The Rio the Darkness Saga Remastered
Rio the Darkness 1
Chapter 2: Old friends
Hello everyone, we're back with chapter 2. Thanks so much for the feedback from the previous chapter, really appreciated and glad to have a warm welcoming. Now as promised from the previous chapter, time for an author shout out.
Author shout out: Kraft58
The first author I would like to talk about is Kraft58. An author who started publishing way back in 2012, Kraft most noticeable work is the The Dark Robe Saga. This is arc consists of 6 stories that revolve around a group of murderous robed creatures that have set their sites on conquering the city of Rio de Janeiro, and building the "New World Order". What I love about these stories is not just the plot, but the amount of detail and development that goes into each story so it doesn't feel like a rehash each time.
Kraft's stories are fantastic, he puts so much heart and passion into them and keeps true to the tone of Rio while offering his own story to it as well. His writing style and structure are great too, it's always clear and never confusing on what to read. Kraft's stories were amongst the first I ever read in this website and I still love them to this day. If you're ever looking for feedback, Kraft will also happily tell you in detail on how you can improve. Not only is Kraft an excellent writer, but a good friend of mine too who I still keep it touch with to this day. Without his guidance, I probably would have reached the level I'm at today, so thank you Kraft for everything and helping me over the years. He also has a new story out, too. Check out his profile, I guarantee you'll enjoy them.
Morning felt like an eternity away as the night passed, revealing the comfort of sunrise. A certain blue macaw, however, did not find such closure. Jewel had not gathered a wink of sleep, the thought of her loved one out there alone was responsible for her temporary insomnia. Blu was no wild bird by any means, he was a pet. He barely coped with being in the jungle when they slept in the Vista Chinesa, and that was in a park. How would he survive in the jungle?
Jewel sat on one of the branches, her eyes dried and left damp from previous tears. "Blu. I don't know what happened to you, but I promise, I will find you. I ran from you once out of anger, I won't do it again out of fear."
The silence she endured was broken as familiar flapping of wings approached from the damaged air vent. Her hopes raised as she stood upright, silently wishing that it was her lovehawk returning. Few seconds passed, and three faces appeared: a toucan, a canary and a red-crested cardinal. Three of their friends had dropped by to see them after so long.
Rafael landed on the ground first, playing a pair of maracas in both of wings. "Olá amigos!"
"If it isn't our favorite lovebirds?" Nico greeted, tipping his bottle-cap in a friendly manner. "Good to see ya'll!"
Unfortunately for them, their enthusiastic greeting was not returned as expected. Jewel did not open her beak to say a word, leaving the three feeling quite unwelcomed. Somehow, they were completely oblivious to the fact that there was only one blue macaw present.
Pedro could not avoid a frown. "Don't everyone cheer at once. Why the long face?"
"And where's Blu?" Rafael questioned after observing their surroundings. From experience, his blue macaw friends were inseparable, chain or no chain.
It took Jewel a couple of seconds to shake off her frozen state, jumping from her position to meet them. "Rafael, Nico, Pedro. It's good to see you guys. Blu's not here, something…Something happened last night."
Her lowered voice left the three puzzled. Jewel was in no means the type of girl who was gentle and sweet. She was a tough bird, wild, short-tempered and never took insults from anyone. To see her so fragile left them concerned indeed.
"What happened, baby bird?" Nico spoke up curiously.
Jewel inhaled a small breath, knowing what she was about to tell them would sound crazy. "This is what happened…"
Darkness. That's what it called itself, "the Darkness". That was the last thing Blu had remembered before he lost consciousness from shock and lack of sleep, leaving him to lay motionlessly on the ground below. Slowly, Blu regained his sight, opening his eyes ever so slightly. Immediately, he was greeted by the bright sun shining in his eyes while offering a warm and gentle breeze against his feathers.
Raising one wing to block out the sun, Blu slowly stood to his feet. A huge headache followed, almost knocking him to the ground again. "Ow…What happened…Where am I? Wait!"
