Chapter 99- good riddance and a species saved in time
Hours later, past midday
Firefighters continued to tackle what was left of the fire that had been ravaging the vast majority of the Blu Bird Sanctuary for the past day. Streams of smoke continued to rise lazily from the blackened trees and other vegetation which were now nothing more than mere skeletal forms lacking their green leaves or colourful fruit and flowers. The evacuated Blu Bird Sanctuary residents had been surveying their damaged homes in utter consternation and outrage for they had been told by Orton and several other birds from Tulio's Aviary that the major cause of the fire was the toucan chicks messing about with sticks and branches set alight. After this news had reached the ears of the locals, this was the final nail in the coffin for the badly behaved toucans, and almost all of them had been finally caught and caged by orders from Tulio, much to the gladness of the other locals and Blu and company. Though the badly behaved toucans had lost individuals to the fire as well, this did not leave them a reason for any sympathy from the other birds and animals whatsoever.
While the activities were going on in dealing what was left of the fire, surveying the aftermath, the injured birds treated at the Aviary, and more and more of the badly behaved toucans were caught and caged, and the looking after of Gylfie in the artificial chamber, a few certain birds and three cats were walking down the path, or sidewalk, of the road leading to Tulio's Aviary decorated with a line of trees on each side. Despite the devastation that had ravaged the sanctuary over the past day and the sea of anger that continued to boil against the badly behaved toucans for this whole mess, there was a glimmer of joy and hope penetrating through the black clouds like a ray of sunlight, and this was felt by this group of birds and cats which consisted of Rafael, Eva, Diantha, Sheldon, Spinel, Poinsettia, Wilbur, Jasmine, Finn, Frodo, Ellie, Finnick and Kira, and Broccoli, Daisy and Collette, as they continued to walk down the sidewalk. Cometa, Travis, Sunset and Lightning had left to look after the good toucan chicks with Rita, Carlos, and the other toucans who were goodly behaved or had reformed, in a part of the forest that had not caught fire in order to prevent getting accidentally caught by Tulio and his team, though Tulio had decided that a few of the toucans will stay, especially based on Rafael and Eva's good behaviour and that of Diantha and her two chicks, Gladion and Lillie, and also since Diantha was favoured by some of the humans such as Susan, Bernardo and Lucy, and has helped Tulio and his team to locate the badly behaved toucans to catch and cage. As the thirteen birds and three cats walked along, thrilled smiles, the first ones since the start of the incident last night involving the kidnapping of the kids by the badly behaved toucans, glowed on their faces.
"I'm so glad that Betelgeuse, Rigel and Antares are alright and that Connie is out of surgery with her wing fixed, Rafael," said Ellie.
"We've been SO WORRIED for Rigel's brother and sister particular," said Frodo.
"Some of us kept thinking that those two weren't gonna make it," added Finnick.
"When we heard that those two had been hooked up to a ventilator in the intensive care unit, we were worried as well," said Broccoli.
"We knew that they were in serious condition," said Collette.
"From the amount of fire and smoke they had been exposed to, along with their sister Rigel," said Daisy.
"Well, both those chicks are finally stable and their breathing are fine," said Kira, "Which is a good thing."
"Yeah, but the two, along with Rigel, are severely traumatised from the whole ordeal like the rest of the kids including Gladion and Lillie," said Rafael worriedly.
"And there is particular worry for Betelgeuse's forehead and left talon which had been badly burned but most especially her talon;" put in Eva, "For all we know she may have had surgery on her foot to treat it."
"It was terrible, I can tell you," said Sheldon who continued to shudder at the sight of his older daughter lying unconscious facedown when he and the others with them, including Zebedee, Iris, Sebastian, Luna and Anabelle, had found her, Antares and Rigel, as well as Antares passed out under the shrub and Rigel's injured shoulder. Then Broccoli began to tremble with rage again.
"After hearing how that Sofia brat and her comrades have left those three poor chicks in the fire is the final fish for me, Collette and Daisy for them," he hissed, "not to mention the fact that so many of their chicks were involved in spreading the fire through the forest and causing the damage."
