Eight-year-old Tarzan slowly crept toward the riverbend, just out of sight of the family, where he proceeded to jump into the cool water. On a hot day like this, the water was very relaxing on his overheated skin, and he relished the feeling, closing his eyes. Tarzan floated in the water for a minute, backstroking through the gentle current. He opened his eyes in time to see a crocodile just inches from his head.
"Ah!" Tarzan cried out, quickly swimming back to the bank, the crocodile following him with its jaws open. Tarzan ran up the bank and back toward the family, diving under Kerchak, who turned to face the threat chasing his son.
The crocodile drew to a halt as Kerchak grunted at the animal, and it wisely turned around and slithered back into the river. Tarzan smirked, then grunted at the retreating crocodile himself. Kerchak looked down at his son, taking in his sopping hair.
"I thought I told you no jumping in," Kerchak said.
"It was just a quick swim," Tarzan said as he shook himself off, spraying Kerchak. "I didn't see any crocodiles before getting in."
"And that is how they trick you," Kerchak said. He let out a short roar, informing the family it was time to leave the river where everyone was getting a drink. He turned and started heading back for the jungle, Tarzan running after him.
"Hey, Dad," Tarzan began as he climbed up his father to get on his back. Kerchak assisted Tarzan briefly before continuing through the jungle. "When we get back home, do you think we can wrestle?"
"Let me make my rounds first, then I think that can be arranged."
"Yes! I've been practicing some new moves with Terk. I think I'll finally pin you this time."
"We'll see about that."
When the family returned to their usual grounds, Kerchak performed a mental headcount of the family before making his usual rounds around the boundary's perimeter, leaving Tarzan waiting at their nest, though Tarzan amused himself by playing with his two-year-old sister.
"Now, you want to stand tall and look strong," Tarzan said, correcting Kaphi's stance by widening her front legs and patting her under the chin to raise her head up more. "You're tough, right?"
"Kaphi tough!" Kaphi declared, pounding on her chest.
"Alright, now tackle me," Tarzan said, bracing himself for Kaphi's attack.
Kaphi clumsily charged her brother, tripping over her own feet, but that didn't stop her advance as she fell into her brother and latched on to his arm, mouthing him gently. Tarzan rolled her over his back and pinned her on her back in the nest. She used her back feet to kick at Tarzan and rolled out of his hold, then charged again, wrapping her arms around Tarzan's neck. Tarzan allowed himself to fall back in the nest as if he was really struggling against her, then he managed to grab Kaphi with his own feet and lift her up in the air briefly, earning squeals of delight.
Tarzan lowered her back down and rolled away from her, and she chased after him. At the last second, Tarzan grabbed Kaphi and pinned her to his side so he could tickle her, and she laughed again, kicking her feet. She retaliated by trying to tickle her brother back, but Tarzan managed to trap her arms with his feet and continued to tickle her.
"Mercy, mercy!" Kaphi pleaded, a big grin on her face.
"Torturing your little sister?" Kerchak asked as he walked over to their nest.
"Just warming up," Tarzan said, releasing Kaphi who shook herself off. "We can wrestle now, right?"
"After we get you cleaned up," Kerchak said, settling his son between his legs to pick through the child's hair and he pulled out leaves and twigs. "How you manage to get so filthy in a few minutes will never cease to amaze me."
"We were just wrestling," Tarzan complained, unable to escape as Kerchak held him down with his feet, knowing how much his son didn't enjoy grooming sessions. Kerchak ignored him as he used his mouth to pull off a few ticks he came across. "I'm just going to get dirty again."
Kaphi giggled at her brother's predicament before trying to scramble away when her mother approached the nest, but she was too slow, and her mother snatched her and she was subjected to the same treatment as Tarzan, though she had less complaints.
"Dad, come on," Tarzan whined, squirming slightly as he tried to free himself from his father's hold. "You're going to want to groom me again after we wrestle anyway. This isn't fair."
"Be still," Kerchak chided as he dusted some dirt off Tarzan's skin with his hands, then proceeded to search for anymore pests. He used his mouth to remove another crawling bug off Tarzan's neck, not surprised when Tarzan laughed and scrunched his neck at the ticklish feeling.
Ready to end the grooming session, Kerchak mouthed Tarzan's neck again, tickling him again and earning more laughter as the child squirmed away from him, falling over in Kerchak's lap and pushing his father's head away when Kerchak tried to tickle him again.