In panic, Blu observed each part of his body, expecting to see the familiar aura surrounding him the night before. However, he was met by nothing. No aura, no inhuman powers, no voice in his head. Nothing.
"I'm…Fine?" Blu questioned uncertainly. His eyes adjusted to the sun, allowed him to observe his surroundings. He was in the jungle, on the ground to be exact. Behind him was a large dent that was left from before. Did he do that?
He did not have time to check. Only one thing raced on his mind: "Jewel!"
Without hesitation, Blu spread his wings and took to the sky, flying high to study around him. The city of Rio de Janeiro was close in view that would take him no longer than ten minutes to fly back at max speed.
Gathering more altitude, Blu dived down to gain more speed, soaring through the air as fast as his wings would carry him. He was no expert, still having much to learn if he wanted to beat the likes of Jewel in a race. Right now, that did not matter. His priority was getting to his loved one.
"I'm coming, Jewel!"
Blocking out everything around him, Blu made full haste to get back to the aviary. His focus was so strong that he failed to notice the group of figures watching him from the trees.
The lead figure stepped forward, holding one wing towards his allies. "Patience brothers. Let him return home. We will intercept soon."
Explaining the previous night's events to her friends had been more difficult than predicated. Jewel did it all the same, but now her friends looked thunderstruck. Rafael, Nico and Pedro processed her words, each having their own say on the matter.
"Glowing?"
"Strength?"
"Speed?"
Jewel nodded to each of their questions. "Yes."
Pedro leaned over towards Nico, lowering his voice. "I think she been taking too much of that pain relief."
His whisper had not gone unnoticed by Jewel, whom stomped towards him defensively. Pedro hid behind Rafael as Jewel released a yell. "I'm telling you the truth! I know what I saw!"
Rafael had both of his wings spread, gently placing them upon her. "Easy. Jewel, no one here is doubting you. Right, Pedro?"
Pedro leaned from behind, nodding every so softly.
"Jewel, I can tell by your eyes you haven't slept," Rafael noted as he gathered her full attention. "Please, get some rest. We'll search for Blu."
Stubborn as ever, Jewel pushed herself away. "No! I'm not waiting around while Blu is out there. Flying or no flying, I'm leaving. Don't anyone try and stop me!"
Without any more words to exchange, Jewel turned and begun climbing her away towards the air vent. Neither Nico nor Pedro dared try to stop her, knowing their small sizes had no chance of stopping Jewel. When her mind was set on something, stopping her would be very difficult. Now that she was angry, there was nothing stopping her.
Even Rafael did not act, but for not for the same reasons. He understood what it was like to be missing a loved one. After being caged by Nigel, he thought for certain he would never see Eva again, his juicy little mango. True love should never be broken.
Jewel reached the top of the tree and perched on the branch that would take her to the air vent. Though she would not admit it loud, she was afraid. Not only was her Blu out there alone but her wing was still not back to full strength. One wrong move and she would fall to certain doom.
As she prepared to step inside, another figure suddenly emerged from the inside of the vent and into the artificial jungle. Jewel's eyes widened in relief, a huge smile raising across her beak. "Blu!"
Blu shared a similar expression, landing beside her with his wings spread. "Jewel!"
Reunited and safe, the blue macaws leaped into each other's wings, embracing the other close. The previous night's events slipped their minds. All they cared about never being apart again. Their friends nearby could not avoid cooing at the sight.
"My boy's all grown up," Rafael sighed, struggling to hold back tears.
Blu was the first to lean out from their embrace. "Jewel, I'm so sorry for leaving like that. I…I don't know what happened! I wasn't myself!"
"I don't care!" Jewel reassured. "You're back and that's all that matters."
Blu wished it could be so simple. What happened last night was not going to be a one-time thing. "No Jewel. I…I can't just sit here. Something's inside of me, something dangerous. If I can't get it under control, I could hurt you. I can't risk that!"
