Sandalwood and his Friends and the Paradise Sanctuary- edited

by VPVPVP

Carla and company's trip to Rio goes badly wrong when some of their kids are caught by poachers. The kids get rescued and placed in a conservation area with various animals from around the world, but they soon suspect something off about the area. In Rio, Blu and the others must deal with another problem on the Blu Bird Sanctuary while figuring out a way to rescue the poached kids

54. 54- dismalness and a reunion

Chapter 54- dismalness, guilt, despair, frustration… and a joyful reunion

Morning

The sun began its ascent into the sky from its dawn point in the eastern horizon. As it made its climb, its rays bathed the city of Iquitos in a golden dawn sea, and the people were waking up to a new day ahead. In the Paradise Sanctuary, the animals of Dundee's community, or some of them, were also waking up though most of them had hardly slept at all last night due to the emergencies involved such as the evacuation of every parrot to Dundee's tent for their safety. The searchers had been searching high and low for Dalek all through last night while more animals had been gathering food for the evacuated parrots. Sandalwood and the others who had been in the Compartment of the Carnivores, especially Betelgeuse, were among the animals that had not slept much as a result of the trauma from last night's events. Betelgeuse was especially affected, with her tattered left wing as a result of Dalek tearing out some of the flight feathers and almost getting eaten by Carnassial and his gang, and Sirius and Sandalwood too due to witnessing Lars get eaten by Carnassial. For those who did get some sleep, their dreams had been saturated with nightmares of glowing cats' eyes in the dark, caracal and serval claws and chameleons prowling around looking for a parrot to seize and deliver to the Carnivore Compartment. These dreams had especially plagued the minds of Spica, Cytosine, Thymine and Sugilite while Steven, his grief for the loss of Lars still gripping him, Greg, Sardonyx and Kevin, had cried himself to sleep with his remaining family after their evacuation to Dundee's tent last night. Even now it was morning; the family of scarlet macaws continued to weep and had been offered consoling from their friends, among them Shade, Connie and Sadie, for their loss.

As the activities of the diurnal animals rose, Dundee walked through the community as they went about their business. However, the livelihood of the community was not as cheerful and as joyous as it had been when Sandalwood and company had arrived. Instead of the sunshine of joy and other positive emotions shining in the artificial jungle, the grey clouds of dismalness, sadness, worry and nervousness saturated the air of the community, and the lead emu could see it in the gazes of his community members. Worry especially plagued everyone for the parrots since there was a parrot-detesting chameleon, who they now know was involved a lot with Carnassial and his gang in the next compartment and had been feeding them parrot victims, among them Claude the cockatoo and two of the kakapos thanks to Sandalwood and company's account last night, prowling around, and Dundee had hoped that the evacuation of everyone who was a parrot, even the small parrots such as Gus, Sparky and Lilo and their cockatiel group, to his tent with guards stationed at the entrance would keep them safe but Dundee knew that Dalek had to be caught pronto and dealt with before any more victims were caught and forced into the Compartment of the Carnivores, and to a gruesome demise at the clutches of Carnassial and his gang.

As Dundee continued to pace through the activities of the animals, nearby, Sandalwood was sitting in front of a shrub, not in the mood for playing with the other bat pups and the chicks, among them Atreyu. The Brazilian flying fox, guilt over Lars's death last night still saturating him, gazed up at the emu ass he sauntered past, a dismal and concerned look on his face. Some of the other flying fox pups, and also their foraging parents, also stole glances at Dundee and felt a pang of pity for him, before continuing their activities. Then Connie came in.

"He's not at all happy, our emu leader," she whispered. Sandalwood just sighed and raised his sad gaze to look at the grey-headed bat.

"I'm not surprised," he replied in a low voice, "Everyone's disturbed by our revelation," another sigh then escaped Sandalwood as he began to wallow once again in his guilt, "If only I hadn't put myself in the path of those caracals after leaping from that branch to escape Carnassial's wrath leading to Lars getting swiped and subsequently eaten…" his membranous hand-like wings then went to his face and he began to weep again. Connie put a comforting wing on his back.

"It's not your fault," she said, "Even though you were rather reckless, endangering yourself by putting yourself in a life-threatening situation like that by distracting those wildcats, you brought us enough time to carry Sugilite to safety when she hit her head on that branch and knocked herself out."