And so, a wrestling match ensued, with Tarzan trying to find some kind of advantage over Kerchak but failing in the end. He tried softly biting, charging and tackling, and climbing on his father's back, but somehow, he would end up flipped over and pinned down, usually with some tickling or play biting, Kerchak being extra mindful of Tarzan's small frame. Kerchak was gentle and patient with Tarzan's many varied attempts at trying to take him down, and he enjoyed the one-on-one time with his son. Wrestling was one of Tarzan's favorite games to play with Kerchak when his father wasn't busy, and he always went all in with new moves he may have picked up from the other gorilla children, and by the time he tried everything, he was usually exhausted and ready for a nap.
And today was no different. When Kerchak managed to pin Tarzan under him for a fourteenth time, Tarzan didn't resist Kerchak's playful bite, which clued in Kerchak that wrestle time was over, and Kerchak settled into the nest next to Tarzan, who yawned and curled up next to his father.
Covered in leaves and debris again, Kerchak carefully picked through Tarzan's hair, removing the leaf litter, and occasionally leaning in close to snag a bug with his mouth. Tarzan laughed softly.
"See?" Tarzan said. "I told you you'd want to groom me again."
"Hush and take a nap, you little imp," Kerchak said, continuing his grooming while Tarzan laughed again.
Kerchak was staring off into the trees as he recalled that memory of a young Tarzan so long ago, reliant on his parents for survival, and so small and vulnerable to the jungle. When did his kids grow up into strong and independent adults? It all seemed to happen so fast. As much as he wanted to see his kids grow up and take on the world, a small part of him had wished they would stay small and reliant on him forever.
"On guard, Kerchak?" Kala asked, interrupting his reverie.
"What?" Kerchak swung his head and stared at Kala for a moment, pulling himself back to the present. He scanned the trees for any predators, even knowing that risks were low in the middle of the day. "Oh, sorry. I was just thinking."
"About?"
"When our children were young and still needed us."
"They'll always need us, dear," Kala said, sitting next to her mate. "Even when we're long gone, they will carry us in their hearts."
"I know," Kerchak said with a heavy sigh. "Sometimes I wish they weren't so independent. And back-talkers."
Kala chuckled at that.
"They are strong-minded apes," she said. She shouldered Kerchak playfully. "Like someone else I know."
Kerchak offered Kala a smile.
"You're right," Kerchak conceded. "I do miss when they were our little apes but I'm proud of who they've grown up to be."
"Me too."
"I should check on them," Kerchak said, turning away from Kala. "I feel like I've been a little hard on Tarzan the last few days. I'd like to talk with him again."
"Oh yes," Kala said, her tone changing slightly. "I came to tell you so you wouldn't freak out that Tarzan is . . . well, not here."
Kerchak growled under his breath slightly.
Tarzan helped Jane across the unsteady rope ladder, being mindful of any weak rungs. Jane moved a bit slower than Tarzan, taking every step he took. Once they were across the main ladder, Tarzan grabbed a vine and had Jane hold on to his waist while he pulled them up to the large treehouse. Finally, they were on the small porch, and he opened the door for Jane to walk through first.
"Oh, wow!" Jane exclaimed for the second time now that she was up close and personal with the treehouse. She spun as she took everything in. "This place is so exquisite!"
Tarzan stepped in after her, smiling as he watched her appreciate every detail.
"Who built this? Did you?" Jane asked.
"No," Tarzan answered. "My . . . first parents."
"Your first parents?"
Tarzan shuffled forward, finding the picture frame he left on a desk and holding it out to Jane. She accepted the frame and stared down sadly at the picture.
"Oh, I see. What happened to them?"
"They killed by Sabor."
"Sabor?" Jane frowned at Tarzan.
"A . . ." Tarzan struggled to remember the word he had just learned from Jane's reading lessons, and he made a few gorilla noises before recalling the word. "A leopard."
Jane's eyes widened as she stared at the photo a moment longer.
"How terrible. How old were you when that happened?"
Tarzan tapped the baby in the image.
"Tarzan, that is so tragic! I'm so sorry."
Tarzan shook his head and said, "I don't remember them. I know the gorillas as my family until my mother showed me here."
"You mean your . . . gorilla mother?"
"Yes."
"What compassionate animals. I would never have thought a gorilla would accept an orphaned human baby into their family, but this is remarkable that she took you in and raised you as her own. A true, loving family with an ability to extend empathy to creatures outside their own. Tarzan, your story and all you know about gorillas could make headlines all over the world."