"Yeah, they've practically destroyed everything for everyone," said Eva sadly, but then a frown came upon her face, "But not only have those badly behaved sons and daughters of ours and their mates and chicks have done that, but they have brought themselves into the disaster too," a sigh escaped her beak, "based on the reports from some of the surveying groups of birds, dozens of toucan carcases have been discovered in the burned forest, among them Miguel and Manoela who have been trying to hide in a log with a lot of their kids…"
A sob then escaped her throat as anguish over what so many of her sons, daughters, in-laws and grandkids have come to threatened to erupt.
"Didn't you two tell your countless sons and daughters about the dangers of fire and fire-related things like cigarette lighters and matches?" asked Frodo as he walked with Ellie and Diantha, whose heart was still in tatters over the loss of Tom last night.
"We did," said Rafael, but then his face fell, "We taught all of our kids about those things and that they should not be messed with but it seemed that they hadn't passed on this important knowledge to their kids," his saddened gaze then landed on Diantha as she continued to point her beak and gaze to the ground, a tear falling from her eye, "Not like how she and her mate, along with Carlos, Rita and a few others had done anyway."
"Gladion and Lillie knew full well of the dangers of playing with fire as well as the destruction it causes if it gets out of control, anyway, especially after what happened in the two previous fires that tore through the Sanctuary de Amazon years ago," said Frodo. He then put a comforting wing on Diantha's back as she released more sobs and tears. The rest of the gang nodded in agreement. Then something else entered Finnick and Kira's minds.
"Oh, haven't you heard the news from Phoebe and Cobalto?" asked Finnick with a smile and in his silvery voice that was similar to his father Roberto's. When the smiling gazes of Rafael, Eva, Diantha, Sheldon, Spinel, Poinsettia, Wilbur, Jasmine, Finn, Frodo, Ellie, Broccoli, Daisy and Collette converged on him, Kira gave the answer. "Zebedee and Iris have just got engaged."
Joy welled within the other fourteen animals, including Diantha despite her severe heartbreak.
"Is this true?" asked Broccoli.
"We weren't there to hear the announcement," said Collette.
"We were busy checking on Gladion and Lillie and the other well-behaved toucan chicks with Rita, Carlos and some of the toucans who are sensible in the unburned part of the forest," said Daisy.
"Yes," said Finnick, "And Phoebe, Cobalto, Indigo and Victor were thrilled to hear about it."
"As were some of the others that had been there to hear the announcement, including Blu, Jewel and the rest of us," added Jasmine as she walked with Finn.
"Well, I'm so happy for them," said Eva with excitement.
"Looks like Phoebe and Cobalto will be having another grand-chick or two to add to the one they already have, which is Sugilite," said Rafael.
"Not to mention Indigo, Violet and Victor becoming aunts and uncle to Zebedee and Iris's chicks and Sugilite gaining some cousins," put in Finn.
"I remember Sebastian and Anabelle becoming an aunt and uncle to Sandalwood when he was born to Soren and Stella, and Acerola and Ferdinand gaining a cousin," added Finnick.
"I think a lot of us certainly do have quite an interesting family, don't we?" asked Poinsettia, her gaze turned to Sheldon, "Mom and Dad (that is, Athos and Ruby) certainly do have a blend of grandchildren."
"One pure scarlet who is back in the Amazon, and three three-quarter scarlet/one-quarter green-winged and four Catalina," said Sheldon, "Absolutely."
Wilbur, Poinsettia and Spinel smiled at this.
"Yes, you guys certainly do have an interesting assortment of hybrid offspring from various species," said Rafael with a smile, "With Altair and Aldebaran being the only other half-scarlet macaws."
Diantha managed a smile and nodded in agreement but said nothing. Then Broccoli put on a smile of his own, as did his sisters Daisy and Collette.
"Yep, it sure will be exciting to see another family of macaws in our group when Zebedee and Iris get down to starting one," he said. The group of sixteen animals then turned a corner and continued walking.
"But of course, the couple will be having their chicks in Luiz's garage for it will take many months for the Blu Bird Sanctuary to return to its former glory after what the fire has done," continued Broccoli. Nods rolled through the other fifteen.
