Chapter 2
Brother

The sun was high in the sky when I finally snapped out from my fantasy world into the real world. It was the greatest dream ever; I rubbed my eyes in hope to gain my focus, the colors of my surroundings finally came into focus, revealing another macaw that hadn't yet woke up.

It was very unlikely for Frost to stay asleep this late, as for the last few days, he usually the first – if not Mom – to wake up. My sisters' voices were nowhere within my range of hearing, so I decided to go out, before suddenly Dad poking his head of my entrance.

"Morning Tiago!" He greeted, his face then turned in utter confusion. "Odd, Frost hasn't yet wake?"

"Maybe he is just tired, he did take the lead yesterday." I mused. "Uhm should we wake him up?"

Dad shook his head, but before he could speak, Frost stirred and broke free from his dreamscape. Our conversation had involuntary woke him up. He then rubbed his eyes to gain focus on us, but weariness were obvious present in his body.

"It's morning already?" He inquired, tiredness clear in his eyes.

"It's more like mid-day rather than morning Frost." Blu stated.

"Um okay I'm up I'm up." He said, stifling a yawn.

Dad then told us to go the kitchen where breakfast was prepared; I was gleeful at first, knowing that usually if we took breakfast in the kitchen, it was either pancakes or waffles.

I soared faster than ever to the kitchen, leaving Frost behind. As the idea of pancakes or waffles really excites me, those meals were among my favorites, and since Amazon didn't have the ingredients, I was craving their delight for months.

But my mood soon lost as I saw a couple of bananas and oranges on the kitchen counter. Bia, as usual, buried in her book while Carla and Mom enjoying a soccer match on TV.

Frost was lagging behind, something just seems wrong with him today, as sleep last night wasn't rejuvenating him completely.

"Morning Tiago." Mom finally noticed my arrival, her greetings soon followed by my siblings.

Bia soon notice too that something was wrong with Frost, she put down her book and rushed to him. "Are you okay? You seems really tired."

He shook his head, forming a reassurance smile in his face. "Nah, I'm okay."

My sister didn't look convinced. "You sure?"

"Positive." He then fluttered to the counter. "So what you guys get for breakfast?"

"That's what you want huh? Eat? Just like Tiago." Carla quipped, chuckling.

"Uh right…" He grew red under his periwinkle feather. "Sorry. Morning everybody."

"Morning" We said in unison. Mom and Bia were chortled at his quirky attitude.

A thought quickly entered my mind. "So mom! What are we going to do today?"

"Well, we might want to visit your uncles first."

Carla was excited with the news. "Really? Yes! I missed them a lot."

Despite my high mood, my stomach wasn't going to cooperate without its daily sustenance, and it wasn't shy to announce its protest.

"Go get breakfast first." Mom chuckled.

I grabbed one of the bananas and offered it to Frost; he accepted it half-asleep. "Thanks Tiago."

I was just started to take my first bite on the fruit when Mom asked me.

"Tiago, where's your Dad?"

"Uh, I thought he was following us behind earlier."

Dad then arrived seconds later, revealing a bad news.

"Kids, your Mom and I are going to Tulio for a while, so I want you to stay here."

"But we were going to see Uncle Pedro and Nico."

"Well that visit should wait for a while Tiago." Dad stated.

"I think we can go by ourselves just fine."

"No Tiago, it's too dangerous out there, and you can get lost easily."

I wasn't happy, not at all. "But…"

"No buts Tiago." He said, sighing.

"It's not fair, I wasn't a chick anymore. Come on Dad!"

"Tiago Gunderson, listen to your father." Mom stated firmly, her gaze sternly directed at me.

"Ugh fine." I sighing in defeat.

"We'll be home as fast as we can, so you guys stay here okay?" Dad was trying his best to sound calm. "I hate to ruin your day kids, but there are other things you can do while we were gone for a while."

"And please, don't do anything funny okay?"

"Affirmative." Bia exclaimed.

"Of course." Carla said.

"Tiago?" Mom asked.

"Yes…" I said, half-heartedly.

"Good, we'll be home soon, see you around kids." With that, they soared into the sky, their presence soon faded.