Tarzan did not know what Jane was talking about, so he only smiled at her and let her continue exploring the treehouse. Jane studied some of the papers and journals that were left behind all those years ago, still sitting on a desk untouched as Tarzan never knew what to make of them. Jane opened a journal and read the first page, her mouth falling open, and she glanced at Tarzan.
"What?" Tarzan asked, coming to stand next to her.
"This journal belonged to your father," Jane said. "He writes that there was mutiny onboard the Viscount . . ."
"Viscount?"
"Probably the name of the ship," Jane explained before reading on. "The crew set fire to the ship and abandoned my wife, child, and I, escaping in one of the emergency lifeboats after trapping my family in the Captain's Quarters. I managed to bust the door and freed my family as fire ravaged the ship, and after making sure my wife and child were secure in a lifeboat, I lowered it to the ocean floor, only for a blast from somewhere on the ship to knock me off my feet.
"I was able to jump off the Viscount just before she sank and climbed into the lifeboat where Alice and my son were safe and sound. We rowed to a nearby island and . . . well, I'm afraid the rest isn't legible, looks like there's some water damage." Jane tilted the book this way and that to try and make out the rest of the page.
"Alice?" Tarzan asked.
"That must have been your mother's name," Jane said. She flipped the journal to the inside of the cover. "And your father was John Greystoke."
"John Greystoke," Tarzan repeated, though he felt no connection to the name, but it was nice to put a name to the face in the picture. He looked down at the frame and stared at his father first, then his mother. "Alice."
"Yes," Jane said encouragingly. "Your parents' names."
A thought suddenly hit Tarzan and he looked up at Jane.
"My name?" Tarzan asked.
"Your name?" Jane carefully flipped through the fragile pages in search of any mention of the baby's name. She frowned and shook her head slowly. "I'm sorry, Tarzan, if it's in here, I can't make it out. The journal is not well preserved."
Tarzan lowered his head in defeat, but he also felt slightly relieved that his previous name was nowhere to be found. He wasn't sure what kind of identity crisis he would fall into if he was told his first name. Knowing his first parents' names was enough for him. It closed one mystery he never would have been able to solve on his own. He was glad he had brought Jane to the treehouse.
After drawing the treehouse in her sketchbook (and remarking on the design and how long it must have taken to build), Jane was ready to head back to camp, and Tarzan swung his way through the trees with Jane and returned her to the campground. He was about to leave to get back to his family before his father noticed him missing when Jane stopped him.
"You're leaving so soon?" Jane asked.
"There you are," Clayton snapped, marching over to them. "Where have you been? To see the gorillas?"
"I'm afraid not," Jane said sadly, glancing at Tarzan as she held her sketchbook in her arms.
"We've wasted all this time on what he wants!" Clayton said. Porter also walked over to where Clayton and Jane were. "The boat could arrive any day, now ask him straight out!"
"Tarzan, please," Jane asked. "Can you take us to the gorillas?"
Tarzan hesitated as he stared at Jane's pleading face, wanting nothing more than to show the way to his family for her. But he couldn't do that. He would not go against his father's wishes, no matter how safe he thought these new strangers were.
"I can't," Tarzan said.
"What?" Clayton and Porter said at the same time.
"Why not, Tarzan?" Jane asked.
"My father," Tarzan answered.
"Your father? Oh, you mean . . . your gorilla father?"
Tarzan nodded, then turned and took off into the jungle as fast as he could without another word. If Kerchak saw he was missing, he was sure his father would freak out on him when he got back. He had been lucky the last few days, slipping away when he knew his father would be busy but always returning in time before Kerchak realized he was even gone. It helped that Kerchak was laxer about how often he expected Tarzan or even Kaphi to check in with him now that they were older, but that could always change, especially during this stressful time with the strangers. Seeing the sun in the sky, Tarzan knew he was a bit behind schedule, so he could only hope that no one noticed his absence.
Tarzan panted as he made it back to the family grounds, slipping around everyone and making a beeline for the nest he shared with his family. He could pretend that he had napped for most of the day if he could snuggle into his nest unseen.
Carefully glancing around his nesting ground, he did not see any member of his family, so he made a dash for his nest, only to be intercepted by a very angry Kerchak halfway there.
"Dad," Tarzan greeted with a submissive smile as he slowly backed away from Kerchak's advances. "I was . . . uhh . . ."
"Where have you been?" Kerchak asked.
"Around," was Tarzan's too quick response, and he winced at his own words.
"Around where?" Kerchak pressed.