"I'm afraid so," said Rafael sadly, "Luiz is also gonna have to host a number of the other locals in his garage as well, while Nico, Pedro, Rose and Sparkle will have to use their clubs as temporary refuges for more Blu Bird Sanctuary locals too."
"It's completely unforgivable what those careless badly-behaved toucans have done to their homes, as well as ours, I can tell you," said Kira with a growl. As the group walked on and came to a stop, Kira continuing to talk, four familiar toucans walked in.
"Hopefully, a disaster like this will NEVER happen again…" continued Carla and her siblings' cousin but she trailed off when her brown eyes found the four toucans. Rafael, Eva, Diantha, Sheldon, Spinel, Poinsettia, Wilbur, Jasmine, Finn, Frodo, Ellie, Finnick, Broccoli, Daisy and Collette also stopped when their eyes also found the four toucans, which were Sofia, Marco, Anastasia and Marcel who had managed to escape capture by Tulio and his team, and when these four saw Rafael's group, the quartet gave them worried looks. But those looks were not for the kids of Carla, Bia and Tiago and company.
"How are our remaining kids doing in Tulio's Aviary?" asked Marco timidly, especially as scowls appeared on the faces of Rafael's group and the feathers and fur of Spinel, Sheldon, Diantha, Broccoli, Daisy, Collette, Wilbur and Poinsettia bristled. Sofia, her left cheek bearing a half-healed scratch, then trembled at the sight of Poinsettia.
"What are you four doing out here?" growled Rafael angrily.
"I thought you four were back at the Aviary with the other toucans, getting caged," put in Poinsettia.
"L-l-look, we just wanna know how our kids are doing, that's all," protested Sofia timidly.
"Have you checked on them lately?" asked Anastasia equally timidly. She especially gazed at Broccoli, Collette and Daisy warily, especially as the three cats' furious scowls continued to pierce them and feared that they may lash at her, Marco, Sofia and Marcel and attack them.
"Why do you wanna know about the wellbeing of your kids?" growled Jasmine in a low voice.
"What about those of everyone else?" put in Finn, "Especially Spinel and Sheldon's two daughters and son whom YOU TWO," his glare was directed at Sofia and Marco, "had critically endangered in that fire?" he gestured to Spinel and Sheldon, who were furious, as he said this.
"We're NOT talking about YOUR kids," snapped Marcel, much to Finn's blink of shock, "We're talking about OURS, now please tell us, how are they doing?"
Rafael's group exchanged disgusted glances. The selfishness of Sofia, Marco, Marcel and Anastasia was clearly driving them up the tree trunk now.
"Look, you've got DOZENS AND DOZENS AND DOZENS of children while THESE MACAWS, your SISTER, and the rest of Carla, Tiago and Bia's gang only have ONE TO FOUR!" shouted Broccoli, gesturing to Diantha and the others with a front paw as he said this, "Why do you only show MORE CONCERN for YOUR countless offspring than the ONLY ONES THESE BIRDS AND FLYING FOXES HAVE!?"
"Is that all our own kids are worth compared to YOURS?" asked Wilbur, an offended wave pulsing through him at Marco and the other three toucans' lack of regard for Sandalwood and the rest of Carla and company's offspring, "Nothing but MERE PIECES of LEFTOVER FRUIT!?"
"Especially after nearly LOSING ALL OF THEM in that FIRE!?" put in Spinel as she shuddered and her eyes threatening to well tears, "Including my and Sheldon's ONLY TWO DAUGHTERS and SON!?"
Diantha and the others also shuddered with offended rage while Eva, Rafael and the three cats continued to glare at Marco, Sofia, Anastasia and Marcel disgustedly.
"Look, Poinsettia, Spinel, the rest of you," began Marco, "I know you're upset but so are we…"
Then Diantha finally felt something within her snap. Storming forward from Rafael's group right over to her brother, sister and two of her in-laws, the widowed toucan shoved her multi-coloured beak right into Marco's face, and her brown eyes blazed with fury.
