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 11
Until this point, no ape had ever stepped foot in San Francisco since the revolution. Foraging parties had been sent out to scavenge useful materials in a few small isolated human towns, but that was it. Not once had Willow ever been permitted to take part in one of those excursions. Always told to stay in the forest never to leave.
Now leaving the woods for the first time in her life it was overwhelming for her and they hadn't even gotten close to the city limits yet. Crossing the Golden Gate Bridge was like something out of a dream for her. This was the place where the apes had fought their first battle for freedom against the humans to get to their current home, the first time her father fought for apes. Everywhere Willow looked she could almost picture exactly how the fight played out in her mind's eye. It was simply incredible to behold traces belonging to a piece of ape history.
If Willow had marveled at the sheer architect of the bridge connecting two bodies of land together with great deep admiration, she was speechless when they got to the city at last. It wasn't anything resembling their village in the woods.
Willow gawked astounded at the magnitude of the buildings. To think humans had made all of these with their own hands and tools. Apes weren't capable of building anything of this caliber yet, but she hoped one day they could be.
There were so many paths to follow roads pointed in all directions. She wondered how humans ever found their way Willow saw so many signs she wondered what they really said. She could read, but there were far too many for her to take in all at once.
Unbeknownst to Willow they were traveling the same road Caesar had taken the apes out of the city a decade ago. Stealth was needed for this mission so the apes were careful to keep noise to a minimum. The only sound is the horse's hooves on the pavement.
Willow was seeing a world she never dreamed she'd see. But as they got further in her awe was quickly transformed into heartbreak.
After the apes passed through a tunnel they came across a sight no human or ape should exposed to. In an area closed off by iron fencing for quarantine, there were skeletal remains of humans lying everywhere. Hanging on the fence of the enormous cage enveloped in plastic covers were pictures of thousands of missing people. In ten years the rain washed away most of what people had written down on these pictures, but it wasn't hard to speculate what they were. Families desperately looking for their loved ones during the virus outbreak.
When Willow spotted skulls that belonged to children because of how small they were compared to others she couldn't bear it. A sob escaped her lips a hand flying to her mouth as tears built in her eyes one streaming down.
Things got worse.
Willow gasped when she saw a drawing of an ape with the Simian Flu coming from its mouth, humans killing apes with guns, and depicted on monstrous forms painted with graffiti on buildings.
Sensing its rider's distress the horse Willow was on slowed down. It didn't stop, but the slower pace did make Rocket take the reins of her horse making sure she didn't lag. Regaining her bearings Willow composed herself taking control of her horse again.
Caesar looked at his daughter wanting to comfort her pity in his eyes. Grunting softly to get Willow to look at him, he signed "Are you all right?"
Suppressing a shudder, Willow signed "Yes, I'm fine. I just…need a moment."
"I should never have allowed you to come here," signed Caesar, shaking his head in regret.
"I said I'm fine," insisted Willow, forcefully. "I can do this!"
Caesar nodded accepting this, but clearly wasn't convinced believing otherwise.
Mournful, confused sorrow laced in her signs, Willow asked "Why do they hate us so? We haven't done anything to them?"
"Humans fear what they do not understand. It is their way," consoled Caesar, speaking before Koba could. He didn't want the bonobo to go off on one of his rantings about humans being evil again. Not with Willow in this kind of state."It's been like that since the beginning of time."
Willow regarded her father as if this were the saddest thing she had ever heard. She refused to accept that. There had to be some humans out there to prove this false.
The entire ride down Caesar kept her surrounded by his most trusted. Koba, Rocket, and Luca were riding around her in a defensive line. There were safeguarding her per se more or less creating a shield of their own bodies. No one knew how this parley with the humans would turn out. It could end with them leaving this place in peace or with one of them shot at again like before. Blue Eyes wasn't provided the same protection, but he was still kept near his father. If it was the latter Caesar was taking no chances especially not when it came to his children. Caesar would keep them with him. He would keep them safe.
Eventually, the army reached the section of the city where Koba indicated the human settlement was. Suffice it to say this was the tallest building in all of San Francisco easily surpassing others in height. Craning her head all the way back Willow still couldn't see the top and the place wasn't even finished. It was still being constructed or had been in the process before the plague outbreak. Apes climbed onto cars, and rooftops, and hung from vines on the sides of buildings for good vantage points, prepared for anything.
Not announcing themselves the apes quietly waited patiently in anticipation for a human to spot them outside the parapets of their walls.
They didn't have to wait long.
Perhaps a few minutes after they'd arrived a human appeared on top of the Colony gate to begin his sentry duty. When the sentry looked out he froze doing a major double-take. He blinked his eyes hard twice making sure all of these apes were real. When the human realized these apes weren't a drowsy hallucination he freaked out. Shouting for help he kept his guns trained on the apes. Moments later a second human appeared over the wall. Unseen by the apes the sentry switched on a blaring alarm alerting the humans in the vicinity to danger.
More and more humans revealed themselves carrying firearms all strangers to the ape's eyes. Then another stepped into view a human some of the apes recognized. The human they'd taken to be the leader of the group of humans from yesterday.
It was Malcolm he was in total shock. Malcolm spoke to a separate human, Dreyfus. Because distance between them none of the apes could tell what was what the humans were saying. Malcolm and Dreyfus disappeared from the wall. The reason was made apparent when the alarm was switched off the heavy doors into the settlement opened.
Out walked Malcolm with a group of armed humans behind him preventing the crowd within from pouring out and protecting them the apes should they attack at the same time.
