Questions
(A/N: O.K, another update! This chapter was brought on quickly as I realised that I can't really wait around to do a chapter every month…we'll be here almost two years! So I decided to speed things up a little. I hope this pleases some…)
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The whole mystery was indeed forgotten by the time that the night began to settle in. Ginger had been as good as her word, organising everyone and sending the message around that there would be a meeting at the next hour. It wasn't a secret, however…everyone knew that it would be involving Azul and his arrival.
A lot of the girls were rather excited. It wasn't often that a newcomer came along to visit…Azul had been the first one since they had made the sanctuary their home. Many gossiping had been going on while the meeting time had drawn closer, whether this dashing rooster had a female friend…if he was looking, even.
"Oh, pull yourself togetha!" Bunty had scolded harshly, as a few giggling hens had told her of their concerns. She couldn't see what the fuss was all about either, though she was interested in the stories and wanted to know herself. On an account, she hardly found Azul 'striking', not like the others.
As the hour closed in for the meeting time, Ginger looked out of her hut window and already saw a crowd beginning to gather in the field. She gave a small smile to herself as she watched, and called out to Rocky who was getting ready himself, but she never turned around.
"Everyone's coming together," she said. "We'd better get out there quickly."
"What's the hurry?" Rocky dawdled, straightening out his spotted neck scarf and trying not to look out into the field. "We can be just a little late, can't we?"
"No, we can't."
"Yeah, sure we can! The spokesperson's always late, Ginge," Rocky's voice sounded a little bitter as he struggled to remain out of sight. He forced a scowl from his face as he saw that Ginger had rolled her eyes, mainly out of annoyance. "I don't see why I gotta go," he sulked.
Ginger still didn't look at him, but searched the island for more groups of hens. "You have to come along, Rocky," she told him patiently. "I'd like you to hear what he has to stay too. What would you prefer? Staying indoors while everyone listens to his story outside?"
"Works for me," he shrugged.
"Oh, Rocky!"
"What?" Rocky remarked, pretending to act surprised, and asking with his voice a little higher than usual. "Why is this so important for you? Why do you wanna get him to know everyone? The guy's gonna leave as quick as he came!"
Ginger still couldn't understand the strain that had been building up between Rocky and Azul. It was like they were enemies, and they had barely even made eye contact. She sighed, but still refused not to look at him, and carried on staring.
Rocky continued to take forever, patrolling around the room as if in a daze, mainly to stall time. He really didn't want to go…why did he have to? Ginger had already explained to him about her talk with Azul, and Rocky wanted no such thing. He didn't feel like talking to this rooster right now, not about anything.
Finally, Ginger turned her head around and noticed that Rocky was deliberately taking too long. Fuming a little, she marched away from the window and took him by the wing, ignoring his complaints. "Come on, you're ready!" she snapped.
"What if I just stay here, huh?"
"No," Ginger frowned.
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In the end, the two eventually hauled themselves out onto the island, free of arguments and disagreements, though Rocky's expression did appear quite sour. They made themselves settled in upon the grass along with the rest of the group, already noticing Azul waiting to begin at Ginger's word. Due to Rocky's pace, they were the last ones to show up. Ginger let it pass…this time.
Fowler sounded impatient, but yet eager as he said; "Let's get on with it, what-what?"
Clearing her throat a little, Ginger stood before the others, receiving a small smile from Azul as she began. "Everyone, I know yesterday was rather a shock, and maybe some surprise to the news that…we have a visitor here with us," she said.
"Pah! You can say that again!" came a cry, but was immediately disturbed harshly by Fowler's deafening voice. He tapped the unknowing chicken on the back of the head with his cane and bellowed terribly.
"QUIET!"
The silence followed, only starting up again when Ginger spoke. "Ahem, so…now's the chance for you all to meet him properly. I know that many of you may have already been acquainted, but not everyone," she continued. "And I know that he wants to be comfortable in our group, so…I'll hand you over to him now." She motioned quickly to Azul, who stood up at once and stepped into Ginger's place, while she retreated back to Rocky's side.
