Chapter 14- formulations of plans

Clemont and Rosa darted into a cluster of leaves in a lower branch of the adjacent tree when they saw some furry creatures with membranous wings jump out at the spot where Orion was. The sounds of frightened cries and wing flaps had been Orion screeching in fright when he saw the creatures leap upon him like a pack of cats, and his attempts to escape. In the process he had dropped the phone which went crashing through the canopy, smashing on the way down as the outstretched arms of hard wood from the branches impacted it, resulting in Orion's call to Blu cutting off. Clemont and Rosa had seen the fragments of the phone continue to tumble towards the forest floor. However, their attention was largely on the skirmish between Orion and the creatures. Then after a frightening minute, the air became quiet, and Clemont and Rosa could hear no more squawking and screeching. However, they did see a couple of slate grey feathers drift down from above, spinning like propellers as they drifted through the canopy and on towards the forest floor. Then the two cockatoos saw a group of drab coloured furry forms, some covered with bleeding scratches and bite marks, obviously made by talons and the beak of a falcon, glide and flap through nonchalantly away into the trees as though nothing had happened, their black membranous wings sweeping out like ghostly cloaks. A slate grey feather was caught in the foot claws of one of the creatures, much to the utter despair and dread of Clemont and Rosa, and they shuddered. The two cockatoos watched helplessly as the creatures sinisterly disappeared further into the trees. However, there was no sign of Orion. At this, dread came over Clemont and Rosa like a massive rogue wave in the sea and Rosa's eyes began to ooze tears. Clemont then put his wings around his girlfriend and began to weep as well when suddenly…

Mad flapping exploded from the air and reached the ears of the two cockatoos, making them jump. Then a feathered form landed very clumsily onto a branch before them, puffing and panting and trembling violently. At first, the cockatoo pair was alarmed but when they saw that it had slate grey feathers, a speckled ivory underside and the familiar beak and talons, they breathed a sigh of immense relief. Orion, though badly shaken and trembling at the narrow escape, was fine but he was covered with a few bruises and cuts, the worst being a scratch across his chest which was oozing a bit of blood. His tail was missing a few flight feathers and a bald patch where some of his body feathers had been torn out marked his back. His fanny pack was also tattered with a large hole torn into it. Because of this, some of the contents had fallen out. Clemont and Rosa, relief consuming them like a cloud, encased Orion in a hug together, tears falling from their faces like rain.

"We thought you have been killed!" cried Rosa in a shaky voice. Orion, shaking like jelly in an earthquake, returned the hug. He was hyperventilating and his heartrate was through the canopy. When the two cockatoos broke the hug with their falcon friend and came away, Clemont was alarmed when he saw two or three red streaks run over the snowy-white plumage of his chest and neck. At this, his blue eyes darted to Orion's chest and when he saw the three red gashes, the cockatoo felt horror rip through him, his orange crest erect.

"Let's get you back to the cave and have that treated," he said.

"And also before any more of those creatures spot us," said Rosa. Orion nodded.

"Then please help me fly back there," he said, wincing from the pain from his scratched chest and tattered tail. Clemont and Rosa obliged. Then together, the trio left the scene, Clemont supporting Orion as he struggled to remain airborne due to painful scratch across his chest. His wing feathers, fortunately, were still intact so he was able to fly which he and the cockatoos were glad for. Quickly, the three disappeared into the trees and headed for the mouth of the cave where the others waited. Orion's narrow escape from that group of the intrusive flying foxes was just the beginning of Eustace's group's worries. However, their minds were on their jungle friends, the bird tribes and clans and the smaller groups living with them.

