(29F) Where my brain rot and hyper fixations come to live because I have to be normal everywhere else. Talk to me about Phantom of the Opera, Star Wars, Planet of the Apes, or anything with an unusual romantic subtext
Okay….😵💫…okay…😵💫 here we go again. This will be pre and post full trailer. Taking bets now, who is winning this round for steamiest???
Zayne my love, I simply cannot keep betting on you like this!!! Your card is never the best…but I do have such high hopes for this one… my ranking pre full trailer is Zayne, Rafayel, Sylus, Caleb, Xavier.
Love the slippery slope! You write dialogue so well and all the characters are engaging to read❤️
Oh my gosh, thank you so much! It was such a struggle at first since I was used to writing Phantom of the Opera stuff. I’m glad the Caesar trilogy and Kingdom binging paid off. 😮💨
Rating: T. ( Cursing, Adult Conversations/Situations)
Pairing: Eventual Noa x Human!Reader.
Notes: Hello everyone! Finally had time to update. Not promising regular updates as an 8 month old is demanding and writers block hit me hard, but like I promised, I will continue and eventually finish the story. Please comment your thoughts and reactions down below! I love reading them! ❤️ Tagging @smashee0789 @dressycobra7
Chapter 16: Compromise
You
You changed your mind.
You changed your mind so fast you almost felt bad about it. You would have felt bad about it, if it wasn’t for the fact that Noa knew it was a long shot to start off with.
“One day,” you argued.
Noa huffed, mouth tight, “Five…days.”
“This is called negotiating,” you groaned. “You’re supposed to get closer to what I want but also get close to what you want.”
“I want…five days.” Noa explained, then after a long pause, relented, “Three…days.”
You bit your lip. It was fair, and Noa probably wouldn’t go any lower. Still, you argued, “What would I even do? What’s expected of me?”
“Show you are…not a threat…to my village.” Noa shrugged, “Younglings…are not…so bad…compared to elders.”
You hummed in agreement, yet still did not verbally agree. This did not go unnoticed by Noa, who asked again, “Three days…yes?”
“Out of nine, sure.” You smiled.
Noa’s grin fell, looking annoyed as he corrected, “You said…week is…seven days.”
You rolled your eyes playfully, “Curse your good memory.”
You lightly splashed him with water, which he barely reacted to. He mainly blocked it with his arm, hooting slightly as you finally agreed, “Alright, fine. Three days, and then after a while, we will discuss me maybe going to your village. In return, you promise to never surprise me like yesterday, or push me into something I’m not ready for.”
Noa nodded once and hummed, “Agreed.”
“Shake on it,” you said, sticking your hand out.
Noa stared blankly at your outstretched arm, head tilting slightly. Before you could explain, two of his fingers gingerly gripped your hand. He lightly shook your arm left and right, causing your shoulder to jolt a bit. You snickered as he commented, “Strange…human behavior.”
You shook your head, “No, no. Not like that. Okay, open your hand like this, then take my hand in yours…like this. Now, we go up and down a few times. This, signifies that we are in agreement.”
Noa’s brows furrowed slowly as he watched your joined hands move up and down, “Words…not enough?”
You took your hand back, shrugging, “I think it’s meant to be symbolic, and in my experience with other humans, actions speak louder than words sometimes.”
Noa hummed, eyes distant and unfocused on the forest across the river from where you sat. You’d seen that look before, you knew it meant he was pondering, focused more on the future than the here and now. You were content to let him think, slipping carefully off your perch and stretching a bit.
“I’m going to swim to the rock and back to cool off,” you announced as you waded into the water. “Will you be here when I get back, or are there duties you need to attend to? When is that Big Climb you were talking about before?”
“Soon,” was all Noa said at first. “Can stay…bit longer.”
You took a breath, “I’ll be quick then. I want to talk to you about something else before you leave.”
With that, you dove forward into the water, following the riverbed closely until it dropped off. You always felt it before you saw it, nudging the edge with your toe as you began to curve your body more upwards. You closed your eyes for a moment, heart steady, careful to release just the right amount of air as you kicked off in one hard push. Your hands instinctively went forward, remembering for a moment that time the current, and your too aggressive launch, had led you to smack into your rock sooner than you expected. Your nose had been sore for two days, but it did teach you to either always swim with your eyes open, or at least put your hands in front of you.
The current today was light, carrying you forward but also slightly to the left, causing you to almost overshoot and miss your handhold entirely. You surfaced for air, fingers gripping hard onto the protruding ledge in order to anchor yourself. You freed one hand to push hair out of your eyes, noting again how long it had become, and yet you still felt no need to cut it. How strange.
You strained to look up at the sun’s position, blocking the intense light from your eyes with the same hand as before. The day was still young, the heat at its peak, but you couldn’t imagine being very productive. The most you could hope to accomplish would be to pack and prep for your journey to the winery. That’s what you wanted to discuss with Noa. You were ashamed to still keep Micheal a secret, but assuming Noa would either come with you, or possibly lend you a horse, you wanted to wait to tell him until after your trip. It was a long and hard trek on foot, horseback would make it so much easier. Plus, you promised to show the apes where it was.
At least, that’s what you told yourself. Your conscience whispered in some far off corner of your brain that you were just using this as an excuse to delay telling Noa. And it was right…partly. You were also afraid that after such an intense fight, if you told him now, it might break any remaining goodwill Noa has for you. And why? Because if it came down to choosing Noa over Micheal…you weren’t sure you would choose Noa.
You sighed, resting your head for a moment on the warm stone in front of you. Noa was absolute, sure in his decisions and his beliefs. Hesitation on your part would probably be seen as a betrayal, and let’s face it, having an Eagle killer as a pet was already a betrayal. You hoped Noa could maybe see things from your perspective, if you two could just sit down and talk. But not now. It was too soon, and he was under enough stress as it was. The Big Climb was happening soon, and he had the elders to deal with.
That’s why you proposed the compromise. The young apes weren’t as intimidating, and his mother seemed to like you well enough. Seeing them, with or without Noa, was the best solution you could come up with to keep the peace with everyone. Noa was right, you were afraid, and if you didn’t at least try to get along with other members of his clan, you were never going to move forward. Truthfully, you didn’t want to be afraid anymore. You were tired of living your life in fear; you needed to try, for the sake of Noa’s friendship at least.
You dunked your face forward once more in the water, the heat of the sun warming the crown of your head. Another swipe of water from your eyes and you turned back towards Noa. He was still standing where you had left him, but instead of looking at you, his head was turned down, staring at something in the water. Perhaps it was a fish? So as not to startle Noa, or whatever had him so transfixed, you waded carefully back over, allowing the current to do some of the work.
When you were close enough to potentially see what he was looking at, you dug your feet into the muddy bottom. Your stop was instant but soft, bobbing slightly in place as you tried to see through the moving water. The silt started to settle a bit more, but still you couldn’t see anything. That’s when Noa crouched, his knuckles trailing against the surface of the water before pulling back. He studied his hand for a moment before turning his gaze towards you.
“I wish…I could…float…like you do,” he said softly.
You felt the heaviness of the statement, choosing to move swiftly out of the water and onto the bank next to Noa. He reached out a hand, which you happily took as he helped pull you out of the muck and onto the drier part of the river’s edge. There wasn’t much of a point to drying off, but you felt your hands trailing down your arms and legs in order to slough off the excess water.
You couldn’t look at Noa as you admitted, “It’s not that great. In your world, it’s much better to be strong and powerful, which are two things I wish I was.”
He huffed, “Agree…to disagree…would not have lost…so many apes…if we could…swim…strength and power…do not always matter.”
“Ah,” you smiled. “You do strike me as the type to appreciate brains over brawn.”
Noa’s brows scrunched, “Brawn?”
You huffed, “Right. Brawn is another human word for muscle, strength, or in some cases it can mean brute force.”
Noa hummed, and silence fell over you once more. You took the opportunity to cut straight to the chase, “Would you and the rest of the trio be free to travel to the winery with me? The place where the grapes come from.”
Noa seemed surprised by the invitation, but the mention of grapes seemed to reignite his enthusiasm. “When?”
“Tomorrow?” You offered, “Or the day after? It will be a two day trip for sure.”
“Tomorrow,” Noa said decidedly. “I will…tell Anaya and…Soona…make the preparations tonight…meet you at burrow…with horses…close to midday.”
You nodded, “Sounds good to me. I’ll let you get back to your clan, and I’ll go back and pack my things for the trip. I’ll see you tomorrow then.”
You pivoted, but before you could step back into the water you heard Noa say, “Be…careful.”
The tone of his voice made you pause, turning to lock eyes with him once more. “In the water? I will. I always am.”
“You are…alone,” Noa said. “I can not…help you…if there is danger.”
You smiled, taking the extra few steps required to reach him. You weren’t sure if it was the sentiment, your own recognition of how awkward things had been between the two of you up to this point, or the fact that you were just truly glad you hadn’t lost him as a friend entirely. At the end of the day, it didn’t matter, you had someone in your life who actually cared about you. As you wrapped your arms around him the realization hit you, how nice it was to be cared for again. Noa tensed as you rested your head against his chest, probably unsure of what you were doing or why, before you felt his arms raise to rest on the back of your shoulder blades.
“Don’t worry about me so much,” you sighed against his chest. “I appreciate your concern, but I have been fending for myself in the water just fine so far.”
“You are…very capable.” Noa agreed, hold remaining firm.
You pulled back just enough to look at him, “Yes, I am. So, know that if I need help I’ll ask for it, and I’m not going to do anything dangerous if I can avoid it. You have enough pressure on you as it is, I don’t want to add to it.”
“You are not…part of my clan.” Noa began, arms releasing you, “but I will…treat you…just as I…treat them…no difference Echo.”
“But we are different.” You countered, not unkindly, just stating a fact.
He smirked, “Not as much…as you think…go now…will see you…tomorrow.”
Tomorrow, you signed back.
This briefly earned a smile from Noa, before you saw him crouch into a run and leap with great force into a nearby tree. You felt your jaw loosen for a moment at the display. You did not always fully realize or understand the power Noa was capable of, until he demonstrated it in moments like these. It was truly magnificent to see.
With that, you returned to the water and set off for your burrow. Your cheeks began to hurt, only then realizing that you were smiling so broadly. You really were looking forward to tomorrow.
…
Not yet, you signed back sheepishly to Anaya, making sure Soona and Noa’s focus was on allowing the horses to rest and get a drink.
With a pointed look Anaya signed, Why?
You couldn’t sign out that complicated of an answer, so you would have to be tactful in your next choice of words. You turned slightly, calling, “Soona.”
When said ape turned to look at you, you tried to be nonchalant as you asked, “Did Noa tell you about me attending youngling classes? That I’ll be meeting with them often and spending time getting to know more about your clan?”
Anaya’s brows furrowed, pinched almost too tight before realization dawned and his face elongated into an exaggerated expression of understanding. To your own surprise, Soona was apparently unaware of this new development. A somewhat quick intake and quick exhale of breath, which you assumed meant she was happy, and then Soona was patting you on the shoulder. “Good news…very good news Echo…must join you…so you do not…get scared off…by so many…newborn questions.”
You chuckled good naturedly, feeling slightly uneasy now that you knew Noa had told Soona and Anaya about your past. It was like every comment suddenly had a double meaning to it. You had to silence those voices in your head each time that thought occurred. Anaya waved to get your attention, and just as he was about to start his signing, Noa announced, “Horses…are fine…let us…carry on.”
You pursed your lips into a thin line, trying to keep your gaze on Anaya, but of course, you were once again riding with Noa. He blocked your line of sight as he helped you mount, the sting of being in the saddle for almost the entire day nothing compared to the deep ache you were beginning to feel in your pelvis. The cramps were starting to wear you down more than the riding, and you were positive Noa had noticed from how careful he was being with you.
