The next chapter is posted! Enjoy :)
Meanwhile with Galen & Sestus...
"Few weeks pass, my brother was murdered by humans." Sestus informed him.
Really? Well, I hope those humans were dealt with." Galen replied.
"Haven't found them yet. I sometimes if they ever will." Sestus stated.
"You and I have something in common. Something similar happened where I live. We knew how to deal with those..." He paused.
"Oh, sorry, I was pledged to secrecy." Galen admitted.
"You don't think I'd ever say anything to hurt an ape? Or help a human?" Sestus responded.
"Well, really, a group of us apes got together, and we ran those humans off, and burned their houses, and even killed a few." Galen informed him, feigning being proud of it.
"Did you really?" Sestus asked, seemingly intrigued.
"Oh, we certainly did. Oh, I can tell you we certainly didn't have any trouble with humans since then." He announced, then started laughing.
"Good, you know, Febus, I think you will enjoy meeting some special friends of mine." Sestus told him.
With Kristin & Alan...
They trailed the gorilla at a distance and continued following him.
While Pete eventually made his way back to Fauna's home. He encountered her near the beach carrying a basket full of food. She asked where his friends were, and he told her they went off to get some water.
Then she wanted to hear a story, and he started going off about a story about Robinson Crouseau. Something that had her very intrigued as she listened to him tell it.
With Galen...
"A toast to our Dragoon to be, Febus!" Sestus announced in front of a group of apes.
"To Febus!" They all shouted, before everyone downed their drinks.
"To all apes!" Another shouted.
They all soon followed in a chorus of cheers, repeating him. Then they took another swig from their cups.
"To all Dragoons!" Another one announced.
Again, they repeated the chant and downed their drinks.
"Congratulations, Febus. Your soon to be one of us." Sestus informed him.
"Oh, you don't know how pleased that makes me." Galen tells him.
"Tonight, you'll get our leader's final approval." Sestus told him.
"And then I'll be a full-fledged Dragoon." Galen stated, feigning excitement.
"Brother to all of us." Sestus proudly stated while patting his back.
"Afterwards, you will ride with us, while we raid on the humans." Sestus added.
With Alan & Kristin...
The tailed the gorilla to a spot where there was this strange red banner and stones for seating all around.
They went to move closer, but Alan stepped on a stick, making a loud cracking sound. It got the gorilla's attention, and he went walking over to investigate, all while pulling out his gun.
Alan and Kristin ran to hide. He went up a tree and she ducked down into some bushes.
The gorilla approached, looking around with his weapon drawn. Then he quickly whirled around and pointed his weapon at Alan up in the tree.
The gorilla glared at him and motioned for him to come down.
Instead of coming down carefully, Alan swung down and nailed the gorilla, knocking him down, making the gun fly out of his hand. Then a fight ensued between them. They exchanged a few blows.
When Alan got knocked down, she came out and surprised him.
Kristin snapped her leg forward in a front kick and nailed him in the side of his knee. He let out a pained gasp as it buckled and he came down to a knee.
She then went to slam her fist into his face, but he put up his arm and blocked it, then shoved her back. Then when Alan attacked him, he shoved him hard into the tree stump.
The gorilla came at him again, and Alan kicked him in the stomach, forcing him back and onto his back.
Kristin came in too, once she recovered, and joined in once more to help Alan. The man charged him, but the gorilla caught him, picked him up and threw him down.
That's when she came in from behind, jumped up and nailed him hard in the back with a jumping front kick.
The move forced him forward and off balance and he fell forward to the ground next to Alan. The gorilla was able to pull himself up rather clumsily, before getting hit and shoved down by Alan.
The gorilla rolled on the ground, before coming back up again, even more clumsy on his feet now then he was before.
The three of them circled, eyeing each other. Then the gorilla went in with his fist sailing towards Alan. When his guard was down, Kristin sent her fist sailing towards the side of his ugly mug.
The gorilla shuffled clumsily sideways, while trying not to fall back over.
Then Alan grabbed his outstretched arm and flipped him over. The gorilla guard landed hard on his back before rolling over onto his knees.
'Damn, this guy won't go down easy!' Kristin thought.
