Damn slow updates.
If you see mistakes, I'd be glad if you would point them out. I'll try to fix at least some of them.
Flying back to Blue bird sanctuary wasn't very easy. Mainly due the Blu's and his friends injuries. Blu and Rafael could still fly normally, but latter one had to carry the more seriously injured Samuel. It was amazing how he didn't bleed out or anything during the flight. After half an hour flight, they reached their destination, with Linda letting them in.
After telling Tulio and Linda(with paper and pencil, of course) where they got their injuries, the latter had immediately snatched Blu into bone crushing hug. Luckily, Tulio was there to stop her. Blu insisted that Tulio would patch up his friends first. Tulio first had examined Samuel, who of course wasn't very stoked. If anything, he was terrified. Despite that, Tulio managed to disinfected his wounds, bandage them and give him some painkillers. After examining Rafael, he announced that he would be released by tomorrow, due his minimalic injuries.
Tulio had disinfected Blu's cuts and covered the more serious ones with gauze. According to Tulio, they would heal in time and he would be released in a day or two. Samuel wasn't that lucky. He would have to stay in sanctuary most likely a week or more, depending how fast his wounds would heal. For now, not very fast.
Apparently, some of the released birds had told to Samuel's mate where he was, because she was there with him, along with Yuri and Mary. Eva and 18 toucan kids were there too, just for Rafael. Despite being talented ornithologist, even Tulio couldn't fully control the swarm of ADHD toucans. Thank god Eva was there.
Nothing interesting had happened in the sanctuary that day. After hugs, few tears and endless line of kisses, Eva and Julia gave their husbands long and painful harangue for leaving like that and almost getting killed. After the toucan kids calmed down, they mostly played together with other kids. Jose and Mary stayed aside, playing together or chatting. Jewel could swear she saw some chemistry between them. She found it very cute and wasn't worried about their very young age.
They had agreed to stay the night in sanctuary and Jewel was not exception.
Blu and Jewel were in the break room that evening, looking out the window, while Sarah and Daniel were sleeping on the couch. Samuel and Rafael were still in the treatment room, alongside their mates and children. Jose was there too, with Mary, and under nurturing eyes. Jewel looked gauze around Blu's chest and his partially scarred face.
''Does it hurt?''
Blu shook his head slightly.
''No. Not anymore. I just feel stupid with this gauze on. I look like unfinished snowman.''
Jewel had no idea what snowman was, but nevertheless, she let out small chuckle. Her expression turned to more serious one.
''You know, what you did back there was really... impressing.''
Blu faced her, his amber eyes showing a hint of sadness.
''I don't know what happened. I was really angry at Nigel for hurting my friends. But when I saw you hurt, something just... snapped, and I used my anger to... kill him.'' He mumbled the last sentence and turned away from Jewel. She put her wing on his left shoulder.
''Blu, I don't want you to beat yourself because of it,'' she said soothingly. Blu sighed.
''But Jewel, killing is never right. I know he would have killed us, but still. It's something that haunts you for the rest of your life.''
Jewel tied her wings around his side, pressing her forehead against his left wing.
''You just have to get over it. I know it's not easy, but you have to try.''
''Get over it?'' Blu turned back to her, breaking her embrace. ''Jewel, have you ever killed anyone?'' He immedialy regretted that question.
Jewel didn't reply. She just simply turned away from him, focusing her gaze to window. After few minutes of silence, she finally spoke.
''Sometimes you have to do drastic things to survive,'' she mumbled, still facing away. Blu really didn't know what to think. With all years alone, Jewel surely had been in danger countless times and simply defended herself. Whatever the reason was, Blu couldn't help but feel even more guilty.
''I-I'm sorry. I shouldn't have ask.'' He rubbed his neck nervously. Great job, Blu. You and your big mouth. She turned back to him.
''You don't have to be sorry. What's done is done. You can't change it. You just have to live with it and move on.''
Blu smiled a little. She smiled back.
''I didn't expect you to start sharing wisdoms,'' Blu chuckled. Jewel narrowed her eyes.
''You got problems with that?'' she snapped, her voice dripped little sarcasm. Blu didn't seem notice the sarcastic tone and took a step back.
''N-No, no. I-I mean, it's great and all. I-I-I just-'' Jewel smiled and shook her head for his goofiness.
''I'm just kidding.''
''Oh, I knew that,'' Blu chuckled. Jewel rolled her eyes.
''Yeah sure,'' she said sarcastically. This time Blu noticed it and frowned a little.
''What's that supposed to mean?''
''Oh, nothing. You're just goofy sometimes.''
Blu half-closed his eyes and crossed his wings.
''Gee, thanks,'' he muttered and turned away. Jewel giggled.
''You know that makes you cute.''
Blu turned back to her.
''What about when I'm not acting goofy? Am I still cute?'' He realized that the question sounded a lot better in his head. Jewel smiled teasingly and pretented to ponder. After few seconds, she just shrugged her shoulders. Blu's eyes widened and his jaw hit the floor. Seeing this, Jewel giggled again.
''Relax, it was just a joke.''
Blu dropped his wings, half closing his eyes again.
''You seem to enjoy teasing me.''
''I just can't help it. You're so easy target.''
Blu formed a jovial smile. He knew it was true.
''Alright, I get it. Now, about my earlier question.''
Jewel made a quick eye roll.
''Yes, you are cute all the time,'' she beamed and tied her wings around him. In return, he wrapped his wings around her and brought her into kiss, experiencing the sweet, mango-flavored passion again. After what felt like hours, but was actually seconds, they pulled away.
''Have I ever told you that I love your kisses?'' Blu asked, smiling.
''About 97 times.'' Her sweet smile matched to his own.
''What about that you smell like wildflowers, mixed with morning breeze?''
