Two Brothers Under the Sun
Chapter – XII
Tigers at the Gates
Part 3 – Song of Sokwe
Central Theluji Plateau, Troop territory
It was barely past the crack of Dawn, yet there were lots of movement by the Hot Spring. Sokwe looked around at the assembling group before nodding and turning to where Kerchak was. "We're just about ready to go, Chief."
The Chief Silverback gave a nod of his own to his friend from just outside the cave. "Good, we leave as soon as possible." Once Sokwe left, Kerchak turned back to Kala, who had come to wish them a safe trip. "We should be back before sunset," He looked unsurely at her. "You're sure it's gonna be okay?"
Kala smiled softly at his overprotectiveness. "Don't worry. We're all gonna be safe here."
He shook his head. "I know." Sighing, he continued. "It has just been such a long time since we last came over."
She kept smiling as she brought him closer for a hug. "We'll be all right." She assured him and he hugged her back.
After they split up, the Chief turned his attention to the man-cub making his way toward them, with Kerchak's trusty battle club in hand. When he got right in front of the Silverback, Tarzan offered him the weapon, his face not making visual contact with Kerchak's. The Chief sent a critical look towards the boy but otherwise kept his silence and grabbed his club. His opinions regarding the naked ape hadn't changed much since that night at the Floodplains and Kerchak couldn't see a foreseeable reason for that to happen anytime soon. So far, at least the boy hadn't buried the Troop in an avalanche or got chased off by a snow leopard; not like that was a particularly high branch to reach in the first place.
As he left to join the escort, Kerchak gave a passing nod to Baloo. Bagheera was still overseeing the man-cub's training but the bear seemed to have taken a shine to the boy, enough for the panther to allow him to visit the ursine and the Outlanders in his territory on a now regular basis. Kerchak had a few reservations about this ordeal; Bagheera had stressed numerous times that the boy had to focus on his training as much as possible, not to mention that Baloo's domains were right next to the dwellings of the Bandar-log, and Kerchak was none too eager to see the boy set the Green Mother on fire. Despite all of that, the Chief was able to reach an agreement with Baloo in part due to the Bagheera's mediation; apparently, he had grown fonder of the bear as well.
Kerchak accepted the terms as long as Baloo kept Tarzan away from the orangutan or any kind of trouble (which the Silverback knew was likely to cause problems to the Troop by extension).
"Kuishi ni kucheka!"
The familiar sound of Sokwe's guffaw accompanied two snowballs that he proceeded to smash into the heads of his two sons before ruffling their hair tufts, making the brothers laugh.
"Try not to bring down the mountain while I'm away." The Donlumangani Leader smiled. "Or else, you will be digging up the entire plateau."
"Yes, papa." They responded in unison.
Flynt asked. "Will you get past the leopards like Tarzan did that time?"
Sokwe chuckled, finding it ironic that the incident with Sabor spread like gossip between the younglings of the Troop. "Perhaps. I have a score to settle with Kerchak," He told them. "The biggest kill count wins."
"When will we get to go?" asked Mungo.
"Someday soon." Their father said as he prepared to join Kerchak. "Kala will be here if you need anything. See you later."
"Bye, papa. Have fun!" The brothers called out, watching him leave.
From the cave's entrance, Tarzan watched them with a clear hint of jealousy on his face. He didn't have much time to dwell on it as his mother put a hand on his shoulder and nudged him towards Simba and Baloo. The denizens seemed to have accepted the lion cub's presence and were now relatively comfortable around him. Simba had become very much at home and content with Tarzan, Baloo, and the other younglings of the Troop. At the cub's waving, Tarzan smiled slightly and moved to join them once he got authorization from his mother.
"So, Chief," Sokwe asked as he approached Kerchak. "Which route are we going through?"
"We are gonna take a shortcut," The Donlumangani mentally groaned at that; he had hopes that they could go on a stroll to explore the mountain passes as they used to in the old days.
"Circling around the Dark Mountain."
Sokwe stopped dead in his tracks. "The Dark Mountain?" Kerchak turned to him once he realized he wasn't following anymore. The King looked astounded at his brother-in-arms. "We are to make our way through an impossible labyrinth of claw-sharp rocks, just so we can cross a steaming, boiling land of geysers with the biggest volcano in the Theluji right below our feet?"
Kerchak didn't change his always stern expression in the slightest. "You think we are too old for another adventure?"
...
...
...
...A sly smile graced the King's face. "What are we waitin' for?"
###
Southern Theluji Plateau, Khanate territory
A rugged shrubbery of whitish-grey with black rosettes dotted the hillcrest near a ravine covered in frigid ice.
Tublat smiled wickedly over the assembled forces from a vantage point in the cliff's face. It was the largest army he had ever seen under the command of a single beast other than the pachyderms. A sight that would put any of his thoughts of regret from deserting the Troop to rest, if he had any.
"The leopards, the Ghosts of the Theluji." He sighed in delight, finding the idea of barking orders to his kind's hated enemies a thrill on its own. "All under my control."
As he started walking into the canyon, his mind drifted back to that night when he had seen a somewhat similar sight. Kerchak had summoned his friends, allies, and their Oathsworn to the Wakalu. Various Silverbacks from all over the Bukuvu gathered around the vicinity of the Green Mother to spend an entire evening discussing what should be done against the Tigers for the Assassin's audacity. Since the Colonel had yet to return to the jungle, the great apes had the right to pass judgment. The grief of the Mangani Leader was enough to gather sympathy from the others, and once Sokwe gave his endorsement, the Troops proclaimed Kerchak Chief Silverback.
It wasn't long until the newly formed Great Troop went on the offensive. That same night, they sallied forth to defeat the felines. Sokwe lured a detachment of hunters and Tublat bottled another fighting force downriver. Meanwhile, Kerchak led the main assault against Berdan's forces with assistance from the panther. Their efforts forced the tigers to retreat back to their side of the Dirisha, banishing them from setting foot in the northern riverbank. From that day, the Khanate ruled the South, and the Troop ruled the North. It was glorious... but not enough.
From there, the Troop only focused on consolidating its recently expanded territories, allowing the tigers to escape to lick their wounds and fight another day. At this point, the Tigers and the Gorillas had been at each other's throats for over 10 Season Turns, as far as Tublat could remember. The war against the Khanate eventually grounded to a stalemate, with both sides only engaging in small skirmishes, a thread that Tublat was all too happy to break by hiding Kala's little hairless runt in that cave. And he would gladly destroy it even now.