She didn't give him a chance to get up though. The young woman turned and executed a back spin kick and nailed him across the face hard. The force of the kick made his head snap to the side and he went down with a grunt and didn't get back up.
Afterwards, the two ran over and inspected the place they found.
"Definitely, some kind of meeting place." She surmised, between breaths.
"Yes, it is." Alan replied.
Then he headed over to the horse. Kristin followed after him.
He went to the horse and started going through the sacks it was carrying. Then he pulled one of the sacks off and reached into one and pulled an item out of it.
It unfurled in his grasp and the two inspected it.
The front flap had two holes in it side by side, most likely meant to be the eye holes for some type of mask. The two shared a look before turning their attention back to their find.
They then went back to join up with Pete back at Fauna's hideout.
"Hey Alan, Kristin!" Pete called as he saw they come jogging over.
"Pete!" Alan called back.
The two came to a stop in front of Pete.
"How'd you two do?" Pete inquired.
"Our friend led up right to the Dragoon's meeting place. About a mile from here." Alan told him.
"Nice work. Now if Galen clicks, we're in business. Get a load of this." Pete says, while showing them an object in his hands.
"What is it?" Kristin asked.
"It's a journal, written by Fauna's father. He wrote it, but she never knew what was in it. So, she gives it to me, asks me to read it to her. I get to the part where he's meeting with humans in secrecy.
Humans that were buddies. He liked them and they liked him. He knows that the apes are afraid of humans and that they hate them. He was meeting them in secret to teach them things. Alan, it doesn't make sense. No human is going to harm the only ape in the world who's knocking himself out trying to help him." Pete surmised.
As Kristin listened, it didn't take long to realize something was definitely off. Why would humans kill the one who was supposedly their friend? It just didn't add up.
"I wonder if Sestus could be uh, mistaken. What if her father wasn't killed by humans?" Alan questioned.
"Then it's possible he could've easily lied to Fauna." Kristin chimed in.
"Exactly, mistaken or lying." Pete agreed.
"C'mon." Alan said, placing a hand on Pete's back as he led them away.
Meanwhile with Galen...
Sestus had just got them back to his home.
He informed him that his niece woul take care of him. Then he told him not to let her know of their activities. Then he rode off saying that he will be back a little later.
Galen went inside to meet up with Fauna.
When he walked in, she was gathering up a pile of firewood.
"Oh, hello." He said, walking in while closing the door behind him.
"Febus." She called.
"Yes, let me help you." He said, then took the firewood from her grasp.
Then he placed them aside in the fireplace.
"Did you get your water?" She asks.
"Water?" He questioned, clearly confused.
"Yes, Pargo said you, Alar, and Klara went to get some." She replied.
"Oh, water, yes." Galen answered, catching on.
He finished putting the rest of the wood in as she went to sit down at the kitchen table. Galen went to join her.
"You and Pargo?" He inquired as he went to sit down.
"Yes, at the cave. He told me a story, about an ape named Robinson Crouseau." She explained.
"Well, he has a way with females." Galen lightly joked, with a small chuckle.
"I think I love him." She confessed.
Her statement had him reeling. His mouth dropped a little and he slowly lowered himself into the seat, never taking his eyes off of her.
"Isn't that uh...kind of sudden?" He asks.
"I know he reminds me of someone else. But it isn't just that. There's a warmth in his voice. A gentleness all his own that hasn't made me feel this alive in a long time." She confirmed.
Galen was still staring at her with a surprised look.
"Fauna...you must be careful. You can't trust a love, that comes so quickly." He told her.
Even his love for Kristin didn't hit him that fast. It was something that slowly built up over time. First it was fascination, then friendship, then fondness, then eventually it turned to love.
That's how he knew their love was real.
But this...sounded more like possibly infatuation or admiration rather than actual love.
"Is time any guarantee that a love will be binded? Febus, I know it's asking a lot for him to love someone who is blind but...do you think it's possible?" She asked.
"Do you want an honest answer?" He asks, voice filled with hesitance.
"Yes." She replied.
"No, I do not think that it is possible." He told her.
Though as he did, he felt horrible for saying it to her. It's obvious that she's quite the fragile individual.