His grin was the first thing she noticed. "Nice speech."
"Oh, well…I was actually nervous," Ginger stammered, looking back into the crowd at Azul's posture. "I hate introducing people to others."
Rocky laughed half-heartedly. "Ya seemed O.K with me."
"If I remember," Ginger said again matter-of-factly. "You did most of the talking yourself. I could only get a few words in edgeways." A laugh sprung up when she saw the look on his face. "I suppose he's not as loud as you, either."
"And ya like that, right?" the rooster countered, tightening his grip around her wing and staring her seriously in the face.
Sighing, Ginger turned back to the crowd. "I suppose so," she whispered, keeping her voice barely over a mutter, but not noticing the deserted expression on her boyfriend's face as she turned away from him.
"Yeah," Rocky muttered quietly, his eyes downcast. "Great."
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Azul opened his heart that night. His tale astounded the others, even Rocky had to admit that it was very dramatic. Though through it all, he was still welcome to share questions and answers with what he had experienced, and never showed a sign of hurt upon his face whenever something painful was accidentally brought up.
"How did you come here?" a hen quietly wondered.
"Now that's an interesting question," Azul went on. "It's been known that I make my way around from place to place by my own creations, what I travelled to your island on was a raft, made in only a few weeks…barely a month."
His talk about creations caused Mac to suddenly sit up and take notice. "Yoo're a scientist, ur a builder mebbe?" she asked quickly.
Azul shrugged a little. "I've been known to tamper a bit with that sort of thing," he explained. "Though I'm not a professional, I can assure you. It sounds as if that reaches you too, and interests you…am I right?" he smiled again when Mac nodded fervently.
Rocky and Ginger stood by the side, Rocky still keeping a small sulk on his face. He fixed his eyes on Ginger whenever she made signs of asking a question herself, and always stopped her when he had the chance. On the fourth time that she tried to get a word in, Rocky forced her attention away.
"Rocky!"
"Ginge, ya know enough about the guy already!" Rocky swung back, spinning her away from the view so that she was glaring up at him. "C'mon! L-let someone else have a turn for once," he finished lamely, stuttering, and trying to avoid her smouldering gaze as best he could.
Ginger just shook her head slowly at him. "Please…" she started. "I don't know everything about him, I am entitled to question him a bit more. You're sounding like he's part of my family or something…like he's my brother and I know more than everyone else!" At the mention of the word 'family', Ginger's heart skipped a beat. Her thoughts had wandered a little since Azul had arrived.
Now frowning slightly, Rocky attempted a backfire. "No, not that! It's just…he looks pretty busy right now, look how Agnes is…well, look at her! She's all over him!" he said diversely, staring himself at the hen as if it were a sight for sore eyes. "Geez…"
Bothering not to argue, Ginger didn't even want to try and argue. She gave the rooster a warning look and turned back to the group, wondering if there might be the chance for her to talk to Azul later. Until then, she would just listen…if it would do to shut Rocky up about everything she undertook anyway.
The next question caught everyone's attention; a young dark hen asked it in her rather timid voice. "W-why did you come here?"
Everyone hushed to listen what Azul had to say about this. A faraway look was distant in his blue eyes, and it took a few seconds to come back to his senses. He seemed almost sad…with a numb expression but yet with a wistful grin. "It's quite a story, actually," he told them. "A bit tragic on my half to be exact. I didn't arrive here for exploration or new travels, or whatever else most of you may think that I am. I came here to escape from my own feelings.
You see, it was complicated where I lived. A whole love story told with an unhappy ending. A heartache of mine stepped too far over the edge. I wanted a love that I could never have for myself, and I wanted it so badly that I was willing to give it up for anything in the world. Only…that person never returned the favour of what I wanted most."
Many chickens had now leant forward, suddenly interested.
"Ah, the impediments of love!" Fowler commented.
