"Seems like you had a dark view of the world back then Iris...we'll you weren't really wrong about it..." The man said.
"But it seems like now your view is even darker now..."
Iris just looked at him with tired eyes.
Ape Village 3 years ago
Iris walked down through the village ignoring the stares she was getting, unlike the stares she got on the first day in the village these where more out of nervousness and curiousity it was obvious that that apes that saw her actions today spread the news around. It was a slight annoyance but not infuriating, There where only a couple individuals that she was pissed with right now and she was thankful she ran off before she did something worse. But honestly she more tired emotionally and mentally then anything, She didn't know how her body could still function after the shit she had gone through. She was now wearing a white T-shirt thanks to Ellie who she had run into to replace her bloody one.
She then saw Zack with Ellie which made a rage start to boil causing her to she speed over the young man. The two noticed she was coming over but failed to notice the anger in her eyes and before the older woman could even say anything The young woman punched the man square in the jaw hard making him stumble back and groan in pain. Ellie looked between Iris and Zack in horror as she help the man stand up straight.
"You.. little..Shit!" She growled flexing her knuckles"OF ALL THE STUPID THINGS YOU EVER DONE ZACK WHAT YOU DID TODAY MAY HAVE BEEN THE DUMBEST FUCKING ONE!" Iris screamed not brothering to hide her rage.
Zack laughed a little as he held jaw trying to get feeling back into it, Iris hadn't noticed she was drawing attention to herself from onlooking eyes. Zack wiped blood dripping from his nose and lip as Ellie looked at it in concern.
"Wow Iris you really nailed one on me" Zack chuckled as he brought his hand up to see the blood on his hand.
"Cut the wise cracks Zack" Iris seethed not in the mood for jokes at the moment " The apes here will do more then that if they find out you have "that" here" Iris said as she gestured to the pistol in his pants.
"This "thing" is what saved you and those babies from being tared to shreds Rodman" Zack told her seriously.
"That thing does more damage than good even if you gave it to someone" Iris scoffed. She then grabbed him by the hem of his shirt"Not to mention you almost nicked my brother's kid you bastard!" she growled at him.
"Its not like you never used a gun Iris, if I recall you've killed a lot of people with one!" Zack bluntly pointed out.
The apes around them began to hoot in distress which was very common for their kind in intense situations speacily violent ones.
"Don't make me take it from you by force Zack"Iris warned.
Ellie was becoming nervous by the out come of this fight
"Both of you please calm down!" Ellie pleaded to them but her plea went on death ears.
"No offense but I'm not crazy enough to give a killer a loaded gun" Zack said as he gripped the hand holding his shirt firm but not rough.
Iris chuckled darkly"Trust me Zack I know others ways to kill you that doesn't require a gun."
A male chimp got close enough to see the situation getting worst, he turned to Zane who had been there for awhile who was also getting intensed by the situation.
Zack just stared at her emotionlessly"Your really no better then your father aren't you Iris.." he told her coldly.
"Zane we should get in there and defuse the situation quick before this gets out of control" the male signed to Zane.
This remark made her flinch slightly, clearing all emotion quickly from her face while trying her best to hide how much he struck a nerve. But what she said next surprised everyone around them no more so with the king himself who had just recently showed up from hearing the distress from his apes.
She didn't notice the remorseful look on the young man's face by the time she spat out her comment"What can I say I am my father's daughter...you would know more then anyone following the footsteps of your father wouldn't you Zack..." she said cruelly with cold eyes while trying to keep her voice from breaking.
Caesar's heart broke when she said this, he didn't recognizes this woman before him, the sister he remembered was fun loving, adventurous, spunky, and loved life but who he was staring at now was a bitter broken shell. Iris's grip tremble as she held the young man's shirt while Ellie looked at the younger woman with sad eyes at her as she covered her gaping mouth. Eveyone could see this was going too far and tensions where rising beyond high.
"It's too late now Mikey..." Zane signed as Luca above nodded in agreement.
"Your a bitch Iris..." Zack said said trying to hide his hurt and remorse in his voice.
"Yea I'm being called that a lot lately!" she said as she threw hand off his shirt.
She then felt a strong leathery hand grab her shoulder and saw Zack took a step back nervously.
""Fuck you Zack..." she said under her breath.
"Fuck you Iris..." he spat back at her as Ellie was pulling him back by his arm .
