Chapter 32- from bad to worse
Sandalwood and Acerola, together with Sirius, Bellatrix, Vega, Regulus and Sylvester continued to stand and shudder as the acidic gaze of Dalek the chameleon continued to pierce them like an enraged cat's glare, JD, Tiana and Jacques shuddering with them. By now, Dalek's green colour had been replaced by red for he, being a chameleon, was able to change colour depending on his mood or to blend in with his surroundings, and that fiery red colour added to his terrifying wrathful appearance with the green fires in his eyes, the hatred acidified hisses emitting through his mouth and the arching of his back. Behind Dalek, Lusamine and her gang continued to look on at the confrontation, especially at Sandalwood and his group who were now plagued by fear, especially as Dalek advanced towards them. From Guzma's grasp, Atreyu watched the group of terrified birds and two flying fox pups as they cowered with JD, Tiana and Jacques with concerned eyes. As Sandalwood's group continued to timidly back away from the aggressive Dalek, Cato's mouth creased into a spiteful smile.
"Looks like we have a turn of events thanks to our chameleon friend, folks," he gloated.
"Hey, Rio brats," shouted one of Guzma's spider monkey companions, a female, scornfully, "Who's frightened now?"
Laughter then rolled through Lusamine's group after this remark. Sandalwood and the other six with him did not answer, however for they were too consumed by fear of the enraged Dalek as he continued to saunter towards them like an aggressive cat, their terrified gazes meeting the chameleon's detestation-laced glare of corrosive acid. Guzma, his focus removed from Atreyu due to the drama of the scene, widened his mouth into a smile but because he was so absorbed by the confrontation between Dalek and Sandalwood's group, he failed to notice Atreyu reach up to the fur in his arm with his wing flippers and latch onto it, then with all his might, the emperor penguin chick tore out some of the fur from the spider monkey's arm, sending shooting pain rocketing through Guzma's limb and making him shriek in pain and release the emperor penguin. As soon as he was free and was back on the ground, Atreyu made a hasty retreat as the others snapped their gazes from the confrontation to Guzma as he grasped his arm where some fur had been torn out.
At the same time, Dalek, his entire body blood-red due to his colour-changing ability, lunged at Sandalwood's group and launched his tongue at them, aiming for the macaw chicks, a vicious and loud snake-like hiss escaping his mouth at the same time. Startled, Sandalwood and his group including JD, Tiana and Jacques scattered with Atreyu joining them, making Dalek's tongue hit thin air instead. Dalek then retracted his tongue, lunged at the group again and shot his tongue like a spear a second time, aiming at Sirius and Bellatrix as they tried to fly away.
"Look OUT!" cried Sylvester as he, Vega and Regulus made a hasty retreat from the enraged chameleon. The two Spix macaw chicks flashed a glance at the incoming pink-red spear as it darted at them and tried to flee but Sirius did not move in time and was caught by the sticky end of the slimy javelin which ended in some sort of sucking mechanism, much to the horror of the others.
"SIRIUS!" shouted Bellatrix. Then as soon as Dalek had caught Sirius on the sticky end of his tongue, with a ferocious hiss escaping his mouth, he violently jerked his head in one direction and pulled his flexible tongue, with Sirius in its grasp, like a lasso. Sirius screamed as he was flung by the tongue until he found himself flying through space in a violent spin as Dalek released him from his tongue's sucker-end, heading right towards a tree trunk. Atreyu, upon seeing where the Spix macaw chick was headed, quickly dashed into Sirius's path and dived right into his trajectory moments before he went crashing into the hard bark of the tree trunk. After catching Sirius, both the emperor penguin and Spix macaw chicks tumbled violently past the trunk and stopped just before a large rock. Lusamine and the others cheered at Dalek as he then lunged at Vega and Regulus next and tried to clamp his jaws onto one of the Lear's macaw chicks. The brother and sister screamed as they saw the open trap fly at them but before those jaws could make contact with their feathered targets, Dalek felt his jaws land in something hard which kept them pried open. The chameleon's outraged green eyes on their turrets turned forward and to his surprise, the hard, prying object was a pair of membranous wings. Regulus and Vega looked on in astonishment as Sandalwood, his face twisted into a look of fury and effort with his teeth gritted, continued to brace himself against Dalek's jaws, his membranous wings locked onto the chameleon's jaws and preventing them closing. Regulus and Vega, upon seeing Sandalwood restrain Dalek, immediately retreated. Sandalwood then began to try and force Dalek back by pushing with all his might from his feet, his membranous wings clasped onto each of the chameleon's jaws, and bracing himself against the blood-red lizard. When Dalek realised that his macaw targets had fled due to Sandalwood's interference, the chameleon let loose a savage hiss, sending a draught blowing down Sandalwood's amber coloured pelage and wavering his fur like grass, but Sandalwood continued to brace against Dalek's struggles to overcome his brace despite feeling the heat of the chameleon's wrath in the breath.
