Koba's Planet of the Apes (Book 1) {COMPLETED}

Chapter 10: Unsure

{Caesar's POV}

It had been two weeks since the whole kidnapping ordeal. Nothing had happened, fortunately, but Caesar encouraged everyone to keep their guard up. Currently, he was overlooking the entire settlement from atop the large wooden structure that towered above all others. Currently there was no one there to sit with him. Maurice was off teaching lessons, Blue Eyes was leading a hunt, and Rocket was instructing those in charge of defense. Even when he felt he should be doing more, the others would tell Caesar to relax. In the eyes of many, his time was over in terms of stress. He deserved to sit back, relax, and watch his kingdom thrive. Perhaps that was true, with Blue Eyes training to inherit the group. There was still danger though. He didn't trust Koba one bit, even if he was intimate with a human.

He looked down at Cornelius, watching his son sitting among the apes learning from Maurice. Only did he look away when he heard someone coming up behind him. Turning his head, he saw Red coming up beside him. The gorilla sat down on the logs, sighing softly. Caesar looked at him for a moment before looking away again, waiting for him to speak. It was a while before he did. "... Koba has changed..."

Caesar smiled slightly. "He has, but he still hates me. Thinks I ruined his life. His plans. We will see more war before we can rest again." He looked over at Red, who used to be a Koba loyalist. However, things changed when Red allowed Caesar to blow up the wall back at the Alpha-Omega camp. If Red hadn't done what he did, Caesar and his tribe would've all died. He smiled slightly. "We will see victory though. Koba will not tear my tribe apart again." Red grunted in agreement, saying "I will do what I can to help. I made mistake by following Koba." Caesar smiled slightly, telling him "What matters is that you are here now. Part of my home. My tribe."

Red nodded slowly. "I am loyal to apes. Koba... needs to be shown. We are not enemy." Caesar sighed, saying "No, we are not, but we must keep him in check. He is... changing though. Before, he despised humans. Now he is allowing two to live within his tribe." He glanced over as Red grunted again. Tilting his head, he invited the larger male to elaborate. The red-tinted gorilla looked out across the camp, silent for a while before answering "One of them liked me, but it wrong to like him."

Caesar shrugged. "Maurice and Nova are mates. They're fine. Everyone accepts it." Red huffed, saying "Nova female." Caesar chuckled softly. There really was nothing to say. An ape and a human together at all was already... different, so the gender pairing didn't really matter, did it? He was to leave that for Red to solve himself. As he drifted off into thought, or had been about to, Caesar looked as Rocket showed up. Brow raising, he waited for his friend to do something.

Rocket smiled slightly and signed. 'Blue Eyes requests you go on a hunt with him and Cornelius. Blue Eyes is going to be leading today.'

Caesar tilted his head. They wanted him to watch the hunt? Perhaps that would be good, to see how his son directed hunts. His elder son, ever since Koba, had been loyal to Caesar and eager to learn from him further. Nodding, he said "Then I'll go. I want to see how he is doing." Looking over at Red, there was a silent question asking if he wanted to go too. The gorilla was quiet before finally nodding. The two friends got up and followed Rocket down the structure and put into the open. Some of the males were already prepping to leave, their faces painted and spears sharp. Blue Eyes was with his mate, Lake, until his noticed Caesar. The two parted ways before he walked to his father. Blue Eyes was then joined by Cornelius.

The father and sons looked among each other, Caesar saying "I look forward to watching you lead again. You're growing well."

Blue Eyes smiled softly. 'I will make you proud, father.'

Caesar nodded once before stepping aside. Blue Eyes stood straight and confidently, hooting a few times before beginning the trip out of camp. Those participating in the hunt followed, Caesar being accompanied by Rocket as the large group left. Out into the massive paradise that was their beacon of hope at one point before. Smiling slightly, he followed along with the others.