Chapter Ten: Apart For A While
"I, I can't, Jewel."
Jewel didn't expect this. "W-Why!?" She said, as she started to cry.
"I can't protect you. I can't father chicks when I never had one to know what to do. Let alone I have zero experience in the wild. I'm sorry Jewel, but I can't accept right now."
"Take me inside." She said. Blu didn't hesitate. He grabbed her on the shoulders, and took her inside. Jewel walked to the other end of the room once they got inside. She fell asleep, crying.
"Great. I've lost her." Blu said to himself. He lied down, and he started to think about what he said.
In Jewel's thoughts
WHY!? Why does he have to do this? I get his reasoning, but what did he expect? Living as unmarried couples for the rest of our lives!? She continued to sob.
The next day, Jewel woke up. She had expected to see Blu by his side, but remembered what happened. She was sad, and felt alone again. She looked around the room. Blu wasn't anywhere to be found. I guess he's probably with Linda. Stupid Pet. She thought. She soon regretted her last thought. She started to walk around the room, calling for Blu from time to time. "BLU!" she shouted. She then heard footsteps.
"Oh, hi Jewel. Have you seen Blu?" Linda asked.
Jewel shook her head. I thought he was with you. She thought.
Linda sighed. "Well, once you see him, tell him I have a surprise." Jewel nodded, and proceeded looking for Blu. About an hour went by and he was still missing.
Where is he? Jewel thought.
"Ah, Jewel. We need to go to the airport." Tulio said. "Get Blu and yourself into the cage. Close it and we'll know both of you are in there. I have put window covers on this cage to avoid you two from being spotted, so I won't be able to see through the cage door or window.. We had some shady people eyeing us last time." Tulio said.
Jewel looked to the ground as Tulio walked away. In the cage was a book, a blanket, and a feather that was Blu's. Jewel walked in the cage and started to cry. About half an hour later, Jewel started to walk out of the cage to start looking for Blu. She accidently slipped on the blanket and flew back into the cage, tipping it over. She looked up, as the cage door was shut by gravity. "Hey! LET ME OUT!" She yelled. Then the cage was picked up.
"Are you sure they're both in there Tulio?" Linda asked.
"Of course. I told Jewel to close the door when they were both in there. Although, I can't understand why the cage wasn't flat on the ground."
"What do you mean, Tulio?"
"Well, the door side was face up, so I assume Blu and/or Jewel accidently knocked it over."
"BUT I DIDN'T!" She yelled. She was loaded onto the truck, and started heading for the airport.
Meanwhile, With Blu
"Thanks Joe. I'll see you in Rio sometime!"
"OKAY!" Joe shouted as Blu flew away. Blu really wished Rafael was there, but Joe was the only other one he could lean on for advice. He was married, after all. When Blu flew to the bookstore, no one was home.
"JEWEL! LINDA!? ANYBODY HOME!?" He shouted. Oh no. Today, we're supposed to go back to Rio! He quickly started to head off towards the airport, hoping the plane hasn't taken off yet.
Jewel was crying because she was alone, in a cage, and Blu wasn't anywhere to be found. He left me. She kept saying to herself, making her even sadder.
Blu flew as fast as his wings could carry him. He knew this wasn't good. Tulio had talked to him the other day about the cage he modified. He wondered if Jewel decided to leave him here, by closing the door signaling that they were both in the cage. Oh, I'm so sorry, Jewel. Why did I say No!? He thought. Because you weren't ready. Blu thought. "I'm sorry, Jewel. I'm coming!" he said to himself. He kept flying over the road that they took from the airport and just back tracing. He saw the airport, but he didn't know how much time he had.
Jewel was sobbing. She didn't know what to do. Blu would. She thought. Linda and Tulio were checking the bags in. Jewel felt the cage being picked up, and put onto a trolley.
"What's in the cage?" The supervisor asked.
"Our pet birds. We're taking them to Rio." Tulio said.