"Sandalwood," cried Sirius as he watched the flying fox pup continue to struggle against Dalek as Regulus and Vega helped him and Atreyu to their feet. Seeing that Sandalwood was interfering with his desire to attack the macaw chicks, Dalek immediately reared up and with one powerful swipe of a clamp-like hand at Sandalwood's feet, knocked the flying fox pup down and made him release his jaws. Sandalwood cried in surprise as he collapsed on his side but as soon as Dalek was free, he lunged at Sylvester and attempted to strike him with his spear-like tongue but the Cuban macaw chick dodged.
Seeing that Sandalwood's group was distracted by the rampaging chameleon, Lusamine turned to her group and said, "You ready gang? Let's, drive away those brats!"
"Yeah!" cried Guzma and the others excitedly. And with a massive "CHAAARRRGE!" exploding from Lusamine's mouth, the whole group of monkeys, flying foxes, lizards and iguanas all surged forward towards Sandalwood's group with screams exploding from their mouths, their arms or wings prepared for grabbing any victim they could capture. When they saw Lusamine's group charge in towards them with the intent on causing them trouble and possibly harm, Atreyu called for the others in Sandalwood's group and also JD, Jacques and Tiana to retreat. With that, Sandalwood, Acerola, Sirius, Bellatrix, Regulus, Vega and Sylvester all scrabbled to their feet and began to beat a hasty retreat as Lusamine's group charged in at them, screaming maniacally. Acerola and the macaw chicks all lofted into flight while the four penguins and Sandalwood began to run on foot. However, Dalek was making things very difficult for the group; particularly the macaw chicks and he immediately sent his tongue shooting out again at those birds. Bellatrix was tackled to the side by Regulus as the pink, slimy spear almost struck her in the back, much to her shock. After recovering, the pair flew on. As those able to fly in Sandalwood's group began to widen the gap between them and the grounders, Atreyu shot Sandalwood a surprised look when he saw the amber flying fox running rather than flying.
"What are you doing running, fruit bat?" he barked, "Take to the air will you!?"
"Yeah, don't worry about us, we'll catch up," squeaked JD, Tiana nodding and chirping in agreement. Sandalwood shot the penguins a 'What!?' look.
"You want me to take off!?" he snapped, "Are you kidding!"
"But you're a flying fox," retorted Atreyu, "You can fly!"
"Why won't you take to the air?" asked Jacques. Sandalwood didn't answer. He was reluctant to admit to the penguins that he could not fly. Rolling his eyes in annoyance, Atreyu rushed forward and scooped Sandalwood off the ground moments before Dalek's tongue rushed in and struck the spot where the bat pup had been. With a frustrated hiss exploding from his mouth, the hat-wearing (which was in fact a model of a fictional and famous peppershaker-like alien race's domed top) chameleon retracted his tongue and continued his pursuit of the group, his burning green eyes of wrath fixated on the macaw chicks. He had mistaken Sandalwood for one of them.
The chase continued for another frantic minute and on the way, Lusamine's group had sized some fruit and small stones and had begun to pelt Sandalwood's group with them. Atreyu held Sandalwood closer to him to protect him from the flying projectiles, but Sandalwood was reminded of the behaviour of many of Rafael and Eva's rambunctious and horribly naughty offspring who sometimes threw fruit to cause trouble. Ahead, Sirius and the other five continued to fly along, the macaw chicks frantically dodging Dalek's spear-like tongue as the chameleon threw it out at them again and again. During one of Dalek's attempts to catch one of the macaw chicks, Vega lashed out and seized the end of the chameleon's tongue with her talons. The others saw her do this in horror.
