Then the man started to shift around uncomfortably in his chair after the young woman mentions the part of losing her virginity. Iris just stared at him a little amused as she leaned back in her chair and crossed her arms.
"What's wrong?..." she asked him.
He quickly cleared his throat and made weak eye contact with her.
"It's just...I never thought-
"That I would be a virgin till I was 23," she said bluntly.
The man nodded.
"You were a spitfire Iris...did a lot of crazy and dangerous things...you took risks..." he said plainly.
"Well sex or boys wasn't really on my mind when I was running for my life and trying to stay alive..." she said sarcastically while she leaned forward in her chair"and once men found who I was they didn't really want to touch me which I had no problem really...half them were dumbasses I couldn't stand them why would I want to breed with them"she said as she ran a hand through her hair.
The man rubbed his eyes in exasperation at this. "So you suspected the old follower of Pope...Garret?...to be the one who arranged the attack on the village...was that true?" he asked trying to change the subject.
"That's what I thought at the time..." Iris said.
"But?" the man asked with a raised eyebrow.
Iris sighed deeply.
"The attack was just a bigger part of a bigger coup planned by a group of apes..." she said grimly.
Ape village 3 years ago
Iris sat on a log deep in thought at the end and somewhat deserted part of the village replaying the event that happened just 8 hours before in her head.
"What have done..." she said quietly as she touched her now banged shoulder, the reminder of what she and Mikey did.
She did something without thinking and because of that she lost something precious and not only that she learned about one her oldest friends has deep romantic feeling for her which made the act she did with him even worse, she loved Mikey she really did but not in that way.
"Why, why, why, why did I egg him on" she whimpered clutching her head.
She then stood up and started to pace around.
"Fuck!Fuck!" she said underneath her breath as she kicked the dirt a few times in frustration.
She had basically played with male feelings given him false hope of a relationship. She needed to tell Mikey soon, she can't live a lie to make him feel better.
"Fuck!" she raised her voice as she ran her hand through her beaded hair and then rubbed her eyes.
Her sleep hadn't really improved and recent events didn't help that one bit, she couldn't believe her life is now completely fucked up and it happened and she let it. The only thing that changed about her sleeping arrangement was now she was staying in Maurice's hut because Luca was guarding Mikey's for the remainder of his house arrest. She made sure to scrub herself clean before she went into his hut knowing his sense of smell would catch into her easily as long with wrapping up her bite with animal skin while doing her best to hide it.
But it still didn't stop the stinging she swore it hurt more than the wolf bite,
She was also a little worried cause she knew Maurice was very smart and soon or later he might find out what happened which why she arrived at his hut when he was asleep and woke up early and left it before he woke up leading her to be at the edge of the village pacing back and forth near the log she was at now.
"Fuck!" she yelled this time kicking the log and making at roll away, she had now caught the attention a couple apes nearby who were looking at her like she was a crazy person.
"Iris!" Lake called out hiking up to the human woman.
Iris spun around quickly and stumbled to the ground being caught off guard.
"Fuck..." she groaned.
Lake looked at her with a mixture of confusion and concern.
"Rocket sent me to bring you to him, we're going to place where the soldiers were killed" she signed grimly.
Iris raised an eyebrow at this"Caesar is letting me out?...really?" she said as she pulled her self up.
"For the moment...He wants you to accompany Luca to escort Mikey to the site" Lake signed.
Iris flinched a little and her eyes widened in surprise at the mention that the chimp was going, to be honest, didn't how to face him right now.
"Mikey is...being allowed out?" she asked a little surprised.
"For the moment, to help you and the others to help build a pyre to burn the bodies" Lake explained
Iris ran a hand through her tangled hair as she sighed in exasperation. She then began to itch the bite mark on her shoulder in irritation and Lake caught sight of this making her frown.
"What happen to your shoulder" she signed.
Iris quickly pulled her sleeve more over her shoulder at this,
"It's just mosquito bites..." she rubbed her shoulder nervously"That got really bad."
