It was starting to turning into night by the time Blue Eyes Ash & their fathers returned for Angel the meeting had gone on longer than Blue Eyes had thought it would Caesar had put it to a vote for the whole village to decide on weather Angel was allowed to stay, the village had been divided so it had be decided Angel would be allowed to stay for only a month than there would be another vote & although Blue Eyes wasn't entirely happy with the outcome it was at least better than not having her stay at all Blue Eyes had expended Kali to reacted more harshly than she had if anything she seemed unbothered that Blue Eyes wanted to be with a human more than with her he wasn't sure if that was a good thing or not but he didn't press his luck Ash as always was supportive of his friend for that Blue Eyes was more than grateful.

Blue Eyes Ash Rocket & Caesar rounded the corner to where Blue Eyes had left Angel all stopped in their tracks it was clear there'd been some kind of scuffle the ground had drag marks & there seemed to be blood on the ground Blue Eyes went to check on Angel inside the cave she was nowhere to be found Blue Eyes started to call for her but got no answer. Blue Eyes started to panic where was she? what had happened? Caesar tried to comfort his son

"We'll find her" he signed he then shared a concerned look with Rocket.

Horror suddenly struck him the only ape that had not been at the meeting was Koba & as far as he knew no one had seen him since he'd left the village with Caesar.

Blue Eyes & Ash were still searching for Angel Blue Eyes all the while calling for her

"Son …It's getting dark we'll keep looking in the morning" Caesar signed only to be met by a hiss from Blue Eyes

"Not leaving" Blue Eyes signed back & continued to search letting out a wiry sigh the apes continued to search night had now fallen it was too dark to see anything Ash placed his arm around his best friend & pulled him close shaking his head

"We can't find her in the dark must come when it gets light" he signed pulling Blue Eyes towards their fathers sadly Blue Eyes followed it was going to be a long night.

*Meanwhile elsewhere in the woods*

Koba sat in a tree cleaning blood off himself Angel lay at the base of the tree unmoving Koba glanced down at the human seeing she was still breathing he dragged her to a nearby clearing then without looking back left her there & made his way back to the village stealing away to his hut unseen.

*A few hours later*

Angel slowly opened her eyes every inch of her body hurt Angel pulled herself up so she was sitting with her back to a nearby rock formation reaching up she could feel the now drying blood crusting around her lip eye & head looking down she saw bruises forming on her wrists & arms & a small gash just above her left knee her ribs hurt with every intake of breath she took looking around Angel could just make out the outline of the fallen trees around her but she had no idea as to where she was the last thing she remembered was something jumping on her from behind than all went black calling out she hoped she'd be able to find someone, anyone human or ape that would help her but she was met by the silence of the forest it was starting to rain & it seemed to be coming down hard all of a sudden Angel started to feel cold but she couldn't find anywhere to get out of the rain so she did her best to shelter under the tree "Blue….. Where are you?" she said aloud.

*The next morning*

Blue Eyes was up early impatiently waiting for his father & others to be ready to search for Angel Caesar along with Blue Eyes Rocket Ash & a handful of other apes soon set off to once again find the human female Koba tagged along at the back knowing he'd had to keep up pretenses if nothing else he knew he'd have questions to answer from Caesar & Blue Eyes but for know that had to wait a few hours had past & there was still no sign of the human female Koba waiting till all the apes backs were turned slinked off unaware Ash had spotted him, keeping a little distance between them Ash followed Koba to where Koba had last left Angel looking a little surprised when he found her gone he knew she couldn't have gone far hearing something behind him he turned to see Ash watching him head cocked to the side

"Uncle why come out here?" Ash signed Koba shrugged causing Ash to frown Koba shifted knowing that perhaps the young ape was pacing things together at any rate he knew Ash knew Koba knew more than he was letting on

"Search over there" Koba said pointing turning Ash looked to where Koba was pointing moving off Koba picked up a rock & moved towards Ash only to drop it when he heard Blue Eyes & Rocket