Tarzan startled as he backed up into a tree and was effectively cornered by his father. His heart was racing in his ears as he fought his mind for a plausible explanation that did not involve "spending time with the new strangers like me." Unfortunately, he didn't get a chance to come up with an excuse as Kerchak sniffed him over and snarled at him again.
"You were around man!" Kerchak concluded. "The new strangers."
Tarzan cursed himself for not jumping into a river or puddle or something on the way home as he usually did, but the gorilla question from Jane had really thrown him off earlier. His father had learned the scent of man from Tarzan's numerous adventures chasing off poachers, of course he would pick it up on him now.
"They mean no harm," Tarzan tried to explain. "I will not lead them to our family, I promise, but I do want to . . ."
"I asked you to stay away from them," Kerchak said, glaring at his son.
"I know, but I can't!" Tarzan said. "I need to know what they're like, where they're from, what other man is like. They're not all poachers, Dad. These ones are friendly, and they've done no harm to the jungle or to us!"
"That does not matter, you—once again—defiantly disobeyed me," Kerchak snapped, baring his teeth. "You've undermined my authority, snuck around behind my back, and you've challenged every one of my rules I set for you for your safety and the safety of this family!"
"Well, I wouldn't have to if you weren't such a mistrusting, judgmental, and stubborn ape!" Tarzan yelled back.
Kerchak roared and reared up, striking out with a hand, and Tarzan closed his eyes with a flinch, prepared for a strike. But instead, he felt the tree vibrate behind him from the force Kerchak struck it with, leaves falling around him.
"Kerchak!" Kala called as she ran over to them, pausing a few feet away from them, her eyes wide as she glanced back and forth between her mate and her son.
Kerchak glared down at his son who gave him an apprehensive look. As he stared him down, all he could see was the little eight-year-old child who looked up at him with admiration and trust, the little ape he had to protect and nurture, and he found his anger slowly slipping away into something more saddened and relenting. He recalled similar feelings when Kala first brought Tarzan to their family as a young infant, and he knew he would have to make a hard decision if he didn't want to chase his son away. He sighed heavily as he dropped down to all fours and backed up a few steps, giving his son some space to catch his breath.
"Nothing I tell you," Kerchak began in a bit of a defeated tone, "will you keep you from seeing those strangers."
Tarzan wasn't sure if he was supposed to say anything when Kerchak paused, so he kept his mouth shut and waited to see where this was going, not moving away from the tree in the slightest.
"You may see the strangers," Kerchak said, surprising Tarzan, and Kala, who was close enough to hear them. Tarzan gave his father a surprised look. Kerchak continued. "However, they are not to come around here. You will keep them away from the family until I say otherwise, if ever."
Tarzan lowered himself more to remain as appeasing as possible to Kerchak as he nodded his head.
"I mean that, Tarzan. You will protect this family and keep them away. I do not care how harmless you think they are. Do not disobey me on that or there will be dire consequences."
Kerchak did not want to have to follow through on any "dire consequences" so he hoped that Tarzan heeded his words now that he was giving his son free range with the strangers, and he wouldn't have to sneak around to see them. Besides, he felt like he had frightened his son enough for one day—for one lifetime, and the guilt was starting to creep inside him.
"Yes, Dad," Tarzan said in a near whisper, offering another submissive, though shaky, smile. "Thank you."
Kerchak stared at his son a moment longer before slowly turning away and returning to the family, performing his usual rounds to cool off and distract himself for a moment, leaving Tarzan to come to terms with what had just happened.
Tarzan was still catching his breath as he leaned heavily against the tree, remembering how it shook when Kerchak struck it, and he briefly wondered how much control Kerchak had exerted to keep from striking him personally. It all left him a bit shaky. He had made his father angry many times growing up, but never to the point Kerchak had lashed out at him in such a way. He had seen Kerchak beat other apes that stepped out of line, as was law in the jungle, but he had managed to avoid that growing up and even now. He was very grateful Kerchak was feeling merciful.
Kala rushed over to Tarzan and looked him over.
"Are you okay?" Kala asked.
"I'm okay," Tarzan said. He slowly pulled himself away from the tree, his arms still shaky as he walked. "He didn't hit me. Just the tree."
"Tarzan, you must respect your father's wishes," Kala said. "I don't want you two fighting all the time; it's going to keep escalating until someone gets hurt."
