Planet of the Apes OCs

justusapeshere​:

The newcomers listened to Blue Eyes’ words, their faces falling at the description of the enemy apes and their fearsome leader, Koba. Clearly this was not what they had wanted to hear, having come from a region where there were still bad humans with plenty of guns, humans who could in turn pose a threat to Blue Eyes and Cornelia’s followers.

At the news that Koba had murdered his own kind, sheer shock and horror replaced the sober seriousness on the faces of the new arrivals.

“This Koba… he killed apes? He truly took the lives of other apes?”

A new voice spoke now, that of the female gorilla called Frieda, and her tone was filled with incredulity and disgust. All of a sudden, Lana realized that “ape not kill ape” must also be a code and way of life for Missy’s troop, as it had always been for Caesar and his tribe.

The baby gorilla named Nico started whimpering, and his mother Oona, Frieda’s mate, cradled him tenderly in her arms and rocked him against her, trying to calm and comfort him a little. Frieda sat rigid and scowling now, the scar on her arm vivid as she tensed her muscular body. The way she acted was more like a mighty silverback than like the female gorillas back in the old ape village – gentle giantesses who protected their young and helped to forage and tend the crops of fruit and vegetables along with most of the other female apes.

Lana nodded, speaking now in a dour tone of voice.

“He did… he had no thought for anything but revenge on… humans. Even put… young apes in way of harm.”

Big Reuben gasped and clutched his little daughter to him. Missy would have done the same with her children, but Tommy was still sitting next to Blue Eyes, looking up at the prince as if he was the most wonderful ape in the world. And tiny Jasmine, Missy’s infant daughter, had slipped away from her mother and clambered over to her grandfather, Bad Ape. She sat upon his knee and reached up to touch his face and then ran her curious little hands all over his clothing. He gazed down at her in wonder, and then smiled.

“Eyes like… your grandmother’s,” he whispered softly.

Lana watched the baby for a few seconds, quite taken with how like Milo and Janie this little chimpanzee was with her innocence and curiosity. But then she remembered that these newcomers must be hungry. And now the scouts had plenty of food to spare, what with the canned goods, cookies and candy bars they had found back at the abandoned house.

She gestured discreetly for her adoptive brother’s attention as Rocket asked Reuben and Missy some more questions about the place they had gone to after the lab, and the kind humans who had rescued them.

‘I think these apes need food… especially the children,’ she signed to Blue Eyes.

@exoduswounds​

Blue Eyes watched the new apes carefully as they reacted to his tale, noting that each of them were similarly shocked and disturbed. It seemed that other ape tribes, not only Caesar’s, held similar values… At least when it came to killing their own kind. That worked in their favor, for sure. If they were to make allies of these strangers, they would need to come together over the ways in which they were the same. That was what Blue Eyes’ father had always said; that all apes were family, in more ways the same than they were different, and that was what gave them their strength. The young ape wished he had paid more attention to his father’s musings while he had been alive. There was so much more that Blue Eyes could have learned, and maybe needed to, before he could be ready to lead the apes. But that knowledge, that time to prepare, had been taken from him by the humans. The very humans which Caesar had given too many chances to, the humans which he had helped to get the lights back in their city…

Blue Eyes understood why Koba wanted to kill humans. It would have been so easy to give into that primal desire for revenge that even the prince felt. But Ash had been right… It wasn’t what Caesar would have wanted. And Blue Eyes could not claim to honor his father if he had allowed himself to be consumed by thirst for vengeance the way Koba had.

All of this thinking was making his head hurt. He was only too grateful for Lana to be motioning for his attention. Any reason to come out of his own head, abandon his thoughts, even for only a few moments. There were pressing matters now, anyway. Exactly such as the one that Lana brought up. Blue Eyes furrowed his brows. Should he have thought of that? If he was ever going to become a leader, he needed to learn to think of these things before other apes pointed them out to him. The needs of his apes were supposed to be his top priority. It was embarrassing to need to be reminded of this.The adolescent chimpanzee nodded to her, and stood to make his way over to their horses and the bags which they carried, where the food was stored. Hopefully Missy’s group could stomach human foods.He returned with the bag, and crouched by Lana to grab a few handfuls of the packaged goods to divvy out to the others.

“It food.”

He said, awkwardly, unsure if they would need an explanation or not. Blue Eyes had not yet had enough time or experience to judge what other apes might or might not need spelled out for them….

 “We know these well,” Missy said, indicating the packaged foods “The humans who were good to us… they fed us these.”

 She helped Lana to divide the food, making sure that the most vulnerable, the white-tails and elders, were fed first. Lana watched her, becoming rather impressed. Missy reminded Lana of the bonobo females more than female chimpanzees, as she carried herself with the bearing of a kindly but firm-handed matriarch. Although she did seem quite like Cornelia in a lot of ways…

 Reuben moved to assist Missy and Lana, then made a small amused sound as his tiny daughter Meryl grabbed a candy bar and tried to eat it, wrapper and all.

 “No… peel, like banana… see?” he told her, and Lana could not help but smile. He was so like Maurice, and not just because he was an orangutan. He really had such a gentle way with children.

 This was not the best kind of food for hungry apes, but it was a start.

 “We can help… in other ways,” she told Missy. “Show you… how to hunt, fish and forage, as we do. Easy to learn…”

 At least, they could go after small game – they did not have a big and well-enough armed hunting party to take on the deer and the elk.

 Tommy overheard what Lana was saying, but he addressed his words to his new idol, Blue Eyes, when he spoke.

 “We learn to hunt, to fish, too? Really, can we, please? I want to learn to catch big fish and chase the rabbits! Will you teach me?”

 Every ape in the group was soon provided with something to eat, and Bad Ape had found a large pot among his collection of things, and a can opener. He had opened a couple of the cans of vegetables, tossed in some of the fish caught earlier in the day and built a fire to heat up a makeshift stew for anyone who wanted some.

 Only one ape was slow to start eating, and that was the nervous Ozzy. He picked up the package of cookies he had been given and sniffed at the wrapper. Missy looked over at her adopted son, frowning in worry.

 “Ozzy, you eat these all the time before,” she said, a note of exasperation and concern in her voice. Lana picked up a similar package and went to sit beside the young chimpanzee.

 “Look, I’m… eating some too. They’re good!” Lana said.

Lana listened to the newcomers’ story with a sense of wonder, sadness, and apprehension for what might still be out there. Missy had spoken of bad humans, with guns. That was a pretty grim prospect for the future, what with Koba’s apes still bearing a grudge against Blue Eyes, Cornelia and their followers…

She could see how wary Blue Eyes was, and understood his feelings. Part of her remained alert and wary, too, for although the apes who had spoken seemed good-hearted enough, and some of them were kin to the scouts’ friend Bad Ape, who had proved himself invaluable, some among their number who were keeping silent might be less trustworthy. These unknown quantities might seek to take their food or even worse, their weapons. Perhaps they would be willing to make an alliance with Koba’s apes if they found that pathway more to their liking.

But something about the new apes made her lean more towards trusting them, and that was the presence of children and the adults’ obvious protectiveness and concern for them.

Protectiveness towards white-tails was an integral part of Lana’s character, influencing both her decision to join Koba (in the hope that she and her little sister would be adopted by her former mentor and guaranteed a future by the new regime) and then to turn away from him (when she realized his disregard for the young and vulnerable – he had not only imprisoned human white-tails but had deliberately put very young apes in harm’s way). And these new apes seemed to want the same thing as Blue Eyes’ apes did – a peaceful existence for themselves and their little ones, far away from all the fighting.

Her gaze was drawn to the chimp named Ozzy, who was now being groomed by his adoptive mother Missy, for a moment, for he was making her very curious indeed. She had never before seen a young chimpanzee who was such a bundle of nerves. The way he acted reminded Lana of some of the older apes who had suffered great trauma in their early lives, apes who were still twitchy and hypervigilant after all these years even though they had been part of the troop Caesar had founded for so long. Apes who had been in labs, circuses or disreputable zoos, or who had been pets or otherwise used for the entertainment of humans. It was strange to see such behaviour in someone so youthful.

Then her eyes looked towards little Tommy, who had crept over to Blue Eyes and was gazing at him in sheer wonder, with something like hero-worship on his young face. Perhaps it was because he had never seen so young a leader as Blue Eyes.

The orangutan named Reuben was speaking now, and Lana paid close attention to his words.

“We too want safe home, away from the bad humans. But you say, there are enemy apes? We have not seen them out there. What are they like? Who leads them? Do they have guns?”

@exoduswounds

Blue Eyes wasn’t quite sure how to react to the little ape looking at him in such a way. Little did he know, he himself had gazed upon Koba very similarly to the way Tommy was now looking at him, when he had been younger. Many of the ape children had; the bonobo had been a symbol of strength to them. His difficult life was painted across his body in the form of scars and thinning or missing hair, and yet he had overcome his past trauma enough to thrive in his new life. At least, that’s what they had all thought. Blue Eyes knew, now, that the old ape had not overcome much of anything. It had simply withdrawn into a secret place within him, until the humans lured it back out. Blue Eyes had sometimes seen Maurice talking with Caesar at dusk when he had sneaked out of his nest as a child, and the orangutan had signed on multiple occasions that some apes still lived in cages in their minds, even though they were free. The prince hadn’t understood, then. Now, though, he was pretty sure that he did.

And maybe Ozzy was one of these apes. His behavior didn’t seem normal. None of Blue Eyes’ peers were that anxious and tightly wound, ready to spring at any moment. Only some of the older apes behaved that way. But, then again, this group had seen the inside of a laboratory… None of the apes Blue Eyes’ age had, from Caesar’s group.

With a little sigh through his nostrils, Blue Eyes turned his attention from Tommy to Reuben as the great orangutan spoke in a voice much deeper and more rumbling than any chimpanzee. The orangutans and gorillas in their troop rarely spoke, and Blue Eyes always found himself in awe of their voices when they did. Reuben was like them, in that sense.

More important than that, though, was that Reuben was presenting Blue Eyes with an opportunity to eliminate any possibility of this group of semi-strangers turning against them to join Koba. The prince wouldn’t lie to manipulate them to his will. He was certain that he could make a good enough case against Koba’s followers using only the honest truth.

“They follow… ape named… Koba. He became… leader… after humans… kill… my father. Koba sick… in… head.”

Blue Eyes tapped his forehead as he spoke, as if to illustrate his point. It was apparent in the way he spoke, and the look that came over his eyes, that the wounds of all of this were still very fresh; that it went much deeper than it might first seem, for him.

“He… make young ones… fight. Make… prisoners… of apes… loyal… to Father… and… any ape… who not… fight. His apes… mad.”

He shook his head, turning his eyes to the ground. They had all been so close before all of this. He knew the name and family of each ape who had turned against them in favor of following Koba and giving into the animal that Caesar had feared still lived inside of apes. The animal who fought, who maimed, who killed. His fears had been realized, and maybe it was better that he wasn’t alive to see it.

“They have… many guns. And want… to use… them.  Want to… kill. Humans… or apes… they not… care which.”

 At the news that Koba had murdered his own kind, sheer shock and horror replaced the sober seriousness on the faces of the new arrivals.

 “This Koba… he killed apes? He truly took the lives of other apes?”

 A new voice spoke now, that of the female gorilla called Frieda, and her tone was filled with incredulity and disgust. All of a sudden, Lana realized that “ape not kill ape” must also be a code and way of life for Missy’s troop, as it had always been for Caesar and his tribe.

 The baby gorilla named Nico started whimpering, and his mother Oona, Frieda’s mate, cradled him tenderly in her arms and rocked him against her, trying to calm and comfort him a little. Frieda sat rigid and scowling now, the scar on her arm vivid as she tensed her muscular body. The way she acted was more like a mighty silverback than like the female gorillas back in the old ape village – gentle giantesses who protected their young and helped to forage and tend the crops of fruit and vegetables along with most of the other female apes.

 Lana nodded, speaking now in a dour tone of voice.

 “He did… he had no thought for anything but revenge on… humans. Even put… young apes in way of harm.”

