When Silence Was Loud

Chapter 1

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In the dense and vibrant forest, where nature had long reclaimed the remnants of the human world, a group of apes moved with a silent grace through the underbrush. Their eyes were sharp, their senses finely tuned to detect any sign of danger or opportunity. Among them was a female chimpanzee, distinguished by her gentle gaze and measured steps. She lagged slightly behind the others, her keen ears attuned to the subtleties of the forest's symphony.

It was she who first caught the faint rustle of leaves and the delicate, almost imperceptible breaths of a hidden presence. Her curiosity piqued, she approached the source of the sound with a cautious but determined gait. As she pushed aside some foliage, her gaze fell upon an unexpected sight—a young human child, barely more than an infant, lying alone on the forest floor. The child was covered in dirt and leaves, her small frame a stark contrast against the lush greenery.

Yet, what struck the female chimpanzee most was the child's demeanor. The infant's wide eyes held no trace of the usual fear that humans displayed when confronted with apes. Instead, her gaze was calm and curious, a serene acceptance of the presence of these creatures.

Moved by a mixture of curiosity and compassion, the female chimpanzee extended a gentle hand toward the child. She cooed softly, her voice a soothing murmur in the quiet forest. The child reached out with tiny hands and grasped the chimpanzee's fingers. The touch was tentative at first, but it quickly evolved into a tender grasp, a physical connection that transcended species.

In that moment, amidst the verdant shadows of the forest, a silent bond was forged.

The child, known only by the nickname 'strange' among the apes, quickly became a peculiar fixture in the clan. The name was a reflection of her mysterious origins and the unusual circumstances of her arrival, a label that encapsulated both curiosity and detachment. Adopted by the motherly female chimpanzee, she found a semblance of family and protection within the clan. Yet, the others were less accepting, their reluctance to understand her or make an effort to bridge the gap in communication rooted in their preconceptions.

To the apes, she was just another human—a species they deemed inferior in intelligence and behavior. Her inability to comprehend their vocalizations only reinforced this belief. They saw her silence as a sign of stupidity, an unfortunate trait they attributed to all humans. None of them realized the true nature of her predicament: the human is deaf.

Despite the apes' dismissive attitudes, she observed their gestures and expressions with keen attention. She learned to interpret their ways through sight alone, gradually picking up the simplest forms of communication by mimicking their subtle body language to the limit of her understanding.

Some apes regarded her with open suspicion or disdain. To them, she was an enigma—an outsider who didn't quite fit within their established norms. Her presence was a constant reminder of the unknown, and their lack of effort to understand her left Strange to find her place in the group on her own terms. Her attempts to integrate were met with a mix of reactions: some apes observed her efforts with a mild curiosity, while others hooted in derision, mocking her peculiar ways and her struggle to blend in.

One faithful day as the sun began its descent, casting elongated shadows that danced through the forest, a new and grave threat emerged. The apes had become aware of a formidable force known as the Masks—a self-proclaimed kingdom of apes led by Proximus, the so-called king, and his followers. Proximus was a ruthless leader with a grand vision of expanding his realm, and his methods were as harsh as his ambition. Under his rule, the Masks had begun building a new sanctuary, conquering and enslaving other apes in their wake.