A/N: I didn't go all out when it came to writing this chapter, chipping away at it instead. Slow and steady wins the race, am I right?
It's back to the drawing board for me. It's a challenge to conjure up novel ideas, so I hope this chapter tides you over until the next one is released.
That being said, enjoy!
Chapter 11: Devotion
Four feathered members of the Gunderson clan were scattered across the balcony, yawning and welcoming the dawn of a picturesque new day. The fifth, who happened to be the middle child, was absent.
Immersed in the depths of her lucid dreams, she was not yet aware the new day had come.
Tiago, the pluckiest of the trio, hopped onto his father's rump.
"Woah," Blu said, mildly surprised.
Tiago shimmied up Blu's sturdy spine and peeked over his patriarch's right shoulder.
"Hiya Dad. Isn't this a totally cool morning?"
"Hey there, son. To answer your question, in more ways than one."
"Right on."
"And Bia's missing it, unfortunately," Jewel commented. "Carla, would you mind waking her up, please?"
"On it."
The bouncy female glided over to the prominent metal cylinder. Poking her head inside, she issued a soft greeting.
Bia roused, shed her lingering drowsiness, and trailed her sibling to the balcony.
"Good morning, sleepyhead," Jewel quipped warmly.
"Good morning Mom, Dad." Tiago slid down Blu's spine and hugged Bia cutely.
"How are you feeling, sis?"
"Just fine, little brother. Thanks for asking."
"Anytime."
He released her and reclaimed his advantageous lookout post.
"Hey Mom, can you grab me some starfruit?"
Jewel's long tail swayed as she turned to face him.
"If you want them that much, you should find them for yourself."
Her gentle smile twisted into a potent grin.
"Isn't that right, sweetheart?"
"Yep. You're old enough to handle it, aren't you, son?" Blu inquired rhetorically.
Supremely confused by such a preposterous notion, he spluttered, "But I... you... what? I can't go into the jungle alone. That's crazy."
Blu and Jewel glanced at each other, not bothering to stop from snickering.
"Wait a minute..."
"We're just teasing, little bird."
Tiago uttered not a sound for several seconds. Exasperated, he chirped suddenly, "Well that wasn't cool at all. I thought you and Dad were being serious."
"Not at all, little bird. We'd never force you to do that, as young as you are."
Tiago fluttered to the balcony in a huff and glared at his parents.
"Sorry about that, son. I couldn't resist playing along."
"That was pretty funny, I have to admit. You're so gullible, bro."
He spun on one foot and proceeded to skewer her with his shrewd gaze.
"Don't call me something I don't know the meaning of," he retorted.
Carla belted out a hearty laugh and Bia giggled her unique giggle.
"You two are so gonna get it."
Vexed, he initiated a determined, almost predatory, charge with his wings outstretched. He'd traveled only a few paces when Blu intervened and scooped him up.
"Easy there, warrior. No need to get physical."
"They started it," he said begrudgingly.
Though his attention was fixated on his miniature clone, Blu spotted a winged figure approaching out of the corner of his eye.
"Look over there, everyone. We've got a visitor."
"She looks familiar. I think it's Sonia."
"We met her some time ago while we were gathering fruit. Don't you remember, Carla?"
"Uh huh." The blue-and-gold macaw by the name of Sonia shone like a radiant crystal enveloped in a sunbeam. She drifted in at a shallow angle, braking with a series of reverse flaps and alighting gracefully in front of Jewel.
"Olá, amigos," she greeted most cordially. {Hello, friends.}
"Olá," replied Bia in a similar tone.
"Peço desculpas por não visitá-lo recentemente. É difícil acreditar o quão rápido o tempo passa.. De qualquer forma, como você está?" {I apologize for not visiting you lately. It's hard to believe how fast time passes. Anyways, how are you?}
"Está tudo bem, nós compreendemos. Estamos indo muito bem." {It's okay, we understand. We're doing great.}
The adult male asked, "And you?"
She flipped an internal switch and responded in accented English: "I'm doing wonderful, and so is Emilio."
"Good to hear."
"Have you had any children?"
"No, there aren't any eggs in our nest, Jewel. Neither of us are ready yet."
"That's not so bad. Jewel and I were the same way for a while."