 Big Reuben gasped and clutched his little daughter to him. Missy would have done the same with her children, but Tommy was still sitting next to Blue Eyes, looking up at the prince as if he was the most wonderful ape in the world. And tiny Jasmine, Missy’s infant daughter, had slipped away from her mother and clambered over to her grandfather, Bad Ape. She sat upon his knee and reached up to touch his face and then ran her curious little hands all over his clothing. He gazed down at her in wonder, and then smiled.

 “Eyes like… your grandmother’s,” he whispered softly.

 Lana watched the baby for a few seconds, quite taken with how like Milo and Janie this little chimpanzee was with her innocence and curiosity. But then she remembered that these newcomers must be hungry. And now the scouts had plenty of food to spare, what with the canned goods, cookies and candy bars they had found back at the abandoned house.

 She gestured discreetly for her adoptive brother’s attention as Rocket asked Reuben and Missy some more questions about the place they had gone to after the lab, and the kind humans who had rescued them.

 ‘I think these apes need food… especially the children,’ she signed to Blue Eyes.

The newcomers appeared as surprised to see Bad Ape as he was to see them. As the old chimpanzee, who had been alone and lonely for so long, embraced his daughter, the apes stared in disbelief. Apparently they too had believed that Bad Ape was dead.

One of the chimpanzees, a skinny, nervous-looking young male slightly older than Blue Eyes, began to clap and jump about, uttering a couple of loud hoots.

“Old Thomas! We thought humans kill you like all the other adults!” he shouted. Missy chuffed at him, partly in admonition and partly in reassurance.

“Calm down, Ozzy!” she told him, and he sat down in a hurry. The new apes seemed to speak aloud even more clearly than either Blue Eyes’ group or Bad Ape, but like Bad Ape, none of them seemed to know how to sign.

Bad Ape acknowledged Blue Eyes’ question with a nod. He did know most of them – including Reuben, as in the zoo the orangutan enclosure had been visible from where the chimpanzees lived. Some were new to him, including the gorillas whose enclosure the chimps had been unable to see, and some of the other chimpanzees and orangutans who must have somehow joined Missy’s group along the way.

‘Yes, I know most. This one is… my daughter, Missy, who I thought might be dead… and I think… these her children,” he whispered, a note of awe creeping into his voice. He had grandchildren!

“Their names Tommy and Jasmine,” Missy said, indicating her son and daughter, and Bad Ape gasped – they were named after him (his old name, anyway) and his now-dead mate! “And Ozzy… he my son now too – his parents killed when we broke out of zoo. He was only white-tail then.”

Blue Eyes still appeared wary, and Rocket was ready to act in any way his young leader commanded, but Lana seemed to relax a little as the new group did not seem hostile at all, only tired and hungry. Apparently these apes did not know how to hunt and fish, in the same way they did not know how to sign. They were smart enough, but they appeared to be ill-prepared for the wilderness.

The apes sat on the grass, and Lana introduced herself and her fellow scouts, making sure to impress upon them that Blue Eyes was family, and the group’s leader. Judging by Lana’s reaction to the look on Blue Eyes’ face, Lana seemed to Bad Ape to be sensing that Blue Eyes could use some support right about then.

Reuben, the large orangutan, introduced the rest of the newcomers, including his own baby daughter Meryl. The female gorilla leader with the scar on her arm was called Frieda, her mate was Oona, and Oona’s little son was named Nico.

Missy then tried to explain what had happened to Bad Ape and the others.

“After zoo… adult apes killed, humans take young ones to place called lab. They try to use us to find out what make apes smart and humans sick, find a cure, but they fail. They get sick and die… and we escape. We met some other humans, kind humans, who had other apes with them that they rescued. They shelter and feed us… we stayed with them, until they got sick and died too. Then we all had to move on… but we did not know how to find anything much to feed ourselves. It was hard trip… along the way, we met bad humans, all dressed the same – and they carry those things.”

She indicated the guns that the three scouts held with a visible shudder.

“Some of our group were killed – including my mate and Reuben’s, and the father of Oona’s child. We all here the survivors.”

@exoduswounds

Blue Eyes winced at the chimp, identified now as Ozzy by Missy. At the loudness of his calls. Not because it hurt his ears, but because anything in these woods would be able to hear those calls. In theory, at least. Blue Eyes and his group had heard no sign at all of these lost strangers… And for all they knew, they were still being tracked and followed by Koba’s followers, hellbent on revenge for refusing to follow the maddened bonobo!

And after Missy told their story, the young ape had to wonder what might be following them, too. Had the humans in the lab really all perished? Even Maurice had been certain that no humans had survived, and yet, here they were; fresh from a war waged against an army of them. Even if the laboratory humans hadn’t survived, though, these apes had had a run-in with humans of their own. Bad humans… Well, that was just great. For all Blue Eyes knew, they could now be in the crosshairs of angry traitors of the ape variety, and potentially two groups of humans with guns!

“We… fight… humans, too. And… apes. Big war.”

He croaked, after listening to Bad Ape’s long lost daughter’s story and taking it in.

“Humans… kill… my father. Apes kill… my… friend. Lock… apes… in cages, like… humans… did. Both… maybe look… for… us.”

The chimpanzee took a moment to gather his breath again, and to rest his throat. Speaking was not his strong point. It never had been. But these apes did not understand sign…

“We look… for new… home. Safe home. Far… from… here.”

Part of him wanted to offer these stragglers a home, if his group found one. Apes together strong. But Koba and his followers had taught the prince a very harsh lesson; not all apes could be trusted. It made Blue Eyes question so many things, made him wonder if these newcomers would wait until they were asleep and then steal their supplies, weapons, and horses. Maybe kill his group, and make their sleep last forever. Like Caesar’s sleep. And Ash’s.

But he could not ignore that they were Bad Ape’s family, or what remained of it. The strange little chimpanzee had been nothing but kind to them. Maybe the others would, too.

 She could see how wary Blue Eyes was, and understood his feelings. Part of her remained alert and wary, too, for although the apes who had spoken seemed good-hearted enough, and some of them were kin to the scouts’ friend Bad Ape, who had proved himself invaluable, some among their number who were keeping silent might be less trustworthy. These unknown quantities might seek to take their food or even worse, their weapons. Perhaps they would be willing to make an alliance with Koba’s apes if they found that pathway more to their liking.

 But something about the new apes made her lean more towards trusting them, and that was the presence of children and the adults’ obvious protectiveness and concern for them.

 Protectiveness towards white-tails was an integral part of Lana’s character, influencing both her decision to join Koba (in the hope that she and her little sister would be adopted by her former mentor and guaranteed a future by the new regime) and then to turn away from him (when she realized his disregard for the young and vulnerable – he had not only imprisoned human white-tails but had deliberately put very young apes in harm’s way). And these new apes seemed to want the same thing as Blue Eyes’ apes did – a peaceful existence for themselves and their little ones, far away from all the fighting.

 Her gaze was drawn to the chimp named Ozzy, who was now being groomed by his adoptive mother Missy, for a moment, for he was making her very curious indeed. She had never before seen a young chimpanzee who was such a bundle of nerves. The way he acted reminded Lana of some of the older apes who had suffered great trauma in their early lives, apes who were still twitchy and hypervigilant after all these years even though they had been part of the troop Caesar had founded for so long. Apes who had been in labs, circuses or disreputable zoos, or who had been pets or otherwise used for the entertainment of humans. It was strange to see such behaviour in someone so youthful.

 Then her eyes looked towards little Tommy, who had crept over to Blue Eyes and was gazing at him in sheer wonder, with something like hero-worship on his young face. Perhaps it was because he had never seen so young a leader as Blue Eyes.

 The orangutan named Reuben was speaking now, and Lana paid close attention to his words.

 “We too want safe home, away from the bad humans. But you say, there are enemy apes? We have not seen them out there. What are they like? Who leads them? Do they have guns?”

Tobi playfully jabs at Darius.

“Are you trying to outflirt me?” Tobi asks. He leans in to Darius’s ear.

“You can’t win,” he growls, adding playfulness to his voice.

Juliana sets the pot down in the hall.

“I need cups,” she shouts.

She sits down and turns to Zoya and the rest.

“This is where those who would eat, drink, or simply wish to stay dry would stay. This is also where we hold forum when we need to vote,” age says.

“I can try,” he said playfully.

Zoya nodded and smiled to Juliana.

“We can help you set things up if you like,” Zoya said. “I am glad that Cory seems to have found playmates! He seems to be fitting in well with the children of your tribe.”

Regis, the wise gibbon, gazed around the hall. “This is amazing!” he said, his admiration evident in the way he looked around him at the structure the apes were now sheltered by. “I have never seen such architecture as this. As we have mostly traveled from place to place, we have had to use tents to stay dry.”

“You are a feisty one,” he says.

Cookie approaches Tobi and hugs him from behind.

“We should go greet our guests,” Cookie says. Tobi wraps his arms around Cookie’s and smirks.

“Yes. I believe I just heard Juliana shouting for cups. Might have something to do with them.”

Juliana gives Regis a chuckle.

Regis studied the architecture admiringly, and his wife Ruth also looked impressed.

“Perhaps some of our apes could learn to build houses like this,” she said, and the gorilla Frieda nodded eagerly.

“I would like to learn!” she declared.

“Unfortunately i would not be the one to ask. Cookie is the one who planned this. He is the one with the speckled face,” Juliana explains. She notices Tobi, Cookie, and Darius approching with cups.

“Oh, yes. I was worried that the cocoa would get too cold. I think it is still warm…” Juliana says.

“Cocoa. I wondered when i would get my next helping,” Tobi says with relief, as though he were beginning to get antsy.

Zoya smiled and helped Juliana hand out cups.

“I… for one, would prefer to talk to you more…” she said a little shyly to the female chimp.

“You seem interesting. I’m sure we can talk more later,” she responds

Tobi grunts confidently, “I think they like it! The cocoa is a truly great drink! I think all of you will love it here! We have many jobs and pleasures. In fact, how are the storm preparations?”

“They are nearly ready. I hope this is a long one. The drums are out. All we wait for is the word” Juliana responds.

Tobi smiles and lets out a mighty hoot. This is followed by several others as the hall is filled with excited sounds. Drums begin thumping.

Tobi smacks the ground with zeal, beginning a lengthy display: jumping up the walls, pounding surfaces, clapping, swaggering, and much calling.

The hall lights up with high spirits as the inhabitants pour outside to enjoy the storm.

Tobi returns to his guests, hoping they were not scared by his display.

He says simply, “It has begun.”

The cocoa was indeed a hit with the visitors, and Darius in particular, who was posing himself even more flirtatiously as he agreed that he was sure his tribe would love it there. And he was extremely impressed by Tobi’s display, watching raptly.

Little Cory felt slightly nervous when the rain began to come down, but the excitement was contagious and he started to forget his fears. He added his little yeeps to the exhilarated hoots of the young chimps.

All of the newcomers trooped out into the rain, some holding out their hands to the raindrops, some uttering delighted sounds and displaying.  Frieda called out to the storm-clouds and beat her chest, ever the posturing warrior.

Little Cory was delighted, and did not even scream as he usually did when the first thunder-clap sounded. He pounded the ground with flat palms and yeeped as he had earlier when watching Juliana.

Frieda saw the chimp warriors approaching and beat her chest in a show of play-bravado at them. Una stood near where Cookie was, and watched her, slightly concerned, and hoped that any fights that developed would be play-fights only and not serious ones. Some of the chimps looked quite fierce, and Frieda was immensely strong! Una did not want anyone to get hurt, either the gracious hosts or her beloved mate.

Una gave Cookie a small smile as she watched the dancers in the rain.

“They seem to be having fun, especially Tobi and Frieda with their warrior moves,” she said. “I, however, have a more peaceful nature… I’d rather stand aside and watch.” Regis and Ruth.,standing nearby, nodded in agreement.

Zoya’s dancing was also graceful, and very sensual as the raindrops spattered her fur; she was trying to attract the attention of Juliana with the motions of her hands and her slim hips.

Cookie looks ahead at Tobi.

“I am not the warrior Tobi is. I am a builder. I make things like the hall, but i have bigger hopes in mind. I do. Not know if i will be able to build them.”

Una, Regis and Ruth nodded to Cookie in agreement at his words.

“I would like to help you build things.” Regis said. “Perhaps our people can help  you build these structures you have in mind.”

Regis smiled modestly. ‘I would really like that,’ he said.

