Chapter 89- a dangerous rescue
Meanwhile
Dalek had finally decided on how to kill Bellatrix and the others. He was going to take Bellatrix, Sandalwood and Connie and drop them to their deaths while bound and drop Vega, Regulus, Ferdinand, Katniss, Sylvester and Aldebaran, tied to their log, into the nearby stream to be drowned. The kids shuddered as they watched the evil, now completely insane chameleon rub his pad-hands with glee and let loose a hissy snicker. He then nodded to some of the toucan chicks to push the log holding Vega and the other five towards the edge of the stream, which they did. Then Dalek walked over to Sandalwood, Connie and Bellatrix. The trio tried to crawl away but they were seized immediately by the chameleon, while the other toucan chicks stood by. Then as soon as the toucan chicks had taken up their 'stations', again still thinking it as some ultra-fun game, Dalek shoved his devilish, scabby face right into the faces of Bellatrix, Connie and Sandalwood, the three of them bound and gagged in the vines, and began to taunt the trio with grimaces and hissy laughs. Bellatrix and Connie shuddered violently but Sandalwood's face was twisted into a look of unspeakable rage. Then Dalek let loose a slow hiss as if to say, 'You ready to DIE, you three?' before the hiss transformed into a series of short hisses put together in a laugh. Suddenly, Sandalwood sprung forward and with all his might, bashed his head hard into Dalek's face, making the chameleon jolt his head back and seize his struck area with his padded hands. Sandalwood looked on, an extremely acidic, vitriolic, volcanic and unremorseful look he had EVER concocted in his life plastering his gagged face while Bellatrix and Connie looked on timidly. Dalek, his padded hand on his cheek where Sandalwood had headbutted him, then glared rancorously at the little amber flying fox pup with a glare that read 'you're gonna pay for that, you WINGED RAT!' and with that, he lurched forward, seized Sandalwood, Bellatrix and Connie and turned to the toucan chicks, those that remained, to push the log holding the remaining six kids, all with terror lacing their faces, especially Aldebaran, into the stream. The toucan kids prepared to execute the 'commands' but before Dalek could give the final command in the form of a loud hiss and a pad-hand gesture,a massive screech rang out from above the wall of trees surrounding the clearing, much to Dalek and the toucan kids' extreme horror and to the immense relief of Bellatrix and the others. Then all eyes snapped in the direction of the screeching and landed on a small group of incoming flying animals consisting of seven blue macaws, one of them a chick, one red macaw with a pink tinge in her plumage, three toucans and four bats with dog-like faces. A horrified gasp entered Dalek's mouth and the toucan chicks all screamed as they saw Blu, Jewel, Carla, Bia, Spinel, Diantha, Tom, Rafael, Zephyr, Aurora, Augustus, Stella, Melissa and Soren, with Polaris at the front, swoop down the tree wall and into the clearing like a flock of colourful falcons. Stricken by panic, Dalek let loose a massive hiss to the toucan chicks while he seized Bellatrix, Sandalwood and Connie and darted off to somewhere. The toucan chicks, sensing that they were in BIG trouble, also scattered, but not before those put in charge of the log holding Katniss and the other five heaved that log off the edge of the stream's bank, before disappearing for the wall of trees with the others moments before Blu and company appeared with Polaris at the front.
However, as Blu and the others arrived and touched down, they heard a massive splash from a nearby stream which pulled their attention to said snake of water and when they saw a massive fountain of water fly upward, their hearts dropped and Diantha and Tom let loose screams when they saw that there were forms tied to that log. Then the group rushed off for the stream. However, Aurora stayed back with Polaris and when she tried to follow, Aurora commanded her to stay put, which she did. Then Spinel returned and glared at Polaris.
"Have you seen the chameleon anywhere?" she asked. Polaris shook her head but then Spinel heard her name get called. Pulling her attention to the caller, Augustus, Spinel flew off and rejoined the group as they touched down at the stream's edge. After they had done that, Blu and his group peered down the drop, where they saw several streams of bubbles. Screams of horror then escaped Carla, Bia and Spinel's beaks while Melissa, Blu, Zephyr, Diantha, Tom and Rafael shuddered in utter disbelief, especially as they saw the struggling forms of the still-bound chicks and Ferdinand under the water on the log. Then Aurora and Polaris appeared, worried looks on their faces as they also gazed at the cloud of bubbles in the water. Under the stream, Aldebaran, Sylvester, Vega, Regulus, Katniss and Ferdinand were struggling in their restraints holding them to the logs. Streams of bubbles escaped through the kids' beaks and mouth as they struggled. As they did that, their log continued sinking towards the stream bed quite a depth beneath the surface.