"I didn't know Mosquito bites bleed" Lake pointed at the red spots.
"They do if you scratch them..." she rubbed her eyes"ummm...where do we have to go?..." she said as she ran her hand down her face to look at her.
"We have to go beyond the wall" she signed.
Lake pulled her shirt to reveal the bite marks Mikey placed on her shoulder "Don't lie to me Iris..." she spoke looking at her disappointed.
Iris looked at her solemnly as she sighed defeated,
"I won't tell, I promise" Lake signed.
The young woman knew she couldn't hide this from the young female, from what she had seen Lake is very smart, caring and stubborn very similar to the queen.
"Who did this?" She asked her.
"It was Mikey Lake..." she told her solemnly.
Lake didn't know how to comprehend this.
"Why did he get angry with you?" she signed, she didn't know why her good friend would attack the young woman after she did such a good job calming him down along with him expressing his deep remorse.
Iris closed her eyes" it...it was nothing like that..." she said softly.
She gulped and looked a deep breath.
"He...w-we...um..."Iris struggled to say.
"Iris..you mated with him did you" she covered her mouth.
"Iris why?" Lake signed.
"Because I'm stupid!..." she said as threw her hands in the air and then kicked a different log.
"I-I found out his true feelings for me a-and I wanted to help him forget...one thing led to another...and it happened.." Iris said hoarsely as she held her head in her hand
"Do you...love him?" Lake placed her hands on her shoulders.
Iris ran her hand through her hair and huffed deeply"Yes...I do...but not in that way..." she told her quietly.
Iris could feel a tear running down her cheek making quickly wipe it away.
"You have to tell him soon, you can't live a lie" she signed.
"Yea...yea I know..." said softly.
"Y-you can't tell anyone about this Lake not even Blue Eyes...this will turn out badly very quickly..."She held the female's arms and looked at her dead serious"Not only will my species react badly to this but yours as well...and this is not considered "natural" and M-Mikey..." she closed her eyes and took a breath and then reopened them to look at the female who was staring at her in concern"Mikey will receive the backlash by the apes..." she told her grimly.
"You have my...word" Lake grasped her hands tightly.
Lake flinched turning around to see Rocket climbing up to meet the girls, Iris quickly voided her face of all emotion and began to tied up her hair as she watched the older male over closer to them.
"Are we leaving now?" she asked Rocket monotony.
Rocket looked at both if then seriously sensing something was wrong.
"Did something happened?" he signed.
Lake spoke first "I was making sure Iris is alright..after what happened yesterday" she explained.
"Let's go..." Lake said holding her hand as they descend down.
As the young woman walked past the male with the female his eyes grew a little when he caught a faint scent off her but by the time he wanted to say something they were already far away from him.
"He almost knew who's scent was on you, Let's give the others a wide berth but stick clear with Luca..and Mikey" she signed anxiously.
Iris looked at Lake in shock at this making her turn her head to get a quick look at the grey ape only to quickly look away when he caught her looking at him, she turned back facing the front nervously as the female continued to drag her away.
"Yea..that's definitely going to be a good idea..." she said quietly.
Lake led Iris outside of the village Where a group of apes was gathered. They were carrying a few supplies with them for the pyre. Iris found Luca holding a mace and Mikey with rope bound around his wrists, Iris avoided eye contact with the male and tried to pass by with the female without being noticed but Mikey caught sight of her anyways. Mikey hooted softly looking sad.
She walked over to Spear who was instructing some apes and turned to face the young woman when he saw she was coming towards him.
"Does he have to be tied up like that" she signed as she gestured to Mikey" he's not going to hurt anyone" she signed seriously.
"Precautions had to be made, Cesear told me that" he signed.
Iris scoffed as she took a quick glance at Mikey, She then felt a light touch on her arm making her turn her head back to face Spear.
