Another day in the jungle. It's different from the last and yet so similar. However, there are things that always change. New trees sprout, and new flowers bloom, it is just beautiful. 

Terk didn't think much of it as she hardly finds anything to eat where the nest is so she moved to other places to see. Tarzan noticed and followed after her, curious to know what she was doing. 

Terk's eyes narrowed as she spotted a pangolin eating in one of her favorite spots and bolted towards it. "Beat it! Scram!" she shouted, alerting the pangolin. 

The creature looked back, seeing the ape running towards him, and ran away. Terk huffed proudly, looking at her spots and frowning to see nothing left. "Look at that, licked clean!" she cursed, sitting up. "Ever since that ant-eating pangolin moved in, ants are dropping like flies!"

Tarzan dropped down with a handful of bananas, "Here, eat these."

"Been there, peel that," Terk turned to him, not surprised to see her friend there. "I want protein!" She walked over to them but cursed as she was faced with a hairless ape. 

"Some friend you are, hairless," she chuckled, picking at his skin. "No fleas to pick. If this is evolution, count me out."

Tarzan chuckled, shrugging at her words. "It's my curse."

Terk deadpanned and looked around, hoping to find something to eat nearby. She stopped and smelled. "Do you smell that?" she turned and grinned to see a log not far from her behind some bushes. 

"Termite buffet!" she grinned. 

Tarzan started heading towards the log but Terk stopped him, clearing her throat. "Ladies first."

"What lady?" Tarzan teased and she mockingly laughed at him before walking over to the log. 

"Make jokes, I'm eating!" She grinned at the load of ants and tried to shuffle through to no avail. So she did the most ladylike way to get food. 

She stood up with the log over her head and started bouncing, causing the ants to fall off and into her mouth. "Come to Mama!"

Tarzan found that amusing, laughing at her antics. "Yes, very lady-like." He stopped, frowning to the side as he heard snarls and growls not far from him. He started heading over as Terk removed the log off her head and dropped it to the side. 

She saw as Tarzan was leaving, "Hey, where you going?" she felt an ant crawl in her cheek and licked it, eating it. "Do you expect the lady to eat and run?" she grinned, following after him. She stopped next to him on a cliff, looking down. 

"Hyenas," Tarzan spoke as there on the further ground stood five walking hyenas surrounding a wounded gorilla. However, they don't recognize the ape anywhere. "Do you know that ape?" he asked, his eyes not wavering at the situation. 

Terk couldn't keep her eyes off the situation either. In fact, she couldn't take her eyes off the ape for that matter. "Trust me, I'd remember an ape that good-looking. We gotta save him. So what do we do?"

Tarzan smirked, turning to Terk, "Divide and conquer."

They both nodded as Terk left and Tarzan jumped down. As he landed on the ground, the hyenas snarled at him but Tarzan picked up a piece of wood, throwing it at them. The hyenas snarled, running after him. 

Just as two hyenas were nearing close to Tarzan, Terk swung in on the vine and kicked them away. "And she take out the kingpin," she smirked as the hyenas screeched before falling off.

The other hyena growled, lunging at Tarzan but he moved away. Terk noticed and swung towards them again, kicking it away. "Kicking out despair!"

The hyenas toppled over and fell off, now leaving three more to go. One of the hyenas walked over to the unconscious ape and grabbed him by the arm with its fangs. Tarzan roared, tackling it away from the ape. The hyena yelped as they toppled to the ground. Tarzan grabbed it by the fur and threw it off the cliff. 

Knowing he wasn't done, he turned around as two hyenas were growling at him. Before they start to circle him, Terk swung again and kicked both of them off the cliff. She grinned, jumping down and looking down as the hyenas started running away with screeches. 

"Anybody else want some?" she taunted, seeing them disappear. "That's what I thought." She walked back to Tarzan, seeing him looking at the unconscious ape. 

"He's hurt," Tarzan spoke as the ape groaned, waking up. His vision hazed before landing on Terk, making him smile. 

"Is that the face of an angel?" the ape smiled as Terk's eyes widened, looking around before pointing at herself in confusion. "Who? Me? He must have serious head wounds."

"Let's get him to the professor," Tarzan spoke as he grabbed the ape's arm and wrapped it over his shoulder. "Grab an arm."

Terk smirked, "Please! Allow a lady." She walked over and carried the ape over her shoulder before walking back towards the camp. Tarzan blinked before following them.  

-ˋˏ ༻❁༺ ˎˊ-

It was a surprise to Archimedes to see an ape wounded but an ape he's never seen before. The ape was large with white streaks on his head. He walked over to them, with a makeshift hammer and checked the ape's patellar reflex, in other words, knee-jerk reflex.