His words of warnings confirmed Jewel's story to their friends. The three of them flew up and joined them on the same tree, curious to hear more.
Jewel eyed him suspicious, stepping back so they were a foot apart. "Blu, what are you saying?"
Blu hesitated to reply, knowing she would not like the answer. Inhaling a small breath, he gave the answer. "Jewel…I'm saying I should stay away from you. All of you."
"What?!" Jewel shrieked, causing everyone around to step back in caution. "Blu, that's crazy! I know you would never hurt me. You can't leave, I won't let you! We're in this together."
Blu had expected her to snap, but not as much as she did. "Jewel- "
Jewel stood firm. "No. I'm not letting you go out there alone. We're chained-to-each-other-birds. Remember?"
Those familiar words sunk deep into Blu's heart, those exact words he used himself when he saved her. That was when their relationship turned from hostile, to friendship and to love. They had gone through so much in their time together, would it be right for them to separate now? After everything?
Blu's mind was telling him to leave Jewel here for her own protection, but his heart said otherwise. He promised her that he would never let her go, one he intended to keep. "Always."
"And we got your back, too," Nico spoke up. "We'll stick with you to the end. We friends gotta stick together, right Pedro?"
"You got that right!" Pedro agreed enthusiastically.
Blu never felt more grateful than to have help from his friends. One month ago, he had rarely socialized with other birds, now he had more allies than ever before. "Thank you, all of you. But I'm afraid I don't even know where to begin."
Fortunately, his toucan friend had just the idea. Rafael let out a small chuckle as he placed both wings over his blue macaw amigos. "I know just the bird to help."
Blu raised an eyebrow. "You do?"
"It's like I told you before: you know Rafael, and Rafael knows everyone," Rafael reminded. "A friend of ours use to come into the club. He was always talking crazy about darkness, how it takes control, you get the picture. Sound familiar?"
"You mean Andre?" Nico corrected.
Rafael nodded. "That's him. Only problem is that I don't know where he lives."
Though it seemed one problem was about to turn into another, Pedro stepped forward. "Lucky for you, Pedro knows just the bird who can help."
Nico eyed him. "You mean?"
"Rico the hawk!"
The legendary Rico, an old friend of theirs they had not seen in a long time. He was always a mysterious one, keeping to himself and seemed to have a habit of drinking. His species was also unknown as there had never been another like him. He was by no means hostile, but that did not mean he gave off a friendly vibe.
The mention of the familiar name left Jewel struck in awe. "Rico? Ricardo? Black bird, couple of inches taller than me?"
Blu eyed her curiously. "You know him?"
"He's a friend of mine," Jewel confirmed, though the change of her tone indicated she wasn't exactly happy, more surprised. "There were many of our kind, Blu. We found Rico once and adopted him into our clan when he nowhere left to go. One day, he left and never came back. About a week after that was…Well, when I lost my family."
Everyone was aware of Jewel losing her family and never bought it up in fear of bringing back bad memories. The change of her tone indicated she was saddened but reserved herself strong all the same.
"I'm not going to let my feelings get in the way," Jewel reassured after she noted their silence.
Blu patted her once for a small bit of comfort. However, he could not avoid but ask the obvious. "How exactly can he help?"
"Rafael may know everyone, but Rico knows where everyone is," Rafael explained in third person. "There's no better tracker than Rico."
Jewel took her mate's wing, turning her attention towards the air vent. "We're wasting time. We need to go, now."
There were no protests between birds. Without any more words to exchange, Blu positioned himself on top of Jewel and gently carried her in his talons, flying above the ground. Rafael led the way out of the artificial jungle, Blu in second and the best friends following from behind. It was time to find the answers to Blu's mysterious power.
A new adventure begins for the feathered friends.
That brings us to the end of this chapter. The blue macaws have been reunited and now it is time to find answers on the mysterious entity. Will they be successful in finding their answers? Stay tuned for chapter 3 coming soon and don't forgot to check out Kraft58's profile.
