A Little Peace and Quiet

Kerchak gave the pup a long stare, trying to reply to the pristine canine addressing him. She was obviously the mother of this young creature. He eventually huffed, and released a detached, "I've had a large family of my own." in explanation of patience. Crescent was hardly annoying in comparison to Tarzan's early years. Actually, in comparison to a lot of the younger apes.

However, he couldn't further address it when a human female arrived. Kerchak's maw fell open, revealing his white ivories, shining in comparison to his dark grey fur. They were pointed, not extremely sharp but it was the size of them that was most intimidating. And the bulkiness of his head and body suggested its' great power.

"You..." he snorted. If Jane hadn't been sure if it was Kerchak before, she could confirm now that it was. "You were... among the humans with Tarzan. On that boat..." For a moment his facials darkened, and he looked about ready to unleash a brutal roar. But he calmed, shaking his head as his eyes darted from points of the earth beneath him.

"Then... Where is Tarzan? And the family?" he asked. He sounded demanding, only because he was desperate for information and news on them. No one could question his duty to protect his family. It had been his job for so long, he'd only just learned to willingly hand them over to Tarzan, only to live and have to worry about them.

Mega smiled at the vixen "a pleasure to meet you" he turns to Kerchek the lion's eyes widen as they set there orangeish colored orbs on Jane. "so your Jane!" a large smile suddenly appears across his muzzle that one could mistake for a snarl. "Tarzan thinks your dead!" the lion explains he was sure this was Tarzan's 'Jane' she matched his disripcion perfectly.
(this should be before kerchak's post)

So many people. The clearing had become quite crowded, before Maid Marian knew it. She was familiar with Jane, though she had no real time for true discussion with her as of yet. She did seem nice, though. She wasn't sure she had even seen the woman with incredibly pale hair, but she seemed as nervous of the gorilla as she felt. However, what really made her nervous was the new call.

She covered her head slightly as Lady Kluck approached. She had, most unfortunately, left without so much as a decent letter of goodbye. She bit her lip as she turned to the hen. "Hello, Lady Kluck." She trued to laugh the worry away. "I... I didn't think I should see you all the way out here."

When he recognized her Jane needed no confirmation that this was the gorilla who'd frightened her, and almost attacked her, on more than one occasion. She didn't understand. Then again, she was supposed to be dead as well. Maybe he had been alive all this time? Either way, Jane figured dwelling on it would only result in a headache, she'd probably bombard him with questions when there weren't so many people around, as she often did. Although whether or not she was entirely OK around him was up for debate.

When he brought up Tarzan her eyes lowered to the ground a bit. For a moment, just one moment, she'd like it if Tarzan wasn't the center of her thoughts. "Well...last I heard he was here, in the heroes camp, along with Terk." She said. "I got separated from them while we were out and...well, I'm afraid I haven't seen any of them, even my father, in quite a while. I'm sorry I can't be of more help." She said apologetically. She had faith that Tarzan named someone he felt comfortable with in command before he left. Perhaps even his mother, Kala was certainly capable. However, she never asked. Once she heard that everyone thought she was dead she left for the pridelands as soon as she could. "Were you...alive all this time?" She asked curiously to him, a hint of concern in her voice. Had he been alone and injured this entire time?

When Mega approached the two of them she turned her attention. "You know Tarzan?" She asked. Well, he had been here for a while. It was only logical he'd met more animals and people. "Yes, I know." She said, a little sadly when he told her Tarzan thought she was dead. She knew that all too well. "I had hoped to find him to let him know I was alright." But she had gotten a bit sidetracked. Maybe she'd let the rumors of him and another woman get to her too fast, but until she found him she'd never know.

(Sorry that this reply is a bit scattered, not in the RPing spirit at the moment XP)

Tarzan had just finished training when he spotted a small group gathered. He couldn't make out who everyone was. He decided to walk closer and introduce himself. But as he neared the group his face paled as he stopped dead in his tracks. Kerchak and Jane were alive and chatting away with everyone else.

"It can't be true. I must be dreaming." he whispered.

