Later that sundown, birds of the flock all began to go into their hollows for bed. But some of them still worked. It had lasted from the moment Diaglo had suggested and he and Vivian had recruited a few individuals who are willing to lend a wing - A wing to help repair the broken couple that is their leaders Nicholas and Orton. With Vivian's thinking, the birds settled to carry out their plan at the Watering Hole where the fireflies are out and the moon is reflecting clearly upon the water.
Diaglo smiled above him at the male blue and gold macaw and female scarlet macaw on the branches above him. "Just a little more to the left, Perry! Sunset! And drop!" Perry moved to the left with his part of the vine and he and Sunset opened their beaks at the same time. The two vines of flowers hung down and a pair of golden conures went to hang the opposite ends of the vines on the branches. Now the flowery vines looked like streamers and Perry and Sunset looked proud of themselves.
From across them, Rosita and Ramon were setting up the fruit pile with Vivian supervising. "I think this should be enough for all of us including the leaders," Vivian affirmed and the red macaw pair grinned. Then the spix's face fell a little as she studied the pile. Every fruit was ripe. Guaranteed delicious and there were several types. But there was still something missing and Vivian knew exactly what it was.
"Okay. Somebody's got to get the couple to meet someplace." She put a talon to her chin in thought. A young Cuban/Jamaican red macaw chick touched down beside his parents and he looked curiously at Vivian. "Can't misters Nicholas and Orton come here, Vivi?" He squeaked.
Vivian cast the chick a gaze and shook her head. "No we can't. That'll spoil the surprise. First we gotta have them reconcile, and then we can take them here." She turned to smile at Diaglo who touched down beside her. "And I think Diaglo and I will do that."
The other birds shared hopeful glances with each other - Then Perry and Sunset rose their wings. "Perry and I will go catch Nicholas. He's nearing the end of patrolling, we've seen." Sunset turned her head to face a direction ahead of the watering hole. "And Orton's gone to the camu camu grove outside our territory. He must be having his supper at this point so chances are he's still there. You can't miss him."
Diaglo looked concerned at the idea. "Outside the territory? But it's getting dark. Won't there be predators?" The other birds shrugged and Vivian smiled assuringly at Diaglo. "Oh it'll be fine Diaglo. It's outside our territory, but it's not that far from it. I go there with Orton a lot and it's fine! And besides, it's got the tastiest camu camu - We could take some to bring back here."
The cerulean male looked uncertain. Vivian sounded confident and the other flock birds aren't speaking up against. They are the locals, so it's fair if they knew the territory around here more than he did. Yet, he still felt this bad feeling at his gut..
'I hope I don't regret this.' He thought to himself and he was soon flying with Vivian to the headed destination. They didn't notice the scowling pair of hazel eyes watching from the darkness and a bird had flown away, faster and going ahead of the two teenagers…
(later...)
"See? It's safe! And there's loads of camu camu!"
Diaglo's feathers remained bristled from rising fear as he looked around in unease. True to Vivian's words, the two are indeed in the camu camu grove and they were minutes away from the main territory of Arco Iris. But throughout the flight, Diaglo's internal unease had spiked. As he flapped, he couldn't help but sense someone watching with cold hazel eyes before flying on. Vivian didn't seem to sense or see anything. Yet Diaglo felt it all. It made his feathers prickle and his talons dug into the branch he's perching on.
Vivian frowned at the action and her confidence now became concern as she noted her friend's unease. "Hey.. Diaglo there's nothing to worry about. We made it safely, and all we gotta do is find Orton and a few fruit and we're done." She held Diaglo's wing and looked into his eyes with her violet ones. "Look, just trust me on this, okay? I come here all the time before and nothing happened!"
Diaglo gazed at her and he sighed. She's right. He should be trusting her since she's known this place more than he did. But.. "I'm just not sure Vivian.. Maybe it's from what happened with Vinnie and Balthazar. Zira the jaguar might have killed them and nighttime is the time where predators are more active.. W-What if she's nearby?" Vivian's eyes grew wide and she looked around with a frown.
"Usually Zira doesn't come to this part of jungle, Diaglo. Her cave and territory isn't even near here. She wouldn't come this far unless something provoked her." She chuckled to which Diaglo flinched. "You can thank Orton for clawing her right over the eye so she could think twice before coming to this grove."
The lapis blue macaw scanned the jungle around them and for a certain bird. Orton wasn't around, and she considered going deeper into the grove to find the second leader. That and she knew Diaglo could use some ease. "Hey Diaglo, why don't you stay here and collect some camu camu fruit? You can do that while I go find Orton. He could be very deep in the grove and I don't wanna scare you by dragging you with me.."
Diaglo blushed. "I'm not scared."
Vivian frowned and brushed his wing. "It's okay to be scared. It's your first time here." She consoled and even nuzzled Diaglo's neck to further soothe him. "Just focus on getting the fruit, okay? Finding Orton shouldn't be difficult. With the moon's light I can easily find that parrot faster than I could find a needle in a haystack." She joked and she lofted off the branch, glancing at Diaglo one more time. "I'll be fine! Don't forget the fruit!" She called out and then she disappeared into the trees. With Diaglo staring after her in uncertainty still.
"Stay safe!" He called out to her and then he turned his head to the bunch of camu camu nearest to him. "Well, might as well get started." He murmured and he began to pluck the bunch of fruits with his beak to put them in a bunch beside him.