Shortly after Karin had left with Luca and Tinker, Maurice stretched and sat down carefully on the edge of the healing nest. It was a relief that Sparrow let him get up and walk around a little bit. It killed time, if nothing else, while he waited anxiously for Karin and the others to return. But as thrilled as he was to be up and about, even briefly, the big orangutan was seriously considering feigning worse injury. No, not to keep Karin in the village longer, though he was considering that option as well, but to shorten this upcoming unpleasant meeting.
Gray's wife, Cedar, was not one of the most popular females, and for good reason. She even tried Maurice's seemingly inexhaustible store of patience, but she was nothing if not punctual. She arrived and was let in to the healing hut, and immediately rushed to Maurice's side, her eyes brimming with supposed concern.
"Teacher! How are you feeling?" the chimpanzee simpered. "You're up! This is wonderful! How may I help?" Cedar continued to gush.
Maurice ignored her first question about his health. "What You may do is sit, Cedar," Maurice told her bluntly. He had no tolerance for her act today.
Taken somewhat aback by his brisk tone, Cedar sat down and fell uncharacteristically silent.
"I know that your husband and Cornelia have spoken to you about your behavior towards Mary," Maurice signed seriously.
Cedar stiffened, looking indignant.
"If that human has been telling lies about me," her hands flashed before she could stop herself.
The deep rumble and a stern glare Maurice aimed at her froze Cedar's hands in place for a few seconds before she let them fall limply in to her lap.
"Her name is Karin," the orangutan said quietly to a now wide-eyed Cedar. Hardly anyone ever heard Maurice speak out loud, and this put more than a gentle emphasis on his every word. "She has nothing to do with this, Cedar. You have been warned twice. I am giving You the last warning. Stay away from Koba's daughter."
"But Maurice, I did not hurt that child," Cedar complained bitterly, her face taking on a petulant look. "I saw her and that, uh, and that Karin in your home, so I thought I would help and—"
"It is my business who I have in my home," Maurice signed to her. ". And I did not bring you hear to argue the issue. This is your final warning. Stay away from Koba's daughter, or next time—"
"Or next time," Cornelia put in, rising from behind the pile of supplies where she had concealed herself to watch and wait. "I will take my own measures."
Cedar gave a start of surprise. She turned towards her Queen and gave Cornelia an impudent stare. Taking a careful deep breath, Maurice had to remind himself sternly not to step in here. Cornelia was no longer the frightened little newly arrived chimp he used to have to occasionally defend at San Bruno. She could fend for herself long before she became Caesar's wife and their queen, long before their 'awakening', and she would not appreciate his interference. But old habits die hard, and it was a near thing, and so hard for him to resist his second nature.
"You would actually run to Caesar about this?" Cedar shot back incredulously.
Moving smoothly to stand before the impudent female, Cornelia gave the female chimp her sweetest smile.
"No," she signed softly but her eyes held Cedar's with a steely gaze. "Of course, I will not bother either my husband or yours, Cedar ... Next time, I will go straight to Mary's Father."
Cedar gasped and jerked back, her eyes going wide and obviously frightened.
"You wouldn't!" she exclaimed, turning instinctively to Maurice for help.
The normally kindly orangutan sat and stared at her as if carved from stone, and Both he and Cornelia remained silent and unmoved.
Cedar slumped in defeat.
"Yes, Cornelia," she muttered quietly, bowing her head, and offering a supplicating palm to her queen. "May I go now."
Cornelia let her hold that position for many long seconds before very lightly touching her hand. "You may. I wouldn't dream of keeping you from your duties, Cedar. And we're keeping Maurice from his rest, so the sooner the better. Just remember what we've told you," Cornelia dismissed the irritating female with a regal tilt of her head.
Cedar left the Healing hut without a backward glance at either of them.
"She blames everyone and everything for her troubles except herself. Will she ever learn?" Maurice signed wearily. "Cornelia, she will test your declaration," he advised his Queen and one of his oldest friends gravely.
"Oh, you don't know the half of it," Cornelia groaned. "She tests everything every day. At least, she does among the females. And I almost Hope she does. Because I meant every word, Maurice. I've been thinking... We probably made a mistake. We probably should have taken this matter directly to Koba a long time ago."
Cornelia gave a slow smile. "Who knows. Gray may even beat us to it."
Maurice gave a low rumbling chuckle.
"Gray loves Mary like a daughter. So, he might at that," the orangutan agreed.
"Well, never mind Cedar," Cornelia said lightly as she took her oldest friends' hand in her own and gave it a gentle squeeze then let it go. "Is there truly anything I can do to help, Maurice?"
"Look after Karin while she's out and about in the village," Maurice told Cornelia without hesitation.
She smiled patiently. "But I'm already doing that, Maurice. Don't worry. Mary, Tinker, and I have things well in hand. Karin is fine. There's nothing else?"
The orangutan gave her a mischievous grin. "Tell Sparrow to let me go home?" he suggested slyly. "I can rest just as well in my own nest, Cornelia."
The ape Queen returned his grin, but she shook her head in a firm no.
"And have Sparrow, Mary, and even your Karin all angry at me." Cornelia laughed. "Oh no, I'm sorry, my old friend. Not even for you will I be that foolish. There are two things I never do-I never overrule Sparrow in her healing duties any more than I overrule Tinker as head of our midwives."
"She is not my—" Maurice began his automatic protest. Cornelia squeezed his hand again, and he gave in with a sigh, but it was no less than he had expected from Cornelia. "As you say, mighty Queen," Maurice teased her, and laughed out loud as Cornelia pulled a fierce face on him.
"Still hurts a little, doesn't it?" Cornelia asked more subdued as she noticed him wincing and put a gentle hand on his shoulder.
"Not as much as it did yesterday," Maurice replied truthfully. But he was quick to recline fully back in his healing nest. And just in the nick of time as Sparrow came bustling in, giving him a stern look.
"What's wrong with Cedar now?" she asked whoever wanted to answer. "She nearly trampled right over me."
"Just the usual," both Maurice and Cornelia signed to her.
"Oh." The Healer shrugged, immediately dismissing cedar from her mind, and Maurice gave Cornelia an annoyed look as she slipped out, leaving him alone with the overzealous little chimpanzee Healer.
-----
later that afternoon, Karin arrived back at the ape village with her companions, everyone safe and sound, to find Maurice's healing hut filled with young ape women. Hiding the unexpected stab of annoyed jealousy that flared ever-so-briefly, Karin' gave Maurice a carefully questioning look. At least, she hoped it did not come off as 'who the hell are these girls?' to her orangutan friend.