Once he showed this to the Troop, how would they dare to stand against him?
Tublat spotted the shallow opening at the base of the bluff when he approached a section of the rocky wall; Mzingo had stationed himself outside, atop a ledge to overlook the area. The Silverback called to get the scavenger's attention.
"Why does he continue to wait when we can crush them in a breath?" The Khanate's Majordomo shifted himself to look at the great ape below. "Don't tell me he is concerned about those prey servants."
The vulture nodded at the last statement. "That's the will of my Khan." He responded simply. "As a King beholden to the Great Circle, he must be cautious when conquering." The bird lectured to his master's new 'ally'. "It would also be a great shame to lose after braving the unfamiliar weather, the hostile natives, and the precarious terrain just to get here."
"My point exactly," Tublat argued back. "The sooner we destroy Kerchak and his followers, the sooner we can conquer the entire mountain range."
Mzingo shook his head. "Patience, Tublat. Patience." He told the brash gorilla. "Leave it to the great predator to decide the perfect moment to pounce."
Sure enough, one of the tigers tasked with guarding the entrance to the cave came out and told the pair that the Khan was requesting their presence inside. Much to Tublat's annoyance, Mzingo didn't bother to hide a conceited smile he sent in his direction. They were brought into the rock shelter to the presence of the Great Khan; the tiger was sitting on an elevated flat rock surrounded by some of his retainers.
Shere Khan addressed the pair. "Kerchak has left the Central Plateau." He told them. "He is escorting a Troop of monkeys towards the place the locals call the Dark Mountain."
"We could attack the others while he is away," Mzingo suggested.
"No." His Khan discarded the suggestion. "The quickest way to consolidate my status as King of these mountains is to kill any Pretenders." The tiger raised his head to look over to the entrance, his eyes fixated on the end of the ravine. "I already called the other Leap Leaders to assemble here," His gaze fell back on the pair. "I will greet them and accept their Oaths to secure our position as well as supplement our numbers." The tiger focused on the vulture. "Until we can reach an agreement with the birds in the area, I want you to stay by my side during the talks." Ordered the Khan. "And have your Parliament learn about the mountains' air currents to make flight zones while you're at it."
Mzingo nodded and bowed. "Yes, my Khan."
When the tiger turned to Tublat, the Silverback couldn't help but wonder what he had planned. For many years, the Tiger Khanate sought a way to deliver a deadly blow to the Great Troop and put the northern jungle back under its heel. When Tublat had informed the Khan of the secret paths within the mountains, the great ape could tell how pleased the tiger had been by that nice bit of info, that smile had been a dead giveaway.
Now, to see if the tiger would repay his debt.
"I want you to intercept the Troop's escort... and destroy it."
Tublat immediately perked at that. Mzingo, meanwhile, stuttered. "Umm. My Khan, this is an enormous responsibility." He pointed out as he stepped forward. "Perhaps a soldier with more experience?" And trustworthy.
"Led his warriors to victory in that ambush downriver, has extensive knowledge of the mountain passes and the enemy's strategy," Listed off the Great Khan as he sent a feral smile towards the traitor Silverback. "And a tenacious military mind..." He marched so that he could look face-to-face at the gorilla, his smile not diminishing whatsoever.
"Will you conquer for me, Tublat of the Mangani?"
Tublat's response came in the form of an identical smile and a bow.
"I will... My Khan." He bared his fangs, the largest ones out of all gorillas in the jungle, to the ground.
###
Mountains pass near Dark Mountain, Theluji Mountains
Kerchak took the main body of his forces and marched out in the early morning, leaving some of the fighters to stay with the mothers and the younglings in the woodlands by the Hot Spring. Easily crossing the wide-open fields of the Central Plateau, the gorillas reached the foot of the mountains, and took an indirect route to avoid an encounter with the snow leopards, thus beginning their ascent. Despite his good numbers, the Silverback was set on avoiding battle as much as possible; their mission was to escort the snow monkeys to a new home, nothing more.
By around this point, the landscape became more treacherous and steep. At first, it started off smooth with a gradual downhill slope, until things started to become jagged and the group ended up twisting and turning through rock mounds, drops, and pathways of stone. fortunately, Sokwe and Kerchak knew their way around the area and picked the best route to traverse the ridge. So far, their Journey had gone unopposed. There was no great expectancy of an attack; the Theluji Leaps were not unified, though all were hostile to the Great Troop, so it was unlikely they would muster a force capable of threatening a group as large as this one. The road became so uneventful that Kerchak, for once, didn't feel the need to send scouts ahead.
Sokwe gave out a blissful sigh as Hitashi, Yuki's mate, groomed his shoulders from behind. "Ooh, yeah. That's the spot." As a display of the respect commended to the Ice People by the locals of the Theluji Mountains, Yuki's Troop offered them a relaxing group session, which they gladly accepted. Kerchak couldn't deny it because 1) this would serve to keep the greenest Black Back at ease, and 2) The Chief would be lying if he said he had forgotten how skilled the snow monkeys were with their grooming sessions.
Kerchak held his arms higher, trying to ward off the biting wind as he led the mountain crossing by rocky gorges and steep mountain slopes. The group stretched into a long line through the southern heights. As the gorillas entered a narrow gorge, the extremely high, vertical cliffs ominously towered over them. Since it was still morning, the sun obstructed the view forward.
Still, Kerchak was the first to spot the towering Monarch.
Long ago, hot liquid rock had erupted down one side of the volcano and cooled into a mountain dark as the cloudy night sky of the Theluji. Its sinister, rocky, snow-filled crags formed an image similar to that of a giant face of a fearsome ape with sharp stone teeth, along with cavernous eyes and mouth, bearing down on the land of geysers below. The Silverback clutched himself tighter in anticipation; the mere sight of the brooding giant was enough to send chills down the spine of the dauntless gorillas.
"The Dark Mountain," Sokwe said with a faraway look whilst stopping by his Chief's side. "The denizens have lots of stories about it."
"All bad!" Hitashi pointed out from his position in the King's back.
"My lords, we shouldn't get any closer!" Yuki approached the two Silverbacks. "The rift valley is a cursed wasteland full of dangerous springs." Her expression turned uneasy. "We should take another way."
