Once again, Blu's friends assembled at Blu's tree den. Blu looked at them. They were tired, but Blu urged them to keep on looking.
"Okay. We'll continue our search for Aurora today."
Blu's friends looked at each other with disappointed faces and then faced Blu and Jewel.
"Blu, I don't know how to say this," said Fides, "but it's time to face facts that Aurora is gone."
"She is not," responded an agitated Blu. "How can you say that?"
"Blu, it's been a week," said Rafael. "We looked everywhere, thrice."
"We know, but Meja's out there," said Jewel.
Eva walked up to Jewel and grabbed both her wings. She looked into Jewel's eyes with a saddened face.
"I'm sorry, Jewel. I know she meant a lot to you. My family means the world to me, but Rafael's right. We would've found her by now… I'm sorry."
Jewel shook her head in disbelief and dropped Eva's wings.
"You're wrong," she breathed. "Aurora is out there. I know she is. I will find her, with or without your help."
Angry and frightened, Jewel flew out of the den to resume her search for her daughter. Eva faced Blu.
"Blu, you understand?"
Blu realized she was right. Days have passed with no signs of Aurora. He sighed.
"Yes. It's been a week and no luck. We checked everywhere… Make yourselves comfortable. I need to talk to Jewel."
The birds nodded with sorrow faces. Blu left the den and searched for Jewel. She didn't go far. He landed on a tree near the river where Jewel would give the chicks their baths. He landed on the branch and saw Jewel crying on the tree. Blu slowly walked up to her.
"Jewel?"
She faced him with reddened eyes and pushed herself off the tree trunk.
"Maybe they're right. We've been searching all over and can't find her."
She sniffled.
"What did we do wrong?" she continued. "Were we bad parents? Is that why she ran away?"
"Of course not."
"Then why did she run away?"
"Jewel, I…" Blu started, but he couldn't find the words to finish. Actions spoke louder than words. He approached his mate and embraced her. He soon felt the flood of tears on his chest.
"Oh Blu! I miss her so much!"
"I do too."
He looked up and remembered of all the times with Aurora. He smiled at one thought.
"I remembered the time she wrote her first poem. I was so proud of her. I also enjoyed reading that poem. It reminded me of all the struggles we went through: Nigel, Boss, Juan, Velox, and the Japanese men. When times were gloomy for me, it always reminded me why I tried my very best to not fail myself: it was for you and the chicks."
Jewel looked up at Blu's face.
"Do you know how it goes?"
Blu looked down and began to recite it.
I journey down this cave
A cave filled with darkness
That I know I can overcome
As long as there is hope
I walk down the path
Seeing the light a distant away
For what sees so near
Seems far away
With my sword by my side
As my only sign of light
I prevail through the darkness
In all hopes I will survive
Now I draw near
The live-changing challenges
I've conquered them all
My journey will finally come to an end
As I breathe for the first time
I see another dark cave ahead
But instead of sadness, I smile
Because I know hope conquers all
"I know it doesn't rhyme-"
"I like it," said Jewel. "The message is very clear and powerful. Aurora. I know she's alive. Our friends have exhausted themselves to help us. It pains me to say this, but they are right. We need to call off the search."
A couple of tears rolled down Jewel's feathers. Blu sighed.
"I know, I know. Hopefully, she is safe."
After landing in the United States, Aurora and Donec were mounted on top of the other bird cages. There were in a wooden box with breathing holes. Below their feet was a nest made of hay. Aurora stood close to Donec.
"I'm scared," she said.
"It will be alright."
"Do you know where we are?"
Donec dropped his facial expression.
"Sadly, I do not."
Aurora looked up at him. Tears began to form. Donec knelt down to her eye level and wiped them with his wings.
"There should be no tears. Now, where's that smile?"
"How can I smile at a time like this? I'm lost, separated from my folks, my siblings hate me, and I'm trapped."
"I know, but that doesn't mean you should throw hope out the window."
"My hope left me when the man caught us."
Donec looked into Aurora's saddened eyes. He sighed.
"I know a lot of bad things already happened, but you only truly lose when you don't believe. You're a Spinx's Macaw, the rarest of Brazilian birds. When an American scientist sees you, you will be sent back home immediately. Maybe even the owner may send you back."
Aurora smiled, but she soon frowned.
"What about you?"
Donec slightly smirked.