I wasn't happy with that, today was too perfect to only spent in this place.

Carla was offering me to watch the soccer; one of my favorite sport, and also the Brazilian culture, courtesy to Bia.

With nothing more I could do, I sat beside her and finished my breakfast. The game proved to be uplifting, as I remembered the game we played in the Amazon – precisely pit of doom.

Originally called "war" by the tribes, now it was a fun sport to play with. Especially with uncle Beto, his skills in soccer were amazing.

The heat from the game lifted my bad mood. The tactic they used to maintain lead against the opposing team was cleverly arranged, I was thrilled to use one of them later if I had a chance when we were back from Rio.

The annual games in the Amazon usually started as the celebration on the success of driving those loggers away from the Amazon; this time of year, I would surely participate and showed my skills.

My high spirits were kept, even as the game finally ended. "Whew that's a good game don't you think?'

"Certainly Tiago, if you don't mind, I'm going back to my room now, my iPod started to get lonely." She said.

I shrugged. "Sure."

Her departure soon filled the room with agonizing silence and boredom. Frost had fall asleep since the start of the game; he even yet finished his meal. I paced back and forth to cease boredom as my mind started to seek something, but none were coming nonetheless.

I made my way to the kitchen window, staring the blue spotless sky with high spirits. The air was pleasant and the sun's ray wasn't as hostile as Rio usually offer, moments like this was sure perfect to do some activity. I could do some adventure in the jungle or just fly by.

Well flying around here sure isn't a trouble, right?

I flapped my wings in steady rhythm before soaring to the sky, feeling the Rio's breeze ruffling my plumage. A young scarlet macaw suddenly appeared in the sky, his attitude was challenging me into a race.

I remembered the lessons Frost taught me to fly fast, gaining advantages of the said knowledge, the scarlet macaw was left behind far away. He tried to outpace me with all his might, sadly his efforts were in vain as he started to slow down, straining his wing in the process.

He then approached me. "Você e veloz!" [You are fast!]

Smiling, I replied. "Obrigado!"

"How did you do that?"

"Just my skills." I boasted.

"Meu nome e Rico." He said, extended his wing.

"Tiago." I reached his wing.

His voice were rich accented. "Say amigo, do you want another race?"

"Oh you are on!" I said, fulfilling his wish.

We were racing quite far this time, and of course, I won by a landslide – as if I ever lose.

I bid him a farewell before rushing back to my home, hoping my parents weren't yet home or aware the lack of my presence. My hope was answered when their presence was nowhere in sight. Sighing, I made my way into the counter, my belly already craving for another meal.

A bowl of assorted fruit were taunting me to attack them, Bia then arrived with Carla, for the same reason.

Bia then noticed Frost hasn't yet awaked since, confused. "What happened to him? He wasn't exactly like this before."

"Maybe we should wake him, it's already past mid-day." Carla stated.

"Nah let's just let him rest." Bia urged.

Fernando then burst up into the kitchen, we squawked a greeting as this was the first time we saw him.

"Oh hello there! You guys are back again this year?" Fernando cheered, he then spotted Frost.

"Who is this?"

Bia flew closer to Frost, motioning him with her wing before pointing at herself.

Fernando quickly got the point. "Your boyfriend huh?" my sister nodded her head.

Fernando was smiling "Congrats Bia!"

Bia then motioning a 'silent' gesture, before pointing once more at Frost.

"Oh right, sorry." He whispered. "Well guys, just squawk if you need anything." He then grabbed an apple before leaving the room.

Carla stifled a laugh. "Way to go Beatriz, how cute."

"Ugh sis, please stop that." She huffed, although I could see her blush.

Carla kept grinning teasingly while I prepared to eat my lunch. Grabbing the star fruit in the bowl, I savored every bit of the fruit in my mouth; the taste was sweet and watery, and I felt refreshed already.

We relaxed a bit after finished our lunch, let it slide for a moment in our belly; the meal had provided me with more energy, but Mom and Dad hadn't yet returned.

Carla and Bia were returned to their room, and once again, I was left out without anything to do. My head was turning its gear on, searching for something fun, but it was proved futile as none of the idea hit my head.

