"Daniella! We're leaving in five minutes!" Azure's voice rang throughout the tree. Daniella looked glumly over her shoulder, replying with a fakely cheerful 'okay', before collapsing back into the nest, staring at the ceiling, as she usually did. She didn't want to go on this trip - she did, and she didn't, at the same time. Daniella sank further into the thick moss, comforted, but it still wasn't entirely soothing.
She wished she could be as happy as Leo. Her brother had been a ball of energy since yesterday, when they had been told the news. He'd been flying around like crazy, eating fast and fidgeting, and last night Leo had tossed and turned, barely able to sleep in his excitement. Daniella too hadn't been able to sleep, but she couldn't sleep due to worry.
If her cousins had gone instead of her, Daniella wished she could be envious - but she'd be anxious to see them leave for somewhere so far away. All seven of them were insanely jealous, although Monica and Alana had apparently been promised a trip to Margaux's native French Guiana, and Feliz, Angelo and Jessie were going to Rio with Tiago and Orchid for New Year's Eve anyway. So not to be the only ones who hadn't left the Amazon, Banjo and Angelica too had been promised a journey of some kind - Bromeliad and Gabriel had apparently been considering Venezuela, which they had joined Bia and Azure on a trip to last year.
The seven cousins were outside with their parents, and the rest of the family was talking excitedly amongst themselves. Peeking out of the tree, Daniella saw Leo surrounded by their ecstatic cousins.
"We'll miss you, Leo!" Monica exclaimed. Leo was hugging all of his cousins quickly - he obviously wanted to get going. I wish I felt the same way as you, Daniella thought. She distracted herself, looking at the adults. Bia was talking with her side of the family - Blu, Jewel, Eduardo, Mimi, Tiago and Carla, with Bruno at her side. Azure was with his own; Roberto and Sophia were talking in lower voices, telling him to stay safe, while Bromeliad, Orchid, Isaac, Margaux and Gabriel were bidding him farewell too. After a few moments, Azure and Bia swapped, to say farewell to their in-law family.
"You do be careful!" Roberto urged, hugging his daughter-in-law. "I'd like you all back in one piece!"
"Don't worry, we will be!" Bia assured, before turning to hug Orchid, who wore her pale yellow bandana. "If I see some nice fabric, do you want me to make you another?" Before Orchid could answer, her younger son came dashing over, skidding to a halt at Bia's feet.
"I'll miss you, Bia!" Angelo exclaimed. "Lessons are going to be so boring without you and uncle Azure!"
"Oh, I'll miss you too." Bia replied, voice full of affection, gathering Angelo into her wings and hugging him tight. The rest of the kids then came running, lining up and waiting to say goodbye to Bia before they did Azure, who was occupied with his in-law family.
"-and I trust that you'll keep my granddaughter and great-grandkids safe." Azure was shaking Eduardo's wing, looking somewhat afraid at the seriousness, before Eduardo broke out of the formality, hugging his granddaughter's mate. Behind Eduardo, Blu was trying not to laugh, and Jewel and Mimi were giggling amongst themselves.
"Come on, stop scaring your in-law." Mimi chortled. "I want a hug as well."
Daniella felt someone watching her. She quickly ducked, realizing she was in full view of her family, from below. There was a brief pause, and then a murmur. "-maybe I should talk to her... Blu, you coming?" she stiffened. Someone was coming up; she heard wing flaps, and then a gentle tap outside.
"May we come in?" That was Blu's voice.
"I'll be down in a minute..." Daniella said, before the two entered the room. She resisted a sigh. Her maternal grandparents looked upon her with gentle eyes. Everyone looks at me like that. They feel sorry for me. Daniella hated feeling pitied. She felt weak and helpless, like how Orchid and Sophia had once felt - after what happened to both of them, everyone had fussed over them and treated them like glass, as though they'd break. Daniella knew that being shy and the victim of such a cruel act was nothing compared to losing an eye like Orchid, or enduring the unspeakable horror Sophia had been put through, but she was looked upon with such pity. It annoyed her. "I'm -"
"We know very well that you're not alright." Jewel said, giving her that look that couldn't be argued with. "You went through something despicable, and you haven't been the same since. You're afraid, aren't you?" Daniella looked from Jewel to Blu, knowing they were right.
"How is taking me to a dangerous city supposed to help me get over my fears?" Daniella asked, feeling trapped. "I don't see..."
"Well..." Jewel nudged Blu. "Maybe your grandpa has an answer for that."
"I do?" Blu whispered, before his eyes widened at Jewel's look. "Oh, I see. You're right." He took a step forward, sitting down next to Daniella. "Remember how I met your grandma Jewel? In Rio, where you're going?"
"Yeah." Daniella loved that story, and so did Leo.
"When I went there, I was less brave then I am today. But when I spent time there... I changed for the better. Maybe if you go, you'll change too."
"He's right, sweetie - it's the best thing for you." Jewel's turquoise eyes glittered with sympathy. "The land between here and there is beautiful, you'll love our city friends - you'll enjoy it, we promise. Now, are you ready?" Daniella hesitated, still not wanting to leave the comfort of the ravine, or her family. With a jolt, she realized that she wouldn't see the rest of her family for a few weeks. I want to make them proud, though... I can't stand them feeling sorry for me! Pull yourself together, Dani. You need to do something.
"I'm ready." Daniella said, boldly. Not ready. But still. "Thanks, grandpa Blu, grandma Jewel."