You really had tried to tough it out, but these last few miles had been so bumpy you had hissed a few times involuntarily. You were almost positive that’s why Noa had told Soona and Anaya that the horses deserved a break and that everyone should rest for a bit. You were grateful for the break, but at this point you just wanted to be at the winery already. The clouds that were moving in were making you anxious as well.
Luckily, Noa always mounted from the opposite side, so you had just enough time to catch Anaya signing, Do not wait long. Secrets bad.
You nodded your head once, before returning your gaze to the road ahead of you. You were so close, probably only another twenty minutes by horse. You explained to Noa the path ahead as his horse took the lead, while Soona and Anaya rode side by side a few paces behind. They seemed to be having their own conversation, one they were happy to keep you and Noa out of.
Your observation was cut short by a grunt, “There is place for fire…in this…winery?”
You nodded, “Mhm, I think it was also someone’s home at one point.”
“How do you…know?” Noa questioned.
“I stayed there a few times before and worked on clearing out the overgrowth of nature.” You shrugged, “There were some nice relics I found that were salvageable, and a few different places to sleep. There was a fireplace in the main portion next to a large…nest, where I would cook meals if I managed to hunt, then I would sleep there.”
Noa mulled over your response before parroting, “Relics?”
You smiled, turning your head to glance at Noa, “Old human stuff that is still useful.”
Noa hummed his understanding before a comfortable silence fell over the two of you. You allowed yourself to bask in it, leaning further back into Noa slightly, and letting out a breath. Your mind appreciated the view, noting the still darkening clouds, before it wandered back to Anaya and Soona. You couldn’t hear what they were saying, and they weren’t signing at all. That was odd.
“Not…our concern.” Noa said, as if reading your mind. “Just as…what we discuss…is not theirs.”
You chuckled, craning your neck all the way back to look up at him, “We don’t talk about anything that would be concerning.”
Noa grunted, “Would like to…now.”
You cocked your eyebrow, leaning slightly away from Noa, as you hesitantly asked, “Regarding what?”
A small snort came from Noa’s nostrils, his gaze fixed on yours as he asked, “What is…sickness…you have?”
“Sickness?” You parroted, confused.
“Or injury.” Noa offered, head jerking downwards and eyes glancing towards your thighs.
You broke eye contact immediately, cringing internally as you realized what he meant. Your hand trailed up from its resting place and onto your abdomen, which had chosen that moment to cramp up again. You clenched your teeth, fighting off the urge to groan as Noa continued, “Smell…Echo blood…and something else…that carries pain.”
Oh. My. God.
He could smell your blood and the hormones that came with it? You didn’t think it was possible to die of embarrassment, but right now your brain was doing its best to shut everything down. If the Earth opened up and swallowed you whole right now, you would be grateful.
You felt a sharp laugh burst out of you, clamping your hand over your mouth as you shook your head and tried to pull yourself together. Deep breath in…deep breath out. With all the tenderness of handling broken glass, you attempted to explain, “It’s not a sickness or an injury. It’s…biology.”
“What is…biology?” Noa asked.
“Right,” you nearly groaned. “Its the way human female bodies work. Once a cycle, which can be different for all females, we…um….”
“Bleed?” Noa offered.
You pinched your lips together, “Mhm. Sort of. We bleed to show the end of the cycle. Usually it starts after we become adolescents, and if we do this once a cycle that means we are not pregnant.”
Noa looked confused, “Humans…go into heat?”
“What? No!” You half shrieked, the idea itself feeling animalistic and foreign. After a moment, a second thought, you replied in a calmer voice, “We have a period of time where we can get pregnant, and if we don’t within that window, female bodies go through this cycle…think of it like refreshing a nest. You clean out the old leaves and add new ones. It’s easier for our bodies to keep babies that way.”
“You…want babies?” Noa asked, with an innocence that disarmed you from what would normally be a heartbreaking subject.
You simply shrugged, “Doesn’t matter. It’s not really about if I do or don’t. My body will go through the cycle once a month until I am too old, or until I die. Whichever comes first.”
Noa was quiet then. Thinking. You fixed your gaze on the clouds ahead, hearing a faint roll of thunder. You would get wet for sure before arriving at your destination. Hopefully a fire would be something one of the trio could make quick work of. It wasn’t cold by any means, but wet clothes at night, after the soreness of riding all day, you couldn’t think of anything worse.
“Thank you,” Noa said, interrupting your thoughts.
“For what?” You replied, genuinely confused.
He gave a small hum, “Answering questions…helping apes…sharing knowledge that…makes Echo…uncomfortable.”
“Oh,” you said dumbly. You were unsure if he should really be thanking you for that. It was an awkward conversation, but not as awkward or as uncomfortable as the cramps themselves. You were reminded of your current situation and how awful you felt. Without thinking, you blurted out the first question that came to your mind.
“Do you want babies?”
An unexpected snort came from Noa, and you closed your eyes, rolling them at your own desperate reach. You felt, rather than heard, the hearty chuff that came after. “Yes…one.”
“Just one?” You asked, turning in the saddle to look him in the eye. “Boy or girl?”
“A son…would be an honor…a girl…would be a great gift.” Noa replied.
“That’s a cheeky way of saying you’re indifferent,” you joked.
“Saying it…does not matter.” Noa remarked, “Is a sad way…of saying…you do not think…you will have any.”
You paused then, attempting to read in his face what he meant. Was that an ape thing, or did he just acknowledge how you had avoided answering his question earlier. A cold droplet on your cheek made you startle, blinking rapidly. You wiped it away, feeling both thoughts could be true. The latter held more weight though, considering you were dealing with Noa. You turned away from him then, feeling another droplet of water land on your arm. The rain was here, just as your little party had crossed the vineyards property line.
Another heartbeat and the rain turned from occasional droplets into a steady pour. The hair on your arms began to prickle, and you had to move more hair from in front of your eyes. For a moment, you felt a single drop of warm water run down the right side of your face. Something inside of your gut twisted, and your teeth clenched. What should have been the soothing sound of the rain, was drowned out by the stretching silence between you and Noa. You swallowed, trying to keep your breathing steady as more warm water began flowing down your left cheek as well.
With a swift jerk, you swiped the offending tears from your face. Maybe it was a bit too rough, feeling the sting of the friction before confessing, “I never want to have babies. Not because the only man I ever loved died, but because I would never want to raise them in a world where I couldn’t protect them. Babies deserve to feel safe. Always.”
You felt a weight fall over you then, the cold rain suddenly blocked from your drenched form. Your fingers traced the edge of the blanket Noa had thrown over you, lifting it to create more of an umbrella effect. Your throat felt tight as you replied, “Thank you.”
Noa hummed once. You thought that would be the end of it, but as always, he surprised you. “Things could…change.”
You scoffed, sarcastically agreeing, “Of course, things are just going to magically get better! When we get back, there will be a kind man, my age, waiting at my shelter for me; promising to whisk me away where I will never be in danger ever again. I’ll never be hungry, or cold, or scared for the rest of my life!”
Noa seemed at a loss for what to say, at least, that’s what you thought. You were surprised when he grunted, “Maybe not…like that…too quick…but if you tell…future males…that is…what you want…it is…possible.”
Note to self, teach apes about sarcasm.
You couldn’t help the smirk on your face as you admitted, “Noa, I wasn’t serio- true, I wasn’t true when I said that.”
You tried to look at him but the blanket blocked your view. You noticed then, he had not covered himself, only you. To remedy that, you pulled the blanket off, throwing it with an awkward grunt halfway over Noa, and half over you. He seemed to hesitate at first, but pulled his side to match yours in the end.
With a contented sigh, you continued, “What I meant before is, I don’t exactly have a ton of prospects. There are no humans around here, and I have no desire to go and search for them.”
“Humans…do not…like change.” Noa parroted your words from before, raising his arm in front of you, and pointing with his opposite hand. “But this…is change.”
The longer you stared at Noa’s arm, the more confused you became. Finally, you admitted, “I don’t understand. What is changed?”
“The rain.” Noa offered, still gesturing to his outstretched arm. Another beat or two of quiet passed before he continued, “When we first met…it was…raining.”
You felt your head turn on its own, locking eyes with Noa as his meaning sunk in. He seemed to recognize your understanding, his small smile widening as you softly acknowledged, “We changed.”
He nodded, “You…saved my life…invited me…into shelter…fed me…travelled with me…taught me…how to read…you…changed me.”
“You changed me too,” you offered. “I feel less afraid, and I’m not alone anymore. I have Anaya, and Soona, and you. You are my friends, and I never thought something like that would have been possible. It’s been a welcome change to how life was before.”
“I agree.” Noa said, allowing a comfortable silence to fall between us. After a moment he removed the blanket from himself, choosing to fold it over and make a stronger barrier against the rain for you. Before you could say anything, or even attempt to give it back he huffed and shook his head once. “It is…better for you…water…in this way…is nice…cool.”
You snickered, adjusting the blanket and finally seeing the house come into view. Everything inside of you began to relax, knowing you would soon be inside by a warm fire. Maybe it was that promise of comfort, or maybe your hormones were making you sentimental, but either way, you felt the need to share your thoughts.
“You know Noa, I think one day, you’re going to be a great father.”
He let out a surprised huff, some emotion flickering in his eyes, but before you could analyze it too closely, it vanished. Instead, he turned his gaze upwards, embracing the rain. He shook suddenly, throwing water every which way. You laughed, trying to dodge the new downpour. After his final shake, he hummed, “I hope you are right…though I am still young…time will tell.”
“Speaking of time,” you countered before calling over your shoulder. “We’re here!”
You heard Anaya and Soona acknowledge the information behind you before continuing to Noa, “The roof may be old but it’s sturdy, the horses can take shelter from the rain on what used to be the front porch. It’s mostly dirt now anyway. Let’s hurry and get inside before….”
You trailed off, horrified at what you were seeing. Noa, sensing your unease, asked, “What is wrong?”
At first, you thought your eyes were playing tricks on you. Then, you thought it had to have been an accident, but as the horses drew closer to the house, you felt your stomach drop. You suddenly felt much colder, your heart beginning to pound as you stared at the busted door to the house in front of you.
You always kept the door locked, having found a window on the second story to climb in and out of. It gave you that extra sense of security when traveling here alone. Now, that was gone. The door was half ripped off its hinges, splinters and marks in the thick wood revealing how deliberate the damage had been.
With a hesitant voice, you explained, “Someone else was here.”
So Owen is colorblind and can't see reddish hues. Every time I remember this, I think of that fanfic (I think it was "The Slippery Slope") where the reader and Noa are walking, and she points to the sky and asks, "What color do you see that?"
Title: Slippery Slope.
Fandom: Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes.
Rating: T. ( Cursing)
Pairing: Eventual Noa x Human!Reader.
Notes: Hello! Yada yada pregnant yada yada writers block yada yada lost 3 chapters and had to transfer everything I had left to a google doc from word. Anyway, ON WITH THE SHOW! Thank you to everyone who has stuck with me thus far ❤️ Tagging @smashee0789
Chapter 15: Naïve
You
No sooner had the word left your mouth, did every ape around you, excluding Soona and the Matriarch, begin to speak and sign at once.
“Speaks! Echo speaks!”
“Elder…spoke true.”
“Is said…Echos cannot…speak.”
“She…spoke…heard her!”
“Say more…say more Echo!”
You were suddenly surrounded, the young apes no longer keeping a respectable distance. Some tapped your leg while others circled you. E, no, Eden was fighting her way through bigger apes to get to you. The overwhelming feeling of being cornered wasn’t as striking as it probably should have been, but it was still there as a tingle at the base of your spine. You couldn’t even think of words to appease the chanting around you. The only thing you could think of was the turn the events of today had taken. You didn’t sign up for this.