"Alright I'm going to have to see the animal." the supervisor said.
"Alright." Tulio said. He opened the door, and showed her the two birds.
"One blue bird is in the cage. All clear!" She said.
"One?" Linda asked.
"Yeah, look." she said as she spun the cage around.
"Where's Blu!?" Linda said, starting to panic. "Jewel, where is he?"
Jewel looked to her, and looked back to the ground. She started to cry again.
"Tulio, take Jewel back to Rio, I'll see you in a few days. I'm going to look for Blu, okay?"
"Alright. I'll see you soon, Linda." He said. He kissed her cheek, and Linda started running off. "Don't worry, Jewel. We'll find him." Tulio said as he shut the cage door. Jewel was helpless. Even if she could get out of the cage, she was a sitting duck. She was worth a lot, and she was injured. She just hoped that Blu was out there, and that he still loved her. I hope he still does. She thought.
Blu was flying hard. He had reached the airport, but didn't know which flight was which. He started to panic. Oh great. There goes the bird I love! He thought. He flew to the roof of the building, and started to wander into his thoughts. Why? Why couldn't you have just said 'yes' to her marriage proposal? He started knocking his head against a pole. When he opened his eyes, he saw the cage. The one Tulio had shown him yesterday. "JEWEL!" He shouted as he quickly flew down to the trolley. He landed on top of the cage. This was definitely the one.
"Hey, shoo! Shoo Bird!" the driver of the trolley said. He then waved his hands around Blu, and he took off.
I have to get in. Blu thought. He waited to see which flight the cage was being boarded to, and once they packed the cage Jewel was in onto a plane. He snuck on, hiding behind one of the suitcases as it was thrown into the cargo pit. He saw the yellow cage, and heard someone crying inside of it. I'm so sorry, Jewel. I should have known better. What else was I supposed to think besides us getting married. We would have, eventually. He sat down next to the cage, deciding not to bother her. A few minutes later, he heard the engines roar as the plane started to move. He grabbed onto a bungee cord as the plane took off.
Jewel was still crying. She didn't know that Blu was right outside her door. She cried herself to sleep, knowing Blu couldn't be there to keep her warm. Good night, my Blu bird. She thought as she fell asleep. Blu heard the crying cease. He opened the cage door (which took a while since it was a lock and not a bolt slide lock), and saw Jewel, safe and sound.
"I'm so sorry." He whispered. He saw Jewel shivering in her sleep. He walked into the cage, and closed the door, putting the lock back on. He walked over to Jewel and brought her into his warmth. He saw her smile.
"Blu." She said in her sleep.
Blu was just thinking of how she would react to him here once she woke. Would she leave him? Would she attack? That last one is highly likely, knowing Jewel. Blu thought. He laughed, slightly. For almost the whole flight, he kept Jewel in his wings, keeping her warm. He heard the plane's wheels touch down, and he knew they were home. The cargo was unloaded, and Jewel was still asleep in his wings. The only problem was that the humans kept tossing the cage.
Blu was eventually thrown to the front of the cage and Jewel landed ontop of him. She started to stir. When she woke, she went wide eyed. Blu was right in front of her, their beaks touching. "Blu?" She asked slowly.
"Hi." Blu started to say. All he got in return was a deep hug.
"Blu! I thought you left!" She said crying.
"Now why would I leave you?" Blu asked. "It was an argument, and everyone has arguments. I'll be here for you, always. You just have to be patient sometimes." He said, wrapping his wings back around her. The cage was then thrown another time, and the two were thrown to the other side of the cage again. Blu broke Jewel's fall, trying to protect her wing. When this happened again, Blu had enough of it. He started to pick the lock on the door, again, and eventually got it. When he took off the lock, he opened the cage, and Jewel went with him. Once they stepped outside, it was a bitter cold. Blu wrapped his wings around Jewel, and they looked around. They were not in Rio.
