Chapter 27- refuges and intense fear, dread and heartbreak
Aurora opened her eyes but as she did so, she found that she was finding it difficult to breathe and was gagging and choking. Dread consuming her, Aurora sat bolt upright and examined her surroundings. To her utter horror, she was on the forest floor… with every tree and undergrowth ablaze with flames. Then something burning landed on Aurora's shoulder. The pigtailed Spix macaw leaped to her feet and began to dislodge the little cinder from her shoulder with her other wing, yelping in pain. The moment Aurora had done so, she felt instinct inside her screech at her to flee to safety, so that's what Aurora did and thankfully, she was able to fly despite her slightly burned shoulder. Spreading her wings and taking off, Aurora began to try and escape the fire by flying out of it or seeking shelter. Aurora had never been so frightened in her life aside from the violent confrontation with that psychotic cat Brutus a few years ago. Her maya blue feathers were flattened against her body and her pigtail feathers were spiked out all over the place, much like how the mop of head feathers on Roberto would spike out whenever he got angry or frightened, and how the cockatoos' head feathers would also flare. Aurora's amber eyes were saturated with fear and dread and adrenaline was flooding her body. Aurora, filled with fright in every part of her body, began to look for and call out for any macaws for help as she began to fly through the inferno.
"HEEEELLLP!" she screeched, "SOMEBODY, HEEEELLLP MEEE!"
Aurora then began to consider the option of flying through the canopy and out over the treetops but then she realised that the tree tops would be totally ablaze and thus too dangerous a route to take. Discarding that idea, Aurora began to fly through the trees. She choked and gagged as smoke swamped her lungs, and her eyes stung from the irritating chemicals that were carried in the smoke. Aurora then began to try and fly quickly through the trees, being careful not to fly into any burning plant. Every undergrowth and tree was on fire and vines were burning strings of fire. Aurora knew that branches on fire would sometimes come crashing down from the above canopy, based on what Jewel told her when she had to fly through this as a young macaw, so Aurora knew she had to be aware of this hazard.
However, a few minutes later, it happens. Aurora heard the sound of loud cracking above her. Alarmed, she shot a petrified look upward and when she saw some fiery cylinders and fragments drop from above toward her, she screeched. Aurora quickly flew forward moments before the burning branches could crash on top of her. Aurora then heard the sound of the fiery pieces crash onto the forest floor. She looked back and saw the burning branches come to rest under where she had been hovering. Then Aurora flew on, terror-filled eyes scanning the fiery surroundings. One thought was repeating in her head: 'I've got to get out of this inferno. I've just GOT to.'
Without any more hesitation, Aurora continued on.
At this moment, a male blue macaw with brown eyes and a human thing called a fanny pack tied around his waist was flying through the inferno as well. However, he wasn't fleeing the fire, but searching for someone lost in it.
"JEWEL!" called the macaw named Blu, "JEEEWEEEL, WHERE ARE YOUUUU!?"
As he looked around, Blu's brown eyes were filled with unspeakable horror and awe. This was the exact same nightmarish disaster that tore Jewel, Zephyr, Brisa, Tornado and Gael from the Spix macaw tribe, Ruby from the red macaw tribe, Esmeralda from the green tribe, Orquidea from the blue-and-gold macaw tribe, Sapphire from the Lear's macaw tribe and Cobalto from his clan the Navyfeathers, and killed some of the other members from those bird tribes and clans. Blu had never experienced a forest fire before, but he knew that fire could cause a LOT of devastation, be it buildings in a city or town, or a natural environment like the Amazon forest. However, Blu snapped himself out of his horrified trance of the inferno and focused on finding his love.
"JEWEL," he called, looking this way and that and checking every nook and cranny in the ground to see if Jewel was anywhere to be found in these spots, "JEEWEEEL!"
As he did this, Blu heard a loud crack of wood directly above him. He shot an alarmed look upward and saw a burning branch about to fall. Blu, flapped forward just as a loud snap was heard. The branch then careened down towards the floor, passing where Blu had been seconds ago and then crashing to the ground, cinders splashing up and then drifting gently down like sinister fire-flakes besides the flaming monster. Blu spun around as he heard that sound and when he looked at the fallen branch, he gasped.