"I want to thank you..for saving me that time" he signed with soft eyes then gently but firmly gripped her forearm, Iris looked at him surprised remembering how he didn't trust her at first but she guessed what she did change his view of grabbed his forearm in return.
"Your welcome..." she told him softly.
They then all heard a loud hoot causing the attention to brought were it was coming from, Iris had no doubt it in her mind that Mikey had led them to one of the bodies. She quickly ran over to where it was coming from before anyone could react, by the time she got there she found bodies spread around.
The apes around them were hooting and directing the others as they came rushing both on the ground and on the trees. Iris walked over crouched down next to one of them and started to inspect the body, The faces were indescribable, they were obviously beaten to death. Long gashes on the chest area, the faces were caved in the brain matter and blood pooled over their faces.
"Oh Mikey what have you done?..." she said quietly.
She then turned head around to check if they had the symbol of alpha omega but to her relief, the one she was looking at didn't. But this didn't satisfy her for the rest of them, she quickly got up and went over to the next one and just like the other man he didn't either, the apes all watched her perplexed about what she was doing.
Mikey watched Iris closely as she did this, Zane jumped down from a tree and walked over to the chimp staring at him sternly and then brought his gaze looked the gorilla that was holding his old friend by a rope then back to Mikey again.
"Mikey.." he spoke gruffly making the chimp turn to look at him.
"Hi Z-Zane" he half smiled waving at him with his rope bonds.
Zane huffed deep making Mikey hooted sadly.
"You need let go your feelings for her Mikey...you know she still grieving for him..."Zane signed seriously to male as he gestured to young woman still checking the bodies while apes carried some of the bodies away.
"You both have..." he paused in sign to think a way to put it delicately" been hurt...in bad ways..." he signed depressingly to him the bonobo didn't realize the Luca was ease dropping in their conservation.
Mikey's expression transformed into anger "She loves me just as I love her, she saved me from hurting others, I know she cares about me" he signed furiously not wanting to bring attention to himself but he was doing a bad job at it.
"I didn't say that Mikey! "Zane signed to him as he frowned" don't you I know that she's cares! That woman took a beating for you! She was in the infirmary for a week cause she had to heal!" he signed getting frustrated.
"She loves you Mikey but not I that way..." he signed to him with soft eyes.
"I don't care what you say I know she does, why else would she kiss me" Mikey signed.
Zane stumbled back being completely caught off guard by this even Luca was surprised by this.
"What?..."Zane said gruffly as looked at his friend deep in shock.
Iris then began to notice them arguing.
"What do you mean Mikey? " he signed to his friend dead serious.
"You heard me Zane" he spit the ground punctuating his words.
Zane quickly snapped his head towards Iris who looked at him confused at this then looked back to the chimp.
"You...don't...mean? "the Bonobo asked wide-eyed but was afraid of the answer"Mikey don't tell me you mated with her!" Zane signed furiously.
Mikey smirked "You know it! I told you I would be with her and I showed how I care about her" he thrust his hips for reference.
Mikey cried out as he felt spear punch his mouth causing the young Ape to collapse on the ground, Mikey looked up to see the male growling and baring his teeth at him he then proceeded to pounce on him and began to punch him repeatedly catching Luca and everyone off guard.
"You!...mated!..with the!..kings... sister!..." Zane said between the punches.
Mikey cried in alarm trying to shield his face from the other's attacks
Luca let go of the rope in the struggle causing them to roll down the hill, The apes began to hoot and screech. Iris quickly leaped into action and ran over to them to tare them apart.
"You broke my tooth you cunt!" Mikey screeched in anger trying to hit the spear with all his might.
"Mikey! Zane! Stop!"Iris screamed as she pulled more like throwing the bonobo off the chimp and spread her arm out between them.
Both of them froze.
Iris glared at both them"WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON!?"Iris screamed as she turned her head back and forth to them"Your friends! Friend don't fight like this!" she said furiously.