"I must say Gobu," Archimedes spoke. "You're quite lucky to be alive."

"The last thing I remember is the pack of hyenas," Gobu explained before glancing at Terk. "Then, I awoke to find this lovely vision looking over me."

Terk chuckled, elbowing Tarzan. "He's talking about me."

Tarzan ignored her, turning to Gobu with concern. "You're not from this part of the jungle. What were you doing?"

"Actually," Gobu started, turning to him. "I was looking for you, Tarzan."

"For me?" Tarzan frowned. 

"Well, we've heard stories of a great hairless ape and his sharp mate. My, uh, leader sent me to see if the stories were true."

Archimedes walked over to his supplies and grabbed the bandages, wrapping them on Gobu's thigh which seemed to have a more worrisome wound. "Well Gobu, you've severed the sartorius in your proximal thigh, so I advise caution and occasional elevation. You can come to me or Brook if you feel uncomfortable."

Gobu blinked before chuckling, "Those words are longer than a giraffe's neck."

"He means to stay off your sore leg," Tarzan chuckled as Gobu nodded. "Ah, got it."

Terk grinned, walking over to him. "Hey, all things considered, you got off pretty easy huh?" she slapped his back but stopped as the ape practically fell off the crate and on the floor. 

Gobu groaned before glancing at her with a grin. "My, you sure know how to knock a fella off his feet," he winked as Tarzan and Archimedes went to help him up. 

Guilt started to get to Terk as she realized how brutal she can be. No one would like her the way she is. 

"You can stay with my family while you heal," Tarzan smiled at him as he and the others started directing him towards the nest. 

-ˋˏ ༻❁༺ ˎˊ-

Terk wasn't sure what she was seeing or expecting when Gobu decided to stay with the family. However, the moment Gobu stepped into the family everybody started crowding him, including the females who took an interest in Gobu. 

"This is Gobu," Tarzan introduced. "He's going to stay with us for a while. Make him feel welcome."

"Oh," one of the female apes looked at Gobu with interest. "Would I ever like to pick his fleas."

"You said it!" the other gasped as the two started walking towards Gobu while Terk's eye twitched in annoyance. 

"I'm Monka," the brown-furred ape smiled. 

"I'm Tikka," the dark-furred ape grinned too as they both grabbed him by the arms and started taking him away while Terk glared at them. 

"Welcome," they cooed. "You poor thing! Why don't you rest on this nest of soft leaves," Monka spoke.

"Take the load off that leg, big boy," Tikka stated as they walked away. "That looks like a nasty–"

Terk scoffed, refusing to hear more disgusting and awkward words they say to him. Does Red even talk like that to Tarzan? Gross. She doesn't even want to think about it. 

"Well," Tarzan smiled, turning to Terk and Tantor, who helped carry Gobu to the nest earlier. "Looks like Gobu's in good hands."

"He was better off with the hyenas," Terk scoffed. "Those vultures are gonna eat him alive."

Tarzan smirked, noticing this behavior. "Terk, are you jealous?" he teased as Terk only glared at him in return. 

Tantor chuckled, "Terk's got a boyfriend, Terk's got a boyfriend!" he flinched back as Terk swung at him. 

"I do not! Keep your big trunk out of this!" Terk huffed, walking over to Gobu who kept conversing with the girls, and decided to just ignore them and turn to Gobu with a grin. "Hey, Gobu! How about you and me go down to the watering hole and fling mud at the warthogs, huh?" she grinned. 

Gobu grinned at her, "Well, that sounds–"

"Positively dreadful," Monka interrupted him and chuckled. "She's been hanging around Tarzan and Tantor too long."

"You'll have to excuse Terk," Tikka spoke too, "She's a ruff and tumble gal." Both girls laughed as Terk grew increasingly embarrassed as they made it sound like one of the things no one would be interested in. 

-ˋˏ ༻❁༺ ˎˊ-

Brook was quite delighted with how she started her day. In fact, she had already done all her chores and prepared dinner. She was waiting for Tarzan and decided to comb through her tresses. 

She was humming and lightly singing to an old tune. Some were off as it has been a long while since she's heard of the sweet lyrics back in England. Her eyes were closed as she brushed through her tresses and felt the soft hair. 

Opening them, she gasped to see Terk behind her from her mirror. She turned from her chair, seeing Terk looking at her hair closely. 

"Terk," Brook smiled, placing a hand on her chest. "You startled me."

"Oh, sorry Brook," Terk pouted, starting to take a sniff at the girl. 

Brook blinked, looking down at the ape, confused about why she started sniffing her. "May I ask what you're doing?"

"Well, that's my question." Terk leaned back and took a closer look at Brook, seeing her clean and how sweet she smelled. "How come you're yanking at your fur?" She lightly grabbed Brook's hair before letting it go. 

