Hey folks! As I had predicted it took a little longer, but it's a slightly longer one this time. Please enjoy!

4. More patients

After they had washed themselves at the river's edge, Blu and Jewel visited the physician of their flock. They explained the situation and convinced him to follow them to Rafael's house. Once there, the doctor performed a few tests and quickly came to the conclusion that Eva was indeed suffering from the same illness as the spix's macaws. Blu and Jewel nodded and showed him out as there was nothing more that could be done that needed the man's particular knowledge. Moreover, all the physicians were needed to tend to the birds that had no family to care for them. Apart from that, the nursery tree was urged to find a cure now that not only the blue birds, but also other species were getting sick. Rafael was still standing next to his wife, holding her wing in his own. His kids encircled the saddening scene, completing the picture of a grieving family. Although they were usually rebels, they had been quiet since the doctor had arrived and had remained that way even after he had departed again.

"Rafi…"

"Hey Blu."

Rafael sounded like Blu had never heard him before. It was as if his cheerful accented voice had been whipped out of his beak and had been replaced by that of a weeping widow. It pained him to see his friend in such pain and not being able to do anything about it. But then they heard another voice.

"Rafi…"

Eva whispered her mate's name and opened her eyes fractionally. Rafael leaned towards her.

"I'm here baby."

"The kids…"

"They're here, what about them?"

"No, Manuel…"

She coughed.

"Tell me baby." Rafael leaned forward even further.

"He's escaping…"

"What?"

The two men turned around and saw how one of Rafael's youngest children was about to make a tumble out of the tree. Blu picked him up and handed him to Rafael who embraced the hatchling in his free wing, the other still holding Eva's. Eva had closed her eyes again and fell asleep. In contrast to what the doctor had said, she did not appear to suffer from nightmares and restless sleeping as the macaws did. However, as the disease was relatively unknown, nobody knew exactly what the result of catching it would include. Apparently it affected different species in different ways.

"Thanks amigo."

Jewel witnessed it all from a distance, while her husband laid his wing on the toucan. It was the exact same situation as in which she had been with her father that morning. Tears started blurring her vision. She couldn't watch it any longer and she flew away.

"Don't worry Rafi, I'm sure she'll be alright. And when she is, you'll be chained to the house like before."

His friend smiled, but Blu figured that he only did to be polite, not because his joke was funny. It was time to leave the toucan family alone and only then he noticed Jewel to be gone. He looked at the sun. The day had passed quicker than he imagined and it was almost time to pick up the kids again. Perhaps if he flew quickly, he might be able to pick up his fanny pack at home and still get a chance to speak to the schoolteacher.

.

Jewel had to see her father. Maybe he really was just a little tired, maybe he wasn't sick. He told her that he wasn't sick didn't he? She tried to comfort herself with these thoughts, however it only made her wanting to get there faster. In her emotional state, she was unable to correct herself when she saw too late that she was about to hit another flyer. The other bird, luckily, had seen her coming and caught her mid-air.

"Hey Ju-Ju, what's the hurry?"

It was Roberto.

"Hey, I was just on my way to Eduardo."

"I've just been there myself. He's still sleeping. Aunt Mimi forbids any visits in order to give him the rest he needs, so you won't be able to see him. I'm sorry."

"Oh, well okay."

She didn't want to tell him that she would probably rush in if she had to. Roberto was about to leave, when Jewel thought it to be rude to fly into him and then just run away, without saying anything.

"Hey. I'm sorry for flying into you like that, I should've paid more attention."

"Not a problem, you know I can handle it."

He showed of his muscles as he did so often. Jewel smiled insecure, not knowing what to do with this increasingly awkward display.

"Yea… So how is the leadership going so far?"

"It's real tough you know. Of course, I can hold up, but it really gives me more respect for your old man. I don't blame him for being tired."

"You gotta work around the clock, do you?"

"Around the what?"

Jewel realized that she had begun to copy Blu's proverbs, which included much things the other macaws most likely had never seen in their entire lives, let alone know the complementary names.

"Never mind, where are you going now?"

"I was on my way to pick up the names of the shirking pupils at school. Then I need to pay them a visit."

"Okay, see you around Beto."

"See ya, Ju-Ju."

When they parted, Jewel sniggered about the nicknames. She had to find one for Blu too, it was such good fun. Then she heard Roberto cough loudly as he flew away and she startled. Roberto was sick too! He probably got it during all the visits and now he was about to bring it to a school full of children. She turned around and tried to catch up with him.