"Vega, sis, DON'T!" shouted Regulus but his sister, her fiery cyan glare aiming at Dalek, then proceeded to throw the chameleon's own tongue back at its owner. The tongue flew round the chameleon, much to his shock and struck one of Lusamine's flying fox companions square in the face, knocking the bat off track of his flying and sending him crashing into four of the spider monkeys including Guzma. Lusamine and the others flashed a shocked glance as the group of five fell into a violent and chaotic tumble and resumed their chase of Sandalwood's group. Dalek also retracted his tongue and gave the macaw chicks a volcanic cobra-like hiss, especially at Vega. Vega flashed a terrified glance at the chameleon's fiery green glare which read, 'I'm gonna KILL YOU FOR THAT, you PARROT (BLEEP)'. Dalek then lashed his tongue at the macaw chicks again only to miss for the macaw chicks had dodged. After dodging Dalek's attempt to strike them with his sticky tongue, the macaw chicks flew on.
"Why does that chameleon loathe parrots?" asked Acerola as she flew with the macaw chicks.
"We don't know," retorted Atreyu as he continued to carry Sandalwood, "Just keep going, will you!"
He ducked to avoid a flying berry which shot past his head and landed on a rock in a messy splat. Behind the penguins and Sandalwood, horrible insults began to fly from Lusamine and her group's mouths at the group, with some threats thrown into the mix while Dalek continued shooting his tongue at the macaw chicks. After another minute, Atreyu and Sandalwood's group reached the far end of the artificial jungle and found themselves in front of a barrier formed by a steel mesh. Beyond that barrier was another jungle that was different to the one they were in. The group stopped dead and turned round to see Lusamine and her group and Dalek close in on them, snide looks on their faces, their wings and hands loaded with more fruit and small stones and insults flying from their mouths, and Dalek with his face still twisted into a volcanic look as it bore into the macaw chicks. It was clear there was a murderous aspect to that look and Vega shuddered as she remembered Lapis Lazuli's description of Nigel's expression before he choked her into unconsciousness in an attempt to strangle her to death, and shatter the hearts of his family, particularly Levi. Dalek's glare was just as identical as that description but with immense hatred thrown in there. Vega shuddered with the other macaw chicks and Acerola as the chameleon continued glaring bitterly at them.
"We're trapped!" cried Regulus in despair as he shook the steel mesh. However, Jacques saw an opening in the corner of the barrier.
"Through there!" he called. Atreyu, JD, Sandalwood and Tiana and the others followed the chinstrap chick's point and hastily made a beeline for it. Dalek, with a massive hiss exploding from his mouth, flung his tongue out at the group, especially the macaw chicks, as they retreated towards the hole. Lusamine and the others saw the group hastily rush for that hole and begin to force their way through it into the artificial land on the other side, Atreyu and Sandalwood going first. Their looks of scorn flashed to looks of alarm.
"Isn't that the land of…" began Guzma. Lusamine then rushed forward at Dalek and began to shout at him to stop.
"Dalek, stop your attack," she yelled as the chameleon continued lashing his tongue at Sandalwood's group, "That land on the other side of the barrier is…"
However, Dalek flashed her a vicious stare and lashed his tongue at her to knock her back, before resuming his merciless attack on Sandalwood's group, throwing his tongue at the macaw chicks in particular. Lusamine leaned back as the spear-like tongue flew over her head, missing her face by inches before losing balance and falling on her backside as Guzma rushed in, a shocked look on his face. Then Lusamine and company gazed at Dalek as he continued his attack on Sandalwood's group. As he continued driving the group to the hole, Dalek's face began to morph from a scowl of bitter hatred to one with malice and sadism, especially as he lunged towards the cluster of colourful feathers and the auburn fur and basalt black membrane wings of Acerola, his attention focussed in particular on the birds of the group, thrown into the acidic concoction. Despite Lusamine and her group's protests, Dalek placed his front flat hands on the back of the group and then forced the rest through the hole but not before taking the opportunity in seizing Sylvester and tearing out his tail feathers first, much to the horror of the others.
