"Mae".

Noa and Raka stared at the Echo, mouths agape. She spoke. This was unheard of. Perhaps they had heard wrong? They both pondered.

Mae's heart pounded. Her mother had taught her never to speak for speaking meant death. She stared at the shocked expressions and panic set into her heart. Her heart pounded against her chest. This was a mistake trusting two apes whom were significantly stronger than her. She was in danger. She breathed heavily, scanning the woods.

Noa and Raka exchanged a shocked look, still taking on her words.

This was her chance with their distraction. Mae suddenly turned and bolted as fast as she could, arms pumping and feet pounding the dirt.

"Wait! Noa get her." Raka boomed, concern in his voice. Noa sprinted after her, his strong legs propelling him over the moss covered forest floor easily.

She stifled a shout of fear as she felt the ground vibrating beneath her with Noa's fast approaching stride.

"Mae! Stop!" Noa boomed. He sprinted with ease in front of her. She slammed into him as he grabbed her upper arms firmly, preventing her from falling. She breathed heavily.

"Mae. We won't hurt you. You are safe, with us." He looked into her eyes with earnest and care. Mae tried to slow her gasping breaths.

Raka approached behind them. Noa dropped her shoulders once he was sure she wouldn't run again.

"Come, Nova. We have much to discuss." Raka gestured in the distance towards a cave. Night was approaching. She calmed her heart and her panic subsided slowly. She nodded. Noa gestured for her to walk in front of him with one of his long arms.

"My mother told me it was not safe to speak." Mae said shyly, gazing into the warm glow of the fire.

"We will not harm you. Safe with us." Noa said kindly, sitting next to Raka across the fire. She nodded in acknowledgment, believing him.

The trio spoke for an hour or so before Raka slept. Noa and Mae spoke about dreams and about the complexities of science. Mae's intellect and understand of the world intrigued Noa's sharp mind.

"Sleep. We have much walking tomorrow." Noa said. Mae nodded, curling up next to the fire, using the blue blanket gratefully as warmth.

Morning came and the sun broke the fear of the night. They walked in mostly silence listening the birds. Mae often sat on the horse with Raka for a rest.

She wondered what the Eagle clan Noa spoke of would be like. Would they accept her? She had nowhere left to go now that her family was killed. She would not join the Echos. She was beginning to like the apes. Their mutual appreciation and understanding of the world and knowledge. Though she could feel the trust barrier between the species. Evolutionary enemies competing for survival and dominance.

Mae walked alongside the horses. Noa sat on the first horse, glancing down at her. He was growing fond of the Nova.

Raka lagged behind on his own horse.

Mae stumbled slightly on a rock quickly regaining her balance. Her cheeks flushed. Noa frowned.

"You are tired. You should come on the horse." He said matter of factly.

Mae shook her head, unwilling to show weakness.

"I'm fine." She glanced at him quickly and then back to where she was walking.

Noa huffed. "Stubborn."

Mae's smile twitched and she tried to pick up the pace.

"Let's stop for a drink." Raka stated.

The trio pulled over by the furiously rushing river below, tying the horses up a short distance away. The wind whipped as a chill ran through Mae. Though she wore a long sleeve it did little to keep her warm.

Raka filled up three water bottles. He handed one to Mae and she drank it thirstily. She was tired, her muscles sore. She leaned on a tree as Raka and Noa conversed.

The trees whipped roughly as Mae shivered. Noa's gaze watched her with concern.

"We should keep moving, find shelter before the storm hits." Noa said. Raka turned ahead climbing on his horse.

Mae began walking ahead as Noa placed both hands on the saddle, ready to climb. He frowned and turned his head.

"Mae, on the horse. You are tired. You must rest. " He said kindly.

She shook her head. "It's okay." She said shyly.

"You are slow. Quicker on the horse." He gestured again, patting the saddle.

She sighed and nodded. She was tired. She almost worried about climbing up on the horse.

"Let me help?" Noa enquired shyly.

She looked at him as he held his hands out.

Like a small child, Noa lifted her up high onto the horse with ease, as she swung her leg over. He jumped up in front and the pair began walking. She shivered into Noa's fur as they walked against the harsh wind.