He looks at Kerchak and smiles. Kerchak had finally accepted him as a son after he'd been shot, and had died in his arms. At least he was sure he'd died. After the battle with Clayton Kerchak's body had disappeared. Tarzan had figured his family had buried him and hadn't said anything. He turned to Jane, and smiled. He hadn't noticed he was crying at first as he wiped the tears away with his hand. He'd searched everywhere for her, and gotten Terk, Tantor, Renard, Hugo, Hooft, the Waziri, Kala, and his family to help him search. But no one had found a trace of her. The Professor had eventually returned to England after they'd called off the search. He'd eventually joined the war, even gone back a few times and still no trace of her. He decided this must be a dream but he feared if he walked any closer the dream would end. So he stayed where he was watching Jane and Kerchak talking with the rest of the group from afar.

"yeah i know him" Mega said grinning "he's my friend" the whip like tail lashed back and forth oddly enough the lion was taking on a dog like approach his tail lashing in happiness not in anger or annoyance. Mega was the 1st to spot the ape man. "i found her!" he yells rushing towards Tarzan a wide grin still on his wrinkled muzzle. "there's also someone named Kerchak do you know him?" he slows his pace slightly as he got closer to Tarzan to anyone watch it would seem that the tawny male had gone rouge.

Kerchak shook his head, apparently unnerved by the lack of information Jane had provided. He looked disheartened almost. he took his family very seriously, however he didn't look about ready to take it out of Jane. Kerchak opened his maw, and was silent for a few seconds when Jane inquired about his death.

"Yes.." he said, carefully looking Jane in the eye. "The humans took me.. they planned to tell you when you boarded the metal... tank.." this no doubt, was a ship in Kerchak's limited knowledge of humans and he looked down. "But... you never did." and upon the last sentence turned to look back up at her.

In that moment, Kerchak had chosen to look back at the large feline, who seemed to be heading off of another direction. He followed the trail... and spotted Tarzan. The feline was heading for Tarzan... Kerchak's immediate response was a roaring anger that erupted from his throat, past parted teeth of his own and set into a bellowing spitting roar at the lion.

Without any more delay, Kerchak leaped forward, thundering the ground and launching himself towards the lion. He wouldn't do much harm, only send the two of them tumbling a short distance away from Tarzan. He'd only seen a thread, and intended to intercept it from the supposed target.

the lion's smile faded almost instantly as the was attacked with a roar of his own. Mega tumbled to the ground the large Silver back had send a flying a few meet away. orange colored eyes widened in fear and anger "wha-" he coughed getting rid of the dust in his lungs "what the hell was that for?!" he growls angrily the lion was up on his feet in a second this time his lips pull back to show razor sharp fangs. the lion's whip like tail lashed in real anger this time.

Tarzan saw as Mega came running towards him. But when Kerchak knocked Mega to the side something snapped in him. Tarzan suddenly jumped forward between Mega and Kerchak. He wouldn't let Mega get hurt even if this was just a dream. But Mega didn't look that hurt just angry.

"Don't hurt him. He's my friend." said Tarzan.

He paused glancing at Kerchak and back at Jane The dream hadn't nded like he had expected. Even though it was a small chance he began to wonder if this was real. But where had they been all this time?

"Is this real? Kerchak I thought Clayton killed you. We all did." said Tarzan.

He glanced at Jane also afraid she would disappear or worse this was some cruel trick by La or another sorceror.

"I searched everywhere for you. Day after day. Your father, Renard, Terk, Tantor, everyone helped me. But after searching for you for a couple weeks it was called off. Your father went back to England. I thought I lost you both forever." said Tarzan.

Kerchak propped himself on his large forearm, and slowly pushed himself up into a steady stand. He stared at Tarzan, disbelief and perhaps anger. He took one of his massive hands, and wiped it across his maw, trying to level his head. he was breathing heavily, from launching himself so quickly and being under such emotional turmoil. He wasn't as durable as he used to be. He was strong.. it just proved easier to wear out at the moment. From the shot..and sitting around for so long in the humans little gorilla enclosure.