Brook chuckled, "I'm brushing my hair. It keeps it soft and untangled." She demonstrated as she brushed her hair with her brush now, showing how the hair easily treaded through the brush. 

"Does Tarzan like that?" Terk couldn't help but ask, seeing how smitten he was with her. 

Brook stopped and turned to her, "Well..." She recalled the many times Tarzan liked to brush her hair or wash it during their bath time. "I should say so, he finds perfume enchanting as well. Although, I make sure to not wear much, makes me dizzy." She handed her perfume to Terk and the ape looked at it with curiosity. 

Terk squeezed the bulb and choked as the perfumed spread over her face. "I smell better hippos!"

Brook sighed and turned her chair fully to face her. "Terk, why all the curiosity?" It's very rare for both girls to speak when it comes to human things. Especially when it comes to her and Tarzan's relationship. What could this be about?

"Well," Terk hesitated, not wanting to be made fun of. "You think you could teach me to be more...of...you know?... Ladylike?" she asked as she sat down and started biting her toenails, bringing her foot to her lips. 

Brook chuckled, "What on earth for? I mean, unless there's–" she stopped, turning to Terk. No way. "Oh, don't tell me. Terk has someone special?"

"Not yet or I wouldn't be here," Terk continued biting as Brook stood up, unsure if there was a way to help Terk. Sure, she was taught by Jane to be a strict lady but Tarzan didn't care about any about that. 

But...there was also the case of finally having some bonding with Terk. 

"Well...apes and humans aren't that different," Brook murmured to herself. "But...does he not like you as yourself? I think it's better for them to like you for who you are."

Terk deadpanned at her, "Hey, I came here to be more ladylike. Don't give excuses and help me."

Brook sighed, "Very well."

"Great!" Terk continued biting. "When do we start?"

Brook sweatdropped, "Right now. A lady eats finger sandwiches, not her toenails or any nails."

Terk stopped and looked down at her foot before dropping it and grinning up at the girl. Brook knew that this would become something difficult for Terk. 

-ˋˏ ༻❁༺ ˎˊ-

Tarzan threw his spear with complete accuracy as it pierced the three fruits and stabbed the tree. Gobu accompanied him to gather fruits as he was still slightly sore from his leg. Gobu couldn't help but be impressed by Tarzan's work and couldn't help but wonder what Tarzan's mate was like based on the...rumors. 

"Woah!" Gobu grinned. "Hey, nice shot, Tarzan."

Tarzan grinned, "Thanks. I think I pulled it to the left though."

"You know, I-I really enjoyed staying with all of you," Gobu spoke while Tarzan started heading over to the tree to get the fruit. "Well, I'm sure your family would treat me the same."

Gobu hesitated, knowing the exact opposite of Tarzan's words. "I'm not." He sat on the ground and flinched back as a monkey hung down in front of him with the family smirk. 

"Hello Gobu," it smirked. 

"Bungi!" Gobu gasped as Bungi crawled over to his shoulder. "Has been a long time, pal. So, what's the story? And keep it like me; short."

Gobu sighed, knowing full well who sent the sneaky monkey to monitor him. "Well, look. I would have been back by now but–"

"The um, boss," Bungi leaned back. "Is getting impatient."

"Well, these things take time!" Gobu tried but Bungi was unaffected. 

"Just don't get too comfy here. You're, um, wanted back home," Bungi snickered. "Going up!" With that, he pulled his tail like a pulley and was launched back to the trees to hide. 

Gobu frowned, clenching his jaw as he knew he had a mission to fulfill and it will be difficult as he has yet to meet Tarzan's mate too. 

"Ready to go back?" Gobu flinched, turning around to see Tarzan smiling at him while carrying three spears filled with fruit. 

"What?" Gobu looked down at Tarzan's hands and realized what he was talking about. "Uh, oh, oh, yeah, sure," Gobu stated. 

Tarzan took notice of Gobu's dejected behavior and frowned in worry. "Is, uh, something the matter?"

"Uh, no no," Gobu shook his head and put up a smile. "Here, let me help you with those," with that, he grabbed one of the spears from Tarzan's hands and they both start heading back. 

They didn't make it too far when an elephant trumpet sounded near where they were. Tarzan stiffened, knowing it was a cry for help. "That sounds like Tantor," Tarzan dropped everything and crouched in his fours before running after the incoming sounds. 

Gobu followed after him but slowly. He frowned as he can see small traces of tar on the ground and avoided them before standing next to Tarzan, eyes widening to see the elephant from before inside a tar pit. 

Tantor struggled and grunted as the tar was already at his knees. Spotting Tarzan, he started to be relieved but he needed help fast. "Tarzan, help! I'm stuck!"