Eden had grown frustrated at fighting for a place next to you. You saw her huff in anger before charging over to Soona. She kneeled to pick up Eden, but was just as surprised as you when Eden began to climb up her legs, waist, and back. Soona stood as Eden centered herself on her shoulders, a vague idea of what she was about to do tickling your brain. Then, without further preamble, Eden leapt off of Soona with a force that startled both you and ape.
“Eden no- fuck!” You screamed without really thinking. You had just enough time to hold out your arms to catch her before you were toppled to the ground from the impact.
Your pelvic muscles screamed at you, not as loud as your back, but enough to make you wince and whine. Eden was standing on your chest, looking at you now with concern as she wondered what had caused you to cry out in pain. She patted your cheek and moved hair that had fallen into your face. You winced again, hissing as you took in your next breath. Soona stepped closer then, face showing concern the longer you remained flat on your back.
You huffed out a breath, testing your shoulders to make sure nothing was broken before raising a hand and showing a thumbs up. “I’m alright.”
“Can speak…can speak!”
The chorus started again. You internally groaned, the noise becoming an external one when you heard one of them ask, “Fuck?…what does…fuck…mean?”
“Echo word.” Another added.
“Echo word…Echo what does…fuck mean.
Greeeeeat. You’re around children for two minutes and you already taught them how to swear.
You sit up slowly, holding Eden as you do. She was spirited for one so small, you’d give her that. She hissed and swiped at any ape that stepped too close to you, not needing words to communicate to the others that they needed to back off. You appreciated the effort as you caught your breath, trying and somewhat failing to calm your racing heart. All in all though, the situation could be worse.
You looked up then, to find the Matriarch staring at you. You fought the urge to swallow. Though she was an ape, and that fact alone intimidated you, she had a very calm presence about her that told you that you were in no danger. Whether that was due to her obvious age, or the softness you saw in her eyes, you were unsure. She did her best to smile at you, “Our youngest…seems…attached…to you.”
The other apes around you had quieted to a hush, stepping back in what felt like respect as the Matriarch began to shuffle towards you. You nodded, Eden remaining fixed in your lap while her head glanced back and forth from you to the Matriarch. “I suppose. I found her by the water. Soona said she wandered off…?”
The unspoken question was obvious. The Matriarch simply hummed, “Youngling…may have…mis-under-stood…my teaching.”
You raised your eyebrows, “Which was?”
“All life…holds…intelligence,” The Matriarch began. “From boar…to Eagle…to Echo…speech matters not…all must be…respected.”
You nodded, not quite sure where she was going with this. She offered you her stick, which you took with a signed Thank you from your free hand. As you stood, Eden clung to your clothes, until she was hanging off of your back by your shoulders. Your instinct was to brace her, but by the way her head rested against you, you were sure she was just fine. The Matriarch spared Eden a single glance before continuing, “Echos…are not respected…seen as…pests…I say Echos…can be as…smart as ape…Master of Birds…befriended one…planned to meet Echo…downstream…today…to discuss…im-por-tant matters.”
“That’s right,” you agreed. You noticed the stinted way she talked, slower, not nearly as clear as Noa or Soona. You wondered if it was due to her age or if it was a personal choice, similar to Anaya often speaking in the third person. It was almost soothing, the way she spoke. You felt comfortable enough to ask, “Where did the misunderstanding happen?”
“Younglings,” she continued. “Did not believe…an echo could…speak…but…Master of Birds…would not speak…downstream with…a silent Echo…if they could…only see…they would know.”
You arched your neck slightly to look at Eden, “Did you take that as an invitation or a challenge?”
Eden’s lips thinned, refusing to acknowledge your question. Of course her hands were busy, but she also refused to nod or shake her head. You simply shrugged your shoulders, a task much harder with her weight hanging off them. “Suit yourself.”
The Matriarch hummed, “Think she…saw lesson as…permission…she is small…easy to miss...I am…grateful…that you found her…comforted her.”
“Oh,” you said, stunned by her thanks. “It was no problem, really. I’m just surprised you knew Noa and I were planning to meet downstream.”
“Have heard…much…about you.” The Matriarch chuffed, “Especially…before this sunrise.”
“You’re an elder!” You guessed, lowering your head and bending your knees in some show of respect. “I am sorry if I offended you or your clan yesterday by not showing. I was…I was not prepared to do so.”
You heard Soona and the children begin to hoot behind you, a few discreet sounds coming from Eden as she trembled against your back. The Matriarch simply shook her head, signing as she explained, “I am not…elder…though I am…old…am known as…honored teacher.”
“Honored teacher,” you repeated and signed at the same time. “My apologies. I guess…I’m more well known by your clan than I originally thought.”
You gave a sideways glance to Soona, feeling slightly betrayed. You couldn’t fault her though, or any them for that matter, when it came to the clan knowing about you. In a way, you were more protected should a random ape stumble upon you. It hadn’t happened yet, no sign of any others except the usual trio, but that could change now that Summer was in full swing.
“Known?” The Matriarch parroted. “By some…yes…more gossip…and guess…from most.”
“Oh,” you responded dumbly. You wanted to ask how the idea of you had been received, but fear acted as a lead weight to your tongue. Fear of being seen as a nuisance or a pest. Or worse, a threat. The vague notion of you might be better than the clan outright knowing how imbedded you had become within the life of their Master of Birds.
Your thoughts were interrupted then by their Honored Teacher, another hum leaving her as she made a vague gesture to the young apes. “Have much to…teach…but thought…you would…like to…help.”
It sounded more like a question. Were you being told or asked? The younglings began to hover around you once more before sitting near the edge of the bank in a lineup…all still staring at you. Even Eden tumbled from your shoulders to join the group. You looked between their tiny, expectant faces, Soona, and the matriarch. What were you meant to do here? You shifted from one foot to the other, watching Soona seat herself on the ground next to the students. The look she fixed you with was curious, as if in this moment you knew more than she did.
Were they waiting for your answer?
The silence stretched another heartbeat before you cleared your throat, “Sure. I don’t know how much help I’ll be…but I can try.”
At that, multiple tiny arms went up, waving frantically while the children hooted for attention. Your eyes widened slightly at their enthusiasm, Soona seeming just as surprised as you. Their Honored Teacher used her staff to point at one of the children, who proudly stood and asked, “Does Echo have a name?”
“I do,” you answered just as proudly. You gave your first name, letting the information be absorbed, even commented on before you asked, “What are your names?”
The largest of the young apes stepped forward, the one who had scented you earlier, pointing to himself as he said, “Able.”
You nodded, watching as he pointed to the slightly smaller ape next to him, “Atlas.”
A hoot of excitement drew your attention to three clustered apes, who answered one after the other, “Juno.”
“Sky.”
“Ravi.”
You mouthed each name after it was said, trying to remember faces with names. Their features weren’t too distinct yet, seeing as they were young, but a few had arm bands or fur markings that caught your eye. Able was the easiest, seeing as he was the biggest, but the three female apes had very little in terms of distinction. You turned then to the two remaining apes. They looked between each other skeptically, before the one on the left pointed to himself, much like Able had, “Breeze.”
The final one mimicked his friend, “Ford.”
That was a lot of names, unusual ones you knew you would struggle to remember. Too bad you couldn’t write them down. Ford’s head turned slightly to the side then, studying you, before he asked, “Why do you only have hair on head…are Echos meant to be bald?”
The question took you by surprise, and you would have felt insulted if it had come from anyone else…but coming from an ape child, it was almost cute. You heard a slight huff behind you from their honored teacher, who was clearly displeased with Ford’s question.
You simply smirked and shook your head, “Echos are not meant to have hair everywhere as thick as apes do. We are just different that way; like how fish have scales, and birds have feathers. We have hair in places that are vulnerable to cold, meant to help keep us warm. We also have more hair than what you see on my head. The other hairs are just thinner and harder to see.”
Juno’s hand went into the air then, so excited she did not wait for their Honored Teacher to call on her.
“How do you speak?”
You hesitated, wondering how best to explain it. They were children after all, so maybe a simple answer was best. “A long time ago, all Echos could speak. Now, only some of us can. I’m one of the ones who can, so I do.”
“Why? Why only some?” Able asked.
“Well, it’s complicated.” You bit your lip, hands tightening at your sides, “First, Echos became sick, and there weren’t a lot of us after that. We could still talk then, but many years- uh, generations later, Echos started to lose the ability to speak. We weren’t sure why or how to stop it. We just…kept to ourselves after that. The ones that could speak lived together, and the ones who couldn’t lived outside with…nature.”
Sky hooted, “Echo lived with other speaking Echos?”
“Where?” Able chimed in again, “Where are speaking clan of Echos?”
“Is Echo alone?” Atlas interjected. “Did your clan lose ability to speak?”
“Is Echo going to join our clan?” Juno said, “Master of Birds was meant to speak with Echo today.”
Your mouth felt dry then. You swallowed hard, willing the sudden sting in your eyes to go away. The children were still hurling questions at you, but you didn’t hear them. Your mind had begun to tune them out as your current situation was brought into focus. What you thought was going to be an impersonal lesson about Echos and coexistence, had suddenly turned into a very personal lesson about your life. At this stage you didn’t even have a response to the questions they were asking, mind too busy trying to figure out how to answer without causing more trouble between the species. You weren’t prepared to teach Echo 101 to children today. Again, you didn’t sign up for this.
That’s when an unexpected silence suddenly came over the group in front of you, another loud and very disapproving grunt resounding from their Honored Teacher. Or, so you assumed. Your eyes cut to her then, attention solely on you, eyebrows raised in a silent question.
You nodded, taking a deep breath through your nose as you tried to remember the multitude of things the apes had wanted to know. After another moment of silence, you replied, “My clan did not lose their ability to speak, but they did lose me. I travelled a very long way away from home, and found myself here living on the edge of your territory. I am alone now, but that’s okay. I’m an Echo, and Echos can be a clan of many or a clan of one. I choose to be a clan of one, because it makes me happy.”
You waited for more questions, but an unexpected lull fell over the group. The children were torn, looking back and forth between each other and the ground. That’s when you realized the tone of the group had shifted to something almost uncomfortable. Did you do that? What had you said? Was it just them reacting to being scolded?
No
Your eyes found Soona, who looked almost sad, but she wasn’t looking at you. She wasn't staring off into the distance either. Her gaze was clearly on something else, but before you could think more of it, another hand slowly went into the air.
It was Eden, who waited patiently for their Honored Teacher to point at her before she began to sign her question, Why does Master of Birds speak with Echo?
That was a complicated answer, one you weren’t sure you wanted to explain, when a familiar voice behind you chimed in, “Because I…enjoy what Echo…has to say.”
You turned sharply then, seeing Noa standing a few feet behind you. You had never seen him look sheepish before, but the way he stood reminded you of when you were a child being yelled at by your parents. He did not seem angry though, which put you at ease immediately, causing a smile to bubble up as you sighed out, “Hello, Noa.”
The corner of his mouth twitched up then, “Hello, Echo…younglings…honored teacher.”
Younglings? You assumed that’s what the apes call their children, and as you thought about it, Able had called Eden a newborn earlier. You also recalled Anya and Noa exchanging the same insult when they were teasing each other. You would need to ask about the different terms for apes and their ages, not wanting to offend anyone accidentally by referring to them as the wrong age class.
You heard their honored teacher chuff in amusement, “Son…welcome…younglings have…many questions…best for…another day…time for Echo…to meet with…Master of Birds.”
Son?!
Your head snapped towards their honored teacher so fast you thought you might have pulled something. If she noticed your confusion, she did not show it, simply nodding and hooting something you did not understand to the children. In turn, they all started to shuffle back up stream, running and chasing after one another in a way that was obviously playful. All except Eden, who tugged on your arm until you bent down to her level. She grabbed the back of your head then and crashed her forehead against yours, rubbing it back and forth a few times before pulling away. You rubbed the sore spot between your brows, watching Eden take Soona’s hand before pulling her along to follow after the others.
