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

86. 86- worsening situations, 3 more rescued

Chapter 86- worsening situations, three more kids are saved

Meanwhile

Zephyr, Aurora, Blu and Jewel, together with Carla, Bia and Finnick, Spinel, Sheldon, Aramis, Zebedee, Iris, Wilbur, Diantha and Tom and also Augustus, Stella, Luna, Melissa, Sebastian, Soren and Anabelle, continued to fly above the treetops when their eyes landed on the sea of menacingly dancing orange fingers wavering rapidly above the trees, sending huge pillars of black puffs into the night sky and blocking out the moon. The flock of fifteen birds and seven flying foxes slowed to a hover and gazed at the fire in utter astonishment and horror, and Jewel, Zephyr and Aurora, along with some of the others including Carla and Bia who had almost been caught in the previous fire that ravaged the Sanctuary de Amazon years ago, trembled violently. Augustus also shuddered as his eyes registered the sea of dancing orange fingers. Much like some of the members of the bird flocks in the Amazon; he had had a traumatising experience with fire as well and had almost been killed by a falling flaming tree as a pup. However, he knew that he had to rescue Sandalwood and also Acerola and Ferdinand if they were still out there, along with the still-missing chicks. As they continued to gaze at the fire, Zephyr was the first to speak and break the silence.

"This is honestly like the fire that tore through our Amazon homes all those years ago," he said.

"How on EARTH did that fire start in the first place?" asked Blu in astonishment.

"I don't know but it can't have been any of the Blu Bird Sanctuary's human workers for they are normally sensible with fire-based things like matches," said Aramis. However, he shuddered as he recalled the human Bill's matches, which he had intended to take with him to his daughter's house to ignite the barbeque grill for the wedding anniversary celebration feast with his daughter, son-in-law and friends and relatives, mysteriously disappearing. Then Augustus brought the group back to the main mission.

"Well, let's not just hover here," he growled, "Let's go and find and rescue Sandalwood and the others before that fire gets to them!"

"We'll try searching in the unlit parts of the forest," said Jewel, a talon point to the areas of forest that was unkindled. She was clearly reluctant to fly any further towards the fire for it triggered her pyrophobia (irrational fear of fire) along with a torrent of bad memories of the one that tore her from her tribe. Then Blu's eyes happened to turn in the direction of a certain monument standing in the sea of trees, the monument that was the location of where he and Jewel spent their first night in the jungle when they were chained together, and the monument that was refurbished by Tulio and his team including his wife Linda and adopted son Fernando with a circular plaque featuring his face in its centre pinned to its wall. When Blu's eyes landed on the Vista Chinesa as it lay directly in the path of the spreading fire, his face fell and he shuddered as he knew that the iconic monument containing the sanctuary's name in his honour will soon be engulfed in flames like the trees around it, but then Aurora's talon appeared and landed on his shoulder.

"Don't worry, it's replaceable," she said in comfort. Blu flashed her a small smile but then Wilbur and Spinel spotted something heading straight towards them.

"Hey, guys, look!" shouted the former, bringing everyone's attention to what he and Poinsettia's sister had spotted. Blu and the others gazed at the incoming set of objects and as they melted into view on their approach, Iris immediately recognised them, especially based on their black feathers and colourful beaks.

"Aren't they…" she began but Jewel appeared and scowled volcanically at the incoming objects which were birds as they emerged from the unlit trees.

"Yes they ARE!" she snarled, finishing Iris's sentence and the urge to lash at the incoming birds and pounce on and beat them up flaring volcanically within her. Then before anyone could tell her to wait or stop her, Jewel had launched into rocket-speed flight straight on a collision course with the incoming birds, which were indeed toucans, as they continued zooming out of the treetops and in Blu and company's direction.

"Jewel!" shouted Blu and with that, he followed with Aurora and Zephyr and Augustus and Melissa. Then Carla, Bia, Spinel, Finnick and Sheldon glared furiously at the toucans. Aramis, Zebedee, Iris, Wilbur, Diantha, Tom, Stella, Soren, Anabelle, Sebastian and Luna also shot the incoming toucans a furious glare each.

"Time for some serious confrontation over what they have done to our chicks and pups, I think, guys," snarled Diantha furiously. The others nodded and with that, the group followed Blu, Jewel, Zephyr, Aurora, Augustus and Melissa as they went to intercept the toucans.