Tarzan looked down, seeing his hand was on the black substance, and pulled on it and frowning in recognition. "Tar."

Tantor panted, continuing to struggle. "Hurry! I'm too young to be a fossil!" He kept struggling but yelped as he started to sink further into the pit making him worry more. "You see, a mosquito was chasing me–well, you know that death with wings–anyway! I guess I didn't see where I was going!"

  Gobu frowned, unsure how Tarzan will be able to save the poor elephant. "Pulling him out would take a lot more muscle than either of us have. He's a goner."

Tarzan clenched his jaw in thought. "You and I can't pull them out but there is strength in numbers," he turned to the nearest tree and climbed on. Reaching the top, he gave his loudest cries. 

It took effect as his family heard and started rushing towards his cry. Brook was with Terk at the treehouse when they heard it too. Brook's eyes widened as they both started rushing out of the house and towards the cry. Terk took the lead as she had sensitive ears while Brook followed. 

As they arrived, their eyes widened in shock to see Tantor in the tar pit, and exclaimed in worry. They saw Tarzan climbing down a vine in front of Tantor and handed him a pile of vines. 

"Grab these vines," he ordered as Tantor complied. With that, Tarzan swung to the other side and landed in front of the others as he started handing them the end of the vines Tantor held. 

"We all pull together!" Tarzan shouted as everyone stood in lines and gripped the vines. "Except you, Gobu," Tarzan turned to the ape. "Stay off your leg."

"All right, everybody!" Tarzan shouted. "Pull!"

Brook stood behind Tarzan and gripped the vine tightly as they all started to pull. Tantor winced, trying to help but to no avail. Everyone kept pulling harder but no result. Gobu took notice and tried to encourage them too but their arms started to strain. "Come on! You can do it!" 

They pulled harder, feeling their feet slipping but Tantor hadn't moved an inch.

Tantor winced, "I knew I should have started that low-carb diet!"

Gobu saw them struggle and walked over in front of Tarzan, grabbing the vine. They both nodded as they all pulled more. It was more effective as Tantor started to nudge from the pit. They pulled more as Tantor started heading towards them and sighed in relief to see Tantor finally freed. 

"We did it!" Gobu grinned excitedly. 

Tantor laughed, walked over to the group and grabbed Gobu off the ground, and hugged him. "Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! How can I ever repay you?! This is–"

Tantor stopped as he realized the tar on him started to get on Gobu and moved him away slightly, seeing the poor ape mostly covered by the tar. "Oh, sorry."

Brook sighed in relief and walked over to Tantor. "Are you all right? Are you injured?"

Tantor laughed, leaning down to the woman and smiling at her. "Never better!"

Brook smiled, relieved to see Tantor safe, and turned to the ape. She's never seen him before and smiled. "My name is Brook. Tarzan's mate. It's really nice to meet you."

Gobu, on the other hand, did not expect to meet her there and then. He's never seen any fur being radiant red before. "It's an honor to meet you. I'm Gobu," he smiled back as Tarzan smiled and hugged her waist. 

"He will be staying with us for a while," Tarzan stated as Brook finally took notice of the bandage on Gobu's leg and frowned in worry. 

"I didn't realize," Brook frowned. "How's your leg?"

Gobu chuckled, never expecting to meet someone so nice. From what he heard, she was a monster in disguise. "I'm fine, thanks to all of you."

Brook smiled, leaning into Tarzan's embrace. "I'm glad. If you're in any discomfort or have any concerns, come to us."

Gobu smiled at her. He likes her. 

-ˋˏ ༻❁༺ ˎˊ-

After the ordeal, they all walked back to the nest. Gobu couldn't help but see how relaxed and happy Tarzan's family was compared to his. "Sure is nice to see a family that pulls together," Gobu smiled at Tarzan who started eating the fruits. "I don't see much of that where I come from," he sighed. 

"Why not?" Tarzan glanced at him, giving him his full attention. 

"Well," Gobu sighed again in dejection. "I'm afraid my family is an unhappy bunch these days. There's a part of me that doesn't ever want to go back," he admitted. 

Tarzan smiled, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Then stay with us. Be a part of our family."

Gobu's eyes widened at his words. Does he really mean it? "Do you mean it?" his words came out before thinking about it until he started to hear the apes around them started to encourage him. They all nodded, speaking out that he should stay. 

Terk and Brook were not that far from the pair and heard their conversation. Terk grinned, excited to hear that Gobu could stay with them. With her! Brook took notice of Terk's behavior and smiled softly, crouching next to her. 

"Is he the one?" Brook asked as Terk grinned proudly. 

"Yeah, hunky ain't he?" Terk chuckled and grabbed Brook's wrist, starting to head back to the treehouse. "Come on, we got work to do!"