Meanwhile

Cicatriz examined his weapon which was a sharp-stick which had porcupine spines attached via died mud close to its sharpened end and admired the number of feathers tied on the other, unsharpened end via some coconut strings. The weapon resembled a mace with a rigid handle while Iracebeth's was more like a flail for the porcupine spiked ball was loose. Most of the flying foxes wielded a variety of weapons made from sticks, porcupine spines, piranha teeth, stones and in rare cases, bones. Sharp-sticks, which were sticks with a sharpened end, were the most common but mace, spear and flail-like weapons were also common. Bat pups were too young to have a weapon of their own but when they reached adolescence and had passed the fighting and training classes, they were given a weapon of choice. On each of most of the bats' weapons a set of feathers were tied. These were feathers taken from birds that the flying foxes had killed, taken as trophies. Flying foxes that had more feathers on their weapons were more respected, almost like elite hunters and warriors. Cicatriz and Iracebeth had had a lot of feathers tied to their weapons, showing that they had killed a lot of birds of countless species, among them a harpy eagle in Iracebeth's case. This case was one of the very few cases in which a flying fox had killed an apex predator singlehandedly, but these cases were extremely few and far between for harpies were extremely dangerous. It was obvious that Iracebeth was one of the most skilled fighters in the colony, and taking on a harpy eagle was something her mate Cicatriz had never done and that most of the flying foxes in the colony would never dare attempt, not even as a group. Thus the harpy eagle feather in Iracebeth's cluster of trophies was a symbol of her skill as an ultimate bird killer in the colony. It truly was an awesome feat to achieve in combating a harpy eagle alone.

While Cicatriz admired his trophies, taken from countless individual birds he had killed or had participated in killing in a group, Augustus came by. His eyes were on his brother and his weapon as he continued gleefully examining his mace-like sharp-stick with its collection of feathers. Whenever Augustus's eyes landed on those feathers, a spark of revulsion tore through him. Then his eyes travelled to the ongoing fighting classes below the colony leaders' tree. Bat pups and adolescent flying foxes were going fiercely for the bird dummies made from fruit, slashing them with their claws, biting with their teeth or skewering them with sharp-sticks, as though fighting against real birds. Augustus's eyes then landed on his nephew Iago and niece Veruca as they attacked a bird dummy. Iago, because he was an adolescent, was given a sharp-stick so that he could practice wielding it. He was yet to make a kill and earn his first trophy and that wasn't too far away where an adolescent flying fox would go out into a bird species' territory with some other adolescents to take on a real bird and earn their first trophies. Augustus flinched. He could not stand the thought of his son Sebastian, who was also an adolescent, joining a hunting group to kill an innocent bird. In fact the whole fighting class course, along with the colony's teachings about every bird of the Amazon, made him and his mate Melissa and also some of the other flying foxes who disagreed with them, sick and repulsed. Sebastian and his two younger sisters Stella and Luna also hated the thought of killing a bird if they've done nothing wrong, and Augustus and Melissa, their parents, had strictly forbidden them in joining in with the fighting classes, much to the immense disapproval of Cicatriz and Iracebeth.

In the colony, it was mandatory that all bat pups attend the fighting classes, but Sebastian has only ever attended very few of them when he had been a pup and unlike his cousins Veruca and Iago who found attacking the bird dummies a thrill, he found it utterly repulsive and often refused to obey his teachers' commands to viciously attack the dummies. When he had reached adolescents and his younger sisters Stella and Luna were born, Augustus and Melissa had withdrawn Sebastian from the classes to instead teach him the basics of jungle survival and skills in self-defence. At the same time, the parents had strictly disallowed Stella and Luna from attending to the fighting classes, which they, like their older brother, found repulsive as well. However, Augustus and his family's behaviour and their contrary views to the colony's teachings about Amazonian birds had placed them in a spotlight for bullying and jeering from their colony-mates apart from a few, such as the late cousin of Melissa, Lily. Augustus and Melissa were obviously aware that Cicatriz and Iracebeth want their son and daughters to attend the fighting classes and their son eventually venturing out into a territory of a bird flock to hunt for a bird to kill with a weapon and earn his first trophy in the form of a feather plucked from his victim, but the two obviously could not bring themselves to allow their son to do it. Even Sebastian himself hated the thought of slaughtering an innocent bird in an unprovoked attack. The family was indeed in a difficult position but they also had other aims on their mind as well.

