Athos, Blu and company in Double Trouble

by VPVPVP

Athos, Blu and the others' summer trip to Rio is interrupted when some old enemies return for revenge. Not only that, a group of humans is threatening the Sanctuary de Amazon and those enemies have joined forces with them. Blu, Athos and the others must stop this group before any damage is done, but some will also have to face their fears in the process

21. 21- next day

Chapter 21- the next day

The sun peered above the eastern horizon to mark the beginning or sunrise of the next day's morning in Rio. In Tulio's Aviary Porthos, Azul, Wilbur, Ariel, Bia, Tiago, Travis, Sunset, Eustace, Milo and Rosa awoke from their uneasy sleep. Last night had been restless for the little group of escapees, their minds churning like the white water of a turbulently flowing river with the worries about their relatives and friends, especially Bia and Tiago for their parents Blu and Jewel, who were still at the poachers' hideout and the possible abuse they were receiving from Nigel, especially Aurora and Levi, and Carla, Bia and Tiago's parents as well. The eleven had spent the night in the nearby vegetation surrounding Tulio's Aviary for it had been too risky to search for a tree in the dark jungle to settle in. After all, diurnal or daytime active birds could not fly around in the dark that well unless they were especially trained, like the night patrollers in the bird flocks in the Amazon rainforest, such as Roberto. As the group woke up, stretched their wings and yawned, Porthos wearily gazed up at Tulio's Aviary with droopy eyes. After rubbing his eyes to get rid of any crusty gunk that had built up in his eyes during the sleep he had managed to obtain, the muscular blue-and-gold macaw turned to the others.

"I'm going to fly back into Tulio's Aviary to check on Orquidea, Carla and Athos while one of you look for some fruit for our breakfast," he told Travis and Sunset as they also rubbed their eyes.

"Okay, go ahead," said Travis, "While I do the foraging."

He then nodded to Sunset who nodded back to say that she was fine looking after the eight chicks while he and Porthos were absent. Then with several, Porthos and Travis were gone, the former in the direction of Tulio's Aviary and the latter toward the forest to find some fruit trees.

Back in Tulio's Aviary, the bird casualties that slept in a special recovery room were waking up and filling the air with their squawks. This part of Tulio's Aviary was designed for birds recovering from more serious injuries like broken wings, as well as surgery to fix them. Along the walls were boxes with silvery grate-like coverings for doors. A food bowl and soft bedding were placed inside the floor of each cage and a drinking tube was attached to each of the doors. The bird doctors in charge of this room were beginning their jobs. These doctors were a different group of people from those last night for they were dayshift workers. As the doctors changed into their gowns, from one of the cages, a red form with teal and yellow wings and a teal patched tail looked up with sleepy eyes. Athos had been placed into one of these cages last night by one of the nightshift doctors. As Athos woke up and watched the first two dayshift doctors enter the room to begin their first task: checking the drinking tubes and food bowls to see if they wanted washing and refilling, Athos felt a strange sensation on his left talon. Curious, he looked down his left leg and saw that its ankle and the top of the foot was covered in soft, white wrapping known as bandages. Athos winced, remembering what Nigel had done to that foot last night during his escape. Then the scarlet macaw rolled onto his stomach and tried to stand up, but he could only do so on his other, unharmed foot. The wounded one sent pain streaking up his leg every time Athos put pressure on it. Though it was not as painful as it was last night it still too painful for Athos to stand on it. As Athos then hopped on his other unwounded foot, the range of view through the holes in the grated metal door in front of him became clouded by an opaque pale blue screen. Then a clicking noise was heard as the door to Athos's case was unlocked. Athos turned in the direction of the noise and saw the door open and then the face of the bird doctor as she smiled.

"Hey, there, scarlet macaw," she said, "Time to have a look at your leg."

Athos shot a glance down at his bandaged foot as a pair of hands slowly and gently crept towards him to scoop him out of the cage.