"Son, you find her?" Rocket asked Ash who shook his head no Blue Eyes cast his eyes to the ground then frowned leaning down to study something on the ground suddenly he let out a loud hoot that made everyone gather to where he was looking Caesar made his way to the front to see what his son had found

"Blood" Blue Eyes signed & by the looks of it the blood was fresh like whoever it had belong to hadn't long left from where they were Blue Eyes began once again to call out for Angel not too long after Blue Eyes turned looking wearily at a bush there was something there not moving he raised his spear waiting for whatever it was to come out he was taken a little by surprise when Kali emerged from the bushes sighing he lowered his spear before turning to her

"Why are you here?" he asked

"Here to find the human" she replied before going over to Ash both touching foreheads Blue Eyes was confused for a moment but then put it together Kali liked Ash, he was unsure if Ash however liked Kali but that was a problem for another time.

Hours had passed & Blue Eyes was starting to think Angel was no longer in the area but if she was hurt how badly was she hurt & how far could she go if she was hurt badly he knew time was running out he needed to find her racking his brain he tried to think of places he knew Angel knew but he'd already checked all the places he could think of save for one the human city… Blue Eyes looked to his father was speaking to Rocket about what best to do next

"Human City?" Blue Eyes questioned Caesar thought for a moment before sighing back

"Take Stone with you, we will keep looking" nodding Blue Eyes left for the city with stone

After having no luck finding Angel Blue Eyes & Stone had kept out of sight but the few humans they knew hadn't seen Angel either but said they would send word if she returned Blue Eyes thanked them & than returned to where he'd left his father & the others.

*Still in another part of the woods*

Angel wondered through the woods trying to get her bearings she found a small stream so was able to clean herself up a little & have a drink the next thing she did was to look for something to eat lucky for her she'd found herself some berries but was still sore from the beating she had suffered feeling alone & scared she sank down put her head in her hands & sobbed this wasn't how she thought her life would end all of a sudden she lifted her head she could swear she heard someone calling her name she listened closer moving towards the sound she then caught sight of something moving calling out she hobbled as fast as she could towards the shape her eyes were still swollen so her sight wasn't the best calling out she saw the shape was a ape she'd never been so happy to see one in all her life sadly for her that ape just happen to be none other than Koba sneering Koba again picked up the nearest rock to him getting ready to strike the human this time he'd make sure he finished the job when out of nowhere Blue Eyes barged past him overjoyed to have found her pulling her into a tight hug he studied her fresh wounds before calling to his father & the other apes who came to where they were Ash grinning at the sight of his human friend Caesar caught sight of the rock by Koba's feet eyeing him he joined his son he too looked over her wounds then shifted his eyes back to Koba placing a hand on Angel's shoulder he gave her a gentle smile before signing

"Home"

Angel looked puzzled but Blue Eyes just smiled at her & took her hand together all the apes & Angel headed back to the village.

Blue Eyes gently laid her back in the hut she was used to & tended to her wounds frowning at the amount of bruising she seemed to have around her face still he was happy to have her back & he knew she was strong & she would heal with time he went to fetch her food & water than sat with her while she ate for the coming weeks while Angel healed Blue Eyes kept her close never allowing her out of his sight . He had spoken to Ash about how he felt for Kali & while it was not what their parents had planned for them he'd give them his blessing & left the two apes to be together after sending word that Angel was safe the apes lives returned to normal although some were still unsure of the human being in the village they mostly left her be.

"Son seems to be happy" Maurice sighed as he sat next to Caesar who was watching both his sons & Angel from his hut turning to his old friend he gave a small nod & a slight smile tugged on his lips

"What will you do if she cannot stay?" Maurice sighed looking at the trio he knew it was a question Caesar had asked himself more than once

"Must keep apes safe no matter what the cost" he signed back but deep within his heart although he knew his son should be with an ape & not a human he wanted his son to be happy & he knew Blue Eyes would not stay in the village if Angel was not allowed to stay. Angel was sitting by the watering hole watched closely by Blue Eyes who sat just a few feet from her when Ash came to sit by Angel. Angel smiled up at him as he offered her a small bunch of grapes

"Thank you" she said as well as tried to sign Blue Eyes had been trying to teach her but it had been a slow process Ash let out a playful hoot & then proceeded to wrestle with Blue Eyes the two apes grunting & hooting while playfully rolling around on the ground Angel chuckled rolling her eyes at the two suddenly a warning hoot came from one of the ape guards causing Ash & Blue Eyes to stop their play fighting Caesar came to see what the problem was & was a little surprised to see Malcolm standing in the ape village holding something in his hands.