Kerchak shook his head. "There is only one other route besides this one and it would leave us exposed to an attack from the large birds."
Yuki looked momentarily shaken at the mention of her kind's natural predators but still looked on unsure, so Kerchak tried to reassure her. "We will split up into two groups for safety." He told her. "I will lead a division of our nimblest members to survey the area from the hillside; that should keep the birds in place." He turned to his old friend. "You and the rest will escort the snow monkeys around the mountain straight through the boiling lands."
"But my lord-"
"We will have to." Kerchak stated, his tone stern as usual.
Yuki was taken aback by the stone-solid demeanor of the Silverback, which didn't serve to quell her worries. She seemed as if she was about to protest again but then felt a hand on her shoulder and squeeze it gently, she turned to see the Donlumangani Leader looking soothingly at her. "Madam, I trust Kerchak with my life and to lead our Troop through anything. That is why I will walk through that accursed place." He told her, knowing that she would trust his word. He smiled at her comfortingly. "So I ask that you also have faith in us to escort your Family safely."
The Matriarch felt her hesitation diminish at the calming and genuine words of the King; after taking a moment to clear her thoughts, she nodded to the giant. "All right. I will, Sonnesen Khun."
Yuki left to inform her Family and Sokwe went to gather volunteers for the task ahead. Kerchak simply stood still as he watched his fellow Silverback contemplatively, pondering about what had just transpired. It had really been too long since he had visited the Theluji, and while not much had changed about the place itself, he realized he had somewhat neglected his new duties as its suzerain. After spending so much time in the jungle, where there were only the matters of the Troop for him to be concerned about, he had grown too accustomed to the way things were done just between his troopmates and hadn't given much thought to how things worked differently around here.
Perhaps... he should focus on fixing that.
The two groups then proceed with their mission. Kerchak tried to keep his group in good marching order on the winding hillcrest. As their heavy feet crunched through the snowdrifts, the gorillas had little time to marvel at the majestic yet foreboding volcano ahead of them. The Chief turned in time to see the other group disappear in the boiling lands; poor visibility made it difficult to oversee the column.
Sokwe guided his division through the fiery valley and the smell of brimstone immediately invaded his nostrils. The volcano heated up the springs underneath the surface, as such, the geysers were constantly releasing hot steam that engulfed the entire base of the mountain in a scalding fog. Not only that, but the detachment had to be careful as they marched down the slope layered into several fickle jagged crusts of stone, lest they be swallowed by the treacherous voids lurking just under the colorful terrain. The water from beneath the surface brings aquatic plants called algae; that flourish in the moist, hot environment, coloring the rocks with brilliant hues of green and red.
The Donlumangani King heard the whistling winds coming from the canyon before those were replaced by the hollow sound of hissing steam. He turned to give a command to the others. "Stay close to the one in front of you! Don't wander away from the main path and don't go near the holes." He breathed and muttered the last part to himself. "And if you smell something sizzling, could be me." He restarted the crossing.
Yuki's Troop was at the center of the marching column for their protection. The matriarch held her two infants in a protective embrace. When one of the Black Backs accidentally stepped on an unsafe spot, the rock crust cracked beneath him, causing a small eruption of fuming steam, scaring the kids and instinctively making their mother clutch them tighter for safety. The gorilla in question was fortunate enough to get away without injury.
"Now, now." She said, comforting her babies. "There is nothing to be afraid of."
For a moment, the trek was peaceful, if one could ignore the smell, the heat, and the hissing. Yuki found herself gazing around the valley and the cliffs above them. In a passing glance, she saw the wind hit the snowy hills, creating a barely visible white blur that quickly vanished on the slope. A very familiar sliding sound to those who lived in the mountains echoed around the area, heralding the formation of more white blurs coming from the hilltop, then more, more, and more...
Then another sound filled the air. This one was also too familiar for the locals, hence why a dreaded expression appeared on Yuki's face. Something was running down in the snow!
"KREEGAH BUNDOLO!"
Kerchak's musings were interrupted by the alarm shout, and the Silverback snapped his head down to the valley in haste; the worried look on his face was shared by those in his group. Sokwe sounded the call from just beyond the boiling lands. With the steam blocking their view, the vanguard had no idea of what was taking place at the base of the mountain.
A white cloud poured down the slopes. Thanks to their white fur, the leopards managed to blend in with the snow, becoming essentially invisible until they reached the bottom of the ravine. The felines sprinted among the geysers, leaping through the fog, surrounding and striking the unprepared gorillas, immediately causing chaos among their ranks.
"Kill Circle!" Sokwe commanded. "Protect the monkeys!" He then leads a small group of warriors in a fast attempt to organize a circular defensive line around the snow monkeys. He roared, snatched his club from its vine pouch, and intercepted two enemies trying to overwhelm him from both sides; they all scrambled back at the sight of a great club coming down on them.
The big cats attacked the formation with absolutely no remorse, charging against the apes before retreating back to avoid a combination of swings from fists and clubs, then pouncing again. Stretched too thin, the Black Backs relied on the unwavering will of their Silverback seniors. Snow leopards, rarely ever organized in great numbers like this force, would ordinarily pose no threat to the elite warriors of the Troop; but thanks to the element of surprise and having caught them in unfavorable terrain, they had managed to get the upper hand on their nominally superior enemies. The gorillas' experience from years of fighting in the green jungles of Bukuvu could do so much; which was especially proven as those who had brought their clubs for the crossing were having difficulty hitting the agile felines in a mostly open area.
The sound of unexpected upheaval grabbed the attention of Kerchak's entire vanguard.
"WHAT'S GOING ON DOWN THERE?!" The Chief Silverback asked, agitated.
"Leopards, Chief!" Kerchak turned to see one of Black Backs rushing to him. "They have King Sokwe surrounded!"
Kerchak felt for just one moment as if a cold hand had gripped his heart, making him reminisce about the tragedy of his infant's death and the fact that his friend was now in grave danger. The rugged landscape restricted the Troop's movement. Cut off from their others, the Chief Silverback knew there was little they could do to save the ambushed squad.
Except for one thing.
