#planetoftheapes

It had been over a year since Mae left Noa that day, but the feelings she had for him were still very much alive. She couldn’t ever seem to shake them no matter what activities she did to preoccupy herself. Not able to quite describe what the feelings were other than extreme attraction towards him. She imagined how he would look now if she were to see him again and wished she could, but who was she to go marching back into his village uninvited. He’d probably not even remember her now.

Clinging onto the necklace that he gave her the last time she saw him, she stood at the rivers edge and watched the water dance with the sun’s rays, the flickers of sunlight shone onto her face. She could feel herself getting lost in the therapeutic sound of the water battling against the rocks a little further downstream.

Crouching down to feel the waters temperature, she felt that it was cold but not too cold for her, after all, she was used to bathing in such conditions, even when it was icy conditions, she was able to take a quick dip as long as a fire was steadily burning nearby so that she could warm back up again. It wasn’t ideal but she didn’t have anything else.

Standing upright again, she started removing the tattered fabrics covering her, exposing the scars on her arms and legs from the previous attacks and shivering as the cool air greeted her bare skin. Closing her eyes and stepping into the water, goose bumps appeared on her arms. She hugged herself for a minute or two until her body got more used to the temperature, then began to wash.

Little to Mae’s knowledge, Noa was travelling in her direction on his horse. Cantering through the trees, he had decided to go foraging for any other human items worth taking back to his village. Eagle Sun gently glided above him, calling quietly until he landed on a low tree branch next to Mae and fluttered his wings a few times to settle.

Noa pulled the reigns when he saw that his eagle had perched, slowing his horse to a stop. He looked at his eagle and narrowed his eyes before attempting to call him back, tapping the gauntlet on his arm.

Then he saw movement in the river and decided to dismount, landing as softly as he could. He walked cautiously with his left hand positioned ready to pull his knife if he needed to, his steps were slow and light. But when he was able to see her clearly, he had no trouble recognising her instantly.

“M- Mae?”

He whispered, his eyes widening for a moment at the sight of her pale, naked body. It definitely took him by surprise. He stared at her, admiring how she looked similar to the females of his clan but some parts of her still managed to make him curious

He knew he should look away but he simply couldn’t. He’d never seen her without clothing before and his mind ran wild with curiosity. Hiding behind a tree, he watched intently, a feeling building inside of his chest that he’d never felt. His breath quickened, his heart felt like it might jump out of his chest.

Mae was unaware that she was being watched. She turned around, revealing her bare chest to the ape. He gasped but covered his mouth quickly, feeling a need for something but he wasn’t sure what. It was like a magnet pulling him toward her. He gripped onto the tree bark, his fingers digging in and chipping away some of the looser pieces as he released a trembled sigh.

Where is swelling from oestrogen?

Echo’s chest ha full breasts even when not baring a child?

Why does echo wear fabrics to cover?

Echo only has fur in only some places?

Stepping out of the water Mae dried off and put on her clothes, the blue top with black jeans that she had worn the last time she saw Noa. She picked up the necklace and put it on, her mind wandered again, visualising him. The way he walked, how he sounded when he spoke, his protective personality. She was quickly snapped back away from her thoughts, though, when she noticed some rustling not far away, she paused then gabbed her gun.

“Don’t even think about attempting anything!” She held the pistol tightly in both hands “come out... now!”

Noa closed his eyes tightly, bracing himself before stepping out from behind the tree and into view. Mae didn’t recognise him. He wore a necklace made from feathers and and what looked to be canine teeth draped around his neck and down his shoulders. more feathered arm cuffs wrapped around his muscular arms and his face had traces of blue and grey paint on it which made his bright green eyes seem as though they were glowing.

He slowly stepped towards her, putting his hands out in front of him in an attempt to signal that he wasn’t a threat but Mae stood firm.

“stay away! I’ll shoot!”

Noa raised a brow, taken aback by the fact that she didn’t recognise him, he wasn’t surprised though. He was aware that he looked different. He also knew Mae was telling the truth. After all, he saw her put a hole in an apes chest in the vault that day. The memory of the gunshot circled around his mind for a moment, but he continued slowly closing the gap between them.

She will remember he thought, taking another step forward.

Mae’s finger landed on the trigger, ready to squeeze it, but Noa quickly pointed to the necklace she was wearing. Throwing her off.

“Important”

His single word stopped her abruptly, gasping. She knew that voice. “w- what did you say?”

“Very... important”

Hearing him speak again. Mae stared at him with wide eyes, struggling to believe that it was really him. This scenario had been swirling around in her mind for such a long time. She opened her mouth to speak but she couldn’t make words.

Noa gently lowered the hand with the gun that was still pointing at him. Mae held her breath and raised one hand up to touch his face.

“You’re real” she said, a tear rolling down her cheek.

Noa hummed softly, enjoying the feel of her skin on his before placing his hand over hers. A sensation built in the pit of his stomach. A feeling he had for her before, but this time it was so much stronger.

Mae pointed to the paint on his face and finally managed to speak “w- what is it for?” she asked, her voice a quiet tremble “I really didn’t recognise you”

Noa’s eyes glinted at her question, he remembered that she didn’t know his clan’s ways, it amused him. He answered with a low raspy tone.

“For honour. A mark for other members... of my clan to know my role... and females to know that-” he trailed off and looked away for a moment.

“To know what?” Mae instantly regretted asking that question. She already knew and it made her jealous. She didn’t understand why.

“That I... am ready” he lowered his brows and wrinkled his nose before turning his gaze back to her “to... mate”.

The vision inside Mae’s mind of him breeding another female felt like torture. She knew she needed to shut it off but she just couldn’t. In some ways, she missed the version of him that wasn’t available, even to his own kind.

Noa tilted his head, he could smell the jealousy radiating from her “I have not... claimed a mate yet, Mae”

He wasn’t quite sure what he was feeling, but he liked it. He had never felt this, not even for his own kind. He knew that it was something primal, burning deep inside that every inhale of her scent made it stronger, but he didn’t want to stop.

Mae blinked hard, wondering why he felt the need to tell her that. Did he feel the same way as her? Was he saving himself for... her? She wanted answers. She shouldn’t, but she couldn’t stop herself, she needed to ask.

“so, who are you saving yourself for?”

No going back from it now.

Her question seemed to ring loudly in his ears. He suddenly felt like the shy, younger ape who he thought he buried long ago. His eyes widened before moving his hand to subtly sign. He began motioning to her but quickly clenched his fist. He didn’t want her to know yet.

He needed to change topic, needed to shake this feeling. He wanted to take her there and then, but what would she think of him if he told her that he stood and watched her in the river?

He glanced around and motioned to a small spot Mae had set up earlier “You are... camping here, yes?”

Mae somewhat welcomed the subject change, she wished that she never even asked that dreaded question.

“I am... you’d better get back to your clan, right?”

He narrowed his eyes, his brows lowered with confusion, his protective instinct coming back for her once again “I will stay... with you” he closed his eyes tightly and let out a breath, putting one hand under her chin “I need... to stay with you, Mae... will not lose you again... I cannot”