"AARRRGGGGHHH!" screeched the Cuban macaw as the excruciating pain exploded from his rear end as Dalek, a look of pure sadism lacing his face, relished the screams. Seeing this, Regulus lunged forward and slashed the chameleon across the face with his talons, carving three claw marks into his left cheek to get him to release Sylvester. Dalek withdrew from the barrier with a hiss of pain and covered his face with his flattened hands. However, an entire cluster of orange-red and azure flight feathers lay scattered before the chameleon on the floor as he continued to hiss in pain. Sylvester on the other side of the mesh flashed a look at those feathers and then at his tail. To his horror and to that of the others, his entire tail was missing except for a single short flight feather sticking out. Vega, Regulus, Sandalwood, Sirius, Bellatrix and Acerola then glared at Dalek but when they saw the look on the chameleon's face, Regulus' scratch marks on his left cheek directly below his left eye emerge from his hands and then gazed at Sylvester's tattered tail and the expression it contained, a flash of pure outrage tore through them. Dalek's mouth was widened into a smile, as though he found the deed he had done to Sylvester funny. Then Sirius lunged at the fence and screeched at the chameleon.
"When we get back in there, I'm gonna FLAY YA for doing this to our Cuban red macaw friend, you RAT IN SCALES!" he bellowed. In retaliation, Dalek lunged forward and shot his tongue at the Spix macaw as he clutched the mesh, slapping him hard square in the forehead and knocking him off the fence. Sirius dropped from the fence from the impact and fell towards the floor but was caught in time by JD. Then seeing the murderous look on Dalek's face as he threatened to come through the hole and attack the group, especially by the way he picked up a nearby stone and held it as if to say, "I'm gonna break your wings, you rotting slime-parrots,", Atreyu called out, "Let's go!" and with that, Sandalwood's group retreated further into the land despite Lusamine and company's protests that they return. After that, a wave of guilt came upon Lusamine and her group. Cato then stormed over to Dalek and demanded, "What were you THINKING, you DUMMY!?"
Dalek, without a hint of guilt in his eyes, just shoved past the galliwasp and changed his body colour, which was red which he had during the skirmish, to that of the environment, melting his appearance into his surroundings with only his namesake peppershaker-alien dome cap exposed and visible for that cannot change colour. After this, the invisible chameleon sauntered away into the bushes, his cap looking as though it was floating above the ground as it moved with his invisible head. Lusamine gazed through the mesh, a horrified look on her face as well as concern for Sandalwood and company's safety boiling within her.
"We'd better tell Dundee about this," she whimpered worriedly despite the consequences that hung over them like a black cloud.
"Let's go find him," said Guzma and with that, Lusamine's group of lizards, flying foxes and monkeys made a hasty departure. However, they had in mind not to tell Dundee and the other leading animals of their involvement in the chase which unintentionally led to Sandalwood and the others with him entering the other land through the mesh and decided to only tell Dundee and the other inner circle animals a half-truth to avoid trouble.
Rio
Athos had set up some of the members of the group to send out to several different destinations, among them Tulio's Aviary, the area where the other Blu Bird Sanctuary had moved to and Basil's colony's cave at Pedra de Gavea. To each group he had assigned them a task. Rafael (who had returned with Diantha after comforting Rita), Nico, Pedro, Sparkle, Rose, Orton and Kipo were in one group and they were going to help in Tulio and his team's capture of the toucan chicks and also deal with the poachers, while Zephyr and Aurora, Sapphire, D'Artagnan, Levi and Lapis Lazuli were going to visit the evacuated residents to protect them from the poachers but without the use of mud to disguise their blue plumages from the poachers of course. Blu had opted to fly to Basil's colony's cave while Jewel had opted to help out with catching the toucan chicks. Carla, Bia, Tiago, Justin, Matilda and Virgil, along with some of the other young adults including Finnick, Kira, Poinsettia and Wilbur, had been enlisted to help out in these tasks but Athos had avoided putting Spinel, Sheldon, Tristan, Neytiri, Aiden and Trixie in the group going to Tulio's Aviary after their disturbing encounter with Sofia and her gang and what happened during that, and the venom from Sofia's horrid remarks about them having kids still lingered in their confidence, but it also had another, deeper effect on some of them as well.