"Jane..." he spoke her name awkwardly, giving a glance to the woman, "And her father.. were supposed to come aboard.. The humans took me with them. I'm here because of them.." he admitted. Though it seemed strained for him to say.

"I'm sorry." he said, apparently just now reverting back to how he'd tackled the lion.

Mega jerks back a step as Tarzan suddenly appears in front of him "th-thanks" he grunts glancing around from behind the man to stare at Kerchak a glare still on his face although he did't show his teeth anymore. "it's...fine" the male said pauseing a moment to study the large silver-back glancing from him and then to Tarzan. "just please don't do it again" he said now standing at Tarzan's side.

Jane nearly had a heart attack when Kerchak tackled Mega. She was more confused than anything, but she looked up and saw he was trying to protect who Mega was running for, not that he meant any harm in the first place. The scuffle between the two was short-lived, and nobody seemed to be hurt too terribly. As soon as she saw that nobody was harmed her eyes fell back on Tarzan. He seemed surprised to see her, of course, that was to be expected. However, she stayed rooted in her spot, unsure of what to do in this particular situation. "I know, I heard you and the others thought I was dead." She said, shaking her head a bit. "But, I've been here all this time." She looked to the ground once more. Yes, all this time. "I've been looking for you too." She spoke softly.

"They saved your life? But why didn't the captain tell us?" asked Tarzan.

He trailed off puzzled. But it didn't really matter in the end. Both of them were alive. He was surprised to see Kerchak apologize. He rarely admitted he was wrong. But he had missed him. He was glad Mega and Kerchak hadn't ended up in a fight. He really didn't want either of them hurt.

"Mega, this is my father Kerchak. I told you about him before. We thought he had been killed but he's alive." said Tarzan.

He made a mental note to find the captain and that crew and thank them. And to find out why they kept Kerchak a secret for a year and half. He smiled at Kerchak again.

"I'm glad you're okay. I missed you so much. I kept the family safe while you were gone. I left mother in charge when I came here." said Tarzan.

He turned back hearing Jane speak as he frowned. She'd been hear for months and he hadn't spotted her. He felt guilty he'd given up the search. Perhaps if he'd searched the camp for her when he arrived someone would have seen her. But at least they were together again. He smiled and ran at her, pulling her into a hug.

"I've missed you Jane. I never want to lose you again." said Tarzan.

His first instinct was to find Terk and Tantor, and take them, Jane, and Kerchak home. But they'd all made a commitment to the war. And he knew it would only be a matter of time before the war reached his jungle. Then he thought of Kida as a pang of guilt hit him. He had started to care for someone else while Jane was alive. He hadn't seen Kida though since that day. Perhaps she had moved on. But he knew he didn't want to leave Jane. She was the one he wanted to be with. They just had to win this war first.

"Are you alright? You didn't get hurt in the war did you?" asked Tarzan.

Trying her best to ignore the fight that had nearly broken out between the lion and the gorilla,
Mirage tentatively moved closer to the group, keeping her distance from the bigger animals, and instead approaching a surprisingly human looking pair of animals - a vixen and a chicken - who seemed much less dangerous.

She cleared her throat quietly, and put on a smile. "Hello...my name's Mirage, and I'm a new hero..."

[Short post is short. >.< Plus, I know Mirage seems a bit uncharacteristically shy at the minute, but when she gets talking to the other Heroes she'll be back to her normal self. Just figured she might have trust issues after Syndrome.]

"Oh? A pleasure to meet you." Maid Marian smiled and took the woman's hand amiably, glad that not everyone was as quick to fight as the gorilla. "I haven't been around too long myself, I'm afraid. You're not looking for anyone in particular, are you?" She knew she herself had only come to find Robin.

She cleared her throat real quick. "Oh, where are my manners. Lady Kluck, this seems to be a new hero, too. Mirage, Lady Kluck. Lady Kluck has been my lady in waiting since I could but stand. She's incredibly kind. I do hope we'll all get along well."