The next chapter is posted! Enjoy :)
Julie has now been on this strange version of futuristic earth, living with Galen now for a little over a couple weeks.
Many of her injuries have healed up nicely and her sprain was doing much better too. She can walk on it much easier now. Something she was very happy about because she is not one for sitting about. She was used to being up and about when she wasn't busy at home writing chapters to one of her books.
Galen for the most part was very good company and turning out to be a very good friend.
She also found the more she converses with him and gets to know him, the more she sees they actually have quite a bit in common. Not only that, but he was also always very nice to her and at times even sweet.
Galen also had quite the sense of humor to him. Something she las learned only after the first couple days of being here with him. It seems he never really runs out of funny stories or things to say and always had her laughing.
Even on days she was feeling sad or homesick, he was always there for her. Whether it be for comfort, cheering her up, or making her laugh. Something Julie really appreciates because it was a good distraction from her sadness whenever it did occur.
Galen has also been telling her all about ape society and what goes on within it.
While it was interesting, their way of living and laws seem pretty strict. It seems like there is a lot of things they really couldn't do. Most of this is mainly in regard to certain positions and what places are safe or permitted to travel to. All the way to certain dress codes.
One example was only gorillas held authority positions like in the police or military division. The were the brute force and muscle of ape society. While chimps tend to hold various positions as scientists, doctors, or administrative positions. Then you have the orangutans who deal mostly with the political positions.
She also learned that everything around the district was governed by an administrative branch called the high council which hold upwards of five to six councilmembers. Most were orangutans, but there were a couple chimps established on the council.
Galen informed Julie how his father was one of those councilmembers before he passed away.
The more she heard about ape society the more she thought it sounded similar to some human societies in the past that lived under the rule of Socialism, Marxism, or Communism. With the way the ape classes are divided and categorized, sounding a lot like Marxism due to some possible class inequalities.
Julie didn't even have to ask where humans stand in this society. It was pretty loud and clear from what she saw that they all somehow downgraded to that of animals with no speech or original thought. They kind of live like how some of the earliest known humans lived, basically like cavemen.
It was something still quite upsetting and disturbing for Julie to see.
At the moment, it was early morning. The pair had just finished eating breakfast. The sun was already warming up the early morning air, making obvious that it was to be another beautiful day.
"So, what did you plan on doing today?" Julie asks, him as she finishes up drying the last plate.
"Well, I was thinking of going back out to get some work done. It's been a couple weeks since I have been able to do so. But there was a good reason for that, and it was I wanted to make sure you were settled in ok and help you along as your ankle healed. But now that you are doing better, I think it's time to head back out and collect some more notes." Galen tells her as he turns off the small water pump by the sink.
"Got to get back to work so you can submit those notes to the boss, huh?" She teased.
He smirks, "Yes, otherwise they get a little bent out of shape when they don't get updated stuff."
"Sounds like my publisher." Julie joked.
Galen chuckles a little, "Look at that. Yet, another thing we have in common. We both have bosses or work partners that can be very uptight."
"That's understatement of the century when it comes to my publisher, Cheryl. Can't tell you how many times I told the woman to switch to decaf and get a monthly massage. Or even take a vacation. But with her, it all goes in one ear and out the other." Julie says while rolling her eyes.
"At least what you told her was good advice and nothing insulting. I once told my superior, Larro to remove the tree trunk that was firmly planted in his behind when he got on me for being a month behind in submitting some important notes on human body language and interactions.
Many scientists believe that the way humans communicate is not so much through sound but by body language and gestures. And seeing as I'm one of the very few who is good at getting up close and personal to them in the wild, they put a lot on me to gather these important notes and finds." Galen told her.
"He must've been pretty pissed with your smartass remark." She says.
"Oh, his face could rival a tomato. My sister-in-law, Zira had to butt in and diffuse the situation and calm him down. And even after that, he continued giving me dirty looks for the next few weeks after that." He replied.
"I take it she was not very happy about having to do that or what with what you said either?" Julie implied.
"No, she wasn't. Like always, I got one of her many lectures on how I really need to watch my tongue and sassy attitude. She even told me a couple times to grow up and stop acting immature. Though she only tells me these things because I think she's concerned one day my mouth will get me into serious trouble." He stated.
"Yeah, some of my teachers growing up said the same thing about me. So, I get it." She said.
