Chapter 20- the sheer arrogance of the glaucous macaw tribe
Night had fallen over the Amazon Rainforest and all the diurnal animals have turned in for it, whilst nocturnal animals had come out to hunt. The night sky was partly cloudy but the near-black canvas was smattered with a large trail of glitter and a half cut of the moon. In the Spix macaws' ravine, the majority of the Spix macaw tribe had retreated into their trees for the night, apart from a few who had gone out on a night patrol. Though there was no need to patrol the territory for intruding humans now that their home was now a sanctuary, protected from logging and poaching, the Spix macaws still did night patrols every now and then, mostly to help keep an eye out for any flying fox activity and to make sure things were in order in the territory. While Eduardo was sending out the night patrol groups, Roberto led Levi, Lapis Lazuli, Tristan, Larimar, Quincy and Trixie to his tree. Blu, Jewel, Carla, Bia and Tiago had stayed in this nest for the first nights of their joining the tribe (or in Jewel's case, return) but had now moved into a tree of their own, leaving Roberto's nest empty. As Roberto showed Levi and his family in, he saw the sombre look on his and Lapis Lazuli's faces.
"Something wrong, you two?" he asked in his silky voice. According to Blu, Roberto's voice was similar to that of Bruno Mars, a famous human singer. However, Levi and Lapis Lazuli had heard that Blu did not get off to a very good start with Roberto when he first met him, especially after hearing that Roberto and Jewel were very close friends when they were young. Blu had been rather jealous and wary of Roberto, especially of his behaviour towards Jewel, and his charisma and confidence and amazing singing talent. However, the two had become friends after dealing with the loggers and Blu's jealous awareness had subsided, though from time to time he was still wary around Roberto. Pushing away these thoughts, Levi focussed on what he had to say.
"It's the glaucous macaw tribe," replied he as thoughts about Lapis Lazuli's tribe bothered him. Lapis Lazuli was inside Roberto's nest with the four chicks.
"Wow, Mom, look, a bath!" shouted Tristan's voice, distracting Levi and Roberto from their conversation. The two looked inside and saw Tristan launch above the water pool.
"Tristan, don't…" began Lapis Lazuli but it was too late as water splashed everywhere as Tristan plunged right in. Trixie, Larimar and Quincy all laughed as Tristan then relaxed in the bath. Levi was about to apologise to Roberto but he smiled in amusement, not minding this at all.
"It's okay, Levi," he said, "I don't mind the kids of friends bathing in my bath."
"Sorry, Roberto," said Lapis Lazuli, "Since this is your tree and not ours, and that bath is part of it, it's kind of rude for one of our sons to just jump into it without your permission…"
She then turned to Tristan and scolded, "Right, son, out of there. It's time for bed; you as well Quincy, Larimar and Trixie!"
This order was responded by the groans of all four chicks and Tristan reluctantly rose out of the bath, his turquoise and grey feathers soaked. Roberto and Levi smiled in amusement.
"Well, I hope to find a lovely female macaw and start a family to populate this tree of mine with little Roberto's to call my own," crooned Roberto dreamily as he admired Levi and Lapis Lazuli's four chicks as they fluttered to one of the bedrooms in his nest.
"You haven't found a mate yet?" asked Levi in surprise.
"No, but I am considering it," said Roberto. Levi smiled before thoughts about Lapis Lazuli's tribe returned to his head.
"Anyway, we have a favour to ask of Eduardo," he said.
"Oh, and what's that?" asked Roberto. Inside Roberto's tree, Lapis Lazuli was tucking in Larimar, Quincy, Trixie and Tristan.
"You know when we told you about that flock of glaucous macaws when we returned?" asked Levi. as he and his family entered the ravine, they had explained their findings of the glaucous macaw tribe to Eduardo, Blu, Jewel, Aurora, Zephyr and some of the other Spix macaws, but since nightfall had come by the time Levi's family had arrived, they planned on explaining more to Eduardo tomorrow morning.
"Yes?" said Roberto.