Sandalwood blinked as Connie continued. "And don't forget it had been pitch-black in that graveyard of a place, and our macaw friends cannot see very well in the dark, unlike us flying foxes," Connie sighed, "Which I think is why Sugilite struck that branch. She had been unable to see it."

"We've heard all about your brave and courageous acts while in that dangerous place," came a new voice, pulling Sandalwood and Connie's attention to the owner of it. But the moment their eyes landed on the speaker, which was the familiar female Madagascan Livingstone's flying fox, and three more flying foxes, two more Livingstone's and a third of a species Sandalwood could not recognise, flanking her, hostility came upon them. Connie took up a defensive pose, a hostile scowl appearing on her face.

"What do you want, Lusamine!" snarled the grey-headed flying fox. To Sandalwood's surprise, the large bat at the front flinched and threw up her wings, an alarmed look on her face.

"Whoa, easy, Connie," she said, "We're only checking on you."

"Yes, absolutely," said one of Lusamine's friends. Sandalwood continued to examine Lusamine and her three friends in surprise. There was something different about these bats. When he first met them, they had been bratty and condescending with Lusamine behaving sort of like a 'queen-bee' of the group but now, those behavioural traits seemed to have disappeared, a regretful and concerned behaviour having taken their place. As he realised this, Sandalwood put a wing on Connie's shoulder, "Wait."

Connie flashed Sandalwood a surprised glance and lowered her hostility. Then Lusamine gazed at Sandalwood with another new look, a guilt-ridden one.

"We had no idea that Dalek had a connection to those horrible caracals and servals," she said in an edgy voice, which was indeed laced with genuine guilt, "We thought he was just burning with immense hatred to the point of purposely shoving you and your friends, among them Atreyu, through that barrier and into the Carnivore Compartment," Lusamine sighed, "In fact, we had absolutely no idea that he had intentions of getting your macaw friends killed at the clutches of that Carnassial caracal and his gang when he did that to them and you…"

"Well, now you know," said Connie in a stern voice, traces of hostility still lacing her tone, "That is why all the parrots have been evacuated to Dundee's tent."

"Has that chameleon been found yet?" asked another of Lusamine's friends. Sandalwood shook his head.

"Not yet," he said, "But Dundee's patrollers will provide updates. In the meantime, y-y-you'd better keep an eye on your family or perhaps help some of the other kids check on the macaw and other parrot chicks…" shyness and timidity was beginning to well within Sandalwood as he talked with this apparent former bratty Livingstone's bat. Connie continued to glare at Lusamine, dislike clearly lacing her scowl. Even though Lusamine had reformed, Connie still didn't like her. Just then, and to Connie's relief, Lusamine heard her name get called. The Livingstone's bat flashed a glance behind her.

"Oh, aye, Mother wants me," she said, before turning back to Sandalwood and Connie, "I'll see you guys later. We'd better go."

'Then LEAVE!' thought Connie hostilely as she watched the large Livingstone's flying fox leave with her three friends. Sandalwood, however, had a different attitude.

"Thanks for checking on us and asking how we are," he said gratefully, much to Connie's surprise. However, Lusamine was already out of earshot. Connie shot Sandalwood a frown.

"How could you thank that brat for 'checking on us'?" she hissed. Sandalwood returned Connie's glare with a slight frown of his own.

"Haven't you heard the regret in her voice, Connie?" he snapped back, "She is clearly ashamed for allowing Dalek to participate in chasing us when they were picking on us. She had no idea of Dalek's true intentions," Sandalwood then gazed after Lusamine as she met her mother, "And I believe her other friends, among them Guzma the spider monkey, are ashamed of allowing Dalek to chase us alongside them as well."

Connie said nothing and continued glaring at Lusamine with a dislike-saturated scowl.

Meanwhile, Dundee continued observing the dismal activities of his community members when his name reached his ears.

"Dundee," called the voice. The emu turned and saw an orangutan, Wally, half amble; half trot towards him with three chimps and Kiara the echidna.

"What is it, Wally?" asked Dundee as the five halted before him.

"We've just heard from our human carers that new animals are set to arrive in an hour or so," said one of the chimps, a female. Dundee managed a smile.

"That sounds good," he said, but then that smile fell as something troubling inside his mind bubbled. However, the emu pushed it aside. "I look forward to meeting them. Keep an eye on our carers until those arrivals arrive."

The four apes and Kiara nodded. Then Dundee saw someone else run in, Mulan the panda. However, she wore a frustrated look on her face.