Brook followed along, glad to see Terk so happy. 

-ˋˏ ༻❁༺ ˎˊ-

Brook sighed, she thought too soon as she didn't realize how complicated it was to teach Terk about being a lady. They spent the entire afternoon trying. Brook couldn't do it alone. She asked Archimedes for help and the man was glad to do so...now being dressed as a gorilla. 

It was already late afternoon by the time they tried the basics but everyone was exhausted. Tarzan also stayed late to check on the family before heading back so it was only just Brook, Archimedes, and Terk. 

"Okay, Terk," Brook yawned, covering her mouth with her hand. "Let's try courting one last time."

Archimedes groaned, also exhausted. "Oh, Brook, dear. Must we go on? One more lady lesson could put me in traction," he panted, holding his head. 

Terk frowned and turned to Brook, "He's right. I'm no closer to being a lady than he is to being an ape."

Brook shook her head, realizing that she'll have to keep going. "I'll have no such talk. Now, let's try something basic. Right, um, show me how you'd groom the fleas from your mate."

Terk's eyes widened, "Oh! Is that all?! That's easy!" Terk grabbed Archimedes' foot and hung him upside down and shook him. The poor man yelped as the fleas started to fall on the ground. 

Brook was horrified at this, now conscious if she has fleas, and decided to take more baths every day. Terk smiled, satisfied, and practically moved Archimedes away before crouching to the ground to lick the fleas off the ground but Brook had enough as she cleaned the house already.

"No, no, no, no! Terk, a lady picks and nibbles," Brook tried, demonstrating it with her hand. "Picks and nibbles."

"That takes too long," Terk complained, sitting up. "I like fast food!"

Brook sighed, "Do you want to be a lady or not?"

Terk's eye twitched, now just grabbing fleas from Archimedes one by one and eating them. 

"Right," Brook nodded. "Now that's better. Now, extend the pinky."

Terk did so with a deadpanned expression and begrudgingly started eating the fleas with her stupid pinky up. She hasn't seen Brook do this and this is getting annoying but she was determined. 

"This looks silly," Terk sighed. "It's uncomfortable. Nothing about it feels natural!"

Brook grinned, finally getting it right. "Precisely!"

Archimedes grinned, "By Jove, I think she's got it!"

Terk's eyes widened, smiling little by little. "What do you know, I'm a lady!" she burped and slapped a hand to her lips but certainly raised her pinky. 

-ˋˏ ༻❁༺ ˎˊ-

Brook and the others heard the news that Gobu has accepted in staying with the family as that would explain Tarzan being late getting home. Brook decided to help Terk in looking decent for the traditional welcome. Terk...hated it but decided to stay back for a while to encourage herself to walk out of the house. 

Brook decided to go on ahead and meet them. She made sure to stay further away from the group as she was still unsure of what to do and felt it appropriate to not interfere. 

Tarzan gathered everyone in the family and ran around, hooting at them. Not far from them, Gobu stayed in the shadows not believing this was real. It was until he felt a tap on his shoulder and turned, seeing nothing there. But then, he felt the weight on his shoulder seeing Bungi landing there. 

Bungi hummed, seeing the commotion. "If I didn't know better, I'd say this was one of those welcome to the ape family thing. What you call it? A dum-dum?"

"You're right," Gobu gave him a pointed look. "Listen, I'm not going back with you. I'm joining Tarzan's family."

"Aww," Bungi clicked his tongue, grabbing a thin branch with his tail. "That's going to break the boss' heart. Then your father's leg, and your uncle's arm, and–" As he listed, he started breaking the branch in halves while Gobu winced at the consequences. 

"All right! All right!" Gobu sighed. "Tell the boss–tell him I'll-I'll be heading back tomorrow. With Tarzan and Brook."

Bungi smirked, "Make it tonight." 

Gobu closed his eyes and sighed, "Tonight."

Bungi grinned, patting Gobu's head. "That's a nice dumb-dumb." With that, he jumped and fled. Gobu looked back at the family, seeing Tarzan was almost completing the ceremony, and walked out to talk to them. 

As Gobu walked towards them, Tarzan grinned at him and punched his chest repeatedly causing the ape to cheer in excitement. "Wait, stop!" Gobu calls as everyone calmed down. "I-I can't do this," he shook his head. "I can't join your family, Tarzan. I need to get back to my own."

The family gasped, sad to hear Gobu's words. Brook worriedly turned to Archimedes who stood beside her. Terk would be upset at the news. 

"But your leg," Tarzan frowned. "It's a very long journey."

Gobu sighed for the nth time, "I know. I'll have to take my chances. Unless..." Gobu glanced at Brook briefly before looking back at Tarzan. "Unless you'd be kind to see me back."

