Spindles of wet ferns and greeting soil buckled beneath worn knuckles, ground down into the undergrowth as Kerchak, peering deeply into the forest beyond, felt his nerves prickle. He was on edge, yes, but this wasn't anything new; what else would he be, seeing as each and every soul here depended on him, and him alone? Be it the new mothers that huddled quietly beneath branch and leaf from the light, cradled young to their chest...the young males, burning with energy and audacity yet untapped...or worried mates that wouldn't keep themselves in check. He could think of only one in particular that came to mind, her brisling, chocolate further frazzled with distress that she did a fairly terrible job of hiding.

It was never difficult to see when she was upset. They'd been mates long enough for him to know what it meant when she was like this, though it was harder to get her to be honest about it. Kala was never the sort to let herself be coddled, to be pacified or anything of the sort; it was always a difficult task even getting her to accept help...more so when he offered it. Watching her pace up and down the forest floor in a deserted corner of their home was something she usually only did when...something was really on her mind.

But the great ape didn't have to guess what.

Sighing, he felt himself relent, tempted to just leave it be.

This...what she was absolutely fretting for...wasn't really a problem for him. He'd been waiting years for this moment, when they would finally get that creature, that human, out of their fur. The wasted food, the peril, the headache, was gone, right? It was supposed to be joyous, at least...for him. He knew, despite her support of the man thing's decision, she would take it hard.

Who wouldn't?

When you've invested nearly twenty years of love and patience into something like that...if was never going to be easy to let it go...especially not for someone like Kala. Her heart was always in the right place, he knew that to be true...but what did she expect but this? He was of them, the creatures across the sea, not one of the forest. A man only masquerading as an ape, nothing more...nothing less.

So for him? A great burden, lifted from his shoulders.

For her?

Heartbreak just waiting to happen.

With others surrounding him, he nodded to a few of the females to take shelter, a bristling cloud above spelling sickening weather to be hidden from, the tongue of a storm wafting past his nose with every breath he took.

It wouldn't do to have them and their young get sick.

Gripping a branch overhead, Kerchak felt himself frustrated with, well...himself...but her as well. This was the time that they could finally put this all behind them, that they might finally be able to...move on.

Right?

Edging closer to her, he could smell it, the presence of her worry and dread and...hurt...heavy, thick on the air just like humid, summer rain. Despite his reservations about her letting herself get this attached to the man thing, he couldn't really help but feel equal parts agitated with Tarzan just as much. After everything that she'd done for the little creature, raising him, feeding him, defending him...all dropped in an instant? He was no ape, and it didn't just come from his appearance, his mannerisms.

Kerchak could feel, in his heart, that there was something so...distant, so far removed, from being an ape in his heart. No respectable gorilla would leave, would just forget...like that. Cast your own family...guardians...aside for those you hardly knew.

It was unthinkable, to forget where you'd come from. And that thing, that burden, had done just that.

And for that, he wouldn't be forgiven.

It was just a few moments into him finding himself at her side that she did take notice of him, Kala coming to a stop though her body didn't rest. Not when her shoulders were still so tense, her fur raised and prickly, eyes wide...but worn with exhaustion. She looked unlike herself, unlike that beautiful, firm ape he knew too well.

"Kala, it doesn't do for you to work yourself up like this." He started, watching her carefully as she waved him away.

"I'm not...worked up. I'm just...just..." Kala returned back, but the words didn't seem to come as she sat down, rubbing a shaking hand along her head, as if trying to calm herself, though it didn't seem to be working too well, not when her lip stilled trembled with words unsaid. Sighing, Kerchak came closer beside her, giving her a slight look that she didn't return, and she didn't seem to relax, either. It was hard, well, harder, to know what to say to her, not since...Kosa. It used to be so easy to be around her, to speak with her, to just...love her, and by the Gods, he still did.

But now?

It was as if they were worlds apart, split and divided so deeply that they just felt...unreachable...but that didn't mean he couldn't still try. He wasn't the best at this, not when his job demanded he said and did things that were for the best of everyone, for the good of the troop...but what was good for them? What was good for just...Kala?

And could he even give that to her?

He didn't know.

"Sad. You're...sad...and upset...and hurt." He identified, looking out into the wild thrush that greeted their eyes for as far as they could see. There was a moment without words, a careful silence as Kerchak weighed her expression. She seemed just as much as at a loss as he was, gaping for a bit before biting back something that rested on her tongue, words, he knew, she wanted to say, but couldn't.