As the hands then picked him up, Athos went slack. Being a formerly domesticated macaw who had spent most of his life around humans, he was used to them and because he knew that these were bird doctors who cared for birds and he knew them personally as well, he trusted them greatly and thus was calm around them. Other birds, especially those that had had a bad experience with humans or were wild required more careful and gentle handling in addition to patience. Athos was then taken out of his cage and carried to the medical room. It was then that another macaw, a muscularly built aqua blue, azure and yellow one with a green forehead, flapped in through the window. Porthos had entered the building through the open window. As soon as he was inside, he began to examine the room in which the dayshift doctors' jobs were starting up until his eyes landed on the familiar red bundle in a bird doctor's arms. Recognising this form as Athos, Porthos fluttered after the bird doctor carrying him. Athos was then carried toward a table top and placed there. After this, the bird doctor left to look for some fresh bandages. As the doctor left, a familiar blue and yellow form appeared, much to Athos's joy and surprise.

"Porthos," he said, "Good to see you."

"Have you had a nice sleep?" asked Porthos.

"It had been uneasy," said Athos with a sigh, "My mind was flooded with the thoughts about our friends and relatives, especially Carla and her siblings' parents and Ruby and my three chicks, who are still trapped in that dungeon of a place. Not to mention the pain from my foot," Athos then shuddered, "But I had an awful dream last night."

"Really?" asked Porthos, "What was it about?"

"It was too disturbing but it was about my mate and chicks," said Athos with a shuddery voice, still shaken from that dream, "And of course Nigel. To put it short, I was flying through a shadowy forest searching for Ruby, Poinsettia, Spinel and Alexandre until I found them dead at the foot of Nigel. That cockatoo was laughing maniacally and when he shot me a devilish glare, that's when I jolted awake."

Athos then felt his stomach churn at the memories of that nightmare. Porthos looked on in surprise. This was similar to the nightmare Aurora had had about Zephyr, Justin, Charlotte, Matilda and Virgil and them being held in a cage and being tormented, and eventually killed, by Nigel. Porthos sighed as thoughts about the others still held in the poachers' place came to mind when a familiar female voice caught his attention.

"Porthos, my muscled eagle," said the voice's owner. Hearing this, Porthos looked up and saw a female blue-and-gold macaw with a bandage around her midsection fly in. Accompanying her was a smaller macaw, a chubby, cerulean chick, also with a bandage but around her hip area. Porthos opened his wings and the two spun in a hug the moment Orquidea collided with him while Carla touched down next to Athos. These two patients had been allowed to fly from their cage after spending the night last night, and Orquidea looked bright with gladness at seeing her mate but that soon fell when she saw Athos and his bandaged foot. Carla's wings also flew to her beak when she saw that Athos had been injured.

"Oh, no, what happened to your leg, Athos?" asked Orquidea as she broke the embrace with Porthos.

"Nigel bit hard on my left leg when I tried to escape," said Athos, gazing at his bandaged foot, "It left a very painful wound. It had been cleaned and bandaged last night but the bird doctor has just left to fetch some clean bandage material to replace this old one."

"Did any of the others manage to escape, Uncle Athos?" asked Carla.

"No," said Athos with a shake of his head, "Aurora, Levi and their families and my mate and three chicks had been captured by the falcons and crows and re-caged. I'm the only one that had got away during the chaos."

"Travis was telling me how he, Sunset, Eustace, Milo and Rosa had managed to escape during that," said Orquidea, "Before Porthos mentioned that I should get this scratch looked at along with Carla and her injury."

She gazed down at her bandaged midsection and sighed. Carla also flashed a look at her bandaged lower body.

"At least you've listened," said Porthos firmly, "Had you refused treatment, your scratch would have ended up getting worse."

"And at least you've got that treated in time," said Athos. He then heard footsteps and looked up and saw the bird doctor return with a roll of fresh bandage in her hands covered by clean plastic gloves. "That bird doctor wants to see me. So if you don't mind, I'd like to be left alone."

Porthos, Carla and Orquidea backed away and allowed the bird doctor to see to replacing Athos' bandage around his foot.

"I think Athos's bite wound would have likely become infected as well had he not got that treated," said Orquideas in a low voice. Porthos gazed at her with an agreeing look but Carla was confused. However, Orquidea did not want to explain to her the reason for she was currently too young but Porthos knew what Orrquidea was referring to. Because Nigel had been stuffing his vile beak on things a cockatoo shouldn't normally eat, he would have transferred the germs into Athos's injury.

"Nigel certainly is one filthy cockatoo;" muttered Porthos with disgust, "To hear that he doesn't wash and never has washed at all is kind of disturbing."