Back on the bank, Jewel said, "We've gotta get them OUTA THERE!" and with that, she jumped down the bank and was about to enter the water but Augustus flew in with Spinel and said, "No, Jewel, if you dive into that water, you'll not be able to swim!"
"Not to mention unable to fly after you come out of the water," put in Melissa. Jewel shot the flying foxes a horrified look. It was true. Macaws were not designed to swim and if they submerged themselves, their feathers will become waterlogged and they will not be able to fly until their feathers dried completely.
"B-b-but how are we gonna get those kids OUTA THERE!?" cried Carla hysterically. Then Soren, determination to rescue those six kids from a watery grave explosively taking control, then sprinted forward towards the stream.
"Soren!" cried Rafael but Stella's mate ignored him and with a massive heaving of his feet from the bank, Soren jumped over the water and plunged right in with a massive splash. Before diving, Soren turned to the others on the bank, "You macaws and toucans hover over the surface of the water ready to haul the kids out and back ashore as soon as I send or bring them up!"
And with that, he took in a deep breath and dived like a duck beneath the surface. Augustus then shot Melissa, Blu, Jewel, Carla and the others, nodded and also dived into the water after his son-in-law.
"Come on, guys," called Blu and with that, the birds all opened their wings and took off with Stella and Melissa following. Polaris was ordered to stay on the bank with Spinel as Aurora, having decided to help and flew off to join the other birds while Spinel took her place, and she stood there with immense worry on her face as she watched the scene.
"Please rescue them before they drown," whispered she.
Back beneath the surface on the two sinking logs, the six kids continued to struggle. They tried to bite through the vines binding them to their log but were unable to for their beaks and Ferdinand's mouth, were gagged by smaller vine pieces, restricting their range of movement and ability to chew through the main green tendrils. However, a shadow flashed over them, prompting the chicks and Ferdinand to look up and to their relief, they saw that it was only Soren. Sweeping his membranous wings out like how manta rays swam with their flat fins to propel himself forward, Soren reached the six helpless kids and as soon as he had clutched on the log with his wing-thumbs and foot claws, he set to work in biting through the vines, starting with Ferdinand and Katniss. Then Augustus appeared and had begun to bite through the vines holding Sylvester and Aldebaran to the log to free them. Then as soon as he had finished biting through Ferdinand and Katniss' vines and had moved the vines binding their beak and mouth shut with his wing-thumbs, Soren took the flying fox pup and glaucous macaw chick and sent them to the surface.Back above the surface of the stream, Blu, Jewel, Rafael and the others continued to hover above the water anxiously, peering through its semi-transparent surface all the time.
"Have Soren and Augustus freed any of the chicks yet?" asked Carla worriedly. Just then, the surface of the water broke near Zephyr and as soon as his eyes turned to it, he immediately rushed over to the break and seized the chick, Katniss, her beak wide open and sucking in the much needed air. Then Zephyr removed her from the water and hauled her ashore, while Jewel seized Ferdinand who had also broken through the water's surface, gasping for air. While this happened, Diantha, Tom, Spinel and Aurora, together with Polaris, stepped in.
"Zephyr's got Katniss while Jewel's got Ferdinand!" cried Rafael as Zephyr and Jewel rushed the gasping, sodden, coughing flying fox pup and glaucous macaw chick to the shore, where they placed them gently down on their backs. Katniss and Ferdinand continued gasping, spluttering and coughing, sending droplets of water flying from their beak and mouth as they cleared their lungs of the suffocating liquid, and their feathers and fur were completely soaked but they were suddenly swept into a hug by Stella, while Zephyr and Jewel returned to the stream. Diantha and Tom then helped to tend to the rescued Katniss and Ferdinand as they continued to cough up more water.
Back under the water, Soren had managed to free Vega and Regulus; he brushed away the vines and took hold of the two Lear's macaw chicks in his membranous wings and moved them from the log but as he did so, he felt the urge to surface and gasp for air take hold in the form of the feeling of his lungs collapsing. Quickly, Soren bolted to the surface by kicking from the log. On the way up, Soren pulled the vines holding the two Lear's macaw chicks' beaks shut with a wing-thumb and yanked them away to allow the two chicks to move their beaks, which they will need once they broke through the surface. While Soren ascended with Vega and Regulus, Augustus had finished biting through the vines tying Sylvester and Aldebaran to the log. Then seizing the two chicks with his large cloak-like wings of skin and removing the vines binding their beaks shut, Augustus bolted for the surface after Soren. The water's surface exploded as Soren broke through with Vega and Regulus and the moment he did, the three began to cough, splutter and gasp for air, their fur and feathers sopping wet.
