It was Dawn, the forest was just becoming alive with birds rising from their nests and antelope moving across dew coated grass and dirt. Sun was their wake up call but not only for them but the other residents who called this forest their home.Cold crisp air nipped at the faces of the young apes as they trailed behind their leader for patrol and gathering that day, not only where they not thrilled to be awoken before anyone else in village to do patrol but their leader chosen for them this day wasn't their desired choice...Most would consider it an honor to have the scarred ape before them to teach them, not only was he a great warrior and hunter but advisor to the King and an honorary uncle to their prince but Koba was known to be very rough at times with with many of the warriors under him that was downright cruel at times, sure they had Rocket as a mentor before and he was no pleasure either but they would have preferred him over Koba any day.
"Out everyone we end up with Koba, must be bad day for us" A thin dark grey chimp signed to his friend as they knuckles through the forest.
The chubby grey chimp with white scruff of fur on top his head couldn't have agreed more at this as he yawned" and why wake up so early? we could be sleeping." He signed as he scratched his chest lightly
The thin chimp grinned a bit and nudged his friend playful" You too lazy Cloud, need more exercise" he signed before pointing to the ape called Cloud's chubby belly.
Cloud rolled his eyes before he shoved his friend lightly" I'm not need exercise Rain you just jealous my body stronger than yours" he signed back to him with a smirk, Rain hooted in amusement and it wasn't long before they began game of playful shoving each other. For a little bit it made them forget about their displeasure of their placement or about their exhaustion.
But their good moment was soon cut short by the angry chuff of the elder ape in front of them making them stop them movements and the playful hooting ceased as the smiles dropped to see the one good eye of the scarred bonobo staring them down as he stood up on his two legs walking over to them. The two young males right away became intimidated but the stronger older male making avert their eyes down to the ground as she became meek and docile.
" Wasting time, acting like children, you are warriors for village, we have job to do " he signed fast clearly he wasn't in good by their antics even if it was just a little fun between friends.
He huffed slightly his glare softened but not completely gone" ape obey Koba, Caesar tasked us with this, don't make Koba look like bad ape" he signed before turning to knuckle up a head.
Both of them became deathly silent after this...all the apes knew just how greatly the scarred bonobo thought of Caesar, both of them considered themselves close as family...honorary brothers. Koba cared a great deal about how the King saw him and showing his importance to him, they knew better not ruin his image in the wise rulers eyes
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Iris sat on a rock near the river bank with one knee near her leg while they other was spread out,watching the water move downstream gently causing small ripples of disturbance to form in it. Her faithful champion Bruce laid right next to her rock watching the water as well taking a few glances between his owner and there water every now and then even whining a bit, the brunette sighed as she began to tie up her long hair" I know this is boring boy but we have to wait to see if we get a catch today or else we won't much food this week" She told him which only made him whine more as he rested his head against the pebbles below him.
The young woman bundled herself in her brown old jacket feeling the chill of the morning air, winter was getting closer and closer by the day which meant she had to quickly stock up more food for her and the German Shepherd because once the first snow fell food would become very scarce. Iris woke up even before the crack of dawn to set up up the fishing net into the river which was a really a pleasant feeling in her bare feet with the water being colder than ice and would make hisd out but since she kept going in and out the water so many times to check the net the last couple hours her feet and most of her legs had become numb, she decided to check one last time for the day because she knew she get frostbite from the water alone pretty soon.
" Ok one more time" she grunted a bit as she took off her hiking boots and rolled up her jeans again before getting off the rock making her way back into the water, Bruce sat up as she did waiting to see if they would stay or go.
Iris moved some loose hair out her face but not before rolling up her sleeves as she buried her arms into the deep for the net feeling needles of the cold water nip at her arms. When she dragged it back up to the surface she found her net revealed that it did have catch but it wasn't the outcome she was hoping for" Damn...only two measly fish" she said in frustration as pulled the net out the river with her.
Bruce stood up excited to his owner comes back with the net" Well we caught something boy... though our catch wasn't as good today" she petted him with her wet hands which made him close his eyes and wince as he shook his head from the uncomfortable feeling of the cold water making shake his head.
Iris laughed a bit at this" Sorry buddy" she replied while putting her boots back on" time to go home ok" she said as she got her pack next to the rock she had been sitting on slung it over her shoulder and the net of fish in her hand" Com'on Bruce let's go home," she said as she gestured for him to follow her, the dog barked in response and went over to her quickly as he wagged his tail as they left the river bank.
The young woman decided it was enough time for outside for that day after the disappointment of the catch and to mention both of them were tired of cold in general…treading across the forest damp soil plain the scarred woman couldn't help but worry about the predicament of winter to come...it seemed like the fish were already moving up stream due the water getting colder due upcoming winter, it would be simple if she could change her fishing spot to follow where the fish were going but it wasn't...the fact of the matter is why she chose that spot was because it was isolated from the apes. She worked very hard to live unnoticeably and quietly in the woods for the last couple years and didn't want to risk of getting caught now...she had nowhere else to go...her own kind didn't want her..and she had no doubt apes wouldn't be too thrilled with her being here either...most importantly she didn't want to run into him.
It wasn't like she didn't want to see him...she missed him...she missed him so much it hurts...it hurt not to be with probably the only family she had left..but she knew better...she couldn't reveal herself...she couldn't ruin what created..what he had now...she couldn't him involved with everything messed up about her.
Bruce who looked up at Iris wondering what was wrong soon snapped his head in another direction as his ears began to twitch as he just stood there frozen looking off into the forest through the trees, the brunette noticed his reaction and her brow rose puzzled" Hey what's wrong boy" she said as she petted his head.