Soona did not pause to say goodbye, which was strange by itself, but then you caught her tossing a pointed look over her shoulder towards Noa. You couldn’t quite decipher the meaning behind it, and before you could focus on it any longer, Soona’s head swiveled and she gave a last minute wave in your direction. Your hand rose slightly to return the gesture, before Soona’s attention was jerked back towards Eden. You snorted a small laugh, lowering your hand as you watched them go.
All too soon, you found yourself alone with Noa and his mother. You felt his eyes on you, but you could not meet his gaze, mind overwhelmed with everything you had just experienced. Did you just answer youngling questions about humans? As if you were some expert brought in to teach a class of students.
“You are…alright?” Noa asked, breaking the silence.
You turned to face him again, nodding silently before his mother added, “She is…very kind…very good…with younglings.”
“Thank you, honored teacher.” You replied and signed.
She nodded once, hand raising so her knuckles nudged your shoulder, “I am…called Dar…should you ever…need my name.”
You felt your eyebrows raise slightly, before replying, “Thank you, Dar. I enjoyed learning with your group.”
Dar hummed contentedly, eyes shifting to Noa, “I will…depart…return to…younglings…allow you and…Echo to speak.”
Noa grunted in understanding, before his mother turned back towards you, “I am…happy…to have met you…hope to see…you again…soon.”
You swallowed, trying to smile, “I hope to see you, and the younglings, again too.”
With that, Noa’s mother turned and followed the same path the younglings had taken mere moments ago. You and Noa remained quiet, exchanging patient glances until you both determined Dar was a good distance away. You raised both eyebrows at Noa then, as you asked, “You told your mother about me?”
Noa shrugged, face expressionless, though he would not meet your eye, “Echo is…important…mother deserved…to know.”
You nodded, suddenly aware of the midday sun beating down on you. The energy between you and Noa seemed to shift into a tense silence along with the heat. You supposed neither of you really knew how to start. Taking a deep breath, you asked, “Walk with me?”
Noa cocked his head slightly, but grunted in agreement before shuffling alongside you. You didn’t have far to go, but you wanted an excuse to move closer to the water, closer to your rock. Your feet toed the edge of the water before you turned back to Noa, “I’m going to cool off real quick, then I suppose we have some things to discuss.”
“Yes…we do.” Noa said, looking skeptically at the water’s edge.
There was a twinge of pain in your abdomen as you took your first step into the water, but you didn’t let it show. Instead, you waded in up to your waist, cupping some water in your hand before splashing it onto your face. You sighed in relief, repeating the process and allowing the water to dampen your hair slightly. From the corner of your eye, you caught Noa staring, deep in thought as he watched you. Inhaling deeply, you decided stalling wouldn’t do either of you any good.
You carefully made your way back to the water’s edge, finding a rock slightly submerged in water, and just big enough to sit on. This allowed you to keep your legs in the water, which would keep your temperature down as well. Wrapping your arms around your knees you arched your back in a slight stretch before sighing, “I should probably start off by saying that I don’t want to fight. I just want to talk.”
“I do not…wish to fight…either.” Noa agreed. “I…regret yesterday…I was…wrong…came to say that…last night.”
You nodded, “I regret yesterday too.”
Silence engulfed you both once again. You wanted to apologize. Then, you remembered the look on his face after you had thrown that rock, anc when he found you on the ground with Anaya. The shame of it all practically clawed at the back of your throat. Where were you even supposed to start? Had things been permanently damaged between the two of you that now you couldn’t even speak to him like you used to?
“What does…” Noa pasused, the beginning of his question catching you off guard. “What does…naïve mean?”
Your brows furrowed, “I don’t understand.”
Noa’s jaw worked a moment before he explained, “You said…I was naïve…about other apes…accepting you.”
“Yes,” you drawled. “And you called me naïve for questioning the mark.”
Noa huffed, “Yes…but what does…it mean.”
You were confused for only another moment, before you felt laughter bubble up inside of you. “Wait. Did you call me naïve just because I called you naïve?”
Noa turned his head away, looking far upstream before he admitted, “…Maybe.”
You couldn’t hold it in, you started to full on cackle at the thought. You supposed that’s how mad he had truly been, deciding to just throw the word back at you instead of questioning what it meant in the moment. Truthfully, you probably would have done the same. Your side started to twinge from your laughter, and you noticed Noa had turned back at the sound he was so familiar with. He had that warm smile on his face, the one you had seen that night in your burrow.
“Missed…that sound.” Noa commented.
Your laughter died then, and the weight of yesterday hit you again with full force. So much had happened. Your attention was suddenly drawn to the water, fingers running through the sluggish current before you muttered, “Naïve isn’t bad necessarily. It sort of means…innocent thinking. You would call someone naïve who…doesn’t know or understand something because they haven’t had experience with whatever it is they’re talking about.”
Noa was silent, absorbing your words. Then, “Naïve is like…calling ape…a youngling.”
“Well, not…actually no, that’s pretty accurate.” You chuckled.
Noa chuffed in amusement along with you, before admitting, “I was…naïve about…you.”
That caused you to freeze, the hair on your arm standing on end. What did he mean by that? Did he mean about you being a good Echo? Had Anaya told him about Micheal and he knew you had hidden it from him?
Thankfully, Noa explained, “I thought…I knew…better…I was…wrong…Echo is not…pest…or member of…Eagle Clan…I can not…decide…for you…I am…sorry.”
You felt the tension in your body ease slightly. “I’m sorry too, Noa. I understand what you were trying to do. I just…I wasn’t ready. There are things I’m not ready to do…or tell you. I want to, and I will, just….just not yet.”
“Tell me?” Noa parroted. He shuffled closer to the water's edge then, voice softer as he assured, “Can tell me…anything…will listen…not get upset…understand now…you need…time…patience.”
You weren’t quite sure what to say to that. You were stunned by this sudden turn around. Then again, Noa always had been careful with you; could see what you needed sometimes better than you could. It made hiding things from him all the more painful. All you could do was nod, mumbling, “Thank you.”
Noa reached for you then, not suddenly or urgently, but carefully, as if you were the wild animal that may spook if any sudden movement was made. Perhaps in this situation, you were. The movement didn’t surprise you, but the action itself did as he grasped you by your elbow. You leaned in closer, mirroring his hunched position as his gaze focused in on your arm. There was a sort of wonder in his voice as he observed, “You are…more vulnerable…to cold…and heat…that is purpose…of thin…hard to see…hair.”
You blinked rapidly, noticing for the first time, the damp hair of your arm standing on end. How bizarre. It was such a small thing for him to notice. That’s when his words rang again in your ears, and something clicked in your mind. He had been listening when the young apes were asking you questions. Noa had been there.
That’s when all the oddities of before seemed to fall into place. You weren’t sure how long he had been there of course, but he had been there towards the end of the questions at least. When it started to become too much for you, he had stepped in. The disapproving grunt, Soona looking pointedly at something behind you, the young apes going quiet and not looking towards you anymore…that had been him.
Noa continued, not realizing you were having your own revelation, eyes still fixed on your arm. “The younglings…liked learning…about Echos…there is…much to learn…I want to…learn too.”
This statement shook you out of your previous thoughts as a new one took shape. You called Noa’s name, causing him to lock eyes with you, before you asked, “Do you know what a compromise is?”
Hi Phan, how are you doing? Is the baby born yet? :)
Baby is not born yet, but it could be any day now! I’m at 34.5 weeks! The nursery is finally done and the move/cleanup of two closets between me and my husband into one has been completed. I’m exhausted, but with 6 weeks or less until the baby arrives I can finally relax. 😮💨
Just wanted to say I hope everything is going good in your life! Your series is one I come back to alot and love to reread. Again I hope all if well and appreciate you!
Thank you so much 🥹
I should be updating the story next week. Tomorrow is my last day at work and I don’t have any baby appointments so I should have time to write. I appreciate your words, it really makes things easier ❤️
If you don't mind me asking how did you come up with your url?
No problem! So my first ever fandom was Phantom of the Opera back in like…..2009? I started writing fanfiction on FF. Net and needed a screen name. Fans of PotO are called phans, so I just picked Phan3145. The numbers were the last 4 digits of my Gran’s phone number, who encouraged me to write. Then I just never changed it, and carried it over to every site I joined 😂
Title: Slippery Slope.
Fandom: Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes.
Rating: T. ( Cursing, almost drowning)
Pairing: Eventual Noa x Human!Reader.
**Notes: Probably no regular updates until the end of March, but it’s good to be back.
Chapter 14: Mother Knows Best
Noa
He and Anaya travelled back to the village in silence. Anaya, for his part, seemed to be satisfied with the point he made, wanting to return to his nest for the night. His Sunset Brother’s satisfaction was not shared. Instead, his mind raced with thoughts of what he had witnessed, as well as past events of the day. He could not sleep, though he did try. The deep breathing and snores of the apes around him would break his concentration, anger slowly building within. For the first time, he envied the ease of which the rest of the clan slept. He turned from his back to his side, shifting for probably the eighth time.
Another moment and he puffed out a sigh. He sat up, glancing to the sleeping apes around him, before pushing himself silently from his nest and heading outside. He needed to do something with his hands, as he could not silence his mind. There were multiple projects within the Eagle Tower he had left unattended since meeting their Echo; nests that needed to be repaired, fires that had gone cold, and beams that needed reinforcing.
It was a quick climb for him. Once in the tower, he approached his crafting table with a quicker gate, letting the relief of having something to focus on wash over him. He hummed, picking up his whittling tools for the new beam supports. This was long overdue. After a few moments though, a handful of wood chips in front of him, his attention drifted to the objects placed carefully on the back corner of the table. The dark piece of cloth, tenderly nestled next to the crown he had so diligently crafted at this very table, were suddenly out of place within the tower.
He huffed, shaking his head at the thought and returning to the task before him. Two more branches would need to be chiseled after this one. The nests would be easy fixes, the supply of silk over flowing since most apes had to wait an extra season to make their climb. With a final slice, he finished the branch in his hand. He blindly reached for the second branch, still inspecting the finished tip in front of him. Nodding in approval at his work, his gaze was unfortunately drawn once more to the Echo objects. His fingers were around the new branch, pulling it towards him, yet he was unable to look away now from that corner. He pinched his eyes closed, shaking his head, and fighting the urge that was rising up inside of him. He began to vigorously shave pieces of wood from the branch, halfway done before he stopped, sighing to himself. He dropped the branch then, reaching for the scrap of cloth.
It smelled of their Echo, the scent tickling his nose in waves as he ran the pads of his fingers over the shredded edges of it. He was unsure why he had kept it. Their Echo did not know he had taken it that day, and there was no real reason for him to keep it. At the thought of getting rid of it though, he was reminded of the look on their Echo’s face when she told him it had belonged to her mother. He remembered then, how attached he had been to his mother’s shawl when she had been taken from him.
He clutched the cloth even tighter, realizing that she had never told him what happened to her mother. She had trusted him with the worst year of her life, the death of her friends and her…partner, but she could not bring herself to talk about her mother. From that alone, he guessed it was nothing good. She had left with their Echo, travelled far from their clan if her story was true…but at some point, something must have happened. Something terrible, to have left their Echo all alone.
Suddenly being reminded of her lack of clan, only made his stomach feel empty. Something in him could not accept her being alone. Like with anything broken within the village, the urge to fix her situation clawed it’s way through his mind like a starving predator. It had not been so strong before, not until he saw her in pain. Not until he thought he would never speak with her again.
Flashes of images played behind his closed eyes, the impact of the days events weighing on his shoulders until he hunched forward. He rested his arms on the table, cradling the cloth along his cheek as his head fell heavily into his hands. He did not know what he was doing. He felt torn between his clan and their future, and their Echo. He wanted more for both. He wanted what Raka and Proximus had described, prosperity and evolution. He wanted what Caesar had. He was unsure how to go about it though, not knowing if the path he was currently on was the correct one.
