The next chapter is up! Enjoy :)
Another month passed by since Galen and Noelle had fell into the river and found themselves in another district.
Since then, they have hit quite a few places, but never staying too long. At the most, they never stayed for more than three or four days at any village they came across.
The pair also were growing even closer to one another as the days went on. There was hardly a time they didn't share a kiss with one another.
Of course, they still always made sure to do it in privacy. They never showed affection while out and about in any village. Mainly because it can be risky, seeing as they are still not very certain which villages would frown upon their unusual relationship.
The only thing that has bothered them is still not coming into contact with Alan or Pete. Both of them can only wonder where their friends could be.
Noelle didn't say it aloud, but she was scared that Urko somehow managed to get a hold of them.
It was something she wanted to bring up with Galen but wasn't sure how. He was pretty adamant that they were still out there somewhere.
At the moment, it was midday. They were up on the horse and traveling down a dirt road. The horse wasn't in a full gallop, more like trotting at a leisure pace.
It certainly came in handy having a horse, otherwise, it would've taken a lot longer to get to any place around here, seeing as the settlements and villages were spread pretty far apart and not all that close together.
The sky was very overcast at this time.
Noelle thinks there is a possibility of rain and if that's the case, they may have to find somewhere to stop for a little while. While she didn't mind the rain on a hot day and welcomed it, Galen was not overly fond of the rain.
"Might want to start keeping an eye out, Galen. The sky is getting rather dark, like it may rain soon. And we both know how much you like the rain." She teased.
The chimp looked over his shoulder slightly, looking at the young woman sitting behind him on the horse.
"Hardly, seeing as I'm not part fish like you are." He stated.
"And yet, you have taken plenty of baths since we've been on this journey. Quite a feat for someone who claims they hate the water." Noelle continued teasing him.
"Because I know if I don't you won't let me get close to you." He grumbled under his breath.
That remark and the way he said it made her laugh.
"Hey, you say the same thing about me when I start to stink. So, I don't want to hear any more complaints from you, buddy." She told him.
She kind of got him there, so, it may be best he keeps his mouth shut.
"No comment there. Probably because I risk bodily injury if I were to answer that. Even if it is an honest answer." Galen joked.
"And who says you're a slow learner?" Noelle joked.
"Hey now, I'm not slow at all. If anything, I'm a very fast learner." He stated.
"Says who?" She inquires.
"I think someone is going to get booted off the horse very soon." Galen countered.
Then he felt Noelle tighten her hold around his waist.
"Careful, I'll just take you with me." She says.
Noelle felt one of his hands grasp one of hers and caress it with his thumb.
"I sadly can believe that. Can only hope I won't land on you though. Otherwise, something tells me you will not be in a very good mood afterwards. Or...who knows, maybe you will." He said with an amused grin.
"While I wouldn't mind you on top of me, I don't think I fancy a rough landing though." Noelle told him.
"You mean to say, you don't like it rough?" He inquires with a smirk, teasing her.
Her eyes widened a little and her cheeks turned pink.
"Galen!" She blurted out.
Then she heard him laugh at her high-pitched response.
They haven't even taken that next step in their relationship yet, but he still likes to make jokes about things like that apparently. Each time he does, it never ceases to make her blush.
"Anyone tell you, that you can be quite the dirty minded little ape?" She retorted.
"Nope, just you. Guess, you just bring it out of me." He joked.
Noelle snorted, "Lucky me."
They conversed back and forth until they decided to pull off of the road and took the horse to a small cluster of trees near a small creek, so they can stop and eat lunch.
The pair found an old log sitting beneath a couple trees. They took Lola over but didn't tie her up. They just led her to a corner and left her to forage on some grass.
They took their packs off of her and brought them over to the log about twelve to fifteen feet away.
Then they sat down next to each other on it and started to pull out some food for themselves. Galen had managed to snag a couple thin wooden plates for them from one of the other villages they stopped at previously.
