Chapter Text
Fire. Chaos. Screams. Pain. Fear. The frantic hammering of his heart grew louder and louder until it was the only sound he could hear.
“Noa!”
His head snapped to the left, where his name had been called. It was Anaya and Soona, being tied to a horse by masked apes. He also saw his other friends and clan members being beaten and tied up.
Noa rushed to save them, but a body was thrown into him, smashing him to the ground.
“Noa!” he heard their cries, followed by a harsh shout, “Take them away!”
“Anaya! Soona!” he screamed back. He put all his strength into pushing the dead weight off him and struggled to his feet. He frantically looked around. They were gone. No traces left. No, no, no! his mind shrieked in panic and terror.
“Noa!” a voice called from his right. “Son!” He saw his mother, Dar, shielding the young apes from the chaos.
“Mother!” he cried out. He scrambled on all fours, ignoring the burning chaos in his path. Some of his fur got singed by scattered fire and embers, but he didn’t care. He needed to make sure his mother was alright.
He reached her, grabbing her more roughly than he intended. They pressed their foreheads together. “Mother,” he breathed, relieved that she was still alive.
“Son, listen,” Dar said, pulling back from their connection. “Your father. Help him.” She gestured toward the aviary tower.
Noa looked up and saw his father fighting a much larger ape—a gorilla, not from his clan. He was torn. He could not leave his mother here alone, but he also needed to help his father.
Dar pulled him close again, their foreheads touching. “I am okay,” she insisted. “Go help father. Go!” Dar almost pushed him to go. “Run, Noa!”
He ran. He ran like he had never run before, a desperate, powerful burst of speed. The path to the aviary tower was blocked, so Noa had to climb. Suddenly, a spear winged his left side. He screamed out in agony.
He panted, trying to push through the searing pain. He had to get to his father. “Argh!” he roared as he pushed through the climb. He could feel blood gushing from the wound, but he ignored it. He held on to the spear that had struck him—I need a weapon, he thought—and forced himself to continue his climb up the tower.
When he reached the landing, he immediately threw the spear at the larger ape, and it pierced its right leg. The beast screamed in pain, falling to the floor. Noa rushed to his father’s side, helping him stand.
“Father—”
“Son…” his father said weakly, trying to catch his own breath.
“I am sorry. This is my fault,” Noa said, his voice thick with remorse. If only he hadn’t left the clan to get another egg. If only he had been faster, he could have warned everyone.
“No. Not your fault,” his father rasped. Koro looked up at the eagles. “Noa. Free birds. All of them. Go!” Again, Noa felt his father push him. Though torn, Noa obeyed. He quickly unlatched their tied ropes, freeing every eagle.
He was on the last one when the larger ape suddenly grabbed him by his wounded side and yanked. “Ben your head!” the beast snarled.
Noa was thrown against the wall. The last eagle flew outside, screeching.
Noa felt something crack against his ribs, and he grunted in pain, but he ignored it and fought back. He jumped onto the ape’s back, using all his strength to punch him repeatedly.
But he was too weak. The bigger ape grabbed him roughly and threw him out of the tower.
“Noa, no!” his father cried.
Noa managed to grab a loose rope, but the hulking ape pulled out the very same spear he threw at him. He reeled in the rope until their faces were close and, before he cut it, said the words with a fierceness that made Noa tremble. “For Caesar!”
It was the last thing Noa heard before he fell, landing hard on his back and losing consciousness.
When he awoke, he ached all over. Smoke and the pungent smell of blood filled his nose. Everything was fuzzy, and his head throbbed. His wounded side was incredibly painful. He tried to stand but couldn't, so he crawled.
He looked around. His clan. His home. Everything was gone—burned to ashes, his people were killed without mercy. Why would someone do this? Why would they kill their fellow apes?
He saw his mother’s special blue blanket on the ground. He picked it up, clutching it to his chest tightly. Mother… Anaya… Soona… what happened to them? He couldn’t find their bodies anywhere. A part of him was relieved, but he was also sick with worry that the masked apes had taken them away.
He crawled more, trying to see what had become of his home.
Then he saw his father, lifeless on the ground. He crawled to him and mustered all his strength to sit up, to be as close to his father’s body as he could. “Father…” he said somberly. He gently poked his father’s still form and stared at it for a long time until he passed out again.
His mind was slightly awake, but he felt groggy and couldn’t open his eyes. He grunted, trying to move, but his body was wracked with pain.
“Shh…” a gentle, human voice said from his right. “I’m not going to hurt you.” He felt hands moving over his body, then a cloth being wrapped around his wounded side. “I gave you a tranquilizer so your body can rest,” the voice continued with a sigh. “It was my last one.”
He tried to grunt, to open his mouth and speak, but only two words came out. “Clan… gone…”
“I know…” the voice said, laced with sadness. “I saw everything… and I’m sorry…”
Then he felt a soft, small hand on his forehead, soothing him. “Everything will be okay. You will live. For now, just rest.”
Those were the last words he heard before he succumbed to sleep once again.
Chapter 2
Notes:
I am actually done writing chapter 1 to chapter 6 of this but there's still a lot to explore lol
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
Mae saw everything that happened. She was on the run from the masked apes who had killed her group, the only people who she considered as her own family. She was escaping when she stumbled upon another clan of apes.
It was night, so she couldn't see much, but she could tell that most of them were already in their respective huts and asleep. Despite the situation, her stomach growled. She cursed under her breath and looked back at the huts. Surely, there was food in there.
She threaded her way silently, hiding behind carts and baskets until she reached an empty hut. “Lucky,” she said to herself. Inside, she found a hut with dried fish. She took one and almost groaned in delight; it was her first meal of the day and it tasted glorious.
She looked around the hut. It was amazing how the apes had advanced—yes, it still primitive, but they were able to build their own clan, their own colony.
She was about to take another fish when her foot caught on a basket lying on the floor. She lost her balance and stumbled, creating a loud noise. She heard someone outside stop. She immediately stood up, looking for a way out, but there was only one entrance, and someone was already coming in.
She stood quietly in the corner, hoping the ape wouldn’t notice her. She was walking slowly toward the exit when the ape almost grabbed her arm. Instinctively, she put her arms in front of her and pushed the ape back. She heard a cracking sound and felt it against his chest. An egg? she thought. Before she could think another thought, she pushed past him and ran outside to escape.
She heard the ape hooting and grunting, but she ran as quickly as she could, away from the area and back into the woods. The clan was still in her view, but the ape was not chasing her anymore. She finally breathed the breath she was holding.
It was dark, but she could see the silhouettes of the trees and plants. She decided to rest under a big tree, though she couldn't tell what kind it was. She sat down and hugged her legs to keep herself warm.
She didn't realize she had fallen asleep until she was abruptly woken up by the sounds of screams, hooting, and chaos. Her body jumped up in alertness, and she investigated where the noise was coming from.
She gasped. The clan she had just been in was now burning and being attacked by the same group that was chasing her. She hid behind bushes and trees, putting both hands on her mouth to keep from making any noise.
She witnessed everything.
“Noa!” she heard someone scream, desperate.
“For Caesar!” another shouted.
Mae put her hands on her ears to cover the screams. She closed her eyes, unable to stop herself from feeling their pain and suffering.
Then, silence. The sound of the horses' hooves was now fading.
She opened her eyes. She didn’t know she had been in that position for so long—long enough to notice the sun was rising and that everyone in the clan was dead. All that was left were the burning tower and huts and the smell of smoke and blood.
She was horrified. She stood up and walked slowly toward the area. Maybe… just maybe… someone is still alive. Flashes of her own group being murdered filled her memory, and she didn’t notice tears flooding her cheeks. She wiped it away, composed herself.
She looked around. Lifeless bodies were scattered everywhere. Then she heard a grunt, a sound of life. Instinctively, she hid behind a burnt cart.
Mae saw him. An ape, trying his best to crawl near a body. He sat up, and she could see him wincing with the effort. She saw him poke the lifeless body. “Father…” he said somberly.
A couple of minutes passed, and the ape passed out beside his father's body. He was clutching a blue blanket. She carefully walked toward him and checked his pulse—he was still breathing.
For the life of her, Mae didn’t understand why that made her so happy, that someone had survived, even if he wasn’t her kind. Maybe it was because she had witnessed the massacre and could relate to him. Her own group had been killed by the same masked apes that destroyed his clan. Maybe she found comfort in knowing that she was not the only one who had survived this tragedy.
She inspected his body and saw multiple injuries. The wound on his side was the worst. She needed to take care of it immediately or it would get infected. She was about to try and carry him but realized he was too heavy. The only place she could think of was the abandoned ruins she used as a hideout, where she had the last of her meager supplies, but it was quite far from here. How could she—
Her thoughts were cut off when she heard a flap of wings and a high-pitched whistling sound above her. She looked up and saw an eagle circling, then it flew across the field near what looked like a stable. The eagle screeched as if telling her to follow it.
And she did.