Just as it was with him.

Despite this, he knew enough to give credence to her features, the way she paced when she was upset, the way her eyes, her spirit, wandered on the ideas, the things, that could have been...just as it had been the case all of those years ago, as it was now. Because Kala...was still Kala, through and through.

"I'm sorry...sorry that it turned out like this. To think that he would leave the very one that had raised him, taken him from the place only to be spat on its...its unforgivable." He ended bitterly, taking her somber hand in his. Kala didn't argue, but didn't seem to relent, either. He was sure there was some part of her that, in some regard, might have felt that, though knowing her, she would never believe, much less let herself say that.

He'd always thought her too kind, too benevolent, for her own good; she placed faith and stock in those least deserving of it, and the same was clear for that man creature. All those years, all that effort, all the love and care she'd showered him in was for what? For him to go back, to become the very thing that they tried desperately for him not to become.

How sickening, how ironic, is that?

But then again, just how much could you expect from his kind, right? It was in their blood, their very essence was steeped in selfishness, that much was clear and evident.

"I...I'm sure he...never meant harm. All I've ever really wanted for him is to be happy. If he feels as though he can only be happy and fulfilled wherever they go, than...than that is where he should be. I just...I never thought it would...hurt this much. That I would be so...s-so..." Kala turned her face away for a moment, sniffing softly to herself as she tried to maintain her composure, though she was doing a rather poor job of it, but Kerchak was in no position to judge. He imagined he might have felt the same if he hadn't made sure to keep his distance from the thing. It was found that his intuition was keen, keen enough to see that he was fleeting. Had he kept him close to his heart as Kala had, he was certain he'd be suffering the same ill of hurt and betrayal as she.

But in his mind, Tarzan had never been worthy of such.

But knowing what she needed, the large male pulled her closer, and though she perked up with surprise, she didn't pull away, allowing herself to relax in his arms for what felt like the first time in years...mostly because it had been years since they'd been this close. This...vulnerable...and Kerchak had to admit it: he'd missed this.

He missed her gentle heart, her kindness, the security he found in her.

He could only hope that maybe, if only in this moment alone, she would find the same in him.

But of course, no tender moment could last here, not if the world could help it. It had begun only as a sort of dull thrum in the background hum of the forest, low, reverberating, but negligible as the two reveled in the other's presence. However, each passing moment brought it ever closer, dull thrums giving way to great vibrations that trembled on the forest floor below. In his mind, he thought it only elephants, a quick migration as strange as it was since they never tended to move so quickly, but when the stampeding below came to a slow end, and its place, brush and leaves moved and shook as some barreled from below, Kerchak watched the grounds of the home carefully to see what would be the culprit.

However, as a few of the other apes in their stead began to tense at the coming intrusion, he could felt himself relax when it turned out that it was only Terk, her broad, grey fur peering through the thickets with a speed he didn't often see with her employ. In his memory, she was always meandering, lax...calm, that is, when she wasn't getting into trouble or something along those lines. As irritating as it was when she did that, he never knew her to be too much of a nuisance. In fact, he found in her a sort of steadfast trustworthiness he didn't often hold others to.

So imagine his surprise when her frantic movements caught his eye, and to make it all worse, he could hear his name on her lips.

"Kerchak! K-Kerchak, I need 'ya, right now! Kerchak!" She shouted, scrambling along the branches, apparently in search of him, and immediately, he knew this was serious. It was even less often that she look this...panicked. Kala seemed to be put on edge as well, nodding to him as the two of them dislodged from the other, and in a single, coordinated movement, they began to make their way down to the opening where Terk had landed. Kala was first to arrive, easing her way over to the frazzled young ape, lending her a calming palm as she met her arm. Kerchak wasn't far behind, and with a pausing glance, he regarded her quickly.

"Yes, Terk? What is wrong?" He asked, and the female took in a trembling breath, as if trying to steady herself as she prepared to speak. Others around them began to gather, curious eyes pondering on the ruckus she was kicking up, but none of that was really his concern. He expected much of the troop to wonder in cases like this, but with the urgency in which she'd requested his presence, his hopes weren't high for this just being some negligible occurrence, though he desperately hoped that that might be the case. Finally composing herself, she managed to speak at last, drawing one last breath before she began to do so.