"I can do anything that a female with sight could do." She countered.
"Except to recognize the truth. He is not an ape!" He yelled.
She continued staring blankly at him.
"That you can trust." He added.
"I don't believe you! I think you're the one that's not to be trusted, you're his friend yet you speak of him as an enemy!" She argued back.
"He is my friend! But I know him! And I'm...I'm very concerned about you." He said, softly.
"I don't want to hear anymore from you! Leave me alone! Go away!" She yells, as she abruptly stands up from her seat.
Galen still has a look of shock and sadness on his face as he gets up and leaves her alone.
He headed straight back to the hideout and met up with the others there.
"Galen, any luck?" Pete asked.
"You were right. Sestus does not only know about the Dragoons, but he is also one of them." Galen informed them.
"How about that?" Pete said, as if he weren't really surprised.
"Sadly, it doesn't seem all that surprising." Kristin muttered.
"I gained their confidence. In fact, I am being brought up for a full membership at a special meeting later today." He told them.
"Hey. good work, Galen." Alan said.
"Well, we knew you could pull it off." Pete added.
"Yes, we all have a great deal to be proud of. Isn't that right, Pete?" Galen quipped.
"Well, I can't take any credit. I haven't done anything." Pete told him.
"Oh, but you have. You have indeed." Galen grounded out.
"Hey, what's eating you anyway?" Pete inquired.
"I'll tell you what's 'eating' me. I think that you should stay away from Fauna." Galen snapped.
"Why? Something happen?" Kristin asked.
"Oh yes, something did." Galen said.
"I'm sorry, Galen, but I don't understand." Pete replied, clearly confused.
"She is in love with you!" Galen snapped.
"What do you mean she's in love with me!?" Pete asked, with an incredulous look.
"She told me! She asked me if I thought if you could be in love with her!" He fired back.
"Well, that's ridiculous!" Pete countered.
"Ridiculous!? It's tragic! Can you imagine what that's going to do to her when she finds out that you are human!?" The chimp argued back.
"Wait a minute, Galen. You're the one in the first place that made her think I was an ape!" Pete snapped.
"Yes, but I didn't think you were going to get involved with her!" Galen continued arguing.
"I'm not involved!" Pete yelled, while standing up.
"Alright now, come on, knock it off both of you. What happened, happened. Nobody planned it." Alan told them, trying to ease the tension.
"Just like you try not to act like you and Kristin are not in love with each other." Pete stated.
Kristin's eyes widened briefly.
"Pete!?" She blurted out.
Galen narrowed his eyes.
"That is none of your concern or business. And I suggest you drop it, now." He grounded out.
"Look, there is a time and place for everything. And this is definitely not the time to be talking about this. There are other important things at stake here. So, let's try and stay focused here." Kristin quipped.
"She's right. We still need to solve this. That is what's important right now." Alan added.
Both Galen and Pete took a deep breath to calm themselves. They are friends. This is not something they should be arguing about.
"Look, Galen. I don't want to hurt her any more than you do." Pete told him sincerely.
"I'm not going to. I'll go talk to her." He added, then walked around the stone table and headed for the exit.
"Pete?" Galen called to him.
"What?" Pete asked.
"Be gentle with her." Galen cautioned.
He lets out a loud sigh, "Yeah."
Then he exits the hideout and starts heading up to her home.
While the three of them remained behind, sharing looks. Feels like a lot has transpired from this one conversation turned argument alone. Galen and Kristin certainly wouldn't have thought their feelings would be revealed by their friends like this.
It was a bit humiliating and uncalled for. But they knew, Pete was upset with being accused of being involved with Fauna.
"For what it's worth, I'm happy for you two." Alan told them with a small smile.
"Thanks, Alan." Kristin said, returning the smile.
Galen nodded, then his gaze drifted to Kristin. She met his gaze and gave him a small, reassuring smile. One he quickly returned.
At least now, they didn't have to hide it.
Meanwhile, Pete went up to talk to Fauna. He dreaded every step he took up to her place. He wasn't looking forward to this conversation. But he knew it had to be done.
For both their sakes.