She ran to the stable and saw a horse. A live horse. She grinned happily back at the eagle. “You’re a smart one,” she said. She noted the golden feather of the eagle. “Like a sun,” she commented. The eagle seemed to perch and understand her somehow, but she quickly dismissed the thought—she had more important things to do.
When she had gotten him to safety, the ape was sleeping. Mae finally let out a breath. She wasn’t a doctor, but she knew a thing or two from her mother, who had been the doctor for their team. Seeing the blue cloth he had been clutching, she knew it must be special to him. She gently draped it over his sleeping form.
“Everything will be okay. You will live,” she said to him. She didn't know why, but she had an urge to soothe this ape, to tell him that he was alive and that was enough for now; that he still had a chance to save the other members of his clan. She knew the masked apes didn't kill everyone. They left a few alive to bring back to their camp. She had seen it once.
What now? she asked herself. She knew she couldn't stay with this ape. She had already compromised her rule of staying silent for her safety. She had even used her last tranquilizer on him because he was struggling earlier, making it difficult for her to treat his wounds.
She looked around. She suddenly felt the loneliness like a tangible thing. She hadn't had time to process the death of her mother, and now she was remembering everything. Slowly, tears came flooding down until they turned into uncontrollable sobs. She tried to cover her mouth to lessen the sound, but she couldn't help it.
She was truly alone now. She still had her mission in mind, but the feeling of loneliness, the grief, the exhaustion, the feeling of being in this world without anyone to trust, without feeling safe anywhere she went, was overwhelming.
After a couple of minutes, she composed herself. She looked at her supplies. There were none left. She sighed. She took one last look at the ape. If he survives, I hope he can meet his other clan members. I hope he lives well.
She tentatively put her hand on his chest, feeling the life there, the slow rise and fall. “I hope you live,” she said, before leaving him and going on her own journey.
Notes:
See you on the next one!
Chapter 3
Notes:
Does anyone like the title of this fic? *wink wink* I find it cringe but who cares hahaha
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
Noa grunted as he slowly woke up. He felt his whole body ache. He opened his eyes and gasped audibly when he saw a knife pointed straight at him. He couldn’t get up, or else he would be pierced.
He slowly turned his eyes to the owner of the knife: an orangutan.
“Speak up,” the orangutan said. “You with masked apes?”
“I…not… them,” Noa finally found his words. “They kill father… my clan... stole my mother and friends…” He looked around, confusion on his face. “I… don’t know this place.”
The orangutan looked at him hard before he lowered his knife. “Killed my village too,” he said somberly. “The masked apes.”
Noa slowly tried to sit up. He looked around him. How did he get here? Bits of memory started flooding his mind: his burning clan, the lifeless body of his father. Then someone else. Someone had helped him. A gentle voice telling him that everything would be okay. Gentle hands that soothed him.
He now noticed the cloth bandaged around his body. He also noted the scent of an herbal paste on some of his injuries.
“You help me?” he asked the orangutan, who shook his head. “Who?”
The orangutan shrugged. “Don’t know. I see you lying here. Thought you are part of them.”
Noa tried to remember but couldn’t. He grunted in frustration.
“I’m Raka,” the orangutan introduced himself.
“I’m Noa,” he gestured to himself.
As they began to move through the ruins, Raka proved to be a chatty one.
“They twist Caesar’s words!” Raka exclaimed in disgust. “Killing other ape! Not what Caesar wanted.”
Curious, Noa asked, “Who is Caesar? Where he is?”
“Not is. But was. He is long gone. A legend. A great leader,” Raka said. “His words, his laws… true laws for all apes.”
Noa stopped at a series of old drawings on a wall. “Echo,” he pointed to a faded image of a human.
“Human,” Raka corrected. He pointed to the drawings of humans and apes standing together. “Can you believe? In Caesar time, human and ape… live together.”
“Impossible,” Noa said, not believing it. He thought dismissively, Echo and ape? Together? “Echo are scavengers. A pest.”
“Human important to Caesar. So they are important to me,” Raka said, gently tapping Noa on the shoulder. “Human can be smart too.”
Noa grunted. They continued their walk to the exit of the structure.
“There is a horse outside. Yours?” Raka asked him.
Noa shook his head. “No. I do not remember how I am here. Last I remember is my father dead body. Then nothing.”
“Hmm…” Raka thought for a second. “Maybe someone help you here,” he then pointed at his bandages, “and take care of that.”
“You see them?”
“No. Did not see anyone. Only horse and you.”
They were outside now. Noa saw the horse that Raka was referring to. It was one of his clan’s horses; he remembered it. He hooted in delight, rushed towards the horse, and hugged its neck. He also noticed another horse nearby.
“Glad you are okay,” he said to the horse. The horse neighed as if it understood him.
“Where to go now?” Raka asked.
Noa looked down the path and sighed. “I look for my clan. I know some of them still alive. I track the masked apes.”
Raka nodded. “I go with you.”
Noa was about to disagree, but Raka was already getting on the other horse’s back. “I will not slow you down.” He touched a pendant on his neck that had a strange symbol on it. “Perhaps Caesar bids me travel… when I meet you.”
Noa only grunted. He was already on his horse’s back. “Let’s go.”
Raka chuckled. “You lead, I follow.”
After they had been riding for some time, the conversation turned. “Echo?” Raka asked. “You mean… human?”
“Echo,” Noa supplied, his voice tight. “It keep following me.” He glanced back, looking for something, but Raka couldn’t see anyone. “The echo followed me to my clan, stole our food. Then it follow me now.”
Just then, an eagle screeched above them.
Raka looked up and gasped. “A beautiful bird!” he exclaimed.
“Eagle Sun,” Noa said with a hint of animosity. “My father’s bird.” He glanced up at the eagle. “He follow to taunt me.”
“The bird follows you too?”
Noa shrugged, turning his eyes back to the road. “My clan—we raise eagles. Sing to them so they know us. A bond,” he explained.
“Sing the song,” Raka said, grinning at him.
“No,” Noa grunted, shaking his head. “My father was master of birds. He sang to eagles. But I am not him.”
Raka turned his eyes back to the road. “Shame. Would have enjoyed a song.”
A couple of hours passed, and they saw a stone structure that looked like a ruined highway. They decided to use it as their shelter for the night. They tied their horses to a tree nearby and gathered wood to make a fire, along with some fruits for their meal.
A couple more hours passed, and it started to rain. Thunder rumbled, and sparks of lightning could be seen in the night sky.
They were eating and sitting around the fire when they heard a rustle in the grass. Someone lost their balance and stumbled to the ground nearby.
“Echo!” Noa exclaimed pointedly. “That who follows me!” he said to Raka. He growled at the human, remembering that she was the one who caused his eagle egg to break, postponing his bonding ceremony.
Raka gently pushed Noa to calm him down. “Human,” he said, correcting his choice of word. “Maybe she follow because she is hungry.” Raka gently threw an apple to the human.
The human seem to also bit taken aback. She picked up the apple and tried to hide behind a big rock, but it didn’t give her enough space to truly hide.
Raka grabbed the blue cloth from Noa’s horse, but Noa pulled it back. “No! This important,” he said.
“They get cold,” Raka said gently. “Show compassion.”
Noa looked at the human pointedly and noticed that she was shivering from the cold. Compared to us, this human has no fur, very bare skin. How can she survive the weather? he thought. He sighed. He grunted as he threw the cloth to her.
The human hesitated for a bit, then grabbed it and draped it around herself. Noa saw her expression change slightly, clearly delighted by the warmth it provided.
Raka chuckled. “She is smarter than most.” He took a bite of an apple. “We will name her Nova.”
“Nova?” Noa asked.
“I not know why. In Caesar’s time, they name all female human who bonded with apes Nova. So we also call her Nova.”
Noa thought for a minute. “Why… Caesar care so much for echoes?”
“Legend says he was raised by them… Impossible as seem,” Raka continued. “Caesar legend is important. He was first Elder. He led with decency… morality, strength, compassion. For ape and human.”
Noa only nodded. This Caesar sounded like a great ape, but bonding with echoes? With these scavengers? He grunted.
“Caesar never had to share camp… with this Nova,” he sniffed exaggeratingly.
Raka chuckled. “Is potent,” he joked.
Noa couldn’t sleep. He opened his eyes and silently sat up so as not to disturb Raka. He looked over to where the echo had been and saw only the blue cloth lying there. The echo was gone. He frowned. Not that he was worried about her, but at the back of his mind, he knew he would see this echo again.
He got up and started to walk, hoping the movement would make him fall asleep. His legs led him to a ruined structure with a curved shape on the top. He entered it out of curiosity. Inside, he saw a huge metal thing that he couldn't really describe. It was his first time seeing an object like this. It was long, huge, and extended up to the roof of the structure, where it seemed to be pointing at the sky.
He inspected it closer and noticed another pipe-like metal object with glass at the end. He walked closer and tried to peep into it. He gasped. What is this? he thought. He looked in again and saw many, many tiny lights inside. Beautiful lights.