‘I would like to help too - that sounds a fascinating skill to learn,” Reuben said. Like most orangutans, he did not care to be out in the rain, but he did enjoy swaying to the beat of the drums, and Cookie’s talk about building was very interesting indeed.

Zoya danced flirtatiously towards Juliana, while little Cory and the chimp white-tails began to put on mini-displays of their own.

“A water mill!” Una said excitedly. “And a windmill - I am sure our people could help yours build them! I would love to learn to make the delicious bread you have here.”

Una was excited by any talk of cooking, which she loved.

“I know how to make fluffy bread, I have the recipes - but we would need an oven like humans used to use,” Una said to Cookie. “Although human machines don’t work any more, I have an idea to make a structure that might be able to cook bread the same way. Perhaps we could try to make one.”

Juliana laughs at the play-fighting. She looks at Zoya and wraps her arms around Zoya and pats her hand on Zoya’s head.

Zoya smiled, blissfully happy, and gently nuzzled Juliana. Cory and the other white-tails had started knuckle-walking in a circle, trying to imitate bird-calls as the rain made jewel-like droplets on their fur.

“There is an ingredient that makes the bread rise, according to Reuben’s books,” Una said. “Sometimes potatoes can be used to make it. And you have those, I think… as do we.”

“That was fun. I’d love to see you in battle, with a weapon. You’re a bigger challenge than I took into account,” Tobi says.

Juliana stands and scans the crowd. She looks up to the sky.

“I believe the storm will be letting up soon. Above the clouds, the sun begins to set,” she says.

“I enjoyed that, too, she said. “Next time we should try sparring with weapons. You’re quite the strong warrior!”

Zoya affectionately touched her forehead to Juliana’s, and at Juliana’s pronouncement the white-tails halted their game and looked up at the sky in wonder.

“Reuben’s books call this ingredient “yeast”,” Una said to Cookie. “There are several ways to make it but the easiest, I think, would be for us to use potatoes which are readily available.”

The storm must be ending soon. How disheartening. Tobi does so love storms.

“Juliana must be sensing that the storm is ending soon. Such a shame. This really was a short one,” Tobi says to Frieda.

Juliana holds her hand out.

“Let us dance while we can,” Juliana says.

Cookie cocks his head and grunts.

“I am sure there will be more storms, and we can still spar whenever we feel like it. I would love to learn more about how your people train with weapons.”

Zoya shyly took Juliana by the hand and smiled. “I would love to dance while we still can. Look, the children have started their game again!” she said joyfully.

Hearing Cookie and Una discussing yeast made Reuben perk u[p. “If you like, I can show you the part of my recipe book where it talks about making it from potatoes. We have plenty of those,” he offered.

Juliana smiles and takes Zoya’s hand, leading her over by the drummers, where they can feel the beat in their hearts more fiercely.

Zoya too was enjoying the dancing, holding Juliana’s hand gently and moving with her and swaying her hips with passion to the drumbeats also.

“I have some of my books here with me in my bag,” Reuben said to Cookie. “I will look and see if one of them has the potato yeast recipe in it.”

Juliana swings Zoya’s arms back and forth, while slowly leading her to spin in a circle. She laughs enthusiastically while she has a great time vin what is left of the storm.

Zoya, meanwhile, enjoyed her dance with beautiful Juliana, uttering happy yeeps of her own. Rain droplets glistened from her fur like jewels, and she felt such joy to be dancing with such a desirable female.

Reuben took out the book from his bag and studied it for a few moments, leafing through the pages.

“Yes, this is it!” he declared, and held the book out to show Cookie.

“Have you ever danced before?” Tobi asks

Juliana laughs and claps enthusiastically.

“Dance Zoya, dance!”

Cookie takes the book and inspects it. He opens the book to the first page and looks through the table of contents. He flips to the part relevant to what they are taking about.

“Not for a long time, but I like it,” he purred.

Zoya danced wildly and joyfully, making her movements as enticing as possible for the beautiful Juliana.

Reuben nodded and smiled eagerly at Cookie.

“I am sure we can!” he said eagerly. “Any starchy vegetable like that should work, and your sweet potatoes would give it a lovely taste.”

“I have not danced in many years. Other apes do not know how, they never learned how. They show passion in other ways,” Tobi explains. He lifts Darius and spins him around.

Juliana watches with joy in her heart. She enjoys knowing that she can cause someone to feel such a way. She sits and hoots im excitement.

Cookie continues reading.

“I love the way you dance,” he said, and swayed closer.

Zoya swayed her hips sensually too as she danced for Juliana.

Reuben nodded to Cookie. “Yes, we do. I am sure the same process will work with your sweet potatoes.”

Tobi playfully jabs at Darius.

“Are you trying to outflirt me?” Tobi asks. He leans in to Darius’s ear.

“You can’t win,” he growls, adding playfulness to his voice.

Juliana sets the pot down in the hall.

“I need cups,” she shouts.

She sits down and turns to Zoya and the rest.

“This is where those who would eat, drink, or simply wish to stay dry would stay. This is also where we hold forum when we need to vote,” age says.

“I can try,” he said playfully.

Zoya nodded and smiled to Juliana.

“We can help you set things up if you like,” Zoya said. “I am glad that Cory seems to have found playmates! He seems to be fitting in well with the children of your tribe.”

Regis, the wise gibbon, gazed around the hall. “This is amazing!” he said, his admiration evident in the way he looked around him at the structure the apes were now sheltered by. “I have never seen such architecture as this. As we have mostly traveled from place to place, we have had to use tents to stay dry.”

“You are a feisty one,” he says.

Cookie approaches Tobi and hugs him from behind.

“We should go greet our guests,” Cookie says. Tobi wraps his arms around Cookie’s and smirks.

“Yes. I believe I just heard Juliana shouting for cups. Might have something to do with them.”

Juliana gives Regis a chuckle.

Regis studied the architecture admiringly, and his wife Ruth also looked impressed.

“Perhaps some of our apes could learn to build houses like this,” she said, and the gorilla Frieda nodded eagerly.

“I would like to learn!” she declared.

“Unfortunately i would not be the one to ask. Cookie is the one who planned this. He is the one with the speckled face,” Juliana explains. She notices Tobi, Cookie, and Darius approching with cups.

“Oh, yes. I was worried that the cocoa would get too cold. I think it is still warm…” Juliana says.

“Cocoa. I wondered when i would get my next helping,” Tobi says with relief, as though he were beginning to get antsy.

Zoya smiled and helped Juliana hand out cups.

“I… for one, would prefer to talk to you more…” she said a little shyly to the female chimp.

“You seem interesting. I’m sure we can talk more later,” she responds

Tobi grunts confidently, “I think they like it! The cocoa is a truly great drink! I think all of you will love it here! We have many jobs and pleasures. In fact, how are the storm preparations?”

“They are nearly ready. I hope this is a long one. The drums are out. All we wait for is the word” Juliana responds.

Tobi smiles and lets out a mighty hoot. This is followed by several others as the hall is filled with excited sounds. Drums begin thumping.

Tobi smacks the ground with zeal, beginning a lengthy display: jumping up the walls, pounding surfaces, clapping, swaggering, and much calling.

The hall lights up with high spirits as the inhabitants pour outside to enjoy the storm.

Tobi returns to his guests, hoping they were not scared by his display.

He says simply, “It has begun.”

The cocoa was indeed a hit with the visitors, and Darius in particular, who was posing himself even more flirtatiously as he agreed that he was sure his tribe would love it there. And he was extremely impressed by Tobi’s display, watching raptly.

Little Cory felt slightly nervous when the rain began to come down, but the excitement was contagious and he started to forget his fears. He added his little yeeps to the exhilarated hoots of the young chimps.

All of the newcomers trooped out into the rain, some holding out their hands to the raindrops, some uttering delighted sounds and displaying.  Frieda called out to the storm-clouds and beat her chest, ever the posturing warrior.

Little Cory was delighted, and did not even scream as he usually did when the first thunder-clap sounded. He pounded the ground with flat palms and yeeped as he had earlier when watching Juliana.

Frieda saw the chimp warriors approaching and beat her chest in a show of play-bravado at them. Una stood near where Cookie was, and watched her, slightly concerned, and hoped that any fights that developed would be play-fights only and not serious ones. Some of the chimps looked quite fierce, and Frieda was immensely strong! Una did not want anyone to get hurt, either the gracious hosts or her beloved mate.

Una gave Cookie a small smile as she watched the dancers in the rain.

“They seem to be having fun, especially Tobi and Frieda with their warrior moves,” she said. “I, however, have a more peaceful nature… I’d rather stand aside and watch.” Regis and Ruth.,standing nearby, nodded in agreement.

Zoya’s dancing was also graceful, and very sensual as the raindrops spattered her fur; she was trying to attract the attention of Juliana with the motions of her hands and her slim hips.

Cookie looks ahead at Tobi.

“I am not the warrior Tobi is. I am a builder. I make things like the hall, but i have bigger hopes in mind. I do. Not know if i will be able to build them.”

Una, Regis and Ruth nodded to Cookie in agreement at his words.

“I would like to help you build things.” Regis said. “Perhaps our people can help  you build these structures you have in mind.”

Regis smiled modestly. ‘I would really like that,’ he said.

‘I would like to help too - that sounds a fascinating skill to learn,” Reuben said. Like most orangutans, he did not care to be out in the rain, but he did enjoy swaying to the beat of the drums, and Cookie’s talk about building was very interesting indeed.

Zoya danced flirtatiously towards Juliana, while little Cory and the chimp white-tails began to put on mini-displays of their own.

“A water mill!” Una said excitedly. “And a windmill - I am sure our people could help yours build them! I would love to learn to make the delicious bread you have here.”

Una was excited by any talk of cooking, which she loved.

“I know how to make fluffy bread, I have the recipes - but we would need an oven like humans used to use,” Una said to Cookie. “Although human machines don’t work any more, I have an idea to make a structure that might be able to cook bread the same way. Perhaps we could try to make one.”

Juliana laughs at the play-fighting. She looks at Zoya and wraps her arms around Zoya and pats her hand on Zoya’s head.

Zoya smiled, blissfully happy, and gently nuzzled Juliana. Cory and the other white-tails had started knuckle-walking in a circle, trying to imitate bird-calls as the rain made jewel-like droplets on their fur.

“There is an ingredient that makes the bread rise, according to Reuben’s books,” Una said. “Sometimes potatoes can be used to make it. And you have those, I think… as do we.”

“That was fun. I’d love to see you in battle, with a weapon. You’re a bigger challenge than I took into account,” Tobi says.

Juliana stands and scans the crowd. She looks up to the sky.

“I believe the storm will be letting up soon. Above the clouds, the sun begins to set,” she says.

“I enjoyed that, too, she said. “Next time we should try sparring with weapons. You’re quite the strong warrior!”

Zoya affectionately touched her forehead to Juliana’s, and at Juliana’s pronouncement the white-tails halted their game and looked up at the sky in wonder.

“Reuben’s books call this ingredient “yeast”,” Una said to Cookie. “There are several ways to make it but the easiest, I think, would be for us to use potatoes which are readily available.”

The storm must be ending soon. How disheartening. Tobi does so love storms.

“Juliana must be sensing that the storm is ending soon. Such a shame. This really was a short one,” Tobi says to Frieda.

Juliana holds her hand out.

“Let us dance while we can,” Juliana says.

Cookie cocks his head and grunts.

“I am sure there will be more storms, and we can still spar whenever we feel like it. I would love to learn more about how your people train with weapons.”

Zoya shyly took Juliana by the hand and smiled. “I would love to dance while we still can. Look, the children have started their game again!” she said joyfully.

Hearing Cookie and Una discussing yeast made Reuben perk u[p. “If you like, I can show you the part of my recipe book where it talks about making it from potatoes. We have plenty of those,” he offered.

Juliana smiles and takes Zoya’s hand, leading her over by the drummers, where they can feel the beat in their hearts more fiercely.

Zoya too was enjoying the dancing, holding Juliana’s hand gently and moving with her and swaying her hips with passion to the drumbeats also.

“I have some of my books here with me in my bag,” Reuben said to Cookie. “I will look and see if one of them has the potato yeast recipe in it.”

Juliana swings Zoya’s arms back and forth, while slowly leading her to spin in a circle. She laughs enthusiastically while she has a great time vin what is left of the storm.