"Sadly, my species is common. It won't be as easy for me to go back home, but don't worry. I've lived my life as a free bird. I want you to feel that freedom under your parents' guidance."
Aurora's eyes began to water. She embraced Donec.
"Thank you, Donec."
"You're welcome, Aurora."
They let go off the hug.
"So," began Aurora, "what kind of people do you think will get us?"
"I don't know. From what I remember, Americans keep exotic birds as pets."
"Oh, like my father."
"Your father?"
Aurora nodded.
"My father was a pet once. He enjoyed it. His owner is really nice."
Donec smiled.
"Let's just hope we get one like that."
Suddenly, the truck sped over a speed-bump. Donec was launched up a little. Aurora, due to her small weight, was rocketed to the top of the crate. Her head smashed against the top. She fell down, out cold. A worried Donec looked at her.
"Aurora? Aurora."
He noticed she was still breathing. He sighed in relief. Probably it was best she was asleep now. He decided to do the same and rested after a frightening experience.
Blu sneezed. Jewel woke up to his sneeze. She would've ignored it if she was deep in sleep, but she couldn't rest. Her mind was still on her daughter. She looked at Blu.
"Gesundheit."
"Ah," Blu sniffled. "I think someone is talking about me."
"Who would?" she asked and then thought. "Besides why do you think that?"
"I sneezed."
Jewel looked at him with a concerned face.
"You got that from a sneeze? Are you alright? I know our daughter's disappearance has affected all of us-"
"I know, Jewel. It's just…a custom to say that."
He looked outside. The dark sky gave the jungle a shadowy look to it. He looked back at Jewel.
"We should get some rest."
"But Blu. I can't go to sleep. I…have been thinking…about…about-"
Blu wrapped a wing around her.
"I know. I know. I think I can help. Alright, mathematically-speaking, a voice of one can reach another being and can be executed as a simple sneeze. See, there are forces in the wind. They carry energy, which is also the frequency. The air has tiny particles that-"
He heard a snore from Jewel. He looked at his mate as she rested against his side. He smiled, knowing that boring knowledge was better than any soothing lullaby. He yawned and then closed his eyes to get some rest.
Donec woke up to find he was in a cage. He saw that Aurora was with him. He looked around and saw a variety of animals in different types of cages. He saw a counter and a cashier. The cashier was a college-aged female with curly, brown hair and green eyes. She wore a nametag. He managed to distinguish the letters. It read Angelica. She wore a white coat, symbolizing she was a doctor of some kind. He soon heard a groan. He looked and saw Aurora slowing getting up. She looked around and finally focused her eyes on Donec.
"Where are we?"
"I think at like a pet shop combined with a vet office."
"Oh… And who are you again?"
Donec was surprised by her question.
"I'm Donec."
"Oh. Okay. Um… Who am I?"
"You don't know?"
"I can't remember who I really am."
Donec sighed.
"Okay. Your name is-"
He heard the cage door open. A hand reached out and grabbed Aurora. Donec saw that the hand belonged to the woman he saw. He tried to escape, but the woman's other hand closed the door. The woman opened her hands out. Aurora did not fly. She was curious on who this lady was.
"Hello," Aurora squawked.
"Mm. You seem so young. Well, the doctor wants to examine you."
"A doctor? What's a doctor?"
"You sure look like no other bird I've seen," said Angelica. "You're very pretty."
Angelica became quiet and walked to the backroom. Aurora saw the medical lab with a large table in the center of it. The old doctor with glasses walked over to Angelica.
"Oh, this is the new arrival?"
"Yes. One of them."
"I see."
The doctor examined Aurora, taking her out of his assistance's hands.
"I haven't seen anything like it. It's such a pretty bird. There's no doubt that she will find an owner soon."
"Yeah," replied Angelica. "Um, Doctor Lugo. I was wondering if we keep this one."
"Keep it? Our job is to adopt pets to good owners."
"I know, but this is still a young bird. You basically need a zoologist to take care of this child."
The doctor thought. He smiled.
"I see what's going on. I think this bird will do great in your hands. I should know. You're an excellent student of mine."
Angelica smiled.
"Thank you, Doctor Lugo."
Doctor Lugo looked down at Aurora.
"So what's its name?"
Angelica looked down and smiled at Aurora. She smiled back, knowing that they were going to tell her name to her. Angelica faced the doctor and answered.
"Salvia."