Chapter 7: A lovely day out

Hi everyone, another chapter here, and I do apologise for the long delay as I've been very busy. This takes place a week after the events of Rio 2 and will be focusing on Blu and his kids spending the day together. this is one of the longest chapters I've written and I hope you enjoy.

It was a bright sunny day in the Amazon jungle, flying high above his new home was Blu and his three kids as they soared above the Spix macaws grove as they had decided to spend the day together, they eventually landed on a nearby branch next to the clay banks.

Blu then turned to his three kids and asked them what they would like to do today to which Bia responded.

"I would like to go to this small waterfall my friends showed me last week, it's quite close it's one of the most beautiful waterfalls," Bia said, her eyes brimming with excitement.

"Oooh that sounds fun, can we go see it out dad, please!" Tiago pleaded towards Blu who put his wing to his face and had a think. "I don't know, it may be dangerous."

"Oh please Dad, lighten up a bit, we're not hatchlings anymore, let's go and have fun," Carla said before she and her siblings donned puppy dog expressions causing their father to sigh.

"Ok we'll go to the waterfall, all I ask is that you stay together and don't wander off," he said to which his kids nodded happily.

"I know where it is, follow me," said Bia before she flapped her wings and took off heading towards the east part of the grove with, Blu, Carla and Tiago following closely behind her.

Soon they arrived at the waterfall and it was beautiful, it was surrounded by colourful wildflowers and the water was crystal clear and dropped into a large plunge pool.

"Wow, you were right Bia, this place is amazing," Carla said, amazed at how beautiful the area was, Tiago was more interested in jumping off the waterfall so he walked up to his dad and eagerly jumped up and down in front of him before asking:

"Dad, please can I jump off the waterfall into the pool, It looks awesome."

"Alright, you can go and jump off but be careful," Blu said which made Tiago's eye's lit up with joy before he wrapped his wings around him, hugging his belly with his eyes closed. "Thanks, Dad, you're the best Dad in the world," he said before letting go of him and flying up to one of the outcrops of rock sticking out of the waterfall's edge.

Blu smiled grew wider hearing those words as it plucked his heartstrings as he watched as Tiago jump off the rock and hit the water with a large splash before his head popped up to the surface, laughing happily before swimming to the edge and pulling himself out with his wings and then shaking his body dry.

"Wow son, great dive, you're like a kingfisher," Blu said, clapping his wings together before walking over a placing a wing on his shoulder.

"Thanks, Dad," Tiago said, looking up at his father with a sweet smile which he returned before turning his head when he heard Carla call his name.

"Hey dad, come at look at this."

Both he and Tiago flew over to where she and Bia were looking and followed their gaze to an astonishing sight.

In front of them was large grove full of beautiful wild orchids and fruit trees all surrounding a beautiful crystal clear lake, the light breeze accompanied but the jungle sounds created a soothing melody in the air.

"Wow, this place is incredible, I must bring your mother here sometime, she will be thrilled to see this place," Blu said as he gaped in awe at the sheer beauty of the grove.

As the macaws stood looking over the grove, resting in one of the tree branches nearby was a female Emerald tree boa named Sonia, she was a local to this grove and always enjoyed meeting new visitors, As she opened her eye's she saw the group of macaws head down to the wildflower areas.

"Spix macaws, here? This is a rare sight to see, I must show them the amazing wonders of this place." Sonia said before slowly sliding down the tree and slithering through the grass towards the macaws who were admiring the flowers.

"Wow, I don't think this is an orchid I've seen anywhere else in the Amazon," Bia noted admiring a blue and white striped orchid while Tiago snorted since he didn't care about flowers.

"It's just a plant sister, how can a silly flower be fascinating to you, it looks silly anyway."

"Tiago! Don't be rude to your sister or I will ground you for the rest of the day." Blu said in a stern voice to his son having heard what he'd said. Tiago crossed his wings in a huff and stared at the ground.

Carla meanwhile was relaxing under a mango tree, her eyes shut as she let the sounds of the grove form a soothing melody which flowed through her ears. "Ahh…nothing can spoil this day." she sighed as the carried on bathing under the tree.

"Hello there."

Carla eyes opened in surprise to see Sonia hanging from the branch over her head, she immediately jumped up in fright and backed away.

"Who are you, what do you want?" she said, her voice shaking slightly as the snake dropped down in front of her into a coil.

"Don't worry I'm not going to eat you, I'm not like the other snakes in this grove, My name is Sonia and I'm happy to meet you, may I ask what your name is?" Sonia said in a friendly manner.

"My name is Carla," she said, her wings still trembling in fear, still afraid that the snake was going to attack her but to her surprise, Sonia just smiled sweetly at her.

"That's a wonderful name for a lovely Spix macaw like you," Sonia said which made Carla blush at the compliment before she slowly moved her wings back to her side as he fear of the snake faded away.

"Thanks but why don't you want to eat me, my sister told me that nearly all snakes in the jungle eat birds," Carla asked to which Sonia nodded her head in response.

"That is true, but I am as I find the idea of eating birds and small animals is vile and disgusting which I why chose to only eat insects and fruit which my parents disproved of, I tried to tell them that I didn't want to eat other animals but they didn't listen and kicked me out of their home," Sonia replied as a tear welled up in her eye before turning her head away from Carla and quietly cried to herself.

