I had two scenarios in my head that I really wanted to write that made me decide to put this fafic together, and this was one of them. The other was the chapter "Follow the Leader." I have many more ideas for this fun family!

It was the time of year when the mantamba fruits were ripe for picking, and the most abundant and best trees grew in a very specific location that Kerchak frequented every year with his family. It was a time that thirteen-year-old Tarzan had looked forward to all year, and he leaped ahead of the family, racing his sister to the front where Kerchak led the way. He weaved through his father's legs as he evaded his sister's tags, then jumped to his father's back to dodge a tackle from Kaphi.

Even though most apes would have been too heavy to ride their parents back at his age, Tarzan was pleased that he remained light enough still for piggyback rides from Kerchak, and his father did not seem to mind at all. Kaphi, however, was still small enough as well at seven years old, and she jumped up after him, forcing Tarzan to hop down before she could tag him.

"At this rate," Kerchak said, glancing down at his son, "you two will be too tired to climb any trees for fruit."

"We'll be fine," Tarzan argued, walking next to his father. "I'm not tired at all."

"Yeah," Kaphi agreed before jumping for her brother, who slid under his father, narrowly avoiding his sister's attack. He stuck his tongue out at her from Kerchak's other side, and Kaphi stuck out her tongue back. Kaphi smiled up at her father innocently as she added, "I'm never too tired for fruit trees."

Kerchak chuckled at their antics.

"Perhaps," he said, "you could save some of that energy for helping the family create a pile. You know it helps the weaker elders and the infants get their fair share."

"I think we can make that happen," Tarzan said. He gave his sister a challenging look. "I'll totally collect more fruit than you."

"No, you won't!" Kaphi shot back. "I'll knock out half the trees before sunset."

"Oh, sure you will."

"Just watch me."

Kerchak halted suddenly, holding out a hand in front of Kaphi when she nearly walked ahead of him. The family waited patiently behind him as he scanned the trees. There was a loud grunt before another silverback came charging directly at them. Kerchak rose on two with a short roar and pound of his chest while Kaphi and Tarzan backed away behind their father.

The silverback stopped a few yards away, snorting aggressively at Kerchak and flashing his canines. Kerchak lowered down to all fours and flashed his canines back as he backed up a few paces before turning and walking down a side path, emitting a low grunt now and then.

The silverback watched Kerchak carefully before mock charging with a roar, backing away when Kerchak roared back. The two stared each other down for several intense moments. Then, Kerchak dipped his head slightly, earning a small nod from the other silverback.

With a sigh, Kerchak turned away with a commanding roar for his family to follow, and they moved down a new path, away from the mantamba fruit trees he had originally been aiming for.

Tarzan stared at the new silverback in confusion, having never witnessed such an interaction between his father and another silverback. Sure, he had heard his father mention having to warn off other silverbacks from his territory now and then, but he wasn't entirely sure if that is what had happened just now. He scurried up to his father.

"What was that about?" he asked.

"Another family has already claimed the tree grove we were after," Kerchak answered. "We'll have to find a new place to stay for the season."

"But we go to the mantamba trees every year," Tarzan said.

"I know, but someone managed to finally beat us there. He probably planned on a head start this season as he knew I would try to get there first. He's established it as his territory already, so there's nothing we can do about it."

"So . . . we just miss out on the mantamba fruit?"

"Afraid so, son. Perhaps we'll come across a small group of them elsewhere, I'm sure they grow in other parts of the jungle I'm not familiar with. For now, we can try and see if the berry field is available still. That one has good access to the river so I wouldn't mind that."

"But this isn't fair!" Tarzan said.

"Fair?" Kerchak gave his son a curious look. "First come, first serve. That is more than fair, don't you think? Ejike's family was first, so they now have a chance to enjoy what you've enjoyed for many years."

"Wait." It was Tarzan's turn to give his father a curious look. "You knew who that was?"

"You'll come to learn of the families who live around the jungle as you encounter them."

"But if you know each other, maybe he'll be willing to share with you."

