Hey everybird! What's up!?

So before we get to today's tale, I did post the first part to a new short story on the Daring Jewel series, but well for some reason it doesn't show up… However it looked like I wasn't the only one with that problem, so hopefully it's just a glitch from the site in general. I'll repost that part again some time!

Anyway, back to this series, which I hope you all have been waiting patiently for, the idea for this tale comes from Jaqui The Girl Spix Macaw! Also, it takes place after the second story in the trilogy.

Jealousy to Friendship

It has been a couple of months since Nigel was taken away to Rio and Jewel and her family were now living in the Amazon, Jewel having made peace not only between the Blue and Scarlet tribes, but also between her and her mother in law. The two getting along more as they bonded quite well together, especially when it came as a surprise to Evelyn when Jewel wanted to be trained in jungle survival like she did when she first came. However of course this time Jewel knew what to expect, having gotten some pointers from Blu and Evelyn this time made it a little easier on Jewel.

It was a bright early morning as Evelyn, bringing along Roberta, flew to where Blu and Jewel, with their kids, lived, for today was Jewel's first test to see what she learned. Evelyn was happy that her daughter in law was shaping up to her new environment, not having much else to ask for, as for Roberta…

"Can't wait to see how far Jewel has progressed, right Roberta?" Evelyn asked her rightwing bird, who wasn't as excited for this day.

"Right… Can't wait…" Roberta replied with less energy in her voice as the two arrived at the tree hollow, where Evelyn saw Jewel already up and wide awake, eating breakfast with her son, as well as two of their kids.

"Oh, hey mom." Blu greeted.

"Hi son." Evelyn said back. "Good to see you bright and early Jewel, are you ready for your test?"

"Sure am, just let me enjoy a good breakfast with most of my family." Jewel rolled her eyes towards Carlos' room, the chubby little male macaw fast asleep. "Why don't you join us, we got plenty."

"Thanks, but Roberta and I ate already, we'll wait outside for you." Evelyn said as the tribe leader and her rightwing bird waited just outside and not for too long as Jewel came out with Blu.

"Good luck Jewel, I know you're going to do very well." Blu giving Jewel a kiss on the cheek.

"I'm sure I don't need luck, but I am going to need my strength." Jewel chuckled back as the three took off to begin the tests.

The three flew on to the testing area where the macaws trained in jungle survival, an area that Jewel became quite accustomed to over the past couple of months. As they arrived, the first test for Jewel was a simple one, getting out of the trap, made of leaves and strong vines. Getting started, Evelyn and Roberta made sure Jewel was firmly trapped, not able to easily get out, at least not without the proper training first. With Jewel trapped, Evelyn began the instruction…

"You're alone in the jungle, get caught in a…" Evelyn began, but was cut off by Jewel.

"Trap?" Jewel smirked as she was out, on her talons, with a smile upon her beak.

"Wow!" Evelyn surprised that Jewel got out that fast. "That's a record for you Jewel, just as fast as Roberta, right?" Evelyn turned to her rightwing bird, who was standing on the side.

"Yeah… That was okay…" Roberta commented dryly.

The rest of the day went off just as well, with Jewel going through camouflage, doing pushups, avoiding the crocodiles, and flying tricks including flying backwards and dodging the river dolphins. All of which Jewel passed with flying colors and ease and as each test passed, Roberta became more and more annoyed with how Evelyn and Jewel got along so well, seeing the two made Roberta think back to her own tests when she was younger, when Evelyn gave her the same attention he was giving Jewel now.

With the day beginning to draw to a close, the sun starting its descend down the sky above the Amazon, the tests were finally done, with the three settling down to catch their breaths and have a well deserved snack and drink.

"So, was that it?" Jewel commented eagerly. "I can go again if you want."

"Maybe another day Jewel." Evelyn laughed. "Today you did well, passed all the tests, I am very pleased at the progress you made."

"Well, I have a great teacher." Jewel told her mother in law, the two clapping wings together as Roberta stayed quiet, munching on her Brazil nut she was eating.

"Roberta, you been very quiet today, come on, tell Jewel she did a good job today." Evelyn noticing her rightwing bird's expression.

"Yeah great… She did real great…" Roberta replied with just as much emotion as the day started. "Excuse me, I have some plans that I need to get to." Roberta then leaving, not giving a chance for either Evelyn or Jewel to give a response as the two were a little confused by Roberta's behavior.

"Oh sure, she did well…" Roberta grumbled on as she flew away. "Next thing I know, Evelyn's going to take her under her wing instead of me…" Roberta imagining the future as the young female flew by the clay banks, where a familiar chubby male macaw was.

"Hey Roberta!" Manuel called out as Roberta took notice. "Aren't you supposed to be with my sister and Jewel?"

"We're done with Jewel's tests if that's what you're talking about, which I don't want to talk about." Roberta snapped as she turned around and landed down in front of Manuel.