Andromeda was somewhere in the bushes, making something she refused to disclose to the others while the remaining kids, Sonia, Melody, Byron, Einstein, Miles, Diego and Ferdinand had been put under the care of Broccoli, Daisy and Collette and Avellana, Dash, Ginger, Rusty, Ebony and James and Fido and Cleo, and also Luiz the bulldog who had come all the way to Tulio and Linda's cottage from his garage to help after hearing what had happened. Violet was also to stay with the group due to what had almost happened to her and the seven remaining kids with the poachers. Though some of them complained, Athos knew it was for their safety. While Athos allocated the macaws and Nico and Pedro and their friends to their assigned groups, Broccoli and the other four-legged mammals had returned from their search on the poachers and had brought back a report on the group of five of them who had managed to break into the sanctuary but the news had not been good. The cats and the greyhounds had overheard the poachers' plans to search for a 'colony of rare bats' which Avellana had deduced must be Basil's colony, and had seen the poachers send their crows out to look for said colony of bats. This had added to Athos' determination to send some of his group members to Basil's colony's home cave before any of the crows could. Also with the group being assigned the tasks were Roberto and Brisa, Travis, Sunset, Eustace, Milo, Rosa, Clemont and Serena the cockatoos, Zebedee and Iris, and also Cometa, Lightning, Orion, Velocity, Hermione and Merlin the falcons (or merlin in Hermione's case). The cockatoo teenaged kids, Peach and Yolanda, and Velocity and Merlin's daughter Zelda had also been entrusted to Broccoli and the others for safekeeping for the duration of the tasks for the falcons and cockatoos had offered to help in the tasks, as well as Augustus, Melissa, Stella, Sebastian, Anabelle and Soren and also Andromeda, Frodo and Ellie though Athos was reluctant to include these individuals due to their species' rarity but he ultimately relented, especially since he remembered the archaeobirds being resourceful.
While Athos continued allocating the falcons, cockatoos and macaws and explained their tasks, James watched with Avellana and Rusty while Fido and Cleo played with the six chicks and Ferdinand.
"This is honestly a nightmare for all of us, folks," muttered the light grey greyhound sombrely, "The sanctuary's become overrun with toucan chicks… poachers have found a way into the protected land… and we still haven't found out where the missing kids, among them Ferdinand's older sister and cousin and Sirius and Poinsettia and Wilbur's four Catalina chicks, had been taken."
"Well, we've got this set of massive problems to deal with first, bro," said Avellana, "And I'm especially worried for Basil and his colony. If they're found by those poachers' crows and if that group of toucans are causing them trouble…"
"That's why Athos is going to send some of those macaws and other birds to the Linda's golden orange bats' cave to help them out," explained James, "Andromeda has opted to go with that group as well," his gaze then turned to the archaeobird as she continued fashioning something amongst a cluster of tall grass blades, "But I'm wondering what she is making. She told me that she is making some sort of device based on a human thing but what?"
Rusty and Avellana just shrugged and continued gazing at Andromeda as she continued her work. These three greyhounds, as well as Broccoli, Daisy, Luiz, Collette, Ebony, Dash and Ginger, had been fascinated and amazed by Andromeda, Eragon and their clan's creativity, resourcefulness and sophisticated skills such as the mastery of fire and making camouflage outfits like the leafy cloaks complete with masks. Quite sophisticated talents for a clan of birds classed as 'primitive' but the cats and dogs did not think of the archaeobirds as primitive at all. They were just an unusual species of bird that happened to be found alive and well like the coelacanth fish after being thought of as extinct for a long time with only their fossilised remains being known.
While the trio of greyhounds continued thinking about this, they were pulled back to reality by alarmed shouts.
"Athos! Athos, Ruby!" it shouted, "Come quickly! They'll INCINERATE EACH OTHER with those FIERY BULLETS!"
James, Avellana and Rusty snapped their gazes to the shouter which happened to be Ónix the red-tailed black cockatoo. Like the cats and the greyhounds and Luiz, she, along with Inky the King Charles spaniel from next door to Susan and her family's house, had come to look after the kids while their parents were out on their assigned tasks. Ónix's jet black feathers, especially those on her head, were flared out and her eyes were inflated by sheer terror as though she had seen a ghost or monster. With her was Inky and his black and white fur was also puffed out from extreme terror. James, Avellana and Rusty exchanged confused glances.
"That doesn't sound good," said Avellana and with that, she, James and Rusty hurried off to ask the female red-tailed black cockatoo and the spaniel what was going on. As Ónix and Inky continued yelling for Athos and Ruby as the greyhounds came in, along with Broccoli and Luiz (who had drool dripping everywhere from his mouth), the mentioned scarlet macaw couple descended from the tree branch above and touched down before the black cockatoo and spaniel, annoyed scowls on their faces.
"What is it now, Ónix and Inky?" snapped Athos irritably, "Can't you see I'm trying to concentrate on a very important task here!?"
"We've got work to do, and a LOT of it," put in Ruby harshly. Luiz stepped to the front. Ruby backed away with her face twisted into a 'yuk' look when she saw the drips of drool ooze down the bulldog's mouth sides.