"It was hard at first, always wanting her near me. Her refusals used to make me feel all cold inside…as if I were hollow and had nothing left. I just needed her, and nobody else…and then I would have been happy. But I suppose romantic, fawning types were not for her, so she told me to let her go, and go my own way. My heart hurt so much it was actually painful.
I didn't want to go…I didn't want to leave her behind. But after two weeks I couldn't stand it any longer. I knew that I couldn't be there…be with her to deal with the pain. It hurt so much I thought I would die. So in that last month alone I built a raft, fixed it up and sailed away without a goodbye given. I didn't want to say goodbye, she didn't even want to see me, and it seemed all right to leave without a word.
I don't know if she's still waiting for me, but I doubt it really. She never liked 'blue-eyed boys', as she called them. She told me I looked too innocent, as if I were a child wanting a new friend or a playmate. And she wanted more than that…I could have given it to her if she'd wanted it. But now it's too late. This is my path onwards to a new life, and…I want to start again if I have to."
He lowered his head, thoughts intruding him. "Strega…" he whispered.
There was a shocked silence that rang through the others. Everyone pitied him right then, there were no complaints of lies or wild stories, this was completely unexpected. Many of the hens were almost beside themselves with despair.
"How…romantic…" someone breathed.
"Really touching…"
"You poor soul…"
"Oh, c'mon!" Rocky retorted under his breath, trying to hide the sympathy in his voice. He crossed his wings and turned away, his eyes glued on the huts. His attention sprang up when he heard Azul speak again.
"Rocky!" he called out, completely startling the other rooster. Rocky had no knowledge that Azul even knew his name, he turned sharply and stared in surprise. Waiting for a response, he knew that he must have looked funny with the expression on his face, but it was an overall disbelief.
Azul forced a tight grin, keeping his eyes on him. "My name," he brought up in a low voice. "It's Spanish. Means 'blue'. Maybe for my eyes, my parents never told me. Does that answer your question?" his own was more like a challenge.
Rocky nodded dumbly, still with his wings crossed. "Yeah," he mumbled out, giving Ginger a noticeable glance. "Thanks."
He kept his attention on Azul and the others, until their gazes were all away from him. Then he rounded on Ginger, his eyes full of confusion. "You told him to say that!" he accused. "Why'd ya have to?"
"Excuse me?"
"When ya saw him again this morning…why couldn't he have told ya then?"
"He wanted to explain tonight," Ginger said tiresomely. "And besides, why is it bothering you so much? You found your answer didn't you? You wanted to know what his name meant so I arranged to tell you."
Rocky frowned to himself. "It's just really shown me up, that's all."
"Oh, well, I'm sorry!" Ginger argued, fire blazing in her green eyes. "Sorry for 'showing you up', I must feel terrible! Not everyone bows to you whenever you want, Rocky! You don't need all the attention…all the time! Can't you at least show some respect for others?"
"I do!" Rocky retorted, now angry himself. "I don't always want the attention! I do feel sorry for the guy, I just wish you'd tell me what you talk about!"
"Why?" Ginger asked exasperatingly. "Rocky, this is really beginning to get silly - " here, her words trailed off, and her expression suddenly sprung through. She tried to hold back a stifled giggle and looked up at him with triumph in her eyes and her voice hitting back with a softer tone. "I see," she almost whispered softly, but with seriousness. "Jealousy doesn't look good on you, you know."
Rocky just stared in amazement. "Jealous?" he almost spat out the word. "Me? C'mon, Ginge – that's…that's ridiculous…" his voice wavered at the end and he suddenly cut off, going quiet. He said no more after that and kept his opinions to himself, watching the group enjoy more of Azul's tall stories.
Though their arguments happened more often than some people thought, neither a word could be gotten out of the two that night, and the only sound that remained through the evening was the high, clear ringing of laughter on the wind, that sounded from Azul himself.
To be continued
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(A/N: I made Rocky and Ginger fight. Lol. I can't believe I just did that. Sorry about the lack of updates but Christmas was one busy time of the year for me. I had this written by New Year's but haven't posted it up until now. I'm really sorry, and I promise I'll try not to leave it this long again. Please R&R!)