That night, Caesar climbed to the top of the tallest tree he could find. He looked out over the woods, at the conflagration that was still sending clouds of sparks whirling into the sky. While he was unconscious, Maurice, Koba, and Rocket had taken the troop against the wind until they thought they were far enough away to be safe.
Although it was still a terrible sight to behold, the fire looked as if it was beginning to diminish. As if the trees were winning.
And his scouts told him the humans were all gone, or leaving the woods. It felt like the apes had won, or at least gained a reprieve.
Beyond the burning woods, Caesar could see the city, the place that had once been his home. There were fewer steady lights than ever, but there was a new light—an orange, flickering glow, cousin to the flames that had nearly killed him.
Like the woods, the city was on fire.
He wondered what that could mean.
And, as he wondered, Cornelia quietly climbed up beside him and began to comb through his fur.