SOMEWHERE IN THE AMAZON JUNGLE...
Gathered in the huge branches of the great sacred tree Y'vyra, the order of primates were listening attentively to the aggressive speech of the new leader of the tahuayo gorilla troop. Thanks to his outstanding intelligence and unusual high level of vocabulary, his words seemed to be having a great impact on the other leaders. The majority of the apes were astonished. Compared to them, Na'ek was much younger than most of the primate leaders present at the meeting. But something wasn't quite right about it. The gorilla addressed them with indignation, anger and disappointment. But... Could what he was claiming be true? Or was it perhaps a simple misunderstanding? As each one tried to decide what to believe, Na'ek continued to pronounce himself before them:
"(As you hear it... we apes betrayed! Primates so-called 'Queen' turn her back on us! Her absence today, only a small piece of her enormous deception. Tahuayo brothers and Na'ek witness it... Y'shaati ally herself with humans!)", exclaimed the gray gorilla. All the other primates gasped.
"(She put life of human from outside world above that of us! Yes, same murderous creatures who take life of former leader, K'uno! She escape with outsider, ignoring the laws of our order, dictated by ancestors. This not acceptable! She be punished! As new leader of Tahuayos, Na'ek demands that Y'shaati be stripped of her duty as Queen of the apes with immediate effect! Make right decision... we apes must choose new guardian!)", said the gorilla with a mighty roar. The primates simply looked at each other in uncertainty, until one of them spoke.
"(Watch your tongue, young one! Na'ek can't suggest such drastic measures in Na'ek's first meeting. Didn't Na'ek listen to himself? What Na'ek says, difficult to believe... no ape find trace of humans from lands beyond Amazonia in long time. How Na'ek intends to prove statements?)", one of the Papio baboon leaders questioned.
"(We Tahuayos suffer her betrayal in flesh and bone! Tahuayo brothers can testify to that!)".
"(Na'ek's words sound like the tantrum of a child. It's clear that Na'ek holds personal grudge towards our queen. Primates don't know what happen between Na'ek and Y'shaati, but that not be the way order of primates work. Na'ek blind by emotions. A shame... we primates had high expectations of Na'ek. Alouatta troop no partake nor vote in this foolish matter)", the leader of the howlers pointed out.
"(We Maquisapas won't support absurd suggestions either!)", said the alpha of the spider-monkeys. "(Geladas out of this mess too!)", the mandril troop representative declared.
"(What!? Why? Why primates refuse and just cover eyes!? Na'ek won't deny... Y'shaati be Na'ek's friend and inspiration in the past. Each one of us Tahuayos aspire to be like her someday. But that image no longer exists! A mere deception! She has changed, show her true colors!)", the gorilla exclaimed, slamming the ground with his fists.
"(Enough, young one. Na'ek has exhausted time to express himself)", interrupted Aytu, one of the three Naka'i monkey elders.
"(You... Naka'i! Naka'i are to blame for all this! Naka'i raise her! Naka'i take responsibility for her actions!)", the gorilla accused.
"(True, we Naka'i bear burden of her sometimes mischievous and playful demeanor. But she also our pride! And yes, Y'shaati change through her life. But that change bring peace and prosperity to all creatures!)", said the elder. "(She prove more than once to have the courage, bravery and devotion to be protector of all apes in the jungle. Even other species as well! That be something many lack. Remind us, young one... what has Na'ek done for the order of primates?)", the elder asked. All the primates approved the old monkey's discourse. Na'ek snarled completely furious, showing his teeth.
"(Grrrrr!! Stubborn geezers!! Completely mesmerized by her lies! Don't tell Na'ek didn't warn apes in the future. Na'ek just wish that primates open eyes before it's too late! Y'shaati no longer a guardian... Y'shaati a imminent doom! Only the Gods can guess the evil plans she and humans are scheming at this very moment...)", the gorilla mentioned before leaving the place.
/////////////
MEANWHILE IN THE EXPEDITION CAMP...
"Aight Y'shaati, let's try this one more time. Please put yer bahookie in the tub so I can give ya a nice and cozy bath, darlin!"
"Ook ook?"
"Trust me. I'm sure yer gonna love this!", Isabel said, blinking an eye. The wild girl had no choice but to obey the doctor and sit down just as she had explained to her a few minutes earlier.
"Good gal! Aight, here comes the water! Just relax and lemme take care of the rest", the mature woman said just before she gently poured a bucket over Y'shaati's hair. Isabel took a small bar of soap and began to rub it softly from top to bottom.
