Alright guys! After some delay, I am finally back with this story!
But before we do…
I would like to say a happy birthday to my friend, Jameson the Phoenix Owl! Hope you are having a wonderful day buddy!
And also, we have a new FFN sibling here! Please welcome WeirdIsCute!
Chapter 4: Being Accepted
Morning came again over the American army camp and Alex woke up, yawning heavily as he looked around to see some men still sleeping, others were outside, eating breakfast and drinking coffee that Alex has yet to like. As Alex just sat there he was in deep thought over the events of the past couple of days, he never imagined he would be along the Blue Americans. However it was Alex's choice, he choose to run away from the madness that was the British army, but only time would tell he did made the right decision.
As Alex was just sitting where he slept, Blu, who was outside helping to prepare breakfast along his men, came and peeked in the tent to see Alex was awake.
"Oh good Alex, you're awake, I have something to give you." Blu said to Alex.
"What is it?" Alex asked as he was snapped out of his thoughts.
"It's a surprise, I think you'll like it." Blu smiled and went back outside.
Alex stretched himself one last time and got up, carefully walking through the tent to make sure not to wake up the men who were still sleeping. As Alex came to the entrance of the tent, he sighed and took a deep breath and opened the flap to see Blu holding onto a blue and white uniform.
"Surprise." Blu said as he extended out his wing for Alex to take the uniform.
"For me?" Alex replied, confused.
"Well, you can't wear a red uniform in a blue army, can you?" Blu chuckled.
"I guess not." Alex chuckled back nervously and took the uniform.
Alex went back inside the tent and took off the British uniform he was wearing and exchanged it with the blue uniform Blu gave him. It was a bit tattered and had some holes in it, but it gave Alex some feeling that he was accepted. As Alex finished putting on his new uniform, he went back outside, Jameson was there when Alex came out and he made a comment about Alex.
"You actually look good in blue, Alex." Jameson said.
"Thanks Jameson, I actually kinda of like it, better than being the same colored uniform as your feathers." Alex added as the two shared a laugh.
Nightfly also came up, carrying a Brown Bess musket with some powder, bullets, and bayonet as well for Alex. The Brown Bess was actually a British weapon, but the Americans used it as well, which meant that Alex didn't need any teaching on how to use it.
"And what's a soldier without a weapon?" Nightfly smiled as he handed the weapons over to Alex.
Alex took the musket, with the bayonet attached and put it over his shoulder, standing at attention, while looking at himself and making sure he was presentable as a soldier.
"How do I look?" Alex asked Jameson and Nightfly.
"You look like a true American soldier." Nightfly commented.
"I can't wait to go into battle." Alex said a little cheerful, but deep inside he was a bit frightened.
"Alright you three, stop chatting and have some breakfast." Blu playfully ordered his men, the three going to step down.
As Alex sat down, Zach gave him a cup of coffee again, which Alex took although of course it was still as bitter as always. And as Alex ate and drank, he made small talk with the others, well except for Noah, he was still a bit mad at what Alex said yesterday with the tea. Alex noticed this and reminded himself to ask Noah later why he was angry at him. Alex was focusing on his thoughts when Mihael said something to Alex.
"So Alex, I was just wondering, why did you desert the Brits?" Mihael asked.
"Oh well…" Alex began, being reminded of the atrocity he witnessed. "I didn't really have any friends and the officers were all bullies, I chose the army because it was much better than prison." Alex replied, leaving out the part about the horrors he witnessed.
"Well, you seem like a nice guy, I'll be glad to have you by my side in the battle." Mihael smiled.
"Thanks Mihael." Alex smiled back.
Alex and Mihael talked a little bit more and the more Alex talked with Mihael, the more he understood how much freedom meant to the Blue Americans, he still couldn't believe he was sent to destroy that. He just hoped that the Americans would win the battle and then win the war, he was thinking he would stay here, start a new life in America and not go back to England, where it was all miserable for Alex.