The apes started to become a little scared feeling the pure rage radiating from her, only a few have seen her so angry and they knew not to mess with her when she was like this
Mikey spit into his hand blood was covered in along with a chipped piece of a tooth.
"ANSWER ME!" she screamed.
"You didn't...tell her...did you?" he got back up"You didn't tell her mating means in this tribe! he signed furiously as he bared his teeth.
Iris's eyes widen in horror at this now knowing what the fight was about but what caught her interest the most was the last part what Zane said.
Mikey ... ¿De qué está hablando?she asked in Spanish the other apes looked at her in confusion
(Mikey...What's he talking about?)
"Lo siento mucho por favor perdóname" he spoke in Spanish.
(I'm so sorry, please forgive me)
¿De qué está hablando!?" she asked again raising her voice as she stared at him hard.
(What is he talking about?!)
"Básicamente significa ... que estás casado con él ..."Zane spoke as he looked at her solemnly.
(It basically means ... that you're married to him)
Luca had no clue what they were saying but judging from Iris's and Zane expressions he knew it wasn't good. Rocket had them come over to the gorilla.
"What's going on?" he signed seriously to Luca.
Mikey looked at her with guilty eyes.
"Me engañaste ... para casarte..." She said as she backed up slowly while looking at Mikey with a mixture betrayal and disbelief.
(You tricked me ...into marrying you...)
Mikey started beating his head into the ground crying his eyes out he seethed grabbing a handful of dead just stared at him not knowing how to react, Zane then realized all the attention was on them now.
"¿Por qué? ... ¿Por qué me engañas así? ..."She asked weakly as she stared at him with glossy eyes.
(Why? ... Why did you trick me like this?)
Mikey slowly brought up his gaze to look at her and then leaped onto her causing her to fall on the ground and wrapped himself tightly around her catching her completely off guard and even scared her a little.
"eres mío" he shivered.
(You're mine)
The apes began to screech and hoot in distress at this.
"Don't let them hurt me, I didn't want this, I didn't..but it happened please, Iris I love you please save me" he sobbed silently.
Iris looked at him in complete shock at this but then her gaze turned solemn at this"I would never let them hurt you Mikey..." she said quietly as she stroked his head which calmed him greatly.
Luca then pulled the chimp off the young woman and restrained him while Rocket frowned hard at Zane, Iris, And Mikey.
"What!?..is!?...going!?..here!?.." he yelled gruffly having lost his patience.
"Let me go! let me go!" Mikey cried attempting to wrestle out of Luca's grip.
Rocket walked over to Iris and Zane and looked at them seriously"Why did Zane attack Mikey? Why did Mikey jump on you?" he signed.
Just then the older chimps eyes widen when he caught a scent coming from her bringing his face closer trying to confirm, Iris started to become filled with dread. Rocket then caught a glimpse of red on her shoulder making him pull her sleeve up to reveal her bite mark that was still bleeding a little with this and the scent coming off her the old ape suspensions where confirmed as he stared at her in shock.
"Luca... Rocket...I know what your both thinking but I promise I didn't rape her! I offered to help her relax and it led.. you know..but please don't do this please I'm your friend" Mikey started begging still fidgeting in Luca's grasp.
Rocket snapped his head around and made his way over to the young chimp.
"You mated with this woman" he signed as he stared at him hard.
"I love her!" He shouted couldn't keep his head up.
They were a brief silence when he screamed this everyone looked at him in complete shock at this Including Iris, she did recently find out his feelings for her but it was different actually hearing him admitting it, especially in front his whole tribe. The apes then began to screech and hooted in outrage this time very loudly.
The next thing everyone knew Rocket punched Mikey hard as he glared at him.
"Rocket! Don't!"Iris yelled in horror and tried to go over to them but was pulled back by Zane" He didn't force me! I was willing!" she yelled trying to defend him.
Mikey brought his head making him wince his already sore face in pain up to look at the older chimp and then to the young woman who was looking at him with worry and sadness.