"Ahh! Ohhh...", the blonde sighed startled. However, she slowly began to feel good thanks to the warm massage she was receiving all over her body. That foamy substance making contact with her bare skin was surprisingly pleasant. "My goodness lass, ye have absolutely beautiful hair! I envy you! Do you cut it yourself? And how come yer skin is soooo white? It seems to me that underneath all that dirt hides a beautiful woman. A delicate flower that needs to take care of her image and groom herself more often, hehehe!"
"Y'shaati beautiful...?", the girl asked.
"Och, of course! Look at ya, yer a lady! Ye have a perfect figure, beautiful eyes, perfect hips and a nice pair of errr.... well, what I mean is that ye are very well developed, my dear. Reckon ya must be what, 20 maybe? Ye are in the prime of yer life! The only part I see a bit battered are yer knuckles... but I suppose that's to be expected given yer peculiar way of moving. Dinnae how ye managed to live in this place yer whole life. I'd probably be dead by now if I were you! In fact, now that I see ya up close... I find yer appearance somewhat familiar...", said Isabel intrigued as she continued to bathe the feral girl.
A few minutes later, finding herself dry and clean as never before, Isabel brought with her some clothes to dress her as she thought proper. But Y'shaati didn't seem to like that idea very much, for the expression on her face changed immediately.
"Okay dear, next step. As I said before, ye can't walk around naked while ye are here with us. You could provoke certain, uhm... inappropiate anatomical reactions in most of these men's bodies and that widnae be good! We're a wee short on clothes, so I could only get ya this. I know it's boy's clothing, but I believe that will have to do for now. There will be a chance later to get ya some clothes for a lady like ya."
"No. Y'shaati not want...", she replied looking worried.
"Please understand, honey. It's for yer own good. Ye wanna make Lucas happy, right? Well, if ye wear this, he's going to be very happy with ya. Widnae ya like to look like him? It'll be fun! I promise!"
"Uh? Promise...?", the girl asked again. She knew well how much that word meant, so she thought she should make an effort. "Okay... fun!"
"Good gal! Aight, lemme give ya a hand again...", Isabel said very pleased. Then, the doctor began to dress the blonde, as if she were a little girl. Despite having no children of her own, Isabel seemed to know well what she had to do to reform a person like her. However, the moment she put one shoe on her, Y'shaati simply couldn't take it any longer.
"No! No shoes. Shoes hurt!", she shouted. "But dearie, if ye walk barefoot in this place, ya might step on something and hurt yer cute feet. Just take a few small steps and you'll get used to them in no time".
The girl got up from the chair just to try, but she immediately returned to her seat as she felt the hard inner surfaces of the shoe crushing her toes. "No! Y'shaati no like this!", she cried. "Please honey, allow me to..."
"Ooh ook ook ook!", the girl hooted as she kicked desperately, sending the shoe flying away in the process. She wouldn't let her feet be covered in any way.
"okay okay geez, fine! Ye can stay barefoot if ya want for now... good Lord...", Isabel sighed. "Well, I guess that's it then. On yer feet darlin. Let's see how yer looking". Y'shaati stood in front of her as the mature woman inspected her from head to toe.
"Oh my, that's quite a change! I never imagined that outfit would look so good on ya! Pure dead brilliant, if I do say so myself, hahaha! Oh wait. Reckon there's missing just one wee detail here... yer hair is all over the place. Better show that pretty face to the world instead of hiding it...", said the doctor as she pulled out a small red tie from her pocket to make her a ponytail.
"There we go, ho ho! Fan-dabby-dozy!", Isabel said very proud of her work. Y'shaati just stared at her, feeling unamused.
"Ohhh cheer up darlin, don't make that grimace! It's not the apocalypse ya know, you're too beautiful to have yer...", Isabel suddenly stopped talking. In that instant, her smile disappeared completely. Her skin turned pale. Looking right at her azure eyes, she reacted as if she had seen a ghost from her past for a few seconds.
"My... my God... y-you... are... y-you look just like...", she gasped, covering her mouth with her hand. Y'shaati remained in silence, confused by the doctor's sudden change of mood. Just then, Lucas entered the tent.
"Dr. Isabel? Sorry to interrupt you, I know you told me not to come in but... Whoa! Y'shaati, is that really you?", the boy asked suprised.
"Lucas!", the blonde replied before walking towards him.
"Gosh, you look so different... uh, I mean, you look so spectacular! You did a great job with her, doctor! And from what I see, you didn't manage to convince her to put shoes on her, huh? It's better that way, she doesn't really need them"
"Aye... no problem...", Isabel replied without any emotion.
"Uhm, are you alright, Doc?", Lucas asked. "I'm fine, dear..."