As breakfast was finished, the men all went to do their own business, Alex walking freely in the camp, seeing men doing all sorts of things, some training with their weapons and others resting by the shade of trees. As Alex walked through the camp, he saw Jugal sitting under the shade of a tree, writing down on a piece of paper, probably a letter.
"Hey Jugal." Alex called out to the Blue macaw, who looked up to see the Scarlet approaching him.
"Hey Alex." Jugal replied.
"What are you doing?" Alex asked, curious.
"Just writing a letter to my parents back home, just to let them know that I'm alright." Jugal replied.
"You must be lucky to have parents." Alex smiled.
"Oh yes, I am, my father fought before against the French and Indians with the British and now I'm fighting against the British." Jugal remembered how his father was war hero. "I want to make my father proud of me when the war is over and I come back home." Jugal told Alex.
Alex remembered hearing stories of the war in North America with the British and colonists against the French and Indians, back when the Americans and British were friends, before all the troubles began and the revolution started. Alex sat down besides Jugal for awhile and watched him write the letter, Alex thinking how nice it would be if he could have a family when the war was over, but of course there were no Scarlets in America.
Some time later, when Jugal wanted to take a short nap under the tree, Alex left and he decided to talk with Noah, finally find out why he was upset about him mentioning tea. Soon enough Alex found Noah, he was just sitting on a log by a fire, with a cup of coffee in his wing, he looked as if he was in a daydream.
"Hey Noah…" Alex said nervously as he slowly sat down beside the Blue macaw.
"What do you want?" Noah said with a menacing tone.
"I just wanted to know why are you so angry at me for mentioning tea?" Alex asked, preparing to get beaten up at the word, "tea".
Instead, Noah sighed and turned to look at Alex with a serious face on.
"Look Alex, I hate it when other birds mention tea because…" Noah stopped, remembering a certain event that happened several years ago, in Boston Harbor. "Did you happen to hear about the Blue macaws in Boston, raiding the tea ships in the harbor and throwing the tea into the water?"
Alex only nodded his head, "Yes", and Noah continued.
"Well, I was there, I helped throw that tea into the harbor, that was the first real moment in my life that I felt absolute freedom, felt like nothing can stop me, that's why I joined up to fight, to get rid of the British and their stupid tea." Noah finally revealing why he hated tea so much.
"Oh, well I guess I understand now." Alex replied.
As the hours passed, Alex and Noah actually had a good time together, talking and laughing about stuff. And the two actually started to like each other more, Noah being no longer angry at Alex for mentioning about tea and Alex no longer feeling scared about being beaten up by Noah.
Eventually Blu came for Alex.
"Alex, Noah." Blu said to the two, the two standing up in attention to Blu.
"Yes sir?" Alex said as he stood at attention.
"How would you like to come with me to visit my family?" Blu asked, only for Alex to ask something.
"Your family?" Alex replied, confused.
"General Gates is allowing any men who's families are in the area to visit them for the night, he fears the battle is coming much sooner than expected. I want you to meet my wife and children." Blu smiled at the last words.
"Sure, I guess I'll go." Alex answered.
The two walked together to Blu's horse, Sally, who was eagerly waiting for Blu, Zach holding onto the reins, waiting for Blu.
"Hello girl, waiting for me?" Blu asked.
Sally responded with a nod of her head, to which Blu chuckled a little. Blu then turned to Zach, he was still holding onto Sally.
"Zach, I'm leaving you in charge for the night until I come back. I trust that you can handle it?" Blu asked Zach, sounding confident.
"Yes sir." Zach returned with the same tone.
With that, Blu and Alex both got on Sally and they took off for Blu's home and family, Blu very excited and happy to see his family again before he could be wounded, or even worse, killed in the coming battle. And for Alex, well he would have his own special moment, for when he would see Blu's family, he would also meet someone else that he would fall in love with…
Things are going to get tense here ladies and gentlemen… At least we will have some lovely family and romantic moments before all hell breaks loose.