"We're not friends. Even if we were, that is not custom. We will survive one season without. Next year, I'll make sure we head out extra early, perhaps even before the ripening season begins."

"But I wanted it now," Tarzan muttered with a pout. Kaphi seemed just as disappointed as she walked alongside her brother with a small pout herself. Kerchak snorted at them before focusing on tracking down a berry field he was familiar with.

They traveled with the setting sun until they arrived in a large clearing surrounded by berry bushes. As it was very late, most of the family began eating their fill of roots and berries while Kerchak began marking his territory, leaving Tarzan and Kaphi to find dinner on their own. While they were disappointed, they accepted that they would not be enjoying mantamba fruit this season and settled with the berries. Once they had their fill of them, they found their mother preparing a nest and settled in with her for the night. Tarzan, however, could not accept missing an abundant fruit season for long however.

A few days later, Tarzan was staring in the direction of the mantamba trees, a million thoughts running through his head, distracting him from the world around him. He was so lost in his own ideas that he was startled when a noise sounded behind him, and he jumped around to face it.

"A bit close to the boundary lines, don't you think?" Kerchak asked as he walked over to his son.

"Oh," Tarzan said as he glanced around the trees. "A little, I guess."

He turned around to stare off once more, not surprised when Kerchak sat next to him. There was silence between them for a few seconds before he heard Kerchak sigh heavily.

"Whatever you are thinking," he said, "I expect you to not act on any foolish ideas."

"I just don't like that we're missing out," Tarzan confessed.

"I see. I believe I've spoiled our family a bit by keeping us situated where food was always abundant. It was only a matter of time before another family tried to beat us to a new foraging ground when the season began. Don't you think they deserve a turn at the mantamba trees?"

"I guess. I just would also like us to be a part of it."

"We will be," Kerchak said. "Next season."

"What's keeping us from being a part of it now?" Tarzan frowned up at his father. "Maybe even for a day? It could be like during the Truce, we could mingle our families a bit and all share the food, there was always enough of it."

"The Truce was a very different situation. There were poachers threatening all gorillas. We had no choice but to help our families out. This is not a threat—this is simply a territorial problem between gorillas. Ejike arrived at the grounds first, so he gets to claim the entire grove, as I would have done if I had gotten there first. And I would not share with anyone else outside the family unless there was a need for it. Or perhaps if they were extended family or very close friends, but not for more than is necessary. That is simply how it must be."

"But you know Ejike," Tarzan said, almost hopefully.

"I know of him," Kerchak corrected. "I do not know him, which makes him a dangerous threat to our family. And he made it clear that he has no intention of allowing us near his fruit trees, so we must respect that to avoid confrontation."

"Maybe if we asked him . . ."

"No." Kerchak shook his head sternly and narrowed his eyes at his son. "He has warned us off once, you would be violating his order and asking for an attack by trying to approach again."

"But if he understood why—"

"Even if he understood why, he may still attack. You are not going to change generations of traditions and law, Tarzan. Get that notion out of your head now before it finds you in trouble." Kerchak stood up and lifted his son to his back. Tarzan glanced back through the trees but looked back down at his father when he started speaking once more as he walked along his territory lines. "Perhaps you and I can scout out a rogue mantamba tree around our territory while I do border patrol. How does that sound?"

All Tarzan's thoughts on the unfairness of the situation vanished as a bit of hope filled his chest on the chance of finding a mantamba tree near their own family. He smiled as he sat up on his father's back swiveling his head to check the surrounding area.

"Sounds like a plan, Dad."

However, an afternoon on border patrol turned up no mantamba trees within reach, leaving Tarzan very disappointed as he settled into his nest with his parents and sister that night. He could not sleep as he worked his brain for an idea on how he could get his family their share of mantamba fruit. They just couldn't miss out on an entire season of one of the best treats in the jungle! There were so many trees in the grove, he was sure Ejike couldn't include every single one of them in his territory. Tarzan would make sure to check all around the silverback's territory to be sure, but he had to find a way to get some of the fruit for himself and his family. Sharing was caring, wasn't it?