"You? Really? No, you're not a smart mouth or a sassy one at all." Galen teased with a smirk.
Though from all the stories about her getting into all kinds of mischief growing up, pretty much said it all.
Not only that, but he feels that personality is still strong within her. He has seen some shining examples of it lately, which means she is still slowly but surely coming out of her shell from being here. Hopefully, Julie can learn to be herself completely again on day. Because Galen is starting to realize that he likes that side of her and would like to see more of it.
"Nah, I'm complete angel." She joked.
"Where and when? Because I have yet to see it." He jokes back.
"All the time, you're just oblivious to it." Julie teased.
"Please, if that is the case, then I was always the most well-behaved child." Galen retorted.
"I don't think your brother would agree with you there. In fact, I have a feeling he would strongly debate it." She continued teasing.
"Sadly, I think your right. But anyways, would you like to accompany me? We won't travel too far from this property and I'm sure you would like to be out and away from the house for a little bit." Galen offered.
Julie didn't answer right away. While she wouldn't mind going for a walk in the woods with him, a small part of her were still fearful of the gorillas.
"You, sure we'd be safe? That the gorillas won't see us? See me?" She asks.
He reaches up and gives her shoulder a gentle squeeze and a soft smile.
"Yes, we'll be alright. I wouldn't suggest taking you out if I knew for a fact it be too dangerous. You'll be safe." He assured her.
His soft smile and warm brown eyes were enough to fill her with reassurance.
"Ok, do I need to bring anything?" She asked.
"I have an extra pack you can have. You can pack a water canteen and some food for later. I'm usually only out for a few hours and that is pending if I come across quite a few humans. There are some days I hardly come across any so, I cut the day short. Though usually around my property and a little beyond the property line, I tend to find a small steady influx of humans." Galen told her.
"Alright, guess I'll pull out some food then from the pantry." Julie replied.
"I'll get the extra pack and water canteen. They're in the closet." He said.
"Would you like me to grab some food for you?" She asks.
"Yes, thank you. That be nice." He says.
"Any fruits or vegetables in particular?" She inquired.
"No, not really. Whatever you find in the pantry is fine. Just grab three pieces of fruit and three pieces of vegetables. So, not a lot." He informed her.
"Ok." Julie said.
While she headed over to the pantry, Galen left the kitchen and headed for the hall next to it.
She opened the large wooden door and went into grab the things they needed. Julie grabbed a green apple for herself and a couple pieces of vegetables. Then she reached into one of the meat sacks and pulled out a handful of dried meat strips. Julie then went back out and put the food on the counter before heading back in to grab food for Galen.
She grabbed him a red apple and a couple fruits called opers. Then grabbed a few pieces of vegetables for him and brought them all back out and onto the counter.
He came walking in with the extra pack and canteen just as she set his food down on the countertop.
Galen set both his pack and the extra pack along with two canteens down on the kitchen table. Then he approached her and saw the assortment of foods she had laid out on the counter.
"Nice assortment you pulled out." He commented.
"Thanks. The opers are yours, seeing as you told me their one of your favorites." She said.
"Thank you. All we need to do now is fill the canteens. I also just got to grab a couple small bags out of one of the cabinets above the counter to place our lunch in." Galen stated.
He went to the second cabinet, opened it, and pulled out these small, thin brown bags and brought them over to the counter.
"I can fill the bags while you fill the canteens." Julie offered.
"Alright." He replied.
The chimp then walked back to the kitchen table and grabbed the two water canteens. He then brought them to the sink, cranked the handle until water flowed out of the spout, before putting the first open canteen beneath it. While Julie started grabbing the food and placing them in the bags he brought out and placed next to her on the counter.
It didn't take the pair too long to get everything ready. Once everything was set, they placed the small bags of food and water canteens into their packs, before shouldering them.
"We'll go out the back door. Then go to the horse stall and saddle up Blaze." He instructed.
"Before we do that, can I grab the book I just started reading? I left it on the couch last night and forgot to bring it up, so, it's right there in the living room." She requested.
"Sure, I'm not in a hurry. You can even go up and grab a second book too if you want." Galen told her.
"Thanks, but I just started this book and it's a pretty long one. I think it'll last me." Julie replied.
He nodded, then they both left the kitchen and went to the living room to retrieve her book off of the couch.
Julie then unshouldered her pack, opened the top flap and put the book in with her food and water canteen, before closing it back up. Then she reshouldered her pack.