"What's the report on the search for Dalek, Mulan?" asked the emu. As the panda stopped, she gave her updates. Since frustration was mounting up within her, she barely managed to control her urge to let it erupt in the form of a shout.

"Dundee," the ultra-rare, difficult-to-breed bear growled, "We've been searching high and low for that chameleon all through the remainder of last night and we still haven't found any TRACE of that lizard!"

As the stressed panda said this, Reepicheep and two other platypuses appeared; equally frustrated scowls on their faces as well.

"We've got well over a DOZEN search parties hunting for that chameleon in every single SQUARE METRE of this jungle and STILL nothing!" shouted Reepicheep, his temper, combined with the tiredness from last night, threatening to erupt as well.

"Honestly, Dundee," added Mulan, her paws thrown downward and open with the 'palm' sides upward to emphasize her frustration, "That chameleon must have disappeared somewhere where we can't find him…"

As the panda continued to vent her frustrations to Dundee, Sandalwood, together with Acerola, Connie, JD, Atreyu and also Lillie and Bambi, and some of the macaw chicks in Sandalwood's group hiding in Dundee's tent with the other parrots: Sirius, Spica, Bellatrix, Adenine, Thymine, Cytosine and Guanine, slowly walked in, their ears cocked on the conversation. Dundee's face then put on a perplexed look.

"You cannot find him anywhere at all?" asked the emu. Harsh shakes of 'No!' came from the heads of the panda and the three platypuses while the faces of Wally, the three chimps and Kiara put on concerned and worried gazes.

"But you HAVE to find that chameleon or else another parrot or a group of them could end up becoming the next victims of being shoved into the Carnivore Compartment and to Carnassial and his gang," protested Kiara. Sandalwood, Connie, JD, Atreyu, Lillie and Bambi, and also Gladion who had his broken wing in a stiff leaf cast, having just walked in, all flinched at Mulan's response in the form of a paw-palm to the forehead to Kiara's statement. Sirius, Spica, Bellatrix and the Catalina chicks, however, just looked on in concern. Then Dundee stepped in before an argument could erupt.

"Whoa, break it up, will you!" shouted the emu, his authoritative gaze flashing from Kiara's group to Mulan's. The emu then shot Kiara a stern look.

"Look, just do as I say and keep an eye on our human carers regarding the new soon-to-be arrivals with Wally and the three chimps," commanded he, "And let me talk to Mulan and the platypuses about Dalek. I appreciate your concerns for the parrots but you've got other things to focus on."

Kiara then put on an apologetic look at Mulan before turning and calling the four apes to follow her.

As the quintet left, Wally flashed a concerned glance at the stressed panda and platypuses before resuming his follow. Sirius, Spica, Bellatrix, Adenine, Thymine, Cytosine and Guanine continued to watch Dundee as he turned his attention to Mulan, Reepicheep and the latter's two companions. Betelgeuse, her tattered wing wrapped in a leaf, came in with Rigel and Antares, and two of their new friends, Roxanne the galah and Opal the rainbow lorikeet.

"Did you hear Mrs Mulan, Roxanne," said Opal to the galah, "She sounded so upset."

"You can see it clearly on her face," said Sirius. The newcomers gazed at Milan's face and saw that Sirius was right. There clearly was stress and frustration saturating the poor panda's eyes and mouth.

"I'm not surprised," said Sirius casually, "That chameleon SNAKE," he shouted this with pure malice, and the desire to get his claws into that chameleon's scales flaring up within him even thought that might be dangerous, "sure is a sly one."

"With 'is colour-changin' abilities?" squeaked JD, "Absolutely."

"No wonder he's a serious danger to all the parrot members living here," said Connie. Her gaze then turned to the macaw chicks and Roxanne and Opal who shuddered. When Roxanne and Opal had heard what had happened to Lars, with Betelgeuse also being very close, last night and how Dalek was friends with Carnassial and his gang, the pair had been stricken with immense terror and anguish. Lars had been one of their closest friends and it had torn their hearts into two when they heard of his death, but the fear of Dalek prowling around and seizing them plagued the galah and lorikeet more than their grief for Lars. The same was true for all the other parrots including the cockatiels, and there was worry for the new soon-to-be arrivals that were also parrots. Then Connie turned to Sandalwood as something crossed her mind from last night, but it was not one of the frightening and dark aspects.

"Anyway, moving on, Sandalwood," said the grey-headed flying fox pup, "When Sirius carried you back to the barrier, I noticed that you didn't freak out at all."