All it took was waiting for his father to head out on border patrol for Tarzan to sneak out of the family and head for the edge of Ejike's territory. Tarzan made sure to keep himself hidden as he approached the silverback's territory, staying very low to the ground. No one charged him, so Tarzan climbed up a tree decided to stay up high as he advanced forward, swinging from a vine every now and then to hasten his search. If he could get to the fruit trees, he could follow the grove to the very end, and hopefully, the end would be out of Ejike's range of control. This had to work.

It did not take long before he could smell the familiar fruit, and his mouth watered in anticipation. However, the trees stopped, and he could see a large clearing through the foliage, and the clearing was filled with gorillas. Tarzan stared down at the family so similar to his own: the young running around and playing, the older gorillas resting comfortably among each other, some grooming, some napping, and still some watching the youngest family members dutifully. Some of the gorillas were enjoying fruit, and Tarzan could see the fruit trees on the other side of the clearing.

However, there was no sign of Ejike.

Tarzan swallowed dryly. He had to get to the other side of the clearing without being spotted. Staying in the trees would be his best bet, however, if there was any rustling, it might draw attention. He could retreat a bit and then circle around, but he needed the family in sight so he could make sure he was circling around far enough but not getting too far off track.

His next best bet would be to go low and stay just out of sight until he was on the other side of the clearing and then climb back up into the trees. If he could succeed at that, then he could see how far the fruit tree grove went.

Tarzan carefully climbed down to the jungle floor.

No sudden movements.

No sounds.

Slinking from one bush to the next, he slowly moved around the family, glancing behind him every now and then in case he saw Ejike. The worst thing he could do right now was catch the protective silverback's attention while trespassing in his territory while standing a couple yards away from his family.

It was taking longer than he had hoped making it over to the other side of the clearing. Between watching the family's movements and checking behind him every five seconds, Tarzan had only managed to make it halfway after what had to be several minutes. He paused once more behind a tree to check for Ejike again. When he did not see him, he took a deep breath and closed his eyes for a minute, willing himself to move faster so he could finish the task before nightfall—and more importantly, before Kerchak realized he was gone.

Tarzan opened his eyes and moved to glance around the tree, only to come face to face with a young female gorilla.

"Ahh!" Tarzan cried out as he fell backward, then slapped a hand over his mouth.

"Caught ya!" the young ape said, smirking at him. "Wait till Daddy sees you."

"Please don't tell him," Tarzan pleaded. "I'm no threat. I promise! I'm just trying to get to the mantamba trees to—"

"You want to steal our food?" the ape asked, a mischievous glint in her eyes as she advanced on Tarzan. "Even worse!"

"No!" Tarzan shook his head as he backed away. "Not steal it. I just want to follow the trees back out of Ejike's territory and into my own. Hopefully, it goes that far."

"I doubt it," the female said. "Daddy would have found something like that last season. We checked when your dad warned mine off. You're from Kerchak's group, right? You're that hairless wonder."

"Wait?" Tarzan froze and tilted his head at her. "You've heard of me?"

"Of course," she said, sitting down. "Almost every gorilla family has. I actually found out about you from my cousin, Mavuto, when his father shared his grounds with Daddy for a night or two. He told me all about how you saved everyone from gorilla killers."

"Yeah, I remember Mavuto," Tarzan said. "He was pretty cool. Wait, you shared territory with another family?"

"A related family. Mavuto's father is my uncle. We cross paths with each other now and then, and Daddy and Mosi never have a problem with each other. Can't say the same for other families, though."

"Right. I guess you wouldn't be open to spending a night with my family then, huh? We just want some fruit. We could share, just for a night."

"Share our food?" the ape laughed. "That's silly. Mavuto did say you were full of weird ideas."

"That sounds like something he would say," Tarzan said with a roll of his eyes. "You don't think I could ask your father, do you?"

"Are you trying to get squashed? You have some nerve coming over into our territory and demanding what is for our family. I like you. I'm Nneka."

"I'm Tarzan. Nice to meet you, Nneka."

