A/N: New title! I don't know I just liked this one better on further analysis hope you agree!

This will also be the first chapter set entirely in one time period despite the different POVs! Hope this goes well!

CHAPTER 4

BEN - Winter 2332

He'd been with the apes two weeks now.

Ben would never admit it, but he had started this whole situation terrified of them. Mae had never mentioned that Noa was an ape, and all that he'd heard all his life from his father was that they were fearsome, angry brutes. So it shocked him when, as of right now, all they treated him with was kindness and respect.

By contrast, they seemed equally weary of him however. They kept him inside their home, and made sure no one besides the two of them came in or out of it. He figured it had been because not everyone wanted him there but tried not to think too much about it.

Noa, for his part, entertained the questions that his five year old mind came up with. While Soona kept a respectful distance but did do her best to help him in gaining his strength. He had a feeling that whatever had happened in the past, Soona had a more cautious feeling toward humans than Noa.

Then there was the baby, Moses. Ben had never seen a baby before, and was more than a little afraid to ask to meet him. After all, Mae had explained on the way there that they would be guests - and to be on his best behavior. Which meant no running around like a crazy child, no tantrums, and respecting boundaries.

Still, as he watched Soona comforting the baby from the doorway his eyes glistened. He wondered if his own mother had been so gentle and loving with him. He barely remembered her, since she had died when he had been barely a year old. But he liked to believe she was a kinder person than his father.

It was to his surprise that Soona spoke up from the crib, her eyes traveling. "It's OK," She noted quietly. "You can see him if you want."

Ben tensed slightly but took careful steps to join Soona at the wicker crib. The baby chimp was so tiny that Ben's eyes widened. "He's so tiny!" His squeaky voice piped up. "And cute!"

He heard the female chimp giggle, had he said something funny? "Have you never seen a baby?"

"No, they said I was a "miracle". Not lots of babies anymore."

That made Soona's face lower, like she was suddenly really sad. But Ben didn't understand what he had done. "Ben... Do you know how many humans are around?" He scrunched his nose, deep in thought. "Did your daddy or Mae ever tell you?"

Ben tried to think about it, but honestly was at a loss. He knew that a lot of humans weren't around anymore, there was mention of fertility issues among their group. Some had tried to get "pregnant", whatever that meant. And some in-fighting he didn't understand was about how his father worried they may be all that was left.

The thought did worry Ben even as a little boy. If they didn't know about other humans, where would he go? He shifted uncomfortably as he questioned this. "I dunno Ms. Soona," He admitted as he let baby Moses play with his outstretched finger. "I think Mae was scared because she didn't know either."

Soona was quiet for a moment, but carefully placed a paw on his back. Ben tensed a moment before he realized she was running gentle circles on it. "It'll be OK," she assured him. "We will figure it out."

"What if there aren't other humans?"

Soona turned away, as if the subject made her uncomfortable. Though they were both interrupted by footfalls that signified Noa had come home. Ben noticed the hint of surprise in his eyes when he saw the three of them like they were. But the look of uncertainty the two exchanged would be lost on him.

Noa gave a small smile and approached Moses. Then took in as Ben played with him a bit. "He likes you," Noa noted. "Be gentle."

The heavier talk forgotten already, Ben smiled up. "I'll be careful Mr. Noa." He explained. "Promise."

Soona looked over at Noa for a few moments before she finally spoke up. "Ben, can you give us a moment?" She asked. "You should eat. Get an apple."

Ben looked confused, but did recognize the look in her face and nodded his head. He went down to where he knew Soona kept several fruits to eat and found a ripe apple. But curiosity, as with any child, was getting the better of him. What were they talking about?

He crept back up the staircase and decided he wouldn't be disrespecting them if he sat outside the door. Technically he wasn't going inside right? From the perch, he could hear their voices, although at the moment they were quiet. "What if there aren't humans to find?" Soona asked Noa in concern. "What will we do then?"

There was a pause before Noa replied. "We will find humans."

"How do you know?"

More pregnant silence, Noa huffed, or it sounded like he did anyway. "I don't know what I plan to do," Noa explained honestly. "I had not thought so far ahead. Only prepared myself for another journey."

There was even more silence this time, and Ben at first thought they may have been done. But then Soona said something that got his attention. "I'm worried the longer he's here the more attached I will become," She explained. "And if it ends up he has to stay. What happens if he becomes just like the other humans? He's small and cute now, but what then?"

Ben closed his eyes, so they were afraid of him. He knew it, whatever Mae had done must have been awful. What would they do? Throw him out into the world? Kill him, like his father had suggested apes would do? He felt a new pang of fear in his little stomach. "No one said anything about keeping him."

Ben pushed up from his spot and headed quietly for his little room before he could hear Soona's reply: "I know. But it scares me that some part of me feels like we should."