"Is it any wonder so many birds or other animals die in a disaster like this," said he to himself. He then began to regret making this decision in looking for Jewel as he examined his burning surroundings and considered abandoning the search for Jewel and getting to safety. However, Blu was compelled to continue the search, regardless of the risk to his life, since Jewel was the macaw he loved more than any other. 'I've fallen out of the plane after her despite not being able to fly,' he thought, 'if I have done that, I can search for her in the fire.'
Propelled by reignited courage, Blu continued flying through the inferno looking for his beloved mate and calling her name, despite the smoke choking his lungs.
Elsewhere, Tornado and Zephyr were also flying through the flames, avoiding the burning vegetation and narrowly escaping a small avalanche of burning branches at one time. Zephyr was clearly flooded with an immense fear as his green eyes examined the burning surroundings. Memories of when he, Brisa, Tornado and Gael's last encounter with fire swamped his mind and Tornado also had that same flood of memories washing over him. When Zephyr, Brisa, Tornado and Gael were torn from the Spix macaw tribe when Zephyr and Brisa had been young macaws, the brother and sister, as well as their parents had been badly traumatised and had developed an intense fear of fire. So much like Blu, Zephyr wanted to abandon the search and get to safety, and Tornado was insisting on this. However, despite his intense fear of the flames, Zephyr, much like Blu, was propelled to continue the search for his beloved mate and not allow her to perish in the fire. However, it was proving to be very difficult due to being swamped by both his fear of fire and the memories of the nightmarish experience Zephyr had with his family when he and Brisa were younger. Tornado flew closely behind him as he looked around, calling Aurora's name and looking for her. Suddenly, Tornado saw a burning tree start to fall toward where they were.
"Zephyr, look OUT!" he cried and with that, he rocketed towards his son and tackled him out of the way, moments before the enormously tall plant toppled over, landing with an almighty crash. Zephyr, at this, cried in surprise as he was thrown clear until he looked back and saw the fallen tree and Tornado, who was breathing heavily in relief, behind him. Tornado then gave Zephyr a stern look.
"This is seriously too dangerous, son," he called, "Not only is this inferno bringing back horrid memories, but it is threatening our lives as well."
"I am NOT abandoning the search, Dad," snapped Zephyr, still fuelled by determination to find Aurora, "I will NOT stop until I find her!"
"No, I am NOT going to risk losing MY SON like what happened last time with the smugglers!" retorted Tornado angrily, "You and Brisa were lucky to be alive last time. This time, you might not be so fortunate. Let's find somewhere to take shelter until this inferno dies down!"
Zephyr continued stubbornly glaring at his father, pondering whether he should obey him or continue the search for Aurora. As thoughts of Aurora being trapped or what's worse, found dead, burned by the fire, swamped his mind, Zephyr opened his wings and rocketed onward through the flames, shouting Aurora's name over and over again despite the choking smoke. Tornado rushed after him.
"Zephyr, get BACK HERE!" he yelled.
Meanwhile, Blu was still searching for Jewel, calling her name and looking under every hole in the ground and rock he could find. Blu continued to cough out the toxic chemicals in the smoke from his lungs and avoid touching the burning plants. Blu continued shouting Jewel's name and listened to see if he could hear her voice of response, but to his dismay, he could not hear it through the roar of the flames. However, Blu did not give up. He knew he had to find Jewel or else not only would his heart be torn in two, but if the Spix macaw tribe, especially Eduardo, Mimi, Carla, Bia, Tiago, Roberto, Zephyr, Brisa and the rest of Jewel's closest friends, hear that Jewel was nowhere to be seen, they'd be overshadowed by a very dark cloud of heartbreak like last time when Jewel had been reported missing. The thoughts of seeing Eduardo break down, Carla, Bia and Tiago losing their mother, and himself becoming a widower flooded and churned Blu's mind like the choppy waters of the Amazon River, and made his heart lurch like a stomach in response to the repulsive smell of a decaying carcass. As these thoughts churned in his head, Blu was propelled to continue his search for Jewel and not give up, no matter what. Blu continued searching the burning vegetation and shouting Jewel's name, listening for any response. He continued shouting Jewel's name over and over again and listening for another tense half an hour, and just as he could had all but given up, a distant sound, low but clearly there, emitted through the roaring noise of the fire. Blu picked up the sound with his ears and cupped a wing to listen, hoping he wasn't hearing things. It sounded again and as Blu heard it, he jumped into the air, hope that Jewel was alive flaring up like the fire around him. With this inside him, Blu took off and began to trace the sound to its source.