"Okay, so...Me and Tantor were down by the beach, you known, Fern Coast, yeah?" She stopped to confirm they knew what she meant, and the large male nodded. He didn't often go to the beaches of their homeland, simply unable to allocate time between managing the Troop, but he knew of it.

It was one of the few places that he and Kala really went to be together, that is, in their times together before...Kovu. Now, he simply didn't have the time, but he could afford it if she were willing to me him halfway.

But that could be discussed at a later date.

Nodding, that urged her to continue.

"Well, see, we was seeing off the men and all, but...they...they came back." Terk stated, her tone uncertain as the words really sunk into him.

Came...back? What did she mean "came back"? They were supposed to be gone, distant memory now, but...that didn't make sense. Some of the other apes shared equally confused glances amongst themselves as the information spread amongst themselves. They seemed just as uncertain of what this might mean, much less what would happen should they come here again, but that was just it. Should they have been worried? Were they on their way here, or were they just...back on the island?

Kerchak didn't know, but he also didn't want to take a chance.

"Wait, what do you mean? They...they shouldn't be back, they were supposed to return to their home, weren't they? You've seen them?" He couldn't help but ask, though the answer was clear, apparent in his mind. There was little else that could spark this much panic in his niece, not without good reason. Though that didn't make sense; their return shouldn't have been met with fear. That had to mean something else, that...that they were up to something, right? A bit of an assumption to make, he knew, but it wouldn't do to not at least consider the worst-case-scenario, something that he'd gotten into the habit of since his ascension to leader of their troop...their home. However, his reservations didn't seem to reach Kala as, despite the strangeness of the situation, her eyes seemed to glimmer with hope.

It wouldn't take him long to know why.

"Y-yeah! Just now, well, I mean, a little bit ago; took me and Tantor a while to get back, but they were headin' this way. They have all these, I don't...things with 'em. Like, rope lookin' things and those loud sticks that yellow guy was carryin' with him. They - " Before the younger ape could finish, Kala was quick to cut in, stepping forward as her words struck forward. There was a certain desperation in her voice, a strange candor he didn't often hear from her.

"Was...was Tarzan with them? Has he come back?" Kala couldn't help but ask, Kerchak wincing at her tone, a wistful plea even Terk didn't miss as the ape, though feigning forgetfulness, didn't seem to miss, either. In the same breath, she didn't seem privy to the idea of letting her off too hard, and as such, merely shurgged, raising her hands to her chin as she stopped to think on it for a moment.

"Oh, uh...I don' know. We ran back so fast, it was all a blur, ya know? Didn't exactly stop to take roll call. Sorry 'bout that, Kala." The younger ape obliged, giving the former a soft, if remorseful, look to sell the bit, though it didn't take the male much to know that she was simply saying that to spare her feelings, to ease the disappointment just a bit. Though, he found it a bit less productive, giving her uncertainty.

That left creatures with room to wonder, to speculate.

Room to do things they might regret.

Though they'd hoped she would just drop it, it would be been too good to be true. That glitter in her eyes only grew at their words, Kala smiling a bit at the thought.

"You mean...maybe you just missed him? That...t-that he really is coming back here?" She wondered softly, the rest of the troop murmuring amongst themselves as the moments began to pass, and so, to, did Kerchak's realization that they'd been mulling about him for too long. Terk remained still, silent, on the matter, giving him an urging look, as if asking him personally to clear the air.

Typical.

It always fell on him, it seemed.

"Ah, well, we can't guarantee anything until we get a better idea of what the men want, Tarzan or not. The last thing we want is to have them making trouble if what Terk says is true. Those...things...the ones the men wield...bring death...and it would be best for us all if we move the troop." Overhead, a distant clap of thunder rang, low, a soft rumbling that stunned the troop, stirring their unease, not that he could blame them, really.

They'd only just nested here, no more than a week or so now with the coming rains, the blistering storms just a day or so away to give way to the blooms come the next season. Until then, they knew that they could look forward to rains for weeks, perhaps months, and now was only the beginning. Looking amongst the frail leaves and trunks of trees leading forever upwards into the dull sky above, this was meant to be their home, at least for now.

It was difficult enough finding a prime spot like this with the other tribes about, looking to do just the same, and even more with young to care for, this was one source of stress that he'd been looking for any reason to keep at bay...but he could hardly hope to be that lucky. Despite this, he knew there was little choice now, not with what they could only assume was danger pressing against their feet. Though the rest of apes in his stead could hardly feign being pleased.

