I woke up to the sound of apes hooting excitedly from the outside and my curiosity grew.

Has Caesar returned?

I spotted Cornelius with my mother and she handed him to me.

Together, we walked down to see the scouts reuniting with their females and I saw Caesar, my brothers, my father and uncle among them and someone else...

BLUE EYES!

I hastened my steps with Cornelius trying to catch up my strides as I made my way down to greet them.

Mother ran into father's arms as Caesar pulled me to his side and held Cornelius in his arms.

Blue Eyes walked up towards me and we touched palms before Caesar gestured Cornelius to meet his older brother.

I smiled when the two greeted one another before I smirked and signed teasingly.

"There's someone who wants to see you"

Blue Eyes looked confused for a moment when the sound of the baby apes running in with a familiar female ape escorting them.

"Lake..."

Blue Eyes whispered as the two practically brisk walk towards one another and pressed foreheads as they meet.

Ah, young love.

I smiled at the two as uncle Giovanni came towards me. Fresh wounds marred his chest and I frowned at him.

He grinned.

"It's nothing to it Kira. No need to worry"

I rolled my eyes and saw Ryker and Livius. I immediately jumped on Ryker's back and he gave a startled yelp.

"Geez Kira, watch the wounds!"

I looked at the so-called wounds and realized they were only bruises. Livius held back a laugh at Ryker cowering at my glare.

Father came and pressed out palms together and we gave a brief exchange of hug.

***

Blue Eyes's tale on his adventure with Rocket had left all of astounded and filled with hope that there is a place for all of us apes to get away from the humans for good.

Unfortunately, it excited Winter so much that he decided that we all must go now but Blue Eyes knew it would be suicide and Winter just had to shout at Blue Eyes.

Which leads us to the situation now.

Caesar stood up and towards over a trembling Winter as I watched with an intense gaze. Cornelius sat on my lap.

"Caesar, forgive me"

Caesar glared and I shook my head. Winter is just scared as we all are and is thinking irrationally.

"We are scared, all of us."

"Apes Together Strong"

He connected his fists together and we all followed his example. I could not help but smile, despite his growing age he still makes my heart beat.

***

Dinner was served with the elks and fruits caught. I sat with my family as we feasted tonight's dinner.

Cornelius yawned and his eyes started to drop.

Bed time for the little chimp.

I scooped him up and proceeded to head to our nest when I saw Winter walking away and out into the forest.

Strange...

I ran after Winter who tensed up when he saw me.

"Winter, where are you going?"

"I'm... going out..."

I frowned, it was dangerous to go out at night.

"Well, be careful on your way"

He gave me a tense smile before bounding away.

I should have known something was wrong.

***

Caesar slept soundly with his complete family when he felt a bad feeling tingle in his spine.

He found himself wide awake. No matter how many times he tried to go back to sleep, he couldn't.

He watched the waterfall that hid his home and base when he noticed something moving from the corner of his eyes.

Flashes of Green beams.

He slowly got up and walked towards the flowing waterfall and held out his hand.

To his surprise, ropes were currently on the waterfall.

Feeling a chill rise, he went out of his nest not knowing Blue Eyes had woken up and seen the same thing.

***

Feeling something or someone shaking me, I woke up and saw Blue Eyes looking at me in panic.

"Blue Eyes, what is wrong?"

"Humans..."

My eyes widen as I slowly shook little Cornelius awake. My son slowly opened his eyes and I gestured him to hide someplace safe.

Once I made sure he was safe, I heard the sound of footsteps coming.

Blue Eyes quickly pulled me to his side and we hid against the spears on our moss bed.

Without warning, Blue Eyes shot up and took the human by surprise and proceeded to pound him to death.

I wanted to yell at him to come back when I saw a green beam on his back.

My gaze went to a human hiding behind the stone walls. Before any of us had time to react, the human shot Blue Eyes in the back and I watched in horror to see my son fall down, motionless.

I let loose a scream but stopped when the man pointed his gun at me. I snarled and bounded to my son and shielded his body, in hopes that he is just knocked out.

The man looked at me with madness and anger.

"So...all the stories and legends are true"

I was confused about his words when he pointed his gun on my head. I didn't move from my spot. I saw Cornelius looking at me with fear and panic and I looked longingly at my son.

He'll grow up without a mother

The man gave me on maniac smile as if he found this ordeal funny.

"Sleep Tight Human Ape"

The last thing I remembered was a shadow moving pass by me.

BANG!