Augustus snapped out of these thoughts when the clapping of membranous wings reached his ears. He turned his gaze away from the fighting classes below and towards his older brother as he clapped his wings together to call the attention of some other flying foxes. Then within moments, a small crowd of bats congregated around their leader. As they did that, Melissa came by and landed on the rim of the hollow entrance in time to see the bats, which were the inner circle bats of the colony, bowed briefly to show their respect to their patriarch. After rising, Cicatriz smiled and opened up the meeting. Augustus slipped out of the hollow and joined his mate. The two moved to the shade of a wide branch and leaves and began to listen in through one of the holes as Cicatriz welcomed his inner circle bats.

"I am glad you guys have come to join me this afternoon," he said proudly, "As you will know, this meeting is about the next step of our plans of our invasion."

Melissa and Augustus stole a glance at each other and continued listening. They knew what Cicatriz meant by 'plans of invasion' as well as whose territories their colony was planning to grab.

"Now that we have plenty of important information about the territories of those feathered worms, the macaws and the other birds including the four-winged lizard-tailed birds thanks to our spies," continued Cicatriz, "It is time to get the questions their investigation has produced answered, and we have plenty of those on our list. And the way we are gonna do that is to catch at least one member of each group of feathered worms to bring back to our land to question them."

Cicatriz's group continued listening as their leader continued, "And the information we need from those feathered prisoners we catch is how large their tribe or clan is, what other birds are living on their territory, what their living space is like and what sort of habitat, and so on and so on, but most importantly, why there hasn't been any logging activity in those areas for ages."

Some of Cicatriz's inner circle bats exchanged glances before gazing back at their leader. "But I'm gonna need suggestions as to which birds would be the easiest targets to nab first..."

When these words travelled from Cicatriz's mouth to Melissa and Augustus's ears, the two winced in utter shock as they knew where the deranged leader was getting to.

"Interrogation," whispered Melissa to her equally horrified mate, "They're planning on kidnapping some birds to interrogate about their habitat and tribes, clans or groups, among other things. I remember this happening to three macaws from the red-fronted macaw tribe before our colony drove them out."

Augustus shared a dreaded look with his mate. Both bats knew what that meant. Whenever the flying foxes wanted to know more about the territory of a bird tribe or clan they intend to grab, as well as the tribe or clan the bats intend to drive out in order to grab that land, they always used forceful interrogation on kidnapped members of that tribe or clan. Their initial kidnapping was just the beginning of their nightmares but the worst bit of all was the interrogation process itself. Birds were put through the most sadistic, cruellest and violent torture by their furred interrogators in order to be forced into answering questions about their tribe or clan and about their land, and the methods used made Augustus and Melissa's stomachs lurch, and Augustus remembered how so many poor birds had died from the brutal torture the interrogators had put them through in the past. Even worse, not all of the kidnapped victims had been adult birds. Augustus and Melissa remembered some of the previous kidnapped victims being as young as preteen chicks, or chicks that were approaching adolescence. However, very young chicks were never used since they did not know much about their tribe or clan.

Melissa had never seen the state the avian victims ended up after just a few days of immense torture, but Augustus had. He had managed to get a glimpse of two of the victims, both young male hyacinth macaw adults, from the Oscuro-Azul Clan before loggers came and destroyed their habitat and decimated them, but Augustus did not want to let the memory of those two macaws and their state arise in his mind. It was too horrible to remember, but he had an excellent idea from that glimpse of how the victims' interrogators treated those poor birds. Both of those hyacinth macaws had since died as soon as Bruto and Sombra, the parents of Augustus and the colony leaders before Cicatriz and his mate Iracebeth succeeded them, had both of them put to death. While Augustus thought about these dreadful things, Cicatriz's voice pulled his and Melissa's attention back to him through the window in the hollow.

"We're especially gonna need some tribe or clan members who know a lot about their groups," he said, "Those sorts of members are an ideal source of information about their tribes and clans and their habitats. So what are your suggestions?"