"We have to move quickly." He muttered mostly to himself before turning to address his warriors, who were anxiously awaiting his orders. "We will make better time by finishing the crossing!" He told them. His original plan was for them to rendezvous with the stranded contingent in the intersection of the passes but now they had to scramble in order to rescue Sokwe's group. "We are the only hope for the others down there." He hardened his expression. "We must stop those leopards if we all are to get outta here in safety."
"Oh, I wouldn't count on that."
Kerchak's head snapped once again in the voice's direction. All the gorillas shifted their eyes to the hilltop towering over them. There, overlooking the escorting party from the mountain's summit, was a smiling Tublat, his black fur standing out among the white frozen peaks.
"Tublat?!" Exclaimed a half-indignant, half-baffled Kerchak. The Silverback, along with the rest of his group, glared furiously at the traitor. "How can you still be alive?"
Tublat smiled wickedly. "I followed your example and decided to make some new friends." He focused on the Silverback. "As the Mjuzi put it, the enemy of my enemy is my friend."
Kerchak's glare intensified as he caught the meaning of his words. "You did this?! You led the leopards to our hidden paths around the mountains?!"
The traitor shrugged nonchalantly. "Like I said back at that grove: my allegiance to you has earned me nothing. Therefore, I have allied myself with a superior force." He admitted without any sign of remorse. He then hardened his gaze at the Chief. "And I will take what I want."
Kerchak and the group growled aggressively and readied themselves for a fight.
Tublat just sneered at them. "Now, come on. I'm more than willing to make a deal for the position of Chief."
"There is nothing you have that I want." Kerchak declared.
Tublat merely raised an amused eyebrow before the sounds of battle, accompanied by the distinct noises of something breaking and the hissing of steam, made everyone turn their attention back to the fight below. Kerchak was hit with realization in an instant. 'Sokwe'. He promptly glared once more at the betrayer with burning intensity.
Tublat just kept smiling smugly at him. "Do we have a deal?"
The Chief Silverback did not lessen his murderous expression. "Do not patronize me." He started talking with a calm yet hard tone. "When they gave me this title, I swore to live and die for the Troop." All were listening to him. "I promised to protect my underlings from any wretched Lawbreaker that dared to threaten a member of the Ugani, and I will stand by that till my last breath." One by one, the others joined his side. "Don't claim that you can just walk in here and force them under your rule so lightly." He glared hatefully at Tublat. "You Little Punk!"
"I didn't think you would go for it." Tublat did a head shake, but the arrogant smile remained. He finally addressed the present Troop members. "Gorillas of Bukuvu! What do you prefer, War or Peace?"
With one voice, the Troop roared back a response: "WAR!"
Tublat's face didn't display any visible emotion. He just looked around at that small force standing united under the Mangani Leader. Kerchak couldn't help but give out a small smile, proud of the Unity of the Troop.
"I guess I will just have to take the mantle by force." Conceded the traitor, seemingly unaffected by the Troop's resolve. Then he smiled viciously at Kerchak. "I have waited a long time just to have a real fight with you, I can wait a bit longer." Eyes shimmered through the snowy winds blowing over the hill. Tublat half-turned to the snow leopards. "But before the sun fades over the high peaks, only a single gorilla will walk out of this mountain range alive." He proclaimed threateningly. "Try saving yourselves, if you can!" Tublat and his lackeys vanished into the white mounts.
The moment he left, Kerchak and his group headed to the intersection of the passes, in a frantic attempt to rescue their comrades.
Sokwe smites a leopard that dared to get too close to the snow monkeys. Another pounced him from behind but the King flings him off with just the brute strength of his hind legs. The felines tackled another Black Back down; with a final roar, the juvenile lost his footing and plummeted into a hidden crevasse, dragging one of his assailants with him. All Ghosts were hammering, striking, and falling back to attack over and over. Chaos and confusion reigned. Gradually, the gorillas tried to force their way out of the onslaught and slog towards the pass.
The King of the Theluji watched the unfolding massacre around him as he fought off the enemies. The Donlumangani contingent was both loyal and confident, consisting of hardened veterans who had fought and bled with the Troop since the first battles of the war. Ordinarily, the felines would pose no threat to the gorillas once they assumed a defensive position but, somehow, they had learned about the paths hidden among the white-topped hills and made use of the element of surprise to lay a surprisingly well-coordinated ambush in the perfect place to do so. For the first time, the Great Troop was forced on its back foot by a predominant leopard force.
By now, it was clear to the defenders that they would have to either hack their way back to a defensive position or remain in the mountain pass and die.
"EVERYONE, MAKE IT TO THE BROOK! RETREAT!" Sokwe protected his detachment as they went on a general withdrawal. A toppled tree spanned over a deep ravine with a boiling stream on the bottom; if the group fell back to cross the trunk, they might be able to escape.
Yuki cried out in horror amongst the retreating apes. "Stop! My baby!"
Sokwe stopped dead in his tracks and saw Kimyo, Yuki's daughter lagging behind the group.
"Mama, mama, wait for me." The youngling called out to her mother.
Sokwe dashed at top speed to the infant. He rushes past her and body-slams a leopard when it pounced after the girl. The cat got up, snarled, and prepared to strike Sokwe, but the latter smashed the crusty ground, releasing a cloud of steam that obscures the battlefield and stuns the feline, long enough for the King to immobilize him with his body weight. Young Kimyo looks around in fear and runs around in circles, completely disoriented by the steaming fog.
"Mother! Mother, where are you?!" The infant called out.
Suddenly, she spotted a shadowy figure running toward her. Kimyo turned back and ran as fast as she could but is suddenly juggled in the air and held protectively by Sokwe, who speeds through the fiery valley determined to get the two of them to safety. They were amongst the last to reach the 'bridge'.
Sokwe's warriors tightened their formation to defend against any incursion from the leopards before pulling back once their King joined them. As the heavy and cumbersome gorillas rushed across to the other side, the fallen tree became unsteady. Sokwe, still holding on to the youngling, hears the sound of tortured wood splintering and looks on in horror as the timber under his feet gives in and cracks in the center. Oh no. The mass of troopmates run for their lives as the tree tips down to the shallow boiling water below. The Donlumangani King gives one last look at the terrified monkey in his arms before holding her to his chest, secured by the vine pouch, his determination burns hotter than the steam from the geysers behind them, and he leaps to the edge of the cliff in the exact moment that the tree tilted. His subordinates watch on in horror. Sokwe hurls Kimyo to them and a Black Back catches her right on cue. The Donlumangani King groans as he hits the log still attached to the edge of the ravine by its roots before attempting to climb his way up. Several Donlumangani underlings try to reach down and save their King.
