By the time I came to it was too late, I could hear the light hum of the motor and Christmas Carol's playing on the car radio. I opened my eyes and saw Linda in the driver's seat, I rose to my feet and looked around. I was in my own kennel that Linda bought for me years ago, I didn't know she even kept after all this time. I poked my head through one of the side holes and squawked to get Linda's attention.

"Oh Blu you're finally awake!" She joyfully cheered looking at me in the rear view mirror.

"That was quite a fall you had." Tulio chuckled from the passenger seat, I couldn't believe I didn't notice him.

On the opposite side of the back seat sat Jewel's kennel, uncovered. I gulped knowing that soon I would be alone with her face to face, unless I did something about it.

"WHERE ARE YOU TAKING ME!" I shrieked as loud as possible.

Lind jumped in her seat and the car swerved into the other lane of the road, narrowly evading oncoming traffic.

"Tyler Blu Gunderson what is with all that squawking!" Linda roared.

I was dazed for a second at what Linda just did, she never yelled at me like that. I looked into her eyes glaring in the rear view mirror, they beamed down at me with disproval. I obviously made a mistake by throwing a tantrum, it only made the possibility of freedom smaller. I heard a faint giggle from elsewhere in the car. I peaked my head through the kennel hole and looked over at Jewel's cage, she was standing looking back at me with a smirk across her face.

"Why are you laughing, you don't even understand us." I grumbled.

~Jewel~

I couldn't help but laugh at the dodo bird and his little strife with his owner, showed even more that he was nothing but a spoiled pet. I looked over at his cage and we met eyes briefly.

"Why are you laughing, you don't even understand us." He grunted, putting his head back in his kennel.

I was tempted to say something back, in english, revealing that I have in fact understood his every word thus far. I decided not to however, might as well toy with him a little bit longer. The way I see it, the more things that don't work out between the two of us then the quicker I can return home and be free of this cage. Of course I wouldn't be free upon return, the dam doctor and his assistants clipped my wings before we left Rio. But to just be home again, feel the fresh air, smell the sweet jungle foliage and hear the songs of the jungle wildlife.

Since the doctor was taking us to an aviary, hoping that being in a 'jungle' environment will calm me and eventually mate with Blu, it made it clear that home was within reach. I figured that this was his last resort and if it failed, than goodbye Minnesota, hello Rio. I'll make it obvious that there is no way I will mate with Blu when we finally meet uncaged, alone. Sadly for Blu his fear of me tearing him to shreds would come true, but why do I care? He's just a pet.

The rest of the car ride was silent, except for the music on the radio, and after what seemed like hours we arrived. Tulio exited and opened the back door, he took Blu's kennel out first, placing it on the ground. The cold winter air rushed its way into the car, causing my feathers to almost stand up straight. Why would anyone want to live in a place like this? Tulio reached across the seat and picked me up and closed the door. The two humans dashed from the car and to the aviary entrance trying to escape the frigid cold.

"You must be Tulio." A large bald man greeted from the front desk when we walked inside.

"Yes I am." Tulio placed me on the floor to shake the man's hand. "Good to meet you in person Dr. Anders."

"And this is Linda?"

Linda placed Blus kennel on the ground facing mine and shook the man's hand. I looked over at Blu in his kennel and snarled. His reaction was priceless, jumping to the back of the kennel in fear.

"Well we are honored that we get to help save a species, we can get started whenever you are ready."

"Any objections Linda?" Tulio asked.

"No, I guess we can go ahead."

"Hey! I have an objection!" Blu squawked.

Dr. Anders chuckled and bent down to look at Blu and I.

"They look even more magnificent in first person." He said smiling at us, "If you'll follow me please."

The doctor lead the way and Tulio and Linda followed behind, carrying us. We crossed into a large hallway, the walls were decorated with a mural of tropical birds and plants. The doctor stopped us at last in front of a door with a glass window.

"Do you want to let the two of them go at the same time or separately?"

"I think that we should put Jewel in first." Linda answered.

"I agree, she's probably dying to get out of this kennel." Tulio said, Anders opened the door and walked in with me and Tulio following behind him.

"Just go ahead and set her down in the center." Anders told him.

Tulio placed the kennel on the ground and flipped open the switch, opening the door. I poked my head out to get a observation of my surroundings, the two men were looking down at me smiling.

"Go on." Tulio said, slightly picking up the kennel to push me out farther.

I obeyed and darted out to the nearest patch of bushes I could see. I looked back in time to see the two exit with the kennel, alas I was alone. I felt one of the plants with my talon, it didn't seem to real so I bit into it with my beak. It was defiantly plastic, what a sorry excuse for a jungle. I looked up at the ceiling corners for any cameras, the one in Rio was filled with them all over. It seemed the Americans were less concerned, I only spotted one in the far corner from me. I stuck in the bushes, it would be a matter of time before Blu would arrive.

In a matter of seconds later the door handle moved and Linda walked in carrying Blu in his kennel. I smirked, this was it in short time before I could show once and for all this entire program would blow up in smoke. Blu was frantically scurrying around in his kennel, his eyes filled with fear. Linda placed his kennel on the ground and opened the door.

"Go on Blu, nothing to be afraid of." She said quietly, oh how wrong she was.

Blu refused to budge from the back of his cage, I couldn't help but smile. Linda tapped the back of the kennel lightly, when that failed she leaned it forward essentially dumping Blu on to the ground.

"No Linda please!" He yelped, it was too late however, Linda was already halfway to the door by the time he recovered to his feet.

Linda slammed the door shut leaving the two of us alone.

"YOU TRAITOR!" he hollered.

Blu was alone in the middle, nothing or no one to protect him. He sat there like a deer stuck in the headlights of a car. I patiently waited for him to move closer to the bushes so I could have the element of surprise and ensure that my imminent victory would be quick. Finally at last he gulped and did a slow rotation. His back was now to me, perfect. He began slowly backing up closer to the bushes I was hidden in. I looked up at the camera, it was moving to get a better angle. Blu must have saw the camera move as well because he frantically waved his wings in the air and jumped up and down desperately crying for help, now was my chance.

The poor bird never saw it coming, with what seemed like a flash I darted out and jumped into the air claws stretched forward. When I felt the impact of my body hitting his I closed my claws into a iron grip. I had my right claw around the back of his neck and the left on his back pinning him to the ground.

"OH GOD PLEASE DON'T KILL ME!"

A.N.-Thanks for reading and hopefully reviewing again! Hope you continue to enjoy it!