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 23
The booming crack of the gunshot startled everyone. Everywhere you looked apes and humans were looking in all directions for the shooter, wondering where it came from.
Willow did the same with a jolt, befuddled, but then noticed something odd. Caesar, who'd been standing at the edge of the platform, was now in front of her and Ash. He had a hand clutching his left shoulder. Unknown to Willow, because his back was facing her she didn't realize that's where the bullet clipped him. He was stuck, still not moving a muscle.
Seconds later Caesar fell forward over the cliff disappearing in the underbrush of the drop-off into the canyon.
Suddenly reality struck. Caesar had been hit!
The baby's frightened cry in Cornelia's arms broke everyone out of their stupor.
The air became filled with shrieks, roars, and screeches from the apes as they realized what had occurred.
Cornelia wailed in grief. Hooting frantically she tried to go over the cliff to after Caesar, but Blue Eyes intercepted his stricken mother restraining her. Willow faired no better than her mother. She was shrieking uncontrollably stretching an arm where Caesar dropped. The only thing keeping up was Ash's strong arms wrapped around her person.
Luca and Rocket arrived. They each took hold of Cornelia, Luca wrapping his arms around her waist and Rocket did the same to her shoulders. They were both shielding her and the child along with preventing her from doing anything foolishly drastic.
This allowed Blue Eyes to go to the edge. Blue Eyes looked into the ravine hoping to find Caesar's body, but saw something else. Whatever he saw had him screeching furiously. He jumped down to a root sticking over the rocky outcropping below to retrieve his find. Other apes in the village center rushed to the cliff face scanning for the assailant and their beloved leader.
There was the smell of smoke as a fire erupted in the village the billowing flames increasing with each second. It grew rapidly as it traveled with the wood connecting the walls and huts.
First Caesar was hurt and now this. As if things couldn't get any worse!
Apparently, they could.
Blue had made a gruesome discovery. Leaping onto the stone slab platform Blue Eyes held aloft a Thompson rifle and a cap in his hands for all to see.
Willow froze as she recognized the cap. That had belonged to only one single human. Carver, the shooter is Carver.
"Human gun," shouted Blue Eyes.
Malcolm, Ellie, Alex, Foster, and Kemp were no longer safe. If they stayed they would all be killed in revenge.
"Run," rumbled Maurice to Malcolm.
The humans required no further incentive. While the apes were distracted they snuck out of there.
Willow ran to Blue Eyes at the same time another did.
Koba burst from the darkness leaping onto the stone slab beside Blue Eyes.
Taking the rifle, Koba bellowed "Humans kill Caesar! Burn ape home!" Through the flames, he saw the humans escaping. They kept low as they ran through the areas overrun by fire to the gates. "Go! Get them!"
A small group of apes broke off from the main group to pursue. They'd rejoin the rest later on.
Koba wasn't done. All they needed was one more push.
"Apes must attack human city," roared Koba. "Fight back! Come, fight for Caesar!"
In Caesar's memory the apes would do anything to honor their savior.
"Females and young stay in the woods," commanded Koba to Grey."We go to the city."
Nodding Grey obediently relayed the order, passing it along.
The tribe riled the way he wanted Koba turned his attention to the twins. Blue Eyes was slumped to the ground perturbed. Willow was pressed against him head laid on his shoulder, eyes shadowed by heartbreak and loss.
Marching to the twins Koba pulled them to rise.
"We will avenge your father's death," vowed Koba. Koba slid his hands around the backs of their necks.
Pulling the siblings close, he pressed his forehead against theirs.
Blue Eyes cupped the back of Koba's head in return accepting the comfort.
Willow did not.
Koba was going to have to avidly monitor Willow, but not now. There was a war to declare.
Separating from the twins, Koba said "Come."
Koba and Blue Eyes walked away to grab their steeds from the stables.
Ash briefly brushed his forehead to against Willow's in farewell and then ran off to follow the males.
The fire was burning everything it touched, the clean unpolluted breeze progressing the growth as it spread. Soon it would reach the oak tree. Willow's eyes widened recalling what she had inside. Running up the tree she got the satchel and her music box from the crevice she'd concealed them in. She stuffed her music box and daisy chain inside. Willow wasn't about to let these be lost, destroyed in the fire. She was halfway between picking up her spear when she froze. Instead, she grabbed her father's hunting spear.
The elders, females, and children were climbing around the oak tree to reach the meadow while every capable warrior was congregating beyond the fire to head to the city. Willow had no intention of staying behind. She was going, but first…
From her vantage point, Willow searched for her mother in the crowd. She found the distraught female in the rear being guided by Lake and Tinker. Jumping from the tree with the satchel carrying her circlet and music box she darted forward sidestepping apes in her path.
Tinker caught Willow approaching. Informing Cornelia the trio stopped despite the urgency to leave.
Quickly Willow handed the bag to Lake and signed "Here, I need you to take this."
"Why? Aren't you coming with us," asked Lake.
Shaking her head, Willow signed "No."
Cornelia didn't like that very much, signing "What are you talking about?"
"I'm going with the warriors. They need every capable fighter they can get in this emergency and someone needs to look after Blue Eyes. I can't let him go alone," signed Willow, determined.
"No! I've already lost your father! Now Blue Eyes is going to fight! I can't lose you too," protested Cornelia, fretful, so upset what she was signing was nearly incoherent.
Ignoring her mother's objections, to Tinker and Lake, Willow signed "Stay with my mother. Protect her."
With that Willow pulled her arm free. She turned racing away to catch up to the war party, Cornelia's pleas for her to return carrying behind.
Acquiring her horse Willow got to the war party as they finished assembling. Pushing to the front she got to Blue Eyes, Koba, and all the other lieutenants Caesar had held dear. Willow slipped in the middle of Blue Eyes and Ash. Ready to go Koba nodded to the twins and then screeched for the enraged apes to move out.
The tribe shall go to conquer war.
Authors Note:
So Caesar had moved really fast to get in front of his daughter. One guess at who Koba's intended target was.