Hearts Across the Divide

The Rescue

When Proximus fell it was thought he had perished. Most apes would have, but not the ape king.

The last remaining followers of Proximus were loyal enough to fish his corps from the ocean. All shocked to find him alive. barely, but still breathing.

Over the several months, Proximus healed and grew his followers in numbers. Even adding a few human hunters to the mix. Proximus wasn't against them when they were useful.

The only thing on his mind? Revenge on Noa.

He had tracked the Eagle Clan back as far as he could. His apes serve as his eyes. They watched Noa. The young ape was unaware of the danger.

Proximus was going strike, but then his eyes caught you. A female human wrapped in Noa's embrace.

Noa cared for you. He could tell.

Proximus' mind raced, his initial plan taking on a new twist. He desired not just revenge against Noa, but to plunge the young ape into a well of suffering. And what better way to achieve this, he realized, than to take away that which Noa holds most dear: you. The thought of snatching you from Noa's side fueled his determination, an opportunity to inflict tremendous pain and anguish upon his adversary.

The moment presented itself when you were vulnerable, accompanying Keli at the waterfall. With calculated swiftness, they seized their chance and captured you, their task was made all the easier as Keli's weak state hindered her ability to defend you. The capture was executed with ruthless efficiency.

Proximus, a sinister smirk on his face, looks down at you with a mixture of triumph and twisted satisfaction. The sight of your unconscious form fuels his sense of victory, the power dynamic completely in his favor.

~

Loui leaned in closely, his voice barely above a whisper as he asked, "How do you know this ape?" The question hung in the air, laden with curiosity. It was clear that Noa knew Proximus, but the circumstances and history between them were unknown to Loui and the rest of the group. Noa's face darkened as he replied, the words tinged with bitterness.

"We have... met before..." Noa's words came out slowly, his voice tinged with a mixture of caution and resentment. The mention of having met Proximus before only fueled Loui's curiosity. He raised an eyebrow, silently encouraging Noa to elaborate further.

Anger simmered in Noa's voice as he recounted the past. "He proclaimed himself... a king..." The mere mention of Proximus' claim ignited a fire within Noa. His words carried a sense of injustice and indignation. "...stole my clan," he continued, the bitterness and resentment seeping through. The memory of losing his clan to Proximus' treachery was a wound that still ran deep, fueling his anger and determination now.

Noa's words were laced with both surprise and unease as he stated, "He fell... I saw." At that moment, he struggled to accept what his eyes told him. The sight of Proximus standing before him contradicted what he had witnessed, a confusion that left him grappling with the reality before him. The uncertainty and disbelief were clear in Noa's voice as he tried to reconcile the past with the present.

Noa surges forward, ready to charge into the camp, but is held back by Anaya and Loui. They pull him back, restraining him from making a rash move. Noa's frustration and anger are palpable, his muscles tense as he struggles against their hold. "Let me go!" Noa's voice is filled with anger, his words sharp and demanding. He tries to free himself from their grip, his body straining against their restraint, but Anaya and Loui hold firm.

Loui and Anaya's grip remains tight as Loui retorts, his voice stern, "You will get yourself... killed! then what?" The warning in his tone is clear. They know that rushing into the camp recklessly would only lead to disaster. Noa, his body still tense and filled with rage, knows the truth in their words, but his anger clouds his judgment.