"I know. I'm sorry. I do respect Dad's wishes, but I am learning so much about my species that I had no clue about before. I can't stop seeing them, but I promise, I won't ever bring them to the family." Tarzan rubbed his arm as he looked down at the ground. "I just wish Dad could see what I see."
Kala gave Tarzan a sad look. She nuzzled her son.
"He's afraid of losing you," Kala said, "to these strangers. As am I."
A tear escaped Kala's eye, rolling down her cheek.
"But no matter what happens, you will always be our son."
Tarzan seemed to realize what his mother was implying, and he comforted her with a hug.
"I don't have any plans of leaving," Tarzan said. "You are my family."
Kala gave her son a teary smile, nuzzling him once more.
Kaphi walked over to them, checking on her brother with concerned eyes.
"What happened between you and Dad?" she asked. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine," Tarzan laughed softly as he shuffled over to his sister and nuzzled her. "I just pulled another one of my stunts and Dad's furious with me. Nothing new."
Kaphi had a disbelieving look but smiled at her brother's reassurances.
"I am a bit tired, so I think I'll go to bed early tonight," Tarzan said, truly feeling exhausted from the adrenaline rush that was seeping out of his body quickly.
"You should eat something," Kaphi insisted, snatching fallen fruit and running ahead to pull some roots before returning to Tarzan, who had made his way over to his nest. He smiled at his sister's attempt to make him feel better and accepted the food from her, if only to make her happy. He chewed on a root, wanting something extra chewy to occupy his mind while he settled in his nest, the shakiness in his body finally going away.
Tarzan understood Kerchak's side of things. Man had never come to the jungle for good things before. The off chance that these strangers were truly good was slim, but Tarzan was hopeful and very optimistic, especially where Jane was concerned. Perhaps he could try and investigate them a little to see if there was anything they were hiding from him. He had always been good at snooping around poacher camps before. If he found anything alarming, he had his proof that they were up to no good.
If he found nothing—he had his proof that he had been right about these strangers all along.
Later that night, after making all his rounds and keeping himself as occupied as possible, Kerchak finally made his way over to his shared nests with his family. He still wasn't sure if he had made the right choice or not regarding Tarzan visiting the strangers, but he wouldn't take back what he said. That would only cause more trouble than it was worth. He thought back to Tarzan's look when he had struck the tree above him.
Fear. He had made his son afraid of him at that moment. He didn't think he had ever seen Tarzan more submissive toward him than after that horrible lapse in judgement.
He had never struck out at Tarzan before. Oh, many incidents had brought him close, but he had never lost control like that on either of his kids. Regret was eating away at him now. As angry as he was, Kerchak had to admit that fear had been a part of that incident as much as anger had been. He had been afraid for Tarzan. And what if Tarzan chose to stay with the strangers and left with them when they inevitably left the jungle? What if the strangers did mean harm and were waiting to attack at the right moment? What if he failed to keep his family safe? What if he failed to keep his son safe? He didn't want to lose either.
But trying to forbid Tarzan from seeing the strangers was proving impossible. Tarzan's curiosity was always his weakness, though sometimes it proved to be a strength as well. Which way it would go in this case was too hard to say, and honestly, only time would reveal it. He just hoped Tarzan had a plan for when things went awry.
Kerchak slowed down as he reached his nest that he shared with Kala. Kaphi was snuggled up against her mother, as she usually was each night, but Tarzan was in his own nest, forgotten fruit and roots lying around him.
Stepping closer to Tarzan and quickly seeing that he was asleep. Kerchak smiled softly at his son before grabbing the fruit and chucking it away from Tarzan's nest as quietly as he could. Leaving food near the nests overnight attracted every pest possible, but he figured Tarzan had exhausted himself so much he had no energy left to remove the food from his nest before falling asleep.
Kerchak could still smell the scent of man on his son, and he made a mental note to remind Tarzan to rinse off in some water before coming home from visits with the strangers. There was no need to alarm the rest of the family. Besides, he didn't particularly like the smell.
Kerchak leaned over Tarzan and scanned him for any injuries, making sure he hadn't actually struck him anywhere. He was pretty sure he only hit the tree, but the moment had been so clouded with emotion he wasn't even sure anymore. When he found no traces of bruises or even a small scratch, Kerchak breathed a small sigh of relief, gently nuzzling his son before retreating to his own nest and settling in next to Kala. What an awful end to the day, Kerchak couldn't help but think.
So, minor changes to Tarzan's background, but I didn't want to make him related to Clayton, so that's the reason for that. Thanks for reading! More to come, of course!