'CRACK'
The roots snapped when Sokwe moved to grab a broken branch to suspend himself. Everyone grimaced. The others quickly held to the tree's foundation as the deadwood started detaching from the rocky edge, but it was to no avail. The roots ripped off from the ground and the gorillas were forced to let go; all they could do was scream as their King plummeted with the log, disappearing in the steaming cloud. Soon after, the sound of breaking timber filled the air again.
Both gorillas and snow monkeys approached, staring into the ravine from near the cliff's edge, looking incredibly distressed. Some continued moving around the site, forming a semi-circle around that spot. Yuki hugged her wailing babies close in an attempt to comfort them, especially little Kimyo.
The silence was broken by the sound of heavy feet moving down from the slopes. Kerchak stopped the moment he saw the troopmates' mourning ritual. These ceremonies were always reserved for the aftermath of a battle, following the counting of the dead. The Chief grimaced, knowing that something terrible had happened to cause such a reaction from the group. He picked up his pace, slowing down to make his way through the crowd to get to the edge. Some of the gorillas glanced in his direction as he stopped at the drop-off. The vapor cleared by the wind, but there was nothing to be seen, except the splintered remains of a log resting on the bottom.
Kerchak turned to a gloomy Silverback and asked somberly. "How many?"
"We lost half of our group." He answered his Chief.
"And Sokwe, where is he?" Kerchak questioned, feeling his fists tighten under the weight of his body, internally begging that the worst hadn't happened.
But the Silverback lowered his head sadly. "He fell."
Kerchak's breath got stuck inside his throat, his fists tightened even more, and he clenched his eyes shut.
And then... an interlaced vine surges from the steep canyon, wrapping around a close rock. The makeshift rope tensed as it was pulled down by both of its ends. Sokwe yanked himself with all his might to get back on flat ground. Dazed and bewildered, the King laid on his back and breathed heavily to catch some much-needed air. He spots the others and staggers up behind the group. He joins Kerchak's side at the edge of the cliff, looking between the wreckage below and the sorrowful expression on his friend's normally stony face with a bewildered expression.
"I'm sorry, old friend." Sokwe lamented to his brother-in-arms. "I did what I could."
"I know you did," Kerchak said as he glanced at him for a second before the two of them went back to staring somberly at the shallow brook, utterly oblivious to the shocked collective gasps coming from around them.
...
...
...
"!"
Very slowly, Kerchak turned to look at the Donlumangani King, finally becoming aware of his presence. The Chief Silverback says nothing. He just looks at his oldest friend, overcome with emotion. Ultimately, he gives in and throws his arms around his fellow Silverback. Sokwe blinked in confusion as his head clears up and he realizes that his friend was hugging him, something they hadn't done in a long time. Suddenly, a wave of gorillas rose up and dogpiled the two Silverbacks, making them all fall to the ground. The sound of cheers now filled the air as the Black Backs helped the two Leaders get back on their feet. Once Kerchak and Sokwe separated, the latter was surrounded by the over-relieved underlings, who proceeded to greet and worship his return before checking him over for wounds.
Kerchak was on the verge of an emotional outburst but his discipline kicked in, keeping his nerves in check. He addressed the Donlumangani King. "I thought we had lost you, friend."
Sokwe put down Yuki's two infants, the younglings having jumped him for a hug. "For a second there, so did I." Sokwe smiled and showed him the vine he had brought to carry his club, which couldn't be saved in the fall, unfortunately. "It was this strap alone that saved my life." He told the Chief. "Got hooked on a rock as I was falling."
At that, Kerchak raised an eyebrow. "How did a single vine managed to support your weight?" Just a juvenile would be heavy enough to cause a vine to break, even the sturdiest ones found in the jungle.
"Pretty cool trick, huh?" The King brought it closer so Kerchak could get a better look. Now the Mangani Leader could see that the 'vine' was actually several vines interlaced together, making a studier, thicker strap. "Looks like vines together are stronger as well."
That explained why the others had brought more grub from the jungle than usual, and also how Kala had managed to find termites in the freezing mountains. Before the Chief could ask more questions, a Black Back walked through the Troop to get their attention. "My lords, there is movement on the hills ahead." He warned them. "Must be Tublat."
"Tublat?" Questioned a baffled King Sokwe. "He's alive?"
"He is." Kerchak didn't hide his disdain, baring his fangs as he growled. "He has also joined forces with the leopards. He led them through the hidden paths around the mountain." He informed the Donlumangani. His expression grimaced as he stared at the path ahead of them. "They are waiting to attack us in the ravine when we try to cross it."
"We are trapped." Murmured the Black Back, the others muttered amongst themselves, remembering the traitor's threats of slaughtering them all before they could get out of the pass.
"How do we get off this mountain?" Hitashi asked from beside his mate, who refused to leave the side of her infants.
Sokwe turned to the Chief Silverback of the Great Troop, looking uncharacteristically worried. "What's your plan?"
Kerchak glanced over to the mountains. Even before they had taken his son from him, the giant gorilla had his fair share of encounters with the leopards, all of which served to grow his distaste for the felines. The Leader of the Theluji Leap, Chuluun, had raided the Central Plateau and terrorized the denizens various times. A coward with no respect for the Laws of the Great Circle, she and her leopards bid their time, harassing the Troops and the locals whenever they could. Their attacks became less frequent after the Troops banded together and Kerchak made an Alliance with Chirin, a ram that had united the Herds of the Theuji under his command. That would not help him right now. With them stuck in hostile territory with numerous enemies on their tail, the Silverback knew he had to take decisive action to escape this deadly trap.
But how to do that? The leopards now knew their way around the secret paths, and the Troop was now stuck between the steep cliffs and slopes of... wait a second!
Kerchak, now astounded, snapped his head to Sokwe. The King noticed that and quickly discerned that his friend had thought of something.
"Those vines of yours, how many brought their own?"
It was around midday, yet the cloudy sky obscured the sun to the point that one could mistake it for late afternoon. Under the Mangani deserter's guidance, the leopard host climbed a ridge that offered a commanding view of the mountain path, which compensated for the fact that they were now standing upwind.