Their Echo was angry with him, the elders were bickering amongst themselves, and while he was trying to do what was expected of him, he was failing at every turn.
He turned then, finding his mother standing next to him, a comforting smile greeting his solemn expression. He puffed out a breath, watching her pick up his finished branch and inspect it. The torch in her hand was held a safe distance away as she seemed to scrutinize his work. He watched her, worried she would disapprove, unconsciously shifting closer. Her eyes jumped to him then, that same small smile greeting him as she placed the branch down, walking passed him.
He turned quickly, following close behind as she made her way towards the burned out torches of the east wall. She lit the first, turning her head to him as she lit the second, “What troubles you…why do you…escape here?”
He could not meet her eyes then. Shifting in place, he hesitated to admit, “I…do not…know…I am…jumbled…the clan…then the Echo…she was…is…angry with me.”
His mother remained silent, leaning in closer and brushing her fingers against his chin. He hissed, a low growl of pain slipping past his throat, before hooting an apology. He took a step back, his own fingers searching the tender skin to find a scabbed over cut. The muscle hurt underneath more than the cut itself. His mother seemed to straighten, tilting her head back a bit, and fixing him with a stare he learned at a young age meant she discovered something he had been trying to hide.
“Hard lesson.” She guessed. He hesitated, but nodded. She nodded her head with him, waiting another moment before asking, “Did you…learn from it?”
He huffed, a sigh escaping him as he poked at his cut again. “I do not…think so…tried to help…made it…worse.”
His mother hummed, leaning closer, “What…help?”
He did not want to repeat himself. He did not want to repeat the Echo’s story again, but his mother was one of the wisest apes he knew, let alone trusted. He needed her guidance, so she needed to know everything. Not just their Echo’s story, but how she saved his life. More than that, he wanted her to understand why she was so important, why he cared for her so much.
So, there they stayed, in the Eagle tower. The rest of the clan slept peacefully below, while he recounted the worst year of their Echo’s life, and the best season and a half he can recall since becoming Master of Birds. His mother listened patiently, lighting the rest of the torches and giving him bits of silk while he mended the damaged nests. He was carving his third branch, back at his work table, when he finished. His mother did not ask any questions, remaining silent the entire time. Now that his story was done, she hummed, reaching her arm across the table.
He expected her to scrutinize his second branch, just as she had the first. Instead, her grasp travelled further, past the branch, and landed on that torn black cloth. He stopped carving then, watching his mother examine the cloth, just as closely as she had the branch. He could not tell what she was thinking, only that she was. She took the cloth in both hands then, stretching it as far as it would go, eyes focused on every rip and fray of the material. Finally, she grunted, carefully folding the material and returning it gently to it’s place on the table. She treated it as precious and as delicate as eagle’s egg.
Her eyes found his then, and he felt his throat go dry. Instead of confusion or anger, emotions Soona and Anaya had displayed, his mother chuffed, a hand patting his shoulder, “Do you know…why raising Eagle…is the final rite…of passage before…juvenile…is considered…adult?”
He felt his brows turn down and his mouth gape, struggling for words. He did not understand the purpose of her question. What did Eagle have to do with Echo?
Noticing his confusion, his mother explained, “Eagles are delicate…from egg to…hatchling…they take…gentle touch…but firm will…to be raised…the right amount…of silk…the right amount…of food…of water…then they mature…they need guidance…must have trust…to spread their wings…to know…they are safe…and you…can keep them safe…only then…do eagles fly.”
He huffed, looking away from his mother as he argued, “Echo…is not Eagle…Echo is mature…can care for…herself…not the same…as bonding.”
“How…would you…know?” His mother challenged, still with that patient tone of hers.
He opened his mouth to answer, but she held her hand up to silence him. She took a deep breath, sighing through her nose, “Since birth…you have been…different…Noa…your heart is pure…your spirit strong…your mind…soars high above sky…like eagles.”
He felt his shoulders pull in tighter, that feeling of not being enough starting to creep back in. Still, his mother continued, “You have…always wanted…to be like…other ape…yet you…do things…own way…pass…all other apes…do things different…faster…better.”
He turned his head then, brows narrowing, “I do not…understand.”
His mother hummed, “It is…good thing…but…fast can be bad…you have never bonded…with Eagle…you never grew…from juvenile…to adult…you bonded with…adult Eagle…forced to become adult…through fire and pain…forced to be…Master of Birds…before you were ready.”
He said nothing, shame overcoming him. His own mother could see he was not ready. He was an embarrassment to his father’s title. Before he could sink further down into those thoughts, his mother nudged a hand under his chin, grabbing his attention once more. “You can…care for egg…raise hatchling…but you do not…have patience…that Eagle needs…you can not…make her fly…before she is ready…she must choose to.”
“The Echo.” He guessed.
She nodded, “You can not…force her…to not be…afraid…she trusts you…but she was not…ready to spread…her wings…you pushed…and she fell…sinking talons…into you…in return.”
It suddenly made sense, and once again he considered his mother the wisest amongst the village. Honored teacher, could always explain things in ways he could understand. He pursed his lips, nodding along before asking, “How do I…mend things?”
“Time,” his mother said, patting his shoulder. She hobbled towards the exit of the tower, looking tired suddenly. “Trust is…earned again…start small…let her spread her wings…on her terms…respect your new…bonded…and she will…respect you.”
“We are not,” he began, watching his mother pause in the archway. “Echo…is not Eagle…we are not…bonded.”
She smiled, nodding once, “Yet you will…learn the same…as if…she was.”
With that, she left him to his thoughts. His mother was wrong, but she was also right. He needed to change his strategy when it came to helping their Echo overcome her fear of apes. He yawned then, feeling tired now that the night had waned enough to be closer to dawn. He paced over towards the spot he had made to nest in on nights he could not sleep, choosing the comfort of the eagles over the company of his Sunset Brother and Sister. He should have asked his mother how he should start small, but both of them were tired. It had been a long day. She probably did not have any better ideas than he did. Knowing now what the problem was, he was sure they would come up with a few ideas together.
Until then, it was time for sleep. He would mend things in the morning. He hoped to dream, dream of things that would inspire him to start out small. Instead, no sooner than he closed his eyes, he was awoken by Soona’s screeching.
“Noa! Wake…Noa!” She urged.
His sat up with a screech of his own, noticing it was just a little after sunrise, “Soona…what is…wrong?”
Soona grabbed his arm, hauling him to his feet roughly, “A youngling is missing.”
That got his attention.
…
He set Eagle Sun to the forest near the edge of the creek. His mother and the other younglings said they did not notice the youngest of the apes wander into or near the edge of the water. No one saw her leave at all. That was unlike his mother, not to notice a youngling wandering off. He could hardly blame her though, she had little sleep last night due to his own jumbled mind. So, he would fix this, if he could. He would find the youngling and bring her back to his mother.
Though riding would have covered more ground, he chose instead to climb the trees. He periodically hooted his clan’s call, scanning the ground beneath as he leapt from one branch to the other. Soona spoke of the youngling’s continued muteness, too young to have found her voice yet. She was born late in the season, so late the clan feared she would not survive. Elders of the past must have taken pity on her, not only did she survive, but she was smarter than most her age. That was why his mother had suggested she start learning now, many seasons sooner than she should have. What concerned him now, was how small the youngling was. He feared he would miss her if he did not search carefully enough.
He chose Anaya to keep watch over the perimeter of the woods surrounding their home, hoping maybe she would scent her way back. It would be a little too advanced for someone her age, but his mother did not share praise often. He hoped it would be that simple. Still, he sent Soona downstream with his mother’s eagle, while his mother stayed put with the other younglings. He could not imagine the young ape traveling much further from their home, but a smarter one would not have wandered off in the first place.
He huffed, glancing up to the sun. It was early yet, not close to midday, but he worried over their Echo. He did not know where to meet her, and he did not wish to keep her waiting. He let out a low growl, leaping from his current tree to the larger one a few feet away. He opened his mouth to call out again, but stopped when he heard the cry of the youngling. It was one of terror. He snapped his head in the direction of the noise and snarled, eating up the distance as he leapt from tree to tree. The branches trembled beneath his palms from his sudden weight, leaves falling like rain from the force of his movement.
She was close to the water, and he feared the worst. He panted, arms straining to throw himself further, faster, towards where the screech had come from. He heard it stop suddenly, and he feared he was too late. That was, until he heard a familiar voice.
“Do you understand what I’m saying?”
Their Echo
“Okay. I’m going to come to you. I’m going to walk up to the bank and sit with you. Alright?”
He moved once more, landing on a branch strong enough to hold his weight. He dared not take another step towards the tree line, should their Echo spot him. She was with the youngling. He wanted to see what she would do. He was…curious, about the gentle voice she spoke in towards the young ape.
He watched her rise from the water as if she were made of clouds. The water did not weigh her down. Her clothes were wet, but they did not resemble the ones she normally wore. Were these special? Were they meant to be worn in water? Did they help her achieve her weightless appearance? One thing was for certain, he had never seen their Echo so bare before.
He could not help but stare at her, noticing small scars along her shoulders and legs that would normally be hidden by her clothes. The skin was a different color, not unlike ape scars. So different, and yet so similar. He noticed the youngling taking in her appearance as well, head falling back so far the youngling’s whole body nearly toppled. She seemed as dazed as he was by the soaking wet Echo. She recovered before he did, distancing herself from their Echo, while he was distracted by her face. Their Echo’s eyes held a warmth, her expression an openness, which he rarely saw other than when they were alone.
She was not scared.
He was delighted, watching her slowly sink to the ground in a non-threatening position. It was tense between the two. He silently begged and pleaded, urging the youngling to show courage. Just take small steps, a single step towards her would be enough. Please. Show mercy to her.
Then, as if she could hear his thoughts, the youngling inched towards their Echo. She brushed careful knuckles over her exposed thigh, flinching back quickly before their Echo smiled, letting out a breath and signing, Friend. Safe. Protect.
He felt his chest swell then, a strange sense of pride coursing through him. That seemed to have been enough for the youngling as well, who proceeded to climb into their Echo’s lap. He winced, waiting for her fear to set in, and though he could see her face twitch, she did not react otherwise. Perhaps, it was the fact the youngling was so small, so vulnerable. He noticed even the youngling’s curiosity regarding her strange body did not deter her from treating the ape with tenderness. And, if he was honest, she was touching their Echo far more than even he would permit were their roles reversed. Still, he remained motionless, a warm type of calm settling into his being.
That is when the thought occurred to him. He did not bring Eagle Sun with him. He should be alerting the clan that the youngling was found. He would…but just another moment first. After that moment, he will reveal himself and take the young ape home, before returning to their Echo.
Speaking of their Echo, he heard her small cackle, immediately drawn back to the spectacle on the ground.
“Do you know where your parents are?” She asked, slowly.
The youngling slowly processed her words before shaking her head in response.
This seemed to stress their Echo, causing her to take a deep breath before asking, “Do you have a name?”
The youngling signed her name, Eden. It was too fast, and as if realizing their Echo might not understand, did it several more times in a slower glide of her fingers. The name seemed familiar to him, but he could not quite place why. Of course he knew the names of every clan member, but had their been an Eden before her? He was sure there was another…somewhere distant in his memory.
He had no time to dwell on the thought, noticing their Echo shake her head, trying to explain that she did not understand. A stab of guilt turned his stomach, they had taught their Echo basic words in sign, but not how to recognize names. Eden snorted through her nose, frustrated at being unable to communicate. He thought this was the best moment to collect the young ape, but before he could, she did something that nearly caused him to fall out of the tree.