"Move?! But...we don't know if we'll find somewhere as nice as this, not without risking that there won't be others doing the same!" One shouted amongst the trees, a young male, nervous with energy unkempt by anxiety. He couldn't blame him; knowing there would soon be competing males to contend with was reason enough to be on edge.

"But...what of the young? Will there be enough food for them? For everyone?" Another voice called, and from what he could tell, was a mother...a seasoned, older female not much younger than Kala, oddly enough. Yet in her arms was an ape, practically a newborn, clutched tightly in her grasp as gave him a fearful look, dripping with uncertainty he wasn't sure he had an answer to. But he couldn't blame her, he couldn't blame any of them, for wondering these things, and if he could have, he would have given them the best comfort he could, to quell their worries, but that was just it.

He couldn't.

He couldn't tell that young male whether their next nest would be as secure. He couldn't even reassure that mother if she and her young would have enough to eat, if anyone would.

If anything, it might just be leading them into ruin by even considering doing this, but what other choice did they have now? With everything else on the line...there was little in the way of choices remaining.

This was all they could do.

From the trees, the brush, and onwards, words, shouts, of discourse echoed through the trees, growing panic unraveling the fragile order that had been won only moment before, but he knew that if he let this on for much longer, it wouldn't be too long before it devolved further.

So he'd stop it before it got to that point, whether he had a solution or not.

" Enough!" His commanding voiced boomed over the noise, and just as quickly, silence grew again, trembling overhead as thunder rolled, as if the very sky itself was moved by his words, and just as much, the apes said little more as Kerchak grasped their attention tightly, almost forcefully in a vie for control he didn't want to lose. It was enough, having so much happen and in such little time; there was no reason to have things devolve more than they already had. As their leader, as their protector, it was his one and only job, his responsibility, to maintain what order he could...especially during times like these.

Even if it meant that it was also up to him to make the decisions that no one else wanted to, and what might lead to difficult times ahead.

But that was what he was here for, that was what he had to do.

"I know that this is the last thing that any of us need, not this close to the rainy season...but there is no other choice. If there are men on their way here, with the intent to bring ruin to us...then what else can we do but leave? I refuse to put the lives of any of you at risk to remain here." With his words, he gave each member a stern, but gentle, look, and slowly, but surely, each member seemed to relent, nodding with reluctance, but understanding just as well. Just as he'd hoped they would, they relented, and just as soon, he faced them to speak again, but not before regarding Terk who'd, in the span of just a few moments, looked to him uncertainly.

And he could at least guess why.

Even with all of that, they couldn't exactly rush this process.

It was going to take time to move the troop, and if they were as close as she'd said they were, they would hardly have any time at all to get through the forest, not with the rain steady on their trail (the beginning drizzle a call to the coming tides), but also, with so many members, not to mention a good number of them with young of their own, it would be slow, hardly a quick transition.

At the rate that they were sure to go, it wouldn't be long at all before the humans would be on their tails...and the great ape paled at the thought of what might happen if they did.

No.

Someone had to stop them, slow them down at least. Give the others a chance to get away, to find a new place whilst the men were held off...a someone like...him.

Regarding troop once more, he spoke, grand, booming tones that commanded the attention of all around him, a mark of his status, his respect, explaining his plan to the others.

"But time grows short here. You all will need to get to higher ground, to the patches of overgrowth that will hide you better. I, and a few of the older apes, will go back, slow down the men to give you more time to work your way up." He started, and immediately discourse started again.

Not that he should have been surprised.

"Without you?! No, we can't!" An ape amongst the crowd shouted.

"But what about you, Kerchak?!" Another bellowed, tones of sorrow evident in their voice.

More and more came in, and in truth, it wasn't as though he really wanted to. It wasn't as if he understood their...tools at all. He knew they could cause harm, that much was obvious, but the extent of what they might bring was, admittedly, lost on him. More than that, he wanted nothing more than be with his kind, his troop, his family, scaling these impossible slopes in hopes of another home they could call their home, but that wasn't a luxury they had. There was no telling how far behind the men were, and it was in that unpredictability that he found his resolve.

There was no room for messing up, for accidents.

He couldn't afford to lose a single ape to this nonsense. Not one more soul.

"Yes, you can. You have to...and to make sure that you do...," Looking from the other apes, his eyes fell on Terk, his expression stoic, calm, exclaiming for the entire troop to hear, "...Terk will guide you all. In my place, she will lead the troop. You all will listen to her, do you understand? For now...she is your leader."