"I can't wait to get my claws in that lousy Kerchak." One of the leopards declared. "First, I'll slice his hindquarters into sections." Tublat, standing guard for the arrival of the Troop alongside a small contingent of big cats, rolled his eyes as the feline yammered about what he would do with the Chief's body parts. "I'll put the white meat in one pile and-"
"Hey! Knock it off. I'm starving." Complained one of his leapmates.
He didn't stop. "Next, the shoulders. Occasionally tough, but extremely juicy."
"I told you to knock it off." The other grumbled again.
"Save your energy," Tublat spoke and turned to look at them. "If you wanna maul something, here they come."
As a column of gorillas trudged its way out of the mountain pass and made a sharp turn on the edge of a gorge, the leopards watched from above. Their highly developed sense of sight provided them with a clear view of their enemies' marching order.
"I see the King Gorilla." A sentry informed the others. "He's leading the detachment."
At that little piece of News, Tublat raised a curious eyebrow before he smiled in anticipation. "So he survived..." He chuckled wickedly. "This might be more entertaining than I thought."
"Yeah, let's go get them!" The one that had just voiced his intentions to feast on the Chief of the Troop twitched like a kitten in a catnip field and prepared to sprint down the hill.
"Don't give away your positions until you see Kerchak," Tublat instructed the leopards. As impatient as he was to do battle against his former Leader, he knew the older Silverback wouldn't go down easily, especially now that they forced him into a corner. "He's the one we have to surprise."
"The Khan told us to destroy them." One of the scouts argued.
"Look at all that meat." The compulsive sorter started convulsing himself in jittery muscle spasms. Then, he suddenly yelled. "I WANNA MAUL!" And ran at top speed down the hill; some of the others joined him.
"No, I said wait for Kerchak!" Tublat called out to get their attention, to no avail. The Leaps of the Theluji weren't accustomed to working together, much less under the command of a gorilla under the heel of a foreign King. Before Tublat had noticed the entire force was charging down to attack. The Silverback groaned in anger before roaring and following after.
From the lower ground, Sokwe spotted the leopards running toward them. "Here they come." He addressed the others. "Stand by Mountain Gorillas!"
The leopards prowled through the snowdrift, seemingly merging with the cloud bits and unleashing a chilling white haze coming down the mountain like an avalanche; that was the ability that made them infamous throughout the mountain range as the Ghosts of the Theluji. The gorillas readied their clubs and formed a line to face the felines' attack. The leopards pounced but the apes fended them off, swiping them to the ground, shielding themselves with their clubs, and evading their claw swipes. Tublat came in tackling one of the Black Backs to the ground and smashing his face to the ground. The troopmates surrounded the traitor, who scattered them by throwing the unconscious Black Back against them. One by one, Tublat swatted them away as they tried to bring him down. A roar grabbed the deserter's attention, making him turn to see the Donlumangani Leader glaring fiercely at him.
Tublat now focused on him. "You've always been hard to kill, Sokwe." He said to the King of the Ice People.
"From you, that is quite the compliment," Sokwe remarked. "I suppose I can be quite stubborn when it comes to dying."
Tublat smiled savagely. "Good to know," He raised his fists in a fighting stance. "I was afraid this fight would be dull."
Rushing at breakneck speed, Tublat snatched a fallen club left on the ground and swung at Sokwe; the King didn't stay idle, bared his own weapon, and parried the enemy's blows. The traitor spun around to deliver a devastating strike against Sokwe but missed and instead smacked his shaft near the King's shoulder. The two Silverbacks let out fearsome roars and clashed their weapons in several attempts to overwhelm the other, both too fierce and strong-willed to back down. Tublat tried to smash Sokwe from above only for the latter to lie on the ground and intercept the club with his hindlegs. Tublat struggled to get the weapon off his opponent's grasp and Sokwe used the opportunity to swing his club in an attempt to break the traitor's arms. Tublat's eyes widened and he let go in the last second before quickly slamming his elbows on Sokwe in order to keep him from using the weapons. The two great apes rolled around the battlefield as the Troop fought tooth and nail to stand their ground.
"You will never make it outta here alive." Tublat snarled.
After hearing that declaration, Sokwe didn't bother to hide the grin forming on his face. "I think we will. I just can't say the same for you."
New roars were heard, seemingly from nowhere. Tublat's eyes widened when he realized it came from behind his forces. He snapped his head in the sound's direction; some of the leopards stopped to do the same.
Another squad of gorillas lunged from the edges. Kerchak was the first to reach the flat ground.
"Warriors of the Great Troop, ATTACK!" His thundering roar echoed through the valley before he led his warriors to join the fight.
The forces of the Khanate watched in horror as the trap closed in on them. Sokwe's contingent regained their vigor and began to push uphill. Many leopards attempted to make a run for it in an attempt to escape the encirclement; many were body-slammed by the great apes and forced back into the fight.
"Show off!" Sokwe couldn't help but say it as he watched his brother-in-arms rushing in to save the battle with a content smile.
Tublat could only stare owlishly as his army was surrounded by his former Troop, then he went back to glaring at a grinning Sokwe. "You set a trap for us? You used yourself as bait?!"
The King shrugged. "It wasn't that hard; we knew you were going to attack us the moment we got into an open space, so we prepared a little surprise for you." He sent a cheeky grin to the traitor. "Courtesy of the Chief."
Tublat's glare turned murderous.
"Tublat!" Hearing his name being called by a familiar voice, the Silverback in question turned to see his old Chief glaring furiously at him from a short distance away.
"You betrayed your kind, Tublat. You betrayed the Troop! But it wasn't enough and you decided to join our enemies." accused an enraged Kerchak.
"Don't lecture me, Kerchak." snorted the betrayer. "If it's revenge you seek, then come and get it!" Tublat shouted.
"With pleasure." The Chief roared back and charged.