"Fuck you..." she growled at him.
She really wanted to pounce him at that moment but felt a huge arm wrap around her waist and pulled her back into a strong hard chest but she didn't turn around to see who it was as her eyes stared daggers into the man in front of her.
"Iris..." Mikey wimpered.
The familer voice is what deverted her attention causing her to snap her head to see a male ape standing next to her, another ape she hadn't see in 5 years.
"Mikey..." she said softly making her eyes soften.
"Thank you Luca" Mike signed to his friend.
Iris looked up too see that gorilla that had been staying with was the one who grabbed her. Luca shook his head indicating he was disagreeing with what happened in this situation.
"Please..no more...I can't stand this" the chimp said looking at her with sad eyes.
Iris just looked at him blankly and turned her gaze to the older woman"Ellie get him away from me...just get him away...I don't know what I will do if he keeps talking to me..." she said tiredly and emotionlessly.
Luca grunted bringing Iris to him keeping her far away from the two.
When she was far away from from Zack Luca let her go and she turned around head off to the water fall, Zack did the similar thing heading off to the entrance of the village to head back to the jeep
"Iris..." Mikey whispered seeing her flee, he didn't think it would hurt him alot more than it did.
Caesar didn't try to go after the female thought it would be better to give her space but he did go up to his good human friend and grabbed her arm gently before she left with the male.
"Why does she hate him...?" Caesar asked her, remembering seeing her animosity for the man before but with the man he saw something else entirely.
Ellie sighed deeply.
"Zack has been pushing her buttons since there were teenagers...but what she doesn't realize is he's crazy about her...everybody in the colony knows this except her..." she said and then turned back to follow the man to make sure he actually leaves.
Mikey flinched a little when the older woman revealed this infomation about the man.
Ceasar turned to look at the younger male, he had heard him and his friend Zane talking about his sister before was surprised that they knew her it made him have questions.
"You and Zane know Iris?" he asked gruffly.
Mikey flinched again from the leader's tone.
"S-s-he rescued us f-f-fron t-the Alpha Omega C-camps..." he stuttered rubbing his arm nervously.
Caesar's eyes grew a little bit in bewilderment. Luca who was good friends with the shy ape didn't even know this about him and Zane.
"You alright Mikey?" Luca signed to the young male.
"Mikey calm yourself don't get too nervous" Zane signed as he rubbed his shoulder attempting to comfort the young chimp.
"If that's true why wasn't she with you that day?" Caesar asked sternly, wanting to know about his sisters past she avoided talking about.
Mikey flinched at this and Zane looked at his kings intimating stare and huffed deeply.
"She made us leave her and go with Koba back then...and told him not to you that she was alive.." he signed to him solemnly.
"W-we didn't want t-to keep secrets from you...it's j-just..." Mikey stuttered, he stopped when Luca rubbed his back "Let Zane handle this Mikey" Luca signed seriously.
"Pope killed...her husband...Caesar...right in front of her..." Zane spoke this time with a depressing look in his eyes.
Mikey bowed his head in sorrow at this information shockeing the older ape right to the core and the gorilla was equally surprised.
"He didn't deserve it.." Mikey whispered wiping a stray tear from his eye.
"After that something broke in Iris...even after Koba killed Pope...it didn't help when Koba recognized Iris and attacked her..."
"I never thought I would be that scared" Mikey signed as he wimpered.
"Iris snapped completely...even though Koba started the fight Iris over powered him quickly and started to beat him..."
"She almost killed him Caesar..." Zane signed grimly.
"It terrified us " Mikey signed rubbing his arm again.
Caesar didn't know how to process this, his former second in command attacking Iris wasn't really a surprise but did surprise him was that Iris who was thin as a twig could be able to over power the strong and vicious ape and almost kill him with her two hands.
"She...had the upperhand" Mikey commented.
Luca wasn't really surprised do to the hit she put on his face earlier that morning, he rubbed his jaw in remembrance, she definitely could throw a good punch the human male was proof of that.
"If that's true then why didn't she kill him"Luca signed to Zane.
The king was also wondering the same thing.
"She would have...if I hadn't pulled her off him...it was then she came to her senses..." Zane signed.
Mikey eyes fell to sorrow remembering the pain filled cries of sorrow of his good human friend when she fell the ground after coming to her senses.
"Why did it have to be her" he whispered to himself.
