Clova *COMPLETE*

Chapter 10- In Search of Medicine

Effective immediately, Caesar sent troops of his Ape Army to find the ingredients for Clova in the woods. Blue Eyes insisted on going as well, since he wanted Clova to get well. Minutes turned into hours and their search took all day.

Back home, while Cornelius was at school, Cornelia and the obas stayed with Clova and watched to see if her health will progress. Clova's temperature was high and her eyes wouldn't open. She was trembling and shivering uncontrollably, as she slept the obas soaked one of her shirts in a bowl of water to place on her head as a cloth to reduce her fever. Caesar walked in and kneeled by them.

"How is she now?", he signed as he caressed Clova's head. He could feel her skin burning on his hand. The obas shook their heads.

"She won't get better unless she gets medicine.", they informed. Caesar nodded as he took in their news.

"I've sent apes out to get it.", he signed, "they will be back soon."

Caesar moved to Cornelia, her face was forlorn as she rubbed Clova's shoulder. He wrapped his arm around her and smiled reassuringly.

"Don't worry, they will be back with the ingredients.", he comforted as Cornelia laid her head on his shoulder, and hoped Clova would get better.

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Back in the woods, nightfall almost fell. Blue Eyes scanned the list again, only one more ingredient to find. He furrowed his brow in frustration as they weren't close, suddenly Rocket gave loud, alerted hoots as he pointed to a large field of Hyssops. Blue Eyes smiled in relief and jumped off his horse to start picking large amounts. The troops followed his lead and soon had crafted baskets full of the medicine for Clova.

They rode as fast as possible as the sky got darker, by the time they arrived home the sun had already set. The obas who heard the horses approach ran outside to meet them. They hurried to Blue Eyes who handed them the ingredients, a worried expression on his face.

"Is Clova alright?", he signed.

The obas responded by grabbing his hand and lead him up the stair case to their den. When he entered, they pointed to Cornelia who was holding the child. He ran over to get a better view of her, she was paler than before and her breathing was a struggled rasp. Cornelius was now at home, he sniffled muffled cries in Caesar's lap, he heard Blue Eyes enter and crawled to him, wanting the comfort from his big brother.

The obas walked quickly towards Clova, where Cornelia gently placed her on the bed, they unbandaged her wound and mashed the ingredients together using a wooden carved bowl and stick. Once they got the medicine prepared they gently smeared it over Clova's infected arm, she winced slightly but remained asleep. When they finished, they used a fresh shirt as a replacement bandage for Clova's arm. Caesar and his family sat outside for over an hour as they waited to hear from the obas, one came out and tapped Caesar on the shoulder.

"The medicine worked, her arm stopped swelling and she isn't so pale as before.", she smiled. Caesar was relieved, Blue Eyes and Cornelia smiled and Cornelius chittered in joy as he jumped around excitedly.

"But she will probably wake up tomorrow.", she finished.

Caesar nodded in thanks and the obas took off, they all hurried inside. Clova laid on her side, her skin was flushed to her regular skin tone and though her arm was still red, the swelling had reduced. Cornelius tugged Caesar's arm.

"Is Clova better now?", he asked, just to clarify.

Caesar smiled and rubbed his head. "Yes.", he answered, he then turned to the rest of his family.

"We will see how she is in the morning.", he said.