The flock of toucans, among them Sofia and Marcel, continued flying with fear and shock from the fire boiling within them, showing up clearly in their eyes and mad flapping. In the talons of most of them were many toucan chicks, many of them, some of them Sofia and Marcel's chicks, horribly burned with most of their feathered singed off. As they ascended out of the treetops, unaware that a flock of VERY angry birds and flying foxes were hurtling towards them, Marcel, his talons holding three of the toucan chicks, two of which were severely burned and were in agony, shot a gaze back at the sea of fire and the smoke belching from it into the sky.

"I think we're out of the fire, folks," he said to the others. Suddenly, a familiar female voice exploded from directly in front of them.

"Well, you're NOT out of the FIRE OF OUR FURY, you BUNCH OF MALICIOUS, MARAUDING CROWS!" she shouted. Marcel and Sofia looked up just in time to see an absolutely FURIOUS cerulean comet bowl towards them at an alarming speed, her talons poised to seize them. When they saw that it was Jewel coming straight towards them, Sofia barked at the others to scatter. The cloud of toucans dispersed but one of them could not escape in time and Jewel ploughed into her. The toucan screamed as Jewel then took her down towards the treetops by the throat. The female toucan's mate called to her but he and the other toucans including Sofia and Marco, found themselves on the receiving end of a bunch of stormy, thunderous glares as Blu, Zephyr, Aurora, Augustus, Melissa, Carla, Bia, Finnick, Stella, Soren, Spinel, Sheldon and the others surrounded them. However, the group of toucans dodged Blu's group's attempt to box them in and continued flying like mad in the direction of Tulio's Aviary.

"NO TIME TO TALK," cried Sofia desperately, some of her severely burned chicks clutched in her talons, "We've gotta bunch of young casualties in DIRE need of medical attention! Get out of the WAY!"

"WHERE ARE OUR KIDS!?" demanded Bia but she was struck in the face by a flapping wing from one of the toucans and knocked back. Spinel, a volcanic look on her face, then tried to catch up to Sofia but the toucans moved too fast for her to do so. Carla and Sheldon tried their luck but their demands fell on ears deafened by sheer desperation as well. The others also tried the same but also failed. Then Aramis took action and began to use his fast flying skills to try and catch up to them for he was one of the fastest flyers of Athos' gang. Finnick, Diantha, Tom, Iris and Zebedee followed.

"GET BACK HERE!" screeched the lithe great green macaw and Petunia's father at Sofia's group and with that; the six birds rocketed off after the toucans.

While Aramis, Finnick, Diantha, Tom, Iris and Zebedee began to chase down Sofia's group, Jewel had slammed the female toucan she had collided with hard against the branch of one of the trees, her talon wrapped around her neck like a human hand. The female toucan's face twisted severely in agony as Jewel then pinned her against the wood.

"Now, WHERE ARE THE KIDS!?" snarled Blu's mate volcanically in the toucan's face as Blu, Zephyr, Aurora, Carla, Bia, Sheldon, Spinel, Wilbur, Augustus, Melissa, Stella, Luna, Soren, Anabelle and Sebastian caught up. The toucan gazed up at her confronter with terrified eyes and shaking body and with rapid breaths of air struggling to enter in and exit out of her beak for Jewel's talon was hard on her throat. When she did not answer, Zephyr came in, his green eyes ablaze with the fires of anger like Jewel's teal ones and the eyes of the rest of the gang.

"Oh, don't play your stupid little games with us, little lady," growled Aurora's mate furiously as he touched down, seized the struggling toucan's beak tip with a talon and yanked her gaze towards his, "we DEMAND to KNOW WHAT YOU HAVE DONE WITH SANDALWOOD AND THE REST!"

Still the toucan was too afraid to speak, especially with the pressure of Jewel's talon on her throat and the vicious glares of her and the others around her piercing her like lasers. Finally, she found the strength to speak.

"I-I-I-I d-d-don't know," she timidly replied, "C-c-c-can you pl-pl-please let me go? W-w-we've got a LOT of casualties to tend to…"

Appalled gazes were exchanged amongst Blu's group.

"What about our OWN KIDS!?" demanded Bia angrily, tears of anguish threatening to spew from her eyes again, "Such as my and Virgil's sons SIRIUS, EINSTEIN AND MILES!?"

"Justin and my daughters SONIA, SPICA AND MELODY!" put in Carla, "and also Tiago and Matilda's chicks BYRON AND BELLATRIX!?"