Carla looked at Sonia in sadness before walking round to here head and placing wing on her head, stroking the snakes head soothingly to comfort her.

"Oh you poor thing, I'm so sorry you had to go through that," she said as Sonia turned to look at her and force a small smile, grateful that she'd found a friend who cared about what she'd been through.

"Thank you, Carla, but I still would like to see my parents aga-" Sonia said only to be cut off by a loud yell from Blu.

"CARLA, GET AWAY FROM THAT SNAKE!."

He then rushed over and pulled his daughter away from Sonia who looked surprised and called out to them.

"Wait! you don't understand, I'm not dangerous."

Blu paid no attention to the snake as he was focused on Carla. "Are you okay sweetie,?" he said as he checked Carla all over for any injuries only for her push his wing way with and saying with an annoyed tone on her face.

"I'm ok dad, relax nothing was going to happen, her name's Sonia and she's not dangerous."

"How do you know that? All snakes are vicious and can swallow birds whole." Blu shouted at Carla while she just shook her head in disbelief as Bia and Tiago landed next to their father.

"I know that Bia told me but Sonia's not like that, please just calm down and let her explain," Carla reassured Blu before turning to Sonia and motioning her over with her wing.

Sonia slithered over towards the group of macaws before coiling up next to Carla who introduced her to the rest of her family

"Sonia this is my dad Blu and these are my younger siblings Bia and Tiago."

"Nice to meet you, I'm sorry that I scared you sir but I do not eat birds, I only eat bugs and fruit," Sonia said in a polite manner towards Blu who folded his wings away, a surprised look on his face.

"I thought all snakes loved to eat birds and other small animals?" Bia asked in surprise, finding it strange that a snake-like Sonia would not be interested in eating animals.

Sonia then explained what she'd said to Carla earlier, tat the end of the story Blu and his kids gasped in shock at what she'd been through.

"Oh that's terrible, to be kicked out by your parents is just shocking, I'm sorry," Bia said, stroking Sonia's neck with hr wing while she smiled.

"That's ok, but let's put that behind us and start to enjoy ourselves, shall I give you a tour of the grove?" she said to which the macaws nodded in agreement.

"That sounds like a great idea, don't you agree kids," Blu said before turning to his kids who all nodded happily.

"Excellent, now follow me and I'll show you the vast wonders of this place," Sonia said and slithered into the grove with Blu and his three kids following closely behind her.

"I have to ask Sonia what is this grove called and what's so special about it?" Bia asked in curiosity completely mesmerised by the sheer beauty and size of the grove.

"Well Bia, this grove is called Bosque dos Anjos meaning "Grove of Angels" because it is said that thousands of years ago angels once stood here protecting it from anyone who dared to destroy, their spirits are still present all around us if you close your eyes and sometimes you can see them at night," Sonia said as they continued walking through the vast orchid area.

"Wow, sounds fascinating," Bia replied as she carried on looking at everything around her

"Well then tune in your ears then as I've got plenty more stories about this place," Sonia said in excitement which the macaws face lit up in excitement.

Throughout the rest of the day, Sonia showed Blu and his kids every corner of the grove, showing areas they should avoid and all the different species of plants and fruits which were either edible or poisonous before the macaws said goodbye to Sonia headed back to the Spix macaw tribe.

###

After an incredible day with their new friend, Blu and his kids landed in their hollow to find Jewel waiting for them, Blu smiled before walking up to her and hugging her in his wings which she returned.

"Hi, sweetie," Blu said as he kissed his wife on the cheek.

"Hi honey, I'm glad you're back, how was your day out with the kids," Jewel said, a sweet smile on her beak.

"Oh it was amazing, wasn't it kids?" Blu said turning to his kids who all nodded in unison.

"Great, tell me all about it at dinner," Jewel said as she took Blu's wing and escort him to where she'd brought three brazil nuts for them to have.

Throughout dinner, Blu and his kids told Jewel about the new grove they'd been to and Sonia which Jewel found both incredible and surprising that she was a snake but was happy that she wasn't harmful.

After dinner the kids decided to head to bed, they received a hug and kiss from both their parents before heading to their rooms and sat down in their nests and drifted off to sleep.

Blu and Jewel, however, decided to stay up for a bit longer, both of them sat on the hollow edge wrapped in each other's wings watching the stars sparkle in the night sky like multiple diamonds.

Jewel smiled at the beauty of the night as she nuzzled her head on Blu's neck. "Ah, what a lovely evening." She said as Blu rested his on top of hers to keep her warmer.

"Yeah, nothing can beat this night sky as long as I have you to watch it with," Blu said which made Jewel's smile widen even more. "Oh Blu, you always say the sweetest things," she added as Blu smiled and kissed the top of her head.

The two macaws continued to stare at the night sky until they felt their eyelids start to droop and decided that it was time to get some sleep, they both walked over to their nest and laid down in each other's wings, snuggling close as they bid each other goodnight.

"Goodnight my precious Jewel"

"Goodnight my handsome Blu bird."

They shared one last kiss before they drifted off to sleep in the comfort of each other's wings, happy at what other exciting adventures they may go on in their new lives.

Well, this brings an end to this chapter, again I apologise that this is late but don't worry I will try to bring out more chapters every so often, I'm open to ideas from Rio authors for future chapters plus I will also be publishing my second Rio story "Recovery in Rio" very soon. Until then see you all soon.