“E…E…E.” The youngling screeched, the first sound he had ever heard her produce. It was not a screech of an ape, but that of the letter E, the first sound in pronouncing her name. He could not believe it.
Their Echo was possibly too close to the sound, wincing and holding up a hand to plead, “Okay, okay, easy there. Don’t strain yourself. You can’t talk yet, that’s okay. E is good enough for me.”
The young ape seemed to be satisfied with that as well, returning to inspecting the Echo’s body. He could not see what she was so fascinated by, jumping silently to the next tree. He craned his neck, attempting to get a better look. Then, someone called their Echo’s name.
Soona
She began to screech and hoot in delight, running towards the two on the ground, “You…found her.”
“Her?” Their Echo parroted.
Soona pointed at Eden, then signaled to his mother’s Eagle to return to the group and let them know the youngling was found safe. Eagle Rock flew away quickly as Soona explained, “Wandered off…have been searching…long time.”
Their Echo seemed confused, if not a little angry, as she questioned, “Wandered off? Your village is far from here, how did she get this far by herself?”
Soona shook her head, falling down next to their Echo with a sigh of relief. She had worried herself into exhaustion. She had been searching non-stop since Eden went missing. He could not blame her for taking a break. She stretched her feet and toes as she explained, “Not from…village…from group of…younglings…upstream.”
Soona held out a hand, which Eden grasped as a form of greeting, but when Soona attempted to take the young ape, Eden screeched at her. It was obvious she did not want to be taken from their Echo, and to accentuate her point she shifted to the opposite side of their Echo’s body, completely out of Soona’s reach. He was surprised, Eden did not trust most apes outside of her parents and his mother. To choose their Echo over Soona at this time was…different. Strange. He had never seen an ape choose an Echo over another ape before.
In fairness, he had chosen Mae over Proximus, but those circumstances had been different compared to now. Eden was young, naturally she should want to cling to a female of her own kind, of her own clan, after being separated. Instead, she shunned Soona and chose to play with their Echo’s wet, matted hair that fell below her shoulders. She stood on two legs now, pulling and tugging at the long strands. He leaned closer, towards the edge of his branch, watching the way their Echo reacted to Eden’s rough treatment of her hair.
Creak
He jolted back, his weight threatening to break the branch he was standing on. That noise had been enough to catch Soona’s attention. She turned her head slightly, mouth opening to say something but he quickly stopped her. He shook his head violently, arms waving slightly as he signed, Do not reveal. Echo mad. Ignore Noa.
Their Echo noticed Soona’s attention towards the forest, ready to question her when she stiffly turned back to their Echo. She turned her head in curiosity, distracting their Echo as she asked, “You are…better…than yesterday?”
Their Echo seemed to avoid Soona’s eyes then, her attention placed on Eden. He chuffed, Eden had been taught a few moons ago how to weave a basket. It seemed the young ape was practicing her skills on their Echo’s hair.
Another moment of silence and then their Echo shrugged, “I guess. I hope you know that I never meant to offend you, or your clan. I’m sorry if you were expecting me and I never showed. I just wasn’t…prepared to see your village.”
Soona hummed, “Noa…should have told you…should have told us…sooner…I am…sorry…that apes have not…always been kind…to you.”
He winced. She spoke true. He should not have pushed their Echo to visit their village, and he should have told Anaya and Soona what had happened to her. He would do everything in his power to fix his mistake now. He could not do anything about the past, only learn from it. Humans often spoke of moving forward in their books and stories, in their Echo’s case, she had done just that. Maybe she could assist him in learning to do that as well?
Their Echo looked to Soona then, a small smile on her lips as she stated, “There’s nothing for you to be sorry about. It wasn’t you who was un-kind to me. You, Anaya, and Noa have been nothing but kind to me…for the most part.”
“You are…still angry…with Noa?” Soona asked, somewhat hesitantly. She was not asking for her benefit and he knew it.
Their Echo puffed out a long breath, thinking, the silence stretching so long he was afraid she would not answer at all. Finally, she sighed, “Can anyone truly stay mad at Noa?”
He felt relief he had never truly known before overtake him. He felt the corner of his mouth tilt up in a smile he could not fight, distracted for a moment before hearing their Echo add, “I understand why he did what he did. I don’t like it, but I understand it. The real problem that day…well…it’s just…. I know there are barriers between our species. It’s more than just speech, and I…I mean, these problems probably have carried over from hundreds of years of differences. You three have been great, but the part that upsets me is that Noa seems to choose to ignore the fact that apes and humans don’t normally co-exist peacefully. We do, but I’ve also experienced the other end of the spectrum between our species. And Noa just…”
He hung his head once more. They were different. He could not deny that, but where their Echo saw that as something bad, he could only see it as good. She was not as strong as him, but she was just as brave. He was not as…creative as she was, but he could fix things just as well as she could. And together, the two of them…they were good together. He was unsure how to describe it, but he wanted it. He wanted the differences, he wanted to learn and to teach each other. He wanted to grow with her. He wanted-
“Noa does know…what it is like…to be betrayed.”
The conversation had taken an unexpected turn, one he was unprepared for. What had caused Soona to say this? He had been too lost in thought, missing the conversation. Their Echo looked surprised, brows raising before lowering just as quickly. She seemed doubtful, asking, “By a fellow ape?”
Soona shook her head, “By a…Echo…you are not the first…that could speak…that Noa has met.”
He swallowed hard, suddenly feeling uneasy. Their Echo seemed too eager as she questioned, “There are other humans around who can speak?”
“There was one,” Soona answered, still speaking carefully. She knew he was there, and she knew this was not her story to tell. “We do not know…where she went…left five seasons ago…have not seen her since…her name was…Mae.”
Their Echo nodded slowly, voice lowering as she asked, “What happened with Mae? You said she…betrayed Noa? How?”
Soona sighed, “We do not…normally speak of her…she was a source…of much pain and…confusion for Noa…think…you should know.”
Soona hesitated, each second of silence feeling like an entire season. His heart was beating so loud he almost missed her next words. “There was ape…Proximus…he was king of apes…he searched for Mae…killed other humans that…were with her…wanted to get inside…a human vault…it held great weapons…that would make Proximus…more powerful.”
He saw their Echo’s immediate reaction. She seemed afraid, looking unwell, as if she had eaten bad berry. Her next question caused his own bad reaction. “Who was Sylva to Proximus?”
How?
How did she know that name? How did she know any of this? Something cold caused his hair to stand on end, a small thought in the back of his mind trying to make it to the front. He shook his head, refusing to hear it. Still, it remained. Quiet now, but there all the same.
He watched Soona, her surprise matching his. She did not speak of Sylva to their Echo, which only left two others that could have. Though surprised, Soona answered, “Sylva was…his General…not sure if that is an ape word…or a human word.”
“It’s human,” their Echo was quick to answer. “Proximus seems to have already been an advanced ape.”
Soona curled more into herself then, “He was….we all were afraid…if not for Noa…and Mae…Eagle Clan would not…be here.”
“Proximus ordered your clan to be stolen, and Sylva carried out his orders.” Their Echo, clever as always, was quick to make sense of their ape structure. “What happened to Proximus?”
“Noa stopped him,” Soona answered without hesitation.
Their Echo remained silent. He had seen that look on her face before. She was…processing. She was trying to make sense of what Soona had just told her. While she did this, Soona snuck a quick glance to his hidden location. They locked eyes, and she signed behind her back, Continue?
He grunted, signing back, You must now.
Soona hummed to herself, before letting out a grunt to recapture their Echo’s attention. “Noa says…Mae hid from Proximus…in our village…Noa accidentally…lead them to us…the entire clan was taken…Noa tracked us…for many days…Mae followed…Noa did not know she could speak…until she called his name…Sylva was close…she was scared…she chose Noa as…lesser of the two apes…to fear.”
“So, she lied.” Their Echo said in a flat tone.
Lie. To be untrue on purpose. He still was grasping the concept of the human word. He let loose a breath, admiring their Echo’s ability to see things as they were. She acknowledged the right and wrong without details to cloud her mind. Not like ape…not like him. Her experience with humans more than likely lead to this ability.
In that same, flat, straightforward tone, their Echo continued, “Noa was betrayed by her traveling with him, but he didn’t know she could speak, or that Proximus was hunting her.”
Soona nodded, “More than that…when Noa and Mae…were taken to Proximus…he learned she shared…the same goal…as Proximus…she wanted to…get inside…get a book…that could help humans…learn to speak…again.”
“That…”
Their Echo hesitated. That caught his attention. Why? He carefully took another step forward, feeling that same branch start to give way, but he had to get closer. He stared intently at her face- her eyes. Processing again. She was thinking…and there was something wrong. She seemed jumbled…but more. Like she wanted to say more, but stopped herself. Like she knew something, but did not want to speak. Like…like…
Like Mae.
Like Mae when she hid the truth.
He felt his teeth pierce his gums, his jaw tightening. He did not want to think that way, not after yesterday. Not after knowing what he did about her. She was not like Mae. She was not. Would never be. She may keep some things to herself, but it is never information that could hurt anyone. She has only ever hidden her own pain.
She shook her head then, finishing her original thought, “That sounds incredible. Did she find what she was looking for?”
He took a deep breath. Perhaps he had misjudged her intentions. Maybe the jumble, the pain, was hearing of something she could not understand. He certainly did not understand when Mae first mentioned it to him. Still, that nagging thought in the back of his mind remained there. Crouched in the shadows, lying in wait for the time to strike.
“Noa…”
The sound of his name brought his attention back to the conversation, catching Soona’s eyes as her attention shifted to him once more. She seemed nervous, as if seeking his permission once more. For what, he did not know. He saw their Echo become confused at Soona’s sudden shift, brows raised as she waited. He urged Soona to speak, not wanting to draw attention to himself.
Soona turned away from him, body rigid as she explained, “Noa was…different…after meeting Mae…is different…with you…now.”
Their Echo did not seem surprised by this. Did not ask for better understanding. Instead, asked, “Does Noa think I’ll turn out to be like Mae? That I’ll betray him? Hurt him or the clan? Is that why he’s always watching me, always careful around me?”
He did not always watch her, he grumbled to himself. Of course he was careful with her, she was fragile. Perhaps she confused the two.
Soona shook her head, “Noa knows…you are not like Mae…you are…what he wished…Mae was…wants to make sure…he does not become….like Mae…to you.”
He looked away then. Soona spoke true…though he did not wish to admit it to himself. He was more than careful with you, because he wanted to keep what companionship the two of you had built. The same way he had wanted to keep it with Mae. It was impossible with her. Too much had happened. He would never be her enemy, but they could never progress together. But with you…he wanted…he wanted to keep you.
He heard their Echo sigh then, ashamed, “I…I threw a rock at him yesterday. I made a mistake…I already hurt him. He shouldn’t think that I’m not like her…I could be. I’m human after all.”
He wanted to argue, protest against the thought, but Soona beat him to it.
“Human…does not mean bad…ape…does not mean good…Noa says…wants others to learn…we are better…stronger…good and bad…together…more alike…than either side…wants to speak of.”
He sensed the shift in their Echo’s emotions, watching as she and Soona embraced. It was unlike a human hug, and unlike an ape sign of affection. It was a strange blend of the two. He saw rather than heard their Echo say, “Thank you, Soona.”
Then, there was silence, no more to say between the two. He on the other hand, felt he had much more to say. In time though. Not now. This was a time of peace. Of course, it did not last long. His mother’s bird swooped through the trees, and as he attempted to stop her, he forgot where he was standing.
Crack
His feet gave out beneath him, the weight of his body carrying him down. He mashed his teeth to smother the screech he wanted to release, hands scrabbling for purchase on branches as he descended. He caught one, enough to slow him down, before it too snapped and he landed face first into the dirt below.