He knew it would really hurt her. And that was the last thing he really wanted to do. Pete found her out by the well, getting water. He approached her and started talking to her.
He brought up what Galen told him and admitted to her that he didn't feel the same way as she did. Then tried to explain to her why that was. Of course, she became upset and argued with him a little.
Until he decided to tell her one more story. One that involved acceptance and deception.
Then tried to indirectly explain to her that she couldn't trust him. Then went on to tell her that there will never be an 'us' when she said otherwise about him deceiving her.
He then told her goodbye and left.
The poor young female broke down and cried right there at the table.
Afterwards, the group came up with another plan. One that would involve Perdix this time. Their plan was to lead him to the Dragoons meeting place.
The three humans busted through the front door of the police station and tackled a gorilla to the ground, believing it him to be Perdix. Then they started to explain how they would lead him to the Dragoons.
After their whole speech, the gorilla finally told them that he wasn't Perdix. Then another gorilla asked if they were looking for him. They turned around to see the barrel of a rifle aimed at them.
Then they all shared a look and just knew...
'We really screwed up.' They thought.
Meanwhile with Galen...
He went with Sestus who led him to the secret meeting place on the beach that Alan and Kristin stumbled upon earlier when they tailed that gorilla guard.
"As leader of the high council I now call the Dragoons to order." He announced after they all filtered in and took a seat. All of them wore these brown bags over their heads.
The 'leader' than got down from his perch and approached Galen and Sestus who were sitting off to the side. Before turning back to face the others.
"If there are no objections, we won't not list the grievances voiced by humans from our last raid. It seems that these humans are now dead." He joked.
They all laughed at what he said.
"I understand we have a new prospect who wishes to join our ranks. Will he please stand." He ordered.
Galen looked to Sestus, and the older ape gestured for him to stand. So, Galen stood up while staring at the leader.
"Your name?" The leader demanded.
"Febus." Galen replied.
"And who vouches for Febus?" He questions.
That's when Sestus stood up, "I, Sestus."
"Ahh, Sestus, good. Are you, Febus, familiar with the goals of the Dragoons?" The leader questioned him.
"Yes, uh, to drive all humans from our land." Galen replied.
"And the humans who refuse?" The leader inquired.
"Death to them. Death to them all!" Galen yelled convincingly.
They all cheered him on, liking his response.
"It appears, Sestus, has brought us a worthy prospect. Let us take a vote!" The leader said.
Everyone raised their fists up and yelled, 'I'!
Afterwards, the leader turned around and picked up something off the rock behind them. Then he turned back around, facing Galen.
"Welcome Febus, brother Dragoon. Now and forever." The leader said, as he put the brown bag over Galen's head and patted his shoulder roughly.
Then the leader turned to the group and started talking about their next raid on this human Sheppard, Reiko. He instructed that they meet up tomorrow at midday.
Everyone in the group agreed.
Then the leader turned back to Galen and pulled a gun out and presented it to him.
"And Febus, you...you have the honor of killing him." The leader informed him.
"Thank you, very much." Galen replied, playing along.
The leader turned back to the group and spoke again.
"Until tomorrow!" He yelled.
"Wait!" Galen shouted, making everyone pause.
"Eh...umm...excuse me. I'm really not very used to this yet." Galen said as he pulled the bag off of his head.
"Uhh, is it over?" Galen asks.
"Why, yes." The leader replied.
"So, soon?" Galen inquired.
"We have no further business to conduct." The leader told him.
"Oh, I have something to say." Galen added.
By now, the leader was getting a tad annoyed as he turned back to the young chimp.
"You know those two humans who stole my horse and attacked me? I saw them." Galen stated.
"Where?" The leader asked.
"Actually, it was quite near here." Galen said.
"Near my farm!? I don't believe it!" Sestus says.
"Well, they were just passing through. I uh, think they were heading for the beach. In fact, I swore they were heading for the beach. Now why don't we go down there and find them." Galen suggested.
"At night?" The leader questioned.
"I hardly think they are going to wait by morning." Galen replied.
"How are we supposed to search the cliffs and caves in the dark?" The leader asked, clearly thinking it ridiculous to do so.
"Oh." Was all Galen said.