She trotted up to the sprightly trio of macaws filling the space between their parents.
"I wanted to invite your children over a few days ago, but no one was here."
Blu perked up and explained the reason for their absence.
"Ah, I see. You and your family must have had a lot of fun."
"We certainly did."
Sonia smiled and gestured to her neighbors' offspring.
"Senhor Blu, Senhora Jewel, would you mind if they stayed with us for the day? Emilio and I would love their company." {Mr., Mrs.}
"I think that'd be fine. What about you, honey?"
"Hm, I don't know..." Jewel said ponderously.
Tiago appeared before Jewel in a flash.
"Please say yes, Mom. C'mon, don't be a killjoy," he begged, his wings clasped together as if desperate for candy.
Carla and Bia flanked their brother and donned classic puppy dog expressions.
"Alright, you have my permission."
"Woo hoo!"
Tiago cheered as he hopped up and down like the Easter bunny.
"Good choice, Mom. Thanks a lot."
"You're welcome, Carla."
Jewel locked eyes with Sonia and spoke in a direct, motherly tone: "Please return them by sunset. Actually, no, when the moon rises."
"Of course, Senhora Jewel."
Her son halted immediately, astonished by the words that flowed out of her beak.
"We get to stay up late tonight? No way!"
"Consider it a reward for good behavior. Plus, I'm feeling generous."
"Thank you so much. You're the best mom ever!"
"I try, I really do," she remarked humbly.
"Do you have any other rules for me?"
Blu replied, "I don't think so."
The thrilled youngsters commended their parents' decision with fervent hugs.
"Sonia and Emilio deserve just as much respect from you as we do. Don't cause them any trouble, okay kids?"
They answered obediently in unison, "We won't let you down, Dad."
He pecked them endearingly once on the crowns of their heads.
"I sincerely thank you for this opportunity. Perhaps I'll learn a few things about how to raise my future children."
"No need to thank us. You've earned our trust."
"Oh, before I forget, they haven't eaten breakfast. Our son is craving starfruit, as a matter of fact."
"Emilio and I will feed them as many carambolas as they desire."
"I appreciate it."
Sonia nodded and propelled herself into flight. Her temporary wards pursued her studiously.
"Bye kids! See you this evening!" squawked Jewel.
Blu waved farewell to his offspring.
"Bye Mom! Bye Dad!" they called out.
The four avian creatures doubled as a tasty meal that the foliage gobbled up; in the wake of their vanishing act, a tenuous silence descended on the macaw couple.
"I miss them already. When they're not here, I feel... incomplete."
"I miss them too, sweetheart."
Jewel began stroking Blu's cheek with the smooth primaries of her right wing.
"But, I think we deserve quality time to ourselves. No kids, no responsibilities, and no distractions."
"Agreed." Jewel blinked and peered into his eyes with devoted intensity.
"For the rest of the day, you're stuck with me..."
She leaned in and kissed him, their beaks interlocking like two pieces of the same puzzle.
"I love the sound of that as much as I love you."
His mate touched her beak to his and smirked.
"I figured you were going to say that."
Blu smirked as well.
"Are you interested in a meal, my beautiful mind reader?"
"You bet I am."
"Wonderful. Wait right here."
Blu jetted off into the kitchen – a literal gold mine of the freshest produce money could buy. He emptied the refrigerator of its stockpile of conical scarlet fruit, washed them manually in the sink, then tossed them into a medium-sized ceramic bowl on the counter.
Airlifting the cargo to his abode barely taxed his muscles, as he was in his prime. He set the bowl on the ledge with a dull thunk.
The sight and smell of the mound of glistening morsels within charmed his partner.
"Ooh, strawberries."
"Strawberries indeed. Plenty for us to share and savor."
Jewel grasped one by its rosette of deep green leaflets, dangling it enticingly in front of Blu's beak. He sliced it in half with a calculated bite and chewed vigorously.
Jewel plucked out the rosette and consumed her half with equal fervor. He waited for her to finish grinding her portion, swallowing when she did.
"That was so sweet and delicious."
"Care for another, honey?"
Blu presented her with a second luscious strawberry; she cleaved it neatly in two.