"Well, they're still alive," said Levi, "And are now under the leadership of Rudi, Lapis Lazuli's cousin. However, they are homeless and are living out in the wilderness open to poaching and deforestation. It's been bothering me and Lapis Lazuli, her especially the entire flight from there back to this ravine."
Roberto's eyes widened with surprise.
"I always thought that the glaucous tribe had been completely wiped out by those vile flying foxes," he said. He shuddered as he thought of those bats, especially when he lost his entire family to a group of them when he was young, and they had been mercilessly and bloodily slain by their weapons.
"No, they've managed to survive but now they're without a home," said Levi, "They're living in a cluster of trees that aren't really suitable to be their home. We've tried convincing Rudi and his mate Valeria that they and their tribe is vulnerable to destruction caused by logging or getting caught by poachers, as well as the fact that they need conservation by humans but they are too arrogant to believe us and don't want to reveal themselves to any humans, not even those who care for the environment."
Roberto listened to Levi's explanation of the problem when Lapis Lazuli, having tucked the chicks into bed in one of the rooms, emerged from the tree. When she heard Levi finish the explanation of the problem, she began to add her agreements to what Levi said.
"That's true," she said, "That flock of glaucous macaws are my tribe, whom I have missed for so many years since the flying foxes' siege on us, and the last thing I want of them is being killed by deforestation or caught by poachers, or even worse, slaughtered by those flying foxes in the possible event of them attacking us again."
Lapis Lazuli then began to weep and fall on her knees, her wings on her head. "Seriously, Roberto, those glaucous macaws were fortunate to have escaped that siege of the bats as was I, but the next time they get attacked by those flying foxes, they might not be so lucky."
"There are no other bird tribe or clan, not even hyacinth macaws, anywhere nearby," said Levi, "who would serve as helpers to those glaucous macaws in the event of a flying fox attack. However, it seems that Rudi had thought that his tribe might cause competition with other tribes and clans over food and space, so he didn't bother…"
"We've tried convincing Rudi of these problems including how vulnerable the tribe is to those factors," said Lapis Lazuli in a strangled voice, a few tears falling from her eyes, "but he just dismissed it all as silly stuff and told us to leave and not return until we have got rid of all associations with human stuff..."
She then nodded to Levi and said, "And furthermore, my tribe does not like him because of his past as a pet and my association with humans when I met Levi, as well as our four chicks being born near a human's city. We cannot convince that tribe alone."
"What we mean is," said Levi, "We're asking for backup macaws to help us convince that glaucous macaw tribe that they need conservation or else they will definitely risk going extinct…"
Roberto listened to Levi and Lapis Lazuli's pleas before finally speaking.
"Well, it sounds that those macaws have a bitter hatred of humans and are refusing to budge," he said.
"That's true," said Lapis Lazuli, "Please, we need help. I was thinking that Eduardo and Blu might be able to help…"
Roberto thought. After thinking, he said, "We'll speak to Eduardo tomorrow about this and see what he says, and then we'll take it from there."
Levi and Lapis Lazuli smiled with relief.
"Oh, thanks, Roberto," said Levi, "Anyway, let's go to bed. It's getting late."
Lapis Lazuli nodded.
"Oh, and Roberto, thanks for hosting our family," she said.
"No problem," said Roberto with a humble smile, "Mi casa es su casa."
Levi gave a quizzical look until Lapis Lazuli explained the phrase.
"It's Spanish for 'My home is your home'," she said, "We ought to give you some lessons in Spanish and Portuguese at some point."
Levi smiled and then looked at Roberto's tree, awed by its size.
"Well, at least we have a proper home to stay in until we solve the problem with the glaucous macaws," he said, "I just hope we can convince them of their vulnerability and then see if we can help them find a proper home."
"That's going to be difficult," said Roberto as Levi and Lapis Lazuli disappeared into his tree, "I don't think any of us know of anywhere that's suitable for a large flock of macaws to move in and call home. We'll just have to see when we come to that obstacle."
And with that, he followed the glaucous macaw couple into the tree.