"And the only reason Koba didn't attack her again and let us come with him was because he realized if he did try to kill her...he could see in her eyes that would take him down along with her...she didn't have anything to lose and that scared him..." he signed grimly.
"We went with Koba and that was the last we saw of her...we tried to search for her and no leads came up...she just...disappeared..."
"I thought she was our friend, I don't understand why she would leave all of us" Mikey signed depressingly.
Zane turned to Mikey"She was hurting Mikey and didn't how to cope...she believed with everything she was going through would ruin our chances for a better life...she didn't do it to be cruel..." Zane signed solemnly.
"But why not tell us!? instead of bottling it!" Mikey signed as wimpered feeling his stomach making knots.
Zane knew Iris leaving them had hurt his friend the the most, the ape had deep feelings for the young woman, feelings that both races wouldn't look kindly upon.
"I-I'm sorry... f-forgive my out b-burst" Mikey began to stutter to the king.
Caesar huffed deeply "I'm not angry with you..." he said calmy.
"You and Mikey can go...make sure he calms down" Zane nodded in thanks and gently began to lead the other male away.
"Iris is going to meet with me Mikey so can see her too" Zane signed to the other as they walked away from their king and head of the Gorilla Guards.
Mikey's face lightened up when Zane mentioned Iris's name.
Iris leaned against the rock wall As she ran hand through hair As she groan in frustration.
"Fuck!..Fuck..." She said as she rubbed her eyes, wiping away a few tears that where threatening to fall out.
She began slip down from the rock and sit on the ground as she held her head in her hand.
"Iris..." a voice said softly making her look up to see who it was to see two familiar apes
"Mikey...Zane..." she said weakly.
"There you are" Zane signed.
"We missed you" Mikey smiled.
Iris smiled back them weakly "I missed both of you too.." She said as she stood up.
She soon had the wind knocked out of her by the chimp who tightly wrapped his long arms around her thin waist.
"I thought you were gone" Mikey started crying.
Iris looked at Mikey in shock and then sighed deeply as she began to return the hug and laid her head on his shoulder.
"I'm sorry...I never wanted to hurt you...or Zane..." she said softly.
"But it did, it truly hurt us..I know you weren't trying to be selfish but we felt betrayed Iris" Mikey cried making soft wimpers as his tears wet her shoulder.
Iris gently stroked his head "You wouldn't be the first one to hate me..." she said quietly as she looked at Zane behind the ape she was embracing.
"Is that what you think!?" Mikey flinched away from Iris's hug "That I hate you?" He said in disbelief.
"If anything it's quiet the opposite Iris..." Zane signed to her seriously.
Mikey felt his anger swell up inside.
"There hasn't been a day where-
Zane never got to finish what he was signing cause the chimp quickly grabbed his hands to prevent him, making Iris look at him confusion, Mikey glared at Zane warning him and Iris saw this.
"Would one you like this explain to me why your both acting like this" She asked sternly as she crossed her arms making both males look at her, her intense stare began to affect them.
"Well are you going to explain to me Mikey..." she asked.
Mikey looked like he was a child that was caught getting cookies from the cookie jar.
"Yea Mikey...explain" Zane said with a smug smile.
"Shut up!?" Mikey snapped at Zane almost swiping him.
Zane hooted in laughter making Mikey fume.
"Rgh!? Stop laughing!" Mikey shouted leaping onto him trying to swipe him.
They soon began to wrestle, Iris went from looking at them in bewilderment to growing a smile on her face and began to laugh, her laughing made them stop their wrestling and turn to their human friend.
Her warm laugh brought a smile on Mikey's face he really missed her laugh and speacily her smile.
"Yea haha I really missed you guys haha" she said between her laughs.
Mikey could have sworn he could see the light return in her eyes.
"Wanna hear a joke about Pizza?" He asked adding a small smirk as he got off Zane.
"Ok why not" she said as she chuckled lightly.
Than he shook his head "Nevermind, it's to cheesy" as he hooted in laughter.
They eventually made their way over to a fire pit that was empty and didn't have that many apes around and Mikey was quiet thankful that because he like Iris wasn't very good at being social. Zane has gone off find his wife and daughter so he could bring them over so Mikey and her had some time to themselves.
She ran her hand through hair as she yawned. She then looked at the reminiscent of destruction of the village caused by the wolves solemnly, all the process of reconstruction was destroyed and they would have start all over again which probably would take longer.