Orquidea nodded in agreement while Carla flinched. 'No wonder that fat vulture is so smelly,' thought the oldest daughter of Blu and Jewel. But then the hope that her parents would give that cockatoo a severe what for boiled within her.

"So how is your belly scratch?" asked Porthos. Orquidea ran a wing on the bandage on her stomach.

"Not too serious," she said, "The bird doctors last night cleaned out the wound and bandaged it."

"Good," said Porthos, "Glad we nipped it in the bud before it got any worse."

Orquidea let loose a sigh at having her pride slightly dented but she eventually realised that sometimes she did not know best and that you had to take the advice of others who were wiser. Porthos also turned to Carla and asked the same question about her scratched hip to which Carla smiled, indicating that her injury wasn't too bad either, to Porthos's gladness. Just then the sounds of wing flaps reached the ears of the trio. Hearing this, Porthos, Orquidea and Carla turned and saw a white cockatoo fly in through the window with some fruit in his talons.

"Here you go, Porthos, a nice mango and some berries," said Travis as he touched down and set the fruit down before Porthos, "Sunset and the eight chicks are eating a pineapple, papaya and a few nuts."

"Thanks, Travis," said Porthos as he picked up the mango and began to dig his beak into its flesh to take the first bite. Then Travis's eyes found Orquidea and Carla.

"You two," cried the cockatoo jubilantly, "Brilliant, you're alright. I'm glad your scratches have been bandaged up."

"We've just seen Athos," said Porthos with a mouthful of mango, his words grotesquely distorted by the presence of food in his mouth.

"Don't talk with your mouthful," scolded Travis, "It's not nice. Swallow whatever you've got in your mouth first and then speak. After all, you'll have told your sons and the other chicks that so you should practice those manners as well."

Orquidea nodded in agreement with a frown on her face. Porthos obeyed and continued eating the mango piece until he swallowed it. After this, Porthos was free to speak without the words being distorted.

"We've just seen Athos," said he, "He's currently having the bandage around his leg replaced with a fresh one and should be brought back shortly."

"Oh, good," said Travis, "At least he's alright."

"Porthos told me that Nigel but his lower leg," said Orquidea. Travis shot her a glare.

"That Nigel is a savage brute, honestly," he said, "That was the same attack he had inflicted on Broccoli's paw according to Veggie and Broccoli himself."

"I hope he's not going to become like Brutus," said Orquidea AAAAA nervously to which Carla shuddered, remembering that savage cat as a very young chick, "Because if he's starting to become violent whenever he loses his temper…"

"Someone else could get hurt," whispered Porthos, his beige eyes swollen with worry, even more so as his friends came to mind. "But the question is who's next, and when?"

While he was concerned about this, he continued eating his mango and berries Travis had brought to him. Orquidea put her wings up when Travis gave her and Carla the 'Do you like some fruit' question.

"I've already had breakfast, thanks," she said, "So has Carla here. One of the bird doctors kindly fed us some peach and mango pieces."

"And they were nice," said Carla. Just then footsteps sounded on the floor, drawing the two blue-and-gold macaws, the Spix macaw chick and sulfur-crested cockatoo's attention to the source of the sound, the bird doctor, approaching the table. She carried the familiar red bundle in her arms and then placed him onto the table top.

"There you go," said the bird doctor to the bird which was Athos, "Your bandage has been freshly replaced and we'll replace it again in a few hours."

Athos chirped happily in thanks as the bird doctor then fed him a guava. Athos immediately took the guava and began to eat it. Then the bird doctor left to see to another bird casualty.

Porthos, Orquidea, Carla and Travis walked over to him. However, Porthos and company were unaware that they were being watched.

From the shadows behind a cabinet, a pair of vivid teal eyes glowed and gazed in Travis' direction. The owner of the pair of eyes was shaped like a small amphibian and above each of her green eyes was a flap of skin resembling eyelashes. The vivid teal eyes glowed with affectionate admiration as they watched Travis then stand near Athos and begin to speak to him.

"Oooh, Nigel," crooned the frog in the shadows in a dreamy whisper, "You're back. I'm so glad you've returned, and it seemed that you have gotten younger and have come off your need to wear your vest to conceal the patchiness on your torso now..."