"JEWEL!" he called at the top of his voice, flying as fast as he could through the fire. As he traced its source, it became louder and louder. Suddenly, a few falling fireballs dropped from a tree above, almost landing on Blu. Blu cried in surprise and dodged the falling volcanic rock-like bombs before continuing to follow the sound. As the sound grew louder, it was clear that it was female, and it sounded anguished and extremely frightened.
"JEEWEEEL!" shouted Blu again, looking around and dodging more flames.
"BLUUUUU!" yelled the voice, which Blu recognised was Jewel's. Propelled by hope and relief, he continued tracing Jewel's voice as it continued to grow louder and louder until finally, a cerulean feathered form with teal eyes hiding in an animal's burrow. Blu had never been so relieved in his life and immediately accelerated towards the burrow.
"JEWEL!" shouted Blu but as he approached Jewel in the burrow, it was clear that she was extremely scared. Her eyes were wider than Blu had ever seen, her cerulean feathers were on end and she was trembling like a human food called jelly. However, when Jewel saw Blu fly towards her, she immediately screamed in relief and went over to hug him. The moment Blu touched down at the entrance to the burrow, he was met by a bone-crushing hug from his mate. The two Spix macaws remained in their embrace for a few seconds before they finally broke it.
"What happened?" asked Blu, "How did you end up going missing when searching for us?"
Jewel, however, was too afraid to reply. The fire was clearly terrifying her and she was trembling violently. Then a loud crack, the sound of cracking wood, was heard. At this, Blu located the sound and saw that a flaming tree's trunk was forming a kink on one side of the burrow. It looked unstable and was about to fall any moment, and it was leaning toward the direction of the burrow's entrance. Seeing that they have to escape or they would be trapped, Blu said, "Jewel, can you fly?"
Jewel, who continued trembling violently, shook her head. She was too swamped with fear to give a worded answer and all her muscles, including her flight muscles, were like jelly. Blu, at this, immediately took off, wrapped his talons around Jewel's wings like how he did after taking his first flight, and lifted off the ground.
"I'm going to carry you to a safe spot," called Blu. Jewel nodded and with that, Blu immediately rocketed out of the burrow and back into the inferno. The moment he did that, Jewel began to cry hysterically and shut her eyes, too afraid to look at the flames. It seemed that the previous fire had had a more massive impact on Jewel than it did on Zephyr, Brisa, Tornado and Gael. However, Jewel had been alone when she was torn from her tribe, whilst Zephyr and his sister and parents had each other. Thus the trauma of the previous fire was greater in Jewel than in Zephyr or Brisa or their parents. Blu then began to try his best to look for a suitable spot to take refuge from the fire. A clearing or a small cave should do. With the violently trembling and crying Jewel in his talons, Blu began to desperately look for one of those refuge points, being careful to avoid flying into a burning tree, web of vines, or falling flaming branches. Then, the latter happens. A cluster of flaming bombs fell from the above canopy and crashed onto the forest floor, a metre away from Blu and Jewel. When Jewel saw this, she screamed at the top of her lungs, while Blu cried in surprise before continuing his search for shelter.
"There has to be a small cave SOMEWHERE!" muttered Blu to himself. He looked this way and that as he continued flying through the inferno for another few more terrifying minutes until he saw what looked like a clearing through a ring of burning trees. Looking at Jewel who continued violently cowering and whimpering, Blu made a break for the ring of fire.
"HANG ON!" cried Blu to Jewel and he approached the fire ring. Jewel did so and both Spix macaws rushed through the ring of fire, seconds before burning branches fell and sealed off the exit. Blku then looked around and realised that he was in a small break in the trees. It appeared to be an empty patch where no trees or large ferns grew but on the edge of the clearing, plants continued to burn. Blu, coughing from the smoke, looked around and found another hole in the ground. This was surrounded by pebbles but appeared large enough to be a shelter. Seeing no other choice and not wanting to fly back into the inferno again, Blu took Jewel to the hole and gently placed her inside. He then entered it himself. The inside was rocky and had soft soil in places but it would have to do. as soon as both macaws were inside, Blu wrapped his wings around Jewel and began to try and comfort and calm her down. Both macaws were coughing from the smoke.