"Sandalwood, Acerola and Ferdinand," added Stella furiously as she stood with Augustus, Melissa, Soren, Anabelle, Sebastian and Luna.

"Betelgeuse, Rigel and Antares!" put in Spinel, the urge to lash at the toucan to tear her feathers out threatening to rupture the containment of her restraints. The toucan flinched at the mentioning of those three names.

"AND all the other chicks," added Aurora as Jewel tightened her grip on the toucan's throat. At first, the toucan refused to speak for she was absolutely terrified. Finally, she found more courage to speak but it was out of defiance.

"I said I don't know!" she retorted, "Now if you will excuse me, we have some seriously injured toucan chicks to take to the Aviary for treatment."

Appal flowed through Jewel and company at the toucan's lack of care for Sandalwood and the others. It was obvious that the toucan and her comrades were putting their many, many chicks first and did not bother about the offspring of any of Blu and company's first-brood children whose numbers were only a tiny fraction compared to Sofia and company's MASSIVE numbers. Then Jewel finally snapped. With an extremely enraged screech and her temper flaring up like a volcano over the toucan's lack of care for Sirius and the others, Jewel raised her other talon, flared its claws and without hesitation or a second thought, slashed them across the toucan's face, making her scream in agony. Then Blu, Aurora, Zephyr and the others backed away immediately as Jewel then pounced onto the toucan and began to unleash her fury upon her full-throttle. Wilbur gazed down at the chaos in slight fright as feathers flew everywhere as Jewel continued slashing and clawing the toucan like an enraged cat and tearing out her feathers, the toucan unable to defend herself from the Spix macaw's volcanic temper outburst.

"That toucan's gonna add to the casualties of Sofia's group, I think," Porthos' son and Poinsettia's mate commented. The others only replied with a slight look. Then the sounds of wing-flaps reached the group's ears as Aramis, Finnick, Diantha, Tom, Iris and Zebedee returned; puffs and pants escaping their beaks.

"They were just… too fast, even for… us two hyacinth… macaws," puffed Zebedee as he and Iris clumsily flapped to a branch to rest.

"It is obvious that they aren't gonna help out," put in Diantha stormily. She was practically shaking with rage at her siblings for not caring about the missing kids and it acidified her wrath against them even more that they seemed to care about their own kids more than Blu and company's. Then the toucan that Jewel was attacking managed to slip out of Jewel's volcanic temper and fiery claws and escape after her comrades, her plumage in tatters and slashed with bleeding claw marks but her wings still having enough flight feathers to propel her away from the savage Jewel. A trail of black feathers fell from the wounded toucan's plumage and drifted through the canopy like the cinder flakes of charred wood in the burning forest. Jewel disdainfully spat after the toucan as she left.

"Bunch of uncaring COWARDS!" she snarled in frustration and sheer anger after she did it.

"Looks like we're gonna have to search for those kids all by ourselves," cried Carla in despair. Then Augustus scanned the sea of flames and the unlit trees.

"They could be ANYWHERE!" he shouted, before his eyes despairingly moved to the fire as it continued to swallow up the trees like a fiery tide, "Perhaps EVEN IN THAT FIRE!"

Then the first generation birds and flying foxes (Bia, Carla, Stella and the rest) began to let loose wails of despair and anguish, tears falling from their eyes.

"Betelgeuse, Rigel and ANTAREEEES!" cried Spinel.

"SIRIUS, EINSTEIN, MILES!" bellowed Bia.

"Lillie, Gladion!" cried Diantha and Tom.

"SANDALWOOD, ACEROLA, FERDINAND!" wailed Stella, Luna, Anabelle and Soren at the same time. Then the majority of the first generation birds and flying foxes released another long cry of anguish and despair again before finally breaking down as hopelessness threatened to consume them like the fire consuming the trees. As they continued to wail loudly and sob, Zephyr barked at the group to pull themselves together and not give up.

"COME ON, YOU LOT!" shouted he, attracting Bia, Carla and the others' attention to him, "SNAP OUT OF IT!"

When he saw that none of the wailers were hearing him, Zephyr screeched the order even louder. This time, the wailing braked abruptly into silence and Carla, Bia and the others, sniffles escaping their noses finally looked at Zephyr as he glared at them.

