This chapter skips ahead a couple of days after the last. Enjoy :)

The were so close. After two days of tracking, it came to this. A dead end. Cody couldn't help it. He fell to his knees, scrounging around in the dirt. His feathers were getting dirty and all ruffled, his expression panic-stricken. He didn't want it to go like this. Not when he is so close to reaching his goal. The others look at him with sympathy, and a bit of pity. Just staring at the bird that was digging at the blanket of leaves on the ground.

"Where is it? Where is the trail?!" he cried at the top of his lungs. Tomada kneels down beside the military macaw.

"I'm sorry. But the trail's gone cold." Cody slams his wing down in a fist-like shape into the dirt, an anguished cry escaping his beak.

"It can't be! No, I won't accept it!" Roran opens his beak to speak, but shuts it when the angry bird continues on. "I was so close! So close to achieving my goal! At ridding myself of this...this curse!" He falls on his wings, panting. His breathing slows, and soon he is calm again. "I..was so close. So close." They continue to stand still. Until one of them moves forward, and drapes their wing over his shoulder. The enraged macaw feels compassion, and this soothes the savage beast inside. He turns his head slightly to find the female blue macaw, her head feathers drooping down from her head. Her eyes are filled with sympathy.

"We will get back on track" she glances back at Tomada with a raised eye ridge, "Won't we?" Tomada nods, with a determined look.

"How about you go have a rest? It's been a while" Roran suggests. Cody is about to argue, as he doesn't sleep, but decides that he might as well. It might help to get out of their way while they look. He stumbles off, but he doesn't find a place to rest. Instead, he ventures off, deeper into the forage around. Muttering to himself.

"We were so close. How? How could we lose it?" He receives his answer from the voice inside.

"It ain't your fault. That falcon was supposed to be searching." Cody stops, then sits on the ground, and closes his eyes to go deep into meditation. In his mind, he has the same image he always has.

"It is not his fault. He tried. But she is evasive...just like how she used to be." He thinks back, and sighs. It used to be just like her, when he used to know her. At least, when he thought he knew her. But he is returned to the valley in his mind. And behind him is the demon in his mind. He has a skeptical look upon his features, his wings crossed. "Just like I said, not their fault. But we will find her." He is silent for a moment, but then they are surprised by an echoing voice in the air. A voice that is familiar to their ears.

"Well, what a sight!" His mind goes back to reality, his eyes flick open to find..no one. But he is sure he heard her. That's when he angles his eyes upward, and sees her. A hyacinth sits on a branch, lying herself across it. She has one red eye, and the other is pearly blue. Her feathers are shining, as if cleaned recently.

"You finally decided to show yourself. Why now?" She smirks, her eyes linked with his.

"Oh, I don't know. Maybe to stir you up...what do you think?" He glares towards her, the ends of his wings clenching like fists. "Aw, someone feeling grumpy?" That last comment makes him snap. He lunges upwards, transforming in the air into Shade. Yet she shows no fear as he tackles her off the branch, and slams her into the ground.

"I'd love to spill the liquid of your life and watch your very life ebb away for what you did!" he snarls, with a hiss inside. Her smirk stays, then she starts to giggle. "You always knew how to make me laugh." His eyes darken, and he tosses her away into a tree. But somehow, she manages she flip herself and push off, colliding with him.

"Get..Off me!" He tries to push her, but only manages to flip them both. For a second, she is stunned. But it quickly changes to a sly smile.

"Just can't control yourself, can you?" Shade jumps back, allowing her to stand. "Then again, maybe you could. Just needed a reason." He snarls at her, although he does not attack. Instead, the feathers of his plumage revert back to their standard green, and his eyes back to brown.

"What were you doing back there?" She sends a questionable glance, aimed at him.

"What you mean?" He narrows his intent stare.

"You know exactly what I mean. At that underground base. What were you doing there? I know you wouldn't be in such a place without a reason." She shrugs, with an answer after. Not an acceptable one, though.

"Don't know. Maybe I just have a thing for caves and dark places. I enjoyed your company, didn't I? Pretty dark in your presence, isn't it?" Silence lingers over them as he keeps quiet. He turns his gaze away from her, and to the ground. How could he trust her, after what she pulled.

"Leave." She sends another questionable glance towards him, then turns away. "Actually, on second thought" he adds, a dark touch to his voice. She rotates her head slightly, only to see a flash of a shadowy movement. And that is the last she sees, before being consumed by darkness.

The three birds sit, waiting patiently. Out of nowhere, the green macaw had abandoned them. Left without any notice. But not only that. He had also lied about going to rest somewhere nearby. After the two days of searching, they couldn't believe what he pulled. And that made them..well, grumpy.

"How could he just wander off like that?" Sorrel somewhat snaps "When we find him, he's going to know what happens to those who waste my time!" Tomada gulps, imagining the pain the macaw would most likely suffer. One thing he knew no one should do is annoy her. It is easy to see how stressed she is, as he feathers are all ruffled, her head feathers standing on end."Just wait, because if he shows his face again, I'll..I'll-"

"You'll what?" They all whirl around to find the green macaw leaning against a tree, one of his talons pinning something against the branch he is on. But it is hidden from view.

"Where did you go?! Leaving us like that?! Did you want to worry us?!" He rolls his eyes. Apparently to them, his mood had improved.

"Well, I'm sorry about not asking your permission. Considering I just helped u all." He launches himself off the branch, with another avian in his clutches, his talons around their neck. He lands softly onto the ground, and pushes the body forth. In front of them lays a Hyacinth, her eyes closed. Her feathers are untidy, and covered with dirt. "I finally found you" he leans down so his beak is by her ear, then whispers coldly, "Alice." He moves back, and steps away.

Tomada scoffs, looking the macaw over. "This is the one who has been evading us? I expected someone...more camouflaged. Don't know why" Tomada states.

"Well, we have her. So, what now?" Roran asks. Cody stares at her, hesitant. Then, he answers.

"We wait for her to wake up. Then, we begin the questioning. And Sorrel, I will elt you handle that, if you want. I'm sure you want to blame someone for me leaving for no reason. And this stressful travelling."

She smirks. "I will try to enjoy it" she says, then has a slightly shocked expression. "I think you are beginning to rub off on me. With your 'dark side." Cody chuckles, then retrieves a nearby vine to hold their new prisoner in place.

That's another chapter. And to the author's I borrowed the OC's of, if I got anything wrong, please be sure to tell me.