"Here I thought you might like this" Mikey grinned unwrapping a talisman from his wrist showing it to the human woman.
Iris looked at curiously as she gently took it in her hand to examine it. It was silver branded with a sapphire stone in the center the rope was black with silver string wrapped around it. She trace the smooth texture of the of the silver and the stone in her hand"Did you make this?" she asked in awe as she turned her head back to look at him.
Mikey nodded feeling pride swell in his chest "One of my best crafts, I always seemed to be a better tinkerer than a better warrior" he signed.
"The stone I borrowed from Lake she didn't mind, she and the other females had more gems" He smiled rubbing his shoulder.
She gave him a warm smile" I think so too...You could never hurt anyone Mikey" She told him.
She brought her gaze back to the jewelry" it's really beautiful" she said softly.
He blushed from her comment "I only do when I need to defend myself...but I keep telling Luca I'm not good with guarding a post, I can modify a spear, I can make a bow more stable but I feel like he doesn't believe me" he spoke.
Iris turn to turned to look at him seriously at this" I agree with you Mikey...you have PTSD like me if you do something that makes you remember you trauma...you will have a episode and..." She said as her eyes trailed towards the dirt" and those don't end well..." she said grimly.
"Do you... Still remember..Onyx?" he spoke low as if the name haunted him which sadly it did.
Iris flinched while she gripped the piece of jewelry tightly as her face became voided of all emotion. Mikey heard the rope creak under Iris's grasp making him flinch "You were incredibly lucky to get away from him" He said it with emptiness. He was scared to look at her now.
"He left his mark on me Mikey...more then one part of my body...it makes hard for me to forget..." her grip started tremble" even more now since I bumped into him a few days ago.." she said as turn to look at him with blank eyes.
"The only reason I got lucky was because Pope caught him in the act...the only time I was happy to see him..." she said quietly as looked at the fire pit.
"No you were lucky that he didn't find you to submit his dominance" Mikey turned behind her ruffling his shoulder pulling the fur away to reveal two bite marks "I'm glad you didn't see what he did to me...after he caught him."
"Look at them Iris and fit the pieces what happened..when he couldn't get you so he had to find someone else to release his pent! Up energy" he spoke adding venom in the word pent.
Iris didn't know how to react to this, she slowly brought up her hand to his shoulder that he gestured to making him flinch slightly and gently brushed back the fur to see fang indented scars grazed into his skin, Iris covered her gaping mouth in horror and then brought her gaze quickly back to the male's, she could feel tears start to form in her eyes.
She used her free hand to gently bring his drooping face to look at her. Mikey started crying. Iris brought her other hand which had the string of the necklace tangled around in her fingers and grabbed the other side of his face and brought his forhead to rest against hers.
Mikey grabbed a fistful of her hair not too hard but to feel it through his fingers "I only thought of you rescuing me from his torment" he whispered shaking from his PTSD.
This made Iris choke back a sob, she never wanted anyone speacily her good friend who she loved like a brother to experience the nightmare Onyx put her through and to her horror the only reason her he did it was because he couldn't have her.
"I couldn't sit, I couldn't stretch my arms, I checked my teeth hoping they weren't broken...I had to wear an eye patch after he punched me..he would sneak into my hut to get what he wanted when he couldn't get you...I missed you...so m-much I-iris" he sobbed quietly as he hiccupped.
Iris pulled away to look at him.
"I was saved by a gorilla..." Mikey spoke sounding like a child that was punished.
"His name was Garret...What he did surprised me even Onyx was fearful of him at that moment."
"Why wasn't he punished Mikey...or kicked out?..." She asked quietly.
"Because no one caught him..no one took the time to know where he goes almost everyday.. he hides everywhere no can suspect him.."
"Onyx had friends that covered him so he could have his fun!?" Mikey spat the last sentence clearly hurt that not everybody caught up what Onyx did to him.
"He dragged me into the woods and had his friends join in to see me try to scream when he wrapped a rag around my mouth, than all of sudden I heard one his friends cry out in alarm."
"I managed to turn around seeing his friend struggled to remove two big hands wrapped around his head, you should've seen him Iris the gorilla hybrid punched on the side of his head and..." Mikey felt like he was gonna throw up "He ripped off the chimps head.. literally ripped it off scaring the rest into the woods and Luca was behind him furious grabbing Onyx by the neck.. almost choking him" Mikey felt satsified remembering how Garret brought Luca with him to save his life.
