Battle For The Planet of the Apes

Winter Is Coming

Once we were part of great Caesar's tribe. But then soldiers came...many apes died, and we fled. Led by father, we crossed rivers and mountains, walked for many moons. Until, we found this mountain, our home, our sanctuary. Somewhere we could live in peace. But now, winter is coming and there is no more food here. Apes are starving. We must find food somewhere else, soon.

A crisp of cold air blew into the cave in the mountains as the colored leaves fell on the ground. A tribe of apes were sitting inside near a few fire pits trying to keep warm, eating what remains of food that they barely had left. A small baby ape was stumbling around near his parents, just barely able to stand on his feet, still learning how to walk. Oaka looked at her husband to see Bryn, watching his brother Juno from afar, keeping an eye on him. The deformed ape was asking other apes if they could spare some food for him. He received growls of warning or no answer in response and he quickly scurried away from them.

Oaka leaned over and brushed her hand on Bryn's cheek, turning his head to make him look at her.

"What is it?" Bryn asked her. She made a motion with her hands telling him to eat as she signed with them. "Bryn. Eat. Stay strong for family, for Kanj."

Bryn looked down at the wooden plate that had little pieces of meat left from last week's hunt. The entire tribe was struggling to get by as there were less and less animals to hunt. Byrn shook his head, pushing the plate back over to his wife and signed. "No, you and Kanj must eat."

Oaka looked at him sadly but said nothing as she ate a little bit of the food. She glanced up to see Juno heading over to them. "Your brother Juno is hungry. But we have so little."

"Oaka-he is family too." Bryn signed to her. As Juno approached the two couple, Oaka got up to let him sit down next to Bryn. She hopped down from the rock ledge and played with her baby, keeping him preoccupied. Bryn noticed that there was something wrong as he saw Juno playing a little with the food, not eating it. Bryn hooted in response, getting Juno's attention. "What's wrong?" Bryn signed to his brother.

"This mountain has no food. Maybe father was wrong to bring us here. Maybe, we shouldn't have left." Juno signed back to Bryn.

"It was not safe where we were. Sooner or later, humans would find us, hunt us down." Bryn signed back to him. The two heard Oaka hoot.

"So, you think your father is a bad leader?" She signed. Juno's eyes widened and he quickly stood up.

"No!" He signed, shaking his head. "Father is a great leader. But we have no food and...-"

"Juno! You must think before you speak."

"Oaka is right, brother." Bryn signed before speaking. "You must think before you speak." Juno looked at the two before nervously glancing down at the ground. Then Bryn heard his wife as she let out another hoot. The two apes looked at her to see her pointing to an Orangutan, who was staring down at them.

"Look-there is Clarence. Your father must want you." Clarence made a low grunt, signaling Bryn and Juno to follow him as he turned and headed up the spiral stairs, leading up to their father's throne. Oaka bent down and scooped up Kanj, to feed him. Bryn and Juno hopped down from the rock and followed after the old orangutan. Both of them wondered what their father wanted from them.

As the two headed up the wooden staircase, they saw Clarence sitting next to their father, Khan. The two approached them and Bryn signed "Father." Khan turned his head and Bryn and Juno did the same to see Tola walking over to them as he was summoned by Clarence as well.

"My sons, Tola, Bryn, Juno, the first snow has fallen. Tribe is hungry, scared. We must show them we are strong," Khan told them as he explained. "Tola, you will lead the hunt tonight and take Bryn...and Juno." Bryn looked over at Tola, seeing him glaring at Juno. Juno took a few steps back, scared.

"Tribe see brothers strong, together." Khan finished.

"Yes, father," Bryn nodded. "I will follow Tola."

The three brothers saw Clarence sign to them, warning them. "But do not forget -you must not leave mountain. We are safe from humans here."

"We should hunt where we want! Take what we want, when we want." Tola argued as he signed furiously back.

"Clarence is right," Bryn insisted. "We must stay in mountain. Keep apes safe."

"We have guns-like humans. We can kill too!-" Tola growled before their father cut him off, stopping him.

"Enough. You will do as I say!" Khan snapped, looking at the three. "Hunt together. Bring food for tribe."

Bryn nodded and signed. "You are right, father-forgive us."

"And let apes starve?!" Tola protested.

"Bryn, you at least understand." Khan smiled softly, as he signed to Bryn. Tola narrowed his eyes, looking at his younger brother then back to Khan. Bryn and Juno passed Tola as they left to prepare for the hunt. Tola watched them before turning back to his father.

"Juno is no good for this! What is Juno good for?" He shouted. Bryn glanced over at his younger brother to see Juno, looking down at his feet as he shifted them nervously. Even when they were younger, Bryn noticed the Tola was especially harder on Juno for being different than them. Bryn turned back to his older brother, silently.

"Tola, you are wrong about Juno!" He insisted as he signed back to Tola. Juno's eyes widened as he slowly lifted his head, looking at Bryn. Tola narrowed his at him, almost challenging as he was about to step over towards the two.

"My sons will hunt together!" Khan shouted, sternly, stopping him. Tola growled and looked at Bryn and Juno for a few mintues before he stormed off, walking away, leaving the throne room. Bryn turned towards Juno, gesturing him to follow him.

"Come. Let's go prepare." He said as the two walked away.