It was harder to tell who had the most extreme reaction; the other apes? Or Terk herself.

The she-ape seemed to almost faint at the very notion, sputtering hopelessly at the idea.

"Wah?! Me?! What in the - but I don't - I can't - " Stepping towards her, the male considered her carefully, locking eyes with her as he answered her.

"No. You can. You must. Terk...understand that this isn't something that I would have just let anyone do. This...is something that I do not trust very many to do, so I trust that you do the right thing, that you will do your best." He replied, steadfast, almost chuckling at the absolutely bewildered expression, though he did well to hide his amusement. Now wasn't the time to make light of the situation; he had to remain serious, stoic, now more than ever.

But what he said wouldn't have been a lie.

There were few, if any, other apes that he would have trusted to leave the troop in their care. Though Terk had gotten into her fair share of trouble. she never struck him as the type to do things recklessly, if she could help it. She was a clever one, far more than the seedy dopes that hung in trees overhead, a steady look of bitterness upon their faces, but he knew they wouldn't dare to contend with his decision, much less give her trouble.

Not unless they wanted to see the end of his fist.

However, it was in the midst of this decision, as Terk still reeled from his words, that Kala came up beside him, expression just as serious as his own.

That never meant anything good.

"Kerchak...I'm coming with you." She started, straightening her posture and facing him fully as if to convey her intentions.

And he was right. But was he surprised?

The larger ape was quick to turn to her, giving the she-ape a careful, but forceful stare, deep into her amber eyes. He couldn't seem to answer quickly enough, taut lips grimacing at the very thought of her getting caught up in anything, to have a hair on that perfect head even grazed by the hands of the man-ape's kin.

The answer was simple, so simple he hardly had to think about it.

"No." He answered with no further elaboration, weaving around her as he went to begin to gather the others, and as much as he would have wished that that would have been the end of that exchange, he knew that was merely wishful thinking.

A foolish wishful thinking at that.

There was no way that she was simply going to accept his answer, not when her man-ape was, of course, involved. Gritting his teeth, he couldn't help it, a flare of annoyance peering through the blinds of his reason.

It wasn't her fault, that all of this was happening. Who was he to judge her love for the thing, however unnatural it might be? Perhaps he might have felt the same, in another life, maybe...but that didn't give his frustration, his agitation, any rest at all.

How could it when it seemed as though every troublesome thing that happened...seemed to lead right back to the man-ape? To...Tarzan.

Even in his absence, things couldn't return to how they were.

"Why not?! If Tarzan might be there, then - " Kerchak was quick to turn around, regarding her stiffly.

"Then what? You'll convince him to return, right? Things will go back to how they were before? Is that what you think?" He asked her lowly as the other apes around him, lead quickly by Terk as they began to prepare for their journey into the highland. It was at this point that several of the other males came to his side, there to pay witness to their dispute as Kala allowed her expression to grow taut with tension, a sign of her growing agitation, something to match his own.

"And if that is? Kerchak, you can't expect me to let go of someone that I've been raising for the last, what, eighteen years?! If they're still here, that means they haven't left yet, and I just...I just need to make sure that this something he really wants. You would do the same if it were..." She started, but trailed off, giving him a knowing look she didn't need to elaborate on.

Yes.

If it were their child, their Kovu...then perhaps he would be more willing to fight.

But that was just it.

Tarzan wasn't his son. And he wasn't Kala's either.

He was a man-ape she was kind enough to take in, and that was it.

That was all. And that was all it would ever be. And her obsession, her need, to even associate with that thing was dangerous enough when he was still in the troop, but to willingly through herself into danger at the mere idea that he might still be within her reach? That was far enough, and he wasn't about to watch her hurt herself for someone that was that ready to leave.

For someone that didn't look back.

"Kala, this isn't...this isn't about Kovu...and you know that. Whatever...obligation you feel to him, to Tarzan, isn't yours to bear. I know you love him, I can see that...but this might be dangerous, no...I'm certain it will be, and I couldn't live with myself knowing that I allowed you to stand in harm's way for someone that didn't even think about how leaving would hurt you." At his words, Kala bristled with resolve, but he could see it, the questioning glance she gave the woods beyond at his words.

The seeds of doubt present in the pressing of her lips, unsaid protests bubbling beneath the surface.