Meanwhile
Rudi stood on a branch of a tall tree and overlooked his tribe as they entered their makeshift 'homes' and nests for the night. It was clear that the glaucous macaws were indeed vulnerable. Most of the glaucous macaws, families and individuals alike, were living in nests constructed in the branches of a cluster of trees with the remaining minority living in proper hollows. It was clear thREPLACE way of living was putting the glaucous macaw tribe at serious risk of destruction through deforestation or being spotted by poachers. There were no other bird tribes or clans anywhere nearby either, so the glaucous macaws were also very vulnerable to possible enemy attacks, such as from the flying foxes. The glaucous macaws had managed to survive the previous siege caused by those bats years ago but had lost quite a number of tribe members with some, among them Lapis Lazuli, going missing. After losing their home and not wanting to bother the other tribes and clans with the risk of competition for food and space, the glaucous macaws had moved out here and since then, patrol groups had been sent out to look for a proper home with no luck. This had been going on for years from the glaucous tribe's loss of their home until now. While Rudi thought about these things, he felt glad to have sent Levi and his family away. Rudi could not believe that Lapis Lazuli had got involved with humans, the glaucous macaws' most loathed creature, and had paired up with a macaw that had lived as a pet for most of his life, and had had chicks with him in captivity. A lot of the other glaucous macaws were also smug that Levi had gone, but amongst the smug and glad atmosphere were some dots of doubt and worry. Some of the glaucous macaws were doubtful of Rudi's decision of kicking Levi and Lapis Lazuli and their chicks out, among them Henri, one of Levi's trainers. While Rudi continued to overlook his tribe as they settled down for the night, a macaw called his name.
"Rudi," said the voice.
"Yes, Henri," said Rudi in an emotionally neutral voice. Henri then walked towards Rudi and sat near him.
"Mind if I have a word with you?" he asked.
"Why?" asked Rudi, turning to him, "What's on your mind?"
At first, Henri hesitated before finally letting it out.
"I'm not sure if we should ignore the warnings of that macaw who was Lapis Lazuli's mate," he said, "It's been causing some of us doubt since he mentioned our possible vulnerability to getting killed by loggers…"
"Oh, get that thought right out of your head, Henri," snapped Rudi slightly annoyed, "That mate of Lapis Lazuli's is a pet, and I don't tolerate ANY associations with humans whatsoever. We're fine without any human help in our survival."
Rudi then turned to look at his tribe and the dark jungle.
"If only we could find a suitable home to settle in, though," he murmured. Henri then sighed.
"But Rudi, we have spent year after year looking for a suitable place to live," he said, "with no luck. Our kids are growing up in poor conditions such as tight space and lack of a hollow and the majority of the tribe has had enough of living like this."
"Henri," began Rudi but Henri swept on, voicing his doubts more.
"We've got to find a solution to this problem sooner or later, Rudi," he muttered, a little angrier this time, "Lapis Lazuli and her mate are right. We ARE vulnerable out here and if we don't find a home sooner or later, our very existence might end up in grave danger."
Henri then threw his wings into the air in frustration. "My mate and chicks have been complaining of lack of space for months now and I'm getting SICK of it. We ALL are and I'm sure you and Valeria are as well. It's not good for our chicks especially. We used to have a lovely home until those barbaric membrane-winged furballs came along and violently tore it away from us, leaving us to live in ruins like we are doing now, while they settle into our former home, and if we don't do something about this anytime soon, our descendants are going to be suffering the same mess we're in!"
Rudi turned and was about to retort but Henri had already spread his wings and flown away towards one of the trees in which a large number of glaucous macaw nests were built. Giving up, Rudi returned to staring at his tribe, before finally taking off himself to return to his makeshift hollow in which Valeria and his chicks, Alberto and Lorenzo.