"It's okay, now Jewel," said Blu as Jewel continued sobbing and crying hysterically, "We're out of the fire now."
As Jewel then began to cry into his chest, Blu looked out of the burrow and watched the burning forest surrounding the clearing in utter horror. He hoped that the other macaws had taken shelter in their evacuation points, and that Aurora had been found. However, that was yet to happen. Zephyr continued flying through the flames, shouting Aurora's name and looking around with Tornado in hot pursuit. Tornado dodged a web of burning vines and continued chasing his son, yelling at him to break off the search and seek shelter for it was too dangerous. During their search, the two male Spix macaws passed by some frightened chirping. This immediately caught Zephyr's attention as he had hoped it was Aurora but when he traced the source of the sound, he realised that they were emitting from a group of six frightened chicks and an adolescent macaw standing right beside a fallen tree. At this, Zephyr flew over to the seven petrified macaws with Tornado right behind him. As Zephyr and Tornado touched down by the seven young macaws, Zephyr realised that the macaws had the same features as Levi, Lapis Lazuli, Tristan, Quincy, Larimar and Trixie. However, they appeared not only petrified by the fire, but also anguished over something.
"These are young glaucous macaw chicks," said Tornado in surprise, "And they appear lost and frightened."
Zephyr then quickly asked the adolescent glaucous macaw. "Do you know where your parents and the parents of these chicks are?"
The adolescent glaucous macaw, at this, shook his head and pointed to the fallen tree, tears falling from his eyes. Dread consuming him, Zephyr followed the macaw's point but when his eyes landed on what it was, he gasped. Tornado came in and also drew in a sharp, horrified gasp of his own. From under the log, a turquoise wing was protruding, indicating that the tree must have fallen on an adult glaucous macaw. Flinching at the sight, Zephyr looked at the adolescent macaw and the six young chicks who were too frightened and upset to reply.
"We'd better get these chicks to safety," said Tornado.
"But what about Aurora?" protested Zephyr. Tornado gave him a stern eye.
"It's too dangerous," he said, "We need to find shelter and get these young macaws to safety. We'll search for Aurora after the fire dies down."
Zephyr released a MASSIVE cry in anguish. It was true. The fire was becoming too dangerous to continue the search for Aurora so Zephyr reluctantly obeyed his dad and letting him take the lead. Then Tornado turned to the chicks and adolescent macaw and said, "Can you lot fly? We need to get out of here now."
To his relief, all seven young glaucous macaws nodded and opened their wings. Then suddenly, a crack was heard above the group. At this, Tornado looked up and saw a cluster of fiery branches careen from the above canopy, aiming for them.
"Look OUT!" he yelled and immediately scooped up all the seven young glaucous macaws as they screamed. Then Tornado and Zephyr jumped out of the way as an almighty crash sounded, right where they had been standing. Charred pieces of wood and singed feathers then rained down on the group. Seeing that they shouldn't be here for another minute longer, Tornado picked up the chicks and lofted them into the air, before following himself alongside Zephyr. Soon, the nine macaws were flying through the fiery forest once again, trees and ferns burning all around them. The chicks and adolescent macaw screamed as their eyes saw the fire all around them. Zephyr then looked at the six chicks. They looked around Levi and Lapis Lazuli's age as their features were clearly visible. One of them was a female, had lilac eyes, dark ocean blue body feathers and a set of feathers similar to Roberto's. Much like Lapis Lazuli's feathers, the head feathers started out grey but faded to turquoise towards the tips. However, he didn't have time to examine the chicks' features. The group had to head to safety, and quick. With Tornado leading the way and Zephyr keeping an eye on the seven young glaucous macaws, the nine continued flying through the fiery forest. Once or twice they avoided an updraft caused by crown fire drawing air skywards towards the treetops, and Zephyr had to pull the chicks out of the draft for they were too weak to fly out of the updraft themselves, and the group had witnessed another cluster of flaming branches crash to the floor from the above canopy. Then after another long and perilous while of flying through more flaming trees, they finally came across a small cave by a narrowed stream, shrunken through loss of so much water due to the heat caused by the drought, and several fish carcases dotted the areas of dried mud, areas that were normally below the waterline when the stream was at its normal level. The cave would have to do. Tornado then led Zephyr and the seven glaucous macaw youngsters to this spot where the touched down and took shelter, the chicks and adolescent glaucous macaws whimpering and trembling violently. Zephyr then looked out and began to cry for Aurora but Tornado wouldn't let him fly out. Tornado felt sorry for his son. He knew how it felt to be trapped in an inferno like this and he hoped that Aurora had found shelter or had escaped the fire into a clearing to take refuge until the fire died down. As thoughts about his daughter-in-law swamped his mind, Tornado turned to trying to calm down the terrified glaucous macaw chicks and adolescent while at the same time hug his sobbing son.