Just then, a pale pink cockatoo with a striking red and yellow banded crest flew in through the window. With her were eight chicks; three blue and yellow, two Spix and the other three her own hybrid children. The chicks carried their breakfast as they entered Tulio's Aviary with Sunset. As soon as they saw Athos, Orquidea and Carla; Sunset, Ariel, Azul, Wilbur, Bia, Tiago, Eustace, Milo and Rosa made a beeline towards the three and touched down before them.

"Athos, Orquidea, Carla," said Sunset with a smile as the eight chicks crowded around the trio and hugged them, Bia and Tiago going for their sister first. Carla, though stunned at the unexpected hug from her brother and sister, returned it while Athos and Orquidea returned the other six chicks' hug. Travis and Porthos exchanged smiling glances as they watched the relieved reunion. Then after breaking the hug with the eight chicks, Athos turned to the other three adults, a firm look on his face.

"So, Athos, now that it is morning, what next?" asked Sunset. Athos was about to reply when suddenly, a fuchsia pink and maroon blur shot in out of nowhere and landed right onto Travis's head! Travis yelped in shock while the others flinched, Orquidea, Carla, Bia and Sunset releasing short shrieks at the sudden appearance of the newcomer. Then that newcomer began snuggling against Travis's face and smothering him with frenzied kisses.

"Oh, Nigey-Wigey," crooned the frog as she smooched Travis's cheeks and beak, much to his disgusted shock and revulsion, "I'm so glad you came back! When I found you missing, I've been so extremely heartbroken and empty and now I'm whole again!"

And with that, the frog exploded into smothering Travis' entire face with even more kisses, so fast that it looked as though she had a dozen heads. The others looked on in shock. Orquidea and Porthos stifled the urge to giggle, Athos was flabbergasted and Sunset was in utter disbelief, but also outright disgust. Carla, Bia, Tiago, Ariel, Azul, Wilbur, Eustace, Milo and Rosa also stood there, especially the latter three, dumbfounded looks plastering their faces as they watched Travis then sway around with his white wings clasped onto the frenzied frog's body in an attempt to pry her off his face. But despite his efforts, the frog continued showering the poor sulphur-crested cockatoo with her frenzied kisses, thinking him to be someone else. Then Sunset shot the others a glare.

"Is that little frog poisonous?" she asked.

"No it isn't," said Bia, resisting the urge to explode into a laughing fit at the hilarious sight, "That frog is..."

However, she could not enter an explanation about the frog for she was eventually overwhelmed by the urge to burst out laughing. It was indeed a very funny sight, watching poor Travis struggle to pry the frog from his face as she continued smearing his faces with so many kisses in rapid succession, grunting and wincing in disgust at the smooches he was receiving. To the others maybe but it was NOT at all funny to Sunset.

"I believe it could be the same frog that had fallen in love with Nigel, the one Blu told us about," said Porthos. At this statement, Carla, Bia and Tiago nodded in agreement before the laughter pressure in Tiago reached critical and he let loose some titters. Then Sunset, having had enough of seeing the frog pelt Travis's face with more kisses and smooches and her friends threatening to laugh at the sight, not to mention the attention this would attract from other birds and the humans in the medical room, finally strode into action, not caring whether the frog was poisonous or not. A look of disgust and thunder on her face on the frog on her mate's face and her crest raised, the Major Mitchell's cockatoo marched over to Travis as he fell down onto his back still trying to pry the kissing frog from his face, hooked her claws onto the frog and yanked her away from Travis' head. Travis then let loose a sigh of relief but winced in revulsion as his face felt wet. Rubbing a wing on his cheek, Travis pulled it away to examine the wetness's source. It was only pink-coloured water from the frog but it felt gross. Repulsed, Travis got up and turned to see Sunset grasping the female frog as she writhed in her talon, prepared to give her a fiery earful. The frog's teal eyes were ablaze with lustful affection towards Travis.

"Lemme go," she yelled in an equally lustful voice, writhing in Sunset's talon, "I wanna shower Nigey-Wigey with my luuuuuurrrrrve…"

Porthos, Orquidea and Athos wrinkled their beaks in disgust; before Athos shot the nine chicks a rebuking glare as they, especially Tiago, began laughing. Carla, Bia, Tiago, Ariel, Azul, Wilbur, Milo, Rosa and Eustace immediately plugged their beaks to stop any more laughs escaping them when they saw the look on the lead scarlet macaw's face. Then Sunset shoved her face into the frog's eyes, a look of rage flaring in her pink eyes and her crest fully raised, exposing the red and yellow banding on the feathers. While this made Sunset look pretty, it also made her look terrifying when she was angry.

