungs, raised his spear and twisted around, egging on the followers that joined in with a chorus. He then turned to the human in front of him, taking the man's dark hair in his hand and hoisting him up just as he had once down with Krissa. His next was exposed and the deadly end of his spear rose back, preparing to make the killing blow. The tension grew and then snapped-

"Stop! Stop this!" Krissa flung herself out into the open area surrounding the ledge that her prince was settled upon and boldly grabbed Pine's spear. His brother was surprised by this and reeled back, stumbling until he caught himself and whipped around, turning on her with a roar of anger. He approached her from where she rested in the dirt and raised his fists. Slate was there within a split second, barging through the colony members that had gathered and clearing the distance between himself and his brother. He brought his father's up with a great heave and slammed it with a crack right into the side of Pine's skull, sending him sprawling to the ground. The entire clear blew up, a cacophony of thunderous simian alarms drowning out the afternoon birds and the wind whistling in the trees. He barely caught the sound of Krissa shouting his name as he lunged straight for Pine, the two tumbling into the mud until he came to pin his brother down, raising the spear's perilous end into the air with a roar tearing from his throat. Pine was lucky enough to wrench himself from his brother's grip just as the blade came crashing down, grazing his cheek and then embedding itself into the earth where his cranium had once rested.

As swift as the river, Slate was back on his hind legs and facing his brother down, who quickly took the upper hand. Pine bowled him over, ducking and slamming into his gut with a broad shoulder, the two skidding over stone and leaving scrapes and bruises that would surely hurt the next day. Then came the battering fists, his brother's arms swinging down and colliding with his unsuspecting jaws and nose. Metallic crimson flooded through his throat, filling his canines and staining them with faint claret. Slate struggled and yeeped pitifully as he was beat, up until finally he managed to find an opening and twisted his entire body, catching is siblings arm and yanking it out of the air. The momentum sent Pine collided hard with the ground, giving Slate enough time to duck out of the way and dash for the daunting spear settled in the mud.

"SLATE!-" Krissa's voice cut off just as Pine's weapon bore down on him from above. He had only a few seconds to react and careened back, Koba's weapon coming to rest within either of his hands in a firm grip as he blocked his brother's assault. The tip of the spear gleamed dully in the greying light heavy clouds beginning to fill the stretch above and rain beginning to fall. Pine and Slate's gazes locked momentarily, the two in the midst of a power struggle, only for the outcross male to shove his twin back in a fierce burst of ire and hatred. Their spears went flying together, as did their bodies as Slate soared toward his brother, evidently landing on top of him. Straddling the disfigured outcross beneath him, he began to punch and wail on his brother, watching as blood began to ooze just as it had for himself just moments before.

They rolled once more, but Slate refused to allow Pine to turn the tables; With a desperate claw, he grasped hold of something hard and brought it up across his brother's skull once again, coming out on top recurrently. With a mighty bray, he began to press the shaft of Koba's spear down into his brother's throat, suffocating him. Pine choked and stared up at his brother, pawing desperately at his hands-

Yes- This is it- This is what you've wanted-

And then he felt hands upon his back, drawing him out of the fervent haze of red that blinded him.

"Slate, stop.. Please!" Krissa sobbed. Shocked by the sound of her voice, he gawked down at his gaping brother and drew away, as if he had bit him. The human helped him to his hind legs and they staggered away, Slate still staring down at his bloodied sibling, watching as he rolled onto his hands and knees, grabbing at his throat and wheezing.