Afterwards, the pair headed out and down the hall to the back door.
They then left the home and walked around the side to the horse's stall to where Galen's horse was. The horse poked his head out over the wooden gate when he saw his owner walking over.
Galen gave him a small smile while reaching up to scratch his nose.
Then the chimp reached into a medium size brown sack hanging on the outer wall not far from the gate. He reached in it and pulled out an apple. The horse saw this and moved his head a little in excitement.
But instead of bringing it straight to the horse like he always does, Galen shifted his gaze to Julie standing off to the side of the gate.
"Would you like to give it to him?" He asks her.
A smile appeared on her face.
"Sure." She replied.
Galen gave her the apple.
Julie then reached up and was about to feed it to the horse when Galen reached up and gently grasped her wrist, stopping her for a moment.
"Like this, Julie." He said.
Then Galen turned her hand repositioning the apple beneath it, making the piece of fruit sit in the palm of her hand. Then he gently raised her hand up beneath the horse's mouth.
Julie watched in interest as the horse used its lips to pull the whole apple into his mouth and chew it up. She reached up with her other hand and started petting the horse's snout as he happily ate his apple.
"After that, I'm sure you and Blaze will be best friends in no time." Galen stated, with a grin.
"So, you're saying the trick is to bribe him with apples, if I want him to be my friend?" Julie asks in a teasing manner.
"Pretty much. Though he also loves carrots too. You gave him a few of those and he may just follow you around after that." Galen teased back.
"Thanks for the tip." She says.
Galen then opened the gate and brought the horse out of his stall. Afterwards, he grabbed the saddle and reins off of the rounded log in front of the stall wall and started saddling him up. Julie wishes she could help, but still knows next to nothing about horses or how to saddle them.
Galen finished with practice ease in about three to four minutes. Then he hopped onto the horse's back, before turning his attention to Julie. He then leaned down a little while holding out his hand to her.
The young woman grabbed his arm and forearm. Then he instructed her to give a small jump, and he'll haul her the rest of the way up and over. He discovered from the first time he helped her up, she was quite light. Probably due to her small stature. Because of this, he didn't have much trouble pulling her up.
Once she was situated on the horse behind Galen, Julie lightly wrapped her arms around his waist.
"You ready?" He asked.
"Yeah." She replied.
Galen shifted his attention forward and did a light tap to the horse's sides with his heels. Then the pair were off.
"We're going to go around the lake and head straight back. There is a small dirt path out that way that leads both to and away from the lake." He informed her.
"Ok, is the way you usually go or just one of many?" She asked.
"One of many." Galen replied.
He didn't have the horse going very fast. If anything, he just had him doing a light trot.
They made it to part of the lake then he turned left and had the horse following the shoreline. Galen followed it until it curved around and they started heading around it to the other side. The lake itself was big enough to fit two whole large house properties on it easy. So, it took them several minutes to get around and to the back of it.
The dirt path was closer to the left back end of the lake, which is why he went to the left around the lake to begin with.
Once they got to the entrance of the path, Julie saw it was just wide enough for a horse to get through. Then the pair entered the woods, leaving the lake and his home behind.
"Let me know if you see any while we're traveling through here. Usually, I'll keep going until I spot humans. Or go to some hot spots I know they will seldom visit at times." He told her.
"Ok, won't they get spooked by you on the horse though and run away?" She inquires.
"No, the humans that come about back here know me pretty well and know I'm not a threat. Some of these humans I've known for a long time." He replied.
"So, are there some that you believe live back here on your property?" Julie questioned.
"It's possible. There is a nice size cave just off of my property back here that they could easily utilize as a place for shelter." Galen says.
"Have any, ever tried to get too close to you or attempt to attack you?" She asks.
"No, they are more skittish than anything when it comes to apes. Though some of the gorillas claimed when cornered they may lash out trying to defend themselves. But those are the only times I heard of humans attempting to attack." He ascertained.
"Makes sense, that's how a lot of larger animals act when cornered and feeling threatened." She said.
"Yes. I never attempted to corner them and always gave them their space. It helps put them at ease and shows I'm not a danger to them. And over the years, it has made them more comfortable around me." He stated.
"All the interactions you had, helped them build up trust with you." Julie concluded.
"Exactly. It's why I tend to bring in some of the best notes with information. Because most other scientists in the field don't manage to get as close as I do. But then, I also spend more time out in the field then the others do too." Galen says.