I finally decided to visit my sisters – although I'm heading straight to Bia as Carla would never hear me coming. Bia usually had some fancy books, like the pop-up book last time before we lost it in the Amazon.

I fluttered to our treetop residence, landing on the metal rim, where Bia's room was located. Poking my head through the openings, I saw her reading a book, "Plants of Amazonia" the title boasted.

"Hey sis, watcha doing?"

She then realized my presence. "Oh hey Tiago, I was reading this part of the orchids that blooms in the Amazon," She then flipping her book to me, pointing about the orchid.

The book's representation of the said species was incredible, although it didn't have pop-up, still, the vibrant colors of the orchids were stunning.

Bia then resumed her reading, I was sitting next to her, trying to overcome boredom with her books. Unfortunately, I wasn't really a bookish macaw; I could never understand how Bia could spend an entire day reading that boring stuff.

My boredom had reached its limit at the sixth page of the book, yawning, I left her room and fluttered down to my parent's room. It was then when something caught my eyes, Dad's fanny pack. A grin soon formed in my beak as I recalled what were contained, and my mischievous mind had already planned a prank, my target: Frost.

He hadn't yet awaked when I arrived at the kitchen, I gingerly walked beside him, avoid to wake him up and blow up my pranks. He was really oblivious on what's happening to him, as he had snored peacefully since this morning. Slowly, I lifted the whistle, sucking as much air as my lungs allowed me to, before blowing it to the whistle as I braced my ear for the strain.

PHFRITTTT!

Frost was jolted awake by the sudden noise, his eyes widened in shock as he frantically looking for grip on the counter, as consciousness wasn't fully present within him. I was grinning with my success, although the grin soon ceased and replaced with a grimaced looks as he neared the edge of the counter, slipped and fallen into the kitchen floor with meaty thud.

He grunted in pain, muttering something under his breath. The whistle's noise reached my sister's ear as she appeared on the window, looking disbelief with what she saw.

Bia quickly rushing to Frost, asking him if he was okay. He was still laid on the floor, unable to move.

Carla was the second one to arrived, and with the whistle in my talon, I knew I couldn't avoid the stern glare I would receive from my siblings.

"Tiago! What are you doing?" Bia yelled, furious.

"I'm…"

"You are so dead Tiago!" Carla exclaimed.

Fernando was also alerted by the whistle, burst into the room to see the commotion. He was surprised to see Frost on the floor, as Frost's face bore a pained looks.

"Well… what happened?" he asked.

Carla pointed me with her feather, I quickly tried to hide the whistle, but Fernando already saw it.

"That's not very nice." Fernando stated. "I'll grab some pillow." He then went out the room.

Frost finally gained consciousness. "Ugh what happened? My body really hurts."

He whimpered as he tried to wake from the ground. "That never happened before."

"Frost, you probably best to lie down for a while." Bia calmed.

Guilt started its attack in my heart. I wasn't prepared for this, I wasn't aiming for such outcome, and now, he probably hated me.

I fluttered down to the floor, walking slowly as I hung my head in shame. My sisters' gaze was terrifying.

"Frost, I'm sorry…" I said.

He was puzzled by my apology. "For what?"

"I'm the one blow the whistle." I admitted, dreading the outcome.

He said nothing, starring at the kitchen ceilings. Fernando then returned with a pillow in his hand.

"Here use this." He offered the pillow.

Frost were struggling to stand up, but managed to do that anyway. He looked at me, asking. "Why?"

I was too afraid to make an eye contact with him, his scar was sure menacing. "I'm just… you know… I got bored so…"

He sighed before setting himself on the soft cushion, easing his pain slightly.

My dread came into its full capacity when I heard my parents' voice from the outside. They swiftly entered the kitchen before alerted on what really happened here.

Dad looked confused, and mom no other, Carla then told them what happened, the moment she finished her story, I know what I was going to get.

"You did what?!" Dad exclaimed.

"It was an accident." I countered.

"An accident?! You blew that whistle on purpose, and that is not 'accident' Tiago!"

"But I…"

"No buts Tiago, what you did is wrong, say your sorry mister." Mom said firmly, her gaze spoke "You better mean it."

"Frost, I'm sorry." I said.