"What's going on..." a voice said shutting up all the screeching and hooting entirely, Iris knew there was only one ape who could do that.
All eyes laid on the king as made his way over to them, Mikey kept struggling in Luca's grip. Caesar scanned the situation in front from Iris to Zane to Luca restraining Mikey and Mikey's injured face.
"What happened?..." he asked Rocket and Luca calmly.
"He leaped onto Iris, he bit on her shoulder mated with her last night after we left" Luca signed feeling upset that his friend took advantage of Iris.
Caesar's face fell to outrage at this making turn his head quickly to Iris and then back to the chimp, he tightened his hands to his sides, rage slowly boiling over him as he huffed deeply. Panic began to full Iris as she watched the king's reaction especially when she saw him turn his gaze towards the young chimp.
I know how it looks.. believe me, I do...but I didn't rape her, nor did I took advantage of her. I asked her if she needed help and it led the way to it but please! I love your sister " Mikey explained nervously.
"He's telling the truth Caesar he didn't force me...please don't hurt him..." the young woman pleaded to him desperately.
When the male looked into her eyes some of his rages died down and his hands began to loosen"Luca...take him back to his hut...the council will talk about this when...after we handled the situation at hand..." he said while never turning his head around to look at the young male, afraid what he might do if he did.
Luca then started to drag away the young chimp at his king's order.
"Now...Burn the bodies..no one...must know what..what happened here" Caesar spoke gruffly.
Iris just watched as the gorilla dragged the chimp away relieved that Caesar didn't do anything worse, Zane would now loosen his grip on the young woman allowing her to go over to the one body she didn't check. She went over the man and crouched down to look at him.
A shadow loomed behind a tree looking to see the situation.
She then carefully turned his head to look his neck and what she saw made her flinch and have an under her breath as she gestured to her scars" And Red and I had a very nice encounter as well" she spat at him sarcastically.
"Very nice...they're planning a coup de Grace on your bastard family, Ape slut."
"Now if you wanna avoid a roasting or another sarcastic joke I advised you to take your families life serious" he seethed.
Iris chuckled darkly at this"ok for one thing my family are not bastard's, I am and another I was untouched until yesterday so get your facts straight " she began to get closer to him" you can call me monster, bitch, slut, daughter of the genocider, killer but never I mean never insult my family you small minded prejudiced bastard" she said dangerously low as her eyes glared daggers into him.
"I swear to show the respect of Caesar and his family...Glad we sorted our relationship out of the way, now are you gonna heed my words."
She threw her hands up into the air dramatically" by all means tell me because I'm just a stupid human" she said sarcastically.
Garrett crossed his arms seriously glaring at the human awaiting her answer.
"They're sending a spy to watch your fam,ily close till they get the proper strike to kill them silently, I watched closely to see them whispering each other about it. Grey is sending the spy, Red is sending Onyx to masquerade in the crowd... I believe he intends to get you and Mikey after what the two of you went through, Onyx has brought his own soldier's to disguise themselves as your brothers Allie's and guards" he explained thoroughly.
Iris was completely taken off guard by this making her freeze"How do I know your not part of this little coup Garret...you have a history of being of part them?" she asked dead serious as she glared at him.
"If I were, they would've surrounded you in a matter of seconds before you can scream" he commented.
"You also forget I nearly beaten Koba to death Garret," Iris said softly as she got up straight to his face.
"Wasn't impressive, he still could kill you."
"Yet he couldn't...do you honestly know how many I've killed...my own kind turned me into a weapon when I just a child...and I remember every single one I killed..." She said depressingly"...and that's the reason why I didn't kill Koba because I knew I would end up just like him.. just like you...who let Moon die... an ape who never even hurt you or anyone..." she said as her voice started to break.
"Woman up human, you still have a long journey ahead."
She laughed "haven't you heard I'm not "feminine" enough to be a woman," she said as she wiped one her eyes to stop an incoming tear" And I honestly don't care about my journey anymore...all I care about is my family...after their safe...I don't care what befalls me...I've been wishing I was dead for a long time" she said depressingly as she trailed her eyes off to the side.