Zoya, meanwhile, enjoyed her dance with beautiful Juliana, uttering happy yeeps of her own. Rain droplets glistened from her fur like jewels, and she felt such joy to be dancing with such a desirable female.

Reuben took out the book from his bag and studied it for a few moments, leafing through the pages.

“Yes, this is it!” he declared, and held the book out to show Cookie.

“Have you ever danced before?” Tobi asks

Juliana laughs and claps enthusiastically.

“Dance Zoya, dance!”

Cookie takes the book and inspects it. He opens the book to the first page and looks through the table of contents. He flips to the part relevant to what they are taking about.

“Not for a long time, but I like it,” he purred.

Zoya danced wildly and joyfully, making her movements as enticing as possible for the beautiful Juliana.

Reuben nodded and smiled eagerly at Cookie.

“I am sure we can!” he said eagerly. “Any starchy vegetable like that should work, and your sweet potatoes would give it a lovely taste.”

Lana, too, was encouraged by the traces of prey animals she saw as the scouts got further and further away from the human dwelling that had been full of strange things and even stranger smells. Although the young hybrid knew that having prey available meant that there would inevitably be competing predators lurking in the woods, she reasoned that as long as the scouts kept their weapons to hand and stuck together they should be safe. And when the tribe was re-united, there would be many strong hunters to combat any challenge that the wilderness might throw at them.

And Lana fully intended to be one of those hunters. She could not help but smile and puff her chest out a little at the thought of impressing Sage by bringing home plenty of big game for all the apes, including, someday in the distant future, the white-tails she and Sage would raise together.

Wondering briefly if the babies would choose to call her “Father” or if the two female mates would be “Mother Sage” and “Mother Lana”, she acknowledged the signal from Blue Eyes to stop and tugged on her mount’s reins so that the brown mare would likewise come to a halt. Rocket had also brought his horse to a standstill and was awaiting further instructions from Blue Eyes.

Lana nodded in agreement at Blue Eyes’ declaration that the little group should make camp where they were. She was quietly impressed by the strong leadership qualities this new older brother of hers was displaying. The young prince already showed the signs of developing into a fine king. He was no Caesar, of course, but then again, no other ape could ever be just like Caesar.

‘This good place, sheltered here and we can build fire,’ Lana signed in approval. ‘Is there time to hunt, or should we just eat what we brought with us?”

Rocket was already dismounting, and searching for a place to tether the horses, and for sticks to build a fire.

Lana also dismounted and helped Bad Ape to do the same.

“I will start… to teach you some sign tonight,” she told him with a small smile.

Lana’s agreement was a relief and made Blue Eyes straighten his back just a little bit, a small smile playing across his lips briefly until a question was posed to him and he had to take a moment to think. They technically had food that they could eat, and given that the light was leaving them in an unknown area…

‘I think we eat what we have. Maybe hunt tomorrow when sun is out. Could be dangerous at night.’

He shrugged after he finished signing, casting a glance around him as if nervous that something could be lurking just behind any tree. It wouldn’t be a good idea for them to split up anyway just in case something was here. Somebody would need to stay behind to build up a fire while the rest hunted, and that didn’t sit well with him. Especially in the dark, when apes struggled to see.

Everyone took some of the dried rations, but Lana noticed that Rocket did not touch any of the packaged sweets. She gave him a sympathetic look. What must he be remembering, she wondered, but did not ask. She had heard stories before of adult apes who had suffered traumas in their pasts, and each one had different ways of coping.

Some more successfully than others, it seemed. Koba’s past experiences had obviously not helped him to become a better and stronger ape, as Rocket’s had.

As soon as everyone was fed, Lana had a few questions for the others.

‘What you think we find out there? What we do if we see humans? Do we come back this way, or find another way to go?’

While signing, Lana spoke aloud as well, nodding for Bad Ape to watch her hands so that he could pick up some of the signs. He was intelligent enough to get her drift, and as soon as she had finished signing, actually smiled at her and did not speak, instead making the motions with his hands:

‘Find another way.’

He looked at Lana, seeking her approval, and said, “I think… we should… find another way. Did I say it right?”

“You did!” Lana exclaimed and patted his arm approvingly. “I will teach you many more signs, too… as we go along. Many apes… not speak well yet… so it good to learn sign.”

It was a long two years since Emily had left the ape colony, and she could feel herself missing the red wood forest almost daily by now. She didn’t think she’d feel this home sick for her second family, but she knew they’d be okay. They had Caesar and Koba after all. Who better to defend a colony?

She rode tall on her intelligent mare, Isabelle, who’s ears swiveled in every direction to detect any sounds. Sure Emily’s senses were heightened thanks to the green drug that made the apes smarter, but the mares were more so.

“Anything so far?” Emily asked.

Izzy snorted, shaking her head in a no. Even without speech, the two understood each other fluently, which would give Emily and odd look whenever she found a human settlement to get supplies.

Emily sighed and stretched. “Then stop for a moment, I need to stretch.”

Izzy stopped and let Emily dismount. The girl stretched, hearing her back pop here and there as she allowed herself to relax a moment.

She took a breath and nodded. ‘Happy to be back,’ She answered. ‘Glad to be home, with apes…’ she paused before giving Caesar a look that seemed to ask for permission before she finished the statement. ‘Father…’

His smile became even more joyful when he heard what Emily had called him. The ape king had long thought of Emily as his child, and it made him feel good to hear her call him Father.

‘And I am glad you are home with us, my daughter,’ he signed, and hugged her gently, pressing his forehead to hers in the ape fashion.

Orchid sat down for a rest and to feed little Smoke. Charlie, a little hesitant, sat beside her and offered the young mother some dried fruit. He clearly looked like he did not know what to do or say next.

She gave Emily a gentle nudge and indicated where Charlie was sitting.

‘I think he likes Orchid,’ she signed discreetly.

‘He seems to like Orchid’s baby, that is good sign. Maybe Izzy knows what he might say to Orchid?’ Lake replied to Emily.

Little Cornelius had, meanwhile, gone over to Izzy, who he loved dearly, with Star tagging along behind him. Izzy fascinated her, too.

She watched fondly as the children played with Izzy.

Emily looked at the mare fondly, watching as she laid down and gently nuzzled the young ones.

Over with Orchid, Charlie felt uneasy. He wanted to tell her all about his feelings, but was so shy and did not want to upset her if she was still grieving for Ash. He looked towards Izzy, wishing the clever mare could say something.

Charlie accepted the peach blossoms from Izzy, whispering, “Thank you,” before carrying them to Orchid.

Orchid smiled. ‘For me?” she signed shyly, and Charlie nodded and bent to stroke Smoke’s tiny head.

‘I know I can never replace Ash… I too miss him. But I do like you… and would love to  take care of you and Smoke, if that is what you want. I will understand if you do not… and I am happy to be just a friend if you prefer.’

‘I will always love Ash... but he would not want me to be alone forever,’ she finally signed. ‘And Smoke needs father figure in his life...  yes, I would like to try being your mate.’

It was all Charlie could do not to start hooting and jumping for joy. Instead, he tenderly pressed his forehead to Orchid’s.

Tobi playfully jabs at Darius.

“Are you trying to outflirt me?” Tobi asks. He leans in to Darius’s ear.

“You can’t win,” he growls, adding playfulness to his voice.

Juliana sets the pot down in the hall.

“I need cups,” she shouts.

She sits down and turns to Zoya and the rest.

“This is where those who would eat, drink, or simply wish to stay dry would stay. This is also where we hold forum when we need to vote,” age says.

“I can try,” he said playfully.

Zoya nodded and smiled to Juliana.

“We can help you set things up if you like,” Zoya said. “I am glad that Cory seems to have found playmates! He seems to be fitting in well with the children of your tribe.”

Regis, the wise gibbon, gazed around the hall. “This is amazing!” he said, his admiration evident in the way he looked around him at the structure the apes were now sheltered by. “I have never seen such architecture as this. As we have mostly traveled from place to place, we have had to use tents to stay dry.”

“You are a feisty one,” he says.

Cookie approaches Tobi and hugs him from behind.

“We should go greet our guests,” Cookie says. Tobi wraps his arms around Cookie’s and smirks.

“Yes. I believe I just heard Juliana shouting for cups. Might have something to do with them.”

Juliana gives Regis a chuckle.

Regis studied the architecture admiringly, and his wife Ruth also looked impressed.

“Perhaps some of our apes could learn to build houses like this,” she said, and the gorilla Frieda nodded eagerly.

“I would like to learn!” she declared.

“Unfortunately i would not be the one to ask. Cookie is the one who planned this. He is the one with the speckled face,” Juliana explains. She notices Tobi, Cookie, and Darius approching with cups.

“Oh, yes. I was worried that the cocoa would get too cold. I think it is still warm…” Juliana says.

“Cocoa. I wondered when i would get my next helping,” Tobi says with relief, as though he were beginning to get antsy.

Zoya smiled and helped Juliana hand out cups.

“I… for one, would prefer to talk to you more…” she said a little shyly to the female chimp.

“You seem interesting. I’m sure we can talk more later,” she responds

Tobi grunts confidently, “I think they like it! The cocoa is a truly great drink! I think all of you will love it here! We have many jobs and pleasures. In fact, how are the storm preparations?”

“They are nearly ready. I hope this is a long one. The drums are out. All we wait for is the word” Juliana responds.

Tobi smiles and lets out a mighty hoot. This is followed by several others as the hall is filled with excited sounds. Drums begin thumping.

Tobi smacks the ground with zeal, beginning a lengthy display: jumping up the walls, pounding surfaces, clapping, swaggering, and much calling.

The hall lights up with high spirits as the inhabitants pour outside to enjoy the storm.

Tobi returns to his guests, hoping they were not scared by his display.

He says simply, “It has begun.”

The cocoa was indeed a hit with the visitors, and Darius in particular, who was posing himself even more flirtatiously as he agreed that he was sure his tribe would love it there. And he was extremely impressed by Tobi’s display, watching raptly.

Little Cory felt slightly nervous when the rain began to come down, but the excitement was contagious and he started to forget his fears. He added his little yeeps to the exhilarated hoots of the young chimps.

All of the newcomers trooped out into the rain, some holding out their hands to the raindrops, some uttering delighted sounds and displaying.  Frieda called out to the storm-clouds and beat her chest, ever the posturing warrior.

Little Cory was delighted, and did not even scream as he usually did when the first thunder-clap sounded. He pounded the ground with flat palms and yeeped as he had earlier when watching Juliana.

Frieda saw the chimp warriors approaching and beat her chest in a show of play-bravado at them. Una stood near where Cookie was, and watched her, slightly concerned, and hoped that any fights that developed would be play-fights only and not serious ones. Some of the chimps looked quite fierce, and Frieda was immensely strong! Una did not want anyone to get hurt, either the gracious hosts or her beloved mate.

Una gave Cookie a small smile as she watched the dancers in the rain.

“They seem to be having fun, especially Tobi and Frieda with their warrior moves,” she said. “I, however, have a more peaceful nature… I’d rather stand aside and watch.” Regis and Ruth.,standing nearby, nodded in agreement.

Zoya’s dancing was also graceful, and very sensual as the raindrops spattered her fur; she was trying to attract the attention of Juliana with the motions of her hands and her slim hips.

Cookie looks ahead at Tobi.

“I am not the warrior Tobi is. I am a builder. I make things like the hall, but i have bigger hopes in mind. I do. Not know if i will be able to build them.”

Una, Regis and Ruth nodded to Cookie in agreement at his words.

“I would like to help you build things.” Regis said. “Perhaps our people can help  you build these structures you have in mind.”

Regis smiled modestly. ‘I would really like that,’ he said.

‘I would like to help too - that sounds a fascinating skill to learn,” Reuben said. Like most orangutans, he did not care to be out in the rain, but he did enjoy swaying to the beat of the drums, and Cookie’s talk about building was very interesting indeed.

Zoya danced flirtatiously towards Juliana, while little Cory and the chimp white-tails began to put on mini-displays of their own.

“A water mill!” Una said excitedly. “And a windmill - I am sure our people could help yours build them! I would love to learn to make the delicious bread you have here.”

Una was excited by any talk of cooking, which she loved.