Next morning
The glaucous macaw tribe was awake and as usual, Rudi was setting up patrol groups to send out to continue the search for a new home as well as keeping an eye on the surroundings in case any of those flying foxes were about. While Rudi was setting up patrol groups to send out, Valeria was bringing some fruit back for their two sons, Lorenzo and Alberto. As she flew towards the hollow in which the two chicks were located, Valeria wore a saddened and doubtful look on her face. After hearing Lapis Lazuli and Levi's warnings and their pointing out of the conditions in which the glaucous macaw tribe was living in, Valeria had been troubled with thoughts of worry and concerns for the tribe's future, especially her two sons. Alberto and Lorenzo were only a few weeks old and Valeria feared for the two's future including growing up outside a proper hollow. This concern was repeated in the heads of the other parents as well every time they looked at their chicks. The living conditions had been difficult for the glaucous macaw tribe, especially after they had lost their home to the bats. The majority of parents had hoped that a suitable new home has to be found soon. As Valeria perched onto the rim of the hollow with the fruit in her beak and talons, Rudi checked the patrol groups. However, some of the patrollers looked reluctant, including Rodrigo. He was not only racked with guilt over abandoning Lapis Lazuli when some of the bats chased him and her during their siege on the glaucous macaws, he was also filled with doubts and concern for the future of the tribe. Living like this for years was beginning to drive some of the glaucous macaws over the edge and the urge to find a suitable home had become more desperate. Overcome with these thoughts, Rodrigo attempted to speak.
"Rudi," he began.
"Just follow my directions, Rodrigo," snapped Rudi irritably. He then returned to checking the other patrol groups. Rodrigo then looked at another macaw, a female.
"I'm really am beginning to dislike the way we're living, Céu," he muttered angrily, "We've been living like this for years."
Céu, a sky blue coloured glaucous macaw, sighed and nodded in agreement.
"I agree, Rodrigo," she muttered, "My parents and older sister are getting tired of the confined space alongside most of the other families and individual glaucous macaws."
Suddenly, Rudi's call for their attention drew Rodrigo and Céu's attention to the tribe patriarch as he clapped his wings.
"Right, patrollers," said Rudi, "Here are your instructions: the usual search for a new home for our tribe and keeping an eye on the surroundings and reporting any flying fox activity."
This was met by groans from some of the patrollers including Rodrigo. They were getting sick of this same old routine that had gone on for ages.
"Come on, folks," snapped Rudi impatiently, "Just do as I say."
"But Rudi," said Céu, "We've been doing this for ages."
Some of the other patrollers also complained and said the same thing. Rudi began to lose patience quicker.
"You will do as I tell you, or else!" he growled, "Now stop whinging and start spreading out!"
The patrol groups all sighed and were about to do so when suddenly, a female voice called out, "Rudi!"
Rudi snapped round in the direction of the voice's owner impatiently and saw three macaws approach him. The three macaws all wore panicked looks on their faces.
"What is it, Adriana!?" he growled. Then the macaw named Adriana and her two companions slowed to a hover, panting for breath from flying so fast.
"There are intruders approaching our tribe!" Adriana managed to spit. Rudi's eyes widened in response to this while Rodrigo and Céu and the patrollers exchanged glances.
"Not during our daily patrol setup," muttered one of them.
"What sort of intruders?" snapped Rudi.
"Flying foxes?" asked Rodrigo.
"No, macaws," replied Adriana, much to Rudi and the patrollers' relief, "There are six of them. I can't tell what species they are but five are light blue and the sixth is red, and they're heading this way in our direction."
Rodrigo raised his head in confusion.
"What other macaw species are light blue besides the Spix macaws and us glaucous macaws?" he asked.
"Well, Lear's and hyacinth macaws are the only other blue macaw species but their plumages are always far darker than the Spix and us glaucous with very rare exceptions amongst the hyacinths as very few of them can sometimes have lighter blue feathers," said Céu, "And based on the other macaw's colour, it sounds like a scarlet or green-winged…"
"Get my inner circle birds and be prepared to confront those intruders right away!" growled Rudi. Adriana and her two companions nodded obediently and flew off to gather the inner circle birds. Rudi then turned to the patrol group and said, "You lot accompany us while we confront those intruding macaws as well."