He gave Noelle a plate and they started loading some food up on them to eat.
The pair continued chatting as they ate. Noelle asking Galen what the nearest village on the map was and how far it maybe from here. Seeing as it's been about a week since they hit the last one.
He informed her he would need to check the map again.
Meanwhile with Alan & Pete...
"I think I lost count of how many villages we have been to this past month. Many of which it doesn't seem like Galen and Noelle hit. While with a couple others, they said they 'thought' they saw someone fitting their description in a neighboring village." Pete said, sighing in frustration.
"Unfortunately, we did somehow take a wrong turn last month trying to follow directions. There is a possibility we went ahead of them on the road. Because of this, there could be a chance that we ended up a little further north than they are.
If this is the case, we may have to start heading south. Only then, we may have a chance to spot them on the road or some wooded paths near it. The tricky part is figuring out if they are on any main roads or have been taking paths through the woods to be safe.
After all, we did hear in one of the previous villages that Urko is here with his men looking for us. There's a possibility, they heard this news as well and are being cautious and taking more of the hidden paths.
The biggest question is, to start taking more paths through the woods or stay on the main roads. The only thing working for us, is that we know some of these paths in the woods are foot paths and a little too narrow for a horse to navigate on.
So, they may not be in these smaller paths, seeing as they have a horse. What do you think though? Should we head to some of the paths in the woods or stay on the main roads as we head back south?" Alan inquired.
Pete sighs and runs a hand through his hair.
"Honestly, I'm not sure. It's not a very light decision to make. And if we do make the wrong decision, we risk missing them. I think what we should think about, is what we believe Galen would do." Pete ascertained.
Alan stood there for a moment, rubbing his chin, deep in thought.
"It's possible, he may have decided to stick to the roads. If not because they are a straight shot to many villages where they can go to acquire a substantial food supply.
While we have traveled across open country plenty of times before, we still at some point found ourselves traveling down roads. Because as I said, it's where most villages and individual farms are where we can be provided with the essentials we need for our travels." Alan surmised.
"I understand why you would think he would travel through the paths in the woods. But you need to remember, this is another district. One neither of us have been to. Because of this, he may feel it's better to stick to the roads so they can make stops at villages. It would just make more sense for him to do so.
Because sticking on nothing but wooded paths here, may not be all that wise, seeing as you would run the risk of running out of supplies quickly and then find yourself in trouble when that happens.
Plus, not every wooded path is marked on the map they provided for us back in Ansel. They even admitted that there were many unmarked wooded paths and advised us to try and stay away from them if we can otherwise, the map won't help us if we manage to find ourselves lost on one of these paths.
If that's the case, Galen definitely wouldn't be going down many of these paths for risk of him and Noelle finding themselves lost. Because of this, I think you're right to assume he may stick to the roads instead.
Mainly for the fact that Urko's men still probably haven't made it this far. After all, we're always hearing how huge this district is. Hell, a few people claim it's the biggest territory around and could take quite a bit of time to cover it all.
Studying the map, gives us a good indication of how huge it is too. With how detailed it is, and all the places labeled on it and how spread out they are, plus the size of the map it's on.
I could be wrong, but this area looks like it could possibly bigger than the state of New York for all we know. Which shouldn't be very surprising, considering how large California is as a state." Pete explained.
"You could be right. Which is both good and bad news for us. Good news is, it would make it more difficult for Urko and his men to track Galen and Noelle down as well as you and me. Bad news is it will also be very difficult for us to track our friends down as well." Alan said.
"It will be tough, but despite how big the area is, I like to think we will still eventually find them. And I think we should start heading up more of the roads from now on instead of the paths in the woods. We may have much better luck in doing so." Pete told him.
Back with Galen & Noelle...
When the pair finished eating, they returned to their horse.
Instead of mounting the mare though, they decided to walk and stretch their legs. So, they walked Lola back to the road and started walking next to her.
