A/N: I know, I have other fics to attend to. But this story just would not leave me alone. After all this is a fun hobby and I like to write what makes me happy at the moment.

I will actually be attempting a dual narrative, and POV so yay experiments! I hope you enjoy my next stab at this beloved universe.

For the purposes of this fic, I will go by the Fanon belief that apes age like humans by this point in time.

PAIRINGS: NoaxSoona, Possible others to come.

DISCLAIMER: I own absolutely nothing but my OCs.

CHAPTER 1

NOA - Winter 2332

Noa swore he'd never see another human as long as he lived. So when he found one half-dead at the entry point? He couldn't help but feel a shudder of despair.

That changed when he saw how small it was.

Maybe it was his and Soona's own young son, still asleep at home this early. But seeing a small one for the first time stirred something in him. It laid half submerged in water, caked with blood, and letting out shallow, raspy breath that suggested he'd been through hell.

They hadn't seen a human in the boarders since Mae. But what's more even when he had known them as "Echoes" it was a known fact they never left their young. Especially not in as horrid a condition as the boy was.

Noa had nearly considered the creature was dying, and he could do no more for it until a small hand grabbed his arm. And with a faint, choked voice stopped him mid turn. "P-Please," He rasped. "Don't leave me."

It talked; dammit. Not an animal like the Echoes, but a full fledged human lay there. Half-dead and begging for help. He peered over at the tunnel before him, half expecting an ambush. Had Mae's group finally come to strike him down and finish their grand mission?

After several moments of silence, Noa turned again to look into the striking blue eyes of the boy. Pleading, desperate, alone. He carefully removed his arm from the child's grip and returned to his horse - contemplating a minute. He could leave it there, and have no trouble brought upon him. Maybe it would live, maybe it wouldn't. Nature would decide.

But as he glanced back at the small form still looking into his soft brown eyes he heard Raka faintly scolding him. Humans were living creatures, and while Mae and her group were dangerous this was a child. A wounded and dying one at that. How could they claim to be any better if he left it?

With some hesitation, he reached for his saddle blanket, carefully shaking it out before he returned to the boy. There was a great tenseness in the child as well, hugging his body as he made an attempt to sit up. What did he think him to be doing? Noa wondered. "It's OK," Noa managed gently. "You're safe now."

He wrapped the boy gently in the blanket and hoisted him easily into his arms. He had to be very young, he assumed, as he was lighter than he initially anticipated. Nor did he give any struggle as Noa mounted his steed, carefully cradling his prone form to his chest.

The ride back to Eagle Clan was long, as he carefully checked his cargo every so often. It wasn't long before the child had lost consciousness and slumbered quietly against his chest. Its breathing still shallow and rasped - if he didn't make haste Noa felt as though the boy wouldn't make it.

Damn the big heart that Soona claimed she loved so much.

He arrived home to little fanfare, only a few nods his way. Noa assumed they believed he had taken care of the strange disturbance at the boarder - and that was true. But God only knew how they'd react to what he'd brought back. Small and dying as it may be.

Deciding he didn't want the fanfare, he lowered his head to one of the children he passed. "Fetch my mother," he simply told the young chimp. "Quickly."

And then he was on his way home, to the small home he and Soona had created at the base of a great tree. He was careful to keep the boy under the blankets as he made his approach, intensely keeping watch as he crossed the threshold. "Noa."

Soona descended the stairs with her own bundle in her arms, their newborn - Moses. And a look that betrayed her worry. "You haven't returned alone..." She observed.

Noa was silent. But pulled the blanket aside just enough for Soona to see. Her eyes widened, and it took one glance to tell Noa she was afraid. "Alone," Noa explained gently. "Dying."

Soona straightened. "Bring him."

Noa followed her up the stairs, feeling great fear as he did. How would she react? How would his mother? After all, their only experience had been with Mae and she had betrayed them all. Still as they reached the nursery and he carefully laid him beside the wicker crib Soona made no angry motion. No growl. Didn't so much as raise a paw.