Sandalwood shot her a surprised look while Betelgeuse and her brother and sister flashed astonished gazes.

"Did I just hear that right?" asked Antares, "Sandalwood was carried by Sirius… and did not scream and demand to be put down?"

"Whereas he usually would each time someone tried to lift him off the ground," said Rigel. Sirius, Spica, Bellatrix, Adenine, Thymine, Cytosine, Bambi and Guanine, however, exchanged glances while Sandalwood continued to gaze at the macaws.

"I… um…" said the amber flying fox pup, "I think it was probably I was so desperate to get out of that Compartment of the Carnivores place that I must have allowed Sirius to carry me rather than run out myself…"

As he said this, a massive wave of guilt over Lars's death took hold of him, resurfacing like a massive bubble, and the flying fox pup's ears began to droop and he sunk to the floor. "If only I hadn't set off that chain of events leading to Lars getting eaten… he would have been… been… here…" as his voice began to break, tears began to well in his eyes and he began to emit sobs, especially as his distraught gaze turned to a familiar orange scarlet macaw at the entrance to Dundee's meeting tent, which was fortunately large enough to house all the parrot members of the community with plenty of room to spare, lean against one of the posts with her head on her wing and gaze out into the artificial jungle, great tears falling from her already bloodshot, tearstained eyes. It was clear that Sardonyx was still saturated with immense grief and anguish over Lars's death and had spent the rest of last night grieving with Steven, Greg and Kevin. However, Connie came in and put a wing on Sandalwood's shoulder.

"Look, like I've said before, it is not your fault," she said firmly, somewhat irritated by Sandalwood's grief over the loss of Lars.

"Yes, if it wasn't for Lars," said Sirius, "WE would have likely been eaten instead," However, as he said this, he also felt a wave of guilt take hold of him as well, "Mind you, having said that, I feel the same way about being responsible for Lars's death as well…" a sniffle escaped his beak and his wing went to his eye and wiped away a tear. Then the macaws, Roxanne and Opal heard their names get called by one of the hyacinth macaws at the entrance of Dundee's tent. Roxanne flashed a glance at the macaw and turned back to Connie and Sandalwood, "Oh, aye, we'd better return to our place of stay. We'll see you guys some other time."

And with that, the purple and grey galah, together with Opal and Sirius, Bellatrix, Spica and the other macaws left for the said destination.

"And please don't blame yourself for Lars's loss, Sandy," said Spica as she followed her two cousins, a gaze back at the despondent Sandalwood, "If you hadn't taken action, according to Sirius; Sugilite, Connie, and some of the others that went with you into the Compartment of the Carnivores would likely have met the same demise."

And with that, she turned and followed the other macaws and Roxanne and Opal back to Dundee's tent. Sandalwood just breathed a sad sigh and sat with Connie, a remorseful gaze still on his face with Connie trying to comfort him once again.

A few hours later

The activities of the animals in Dundee's jungle continued like usual, but the dismal and fearful atmosphere still remained. This atmosphere placed a burden on the animals' progress in foraging and their other activities, slowing them down like heavy air. The searchers for Dalek also had frustration mounting up within them as they continued to search the jungle high and low for the chameleon with still no results. At his large meeting tent, Dundee continued to watch the evacuated parrots, a worried gaze on his face. As he continued to keep an eye on the parrots, Wally the orangutan came in.

"The new arrivals are due to be imported into here any minute now," he said.

"That's great," said Dundee in a rather dismal voice, "Call Kiara, Reepicheep and kiwis Flax and Harakeke and prepare to meet them when they arrive."

Wally, a concerned look lacing his face at the miserable gaze on Dundee's face and sombreness lacing his voice as he spoke, nodded and left to call the said animals, leaving Dundee to continue to watch the parrots. As the orangutan left to find Kiara, Reepicheep, Flax and Harakeke, Reepicheep came in as if on cue, accompanied by two others of his species.

"Dundee certainly looks troubled," said the platypus with concern.

"We all are," said Wally, before turning to the three bizarre duck-billed mammals, "The new arrivals will be here any minute, so I suggest you get ready to meet them."

Reepicheep and his two companions nodded and left to do just that while Wally left to find Kiara, Flax and Harakeke.

"If any of the new arrivals are parrots, Reepicheep," said one of Reepicheep's companions, a female, "We're gonna have to take them straight to Dundee's tent because we can't risk them getting kidnapped by that horrid chameleon and fed to those caracals and servals in the Compartment of Carnivores."