Tarzan smiled, "Of course. I'm your friend, Gobu."

Gobu then winced, rubbing his bandaged thigh. Brook took notice and walked over to them in worry. "You're still hurt. Perhaps waiting another day would be fine."

"I'm sorry for the inconvenience, Ms. Brook," Gobu looked up at her. "Would it be all right if you come along? I feel the bandages would be a trouble on the journey."

Brook glanced briefly at Tarzan, seeing her husband nodding at her. Brook turned to Gobu and nodded, "Of course, anything to help."

"If it's no trouble," Gobu looked at them both. "I'd like to leave tonight."

Brook frowned worriedly as Terk wasn't able to come back to talk to Gobu for the last time. Archimedes walked towards her and handed her his medical bag. She nodded in thanks and started walking with them. She could hear the apes sadly saying goodbye as they left through the night. 

Just as they left, Terk finally made her presence known while showing off her pink bow tied to her curled hair. "Pardon me, gentlemen," she spoke elegantly as it got Flint and Mungo's attention, turning around to see her. Their eyes widened, not recognizing her. 

"But could you point me in the direction of Mr. Gobu?" she posed with a smile. 

"Who wants to know?" Flint smirked. 

"Why, fiddle dee dee, it's just little old me," Terk grinned with her high-pitched voice. "Terk."

Mungo scoffed, "Yeah, and me Tarzan."

Flint smirked, "Well, whoever you are, little lady. Gobu's gone but we're available."

Terk stopped, her eyes widening at the news and breaking her character. "What do you mean he's gone?!" she grabbed their shoulders and glared at them, surprising them,

"It is Terk!" Mungo's eyes widened in disbelief. 

"But Tarzan and Brook took Gobu home! Back to his own valley!" Flint exclaimed as Terk started to get madder by the second. And Brook's gone?! Why didn't she tell her?!

"You mean to tell me I scrape ten years of muck off my feet and that bum leaves?!" Terk removed the bow off her head and ruffled it to its natural state and glared at them. "Which way did they do?!"

Flint and Mungo immediately pointed in the direction as Terk silently cursed, stomping in that direction while Flint and Mungo looked at her. "That Gobu is gonna fall for my ladylike ways if I gotta beat him to a pulp!"

-ˋˏ ༻❁༺ ˎˊ-

They took some breaks during the journey but they didn't have any problems as Brook tended to Gobu's thigh with care. Tarzan was careful to take care of her too, knowing his wife needed to rest but Brook could handle it. 

Brook made sure to stay close to them as they started to venture further from their valley. But Tarzan and Brook noticed how quiet Gobu was, even when Brook was checking his wound. They started to worry for the ape. It was already early morning by the time they were getting close to Gobu's valley. 

"You haven't spoken all morning, Gobu," Tarzan glanced at him. "Is everything all right?"

Gobu snapped out of his daze, "I'm fine. We're almost there."

They passed by a few bushes as they walked through open space. Brook spotted a few gorillas hidden in the trees and frowned, unsure of why she felt this odd feeling. Tarzan must have felt it too as he gripped the spear he brought along. 

"This is my family," Gobu introduced as they stopped in front of them. 

Brook and Tarzan stiffened as they heard a snarl around them. The gorillas heard to and ran to hide. Tarzan gripped his spear and grabbed Brook's hand in alert. They looked around but didn't find anything. 

"What's going on?" Tarzan turned to Gobu who refused to look in his eyes. 

"I'm sorry, Tarzan," Gobu stepped away. 

Tarzan turned around as he heard a thump, he urged Brook to stand behind him as an ape started stepping out of the bushes. Tarzan's and Brook's eyes widened in shock as Tublat glared down at them. Brook immediately took notice of the pale eye and the visible scar on him as he seethingly glared at them. 

"Hello, hairless runts," Tublat smirked at them. 

"Tublat..." Tarzan growled. "You're still alive!"

"Still alive!" Tublat smirked, glancing at Brook while the woman only glared at him too. She'll never forget the moment he tried threatening her family. Her only regret is not bringing her bow and arrows. She only had the spearhead Tarzan gave her. 

Brook stiffened as a couple of gorillas walked behind them. Brook cursed as one of them grabbed her arm while the other snatched the spear from Tarzan's hands. The family is in on this. 

"Tublat came a few months ago. He..." Gobu spoke. "He killed our leader."

"If I can't have Kerchak's family," Tublat snarled. "I'll take this one."

Gobu sighed, "We follow Tublat now."

Tarzan's eyes widened in disbelief, glancing back at Brook who stood still while the other gorilla still held her arm firmly but gently. Tarzan growled, glaring at Tublat. 