Kerchak tried to crush his opponent from above, but Tublat rolled away. Sokwe decided to give them some space and went back to fighting the snow leopards that tried to interrupt the match. The Chief Silverback was on top of the traitor, thrusting his club to hit him. Tublat blocked the Leader's onslaught, intercepted a thrust with his own club, and threw a punch that Kerchak defended using his forearm. The Chief managed to snatch back his weapon before he and his opponent went back to parring each other's swings. As the two Silverbacks dueled, the battle was coming to an end. The leopards' morale had been broken by the Troop's counterattack. Their numbers were worth little against the fierce, battle-hardened great apes; the fact that they were ambushed and caught in an envelopment gave them little room to maneuver. Thus they started scattered, routing near the edge of a deep ravine. Kerchak and Tublat faced each other, clubs in hand, and breathing heavily before round two. That was when Tublat spotted the leopards' downhill route from the corner of his eye.
"Come back here, you blighters!" He snapped at the retreating felines.
"Tublat!" The traitor turned to the Chief. "This is honored ground; I declare that these mountains are now closed to you." Kerchak bellowed the sentence. "Forever!"
The treacherous Silverback growled. "You won't live forever, Kerchak." He turned in the direction of the routing big cats. "I will make sure of that. The Troop and Theluji will all be mine."
Watching the traitor trying to escape, Kerchak considered pursuing to finally put end to the matter. But then, he glanced at the mountain towering over the ravine. On the upper mountainside, a precarious mound of snow had accumulated over the past blizzards. The Silverback turned and roared to catch Sokwe's attention. The King spotted him and went to join his side. Kerchak stood on his hind legs and brought his palms close to each other, before gesturing to the mound on the mountainside. Realizing the Chief's intentions, Sokwe couldn't help but grin as he remembered one of their favorite pranks back when they were juveniles visiting the Theluji. He mimicked Kerchak's actions.
'CLAP'
The two giants then slammed their palms together in a powerful thundering clap that echoed across the valley, signaling the ending of the fight. The sound caused some of the leopards to make a sudden halt; Tublat did the same. He turned in time for his eyes to get as white as the mountain peaks at the sight of a snow mound near the hill's summit coming down on a massive avalanche. That instantly triggered a flight response from him and the leopards. The group ran at top speed as the torrent of snow reached the base of the mountain and started spreading all over the valley, kicking up a white cloud. Tublat turned as he fled to see the leopards behind being swallowed, he tried to pick up the pace, but he couldn't outrun an avalanche even if the snowdrifts were at lower levels, so he was buried under the white cloud.
Like that, the battle was over.
Having driven off Tublat, the gorilla host was finally able to rest in the shelter provided by a large white rock formation. Sokwe retrieved the snow monkeys from a tree well where they were hiding from the fight. After taking a moment to rest, Kerchak sounded the order to advance; the open plains were visible on the horizon. Resuming their march, the group strumbled into a hot spring in the Theluji plains. All settled in and around the pool to relax and take care of their wounds following the hard-fought battle.
"Ah." Sokwe sighed satisfied as he floated on his back in the hot spring. "This is the life."
Once he got to the margin, he extended his hand to reach a mixed pile of roots, some kinds of flowers, leaf buds, and shoots. He savored the treats before offering some to his companion resting on the rocky bank. "Hey, Chief, want some?"
Kerchak turned to his oldest friend, accepted the snacks, and just watched as the Donlumangani savored his part. "All these years and still can't understand how you can act so casually after a fight like the last one."
Sokwe just slumped his shoulders in amusement at that statement. "Well, a wise guy once told me that life is much more enjoyable if you can find happiness in things."
"Kuishi ni kucheka." Grunted the Chief Silverback in remembrance.
"That's right!" The King exclaimed and laughed. "Now come on, Chief. Eat up!"
Kerchak said nothing more and ate the plants. After taking his time to enjoy the taste, he swallowed and turned back to his friend. "I suppose you all earned some time to relax."
"Especially you," Sokwe remarked between bites, his expression becoming a bit more serious. He continued: "We all would be dead if it weren't for you."
"If the vines didn't hold, I would be in Tublat's place." Kerchak's face became grim, and he evaded eye contact. "And there wouldn't even be an ambush if I had made sure he had died."
"You know that no one is blaming you for this," Sokwe replied.
"But I could have done something to stop that from even happening."
"Are you serious?" Sokwe asked, baffled. "Look around you." He gestured to the monkeys and apes frolicking around the hot spring. "Everyone here was frightened when those leopards appeared out of thin air. They all thought they were done for." He gave the Chief a hard stare. "Until you rallied them to fight back. They carried your order to sneak down to the precipice using nothing more than vines; wanna know why they did something crazy like that?" He asked a now puzzled Kerchak. He answered. "Because you were there with them. They knew that their Chief Silverback would not hesitate to put his life on the line for each and every one of them, regardless of what Troop they came from." The King softened his expression. "That's why we all agreed to follow you." He shook his head. "Something that Tublat could never understand."
That was a genuine speech, the words were earnest and spontaneous. Typical Sokwe. Kerchak shifted his head to contemplate the scene before him, the monkeys... and his Troop.
"Beautiful, isn't it?" Commented his fellow Silverback. Then he sighed. "All that is missing is a gourd of hard juice."
"...35."
"Huh?" Sokwe looked confused at Kerchak.
"My body count was 35," Kerchak said, a small smile forming across his face. He sent a grin to the King. "I win."
Sokwe gawked, his lip twitching before he let out one of his unmistakable guffaws. "Ha-ha. For a second there, I thought you had forgotten," He went back to staring tenderly at everyone resting by the pool. "All right, next time, I'm bringing the juice."
Much, much later, the shadow of a vulture flew over and around the buried landscape; air currents allowed him to soar by the area with ease. Mzingo circled above the valley before flying to the summit of a rocky ridge, where his master was waiting. Shere Khan, fresh out of his diplomatic mission, had come in person to learn about the battle's outcome. Since Tublat was nowhere to be seen, the tiger had his Majordomo scout the surrounding area. He watched as the vulture landed next to him.
"There are pelts with rosettes scattered under the snow, but I didn't see any sign of Tublat." Mzingo shook his head. "I'm afraid this venture has failed, my Khan."
"Now, I wouldn't say that, Mzingo." The Khan stated, earning a curious eyebrow from the scavenger. The great tiger glanced up to the sun vanishing behind the icy peaks. "Despite his disrespectful disposition, our Silverback friend had a point." He said. "This phony war had made me worried that, like the apes, I had grown complacent; allowed myself to be lured by a false sense of security." His voice sounded irked at such a thing. "Could even swear I was getting soft."
But then, he smiled.
