Chapter 2

429 19 2
                                        

(Y/N) opened her eyes to a world of green, the soft grass caressing her cheek. She stretched out lazily, relishing in the warmth of the sun on her skin. Her makeshift shelter, a tangle of branches and leaves, cast a dappled shadow across her body. The forest around her was eerily silent, save for the occasional rustle of leaves or twitter of a bird. It was peaceful, serene, and yet...there was something...off.

You looked over to your stuff and they were scattered around your shelter, you gasped looking at your now empty sac that used to be filled with days worth of food.

You quickly sat up, brushing the dirt and leaves from your clothes, and listened carefully. Yes, there it was. A distant sound, like someone whispering through the trees. You hesitated, your heart racing, before carefully creeping out from under your shelter. The forest was dense, the trees towering over you, their branches forming a canopy that blocked out most of the sunlight. You followed the sound, your bare feet silently padding over the soft carpet of leaves.

As you walked deeper into the forest, you caught a glimpse of movement out of the corner of your eye. You spun around, heart racing, but saw nothing. Perhaps it was just a bird or a squirrel. You took a deep breath and continued on, trying to convince yourself that you were being paranoid.

The underbrush grew thicker as you ventured further into the heart of the forest. The air was cool and damp, and the earth beneath your feet was soft and spongy. The canopy above blocked out most of the sunlight, creating a gloomy, eerie atmosphere. You stopped for a moment, your senses on high alert. You swore you could feel eyes on your back, watching your every move.

Your heart racing, you quickly look at your surroundings and pick up a large stick and continue to push through the dense foliage. Around a bend in the trail, you caught a glimpse of something moving through the trees. You paused, your breath catching in your throat. Was it another human? A wild animal? The figure seemed to be moving purposefully, as if it were following you.

Your heart leapt into your throat. This couldn't be happening. Not now, not after everything you'd been through. You steeled yourself, drawing upon every ounce of courage you possessed. You would confront this person, whoever they were, and demand to know why they'd been following you, stealing your food.

You took a tentative step forward, peering through the trees. There, amidst the undergrowth, you saw a figure crouched down. The person seemed to be studying you intently, their face half-hidden in the shadows. Your heart pounded in your chest as you slowly approached.

As you drew nearer, you realized the figure was a young woman, perhaps the same age as yourself. Her hair was long and brown, tangled and matted from the forest. Her clothes were tattered and dirty, stained with mud and leaves. You hesitated, unsure of what to say or do. The woman looked up at you, meeting your gaze with an expression that was equal parts fear and defiance.

"Who are you?" You asked, voice trembling slightly. "Why have you been following me?"

The woman didn't answer immediately, but studied you closely. After a long moment, she slowly stood up, revealing that she was shorter than you had initially thought. "I'm sorry for following you...and stealing your food. I have been wandering these woods for many days." She said in a soft, husky voice.

(Y/N) swallowed hard, her own fear momentarily forgotten. "My name is (Y/N). I'm not upset about you stealing my food, if you'd like more I can catch more." (Y/N) felt relieved knowing that it wasn't a wild animal stealing her food but another human! "I'm just happy that there is another like me! A human!" The woman studied her face for a long moment before nodding slowly.

"I see," the girl said eventually. Her voice was barely more than a whisper. "Well, (Y/N)...I am grateful for your presence, but I don't know if I can trust you. You see, I've been living in these woods for some time now, hiding from..." She trailed off, looking nervously over her shoulder. "From others who mean me harm."

(Y/N) took a step closer, her heart pounding. "I can understand that. But I'm not here to hurt you." The woman regarded her warily, and (Y/N) forced herself to remain calm and steady. "Look, I'm trying to find others like me. I don't know what I'd do without you to show me the way."

The girl studied her face for a moment longer before exhaling softly. "Alright...(Y/N). I will trust you, for now. My name is Mae, by the way." She offered (Y/N) a small, hesitant smile. (Y/N) returned it, feeling a sense of relief wash over her.

——————————————————————————————————————————

They both had ended up staying with one another. (Y/N) would be in charge of collecting food and Mae would scavenger and search for cloths and other supplies.

"Woah! So, there are more like us?! Where? When can I meet them?" You bombarded Mae with questions once she told you that she was there to find more like herself and help save the human race, you had offered to help with her quest. At first, she was hesitant to tell you but you were also human and you're not like the other humans she has met on the way, you could be useful in the future.

As they walked through the dense underbrush, they stumbled upon something they hadn't expected: an old, abandoned railway tunnel. The entrance was completely hidden by vines and branches, but it looked surprisingly intact. Curiosity getting the better of them, they decided to investigate further.

Mae volunteered to go first. She carefully pushed aside the vines and crept inside the darkness, her footsteps muffled by centuries of dirt and leaves. The air inside the tunnel was cool and still, carrying with it a faint musty odor. You  remained outside, your heart racing with both anticipation and fear.

"Mae?" You called, your voice echoing eerily through the tunnel. There was no answer. After what felt like an eternity, your patience wore thin. "Mae, are you okay?" You shouted, your voice bouncing off the stone walls. Still, there was only silence.

Worried, you take a deep breath and step into the dark abyss. The darkness engulfed you, making your heart race even faster. "Mae?" You whispered, your voice shaking. As you moved deeper into the tunnel, you noticed strange markings on the walls, almost like ancient writing.

After what felt like endless walking you finally were able to see a faint glimmer of light pierced the darkness ahead. Your heart leapt with renewed hope, and you quickened your pace. As you drew closer, the light grew brighter at the end of the tunnel.

Before you could step out of the tunnel you heard a yelp of pain that echoed through the trees, which caused you to assume it was Mae. Frantically, you run towards where the sound was made, making you look almost crazy as you call for her.

You gasp as you feel someone tug onto your arm, Mae's face flushed, her breath coming in ragged gasps. In her hand, she held a blanket, which she deftly unfolded, revealing a soft, warm layer of wool. With a gentle toss, she sent it flying through the air, landing gracefully on a low-hanging branch nearby. Then, she reached out and took your hand, leading you back where you both came from. You wanted to ask what had happened, but you then heard hooves pounding the earth in perfect rhythm. You look behind you as Mae keeps tugging at you.

As the mysterious figures drew nearer, you noticed that they were each on a horse adorned with a saddle of fur and cloth. The apes perched atop them seemed to be as much a part of their bodies as their fur and manes. Their intelligent eyes followed your every movement, their expressions curious and unreadable.

One particular ape stood out to you. His eyes were a piercing shade of green, locked on yours, a strange mix of fascination and curiosity shining in their depths.

"(Y/N), come on," Mae urged, her voice barely a whisper. "We can't stay here." You nod and follow, not being able to shake off what just happened. Apes on horses? That's so strange. They seemed intelligent, almost human-like. One of them caught your eye, he seemed gentle but fierce, you'll have to ask Mae what exactly happened when you get back.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Second chapter is done, I originally planned to post this in the morning, but I kept procrastinating :( but anyhow hopefully you guys enjoyed this chap, also I don't know if I made this clear, but this fanfic will follow the events of the movie :D Panda out!

Noa x ReaderWhere stories live. Discover now