"Soren's got Vega and Regulus, guys!" called Rafael as Soren then handed the two Lear's macaws to Diantha and Tom who promptly took them to the shore.
"And Augustus with Sylvester and Aldebaran!" added Blu when he saw Augustus break through the water's surface with the Cuban red and Verde macaw chicks in his wings. Augustus, also gasping and sopping wet, then handed the two equally sopping wet, coughing and gasping chicks, to Carla and Bia who then took them to the shore. Then after laying Vega, Regulus, Sylvester and Aldebaran were taken to the shore where they were gently laid on their backs, Augustus and Soren swam back to the bank.
"That's all of them," said Augustus, "I've checked the log before ascending with Sylvester and Aldebaran and there are no more kids tied to it."
Relief flowed through the others at this news and once that problem was sorted, the group turned to the sodden wet and gasping Katniss, Ferdinand, Sylvester, Aldebaran, Vega and Regulus while Augustus and Soren, their wings and fur sodden wet as well, were helped onto the bank. While this happened, Bia gazed at Melissa and Stella.
"I had no idea that you flying foxes could swim," said she in amazement.
"Marcus and Ana have established swimming classes back in the Amazon a few years ago to teach flying foxes how to swim and mostly to save pups and chicks that have fallen into a body of water," said Melissa, before her gaze turned sympathetic, "Too bad you tree birds cannot swim as your feathers would become waterlogged and drag you down…"
"True," said Bia before she resumed her attention on Soren and Augustus as they shook their fur and membranous wings of the water, sending drops of it flying everywhere. Then the six rescued chicks and flying fox pup, who were trembling and cold also, were wrapped in moss by the older bats and birds. Polaris also breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing the remaining six kids safe and sound as they were being warmed up. What a relief, but then some of them, especially Diantha, began to shudder with rage. Whoever did this was gonna get it now for they had almost killed these six kids by drowning them. However, where were Sandalwood, Connie and Bellatrix? This question plagued Carla, Soren, Stella, and Bia's minds as they examined the surroundings but as soon as the five chicks and Ferdinand had been wrapped thoroughly in moss, Blu said, "Right, all we've gotta do now is take these to Tulio's Aviary where their parents are waiting as well as get them treated," but then a serious look appeared on his face, "but we've still gotta rescue Sandalwood, Bellatrix and that grey-headed bat pup kid," Blu then began to examine the clearing around the group for any signs of an amber, blue and grey flash of the two missing bat pups and chick. However he, along with the others, were unaware that the three missing kids were in the clutches of the scaly mastermind behind the whole fiery disaster of the Blu Bird Sanctuary.
Hiding behind a large rock with a tightly bound Bellatrix, Sandalwood and Connie n his pad-hands, Dalek glared rancorously at Blu's group. A vicious hiss filtered through his mouth and his eyes pierced the group, especially Aldebaran, Vega, Regulus, Sylvester and Katniss who had been rescued from the log along with Ferdinand, but most especially Blu and Jewel. An acidic hiss continuing to escape his clenched mouth, Dalek scoured the surroundings closest to him until they landed on a lethal something…
"We'll take these kids back to Tulio's Aviary while you guys search for Sandalwood, Bellatrix and that grey-headed flying fox who I believe is named Connie," said Aurora as she, Carla, Zephyr, Spinel, Diantha, Tom, Melissa and Rafael picked up the still-wet and shaken Ferdinand, Aldebaran, Vega, Regulus, Sylvester and Katniss in their talons or on their backs with Polaris flying separately for her feathers were dry enough to allow her to do so, having escaped from being plunged into the stream to get help thanks to Sylvester, while Augustus and Soren, their membranous wings and fur still wet from swimming in the stream to rescue Ferdinand's group, will ride on Zephyr and Rafael's backs. Blu, Jewel, Bia and Stella opted to stay behind to search for the three missing kids but then something sent horror tear through them when the corners of their eyes picked up an orange flash. Alarmed, all heads turned in the direction of the flash and to their horror, they saw that part of the tree wall of the clearing had caught fire. Blu then prompted those carrying the wet members to get out of here.