Ben spent the rest of that afternoon on his makeshift bed.

He was too scared to step outside and face either of his hosts. He had let himself feel safe and comfortable here, he realized. He had ignored his father's warnings that the apes were not their friends. They saw them as the enemy, and they always would due to some conflict that had happened before his great grandparents were born.

It was nightfall before he heard someone step into the room. This was it, he figured, they had come to throw him out. Or worse, they'd come to snuff out the threat. "Ben?" A voice spoke up. "Are you hiding from us?"

Ben turned over to see that it was Noa, wearing a face of concern. For what? Was he scared they had offended him? He took a deep breath, trying to hide the dried tears in his eyes as he spoke up. "I'm sorry," He mumbled. "I'm sorry I came."

Noa looked confused as he approached, and crouched low to him. "What do you mean?"

Ben shook his head. "Miss Soona's mad I'm here, I know," He replied. "Daddy's right. I'm a pain in the ass."

Now, the ape's face turned to one of disgust, though Ben was too young to recognize it as such. Noa's paw gently gripped his arm, a firm, comforting motion. "You listened," Ben didn't reply, just looked away. "Soona is not mad. Soona is scared."

Ben shook his head. "I'm sorry. I'm really sorry. I didn't mean to scare her. I just wanted to see the baby."

Noa again tightened his grip. "Ben, it's OK."

Ben was shaking like a leaf by then, he noticed as Noa raised an arm. Was he about to hit him? His dad had done it often and the part of him that remembered flinched. But instead of a fist, he found gentle arms hold him as Noa sat down. "It's not that kind of scared," Noa told him calmly. "You... We're not what we expected."

Ben opened his eyes to find Noa had indeed collected him in his arms. What's more, Soona had joined them in the doorway, guilt etched in her features. "You're not gonna hurt me?" He asked quietly. "Because you're afraid."

Soona shook her head, and approached the two. She seated herself beside her mate and looked at Ben. "No, we would never... You are a child," She explained. "What gave you that idea?"

Ben didn't answer, but if they were being honest he probably didn't have to. And if he were being honest, he didn't understand at all. Why were they being so kind to him when his own species wasn't? Why were the apes so different than the stories? His little mind didn't quite comprehend it.

Noa made eye contact with Soona, a deep sigh rumbling in his throat. "We are scared, because we like you," He explained. "You are... A good boy. Not what we expected."

His mate nodded. "It may actually be hard to part ways."

Ben looked up from Noa's fur, surprised by that explanation. Hard for them? But hadn't they been already weary to have him in the home? Of course, the complicated and nuanced situation would be hard for him to comprehend. But perhaps, when he was older, he'd better understand it.

"Daddy said apes hate us," Ben managed as he looked between the two of them. "But I like you too."

They both gave an awkward chuckle at that. But Noa took the lead on this one. "We are not fond of him either. But you, are not bad," He noted as he released him. "We do not hate you. You don't need to be afraid of us."

Somehow, despite his misgivings, Ben did believe the ape's words. He relaxed a little more even as Noa released him. "Now come and eat," Soona insisted. "It's late."

He hesitated, but still followed.

NOA

That day had started a fundamental change Noa hadn't expected.

Soona had been a bit incredulous with how he held him, opening Ben up to that kind of affection. But even he noticed a decided change in her behavior over the next few days. She let Ben help her with Moses, and seemed to be entertaining him a little more.

Noa's attitude about it had changed too, he noticed that right away. Ben no longer seemed so much as a responsibility as he opened up to them. So it was a few nights later, as they laid in their own nest inside the hole that Soona said something that changed things further. "The boys are asleep," She mumbled, tiredly. "We can finally get some rest."

Usually, she had said Moses was asleep - so the use of "the boys" made them both pause a moment. It was a small, but meaningful change in her wording that made them both pause. "I meant to say..."

Noa cut her off. "You said what you meant," He noted as he laid an arm across her waist. "... I, too, think of them as a pair."

Soona shifted underneath her mate's arm, her eyes turned to Noa. And though nothing was said immediately, he knew they both wondered the same thing... "What do we do about that?" Soona asked. "We weren't supposed to feel any way about him."

Noa sat up slightly and looked toward the room Ben slept in. When he was certain he heard no movement from there, nor any breathing outside their door, he replied. "I don't know," he asked. "What do you want to do?"

There was the longest silence between them since they mated in that moment. Noa wasn't sure either of them wanted to voice the answer that crossed their mind. Because they knew if they went down that road their peaceful existence would be rocked to its core.

And that was if the elders even approved.

His mate gently patted his paw. "I don't know if I can send him off," She explained after she'd gathered her thoughts. "I want so badly to write him off like the other humans but I can't."

