The Ape King

Not All Heroes Wear Loincloths

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The two weeks passed slowly. There hadn't been a lot to do but the good thing was that she  didn't use up all her food quickly because she wasn't very active. She read every book in the hut including rereading the Barnett diary. She slept when she wasn't reading but finally she grew tired of being cooped up and ventured outside. At first she only went just outside the hut but soon she felt more at ease and would go to the river. She really needed to catch some fish so she set out for the river with the spear and the catch basket. She wasn't there long and was pleasantly surprised that she caught many. She was about to put the last one into the woven basket when she heard a twig snap.

Her body froze and her head whipped to look behind her. A huge male lion was watching her from across from the river. She tried to calculate if it would be possible to reach the spear in time. She almost groaned in frustration when she realized she had left it leaning against a tree too close to the lion. She would have to make a run for it and hope she made it to the hut in time. She took a deep breath then sprinted towards the hut. She could hear the lion giving chase. Her heart was pumping too fast. Fear. Adrenaline. The burning in her lungs. She was almost there! 

She could see the hut and started to feel hopeful that she would make it. Just then, her foot caught on a root and down she fell. So hard, that the air left her lungs in a woosh and she struggled to catch her breath. She turned over and saw a flash of fur. The next thing she felt was hot searing pain as large claws grabbed her thigh. She screamed in pain. She was expecting to feel the large cat's teeth sink into her when she heard what sounded like a silverback gorilla roaring and she heard bushes rustling. The lion released her. Presumably to face the threat. She started crawling away without looking behind her. She heard the silverback thumping his chest and roaring in rage again. Then he must have grabbed the lion because she heard it yowl in pain and the sound of them fighting. Just as she made it to a tree, she heard an odd squish sound then all was silent.

 She pulled herself to a sitting position and looked up. Her mouth dropped in shock. It was the mystery man. He stood over the dead lion. Chest heaving. Blood coated his hands and a machete he held. Then he put one foot on the dead big cat, threw his head back, and bellowed an eerie call that announced he was victor. She gulped in fear and expected him to approach her after he finished but he surprised her again. He lowered his head and peeked at her from under his lashes. Then he placed his machete down, lowered to a crouch, and turned his head away from her but still looked at her from the corner of his eye.

He hooted softly at her. She understood what he was doing. She had studied gorilla behavior so she knew that he was trying to show her he wasn't a threat. He saved her and now he was going through the trouble to show her he meant her no harm. After she threw a rock at him. Guilt coursed through her as she realized that if he intended her harm, he would've already done something. Her left thigh was throbbing painfully, and she needed help getting into the hut to clean and suture her wound. Luckily, she had taken a medical course from her work in case she would ever need it. She bit her bottom lip nervously for a moment.

"H-hi. Thanks for helping me. C-can you please help me get to the hut?" She stuttered and pointed to the hut in the trees.

He turned to face her fully and hesitantly moved forward on his knuckles and feet. He alternated between looking at her leg and her face.

"It's ok." She motioned for him to come closer.

He advanced slowly until he was next to her. She pointed up.

"Please. I need your help to get in the hut." She said slowly.

The man's eyes followed her hand and saw the hut. He looked back at her, leaned forward, and sniffed her bloodied hand. She held still while he leaned closer to her face and sniffed her neck.