"But, in a matter of days, I subjugated all the predators of this mountain range, established a foothold right on the homeland of my enemies, secured new hunting grounds for my people, and opened a new war front to attack the Central Plateau and possibly the Wakalu itself from the east." His fangs gleamed under the light of the Theluji sunset. "I think I still got the edge."
He narrowed his eyes towards the snowy valley, still smiling. "Don't you agree, Tublat?"
A great arm covered in black fur popped out of the snow, startling Mzingo. Tublat climbed out of the snow, shifting himself to get it off, and looked up to see the Khan. Despite the defeat, the Silverback couldn't help but mimic the feral smile of the tiger; once the disorientation wore off.
Shere Khan turned around to Mzingo. "We shall wage our war until the Herds come back and we work out an agreement with them regarding our presence here." He trudged his way back to his new Range through the mountain pass. Mzingo followed right behind him with Tublat. "In the meantime, there is still much to be done."
###
Central Theluji Plateau, Troop territory
Setbacks aside, the group made it to the Central Plateau before nightfall. The News of Tublat's survival and alliance with the leopards quickly spread across the denizens. Kerchak held a council with the local Leaders and the Silverbacks regarding the situation, there he told them of a thought that came to him after they left the snow monkeys in their new home: since it was already unlikely that Tublat could have survived on his own after going through the currents of the Dirisha, or even reach the mountains through the Troop's paths, the idea that he could convince the snow leopards to work under him was borderline ludicrous. So, how did he do it?
He and Sokwe had talked about it and came to a terrifying conclusion: Tublat had aligned himself with the Khan.
The idea horrified the poor denizens of the Theluji. The Troop had shared stories about the tigers with them for a long time. Would their Community be safe with these giant felines streaming in?
Kerchak eventually managed to appease their panic and immediately took the initiative, by far his most treasured virtue. He told the Leaders that if the Khan really had decided to expand his domains, he will focus his attention on pacifying his new Ranges, which should give them some time to prepare for his arrival. Afterward, he declared that he himself would stay to protect the Community from the big cats, swearing to make up for all the time he spent without coming to the Theluji and ordered the nonfighters to return to the Wakalu along with a contingent to bolster the defenses against a possible incursion from the Khanate.
By the breaking of Dawn, it was time for the farewells.
'Goodbye, my love.' Kerchak didn't say that even as he held his mate for the last time before she joined the group heading back to the Wakalu. A simple, yet heartfelt 'Goodbye' was all that he said. There was no room for softness... not for the Chief Silverback.
Kerchak walked to Sokwe. "Goodbye." He wrapped his arms around the Donlumangani, exchanging a long, warm embrace with his comrade.
Sokwe smiled and tightened the hug. "I'm already missing you."
They separated and clasped hands together. "You're my good friend." Said the Chief. "Look out after Kala."
"You got it. You guys are family to me." The King said with a low tone. He didn't want to leave any more than Kerchak wanted to stay away from his home and mate but, having known each other for a long time, one of them could understand when the other needed to go and see something done, even if wasn't something they particularly enjoyed. That had become evident when the two of them assumed leadership of their respective Troops. Kerchak turned to look ahead of the parting group, catching something in the corner of his eyes.
"I see they are bringing souvenirs from our homeland." He commented, prompting Sokwe to follow his gaze to see that the younglings had strapped the interlaced vines in a grub-filled log to carry it on the way back.
The monarch chuckled. "Well, they wanted to bring some snow but that wouldn't last long in the jungle." He continued. "Those vines sure are handy."
The Chief nodded. "Yes, we were lucky that you came up with them; otherwise, we wouldn't have survived back there."
Sokwe blinked at that before raising a confused eyebrow. "I didn't come up with them." He pointed towards the younglings, who were now being assisted by Baloo. "He did."
It was Kerchak's turn to perk a brow. "Baloo?"
"No." Sokwe gestured to the bear's side. "Him."
He was pointing to Tarzan.
Kerchak was taken back. "He did it?"
Sokwe nodded. "Aham. Baloo told me he came up with it when Kala had fallen on a cliff. He used the vine thing to save her."
Kerchak's only response was silence.
As the group somberly made it out of the bamboo woodland, many looked back to give one last glance to the locals and their troopmates in the forest's entrance. When they turned their heads to look back to the path ahead, they were greeted by a very unusual sight in these parts. The heavy clouds parted to reveal the half-full moon, gleaming with the light of morning.
This very particular view made the King remember a song. A song that's been recited by the Great Troop since its first days. A Harmony that celebrates Strength and Unity.
"To the moon we'll lift our voices" The Donlumangani followed his cue, hooting in Harmony.
"In a fearful Harmony." The others perked at their singing.
"No one but us rejoices" Soon, they started to join in.
"At the Song of the Ugani" The younglings, slightly depressed for having to leave, listened close.
"All for one and one for all," All the way back to the forest, Kerchak sang as well.
"We'll sing out our deeds Tonight." Those around him followed suit.
"Oh hear the tune of our fighting call" Kala was also participating.
"As we sing by the moon's silver light, silver light." One by one the younglings bopped their heads at the melody.
"The Troop can always defend its own" Their voices disappeared amongst the adults' chorus, but they kept going.
"Whatever its own may lack." Even as the groups got further and further from one another, they maintained their Harmony.
"And the tiger may be king when he fights alone" Simba tried to mimic the lyrics as he watched Tarzan and Terk.
"But the tiger fears our whack" Baloo himself was singing with enthusiasm, finding the song surprisingly enticing.
"To the moon we'll lift our voices" Under the moonlight, all hooted.
"In a fearful Harmony." By then, the parting group was already nearing the mountain ridge.
"No one but us rejoices at" From the summit, they could see the jungle. The sun emerged from behind them, providing them with a breathtaking view of their home.
"The Song of the Ugani."
A/N: And that concludes the Tigers at the Gates mini-arc, named after the Total War: Rome II campaign pack Hannibal at the Gates.
Ugani means something along the lines of "All Apes" (U-All; Gani on itself has no specific translation but the Mangani use it to refer to both 'Ape' and 'People')
The name Song of Sokwe and the chapter itself are a homage to Song of Roland: a French 11th-century epic poem based on the titular Roland and the Battle of Roncevaux Pass, where King Charlemagne's rearguard was ambushed and slaughtered by the basques. Look it up.