Neither could he. Noa had felt it the moment he'd laid eyes on Ben, dying near the boundary that night. He'd tried to avoid it then, but the moment he'd laid eyes on him he felt something. A tug? He wasn't sure he could describe it, or that he'd make any sense if he tried. "The elders will fight us," Noa replied. "We would have to make a case."

Soona chuckled. "You've already thought about this, haven't you?"

Noa had to admit he had, even when it had seemed like a horrible last resort. "If we do this, we make the decision together," He admitted. "I would speak to the elders... Before we say a word. The child has suffered enough."

If they couldn't keep him, the last thing Noa wanted was to make him believe they could. After a minute, he looked for confirmation though. "Do you really want this?" He asked. "It would not be easy."

Soona tightened her grip on her mates paw.

"You have lost your mind."

Well, it was a nicer response than Noa was expecting as he stood before the elders that morning. Thankfully, the head elder, Esu, held up a paw to drown out his contemporaries. Who had all broken out into arguments the moment Noa had made his suggestion. The old chimp sighed, and gave him a look of curiosity.

Esu had always been more open-minded, so the chance he was curious was high. But Noa knew better than to get comfortable. After all, the look in his eyes suggested he was far from thrilled with the idea of it himself. "Noa is the leader of our clan, and we must hear him out," Esu announced. "Noa, you have the floor. Speak your mind on this Echo and your intentions and we will listen."

Noa nodded gratefully but felt himself swallow. He was still a newer leader, far from the most confident but he felt empowered by the small show of support. "The child, Ben, is five years old and very sickly," Noa explained. "We are getting him back to health - but building his strength for a journey to human settlements could take months..."

An angrier elder noted. "You could have left him."

Noa gave a sharp glare. "If I did, we would be no better than the humans you dislike," The elder gave a scoff. "He is young, and sharp. I believe if Soona and I are allowed to raise him he would learn our ways quickly."

Esu tapped the hairs on his chin curiously. "And say we did approve the adoption of this "human" into the colony," He pointed out. Leaning forward in his seat. "How do you purpose you hide him from the father your "friend", Mae, claimed to fear?"

Noa shifted on his feet, as again, the council of elders spoke loudly, not waiting for the answer. "They could come kicking in our doors!"

"Burning down our huts!"

"We'd be better off just giving him the boy."

"ENOUGH."

Noa surprised himself with how loudly he'd declared it, but if he was ever to be leader he had to stand his ground. Noa took a step forward and addressed them with a tougher look. "According to Ben, he comes from far, far away. Well beyond the valley," he pointed out. "They believe him dead and will have long returned home by now. Meaning no one will look for him."

There was a murmur now, as some started to see some form of reason. While others just scoffed and threw more accusations his way. Noa ignored them and instead focused on Esu, who sat and considered in silence.

"We can give him a new name, a new identity. We can teach him our ways and raise him among our young," Noa insisted as calmly as he could. "And who knows, maybe in time he could see peace between -."

"Our species?" An elder barked. "Or he grows into a murderous snake like the rest!"

This time, when the council broke out into arguments, Esu slammed a loud fist down onto the ground. All were silent then, but Esu's answer was as simple and direct as they came. "If we must bicker this way for all eternity, I will put it to a vote," He noted. "All in favor of allowing the adoption of the human child?"

No one questioned, but it was with great relief Esu was the first to raise his paw. One-by-one, several more joined, some readily - others, with greater hesitation. When Noa had finished his count, he counted more in favor by a single ape.

All lowered their paws as Esu did, and the elder stood to his feet. "It is decided then, the boy stays. And will be your and your mate's responsibility," Esu told him. "You will prepare him for the rites of adoption as with any ape child."

"This is madness!"

Esu stopped the chimp who stood to argue with a simple paw in the air. "Noa is right, bringing him to the humans not only presents more danger - but abandoning him would make us monsters," He explained in finality. "This is a small child. Like any small child, it will likely be easy to teach and mold."

"But father -!"

"That is enough, Tybolt," Esu approached his son with a fiery intensity in his eyes. "It has been decided."

The ape who had been the most vocal finally sat down. Shooting a dark glare in Noa's direction that the Eagle Clan leader decidedly shook off. When quiet had finally descended over them, Esu addressed Noa once more. "We will hold the ceremony in one week," He explained. "Until then, go. Be with your family - I'm sure you have much to discuss."

Noa simply bowed his head respectfully, not wishing to stir the pot further. He gave a small glare back at Tybolt before he left the elders to the rest of their business.

He had just made his first major move as leader, and he prayed, despite the happiness in his heart, it was the right one.

A/N: Woo! That was a tough one to write. Should be one more set fully in this time frame before we jump back to the present.