They must've been walking together for the next three hours or so, when the pair thought they heard a commotion further down the road and in an upcoming clearing off to the side of it.
As they drew closer, they could practically make out at least two people arguing.
Galen and Noelle exchanged looks, before deciding to speed up their walking to get to the source. In which they weren't too far off. Seeing as it was straight ahead and to the right.
When they got to the edge of the road, they looked down through the thinning foliage and saw a home tucked away by a small pond.
Right outside this home, there was a human family that consisted of two adults and three children. They weren't alone either. There were two gorilla guards. One on horseback, the other standing before the family.
It was that one that was arguing with the adult human man.
"No! You cannot take him! Please! He's still too young!" The human man pleaded.
"You know the rules around here. Once they reach adolescent age they are required to work in the caverns." The gorilla stated.
"And I refused to send our son down there to die! Just like many other innocent children you sent down there to work until they end up dying from one cause or another!" The man shouted.
The gorilla before him glared at the man. Then he shifted his beady gaze to his comrade who was still up on his horse.
"Bola, draw your rifle. Shoot any of them if they try anything." He ordered.
The one known as Bola did just that. He drew his rifle and pointed it at the family.
The two younger children looked on in fear and started to cry a little even as their mother held them close. While her husband looked on in both fear and anger.
"Wait, it's alright father." The small thirteen-year-old boy said.
Then the youth turned his attention back to the gorillas.
"I'll go with you. But please, don't harm my parents and little sisters. I'll come quietly without a fuss." He told them.
The gorilla eyed him and nodded. Then he turned back to his comrade.
"Shoulder your rifle and hand me the rope." He instructed.
He put away his rifle and pulled a piece of rope out of one of the side pouches on the horse saddle and handed it to him.
The gorilla took it and then grabbed the youth by his arm and pulled him forward out of the reach of his father. But his father still tried to hold onto his son's other arm.
Until the boy quickly looked over his shoulder back up at him.
"No, father. You need to let me go. They will kill you, mom, Charli, and Ellie if you don't. Please." The boy pleaded with him.
His father's gaze became glassy, moments seemed to tick by before he reluctantly let go of him.
Then he watched as the gorilla took Ethan and started to wrap the rope around his small wrists, bounding them together. Then the gorilla hoisted the boy up onto his mount, laying him across the saddle sideways on his stomach.
Afterwards, he hopped up onto the horse with the boy.
The family watched with tears in their eyes as they turned around and rode down the separate path with their son.
Meanwhile, further up the side of the hill that led up to the main road, Galen and Noelle watched the whole confrontation play out. They were mortified at the fact that these gorillas just took a young child.
Then watch as they rode away with him down another path below that led away from the home.
They wanted so bad to help the child. But fear, there wasn't much they could do at this time. If anything, the pair needed answers. Just what did the gorillas mean about ages and requirements? And to go where?
Both their gazes shifted from the family below to each other.
"We need to find a way to help. But we need to find out first where they could be taking him and why they took him. We need to talk to the family." Noelle tells him.
Galen was silent for a moment, before nodding.
"Alright, let's go." He said.
Galen hopped up onto the horse and reached down with his hand to help Noelle up behind him.
With a flick of the reins, he had Lola carefully trot down the hill towards the home down below. It wasn't very far, maybe several yards down and away.
The family was about to turn around and go back inside, when one of the remaining two children looked to her right and towards the hill. That's when she saw a single horse with two people on it coming down.
"Mommy, Daddy, look!" The little girl pointed, alerting her parents and sister.
The other three humans looked to where she was pointing and saw the rider headed their way. As they drew closer, they saw it was another ape.
But they noticed it wasn't another gorilla guard, but a chimp. He also looked to have a second person sitting behind him on the horse and they had their arms wrapped around his waist.
The family stood and waited to see what they wanted. It was obvious they were headed this way.
Galen and Noelle got there within the next three minutes and stopped their horse before them.
"Can we help you?" The woman asked.
"Yes, we saw what happened from the road above." Galen told them.