"At first light, we meet on the beach at Sandy Point. Agree!?" He shouted.
"Agree!" They shout back.
The leader than turned his attention back to Galen.
"Don't worry, we'll get them. I promise you. And you can kill them instead of Reiko." The leader suggested.
"Oh, thank you, thank you." Galen told him, pretending to be grateful.
Afterwards, everyone quickly dispersed.
Sestus looked at him and thought something was off. He asked if he was alright. Galen told him he was fine. Sestus suggested they go home now.
But Galen declined and said he wanted to stay a little longer.
Sestus left the younger chimp there alone. Galen was trying to collect himself after everything he has seen and heard. It was disturbing being among such a group of bloodthirsty apes.
And while he found the whole thing entirely revolting and atrocious, it made him more motivated to put a stop to them once and for all. Before any more innocent people can be hurt or killed.
Back with Alan, Pete, and Kristin at the police station...
Perdix stood there listening to every word that the three humans were telling him. But in the end, he still just didn't believe them.
It made the three frustrated that he thought they were all lying. He stated there was no way they could know where the Dragoon's meeting place was.
When he nor the other gorilla troops could find it.
Afterwards, he said he was going to put them back in the cell.
Galen came running into town and went straight to the police station. He heard talking and stopped by one of the windows and peered inside.
"Back to your cells. Move!" Perdix commanded.
The three humans went to the door, while Perdix kept a close eye on them with his rifle raised.
They opened the door when a masked Galen came running in with a gun.
"Get his gun!" He told them.
"Back, against the wall!" Galen ordered Perdix, once Alan plucked the rifle out of the gorilla's hands.
"Who are you?" Perdix questioned.
"I am wearing this mask, so you won't find out. Now why would I tell you?" Galen stated, as a matter of fact.
"I'll find out. I'll track you down even if it takes ten years." Perdix promised.
"I certainly hope you can find something better to do in the next ten years. You can start by capturing the Dragoons." Galen informed him.
"But you are a Dragoon." Perdix pointed out.
"It's a long story. My horse is out back now, the Dragoons will be at Sandy Point. Take him and we'll meet you at the cliffs." Galen instructed.
Alan grabbed Perdix by the arm and started hauling him, stating they were going for a little ride.
"Nice get up Galen. You can use it for trick or treating." Kristin joked.
Galen rolled his eyes, before pulling the bag off of his head, just as Pete closed the door behind Alan and Perdix as they left.
Pete then turned to him, "Where have you been?"
"I seem to recall that our plan was for you to bring Perdix to the meeting." Galen quipped.
"Yeah, well, he changed our minds." Pete told him.
"By introducing us to some free room and board within the cells here." Kristin added.
Galen groaned and rolled his eyes, while throwing the bag down to the floor.
With Alan and Perdix...
He led them on horseback to the exact location at the beach just as the Dragoons came riding in.
Alan and Perdix stopped at the top of the cliff and pointed them out to the gorilla. Alan than inquired if he was more interested in the Dragoons than killing him before tossing the gorilla back his rifle.
Perdix went racing down to confront them. He ordered them all to throw down their guns. But Zon refused and threatened him. The two found themselves in a stand still.
Then the unthinkable happened, when Fauna went over the side of the cliff with a yell and into the water.
She flailed about trying to stay afloat. That is when Pete, Kristin, and Galen came running in. They saw what happened and Pete dove in to get her.
He caught up to her and started pulling her in. Kristin and Alan ran down to mee them. They entered the water and they all grabbed ahold of her and hauled her out.
She was pretty out of it when they got her safely on the beach. Then they put her down gently in front of the entrance of her hideout.
That's when all the other apes came running over to see what happened and to make sure Fauna was alright. The apes surrounded the small group.
"Fauna? Fauna, it's alright now. It's alright." Pete softly assured her, as he held her up.
"Pargo? Pargo, is that you?" She asks.
"Yes, Fauna." He replied.
Thenn she started to slowly reach up and touch his face. There was no stopping her this time as she ran her hand over his smooth skin.
"No! You're not, Pargo! You human!" She blurted out in shock.