The fire continued raging and tearing through more of the jungle, spreading quickly onto the very dry adjacent trees as though they were sprayed with a flammable liquid like petrol. Animals continued fleeing the inferno with monkeys darting through the trees and birds flying though the gaps. More glaucous macaws had managed to find and take refuge in the evacuation points of the bird tribes and clans on the sanctuary, a number have entered the Spix macaws' ravine and had taken refuge behind the waterfall with the Spix macaw tribe, much to their surprise, especially Levi, Travis, D'Artagnan and their families. However, they allowed the macaws to take refuge with them anyway. Among the glaucous macaws were Rudi, Valeria and their two sons Alberto and Lorenzo, whom they had been carrying all along through the fire. They landed into a moss bed next to Roberto, Brisa, Carla, Bia and Tiago. Lapis Lazuli had flown over to help her distressed and terrified cousin to settle in. in the blue-throated and Bluewing clans' territory, all the hyacinth and blue-throated macaws had managed to evacuate to their island and the Navyfeathers to their cave. Non-tribe and clan residents had also flown out to escape the fire, and Falkor, Fedor and Ámbar had become busy with taking in the non-clan residents of the Navyfeathers' territory into their cave. However, a number of birds and other animals were still in serious danger of being trapped in the fire and burned, including a Spix macaw who had only just joined the Spix tribe some days ago.
Aurora was still flying through the inferno, trying to find a way out into an opening. She had been searching for shelter from the flames but had found none, and all the burrows had burning trees too close to them. Aurora daren't take refuge in these for she felt that she would end up trapped in the burrows should a burning tree fall and block off their entrance, or they could contain the most dangerous land predator in the rainforest: jaguars. Once, Aurora had got a glimpse of a mother jaguar cowering in her burrow with three cubs. The jaguar had her body curled around her cubs to protect them from the fire as they cowered into her fur, squeaking in fear. Aurora had got a glimpse of the jaguar's piercing golden eyes which were swamped with fear as they continued watching the terrifying fire. Aurora hoped that this family of jaguars would survive the fire for Blu had once told her that like most big cats, jaguars were an endangered species. Tearing her gaze from the mother and her three cubs, she rocketed on, coughing and spluttering to clear her lungs of smoke. She was clearly desperate to get out of this blazing nightmare, and as Aurora thought this, she began to understand what Jewel must have gone through after she had been torn from the Spix tribe in the previous fire. Putting these thoughts aside, Aurora continued concentrating on escaping. She quickly but carefully avoided touching any of the burning plants or any cinders and ashes that were spat from the burning wood. If any of these still-burning bits of debris hit Aurora's wing flight feathers and burned them, she would not be able to fly and doom would certainly befall her. Aurora continued scanning the burning environment for a clearing through the trees.
"There has to be a way out," she said to herself, wracked with fear, "There HAS to be!"
Aurora continued flying more through the fiery environment, choking from the smoke and avoiding any updrafts of air rising skywards towards the treetops, until she saw what appeared to be black hole through some burning trees. Seeing this, Aurora made a beeline for it, hoping it led out into a clearing. However, as Aurora rocketed towards the hole, she got a glimpse of burning branches falling from the above canopy, aiming for the spot in front of the hole. Aurora accelerated more and as she neared the hole, she folded her wings and ploughed through the opening, barely escaping being buried alive by the burning missiles. They landed behind her with a crash and sealed off the opening entirely, but Aurora had made it through the hole in the nick of time. As soon as she was through, she breathed a sigh of relief and looked around. Aurora was definitely in a large clearing and below her was an enormous gash in the ground. Based on its size, it appeared to be the Amazon River, but Aurora could see that the waterline had shrunken considerably. Large areas of the river's banks were exposed and fish that did not escape the receding water in time lay dead along the banks. The water itself was quite shallow, but it was still flowing. It was bright orange as it reflected the flames of the fire burning along the bank. Aurora then looked at the trees on the other side and saw that they weren't on fire. The Amazon River must be acting like a barrier against the fire, stopping it from spreading to these trees, but the trees along the other side of the river were ablaze. Aurora scanned the burning trees in utter horror, finding the terrifying sight hard to believe. She then began to look for an island in the Amazon River to settle on and wait until the fire died down.