And so the faithful couple took turns offering each other tender, juicy morsels, a romantic act that signified their mutual attraction.
In a sense, it resembled a scene from ancient times in which a wealthy Roman figure and his wife dined on pristine grapes resting on a solid gold platter.
The hungry macaws consumed the succulent fruit in a matter of minutes, the sole evidence of their feast being the rosette-filled bowl. The male hauled it back to the kitchen, disposing of the refuse in the trash bin and depositing the bowl in the sink to be washed.
He promptly returned to his spouse, and the jubilant couple preened each other for roughly a minute. The quality of their plumage restored to smooth perfection, the male gazed at their residence.
He then approached the entrance to their chambers, running his foot along the rim of the entrance.
"Something on your mind, Blu?"
"Their house has a front door, so I think ours should too. It's part of what makes it feel more like a true home. On top of that, we'll have more security and privacy when we need it."
"That does sound like a nice addition. I'm all for it."
He swiveled his head and gazed directly into her stunning teal eyes.
"My heart dances whenever you agree with me."
"That's a cute, intelligent way to put it."
"I like to be honest and expressive, you know."
"No wonder I'm so attached to you. You're irresistible."
Blu experienced a rush of emotion and blushed uncontrollably. Jewel smooched the hot spot on his cheek and giggled her bubbly giggle.
"It's true, you're absolutely irresistible."
"Show-off," her infatuated partner quipped.
"And proud of it."
"Anyways, about that door... are you suggesting we make our own somehow?"
Blu collected himself enough to reply, but his heated blush persisted.
"Erm, no. Tulio just might know how to help, so let's go ask him."
"Lead the way, sweetheart."
The couple lifted off in unison, Jewel chasing Blu's tail as they flew.
They glided into the cooking area through a window, the central island their standard landing zone. Blu squawked a fairly loud squawk.
Tulio emerged from the bathroom and strolled down the hall into the kitchen. His hair was combed neatly back, his eyes were bright, and his clothes were fresh and clean.
Judging by the smile he sported, the Brazilian man was happy to see them.
"Hello, beautiful birds. What can I do for you?"
Blu curled his toes in and acted as though he was scrawling letters in the air.
Tulio decoded the gesture and fetched a pencil and notebook from the bedroom. He handed them off to Blu, who artfully scribbled on a blank page.
When he was finished writing, Tulio reclaimed the notebook and read the text.
"Ah, I see. I have just what you're looking for. Wait right here."
He hustled off into the bedroom again, returning in under a minute. On the counter he set a screwdriver, four stubby screws, and a shiny brass object.
Tulio flashed the circular disk of wood he'd carved out in order to create the entryway to their nest.
"I wasn't sure what to do with this, but I decided to save it."
Tulio adjusted his glasses.
"Would you like to attach the bracket, Blu?"
The male macaw eagerly bobbed his head.
The ornithologist grinned and tossed the wooden circle onto the counter, which slid to a stop at Blu's feet.
"Go right ahead."
"Yeah, go right ahead Blu."
"Watch and learn, Jewel."
He positioned the bracket three-quarters of an inch from the edge. To avoid splitting the wood, he carefully drove a screw into both end of the slot in the thin metal plate.
He buried them as deeply as they could go, guaranteeing they were firmly embedded in the substrate.
"Nothing to it," he said, releasing the trusty tool.
"Nicely done, sweetheart."
Blu inscribed another message on the sheet of paper, which Tulio then inspected.
"No problem at all. Glad I could help. Don't forget to bring it back when the job's done."
Blu nodded and gathered up the supplies in his foot. The macaws flew to their treetop nest and slipped inside their quarters.
Jewel assisted Blu by pinning the other, hinged end of the bracket in place to the right of the door. Her mate then promptly, and permanently, affixed it to the wall.
The screws were long enough to penetrate, but their sharp tips did not protrude from the other side and pose a hazard.
"There we go. Let's see if it's functional."
Blu swung the door back and forth a number of times, pleased that the hinge operated smoothly.
Shutting the door required a touch of elbow grease, as its diameter was a tad greater than that of the opening itself. Once wedged into place, it formed a stalwart seal.
As an added bonus, a restricted amount of light filtered through the minute gap that existed, dimly illuminating the interior.