"We'll get to that, Adelaide," replied Reepicheep, "But let's just find Kiara, Flax and Harakeke and then focus on waiting for the arrivals, okay?"

The female named Adelaide nodded and continued with the two male platypuses.

As the activities continued to flow by at a slower pace than usual due to the dismal air burdening the animals, Sandalwood was being taught by a friend of Shade and Sadie, another grey-headed flying fox named Tatiana, how to fly. Tatiana was one of the bats' flying lessons teachers and apparently the best one, and had been teaching countless flying fox pups how to fly. Shade and Sadie had thought that Sandalwood had better start learning to fly now and had put him under the care of Tatiana for that. Sandalwood stood nervously before a tree trunk as Tatiana explained how flying foxes and other bats had to use overhangs to get airborne.

"We bats except a few species, cannot take off from the ground like flying birds can," explained Tatiana, "Instead, we must drop into the air and allow our wings to catch it rather than push off from the ground and flapping into flight."

Sandalwood took in this information with some difficulty due to the nervousness clouding it.

"Um… you mean… we're gonna have to… FALL into the air… from an overhang… a-a-am I right?" stammered the Brazilian flying fox timidly.

"Yes, that's the idea," said Tatiana, much to Sandalwood's surge of fear which caused him to back away from the tree trunk. Tatiana's face morphed into a gentle but firm look.

"I'm sorry, Sandalwood but there's no other way around getting airborne," she said, "If we were flying birds like a macaw or something, it would perhaps be easier but we're not. We're flying foxes and we're bats, mammals with membranous wings."

Sandalwood shuddered but he was forced to admit that Tatiana was right. Bats could not get airborne by taking off from the ground, except a few species like vampire bats. Other bats, however, needed to fall into the air, quite unlike most flying birds which can simply push themselves off the ground to get airborne with their feet. Then Tatiana went on to explain how bats get airborne after dropping from an overhang and to do that, she opened a wing.

"As we drop into the air from a chosen overhang, such as upside down from a branch," continued the teacher, pointing to her expanded wing with the thumb of her other wing, "We then open our wings. This is essential since the air flow will pull us out of the fall…"

Sandalwood shuddered more and backed away. Tatiana gazed at him with concern.

"Problem?" she asked. Sandalwood said nothing.

"I'm afraid it's something you're gonna have to get used to," said Tatiana, "Like I've said before, we bats cannot take off from the ground…"

Finally, Sandalwood snapped and began to weep as panic began to set in.

"Hey, hey, calm down," said Tatiana and with that, she went over to the panic-stricken flying fox pup and began to comfort him. From a distance, Acerola looked on with concern.

"His fear of heights certainly is rooted very deeply," she whispered to herself. Sandalwood then sat down and continued to cry his eyes out, Tatiana with her wings around him.

"I can't do it!" he wailed, "I CAN'T DO IT!"

He then launched into an uncontrollable sobbing fit like a newborn pup. Tatiana just remained speechless. She did not know what to say to this. This was obviously a massive obstacle for poor Sandalwood: climbing onto an overhang and dropping into the air. Then Acerola walked in.

"Didn't he or I or any of our bird friends tell you that something horrible has happened to him leading to his immense fear of heights, Mrs Tatiana?" asked Sandalwood's cousin. Tatiana looked up at Acerola. As Acerola walked in, Lillie, Bambi and Gladion, his broken wing in a cast, also walked in.

"Why, what's happened?" asked Tatiana as Sandalwood continued sobbing, the thought of standing on an overhang sending his emotions into a churning chaos.

"Some HORRIBLE toucan chicks bound him wing and foot and carelessly shoved him off the end of a branch," said Gladion, outrage burning against Isabella and her comrades who were responsible for Sandalwood's mess.

"And because they had his wings tied to his sides, Sandalwood could not pull himself out of that fall," put in Lillie, "and as a result, he almost fell into a thorn bush."

"And since then," said Bambi, his sorrowful gaze on the sobbing Sandalwood, "He's been very afraid of heights ever since."

As Tatiana took in this important information, immense shock overcame her.

"Oh, that's utterly HORRIBLE," she said after a minute of stunned speechlessness.

"And incredibly dangerous," added Gladion bitterly, "Binding a bat or flying bird's wings to their sides and then pushing them off the end of a branch or any other overhang a massive height above the ground risks that bird or bat falling to his or her death," the little toucan chick then began to tremble with extreme rage as it began to boil dangerously inside him, "What those stupid COUSINS of ours have done to that poor flying fox pup was BEYOND DIABOLICAL, HONESTLY!"