"Now you listen here, you pesky little FROG!" bellowed the Major Mitchell's cockatoo furiously, making the frog snap out of her affection-crazed trance at Travis and turn her gaze at her. "Let me get something into your head before things get out of control."

The frog gazed into Sunset's pink eyes and flinched in fright at the fires in them.

"That cockatoo is NOT Nigel of one," barked Sunset, "And two, he is my mate and I do NOT, and will not... repeat: NOT... tolerate ANYONE showering him with immense affection LIKE THAT! UNDERSTAND!?"

The frog, as these words sent shockwaves down her body as they flew from Sunset's beak, shuddered in immense fright.

"I-I-I'm sorry, miss," she begged timidly, "I didn't know that attractive lookin' cockatoo..."

Sunset, a flash of pure rage coursing through her, threw the frog onto the table top and began to drive her away, screeches exploding from her beak and her wings flapping. The frog, driven by panic, then hopped like mad to avoid being attacked by the Major Mitchell's cockatoo and fled for the shadows of the cabinet corner like a mouse fleeing a cat. As soon as the frog was out of sight, Sunset calmed down. Some of the birds gazed at the scene upon hearing some enraged screeches but Sunset shot them a glare as if to say, 'Beak out, you lot, this is NONE of your business'. Then she glared after the frog once again.

"Well, that's enough of THAT little episode," she growled, "The last thing I want is any silly animal showering MY mate with affection like THAT!"

"It must have mistaken him for Nigel," said Bia with Carla and Tiago nodding in agreement. Travis looked on, a bewildered look on his face. He did not know what to say about this at all, but he felt a roll of disgust and offense tear through him like fire at Bia's mentioning of the frog's mistaking him for the disgusting cockatoo, and Bia flinched with regret. Maybe she shouldn't have mentioned that.

"I think you oughta watch you say about that subject next time, sis," whispered Carla with a cupped wing into Bia's ear. Bia nodded in agreement while Tiago said nothing.

Then after the chaos caused by the distraction caused by Gabi had subsided and the attention dispersed, all the eyes of the group turned to Athos as he prepared to say what he was about to say before the frog leaped out at Travis.

"So what next Athos?" asked Sunset. Athos was about to answer when another distraction caught his attention. This time, however, it was the sound of familiar human voices. Athos's gaze snapped from Sunset and the others to the entrance of the medical room. Orquidea, Porthos, the chicks, Travis and Sunset's gazes followed and landed on the door.

"Tulio, Linda, Susan and Lucy are coming," said Travis, "Let's hide, quickly! I don't want our two former owners seeing us here, especially Carla, Bia and Tiago."

And with that, the fourteen birds shot glances this way and that and flapped off for the recovery room. Athos flew away first, followed Azul, Wilbur, Ariel, Carla, Bia and Tiago and then Sunset, Travis, Eustace, Milo and Rosa, moments before Tulio's group poured into the main medical room. Then the fourteen birds began to listen to the conversation being carried out by Susan and Lucy with Tulio and Linda.

"So, how are Broccoli and Esperanza, you two?" asked Tulio as he walked towards the changing rooms.

"Oh, Esperanza's fine but Broccoli has been diagnosed with a fracture on his left paw," said Lucy. Shock and horror tore through the fourteen birds, especially Athos, Carla, Bia and Tiago, and they all flinched from the static electricity of the shock.

"It is only a small fracture, which we're glad for," said Susan, "And the vet told us that he had been bitten by a parrot after examining the bite marks on his paw."

"It is obvious that none of the other cats and dogs had been fighting him, Tulio," said Lucy, "Neither had they been the ones to turn the kitchen and living room of our house into a bombsite lookalike as we initially thought. After further examination of our overturned rooms and remembering that our pets would never cause such destruction like that, we deduced that we may have had intruders in our house but we don't know what kinds…"

This made relief and smugness bubble within the fourteen birds at this exonerating fact regarding Dash, Veggie and company's situation.

"Looks like Susan and Lucy have finally realised that it weren't Dash, Veggie and the others' fault for the mess they had found in their house," said Travis.

