Disclaimer: I own nothing except my OC Willow and any alterations to the original storyline plot her presence creates to various readers amusement everywhere across the globe.

Born To Lead Chapter 3

Present Day:

The warriors were gathering together preparing for a massive hunt. An elk herd had been spotted traveling not far from the Colony. Trackers had been sent out to monitor their position, but it wouldn't be long before they moved further off making it difficult for the apes to transport anything they kill back home. An opportunity like this to down a large amount of prey couldn't be wasted.

Inside her family's tree Willow was finishing her own preparations for the hunting trip. She was putting the finishing touches with the hunting paint marking the fur on her arms, chest, hands, legs, feet, and face as all the warriors did. The final one was a red stripe beginning from the top of the forehead and ending in between the eyes. This singular mark symbolized her as part of the royal family.

Afterwards, when she went to grab her spear a sparkle in the sunlight from outside drew her attention. Reaching into a small crevice next to her Willow pulled out the object the sunlight reflected from.

Fitting perfectly in the palm of Willow's hand was a music box. The name it was called she learned after she asked what the object was.

Turning a hidden dial on the side the top opened revealing a lovely metal lily in its center with a replica wrapped in vines painted on the top when opened. The lily started spinning music instantly rising from within. To this day it's still the most beautiful thing she's heard in her whole life. Willow shut her eyes a loving smile lighting her face listening to the sweet sound. The tune so familiar to her now Willow hummed it not missing a single note. She recalled the day it was given to her causing Willow's face to glow evermore at the memory overriding the paint.

It was a little over a year ago in mid-afternoon. Willow was busy organizing the numerous fruits and a variety of plants she found with other females that day. At one point she felt a small tap on her shoulder. Turning she was met with Ash standing a few feet behind her his hands concealed from view. Only when she inquired as to what he possessed did he reveal the object to her.

Ash and a couple of others had just returned from a previous scavenging trip in a disserted area where humans vanished years ago for anything they could use in the village permitted by Caesar. He found the music box mixed in with the junk. Touching it the device made a sound he failed to recognize. Asking one of the older apes about it he learned what the device was called and what the purpose was. After being shown how to use it the moment he heard the music inside he knew it was right for her because of her deep interest in humans in general.

Willow was certainly enchanted with the melody falling in love immediately with this new sensation…and with Ash.

Ever since infancy, a match had always been considered between them by their parents.

Before the ape liberation their fathers, Caesar and Rocket had been bitter rivals as alphas in the old decrepit primate shelter. But those days were long behind them now the friendship they shared was so strong they considered themselves brothers. A union between their children would've finally made them actual family. Nothing could've delighted them more.

Among the adolescents, the fact that Willow was promised to Ash, in truth, wasn't really taken that seriously. Growing up Ash is Blue Eye's best friend so they saw it as weird basically ignoring it.

It wasn't until Ash gave her the music box as a gift did the courtship started. His intentions towards Willow were clear, the relationship they had transformed forever altogether the budding love that was developing was incredibly deep. They each saw each other in entirely different lights. This change in their behavior didn't go unnoticed by the rest of the tribe. Everyone was happy for them. For Blue Eyes it was a bit hard to get used to, but once he saw how happy they were together he changed his mood pretty quick for them.

The ceremony binding the two as partners wouldn't occur until they were both of age, so there remained some time. The duo couldn't care less about that... They were patient, they could wait.

Needless to say, their parents were beyond pleased. This was exactly what they'd wished for.

The gesture Ash made towards Willow was thoughtful and kind, but, at first, Caesar didn't exactly approve of it. He'd been trying to keep her away from anything humanity had a hand in creating. He didn't want her to relapse into her old tricks.

To the contrary giving her ownership of the music box had the exact opposite effect. It soothed Willow allowing her an entry into that forbidden world where she needn't leave. Like now she listened to it all the time when she possibly could despite the fact a handful of apes didn't approve of her having it. So she kept it hidden only taking it out when she was by herself or around apes that lacked a problem with the device.

Koba, in particular, was quite angry when Willow decided to keep it. For as long as she'd known him he's constantly telling her stuff about how terrible and evil humans are. The tales Caesar told her spoke a different story mentioning the love, understanding, and compassion he felt for them. Willow respected Koba. He was one of her teachers, but, on this matter, she tended to agree with her father even though she'd never actually been around one before.

How could a species so terrible create something so beautiful?

The song had just finished when Willow heard a low grunt behind her. Turning Willow saw Blue Eyes hanging from the wood outside spear in hand.

Seeing she noticed him, Blue eyes signed "Sister, come on. Everyone's waiting it's time to head out."

"All right. I'll be right there," signed Willow.

Nodding, Blue Eyes left climbing down from the tree.

Closing the music box Willow slid it back into its hiding where she kept it protected from the elements and other apes when she wasn't there. Picking up the spear she carved with her own hands she rushed out of the tree following her twin a grin spreading over her lips. She always loved a good hunt.

Time to catch some elk!

Authors Note:

Surprise! Yeah that's right I've updated again.

Just so you guys are aware the song in the music box is Hanging Tree from the Hunger Games movies.

Brace yourselves you guys we enter the movie in the next round! ;D

I hope you all like this one! I certainly did while writing it for your vast enjoyment! ;D

For those of you just starting out with my stuff there are other works on my profile that may catch your interest. I highly recommend you take a look as soon as the opportunity presents itself to you. Who knows, you may be pleasantly surprised by what you discover.

Stay safe everyone. Especially with all of these crazy natural disasters occurring a lot lately due to global warming and climate change everywhere for sure. I swear it's like they're getting worse and worse all the time and it's like officials are simply just ignoring it or pretending it doesn't exist entirely just to go on with their daily lives. Especially those in multi-million dollar companies that rely on certain elements of our planet that we rely on to naturally keep us safe instead of adapting and finding new safer ways to keep in business. There are so many options out there where they can adapt, but they just refuse to see it because all they care about is money. Climate change is altering so much faster than anyone can really keep track of.

So, in light of all this, it is important to live life to the fullest as much as anyone can.

I know I am. ;) See you guys next time.