The pair continued chatting on and off as he walked the horse down the small dirt path, all while they kept their eyes open for possible movement anywhere that could be humans.
At some point, they did catch some movement a few yards away to their left. But when they looked, they saw it was a few deer walking by through the brush.
Another ten minutes later, they came to a fork in the path. One part continued down the center while two other paths branched off from the single path on either side. One going left and one going right.
"So, shall we go left, right, or continue down the center path? You can pick." Galen offered.
"Umm, how about we go right?" Julie asks.
"You got it, co-rider." He says, with a small smirk.
She shakes her head with a small smile.
Galen then steers his horse to go right. The path here looks a little more bumpy and uneven. But his horse was used to it, having navigated down many of these paths in the past.
"Nice choice, this path actually leads to a very lovely waterfall about thirty-five yards down. Nice spot to visit." He stated.
"Really? A waterfall?" Julie inquires, with a little excitement in her tone.
"Yes, filters down into a nice size pool at the bottom where there is some fish. Then the pool narrows into a small river that goes due east inland from the waterfall." He explained.
"Do you ever see humans there?" She asks.
"Sometimes, yes. It can be a pretty popular spot for them. As a source of water and food. I saw one man hop into the pool, dive under and come up with a fish. Then he brought it ashore and started eating it." Galen told her.
Julie cringed a little at the thought of someone eating a raw fish like that right out of their hands. Even if it was somewhat interesting.
Within fifteen minutes, Julie started to hear the thundering sound of the waterfall then saw as the path opened up into a size clearing. Right in the center of this clearing was a huge waterfall that was easily eight feet wide and went around thirty feet up and spilled into this medium size pool at the bottom.
Large rocks surrounded the pool on either side. But the rocks gradually became sparse as the pool narrowed into a river that flowed out of it.
The sight was beautiful.
They weren't admiring the view for very long before they caught movement off to the left on the other side of the pool. Then Galen and Julie watched as some humans came out of the bushes and walked up to the pool.
Galen recognized them right away.
"Oh, it's one of the families that live back here. The two parents and two children." He said.
The small family of wild humans climbed up onto the small boulders and went to the pool's edge. Then they all sat down on the rocks and started dipping their hands in.
Julie watched as they cupped their hands and brought water to their mouths and started drinking it.
Around this time, Galen carefully got off of his horse, then he turned around and helped Julie off and onto the ground. Galen then grabbed the horse's reins and walked him over about five feet to this tree with many low hanging branches. He hitched up the horse to one of the branches and walked back over.
"C'mon we can head over to the pool on this side and take a seat there." He says.
"And that won't make them freeze up or run away being that close?" Julie asks.
"They won't run. They know me." Galen told her.
"Maybe, but they don't know me." She says, as they began walking over.
"True, but didn't you tell me when you first got here, you encountered some humans, and they didn't run from you?" He inquired.
"No, they didn't run. Actually, one of them even approached me and offered me food." She said.
Galen shifted his gaze to her, "Really?"
"Yeah. Guess they like to share." She replied, with a small shrug.
They got to the rocks that lined the pool within the next couple minutes and climbed up them. Many of these rocks were only between three to four feet high. So, it wasn't all that hard at all to scale them.
Once the pair got there, the family sitting right across from them on the other side off the pool looked up from what they were doing and stared at Galen and Julie.
Galen gave them a small nod as he sat down. While Julie kept her gaze on them as she sat beside Galen on the flat surface of the rocks.
The small family of wild humans only stared their way for several more moments, before they resumed drinking some water. At least the parents went back to drinking some water. While the two small kids, which consisted of one girl and one boy continued staring at the chimp and human woman next to him in curiosity.
"Looks like Nova and Taylor are very curious about you." Galen says, with a small smile as he fishes one of his notebooks out of his pack.
Julie shifted her gaze from the cute kids to Galen.
"You named them?" She asked, with a slightly surprised look.
"I named the ones I see the most often. This family are some of the ones I see regularly at times while out here. The little girl is Nova. The little boy who is her brother, is Taylor. I call the father Dodge, and I named the mother after my own mother, Ann." Galen informed her.
"Cute names." Julie says.
She turns her gaze back ahead to the family and saw the kids were now drinking water again but would still gaze their way from time to time.