"Athos, Ruby, wait uh minute," Luiz said, before turning to Ónix and Inky, "Wha's goin' on, you two?"
"It's…" began Ónix when suddenly; the sounds of shouting reached the group's ears. Above Athos and the others on the ground, the falcons, cockatoos, toucans and macaws all raised their heads in surprise, especially Wilbur and Poinsettia.
"Sounds like a heated argument going on," said Roberto to Aurora, Brisa, Zephyr, Blu, Jewel and also Carla, Bia, Tiago, Justin, Matilda, Virgil, Finnick and Kira who stood nearest to him. The last eight Spix macaws just exchanged confused looks. Then Jewel recognised the owners of the voices as they became louder but it made her skin crawl and also made Poinsettia and Wilbur flinch.
"Spinel and Sheldon arguing?" Jewel said, "That's a first."
At the mentioning of a certain scarlet macaw's name, Poinsettia and Wilbur's wings darted into the air and with a couple of hasty flaps, the scarlet/blue-and-gold couple lofted into flight. Jasmine and Finn followed.
"Poinsettia, Wilbur!" called the former as she followed the couple, Finn in tow. Phoebe, Indigo, Victor, Iris and Zebedee proceeded to follow but Jewel blocked their path.
"Leave this to us, you five," she said and with that, she darted off after Wilbur, Poinsettia, Jasmine and Finn with Blu, Zephyr and Aurora not too far behind.
On the ground, Athos and Ruby, having also recognised the two voices' owners had also lofted into flight and Luiz, Broccoli, Avellana, James and Ónix and Inky had dashed off. Rusty stayed behind to look after Fido and Cleo, the six Spix macaw chicks, Violet, Zelda, Peach, Yolanda and Ferdinand. As they watched the group leave, Augustus flashed a worried gaze at the others.
"I hope it's not going to lead to a massive break up," he whispered with dread. Melissa, Stella, Soren, Anastasia and Sebastian and also Diantha and Tom, and Travis, Cometa and their families who stood with Rafael gazed at the flying fox with worried looks. They hoped that Spinel and Sheldon's falling out would not end in that.
Athos and Ruby flew along with Blu, Jewel, Zephyr, Aurora, Poinsettia, Wilbur, Jasmine and Finn close behind. On the ground, Luiz, Broccoli, Avellana, James, Ónix and Inky hurried along under the macaws in the air. As they approached the area where Spinel and Sheldon were, their shouts increased in volume in their ears but the mood within them was not at all good. Just down the street, Ebony, Collette and Daisy shuddered as they watched a pair of red macaws, one pure scarlet with pink-red feathers and the other half scarlet, half green-winged, argue back and forth. The two had been bickering but now that bickering had escalated to a full-blown and stormy argument blazing with fiery volcanic rocks flying back and forth.
"Sofia was RIGHT, Sheldon," screeched Spinel at her ruby macaw mate, "We SHOULDN'T HAVE HAD BETELGEUSE, RIGEL AND ANTARES IN THE FIRST PLACE. Maybe it would have been BETTER if those three hadn't been BORN. That way THEY WOULDN'T HAVE HAD TO GO THROUGH THE NIGHTMARE WITH THOSE POACHERS THE OTHER DAY!"
Spinel's pink-red plumage was a mess and out of place for she hadn't been preening her feathers since the disturbing encounter with Sofia and her comrades the other day. Her light brown eyes had lost their sparkle and all that existed within them were volcanoes erupting pale brown ash clouds consisting of rage, immense stress, heartbreak, devastation, frustration and exhaustion. The frustrated and stormy look was mirrored on Sheldon. His plumage looked a mess and his blue eyes were also flooded with pure frustration, exhaustion and rage.
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN WE SHOULDN'T HAVE HAD BETELGEUSE, RIGEL AND ANTARES!?" he retorted, his stormy blue glare meeting Spinel's volcanic light brown one, "YOU CONSENTED TO HAVING OUR THREE CHICKS IN THE FIRST PLACE AND SO DID I!"
"WE made the WRONG decision, SHELDON!" bellowed Spinel volcanically, her messy red-pink feathers bushed out, "MAYBE WE SHOULDN'T HAVE BECOME MATES IN THE FIRST PLACE!"
"WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY!?" retorted Sheldon in utter shock, tears beginning to well in his eyes at that remark. Daisy flinched as she continued to watch the couple argue violently with Ebony and Collette, before disgust tore through her.
'If her own chicks had heard her say that about them, they would probably NEVER forgive her,' the caliby thought. Then Ebony decided to intervene before things got out of control and before either of the couple could say anything that would inflict even more damage to their already gaping injuries.
"STOP IT, BOTH OF YOU!" barked the black greyhound at the top of her voice, making Spinel and Sheldon jolt and shoot her a stunned glare, "LET'S get this into our heads, shall we!? IT'S NEITHER OF YOUR FAULT that both of your daughters AND your son have been kidnapped by those rotten poachers! And as far your decision in having chicks is concerned; you both hadn't made the WRONG decision in having Betelgruse, Rigel and Antares," Spinel and Sheldon continued to gaze at Ebony as she continued. Nearby, Athos, Ruby, Blu, Jewel, Zephyr, Aurora, Jasmine, Finn, Poinsettia and Wilbur appeared with Broccoli, Avellana, Luiz, James, Inky and Ónix. Spinel then began to shake and shed more tears as Ebony continued her rebuke, "It's just unfortunate that this nightmare had to happen leading to your chicks and also the chicks and pups of some of the others including Carla, Bia, Tiago and their mates getting captured," Ebony's grey eyes then hardened, "And as for that stupid remark Sofia said to you two and the four glaucous macaws that had been with you about your decision to have kids," a flash of outrage then fired up within her, "that's a load of DOG DIRT! What that STUPID toucan and her comrades have said is ABSOLUTELY NOT TRUE! So WHY don't we just STOP AND THINK BEFORE the two of you could INFLICT EACH OTHER WITH BLAMES AND SCATHING COMMENTS!?"
As she listened to Ebony say this, making Spinel and Sheldon lower the fires in their eyes, Daisy thought she saw a flash of colour out the corner of her eye. Immediately, the caliby cat turned and when her eyes landed on a certain black bird with a reddish-cream front and bright orange and black beak with a scornful and smug look on her face aim her spiteful brown gaze at Spinel and Sheldon, disgust tore through her. But by the time Daisy went to move to chase after the toucan (not Diantha or Rita), that toucan had already noticed the cat and had fled, laughing along the way, but Daisy had already recognised the toucan, but it made her fur rise and a hiss escape through her gritted teeth. After Ebony had finished rebuking Spinel and Sheldon, successfully quelling their heated argument, Athos stepped in to thank her.
"Good thinking, Ebony," he said, "You prevented a worst case scenario, but it's time to turn our focus on more important things."
Ebony flashed Spinel's father a saddened look. "What Sofia has said to Spinel, Sheldon and those four glaucous macaws was totally disgusting, you know, especially after a crisis in all three of their chicks going missing."
"I agree," growled Ruby disgustedly before calming herself, "But we'll sort that out later. Right now, we have some important tasks throughout the Blu Bird Sanctuary to attend. Spinel and Sheldon…"
But when she turned to face the two macaws, she realised that they weren't there. Blu saw a pink-red form with azure wings disappear in one direction, loud sobs escaping her beak. Sheldon had also flown away in the opposite direction, his face still creased into a look of anger and heartbreak. Athos finally snapped.
"Oh, LIGHTNING BOLTS," he snarled, before turning to Blu, Aurora, Zephyr and Jewel, "Alright, you four, go after Sheldon while I, Ruby and Ónix go after Spinel," he then turned to Jasmine, Finn, Poinsettia and Wilbur, Daisy, Collette, Ebony, Broccoli, James, Luiz, Avellana and Inky and said, "You lot return to Tulio and Linda's cottage and wait for us until we sort this little problem out."
Broccoli and the others nodded and with that, the three groups split up and went off in their directions. As they left, Broccoli shot Spinel a worried look as she receded into the distance.
"I sure hope she and Sheldon aren't gonna break up after that argument," he whispered.
"I heard her hiss bitterly at Sheldon before she left and Sheldon spit on the floor before he left while Athos was talking," said Collette. She shuddered at that appalling sign. The rest of the group just said nothing but they were clearly worried for Spinel and Sheldon's relationship but at the same time, some of them, especially Ebony, Collette, Daisy and Broccoli, were completely outraged at Sofia and her comrades for inflicting the damage on the young couple's relationship via the acidic remarks they said to them about having kids as well.