And with that, he lashed out at a stone and kicked it hard. However, doing so sent searing pain tearing through his talon and he yelped.

"Careful, little toucan!" rebuked Tatiana, "You've got a broken wing in the process of healing. Do you want a broken foot as well!?"

Then Lillie began to break down as Sandalwood managed to regain control of his sobbing but continue to weep.

"Those cousins of ours called it a PRANK," she sobbed as her brother Gladion took a minute to calm his fiery rage and grasp his hurt foot with his unbroken wing, "But it was no PRANK AT ALL…"

As Lillie took her turn to shout and rant, Bellatrix listened at the entrance to Dundee's tent. Tears began to ooze from her eyes and fall down her cheeks as she remembered zooming towards Sandalwood when those toucan chicks led by Isabella had him bound wing and foot and placed on the end of that branch, only for the toucan chicks to scatter and knock Sandalwood off the end of the branch in their panic. Tearfully, the Spix macaw chick and the dark version of Matilda turned round, backed against the leafy wall and slumped down. Tatiana continued gazing at the two toucan chicks continued to simmer in rage and distress at what their cousins had done to Sandalwood while Acerola and Bambi looked on. Sandalwood also gazed at the two toucan chicks, tears still falling from his eyes.

"I-er…" said Tatiana in a stunned whisper, "…don't know what to say except call those stupid toucan kids extremely careless and attempted murderers," an outraged look then came upon her face, "But you're absolutely right. Binding a bird or bat wing and foot and then shoving them off an overhang is extremely dangerous," her gaze turned to Sandalwood, "but it's a wonder that he survived that ordeal…"

"If it hadn't been for Bellatrix and a couple other of our friends' intervention," said Bambi. Bellatrix flinched at the mentioning of her name by the archaeobird chick in Dundee's tent.

"I think those toucan kids should be severely disciplined," said Tatiana with a growl, "If any of MY pups did something like that to another pup or chick, I'd have done just that…"

Bambi, Gladion, Lillie and Acerola gazed up at the adult grey-headed flying fox and nodded in agreement while Sandalwood continued to weep. Just then, a "They're HERE!" rang out from across the jungle air, jolting the group to attention.

"That was Reepicheep," said Lillie, "Sounds like the new arrivals have come."

Tatiana, Bambi, Gladion, Acerola and Sandalwood all looked up and saw many of the animals apart from the parrots scurry to the two-door pocket opening as two of the humans prepared to open the first door on the other side, something in their hands.

At the entrance to Dundee's tent, Bellatrix, along with Sirius, Spica and the other macaw chicks, prepared to zoom out, having also been alerted by Reepicheep's shout, only for Dundee to stop them in their tracks by lifting a long leg (emus don't have large wings) and blocking them.

"Oh, stay in here, macaw chicks," said the emu. Sirius and the others obeyed and returned to inside the large tent. Moments later, the humans with the cargo in their grasp were inside the artificial jungle compartment. The animals were gathered round as the humans brought in the newcomers. From Dundee's tent, Sirius and the other macaw chicks tried to get a glimpse of the cargo in the humans' grasp but could not see for a screen of animals blocked their view. Reepicheep was talking with Dundee (who had left to see in the newcomers), Kiara, Flax, Harakeke, Wally and two more platypuses with him not too far away.

"Can you see the new arrivals, Altair?" asked Sirius to the young Verde chick and Aldebaran's brother as he tried to get a glimpse of the cargo. However, all Altair could see were the heads of the animals obscuring his attempts.

"No," he snapped in frustration, "The animals are blocking the way."

Sirius, along with Bellatrix, Spica, Polaris and Achernar; Adenine, Thymine, Guanine and Cytosine and their red cousins Betelgeuse, Rigel and Antares; Sugilite, Arcturus, Canopus, Katniss, Vega, Regulus, Sylvester and Aldebaran all sighed and exchanged glances.

"We'd have got a proper glimpse of the newcomers if that chameleon wasn't such a massive THREAT to us!" growled Vega bitterly. As she said this, Steven and Kevin came in, the grief over the loss of Lars still gripping them hard. However, they pushed that grief to the side to ask Sirius and company about the newcomers.