"I know, it's just...I just wanted to see him one more time. Besides, they never meant any harm before, right? The humans? Maybe this is all just one big misunderstanding...and are you forgetting who held her own against Sabor, hmm? I'm not exactly defenseless." She reminded him, standing taller, proud, defiance clear on her features, and it was clearer, still, that she wasn't going to back down.

Not with words, anyway.

When he'd asked her that night, when she'd first brough Tarzan to their home, to know that she'd been that close to it, that beast that had long since preyed on their delicate numbers, it would have been an understatement to say that he was furious.

But more than that?

He was scared.

Scared knowing that in his absence...he could have lost her that easily.

Just...like...that.

And for what? A child that didn't deserve it? An ungrateful man-ape that turned his back on the very ape that raised him.

It didn't matter if she hated him, as much as it stung to think about if she did.

It was for her own good, and if it meant keeping her alive and safe...then he could accept that much.

"Whether you can defend yourself or not, there isn't a guarantee that he'll be there, but that doesn't matter. You are not going to throw yourself into this on a whim, I forbid it. And to make sure you don't..." Eying the masses of gorillas in his midst, it didn't take much to pick out Terk standing grey mane, scrambling to round up the younger apes and mothers as they began their trek, some of the males, far too young to join Kerchak on his expedition, helpingto keep them in-line. Despite how busy she was, it only took one look to meet the larger ape's eyes to know that she was being summoned, and just as quickly, she made her way back over to them, huffing tiredly as she tried to catch her breath.

"Ah, what do ya want?! Can't you see I'm panickin' here?! What is it?!" She gasped out angrily, though more out of exasperation than action irritation, but that didn't concern Kerchak, not at the moment, at least. Kala grunted as his lumbering form turned to face her, and with a strong hand, he scooped up her much smaller arm, despite her growing struggle as she tried to pull away.

But it didn't matter.

Her struggle was of little consequence as he stoutly pushed her forward, leading her carefully into Terk's arms as the younger she-ape raised her furrowed brows in confusion.

"Make you keep an eye on her. She is not to leave your sight. Do you understand?" He commanded once again, a common occurrence it would seem. Just as quickly as Kala's expression turned, shock and objection practically turning her defiance into outright protest, Terk wasn't exactly silent with her distaste at the idea.

"Keep an eye on 'er?! How do you expect me to do that?! You want me to play leader and babysitta', too?! Are you serious?!" She sputtered, incredulous by the notion, the very idea, but Kerchak was seriously.

Dangerously so.

He knew Kala, almost too well.

He knew she wouldn't be satisfied simply staying behind without some sort of struggle, and they didn't have the kind of time it would take to convince her to stay, so what other choice did they have?

Of course, he realized that this was a lot to place on Terk, he knew that all too well, but she'd have no choice to adjust.

She'd have to as there was just too much at stake.

"Yes, I am. You can do this, Terkina. The troop is counting on you..." Casting a soft, almost apologetic glance to Kala, he sighed,, stooping down just a bit to meet her eyes "...,I'm counting on you." He added quietly, an intimate gesture as his eyes watched her own. There were few tense moments as her brown eyes wavered and danced uncertainly before she groaned indignantly, throwing up her hands as she grabbed Kala's, turning quickly from the male in a huff, much to the older female's dismay.

"Oh, fine! FINE! What's next, huh?! I'm gonna be directin' the weather, too? Come on, apes! Let's get a move-on! Let's go, let's go!" She shouted over the growing noise of the coming rain as, what had once been a drizzle, was now a steady on patter on their coats and the forest around them. It wouldn't be long before the first downpours would set in, and make traversal harder as the ground became slicker, and their scents...weaker. Of course, Kerchak would have to worry about that when they returned, the concern that they wouldn't be able to find the rest of the troop.

They'd been in tighter spots that just a rainstorm or two, and with what was currently on their plate, he could plan out those details later.

At the very least, he knew, staring at Kala's struggling form, passing further and further into the thicket's beyond their view, they would be safe, just long enough for them to get rid of the men.

Just long enough for them to avert the crisis that Tarzan had brought right to their home.

Being him, upwards to ten other, older males, had gather behind him, the strongest of their troop, his trusted confidants, backup, he knew, and would readily admit, that he needed.

Especially for the battle ahead.

Turning to face them, he gave each one an assured look, and in response, they nodded carefully, considerately, giving him a stern look that told him that they were ready, and with a long, drawing breath to the air, he could smell them.

