Alright I'm back ya'll!!! I know there is some pretty controversial topics in the last chapter, but don't worry things will get better...and worse. Anyways, I just got a job!! Not my first one but my first job after graduating trade school, so hopefully I'll be on a pretty regularly schedule for writing chapters. So let's get into it!!
Eduardo stood on a rock, watching his son as he gathered food, leaves, and other odds and ends that the tribe needed.
"Dad how much more do we need?" Complained Eduardos son
Eduardo turned and looked at the pile that had been built up. There were little pouches made of leaves and vines that made it easy for the birds to transport the goods.
"I think that will be the last of it son. You've come a long way from when we first started doing this" Eduardo said, hopping down to his son.
"It's so boring. Why can't I play with all my friends. It's not fair!" Eduardos son yelled
"Come here son. Your doing this to learn what it takes to be the tribe leader. One day you'll be up there and you'll look back at this and thank me." Eduardo patted his sons head and smiled.
"I don't wanna be the tribe leader! I wanna be free and fly across the jungle" the little bird had a bitter expression on his face.
Eduardo didn't know how to comprehend what his son has just said to him. He thought for a second, back to what his dad said to him when he was in training to be the leader.
"Son, it's your duty to become the leader. Just like it was for me. Our ancestors built this tribe up, and we need to protect it with all cost. You are.."
"No dad! You can't make me do this! If I don't wanna be the leader, I don't have to. Even if that means leaving." Eduardos son said, looking up at him. He then turned away and started flying away
"No! Son! Come back!" Eduardo tried to fly, but there was something holding him back. He didn't know what it was. Eduardo watched his son drift off into the horizon.
"No son...I'm sorry" he felt a pain in his chest and he fell to the ground.
Eduardo woke, breathing heavy. He turned to look at his wife. Lucky she was dead asleep.
"It's a good thing she's a heavy sleeper." Eduardo thought as he rubbed his face.
He then moved his sleepy glance to the crib which was placed in the middle of the hollow. The moonlight shined down into the crib, exposing the pale white egg. The egg was slightly covered by a blanket of leaves which Eduardo had carefully made the day before. He slowly got up from his bed, being carful not to wake June. It was still dark out when Eduardo woke from his dream. The only thing illuminating the rainforest was a shiny, pale grey moon. Eduardo walked over to the crib and sat down next to one of its sides. He slide his wing through the wooded bars and caressed the egg.
"Everything will turn out the way it needs to be." Eduardo whispered, giving the egg a slight grin.
The half asleep bird, then stood up from the wooden floor and walked to the entrance of the hollow. It was a clear morning, Eduardo didn't see another living creature in sight, it was still too early for any animal to be up. But there was Eduardo, looking over the grove where their tribe lived.
"I should get some food for June. I don't want her doing anything today, she's probably still exhausted from last night." Eduardo said to himself.
He turned back to look at the crib, making sure the egg was alright. After His dream, Eduardo felt eerie about flying. That feeling of being held back felt so real, so real he didn't know if he could fly still. He shook the thought out of his head and flapped his wings to gather food for himself, and his beloved.
He soon landed on a branch of a mango tree. He didn't particularly like mangos. He much preferred Brazil nuts, but June loved mangos. Every morning she would have a juicy, ripe, mango. Eduardo didn't understand it.
"Why do you love those so much? The juice gets everywhere, your beak gets all sticky."
"It's the flavors you taste when you bite into it. It lights a fire in my heart..and in my stomach" June giggled
Eduardo tore off two mangos from the branch and held them in his talons. He then flew into the air, and headed back to his hollow to prepare breakfast. The sun was now starting to show its lovely orange glow onto the rainforest, birds and other animals started waking from their nights slumber. Some of the tribe members started flying towards the Brazil nut and mango groves to get their breakfast. Some flew past Eduardo and give him a welcoming morning greeting. Eduardo spotted his major just as he was about to take off, but he stopped him to chat.
"Good morning sir. Seems you've been up awhile." The macaw greeted Eduardo, standing up tall.
"Carlos, take it easy. You don't have to get all up tight this early." Eduardo laughed as he patted his majors shoulder.
"Sorry sir, how's June doing?" Carlos questioned
"Well actually, she gave birth last night." Eduardo chuckled a little.
"Hey! Congrats man!! Your going to have a big family now!" Carlos praised Eduardo, patting him on the back.
"Thank you Carlos, I should probably get these to June." Eduardo said showing the mangos with a slight upset look. Carlos didn't notice it.
Both birds flew off to do their business, Eduardo was visibly upset with what Carlos said to him. He didn't want to think to much about to so he continued flying towards his home.
He arrived at the edge of the hollow and peaked inside, June was still deep in sleep. The sun now illuminated the entire hollow, giving June's feathers a sleek, shiny look. Eduardo placed the two mangos on the table and walked over to his wife to wake her.
"Good morning my beautiful ray of sunshine." Eduardo bent down and kissed June's head.
"Mmm good morning honey" June turned over with a sleepy look and gave Eduardo a kiss.
"How did you sleep?" Eduardo asked, walking over to the table.
"With what happened last night, surprisingly goodnight." June noticed the mangos on the table. "When did you get those?" June pointed at the mangos.
"Oh uh, I got them...this morning." Eduardo stuttered over his words. He didn't want June to know how early he got up.
"Did you not sleep well?" June said, lazily crawling out of bed.
"No I slept fine. Just wanted to be quick and get these mangos before anyone else" Eduardo scratched the back of his head. He didn't want June to know about his dream from the previous night.
"Hmm well I appreciate you getting them this morning my love." June said in a loving voice. She grabbed Eduardo by his beak and kissed him.
June went to the crib to take care of the egg while Eduardo cut both of the mangos in half. He watched in amazement as June cradled the egg. Eduardo knew she would be a great mother, but he had his doubts if he would be a great father. The two birds sat and enjoyed their mangos, well at least one of them did.
There you have it! The end of chapter two. Hopefully you guys enjoyed it. I had a little trouble putting together how upset Eduardo was with only having one egg. But like I said, it will get better...and worse. I'll see you next time!!