Meanwhile
Back with the Spix macaws, the tribe of cerulean and blue birds with blue-white facial markings, with their guests including Levi, Travis, D'Artagnan and their families, watched in utter horror as they saw the orange glow of fire through the shrunken waterfall. The trees of the Spix macaws were on fire and the ravine pool, also shrunken by the heat of the drought, was bright orange as the water reflected the flames. Roberto, Brisa, Carla, Bia and Tiago wore looks of terror and fright as thoughts about Blu, Jewel, Zephyr, Tornado and Aurora who were still out there, swamped their minds. D'Artagnan, Sapphire, Miranda, Jasmine and Annette, Lapis Lazuli, Levi, Tristan, Quincy, Larimar and Trixie, and Travis, Sunset, Eustace, Milo and Rosa also had dreaded and frightened looks as they watched the fire through the waterfall. They had heard that five of the Spix macaws including Aurora were still out there. D'Artagnan, Travis, Sunset and Levi had been devastated by the news. Aurora was one of their lifelong friends and to hear that she had gone missing in the fire along with her mate Zephyr had hit them hard. However, the macaw that was most devastated was Eduardo. He lay limp on his back by the wall of the cave, having fainted from the overwhelming grief and guilt of forgetting about the stargazing group in his rush to warn the Spix macaw tribe after three of Alonso's macaws came to warn him and Mimi, and the fact that Blu, Jewel, Zephyr, Aurora and Tornado were out there. Mimi stood by; her face filled with dread, horror and worry for her niece and nephew-in-law, and also for the other three. A million thoughts raced through her head: either those five Spix macaws were lost, or were dead. Mimi dreaded finding Jewel, dead and burned amongst the charred trees and ferns, and crying over her dead body. She also dreaded Eduardo doing the same, and also over the bodies of Blu, Aurora, Zephyr and Tornado. Finding those five dead after the fire would bring heartbreak and devastation to the whole tribe, particularly Aurora and Zephyr's family and friends. Justin, Charlotte, Matilda and Virgil could become orphans, as would Carla, Bia and Tiago. Brisa would lose her beloved brother and father, and Gael would become a widow with Viento losing his brother and nephew, and Nuvem his uncle and cousin, and Roberto would be torn to lose his best friend and her mate. It would be like what happened in the previous fire: a serious chain reaction for the whole tribe, but this time, the other macaws outside the Spix macaw tribe, such as Ruby and Athos who were friends of Aurora, Zephyr, Blu and Jewel, would be involved. They would be greatly heartbroken if they hear that these four had perished. D'Artagnan, Sapphire, Travis, Sunset, Levi and Lapis Lazuli also had dreaded looks about facing this possibility once the fire had died down. While the Spix macaws, D'Artagnan and Travis and their families had these thoughts whirling around their heads, the other glaucous macaws also looked frightened. Rudi and Valeria who sat by Roberto and Brisa and Blu and Jewel's chicks wore dreaded facial expressions about the other members of the glaucous macaw tribe. The glaucous macaws were scattered throughout the sanctuary, some hiding in the Spix macaws' waterfall cave, some hiding with the Lear's macaws, and still some more hiding with the green macaws and the blue-and-gold macaws. However, there was nothing that the macaws could do until the fire died down.
Meanwhile, in Rio
Susan, Lucy, Dash and Ginger and their puppies Esperanza, James, Avellana and Danny and Veggie and Catina and their kittens Broccoli, Daisy and Collette watched the TV in utter horror as the news about the forest fire continued being broadcasted throughout Brazil, eyes widened.
"This could be the worst fire in history," said the news lady, "The fire has spread throughout the majority of the Sanctuary de Amazon, consuming the areas including where the green, the Lear's and the Spix macaw flocks have recently been found…"
"NOOO!" cried Veggie in disbelief. The TV then showed the large area of the rainforest ablaze in a sea of orange ever-changing shapes and thick black billows of smoke belching from their tips into the air.