“I know how to make fluffy bread, I have the recipes - but we would need an oven like humans used to use,” Una said to Cookie. “Although human machines don’t work any more, I have an idea to make a structure that might be able to cook bread the same way. Perhaps we could try to make one.”

Juliana laughs at the play-fighting. She looks at Zoya and wraps her arms around Zoya and pats her hand on Zoya’s head.

Zoya smiled, blissfully happy, and gently nuzzled Juliana. Cory and the other white-tails had started knuckle-walking in a circle, trying to imitate bird-calls as the rain made jewel-like droplets on their fur.

“There is an ingredient that makes the bread rise, according to Reuben’s books,” Una said. “Sometimes potatoes can be used to make it. And you have those, I think… as do we.”

“That was fun. I’d love to see you in battle, with a weapon. You’re a bigger challenge than I took into account,” Tobi says.

Juliana stands and scans the crowd. She looks up to the sky.

“I believe the storm will be letting up soon. Above the clouds, the sun begins to set,” she says.

“I enjoyed that, too, she said. “Next time we should try sparring with weapons. You’re quite the strong warrior!”

Zoya affectionately touched her forehead to Juliana’s, and at Juliana’s pronouncement the white-tails halted their game and looked up at the sky in wonder.

“Reuben’s books call this ingredient “yeast”,” Una said to Cookie. “There are several ways to make it but the easiest, I think, would be for us to use potatoes which are readily available.”

The storm must be ending soon. How disheartening. Tobi does so love storms.

“Juliana must be sensing that the storm is ending soon. Such a shame. This really was a short one,” Tobi says to Frieda.

Juliana holds her hand out.

“Let us dance while we can,” Juliana says.

Cookie cocks his head and grunts.

“I am sure there will be more storms, and we can still spar whenever we feel like it. I would love to learn more about how your people train with weapons.”

Zoya shyly took Juliana by the hand and smiled. “I would love to dance while we still can. Look, the children have started their game again!” she said joyfully.

Hearing Cookie and Una discussing yeast made Reuben perk u[p. “If you like, I can show you the part of my recipe book where it talks about making it from potatoes. We have plenty of those,” he offered.

Juliana smiles and takes Zoya’s hand, leading her over by the drummers, where they can feel the beat in their hearts more fiercely.

Zoya too was enjoying the dancing, holding Juliana’s hand gently and moving with her and swaying her hips with passion to the drumbeats also.

“I have some of my books here with me in my bag,” Reuben said to Cookie. “I will look and see if one of them has the potato yeast recipe in it.”

Juliana swings Zoya’s arms back and forth, while slowly leading her to spin in a circle. She laughs enthusiastically while she has a great time vin what is left of the storm.

Zoya, meanwhile, enjoyed her dance with beautiful Juliana, uttering happy yeeps of her own. Rain droplets glistened from her fur like jewels, and she felt such joy to be dancing with such a desirable female.

Reuben took out the book from his bag and studied it for a few moments, leafing through the pages.

“Yes, this is it!” he declared, and held the book out to show Cookie.

Tobi playfully jabs at Darius.

“Are you trying to outflirt me?” Tobi asks. He leans in to Darius’s ear.

“You can’t win,” he growls, adding playfulness to his voice.

Juliana sets the pot down in the hall.

“I need cups,” she shouts.

She sits down and turns to Zoya and the rest.

“This is where those who would eat, drink, or simply wish to stay dry would stay. This is also where we hold forum when we need to vote,” age says.

“I can try,” he said playfully.

Zoya nodded and smiled to Juliana.

“We can help you set things up if you like,” Zoya said. “I am glad that Cory seems to have found playmates! He seems to be fitting in well with the children of your tribe.”

Regis, the wise gibbon, gazed around the hall. “This is amazing!” he said, his admiration evident in the way he looked around him at the structure the apes were now sheltered by. “I have never seen such architecture as this. As we have mostly traveled from place to place, we have had to use tents to stay dry.”

“You are a feisty one,” he says.

Cookie approaches Tobi and hugs him from behind.

“We should go greet our guests,” Cookie says. Tobi wraps his arms around Cookie’s and smirks.

“Yes. I believe I just heard Juliana shouting for cups. Might have something to do with them.”

Juliana gives Regis a chuckle.

Regis studied the architecture admiringly, and his wife Ruth also looked impressed.

“Perhaps some of our apes could learn to build houses like this,” she said, and the gorilla Frieda nodded eagerly.

“I would like to learn!” she declared.

“Unfortunately i would not be the one to ask. Cookie is the one who planned this. He is the one with the speckled face,” Juliana explains. She notices Tobi, Cookie, and Darius approching with cups.

“Oh, yes. I was worried that the cocoa would get too cold. I think it is still warm…” Juliana says.

“Cocoa. I wondered when i would get my next helping,” Tobi says with relief, as though he were beginning to get antsy.

Zoya smiled and helped Juliana hand out cups.

“I… for one, would prefer to talk to you more…” she said a little shyly to the female chimp.

“You seem interesting. I’m sure we can talk more later,” she responds

Tobi grunts confidently, “I think they like it! The cocoa is a truly great drink! I think all of you will love it here! We have many jobs and pleasures. In fact, how are the storm preparations?”

“They are nearly ready. I hope this is a long one. The drums are out. All we wait for is the word” Juliana responds.

Tobi smiles and lets out a mighty hoot. This is followed by several others as the hall is filled with excited sounds. Drums begin thumping.

Tobi smacks the ground with zeal, beginning a lengthy display: jumping up the walls, pounding surfaces, clapping, swaggering, and much calling.

The hall lights up with high spirits as the inhabitants pour outside to enjoy the storm.

Tobi returns to his guests, hoping they were not scared by his display.

He says simply, “It has begun.”

The cocoa was indeed a hit with the visitors, and Darius in particular, who was posing himself even more flirtatiously as he agreed that he was sure his tribe would love it there. And he was extremely impressed by Tobi’s display, watching raptly.

Little Cory felt slightly nervous when the rain began to come down, but the excitement was contagious and he started to forget his fears. He added his little yeeps to the exhilarated hoots of the young chimps.

All of the newcomers trooped out into the rain, some holding out their hands to the raindrops, some uttering delighted sounds and displaying.  Frieda called out to the storm-clouds and beat her chest, ever the posturing warrior.

Little Cory was delighted, and did not even scream as he usually did when the first thunder-clap sounded. He pounded the ground with flat palms and yeeped as he had earlier when watching Juliana.

Frieda saw the chimp warriors approaching and beat her chest in a show of play-bravado at them. Una stood near where Cookie was, and watched her, slightly concerned, and hoped that any fights that developed would be play-fights only and not serious ones. Some of the chimps looked quite fierce, and Frieda was immensely strong! Una did not want anyone to get hurt, either the gracious hosts or her beloved mate.

Una gave Cookie a small smile as she watched the dancers in the rain.

“They seem to be having fun, especially Tobi and Frieda with their warrior moves,” she said. “I, however, have a more peaceful nature… I’d rather stand aside and watch.” Regis and Ruth.,standing nearby, nodded in agreement.

Zoya’s dancing was also graceful, and very sensual as the raindrops spattered her fur; she was trying to attract the attention of Juliana with the motions of her hands and her slim hips.

Cookie looks ahead at Tobi.

“I am not the warrior Tobi is. I am a builder. I make things like the hall, but i have bigger hopes in mind. I do. Not know if i will be able to build them.”

Una, Regis and Ruth nodded to Cookie in agreement at his words.

“I would like to help you build things.” Regis said. “Perhaps our people can help  you build these structures you have in mind.”

Regis smiled modestly. ‘I would really like that,’ he said.

‘I would like to help too - that sounds a fascinating skill to learn,” Reuben said. Like most orangutans, he did not care to be out in the rain, but he did enjoy swaying to the beat of the drums, and Cookie’s talk about building was very interesting indeed.

Zoya danced flirtatiously towards Juliana, while little Cory and the chimp white-tails began to put on mini-displays of their own.

“A water mill!” Una said excitedly. “And a windmill - I am sure our people could help yours build them! I would love to learn to make the delicious bread you have here.”

Una was excited by any talk of cooking, which she loved.

“I know how to make fluffy bread, I have the recipes - but we would need an oven like humans used to use,” Una said to Cookie. “Although human machines don’t work any more, I have an idea to make a structure that might be able to cook bread the same way. Perhaps we could try to make one.”

Juliana laughs at the play-fighting. She looks at Zoya and wraps her arms around Zoya and pats her hand on Zoya’s head.

Zoya smiled, blissfully happy, and gently nuzzled Juliana. Cory and the other white-tails had started knuckle-walking in a circle, trying to imitate bird-calls as the rain made jewel-like droplets on their fur.

“There is an ingredient that makes the bread rise, according to Reuben’s books,” Una said. “Sometimes potatoes can be used to make it. And you have those, I think… as do we.”

“That was fun. I’d love to see you in battle, with a weapon. You’re a bigger challenge than I took into account,” Tobi says.

Juliana stands and scans the crowd. She looks up to the sky.

“I believe the storm will be letting up soon. Above the clouds, the sun begins to set,” she says.

“I enjoyed that, too, she said. “Next time we should try sparring with weapons. You’re quite the strong warrior!”

Zoya affectionately touched her forehead to Juliana’s, and at Juliana’s pronouncement the white-tails halted their game and looked up at the sky in wonder.

“Reuben’s books call this ingredient “yeast”,” Una said to Cookie. “There are several ways to make it but the easiest, I think, would be for us to use potatoes which are readily available.”

The storm must be ending soon. How disheartening. Tobi does so love storms.

“Juliana must be sensing that the storm is ending soon. Such a shame. This really was a short one,” Tobi says to Frieda.

Juliana holds her hand out.

“Let us dance while we can,” Juliana says.

Cookie cocks his head and grunts.

“I am sure there will be more storms, and we can still spar whenever we feel like it. I would love to learn more about how your people train with weapons.”

Zoya shyly took Juliana by the hand and smiled. “I would love to dance while we still can. Look, the children have started their game again!” she said joyfully.

Hearing Cookie and Una discussing yeast made Reuben perk u[p. “If you like, I can show you the part of my recipe book where it talks about making it from potatoes. We have plenty of those,” he offered.

Juliana smiles and takes Zoya’s hand, leading her over by the drummers, where they can feel the beat in their hearts more fiercely.

Zoya too was enjoying the dancing, holding Juliana’s hand gently and moving with her and swaying her hips with passion to the drumbeats also.

“I have some of my books here with me in my bag,” Reuben said to Cookie. “I will look and see if one of them has the potato yeast recipe in it.”

Tobi playfully jabs at Darius.

“Are you trying to outflirt me?” Tobi asks. He leans in to Darius’s ear.

“You can’t win,” he growls, adding playfulness to his voice.

Juliana sets the pot down in the hall.

“I need cups,” she shouts.

She sits down and turns to Zoya and the rest.

“This is where those who would eat, drink, or simply wish to stay dry would stay. This is also where we hold forum when we need to vote,” age says.

“I can try,” he said playfully.

Zoya nodded and smiled to Juliana.

“We can help you set things up if you like,” Zoya said. “I am glad that Cory seems to have found playmates! He seems to be fitting in well with the children of your tribe.”

Regis, the wise gibbon, gazed around the hall. “This is amazing!” he said, his admiration evident in the way he looked around him at the structure the apes were now sheltered by. “I have never seen such architecture as this. As we have mostly traveled from place to place, we have had to use tents to stay dry.”

“You are a feisty one,” he says.

Cookie approaches Tobi and hugs him from behind.

“We should go greet our guests,” Cookie says. Tobi wraps his arms around Cookie’s and smirks.

“Yes. I believe I just heard Juliana shouting for cups. Might have something to do with them.”

Juliana gives Regis a chuckle.

Regis studied the architecture admiringly, and his wife Ruth also looked impressed.

“Perhaps some of our apes could learn to build houses like this,” she said, and the gorilla Frieda nodded eagerly.

“I would like to learn!” she declared.

“Unfortunately i would not be the one to ask. Cookie is the one who planned this. He is the one with the speckled face,” Juliana explains. She notices Tobi, Cookie, and Darius approching with cups.

“Oh, yes. I was worried that the cocoa would get too cold. I think it is still warm…” Juliana says.

