Chapter 10

That night was terrible for me. I looked at the barren waste land that was once a forest. The sight was repulsive. I tried to sit down on the dolphin, while keeping my wing safe from being broken worse. It was hurting beyond anything I ever felt. I didn't know how much longer I could take of the pain. The dolphin was slick and felt great. I stroked the skin, and saw the dolphin smile. While sitting down, I closed my eyes, feeling tears fall down my face. I could hardly believe my family was gone. My brothers, Pogo and Davi. Never more would I hear their playfull laughter My beautiful mother. Her exsquisit face to never once more shine upon the forest. My loving husband. Once warming wings, that wrapped me in passion forever ripped away from my body. The children that I once was awaiting to see. I knew that being with the dolphins that I could reflect upon my kingdom. All of them were gone. One of the dolphins stared at me. I could tell he felt empathetic for me. "I'm so sorry." He whispered.

All that was left of the forests were a few trees lining the sides of the river. They seemed to slant into the river, as if protecting it, like the river was in a tunnel made by trees. It seemed very frightening. I didn't feel safe with it. I stayed low so whatever was out in the land, could not see me. I douted anything was out there any longer. But if something was, I didn't want it to see me. The further up we got the cooler the night felt. I had a feeling it was now midnight. Barely anything could be seen. The moonlight was reflecting everything. The reflection danced, and shimmered on the surface of the river. I never knew the river was so large. True, it was called the mighty Amazon, but how mighty could a river be? Wind blew through the land, and there were hardly any trees to block such winds.

The trip upstream seemed to feel like forever. I saw a sign that said, you are now leving Manaus. I felt scared of leaving Manaus. I had lived here my whole life. No way could I leave everything behind. I clutched onto my necklace, and breathed deeply. This was difficult, but I had to. If I didn't I would surely die. When I looked around, all of the rainforest there was gone as well. I will never know for sure, but I think there was more than one monster that destroyed the forests. They all looked around as if something was stopping them. "This is as far as we can go. Up ahead is waters that are far too cold." The leader said. I understood. They were very sensitive after all.

"We can try to get you to shore." A female said. I hopped on her back, from the one that was carrying me. She swam with me over to the shore as close as she could I started to notice that she was getting pretty close to the bottom. "Alright this is as close as I can go. If I keep going, then I will get chance of accidentally beaching myself. Don't worry. I'll watch you to make sure you get there." I nodded. Dolphins were quite big, so while she could easily be beached, it will still a swim to me. I had to be carefull with one wing. Pirahnas could be waiting at any spot for an injured animal such as me.

With a deep breath, I plunged in, and swam. It was the most disasterous form of swimming imaginable. it was times like this were I wish I knew some marine bird, that could swim or get me to safety. I was flailing halfhazardly throught the water. The water caused my wings to be heavy making it so much more difficult. I was sure that if I wasn't carefull, or didn't swim right, I would surely drown. Still I kept going. I finally got my footing at the bottom, and tried to get out as fast as possible. Being dripping wet, I hopped on out, and ruffled my feathers trying to get dry as well as warm up.

"Wish me luck!" I called out to them.

They sighed as though they lost their confidence in me. "The best of luck kid. The best of luck." And with a flip of their tail they dissappeared below the waters.

I was on my own now. Where would I go? The land was deprived of trees. None in sight. So I walked. I walked, and walked, and walked some more. The area was so vast, and it all seemed to look the same. no wonder toucans were made for flying. It seemed easier, but that was not an option at the time. I had no idea if I was going in circles, or just walking a far distance. I didn't stop, because had I stopped, there would just be nothing to wait for. The moon overhead was all I could use to guide me. I walked towards the moon. In the midst of walking I spotted people that I thought I would never see again.

The villagers.

They seemed so sad. I saw Caddo holding a burnt piece of wood. He looked at it with tears in his eyes, and slammed it on the floor in rage. His wife had held a baby close crying loudly, her child snugly with her. They must have been just as surprised as we toucans were. The people were gathered around a fire, with sadness in their eyes. Suddenly they all turned towards me. Caddo looked at me, as if it was a miracle I had survived. He rubbed his eyes astounded. I had no intention of getting closer. He rose, and I felt fear surge through my body, and so I kep going in the direction I was headed. I didn't want to look back. I didn't know which humans I could trust anymore.

A small pond was close by in the distance. I sat down, and rested drinking the water. The moon was now hidden by the clouds. All was darkness. Not even starlight. A loud boom and thunder was overhead. Luck was not on my side. I could hardly stand it. The flashes of light zigzagged, and thunder roared at the land that was now empty. A storm great! Rain drenched me. Coldness all around now. I must have dozed off, because suddenly I heard voices. When I looked up on a hill in the distance I saw three human silouettes being illuminated by the lightning. I saw them flashing. One of them held a rope with a loop in it. Another one held a box that was weaved out of the shiny material the monster was made of. I think they were called cages. The third one that held a net on a stick. I knew one thing for sure. I was more scared of these two skinned humans than any other two skinned humans before.

They looked at me, and one spoke up. When his face was illuminated from the front I noticed him as the red haired two skin leader. The one that caused all of the disasters. The one who entered the village that fatefull day. The one that came to our home, then returned later to destroy it. The red haired devil stared surprised. "Look! A live one. Get her boys, and make sure she doesn't kill herself!"

I gasped terrified of the beast, and ran away as fast as I could. The humans leapt off of the hill, and quickly followed with their torturous instruments in tow. I tried to fly, but my wing was stabbing pain into my body every flap I administered. Their was just running. They quickly followed me, and I saw the one with the net trying to capture me in his clothed net. It swung like a predator after me. Finally I was seized in the black bag. It surrounded me, as I was picked up off the ground. It was twisted to garauntee my confinement. In an instant I saw the rope come into the bag, and tighten itself forcefully around my neck. My chirping grew faint, and finally ceased. I was freed from the net, but not the rope. The humans pinned my wings against my body, which sent pain throbbing in my wing. Al fell silent I was kept still, and my voice refrained.

The red haired one opened the cage, and I was tossed inside. My back slammed against the cold hard steel, and I was in the first cage that would lead to many more. "Uhh boss I think her wing is broken."

"Huh? Okay. Hold up there." The red haired evil man, reached into his second skin, and pulled out a liquid. He poured it on a soft piece of skin, that he called a cloth. He reached in and held it over my nose. While struggling, I smelled the cloth. it smelled incredibly sugary. It made me feel relaxed. I still kept fighting, but then I could no longer continue fighting. I felt like I could just fall asleep. I wanted to stay awake, but the rain had felt warm, and the man that had my beak was starting to blur. I felt myself calming down, and I fell asleep.