"Yeah but then they'll most likely suspect us," said Sunset, "We must keep out of their sight until this mess is sorted out."

"Look, there's that spy," whispered Porthos, a blue feather from a wing pointing to one of the men. Athos, Sunset, Travis and Orquidea followed the direction of the point until their eyes landed on the slim man with green eyes and dark brown hair. Carla, Bia, Tiago, Azul, Wilbur, Ariel, Eustace, Milo and Rosa also saw the man named Ernesto.

"He looks so real," said Orquidea, "And he's behaving like those other real ornithologists."

"Yeah but don't be fooled," said Athos, "We've seen that guy among that crowd of poachers back at their base, so it's obvious that he's not genuine and that he's working for that lead poacher…"

"That is the same effect that guy's group is going to have on our tribes and clans in the Sanctuary de Amazon," said Orquidea worriedly, "If that guy is fooling Tulio and his team…"

The other four adults glanced at Orquidea and realised that she was right. Because the poachers were going to infiltrate the Sanctuary de Amazon disguised as ecologists, their outlook was going to fool the macaws and other birds of the sanctuary, and they could assume that these humans were harmless when they were in fact not, and that was what will be jeopardising the bird tribes, clans and smaller groups' trust in well-meaning humans. And the day of departure was tomorrow. Then Athos began to concoct a plan as Travis spoke.

"We're going to have to find a way to expose that faker," said the sulphur-crested cockatoo in a low growl, his crest raised and eyes flashing with disgust at Ernesto as he disappeared into the men's changing room to get dressed.

"Well, trying to do that to Tulio and his team directly would not work," said Porthos, "If Susan and Lucy find us here, they'd probably think we're trying to cause them trouble since they are, after all, VERY busy with their work…"

"Well, Tulio and his team are going to go to the Sanctuary de Amazon tomorrow," said Athos, "So we're going to have to tag along with them."

This was met by shocked glares from the other four adults.

"What!?" asked Sunset in disbelief.

"You mean you want us to go with them?" asked Porthos.

"We don't have a choice," said Athos. Then another idea entered his head. "I know, why don't you lot go with Tulio and his team while I join Catina and see if I could help her free our other friends?"

"But Athos," growled Porthos angrily and in disbelief at this rather foolish idea, "That is EXTREMELY unwise! What if you ended up getting caught by Nigel again?"

"You only managed to escape with a nasty bite on your foot from him last night," put in Travis, "It's a good thing a bone wasn't broken in your foot like Broccoli's paw."

"The next time you get caught by Nigel," said Sunset, "You might not be so fortunate. Besides that, he could possess physical strength exceeding that of Porthos here or even Cobalto and Phoebe the hyacinth macaws."

"That's right," said Porthos, admitting this possible fact. He had seen how powerful Nigel was and had already deduced that the cockatoo was probably as strong as him or more. He then shot Athos a glare.

"Seriously, Athos, you don't have much chance against that dangerous psychopathic cockatoo," he growled.

"Not to mention those falcons, crows, ravens and cats," put in Travis.

"Look, I have risked my life before to rescue my friends when we were dealing with that Brutus," said Athos, a determined look on his face, "And because my mate and three chicks, together with these three's parents," he glanced down at Carla, Bia and Tiago as he said this, "are still back at the poachers' base likely being tortured by Nigel with the rest of our friends, and Catina might need some help anyway, I wanna go back to the poachers' base."

"Well, in that case, I'll go along with you," said Orquidea, "You might need backup in case you do run into trouble."

"But Orquidea," began Porthos but her mate shot him a stubborn glare.

"I wanna help Ruby and the others as well, Porthos," she growled, "Ruby's been one of my best friends since we were chicks, and Jewel's our friend as well despite the rocky start she and Ruby had when the Spix and red macaws had been enemies, so I'm gonna go with Athos too."

Porthos was about to argue but when he saw the adamant look on Orquidea's face, he admitted defeat and decided to go along as well, especially as the thoughts about Levi and Aurora came to mind. Carla, Bia, Tiago, Azul, Wilbur and Ariel then opted to go with the Azul and Wilbur's parents and Athos.

"We wanna go with Mom, Dad, and Uncle Athos as well," said Azul, "We wanna rescue our friends too."