"Us, UPSET!?" Diantha snarled, as she forced Marco back against a nearby waste bin, "We're NOT JUST UPSET, Marco! We're UTTERLY FURIOUS with what you have allowed your COUNTLESS CHICKS to do," Marco opened his beak to protest but Diantha swept on; "I HATE YOU! I am ASHAMED TO EVEN BE your SISTER," Diantha's voice then lowered to a growl as she shoved her face into Marco's to the point of forcing him so far back that he threatened to fall onto his back, "I will never… forgive you!"
"It's likely that so many of the other residents will not forgive you as well," added Frodo. Then he, Ellie, Sheldon, Spinel, Poinsettia, Wilbur, Jasmine, Finn, Finnick and Kira, and Diantha as well, turned to Rafael, Eva and also Broccoli, Daisy and Collette.
"Uncle Rafael, Aunt Eva, Broccoli, Daisy, Collette," said Finnick in a sad voice, "As soon as our flight feathers regrow and we're able to fly again, and when those that had been injured, such as Neytiri, Gladion, Connie and several others with injured wings recover from their injuries, we're gonna move back into the Sanctuary de Amazon permanently."
Broccoli and his sisters threw on dismaying looks, to which Kira took notice.
"I know you three cats like having us here but we're sorry," she said, "but we cannot live here with these four vulture-like ruffians," she shot Marco, Anastasia, Sofia and Marcel a bitter glare as she said this, "and their equally deranged chicks running amok and causing us trouble and damage and potentially influencing our kids…"
"Especially after the trauma that Isabella chick of YOURS had caused Sandalwood in the beginning of all this, leading to his fear of heights and flying in the first place," put in Jasmine and with that, she shot Marco and Anastasia an acidic scowl. The couple opened their beaks to protest but their tongues stuck in their beaks, especially as Jasmine's blue volcanic plumes bore into them. The others nodded in agreement. However, Rafael and Eva already had the solution to the problem.
"Oh, don't you worry, you eleven," said the former with a frown, before he directed it at Marco, Sofia, Anastasia and Marcel, "Those four are the ones that will be moving out of this place permanently, along with the rest of the badly behaved toucans."
"But not to the Sanctuary de Amazon," said Eva firmly. Then Rafael hardened his glare on Marco and the other three with him, "Come with me and Eva and let's get back to Tulio's Aviary, you four."
Marco, Anastasia, Sofia and Marcel shook their heads in shock.
"Wh-what!?" snapped Marco.
"You heard your father, Marco," growled Eva. Then Sofia stepped forward.
"Mom, Dad, d-d-don't be silly," she protested, "We live here. This is our home."
However, Rafael and Eva had already made their decision and were adamant in it.
"Fine," said the latter fiercely, "We'll get Broccoli, Collette and Daisy to SEIZE YOUR FOUR BACKSIDES and DRAG 'EM to the Aviary on your behalf."
With that, the keel-billed toucan nodded to Broccoli, Daisy and Collette who turned to glare at the four toucans.
"It will be a pleasure to take those four Nigel-like vultures to Tulio's Aviary," hissed Broccoli, his fur puffed out. Daisy and Collette nodded in agreement. However, before the three cats could take one step towards Sofia, Marco, Anastasia and Marcel, the four complied at the last second.
"Okay, we're GOING!" cried Sofia timidly and rushed over to Rafael and Eva. This done, the toco toucan and his keel-billed mate led the quartet back to Tulio's Aviary. Broccoli, Daisy, Collette, and Diantha and the others followed close behind Marco and the other three to MAKE SURE that the four complied.
Sometime later, Rafael and company were back in the vicinity of Tulio's Aviary and before them, a number of cages, some of them containing toucans with the rest still empty, were placed neatly at the front of the entrance, ready to be packed once the toucans were placed in them, and Tulio's team was at work in and around the building, either treating the injured animals, caging more toucans or tidying up. As soon as Rafael's group was close to the cages, Marco, Anastasia, Sofia and Marcel spotted some familiar chicks.