He hooted and tried to climb the metal thing, but there was nothing on top. Is it trapping the light inside? he thought. He got down and circled the object, trying to make sense of it, when he stopped in his tracks.
The echo was there. The human.
She walked tentatively closer to the object and peeped inside. Noa heard her gasp.
Noa looked at her fully, at how her eyes shined, seeming to reflect the lights from within the object. Beautiful, he thought. He never knew that echoes had beautiful eyes.
She then looked at him. He stepped back a bit in surprise. Something in her face shifted. Is she… happy? he thought. Happy? Why?
Then she turned and went out, leaving Noa alone, thinking about what had just happened.
The next morning, Raka had just finished laying out the saddle pad on his horse, ready to move again. He glanced at Noa.
“A tunnel that eats light?” Raka asked.
Noa glanced at the human, who was standing a short distance away. “She saw what I saw. In her eyes.” Noa remembered how beautiful it was but quickly dismissed the thought. “She… reacted.”
“How?”
“As ape would.”
Raka hummed thoughtfully. Noa almost rolled his eyes. Raka did not believe him. He let it go and climbed up onto his horse's back. He looked back at the human.
“If she come, she must ride horse.”
“Hmm?” Raka smiled at him.
“What?”
“My young companion… showing compassion for our fellow traveler?”
Noa grunted. “She is slow.” He tapped the horse with his leg and started moving.
Notes:
The chemistry is there ugh my shaylas.
Chapter Text
Mae was riding behind Raka. Occasionally, she would get a look from Noa. She too looked at Noa secretly.
Noa. That was his name.
At first, she had decided to leave him, but a part of her worried that someone else would find and hurt him while he was unconscious. So she had waited, watching over him as he slept. She watched from afar when he and Raka met, and when they started moving, she followed.
I just want to see how he fares, she told herself, not admitting to the fact that she was feeling crushingly alone and that following Noa made her feel less so.
Being with these two apes, she felt safe. All her life, she had been running from the vicious ones, from apes that wanted to kill or abuse humans like her—humans who could speak, who possessed intelligence. Her mother had taught her how to blend in, to look and act like a fool, to be silent in order to survive these new lands.
She took in her surroundings. They were riding through grassy plains under a clear day with clear skies. The breeze was just enough to make her feel cool. She liked this kind of day. She was also glad that Noa seemed to have finally recovered from his injuries.
Then, her mission suddenly occupied her mind. She knew she had a mission to do, but lately, she didn't feel like pursuing it. She was exhausted—physically, mentally, and emotionally. She wanted to rest, to not think about the mission. She wanted to see other places she had never been to without running for her life. She wanted to see these new lands, to know how these apes lived, to know everything she hadn't been taught.
Her mind went back to the present. Raka was rambling on about how human legs are not useful for climbing and how apes use four limbs for more convenience and safety. She lowered her head to hide the smile forming on her lips. She had to hide it; they couldn’t know that she was a human who could speak, who was intelligent. Mae knew these two apes were the good kind, but she was not sure how they would react if they knew.
She knew Raka was kind. The way he was considerate and gentle with her, treating her like a pet—she didn’t mind, really. At least she wasn't being attacked.
Noa was another matter. She hadn't really heard him open up about anything. He just replied with grunts and short answers. She could still see the sadness and grief in his eyes, but there was also anger and vengeance there. She sometimes wanted to reach out to him, but she held back. Noa did not take well to humans, or ‘echoes’ as he called them. She remembered how he had chased her through the woods and how he had almost grabbed her arm in the hut.
But she knew Noa was kind. The way he let Raka give her the blue blanket proved that. And the way he let her tag along now. If he wasn't kind, he would have attacked her by now.
She heard Raka tell her tales of Caesar, the legendary ape. She knew the story too, from a time when apes and humans coexisted in harmony. Her mother used to tell her those stories as well. Is that still possible? Her mother had been a firm believer in coexistence—she tried so hard for it, but it didn’t end well for her. An ape killed her. But Mae realized not all apes were killers. These two with her were proof of that.
It was already dark when they decided to stop and rest for the day. They found a rock overhang and made that their shelter for the night. There was a river close by, so Mae was already planning to wash herself later when the two apes were asleep. She remembered Noa’s comment about her scent and almost rolled her eyes. Of course I’ll smell bad, I’ve had no time to take a bath while running for my life, thank you! she thought.
Mae sat in a corner, just observing the two apes moving to and fro. Raka gathered firewood and made a fire. Noa, on the other hand, caught some fish from the river for their meal. Raka then cooked the fish over the flames.
Mae was fascinated. She had thought they just ate food raw, but seeing them catch the fish, clean it (if you could call it that), and cook it over the fire made her admire them even more.
“Nova,” Raka called her. Nova. That’s what they called her. “Eat,” he said, gesturing to the cooked fish laid on a large leaf. He beckoned her to sit with them.
She hesitated at first, glancing at Noa, who was also looking her way. When their eyes met, Noa was the first to look away and focus on his food.
She tentatively walked over and sat with them. She was across from Noa and beside Raka.
Raka gave her a piece of the cooked fish. “Eat. Delicious,” he said, smiling at her.
Mae took it and sniffed it. It smelled amazing, she thought. She began eating, but she forgot that it had just been cooked and was still hot, so she had to open her mouth and try to fan the meat with her hand.
Raka laughed, finding it hilarious. “You are funny human!”
Mae felt a bit embarrassed but carried on eating. She looked over at Noa and saw that he was also trying to hold back his laughter. That’s funny to you too, huh? she thought to herself.
“Noa, what you do… if you find your clan?” Raka asked a couple of minutes later. They were done eating and were just relaxing for the night. Raka had already settled himself into a sleeping position close to the fire.
Noa was on the other side near the river, trying to make a spear using a wood stick he had picked up earlier. “Save them. We return home,” he said simply.
“Hmm,” Raka thought for a bit. “The masked apes are strong. They kill other apes. They dangerous. You saw with own eyes.”
Noa paused his work. “Then I also kill.”
“But… ape should not kill ape.”
“Then what to do?” Noa snapped. He looked at Raka pointedly. “They kill my village, friends, and family. All dead!” He puffed, his breath heavy. When Raka didn’t reply, he continued in a more quiet tone. “I… do not want to kill. But I will if I must.”
Raka nodded slowly. “Rest. Clear your mind. You are jumbled now, Noa. Rest.”
Deep in the night, Mae woke up. She quietly sat up and draped the blanket over herself for warmth. The fire was already dying down. Then she saw Noa. He was still on the other side of the camp, but this time, he was looking up at the sky.
Mae didn’t know what came over her, but she stood up and walked towards him. Noa sensed her and turned, watching her approach. She sat beside him but still kept a small distance between them. She crossed her legs on the ground with the blue blanket still clutched around her body. She stayed there, silent.
Noa looked away from her and toward the quietly flowing river. A couple of minutes of silence passed between them.
Then, he broke it. “That cloth… belong to my mother,” he said simply. There was no accusatory tone, no anger. He was just stating a fact. “My father gave to her… before they bonded.”
She didn’t react. She just listened.
“Where your clan?” he asked, even though he knew she didn’t speak. “Are you alone? Like me?” He glanced at her.
Mae turned to him but said nothing. She wanted to, but she held back. She wanted to say that yes, she was alone, but now, thanks to them, she didn’t feel that way. She wanted to comfort him, but she hoped her just sitting there was enough. She doubted it was.
Noa sighed, then stood up. “Rest,” he said, before walking away to take a place to sleep near Raka.
Mae stayed where she was. She had the urge to tell them the truth: that she could speak, that she was the one who had tended to Noa’s wounds, that she had seen it all and felt the same grief. But she held back.
Notes:
In my head Mae just really wants to be an explorer. Let my girl live.
Chapter Text
Raka hooted when he saw what was in front of them: tall buildings, skyscrapers, and structures long gone and abandoned, already being reclaimed by nature.
“Human are fascinating—they created these structures!” he said to no one in particular. “Tall. Even taller than some trees.”
They had been traveling for a week now and still hadn't gotten anywhere near the masked apes. The path they were taking was just a wild guess, hoping against hope that it was correct. They had already lost the masked apes' tracks, and Noa was beginning to lose hope that they would ever find their hideout. But he pressed on. He could not lose hope. Not now.
Noa quickly glanced at Nova. Raka was right; she was smarter than most echoes he had encountered. She helped gather firewood and fruits. One time, he also saw her washing herself at a small waterfall they had crossed. Compared to their first encounter, she looked cleaner, and her scent… it wasn't bad, but it was unique. He could already make out her scent wherever she went.
“Look, Noa,” Raka pointed at what seemed to be a big board with symbols. “Symbols with meanings.”
Noa tried to make out the symbols, but he couldn't read. He did note the human drawings, smiling. How did humans live before? They seem smart and live proper. So what happened?