“Cocoa. I wondered when i would get my next helping,” Tobi says with relief, as though he were beginning to get antsy.

Zoya smiled and helped Juliana hand out cups.

“I… for one, would prefer to talk to you more…” she said a little shyly to the female chimp.

“You seem interesting. I’m sure we can talk more later,” she responds

Tobi grunts confidently, “I think they like it! The cocoa is a truly great drink! I think all of you will love it here! We have many jobs and pleasures. In fact, how are the storm preparations?”

“They are nearly ready. I hope this is a long one. The drums are out. All we wait for is the word” Juliana responds.

Tobi smiles and lets out a mighty hoot. This is followed by several others as the hall is filled with excited sounds. Drums begin thumping.

Tobi smacks the ground with zeal, beginning a lengthy display: jumping up the walls, pounding surfaces, clapping, swaggering, and much calling.

The hall lights up with high spirits as the inhabitants pour outside to enjoy the storm.

Tobi returns to his guests, hoping they were not scared by his display.

He says simply, “It has begun.”

The cocoa was indeed a hit with the visitors, and Darius in particular, who was posing himself even more flirtatiously as he agreed that he was sure his tribe would love it there. And he was extremely impressed by Tobi’s display, watching raptly.

Little Cory felt slightly nervous when the rain began to come down, but the excitement was contagious and he started to forget his fears. He added his little yeeps to the exhilarated hoots of the young chimps.

All of the newcomers trooped out into the rain, some holding out their hands to the raindrops, some uttering delighted sounds and displaying.  Frieda called out to the storm-clouds and beat her chest, ever the posturing warrior.

Little Cory was delighted, and did not even scream as he usually did when the first thunder-clap sounded. He pounded the ground with flat palms and yeeped as he had earlier when watching Juliana.

Frieda saw the chimp warriors approaching and beat her chest in a show of play-bravado at them. Una stood near where Cookie was, and watched her, slightly concerned, and hoped that any fights that developed would be play-fights only and not serious ones. Some of the chimps looked quite fierce, and Frieda was immensely strong! Una did not want anyone to get hurt, either the gracious hosts or her beloved mate.

Una gave Cookie a small smile as she watched the dancers in the rain.

“They seem to be having fun, especially Tobi and Frieda with their warrior moves,” she said. “I, however, have a more peaceful nature… I’d rather stand aside and watch.” Regis and Ruth.,standing nearby, nodded in agreement.

Zoya’s dancing was also graceful, and very sensual as the raindrops spattered her fur; she was trying to attract the attention of Juliana with the motions of her hands and her slim hips.

Cookie looks ahead at Tobi.

“I am not the warrior Tobi is. I am a builder. I make things like the hall, but i have bigger hopes in mind. I do. Not know if i will be able to build them.”

Una, Regis and Ruth nodded to Cookie in agreement at his words.

“I would like to help you build things.” Regis said. “Perhaps our people can help  you build these structures you have in mind.”

Regis smiled modestly. ‘I would really like that,’ he said.

‘I would like to help too - that sounds a fascinating skill to learn,” Reuben said. Like most orangutans, he did not care to be out in the rain, but he did enjoy swaying to the beat of the drums, and Cookie’s talk about building was very interesting indeed.

Zoya danced flirtatiously towards Juliana, while little Cory and the chimp white-tails began to put on mini-displays of their own.

“A water mill!” Una said excitedly. “And a windmill - I am sure our people could help yours build them! I would love to learn to make the delicious bread you have here.”

Una was excited by any talk of cooking, which she loved.

“I know how to make fluffy bread, I have the recipes - but we would need an oven like humans used to use,” Una said to Cookie. “Although human machines don’t work any more, I have an idea to make a structure that might be able to cook bread the same way. Perhaps we could try to make one.”

Juliana laughs at the play-fighting. She looks at Zoya and wraps her arms around Zoya and pats her hand on Zoya’s head.

Zoya smiled, blissfully happy, and gently nuzzled Juliana. Cory and the other white-tails had started knuckle-walking in a circle, trying to imitate bird-calls as the rain made jewel-like droplets on their fur.

“There is an ingredient that makes the bread rise, according to Reuben’s books,” Una said. “Sometimes potatoes can be used to make it. And you have those, I think… as do we.”

“That was fun. I’d love to see you in battle, with a weapon. You’re a bigger challenge than I took into account,” Tobi says.

Juliana stands and scans the crowd. She looks up to the sky.

“I believe the storm will be letting up soon. Above the clouds, the sun begins to set,” she says.

“I enjoyed that, too, she said. “Next time we should try sparring with weapons. You’re quite the strong warrior!”

Zoya affectionately touched her forehead to Juliana’s, and at Juliana’s pronouncement the white-tails halted their game and looked up at the sky in wonder.

“Reuben’s books call this ingredient “yeast”,” Una said to Cookie. “There are several ways to make it but the easiest, I think, would be for us to use potatoes which are readily available.”

The storm must be ending soon. How disheartening. Tobi does so love storms.

“Juliana must be sensing that the storm is ending soon. Such a shame. This really was a short one,” Tobi says to Frieda.

Juliana holds her hand out.

“Let us dance while we can,” Juliana says.

Cookie cocks his head and grunts.

“I am sure there will be more storms, and we can still spar whenever we feel like it. I would love to learn more about how your people train with weapons.”

Zoya shyly took Juliana by the hand and smiled. “I would love to dance while we still can. Look, the children have started their game again!” she said joyfully.

Hearing Cookie and Una discussing yeast made Reuben perk u[p. “If you like, I can show you the part of my recipe book where it talks about making it from potatoes. We have plenty of those,” he offered.

Tobi playfully jabs at Darius.

“Are you trying to outflirt me?” Tobi asks. He leans in to Darius’s ear.

“You can’t win,” he growls, adding playfulness to his voice.

Juliana sets the pot down in the hall.

“I need cups,” she shouts.

She sits down and turns to Zoya and the rest.

“This is where those who would eat, drink, or simply wish to stay dry would stay. This is also where we hold forum when we need to vote,” age says.

“I can try,” he said playfully.

Zoya nodded and smiled to Juliana.

“We can help you set things up if you like,” Zoya said. “I am glad that Cory seems to have found playmates! He seems to be fitting in well with the children of your tribe.”

Regis, the wise gibbon, gazed around the hall. “This is amazing!” he said, his admiration evident in the way he looked around him at the structure the apes were now sheltered by. “I have never seen such architecture as this. As we have mostly traveled from place to place, we have had to use tents to stay dry.”

“You are a feisty one,” he says.

Cookie approaches Tobi and hugs him from behind.

“We should go greet our guests,” Cookie says. Tobi wraps his arms around Cookie’s and smirks.

“Yes. I believe I just heard Juliana shouting for cups. Might have something to do with them.”

Juliana gives Regis a chuckle.

Regis studied the architecture admiringly, and his wife Ruth also looked impressed.

“Perhaps some of our apes could learn to build houses like this,” she said, and the gorilla Frieda nodded eagerly.

“I would like to learn!” she declared.

“Unfortunately i would not be the one to ask. Cookie is the one who planned this. He is the one with the speckled face,” Juliana explains. She notices Tobi, Cookie, and Darius approching with cups.

“Oh, yes. I was worried that the cocoa would get too cold. I think it is still warm…” Juliana says.

“Cocoa. I wondered when i would get my next helping,” Tobi says with relief, as though he were beginning to get antsy.

Zoya smiled and helped Juliana hand out cups.

“I… for one, would prefer to talk to you more…” she said a little shyly to the female chimp.

“You seem interesting. I’m sure we can talk more later,” she responds

Tobi grunts confidently, “I think they like it! The cocoa is a truly great drink! I think all of you will love it here! We have many jobs and pleasures. In fact, how are the storm preparations?”

“They are nearly ready. I hope this is a long one. The drums are out. All we wait for is the word” Juliana responds.

Tobi smiles and lets out a mighty hoot. This is followed by several others as the hall is filled with excited sounds. Drums begin thumping.

Tobi smacks the ground with zeal, beginning a lengthy display: jumping up the walls, pounding surfaces, clapping, swaggering, and much calling.

The hall lights up with high spirits as the inhabitants pour outside to enjoy the storm.

Tobi returns to his guests, hoping they were not scared by his display.

He says simply, “It has begun.”

The cocoa was indeed a hit with the visitors, and Darius in particular, who was posing himself even more flirtatiously as he agreed that he was sure his tribe would love it there. And he was extremely impressed by Tobi’s display, watching raptly.

Little Cory felt slightly nervous when the rain began to come down, but the excitement was contagious and he started to forget his fears. He added his little yeeps to the exhilarated hoots of the young chimps.

All of the newcomers trooped out into the rain, some holding out their hands to the raindrops, some uttering delighted sounds and displaying.  Frieda called out to the storm-clouds and beat her chest, ever the posturing warrior.

Little Cory was delighted, and did not even scream as he usually did when the first thunder-clap sounded. He pounded the ground with flat palms and yeeped as he had earlier when watching Juliana.

Frieda saw the chimp warriors approaching and beat her chest in a show of play-bravado at them. Una stood near where Cookie was, and watched her, slightly concerned, and hoped that any fights that developed would be play-fights only and not serious ones. Some of the chimps looked quite fierce, and Frieda was immensely strong! Una did not want anyone to get hurt, either the gracious hosts or her beloved mate.

Una gave Cookie a small smile as she watched the dancers in the rain.

“They seem to be having fun, especially Tobi and Frieda with their warrior moves,” she said. “I, however, have a more peaceful nature… I’d rather stand aside and watch.” Regis and Ruth.,standing nearby, nodded in agreement.

Zoya’s dancing was also graceful, and very sensual as the raindrops spattered her fur; she was trying to attract the attention of Juliana with the motions of her hands and her slim hips.

Cookie looks ahead at Tobi.

“I am not the warrior Tobi is. I am a builder. I make things like the hall, but i have bigger hopes in mind. I do. Not know if i will be able to build them.”

Una, Regis and Ruth nodded to Cookie in agreement at his words.

“I would like to help you build things.” Regis said. “Perhaps our people can help  you build these structures you have in mind.”

Regis smiled modestly. ‘I would really like that,’ he said.

‘I would like to help too - that sounds a fascinating skill to learn,” Reuben said. Like most orangutans, he did not care to be out in the rain, but he did enjoy swaying to the beat of the drums, and Cookie’s talk about building was very interesting indeed.

Zoya danced flirtatiously towards Juliana, while little Cory and the chimp white-tails began to put on mini-displays of their own.

“A water mill!” Una said excitedly. “And a windmill - I am sure our people could help yours build them! I would love to learn to make the delicious bread you have here.”

Una was excited by any talk of cooking, which she loved.

“I know how to make fluffy bread, I have the recipes - but we would need an oven like humans used to use,” Una said to Cookie. “Although human machines don’t work any more, I have an idea to make a structure that might be able to cook bread the same way. Perhaps we could try to make one.”

Juliana laughs at the play-fighting. She looks at Zoya and wraps her arms around Zoya and pats her hand on Zoya’s head.

Zoya smiled, blissfully happy, and gently nuzzled Juliana. Cory and the other white-tails had started knuckle-walking in a circle, trying to imitate bird-calls as the rain made jewel-like droplets on their fur.

“There is an ingredient that makes the bread rise, according to Reuben’s books,” Una said. “Sometimes potatoes can be used to make it. And you have those, I think… as do we.”

“That was fun. I’d love to see you in battle, with a weapon. You’re a bigger challenge than I took into account,” Tobi says.

Juliana stands and scans the crowd. She looks up to the sky.

“I believe the storm will be letting up soon. Above the clouds, the sun begins to set,” she says.

“I enjoyed that, too, she said. “Next time we should try sparring with weapons. You’re quite the strong warrior!”

Zoya affectionately touched her forehead to Juliana’s, and at Juliana’s pronouncement the white-tails halted their game and looked up at the sky in wonder.

“Reuben’s books call this ingredient “yeast”,” Una said to Cookie. “There are several ways to make it but the easiest, I think, would be for us to use potatoes which are readily available.”

Tobi playfully jabs at Darius.

“Are you trying to outflirt me?” Tobi asks. He leans in to Darius’s ear.

“You can’t win,” he growls, adding playfulness to his voice.