His only functioning eye, his left eye, raked his gathering expectantly. Then a muscular male with reddish fur crisscrossed with a great number of stepped forward, an evil grin on his face.

"I suppose any of the relatives of the tribe or clan leaders, such as any grown-up offspring that they have," he said, "Or perhaps any close friends of those leaders?"

But then his face fell. "But those potential targets are often in their tribe or clan's base and it would be too risky to fly into the heart of their flock's territory to nab them."

"That is true, Severus," said Cicatriz to the male reddish bat, "And that is what we want to avoid."

Severus nodded in agreement. Then a female bat came forward. She had brown fur slashed with scars.

"Maybe we could target birds that are either on patrol or out foraging or something in the territory of those birds?" she asked, "They're perhaps more vulnerable than they are nearer the heart of their territories where their tribe or clan-mates live."

Augustus and Melissa flinched in horror, a gasp entering each of their mouths.

"I agree with Cruella actually, Cicatriz," came Severus's voice, "Those jungle feather-balls with feathers often send patrol groups out into the territory while some others fly out to forage in the fruit groves that grow in their areas."

"Classes are also vulnerable," said another bat, "But I think those birds will have taken strict action after we attacked some of those groups now."

"Well, we could still target those groups," said Cicatriz, "But we might have to have some plan of action in place first if we want to go for those groups."

An evil smile then crossed his face. "But other than that, it's settled," he said, "We're gonna go for any patrol groups and foragers. Cruella, you're an outright genius."

Cruella smiled as she accepted the praise from her leader.

"Now listen very closely," said Cicatriz, and his group cocked their ears and leaned closer to pick up the information he was about to give out, "Here's what I want you guys to do…" Augustus and Melissa also cocked their ears to listen to Cicatriz's instructions.

"I want you lot to organise plenty of groups of kidnappers, preferably with the strongest and most skilled bats in the colony included, and then send them out into the birds' territories to search for any patrol groups or foragers. I also want most of you lot to go with them as well for many of you guys are also skilled in ambush and capturing birds."

"Voldemort would be a good one," crooned Cruella evilly, "He's a real expert in those areas."

"As well as hunting," said Severus.

"Then as soon as you find a patrol or foraging group," continued Cicatriz, "I want you to jump out at them and try to capture one or two of them. It doesn't matter how young those birds are but as long as they're not young chicks. Make sure that you use brute force but not enough force to kill them, and then bring them back here. After that, take them to the Interrogation Patch where our interrogation victim handlers are waiting. Hand those birds over to those bats and help them tie them up…"

"Did you hear that?" whispered Melissa. Augustus nodded.

"This is honestly no different from the last times they had captured birds for interrogation," he hissed disgustedly, "They're planning on using young birds, those that are under adolescent age, yet again!"

"I think it's time we took action, Augustus, don't you think?" said Melissa with a stern frown. Then an idea entered Augustus's head, but it was one that he didn't really like but it was the only possible best solution.

"We're gonna join one of those kidnapper groups," he said, "And as we venture into the birds' land, we're gonna plan on delivering this information to the birds, but we'll cross that river when we come to it."

Melissa shot her mate a stunned look. "Let's get outa here and tell all this to Sebastian, Stella and Luna back at our hollow before that brother of mine or any of his inner circle bats catch us here," said Augustus and with that, the two bats took off in the direction of their hollow. Fortunately, Cicatriz and his gang had been unaware that Augustus and Melissa had been eavesdropping on the next step of their plans.