They passed by what seemed to have once been a street. Noa looked at his surroundings, at the solid, weird-looking structures. His thoughts were cut off when he heard Raka call Nova's name. He stopped his horse to see Raka also getting off his horse to follow Nova.
“Nova! Where you going?” Raka yelled. He looked at Noa, then followed Nova inside a large structure.
“Raka!” Noa called out, but Raka had already entered. He got off his horse, gathered Raka’s, and tied them to a post before following the two inside.
The structure was full of books. An ancient way to store ideas, he remembered Raka saying. He found Raka holding a book, fascinated, flipping through the pages.
“This… this is amazing place,” Raka looked around, gesturing to the books and laughing in delight. “I never seen place like this. Full of books!” he exclaimed.
Noa couldn't help but feel happy for his companion's delight. It was truly amazing—from ground to ceiling, full of books. “Nova?” he asked.
Raka pointed to the second level of the structure. “There,” he said, then leaned closer to Noa. “Maybe she also know about books.” He tapped his own head. “Smarter than others,” he shrugged.
Noa chose to go up to where Nova was. He saw her quickly putting some piece of paper inside her clothing. He frowned but quickly forgot about it when Nova noticed him.
What are you doing? he wanted to ask, but instead said, “You know… book?”
Nova pulled out a book and opened it, then looked at him as if she were telling him to come closer. And he did.
He looked over Nova's shoulder to peer into the book. It had drawings he could recognize. The drawings looked like apes and humans, holding hands. She flipped to another page. An ape was now eating together with human.
“Human and ape,” he said, a bit lost in thought. “They live… together.”
Nova closed the book and put it back on the shelf. She then turned around to face Noa. The thing she did next surprised him. She gently grabbed his hand and put it between hers. Compared to his, her hands were small, like he could crush them with just one of his.
They stayed like that for a moment, only for the silence to be broken by the sound of crashing books below. “I am okay!” they heard Raka yell.
Noa was the one who let go, walking past Nova to get down to Raka. What did she do? he asked himself. Why is there a warm feeling suddenly? He dismissed it, pushing it deep down.
Because of Raka, they spent a long time inside the structure. Noa begrudgingly decided they should spend the night there, but Raka insisted they find another building. He didn’t want to accidentally burn these “treasures.”
So they found another structure nearby. They camped on a higher part of the building where a wall had crumbled, giving them a view of what was below. They kept the horses on a grassy patch at ground level. Raka had carried Nova on his back while they climbed.
They were settled for the night, but Noa couldn't sleep. He decided to walk and do some quick climbing. He jumped up, climbing higher from building to building. He missed climbing. He remembered the last time he had climbed with his friends, Soona and Anaya. He hoped they were okay. And alive.
He perched on an overhang, just feeling the night breeze. Below, he noticed something. It was Nova. He frowned, silently climbing down a bit to get a closer look.
Nova, with the blue cloth draped over her, went to the horses and fed them apples they had gathered days ago. She petted the horses on their backs, and they seemed to like her.
Noa just watched her. Something about her made him want to watch over her, wherever she went, whatever she did. Noa didn't want to admit it, but he was fascinated by her. He had never really cared about echoes before, but meeting Nova had changed that. A bit, he thought grudgingly. Just a bit. But there was the way she walked on two legs, the way he sometimes caught her smiling at Raka’s jokes, or the way she looked at him.
She sometimes looked at him as if she wanted to say something. What is it? he asked himself. Why does it feel like I am becoming attached to this echo? If Soona and Anaya were here, they would laugh at me for being close to an echo.
He came back to their camp and saw Nova already sleeping soundly. He sat near her and watched her sleep. She looked so fragile, as if she would crumble in his hands. After a while, Noa succumbed to sleep and lay down near her.
He was woken up by Raka.
“Noa. Wake up,” he felt Raka nudge him.
He opened his eyes, still fuzzy from sleep. “What?”
“Nova, gone.”
That woke him up completely. He sat up immediately and looked at the place beside him. Gone.
He stood up and rushed outside, climbing down fast. He heard Raka say to wait, but he couldn't wait. He grabbed his horse and urged it forward even before he climbed onto its back.
Nova, gone, he thought. No, she cannot be gone. Why did she leave? It’s dangerous alone.
He frantically looked around for a glimpse of her but saw nothing. He was getting further from the area when he finally saw her. Draped in the blue cloth he had given her, walking without a care in the world. That made him frustrated. He picked up his pace to get to her.
He saw her glance back, panic in her eyes as if she didn't recognize him, and she started running away. When he was close, he got down from his horse and rushed towards her.
Nova fell down, and Noa felt a pang of guilt, but he was still mad that she had left. He wanted to ask her why, but when she faced him, her face was scared, her eyes teary. That calmed him down a bit.
Why am I so angry? he asked himself, realizing the situation. Why do I care if she leaves? Isn’t that more favorable for me?
He grabbed the blue cloth from her. “This… is important!” he said. Whether he meant the cloth or Nova herself, he didn't know.
Then they both heard it: horses' hooves, two of them. Noa quickly looked back and saw two masked apes on their way. He turned to Nova and immediately grabbed her, pulling her away. Noa saw a space below the road and gestured for Nova to get in there and not make any noise. Nova wiped her tears and nodded. Noa felt bad for making her cry.
“I smell human,” a rough voice said.
“But I do not see one,” the other replied.
Noa thought fast and covered Nova’s body with his own. He embraced her, pulling her close to him. He felt Nova stiffen, but then she relaxed. She grabbed hold of his arms as if for her own safety.
I will not let them take her, it was his first thought that moment. He didn't have time to ask himself why. He pulled Nova even tighter to him, trying to cover up her scent. He heard grunts and huffs. Then, “Let’s go. Proximus needs report.” He heard the horses move farther and farther away.
Noa finally let out the breath he was holding. He looked down at Nova, who seemed to have been doing the same. Then he remembered he was still clinging to her, so he immediately let go and turned away, his back to her.
He roughly threw the blue cloth to her. “Let’s go back,” he just said. He walked away without looking back.
Noa ignored the unknown feeling emerging inside him. He glanced down at his hands. What had gotten into him?
Notes:
Yeah...that deleted scene. I know, I know - Wes should have never cut that scene out.
Chapter Text
“Let’s go back.”
Mae caught her breath, picked up the blue cloth, and followed Noa. She saw him whistle to call for his horse. He climbed up and then waited for her, holding his hand out to help her up. She took it. She loosely wrapped her arms around his waist as an anchor so she wouldn't lose her balance. Mae could feel Noa tense up at the contact. She sighed to herself. What is this? What just happened?
When she had woken up, she had only decided to walk and explore, maybe find some fruit for their breakfast. She hadn't noticed how much time had passed until she heard a horse's hooves running fast towards her. A flashback of her group being chased and killed filled her mind, and she instinctively ran away, only to realize it was Noa chasing her.
Raka was there to welcome them back.
“What did I miss?” he asked, sensing the tension between them. He turned to Mae as she climbed down. “Why you leave?”
She wanted to answer that she didn't leave. Instead, she pulled out the few berries she had pocketed on her walk and gave them to Raka.
“Ohh,” he said. “You found food. For us?” He pointed to himself and Noa and smiled. “Thank you, Nova. But next time, do not find food alone. Dangerous.”
Raka tossed some berries to Noa, who had watched the exchange. He was already tying the horses back to the post. Mae glanced at Noa before going back inside the building. She wanted to ask why he had chased her. Just because of the cloth? Why did he protect her from the masked apes then?
They were on the move again, the city now far behind them. Mae chose to ride behind Raka this time.
Noa nodded. “I can track them. Scent,” he said, gesturing to his nose. Then he looked at Mae. She was taken aback because she had also been looking at Noa.
“Masked apes looking for her,” he said with an accusatory tone that hurt Mae, though she didn't know why.
“Why?” Raka asked.
“Ask her.”
“If she speak, I would ask,” Raka said with humor in his voice. “Maybe masked ape just want human? I heard they collect human. For what? I do not know.”
Mae looked away. She couldn't tell them it was because she could speak, that this group of apes collected humans who could. She didn't know their reasons, but she didn't want to find out for herself.
Noa huffed. “Echo should not come with us.”
Mae was a bit hurt by his words. Without realizing it, she hugged Raka tightly, seeking comfort from the older ape. Raka must have noticed.
“Nova is free to come with us. Together, strong,” he said, looking back at her with a comforting smile. “You are angry because you thought she left us. But she did not.”
“I am angry because she stole my mother's cloth.”
“Hmm,” Raka said. Mae admired his calmness. “She did not steal it. You gave it to her.”
“I—” Noa seemed to look for words, then he just closed his mouth. He paused, then sped up his horse. “Let us go. It will rain.”
Raka chuckled at the younger ape. Then, to Mae, he said, “Noa is kind. But he is jumbled now. Forgive him.”
She knew. She just rested her face on Raka’s back for comfort.