He opened it with a tug, warm sunbeams bathing them instantly.
"This is pretty much perfect. When a storm rolls in, it'll shield us from the rain and wind, no matter how fierce they are."
"I think so too. You know, you're really creative."
"I guess I have my moments."
He relinquished the tool to its rightful owner and returned; she was waiting for him on the platform.
"Hey Blu, remember that stream we found when we took the kids into the jungle?"
He scratched at an itchy spot on his neck as he replied, "Uh, yeah. What about it?"
"Want to go there and indulge in a refreshing bath with me?"
"That is a tempting offer. Come to think of it..."
Blu raised a wing and curiously sniffed at the undersides of his flight feathers. He recoiled slightly.
"...I do kinda smell funny. A bath should fix that right up."
"That's what they're meant for."
Their foray began immediately, Blu hanging back and surrendering pole position to Jewel.
Her landmark recognition and navigational skills, honed over the course of her entire life, were exceptional.
The path to the stream had basically been programmed into her brain; Jewel the cyborg macaw summarily guided herself and Blu to their destination.
"Here we are. Easy breezy," she stated as they alighted on the muddy bank.
"Lemon squeezy."
"Let me guess, it's another Minnesota thing?"
"Yep."
"I'm so good at this."
"And countless other things too. Kissing, for example."
Assuming she'd gotten the hint, he closed his eyes and waited for her beak to touch his. She surprised him instead with a satisfying hip-check, nudging him away from her.
"That was mean," he complained, faking a frown.
She crossed her wings.
"I'm pretty sure you're aware how mean I can get," she jived. "Stop squawking and get in."
He trudged toward the sinuous channel, his feet leaving impressions in the squishy mud with every step. As he waded into the shallows, the crystal clear, languidly-flowing liquid efficiently washed the brown sludge off, whisking it away.
"Ahhh... lucky for us, this water feels great..."
Out of the blue – if you'll pardon the pun – Jewel playfully shoved him from behind.
"Whoa! Ahh!"
Unable to recover his balance, he stumbled and spun 180 degrees.
His feet gained no purchase on the slimy stream bed and slipped out from under him; he caught a glimpse of Jewel's haughty expression as gravity dragged him down.
He landed belly up with a comical ploosh, the impact spawning an omnidirectional mini-tsunami.
The tallest wave lapped at Jewel's belly feathers, dampening but not soaking them. The additional waves sacrificed their energy to travel against the current and petered out, harmlessly plowing into her legs.
She sauntered to the middle of the stream where he lay and glued her foot to his chest. Bearing down with a fair amount of force, she could detect the rapid pulsing of his heart.
"I thought I told you to get in."
"I was, Mrs. Impatient."
His reaction would have differed greatly had anyone else pushed him, but his spirited mate was the culprit and he took it in stride.
"I'm not impatient, you weren't fast enough."
"Here, have a trophy for the classic response of the week."
She grasped his wings and hauled him to his feet. Water cascaded down his back, merging into chains of droplets on the edges of his tail and plopping into the stream of their origin.
"I didn't hurt you, did I?"
"No, but you certainly amused me."
"Good. I prefer harmless fun."
"Speaking of fun..."
Blu dashed to a bend upstream of their location and twirled around.
With his wing he smacked the surface hard, slinging a wall of water at Jewel. It struck her squarely in the breast and splashed onto her face.
"Ha ha, take that!"
She instinctively wiped the offending fluid from her eyes and blinked away the blurriness.
"Bad move, Blu. You're in for it!"
Jewel hurled water at him with a sweep of her wings; he swatted it aside and dashed at her, returning fire while on the move. She dashed at him and continued the assault.
They refused to put on the brakes and met in the middle, their soaked bodies colliding with a splat. Their momentum canceling out, they came to a dead halt and toppled over unceremoniously.
Lying face-to-face in the stream, the macaws laughed spontaneously and depleted their oxygen reserves.
The winded couple struggled to their feet and doubled over.
Jewel sucked in a huge breath and said, "My goodness... I haven't laughed that hard... in weeks..."
"Neither have I. That felt so liberating..." he replied, huffing and puffing like the bellows of a furnace.