"…The Ecological Fire service in their water carrying planes from Manaus are trying their best to put out the fire by carrying water to the site and spraying on it from above but the fire just keeps on spreading and spreading," continued the news lady, "due to the immense dryness of the plants…"
"Plant dryness," repeated Catina, "That's often known to make fires spread really easily."
"It's not surprising really," said Ginger, "It's been so hot over the past few days and the heat would have made those plants lose so much water…"
"I hope the macaws are alright," said Dash hopefully as he thought about D'Artagnan, Aurora and their rest including Travis, Sunset, Eustace, Milo and Rosa who had ventured out into the Amazon rainforest, "and all the other animals that inhabit that jungle…"
Then Lucy began to pray to God that the macaws would survive the fire.
At Tulio, Linda and Fernando's house, Tulio, his wife and adopted son were also watching the news in utter horror. Linda had thoughts of her former animal companion, Blu and his family out there while Tulio's mind was swamped with thoughts for the birds on the Sanctuary de Amazon, especially the Lear's and the Spix macaws, and the glaucous macaws that were still yet to be discovered. However, there was nothing Tulio and his team could do until the fire died down, but they will be going out there to help the injured animals…
Meanwhile
Back in the burning rainforest, the fire continued raging. By now the majority of animals would have managed to find somewhere safe to take refuge, but some had not been so fortunate and had been caught in the flames. Amongst the roar of the fire, cries of anguished monkeys, capybaras and flightless birds sounded as they were trapped and burned by the fire. Up in the sky, human-made flying machines were buzzing overhead. A large cloud of water was released from their undersides and dropped onto the fire. The Ecological Fire Service team from Manaus had come along to try and help put the fire out. However, it was proving to be a difficult task for the fire had covered a wide area of rainforest and it was spreading fast due to the dryness of the plants. While the humans in the air tried their best to put out the flames from the sky, on a large island in the middle of the shrunken Amazon River, mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians have managed to escape the inferno and take refuge. This island had leafless trees on it and a few bushes. Holes, clumps of grass and rocks dotted it as well, making it an ideal refuge point for various creatures. Various species of flying birds flew over the water and landed on the bare skeletons of the leafless trees while mammals such as capybaras and monkeys, and reptiles such as lizards and snakes, swam in the water and crept onto the shore of the island. Many of the mammals had babies which they carried across whilst some of the birds carried their chicks and eggs. Amphibians such as poison dart frogs dotted parts of exposed rocks protruding from the dropped water of the Amazon River. While the animals on the island, many accompanied by young, waited for the fire burning the forest to die down on the mainland, one bright blue macaw with pigtails stood amongst the small birds perched on one of the leafless trees. Aurora had also managed to find this island and had taken refuge on it with the other animals. However, the whole experience of flying through the inferno had left Aurora badly shaken and traumatised. She was extremely upset and frightened, and had absolutely no idea of where she was.
As she trembled all over on the tree branch with the small birds preening and caring for their young, if they had any, Aurora began to cry floods of tears. She began to feel like how Jewel would have felt as she was torn from the Spix macaw tribe by the previous fire: lost, alone and frightened. Thoughts of Zephyr, Justin, Charlotte, Matilda and Virgil and Brisa, parents-in-law Tornado and Gael, and then of Athos, Ruby, D'Artagnan, Sapphire, Porthos, Orquidea, Aramis, Esmeralda, Phoebe, Cobalto, Levi, Lapis Lazuli, and Travis, Sunset and all their chicks flooded her mind, alongside Blu, Jewel, Carla, Bia and Tiago. Through her river of tears, Aurora stole a glance at some of the birds, larger species which appeared to be parakeets and amazons, comfort their shaken mates and chicks. Aurora felt heartbreak flare within her as she wished she was with her mate Zephyr and her four chicks. With her eyes on these bird families and then on the fire, Aurora broke down. However, in her heartbreak, she did not notice that the sky overhead, which had been swamped with a sea of stars, had now become swamped with clouds that screened the stars from view. A rumbling sound emanated from these clouds, followed by a few drops of water that landed on a few places on the island, including on Aurora's head as she continued crying her heart out.