He wasn't pressing any issue further, either because he was just like that that or he was trying to save me from my trouble. "That's fine Tiago."

Fernando then informed his parents the occasion, Tulio quickly rushed to Frost and studied his condition, and Linda was also concerned by his state.

Tulio then announced the condition of Frost, "He is fine, thankfully, just a sore muscle after the fall, although it's best to keep him rested."

The news was greeted with a grand sigh of relief from the entire family.

I was happy with the news, as I would never forgive myself if something was happening to him, just because of my stupid pranks.

Mom and Dad shot me a look that said. "You are in trouble, we need to talk."

After getting Frost into my room, my whole family gathered in the kitchen, discussing my action earlier.

"Now mister, what's gotten into you? Why did you do that?" Mom asked.

"I wasn't planning that far, honest." I sighed. "I was just bored."

"That wasn't an excuse Tiago."

"Well if we went to meet uncle Pedro and Nico, not all of this would have happened." I huffed, avoiding to put all the blame on myself.

"Tiago! That's not…" Mom's scold was cut by Dad.

"Okay, I'm sorry for that. But that's not a reason you can act like that." He admitted, sighing. "You should know that startling sleeping people was inappropriate."

"And I'm sincerely sorry to take your time today, but Tulio's matter was more important, so I'm sorry too." He said.

His words softened my demeanor, a guilt also manifested within my heart. "I'm sorry too. I wasn't really thinking."

"It's not us you should apologize Tiago, although Frost probably getting bored of hearing your sorry." Dad chuckled.

I smiled at his warm response. "Yes, I will."

"But you should know better next time when to pranks and the outcome of such act, okay?" Mom inquired.

"Yeah, I'm maybe getting overboard with Frost, I promise I won't do that again."

"Good." She nodded. "Now let's not bring this up again okay, I hate to ruin our vacation because a little tiny accident."

"Can't argue with that." Carla stated. "So what are we going to do today?"

"Um… I don't think we could do anything for now, we can't just leave Frost alone…"

"You can stay with him if you want to." Carla quipped, which Bia replied with a groan.

The whole family joined the laugh.

I finally back on my room after dinner. Frost was surprisingly fast to recover as he was able to join us for dinner. I was still troubled with his presence – not that I hated him, but more like guilt that still lingered in my soul, He wasn't showing any much expression towards me, acting as nothing had happened.

The night was quite hot, as for Rio, It wasn't something weird; the seawater scented the air as the night breeze blown into the city, and the sound of people singing could be heard in the distance. Nonetheless, I was tired.

Regaining the opportunity to spend time alone with him, I expressed my apologies again. He replied with a smile.

"That's the fourth time you say that Tiago, It's okay. I'm fine."

"You sure?"

"Yes, It's kinda my fault too that I was asleep all day." He then added. "You probably were getting bored."

"Why you sleep all day? You seem so tired today."

"Oh, yeah that… It's you." He admitted.

"Huh?"

"You were dreaming intensely yesterday, as you fight some kind of monster of something, and well, hitting me." He then added." It wasn't hurt, but it sure kept me from fall asleep."

I was embarrassed by the revelation. "Sorry."

He laughed. "That's fine Tiago, although please don't dream anything weird again okay?"

"I'll try!" I said.

"You guys don't mind?" Carla finally bothered with our noise.

We laughed before finally drifting back into the dreamscape, waiting for tomorrow.

For the both macaw, they finally gained mutual respect from each other, forging their friendship into a whole new level. They might not be siblings in blood, but that is not the point.

Family, the meaning of a family isn't someone who related by blood, you won't believe the number of people fight with each other even they were brothers and sisters. The chain that binds a family is Love, as love itself is universal.

The chain will surely test by time, but as long as Love is the chain, the calamity that will come over them, either disastrous or mere turbulences; will never yield to the strain, therefore strengthen it as opposed shattering it to pieces, because they will reconcile, stand together, all in the name of love.

Just like Blu said. Birds of blue feathers, Have to stick together.

A/N: Whew sorry guys for the late update, my PC derped up and I need to fixed it, thankfully the data wasn't lost.

Please kindly leave a review and thanks for reading.