Tublat smirked, seeing them both trapped. "I've waited a long time for this, runts."

Brook watched worriedly while Tarzan started circling the ape. She wasn't sure of what to do. It was then that Tublat growled and swung his arm back. Brook's eyes widened and crouched down as his arm knocked the gorillas back, now freeing her. 

"Go!" Tarzan shouted. 

Brook watched worriedly but knew she would only be in the way, so she held her bag to her chest and ran away. Tublat noticed and started running after her but Tarzan jumped in front of him. Tublat growled, glaring down at him. 

"Go after her!" Tublat shouted as three gorillas hooted and ran after her. Tarzan saw this and jumped on Tublat's head before running after them. Tublat growled as he and the rest of the gorillas followed. 

Brook ran as fast as she could making sure to not look back in fear as she hears the heavy steps and panting behind her. She started running through a grass field and tried going in one direction. She yelped as she felt a hand grab her wrist but was heavily relieved to see Tarzan tugging her to go faster. 

Brook's eyes widened to see Tarzan stop in his tracks and pulled her down to the ground as a gorilla lunged at them. It flew over their heads and hit a tree. Tarzan pulled her up and carried her over his shoulder as he started climbing up the tree. As they got on, Brook jumped down to a branch and climbed behind him, wrapping her arms around his shoulders. 

"Tarzan..." Brook gasped, seeing the gorillas starting to climb on the tree too. 

Tarzan focused ahead and started sliding through a branch while she held on. He stopped and turned around as a gorilla growled and lunged at them. Tarzan placed a hand on top of Brook's and dived off the tree. Brook yelped but held him tightly, trusting his instincts. 

Tarzan flipped and landed on another branch, sliding down before jumping to a vine. Brook looked down, spotting Gobu and other gorillas running after them while they swung on the vines. 

"We'll be all right," Tarzan spoke as he swung to another vine. "I won't let them harm you."

"That's not what I'm afraid of," Brook admitted, recalling the time Tublat hurt Tarzan the last time they met but was glad to hear his words. 

Tarzan narrowed his eyes forward and gripped the vine tightly before swinging high to another branch, sliding down and up the tree. Meeting the end of the branch, Tarzan was met with an open field and no branch or vines to hold. 

Tarzan flew down and grunts as they landed on an unbalanced log. Brook attempted to get down but Tarzan held his hand to stop her as the log started to break under their weight. 

Brook yelped as the log collapsed, causing them both to fall into the river. Tarzan removed her arms from his shoulders and held her to his chest as they swam to the surface. Brook coughed, feeling the water accidentally going into her nose. With that, Tarzan helped her to the top of the log while he followed. 

"Hold on," he spoke as he stood up and made Brook stand in front of him while he held her waist. 

They both looked back to the forest, seeing the gorillas glaring at them as they can't swim, and tried following them from land. Gobu hesitantly followed them, watching their every move. 

Brook snapped out of it while she felt Tarzan hold her waist firmly. That was when she noticed the river going fast and turned in their direction. "Good heavens," she gasped, seeing they were heading to a waterfall. 

Brook yelped as the log rushed down and hit a few rocks but Tarzan took control, making sure to make them balanced on the log on the way down. A few more to go before they finally reached the long river. 

With a final fall, they both fell off the log and into the water. They both swam up and coughed, swimming to rock and leaning on it with exhaustion.

"Are you all right?" she heard Tarzan looked at her while she nodded. "I'm all right, Darling. What about you? Did he hurt you?"

"No," Tarzan spoke. It wasn't safe. They needed to go back home. Tarzan got on the rock and shook himself dry before helping Brook to get on too. He jumped on the other rocks while Brook followed as they reach the land. 

"Tarzan!" they stopped, looking up to see Tublat on top of the waterfalls holding Terk by her ankle. Brook gasped in horror, hands on her lips. "Terk!"

"I believe this is yours," Tublat smirked. 

"This is no way to treat a lady!" Terk shouted, squirming in his hold. 

Tarzan narrowed his eyes at him, turning to Brook to go but stopped as a rock fell between them making them look back up at Tublat. 

"Both of you," he snarled. 

Tarzan clenched his fists in anger while he grabbed Brook's hand and led her back to the waterfall. Brook worriedly looked up to Terk's direction as they both started climbing up to meet with them. Tarzan made sure to shield Brook as he glared down the gorillas. 

Gobu looked at with regrettably, "Tarzan. Brook. Come with me."

He walked away while Tarzan held Brook's hand and followed him. "It doesn't have to be this way, Gobu," Brook spoke, noticing his behavior while Tarzan agreed. 

"You don't have to take orders from Tublat," Tarzan stated while Gobu sighed. "I have no choice! He's stronger than I am."