Noa was right. It rained. They sought shelter under what seemed to be a highway overpass. It wasn't even night yet, but the rain was too strong and the sky too dark. Good thing they were able to gather enough wood for their fire. Raka was already asleep and snoring.
Mae positioned herself on the other side, covered in the blue cloth, sitting with her back against a wall. She was trying to ignore Noa’s glances. What does he want now? she wanted to snap at him.
Then she heard Noa stand up and walk towards her. He settled himself beside her, leaving a comfortable space between them.
They sat in silence before Noa finally decided to speak up.
“Sorry,” he said. He held out his open palm, offering her some berries. She was a bit taken aback by his action and his apology. She didn't expect it, and she didn't even need him to.
“Sorry for…” he said, gesturing at the small scratches on her forehead. They were from the morning, when she had fallen as she ran away from him, thinking he was someone else. He looked genuinely remorseful.
It’s not his fault, she thought to herself. Mae took the berries and ate one, hoping to send the message that she didn't really mind.
Noa smiled at the action. He seemed to understand that he was forgiven. In fact, Mae thought, she should have thanked him for saving her from the masked apes earlier.
“Nova should not wander alone. Not safe for you,” he said softly. “If something happen… you tell me…us. I come to you.” He paused, then repeated what Raka had said earlier. “Together. Strong,” he said, more like he was telling himself the words.
Mae was touched. How could an ape be so kind and big-hearted, even more so than some humans? He deserved to live a peaceful life, not this. She held herself back from hugging him. Instead, she moved closer and rested her head on his shoulder.
Noa tensed, but then she felt him relax. She felt his head gently rest against her hair. The sound of the rain, the crackle of the firewood, Raka’s snoring, and Noa’s kindness and warmth… Mae fell asleep to those sounds. She was tired, but she was safe.
“Do you know? In Caesar time, he had four most trusted companions. They stayed loyal to Caesar till end of his life. And among those four… one is human.”
“Human?” Noa asked, curious. He stole a glance at Mae, riding behind Raka as usual.
“Uh-hm,” Raka nodded happily. “Human and apes work together, live together.” He looked from Noa to Mae. “Like us.”
Noa didn't reply, but he seemed to agree to Raka’s comment, Mae noted.
They continued their travel for four more days. During that time, the three of them built a rapport and a routine. Raka was trying to teach Mae sign language for some basic words.
“Thank you,” Raka said, gesturing his hand from his mouth downward in the sign for 'thank you'. Mae followed and mimicked him. She was fascinated by how apes had sign language ingrained as their own.
“That is correct. You are smart Nova.”
Mae glanced at Noa, who seemed a bit proud of her.
The next morning, Mae was up early. She decided to wash herself in the nearby river. Once she was done, she decided to wash the blue cloth as well. This cloth was special to Noa, and now, it had become special to her as well.
Then she heard a screech. She looked up and noticed a bird—an eagle, to be exact—perched on a tree just near her. Watching.
This eagle looks familiar, she thought. She finished washing the cloth first and hung it on a low tree branch to dry. Then she walked closer to the eagle.
I knew it! she thought to herself. It’s the same eagle that helped me at Noa’s clan. Why are you here? Did you follow us?she asked, though the questions remained in her mind.
The bird opened its wings, and the sunlight reflected beautifully on its feathers. It shook its body as if trying to clean itself. Mae sat down on a grassy patch and just watched the eagle.
She suddenly felt sleepy, so she decided to lie down and stretch her body. The morning sun was soft on her skin, making her feel even sleepier. Maybe just five minutes, she thought as she closed her eyes.
But she opened them again when she heard a flap of wings. She saw the eagle jump from its branch and do something she could only describe as a 'pancake' in the grass just beside her. It spread its wings and lay low to the ground.
As if it’s basking like me, she thought, smiling at the eagle. She observed it for a couple of minutes before she felt her eyes close, and she drifted off to sleep.
She didn’t know how long she had slept when she was woken by someone's voice, as if they were talking to someone else.
“You follow us? I thought you already flew away… to bond with other ape.” She heard a sigh. “My father is dead. You are free to bond with another.”
Mae yawned, opened her eyes, and stretched. She sat up, only to be met by the sight of Noa. He was talking to the eagle. In his hands was the blue cloth she had hung to dry earlier.
Noa finally noticed she was awake. “You should not sleep here alone. Dangerous,” he said. A frown was on his face, but he sighed and offered her the blue blanket. Then he turned to the bird, which was already perched on the tree again. “Eagle Sun,” he introduced. “He is my father’s eagle.”
Mae stood up, patting the leaves and grass from her legs.
“I saw Eagle Sun… lie close to you,” Noa said with a chuckle. “He seem to like you.”
Mae had a surprised look on her face but didn't comment. She wanted to say that it was the same bird that had helped her get a horse to save him.
“Let’s go. Raka is waiting,” Noa said.
She looked back at the bird, and it flew up into the sky again.
“You will see him again,” Noa said, leading the way back to Raka.
That same afternoon, while Raka was rambling about different types of bananas, they heard Noa mutter, “What… is that?”
Raka and Mae saw that Noa had stopped in his tracks. “What is it, Noa—what is that?” Raka’s mouth was agape, seeing the animals in front of them.
Zebras! Mae thought excitedly, but she remained silent as usual. She followed Raka and Noa as they got down from their horses to look more closely. They walked closer. The zebras were drinking in a shallow stream. Some were just frolicking, not even noticing their presence.
“Horses… with stripes,” Raka said, amusement in his voice. “Striking.”
Mae was also fascinated; she had never seen zebras before, only in drawing books. She didn't know they were this big and beautiful.
Then she saw them. Humans.
“We feared herds were gone,” she heard Raka say in the background.
Herd, she thought. Is that what humans are now?
Mae felt her breath catch. She walked closer and closer to see if what she was seeing was real. She had never seen it before. They said humans had devolved into… primitive animals. Silenced, deprived of intelligence. They drank water like the zebras, their clothes made of leaves and animal furs. They didn’t seem to notice their arrival, not even with an acknowledgement.
She couldn’t help the tears that filled her eyes. Her heart ached for her kind.
Her thoughts were cut off when she heard a horse. She looked back. Noa was gone. Where is he—there. She saw him galloping away.
Wait! she wanted to yell. Don’t leave me here, Noa! She was about to run after him when Raka stopped her and gently dragged her back.
“They are like you,” Raka said with a smile. “You want to join them?”
No! I don’t! she wanted to say. She knew Raka’s intentions were good. He thought she was like them, that she had finally found her own clan. But he was wrong. They were different. She looked back to where Noa had left.
“He has his journey. We have ours. Come.”
Then a horn bellowed loudly from a near distance. It was the masked apes. Their group was now double the size of the one that had chased her before. They were approaching fast. The zebras and the humans scrambled, running for their lives. Raka pulled her to run away too, and she did.
No, no! she thought frantically. They cannot catch me. I survived this long. She ran and ran, ignoring all the noises and chaos. She heard Raka call her name, but she was now too far from him. She ran faster than she ever had before. She heard the human screams, and flashes of dark memories resurfaced. She sobbed, but she needed to run.
“Take them!” “Ride them down!” “Catch them!”
Then she felt something cover her—a net! She stumbled to the ground. She was caught up in the net together with two other humans. She felt the hard pull from the ape riding a horse. No, no! She immediately pulled herself out of the net and was able to escape. She didn’t wait; she immediately ran again.
She heard someone yell, “There!” She looked back, and now the apes were running in her direction. She needed to think fast. She saw a patch of tall grass and ran towards it, transitioning to crawling on all fours. The tall grass could hide her; she could bide her time.
But she heard the apes on her tail. “Spread out.”
She crawled frantically away. “This way,” she heard. “I know she here!” She was now feeling hopeless.
Then she heard him call for her.
“Nova!”
Noa! she lifted her head for a bit to check if it was really him. Relief flooded her but was cut off when she heard the rustling of the grass getting closer and closer to her position.
“…I come to you,” she remembered Noa’s words.
With all her strength, she stood up and called for his name—screaming with all the faith she had.
“NOA!!!”
They locked eyes. He heard her. Then she saw him galloping towards her, fast. She ran to him too. She heard a bigger ape on her tail. She ran so fast. She saw a dead tree branch, used it to get more height, and with all her trust, she jumped.
Noa caught her.
But the bigger ape was able to grab hold of the saddle. Noa kicked him hard, and he fell. She clumsily positioned herself behind him, clutching onto him so tight. She almost cried right there and then.
She heard Raka call for them. He was also on a horse, and he smacked another ape chasing them with a thick tree branch. “Caesar forgive me,” she heard him say.
Once they had gained a safe distance from the chaos and made sure that no one was on their tail, they decided to get off their horses and use them to throw the masked apes off their track.
“This should give us time,” Raka said.