He grunted, pushing himself up enough to see over the underbrush. As he did, he saw their Echo’s head lower from its raised position, down towards him. He stilled, as if caught in the gaze of a predator, the very breath in his lungs freezing. Her eyes met his in an unseeing gaze, her hand raising as he realized the sun blocked him from her sight. His breathing resumed, pain blooming in his chest. He was reminded of his fall as their Echo’s attention was now on his mother’s bird.
He sat up carefully, pain in his chest slowing his movements. He watched as Soona stood with too much urgency. Something was wrong. He turned in the direction she was looking, forcing himself to his feet as he saw his mother and her group of younglings approach Soona and their Echo. She had no idea. He needed to get to her, he needed to be there to help her.
He took a step, hands clenching at the pain before he heard Soona beg, “Do not…be scared…do not run.”
Their Echo jumped up, clutching Eden to her chest in a single fluid motion. She was terrified. He made to move forward, but Soona discreetly held up a hand. She looked at him with the same determination he had seen before they made the climb in Proximus’ kingdom. She shook her head, signing, Wait.
He did not like it, but nodded all the same. His breath came harder, faster as the younglings approached. Eden heard the group approaching, stirring and hooting to call them closer to her. Their Echo did not know this, only knowing distress as she tried to backup. Soona stopped her then.
“I am…here…trust.” Soona spoke, not only to their Echo, as she halfway shielded her from the approaching group.
Their Echo stilled, swallowing around nothing as he scented her fear from deep within the canopy. After another moment, she nodded at Soona, who shrieked at the younglings to slow and stop. She might not have had to, as each one completely stopped in their tracks upon seeing their Echo. He remembered then, that they had never seen an Echo before, and that was including silent ones. The second their Echo opened her mouth to speak, the younglings might all just faint…or run.
He hoped they did not see her as a threat. He was prepared if they did though. One of the eldest stepped forward then. He scented their Echo to the best of his ability, senses still undeveloped. He hobbled closer, enough to scent her legs, and he must have picked up on her fear. His confusion was obvious, head tilting as he saw their Echo flinch back from him. He observed Eden, clasped closely to her, though she wanted nothing to do with him. With the anger of a child ignored in preference to another, he demanded, “Why does Eden…get to be carried…by the Echo?”
He heard their Echo release a breath that sounded more like a gasp. He could see her shoulders begin to shake, Eden sensing the rise in her fear, leaning down from her grasp to holler and hiss at the youngling before her. Surprisingly, the youngling backed away, hissing back as grumbled, “Newborn.”
This almost brought a smile to their Echo’s face, watching Eden snort in reply. Then, another voice broke through the crowd, “I believe…you have…found my…youngling.”
His mother.
Teaching staff in hand, she hobbled towards their Echo, the crowd of younglings parting in respect so she may pass. Though their Echo remained afraid, she took one look at his mother and nodded. She knelt then, slowly, to the ground. She softly urged Eden to release her hold on her hair and clothing. Though reluctant, Eden complied, walking hesitantly on all fours over to his mother. He expected her to be scolded, but was just as surprised as everyone by his mother’s next words.
“Well done, little one. You were very brave.”
What?!
“What?” Their Echo parroted his own disbelief, the sound causing an audible gasp and reaction from the rest of the group.
- Got laid off as part of a corporate downsizing at my job (which is one reason I stopped writing, was trying not to get picked) and only have a few weeks left
- I’m 5 months pregnant with a boy. ☺️
- Missed you guys, looking forward to the reaction to the next chapter. ❤️
I put so much stock in Zayne, but he never takes home the gold. He won the last poll but we ALL know his was not the best out of the 4 once they were revealed. And NOW we have Caleb in the mix. My order guess is Sylus, Zayne, Rafayel, Xavier, Caleb. Let me know what you guys think!
Not going to lie. I think Zayne will hands down be the BEST of the 4 (and lets face it, we are owed that after Misty Invasion dropped the ball for his story) MAYBE Sylus would make it a close second. Rafayel could also pull out a surprise and surpass Sylus, but I think at minimum he holds 3rd place. I think Xavier will be the least steamy in comparison. All stories look amazing though. Would love to hear others thoughts in the comments!
Title: Slippery Slope.
Fandom: Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes.
Rating: T. ( Cursing, Implications, Intensity)
Pairing: Eventual Noa x Human!Reader.
***Notes: Sorry I haven’t updated in a hot minute everyone. Life has been kicking my butt as well as my husband’s. We had to prioritize, and then afterward I didn’t feel like writing. Not promising regular updates again, but I am consistently working on this. As always, thank you for your support and kind comments. I love you all.
Chapter 13: Not the First
You
You had gone to bed last night, stomach burning and body restless from the day that had transpired. The only comfort had been that Micheal apparently did not care about Anaya’s scent all over you the way the apes cared about his. He had snuggled in close to you as you laid there, thinking about how you would handle the balancing act between the two- no three, species moving forward. Anaya accepted Micheal, at least he stopped trying to kill him once he knew you cared about him. If Noa knew you cared about Micheal, maybe he would also leave him alone? Maybe, he could understand you caring about another animal? He cared about you, didn’t he? At least a little bit. Certainly enough to come talk to you after a fight.
That had caused you to toss and turn even more, not really knowing why Noa had shown up. Maybe he had still been angry, but seeing the situation with you and Anaya had distracted him enough to let it go temporarily. You could only imagine what you had looked like, the definition of sheer panic coming to mind. Noa had always been attentive to your feelings…he probably did push his anger to the side when he saw you were scared. You believed he did anyway, that was just the way he was. Caring, patient, and understanding to a fault.
That thought only served to remind you that the next morning you needed to face him. You needed to apologize for hitting him, maybe talk about the future between you and the clan. You were obviously putting him in a tight spot with the elders. That’s not even speaking about the rock and hard place you were placing Anaya in by having him keep your secret. The elders expected you to show yourself…you had no idea how you would manage that either. If Soona, Anaya, and Noa were there with you, then you should have no trouble feeling safe, but there was something else that made you shudder at the thought. You had this feeling you would be losing something, this small peace you found with your three ape friends. That small, fragile peace built on mutual respect and trust.
You had scoffed at that. Today was an example of how easily trust could be broken, but also re-built. In all fairness, the apes never really expected much from you. Noa even took great pains to make it clear to you that you could always say no. If they asked you to do something you didn’t want to, they wouldn’t force you…but this Caesar Council was a different animal all together. Anaya wanted you to be a part of it, which meant you would be a part of the clan…even if it was indirectly. Either way, it changed things. Anaya said Noa had created new laws, and this council was one of them. That would need to be something you discussed with Noa down the road…probably not tomorrow.
You had almost rambled yourself to sleep at that point, when your eyes had flown open wide and you realized you never decided when you would meet Noa at the rock. Anaya had simply said he would show him where it was. You had groaned and snuggled in deeper under your blanket, knowing you had an early start the next morning.
So here you were, sunbathing on your chunk of safety in the middle of the creek. You were soaking wet from your swim, making sure to scrub away Micheal’s scent as you made your way to your rock. Thankfully, you had sense enough to wear a dirty top that needed to be washed anyway, as well as your singular pair of shorts your reserved for the extreme heats of summer. This summer had not been too bad so far, but today the garment served a new purpose of keeping your modesty while you swam. You would not be caught naked in front of Noa like you had with Anaya. You knew he hadn’t seen anything of course, but you still were not going to repeat your actions and risk the possibility of Noa seeing you naked.
You rubbed at your eyes, a yawn sneaking up on you as you became more comfortable. You were sure Noa didn’t care about your body anymore than Anaya did, but it was the principle of the matter. Humans and their pride…not that you had much to begin with. Still, you clung to the slivers you did have.
You had just fully settled in, sleep creeping along the edges of your consciousness, the early morning sun warming you perfectly, when you heard the hoots of apes. You stretched, turning your head to glance to your right, but did not see hide nor hair of Noa or Anaya. This confused you at first. Did you imagine the noise? You closed your eyes again, only to have them fly open when you heard it again. This time, it was to your left…on the other side of the creek.
You froze for a moment, daring to turn your head at a snails pace to your left. The noises were clearer now. While you were sure they were chimpanzee hoots, they definitely did not sound like gorilla noises, you were still uneasy. Once your head was fully turned, you were surprised to still hear the noises, but see nothing on the other side of the creek.
You sat up slowly, hesitantly, confusion spiking as you looked left, then right once more. Nothing. You pushed yourself up onto your knees, frantically searching for the source of the sounds. You swiveled around on the dry stone, turning in a full circle as your eyes desperately scanned for something that simply wasn’t there. Were you going crazy? You swore you could hear ape noises. You stopped, closing your eyes and listening more intently.
There!
It was coming from your left, as you originally thought, but no matter how hard you looked, you could not see anyone approaching. The tree line was clear up and down stream. Still, you heard the noises, and the longer you heard them, the more pitiful they sounded. Was someone in pain? Were they hurt? What if they were calling for help? You rose into a standing position, practically on tip-toe, blocking the sun from your eyes with your hands in an attempt to see better.
Finally, you spotted the smallest of movements along the bank. It seemed it was just a baby chimpanzee, crouched down on the edge of the creek among the bushes. You felt your lips turn down into a frown, the scared looking chimp tugging at your heartstrings. How did they get here? Why were they all alone? You opened your mouth to call out to them, but immediately stopped yourself, dropping back down to plaster yourself flat against the rock.
No baby would be left alone like this.
You suddenly felt very exposed, creeping yourself back to the edge of the rock before quietly lowering your body back into the water. You stayed behind the rock, on the opposite side of the chimp, who did not seem to be aware of your presence at all. You peaked around the edge, wanting to keep an eye out, but not wanting to be seen. You couldn’t leave the baby alone, but you were still wary to approach them, lest an angry mother burst through the clearing and see you as a threat.
You waited silently, patiently. After a few more minutes of the chimp hooting and no one coming, you heard the noises change. It sounded like- were they…crying? Could apes cry? You floated there, transfixed by the tiny chimp, who curled its arms around itself and sat there sobbing. You fought the urge to reveal yourself, but in the end your heart overruled your head. The chimp was just a baby, you couldn’t leave them there alone and scared.
You carefully maneuvered around the rock, making your way towards the sobbing baby on the bank. You stopped when you felt muddy earth between your toes, water still up to your chest. You called out softly, so as not to scare them, “Do you need help? Are you lost?”
Your soft and careful voice did nothing to soothe the chimp, who jumped back from the edge and started screeching louder. You winced, muscles tensing and nerves screaming at you to swim away and leave. Something in your brain decided against that though, your hands coming up from the water to quickly sign, Friend. No hurt. Safe. Need help?
The baby went silent before you even signed the question, staring at you as if you suddenly became the most fascinating thing they had ever seen. You watched their eyes dart from your hands, to your eyes, to your body in the water, and back to your hands. You repeated the four phrases, wondering if they understood sign yet or if they were too young. Then, after another moment of intense staring, they raised their hand. It was hesitant, but they signed, Alone. Help. Afraid.
You swallowed, “Do you understand what I’m saying?”
Another moment of hesitation, then a nod and a signed, Yes.
“Okay,” you took a deep breath. “I’m going to come to you. I’m going to walk up to the bank and sit with you. Alright?”
They nodded again.
You returned the nod, slowly walking up the incline until you made it to the edge. The baby did not seem to realize how big you were, head tilting back as you continued to approach. When they could no longer lean back they scrambled to their feet, crouched on all fours before backing up a few steps. You couldn’t blame them, Micheal was easily twice their size. You ran a hand through your wet hair, body slipping down into a sitting position before you crossed your legs. You didn’t want to frighten them anymore than you already had, so you sat and waited. After a moment or two the chimp made their way to you, knuckles brushing against your exposed thigh. They flinched back immediately, as if you would strike at them like a cobra. You let out a breath, trying to smile as you signed, Friend. Safe. Protect.