Nneka walked out from behind the tree, jerking her head at Tarzan to follow her. He did so cautiously, moving quickly behind the bushes as he followed her through the trees and over to the fruit trees where she happily picked up a freshly fallen fruit and bit into it, humming in delight. She sat down and watched as Tarzan stared up at the fruit with a smile.

"Help yourself," she said. "You came all this way for a fruit, you might as well as have one before you go."

"You really think your father won't be open to sharing?"

"I know so. He's a stickler for the law."

Tarzan frowned in thought, but he took advantage of the opportunity presented to him and climbed up the tree for a fruit. He jumped down when he had one, sitting next to Nneka and biting into the juicy treat. It was a bite of heaven in his mind, and he closed his eyes and savored every chew before swallowing. How he would miss these so much this season. He knew the gorillas had some kind of unspoken law they instinctively followed, but Tarzan wished they would relax some of those instincts and allowed some sharing between families every now and then, not just when there was an emergency.

That one fruit lasted five minutes as Tarzan really took his time enjoying each bite while mulling over what he should do next. He wasn't sure it was worth trying to convince Ejike to share his food, especially with Nneka's conviction that her father would not anyway. And if she was being honest, then the fruit trees did not go past her father's territory. He really was out of luck for the season.

"I'm going to miss this fruit," Tarzan said once he was finished with his. He looked up at the trees with a sad look. "But I guess it's fair your family gets to enjoy them."

"It's been a couple years since we've had the chance to," Nneka said. "Other families always beat us to it, especially yours. You have a pretty good leader."

"Thanks. Yours is pretty good too to beat my dad here."

"What is the meaning of this?" a deep voice said.

Tarzan gasped and jumped to his feet as Ejike weaved his way through the fruit trees directly for him. Nneka stood up as well, placing herself between Tarzan and her father, though she lowered herself submissively.

"Daddy," she said, "it's okay. This is Tarzan. He's my friend."

"A friend who has trespassed," Ejike snarled, though he did slow down as he neared his daughter. His eyes, however, remained pinned on Tarzan, and the silverback bared his teeth at him. "And is stealing our food."

"I was just leaving," Tarzan said with a submissive smile.

"He only had one fruit," Nneka said. "I let him. It's my fault. He meant no harm—he's the hairless wonder that saved the gorilla families a couple years ago. He deserves a fruit, right?"

"That's not how the jungle works," Ejike snarled. "I'm sure it has already repaid him for his service. No, this is a new offense. And it deserves punishment."

"Daddy," Nneka tried to say.

"Stand aside," Ejike demanded.

Nneka hesitated, glancing back at Tarzan with a concerned look. Tarzan returned the look, and in his head, he was prepared to turn and run as fast as he could back toward his own family. Hopefully he could do so without getting crushed by an angry silverback.

Before Nneka could obey her father's order, several low, submissive grunts emitted from the trees, and all eyes turned to see Kerchak step through the clearing of Ejike's family. Kerchak kept his head low, eyes downcast, and he continued to let out soft grunts as he made his way over toward Ejike, Nneka, and Tarzan. The other gorillas in the family parted slightly for him, some baring teeth while others watched the show curiously.

"Well, look who it is," Ejike commented as he watched the submissive display from Kerchak. "That's rather daring. I wonder what he's come for."

Ejike glared at Tarzan, who offered another submissive smile while cheering for joy on the inside.

"Kerchak," Ejike greeted coldly when Kerchak was finally close enough. "Lose something?"

"Afraid so," Kerchak said, sending a glare to his son before he turned his attention to Ejike. "My apologies, Ejike. My son is still very much a child. I will make sure this does not happen again."

Tarzan blushed at those words, though given the situation, he knew he deserved it. He tried to walk over to Kerchak, only for Ejike to block his path with an outstretched arm and a demanding snarl that made Tarzan shrink back.

"But old enough to be a hero," Ejike said to Kerchak. "I'd say that's old enough to know better and accept punishment for a wrongdoing."

"Look at him, he's not a typical gorilla. You'd kill him."