"Oh okay. Thank you very much! Come with me Y'shaati, my grandpa wants to talk to you about something", said Lucas taking the girl by the hand and leading her outside. Isabel was left alone in the tent, contemplating an empty space. A tear dropped down her face as she whispered.
"Why...? Why does she look... just like you... Francis?"
/////////////
This had been quite a different day at the camp. After having changed her appearance radically, Dr. Escudero took it upon himself to introduce Y'shaati to each of the other people in the expedition. The new member of the group managed to create a great impact on each of them, in one way or another. Negatively and positively. She was constantly being watched by Lucas and her grandfather to make her behave like a normal human. Dr. Isabel, on the other hand, decided not to speak nor approach her again for a while. Without realizing it, the queen of the monkeys had completely forgotten her commitment to the primates and the other jungle creatures. Spending time with these two-legged apes was proving to be an experience like none she had ever had before.
The day had come to an end, the sun had already set again, so the group began to take shelter in their tents to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes, spiders and other dangerous insects of the jungle. Y'shaati didn't quite understand the reason to worry about that, since she was already used to feeling those creatures walking on her body while she slept in the branches of the trees. But apparently, that way of hers of sleeping was about to change completely in this place. While Lucas took the opportunity to give himself a shower, Dr. Escudero was explaining to the blonde the way humans rest. As he spoke to her, the old man moved his hands and arms in a kind of sign language. He believed that she might be able to understand the ideas a little better with that technique.
"Well Y'shaati, this will be your place to spend the nights. This tent can only be shared by Lucas and you. Don't mention that last thing to Dr. Isabel, okay? She'll kill me if she finds out I'm letting you two teenagers sleep together hahahaha! Don't worry tho, my grandson is a respectful boy, you'll be fine.... Would you like to try your bed? Go ahead!", Grandpa said as he showed Y'shaati the small mat she would sleep on from now on. The girl squatted down on it to feel its soft surface on her soles. It reminded her very much of the bed of leaves she used to sleep on when she was the nanny of the baby Naka'i monkeys.
"I hope you like it! We made great progress in your very first day! I'm so happy you are here with us. Lucas wasn't wrong about you, you're an exceptional girl. I have a lot of things to find out about you. All in the name of science of course, hehe! But let's not rush things, all in good time!"
"Thanks Do... Doctor...", Y'shaati said with a slight smile.
"You are very welcome! Hearing your voice fills my heart. Well, I wish you good night, I'll see you tomorrow!", said Grandpa before leaving the tent.
Y'shaati lay on the bed for a while, staring at the ceiling. She began to think that these humans were not so bad after all. However, like the Naka'i and the other ape families, they too had social rules that had to be followed. But she was doing her best to fit in among them, controlling her wild side and adopting their mannerisms. Suddenly, a familiar voice could be heard just on the other side of the tent. A black silhouette watched her from outside. The girl sat up to observe the unexpected visitor.
"Hey blondie... finally I find you alone..."
"Ah! Hello... Mar... Mar..."
"Marco yes, that's my name, don't wear it out," said the blond boy as he walked in. "Listen to me, I've been thinking that you and I got off on the wrong foot, you know? That day with the shotgun, I think it's better to leave it in the past... we can start over," he said as he slowly walked towards the girl.
"Uh, Y'shaati... no understand...", she said in confusion.
"What I'm trying to say is that I want you and I to be friends..."
"Friends? But Lucas only friend..."
"That asshole? Pffft. No blondie, Lucas doesn't value you like he should. You deserve something better than him. Let me ask you something... do you really feel happy in this place?", Marco asked. "Are you okay with them making you wear those clothes you're using right now?"
"Uhm... Y'shaati no like clothes... but clothes make Lucas happy. if Lucas happy, Y'shaati happy", she replied timidly.
"Nope! Wrong! That's not what a real friend does!"
"No?"
"Of course not...a real friend asks you what you really want. What do you want right now? Don't you want to take those clothes off once and for all? To be honest, it make you look like a boy hahaha!"
"Yes... but..."
"Then what are you waiting for? Do it! Free yourself!"
"Ohh... yes!", Y'shaati said excited just before taking off all her clothes and becoming naked again. Marco observed the girl's breasts discreetly with a mysterious smile.
"Well done, hehehehe... feeling better?"
"Y'shaati feel good!", she replied cheerfully.
"Very good. That's exactly what real friends do! Now, if we're going to be good friends, then it's my turn to tell you what I want."
"Marco friend!", she said. "What Marco want?"
"Well... what I want is to have this little thing called sex... with you. Do you know what that is?", asked Marco with obscure intention.