The men were close, too close now for comfort.

It wouldn't be long before they were here, and as such...it was time that they went to meet them. With a low grunt, it was all the signal he needed to give to let them know that it was time, and without another word, Kerchak led them on into the forest, the thicket and brush allowing to disappear seamlessly into the rising rains and rolling thunder.

- (Elsewhere, Same Time) -

When he said to keep an eye on her, he never said that she'd struggle this much! It was enough of a hassle just wrestling her away from the direction from which Kerchak and the others had just left, the older female, unsurprisingly, quite a bit stronger than her, given her age, and clearly, greater experience than her own. Shuddering a sigh, she just barely managed to keep her grip on her, and in the back of her mind, she couldn't escape her questioning thoughts as she did her best to keep tabs on the migrating apes now left lovingly in her care...much to her own dismay.

'Geez, Kala. I know you really Tarzan. Hell, I like the guy, too, but even this is a little much!' She grumbled within her own mind, gritting her teeth as she spotted one of the older males, a juvenile around the same age as her. Huffing, her called out to him, desperate tones demanding his attention as he raced over to them.

"Hey! I could use a little help here!" She managed to get out as fatigue began to hit her, and though she felt grip waning on the larger female, it was just in time that they made it to her side, another one rushing in as each took one of her arms and locked them together, standing at her sides to make sure she didn't move. At this development, Kala only seemed to struggle more, though even Terk could see her energy waning...but that didn't silence her.

"Terk! Let me go! I need to go see - " The grey she-ape rolled her eyes, sighing in annoyance at her words. God, she was so predictable; she didn't even need to speak to know what the other was thinking, much less tell her who was on her mind to make her fight like this. Couldn't she see that she was under enough stress already? She didn't need wayward mothers making her life harder than it had already become, not in the middle of all this mess.

"Tarzan! Yeah, I've heard! Look, you know I can't let 'cha go. Kerchak would have my head if I did, and I don't know about you, but I'd like to stay in one piece, thank you very much." She explained tautly, brushing her fluffy mane back with an exasperated sigh that seemed far too normal for her liking, but she was already so tired, too tired to deal with all this nonsense, but still, Kala didn't seem to be relenting.

"Listen...I get that. But this might be my last chance to ever see Tarzan again, and I'm sure you'd like to see him again too, right? Wouldn't you?" She asked softly, pulling at her captors again only to find herself thoroughly trapped, but her question only worked to confuse Terk more.

Did she...want to see Tarzan again? Of course, her initial gut reaction was no.

A resounding, all-encompassing, great, big, NO, across the board. It called him a traitor, a sell-out, a jerk...every negative adjective that she could conjure up in her addled mind as her heart still thrummed with hurt at the thought of him. It seemed perfectly content, her gut that is, with leaving him with the people who had led him away, that had convinced him that...there were better things out there than his tribe...his troop.

Better things in being a man...than ape.

It hurt.

But that was just it. Hurt feelings don't last, and the forefront of her mind, she'd managed, somehow, to convince herself that maybe...this was for the best. That maybe, if he wanted to be with them so badly, maybe he should just leave, that they wouldn't miss him, that she didn't care about him...but...she did.

She did love him. He was her cousin, her annoying, clingy, little brother that she didn't ask for...but wouldn't give up for the world. Not one bit.

Maybe Kala knew that. That was probably why she brought it up at all.

The wound, the hurt...was still fresh, and Terk couldn't tell if she should have been upset or impressed that she was able to use that against her. Perhaps...she was both. Regardless, that wasn't enough to let her go, not enough to bite the bullet when Kerchak eventually came back to a troop that didn't include Kala. Besides, she wasn't sure she'd be able to forgive herself if something did end up happening, if she did get hurt...and it was her word, he inaction, that had allowed it to happen.

"Look, whether I wanna see 'im or not, that doesn't change that I can't let you go. You know that. Just...relax. Please? Make this a little easier on me, huh? It's hard enough keeping track of everyone else without you making this harder." She pleaded carefully, lowering her voice as she turned away to focus her attention on the droves of apes now in her care.

Apes that needed her.

Apes...that Kerchak had trusted her to look after in his absence. She couldn't afford to fail, not if her conscious would stay clean, so it wasn't out of the question that she would have to pay attention to them, that she couldn't keep her eyes solely on Kala the entire time. Casting a slight glance behind her, she made sure to give word to the apes at Kala's side, just as a precaution, those being Abedi and Mosi. Not the brightest bunch, but they were trustworthy, strong, and most of all, enduring.

