Mary was nearly exhausted. There were so many wounded, not to mention just plain shocked Apes to care for that there weren't enough women to go around, let alone full-fledged Ape Healers. The young Ape girl was close to becoming the latter, but still did not consider herself as such.
Thanks to Ellie, Mary could keep the baby with her. She could not cling to Mary's fur like an Ape baby, but she rested comfortably in a sling Mary wore across her back. She could not remember exactly what Ellie had called the contraption, but blessed it nevertheless.
I had no idea little human babies were so helpless, Mary thought.
"You also were," someone signed right next to her as if reading her thoughts.
Mary jumped. She was practically falling asleep on her feet with exhaustion.
And, Aunt Cornelia did not look much better, Mary realized, seeing finally which female Ape had spoken to her.
"Was I," Mary asked.
"But Ape babies are not— "
"Yes, I know," Cornelia gently interrupted the girl before she could finish her thought out loud. "Don't worry about it, dear. We cared for you just fine until you caught up and bloomed. You're Father carried you around in something that looks very much like what you're using now until you could cling. Anyhow, you'll be able to do the same with this little dear."
"Hope," Mary spoke the word gently.
"Hope?" Cornelia asked.
"I … I thought I'd call her Hope," Mary explained.
Caesar's wife beamed at the young Ape.
"Oh, it's perfect! I love that name!" she signed happily. "Caesar will love it, too."
Quite deliberately, Mary did not comment on what Caesar would or would not love. She was not ready to think about that, yet. She was not like her Father, naming this baby after a human to please Caesar that way her Father had done. Well, partially done. Koba had told Mary about what little he could remember about the human Mary for whom she was named. It was not much, but he did remember. He had forbidden Mary to share those memories with anyone, and she had not, not even with Ash.
"You should rest too, Aunt Cornelia," Mary told Caesar's wife, none too subtly changing the subject from the Ape Leader. "Ellie's medicine is magic, but you are still recovering, yourself. And he's already a handful," she added as the Ape baby peered at her from where he clung to his Mother. Mary patted Cornelia's youngest on top of his head, and he hooted softly at her and gently stroked her fur. He seemed captivated by the long soft almost blonde fur on Mary's head.
"Little charmer, like your brother," Mary murmured to the baby, who seemed to like what he heard, flashing wide innocent eyes at her.
Cornelia only gave her a tired smile.
"All hands are needed here. If I can help, I will."
"Bring her to me in a bit," the Ape Queen added, looking over Mary's shoulder at the sleeping baby. "She will need feeding soon, and I shall rest a bit then."
Mary thanked Cornelia. Then, the two separated and she kept trudging doggedly forward, doing everything she could for her people. Even though, in some cases, the site of her was not welcomed to some Apes. She could almost feel the hatred coming off some of them, especially those who lost someone in her Father's attack on THE HUMAN CITY.
Aunt Cornelia had had to quiet more than one Ape who reacted badly to the sight of Mary. And, much to Mary's total astonishment, Caesar's wife was not alone in that support. There were many others who either openly showed their friendship for Mary or who, if not making any outward show of friendship, hushed others who obviously did not feel the same way.
One of the most welcome supporters for Mary was Rocket's wife, Tinker, who was to be Mary's future Mother by mating, and who apparently was determined to crack whatever ribs Rocket might have missed with his powerful hug earlier.
"My Ash loved you. We love you. you are not to blame for what your Father did, little Daughter," Tinker had signed to her after letting go, making Mary tear up with happiness. "Please, don't go and live with Maurice. You come and live with us once things are more settled?"
And, then there was Lake.
Lake was a stunningly beautiful female Ape in Mary's own generation. She had never teased Mary mercilessly like a few of the other children, but she had also never openly defended Mary, until now.
Sitting down on the floor in an empty corner, Mary had drifted off in an exhausted dose, only to be awakened violently sometime later by an Ape female jerking her up by the long fur on her head.
Still with a fistful of Mary's fur, the older larger female gorilla loomed over the younger Ape, snarling down at her.
"My husband and son are dead, daughter of Koba.
The gorilla's grip was tight enough to hurt a lot. Normally, Mary wood not have hesitated to stand up with her own bared teeth and snarl and her own words, even against the much larger and older female. But, she had the human baby to think about now, and held herself back from the fight with an effort. She returned the older female's stony gaze, refusing to even wince from the pain the gorilla was causing her.
"OH, so Koba's little foundling monster is quiet, is she?" the older female named Josie jeered. "You barely shut up since you first learned to talk, think you're better because talk, and now you nothing to say to me?"
"I am sorry," Mary said simply.
What else could she say. She truly was sorry and heart-sick. She said it for Josie and anyone else who was listening … and many now were, Mary realized. A crowd of Apes was forming behind them.
Mary felt the other apes approaching, and braced herself for a fight.
If they hurt hope, they will pay for it!
Still she did not take her eyes off Josie. To do so might invite the other female to attack.
"Sorry!" the older gorilla shrieked out loud.