"Perhaps death is what the jungle feels he deserves. If he can't handle the consequences, perhaps you should have instilled in him a better understanding of the laws of the jungle. As you know, any insubordination is a punishable offense within the family and especially to those outside of the family."

Kerchak bared his teeth for a moment before sighing and lowering his head.

"You are right. I should have instilled a better understanding of the laws of the jungle in my son. I have failed to do so; therefore, his mistake of trespassing is on me."

"Are you saying you will take the burden of your son's punishment?" Ejike tilted his head curiously at Kerchak. "You, Kerchak?"

Tarzan gasped, staring at his father in surprise and concern.

"Dad, no," he said, moving forward once more, only for Ejike to step in front of him and snarl at him. He froze again, his protests dying on his lips.

"Stand down, Tarzan," Kerchak said in a firm tone. "That is an order. Do not disobey."

Tarzan could hear the warning loud and clear in his father's voice: stay put and stay out of the way for once. He lowered himself submissively before Ejike, and the silverback frowned at him before turning his attention back to Kerchak. Ejike bared his teeth at Kerchak as he stepped closer to the other ape.

"This is all rather unconventional," Ejike said, circling Kerchak slowly. "Especially coming from you. I suppose I should not be surprised considering the hairless wonder you claim as your heir."

Kerchak did not move. He simply waited and listened.

"You can't protect him from himself forever. If you expect him to be a good heir, he will have to learn that every action has consequences someday. Since I am being merciful on your behalf, I will make this a good lesson for him."

In a flash, Ejike rose on two, and with a roar, he slashed at Kerchak's face, striking the other silverback as hard as he could, and Kerchak stumbled slightly as he bit back a pained growl. He caught himself before he fell over, though his eyes remained closed for a minute as he took several deep breaths. A couple scratches on his face started to bleed a bit.

Tarzan stared widely at his father, wincing in sympathy at the wounds. He could only imagine what Ejike had intended to do to him, and whether he would still be standing after like Kerchak was. Nneka had closed her eyes, not wanting to watch whatever would happen, and after hearing silence for a minute, she opened her eyes, sharing a sympathetic wince herself at the sight of Kerchak.

Finally, Kerchak opened his eyes and met Ejike's.

"Consider your son's punishment served," Ejike said. "Collect him and leave."

At those words, Tarzan shared one last look with Nneka before he carefully walked past Ejike and over to Kerchak.

"Dad, I didn't mean for—ahh!"

It happened so fast, Tarzan felt the wind knocked out of him as Kerchak grabbed his son, flipped him over, and pinned him down on his back before releasing a loud roar. Tarzan closed his eyes with a flinch as his ears rang from the volume.

"Now your punishment is served," Kerchak snarled at him.

Tarzan was released, and he shakily rolled over and shook himself off, trying to shake off the ringing in his ears. He didn't have long to do that as Kerchak grabbed his arm and lifted him to his back. Tarzan caught Ejike's smug look as Kerchak turned to leave the family grounds, and he lowered his head to avoid any other looks, the tips of his ears burning.

It was a long walk back as Kerchak had to move out of Ejike's territory and back to his own. Tarzan could feel his father's tension and anger in hot waves as they traveled, and he felt awful for being the cause of it. The silence did not help his nerves, but he could not think of a single thing to say at the moment. He had been so foolish in thinking that he could secure his family any fruit. And he had been more foolish crossing into another silverback's territory and nearly getting himself killed. Though having Kerchak take a punishment for him was just as awful, and Tarzan would have preferred a beating from Ejike instead. He hated seeing his father hurt in any way, and he winced each time Kerchak paused to rub a palm at his cut cheek.

Looking around, Tarzan recognized one of the trees they were walking by, and he quickly snatched a leaf off the tree. He chewed an edge until he could taste the internal sap, then he massaged the leaf, pushing the sap out of it and into his hand. Once he had as much sap as he could milk out of the leaf, he smeared the sap over the leaf, spreading it into an even, thick coat.

Carefully, he crawled up his father's back until he could reach Kerchak's shoulder. Slowly, he reached for the wounds on Kerchak's cheek and applied the leaf to the scratches, pushing the sap into the wounds.