"It was a deception born out of desperate need, Fauna, it not meant to harm." He quickly assured her.
"Get away! Get away from me!" She gasped.
"Fauna? Fauna? This is your uncle, it's Sestus. Nothing to be afraid of." He assured her as he took over and held her up.
"But he's human! He's human!" She weakly yelled.
"It's alright, he's not going to hurt you." Sestus said, trying to calm her.
"No, get him...get him away! He tricked me! He tricked me like the others tricked my father! They're treacherous! They're animals and they must be treated like animals!" She kept ranting.
"Now, Fauna! Listen to me!" Sestus said, shaking her lightly.
"This human saved your life. He risked his own life to save you." He convinced her.
"No, I hate him! I hate him! A human killed my father! He killed him!" She continued to yell.
"Fauna, it's Alar. Listen to me, please listen, I don't know if a human did kill your father. But if it happened, it doesn't mean all humans are bad. Just like all apes aren't good." Alan informed her.
"This Alar speaks the truth. It was not a human that caused your father's death." Sestus confessed.
"Shut up, Sestus." Zon hissed.
"What are you saying, Sestus?" Perdix demanded.
"I...hated and feared...humans as you do now. But your father, he didn't fear the humans he trusted them. That night, I was with Zon." He started.
"No! Sestus!" Zon spat.
"I warned your father. But he was stubborn. Zon became angry. There was a fight. Zon hit him. He fell down and hit his head on a rock. Zon said, we were both responsible for his death. Fauna, I couldn't bring myself to tell you the truth." Sestus confessed.
By then the young ape girl was in full blown tears.
"Sestus is a coward!" Zon snapped.
"What difference does it make, who killed Lucian?! The humans are still our enemies! We must drive them from our lands! Kill them! Kill the humans! Listen to me! Listen to me! Kill them do you hear me! Kill them! Kill them!" He yelled.
But none listened as they pulled off their masks and threw them down and left.
"Give me your pistol, Zon." Perdix ordered, while keeping his rifle poised at him.
He had no choice but to give it to him. Then he was ushered out of there by Perdix.
After that whole ordeal They walked back up the beach and Sestus started chatting with them.
"Your welcomed to stay out in the barn." Sestus offered.
"Thank you, Sestus. But we have to be moving on." Alan told him.
"And we're glad to have helped." Kristin said.
Pete then turned around and headed over to where Fauna was standing.
"Fauna, look I uh...Fauna, I'm sorry. I hope you forgive me for deceiving you." Pete told her.
"I don't understand how I could've thought I loved a human." She stated,
Pete then looked back briefly at his friends.
Then he turned back around and placed a small kiss on her cheek. Galen's jaw practically dropped at seeing him do that. Whil Alan and Kristin smirked.
"Goodbye." Pete told her one last time.
Then the four headed off. While Sestus and his niece waved goodbye.
Alan led the group, with Pete following close behind. Taking up the back, were Galen and Kristin. Her gaze was fixed ahead, her mind running through everything that had just taken place these last couple days.
Her train of thought was broken, when she felt a warm hand gently grasp hers and started holding it as she they walked.
The young woman's light blue gaze shifted from ahead to a pair of warm brown eyes next to her. She saw Galen give her a soft smile as he caressed her hand.
A smile lit up her features, as she gripped his hand back.
"Looks like we're still continuing to spread better ideals to everyone we come across. Hopefully, it's still starting to make a difference." She told him.
"I do believe it is. One step at a time." He replied.
Galen leaned in to give her a quick kiss, when a voice interrupted them from up front.
"Hey, lovebirds, try to keep up now." Pete called over his shoulder from up ahead.
Galen rolled his eyes while Kristin chuckled a little at his remark.
"Yeah ok, Pete. You just worry about what's ahead of you, So, you don't end up tripping over your own feet." Kristin joked.
Pete just smirked and shook his head.
"And try not to let your thoughts go to other places or people. Otherwise, I don't think Fauna will be the last female you kiss." Galen teased.
Alan started chuckling at their responses. Yeah, those two were made for each other. That was a given.
They took their trek back into the woods and away from the beach. Just letting the path lead them to their next destination, wherever that may be.
Until Next Time ;)