Until Daybreak

Baby Mine

Back at the camp I cradle the young ape in my arms as I feed her. The village leaders told me that since she was orphaned someone would have to care for her. I made it my plan to convince my parents to let me take care of her. Somehow. Hamilton squawks from his position on my shoulder as he eyed the little bonobo in my arms. He seemed pretty curious about the baby in my arms. I wasn't sure how either of them would react to one another so I tried to make the bird keep his distance. 

Most of the villagers kept their distance from us as well. It was almost like they were superstitious of the little one. I sing to the little ape softly as she starts to get fussy. When I get a chance to look at her I find that her markings are a little strange. She has a bit of a bandit mask birth mark across her eyes. Her fur is a medium, almost dark brown. Her barely opened eyes match her fur in color. I can't help but find her adorable.

It takes Dakari a few minutes but he finds his way back to me. The man takes a seat next to me quietly as he looks at the little ape. I know what he's thinking, 'What the hell are you thinking?'. I can't just leave her alone to die. Plus finding another tribe to take her in very well could be a dangerous gamble. I could raise her just until she was able to take care of herself. 

"You are not planning to keep her, are you?" He asks me like I knew that he would. I let the question hang in the air for a little while.

"Just until she doesn't need me. Maybe we could see about talking to one of those shelters that take in orphaned apes? She'll die out there if she's alone." I tell him what he already knows. My long time friend lets out a sigh.

"I don't think there's any convincing that would get you to give her up, so we should talk to the mothers. I feel the little one is already attached to you." Dakari says in defeat. It wasn't a long argument. It wasn't an argument. I knew why he was worried. Apes can be dangerous, even bonobos. 

"She is a sweetheart." I say softly as the little one starts to squirm and reach up for me. I set the bottle aside and let the little one hold onto my finger. She does have quite the grip.

"Well, if you're keeping her you might as well give her a name." Dakari says finally and I have to look over to see if he's joking with me. He wasn't.

"Okay, so we're doing this. I've officially become a mother." I blow air out of my cheeks and look down at the little ape. I give her a long stare before saying, "Apache. I'll call her Apache." 

"Apache? Like the American Native tribe?" Dakari asks me with a bit of disbelief. I try to find the words to explain why I want to call her that.

"The Apache tribe were known as warriors, and this little girl has lived through one of the hardest battles. Losing your family. Plus, her markings are very interesting to me." I tell him slowly. 

"Ah. Clever naming." He says with a nod. He almost sounds skeptical but I brush it off. He just sounds that way sometimes. We sit next to each other quietly for sometime as I hold Apache close to my chest. Hearing a heart beat might calm her down.

My father approaches us soon after the quiet moment between the three of us, looking at the baby bonobo in my arms. It brings a small smile to his face after all this mess. He takes a seat next to me and Dakari and gives Apache a little pet to the head. The little ape reacts quite well and grabs onto dad, basically asking to be picked up. He obliges her wishes.

"Have we thought of a name? She will be staying with us." My dad tells me, which makes me pretty happy. I didn't even have to do any convincing to have them let me take care of her. My father seemed to have read my mind.

"We're calling her Apache. Because of all she's survived she's a warrior." I tell him. He gives a thoughtful nod as he plays with the little ape baby.