"Go, go, GO!" he shouted, ushering them into flight.
"Hold on, Sylvester," commanded Aurora to the Cuban macaw chick in her talons and with that, she opened her wings and lofted into flight. Zephyr followed with Carla, Spinel, Diantha, Tom, Rafael, and Melissa following, some with the other five kids, Augustus and Soren either riding on their backs or in their talons. Polaris flew alongside Rafael.
"You be careful, won't you," said Augustus firmly to Blu, Jewel, Bia and Stella as he rode on Zephyr's back but then his stern look turned to horror when he saw something behind the three Spix macaws and albino daughter. A gasp entered his mouth while Zephyr let loose a horrified screech.
"Look OUUT!" cried he and Augustus together while the others either screamed or cried the same thing. Blu, Jewel, Stella and Bia were about to turn round when suddenly, a pink harpoon-like thing shot in and like a slimy whip struck Jewel hard in the back, making her yelp in pain. Then the harpoon reappeared and struck the back of Jewel's head, its sticky end latching onto it. Then Jewel was pulled backwards and landed hard on her back, the harpoon then withdrawing itself. Blu, Bia and Stella shot astonished looks in the direction of the sticky harpoon-like tongue's owner when the harpoon tongue leaped at Stella, latched onto her face and pulled her violently forward.
"STELLA!" cried Blu as the albino flying fox was yanked forward onto her stomach. Both he and Bia ran over to a dazed Jewel and Stella and began to help them to their feet but then an extremely loud hiss of pure caustic acid erupted nearby. Spinel, who carried Katniss in her talons, saw something hurtle towards Blu as he helped Jewel to her feet.
"Blu, look OOUUUUUT!" cried the scarlet macaw while Katniss let loose piercing screams. Blu's brown eyes shot in the direction of what saw and when he saw a green scaly creature with scabby scratches and bite marks slashing through his colour-changing scaly hide charge towards him with a sharp knife-like edge aiming straight for his abdomen, the Spix macaw companion of Linda froze in immense horror. Tom then took action. Hastily handing Aldebaran to Rafael, the toco toucan mate of Diantha dived down towards the frozen Spix macaw despite protests from his friends, especially Rafael who had Soren on his back and now Aldebaran in his talons, and Diantha, his mate.
"TOOOM!" shouted Rafael.
"Get BACK HERE!" bellowed Spinel. However, Tom ignored them and continued hurtling towards Blu and as soon as he was near him and Jewel as the tip of the knife-like thing held by the charging Dalek aimed straight for Blu's belly a few seconds away from its target, Tom bellowed, "Blu, MOOOOOVE!"
Blu continued to stand transfixed in extreme horror at the incoming chameleon and his sharp weapon but then he felt something feathery bash hard into his side and knock him away. Jewel was also knocked away from Dalek by the feathery thing but as both Spix macaws crashed at the foot of Bia and Stella, a spray of blood launched into the air, accompanied by utter screams of horror from Rafael and the others, especially Diantha.
"TOOOOOOOOOOOOM!"
Blu and Jewel shook their heads and shot a horrified look in Tom's direction, along with Stella and Bia and to their horror; they saw what had happened. Bia and Stella let loose screams of horror as well. Tom's face had gone completely rigid, a look of utter surprise and pure agony plastered all over it. His eye pupils had shrunken to the size of dots and his orange and black beak was open, wide and agape in a soundless cry of the agony, like a soldier that had been severely wounded in battle. His body was completely stiff and his wings had clasped onto something hard, and that hard thing had plunged right into his stomach. Then the background noise began to fade out as though Blu and company had been plunged into a vacuum, a soundless environment, and the flickering of the fire's fingers consuming the trees slowed down drastically. Directly before of Tom's stunned and agonised look, Dalek glared at him, the most rancorous, utterly sadistic and insanity-saturated glare the group had ever seen. Not a single shred of remorse or 'Ooops, wrong target' expression was in his eyes, at all; his hand-pads clenched hard on the sharp object. Then it all became clear to Blu and company:
Dalek had impaled Tom in the stomach with a knife-like piece of wood when the chameleon was in fact aiming for Blu only for Tom to bash him and Jewel out of the way and take the hit instead. In the background behind the rock, a bound and gagged Sandalwood, Connie and Bellatrix also let loose horrified whimpers and began to shed anguished tears when they also saw the mortifying scene.