"Oh, no, ISABELLA, KIDS!" cried Anastasia. Marco, Sofia, and Marcel also looked on in utter disbelief and consternation. Isabella, whose plumage was masked by bandages for she had been playing with the branches of fire as well and had suffered horrific burns, slowly looked up and saw her parents. Some of her siblings, also badly burned, did the same. Then Marco, Sofia, Marcel and Anastasia shot Rafael and the others distressed looks but any sliver of sympathy they expected from them was completely absent; as bare as a deforested area was of trees. Then Rafael walked over to the cage containing Anastasia, Marco, Sofia and Marcel's kids, and stood by them, an angry look on his face.
"Right," he said, with a wing gesture to the cages, "In you go."
"Look, what are we gonna do when we are taken away from here?" asked Sofia.
"Especially with those kids of ours smothered in bandages like that," put in Anastasia, her voice threatening to break.
"We don't care," said Kira, "We just want you outa here… for good."
"And if you want the truth," continued Eva, "We're just past caring for you lot… ALL of us."
Anastasia, Marco, Sofia and Marcel continued looking on despairingly as Rafael continued.
"Look, you four," said he, his gaze looking down to the ground and wings folded, "This isn't something as immature as graffiti-ing all over the trees of our neighbours or pelting others with fruit…"
"And it isn't even something as mean and horrible as destroying Spinel's Ipod or Travis and his family's birdhouse, OR nearly burning Eustace and company alive when you attacked them, Uncle Blu and the rest of us at Tulio and Linda's cottage, including our human friends," put in Kira. The cousin of Carla and her siblings then shuddered as her voice began to break, "This is something that is WELL AND TRULY off the scale... to EVEN fathom..."
Anastasia, Marco, Sofia and Marcel continued gazing at Rafael and company as the former continued. "So… we want you to be taken away from here for good, and I hope you and your other siblings and in-laws and chicks involved in this disaster will look back on the devastation you have caused the rest of us in utter SHAME and DISGRACE."
Anastasia, Marco, Sofia and Marcel blinked their eyes, speechlessness grasping the four toucans hard like jaguar jaws. Then Rafael gestured to the cages again and added, "So in you go."
Then Marco, Anastasia, Sofia and Marcel, desperation boiling within them, turned to Diantha, Sheldon, Spinel, Poinsettia, Wilbur, Jasmine, Finn, Frodo, Ellie, Finnick and Kira, and also Broccoli, Daisy and Collette and began to beg them for defence, but to their utter dismay and despair, they got none, and Diantha was threatening to break down again. Tears were falling from her eyes like rain and sobs were threatening to erupt from her.
"Diantha, PLEASE," cried Marco, "Tell Rafael and Eva, our parents, that we're innocent! We're your SIBLINGS!"
However, Diantha began to tremble with bitter rage.
"NOT ANY MORE, YOU'RE NOT!" she snapped, "In fact, I wish we WEREN'T!"
Sofia and Marco continued to gaze at Diantha as she began to break down, Broccoli and Daisy comforting her. Then the two, along with Anastasia and Marcel whirled round to Rafael and Eva and stormed over to them, anger flaring within them.
"You know," growled Marco bitterly to his parents, "I think you've been waiting for an opportunity to GET RID OF US…"
"DON'T you DARE try to MAKE US CHANGE OUR MINDS!" retorted Rafael, "We didn't WANT ANY OF THIS!"
"And BESIDES THAT," put in Eva, "YOU are the ones WHO BROUGHT THIS ON YOURSELVES! I HOPE YOU'RE PROUD OF YOURSELVES! Now IN YOU GO!
And with that, she shot a wing point to the cases containing the four toucan's remaining chicks including Isabella. Marco, Sofia, Anastasia and Marcel flashed one last glance at Diantha and Sheldon and the other macaws and the three cats with them and hastily rushed over to one of Tulio's team members as he came in to check on the already-caged toucans and allowed themselves to be caught. After this, Rafael and Eva darted away and re-joined Sheldon and company and watched the four toucans get caught and caged by Tulio's employee with their children. Diantha continued to break down in Broccoli and Daisy's paws while Rafael and Eva also began to break down, anguish at what so many of their kids and grandkids had become overwhelming them at last. Their sobbing invited consolation from Sheldon, Spinel, Poinsettia, Wilbur, Jasmine, Finn, Frodo, Ellie, Finnick and Kira, and also Broccoli, Daisy and Collette as they pulled the couple, and Diantha as well, into a group hug.