Rodrigo and the others nodded and flew off to prepare to meet the intruders. Soon, most of the glaucous macaw tribe was gathered on a row of trees as six feathered forms, which were indeed macaws, melted into view. Five were blue and the other was red. Valeria looked on in worry.
"Well at least they're not flying foxes, dear," she said with some relief, before a suspicious law crossed her face, "But what do those macaws want with us?"
Rodrigo then squinted at two of the macaws and recognised them based on their grey heads and necks and the rich blue plumage of one of them.
"It's Levi and Lapis Lazuli," he gasped, "Why are they returning? I thought they were sent away…"
Rudi growled as he saw that two of the six macaws were indeed Levi and Lapis Lazuli but to his surprise, the other three blue macaws did not have grey heads and yellow facial markings. Two were light blue while the other was a darker blue and Rudi saw that one of them had two sets of head feathers resembling pigtails. The sixth macaw, meanwhile, was red.
As the six macaws got closer, their features became more visible. Levi and Lapis Lazuli became more recognisable, much to Rudi's disgust, and the four macaws accompanying them were revealed to be three Spix macaws and one scarlet macaw. The scarlet macaw had teal-turquoise wing feathers and parts of his tail and brown eyes, and a black and white beak and a white mask of skin surrounding its face, while the three Spix macaws had blue-white facial markings. One was a large cerulean macaw with green eyes and a row of feathers on his head. Based on his appearance, especially from the grey bags under his eyes, this macaw appeared to be middle aged. The second Spix macaw was a darker blue. He had blue eyes, a stocky build and a ruff of neck feathers, and a blue-white patch around each eye. The third Spix macaw was a female and had spec-like markings on her face (a patch around each eye connected by a band over the beak's top). Her eyes were a vivid shade of amber and she had pigtails. As the six macaws, once they were close enough to the glaucous macaws, perched onto a tree opposite Rudi, the three Spix and the scarlet macaws' eyes widened in utter surprise.
"Good grief, I had never seen so many glaucous macaws," said the scarlet macaw, "You were right, Levi and Lapis Lazuli."
"They should be included in the sanctuary," said the brown-eyed male Spix macaw. Rudi and some of the others reacted distastefully. The middle aged male Spix macaw also stared at the glaucous macaw tribe in surprise.
"So THIS is the glaucous tribe?" he asked, "I-I-I thought they didn't survive the siege from those bats years ago."
"Well, they have, Eduardo," said Lapis Lazuli, "And here they are including my cousin Rudi who's now the leader."
She then nodded to the macaw at the front of the gathering of glaucous macaws. However, Rudi was not at all impressed.
"Eduardo?" repeated one of the glaucous macaws when it heard Lapis Lazuli mention the aged macaw's name, "I haven't heard of him in ages."
"Never mind that," snapped Valeria, "Let's get this over with."
Then she turned to Levi, Lapis Lazuli and the other four macaws which were named Eduardo, Blu, Aurora and Athos.
Before leaving the Spix macaws' ravine at sunrise, Levi and Lapis Lazuli had gone to talk with Eduardo and had told him all that they had told Roberto last night, including the glaucous macaws' living conditions. Eduardo had agreed and Levi had gone to get Blu up (much to his reluctance for he did not like getting up very early), and had explained everything to him and Jewel. Blu had opted to go along despite being groggy from being awake while Jewel sought to the kids. Aurora had also volunteered to go along as had Athos, who had come to visit the Spix macaws to check on Aurora's progress with adapting to the wild. Now the four had followed Levi and Lapis Lazuli all the way to the place where the glaucous macaws were staying, Larimar, Tristan, Quincy and Trixie had stayed behind at Roberto's nest and will be under Roberto's care until their parents return.
Valeria glared at Levi and Lapis Lazuli and growled "What are you two doing here? I thought my mate has told you not to return until you have shaken off your association with humans."
Rudi nodded in agreement, disgusted at Levi and Lapis Lazuli's disobedience.
