2. Found Companionship

On and on it went, like a seemingly never-ending cycle, from one day to the next, there was no respite. Red had reached the end of his tether, he simply couldn't take it anymore, what the humans were doing to him was destroying both his mind and his body. His bones ached while he was awake and his mind was plagued with nightmares while he slept. Red simply couldn't get away from the cruel fate that he now faced.

A long time had now elapsed since Reds second capture, in fact he'd been inside the test lab for the best part of a year, it was almost winter again. Red's blindness had endured and the hope that he had built up for getting it back was now long gone, as was his hope at meeting Scarlet again. All Red had now was pain, fear, his nightmares and two friends he kept at arm's length. Something was going to have to change if Red was going to have any chance at making it through this. Macaw was the one that had designs on forcing that change, whether Red liked it or not.

Macaw had been trying his best to give Red a little hope during his incarceration, as had Autumn, but it was proving to be a real uphill struggle. Macaw had watched Red turn completely insular, keeping his thoughts inside with no intention of sharing them with anyone else. Macaw just couldn't stand it anymore, he had to help, he was going to get Red out of this place again no matter what, and he was going to do it his way.

Macaw spent a long time pondering possible ways of releasing Red from his cage, but only one method seemed to have even a remote chance of success. It had come to him whilst watching Red attempt to break open his cage the same way that he had done so before. Red's labours had been fruitless as the humans had now fixed the cages to the wall in light of his previous escape. It had made Macaw realise something, that the only way out of such a prison was via its intended, human made exit. Macaw began devising his plan, it was about time he proved his intelligence matched that of any human, their ignorance of his abilities would be their undoing. Macaw's proposed plan was simple in its conception, but it would require him to pick up some new skills for it to have a chance at working. Macaw was confident though that his abilities would be more than up to the task. He just hoped he could learn the necessary skills quickly enough, Red was only holding on by a thread now, there wasn't much time.

Red remained completely oblivious to Macaw's plan throughout the whole of its implementation, and it wasn't until he sensed the presence of another animal in his cage that he cottoned on.

"Macaw? How? Why?" spluttered Red after realising he was no longer alone in his cage.

Macaw started to laugh. His plan had worked flawlessly, he had already completed steps one and two less than a week after their conception. Macaw knew he was smart, but what he had accomplished amazed even himself.

Step one in Macaw's plan had involved obtaining one of the objects that the humans used to open the cages. Macaw just couldn't believe how easy this had been to accomplish, the carelessness of humans was simply unbelievable sometimes. Macaw only had to hop down to the desk at the back of the room to find one, ridiculous thought Macaw.

The second step was the difficult one, it required Macaw to put his dexterity to the test, he had to open a cage himself. Deciding to keep Red out of the loop till later Macaw picked Autumn's cage as his test subject. Autumn was thrilled by Macaw's idea and sat quietly watching, marvelling at him going about practicing. The process was slow and painstaking, but Macaw persevered, he knew he could do it.

Two days and nights later and he'd cracked it, Macaw could now open cages at will, and within minutes. Autumn was amazed, Macaw was the most astonishing animal she had ever encountered, she felt honoured to call him a friend. She might not be the only one to think that before the night was out.

Red shook his head violently, it had to be a dream there was no way Macaw could be inside his cage, it was impossible.

"I'm real you know," said Macaw after recovering from his laughing fit. "You're not dreaming boy, so stop trying to wake yourself up!"

"What are you doing in here?" asked Red.

Macaw cocked his head. "Isn't it obvious? It's high time you left this place again."

Red stopped stock still, he suddenly realised Macaw wasn't the only extra lodger he'd gained, there was someone else in his cage too. Red sniffed the air and followed the scent hidden there, he felt his head bump into something soft and furry. The collision coincided with an amused giggle.

"You? Great, that's just what I wanted," sighed Red in frustration "why did you have to invite her along?"

Autumn shuffled uncomfortably. "Sorry" said Autumn bowing her head like she had done something wrong.

"I brought her because she's far more pleasant company than you are at the moment!" replied Macaw scornfully in Autumns defence. "I don't think I could stand getting stuck alone with you in your current sorry state, I'm beginning to think it was a shame you regained your memory, you were far more agreeable before that happened!"

"You're not the only one, there's not a day goes by that I don't regret rediscovering who I am!" huffed Red in response as he turned his back on Macaw.

"So, can I take that as a no I'm not coming? Staying here are we? Hmm?" concluded Macaw.

"What's the point in leaving, there's about as much out there for me as there is in here, no point whatsoever," said Red defeatistly.

Macaw rolled his eyes, Reds current mood was really starting to grate on him.

"Come on Autumn let's get going, I guess someone here likes his current home too much to leave," said Macaw as he hopped to the cage door and proceeded to make his exit. Autumn reluctantly followed, glancing back sorrowfully at Red multiple times before finally jumping to the floor outside the cage. Red meanwhile continued to brood at the back of his prison, not wanting to admit that he really did want to leave.

Macaw watched Autumn bound to the floor and make her way gracefully over to the door where he was now perched. He could see a look of concern and defeat in her expression.

"He'll come around my dear, don't you worry," said Macaw comfortingly.

"I know he will, he won't pass up escaping this, horrible place, but, but that's not exactly what's bothering me," replied Autumn tentatively as she stared longingly back at Reds cage.

"I know, I wasn't exactly referring to Red leaving here either, I was talking about your feelings for him," pointed out Macaw. Autumn's attention immediately shot back to Macaw.

"You mean you know?" asked Autumn.

"These eyes may be pretty old but the mind behind them is as sharp as ever, I know that look," remarked Macaw.

"It's a shame no one else seems to," answered Autumn. She turned again to face in Red's direction.