But she soon realized what was wrong as she felt the ground shake softly beneath her feet, the trees rattled, morning dew falling off leaves and plants falling down below, her eyes widened and she became cautious" Stampede…" she said quietly.
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Rain and Cloud had split up with Koba some time ago though they knew he wasn't far from them, he was their leader for the day so he had to still monitor them. The two young males just searched solemnly around the vicinity looking for the items that Caesar had tasked them gather for that day which where reeds, canopy leaves, and berries.
" Koba thinks we stupid, that he better, he mean" Cloud signed to the thin ape next to him as he moved some plants and branches around trying to find what they came out to scavage for.
Rain could help but chuff in an agreement at this" Yes he scares me sometimes" the other sign to his friend before looking over the forest floor searching too.
They couldn't fathom how most in looked up to the older male in tribe, sure they could respect how he helped fight for their freedom and building their way of life they had now away from human cruelty and slavery but but the other half was often put off how hateful he could be speacilly when he talked about the humans...they look in his eyes when he told his stories filled malice, bloodlust, and satisfaction as he talked about the evil human and then finally getting to kill them, the ones who took to his stories and respected him the most out the young apes would probably be the prince himself and arrogant ape Fox, Cloud and Rains parents while resentful of humans like any other didn't like the hate Koba was teaching.
Worried greatly how it would affect their children they didn't let Rain and Cloud be around the scarred ape much as children and quite frankly Cloud was thankful for this, he remembered hearing a story when he was very young from Koba that made very unsettled...he didn't want to hear much from after that. Many of the parents had become unsettled by Koba during the past that they reported to Caesar, the king was caught struggle at this knowing they were right to come with concerns about Koba was doing but the bonobo was also his friend who had done so much for him...one of his family, the only thing he could do was make it so Koba cooled down with what he was teaching to the young ones.
Cloud was randomly ran his hands across different leaves not really paying attention to his task at hand anymore while got list in his thoughts. He couldn't help but curious about humans...he had been taught by most adults in the village that humans had caused great pain and suffering but then he remembered his old teacher Maurice even though he had not good experiences with humans, he didn't hate them because he knew he couldn't blame for every single one because not everyone was bad, even Caesar backed him on this though it seemed the king tried to avoid the subject of humans in general which was strange.
The white fluffy head ape knew the other apes in the village even more younger ones where curious about humans as well despite what they heard from the adults he had even heard Rocket's son asking a few questions sometimes, Cloud knew his best friend had some curiosity as well but very meek to ever speak up. He had seen the structures, he had seen was left behind from the humans time and he couldn't help but wonder about who they were.
Cloud blinked when he realized he finally discovered a berry bush making a smile grow across his lips and let out an excited pant as he gestured to come over " Rain found berries! Found them!" He signed couldn't help but feel proud.
Rain hooted at at this as he quickly knuckled over to his friend who was beginning to gather the purple fruit while taking few to chow down on but pretty soon a few turned into a lot, Rain began to help out as well but then frowned seeing him eat so much making him shove him a little" you eating too much, get more fat" he signed to him sternly" we need to give berries to Koba to give to apes" he continued to sign.
Cloud couldn't help but chuff in irritation at this, of course they do all the work while Koba takes all the credit" didn't eat today, Koba won't know if you don't tell him" he brushed him off.
Rain was about to sign in protest again but stopped himself in mid action when he felt the earth shake below his feet, Cloud feeling it too stopped chewing and looked around the area more alert now" You feel that?" Rain signed to his friend nervously as he got closer to him.
Cloud only nodded...he continued to look around..was the earth shaking? It had a couple times before throughout the years but usually so he wasn't really afraid by now though most apes did get skittish and he didn't blame them by the very fact the earth shaking and making things fall, it was dangerous. But the forest plain wasn't shaking hard enough for that but it was then that he smelled it...elk...a bunch of them.
His eyes widened "Stampede!!" He signed to his friend in panic, Rain's widened in fear" We need go to Trees" he signed quickly, Cloud didn't need to be told twice as they knuckled out the more open part of the forest but it seemed like the trees where do far away, cloud didn't dare look back, he didn't even know where which direction the heard was coming from let alone where his friend was, he could hear them galloping closer and closer, their scent getting stronger. It wasn't long before he caught sight of them running towards them.
Cloud let out a screech of panic trying to knuckle faster to the trees only to trip and fall over he looked over to see incommoning Elk gaining up in him, he closed his eyes waiting for the worst. Which what he thought until thin arms wrapped themselves around him tightly but gently" Don't move…" a soft said firmly.
Cloud blink he tried to turn around but the voice spoke up again" don't move" saying it more firm, cloud thought whoever was behind him was behind him was crazy, they were about to be trampled, they would die!
But then a thought went through him...why haven't they been trampled yet? He dared to open his eyes just peak to see the elk running still but going around him like he was a tree or a large rock, he never could imagine this would happen.. it looks so surreal watching them avoid him like nothing more than a rock.
" It's alright…" the voice reassured him as they kept their hand over his heart" it's alright... you'll be alright" they kept saying, the chimp couldn't help wonder who this was forgetting about the stampede looking down at the hands who held him...his suspicions were confirmed when he saw the pale hairless but scarred hand too busy looking at the person's hands...and like that it had passed...the elk had left...he got the courage to slowly turn around to see what he had suspected all along...a human...a female with long brown hair who stared at him with soft hazel eyes.