"Especially our Mom and Dad who have been in trouble once before," put in Carla, Bia and Tiago together. Wilbur and Ariel nodded in agreement. At first Travis was about to say something but then he closed his beak having changed his mind. Then he found something else to say.

"Okay," he said, "We'll split up. You go after the poachers with Catina while we go after Tulio and his team."

Then Travis shot the blue and yellow and Spix macaw chicks a glare and said, "And you six, you MUST stick by your elders' sides, especially you three, Carla, Bia and Tiago. That group of poachers are extremely dangerous and if you end up caught or hurt…"

"Look, we'll keep an eye on them," said Athos, a glance at the six chicks, "Now you five go after Tulio and his team while the rest of us go after the poachers with Catina."

"We will try our best to free more of our friends but I can't guarantee any full success," said Porthos.

"Okay, you lot go ahead," said Travis, "While we take care of Tulio and his team and keep an eye on that spy."

Sunset then turned round and saw the dark brown haired man walk out of the men's changing room, dressed in his uniform like the other workers and frowned and then gazed back at the macaws.

"Okay, let's go," she said, "It's time to put this plan into action. I'll see you guys hopefully soon."

'No,' thought Sunset, 'we might see you soon.'

Then Athos, Porthos and Orquidea hugged Travis and Sunset while Carla, Bia and Tiago, Ariel, Azul and Wilbur hugged Eustace, Milo and Rosa.

"You lot be careful out there," said Travis firmly as he broke the hug with the three macaws.

"And also watch that you don't end up caught, especially by Nigel," said Sunset, "I have a feeling that he may be as bad as Brutus, especially now that he is bent on revenge on Blu and his family," she flashed a worried glance at Blu and Jewel's chicks as she said this, "and if anyone ever gets in his way…"

"I am aware of that, Sunset, thanks," said Athos, "We'll be as careful as we can."

"And besides, we have a former smugglers' cat with years of experience in stealth by our side," said Porthos, a determined smile on his face.

Then after a few more minutes of conversation, the macaws all turned and opened their wings. Athos took off first (his bandaged left foot held close to him), and then Porthos and Orquidea, and then finally, the six chicks.

"See you, you eight," said Travis as the macaws left through the window, "And take extreme care!"

"Make sure you listen to Catina for she is very wise, especially in regards to stealth," said Sunset. Eustace, Milo and Rosa also shouted goodbye. Athos shot the cockatoo family a smile before finally disappearing altogether through the window, Porthos, Orquidea and the six chicks in tow.

"Be careful, my macaw friends," said Travis. Deep down he was worried for them, especially Athos after the injury he had suffered last night. However, he seemed fine now, if in some pain still. His mind then snapping to his family's own task, Travis led his family back to watching Tulio and his group as they all prepared to have their discussion. Then as soon as Tulio's team was ready including Jack, Jill and Fernando with all the members dressed in their uniforms, Tulio led the group into the meeting room. They were going to have a preview of the trip to the Amazon and the tasks they were going to do. As the group walked into the room Fernando, Jack and Jill shot Ernesto a worried look. All three had a hunch that there was something not quite right about this person, but none of the others would believe them. Then an idea entered Jack, Jill and Fernando's heads.

Meanwhile

At the vet's mini animal hospital where various animals, mostly cats and dogs were taken to have check-ups or receiver treatment for various injuries and illnesses, a certain tabby cat was lying in a cage in the recovery room, a sombre look marking his face, ears drooping and his left front paw, the one that had been partly broken by Nigel's bite, set in a white solid cast. Around him, various cats and dogs were talking, playing and resting, and some were still eating their breakfast. Broccoli's feeding bowl was still full for Broccoli was not very hungry. He was still wracked with guilt at not putting in enough effort to protect Blu and Jewel's kids from getting captured and caged by the psychotic cockatoo, though he had put in his best efforts. Suddenly, three flashes of brown, black and chocolate rushed by as three Labrador puppies, one black, one chocolate brown and the other a lighter brown like that of mud, playfully chased each other, yipping and barking and clumsily stumbling over each other as they ran about. Broccoli watched the three puppies and sighed, sinking his face into the bedding. Just then, five shapes, one resembling Broccoli, one light grey and large, another light grey and smaller with a bandage around its body and the other two small and looking like an exact mix of Veggie and Catina, appeared and partly filled the entrance to Broccoli's cage. When Broccoli opened his eyes, he saw two greyhounds and two cats. Dash, Esperanza who had her body in a bandage, Veggie and Broccoli's sisters Daisy and Collette had come in to see him.