"S-sex? Y'shaati not know...", the girl mentioned scratching her head.
"Don't worry, it's quite simple really... I can guide you. But first, you have to be very close to me... come here, I'll show you how to do it...", Marco said with open arms. Y'shaati accepted without knowing what was going to happen. But she trusted him.
Meanwhile, Lucas was walking towards the tent, drying his head with a small towel. "Wow, it's amazing the wonders a shower can do! This is place is hot as hell! Alright Y'shaati I'm back, I hope my grandfather managed to explain to you how are we going to...", Lucas remained shocked as he watched Marco caressing Y'shaati's breasts and how their lips were about to touch each other.
"Ahhhh!!! You son of a bitch!!!", Lucas cursed pushing Marco away from Y'shaati. The girl was startled to see the boy's unusual reaction. "What the... how dare you!?"
"Argh, fuck! Hey, we were in the middle of something! Didn't they teach you to knock before coming in?", the blond boy asked sarcastically, laying on the ground.
"I-I won't forgive you for this! Trying to take advantage of her ignorance... y-you're a sick pervert!"
"Geez, calm down Luc. She and I were just strengthening our friendship... right girl?", Marco asked. Y'shaati didn't answer.
"Shut up, shut up!! It's over!! Get the hell out of her now before I... I..."
"What? You're gonna punch me? I'd like to see that for once, hahaha!", Marco laughed as he stood up. Unfortunately, Lucas didn't have the courage again to give him what he deserved. He just stared at him, completely infuriated. "Alright, no need to lose your head over this, I'm off. Hey, I'll see you later blondie... remember, we're still friends! Don't listen to this wimp hahaha!", Marco said as he walked out of the tent. Lucas immediately turned to scold Y'shaati.
"Why the hell did you let him touch you? No one should touch you without your consent! You should have beaten him up for even laying a finger on you!!"
"But... Marco friend! Marco help Y'shaati feel good..."
"What!? He's not your friend! He will never be your friend! He was tricking you! Argh, dammit!", Lucas grumbled kicking a chair and putting his hands on the back of his neck.
"Lucas angry at Y'shaati? Y'shaati sorry...", she said saddened.
"No, it's not that... it's just... you can't trust everyone you meet, you know? There are bad people who will make you think they're your friends, but they really aren't! I-I know this may be complicated to you b-but...", the boy sttutered.
"Y'shaati not make new friends?", she asked puzzled.
"No, that wasn't what I meant either...", Lucas sighed. "You know what, just... forget it... we'll talk about this later. Right now we need to get some sleep. Get some rest, monkey girl. Have a good night...", Lucas took off his shirt and lay down on the bed next to her without saying anything else. Y'shaati remained a little unsettled by the way he had yelled at her. She had never seen that side of him before. In the same way, she lay down next to him to sleep, trying to figure out what had happened.
Meanwhile in another part of the camp, Marco was walking through the darkness, still with a big evil grin on his face. Just then, the blond boy managed to distinguish someone moving cautiously. He immediately knew it was Miss Zé due to the shape of her hair. She was heading towards the edge of the camp, as if she were trying to get out without anyone noticing.
"(Oh? Well well... what do we have here? Tonight can't get any more interesting, could it? Hehehe...)", he said in his mind. Without thinking twice, the blond boy decided to follow the brunette, hoping to find out what she was up to.
Once outside the safe perimeter of the camp and making sure that no one had seen her, the native girl decided to close her eyes and take a deep breath, letting the wind of amazonia guide her way. However, that brief period of peace was abruptly interrupted.
"Going somewhere?", Marco asked, leaning against a tree with his arms crossed.
"Ahh!" Zé gasped, startled. "Goddesses! Are you trying to give me a heart attack? What are you doing here?"
"Hmmm, I don't know, I could ask you the same question. The jungle can be extremely dangerous at night. Anything could attack, eviscerate and kill you in a second... and you wouldn't notice. Oh but you already knew that, don't you? In fact, you know it very well...", said the boy ironically.
"You really think you know me?", she asked.
"Believe me 'tour guide', I know it. You can go on fooling all these idiots. But not me. I know perfectly who you are..."
"And I know who you really are, too. You think I haven't noticed? I don't buy that fake performance of yours. I could bring you to your knees and expose you to everyone right now... but I won't do it...", she said with a serious voice.
"Lucky me. Then I suggest we leave it at that. You continue playing with your role, and I'll continue with mine. Deal?"
"You won't get away with it. The wrath of the allmother will fall upon you for what you are doing...", Uyari said before turning around and running off into the depths of the jungle.
"Heh... we'll see about that..."