The furrowed brows and downturned mouth of the chimp eased into something more neutral, more curious, as they decided to climb into your lap. You fought the intense urge to lock up and stiffen your muscles in preparation for an attack. You tried instead to think of the baby as if they were Micheal. They were more open than him though, pinching and pulling at your wet clothes in fascination. That didn’t hold their attention for long though, as they poked at the meat of your upper arms. That forced a giggle out of you, watching them get closer and continue to poke the exposed flesh.
You bit your lip in concentration then, fighting off more laughter, “Do you know where your parents are?”
The chimp paused only long enough to shake their head.
You blew air out of your mouth then in a slow exhale, “Do you have a name?”
The chimp paused, making a gesture over and over that you did not understand. You shook your head, trying to explain that you did not understand. The chimp pouted, opening up their mouth suddenly in a widely comical elongated fashion. You heard a few intakes of air before they huffed and screeched, “E…E…E.”
The loud noise was shrill against your ears. You winced slightly, holding up the hand they weren’t clutching onto, “Okay, okay, easy there. Don’t strain yourself. You can’t talk yet, that’s okay. E is good enough for me.”
E nodded once, puffing their cheeks, before they continued to poke and jab at your arm. You became increasingly confused, watching them and trying to parcel out the reason. Then, they noticed the fascination in their gaze as they dragged a finger down your arm in a slow push. You saw your skin lighten in color from the pressure before darkening again, and you smiled. The color change was something they had probably never seen in an ape before. You let them play to their hearts content, so focused on them that you had lost track of your surroundings.
Then someone called your name.
You snapped your head up, finding Soona standing a few feet in front of you, an unfamiliar Eagle perched on her arm. You breathed a sigh of relief as she began to screech and hoot in delight, “You…found her.”
“Her?” You parroted.
Soona pointed to chimp in your arms, who seemed happier, but reluctant to leave your side. The Eagle on Soona’s arm was given a signal and quickly flew away as she explained, “Wandered off…have been searching…long time.”
Your brow furrowed at that, “Wandered off? Your village is far from here, how did she get this far by herself?”
Soona shook her head, trudging over towards you and practically falling down next to you. She seemed exhausted. “Not from…village…from group of…younglings…upstream.”
Soona held out a hand, which the smaller ape happily grasped a finger of. When Soona reached for her though, E gave a small shout of protest before moving to the opposite side of your body. Soona looked surprised, the young ape becoming fascinated now with your wet, matted hair. She stood on two legs, leaning against your chest for balance as she pulled and tugged at the strands. You winced slightly, but chuckled good naturedly as you locked eyes with Soona.
She broke eye contact for a moment, gaze turning towards the empty forest off to the side. Before you could ask if something was wrong, her attention was back on you, head tilting slightly as she asked, “You are…better…than yesterday?”
You shrugged a shoulder, catching E starting to braid the pieces of your hair that were almost dry. “I guess. I hope you know that I never meant to offend you, or your clan. I’m sorry if you were expecting me and I never showed. I just wasn’t…prepared to see your village.”
Soona hummed, “Noa…should have told you…should have told us…sooner…I am…sorry…that apes have not…always been kind…to you.”
E tilted her head up then, her question obvious though she could not voice it. You shook your head, “There’s nothing for you to be sorry about. It wasn’t you who was un-kind to me. You, Anaya, and Noa have been nothing but kind to me…for the most part.”
You puffed out a long breath, thinking, snickering as E did her best to mimic your noise. You pulled more hair from your back to your front, noticing she enjoyed braiding. You hoped it would keep her distracted from the conversation, “Can anyone truly stay mad at Noa?”
Soona seemed to brighten at this, but chose to remain silent as you continued, “I understand why he did what he did. I don’t like it, but I understand it. The real problem that day…well…it’s just…. I know there are barriers between our species. It’s more than just speech, and I…I mean, these problems probably have carried over from hundreds of years of differences. You three have been great, but the part that upsets me is that Noa seems to choose to ignore the fact that apes and humans don’t normally co-exist peacefully. We do, but I’ve also experienced the other end of the spectrum between our species. And Noa just…”
Soona hummed, “Think he…does not see…the differences…in you…but you cannot help…but see them…in us.”
You hesitated, but ultimately nodded in agreement. “I don’t hold being apes against you or your clan, I just…wish he understood what it feels like. To not know if you can trust the person- ape, next to you. To not know if they are going to turn on you, betray you, or even hurt you.”
E, who you assumed had been distracted by her task, stopped immediately. She looked up at you then, a soft coo leaving her as she patted your shoulder. You snorted, using a single finger to mirror her actions. She hooted in clear amusement, leaning her head into your shoulder, rubbing her face against you before sliding down into your lap. She seemed tired now, curling into your side and closing her eyes. You felt a smile slowly creep onto your face, carefully using two fingers to stroke the top of the chimp’s head. She snuggled in closer then, gripping tightly onto your shirt as tears threatened your vision and you thought your heart was actually going to explode.
Get a grip.
Your hormones must be crazy right now. At least, that’s what you told yourself, as you brushed a hand along the loose braids along your shoulder. Soona, as she tends to do, had remained quiet during this exchange. She studied you, noticing how emotional you had become, scenting the air quietly before admitting, “Noa does know…what it is like…to be betrayed.”
This surprised you, your attention quickly brought back to the present conversation. Your eyebrows rose, curiosity peaked as you asked, “By a fellow ape?”
Soona shook her head, causing confusion to drown your mind until she spoke, “By a…Echo…you are not the first…that could speak…that Noa has met.”
You felt your jaw go slack, trying to contain your excitement as you asked, “There are other humans around who can speak?”
“There was one,” Soona answered, lips pursed as she noted your disappointment. “We do not know…where she went…left five seasons ago…have not seen her since…her name was…Mae.”
You nodded, urging Soona to continue, “What happened with Mae? You said she…betrayed Noa? How?”
Soona sighed, “We do not…normally speak of her…she was a source…of much pain and…confusion for Noa…think…you should know.”
You waited, allowing Soona to collect her thoughts. “There was ape…Proximus…he was king of apes…he searched for Mae…killed other humans that…were with her…wanted to get inside…a human vault…it held great weapons…that would make Proximus…more powerful.”
A shiver ran down your spine, remembering the ape Sylva that Anaya had spoken of. He never mentioned this Proximus ape though. Wanting a better idea of the situation you asked, “Who was Sylva to Proximus?”
Soona seemed completely surprised you knew that name, but nevertheless answered, “Sylva was…his General…not sure if that is an ape word…or a human word.”
You swallowed, “It’s human…Proximus seems to have already been an advanced ape.”
Soona curled more into herself then, “He was….we all were afraid…if not for Noa…and Mae…Eagle Clan would not…be here.”
“Proximus ordered your clan to be stolen, and Sylva carried out his orders.” You connected the dots then, “What happened to Proximus?”
“Noa stopped him,” Soona answered without hesitation.
This surprised you. You were aware that Noa killed Sylva, but Proximus as well? Noa did not seem like he was violent, or capable of such great strengths. You assumed he had killed Sylva, a gorilla, by outsmarting him…but Proximus? How? Was Noa secretly more dangerous than you gave him credit for?
Soona grunted then, pulling you out of your thoughts, “Noa says…Mae hid from Proximus…in our village…Noa accidentally…lead them to us…the entire clan was taken…Noa tracked us…for many days…Mae followed…Noa did not know she could speak…until she called his name…Sylva was close…she was scared…she chose Noa as…lesser of the two apes…to fear.”
“So, she lied.” You offered, “Noa was betrayed by her traveling with him but he didn’t know she could speak, or that Proximus was hunting her.”
Soona nodded, “More than that…when Noa and Mae…were taken to Proximus…he learned she shared…the same goal…as Proximus…she wanted to…get inside…get a book…that could help humans…learn to speak…again.”
“That…” you hesitated. You wondered how much to say. A book could not bring back human’s ability to speak. You either were immune or you were not…unless there was a record of some sort. Maybe a cure…a vaccine? Had humans halfway across the world developed their salvation but been unable to share it with anyone outside the vault?
You remembered your vault constantly sending out a signal using the available satellites orbiting Earth, but they never received a response. So much had been lost to time…and if there had been a cure all along? You swallowed the bile in your throat at the thought of how many millions died over time who couldn’t even speak.
You shook your head, “That sounds incredible. Did she find what she was looking for?”
Soona nodded, “Noa helped…we helped her…but she…did not help the clan.”
You tilted your head, “What do you mean?”
Soona huffed, clearly agitated, “The reason…we do not…speak of her…she flooded Proximus’ kingdom…killed many apes…in the process…then ran away.”
“I’m sorry…” It was the only thing you could think to say as silence engulfed the both of you.
“Noa…” Soona began, attention once again towards the forest at your backs. You waited, brows raised as Soona turned back to you. “Noa was…different…after meeting Mae…is different…with you…now.”
Something about that sentence sent chills down your spine. There was many implications, and you chose to ask the most obvious of them, “Does Noa think I’ll turn out to be like Mae? That I’ll betray him? Hurt him or the clan? Is that why he’s always watching me, always careful around me?”
Soona shook her head, “Noa knows…you are not like Mae…you are…what he wished…Mae was…wants to make sure…he does not become….like Mae…to you.”
You sighed, running a hand through your hair, “I…I threw a rock at him yesterday. I made a mistake…I already hurt him. He shouldn’t think that I’m not like her…I could be. I’m human after all.”
“Human…” Soona began, hand coming to rest on your shoulder. “Does not mean bad…ape…does not mean good…Noa says…wants others to learn…we are better…stronger…good and bad…together…more alike…than either side…wants to speak of.”
Still cradling the sleeping E in your lap, you leaned your body into Soona’s, head coming to rest between her neck and her shoulder. Her hand slid from your shoulder to the back of your head, leaning in to return your half-hug as well. She patted your head a few times as you sighed, “Thank you, Soona.”
There was silence, peaceful this time. E breathed heavily in your lap from sleep, and the creek next to you trickled soothingly while the sun climbed higher in the sky. You took a deep breath, feeling more prepared to speak to Noa than you had been before. There was a distinct crack sound behind you, causing both you and Soona to turn.
You saw some leaves fall from a tree not to far back, but couldn’t make out anything more than that. You thought you saw movement for a moment, shielding your eyes with your hand once more, when Soona’s Eagle tore through the canopy and landed next to her on the ground. She stood too quickly then for your liking, looking upstream before turning back to you.
Her eyes were pleading, almost desperate as she said, “Do not…be scared…do not run.”
You were confused, until you heard the litter patter of many feet moving towards you. You leaned your body to see past Soona, body tensing and breath freezing at what you saw. Many apes, children from the looks of it, were running down stream towards the both of you. You suddenly did not want to be on the ground.
You carefully scooped E from your lap, holding her close to your chest as you practically leapt to your feet. Whether from being moved or the sudden frantic beat of your heart, E woke with a start. She began to hoot and squirm in your arms. You clutched her tighter to you, feeling your breathing become labored, taking a step or two back in fear. You didn’t get much further, Soona’s arm coming up to hold your arm.
You jerked towards her with frantic eyes. Hers were still calm, concerned as she tried to comfort you. “I am…here…trust.”
As the apes came closer, you swallowed hard, nodding a few times before taking a step closer, behind her. She hummed, screeching at the apes a few moments later. They came skidding to a stop in front of you, all of them transfixed, as if they had never seen a human before. You reasoned, that perhaps they hadn’t. You tried to take deep, discreet breaths to calm your nerves. None of them were taller than your waist, but the thought of so many surrounding you still made you nervous.
Suddenly, the biggest of the bunch stepped forward, sniffing at your feet for a moment before glancing up to meet your gaze. His held tilted in confusion as he demanded in a voice that sounded much younger than he looked, “Why does Eden…get to be carried…by the Echo?”
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