Noelle looked over his shoulder at the family.
"And we want to help." She added.
The family was a little surprised to see the ape's traveling companion sharing his horse was a human woman.
They watched as the odd pair dismounted and approached them. The two of them didn't appear to be from around here. The village just down the road that they were a part of was small and they knew everyone there.
It was clear, they weren't from Locknar Village.
"How can you help? It's just you two against a troop of gorillas that run this village." The man stated.
"Well, if you can explain to us what is going on, maybe there is something we can do." Galen told them.
"Please, if there is any way to get your kid back, we will try our best to do so. What more is there to lose by answering some questions we have. Like why would gorilla troopers take him?" Noelle inquired.
The parents were still quietly contemplating talking with these strangers. When another tiny voice spoke up.
"Daddy, maybe they can help get Ethan back. Please, talk to them. One of the little girls said.
Upon closer inspection, Noelle noted that the girls looked nearly identical and looked to be the same age, probably around eight years old if she had to guess. They were also most likely twins.
Their father looked back at them briefly and saw the pleading looks in both his young daughters' faces.
His gaze then shifts to his wife. A small, sad but reassuring smile appears on her face, and she nods at him in encouragement. He sighs, and turns back to the two travelers in front of them.
"Very well. You may come inside." He says.
"Thank you." Galen replied.
"Thanks." Noelle said.
They then followed the family inside their small home.
The husband turned to them and motioned for them to sit at the square table off to the left. Then the rest of them went to grab a seat at the table.
"My name is Trayvor, this is my wife Isla. And these are our daughters, Charli and Ellie. And you are?" He inquires.
"My name is Noelle, and this is my friend Galen." The young woman said, gesturing to the chimp seated beside her.
"Really? He's your friend?" One of the little girls asked.
"Yes, I am. We've been travelling together for some time now." Galen stated, answering the child's question.
"Didn't know apes and humans can be friends." The little girl known as Charli said.
"Yeah, they're very mean to all of us in the village." Her sister Ellie added.
"You say you can possibly help. How?" Isla asks.
"Well, first off, why did they take your son?" Noelle asked.
"Because it is required, and he was selected." Trayvor spat out with a frown.
"Selected? For what?" Galen asks.
"Outside of the Village, Locknar, there is this cavern a few miles away called Ravine Cavern. There are many valuable metals and some precious gems within it. But the cavern is very shallow with small passageways. Too small for any ape or human adult to get through.
The apes around here, need those metals to make more weapons and equipment. But since they cannot get to the metals from with the cavern themselves, instead they send...our children in to mine for them and bring them out." Trayvor explained.
"They tend to take children anywhere between the ages of nine and fourteen. Sometimes sending several in at a time. But...the cavern is a very dangerous place and... many children end up dying while trying to work in it.
Whenever we lose one child to the cavern, the gorillas send out for another child to replace them with. They have been doing this for the last few years now, upon the cavern's discovery.
It's also because of this, the population in Locknar Village has been dwindling over the last couple years. Multiple families have had children taken from them. And those who had refused and tried to keep the apes from taking their children...were shot." Isla said, grimly.
Galen and Noelle were quite shocked to hear this.
While it wasn't uncommon for apes to have human laborers, this is a first time he has ever heard of young children being taken and for such a dangerous task.
Surely, something like this had to be illegal. Even in the district he was from, a human had to be at least seventeen years of age to be permitted to work.
"How is this considered legal? I'm not from this district, but I'm pretty sure ape law states a human must be at least seventeen years of age to work." Galen surmised.
Trayvor shook his head, "That may be true for most. But sadly, some villages do have their own set of laws. Even if they do seem very unorthodox."
Hearing that statement, made Galen remember he and his friends time in the Village of Borak. How they had their own laws permitting them to take alien humans in their territory in place of their own to work the mines around there.
In the end, they were able to help them all out and provide them with a better outcome so that one day, they didn't have to give the apes anymore of their loved ones to go work in these minds and die prematurely.