"We're NOT gonna give up and allow those WRETCHED TOUCANS TO LEAVE US WITH HEARTBREAK out of their SPITEFULNESS AND COWARDICE," continued Aurora's mate, "But we're NOT gonna continue this search-and-rescue mission with YOU lot acting like CHICKS and PUPS!"

The first generation macaws, Stella, Luna, Soren, Anabelle, Soren, Diantha and Tom nodded. Then Blu fluttered up.

"Listen, we're gonna do our best to find those stolen kids and bring them back to Tulio's Aviary even if it means putting our lives in danger," he said, continuing Zephyr's speech, "Now let's pull ourselves together and continue this search. We did not fly out of here for nothing."

"If those toucans won't help us, then that's THEIR problem," continued Jewel, "But rest assured that they WILL face some SERIOUS consequences once this is all over."

More nods rolled through Carla and Bia's group and Tom and Diantha's faces creased into a furious look.

"Absolutely!" hissed Diantha bitterly, "Especially if ANY of our kids are lost in that fire!"

She gazed worriedly at the sea of orange flames as it continued to consume the forest. Then Aurora said, "Right, are we ready to resume our search-and-rescue mission?"

All heads in Bia's group nodded up and down again. Then Blu, a determined and satisfied smile on his face, then turned round and prepared to take the group further into the jungle.

"Then let's FLY!" he shouted, "Let's find and rescue any of our kids remaining in the forest and bring them back to the safety of our families and friends waiting for us back in Tulio's Aviary."

'We've just GOT to,' he thought as he said this. He couldn't bear to see the heartbroken and distressed looks on the first generation birds and flying foxes' faces again and Augustus, Aurora, Zephyr, Jewel and Melissa couldn't agree more. Sandalwood and the others had been missing from the group long enough and it was time to bring them back into the safety of their families and friends for good. Then soon, the group's search-and-rescue mission was back on track with Blu and Jewel leading. As they continued flying through the treetops, Sheldon felt his head jolt with an idea but it was a rather crazy one.

"Wait, guys," he said, stopping the group to another hover and all eyes turning to him.

"What is it, Sheldon?" asked Blu.

"I've just had an idea," said Sheldon, "It's kind of reckless but I think it would make our search mission more efficient. Why don't we split up and search in different parts of the jungle?"

Glances, both hopeful and dreaded, rolled through the listeners. Then Wilbur came forward.

"You mean you want us to spread out?" asked he. Sheldon nodded.

"The kids may be scattered throughout the jungle," he said, much to the frustrated despair of Carla, Bia and some of the others. Some of the other members smiled in liking of the idea but some of the others wore disapproval looks and shook their heads in disagreement.

"But Sheldon," said Zephyr, "That might be EXTREMELY FOOLISH AND DANGEROUS! What if any of you end up hurt or even killed?"

"Zephyr, please," said Augustus and then he fluttered up to Sheldon, "I actually kind of agree with you. We never thought of that possibility but if that is the case; then we should go through with your idea."

"Yes, definitely," said Jewel, "Some of us will search in the unlit trees while the rest of us will search closer to the fire."

She shuddered violently as she gazed at the sea of flames and clearly did not want to go anywhere near them. Then a determined look came upon Sheldon's face.

"Then I'll lead one group in one direction," he said, before his gaze turned to Carla, Bia and the others, especially Spinel, "While the rest of you go with Blu, Jewel, Augustus, Melissa, Zephyr and Aurora, especially you, Spinel."

Spinel shot her half-scarlet, half-green-winged mate a 'what!?' look.

"What do you mean I go with Uncle Blu and the others?" she retorted. Sheldon flew up to her and said, "Well, you went all the way to Peru to retrieve our precious daughters Betelgeuse and Rigel, son Antares and the other missing kids including Sandalwood from that fraudulent Paradise Sanctuary place with Blu and some of the others while I stayed behind to look after the remaining seven kids including Ferdinand and now, I want to go on a risky mission myself while you remain in the safety of Blu and the others…"

Spinel, clearly disliking this idea, frowned at this.

"Oh, no," she retorted, "No, no, no-no-no-no, NO! I can't risk losing you…"

"But Spinel, you've put yourself through enough risk as it is going to Peru," replied Sheldon, his talons holding Spinel's as the couple hovered, "and all I've done is stayed behind and did not do much," his head then bowed with a look of shame coming on it with a tear welling in the corner of his right eye, "especially after our temporary break-up after our heated argument over having those two beautiful daughters and lovely son..."