"He'll see it, just don't give up trying, you'll make him understand," advised Macaw as he followed Autumn's gaze. "Now not wanting to add to your burden or anything, but we do have a more immediate problem that requires our attention."

"What do you mean?" replied Autumn managing to drag her mind back on task.

"The tool I opened the cages with, it doesn't seem to fit this door, we can't get out of this room," explained Macaw.

Autumn winced. "What are we going to do now?"

"Don't panic, I'll figure something out, it's just going to take a little time to think through that's all," said Macaw calmly.

"Ok, don't worry I'll keep calm, do you have any initial ideas?" asked Autumn "Macaw? Did you hear me? Macaw?"

It was no use, Macaw had now shut everything else out to concentrate fully on the problem at hand, his eyes were firmly closed, he wouldn't be communicative again for a good while. Autumn sighed, she hated being alone, and with Macaw meditating that's exactly what she was, or was she? Autumn started looking around the room in a desperate attempt to alleviate the boredom she now faced, she'd never been very good at problem solving. Autumn noticed something she hadn't realised at all during all her time in this room, it was obscene just how many animals were imprisoned in this place. As she looked around, numerous silent eyes stared back, Autumn shivered. She was quite happy when the silence was broken by an unexpected crash and some loud cursing. Autumn scanned for the source of the disturbance, when she realised what had caused it, she almost burst out laughing. Red seemed to have finally come to his senses and had attempted to leave his cage, only the fact that he was blind had introduced some complications of a comedic nature. Autumn choked back her laughter and moved closer to Red's cage.

She arrived at the base of the self that Reds cage was on top of to the sound of more cursing, she craned her neck upwards.

"Are you okay up there Red?" She asked as caringly as possible.

"What do you mean? Why wouldn't I be?" replied Red in a dazed but defensive tone.

"Well, because you, you just walked into the side of your cage," pointed out Autumn trying hard not to snigger.

"No I didn't!" rebuked Red "I'm not that clumsy!"

"It's ok Red, it's nothing to be ashamed of, you're blind, you can't be expected to do everything yourself anymore," comforted Autumn "Why don't I help you?" Without waiting for an answer, she leapt like a pouncing cat up and into Red's cage.

"I'm not ashamed! And I didn't walk into anything thank you very much, I'm perfectly capable of taking care of myself no matter what you or anyone else thinks, so just leave me alone okay?" thundered Red highly frustrated at his newfound dependence. He immediately took a sidestep to his right and walked forwards, a resonating metallic clang rang through the air. Autumn clenched her teeth as hard as she could, if she laughed now Red would never let her help him, trying to keep a straight face was excruciating. The rabbits in the cage to the right didn't show anywhere near the same restraint. Having been woken by Reds first altercation with the bars of his cage they were now rolling about in uncontrollable hysterics, what they had just witnessed was about the funniest thing they had ever seen. Red began to growl. Shooting the rabbits an icy scowl Autumn decided to intervene, Red would only get less cooperative the longer this went on. She moved up alongside him.

"Here let me show you," she spoke softly in his ear. Autumn began pressing herself into the fur around Red's flank in order to nudge him across enough so that he was in line with the hole left by the open cage door. Even though Red was a lot larger than her she found no difficulty in pushing him over to the correct place. This meant Red was cooperating, Autumn smiled coyly, it was the start she had been looking for.

"There you go, now that wasn't so bad was it?" said Autumn soothingly "now all you need to do is jump down."

"Are you kidding? How am I supposed to know how far to jump? Or where to land?" huffed Red defiantly.

"Don't you trust me?" asked Autumn

"Well actually no, I have a policy of not trusting pushy females," answered Red.

"So you think I'm pushy? Well, I better not disappoint you then," replied Autumn slyly. She pushed her weight forwards into Reds unexpecting form, it was just enough to put him off balance and he fell out through the cage door. Red plummeted to the ground and landed in a heap on the floor. Autumn let out a stifled laugh, she couldn't control it anymore. Red looked up, he wanted to make sure she could see his unimpressed expression, Autumn went silent. Once he was sure he'd made his point Red got up and limped away. Autumn felt a little ashamed, in her hurry to impress Red she'd ended up hurting him, not at all the outcome she had been hoping for.

Red found navigating the floor of the room fairly easy, after all he had been here before back when he could see. He slowly made his way towards what he knew to be the door leading out of the room, but he found his progress interrupted by a mocking voice.

"So, finally decided to join us have we?" said Macaw.

"It seemed like the thing to do, besides I very much doubt the two of you would get very far without me," retorted Red.

"Hmmm I see your logic, a blind fox could be invaluable to our escape efforts," replied Macaw sarcastically.

Red let the comment slip by without an answer, he didn't have the will to fight anymore. An awkward silence ensued that wasn't broken until Autumn arrived within ear shot. She looked at Red sorrowfully for a moment and then shifted her gaze to Macaw.

"Did you?" she began.

"No, I'm afraid not," answered Macaw quickly.

"What are you both talking about?" Red asked, there was a look of confusion on his face.

"Well, there might be a slight problem with my initial escape plan," explained Macaw.

"Why don't I like the sound of this?" said Red shaking his head.

"This door, we can't open it," continued Macaw "there's no way out of this room."

"That's just great, I knew I shouldn't have bothered coming along," moaned Red.

"You can always go back to your cage if you want to, I won't stop you!" Snapped Macaw. Red didn't hesitate with his response, and it wasn't a pretty one either. Soon the argument had escalated to a full-blown shouting match. Autumn however wasn't listening at all, she was far more interested in thinking about a neat little idea that had just popped into her head.

"I have an idea," she said quietly. Macaw and Red continued to argue. "I said I have an idea!" announced Autumn again much louder than before. Red and Macaw fell silent, they shrugged to each other and then turned to hear Autumn out.