Hopefully, Miro and Tali were able to find a solution for that.
"Do you know where this cavern is located?" Noelle questioned.
"It's about four miles east outside of the village. There is a road that leads there. But it's dangerous. They tend to keep the cavern pretty well guarded so that no child tries to escape, and no human adult tries to come and save them." Isla explained.
Galen sat there, trying to think of other solutions.
It didn't sit well with him that this whole thing involved innocent children. There just had to be a way to help.
"Is there possibly, another back way to this cavern?" Galen inquires.
"Not that we know of. There is a lake pressed up against the cavern though behind the rocks that surround the cavern. Supposedly, there has been talk of water from the lake leaking into the very back of the cavern.
But as I said, there is no other entrance that anyone knows of. Just the one entrance and it's not a very big entrance if that. Hence, they why they tend to have children in there, because it supposedly is rather cramped." Trayvor informed them.
If there is no other entrance or backway that leads into this cavern, then it will definitely make things more challenging for them to get to the children safely.
Even harder to find a way to make the cavern inaccessible, so that no more children have to go in.
But still, there has to be a way. They just need to put their heads together and come up with a solid plan that will help everyone.
Galen and his friends Alan and Pete had always managed to come up with an effective plan before with these kinds of situations. He likes to think, that this dilemma is no different.
"I think we should observe the cavern from afar. Might give us an idea on how to work around it. And not just the cavern, but the area surrounding it. Just maybe, we can find another way in." Galen surmised.
"Good luck, you'd probably have to do a lot of climbing to make it to the rocky outcrop on top of the cavern. And as we said, there is nothing but a large lake on the other side of it." Trayvor told him.
"Still, if we can find another way in, it could be the best shot at getting in and out not just for us, but the kids." Noelle suggested.
"Even if you do, it won't change the fact that the cavern will always be there to fill more of our children with, in the future." Isla said.
"This is true. But we need to try something. If no one tries, then even more children will continue to go in to die." Noelle countered.
"But if you're caught, they will shoot you. You do understand this." Trayvor says.
"We know. But we can't let that thought get in the way. We'll do our very best to find a safe solution." Galen replied.
They all only continued this conversation for another few minutes. Before Galen and Noelle decided it was time to leave.
The pair already know the village was just down the road from here and that there was one road that led from the village and into the woods to the cavern a few miles away. So, they had an idea of where to go.
Now, all the pair had to do was put their minds together to think of a good plan of action.
Before leaving the two kids approached Noelle and Galen.
"Will you really find a way to save our brother, Ethan and the other kids?" Charli asks.
Noelle gave her a soft smile.
"We'll do our very best." She promised.
"Just watch out for the gorillas, they really are very mean." Ellie said to Galen.
The chimp had a hard time containing a small smile at what the adorable little girl just told him.
He leaned down to her eye level, "Don't worry, I'm used to dealing with mean gorillas."
Galen then gave her head a pat before standing up.
"Goodbye, everyone." Noelle told them.
"Goodbye. We wish you the best of luck and only hope you can stay safe if you are to attempt such a dangerous mission." Trayvor tells them.
"Give one of the gorillas a good kick in the butt for us if you get the chance." Ellie said.
"Yeah, and where the sun doesn't shine too." Her sister Charli added.
At hearing those words, it took a lot for both Galen and Noelle to keep it reined in and not all out laugh at their requests.
"If we get the chance, we will. But no promises." Galen replied, while trying not to laugh.
Not long afterwards, the pair left the family and their home behind.
They both mounted their horse and started to ride off.
Instead of heading back up to the hill where the road was, they decided to follow the path here that the gorillas took when they took the child away from his family.
Perhaps this path could either be a short cut to the village or maybe even lead to the cavern.
Either way, they needed to think of a solid plan on the way there. So, they started down that path, following some of the tracks left by the two gorillas that left a little earlier.
Until Next Time ;)