"Huh, you had to bring THAT up," growled Diantha as she hovered with Tom.

"Look, Sheldon," said Spinel, "I was stupid for saying that we shouldn't have had our three chicks in the first place. I was stupid in believing that brat Sofia and I was absolutely selfish in driving you away…"

"Come on, are we gonna continue our search or what?" asked Carla impatiently. Bia, Finnick, Aramis, Zebedee, Iris, Wilbur, Diantha, Tom, Stella, Luna, Sebastian, Soren and Anabelle also made their impatience clear by wearing scowls on their faces. Zephyr, Aurora, Augustus, Melissa, Blu and Jewel wore agreeing faces.

"Yes, we don't have all night," put in Augustus. Sheldon flashed the older male flying fox a look and gazed back at Spinel as Finnick flew up to him.

"I'm gonna go with you if you if you're gonna lead one group," said the Roberto lookalike firmly. As he said this, Aramis, Wilbur, Zebedee and Iris flew over and joined them as well. Then Sebastian, Luna and Anabelle made their choice and joined Sheldon's side although Augustus and Melissa were pretty worried. Sheldon gazed at those who had flown over to him and returned his gaze to Spinel once again.

"I would like you, as I've said before, to go with Blu and the others and I want you to rescue any kid you can find and if any of our three chicks are with them, make sure you include them as well," he said in an edgy voice, "And make sure you don't wander off, especially if you're gonna fly close to the fire's edge," he stole a glance at the sea of fire as it continued to rage while Spinel gazed back at him, a stubborn look on her face.

"I'm NOT gonna lose you," she snapped, "We've lost our three chicks once before and, if we were to lose them again now, this time permanently, I can't risk losing you, the only closest macaw I have left, as well. Certainly not to a disaster like THIS ONE! You can't expect to go into that fire, if it were to catch up to you, and come back out unscathed!"

"Come on, Spinel," said Blu firmly and impatiently. Spinel flashed him a glance and gazed back at Sheldon. She finally gave in to Sheldon's request and flew over to Blu's group. Then Sheldon flew after Spinel and seized her wing, jolting surprise within her.

"Wha-?" began she but she didn't get to finish for Sheldon had hooked his beak onto hers and began to deliver a series of passionate kisses. The others exchanged glances as Sheldon finally broke the final kiss with Spinel.

"We'll ALL get out of this mess together, triumphantly, I'm sure of it," said Sheldon lovingly into his pink-red mate's face. Spinel's light brown eyes glistened as they stared into Sheldon's blue eyes. For a moment she felt the comfort of Sheldon's sapphire eyes flow through her.

"Okay," she said. Sheldon smiled, kissed her forehead one last time and then left to join Aramis and the others while Spinel, though reluctantly joined Blu's group.

"Be careful out there," called Aurora as Sheldon's group began to recede into the distance.

"Especially you, Luna, Sebastian and Anabelle," called Augustus as he flew with Stella, Melissa and Soren. Sheldon, Finnick, Aramis, Zebedee, Iris, Wilbur, Sebastian, Luna and Anabelle all nodded and shouted back at Blu's group, "We will, we'll see you back at Tulio's Aviary!" as they continued flying in their chosen direction while Blu and the others flew off in theirs.

Meanwhile, some time later

Betelgeuse, Rigel and Antares continued struggling through the burning forest, Rigel continuously holding her stabbed shoulder, which was bandaged with moss and leaves by herself and her siblings to protect the injury and the stiff twig jutting from her shoulder, from further damage. Antares held her on the other side, his wings wrapped around his sister's back and tummy and continued to half-drag, half-help her plod through the igniting forest while Betelgeuse limped on ahead, a leaf wrapped around her talon and another around her head. The trio was heading in the direction of the Chinesa Vista which was a good few metres away but before that, the three had managed to hitch a ride on a fleeing capybara and rode on its back some distance before the capybara ran out of energy and collapsed from sheer exhaustion, forcing the trio to continue on foot again.