She was working herself up in to a near frenzy, loosing what little bit of vocal speech she possessed and signing was obviously becoming more difficult for her as her one free hand shook with rage.
"You're sorry! They should have left you in the forest to die where Koba found you! They—"
Mary wished with all her heart that she did not have the helpless human baby strapped to her back.
A low growl came from behind her. Mary tried to turn her head for a second and Josie lunged. The larger Ape dragged the smaller female towards her, ripping out a good chunk of Mary's hair and scratching her head badly in the process. Mary shrieked from pain and anger. She just managed to kick out at the enraged gorilla, knocking her off-balance, before dodging to one side, tearing out even more of her own hair as Josie's fist was torn free, and letting the enraged female sprawl past her on her own momentum. Josie's momentum took her sprawling past Mary and right in to the arms of the waiting crowd.
The crowd seem to have no interest in attacking either Mary or baby Hope.
Blood was running in to Mary's eyes. She rubbed at them even as she heard a brief scuffle. Finally clearing her vision, Mary could see many of the older females dragging Josie back in to the crowd, glowering at the still fuming gorilla.
But Mary realized that even more apes were surrounding her.
"you're bleeding. Let me help you."
It was Lake.
Mary gaped in astonishment at her former rival, though the rivalry had always been in Lake's mind. Ignoring Lake's request, Mary held up a hand. What was going on with Josie?
"Sit down, Josie," came a low double rumble.
Two truly ancient gorilla females, Luca's aunts, twin's names Sonya and Kira, were holding the younger female firmly between them and scowling down at her. Given the bent and gnarled nature of these two females, Mary was amazed by what grips they still had, strong ones, given the pained expression on Josie's face.
Good, let them tear out some of her fur, Mary thought a bit vengefully.
"That one will be trouble for you."
Lake was standing next to Mary. She put a very hesitant hand on Mary's shoulder. Then, she removed the hand and tried to groom some of Mary's fur over that raw spot on her head. Once that was done, Lake began to sign.
"Human babies can sleep through anything, I guess," Lake signed, grinning back at the baby.
"That Josie's going to be trouble for you," she added. "but don't worry. I'll watch your back. We all will."
Lake turned her head and other females from her own age stepped forward to gently touch Mary's shoulder and then line up protectively around her and Lake.
Mary felt tears coming in to her eyes again. Impulsively, she hugged Lake, and did not resist when Lake gently drew their foreheads together. A drop or two of Mary's blood got in to Lake's fur, but the other paid it no mind.
"Apes together strong," Mary whispered.
Lake and the group of young females nodded.
"Apes together strong," they all signed in unison. Then, Lake added, "Females together even stronger."
This brought a chorus of tired laughter among all the Apes in the room.
Sonya had born the still angry Josie away somewhere, but old Kira came up to Mary now.
"You sit down, rest, child," the elder told the younger Ape firmly. "You too, Lake. Both of you rest, I will guard."
Lake led Mary back to the corner where she had been resting, and true to her word, Kira planted herself directly in front of the two younger females, protecting them, a big furry wall
Sitting down, and feeling as weary as dear old Kira and Sonya usually looked, Mary slipped the straps of the baby carrier from her back, and cradled little Hope in her arms as she settled on the floor. Lake settled beside her.
"May I?" Lake asked.
Mary nodded, and Lake put a gentle hand on the babies' head. She drew it back quickly, though.
"Soft," she signed, startled.
"Ellie says that's normal," Mary told Lake about the soft spot on the babies' head. "Ellie says it will close up in a few more days."
Lake gazed in wonder at the human child.
"She is so helpless. She Can't even cling yet? How do humans survive. What will you name her, Mary?"
"I've named her Hope," Mary told Lake.
Lake also beamed at hearing the name.
"It's perfect," she signed.
"Yes," old Kira rumbled from in front of them. "Hope is always good … good baby, too. Brave baby.""
"If Caesar lets me keep her," Mary sighed. She was obviously still expecting punishment from the Ape Leader.
"You know how Caesar feels about humans," Lake said. "Why wouldn't he let you keep her?"
For a moment, Mary felt a small flair of irritation. Of course, she knew how Caesar felt about humans. That was what made her Father do what he …
But Mary stopped that thought before it began. No, as much as she wanted to, she could not blame Caesar for any of Koba's actions. She could blame him for killing Koba maybe, but not for what Koba had done to start it all.
"I don't know," Mary said, sounding tired and defeated.
Her eyes were already starting to close, though. She was barely aware as Lake put an arm around her, letting the forlorn, exhausted and newly orphaned Ape girl rest her head against Lake's shoulder. Very gently, Lake began to rock Mary and little Hope back and forth even as her own eyes slid shut from exhaustion.
A/N:
Points to anyone who knows both who Mary's human namesake is and where we first were introduced to Lake.
Thanks to everyone for reading, and a special thanks to all those twho have reviewd.
And, to everyone asking for flashbacks of Ash or of any sort, in the next chapter, I promise.