Kerchak growled as he yanked his head away, but Tarzan kept the leaf over the wounds. After a few seconds, Kerchak relaxed as the cool sap offered some pain relief and he glanced up at his son briefly before sighing heavily and continuing down the path, allowing his son to hold the leaf to his face as he walked.

"I am very disappointed in you," Kerchak said, and Tarzan felt a pang of hurt in his chest at the words. "What were you thinking trespassing into Ejike's territory? You are very lucky I had some idea of what you might be up to when I couldn't find you earlier or Ejike would have beat you to death."

"I was just trying to help," Tarzan said, his eyes watering slightly.

"By getting yourself killed?"

"No, I thought I could see if there were any fruit trees not in Ejike's family grounds. I wasn't planning on getting caught or staying in his territory for long. I was going to follow the fruit trees back out to neutral ground."

"You never should have gone near his boundaries, especially after his first warning. We talked about this."

"I didn't think something like this would happen."

"Which is why you can't take these kinds of risks. You are very lucky he didn't pummel you as soon as he saw you, which would have been well within his rights to do so."

"He would have if Nneka didn't stop him." Tarzan paused before saying, "You didn't have to take my punishment for me. I'm sorry you're hurt because of me."

Kerchak's eyes softened as he glanced up at his son once more.

"I would do it all again for you," he said. "Though I do hope something like this does not happen again."

"Never," Tarzan agreed.

"Good." Kerchak scanned his surroundings, and Tarzan was happy to see that they were no longer in Ejike's territory. Kerchak pulled his head away from the leaf Tarzan was holding against his cheek. "Enough with that. Hop down, let me have a look at you."

Tarzan tossed the leaf aside and jumped off his father's back.

"I'm fine," he said. "He never got me or anything."

Kerchak sniffed his son anyway, making sure there were no injuries on his son. Tarzan waited patiently, his eyes lingering on the two deep scratches on his father's face. He was sure the wounds would scar, though with the thick fur, no one would see them. At least the wounds were no longer bleeding, and the gel from the plant he had used was good for helping the pain as well as healing.

"I think we had a misunderstanding," Kerchak finally said once he was satisfied Tarzan was not harmed. "Ejike's family was first to the fruit trees, therefore, his territory covers the entirety of those grounds. If you had told me of your foolish plan, I could have told you that. Furthermore, you and your peers have been fortunate enough to have not experienced draught or famine, but it is always a very real possibility for your elders who have. When we come across resources, we use what is available for our family while it remains available. Sharing with families outside our own is not an option. The jungle can only give so much to so many at any given time. It is not viable for the forest to feed everyone all year round without growing exhausted. That will only encourage more draught and famine. That is why we do not share."

"I didn't think of it like that. That makes sense. I still don't like that we are missing out."

"These are the laws of the jungle. They are not always in our favor, but they are more than fair." Kerchak narrowed his eyes at his son. "Don't you ever pull a stunt like what you did today again. You could have been easily killed."

"I won't. I'm sorry."

"You had me so worried," Kerchak said, leaning forward and touching his forehead to Tarzan's. "The last thing I want is to lose you. You know I love you very much."

"I know," Tarzan said. "I love you, too, Dad."

"You are very much grounded by the way."

"Yeah, I thought you'd say that."

Kerchak snorted, then nudged his son in the direction of the family.

"Come. Let's head home. I'm sure your mother is very worried about you. Kaphi as well."

Without so much as a glance back, Tarzan followed his father to his own family grounds, ready for a nice dinner and cozying up in his nest with his family. Kala was all over Kerchak's wound, grooming and cleaning it before adding a few scolding words herself to Tarzan before pulling him into a hug and stating how glad she was that he was safe. Kaphi tackled her brother and they wrestled for a bit while Kaphi informed her brother how disappointed she was to be left out of his misadventure, though Tarzan was glad she had not followed him. He told her about Nneka during dinner, and he was exhausted by bedtime, falling asleep quickly, snuggled up against his sister and cuddled between his parents.