Consistently climbing at the pace he was going kiau finally made it near the top of the entrance. He waited for me to unbuckle.

“Wait til I show you to father, he will have to believe me!” He went forward as I followed.

As we kept moving I heard gasps and whispers. Obviously due to my appearance.

“Father!!”

Nothing happened.

“Father!!!!!!!!!!!” He screamed louder.

A large gorilla came crashing down the flat area.

I had forgotten to check my surroundings, and realized we are on a flat surface as if it was specifically made like this on purpose. I’m amazed.

“What is it kiau!?!” Looking at his tiny son.

“Look father, a human!” Pointing at me.

Scared I waved, Hi.”

Looking at me he snorted and pushed back kiau carefully behind him. He observed me and while giving death stares. Walking around in circles constantly sizing me up.

Eventually he finally came to the conclusion that I was not a threat he roared.

“It is ok! Come, I allow you to all feast your eyes, of this human!”

Hurriedly all the gorillas came inspecting me. One grabbed me by the arm and one pinched my nose. A small child gorilla decided to see if I have any lice to pick off from. Not good, I feel like I'm getting pulled in every direction.

“Enough!! Let him go, do you all want to hurt him?!” They all obeyed and stopped tugging at me.

Kiaus father picked me up and put me on his back.

“Come we will speak with the elders now.”

Reaching to a large chamber I saw an old colossal ape seemingly ancient.

“Aaah Ki u, so nice of you to visit me today.”

“Yes great elder.” He bowed with his head down to the ground as a way to show respect.

“You know you never come to visit me anymore like you used to, back when you were a wee boy you would always pester me to train you...remember those days ki u? Hahaha” slowly pounding his chest. In fact, he was so old that it took him a while to bump one fist in his chest.

Kiau had to help him do it. Giving a few pause moments the great elder just kept rambling on.

“I remember the old days when you would always ask me to tell you stories.”

Pausing for another moment.

“Ergh what were the stories I told you again?” Slowly trying to scratch his head. Kiau again had to assist him.

“Aaah.” coming into realization. “The story of the rock lizards.”

“I remember, when I was still around your age, there were three no four...no it was erhh, five!! Yes, five of the rock lizards. One day I decided to stroll around looking for a place to rest.”

“Great Elder, there's something urgent...” he spoke quickly and politely as possible, alas the elder just kept rambling. “N-now let me finish... So anyway, I found a nice place to rest, a rock near the shallow river. Ooh, boy was I unaware of the trap that I laid myself upon.” Looking annoyed Ki u tries to be polite again, “Great Elder please there is a human, who has appeared, I have brought him he-”

To no avail Ki u’s words did not reach the elder, “Kyaa~ Ki u please, let me finish! Uhh,…where was I at again?”

“You said you found a nice rock near the shore's grandpa.” replied Kiau.

“Oh yes, right. So anyway I rested on the rock near the shore. It was great I tell you, but the moment I let my guard down a bunch of the lizards started to ambush me from the shallow end of the shore. Those sneaky bastards... When they tried grabbing a bite from me I sprung off the rock as quickly as I could. All but one missed me, the one that got me chomped on my arm. Luckily my arms were just too thick to penetrate. As it struggled to get free, I immediately snapped its jaws split from his upper and lower with my arms. Ooh, boy what a sight, the tricky feller spun around trying to twist my arm off. I wasn't having it, so I grabbed its tail then chucked it to the other rock lizards. Anyway I am just lucky they were all stupid enough to come at me one at a time instead of together. Hehe good times.”

Ki u “Great Elder Please! There is something urgent that you must see to yourself!”

The elder “Oh.... well why didn't you say so from the beginning.” Ki u did not want to talk back for obvious reasons.

“What is more important than listening to my stories like the old days?”

Presenting me in the palm of his hands, “It is a human elder…”

Kiau opened the elders eyes for him. “AHH…a human you say.”

Stroking his long beard he gives some thought.

“I thought all the humans were extinct, no?”

Kiau spoke aloud, “The human told me that he doesn't know anything, or why he is still alive.”

A silent pause came from the elder.

“Hmm mm…ah I remembered a tale, one of my great ancestors who was an elder before me, had a premonition that there would be a naked monkey who will one day show up in our great tree. If I can recall….” he stroked his beard again.

“This naked monkey would meet something similar to his kind, although the details aren’t clear, since it's been so long. I believe it means that you will meet something that resembles a human, although they are not human.”

I spoke for more questions, “Anything else?”

Looking a bit ashamed, “Human, I am sorry this was all I can recall... It was something that my elder said might happen a long time ago. However, I can tell you one thing.” I listened carefully“ As you are one and alone, you will suffer perilous trials.” He gave a sad look as if to pity me.

“Ki u.”

“Yes great elder!”

“Find the tallest building with windows, the tallest one that can almost reach to the moon, guide the human there, I believe that is where he is destined to go.”

“As you wish my elder. What about the other elders?” bowing down with his head to the ground.

“Do not worry, I will deal with that.”

“Come human, tonight you will be sleeping with Kiau.”

Overjoyed pounding and howling can be heard. ” oh boy, The human gets to stay with me tonight?”

Following I keep close to Kiau, whom I know will not tug at me like the others.

Raising the vines for Kiau and me to go in Ki u tells me, “Sleep human. Tomorrow will be dangerous. I need to gather others to help you along the way.”

I shut my eyes, as I was indeed tired.

Kiau woke me up in the middle of the night by whispering to me

“H-hey human! Wonder what the elder meant, when he said you will meet something that resembles a human?”

“I-I don't know Kiau...makes me nervous. Hopefully they are friendly...”

“You think so?” looking towards me

Too tired to answer back I slept, Kiau went back to sleep when he saw that I snored.

Why do I see the moon so close to my eyes? What are these visions I am having…? Oh, wait I must be dreaming again. I can see a person, blocking the view of the moon. They are floating on nothing as if thin air suddenly was able to be walked on. Are they flying? Now that can’t be. Then again this is a drea-…wait I want to see more. Why am I passing out? Am I underwater? Help... I need to...breathe… Someone please wake...me…up…

I woke up feeling a sleeping kiaus arm covering my nose. I made sure not to wake him, as Ki u stared at me with his finger to his mouth for me not to make a noise. Gently grabbing his son’s arm he pushes it away from my mouth.

He carries me on his shoulder, then carefully walks away from Kiau who's still asleep.

Ki u packed me a banana and some fruits covered in banana leaves. Whispering to me he tells me, “After we use the restroom we will leave. I will carry you all the way until I am near the building like the elder said so. The food I gave you should last for three days after we get there. My men will be with us to uphold against the creatures surrounding that area to assure your safety after we part ways.”

Handing me a piece of his banana, “here...eat while you still can.”

I do as he says.

Chapter 4 End