"Here." Noa pulled out the blue blanket from his satchel, passing it to her. Mae smiled and placed it on her lap gratefully.

"Thank you Noa." She said softly.

Noa smiled at her words. He really wondered how this hairless species was once the alpha. Even the cold could easily kill them.

The weather was turning quickly as the evening progressed. Although it was not yet dark, it was overcast and the trees whipped loudly. It was hard to hear over the wind and the rushing river below.

A small stone path covered in moss approached, acting as a bridge across the river. There was a sharp descent below. Mae gasped as she looked down from the horse at the sheer drop to the water below, waves splashing against the rock bed. She held onto Noa firmer and focussed on the horse shoes clicking on the stone.

The wind blew furiously.

"Stay close." Noa shouted behind to Raka who nodded in agreement.

A loud snapping sound split the air as the three jumped in fright. Noa looked to see a large tree branch falling up ahead. Suddenly, the horse lurched upright in fright. Noa and Mae cried out as they fell roughly onto the ground, the horse galloping away ahead. As if in slow motion, Noa watched in horror as the blue blanket from his mother, floated in the wind over the edge of the cliff.

"No!" He cried, running to the edge and climbing down the cliff face as fast as he could.

"Noa!" Raka shouted, still on his horse.

Mae knew that he would not reach the blanket in time before it drifted away with the waves.

She got up with a surge of adrenaline and began running as fast as possible over the other side of the embankment chasing the river. She looked back at Noa who had reached the river edge in futility just as the blanket began flowing down stream. His expression of disappointed turned to fear as his eyes briefly met Mae's. Noa took in her running direction and panic set in his chest.

"Mae no! Raka, stop her!" He shouted in urgency up to Raka. Raka nodded and began running with the horse towards her. Noa climbed as fast as lighting back up the cliff face with athletic ease.

Mae continued running, jumping over rocks and fallen tree branches alongside the rocky bank. She looked back and saw Raka fighting with his horse who was refusing to jump over a small fallen tree limb. She felt relief as she saw the blue blanket behind her, running ahead of the water speed.

She gasped as she saw the perfect opportunity. A large fallen tree branch sat in the water, its branches suspended a meter or so above the water level. She ran quickly to it, placing one foot on the wet wood. It bowed slightly with her weight but she felt confident. She began crawling along its length, her heart pounding as she looked down at the furious water and waves gushing up the sides. She spread her fingers wide against the wet wood, trying to grip as best as she could.

Noa sprinted ahead of Raka, over taking him in speed. Raka tried to keep up with his pace.

"Noa, get her!" Raka shouted as he easily clambered ahead taking furious strides to reach her.

Mae took a deep breath as she reached the end of the trunk. She clambered over its branches, sitting on the thinner branch as the blanket approached.

Noa reached the fallen limb. "No! You will fall!"

He stepped one foot on it. Mae turned back in fear.

"No stop! It won't hold you." She shouted. Noa looked down angrily as the wood broke under his foot, forcing him to jump back onto the land. Raka approached, heavy breathing and eyes wide.

Mae took a breath, locked her hamstrings firm into the thinner branch and slowly lowered herself backwards. Her fingertips touched the rushing rapids and she hung by her hamstrings.

Noa's heart was leaping from his chest as was Raka's. He stood helpless, every muscle ready to act as Mae hung from her knees, dangerously over the treacherous water.

"Mae please! Leave it!" He begged in trepidation.

The blue blanket approached. Mae reached back and grabbed it roughly, relief as her fingertips gripped it through the icy water. She pulled it to her chest, dripping with water. Pulling her body up, she gripped onto a branch mustering all of her strength to heave herself back up into a seated position whilst holding the heavy wet blanket in her other hand.

Raka sighed in a break of relief. "Easy!" He guided.

Mae held the blanket in one hand, crawling on the wet branch back to the safety of land. It was difficult to crawl with one hand. Noa stood on edge. His arm extended as if to grab her when she was close enough.

"Slow, slow. Careful." Noa said anxiously, his arm still extended out.