Iris looked at the in shock at this story" Mikey...ape not kill ape...how did Garret not get punished for that..." Iris didn't care that one of the evil little bastard's drones was killed but did care about what the tribe or yet kind Caesar might have done to the gorilla who saved her friend by breaking their most sacred law.
"Garret wasn't part of the tribe..He was part of Pope's then he joined Koba's campaign than decided to live in isolation in the city" Mikey explained.
"He gave me to Luca saying "Take care of the kid" than walked deep into the forest hunting down the rest of Onyx's goons, he wasn't seen again" he added.
"What are talking about Mikey I never saw him saw him among Popes followers..." Iris asked in confusion.
"You didn't recognize him, he was the big guy that grabbed Onyx's mace so he couldn't hurt you" Mikey looked at her in disbelief.
Iris looked at him in shock and the trailed her eyes into the dirt solemnly" I try not to remember that part of the past that much Mikey...and besides" she said as she pulled up her shirt to let him see the hateful words Pope craved onto her stomach" He didn't exactly stop Pope from branding me..."
"He couldn't do anything..He used to hate human's, if he tried to save you he would've been surrounded by Pope's soldier's..I don't blame you for being angry I tried to ask him why he didn't prevent that event..he just simply spoke "I couldn't think" "like he thought he didn't had a choice" Mikey spoke.
"Other Human's killed his mate... hacked her into bits...he went into some primal rage slaughtered them..he thought all human's were to blame til he met you..and other human's who changed his mindset" Mikey added.
Her face fell to sorrow at this, knowing full well what it was like to lose the one you love.
Iris then became bemused by the fact she changed the gorilla's mimd"Me? He changed his mind because of me?" she asked but not believing it.
"He ahem" Mikey coughed "watched you from afar.. seeing you talking to the other Apes.. talking to me..he saw how Onyx...had his fun with you..he met Pope in secret presenting enough evidence to get him to intervene..in doing so Onyx tried to get me..."
"Even though he didn't help me..I'm glad he helped you..." she told him softly.
Just then they saw Zane come back to the fire pit with a female chimp who was carrying a young ape that looked about 1 year old who looked at the young woman curiously and then hid her face shyly into her mother's breast with occasionally taking peeks at Iris.
"Hi Zane I didn't know you were bringing your family up here" he called out to his friend.
Zane smiled "I wanted Iris to meet them" he signed to him but his smile dropped a little when saw redness in Iris's eyes.
"Did something happen?" Zane signed.
"I told Iris a long joke that made her laugh so hard she bursted in tears" Mikey intervened.
"Yea what he said..." she replied going along with it.
"But it's great that you brought your family it'll be nice for all of us to have fun talking to each other" Mikey smiled.
Zane smiled again at this "Iris, this is Opal my wife and Tulip our daughter" he signed then putting his hand on the females shoulder, the female obviously already knew Mikey but looked a little unsure about the young woman.
Opal was a pretty chimp light brown fur with light greens eyes and Tulip had her eyes with darkish brown fur.
Iris smile gently to them "Nice to meet you" she signed.
Mikey rubbed his shoulder feeling the scar underneath itch. Zane and Opal sat on the log on the side of them The female saw Mikeys action and looked at him concerned. "Are you alright Mikey"She signed to him.
Mikey looked up at her half smiling "No worries I think some bug bit me" he spoke continuing to scratch it"I'll be ok Opal but thanks for asking."
Opal nodded but didn't seem too convinced but she didn't want to pressure him. She then turned her eyes to Iris "Zane has told me a lot about you" she signed.
Iris became slightly curious "What has he told you about me?" She asked the female ape.
"That you saved him, that you are a good friend...family..." she signed a warm smile then grew on her face"I thank you...I wouldn't have met him if it wasn't for you."
Iris looked at Zane in a bit of surprise.
Iris then noticed Tulip climbed out her mother's grasp and started to crawl over curiously but cautiously to her. Iris smiled gentley as she offered her hand to the little girl, The youngling look at her hand then looked at the young woman who probably looked very strange to the young ape but it didn't stop Tulip from putting her two little hands on top of Iris's.
"Hello Tulip..." she said softly, the youngling preched at her at mention of her name.
