Story of Evolution - Part 2

A long time ago (a little after Grrr and his troop discovered fire), in some land far far away, lived Akti, the ape. She lived in the same troop as Grrr.

Like the rest even she was expelled from her previous troop. The reason for her expulsion was, she was clumsy at jumping branches. She would fall after a few branches. But she had made up for this lack of talent by learning to walk on her hind limbs. (The apes did not consider her as one of their own cause of this reason)

In the new troop, some of the apes including Grrr (and his better half, Rerr) did not approve of her actions. Lall was the one with more liberal views, so he always objected the decision of expelling Akti.

On one particular occasion, Grrr was working (ya right Grrr was working, he couldn't live the lazy life after Rerr came in his life). Grrr was assigned the work of keeping fire alive with few other apes. So, Grrr and his team were working after a recent thunderstorm, when they accidentally happened to torch the nearby dried up grass. At first, the apes were happy to have recreated fire and that too on a large scale. But as the fire began raging wild, burning the trees, only then did they understand their folly. This fire was furious then any of the previous ones, engulfing one tree after another.

Lall ordered the troop to move to the barren area, based on Akti's suggestion. But most of the troop were skeptical of this order due to lack of trees in that region. Only when the fire began closing on them did they realize that Akti and Lall were right.

So the majority of the troop started running for safety on their four legs. But Grrr and Rerr were in a more grievous situation. They were unable to carry their newborn while running on their four legs (Yes, Grrr and Rerr had a baby).

Looking how helpless they seemed Akti ran to help out the couple. Rerr handed the baby to Akti. Akti held the baby and started running on her hinds. Grrr was leading the way followed by Rerr and Akti. All were fortunately out of the forest in time.

Had it not been for Akti - Grrr and Rerr would have suffered the fate of fire. The rest of the troop saw this act of bravery (or so one could assume) and advantages of walking on two limbs compared to the conventional method.

After a long time the fire died out and with it the major part of forest had gone. The tree jumping apes were now compelled to walk. Akti had the job of teaching - both young and old alike - to walk on hind legs.

Grrr, Rerr and Akti now became great friends. 

(That's how the story of friendship began along with the Art of Walking)