Juliana sets the pot down in the hall.

“I need cups,” she shouts.

She sits down and turns to Zoya and the rest.

“This is where those who would eat, drink, or simply wish to stay dry would stay. This is also where we hold forum when we need to vote,” age says.

“I can try,” he said playfully.

Zoya nodded and smiled to Juliana.

“We can help you set things up if you like,” Zoya said. “I am glad that Cory seems to have found playmates! He seems to be fitting in well with the children of your tribe.”

Regis, the wise gibbon, gazed around the hall. “This is amazing!” he said, his admiration evident in the way he looked around him at the structure the apes were now sheltered by. “I have never seen such architecture as this. As we have mostly traveled from place to place, we have had to use tents to stay dry.”

“You are a feisty one,” he says.

Cookie approaches Tobi and hugs him from behind.

“We should go greet our guests,” Cookie says. Tobi wraps his arms around Cookie’s and smirks.

“Yes. I believe I just heard Juliana shouting for cups. Might have something to do with them.”

Juliana gives Regis a chuckle.

Regis studied the architecture admiringly, and his wife Ruth also looked impressed.

“Perhaps some of our apes could learn to build houses like this,” she said, and the gorilla Frieda nodded eagerly.

“I would like to learn!” she declared.

“Unfortunately i would not be the one to ask. Cookie is the one who planned this. He is the one with the speckled face,” Juliana explains. She notices Tobi, Cookie, and Darius approching with cups.

“Oh, yes. I was worried that the cocoa would get too cold. I think it is still warm…” Juliana says.

“Cocoa. I wondered when i would get my next helping,” Tobi says with relief, as though he were beginning to get antsy.

Zoya smiled and helped Juliana hand out cups.

“I… for one, would prefer to talk to you more…” she said a little shyly to the female chimp.

“You seem interesting. I’m sure we can talk more later,” she responds

Tobi grunts confidently, “I think they like it! The cocoa is a truly great drink! I think all of you will love it here! We have many jobs and pleasures. In fact, how are the storm preparations?”

“They are nearly ready. I hope this is a long one. The drums are out. All we wait for is the word” Juliana responds.

Tobi smiles and lets out a mighty hoot. This is followed by several others as the hall is filled with excited sounds. Drums begin thumping.

Tobi smacks the ground with zeal, beginning a lengthy display: jumping up the walls, pounding surfaces, clapping, swaggering, and much calling.

The hall lights up with high spirits as the inhabitants pour outside to enjoy the storm.

Tobi returns to his guests, hoping they were not scared by his display.

He says simply, “It has begun.”

The cocoa was indeed a hit with the visitors, and Darius in particular, who was posing himself even more flirtatiously as he agreed that he was sure his tribe would love it there. And he was extremely impressed by Tobi’s display, watching raptly.

Little Cory felt slightly nervous when the rain began to come down, but the excitement was contagious and he started to forget his fears. He added his little yeeps to the exhilarated hoots of the young chimps.

All of the newcomers trooped out into the rain, some holding out their hands to the raindrops, some uttering delighted sounds and displaying.  Frieda called out to the storm-clouds and beat her chest, ever the posturing warrior.

Little Cory was delighted, and did not even scream as he usually did when the first thunder-clap sounded. He pounded the ground with flat palms and yeeped as he had earlier when watching Juliana.

Frieda saw the chimp warriors approaching and beat her chest in a show of play-bravado at them. Una stood near where Cookie was, and watched her, slightly concerned, and hoped that any fights that developed would be play-fights only and not serious ones. Some of the chimps looked quite fierce, and Frieda was immensely strong! Una did not want anyone to get hurt, either the gracious hosts or her beloved mate.

Una gave Cookie a small smile as she watched the dancers in the rain.

“They seem to be having fun, especially Tobi and Frieda with their warrior moves,” she said. “I, however, have a more peaceful nature… I’d rather stand aside and watch.” Regis and Ruth.,standing nearby, nodded in agreement.

Zoya’s dancing was also graceful, and very sensual as the raindrops spattered her fur; she was trying to attract the attention of Juliana with the motions of her hands and her slim hips.

Cookie looks ahead at Tobi.

“I am not the warrior Tobi is. I am a builder. I make things like the hall, but i have bigger hopes in mind. I do. Not know if i will be able to build them.”

Una, Regis and Ruth nodded to Cookie in agreement at his words.

“I would like to help you build things.” Regis said. “Perhaps our people can help  you build these structures you have in mind.”

Regis smiled modestly. ‘I would really like that,’ he said.

‘I would like to help too - that sounds a fascinating skill to learn,” Reuben said. Like most orangutans, he did not care to be out in the rain, but he did enjoy swaying to the beat of the drums, and Cookie’s talk about building was very interesting indeed.

Zoya danced flirtatiously towards Juliana, while little Cory and the chimp white-tails began to put on mini-displays of their own.

“A water mill!” Una said excitedly. “And a windmill - I am sure our people could help yours build them! I would love to learn to make the delicious bread you have here.”

Una was excited by any talk of cooking, which she loved.

“I know how to make fluffy bread, I have the recipes - but we would need an oven like humans used to use,” Una said to Cookie. “Although human machines don’t work any more, I have an idea to make a structure that might be able to cook bread the same way. Perhaps we could try to make one.”

Juliana laughs at the play-fighting. She looks at Zoya and wraps her arms around Zoya and pats her hand on Zoya’s head.

Zoya smiled, blissfully happy, and gently nuzzled Juliana. Cory and the other white-tails had started knuckle-walking in a circle, trying to imitate bird-calls as the rain made jewel-like droplets on their fur.

“There is an ingredient that makes the bread rise, according to Reuben’s books,” Una said. “Sometimes potatoes can be used to make it. And you have those, I think… as do we.”

Tobi playfully jabs at Darius.

“Are you trying to outflirt me?” Tobi asks. He leans in to Darius’s ear.

“You can’t win,” he growls, adding playfulness to his voice.

Juliana sets the pot down in the hall.

“I need cups,” she shouts.

She sits down and turns to Zoya and the rest.

“This is where those who would eat, drink, or simply wish to stay dry would stay. This is also where we hold forum when we need to vote,” age says.

“I can try,” he said playfully.

Zoya nodded and smiled to Juliana.

“We can help you set things up if you like,” Zoya said. “I am glad that Cory seems to have found playmates! He seems to be fitting in well with the children of your tribe.”

Regis, the wise gibbon, gazed around the hall. “This is amazing!” he said, his admiration evident in the way he looked around him at the structure the apes were now sheltered by. “I have never seen such architecture as this. As we have mostly traveled from place to place, we have had to use tents to stay dry.”

“You are a feisty one,” he says.

Cookie approaches Tobi and hugs him from behind.

“We should go greet our guests,” Cookie says. Tobi wraps his arms around Cookie’s and smirks.

“Yes. I believe I just heard Juliana shouting for cups. Might have something to do with them.”

Juliana gives Regis a chuckle.

Regis studied the architecture admiringly, and his wife Ruth also looked impressed.

“Perhaps some of our apes could learn to build houses like this,” she said, and the gorilla Frieda nodded eagerly.

“I would like to learn!” she declared.

“Unfortunately i would not be the one to ask. Cookie is the one who planned this. He is the one with the speckled face,” Juliana explains. She notices Tobi, Cookie, and Darius approching with cups.

“Oh, yes. I was worried that the cocoa would get too cold. I think it is still warm…” Juliana says.

“Cocoa. I wondered when i would get my next helping,” Tobi says with relief, as though he were beginning to get antsy.

Zoya smiled and helped Juliana hand out cups.

“I… for one, would prefer to talk to you more…” she said a little shyly to the female chimp.

“You seem interesting. I’m sure we can talk more later,” she responds

Tobi grunts confidently, “I think they like it! The cocoa is a truly great drink! I think all of you will love it here! We have many jobs and pleasures. In fact, how are the storm preparations?”

“They are nearly ready. I hope this is a long one. The drums are out. All we wait for is the word” Juliana responds.

Tobi smiles and lets out a mighty hoot. This is followed by several others as the hall is filled with excited sounds. Drums begin thumping.

Tobi smacks the ground with zeal, beginning a lengthy display: jumping up the walls, pounding surfaces, clapping, swaggering, and much calling.

The hall lights up with high spirits as the inhabitants pour outside to enjoy the storm.

Tobi returns to his guests, hoping they were not scared by his display.

He says simply, “It has begun.”

The cocoa was indeed a hit with the visitors, and Darius in particular, who was posing himself even more flirtatiously as he agreed that he was sure his tribe would love it there. And he was extremely impressed by Tobi’s display, watching raptly.

Little Cory felt slightly nervous when the rain began to come down, but the excitement was contagious and he started to forget his fears. He added his little yeeps to the exhilarated hoots of the young chimps.

All of the newcomers trooped out into the rain, some holding out their hands to the raindrops, some uttering delighted sounds and displaying.  Frieda called out to the storm-clouds and beat her chest, ever the posturing warrior.

Little Cory was delighted, and did not even scream as he usually did when the first thunder-clap sounded. He pounded the ground with flat palms and yeeped as he had earlier when watching Juliana.

Frieda saw the chimp warriors approaching and beat her chest in a show of play-bravado at them. Una stood near where Cookie was, and watched her, slightly concerned, and hoped that any fights that developed would be play-fights only and not serious ones. Some of the chimps looked quite fierce, and Frieda was immensely strong! Una did not want anyone to get hurt, either the gracious hosts or her beloved mate.

Una gave Cookie a small smile as she watched the dancers in the rain.

“They seem to be having fun, especially Tobi and Frieda with their warrior moves,” she said. “I, however, have a more peaceful nature… I’d rather stand aside and watch.” Regis and Ruth.,standing nearby, nodded in agreement.

Zoya’s dancing was also graceful, and very sensual as the raindrops spattered her fur; she was trying to attract the attention of Juliana with the motions of her hands and her slim hips.

Cookie looks ahead at Tobi.

“I am not the warrior Tobi is. I am a builder. I make things like the hall, but i have bigger hopes in mind. I do. Not know if i will be able to build them.”

Una, Regis and Ruth nodded to Cookie in agreement at his words.

“I would like to help you build things.” Regis said. “Perhaps our people can help  you build these structures you have in mind.”

Regis smiled modestly. ‘I would really like that,’ he said.

‘I would like to help too - that sounds a fascinating skill to learn,” Reuben said. Like most orangutans, he did not care to be out in the rain, but he did enjoy swaying to the beat of the drums, and Cookie’s talk about building was very interesting indeed.

Zoya danced flirtatiously towards Juliana, while little Cory and the chimp white-tails began to put on mini-displays of their own.

“A water mill!” Una said excitedly. “And a windmill - I am sure our people could help yours build them! I would love to learn to make the delicious bread you have here.”

Una was excited by any talk of cooking, which she loved.

“I know how to make fluffy bread, I have the recipes - but we would need an oven like humans used to use,” Una said to Cookie. “Although human machines don’t work any more, I have an idea to make a structure that might be able to cook bread the same way. Perhaps we could try to make one.”

Bad Ape, too, was relieved to exit the house, and to be on the brown mare with Lana once more and traveling far away from the former human habitation, especially the noxious, floral stench that had made his eyes water so badly. Even now a slight whiff of it seemed to be hanging around his clothing and he winced and sneezed once more.

He was glad when the horses were moving in the opposite direction and towards open country, where they were far less likely to run into humans. Although the road they were riding on was human-made, none of the hairless creatures seemed to have come this way in ages, judging by the manner in which many plants had re-established themselves in the area and the fact that forest creatures had used this route with some frequency, as traces of tracks and droppings appeared now and then as the scouts rode along.

In answer to Blue Eyes’ question, Bad Ape nodded enthusiastically as he replied.

“I have… only come small way… in this direction. Not this far… not explore other side… of mountain, no. Not sure… what lies over that side.”

That had been the direction where some of the unusual sounds had come from, a few of which, the old chimpanzee now realized, were very likely to have come from the human dwelling they had now thankfully left behind them. But there had been other, louder sounds, and Bad Ape had no idea at all what could have made those.

Despite Bad Ape’s apprehension, however, his new young leader seemed intent on going in the direction they were all now heading in, and the little chimp was prepared to put his trust in his new friends. They seemed to know what they were doing, and they had saved his life, protecting him from that dreadful gorilla and his gun.