"Stronger than you, yes," Tarzan admitted. "But not stronger than your family. Remember, there is strength in numbers."

Gobu didn't reply, only taking his words in as they started walking back to the family and towards Tublat. Tarzan looked around, finding Terk being held captive by two other gorillas. 

"Let her go, Tublat," Tarzan growled. "It's me you want."

Tublat growled, raising a fist at them until Gobu stepped in front of them. "You'll have to get through me first, Tublat!"

Bungi smirked, jumping off of Tublat's shoulders and to another branch. "Oh! I want a good seat for this."

"Tarzan couldn't beat Tublat on his own," Gobu spoke up for his family to hear. "He needs us!"

The family chattered in worry but didn't move. Tublat growled and grabbed his shoulders. "You outlived your usefulness, Gobu." With that, Tublat picked him up and threw him at Tarzan. 

Tarzan pushed Brook out of the way and grunts as Gobu pushed him back, knocking himself against a rock. Brook's eyes widened in worry, looking around. She spotted Tarzan's discarded spear and ran for it. 

Tublat growled and lunged at her but she jumped away from his hold and grabbed the spear. Tublat snarled, turning around and ripping the boulder off the ground and raising it over his head now standing in front of her. Brook's eyes widened in horror as Tublat threw it down at her. 

But Tarzan was quick to tackle her away from harm. Gobu rushed to them as Tublat grabbed Tarzan and threw him away. Brook exclaimed in shock as Tublat raised his fist and slammed it on Gobu's injured thigh, knocking him away too. 

Brook panted, scooting back as she raised Tarzan's spear defensively. Tublat only seethingly glared at her. "You'll pay for my eye, runt!"

Brook seethingly glared at him, furious at him for hurting not only Tarzan but Gobu and his family. They don't deserve this. Tublat neared close to her but Tarzan jumped on his back, wrapping him in a chokehold. 

"Tarzan!" Brook gasped and yelped as Tublat threw Tarzan over his shoulder and at them, knocking them down. 

Tublat circled them and roared, grabbing Gobu by his shoulders and wrapping his arms around him, squeezing him threateningly. Gobu grunted in pain and looked at his family. 

"Before Tublat came, we stood as a family! We can do it again! Together! We're stronger than he is!" Gobu shouted. 

It caused an immediate reaction in the family as they started screeching and growling, running over to stop Tublat from crushing Gobu. Tublat growled, throwing Gobu away before facing the rest of the family. 

Brook and Tarzan look up from the ground, seeing the family struggling at first with Tublat's fists but managing to restrain him. Tublat growled defensively as he dragged himself away from them. He turned to them, growling at them for the last time before fleeing. 

Bungi watched everything in disbelief and turned around, seeing the rest of the family glaring down at him. He nervously laughed, "Oh well! Looks like my work here's done! Tootle!" he ran away. 

Seeing them gone caused the family to cheer and hug each other with relief. Brook sighed and rushed over to Terk and give her a hug which Terk hugged her back. 

-ˋˏ ༻❁༺ ˎˊ-

It seemed to make the place brighter and greener with Tublat gone. Seeing his bravery and courage, everyone decided to make Gobu the next leader of the family which Gobu took it with honor. Brook stood next to Tarzan to bid them goodbye while Terk stood behind them, unsure of what to say. 

"You'll be a fine leader for your family, Gobu," Tarzan smiled. 

"Tublat won't trouble you again," Brook smiled back as Gobu apologetically nodded to her. 

Terk patted down her fur before standing up in two and walked over to him confidently. "Congratulations, Mr. Gobu," her high-pitched voice got his attention as they turned to her. "But if you ever find it lonely at the treetop, look me up."

Gobu cringed, unsure of her sudden change of behavior. "Uh, thanks Terk. But, uh, why acting so strange?"

"Why, whatever do you mean?" Terk grinned, looking down at her hand before raising her finger "elegantly".

"You're like a zebra trying to hide its stripes," Gobu spoke. "What happened to that angel I first met?" he grinned. 

Terk's smile dropped and looked at him surprised. "Are you telling me you like the me that's under all this?"

"Rough and tumble gals have always been my favorite," Gobu smirked while Brook watched it all adoringly. 

"You mean all this time we could have been flinging mud at warthogs together?" Terk grinned excitedly.

"Is the invitation still good?" Gobu smirked. 

Terk immediately grabbed his arm and started dragging him off with urgency. "Look out warthogs! Here we come!"

Brook watched it all with amusement and couldn't help but be proud of Terk. She knew that someone would love her for herself. Glancing at Tarzan, who smiled at them softly, she smiled and grabbed his hand. 

They sure are lucky. 

Published: August 5, 2023

Word Count: 6980