Blu and Jewel swiftly recovered from their bout of hysteria and transitioned into a mellow emotional state. Tender was the sight of the sodden macaws preening one another, a firsthand representation of the bond linking their souls.
Its immutability notwithstanding, the very tenacity of the bond was bolstered by the act.
Revitalized by a dose of energy siphoned from nature itself, the couple briskly shook their bodies and beat their wings, shedding a majority of the water clinging to them.
The macaws fluffed up their feathers and flew home, their damp plumage drying along the way. After arriving at their domicile, the male gazed dreamily at the blue dome of the sky and its armada of suspended cotton balls.
"In Moose Lake, whenever I'd get bored or tired, I'd sit by the bookstore window and watch the clouds float by. More often than not, I dozed off and slept for hours..."
"Talk about living the carefree life."
"Every year I spent with Linda was a golden year, and I never took them for granted."
Blu reclined flat on his back and Jewel did too.
"Want to play a game, honey?"
"Sure. Explain it to me."
"Pick a cloud and tell me what you think it resembles."
"Sounds simple enough. Let's see..."
Jewel scanned the ranks of fluffy white masses, seeking a readily identifiable shape. Her eyes locking onto at a particularly large cloud, she stabbed her wing skyward.
"That one looks like a... boat."
"Indeed it does. Alright, my turn. Hm... there's a banana."
"That's really cool. Oh, I see a fish over here.."
"It better keep moving, because a bird is chasing it."
"Oh wow, you're right. Good eye, sweetie."
The macaws catalogued a diverse slew of animals and inanimate objects in the span of a quarter hour. Among them were a vase, a serpent, a mushroom, and an ice cream cone.
The most impressive example originated when two deformed clouds merged and a heart-shaped gap manifested.
"I think that's meant for us," the female remarked.
"Even the clouds recognize our love."
The male then suggested they play "I spy," a guessing game requiring one to be intuitive.
He established the ground rules and kicked off the opening round: "I spy, with my little eye, something brown."
"Silly Blu, that wasn't challenging it all. The bark of that tree."
"Heh, sorry. I'll pick something more difficult."
"I spy, with my little eye, something gray."
"Gray? Are you tricking me on purpose?"
"I promise I'm not. It's obvious what I'm referring to."
"There's nothing gray around here... hold on, is it my foot?"
"It is, Blu."
"Very clever. You almost had me."
He cleared his throat and intoned, "This is a tough one. I spy, with my little eye, something purple."
Jewel's head swiveled from left to right as she intently surveyed the clearing, no detail too insignificant to ignore.
"Give up yet?" "I don't think so. I've figured out the answer."
"What is it?"
"The tiny clump of açaí berries near the top of that palm tree."
Blu grimaced, his difficult trial no match for her keen sense of sight.
"Cheese and sprinkles. You're skilled, I'll give you that."
"Tell me something I don't know."
Several additional rounds came and went, and merely by chance Jewel skipped a certain color. Seizing the opportunity to cajole her, Blu targeted a special object painted that very hue.
His counterpart was utterly stumped as every response was incorrect... except one.
"Wait a minute, I'm the solution?"
"Of course. You're the most magnificent blue diamond in the world, and I love you."
"Aww, I love you too."
The blissful female snuggled with her companion, his altruistic avowal earning him a rosy kiss.
The macaws fancied each others presence as much as they fancied lounging in the sun's flaxen radiance.
Prolonged exposure elevated their core temperature; they retreated to the shady interior of their lair and snuggled in their nest. Honoring a pact of silence, they observed the verdant world from the porthole.
Inevitably, that silence was unwound by the patriarch.
"Jewel?" he began faintly.
"What is it, handsome?"
"I have to confess that I, um, want more kids."
She nuzzled him affectionately and shifted her body weight to boost her comfort rating.
"Oh? Interesting of you to say."
For good measure he commented, "I mean, we don't have to. Your decision matters too."
"Why don't we have as many kids as possible? There's no reason not to."
"R-really? That's truly what you want?"
"More than you realize. In fact, let's have more next year."
"Your wish is my command, honey."
"You're too humble for your own good," she opined.
"And you flatter me too much."
"More like not eno-"
She muted him with an unabashed kiss. He slumped in her embrace, melting like a cone of wax blasted by a heat wave.