"Hi, brother," said Collette.

"We have come to check on you," said Daisy.

"To make sure you are alright," added Esperanza. Broccoli just sighed and uttered a, "Thanks."

"You've been in that miserable state since Susan and Lucy took us to the vet's," said Collette "Is that incident involving that foul cockatoo still bothering you?"

Dash and Veggie also had asked the same question through their facial expressions but Broccoli tried to deny it.

"No," he said but Veggie could tell that this was not true, seeing through his son's attempts to build a facade of denial.

"I can tell whenever something is bothering you son based on your facial expression," said he firmly.

"It has to be when Nigel attacked you when you tried defending Carla, Bia and Tiago," said Dash. Broccoli, seeing the confirmatory looks on his father and the greyhound's faces, then began to honestly let it out.

"Yes, it is," he almost wailed in defeat, tears welling in his eyes again, "It's my fault that Blu and Jewel's chicks ended up caught…"

"What have I told you, son?" asked Veggie firmly, "It is not your fault. Nigel was just too smart and violent…"

"Yes, and despite your best effort," put in Collette, "He would have broken through your attempts to protect those three Spix macaw chicks anyway."

"According to Blu, Nigel is an extremely intelligent cockatoo and especially cunning as is violent," said Dash, "But you certainly were brave to stand your ground against that true feathered monster, even if it meant getting hurt."

He then glanced at Esperanza.

"In fact, both of you were, especially you Esperanza," he said, "Veggie told me how well you applied your skills in self-defence including the defence pose, the growling and the baring of our teeth."

"I wouldn't have done that at all though as a cat I have retractable claws," said Daisy, "I would have bolted at the sight of that cockatoo coming towards me with his eyes ablaze with wrath."

"Neither would I," said Collette. Then Broccoli moved on.

"So, how are things back home?" he asked.

"Oh, we have some fantastically good news," said Veggie with a firm but relieved look on his face, "We've been vindicated from the responsibility for the carnage in the living room and the kitchen. In other words, Susan and Lucy have finally come to the conclusion that the mess wasn't our doing at all."

"Neither have we been fighting," said Veggie. He then looked down his body and saw that his minor cuts and bruises were healing. The cuts and bruises marking the other cats and dogs apart from Ginger were also healing and the group was still lively.

"Susan and Lucy, in fact, have suspected that they have had intruders, which is indeed correct though our owners aren't so sure on this," said Dash, "Based on the claw marks on the sofa, the chairs and the walls, the presence of abnormal feathers and hair scattered on the floor of the messed up rooms and the shape of your injury according to the vet's."

"Well, what other animal would make a v-shaped mark when it bites?" asked Broccoli with a frown, "Cat or dog teeth cannot make wounds like that."

"The vet said that you had been attacked by a parrot," said Dash, "And since we have never ever had any fights with our feathered friends, it is obvious that another parrot had attacked you. They don't know that it was Nigel's doing but at least they know that it is not Athos or his group."

"They believe them to still be in the Amazon, anyway," said Broccoli.

"True," said Dash. Then he shot a few of the animal carers a glance before turning back to Broccoli.

"Anyway, we'd better be off," he said, "Esperanza's free to go home for her injury is not too serious but you still need some more time here until your paw gets better and secondly, our presence is not welcome by the animal doctors here."

"Will you be able to rescue our friends and try to stop the poachers?" asked Broccoli with pleading eyes, "I don't want our feathered friends to be abused by that sickly cockatoo and smuggled out of Brazil against their will."

"We're planning on it, son," said Veggie, "But we have no time to explain it. You get some rest and we'll see you next time."

Broccoli was about to protest but knew that Dash's statement about their presence not being wanted was right. Veggie and Dash wanted to be out of here as soon as possible before any of the doctors spotted them and complained. Then after saying goodbye to Broccoli, the group left, leaving Broccoli to rest, his spirits lifted slightly by the gust of assurance that it was not his fault that Carla, Bia and Tiago had been captured (though they had now been freed), and that Susan and Lucy had finally realised that it had not been Dash, Veggie and company's fault for the mess of the living room and kitchen back at their home.