"As leader of the glaucous macaw tribe, I expect my orders and commands to be obeyed," he snarled. Lapis Lazuli then raised her wings.
"Look, cousin, sorry to disobey you but we have brought these four along to tell you of the dangers you are living in," she said, nodding to Eduardo, Blu, Aurora and Athos. Levi then nodded to Eduardo and he began to speak.
"So, Rudi, I have heard that you and your tribe have managed to survive that siege from the flying foxes?" he said, "Well that is surprising, considering what those flying furballs are like when they drive out a bird tribe or clan…"
"Don't mention that horrific event," snapped Rudi brusquely, "We find it too upsetting."
Eduardo flinched at Rudi's rather impolite attitude, so Blu spoke.
"Hey, don't talk to my father-in-law like that;" he said indignantly, "He was only expressing his surprise."
Rudi just shrugged and then moved onto the main subject.
"So, why are you here?" he growled. The other glaucous macaws also glared at Levi, Lapis Lazuli, Blu, Eduardo, Athos and Aurora.
"Well, after what Levi and Lapis Lazuli have told me about you lot," replied Eduardo, "We have decided to come and help them tell you of your vulnerability to logging and poaching and also to those flying foxes should they ever plan to attack you again."
"You see," said Levi, "You are the last flock of glaucous macaws alive and those humans called ornithologists are searching everywhere for you to include you in the sanctuary for protection against logging and poaching. You lot need protection from those two destructive activities and the only way to get that is to trust those humans who care for the environment."
Rudi let loose a scoffing laugh.
"Haven't I made told you about that stupid idea?" he growled, "We don't need those pesky humans to help us survive!"
"Yeah," added Valeria, "We're fine without their help, and we just can't trust those humans anyway!"
Many of the other glaucous macaws also cried out the agreement. Eduardo then stepped in.
"Let me tell you how my tribe has become under the protection from logging and poaching and of our previous attitude towards all humans," he said. Rudi and the other glaucous macaws then began to listen with scowls on their faces as Eduardo launched into an explanation.
"Before my daughter Jewel's return and long before that including when my daughter and some other tribe members were separated from the rest of us during the fire, we used to have a very antagonistic attitude towards all humans, including well-meaning humans, as we have had a lot of nasty experiences involving their destruction of the environment such as through logging and capturing animals to smuggle out of this country. We hated humans and everything to do with them, including macaws with ties with them…"
Blu sighed as he remembered the prejudice he faced from the Spix macaw tribe because of his history as a human's companion.
"But when we finally learned that not all humans are bad with the environment and that some actually care for it and the animals that live in it," continued Eduardo, "Including me, we eventually changed our attitude towards them and had learned to trust these caring humans, including Blu's former human companion named Linda."
"Absolutely," said Blu in agreement, "And now because of Linda and another human called Tulio, the Spix tribe's home, alongside that of their neighbours including the red tribe, are now a protected nature reserve safe from logging and poaching but Eduardo and his tribe had to reveal themselves to those humans first for it to happen."
This was met by scornful jeering and scoffing from the glaucous macaws.
"Oh, so you have allowed those pesky humans to set your home up as a 'sanctuary' or something?" laughed Rudi, mockingly gesturing the quotation mark sign with his wing feathers as he said 'sanctuary', "You're such a nutjob, putting your tribe at serious risk revealing yourselves to those pests."
"But it's true!" retorted Blu before Eduardo could boil in anger at the insult. He remembered calling Eduardo a nutjob behind his back and felt guilty about it, but he was expressing his frustration about Eduardo's prejudice to Nico, Pedro and Rafael at the time, when Eduardo did not like him at the time. "Our tribe's home and that of our neighbours has been set up as a nature reserve thanks to Tulio and Linda my human companion."
"Maybe they've set up your home so that poachers could find you and poach you," sneered one of the glaucous macaws mockingly.
"It's NOT LIKE THAT!" snapped Blu angrily, making Levi and Lapis Lazuli flinch, "It's for the conservation of our species!"
