Here is my new story. I have most of the plot figured out. I hope you all enjoy this new story :)
It had just become morning in Rio. I woke to my alarm going off. After I switched it off, I hopped out of bed. Right now, I was visiting the city of Rio to see the sights, since I had just graduated from college. As I was getting dressed, my phone rang. Picking it up from the bedside, I looked at the phone number and smiled. I answered it and held it up to my ear.
"Good morning, honey" he greeted.
"It isn't morning down here, but nice try. I just had dinner. How's Brazil?"
"It's great. It's a tropical paradise. And I heard that it's Carnival in a month. Too bad I'm only here for a week." I could hear my fiance sigh on the other end.
"Do you want to stay a little bit longer?"
"No, no. I'm fine with a week. I don't want to miss a day without you."
"Yeah, okay mister Sweet-talker. Just be back soon. I love you."
"I love you too, honey." She hung up first, so I put the phone down. I finished getting dressed and packed my satchel before heading out.
The streets were packed by cars along the streets. The paths were lined with crowds of people. I walked through the busy crowds, trying to get through to my destination. I found the small stall I was searching for on the side of the path. On the top it read 'Forest Tours'. He approached the stall and was seen by the stall owner.
"Ola, bom dia."
"I'm sorry. I only speak English" I explained plainly.
"Of course. Tourist. Welcome to Rio de Janeiro, friend. What can I do for you?"
"I'm wondering if you know of any tour groups going out today?"
"Of course. In fact, it begins now. Here comes your guide." He pointed over to a young boy with a singlet and shorts. He wore a badge with the name 'Fernando' on it.
"Hello sir. Are you the last of the group?" he asked me.
"Yeah. So, where is the rest of the group?"
"You're it." I was quite stunned to know I was the only one to go. "Don't worry sir. I'll look after you."
"Hey, I trust you, kid. I'm just worried a bit about you."
"No need to worry sir. I've been in some pretty bad situations. Do you want to start going now?"
"Sure. We'll go now." I started going before the stall owner called him back.
"Wait, meu amigo." I halted myself and turned around. He was holding out his hand.
"Oh, so sorry." I handed him 40 Brazilian reals before heading off.
The tour went into the jungle. I held out my camera, taking photos of different types of animals along the way. Fernando spotted a small group of Military macaws go by. I quickly took a shot.
"Birds are beautiful, aren't they?" he asked.
"Yes they are. That's actually why I came, since Rio is one of the best places to find lots of different types of birds." We continued on the path. The path started to go a little steeper and thinner. Eventually, it came to where the path became thin on one side.
"Let's finish here. The path's becoming too dangerous."
"Yeah, it is. Let's turn back" I replied, agreeing. As we were going back, I felt a question come up. "We should do this tomorrow. Are you able to?"
"Sure. Same time?"
"How about midday? That sound good?"
"Yep. See you then."
The night came quickly. Lights shined all around throughout the city. My hotel room was on the 15th floor, so I could see the whole city. I sat down on the couch and turned on the TV. The news came straight on.
"News has reached us that the sanctuary in the Spix macaw grove in the Amazon has been completed. In a few days, Tulio Monteiro and his team will return from the Amazon."
"That's good to hear."
"In other news, the cockatoo and frog pair have disappeared from the aviary in Rio. No one knows how this happened or where they are now."
"Okay, I think that is enough TV for now." I switched off the TV and went to bed. I was asleep in minutes.
The next day, I went to the same tour stall as yesterday. Today was particularly hot and moist. I found Fernando waiting for me, sweating in the heat.
"You were taking quite a while. What took you so long?" he asked.
"Sorry. It was very busy, especially around this time."
"Now shall we go, sir?"
"Yes. And stop calling me sir, please."
"Okay, so what do I call you then?"
"Call me by my name."
"Which is?"
"Right. I always forget to tell people that. My name is William."
Me and Fernando followed the same path as yesterday. I took more photos and also drew some sketches of a few birds as well. I was taking a sketch of a small bird when Fernando noticed my drawing.
"You're pretty good at drawing. Do you know what type of bird that is?"
"Pyrrhura roseifrons, also known as the Rose-Fronted Parakeet. A beautiful bird."
"I thought you said all birds were beautiful."
"In their own way. I like how this type of bird has a variety of colors." I finished the sketch and packed the sketchbook away. "Let's get going." We continued down the track to where we stopped before.
"And now we stop again." But I didn't stop. Instead, I saw something that peaked my curiosity.
"What is that?" It seemed to glint, like metal. I was so intrigued by it, I forgot about the thin path. My foot slipped and I fell back. Then I felt pain as I fell down the steep slope. I hit my head on a rock before hitting the bottom.
"William! Are you okay?" That was the last I heard.
That's the end of the first chapter. I hope you enjoyed it. See you next time :)