"Less talking, more cuddling..."
She tucked her head into the slot beneath his chin, quietude re-infiltrating their lair.
The majestic, massive planet rotated five measly degrees on its axis – taking twenty minutes to do so, for those unwilling to perform the calculation.
The noisy flutter of wings churning the air alerted them to an approaching avian presence; low and behold, their blazing yellow comrade popped into view.
"Hey there, Nico," the macaws greeted enthusiastically.
"I'm not intruding, am I?"
Blu shook his head and invited the canary inside.
"We weren't expecting you to swing by."
"I'm all about those surprise appearances, hot wing," he countered suavely, tipping his hat.
"How's life treating you?"
"Like royalty," Jewel responded.
Her mate inquired, "What about you and Pedro?"
"We're on top of the world baby. Clubbin', dancin', rappin', flirtin' with sexy ladies, you name it. We're livin' the high life, oh yeah."
"Meanwhile, Blu and I are doing the exact opposite."
In a nutshell she explained why their offspring weren't present, quelling the canary's curiosity.
"Everybody's gotta chill sometime, especially if you got a lovebird like Blu, right?"
"Right, Nico."
"I guess you two don't wanna hang out at the club?"
"Thanks, but no thanks. Too bad you came all the way over here, only to get shut down."
"Sorry about that."
"Don't sweat it, lovebirds. It's cool as ice."
"I'm going to teach that phrase to Tiago. It matches his style of speech."
"You tell him it's Uncle Nico approved."
"Ha ha, will do, buddy," Blu answered. "Me and Pedro scheduled several dance and rap battles, so I gotta help him judge."
"Thanks for stopping by, Nico. Take care."
"Right back at ya, hot wing."
The canary speedily departed, morphing into a yellow streak as hot as the sun.
"Where were we?"
"In the middle of this, handsome..."
The female enshrouded in her beloved's embrace and vice versa, the mated pair napped delicately.
The unfettered sun ascended to its zenith; their biological clocks registered this and prodded them awake posthaste.
At Blu's behest, they trekked to the isolated gazebo overlooking the city – Vista Chinesa to the humans. Solely the panoramic view from the top of Rio's renowned statue was superior.
Perched on the easternmost rafter, they ate tangy-sweet starfruit harvested from a bush sprouting from its foundation. The influx of nutrients and sugar enhanced their mood and verve.
Blu chatted with Jewel, unaware of the eight-legged critter creeping up on his six. Confronted by the peculiar obstacle in its path, it poked him in the rump with a spindly leg.
"Yikes!"
Startled, he jumped and twisted in midair before landing.
The perpetrator of the crime hadn't budged, skewering Blu with its beady eyes.
"Phew, it's just a spider, and a small one at that," he said, relieved.
"Too bad Bia isn't here. She'd be able to identify it."
"I bet she would."
Blu approached the arachnid with the intent to touch his/her fuzzy body. It reared up, then bailed as his claw came within inches of its face, hiding on the opposite side of the nearby post.
"That's unfortunate. I was so close too."
"It either didn't want to be touched, or felt intimidated by your sharp, scary claw."
"Ah well, it was worth a shot."
A gust of wind impregnated with the bay's salty scent streamed by, ruffling their feathers. Jewel breathed in, suffusing her respiratory system with the crisp, heady air.
"After escaping from those smugglers, this is where we rested for the night."
"You and I were acquaintances then. Thanks to my flightless condition and status as a 'pet,' you bluntly admitted you hated me."
"I was such an angry, bitter girl, wasn't I?"
"You had a chip on your shoulder, which isn't unusual."
She paced along the beam and brushed up against him tenderly.
"It's crazy how much we've changed..."
"Honestly, at this point in my life, I can deal with crazy."
"You stole the words right out of my beak."
Blu gained control of the conversation, his mate listening intently as he reminisced on a smattering of events from his younger years.
The female's detachment from her offspring failed to strip them from her subconscious.
At the conclusion of his sixth tale, she professed, "We should probably pay a visit to our babysitters. There's no telling how much damage you-know-who has done."
He half-jokingly replied, "I hope it's not already too late."