"Hey! Wait up!"

"What's the matter?"

She didn't want to cause her friend to panic and if she would say that he had an unknown, potentially lethal disease, he would for sure. There had to be a way to avoid him from going to the education tree. As she thought of how to put it best, Roberto got a little annoyed that she held him up for no reason.

"Ju-Ju, as much as I'd love to chat, I have a lot of other things to do so…"

"Yes! Exactly! That's why I wanted to talk to you!" she almost yelled.

The macaw opposite her drew a confused face.

"If I'll pick up the names of the truants and give them to you, it would save you a lot of time, wouldn't it?"

"Well I…"

"Come on, you said it yourself. There is so much more you need to do, let me at least run this little errand for you. I have not much to do anyways and if it'll help out the current leader."

She emphasized the term leader to stimulate Roberto's ego in order to persuade him.

"If you put it like that, I guess you're right. Thanks Ju-Ju."

"Not a problem!"

The male flew away and Jewel emitted a deep sigh. Now that she thought of it more cool-headed, she came to the conclusion that one cough doesn't guarantee him being ill. Cautiousness has never killed anyone. A thought which she immediately associated with the fact that she was indeed starting to copy her mate's speech.

.

When she arrived at the school, she saw a huge group of birds gathering all around. She looked at the sky and realized that it was time for the students to be picked up from school. She'd have to wait 'till afterwards to get the shirking 'criminals'. The kids were now massing out of the tree, some rushed to get to their parents, others sauntered, sulking that the day was over. When she looked happily at all the reuniting, she spotted a familiar shape at the entrance, talking with the teacher. She laughed when she recognized it to be Blu. Tiago and Carla were waiting impatiently on the edge of the branch behind him, while Bia was following the conversation intrigued. Jewel flew down and was jumped upon by Tiago. She caught him in her wings and gave him a hug.

"Hey mom! I thought dad would only pick us up, not interrogate miss Mayara. " he said.

"Don't worry sweetie, I'm sure he's done in a minute."

"Yea, that's what he said. Fifteen minutes ago!" Carla shouted the latter at her father.

Blu apparently did not hear it as the discussion about the safety protocol of the school continued. Carla sighed annoyed, making Jewel chuckle behind her wing.

"It's not funny mom! He's so blowing my reputation right now!"

"You exaggerating just like you father Carla."

"But I have more things to do than standing around doing nothing!"

That reminded Jewel that she had to ask the list of absent children that day to give to Roberto. She put Tiago down and joined the discussion, surprising Blu with her appearance.

"Hey Jewel, I thought we'd agreed I would bring and pick up the kids today?"

"Yes, but you know, I was around."

He smiled and turned to the schoolteacher again .

"So you're confident that nothing can happen on that trip?"

"For the last time, señor, the children will be fine."

"What trip?" Jewel intervened.

"They've planned a sightseeing event at one of the main rivers of the Amazonian delta, but you know how dangerous that place is. With caimans, piranha's and…"

"And all of those are on the ground. We are in the trees."

Miss Mayara's patience had visible suffered at the hands of her husband, thus Jewel terminated their talk by pointing out that it was getting late and that she and Blu had things to discuss. Before she left she asked the absence list of that day, explaining that it was meant for Roberto. After being handed the piece of bark with the names inscribed on it, miss Mayara flew away gratefully.

"What did you want to talk about?" Blu asked.

"It's Roberto. He's…"

"He's what?"

Carla and Bia gave a deadly stare at their brother who blew their eavesdropping by alerting their parents. Blu scolded them and Jewel and he agreed to talk about it later. He handed her the fanny pack and while Blu brought the kids to the river for a bath, she would be collecting some dinner. The four birds departed as she tied the bag around her waist. When she put in the etched piece of tree, she found a rumpled white flower inside. So that's why Blu took so long to get home after taking the kids to school. He brought an orchid to cheer her up. She smiled as she remembered hugging him that morning, a process in which she had probably crushed her own present. Even though she wasn't overly fond of surprise gifts, Blu managed to rejoice her with them time and again. She watched her family vanish in the green and then flew in the direction of the brazil nut trees.

End of chapter. Is Roberto really ill? How will Jewel send him astray next time?
You guys still like the story or are you just visiting to make me feel better :D ? Anyways, stay on the lookout for chapter 5.