The Scars On His Heart

Chapter 2 ~ The Past

Feeling something grab my nose I woke up peering down to see a small hand touching my nose. "Good morning little one." I smiled as I looked into the babys beautiful grey eyes. He girgled at me smiling lightly as he hears my voice. Looking towards the small window I noticed it was Dawn. I stretched and sat up. Checking his cloth diaper I changed him into a clean one. He watched me quietly as I worked. Booping him on the nose I smiled as he laughed. I got up off the floor and started to prepare a bottle for him. It was a long process but, it had to be done. I started boiling the water with a small portable burner I had managed to precure. While that was warming up I added powdered formula on a clean bottle. I checked on the baby to see him watching me intently. I was grateful he was so quiet. It helps keep us safe from predators and allows me to sneak around human settlements. After my last group had gone to shit, I had decided to keep to myself. It was safer that way. You didn't have to worry about someone stabbing you in the back literally. Of course there was strength in numbers as a group of men found out when they discovered me alone in the woods. I shook my head quickly focusing on the task at hand. There is no good in dwelling on the past. I reminded myself quietly. I was taking care of someone else now. I had no time to feel sorry for myself.

Now that the boiled water was clean from any harmful bacteria I let it cool to a lukewarm temperature and filled the bottle. Shaking it well I made my way back to the bed and checking the temperature again against the skin of my elbow where it bends I was satisfied it was not too hot. The baby looked up girgling happily as he saw the bottle. He reached up as of to grab it. "Is someone ready for breakfast?" I said while moving him to my lap using my right arm to hold his head up. I grabbed the bottle and he latched on to the nipple eagerly grabbing it with his small hands as he made happy noises. Even though he wasn't mine I still thought of him as my son. He was what was keeping me going on this dark new world we live in. He gave me a purpose to live and try to find the light in this darkness.

We were on a journey to the red woods across the golden bridge. Before I had found him I had wandered around not really caring where I went as I tried to find enough to survive. I had come across his injured mother as she was giving birth. It had looked like she had been shot in the chest and was slowly drowning as her blood filled her lungs. I had stumbled upon her in a worn house. I had gone in looking for supplies and found her. When she saw me she quietly observed me as she struggled to breath. I had put my knife away as raised my hand to show her that I meant no harm. I noticed the babys head breaching as she struggled to push him out. I noticed the umbilical cord around it's neck. "Wait...the cord is tied around the baby" I said, my voice cracking from missuse. I knelt down in front of her slowly so she could see I was trying to help. She watched me wearily bearing her teeth in pain as she felt another contraction. I grabbed the cord and slowly in wrapped it from the baby's neck. "You can push now." I said supporting the babies head as she grunted in pain. Three more pushes and the baby was free. She panted as best she could as she looked at me hold the baby in my arms. He cried as I cleaned his mouth before handing him to his mother in injured side. "Congratulations it's a boy" I smiled at her weakly. She took the baby and smiled in return. She held him softly in her arms. "Th....ank you.." she rasped. We looked at each other knowing she did not have much time left. We sat there quietly as she hugged the baby against her until her last breath. When the light left her eyes I slowly took the baby from her arms letting a few tears fall. I had gathered from the ransaked house that someone had stumbled upon her and shot her. All because she was an ape. Most humans blames the apes for the simian flu even though in the beginning before thh end it was discovered to be man made and at no fault to the apes who were experimented on. Looking down at the baby bonobo, I noticed his grey eyes peering up at me as best he could. I lightly ran a finger against his cheek as i thought. I had to find a safe place for him. If we were ever found he would be killed instantly just because he was an ape. No where in the city was it safe really from any danger. The redwoods though....no one should be there because of how big the forest is, I thought. It would be perfect. As he got older he would have room to run around and be an ape. There would be fish to eat and maybe I could manage making some sort of shelter for us. I wouldn't have to worry about my own kind killing me for the few items I have. I flinched as I felt something against my finger. Looking it was the baby ape wrapping his small hand around my finger. He held on tight as he examined it. "We need to think of a name for you little one." I said softly as watched him. Hearing my voice he looked at me girgling at me curiously. Giving his mother a sad look I quietly made my way out of the house. There was nothing else I could do for her but, take care of her baby. I had to find supplies and a safe hideout for us both.....

Coming back to the present I finished feeding him and burped him. Rocking gently to lull him to sleep, I placed him down on the blankets and got to work packing for us to continue our journey.

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DarkSpiritDemon