Instead, she traced the source of the boy's blood. A small wound near his stomach they both recognized. "Like the wound on Proximus' soldier," She muttered. Referring to the hole created by the weapon Mae had used to subdue her attacker. "... But..."

They both knew what it meant - humans. Humans had hurt the boy. Humans had left him there to die. And humans still continued to lurk in the valley beyond.

Noa would not sleep well on that night.

Elijah - Winter 2342

Elijah awoke with a start, his breathing heavy and his grip on his blanket tight.

It wasn't the first nightmare the fifteen year old human, who had come to the Eagle Clan that day had experienced. He may have had a different name now, and may have been safe but it never changed what brought him there. Didn't change the relentless and horrible memory of being shot, of being left to die... Of being so defenseless.

He could almost feel the horrible face of his attacker creeping into his mind's eye when a voice broke the silence. "Eli..."

His blue eyes raised as Noa entered his small, but comfortable room. How he knew about his trouble, he didn't know. Perhaps he'd cried out in the night loud enough, or maybe it was a father's intuition. But somehow the ape that had raised him as his own fur and blood always seemed to know. "I'm OK, dad," He managed as he turned over on his bed. "Just a bad dream."

Noa didn't accept this as he approached him carefully. He seated himself on the edge of his bed of assorted blankets, resting a paw upon his back. "More of that night?" Eli only responded with a small nod. "Do you want your mother to sing to you?"

Eli gave a small smile. Soona did have a wonderful voice, and in the early years he'd often begged for it on nights like this. But he was older now, nearly a "man" in the eyes of the colony as they slowly approached his eighteenth year. Sure, there were still three of them to go - but... "No, I'll be fine," He murmured. "It's just hard."

"It always is," Noa replied knowingly. "On your birthday."

Of course, it wasn't his actual birthday. Eli didn't know exactly when he was born; after all, he'd hardly had reason to celebrate in the early years. But since he'd come to the clan they'd simply celebrated his birth on that faithful day when Noa had found him dying by the boundary line.

A near-death experience he'd suffered at the hands of those who should have protected him. The ones he'd once called his family. As his heart rate rose, he felt a gentle paw take his hand, Noa's eyes lowering to meet his. "You're safe here, son," Noa insisted. "You lived, you thrived."

Eli squeezed back gently. "I know."

After a moment, Noa turned to gently stroking his blond hair. Being decidedly more affectionate with his children than his father had been with him. Eli had taken some time to adjust to it - having known only abuse and fear until they'd met. But now, he welcomed the gentle touch of the chimp.

"How did you know?" He murmured. "How do you always know?"

A playful smirk crossed Noa's lips, as he patted him on the back. "You talk in your sleep," He offered. "Hard to miss when I check on you and your brother."

God. Did he? How often did he do that and how much did he hear? Of course, he didn't mind him hearing things like that. But some of his dreams... Well he wouldn't think too hard on that. "Dad?" He asked as Noa began to leave. "Thank you... Again."

He had thanked Noa so many times over the last ten years that they'd both lost count. But for Eli he swore he could never thank the ape enough. Knowing how many quiet prejudices he'd had to put aside. How many angry, dormant feelings he'd had to subdue... Just to take him back to the village as he had.

Noa's response was to gently lower his forehead to meet his. A serious look in his eyes as he answered. "I would not have it any other way," he then added. "Now sleep. Well past your bedtime."

And then he was through the doorway and gone. Leaving Eli laying on his bed deep in thought. Where would he be if they hadn't found him? Now that he was older, he shuddered to think. But only hoped it wouldn't cross his dreamscape again as he slowly laid his head back down to rest.

For now, he was safe and that was all that mattered.

A/N: Next chapter you can expect more on how things changed and an update on Mae! Hope this intrigues everyone enough to stick around.