Iris was caught off guard when Tulip climbed up to her leg and sat on her lap and grabbed a strand of her hair and started to inspect it, Iris went from shock from laughing lightly.
"I think she likes you" Mikey said as he hooted a little in laughter.
He continued scratching his shoulder after the scabs were ripped off.
"I think she likes my hair" she said as turned her head to smile at Mikey.
She then turned her gaze back to look at Tulip was tangling more strands of her hair in her little hands.
"Cornelius is like this too when I'm with him..." she said softly.
Iris put her hand behind the younglings back to support her as one of her little hands grabbed the hem of her shirt to reach higher. Zane smile fondly as he watched the scene in front of him even Opal who was a little unsure at first began to smile as well.
"There..you are" a gruff voice said making her and the others turn their heads to see who it was.
"Hey Blue..." Iris said softly as he and the female came closer to the fire pit.
"Hello Mikey" the female signed to the male.
Mikey looked at him confused that he was here but understood because of Lake.
"Hi Lake" Mikey spoke waving at her wincing as he felt blood dripped from the bite mark.
Iris looked between Mikey and the female interested"Friend of yours?" she asked.
She could feel the female looking at her curiously, it didn't really suprise her though do her being the talk of the village recently, most not being really good.
"Oh this is Lake, Iris she's a close friend of my friend and is close with Blue eyes" Mikey said.
Iris turned her gaze back to the female "Hello" Lake signed to her.
"Blue you didn't tell me you had a mate..."Iris said bluntly with a smile.
This made Blue Eyes flinch and huff in bewilderment and Lake's eyes open wide. Zane started to hoot in laughter at this even Mikey let out a small boots of laughter. Tulip looked at everyone curiously, having no clue what's going on.
"What? She not?" Iris asked confused.
Mikey hooted louder in laughter at Iris's confusion.
"What?" Iris looked at him confused and then turned to look at the Prince who clearly looked embarrassed and was trying make himself look invisible.
Mikey stopped laughing long enough to tell her why "They're not mate's Iris" Mikey explained through his hoots.
"They known each other since they where childern" Opal signed explaining to her.
"They would be mates if they felt something together" Mikey commented.
"Lake feels something alright why do think she gets mad everytime Blue Eyes doesnt listen her"Zane signed as he hooted laugher. Lake looked at the male wide eyed in shock at this and then tried to take a swipe which didn't stop the male hooting in laughter.
Blue Eyes looked confused at this comment as he looked at Lake which made her embarrassed.
"I once said Lake looked pretty and Blue gave me this death glare" Mikey hooted.
Iris soon began to laugh at the reactions of the the two younger apes "awww Blue you look so cute right now" Iris said between her laughs.
"I'm not cute!" the Prince signed in a huff clearly embarrassed.
The boy's were clearly having the time of their life as they hooted in laughter.
"Ok we're sorry Blue" Iris said between her laughs as she got up and went over to him while still holding onto Tulip" They're just teasing you" she said as she gently held his face to make him look at her not before handing Zane's daughter to him who protested a little.
"Iris but we didn't finish" Mikey said whining a bit, he let out a squeak of surprise falling to the ground as Blue Eyes stood up.
The prince's annoyed look started to fade when he saw Iris's bright smile and when he heard warm laugh making him stare at her in somewhat awe.
This made Iris look at him in confusion "What?" she asked. "It's just I never heard you laugh or seen you smile like this before" Blue Eyes signed to her.
"We can always tease Iris about her hair" Zane signed as he hooted in laughter.
Iris grabbed a strand of her hair and looked at it then frowned at Zane" What's wrong with my hair Zane" she asked.
"Oh nothing, except it looks like a bird's nest."
"Oh oh oooh" Mikey gasped covering his mouth "You shouldn't have said that Zane" Mikey warned.
"Excuse me" Iris said as she put her hands on her hips and stared at him irritated. "Iris your the least feminine female I know" Zane signed as he continued to hoot in laughter. Iris rolled her eyes at this, she soon then spot sight of Luca who was coming over to them.
Opal looked at her husband in exsaperation as she shook her head "Ok nevermind Blue you can hit him..." Iris said plainly.
Tulip was now being held by her mother so Blue Eyes more then happily shoved him.
"Luca!" Mikey waved over to the gorilla.
Luca smiled at the chimp and then turned to look at Iris and the others "So what's everyone talking about?" he signed "How Iris's hair looks like a bird's nest" Zane signed releasing a few hoots of laughter. Iris lightly swatted at him for this as she glared at him annoyed.