They'd have to be with Kala.

"Make you keep an eye on 'er. I've got my hands full with the rest of 'em, so I'll be back...and Kala?" Giving the older ape a soft look, spoke.

"Don't do anything dumb, okay?" And with that, she was off again, setting her sights on the others as the landscape began to change, their trek leading them higher into trees, and for a moment...things seemed to be going just fine.

...

Until they weren't.

It was just a few minutes in that she heard one of apes behind her shout, Mosi's voice as a struggle ensued behind them. A few of the mothers and other apes were stopped mid-ascent as they watched in awe and interest as just the ape she'd been hoping wouldn't make trouble...had. But the extent of the trouble was lost on her until she looked back...and Kala was just...gone.

Just...like...that.

She froze, gazing at Abedi's dazed form as he tried to get his bearings, Mosi no different as he scrambled to pick himself up off of the dirt and foliage below as he'd been left in an undignified heap. Part of her wanted to laugh, to burst with amusement at the sheer cosmic absurdity of the situation at hand as crashing leaves and snapping branches signaling Kala's descent only solidified the absolutely shit situation she'd found herself in. All she could do was stumble back, rushing to Abedi and Mosi's side as she practically yanked them up by their ears, doing the only thing she could think to do as the severity of the situation dawned on her.

Kala...was gone.

Kala...

Was...

Gone.

"What the hell HAPPENED?! I thought I told you NUMSKULLS to watch her! How did this...why didn't you - " At her anger, the two of them winced, looking to her apologetically, so much so that she couldn't even stay mad at him, though her question still remained.

How could she get out of the grasp of two gorillas?! Two?! She wanted to ask, but...what did it matter how? Even as the two of them tried to form an answer, somewhere between 'She was slippery' and 'She just did', she didn't really know what to do.

Did she go after her? But with upwards to fifty other gorillas looking to her for safety, for security...that wasn't exactly an option, was it?

"S-sorry, Terk...we didn't...we didn't mean to - " Holding up her hand, she noticed right away that it was shaking...something that it never, ever did. Quickly, she tried to still her hand, to calm her rushing heart, to still the violent tremors of her body as did what she could to maintain control.

Kerchak wouldn't like that Kala had left, but he would hate it more if she let the troop down, too. That...that was her priority, that was her responsibility, right here and now.

"I know ya didn't, okay? Just...keep everyone together. We've gotta keep movin', so let's go." Giving where Kala had run just one last look, it was decided.

They had to move on.

With the rains growing heavier, and the lightning and wind above screaming their presence, it wouldn't be too much longer before mountain passes were too muddy to traverse, and that would only make things harder than they needed to be.

And that she couldn't afford.

Turning back to the rest of the troop, she nodded to them, pushing on with hopes that Kala and the others would be okay.

- (Elsewhere, Same Time) -

The rain above pelted her thoroughly, crudely, but that wasn't enough to give her pause as she dashed and weaved between tree and vine to chase the waning scent of her former mate.

She'd made her best effort, to take advantage of her size and dexterity to get the best of the younger apes just minutes before, her quest and wish enough motivation to drive her forward, even when her limbs ached from having struggled before. It was easy enough to get out of their grasp; they were strong, yes, but that just made it easier for her to slip away when she noticed their attention had waned enough. In their greater, lumbering strength...they were slow, clumsy, easy enough to dodge away from as she made her way to edge of their former home, and out into the forest just as her niece had taken notice of her absence.

She knew the younger female would panic, perhaps even be angry, but she knew her heart, and her heart was usually never wrong. It knew where her child was, where he wanted to be, whether that Jane woman knew it or not.

Ahead, she could smell it, several males that stank of familiarity, but even further on, a stranger scent, one of...men.

But none that smelled of her child.

But it was too soon to tell yet.

It was too soon to let this go.

She had to see them, she had to make sure that she wasn't wrong, that maybe...her nose was fooling her, right?

Thunder cracked, booming tentatively overhead as if answering her question, a simple inquiry of her uncertainty, but it wasn't something she could just let go.

Not until she could see this through.

So with a huff, she picked up her pace, rushing to meet the group as soon as she could, though unbeknownst to her, she may have just been rushing into more than she'd bargained for.