"Yes, you see, these humans care for our species' existence," said Athos, "Especially critically endangered species like the Spix macaw for example…" He gestured to Blu, Aurora and Eduardo with a wing as he said this, "…and as part of their job, they want to make sure that the Spix macaw is protected from dying out of existence altogether."
"And that's called extinction," said Blu. Athos then began to explain to the glaucous macaws the story of the Spix macaw.
"And before the discovery of Eduardo's tribe, Blu, Jewel and their three chicks, together with Zephyr, Aurora and their six chicks, and Zephyr's sister Brisa were the last known fourteen Spix macaws alive while Levi and Lapis Lazuli here, together with their four chicks Tristan, Larimar, Quincy and Trixie were the last known glaucous macaws alive and still are to the conservationists until they discover more evidence of your existence."
"Exactly," said Aurora, "And to give you a further example of evidence of humans caring for animals, Linda cared for Blu very well in the United States while Levi, Athos and I were cared for by five humans called Susan, Lucy, Blake, Drake and Jake when we lived in a city called London alongside some of the other macaws including a Lear's macaw named D'Artagnan."
"Until they had to give us up so that we could live in the wild with our mates," said Athos, "Especially Aurora, D'Artagnan and Levi because of their species."
Aurora, Blu and Levi nodded in agreement. The scoffing look, however, never left Rudi's face whilst the glaucous macaws behind and around him continued to jeer at the idea of revealing themselves to humans, even well-meaning humans.
"So, what do you think we're gonna do?" asked the glaucous tribe patriarch, "Reveal ourselves to humans just for our very survival? You've got to be joking."
"But it's the only way!" protested Blu.
"You know what would happen if we ever did that?" asked Rudi, "Poachers could come along and attempt to hunt us down to catch us for the pet trade, and that is the last thing we want."
"More like your flock being destroyed by loggers or those flying foxes," said Aurora. Then Eduardo flew up and examined the glaucous tribe's makeshift living space. He need not fly around the area as he could tell that the majority of the glaucous macaws were living in nests built on branches of some trees from a distance. When he got a glimpse of the glaucous macaws' living conditions, he was filled with horror. Returning to his perch, Eduardo began to point it out.
"And furthermore, you are vulnerable living out here for one," he said, "And two, you need a proper home to stay in. Living like that is not good for you."
"We have been trying to search for a home for years," snapped Rudi angrily, "ever since we lost our original home to those pesky flying foxes."
"Then why didn't you come to me or any of the other tribe leaders?" asked Eduardo with a frown, "We would have helped look after you and helped you to find a home rather than you lot moving out here and searching for a home by yourselves? I can also see that there are no other bird tribe or clan in sight to help you…"
"We didn't want to bother you guys," said Rudi with a sigh, "and cause competition for food and space."
"Either the Bluewing or Navyfeather hyacinth macaw clans would have helped if you asked for it," said Eduardo. However, Rudi turned his beak up at the idea.
"I'm afraid we can't do that," he replied arrogantly, "We'd deplete those clans' reserves of food on their territory too quickly."
He then turned rather hostile and said, "But as far as that is concerned, I still cannot believe that you have allowed those pesky two legged menaces to discover your existence. You're the Spix tribe patriarch, so you should know better. And don't tell me that the leaders of the other tribes and clans living with you have done the same, have they!?"
"Felipe, the current patriarch of the red macaw tribe did and I'm sure the blue-and-gold macaw tribe and the Bluewing and Navyfeather hyacinth clans and the blue-throated macaw clan has as well," said Athos, "But revealing yourselves to those conservationists is the only way you glaucous macaws are going to be safe from logging and poaching. You have to trust those caring humans."
"But they are not going to include your tribe into the sanctuary unless they have more evidence to better confirm your existence," added Aurora, "If you don't, you WILL risk face going extinct."
"That's right," added Blu, "Seriously, glaucous macaws, no Amazon animal has ever stood a chance against the destruction of deforestation. I remember seeing the devastation logging causes to the rainforest with my own two eyes when I was looking for Tulio and Linda."