"Why?" Manuel asked. "Did Jewel not do well?"

"Oh she did and Evelyn is praising her like there's no tomorrow." Roberta crossing her wings.

"Oh I think I know what's going on here…" Manuel getting the hint now. "You're jealous of Jewel."

"What!?" Roberta offended. "I'm not jealous, no way! What can Jewel do that I can't!?" Roberta failing to hide her jealousy as her face started to turn red.

"Right…" Manuel replied. "Well don't worry, Evelyn will never replace you as her rightwing bird, my sister's just excited that her daughter in law is getting into the spirit of things here, I'm sure my sister wouldn't forget that."

"Not unless I have something to say about that…" Roberta said under her breath as she decided to give Jewel a piece of her mind.

Night fell upon the Amazon and as always Roberta, being in charge of patrols, gave the night guards their assignments, rushing through them more quickly in order to catch Jewel before she arrived back home. As Roberta finished, she wanted to go alone tonight, which wasn't normal, because at least two macaws should be together, just in case something happened, but of course Roberta wanted to confront Jewel by herself.

And Roberta got her chance when she spotted Jewel, through the moonlight, flying for home, having finished up her day with Evelyn. Roberta clutched her talons as she thought of the day the two had, so much fun and without her just added salt to the wounds already present. Not wasting another second Roberta silently preyed upon Jewel, Jewel of course not expecting this attack as Roberta grabbed onto Jewel's back and threw her against a tree trunk.

"Ouch!" Jewel shouted as her head hit against the tree bark. "What was…" Jewel began, but stopped as Roberta landed down in front of Jewel. "Roberta, what are you…"

"Okay Jewel…" Roberta cutting off the stunned female. "What are you playing at?"

"Excuse me?" Jewel not understanding what Roberta was talking about.

"Your willingness to do jungle surviving, being good at the tests, getting along with Evelyn…" Roberta listing off the things in her head. "Admit it… You're trying to take my spot!"

"Woah Roberta… Calm down and we can talk about this…" Jewel trying her best to defend herself. "Look, I'm not trying to take your spot…"

"Of course maybe not now… But later…" Roberta not giving in. "I beat you're going to be all the more eager to do so. Roberta kept saying as suddenly the branches above rustled, a few leaves falling around the two as Roberta had Jewel cornered.

"Roberta…" Jewel trying to get Roberta's attention to the present as Jewel thought she saw something move above them.

"No, I'm the only one allowed to talk right now!" Roberta spoke louder as more leaves fell, Roberta ignoring them and keeping her eyes on Jewel. "Sooner or later Evelyn's going to drop me in favor of you and I can't have that! Roberta spoke even louder as Jewel was sweating as she definitely saw something about to pounce on them and it looked like…

"Roberta, move!" Jewel shouted at her loudest, but it was too late as the "Something" above in the trees was a jungle cat, which was rudely awakened and now came down to silence the chatty birds disrupting its sleep.

Jewel was thrown off by the cat jumping down onto the branch, Jewel falling down to the jungle floor into the foliage as it took a couple of seconds for Jewel to recover. Looking around she noticed Roberta wasn't around and looked up to see her being pinned down by the cat, who was more than happy to have a midnight snack. Thinking fast, Jewel sprung to action to save Roberta as Jewel took hold of as many small rocks as she could before flying up as the jungle cat was just about ready.

"Hey!" Jewel shouted as she came into view. "Come and get me you big cat!" Jewel then throwing a rock at the cat's face, hitting him as the cat now directed its anger towards Jewel.

Jewel flew away as fast as she could as the cat leaped from tree to tree, being just as fast as Jewel flying and slowly catching up to the bird, but that was Jewel's play as she heard the sound of water running nearby. Smiling, Jewel put more energy to make it as she did, the jungle cat, not really paying attention to anything else other than his prey, didn't realize he would not have anymore trees in order to catch Jewel… And the cat fell right into the Amazon river, falling midair before splashing down into the river, its fur completely soaked and hating it very much.

"I guess even the biggest cats don't like water." Jewel commented smartly as she made her way back to Roberta, who was still very stunned and shocked. "Roberta? Are you okay?" Jewel asked as she helped her get back on her talons carefully.

"I think that cat broke a wing…" Roberta feeling herself before turning her face to Jewel. "You… You saved me…"

"Why wouldn't I?" Jewel replied. "Look Roberta, I'm really not trying to take your spot, trust me. I'm sorry that you're feeling this way, I never meant that. How about you and I get to know each other more, start over?"

"Yeah, I guess I can give it a try, especially after you saved me from becoming a meal." Roberta giving a chuckle, but then feeling a little bit of pain.

"Come on, lets get you to the healers and fix you up." Jewel offering to carry Roberta, which she accepted as the two flew off together, starting their new relationship as friends.

And that's the end to this! I hope you enjoyed this tale and with that…

See everybird later!