All three three-quarter scarlet, one-quarter green-winged chicks were caked in mud, soot from the fire and had reddened eyes as a result of the constant irritation caused by the polluting smoke, not to mention the frequent coughing and spluttering as the smoke continued to irritate their lungs, and the searing heat of the fire scorching the skin under their feathers and making it even harder for the two to struggle along. Furthermore, Betelgeuse had accidentally stepped into a patch of smouldering ferns and wood, resulting in her left talon, the one that had landed in the fiery patch, to smoke and burn, forcing her to put it out before continuing but it had left an extremely painful burn on the bottom of her foot, and a cinder had landed on her face, just above the left eye and she had struggled to put that out as well. After this, Antares had managed to find some makeshift bandages for her injuries. Because of her injuries, Betelgeuse was forced to limp along while Antares dragged Rigel on her right side. Behind the trio, the fire continued to spread at an alarming rate, heating the air to alarming temperatures and polluting it with its thick smoke that continued to irritate the three's lungs and eyes, and both girls were horribly exhausted.

"How much further… to go… Antares?" groaned Rigel hoarsely as exhaustion threatened to make her collapse. Her head practically felt like a hollowed-out coconut and she was dazed and disoriented. Antares, and Betelgeuse as well, also struggled with disorientation and kept stumbling, especially the latter as her burned and bandaged talon touched the ground and made her jolt in pain. Wearily, the older daughter of Spinel and Sheldon gazed upward, but her world had blurred together into a mass mess of watercolour outlines and shapes, but she managed to make out the shape of a hut-like construction standing on four legs.

"We'll go to… there," she whispered tiredly and wearily, before she entered an episode of rapid and laboured breathing and with that and despite Antares and Rigel's questioning of 'there' for they were also disoriented, their world also blurring together, the three sisters struggled on to the Chinesa Vista, Betelgeuse limping on ahead.

As soon as they got to one of the Chinesa Vista's legs, Antares set Betelgeuse and Rigel carefully down at its foot, being very careful not to knock the latter's wounded shoulder.

"Stay here will… I call… for help…" said the brother hoarsely, before he entered another coughing fit and rapid breathing. Betelgeuse and Rigel, their eyes red and bloodshot and their heads spinning, and Rigel clasping her left wing over her right shoulder with the stick in it with Betelgeuse holding her leaf-bandaged burns above her left eye and her left talon, gazed at their brother worriedly as he staggered away to shout for help. Then as soon as Antares was in a small clearing, he dizzily gazed up into the nearly smoke-smothered black sky and with all his might, began to let loose a distress screech using whatever strength and energy he had left, hoping to attract some attention. His sisters looked on wearily as Antares continued screeching and shouting, the outline of him blurring with the background and with the glow of the fire.

"An... tares…" Rigel murmured weakly while Betelgeuse said nothing. Antares continued shouting and screeching for a while, stopping for a rest as he strained to breathe but then he felt his disorientation begin to overwhelm him. As his dizziness took him over, Antares began to stagger as though he had been flying in circles for a long time. He even tried to take off but due to his painfully sprained right wing, he could not. His sisters, when they saw a change in Antares' behaviour, jolted up in alarm.

"Antares?" Rigel said and with that, she rose to her feet and staggered clumsily over to Antares, leaving Betelgeuse to also limp to another spot as she felt the Chinesa Vista to be unsafe. As Rigel approached Antares, the male half-ruby macaw continued to struggle against his exhaustion and disorientation, until finally he began to succumb to their effects, the heat of the fire, the trauma and the smoke having taken their toll on him. Wearily, the brother of Betelgeuse and Rigel clumsily staggered over to a bush, turned round and with his back on its stem, slumped down. His eyes then slid shut as the darkness of fainting overtook him, and his head bowed. Then Betelgeuse hobbled over to him and collapsed onto her front, fainting from the heat, the smoke and the trauma also overwhelming her. Rigel, seeing both her brother and sister collapse like this, felt dread and alarm tear through her.

"Betelgeuse, Antares?" she called, "YOU TWO!?"

She continued stumbling clumsily over to her siblings' limp bodies and as soon as she was by Betelgeuse's side, she put her left wing onto her head and began to try and shake her awake.

"Betelgeuse, wake up!" she called. No answer. Rigel then tried shaking Antares awake but he didn't stir either. Rigel's dread for her siblings began to boil all the more.

"YOU TWO, WAKE UP!" she shouted. Still no answer, except a twitch of Antares' eyelids as he only stirred for a split-second, while Betelgeuse lay on her front, unresponsive. Rigel then began to tremble as she looked over her limp sister and brother. Behind her, the Chinesa Vista had kindled and the straw and wooden stand began to burn as the fire finally began to hungrily consume it. Rigel gazed with dread and despair at the limp siblings one more time until finally, her heart cracked with an enormous fissure opening within her which subsequently erupted into an extremely ear-piercing, anguished cry. The cry carried through the night air scratched by the claws of the fire and flooded with its smoke. As it did so, it was picked up by a group of certain flying creatures as they flew overhead.