Anything that could be lying up ahead could not possibly be as terrifying as that Red had shown himself to be! And happily, even that dreadful flowery smell was beginning to fade as the scouts moved forward.

Well, Blue Eyes thought, we will find out.

The signs were encouraging as the little band of apes pressed onward; more game trails, more piles of herbivore dung that Blue Eyes recognized as some type of deer. There was still prey in this direction, which meant the tribe would be able to hunt to sustain themselves if they ended up living somewhere near here. There were probably predators, too, though… But there wasn’t much that the combined might of their colony couldn’t fend off, even if some of their most powerful warriors had elected to follow Koba instead…

Besides, Blue Eyes now knew that humans were the most terrifying thing that could be encountered in the forest. Far worse than any bear or wolf. And, so far, there was no sign of any having come in this direction.

As they traveled, the daylight began to fade, eventually prompting Blue Eyes to stop his horse and hold up his arm as Caesar had always done to call the others to halt as well. A tug of one side of the reins steered his mount to turn around to face the other apes, the animal chewing at the bit in his mouth for a moment as he adjusted it in his mouth.

“It late… we… sleep here.”

And Lana fully intended to be one of those hunters. She could not help but smile and puff her chest out a little at the thought of impressing Sage by bringing home plenty of big game for all the apes, including, someday in the distant future, the white-tails she and Sage would raise together.

Wondering briefly if the babies would choose to call her “Father” or if the two female mates would be “Mother Sage” and “Mother Lana”, she acknowledged the signal from Blue Eyes to stop and tugged on her mount’s reins so that the brown mare would likewise come to a halt. Rocket had also brought his horse to a standstill and was awaiting further instructions from Blue Eyes.

Lana nodded in agreement at Blue Eyes’ declaration that the little group should make camp where they were. She was quietly impressed by the strong leadership qualities this new older brother of hers was displaying. The young prince already showed the signs of developing into a fine king. He was no Caesar, of course, but then again, no other ape could ever be just like Caesar.

‘This good place, sheltered here and we can build fire,’ Lana signed in approval. ‘Is there time to hunt, or should we just eat what we brought with us?”

Rocket was already dismounting, and searching for a place to tether the horses, and for sticks to build a fire.

Lana also dismounted and helped Bad Ape to do the same.

Tobi playfully jabs at Darius.

“Are you trying to outflirt me?” Tobi asks. He leans in to Darius’s ear.

“You can’t win,” he growls, adding playfulness to his voice.

Juliana sets the pot down in the hall.

“I need cups,” she shouts.

She sits down and turns to Zoya and the rest.

“This is where those who would eat, drink, or simply wish to stay dry would stay. This is also where we hold forum when we need to vote,” age says.

“I can try,” he said playfully.

Zoya nodded and smiled to Juliana.

“We can help you set things up if you like,” Zoya said. “I am glad that Cory seems to have found playmates! He seems to be fitting in well with the children of your tribe.”

Regis, the wise gibbon, gazed around the hall. “This is amazing!” he said, his admiration evident in the way he looked around him at the structure the apes were now sheltered by. “I have never seen such architecture as this. As we have mostly traveled from place to place, we have had to use tents to stay dry.”

“You are a feisty one,” he says.

Cookie approaches Tobi and hugs him from behind.

“We should go greet our guests,” Cookie says. Tobi wraps his arms around Cookie’s and smirks.

“Yes. I believe I just heard Juliana shouting for cups. Might have something to do with them.”

Juliana gives Regis a chuckle.

Regis studied the architecture admiringly, and his wife Ruth also looked impressed.

“Perhaps some of our apes could learn to build houses like this,” she said, and the gorilla Frieda nodded eagerly.

“I would like to learn!” she declared.

“Unfortunately i would not be the one to ask. Cookie is the one who planned this. He is the one with the speckled face,” Juliana explains. She notices Tobi, Cookie, and Darius approching with cups.

“Oh, yes. I was worried that the cocoa would get too cold. I think it is still warm…” Juliana says.

“Cocoa. I wondered when i would get my next helping,” Tobi says with relief, as though he were beginning to get antsy.

Zoya smiled and helped Juliana hand out cups.

“I… for one, would prefer to talk to you more…” she said a little shyly to the female chimp.

“You seem interesting. I’m sure we can talk more later,” she responds

Tobi grunts confidently, “I think they like it! The cocoa is a truly great drink! I think all of you will love it here! We have many jobs and pleasures. In fact, how are the storm preparations?”

“They are nearly ready. I hope this is a long one. The drums are out. All we wait for is the word” Juliana responds.

Tobi smiles and lets out a mighty hoot. This is followed by several others as the hall is filled with excited sounds. Drums begin thumping.

Tobi smacks the ground with zeal, beginning a lengthy display: jumping up the walls, pounding surfaces, clapping, swaggering, and much calling.

The hall lights up with high spirits as the inhabitants pour outside to enjoy the storm.

Tobi returns to his guests, hoping they were not scared by his display.

He says simply, “It has begun.”

The cocoa was indeed a hit with the visitors, and Darius in particular, who was posing himself even more flirtatiously as he agreed that he was sure his tribe would love it there. And he was extremely impressed by Tobi’s display, watching raptly.

Little Cory felt slightly nervous when the rain began to come down, but the excitement was contagious and he started to forget his fears. He added his little yeeps to the exhilarated hoots of the young chimps.

All of the newcomers trooped out into the rain, some holding out their hands to the raindrops, some uttering delighted sounds and displaying.  Frieda called out to the storm-clouds and beat her chest, ever the posturing warrior.

Little Cory was delighted, and did not even scream as he usually did when the first thunder-clap sounded. He pounded the ground with flat palms and yeeped as he had earlier when watching Juliana.

Frieda saw the chimp warriors approaching and beat her chest in a show of play-bravado at them. Una stood near where Cookie was, and watched her, slightly concerned, and hoped that any fights that developed would be play-fights only and not serious ones. Some of the chimps looked quite fierce, and Frieda was immensely strong! Una did not want anyone to get hurt, either the gracious hosts or her beloved mate.

Una gave Cookie a small smile as she watched the dancers in the rain.

“They seem to be having fun, especially Tobi and Frieda with their warrior moves,” she said. “I, however, have a more peaceful nature… I’d rather stand aside and watch.” Regis and Ruth.,standing nearby, nodded in agreement.

Zoya’s dancing was also graceful, and very sensual as the raindrops spattered her fur; she was trying to attract the attention of Juliana with the motions of her hands and her slim hips.

Cookie looks ahead at Tobi.

“I am not the warrior Tobi is. I am a builder. I make things like the hall, but i have bigger hopes in mind. I do. Not know if i will be able to build them.”

Una, Regis and Ruth nodded to Cookie in agreement at his words.

“I would like to help you build things.” Regis said. “Perhaps our people can help  you build these structures you have in mind.”

Regis smiled modestly. ‘I would really like that,’ he said.

‘I would like to help too - that sounds a fascinating skill to learn,” Reuben said. Like most orangutans, he did not care to be out in the rain, but he did enjoy swaying to the beat of the drums, and Cookie’s talk about building was very interesting indeed.

Zoya danced flirtatiously towards Juliana, while little Cory and the chimp white-tails began to put on mini-displays of their own.

“A water mill!” Una said excitedly. “And a windmill - I am sure our people could help yours build them! I would love to learn to make the delicious bread you have here.”

Tobi playfully jabs at Darius.

“Are you trying to outflirt me?” Tobi asks. He leans in to Darius’s ear.

“You can’t win,” he growls, adding playfulness to his voice.

Juliana sets the pot down in the hall.

“I need cups,” she shouts.

She sits down and turns to Zoya and the rest.

“This is where those who would eat, drink, or simply wish to stay dry would stay. This is also where we hold forum when we need to vote,” age says.

“I can try,” he said playfully.

Zoya nodded and smiled to Juliana.

“We can help you set things up if you like,” Zoya said. “I am glad that Cory seems to have found playmates! He seems to be fitting in well with the children of your tribe.”

Regis, the wise gibbon, gazed around the hall. “This is amazing!” he said, his admiration evident in the way he looked around him at the structure the apes were now sheltered by. “I have never seen such architecture as this. As we have mostly traveled from place to place, we have had to use tents to stay dry.”

“You are a feisty one,” he says.

Cookie approaches Tobi and hugs him from behind.

“We should go greet our guests,” Cookie says. Tobi wraps his arms around Cookie’s and smirks.

“Yes. I believe I just heard Juliana shouting for cups. Might have something to do with them.”

Juliana gives Regis a chuckle.

Regis studied the architecture admiringly, and his wife Ruth also looked impressed.

“Perhaps some of our apes could learn to build houses like this,” she said, and the gorilla Frieda nodded eagerly.

“I would like to learn!” she declared.

“Unfortunately i would not be the one to ask. Cookie is the one who planned this. He is the one with the speckled face,” Juliana explains. She notices Tobi, Cookie, and Darius approching with cups.

“Oh, yes. I was worried that the cocoa would get too cold. I think it is still warm…” Juliana says.

“Cocoa. I wondered when i would get my next helping,” Tobi says with relief, as though he were beginning to get antsy.

Zoya smiled and helped Juliana hand out cups.

“I… for one, would prefer to talk to you more…” she said a little shyly to the female chimp.

“You seem interesting. I’m sure we can talk more later,” she responds

Tobi grunts confidently, “I think they like it! The cocoa is a truly great drink! I think all of you will love it here! We have many jobs and pleasures. In fact, how are the storm preparations?”

“They are nearly ready. I hope this is a long one. The drums are out. All we wait for is the word” Juliana responds.

Tobi smiles and lets out a mighty hoot. This is followed by several others as the hall is filled with excited sounds. Drums begin thumping.

Tobi smacks the ground with zeal, beginning a lengthy display: jumping up the walls, pounding surfaces, clapping, swaggering, and much calling.

The hall lights up with high spirits as the inhabitants pour outside to enjoy the storm.

Tobi returns to his guests, hoping they were not scared by his display.

He says simply, “It has begun.”

The cocoa was indeed a hit with the visitors, and Darius in particular, who was posing himself even more flirtatiously as he agreed that he was sure his tribe would love it there. And he was extremely impressed by Tobi’s display, watching raptly.

Little Cory felt slightly nervous when the rain began to come down, but the excitement was contagious and he started to forget his fears. He added his little yeeps to the exhilarated hoots of the young chimps.

All of the newcomers trooped out into the rain, some holding out their hands to the raindrops, some uttering delighted sounds and displaying.  Frieda called out to the storm-clouds and beat her chest, ever the posturing warrior.

Little Cory was delighted, and did not even scream as he usually did when the first thunder-clap sounded. He pounded the ground with flat palms and yeeped as he had earlier when watching Juliana.

Frieda saw the chimp warriors approaching and beat her chest in a show of play-bravado at them. Una stood near where Cookie was, and watched her, slightly concerned, and hoped that any fights that developed would be play-fights only and not serious ones. Some of the chimps looked quite fierce, and Frieda was immensely strong! Una did not want anyone to get hurt, either the gracious hosts or her beloved mate.

Una gave Cookie a small smile as she watched the dancers in the rain.

“They seem to be having fun, especially Tobi and Frieda with their warrior moves,” she said. “I, however, have a more peaceful nature… I’d rather stand aside and watch.” Regis and Ruth.,standing nearby, nodded in agreement.

Zoya’s dancing was also graceful, and very sensual as the raindrops spattered her fur; she was trying to attract the attention of Juliana with the motions of her hands and her slim hips.

Cookie looks ahead at Tobi.

“I am not the warrior Tobi is. I am a builder. I make things like the hall, but i have bigger hopes in mind. I do. Not know if i will be able to build them.”

Una, Regis and Ruth nodded to Cookie in agreement at his words.

“I would like to help you build things.” Regis said. “Perhaps our people can help  you build these structures you have in mind.”

Regis smiled modestly. ‘I would really like that,’ he said.

‘I would like to help too - that sounds a fascinating skill to learn,” Reuben said. Like most orangutans, he did not care to be out in the rain, but he did enjoy swaying to the beat of the drums, and Cookie’s talk about building was very interesting indeed.