Roberto stood behind the witnesses, unable to look at Jespa. Sophia still kept hold of his wing, shaking slightly. She was feeling completely and utterly betrayed. Her one remaining family member was now her worst enemy. Jespa had put himself in danger to destroy her happiness - he would put his own life at risk just to do that.

Finally, Roberto forced himself to look at him. Jespa was on a tall, flat-topped rock column a few metres from Eduardo's tree, where every disgraced tribe member was taken before punishment. It had rarely been used since Eduardo had become leader - and that had been over thirty years ago. Since he was trying to escape, Jespa was held between Tobias and Manuela to stop him from leaving. Tobias's and Manuela's claws sank deeply into Jespa's wings, their eyes blazing with disgust and rage. Isabella and Bruno were Tobias's family, and Carlos was Manuela's mate. No wonder they wanted to be the ones to keep hold of him.

Jespa had put up quite a fight. Some of the patrol who had found him were marked by cuts and bruises, but luckily, Jespa bore more marks then they did. There was a heavy, swollen cut sitting above his left eye, which Jewel had proudly declared to be of her work. His other eye was black, and numerous claw marks gouged his sides, chest and stomach - one in his neck looked very serious, as shown by the large crimson stain that was even expanding as Roberto watched. And Roberto knew an artery ran near there. Another few centimetres to the left, and the artery could have been severed. Jespa was breathing heavily, as if he had flown a mile.

Jespa could have killed innocent birds, but he could have also broken many hearts. The impact on Tobias and Manuela would be devastating, and Manuela had a son too - Augustus would have lost a father. Jacinta was mother to a large family, and Azalea was a tribe matriarch. The aftershock of any of their deaths would be heartbreaking, and Sophia would have been broken. She would never allow herself to fall in love again if something had happened to Roberto.

The trial shell was called. It was large, ancient, and had many cracks - it was older than Eduardo and Mimi. The macaw who had blown into it actually started coughing, waving his wing to rid of the dust. This shell was used to call for silence during a scenario like this; a trial of sort. The tribe - every single member had gathered - immediately fell silent. All eyes turned to the tribe patriarch and advisor.

"Jespa. The accusation is attempted murder of Roberto, and the evidence is too overwhelming to be questioned." Mimi's voice echoed around the ravine. At the top of the cliffs, Roberto saw a few non-Spix birds peering over, in curiosity. Now the whole rainforest would know, of the insane murderer named Jespa. News spread everywhere in the Amazon - almost everyone would know who Jespa was, and know to avoid him. He wouldn't have a friend in the world - not that he even had any now, though. "You, in your treacherous actions, tried to kill a respected member of our tribe who has never done anything to offend you. Why?"

Jespa kept his beak clamped shut. Sophia pressed against Roberto, and he knew exactly what she was thinking: what if Jespa told the tribe his twisted version of what had really happened, the night Andre died? He would paint a false picture of Sophia, and even if the tribe knew the whole truth, Zenaida's name would be disgraced. It was Zenaida who pushed Andre, but the tribe would always assume the worst. They'd never think she regretted it. Mimi turned to Eduardo, and stepped back to let her brother speak. Eduardo stepped forward; he tried to keep his serenity, but it ran away. His face went red.

"You purposely provoked a Harpy eagle, risking getting caught yourself just to harm Roberto. Prior, you trespassed on Kerja's territory to retrieve some Hyacinth feathers, which in itself is a very dangerous matter!" Eduardo shouted. "Do you realize what Kerja may do, if she discovers that one of us has trespassed on her territory? After years, we have reached a... a temporary truce, but who knows how long that'll last? If she finds out that you've been over there, she will want blood." The tribe hissed at this statement - Jespa had endangered them all.

"What will you do? Drag me over there and hand me over?" Jespa sneered, unafraid of feeling the wrath of Eduardo's anger.

"Silence!" Eduardo roared. "Furthermore, you not only dangered Roberto. You endangered the lives of Carlos and Jacinta, Isabella, and Bruno - an innocent chick. To make things even worse, you nearly killed your own sister! And a tribe matriarch!" Azalea's white skin turned as scarlet as her plumage, and she ducked her head as eyes turned to the small splash of crimson against the blue residents. Mimi spoke next.

"What if Felipe had declared war? It's taken nineteen years for us to achieve peace, and you've jeopardized that!"

Azalea winced. "I'm sure Felipe wouldn't..." She whispered to Sophia.

"So. Before I give you what you deserve, you will tell me why you did this. Why did you try to kill Roberto?" Eduardo demanded. Many tortuous moments passed, but Jespa didn't speak. "Really? You're not going to tell us why?" Disgust shone within Eduardo's icy green eyes. "Very well. You're clearly insane - you're a danger to everybody here. You vandalized your own father's marker, frightened the life out of countless chicks - including my own grandson." Roberto tried to spot him, but Tiago was barely visible, from where he was standing - hiding - between his two sisters. "I thought we could deal with a maniac within our ranks. But I was clearly wrong." Eduardo shook his head.

"Very wrong." Muttered Carlos. Jespa was shaking with rage, at the way Eduardo was speaking to him. The tribe held it's breath.

"Jespa, I declare your fate now. Perhaps we should kill you, like how my predecessor used to deal with traitors - but I'm not that kind of leader. I have mercy." Sophia glanced at Roberto, eyes wide, as they waited for Eduardo to continue. "I now decree that you are no longer a member of this tribe. You will live out the rest of your days in exile." There was a sharp draw in of breath from Sophia, and shocked murmuring throughout the crowd. Roberto swore he heard someone whisper 'brilliant'. Some murmurs were of discontent; some thought Jespa deserved to be killed for his crime.

Jespa stared at Eduardo, in surprise. Roberto couldn't believe he had the audacity to think Eduardo would let him stay. "What?"

"You heard me. You are banished, and must leave the ravine at once. You may travel throughout the territory tonight, but after sunrise, if you are found within our borders, or anywhere else in the sanctuary for that matter, patrols have my permission to kill you."

The tribe was in utter silence. But nobody protested. Mimi motioned to some macaws to the left. "Take him away. Our ravine has no place for traitors." With that, Jespa was dragged off the column, toward the ravine entrance. The crowd began to cheer.

"Sophia!" He barked, in outrage. "Tell Eduardo of my innocence. I'm your brother."

"You..." Sophia raised a wing, pointing. A tear ran down her face, and she clutched onto Roberto's wing even tighter. "You never have... and never will be... my brother."

"Traitor!" Jespa roared, in fury. Sophia flinched, and turned her face into Roberto's unwounded shoulder - he knew she was sobbing in silence. He wrapped a comforting wing around her, his eyes unafraid as he watched Jespa.

"Get him out of here!" Eduardo shouted, waving his wing. Jespa's restrainers handled him with more force, to get him away - but he surged against them, half-freeing himself.

"Get your filthy talons off! I will leave with dignity." He spat. There was a moment of hesitation, but then the macaws retreated, leaving him. Jespa turned to go, but then he looked back, with slitted eyes. "You haven't seen the last of me, sister. I will make you pay dearly for everything you've done to me. And you -" he hissed, poisonously, his scorching eyes freezing Roberto. "You'd better keep your eyes open. Keep your ears pricked. Keep looking behind you. Because one day soon, I will find you. There's isn't one place in this rainforest you can hide!"

Jespa then spun round, and in the blink of an eye, was gone.