Later
And so the fate of the badly-behaved toucans was sealed. The rest of the toucans banished from the Blu Bird Sanctuary walked willingly towards Tulio and his team to be caught and caged. Around them, the vast majority of the locals of the Blu Bird Sanctuary had come to witness the banishment of these toucans once and for all. Among them were Orton, Kipo, Nico, Pedro, Rose and Sparkle, and Blu, Jewel, Zephyr, Aurora and D'Artagnan, Aurora, Athos, Porthos, Aramis, Phoebe and Levi and all their families and friends, and Rafael, Eva, Diantha, Carlos, Rita and a few other toucans, the good ones that were allowed to stay, and Cometa, Lightning, Orion, Hermione, Velocity, Riker, Travis, Sunset, Eustace, Milo, Rosa, Serena and Clemont; Broccoli, Daisy and Collette and some dogs, among them Luiz, Dash, Ginger, Avellana, Esperanza, James, Danny, Rusty, Worf and Ebony, and also Augustus, Melissa, Sebastian, Stella, Luna, Soren, Anabelle and some of the kids of Carla, Bia, Tiago and company, among them Sandalwood, Acerola, Ferdinand, Sirius, Einstein and Miles, and they all watched the badly-behaved toucans as they continued to walk towards Tulio and his team to be caged.
The badly-behaved toucans were practically walking along the path of shame, as the crowd's eyes, which were full to the brim of outrage, bitterness, smugness and disgust, continued to bore into them, and some of the Blu Bird Sanctuary residents, among them some of the frigatebirds that lived on the site, also threatened the toucans with fruit and sticks, or even their own talons, as the toucans walked past. Orton, Kipo, Hermione, Orion, Velocity and Riker were among these birds. Among the toucan line were Robbie and Mabel, a small makeshift nest carrying their newest clutch of five eggs, and as they passed by Blu's group, a look of bitterness was directed from them at Blu and the others. However, they were forced to pull their glares away from this group and continue on to Tulio and his team. It truly was a sight to behold, but it was also very daunting and frightening especially for one to imagine oneself amongst those toucans walking through the crowd of disgusted lasers pointing as him or her. While this continued to happen, Blu said to Jewel, Zephyr and Aurora, "I'm gonna fly into Tulio's Aviary to check on Gylfie's wellbeing."
The three said Spix macaws nodded and with that, Blu opened his wings and took off for the entrance to the Aviary, while the three macaws continued glaring at the passing badly-behaved toucans in disgust.
Inside Tulio's Aviary, Roberto, Brisa, Andromeda, Eragon, Roxanne, Sardonyx and Greg were standing near the doorway to the artificial jungle chamber. Inside the chamber, four humans, among them Jack and Jill were awaiting the laying of Gylfie's eggs. However, Gylfie was not in good shape at all. Vulcan the kestrel from the Control de Pragas Squad then touched down before the seven birds and gazed at them with a sombre look on his face.
"How is she doing?" asked Roberto.
"Not good I'm afraid," said Vulcan sadly, his gaze turning to the human quartet's direction as they continued to work on Gylfie, "Gylfie's not well at all, and our human friends are working fast to save her eggs which she is yet to lay," his gaze turned back to the seven just as Blu appeared, "Apparently, Gylfie has lost the will to live."
As Blu walked in, shock erupted within him and Roberto, Brisa, Andromeda, Eragon, Roxanne, Sardonyx and Greg flinched.
"What!?" snapped Eragon.
"You're NOT serious!" added Sardonyx in disbelief.
"She's dying!?" put in Andromeda with consternation. Vulcan breathed a sigh, "The trauma of losing Aurum, the only other known golden fruithawk in existence, combined with that of the fire and seeing the marauding toucans has proven too much for her, but she's hanging on until her eggs are laid which should be any minute now."