"That's our little girl." Blu said, fondly, hugging her tightly, before Jewel did the same. Daniella then followed them outside, uncomfortable when all eyes turned to her, for she was the only one who hadn't been outside to join in the farewells. Maybe I should have come out sooner.
"Oh, bye, sweetie!" Sophia was first to pluck Daniella up, into a hug. "Don't let thoughts of those awful girls bring you down! You come back and show them what you're made of."
"Listen to your grandmother." Roberto said, over her shoulder. "She knows best!"
"You're saying I don't?" Jewel asked, playfully, beside Blu, who looked a little emotional. She prodded him. "Sad to see them go?"
"Of course not!" Blu protested.
"Come here, Daniella." Eduardo said, once Roberto and Sophia had moved back. "You be careful in that place, yes?"
"Don't worry about me." Daniella insisted. Her great-grandfather was incredibly protective; Bia and Azure had had to do a lot of persuading to make Eduardo allow them to go without anyone else there.
"Have fun, Daniella!" Isaac and Tiago said together, from where they had been saying good-bye to Azure. Bromeliad and Orchid also came forward, wishing luck and kissing her on the forehead, and after they moved back an enthusiastic Mimi almost suffocated her in one of her famous embraces.
"Come on, Mimi! Our turn!" Carla said. Daniella, breathing deeply after the tight hug, hopped over to Carla and Bruno.
"Have a great time, Daniella." Bruno said, cheerfully, ruffling her head feathers from where Carla was hugging her.
"I will!" Daniella said, jumping out of Carla's wings; finally, she braced herself for saying goodbye to her cousins. Seven chicks swarmed upon her.
"We'll miss you!" Banjo and Angelica exclaimed together, fighting their way to be first to say goodbye. "Bring us lots of souvenirs!" Angelica exclaimed. The areas above Bromeliad's eyes lifted, and Gabriel rolled his light green eyes.
"Joking!" Banjo exclaimed, as he and Angelica bounced toward their parents.
Monica and Suzy were next, embracing her in a joint hug. "Bye, Daniella! We'll try and use that thingamajig.." Suzy struggled to think, and so did Monica.
"Phone, Suzanna!" Isaac corrected. "You might not - we're taking you to French Guiana next week!" Monica and Suzy exchanged a partially saddened look, but it was mostly excited, as they looked back at Isaac and Margaux with happy eyes. Feliz, Angelo and Jessie moved forward last.
"See you!" Feliz said, while Daniella said goodbye to Angelo. "When you come back, tell us everything about your trip!" Jessie was last - she hugged Daniella rather tight.
"I'm sorry. This is my fault... I hope this trip reverses the damage I did." Guilt flooded Jessie's golden brown eyes. "I hope you have fun."
"It wasn't entirely your fault, Jess." Angelo whispered. "It was ours, too."
"I don't blame you guys. I shouldn't have been so afraid..." Daniella pulled away, out of the last hug. Jessamyn retreated, so she stood with her brothers and parents, still looking painfully remorseful. Orchid and Tiago exchanged a look of concern, and Orchid placed a comforting wing around Jessie.
"Just smile, honey." Orchid said, kindly.
"Wave goodbye to them!" Tiago encouraged, to distract the ashamed-looking trio. Daniella felt the familiar twinge of guilt. Sorry.
"Daniella! Come on!" Leo sqeauled, behind her. "We're going!" Daniella turned, and saw her brother waiting with Bia and Azure.
"Ready?" Bia asked, hazel eyes shining, and Daniella nodded. Leo was fluffing up his plumage, trembling with excitement, desperate to get going. Azure and Bia did one final wave, before finally extending their wings.
"Let's go!" Azure exclaimed, and Leo and Daniella were airborne, following their parents - of course, over the trees, not the plunge pool. Daniella looked toward the body of water, belly flipping. She couldn't see herself flying over it, when she came back, let alone going on the lilypads... If I do by some miracle get over water... that'll be the first thing I do when I come back here. I'll ski on the lillies.
"Oh, look! His eyes are watering!" Jewel exclaimed, at Blu, who was blinking to conceal the emotions. Daniella looked back, feeling a flash of regret, watching her waving family grow smaller. Eduardo looked on with his usual worry, while most everyone else looked cheerful; her aunts and uncles waved alongside her cousins, and both sets of grandparents. Roberto and Sophia stood beside Blu and Jewel, watching their son leave with his family; Roberto was swelling with pride, as was Sophia, while Jewel was comforting an emotional Blu.
"Bye, guys!" Carla waved alongside Bruno. "We'll call as soon as we can!"
"Have fun!" Bromeliad looked around Banjo and Angelica, who were flying about before her and Gabriel, shouting their farewells.
"Au revoir!" Both Isaac and Margaux exclaimed, from where she and Isaac stood behind Monica and Suzy, who leapt up and down, waving. Daniella barely realized that the tribe was calling to them, too - dozens of voices sounded, and her cheeks grew warm with embarrassment when she saw all of them, in the trees - almost everyone was waving and wishing luck, even those who Daniella's parents didn't know. Despite this, Daniella couldn't help but feel touched to the core. With one final look at her family, Daniella looked ahead, flying after Bia, Azure, and the ecstatic Leo, who was doing all sorts of acrobatics while they flew.
"We're going to Rio! Yay!" Leo cried, and Bia and Azure glanced at one another, exchanging smiles. Bia nuzzled Azure mid-flight, before she fell back, so that Daniella wasn't flying alone. She watched Daniella, heart flooded with sympathy. Don't worry, my darling. We're going to help you.
With that, the family of four left the ravine behind, leaving the tribe and the plunge pool that terrified Daniella.