Mae stood there in silence. Noa was looking at her—she couldn't make out his expression. She was still a bit throttled from what had happened. She sighed and walked past Noa and Raka. She walked deeper into the woods, which led to the edge of a shallow cliff. She looked out at the sea as the sun was setting.
She heard the two of them follow her.
“What did I miss?” Raka said.
“She spoke,” Noa stated. Mae flinched when she heard the betrayal in his voice. “She spoke. She called my name.”
“You misheard.”
“You said this Nova was smarter than most.”
“Within reason. Some intelligence, to be sure, but—”
She finally decided to speak up. “I have a name,” she said, watching their reactions. “Mae.”
Both of them were surprised, Raka more so. He dropped everything he was holding in shock. If it were another circumstance, she might have laughed, but she couldn't find it in her to laugh now. She glanced at Noa. From shock, to hurt, to betrayal. She saw it all in his eyes. She didn’t like it. She didn’t want that from Noa.
Why did you leave? she almost wanted to accuse him. But she knew Noa only had good intentions. Noa knew no malice.
She looked at them one final time before walking away, finding a more suitable place to stop for the night.
Notes:
That scene in the movie where Mae screamed for Noa—and that was her very first word spoken throughout the entire film—absolute cinema. It was incredibly powerful, jaw-dropping, and many lives were changed.
Chapter 7
Notes:
Double chapter update because I'm feeling extra nice today! Plus, I got to enjoy a cozy, rainy afternoon, which made me super productive and I ended up writing a lot. Also, can I just share that my phone lock screen right now is Owen Teague? Yup, every time my phone lights up, I see his face and it gives me more energy and creative juice to write chapters. Thanks, Owen—you are my muse right now!
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
“I know where they’re taking your clan.”
Noa heard her say the words, but he was still processing the fact that Nova—Mae, she had said her name was—could speak. And the fact that she had hidden it from them… he felt hurt and betrayed. Did that mean she didn’t feel safe with them? That she didn’t trust them?
They were now settled inside a shallow cave-like opening they had found for the night. Raka and Mae were talking to each other, but Noa was just looking at Mae, not really paying attention to the conversation happening in front of him.
“…There used to be more of us,” Mae was saying.
Then he spoke up, finally giving voice to his thoughts. “You hide truth?”
He saw Mae’s face become devoid of emotion. Those were not the eyes he was getting to know.
“My mother taught me silence…for my safety,” she said quietly.
And that hurt him.
“You were safe with us,” he said, his voice accusing. He couldn't help it. “Still… you are not true.”
He felt something rising inside him. Anger? Why? Why am I angry? Am I not the same as her? I did not trust her at first.
Raka gently put a hand on his shoulder. He must have noticed his anger and hurt. Noa grunted, looking away to calm himself down.
“Where is your mother now?” Raka asked Mae.
“She…is dead,” she said, her voice a bit more somber.
There was a pause.
“We all have someone lost,” Raka said gently. “But now… we have each other.”
Noa admired Raka and his wisdom. He looked at the older ape, envying him for finding the right words for the moment, while he was hurt and didn't know what to say. He wanted to say something—that he was alone too and that Mae could lean on him if she needed to. He would help her. He knew, deep inside, that he would protect her. He might not have before, in their first encounter, but now, he knew he would not let anything bad happen to Mae.
Mae. It felt new on his tongue. Mae. Mae. Mae.
His thoughts were cut off when Raka stood up. “We make fire. Much to discuss.” He left the two of them alone. Noa knew it was intentional; Raka knew there was tension between him and Mae.
Noa sighed. He was hurt and felt betrayed because Mae hadn’t fully trusted them, trusted him. But now that he had calmed down, he knew Mae had her reasons. He knew they were two different kinds, so it was understandable that they didn't fully trust each other.
Noa stole a glance at Mae. He noticed she was shivering. He sighed. There was still much for them to talk about, but for now, Noa knew that she was exhausted and scared. She had almost been caught by the masked apes. He too had been scared when he saw her running from them. He regretted leaving her that time, but he had thought he was leaving her with her own kind.
When Mae had screamed his name, he had felt something unknown. He couldn't name it. Pride? That she had called for him and not anyone else? That his was the first name she had spoken? He shook his head mentally.
He grabbed the blue cloth, stood up, and walked to Mae. He offered the cloth to her without a word. Mae looked up at him. Something flashed in her eyes as she hesitantly took it. He walked away silently, not trusting himself with his own words yet.
The firewood crackled, and the only other sounds that night were the crickets and the soft breeze. As usual, Raka was the first one to head to sleep. Noa sat near the entrance of the cave, trying to fix the metal stick that he had taken from one of the apes earlier. He had forgotten all about it because of the shocking events of the day.
Now he had time to check it. How did they use this? he wondered. He had seen sparks of lightning on the end of the stick when the apes used it. He saw the cut wire. It must be broken. I can use this as a weapon, he decided. But I need to fix it first.
He was so focused on the stick that he didn't hear Mae sit down beside him, leaving a safe distance between them. He stopped working on the metal and glanced at her. She was looking up at the sky. He suddenly remembered that day they were in the dome-shaped structure, with the tunnel that eats light. He wanted to know what it was that they had seen, the beautiful lights that were reflected in her eyes.
“You saw what I saw… in the dome,” he began. “Moon but not moon. Sun but not sun. It was in your eyes.”
Mae turned to him. “It’s stars,” she said, pointing at the tiny lights scattered across the night sky. “Those lights… but the telescope made them look bigger, closer.”
“Telescope… Stars…” he spoke the words, memorizing them.
Mae smiled a small smile at him. “It was also my first time seeing them that close,” she said, resting her chin on her hands. “My mother said that when you see a falling star, you can make a wish.”
“Falling… star?” Noa asked, looking up at the sky and trying to imagine how they could fall. “Wish?”
“Mhm. A wish is something you desire.” Then she looked at Noa. “Do you have a wish?”
He thought about it. Wish… something I desire…
“I do not know,” he admitted. “I do not understand.”
“It’s okay.”
“I… am seeing, hearing, and feeling things I do not know since I started this journey.” He returned his attention to the metal stick, trying to fix it. “Raka is right. I am jumbled.”
“I don’t think you are, Noa,” she said. Hearing his name from her mouth again, this time gentler, was different. “You’re just discovering new things. New feelings. I feel the same way—I’m seeing and feeling things I don’t know, but it’s not bad. It’s something new, and I want to know more.”
She smiled at him. Noa thought it was the first time she had truly smiled at him, and he didn't like to admit it, but he liked the feeling he got when that smile was for him.
“You are not like the others,” she continued. “In so many ways, Noa.” Then she yawned.
He chuckled softly. “Sleep.”
She nodded and left him to his own thoughts.
I am discovering new things. New feelings. Mae was right. Maybe it wasn’t a bad thing. He just needed to learn to accept it and learn more about it.
“How you know where they are heading?” Raka asked that morning.
They were gathered around a piece of paper placed in their center. Mae said it was called a map. Noa inspected it. It had drawings and some symbols with meanings. Letters, Mae had called them. Noa was learning new words. Mae said she would teach them how to read one of these days, and Noa felt excited by the idea of learning symbols with meanings.
“Here,” Mae said, pointing at the map. “When I was hiding from them before, I heard them mention this place.” She pointed to another place on the map. “And more or less, we are here.”
Noa noted that the distance between their location and the place they needed to go was still quite far. He estimated it would be around a week before they got there, if there were no roadblocks on their path.
“Why are they looking for you?” he asked her. He also wanted to know why. What did they need from her?
Noa noticed that Mae hesitated for a moment.
“These apes collect humans,” she finally said. “Not just any humans, but humans who can speak and have intelligence. I… don’t know what they intend to do with us.”
“They are twisted. They kill fellow ape, now humans too,” Raka huffed angrily. “They are never good apes.”
Noa felt the anger again, like what he had felt when they attacked his clan. But this time, it was not only for his clan but also for Mae. The instinct to protect her from any harm just grew stronger. But a sudden question popped into his mind.
“If it dangerous for you… why you go to this place?” he asked, pointing to the same spot Mae had identified as the masked apes' hideout.
There was a pause. Noa can tell Mae is hesitating.
“My people…human like me might be there.” She replied after seconds of pause.
“Human…who can speak?”
Mae just nodded.
Noa noted that there was something in her eyes and one of them is fear. He wanted to ask, Why fear?
Rakka put both of his hand to their shoulders. “Our journey is long and dangerous. We need to be more careful and prepared for anything.” Raka commented. He turned to get the horses ready.
Noa picked up the map. Looking at it then gave it back to Mae, who took it and fold it to put inside her clothe. “We…are same.” He said. “We will get our clan back.”
Mae didnt look at him and just said. “I…hope so.” and then followed Raka leaving Noa looking at her back.
Notes:
Ofc a little angst is perfectly fitting for this cozy, rainy weather...
Chapter 8
Notes:
New chapter yaay! Your comments are definitely appreciated guys :D
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
She had lied to him again.