Sheldon, together with Finnick, Aramis, Zebedee, Iris, Wilbur, Sebastian, Luna and Anabelle were approaching the area where the Chinesa Vista stood and as they approached the iconic monument of the Blu Bird Sanctuary, all of them coughing as the smoke irritated their lungs, forcing them to keep their distance from the fire, the group stopped and watched on in utter horror and despair.

"Oh, no," whispered Aramis in sadness as he watched the flames start to engulf the stand. He then gazed at the circular plaque reading the name of the sanctuary with an image of Blu's face in the centre, begin to ignite.

"That stand and the plaque's gonna have to be replaced once these fires have been quelled," said the lithe great green macaw with a shudder. As he said this, Anabelle's ears picked up something sounding above the roar and crackling of the fire.

"Shh," she hushed the others who came up to her.

"What is it, dear?" asked Sebastian only to be silenced by a wing gesture from his mate. The others exchanged glances and stopped to listen. When they also heard the noise, perplexed gazes came upon their faces.

"Sounds like someone screeching," said Aramis.

"A distressed animal, perhaps?" asked Zebedee, his blinded, faded right eye in the path of the scarred claw streaks running up the height of his face showing in the orange glow of the fire. As he said this, Sheldon listened intently to the cry and felt that it sounded familiar. Then Finnick shuddered as he gazed at the burning forest.

"There are a lot of those animals in there that are in distress," he faltered in a fragile voice. Aramis, Zebedee, Iris, Wilbur, Sebastian, Luna and Anabelle nodded in agreement and shuddered at the thought of those animals facing a painful death in those flames. Then suddenly, Sheldon's voice broke through their moment of despair and sorrow for the trapped animals.

"It's one of my daughters RIGEL!" screeched the ruby (scarlet/green-winged hybrid) macaw and with that, he dived down like a falcon in the direction of the cries, calling Rigel's name and prompting the other eight to follow.

"Sheldon!" called Aramis as he and the others flapped like mad to keep up with the red rocket with blue, yellow, green and orange wings. Soon enough, Sheldon's group had entered the treetops and had begun to descend through the canopy and within moments, they were close to the forest floor. Sheldon called Rigel's name again.

Meanwhile, Rigel continued to cry over Betelgeuse and Antares' unconscious bodies, immense dread and fear for the worst continuing to erupt through her beak in the form of the screeching. She greatly feared for her sister and brother's lives and knew that they were on the line. However, she had no idea that her cries had attracted a lifeline. As she entered a paused and rubbed her throat with her left wing as it felt red raw from screeching a lot, as well as the irritation of the smoke on her vocal cords, Rigel thought she heard her name get called. Immediately, she stopped and began to wearily scan her surroundings, both unlit and blazing and her vision severely blurred and out of focus. Near her and the limp Betelgeuse and Antares, the Chinesa Vista had begun to fall apart, the fire tearing it to shreds and burning it to the ground like a tree. Rigel continued trying to scan the surroundings for the source's sound despite her blurring vision as it continued to call her name. At first, she thought she was hallucinating but then she realised that it was real. Then for the first time since she was kidnapped by the toucans along with the other kids including Sandalwood, she realised that help was nearby. With hope igniting within her and burning brighter than the fire engulfing more and more trees and also the Chinesa Vista, Rigel opened her beak and began to let loose another screech to attract the caller's attention.

Sheldon, together with Finnick, Aramis, Zebedee, Iris, Wilbur, Sebastian, Luna and Anabelle, continued searching for the source of the screech whom Sheldon believed to be Rigel but they shuddered as the fire kept approaching them.

"Um, guys, I think we'd better leave," said Luna, wary of the fire's proximity to the group, so close that they could feel the heat radiating from the dangerous orange sea of flames that continued to spew polluting fumes of smoke into the air and irritating their lungs. Nearby, Zebedee and Iris had entered a coughing fit but Sheldon was insistent.

"Just wait," he snapped and continued shouting Rigel's name when he heard another cry. Immediately, the ruby macaw whirled round and began to trace the cry to its source again. The others followed.

"This is seriously dangerous, guys," growled Finnick, also wary of the fire closing in on the group, "We could end up trapped by those flames and possibly burned."