Meanwhile

Back in the underground cave where Eustace and company and dozens and dozens of the jungle's birds not part of a tribe or clan or any of the more major groups such as the chestnut-fronted macaw group had taken refuge, Clemont, Rosa and Orion had managed to arrive back safely. Serena, together with Diantha and Eustace, were out on a foraging trip with a group of the birds, aiming to find and haul as much fruit as they could find back to the cave for the rest of the group while Velocity had left on a hunting trip to search for an animal carcass or capybara to kill so that she and her brother Orion had food to themselves. She succeeded in finding a capybara mother and a litter of five pups (babies) foraging on the edge of a lake and had managed to jump out at the group and kill three of the pups, slashing their necks with her talons where the main carotid arteries ran, making the mother and the other two pups escape. It had been a difficult choice but Velocity knew that she and Orion needed to eat without killing any of the birds, which they were strictly against doing, preferring pigeons and some other small non-exotic birds over larger bird species. After she had made the kill, Velocity had dragged the carcases back to the mouth of the underground tunnel and cave to await the return of her brother with Clemont and Rosa. However, when the three finally arrived, Velocity was flooded with alarm when she saw the state of Orion, especially the scratch across his chest which still continued to weep a few drops of red, and his tattered fanny pack.

"Orion, your chest and your plumage!" she cried when she saw the trembling falcon cling onto Clemont with one wing around his shoulder and the other grasping his chest. His face was twisted with pain. "Look at the state of you! What happened!?"

"We had a narrow escape from another group of those giant dog-faced bats," said Rosa, "A group of them sneaked up on Orion while he was talking to Blu on the mobile phone."

Clemont then helped Orion to stand on his own talons. "They jumped out at me so suddenly," explained the male falcon, "that I just dropped the phone and was forced to fight back and escape. One clawed me across the chest, as you can see," he pointed to his scratched chest, which was fortunately not too deep, "While another attempted to bite me."

"We thought that those bats had killed him when everything subsided," said Rosa, "But we were relieved when he turned up alive and well."

Then Orion saw that some of the group was missing as Milo stood at the entrance of the group's hiding place. "Where are Eustace, Serena and Diantha?" he asked.

"They and some of the birds have gone out foraging for fruit for the others in the cave," said Velocity. She then nodded to the three capybara pup carcasses, "While I have gone out hunting and killed these. These three will be our meal."

Orion stared at the three capybara carcases and sighed. Then Milo came in, having seen Orion and his injury.

"Let's take you into our cave and have that scratch treated," he said, his wings around the peregrine falcon who still clutched his scratched chest. "Some of the birds inside are quite well trained in medical care and they should be able to help you."

"Oh, thanks," said Orion with relief as Milo began to help him walk towards the cave's mouth, "I could do with that."

As they left and disappeared into the cave, Velocity, Clemont and Rosa began to talk.

"So what did Blu say?" she asked.

"Well, based on what Orion told us during our trip back to here," said Clemont, "It seems that Blu has told us to leave this place and return to Rio."

"He was concerned for our safety, especially with those giant bats flying around the Sanctuary de Amazon," said Rosa. Velocity shot the two cockatoos a disbelieving glare.

"Well, we've just got here for one," she said, "And two, we have just helped rescue a group of birds from a group of those marauding bats. We can't just pack up and leave and abandon these poor birds."

Clemont and Rosa shot each other a glance and gazed back at Velocity who then glanced around at the surrounding wall of trees in the clearing. "And besides those two reasons," she added, "I would like to find out why the sanctuary has become infested with these bats and what they are doing roaming around the said land. Our jungle friends might want some help in dealing with this situation."

"But Velocity," protested Clemont, "It's too dangerous. Orion told us that Blu said that those bats despise us birds."

"And that they could kill us on the spot if they find us," said Rosa. The stern and determined look on Velocity's face, however, never left.

"We're not gonna leave those jungle friends to face this potential threat by themselves, you two," she said adamantly, "If that is true, I would like to find some answers and then see if we could help them."

Clemont and Rosa opened their beaks to protest but Velocity overrode their attempts to speak with, "Now come on, inside the cave. The foraging party will be returning with their stash of fruit and will require your help, while I drag these carcases in for me and my brother."

The two cockatoos, an irritated glance at each other, did as they were told and entered the cave while Velocity resumed dragging the capybara pup carcases towards the cave entrance.

"She sure can be bossy at times," muttered Rosa as the two crossed the rim and into the tunnel.

"Tell me about it," said Clemont, "She's like her mother sometimes."