Galen got busy and started scribbling down notes while alternating his gaze from his work to the family. Julie sat there silently for a little bit, just watching them. While they were pretty interesting to watch, the young woman felt a pang in her heart as she regarded the painful reminder and example of how far down the wrung that humans came since her time. It was very sad.
As she observed them, she came to terms that this poor family before her will never have the chance to live a life filled with knowledge and comfort. All they will ever know, is this bleak existence, and trying to survive both from the apes and any other wild predators out here.
Julie fought down the lump building up in her throat and pushed by the tears that were slowly building up in the corner of her eyes.
She was staring ahead for so long, she didn't realize that after jotting down a few sentences, Galen put his pen down and shifted his gaze to her. He noticed that Julie had this kind of faraway look on her face and her eyes seemed a little glassy.
He furrowed his eye ridges in concern as he lifted a hand and placed it on her shoulder. When he did this her gaze quickly snapped to him like she was a little startled.
"Julie, are you alright?" Galen asks in a concerned tone.
She lets out a long sigh, "Yeah, just...seeing them and getting a chance to really look at the humans here when I'm not being chased by gorillas, it's just very sad to see how far humans have fallen. These parents, will never know what it's like to have a roof over their heads or hold a steady job and those kids will never experience what school is like and navigating through their childhood and adolescent years, reaching new milestones in life. It's like...they are just here to...survive."
Galen understood what she meant. It made him mentally kick himself a little and wondered if it was actually a good idea to bring her out here. Especially, knowing how different things were here for humans than in her time. This was not something she was used to seeing at all. In a way, he feltlike he should've known that there was a possibility seeing humans like this would upset her.
"I'm sorry, Julie." He said, in a soft tone.
He paused for a moment, before speaking again.
"We can leave if you want. If this is too upsetting for you." Galen suggested.
She was silent for a moment.
"No, it's ok. Better to face the facts now than later. Either way, it wouldn't change the outcome. Humans are like this now; nothing can change that. The sooner I accept it...the better." Julie says.
Galen put his notebook down on the rock next to him. Then he scooted in closer and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. He then tilted his head down and pressed the side of his head to hers.
Julie wrapped one arm around his waist and leaned a little more into his side.
"I know life seems bleak for humans now. But living in the wild; it has made them tough and resilient in a lot of ways. And they are managing to survive and thrive. If they weren't, they would've become extinct a long time ago. They may not be the same as they used to be in your time, but nonetheless, they are still humans." Galen told her, as they continued leaning into one another.
She supposed what he says, has some truth to it. Humans are still here. They are still managing to survive and are doing so by living off the land. Really no different than how it was thousands of years ago.
As she gazed ahead at the family, she knew it to be true, because the next generation is right there in front of her and the parents are doing all they can and know to help and show their children how to survive.
The wild family stuck around for a while.
Besides drinking water, they also went into it and splashed around a bit to cool off from the heat. Julie couldn't help but smile as she saw the two small children who couldn't be more than seven and five years of age splashing each other with smiles on their faces, clearly having fun.
At one point, they ended up splashing Galen by accident while he sat on the rocks, and he let out a little yelp and quickly stood up as they got him a bit wet. This made Julie laugh. It became even more amusing when the two kids then intentionally splashed him, and they let out what sounded like a little giggle when they did.
The chimp sat back down with a huff, rolling his eyes. Even still, he couldn't keep the smile off of his face for very long. Especially, when they splashed Julie next. The young woman wasn't startled or upset though. She just smiled and playfully splashed the kids back.
Though this ended up with her getting drenched when both the kids were really going all out with the splashing all at once towards her.
The parents sat nearby on a couple rocks, sharing a fish that the man caught, while they watched their two children closely. Both of them had already finished eating the first fish he caught and gave to them. Then they went in the water afterwards to play and wash off, and that is when all the splashing started.
Galen didn't get that many notes today due to all the amusing moments they had with the family. But in the end, he didn't care. He was mainly happy to see that Julie was happy and apparently having fun with the two kids.
This has to be one of the few times, he has seen her genuinely happy and carefree since she came here. To him, that mattered more than some notes.
Even after they left the waterfall a little later, she still had a small smile on her face as they got back on his horse and started to leave for home. Galen too was smiling a little from the day they had. It's certainly quite a memorable one.
Hope everyone noticed and enjoyed the little Easter Eggs hidden in this chapter. It had to do with the wild human family's names *hint hint*.
Until Next Time ;)