I'm back! I know, it's been almost a week! I don't know what's wrong with me, I'v3 got a little more than three days to finish this! Eek!

Enjoy!

He was climbing when he first met her. He wasn't really paying much attention, his minding wandering about. As he went about, a small sound caught his attention… it sounded suspiciously like crying. He was curious and kind of concerned; was it one of his friends, whom he treasured very much and couldn't stand to see upset, that was crying?

To say he was surprised to see another little primate perched on a branch a little ways down was an understatement. She seemed panicked; sobbing nearly hysterically, knees brought up to her chest and shaking badly.

Gunner tilted his head; what on earth was she doing here? And, more importantly, who the heck was she?

He crept downwards carefully, no sense in startling her further. As he got closer, he was quite surprised by her color. She was pure white, not a speck of other color. T looked soft, delicate and kind of fluffy, like freshly fallen snow.

"Hey, um-"

The other little ape squeaked and jumped, raising her head. Her face was tear stained, large pale blue eyes filled right to the brim with fresh tears, this time of fear.

"Don't worry…" he soothed. "I- I won't hurt you."

She sniffled. "R… Really?"

"Yep." He sat down beside her. "What's wrong? Why're ya cryin like that?"

The little girl sniffed again, tears spilling down her cheeks. "I… I can' find my mommy."

"'m sorry." He patted her shoulder, giving the poor girl a sympathetic look as she sobbed nearly silently. "What happened?"

"We-" she choked on a sob and rubbed one eye. "We were chased by leopards. I… I didn't see what happened." He winced, an idea coming to mind, but didn't dare voice it.

Had to get her mind off this somehow… distract her. He couldn't help if he didn't know even half the story with her blubbering like this. Not that he blamed her… he'd be torn up too if his mother was suddenly separated from him during a leopard attack… who would be able to assume anything but the worst? "So what's your name?"

"A- Angel…" it really fit her. With her soft pure white fur, like clouds, and eyes of sky blue… she did look rather angelic, sweet and pure. "What's yers?"

"I'm Gunner." He introduced. "Ya wanna come back to my place? Maybe my mom can help with…" he paused. "You know."

She nodded. "But… what about your dad?"

He winced, a look of pain flashing over his face, eyes growing sad. "…He died when I was just a baby." He replied quietly.

"I'm sorry." She said quickly.

"Oh… it's ok." He waved her off, but still looked a little hurt. "Now come on!"

He took her home, and Amethyst promised to help search after having her explain over breakfast, putting Lily and Jake, his twin elder siblings, in charge as she went off to search. They let him and Angel go play, teasing that they not 'have too much fun'. Both children were confused; how could there be such a thing as too much fun?

Putting it aside, he went about showing her to the bog. "So… Gunner?"

He looked over at her, still slightly taken aback by her unusual, yet beautiful, coloring. "Yeah Angie?"

She giggled and blushed. "Where're we headed?"

He climbed over a rock, her following. "To our pirate ship."

"Ooooooh…" she sounded entranced. "That sounds cool! What's it like?"

"Well, it's this really big piece of rock in the middle of some water" he started. "And- what're you doing?"

Angel had stopped, gazing up at a tree. "What?"

"Isn't it pretty?" she cooed, seemingly dazed.

"What?"

"That flower!" she pointed. It was a pale, pastel pink orchid, growing somehow in a tangle of vines high above. The middle of the flower was heart shaped, indicating it's species. A cupid arrow orchid! "It's beautiful!" she exclaimed. "I just love cupid arrow's! My mom says my dad gave her one when they first met!" she sighed dreamily; she loved that story, even though she found it pretty gross. He'd presented her with a whole bunch of them when they were mere teenagers, and they'd been together ever since.

She was so caught up in the memory/story, she didn't even notice her new friend leaving her side, carefully making his way up the tree.

She jumped a little and squeaked in surprise when there was a sudden tap on her shoulder. She turned to him, and her blue eyes promptly widened. "Oh…" she sighed so happily, smiling widely, showing her perfect teeth in an innocent, joyful smile. The other young primate held the flower out to her, watching her reaction happily. "Thank you!" she threw her arms around him, before taking the beautiful blossom and tying it to a flowering vine, putting it on her head like a crown.

"Whaddaya think?"

"Ya look pretty." He covered his mouth, brown eyes wide, blushing. That wasn't supposed to slip through! Uh oh… what would she think? Would she be…

"Aww…" she looked down at her reflection. "I do?"

"U-Um…" he gulped, nervous. He couldn't lie to her and say no; that would hurt her feelings! But… he didn't want her to know that he… but still… oh what the heck? "Yeah. You do."

"Thanks!" and she was hugging him again. "I 'preciate it." She murmured into his fur. He was a good friend; he'd been able to calm her down, and had offered to show her their private play place; she'd heard from that older ape (Lily, was it?) that this bog was forbidden. Now he'd given her a flower (not just any flower, a cupid's arrow orchid! That was a big deal!), and called her pretty!

He hesitantly hugged back for a minute. "Uh… you- you're welcome." After a moment, he gently pushed her back. "Let's go. You can see the butterfly field from the crow's nest!" and they were off again.

When they arrived, Angel couldn't help being blown away. This was so… so… she couldn't even find words for it! The cannons were incredible, and the below deck was well furnished, with a set of little chairs and a large piece of wood for a table. The masts were in all the right places, perfectly spread apart, but the vines above very safe; they wouldn't break. It was perfect.

As they snacked on some sweet honey comb (Angel had no idea where he'd gotten that), he took her up to the crow's nest, that someone named Mickey (apparently short for Mikayla and a big sister of… was it Squint, did he say?) had helped them tie some wood and things together to make a little basket.

As they chatted, it was soon after that a white saber arrived, who startled Angel, but Gunner kept her reassured. She was a friend. She'd called down a polite, timid hello, but was staying in the trees all the same. Just in case.

After Shira's arrival, other animals slowly began appearing, including a little badger girl who had a very shrill scream. Two little seagull chicks came to say hello, the girl with a pretty crown of flowers not unlike her own, both very friendly. After introducing themselves, they went off to chat between themselves on another branch.

After some more conversation, later, the badger's Indian voice called out teasingly, full of mischief "Hey Squint. Whose your girlfriend?" she looked down. Who was here now?

Well? Was it bad?

I'm getting seriously annoyed! Y'know how I said I was sick-ish? Well, most of me feels fine now, bt I've still got this stupid cough that won't go away! I've had it for a little more than two weeks now; should I be concerned?

Anyway, enough of my problems! Review please!