Roberto, Brisa, Andromeda, Eragon, Roxanne, Sardonyx and Greg, and now Blu as well, exchanged worried glances and breathed saddened sighs. Behind the group, Mumble, JD, Atreyu, Ginny and Balthazar watched on, saddened looks on their faces.
Then at last, after a few more minutes, the time came for Gylfie to lay her eggs. Blu, Roberto, Brisa, Andromeda, Eragon, Roxanne, Sardonyx and Greg watched on from a distance as Jack, Jill and the other two humans worked on helping Gylfie to deliver the eggs into a specially designed nest constructed by Francisco, a friend of Susan and Lucy and one of Tulio's employees. Several other birds, among them Carla, Bia, Tiago and Kira, had entered the chamber came in to witness the event. While the process was taking place, Roberto held up a wing to the newcomers to command them to halt and wait until the process is finished. Carla and the others stopped and obeyed. Gylfie's laying of the eggs continued for a while hour until finally, Gylfie managed to expend the last of her strength to lay the final egg. This done, one of the humans, a woman, nodded to her colleague and to Jack and Jill and congratulated them, before she and her colleague left with the clutch of precious eggs to place in an incubator. After the two humans had left with the eggs, Blu, Roberto, Brisa, Andromeda, Eragon, Roxanne, Sardonyx and Greg came in and joined Jack and Jill as they continued stroking the now-dying Gylfie on the table.
"Okay, you guys can come in now," said Roberto to Carla's group, to which they did. As Carla's group gathered around a short distance from Gylfie, Bia asked Blu, "How many eggs has she laid, Dad?"
"Five," said Blu, "Which is a good number," but then his face fell as his gaze turned to Gylfie, "But the process has exhausted the last of the poor fruithawk's strength."
Carla, Bia, Tiago and Kira and their companions turned their gaze to Gylfie as she continued to gasp in exhaustion, her strength ebbing away. Slowly and weakly, she turned to Blu, Roberto and Andromeda.
"Th-th-there has to be… o-o-o-other golden fruithawks like us o-o-out there…" she whispered, "Pl-pl-please pr-pr-promise me that you'll l-l-l-l-look after m-m-my offspring and n-n-n-nurture them as they grow. Th-th-they're the only hope for the g-g-g-golden fruithawk's survival now."
Blu, Roberto and Andromeda nodded while Carla, Bia, Tiago and Kira and the others, and Jack and Jill as well, looked on, tears welling in their eyes.
"We will," said Blu and with that, he stroked Gylfie's forehead with a wing. Gylfie managed a weak smile in response to this comforting stroke, but then she began to feel her consciousness ebb away. Blu and the others continued looking on as Gylfie's strength continued to drain away like water from a leaky bucket. Then after gazing for one final time at Blu and company, Gylfie's head fell back and her lungs exhaled her final breath, indicating the inevitable. From the small group, Eragon looked on and said, "That's it?"
Blu felt Gylfie's pulse and turned to him, Brisa, Vulcan, Roxanne, Sardonyx and Greg, tears in his eyes. Andromeda and Roberto also began to ooze tears, as did Carla, Bia, Tiago and Kira as Jack and Jill backed away and gazed at Gylfie's lifeless body, tears also falling from their eyes. Then Roberto, Andromeda, Carla, Bia, Tiago and Kira left to join Vulcan's group on the floor to console them as they began to break down, leaving Blu to stand by Gylfie's body.
"We will look after and raise your offspring," said Blu in a saddened voice as devastation at what had become of her and Aurum overshadowed him, not to mention the rage at the badly-behaved toucans and their involvement in Aurum's death and Gylfie's fatal condition. Then Jack came forward and told Blu that it was time to take Gylfie's body away. Blu nodded and stepped back as Jack and his twin sister Jill took a towel and wrapped it around the lifeless body of the last surviving golden fruithawk (possibly) to take it away.
Blu then turned and gazed into the darkening sky through the skylight, indicating evening and the exact time the fiery disaster that swept through the Blu Bird Sanctuary, starting with the kidnap of Sandalwood and the others by the badly-behaved toucans, with a tear welling in one of his eyes.