"Can you see any of the new arrivals yet?" asked Steven in a dismal voice. Sirius was about to reply when suddenly, the flapping of membranous wings reached his and the other macaw chicks' ears. Acerola had rocketed in and to the group's surprise, her face was laced with immense joy, the first one she had managed since the group's arrival in this place and in ages.

"Hey, guys, you're not gonna believe this!" she cried. Sirius and the other macaw chicks gazed at the auburn Brazilian flying fox pup.

"Did you see the newcomers, Acerola?" asked Spica. Acerola was so saturated with excitement that she spoke very fast, but she managed to form meaningful words.

"They're Aunt Luna, MR TRISTAN, Mrs TRIXIE, MRS NEYTIRI, MR ERAGON AND MRS MARELLA!" shouted the flying fox in joy. Glances were exchanged between the macaw chicks but the sound of three of the names brought Arcturus, Canopus and Katniss to attention, hope flaring within them like an explosion.

"Mom and Dad are here!?" asked Canopus and Katniss together.

"As is my mother?" added Arcturus.

"Sandalwood, Bambi, Lillie and Gladion have already gone to meet them," continued Acerola, "I think we should do the same!"

And with that, the flying fox pup launched like a rocket in the direction of the newcomers before Sirius could protest. Arcurus, Canopus and Katniss also exploded into flight.

"Glaucous macaws; WAIT!" shouted Sugilite but the trio had already gone. A frustrated glance at the other macaw chicks, the hyacinth macaw said, "Don't those three know that we parrots aren't allowed there for our safety?"

However, Sirius and some of the other macaw chicks were already prepared to launch into flight.

"I'm sure Dundee wouldn't mind us flying out there to see the newcomers," said Sirius and before Sugilite could protest, the Spix macaw chick had shot off, Bellatrix, Spica, Achernar and Polaris, and some of the others able to fly following.

As these chicks left the tent entrance, Steven came in.

"What was all the excitement about?" asked the scarlet macaw chick.

"The newcomers turn out to be some of our relatives," said Sugilite with a smile.

"Relatives?" repeated Kevin in confusion.

"Three of them are the parents of the glaucous macaws," said Betelgeuse who had decided to stay behind because of her tattered left wing, "One of them is the aunt of Sandalwood and Acerola and the other two are the mother and grandpa of Bambi."

Before the animals, the six newcomers, which were indeed Neytiri, Tristan, Trixie, Luna, Eragon and Marella, had been gently placed on the floor by the two humans who had brought them in. However, they were drowsy and confused.

"Alright, where were we?" asked Tristan, "We were back at Tulio's Aviary, talking… I was reluctant to leave with Blu and company…"

"I don't know," said Neytiri, "Everything just suddenly blacked out."

"There was a smash of the hard, transparent stuff you guys call glass," added Eragon, "And then a cylinder of some sort just appeared in the middle of the room we were in spewing out some sort of smoke which made us begin to cough and splutter… and the next thing I know, I suddenly felt extremely drowsy and just collapsed."

"Same here," said Trixie. The older male archaeobird then placed his wing claws on the cast still holding his other wing in place while Neytiri gazed at her own casted wing. Then Luna wearily began to take in the unfamiliar surroundings.

"By the way, where are we?" she asked. Her weary gaze then began to travel over the gathering of animals, many of which were bizarre and of forms she had never, ever seen before. Marella also examined the surroundings, a confused and weary look on her face. It was then that the sounds of a struggle flooded with angry bird screeches and human shouts of pain, sounded nearby. Hearing this, Marella, Eragon, Neytiri, Trixie, Tristan and Luna snapped their gazes in a certain direction and to their surprise, they saw something through the mesh separating the jungle from the human zone. Two more humans were struggling with two more birds, both of which had gold coloured feathers, orange and black beaks and orange feet, the claws of these lashing at the faces and arms of their holders.

As more workers rushed in to help restrain these birds, Eragon drew in a very sharp, horrified gasp.

"The GOLDEN FRUITHAWKS!" squawked the archaeobird in immense alarm, "That pair of GOLDEN FRUITHAWKS ARE NOT IN WHERE WE WERE!"

"But HOW!?" shouted Neytiri in disbelief. Tristan, however, wore a very disgusted look on his face. An idea had entered his head but it was not one he liked one bit at all, especially as he remembered that sleeping gas canister before being sent into slumber-land by its contents.

"Those two must have been stolen from Tulio's Aviary by those poachers, along with us," he said. This was met by disbelieving gazes from the other five.