"I have to agree with Zane, your hair is kind of out of control" Luca signed as a smile grew on his face.
Lake frown at the males"You males are so mean I think her hair looks pretty" signed to them.
"I agree with Lake her hair is beautiful no matter what all of you say" Mikey chimed in.
"Well she does have some braids and beads in her hair, I was surprised when I saw them" Zane signed as he pointed out.
"Oh there were? I thought it was clumps of dirt" Luca signed.
Iris glared at the gorilla at this comment and sat down on the log next to Blue Eyes"Haha" she laughed sarcastically"it wasn't my idea Cornelia wanted to do my hair and she's kind of hard to say no to" Iris said as she looked at one of her braids.
"Yeah.. mother is a good female at heart it's hard for me to say no when she wants to groom my fur" Blue Eyes signed.
Iris smiled at little at this and then stroked his head"Yea your father's and my mother was the same way..." she said fondly making her mind trail off.
"Mother?..." Blue eyes asked feeling interested.
"Yes...Your grandmother...she was a primate doctor for the zoo...she was very kind and loving woman..." Iris said depressingly.
"I-I really miss her..." Iris said she brought her gaze to the dirt.
She stiffened to feel two arms wrapped around her. She brought up her head to see who it was.
"Mikey" Iris spoke.
"My Nana taught me that hugs sooth those who need comfort after dealing with traumatic times" Mikey wimpered pressing his cheek against her back.
She touched his arm gently "Thanks Mikey..." She said softly.
"What did happen to your and Caesar's mother's?.." Lake signed carefully.
"Lake..." Zane said sternly to her.
Iris closed her eyes and brushed Zane off"Zane...it's fine..." Iris then took a deep sigh and turn her head to look at the young female.
She a breath"I believed she was ethier nabbed by the soilders ...or killed by them because they she wouldn't give them the information they wanted...or was killed in the riots...because I knew she's wouldn't just leave me and dad...you grandfather"Iris looked at Blue Eyes when she said this"She just wouldn't..."she said queitly.
"Why would soilders want Grandmother?..." Blue signed.
Iris closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
"They...weren't just looking for her...They where looking for my father too...your grandfather..." she said trying to keep her voice from breaking.
"Why?" Blue signed.
She reponed her her eyes and looked at him "Because they wanted them to tell thrm where was the ape they raised...they wanted your father..." She said hoarsly.
"They wanted to kill him...didnt they?" Mikey asked.
"Maybe...I don't know...I think they where looking for the cure flu or they thought if they killed him it would cripple the other apes..." she said quietly as she held her head in her her hand.
Blue Eyes became tense at this while his hands tightened up.
"Caroline" Luca whispered thinking onto the name trying to find the source.
Iris brought her head to look at him when he said this "Yea that was her name...Caroline Aranha...you knew her?..." she asked the gorilla surprised.
Luca nodded"I lived at the zoo...she was a good woman" Luca signed.
"She seems nice..like my grandmother" Mikey said.
Tears started to fall down her cheeks at this "Yes...Yes she was..." Iris said quietly as she wiped her face.
"It's ok Iris" Blue eyes signed rubbing her shoulder in comfort.
"I-I really wish...you could have met you grandparents Blue..." Iris said softly.
Blue eyes nodded "I wish I did they seemed to be good people" he signed Mikey cupped Iris's face in his hand to have her look at him "You still have us..all of us" he said showing her everyone circled together with her.
Iris then brought her gaze down at the jewelry still tangled in her hand along with the wrap she had on her arm.
"Do you remember that song I liked..can you sing it?" He asked.
This perked everyone's interest" Mikey I don't feel like singing..." Iris said quietly.
Mikey stated at her with pleading eyes. "Please Iris... please" Mikey wimpered looking at her with sad eyes.
Iris sighed in defeat "Alright..."
Iris ran a hand through her hair and began to sing the song Through the Valley.
Even though her voice was hoarse her melody was still quiet nice, everyone seemed to memorized by the song.
Wow I write a lot :O and God it took a lot out of me I almost went crazy...litterly I want to thank Marianofcintra for helping me and letting me use her character Mikey you can see him in her pota story too :) can't thank her enough for being patient with me as well XD cause this was really really hard ;A; any who I hope you enjoy ^^