Willow observed the humans fascinated. No matter the species apes
While the rest of the humans stayed inside the building Malcolm continued walking toward the ape's eyes on Caesar.
"Malcolm," said Dreyfus.
Malcolm ignored the man his eyes refusing to be dislodged from Caesar's for even a moment. Halfway he stopped in the center of the ape lines and the group of humans. Caesar rode forward to meet Malcolm in the middle leader to leader.
After surveying the gathered humans, Caesar declared "Apes…do not…want war!" The reaction from the humans was expected. They were downright scared at hearing a chimpanzee speak and even more terrified at the prospect of how. "But will fight! If we must!"
Silence met his words. The humans were speechless having no clue how to handle this situation. Caesar's declaration had shaken them to the core, but he was ready for this.
Caesar turned glancing at Blue Eyes.
That was his cue. Blue Eyes needed to give the satchel back to the humans.
Blue Eyes then outstretched his hand to Willow.
Willow went to pass it to him but then stopped mid-lift. In the dense crowd of humans, she spotted the adolescent who had lost this bag. An idea struck. What she did next would probably end up with her getting severely punished, but she knew in her heart she had to do this.
Instead of handing the bag to Blue Eyes to return to the humans Willow had something else in mind. Holding the bag close to her chest she moved out of line riding forward. Many of the apes assumed she wanted to do the handoff herself. That is until she rode passed Malcolm and Caesar.
A number of apes released loud hoots trying to get her to stop.
Willow failed to comply.
Caesar barked ordering her to get back in line, but she ignored him set in her decision. This only sent the apes protesting louder reacting terribly to her willingness to put herself in danger of the human's guns.
Willow raised a hand towards them all telling them to quiet and settle.
The humans weren't happy with this turn of events either. The humans aimed their guns at her screaming for her to get back and not to take a step further. In response, some of the apes started screaming and growling. Those in possession of weapons held them aloft ready to use them. Blue Eyes went to intercept his sister, but Ash blocked him with his own horse. Ash had a feeling he knew what Willow was doing. He had no plans of stopping her.
"Hold your fire," yelled Malcolm. If any bullets were shot now there'd be a bloodbath where humans would pay a heavy price.
Dreyfus recognized the danger too. He repeated the command and at his word, the humans with guns reluctantly pointed them downward. When they did the apes visibly relaxed though many were prepared to leap in if necessary to protect their beloved princess.
Willow exhibited no fear only a healthy sense of curiosity as she made a beeline for Alex stopping when she got to the steps leading inside. Willow's eyes didn't once avert from Alex, held her free hand up to show she meant no harm, she lifted the bag in one hand making sure the boy could see.
At first, Alex appeared confused, but then his eyes widened big time when he realized what she was carrying. Something very precious has been returned to him. So did Ellie and Malcolm looking on in complete astonishment and disbelief.
Smiling softly Willow held the bag out to Alex by the strap for him to take it. After some hesitation, Alex slipped passed those in front of him. A few tried to stop the kid, but he simply shook their hands off. He wanted his stuff back and he was going to retrieve it. He thought he'd never see it again. Alex reached out to accept the offering and Willow gently dropped it into his hands.
Alex flipped open the flap digging inside to check everything was there. Satisfied he snapped his head up at Willow. No words were spoken, but the appreciation was present.
Willow inclined her head immensely pleased with herself acknowledging the thanks.
In one tiny gesture she proves to herself and those around her that trust perseverance can sometimes overcome even the most conflicting challenges to establish a little bit of trust. There was a definite shift in the atmosphere after this little stunt. A significant level of uncertainty rose in the humans now completely baffled by her actions.
Alex then rejoined his own kind, the humans with guns shifting so he and everyone else were covered.
Willow steered her mount backwards over to the line positioning herself next to her father.
Only when she returned safely to him did Caesar continue.
"Human home," shouted Caesar, pointing at the human colony and then at the woods in the opposite direction indicating the mountains. "Ape home."
Lowering his arms, and locking eyes with Malcolm, Caesar warned "Do not come back." He wasn't going to repeat himself.
The warning had been given. If the humans chose not to heed it they knew what would occur as a consequence.
The message had been firmly delivered. The apes had accomplished what they'd intended. It was time to go.
Caesar signaled to his apes and they all began to retreat in a steady procession one by one with him in the lead.
Koba glowered at the humans in pure hatred growling. He wanted badly to inflict some pain upon the humans. For a moment it seemed like he would looking at Malcolm and then Dreyfus. The intensity of the incensed look in his eyes caused both men to take nervous steps back distancing themselves from him. Using every ounce of restraint he had left Koba fought his desire to kill every human in front of him instead of leaving with the tribe.
Willow lingered there on her horse head tilted just watching the humans as they did her. The rest of the apes walked on, but she remained entranced by the humans.
Willow's interest in them was obviously making them uncomfortable, but none of them raised their weapons at her again.
Caesar sees his daughter is not following. Looking around he saw she hadn't moved a muscle.
"Willow," roared Caesar.
Caesar bellowing her name was enough to get her back into gear. Nudging her horse in the sides Willow rode until she reached the front of the company.
She fell into step with Caesar and Blue Eyes. Catching her father's pissed-off expression Willow ducked her head, unable to meet the burning heated underlining anger in his eyes. She'd deliberately disobeyed him. Willow knew without a doubt she was in major trouble.
Authors Note:
…Well? As quoted by the show Girl Meets World, HOW WAS THAT? Ha! Ha! Didn't I tell you guys there would be a treat for you here? ;D