Ch. 2: nightmares
"Falling… I'm falling", was all that raced through Blu's mind. He opened his eyes to see exactly what his nightmare was showing, it was the same dream that he'd been having for the past few weeks, but to him, it seemed familiar… almost like a memory. He sat perched on the edge of a tree hollow, listening and dancing to the happy music. He was just a hatchling in this dream and felt he was at home, like he belonged here. He glanced up and saw a female yellow macaw and her hatchlings, all about Blu's age. She gently gripped one of them and nimbly tossed them over the edge of the nest. They only fell a short distance until they managed to flap their wings and fly and went to join their mother. At seeing this, young Blu suddenly felt a burst of courage and decided today was the day he would join everyone else in the sky. He slowly stretched out his wings, feeling joy as he thought he would soon join in the joy of the other exotic birds, suddenly, a loud screech rang out as two birds were scooped up in a net and a few other birds flew into a hidden cage that latched shut, causing the other birds to scatter in a panic. Immediately Blu snatched his wings back to him and stared in horror as birds were taken left and right, the sounds of fear and panic filling the once joyful forest. Blu leaned farther out of the hollow to get a better view, but stumbled as he leaned out too far and plummeted to the ground below. "HELP" he tried to yell, but for some strange reason, he could not make the words leave his beak. His heart raced faster and faster as the ground came closer to him. He shut his eyes and waited for impact, but then he heard a very familiar voice, "Blu" the voice said, "wake up Blu!". And at that command, he shot his eyes open. He bolted up and darted his eyes all around, finally seeing that he was in his tree home, with his loving mate Jewel looking at him with boundless concern. Blu let out a sigh and slumped back down, "Whew, thank goodness it was just a dream" he said, slightly exasperated. "More like a freakish nightmare" said Jewel, "are you okay?" she asked. Blu simply smiled, he loved how she was always so caring, "Im fine now, knowing my Angel is watching over me" he said, smiling lovingly at Jewel, who blushed at the compliment. She snuggled up close to her mate and nuzzled his shaggy neck feathers, "You always have the right things to say Blu" she said as he leaned to kiss her. "Well im just glad I have you to say it to" he said as he stood and stretched, his wings went to its full length, reaching more than halfway across their home. "What a beautiful morning don't you agree Jewel?" asked Blu as he peered out of the hollow, Well I'll head out and get some breakfast, you hungry for anything particular?" he asked. "Hmm, why don't you surprise me today?" Jewel said with a smile, "and don't take long, I'll miss you too much" at this Blu pulled his mate close to him and they both passionately kissed. When they parted, Jewel looked at him happily but surprised at his sudden move "What was that all about" she asked "Just because I love you so much" said Blu and he embraced her one more time and took off to look for breakfast. He flew fast because he didn't like to be gone from Jewel long. He thought back to just last month when he wasn't even able to fly yet "dang, I must've been such a deadweight to her then, just last month I was terrified at the very thought of flying" when he thought this he remembered his nightmare and shuddered. He decided to push his thoughts aside and flew off to find some food.