Levi and Lapis Lazuli then looked pleadingly at Rudi and the glaucous macaws, begging them to change their minds, but the arrogant and adamant look never left Rudi and Valeria's faces. In fact, it made Rudi's temper reach boiling point. Finally losing control of it, the glaucous tribe patriarch began to screech.
"WE DON'T WANNA HEAR ANYMORE OF YOUR HUMAN STUFF AND US REVEALING OURSELVES TO THEM," he screeched at the top of his voice, "WE'LL FIND OUR OWN HOME BY OURSELVES. NOW GET OUT OF OUR SIGHT THIS MINUTE OR I'LL SEND SOME OF MY MACAWS TO VICIOUSLY DRIVE YOU OUT!"
After this, some of the glaucous macaws began to shout aggressive comments at Levi, Lapis Lazuli, Blu, Aurora, Eduardo and Athos, much to their shock. The glaucous macaws shouted at the six to leave and never return and Rudi was threatening to send in some of them to drive out the six macaws. Some of the glaucous macaws, however, looked more concerned as the words of Eduardo, Blu, Aurora, Athos, Levi and Lapis Lazuli registered in their minds. Eduardo, seeing that Rudi and his tribe were not tolerating their presence any longer, said to the other five, "Let's go back to my tribe's ravine, you five. This is going nowhere."
"But Eduardo," began Blu but Eduardo shot him a 'just do as I say!' glare. Blu obeyed and opened his wings. Eduardo, Aurora, Levi, Lapis Lazuli and Athos did the same and within moments, the group took off and began to make their way back to the sanctuary.
"Well, at least we tried," said Levi flatly. Lapis Lazuli, however, looked back with tears in her eyes. The arrogance of the glaucous macaws was unbelievable. Despite their high vulnerability, the glaucous macaws' pride was too heavy to shift. It would take as much as a miracle to convince that flock of arrogant macaws. However, Eduardo, Blu, Aurora, Athos and Levi and Lapis Lazuli's words did seem to have an effect on some of them and they had begun to doubt Rudi's decision to stay in that spot and send out patrol groups to continue the search for a new home. As the six macaws receded into the distance, Rudi dismissed the tribe as he saw that the confrontation was over and the glaucous macaws dispersed, returning to the trees in which they had built their makeshift home. Back with Lapis Lazuli and the other five, Lapis Lazuli had begun to cry while Levi wore a disappointed look on his face. Athos began to comfort them.
"Oh, don't cry, you two," he said to the couple, "It's the glaucous tribe's loss, not ours."
"I just wish Rudi wasn't so arrogant and just realised what danger his tribe is in," wailed Lapis Lazuli in reply. She then burst into tears as a million thoughts of what the glaucous macaws might face if they continued living like that out here. Blu sighed.
"I don't think they realise just how critically endangered their species is," he said, "When Jewel and I were the last known pair of Spix macaws alive, with only Carla, Bia and Tiago with us, I thought we'd never see another Spix macaw outside our family again until we met Zephyr, Brisa and Aurora…"
"And then more Spix macaws, a whole flock of them, was discovered by you, Tulio and Linda," said Aurora with a slight smile.
"That's because we have revealed ourselves to those two humans," said Eduardo, "I have swallowed my arrogance to do just that, especially when we had those loggers to deal with thanks to my son-in-law."
And with that, he smiled proudly at Blu who smiled in return.
"That's exactly what Rudi need to do," said Lapis Lazuli, tears still falling from her eyes, "Rudi needs to swallow his pride but we've tried all we can to convince him but he just wouldn't listen."
"It's going to take a miracle to convince those glaucous macaws," said Athos as he stole a glance from behind at the glaucous macaws in the distance, "But their arrogance isn't our problem. Anyway, let's get back to our tribes. Ruby will be waiting for me with Alexandre, Spinel and Poinsettia."
"And Zephyr will be waiting for me with Justin, Charlotte, Matilda and Virgil," said Aurora. And with that, the six macaws continued their flight back to the Sanctuary de Amazon.