Garrett kneeled down leveling his height pressing his large leather hand on her shoulder "They say the journey is not the end it's the beginning of new things flourishing, the family is one of them" he spoke deep.
Iris brought he glossy gaze back to the gorilla.
"But mine has demons that follow me wherever I go..." she said grimly.
"Do they know how to swim?" He gruffly said.
"I tried to drown them and scream them out under the water multiple times...it doesn't work..." She said quietly.
"Find a way that" he growled deep.
"Why help the tribe, Garret? Why help me?..." she asked quietly.
He sighed stressfully "You changed my perspective, especially about human's" he admitted.
"You never gave up, you didn't let Pope break you, you always fought back, not to mention you never once showed prejudice to my kind..." he told her plainly.
Iris walked backward till her back was up against a tree making her slide down and sit on the dirt as she looked at the gorilla with tired eyes.
"I'm so tired Garret...I'm tired of the death...I'm tired of the fighting...I tired of both sides thinking they're better than the other but in the in the reality were both shit..." She said looking at the trees while wiping years on her face with her hand.
"There's no denying it both of our races are different and each has they're own view on the world, but...I have a feeling Apes will be the dominant species soon" he explained.
"That doesn't surprise me one bit...humans caused there own downfall..." she her gaze lowered "the world has always been shit but...we helped make it hell..." she said as she brought her eyes to look at him.
"And Apes will take over this Hell, suckling it dry as human's had done, he said.
"And in the world's eyes my father was the bringer of Armageddon" she chuckled sadly"It's funny"she ran hand threw her lose hair that fell into face as she chuckled"my own kind denounced me as human...so I don't know what am anymore" she as she leaned her head back against the tree.
"To be neither ape or human...I belong nowhere..." she said depressingly as she brought a knee up to her chest.
"I belong nowhere either" he rose her up, Iris didn't protest as he did this but just stared at him with tired eyes.
"So what do you plan on doing Garret?..." she asked weakly.
"Right now..." He released his grasp "Preventing your families life from being executed by extremists" he spoke.
"Iris!" Zane's voice called out.
Iris watched him go and once he was completely given went over to where the bonobo was calling her. She walked for a couple of seconds before she saw Zane rushing towards her his panic turned to relief when he saw her.
"Iris I called you 5 times! What happened?" He signed furiously.
"Zane there's something I need to tell you," she told him seriously.
"What is it?..." He asked in confusion.
Iris then explained everything from finding the mark on the man to being lured away by Garret so she could talk to him about the coup that was being planned, the Bonobo face went from shock, anger, disbelief.
"All of it is true Zane..all of it."
"We are going have to keep a close eye on all of them... especially Onyx..." she said seriously" and if anyone does seem suspicious, find out more about them we can't have things go awry."
"Iris we need to tell the council"Zane signed seriously to her.
"Do you think most of them will believe me Zane!" she snapped curtly"And Garrett wants this done thoroughly tight lip, we can't let any more of the tribe to know."
Zane scoffed at this "you honestly trust Garret? Pope's follower, if you remember Iris he took part in your torture and let Moon die!" he signed angrily.
"He said I changed his perspective, that was all of the information I got from him," she said furiously trying not to remember Moon.
"We don't have a choice right now especially if Alpha Omega might be out there right now"she gestured to the forest" a coup will only add to the chaos Zane and many innocents both ape and humans will die..." her eyes began to get glossy" You more then anyone know what Alpha Omega is capable of and what happens when an ape craves power..." she said grimly.
Zane huffed deeply.
"Let's get back for now...everyone is looking for you" he signed as he gestured to her to follow him.
A lot happened this chapter and Garret has finally been revealed :D he's my good friend Marianofcintra character I would also like to thank her for helping with this chapter :) check out her story pota New York becomes ape :)