Mae continued crawling. Her one hand rested on some moss, slipping. Her chest hit the damp trunk roughly, her other arm holding the blanket firmly. She heard the worried gasps of Noa and Raka.

She slowly pushed herself into a seated position, catching her breath. Her head spun with the exertion and cold. Her hair dripped and her shirt was wet through.

"Noa, here." She bundled the blanket into a heavy ball and held it to her chest.

Noa opened and closed his fist in anxious acknowledgement.

She threw the blanket, thankfully for the heavy weight as Noa grabbed it easily, tossing it to Raka. His eyes left her for a second before anxiously darting back.

"Just a little further. Careful. Careful." Noa muttered.

With two hands free, Mae crawled the remainder of the trunk slowly. Her rapid heart slowed in relief as she got closer to land. She focussed on not falling , staring intently at her hand placement, trying hard not to shiver.

Two warm strong hands gripped under her arms, pulling her onto her feet. She gripped onto Noa's upper arms.

"Thank goodness." Raka muttered behind her.

Mae smiled.

"That was… too… dangerous." Noa panted, letting go of her arms.

"Why, did you do that?" He said intently, his eyes piercing.

Mae smiled. "Because, it was important to you."

Noa's eyes widened briefly as he processed this. Mae gasped as he moved suddenly, pulling her into his warm embrace. She hugged him back.

"Thank you. " he huffed. "Not as important as… your safety."

He let go of her arms, his eyes warm with a new found admiration for the Nova. Raka smiled at the budding friendship.

"Alright kids let's get some shelter." He looked up at the grey sky and frowned.

Raka and Noa walked ahead, the horses a short distance away in the clearing, feeding on the grass. The wind howled. Mae walked slower, shivering and cold. She felt light headed and exhausted from the adrenaline and exertion.

Her leg muscles burned with the slight incline in the land. Her heart pounded and she felt dizzy. She dropped to her knees in the grass catching her breath, her hands on her thighs.

Raka's eyes flicked back to the Nova and widened. Noa's gaze followed, turning quickly from relaxed to wide with fear.

He sprinted to the Nova, without a word.

He bent down to her level.

"Are you..hurt?" He huffed. Mae breathed deeply.

"No sorry, just resting." She said, staring at the ground as the dizziness subsided. She began to stand up, Noa helping her up.

"You are exhausted and cold. Let me help." He felt her cool arm as he pulled her upright and frowned in concern.

She patted his arm in pride. "I'm okay now." She began walking slowly, wobbling slightly.

"Are all Nova's this stubborn?" Noa said, walking beside her.

She rolled her eyes. "Not as stubborn as you." She said playfully. She tripped on a rock as they walked, lurching forward. Noa grabbed her arm making a worried hoo sound.

"You need rest." In one swift movement, he scooped Mae up behind her knees, carrying her easily. Raka chuckled as Noa approached the horse with the protesting human in his arms.

He set her down beside the horse before climbing up himself. He patted the front of the saddle. Mae frowned, confused.

"You want me at the front?" She questioned.

Noa nodded.

"Here let me help." Raka said kindly. She put her foot in the saddle as Raka lifted her weight into the horse. She sat down roughly and uncoordinated. She gasped softly as her weight slid too far to the left. Noa's arms shot out around her waist, stabilising her.

He leaned closer.

"Nova has to sit at the front so I can make sure you do not fall." He said with humour in his voice as Raka chuckled, getting onto his own horse. Mae rolled her eyes. She did feel exhausted.

The horses walked for five minutes and Mae was struggling to stay awake. She shivered with the wind and Noa felt her body leaning back and then stiffening back upright.

He felt protective of her and grateful that she would risk her life for his mother's blanket. She amused him.

"Lean back into me and rest." He said kindly.

Mae could not object. She leaned backwards, eager for his warm fur and wind shield. She wondered if she was leaning too much weight.

"Am I hurting you?" She said shyly.

Noa huffed."You cannot hurt me. Rest. I won't let you fall." He wrapped a warm arm around her waist. Mae let her eyes drift closer in his warm embrace.