**Nikki's POV**
Seeing Nico... hurt Ricardo. I felt so terrified. I pleaded him to stop. He just looked at me frozen. Realizing what he did. Suddenly, he flew out of the club. I tried to go after him, but Rafi still held me back. I turned to him. Tears still flooding my face. I turned to see Ricardo was gone. Birds that once were watching, went back to their own business and the music was turned back up. Pedro and Rafi lead me out of the club into the fresh air.
"He needs time alone. That's all." Pedro said putting a wing around me.
"He needs me.." I whispered.
I tried to wipe the tears away. But... they wouldn't go away. Rafi hugged me. Trying to comfort me. But I needed Nico. Like Nico really needed me.
"I'm going to get him." I said finally.
Without saying anything else, I took off before either of them could stop me. I kept a straight path.
"Nico!" I called.
15 minutes passed. I kept calling his name. I landed on a branch huffing. Leaves rustled a tree away. My eyes shot up. I flew over to the tree seeing someone step out.
"Nico- Wait you aren't-"
I tried to fly away before a cloth was thrown over me. I fell to the ground. Hitting it with a thud. My back and wings ached. I cried out for Nico. I thought I heard my name. The bird flew down to my side. They chuckled evilly, and smiled at me. Blackness filled my sight, and I slipped out of consciousness.
**Nico's POV**
I kept flying for what seemed like hours though it had only been 30 minutes. Soon, I landed on a branch that was on a tree somewhere near the nest. I huffed. My whole body ached. I sat down, covering my face with my wings.
I couldn't believe I lashed out like that. When Nikki pleaded me to stop, I saw terror in her eyes. She looked so frightened... Of me? Of the fight? I couldn't take it. I didn't like the way Ricardo looked at her, touched her, talked about her... I wanted to make him regret saying or doing anything to her.
What I really wanted to do was just hold her right now, and apologize.. Maybe I should go back to the club.. Would she still be there? Maybe Pedro and Rafi took her back to the nest. I would try there first. Regaining my strength, I stood up, and flew in the direction of the nest.
When I got there, I entered the nest. It was dark, but from the moonlight, I could see the nest was unoccupied. My shoulders dropped. Maybe she was back at the club.
"Nico!"
I snapped my head to the side and peered out the entrance. I heard my name being called.
"Nikki?" I said back.
No response. I turned back around and entered the nest. Then I heard it again. I flew out of the nest, resting on the branch. I looked all around. I couldn't see her. I flew from tree to tree, trying to see where she was calling from. Then, 10 feet away, I saw her land on a branch. Looking all around. She called my name again. I tried to respond, but I saw her go to another tree where I was a bird emerged from some leaves. Confused, I hid a few trees away.
"Nico... Wait you aren't-"
The bird hit her and threw a piece of cloth into her face. She plummeted to the ground. I flew quickly to the bird, in attempt to knock him down. He smacked me aside. I hit the tree trunk hard. Looking down to see Nikki. She lay still. Scared, I tried to get up, but a larger bird came out of nowhere and held me down. The other bird flew down to Nikki, and she called out something softly. I called her name, straining my voice. The next thing I knew, the larger bird punched me in the face. My vision blurred and I slipped into blackness
"Nico!" Hey man wake up!" a voice called pulling me out of my unconsciousness.
I groaned before sitting up. I rubbed my head. Looking up I saw a confused Pedro and Rafi. Then, I remembered.
"Ricardo! He took Nikki! He knocked her out, and I tried to save her, and... and-" I stuttered, standing up.
"Nico, calm down. We will find her. It will be okay." Rafi said to me.
He put a wing around me. Unable to sit still, I pushed him away.
"I.. I can't. The love of my life. My.. Mate is out there, in the wings of that... That.. bird!" I exclaimed.
I covered my face, fighting back tears. I couldn't. I have to find her. My Nikki.
"Excuse me." a voice called.
I looked up to see a familiar figure land on the branch. Realizing it was the bird that held me down, I ran up to him, ready to take him out; but Pedro and Rafael held me back.
"What do you want?" I spat.
"The boss wishes to see you at the giant statue 3 days from now. Bring no one. And we will let the girl go." he said before flying off.
As soon as he left our sight, they let me go. I fell down, my wings catchin my fall. I just... sat there. Not moving.
"Should we follow him?" Rafael asked.
"Maybe.. Nico?" Pedro asked turning to me.
Still staring at the branch underneath me, I sighed. Sitting up, I turned to both of them.
"No. It will most likely be a trap. We will meet him 3 days from now.." I mumbled.
"But they said to-"
You guys can hide.. And we will even bring reinforcements." I half smiled.
Standing up, I looked to the sky. The sun was almost down. Almost completely gone. Stars poked through the darkening sky.
One way or another, I'm getting you back.