"Well, no-one asked YOU to join us, Finnick," snapped Sheldon irritably, "YOU were the one who made the decision to come with us in the first place."

"Well, I ought to be glad to have made that decision then, my red cousin-in-law," said Finnick with a wink. The group continued following Sheldon as he resumed tracing the cry to its source until finally, Wilbur, who had been examining the surroundings like a hawk on the way, suddenly spotted as flash of colour through the dark trees against the wall of orange flames. The blue-and-gold macaw immediately stopped the group.

"GUYS!" he barked and pointed to the flash of colour. The others, especially Sheldon followed his point.

Rigel continued screeching until exhaustion finally set in and forced her to stop, where she entered a pause to take a few quick breaths but then she heard her name get called again, this time her name's calling was louder, and there was not one, but a number of them.

"RIGEL!"

"Rigel!"

"RIGEL!"

Wearily, Rigel looked up and to her immense astonishment; she saw a small, blurry cloud of colourful forms emerge out of the blurring trees and rush towards her with a red one with colourful wings at the front. Then immense joy finally erupted within Rigel as recognition took hold; as it felt like the weight of the whole Amazon had finally been lifted off her shoulders. Forgetting about the dire situation briefly, she let loose a massive screech, especially to the form at the front who appeared as a red blur. Despite this, she could recognise him.

"DADDY!" she screamed, "DADDIIIIEEEEEEE!"

"RIIIGEEEL!" called Sheldon and as the father and daughter rushed towards each other, Rigel immediately remembered her shoulder at the last minute.

"STOOOOOOP!" she screeched, forcing Sheldon's group to brake abruptly. Zebedee latched his talons onto Sheldon's shoulders and prevented him from careening into Rigel. Then worry took hold of Sheldon's group.

"What is it, daughter?" asked Sheldon. Rigel then showed him and his group members her shoulder and began to unwrap the makeshift leaf-bandage covering her injury. Then Anabelle saw two more red forms slumped under a nearby bush, one on his back and the other facedown. She instantly recognised the pair and felt horror tear through her.

"Oh, no, Betelgeuse and Antares!" cried the flying fox and with that, she rocketed over to the limp siblings of Rigel with Iris and Aramis following. While this happened, Rigel had finally unbandaged her injury and showed it to Sheldon, Finnick, Zebedee, Wilbur, Sebastian and Luna. The moment their eyes landed on the stiff twig protruding out of the little chick's shoulder, extreme horror tore through them in the form of large gasps.

"RIGEL!" blurted out Sheldon in utter astonishment. Zebedee had his wings over his beak and eyes inflated in utter horror at the injury, but then Sebastian threw on a serious look.

"We need to get you to that aviary NOW!" he shouted. As he said this, Anabelle, Iris and Aramis returned with Iris carrying Betelgeuse and Antares' limp body in her large talons, one in each.

"These two are unconscious but they're alive," said Anabelle, "Betelgeuse's face and talon look like they've been either badly burned or injured as well while Antares looks unharmed. We've gotta get them to that aviary pronto!"

Sheldon flashed the flying fox a glance but then Rigel began to sway and finally collapse, bringing Sheldon's attention back to her and sparking alarm within him.

"Rigel," he said as he saw his younger daughter sway, "RIGEL!?"

Rigel's eyes then rolled upward and she fell rightward, forcing Zebedee to lurch forward and catch her before her impaled shoulder could hit the ground and inflict further damage. Then the male hyacinth macaw gazed at her.

"She's passed out," he told Sheldon and the others, "she must be UTTERLY exhausted."

Sheldon was about to speak when a massive CRASH sounded behind them. All eyes except the fainted three chicks of Sheldon snapped in the direction of the sound and landed their gazes on its source: the Chinesa Vista collapsing, the fire finally having overwhelmed it. Sheldon's face then formed a frown.

"Let's get my daughters and son to Tulio's Aviary," he said and with that, with Iris carrying Betelgeuse and Antares and Zebedee carefully carrying Rigel, all nine animals lofted into flight with Anabelle, Sebastian and Luna being picked up and dropped into flight by some of their macaw friends and as soon as they were in the air, Sheldon and his group rocketed off in the direction of Tulio's Aviary, taking the three unconscious chicks, two of them badly injured, with them as the fire continued to consume the now-collapsed Chinesa Vista and also its spread to more unlit trees and other plants.