She wanted to take back her words, her lies, but she couldn't. How could she tell him the truth? The real reason she needed to be in that place was because it contained something important—something that would help her kind, humans, tremendously, but could also mean destruction for the apes.
How could she say that to him, knowing full well that if she succeeded in her mission, it might start another era of war?
Last night, she had promised herself that she would do anything to help Noa get his clan back, but it was a bitter irony that she could also be the cause of their end.
It had been two days since they left the cave. They hadn't encountered any roadblocks yet, except for some occasional rain. They stopped for the day to rest in some woods, in a clearing with a patch of flowers. She knew they were near a river; she could hear the soft rushing of water nearby.
“Climb,” Mae said, mirroring the sign Raka had just made by motioning with both of her hands as if climbing. During their downtime, Raka had continued to teach Mae sign language, and Mae was insistent on learning it.
“That is correct,” Raka chuckled and gently patted her head.
Mae didn't mind. To her, Raka was like an uncle—a gentle, understanding, and kind uncle.
“Raka,” she started, signing the word for 'kind' as she spoke. She had learned that before, and she saw that Raka was delighted she was using it. “Why are you so kind? Why are you helping Noa… us? You could have just left us and lived peacefully.”
Raka had been nothing but kind since the day they met. It was hard to imagine being so kind when all of your clan was dead and you were the only one left. Raka had told them while they were traveling that his clan were apes who didn't believe in violence. They lived by the words of Caesar.
Ape not kill ape. Apes together strong. Decency and compassion.
Those were the words of Caesar, Raka had said, words they lived by. They coexisted with other apes, even if they were a different kind. They also had some humans—those who couldn't speak—in their midst. But then tragedy happened, just like what had happened to her and Noa’s clan. Now, he was the only one left.
“We ape are strong. Mighty. Powerful,” Raka said, his voice soft. “But someone told me…real strength… is being kind to others. Even when not same.”
“Even if it’s not an ape? Even if they’re not kind to you?”
Raka nodded. “No kindness wasted,” he continued. “Kindness can do much. It can…” Raka searched for a word. “Change someone. It can change whole clan.”
Mae couldn't help but smile at that. Never in her lifetime had an ape shown her such immense wisdom. His heart was big, and his kindness was admirable. She wondered if she could ever be as kind as he was.
“I can never be like you,” Mae muttered, more so to herself.
Raka tapped her shoulder gently. “Anyone can be kind,” he said, then used the sign for 'kind' again. “It is in there.” He pointed at his own heart, then to hers. “Even if you do not know it.”
“But… I am kind because I needed something from them…” she said, feeling a wave of shame and vulnerability for admitting that to Raka.
“Perhaps that is how it starts. But your kindness still help others,” Raka said, his voice gentle and without judgment. “Maybe the 'why' change soon. Your kindness can still change things… for better.”
Mae didn't reply. She wanted to believe his words.
Raka then took off his pendant necklace—the Caesar symbol—and took Mae’s hand, placing it in her palm.
“I give this to you.”
“No, Raka—”
Raka shook his head. “Important. To remember Caesar words… compassion.” He closed Mae’s hand over the pendant and tapped her arm encouragingly.
Just then, Noa called out their names, cutting off their conversation.
“Look like our food is here,” Raka chuckled and stood up to welcome Noa.
Mae was left alone, looking at the necklace in her hand. She didn’t feel deserving of such an important gift, but she was touched that Raka had entrusted it to her.
Mae was looking at the patch of flowers. She was amazed at how no one took care of them and yet they bloomed so beautifully, so peacefully.
“You like… flowers?” She was so deep in thought that she didn't notice Noa was already sitting beside her.
Mae turned to him and gave him a smile. Then she turned back to the flowers. “I do. From where I came from, there’s not a lot of plants or flowers like this.” She picked up one flower and gently touched its petals. “They’re beautiful, right? And they’re peaceful to look at.”
Noa picked up some flowers of different colors, then slowly began tangling them together.
“What are you doing?”
“Flower… crown. For hair,” he explained. “All female in our clan do this. My mother taught me.” He glanced up at Mae and smiled shyly. “Anaya… teased me about it. I sometimes do this… when I am alone. It calms me.”
“Anaya is your friend?” Mae asked him gently.
Noa nodded. He paused for a moment. “Anaya and Soona,” he said, then signed the word for 'friends' to her. “We were all born within a sunset.”
Mae absentmindedly picked some flowers and tried to copy what Noa was doing. “It must have been nice to have friends.”
“You have no friend?”
Mae smiled sadly and shook her head, not looking at Noa. “Most of the humans in my group—my clan—were older than me. Much, much older. I didn’t have anyone like Anaya and Soona, sharing the same age and… bond.”
Noa didn't reply. His attention seemed to be back on the flower crown he was making. Mae looked at his work, then compared it to hers. His was much better.
“You’re good at this,” she commented. She held up the flower crown she had made. It was clumsily done, but at least it formed a shape, she chuckled to herself. She continued copying Noa and his work until she was satisfied.
She stood up and gently put her creation atop Noa’s head. She crouched to look at him closer and smiled. “Now you have a crown,” she said. “You look like a king… but a kind and gentle one.”
Noa paused his work. He looked at Mae and shook his head. “No. I am no king. My father… he was more like king. Not me. I am coward… and not strong like others. And I am scared.”
"You're not a coward, Noa," Mae stated with conviction. "Being scared and still choosing to go for your family and friends? That doesn't make you a coward; it makes you incredibly brave, and your heart is undeniably strong."
Noa didn’t reply and looked down to continue his work.
Mae sighed and was about to stand up when Noa gently put the flower crown he had just finished atop her head.
“Oh,” was the only word she could muster at that moment.
“Thank you,” Noa said, looking only at her.
Her heart skipped a beat.
They stayed there for a moment, neither of them wanting to say something more, neither of them wanting to move away. Only when they heard something being dropped and Raka saying something unintelligible did they break whatever had fallen between them.
Mae was the first one to let go of the moment. She loudly cleared her throat and stood up. “I think we should gather firewood now, before nightfall.”
She walked away without waiting for Noa’s reply. She gently pulled the flower crown from her head and looked at it. She didn't want to name what she was feeling right now. It was not the right time. It would never be the right time.
Notes:
Someone is catching feelings *looks at both of them*
Chapter 9
Notes:
Life has been incredibly busy, and I've barely had time to write, but here we are! I've got two chapters for you guys, because I'm just that nice!
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
chapter 9
After a couple of more days, they finally made significant progress on their journey.
“When we cross this bridge, we are more or less one day away from their hideout,” Mae said, looking at what seemed to be an ape-made bridge crossing a wide river. She noted the strong current of the water rushing below.
She heard Noa expel a nervous breath. She felt the same. Beyond that bridge, they did not know what awaited them. She didn't even know if they would be successful in their plan to sneak in, get Noa’s clan out, and for her to get what she came for.
“No turning back,” Noa said, almost to himself, as if encouraging himself to push through. Then she felt his eyes on her.
They hadn't really talked about what happened between them days before. She didn't want to, and he seemed not to understand what had happened either, so they both didn’t brought it back again, as if nothing happened.
She looked back at Noa, meeting his eyes.
She wanted to say something—the truth. She felt like this would be the last time she would look at Noa like this. She felt regretful that she hadn’t spent more time with him, with them. After this, she didn't know what would happen. Would they still be together? She knew it wouldn't happen. She would have to go back to the bunker, and Noa would go back with his own clan, maybe with Raka. She wouldn't be with them. She would never be with them.
Apes and humans—can they really live together? she wondered. She wanted to know how. She wanted to try—
Raka tapped both of their shoulders, bringing her back to the present. “We go.”
Mae closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and then stepped forward.
They were halfway through the bridge when Mae felt something was off. She stopped in her tracks. Noa also seemed to feel the same way, and she unconsciously grabbed his arm to stop.
Then they heard it—footsteps, and the sound of a horse's hooves on the other side of the bridge. She gasped. It was the same hulking ape that had chased her, the one that had almost caught her.
“Turn back,” she heard Noa say. “Turn back, turn back!” he repeated with urgency now.
They started to retreat, but with a thud, two more apes blocked the other side. They were trapped in the middle, with no escape but the strong current that will more likely push them down and drown them.
The bigger ape on the horse started running towards them. Noa readied the metal spear he had fixed the other night. It sparked electricity.
“Mae! Grab! We will climb— Mae!” Raka grabbed for her.
Mae didn't know what happened—it was so fast. Someone grabbed her by the hair, pulling her away from Raka. She had to think fast, so she put all her strength into pushing the ape to the side, trying to make him fall into the water. But the ape was still grabbing her hair, so she also almost fell with him, but she was able to grab hold of a loose net under the bridge.
But the water was rushing so strongly that she kept slipping.
“Raka!” she cried for help.
“Mae! Hold tight!” she heard him yell. the sound of the strong current almost drowned all sounds. Raka
Raka held out his hand to her, but she was a bit too far, so she tried her best to climb up closer. The current was fighting against her.