Navigating to the vicinity of their friends' abode, they plunged into the leafy maze of a cannonball tree. Concealing themselves behind a drape of Spanish moss, Blu and Jewel furtively spied on their children.
Tiago chucked a Brazil nut at Carla and fled; she doggedly hunted him down, the siblings darting in and out of the branches erupting from the scarlet macaws' tree.
Bia the pacifist and her caretakers observed the pursuit from a bough further down the trunk.
Tiago completed another lap and aimed for the hollow, sacrificing his speed to bank sharply. Unable to fire the thrusters and get moving, Carla tackled him.
Fused into a tumbling orb of feathers, they arced neatly into the hollow; Bia, Sonia, and Emilio went in after them.
"Kevin Garnett buries it! Three points for the Timberwolves!" Blu cheered quietly.
"C'mon, that's our cue."
He and Jewel relocated to that same branch. The siblings-turned-foes brusquely dusted themselves off while scowling at each other.
In a fatherly tone Blu said, "Ahem, acting reckless are we?"
Thrown for a loop, they gasped in surprise.
"Mom! Dad!"
"That would be us."
"I see you've managed to keep them under control," Blu said, directing his comment at the scarlet macaws.
"They're feisty but very well behaved, as young crianças should be," Sonia countered.
Emilio added, "It's been a pleasure so far, senhor."
"You don't gotta check up on us, ya know. We're not hatchlings."
"My bro's pretty much right."
"On the contrary Carla, we'd be poor parents if we didn't."
"You matter to us, and that's why we stopped by. Be it two, five, or ten years in the future, we won't stop checking up on you."
"When it comes to raising crianças,you seem to have everything figured out. When Sonia and I need parenting advice, we know who to ask."
Blu candidly answered, "I wouldn't say everything, Emilio, but we've learned a lot."
"Perfection isn't our goal. Being the best parents we can be, is."
"And that's what counts, amiga," stated Sonia.
"Anyhow, we won't overstay our welcome. Your mother and I still have so much to see and do."
"Like what?" "Uh, we don't really have a list or anything. We're improvising, winging it, making spur-of-the moment decisions-"
"I think they get it," Jewel politely interrupted.
"Oops, sorry for getting carried away."
He rubbed his nape and affected a bashful smile. Their progeny, plus the tricolor macaws, chuckled.
Blu and Jewel said their goodbyes and absconded, drilling through the foliage constituting the rain forest's upper layers. Soon they burst from the canopy with a flourish, leaves and stringy noodles of moss sliding off their bodies.
"I want to show you a secret hangout of mine."
"A secret hangout? Interesting."
"I've told no one about it but you, so consider this a privilege."
"The fact that I'm your mate grants me this privilege, I assume?"
"Luckily, yes."
Surfing on the breeze as carefree as can be, the lovebirds fixated on the hill cemented to Sugarloaf's flank. On its sloping southern face, a short climb from the haphazard pile of boulders defending it against the surf, was a discontinuity in the rock.
More of a recess than a legitimate cave, it accommodated Blu and Jewel with room to spare.
Its mouth masked by overhanging fern fronds and blossom-studded limbs, it was by sheer chance she discovered it at all.
They could peer out at the shallows of the vast Southern Atlantic through narrow slots in the greenery, but the depression was invisible from the outside.
"Whenever I'd get stressed out or needed privacy, I'd come here."
"Peace and quiet are exceedingly rare in Rio but you've miraculously found them."
"You can say that again."
The sound of the breeze streaming through the foliage and the regular sloshing of the waves blended into a mollifying natural soundscape.
"We should bring the kids here tomorrow. Bia and Tiago would be thrilled to see this sanctuary of yours."
"That's a great idea. Carla might not be impressed though."
"Ha ha, yeah."
Out of curiosity, the male trotted to the rear of the hideout. On the damp floor lay a sharp-edged stone that had seemingly been undisturbed for quite some time.
Blu wagered it bore a connection to the words: "Fique fora ou então!" crudely-but-legibly inscribed on the stone. {Stay out or else!}
"You wrote this message, didn't you?"
She shrugged nonchalantly.
"I had nothing better to do."
Blu grasped the pebble and asked, "May I write a message of my own?"