Caesar greeted his friend but could tell there was something wrong waiting he let his friend speak

"I'm looking for Angel" Malcolm stated Angel moved towards him frowning when she saw him he looked down then back up at her

"What's wrong?" she asked walking over to him Malcolm still looking down at the object in his hand Blue Eyes walked up behind Angel

"Angel….. There's been an accident….. Well I mean….It's Carver…." Malcolm trailed off trying to find the words he needed

"What about Carver?" Angel said frowning she didn't like his tone "What's he done now?" all the apes were watching them now

Malcolm didn't answer just kept looking at the ground Angel felt her heart begin to race

"Malcolm what about Carver… Where is my brother?!" Angel dreaded what he might say next

"Carver got into a fight with someone a few days ago….." Malcolm started Angel listened to every word he was saying "It was pretty bad….Angel I- I'm so sorry we found him a little while ago…. He didn't make it"

Angel stood there frozen to the spot her eyes darting around as she processed what she'd just been told Angel lowered her head before sinking to the ground letting out a scream of anguish Blue Eyes & Malcolm both moving forward to comfort her Angel intensively reached out for Blue Eyes pulling him to her she wept as Malcolm fought back tears of his own for her Angel couldn't breathe she felt like the world was holding a bar across her chest Blue Eyes picked her up & took her to her hut where she could mourn without eyes on her Malcolm went to follow but Caesar stopped him giving his friend a sad shake of his head

A few hours later Angel had calmed down somewhat but she was exhausted fresh tears were still streaming down her face when Caesar along with Ash Rocket & Malcolm entered her hut Blue Eyes was sat on the makeshift bed wrapped around Angel trying to comfort her Angel sadly lifted her head Caesar's heart sunk as he saw the human her eyes were red & the pain she was carrying in her heart was also all over her face he shifted his eyes to his son who just sadly looked down at her keeping his chin resting on her head as she cried

"Where is he now?" Angel broke the silence with a blank look in her eyes

"Back at the fort his body will be burnt tomorrow" Malcolm said sadly Angel let out a deep sigh nodding her head more to herself then to anyone else she than looked up at Blue Eyes who gave a supportive smile then over to Caesar who also did the same

Turning to Malcolm he said "Tonight you stay, tomorrow you go" & with that he went to find an empty hut for Malcolm to spend the night. Ash stepped forward placing his hand oh Angels shoulder bowing his head Rocket stayed by the door but he too bowed his head Angel shut her eyes & began to cry again causing Blue Eyes to wrap his arms around her a little more pulling her close to him

Not long after Caesar returned to show Malcolm where he'd be sleeping for the night. Angel cried herself to sleep wrapped in Blue Eyes' arms his heart broke for her but in time he too fell asleep

*The next Morning*

Sunlight greeted both Angel & Blue Eyes as they woke Blue Eyes placed a tender kiss on her lips & walked down to the watering hole with her handing her a bowl of food Angel just looked at it she wasn't hungry Cornelia made her way over to Angel pulling her into a hug Blue Eyes watched the embrace fondly it was just like his mother to know how to comfort anyone be in human or ape Blue Eyes cast a eye over to his father who sat eating just across from him Malcolm walked over to Angel

"We better get going" he said holding his hand out to Angel she nodded but turned to Blue Eyes

"Will you come with me?" she asked Blue Eyes then looked to his parents who both nodded

"Stay out of sight" Caesar signed nodding Blue Eyes left with Angel & Malcolm.