“Mae! Hand!”
I got to climb, just one more push, she told herself. Then she did it! She grabbed hold of Raka’s hand, and he pulled her up. She coughed up the water she had swallowed—
But another ape kicked Raka off the bridge. He was able to grab on to the same net that she had held onto earlier.
“Raka!” she cried, at almost the same time as Noa. She was about to help Raka when the ape who had kicked Raka grabbed her roughly. She couldn't escape, even as she struggled. He tied her hands tight with a rope and kicked her in the stomach, so she fell to the ground, grunting in pain.
She heard Noa called her name.
She saw Noa fight back against the bigger ape, but the ape was much stronger than Noa, and he was thrown to the ground. “Noa—” Another kick to her stomach. She cried out in pain.
“Mae…!” she heard Noa mutter. The bigger ape put his foot on Noa’s chest.
“You are brave ape,” he said to Noa. “Proximus will like you.”
The bigger ape laughed menacingly. Then he looked at the ape holding her and nodded, like a signal. He pulled a knife, walked to the edge, and began slicing the net, clearly intending for Raka to be swept away by the current.
“No…stop…please…” Mae said, pleading, crying. “Raka…” She tried so hard to crawl closer to the ape, trying to stop him, but it was futile. It was too late.
In his last moment, Raka looked at them with a smile and said, “Together. Strong.”
Then the net gave way, and the current took Raka with it.
“RAKA!” Noa cried out.
She closed her eyes and cried. For Raka. For her dear friend.
Everything was a blur after that.
Mae was too numb to even admire the big ship they were entering. They were tied by their hands now, and Noa was steps ahead of her. They were being led by the bigger ape. If it were some other time, she would have admired the ship and the place. The ship was enormous, and she could see different apes entering and exiting. It looked like a kingdom to her, not just a clan.
When they finally entered the ship, many apes were watching them, hooting and making noises loudly. Noa looked back at her, trying to see if she was okay, but she didn't have time to connect with him because the bigger ape grabbed her hand, removed the rope, and pulled her away towards a different room.
“No! No! No!” Noa screamed as he tried to go with her, but he was tied and the other apes stopped him. “Mae!”
She wanted to call back, but the bigger ape grabbed her roughly, pulling her with him. She was forced to walk in the same direction. She looked back, trying to see Noa—thinking it might be the last time—but she couldn't see him anymore.
Notes:
Go and read chapter 10! Lol
Chapter 10
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
chapter 10
“No! No! No! Mae!”
He screamed her name. Don’t take her! Please! He wanted to yell it, but the ape holding his rope punched him in the stomach, stopping him from going after Mae.
“Arg…” he muttered in pain. He was still looking back to where they had taken her. The ape roughly pulled him, forcing him to walk in another direction.
No, he thought. This shouldn't have happened… Raka… now Mae… I am losing everyone again…
He felt the rope on his hands loosen. The ape kicked him hard, and he fell face-first onto the ground.
“Welcome home, ape.” Then he was left alone.
Noa pushed himself up. He looked around him. He was standing on sand; everywhere was sand. A giant wall made of wood stood in the distance, and he could hear the big waves moving to and fro, a barrier separating the waves and the land.
He saw different apes working, carrying big rocks and woods. Bigger apes stood on guard with sharp spears and the metal sticks that sparked. Then, to his left, he saw a gigantic door stuck in a mountain. Many apes were there, doing he didn't know what.
What is this… it feels suffocating, Noa thought. This is not home. This feels more like a cage…
“Noa?” He turned to the voice. He gasped.
“Noa!” A hug landed on him.
“Soona!” he hugged her back. He temporarily forgot about everything else, so relieved that his friend was well and alive.
“You okay?” he asked, looking behind her as if expecting Anaya to be there. “Anaya?”
But Soona didn't reply and just put her forehead against his. He let her.
“Mother?” he asked after a moment. “She here? Alive?”
Soona nodded and grabbed his hand. “Follow me.”
He saw her with the younglings.
“Mother…” he muttered. His heart was so glad that his dear mother was still alive.
Dar lifted her head and gasped when she saw him. She almost ran towards him.
“Noa! Son! My son…” She hugged him so tight, and he hugged her back. “You alive,” Dar cried. “I am glad. I am glad, son.”
“I am too, Mother…” he said, his forehead against hers.
Then they were cut off by a loud, booming horn.
“Proximus,” Soona said to them.
“Come, son. We all have to greet the king.”
“Proximus? King?”
Dar pulled him to the center where all the apes were gathered. Some were excited; some were dreading it. His mother and Soona felt the latter.
“What is happening?” Noa asked when he saw a bigger ape with a unique set of clothing come walking down a platform. The other apes bowed their heads, extending their hands to him. Noa also noticed what seemed to be a crown on his head.
Before Soona or Dar could answer him, the crowned ape started speaking.
“What a wonderful day!” he greeted loudly, standing proudly on the higher platform, which seemed to be his throne.
“What a wonderful day!” the other apes greeted back. Noa looked anxiously around, wondering what was happening.
“Are we thankful for the words of Caesar?” he continued, like it was a litany he performed every day.
“We are thankful!” again, the apes repeated his words back to him.
“Do we bend our heads?”
“We bend!”
Noa remembered that same line from the day their clan was attacked.
“Say his words!” Proximus exclaimed loudly, trying to stir the other apes' emotions.
“Apes together strong!”
Noa noted that it was the same phrase that Raka used to tell them. Caesar words.
“Say his words!” he repeated, louder this time.
“Apes together strong!”
Loud hoots and shouts could be heard from everywhere. Noa glanced at his mother. Dar could only give him a look of anxiousness. Noa could see not every ape was enthusiastic about this, but the majority were, like they were worshipping a king. But Noa didn't feel right about this.
“What a wonderful day!”
The apes continued to hoot and grunt, as if cheering for their king.
“That felt good,” Proximus said after the cheering died down. “When I think on those words… I feel good.” His audience listened, hanging on every word coming out of his mouth.
“Caesar was first Elder,” he looked around, pausing for dramatic effect. “Now, I am Caesar.”
The apes cheered again.
Noa looked at his mother again. “He is not Caesar,” he said. He didn't know who Caesar was personally, but Raka’s Caesar was not this.
His mother signed her answer: Be careful, son. We are his now.
Noa frowned at that. His now? he thought angrily. He suddenly thought of his father, and a bitterness clouded his heart. He heard Proximus hoot, causing the other apes to hoot with him.
“Now, when I think of all the treasures left inside for us… Oh… I feel very good,” he said. He pointed at the enormous door. “It may be difficult to open. But not impossible…”
Noa’s attention shifted. As if something beckoned him to look up. Then he noticed her. Mae. He almost breathed her name. It took a lot of self-control not to run and climb towards her to see if she was okay. Did they do something bad to her? All the thoughts were running through his mind.
He didn't even pay attention to Proximus's words anymore. He was mostly just glad that Mae was still alive. She was still here. She was on the upper floor of the ship, with someone that looked like her own kind—a human. Mae told them that she had her clan here. Like him. Maybe she did find them. He wanted to go to her, talk to her—but how?
Soona grabbed him, bringing his attention back to what was currently happening. He was confused at first, then he noticed everyone's attention was now on the enormous door.
“They are trying to open,” Soona said to him. “But always fail.”
“Pull!” “Pull! More!”
He heard Proximus's booming voice as the apes on the door tried their very hardest to pull it open. Then someone lit something, and in a couple of seconds, a loud explosion happened, causing a shockwave that sent the crowd reeling back from the door.
“What is inside?” Noa asked after recovering.
“No one knows,” Dar said this time. “No one tell us.”
“Enough!” they heard Proximus yell. “Maybe stronger tomorrow.” Then he climbed down the platform and went back inside the ship.
Noa looked up again to where he had seen Mae, but she was not there anymore.
“What is it, Noa?” Soona asked, looking in the same direction.
He paused. “Nothing.”
Later, Noa was with Soona as they watched the ape guards distribute food. The apes had to bend their heads first before getting their meal of the day.
“Honored Elder… had to bend,” Soona started. “We had no choice.” She looked at Noa. “You must accept. It is law.”
Noa couldn't accept that. Not now that he knew more. Maybe even more than the Elders.
“The Elders did not tell us everything. About this world. They did not tell us because they did not know. They did not want to know.” Noa sighed. “I met… other ape… and other kind, while traveling here. I discover, see, hear new things about the world outside our clan, Soona. The world is much bigger than what we know.”
He remembered his time with Mae and Raka, discovering new places and learning new things along the way.
“You are different,” Soona said. He looked at her but couldn't read her expression.
Their conversation was cut off when an ape guard—the same one who had caught them—grabbed Noa by the shoulder.
“Come,” he said with a growl.
Noa looked at Soona. “It is okay. I be back,” he said, before following the guard.
Notes:
See you in the next chapter!