"You may." Adjacent to the warning, he scrupulously fashioned a heart. Within the trademark symbol he carved one concise, meaningful statement: "Blu + Jewel, always and forever."
He released the makeshift chisel and revealed it to her.
"It's honest, sweet, and perfect."
"And it won't ever fade, just like our love."
"Exactly."
The enamored duo snacked on crunchy Brazil nuts prior to absconding.
Shepherded by their inquisitive spirits, Blu and Jewel squandered the remaining daylight hours roaming the city. Probing its obscure outskirts and investigating unorthodox venues, their flight paths crisscrossed the metropolis like a tangled web.
Quashing their hunger and slaking their thirst when necessary, the macaws' voyage was otherwise incessant.
Silhouetted against the incandescent orb of the setting sun, Blu and Jewel partook in a tropical, romantic dinner on a secluded beach. Spectacular was the setting, that nuclear inferno mutating the sapphire Atlantic into an ocean of molten lava and gold.
Munching on an assortment of fruit and sipping milk directly from a coconut, Blu and Jewel feasted in tranquility.
Though neither avian creature wore a gem-studded crown, the macaws were unequivocally the king and queen of Brazil's coastal gem.
Quieter than a mouse's footfalls the sun eventually vanished, yet destined to return and fulfill its purpose.
The royal couple retreated to the birthplace of their future, the cradle of a profusion of memories.
Twilight's pastel glow suffused their quarters; smoldering desire wreathed the female's soul. She capitalized on their divine isolation, whispering sugary sweet nothings into his ear and stroking his silken plumage.
Breast-to-breast and beak-to-beak with his partner, the ambrosial perfume seeping from her feathers beguiled him.
A willing victim of her enchantment, he granted her wish. Coincidentally, he'd been harboring that same wish deep in his psyche, waiting for the opportune moment to act.
That moment had materialized.
A protracted session of foreplay progressed to sultry love-making. Pushing the envelope, they adopted a novel, experimental position; blazing passion and pleasure consumed them from the inside out.
Thus they paid homage to the sexual facet of their relationship, an aspect as integral as the physical and emotional ones.
In the intimate ritual's wake, a rapturous trance consumed them.
Two beings united as one by the chains of faith and attraction, they floated through a portal to the dream realm together.
A tight formation of macaws glided through the cool, clear night, the crescent moon's mercurial shine varnishing their backs. The trio of Spix's struggled to counteract gravity, appropriately described as dead batteries with wings.
Tiago mumbled, "Are we there yet? I might not make it."
"Don't give up yet. You're almost home," Emilio encouraged.
"This is what we get for staying up past our bedtime," Carla groused.
"Not the most intelligent decision we've made."
Plumb out of fuel, they soldiered valiantly on nevertheless.
To their dreary eyes, their run-of-the-mill residence had undergone a transformation. A blessed, inviting haven, it tugged on them with magnetic tenacity.
They staggered upon landing on the ledge, Tiago bumping into Bia by mistake.
Shambling like zombies to the main chamber, Carla shoved the hatch open, her mind too operating too sluggishly to realize it was newly-installed.
"Mom, Dad, we're here. Can you tuck us into bed?"
Hearing no reply, they peered into the murk, resolving a pair of figures curled up in the nest.
"Well well, they're fast asleep. If I wasn't so tired, I'd be surprised."
"It makes logical sense to imitate them."
"You don't have to tell me twice."
Sonia whispered, "Boa noite, os mais pequenos. You may come over whenever you like." {Good night, little ones.}
"Thank you. We appreciate it," muttered Bia.
"We'd love for you to spend the night with us."
"We'll convince them to say yes. Don't worry, Emilio," her sister promulgated.
"Excelente." {Excellent}
With that, the scarlet macaws waved and sailed off, technicolor wraiths in the night.
"Tiago, Bia, wanna sleep with me?"
"I'd prefer that over the cold, lonely alternative."
"Count me in, big sis."
The exhausted teenagers filed into Carla's bedroom, curling up comfortably in her nest. Tempted by the alluring darkness, they sank uneventfully into their slumbers.
A consequence of the familial bond they shared, their minds were uncannily linked. Summoning a portal to the realm of dreams, they floated through it together.