"How can you tell?" asked Marella. Tristan just frowned.

"I just know," he snapped, "How else could we, along with the two fruithawks, have been taken from Tulio's Aviary?"

"Well, if that is true," said Luna, her gaze on the humans as they left the compartment via the pocket entrance, "Then it seems that we have been rescued by those humans."

The other five just gazed at the albino flying fox when a voice, a very unfamiliar one saturated with a strange accent, reached their ears.

"Well, you six, along with those two hawks, will settle in here, anyway," it said, bringing the attention of the six to the speaker, "But first, let's get you settled in. Reepicheep."

The strange creature that resembled a furry creature with long legs and neck and no wings then turned to a bizarre looking furry thing with a flat bill. Immense awe and astonishment took hold of Luna, Neytiri, Eragon and Marella.

"What on earth is THAT creature!?" shouted Neytiri as she examined Dundee.

"That's an emu," said Tristan who had seen this strange bird in one of Linda's books, along with Trixie. That unusually small glaucous macaw then nodded to Reepicheep and two other creatures like him, "And those three are platypuses. Both are animals native to Australia."

"You mean that strange furry creature that lays eggs like a reptile?" asked Marella who had also seen the platypus in a book shown to her by Bia. Tristan and Trixie nodded. It was then that some more voices, this time familiar ones, rang out.

"DAAAD, MOOM!"

"AUNT LUNA!"

"MOTHER, GRANPDA!"

"AUNT TRIXIE!"

"UNCLE TRISTAN, AUNTIE NEYTIRI!"

The six shot confused gazes about the room.

"Now what?" asked Luna with a frown. However, hope and joy gripped the other five as recognition took hold, so they froze.

"Could it be?" asked Tristan. Trixie, Neytiri, Eragon and Marella continued looking around until finally, the last one's eyes landed on something. The moment they did, immense joy tore through her.

"Guys, LOOK!" barked the archaeobird and pointed a wing claw in the direction of the callers. Neytiri, Tristan, Luna, Trixie and Eragon followed Marella's point and sure enough, their eyes landed on the callers too. Emerging through the crowd of animals, much to the surprise of some of them, were a few familiar forms. One of them had auburn fur with black membranous wings while another furry form ran on the ground, its fur amber coloured. Behind the furry, winged forms were a number of feathered forms. Three of the forms were blue or turquoise with grey heads, some more were blue or cerulean; and some were red or multi-coloured. Another form was behind the amber coloured form and it had metallic green, lime and purple feathers. Then as soon as the forms melted into view, full recognition finally took hold within Marella, Eragon, Neytiri, Tristan, Trixie and Luna. The moment it did, immense joy exploded within them.

"SANDALWOOD, ACEROLA!" cried Luna and with that, she shot off for the two incoming flying fox pups. Neytiri, Trixie and Tristan also screeched Canopus, Katniss and Arcturus' names and tore for the three glaucous macaw chicks and the other chicks behind them. Eragon and Marella also charged for Bambi as he came running towards the five newcomers close behind Sandalwood as well. Dundee then returned with Reepicheep, Adelaide and the other platypus, Kiara, Wally, Flax and Harakeke when the sounds of joyous shouts, followed by the collisions of fur and feathered forms and subsequently joyful sobs, reached their ears. The emu and the others with him flashed a surprise glance in the direction of the commotion and to their further surprise; they saw a cluster of colourful feathers and fur embracing each other tightly. Among the cluster were the six newcomers. Kiara managed a smile.

"Well, looks like we have a happy reunion," she said.

"I can see that," said Dundee with a flash of joy but then his seriousness returned. Turning his gaze to the platypuses, Wally and the kiwis, the emu said, "You six escort the three new macaws to my tent. Explain to them if they ask why, while I help the other five newcomers, among them the two hawks, settle in," Dundee's gaze turned to the humans as they continued to struggle with two gold feathered birds through the mesh separating the jungle's edge and the human zone, "and we'd better be careful with those two hawks as well. They don't seem very friendly to our human carers…"

Reepicheep and the other two platypuses, Kiara, Wally, Flax and Harakeke just flashed a glance at the commotion outside and returned their gazes to Neytiri, Tristan, Luna, Eragon, Trixie and Marella as they remained in their reunion embrace with Sandalwood, Acerola, Canopus, Katniss, Arcturus, Bambi and also Sirius, Spica, Bellatrix, Lillie, Gladion and many of the others in Sandalwood's group.