''36 times.''
''What about...''
''Just leave it.''
She kissed him again, throwing all her worries away, and even forgetting the events of morning.
''Where would I be without you?'' She cooed, pulling away.
''Probably still locked up in a breeding room and I would be in Minnesota.''
She giggled and held him tigher, resting her chin on his shoulder. Blu stroked her back, feeling her soft, silky feathers titillating his tactile senses.
''I love you,'' he whispered.
''I love you too my goofy blueberry.''
Goofy blueberry?
What's going on with much younger ''lovebirds?''
While Eva and Julia tried to keep the kids calmed around their injured fathers, Mary sat on the edge of the table, alone again. Jose silently made his way to her. This reminded him about what happened couple of days ago.
''Hey, Mary.''
She glanced over her shoulder.
''Hey.''
''Can I sit here?''
''Uh, sure.''
Jose smiled a little and sat down next to her, his legs dangling off the edge. He look up to ceiling for a moment and turned to Mary.
''Remember when I kissed you?'' He suddenly asked. She faced him, her eyes half-closed.
''How could I forget?'' she answered, little irritated. Jose rubbed the back of his neck nervously.
''Yeah, I just wanted to apologize that.''
She shook her head slightly.
''You don't have to.''
Jose was little surprised by this sudden change of tone.
''Really? I thought I made you angry.''
''You did, but it doesn't matter anymore, really.''
''Oh. In that case, can I do it again?''
''No!''
''Alright then.''
There was few minutes of awkward silence. Jose swayed his legs over the edge and Mary toyed with her wings in awkward manner.
''Mama says I can only kiss a boy if I'm going to marry him,'' Mary mumbled, blushing a little under her deep red feathers. Jose pondered a moment, before replying.
''Can I marry you when we're older?''
She shrugged her shoulders. ''I guess. You have already kissed me, so you probably have to marry me.''
''Okay, ummm... what do you have to do so you can marry someone?''
''I'm not sure, but it I think it has something to do with this.'' She moved her beak to his neck area.
''OW! That hurt.''
Mary immedialy withdraw her beak and Jose rubbed the sore spot.
''I saw papa doing that to mom one time. She didn't yell like that. I think she was giggling during it.''
''How can she giggle while someone bits her?'' Jose mumbled, trying to hold back tears. ''I-Is there any blood?''
Mary inspected the spot she had bitten. She shook her head. ''I don't see any.''
He let out relieved sight. ''Good. Please, don't do that ever again. Whatever that was.''
''Mom called it foreplay. For some reason, my parents didn't look very happy when they caught me staring.''
(Quick A.N. I'm sorry, I just had to. Kids, They're growing so fast. Too fast actually. XD )
Alright, there's nothing interesting in there, so I'll just skip some days. XD
As expected, spending a week in sanctuary, wrapped in bandages, was anything else than funny experience. Samuel and Jewel are the ones to ask. Despite that, the former didn't complain much. He really liked the secured feeling, along with served food. The only things he didn't like were cages, noisy neighbours and constant check-ups. The only thing that actually made him brighten up was his family. They visited him every day, but couldn't stay. Mainly because Julia didn't like the whole place and they didn't need any treatment. Despite that, Tulio tried to feed them some medicine. He never tried it again.
Rafael returned to his family immedialy after his recovery. Even Eva softened for a moment, but returned to her old herself soon. She didn't punish Rafael at all, but only because if he wouldn't have go all search and rescue, their friends would be a cockatoo meal.
Blu's injures healed in two days. He and his family continued their lives, trying to forget whole Nigel incident and their near death experience. It's wasn't easy, but they had each others. And that's all they needed.
Two weeks later
Blu returned from gathering breakfast for his family. When he landed on hollow, he was greeted by morning kiss from Jewel and disgusted cry from Daniel.
''By the way, I ran into Rafael back there. He's alright now. That scar has vanished completely,'' Blu said when they broke the kiss.
''What about Samuel?''
''Rafael visited him yesterday and said he's fine, still little shaken up, but fine.''
''I know the feeling. Whole week in bird sanctuary ain't very comfortable experience.''
Blu opened the jumbo leaf, revealing heap of nuts, berries and few starfruits. Jose and Daniel both spied a blackberry, which rested grandly on top of the other berries like a trophy, just waiting to be snatched and savored. Brothers exchanged brief glares and took one small step towards the berries. Blu rubbed his wings together eagerly.
''Alright family, dug in.''
Immedialy after he said that, both Jose and Daniel jumped onto the pile of fruits and berries, trying to get their wings to delicious blackberry.
''Boys!''
Like a small hurricane, they only ended up spreading the breakfast around hollow and themselves.
''BOYS!''
Hearing their mother's screech, they stopped their food wrestling, and looked up to irritated Jewel. She had few fruit stains on her belly, wings on her hips and she scowled her sons. Blu's eyes were narrowed and his wings crossed as he tapped his foot repeatedly against the floor. Small, black stain decorated his chest. Boys assumed it was the so-badly-wanted blackberry. Or at least the remains of it.
They took a quick glance of the hollow. Walls were tainted with various stains and remained berries were scattered around the floor, most of them smashed. Only few berrys had survived and Sarah snatched all of them. Boys faced their parents, both forming a weak smile.
''Is breakfast over?'' Daniel asked, almost innocently, and wiped some starfruit off his face.
Sarah sat in between Blu and Jewel, happily nibbling the last berry. She smiled at boys and gulped the rest of the berry. Blu and Jewel looked each other.
''I think it's bath day.''
Blu let out annoyed sigh.
''Fine, but I'll take Sarah this time.''
Look at that, I think it's the end. Sorry for the VERY lame ending. My brains blocked everything today.
What do I do next, I don't know. I will stick around and probably rewrite my first story someday.