Chapter Eleven: Lost Half Way Across The World
"WHAT!? What do you mean Jewel isn't with you?" Linda shouted across the phone.
"I don't know! Her cage never came back out. They're tracking it right now."
"Sir, your cage is in the United Kingdom." The assistant said.
"Good news Linda, we know where the cage is."
"Where?"
"Britain."
"WHAT!?"
"Sir, we've received notice that your birds aren't in the cage anymore. The two were flying away and one had a cast on."
"Wait, did you say, 'birds'?"
"Yeah, did you not have more than one?" the assistance lady asked.
"Linda, I know where Blu is. He's also in Britain."
"Excuse me?"
"It looks like Blu was in the cargo after all, just somehow hidden."
"We have to find them!" Linda yelled.
"Okay, okay honey, I'll book you a flight to the United Kingdom and I'll see you there as soon as I can."
"Alright, bye."
"Thanks for finding our luggage." Tulio said.
"No problem. Have a nice one, sir, and good luck finding these birds."
Back to Blu and Jewel's Perspectives
"Blu, where are we?" Jewel asked.
Blu was also confused. He got the right cage, but the wrong plane? That was weird. "I, I don't know, Jewel. Right now, though, we need to find some sort of shelter."
"Okay."
"Is your wing okay from being tossed and turned so much in the cage?" Blu asked.
"Yeah, thanks to you. That was really rude." Jewel said. "By the way, how did you find me and get inside the cage?" She asked.
"Oh, I'll explain when we find a warm spot."
"Okay, deal." Jewel said.
Blu flew around the area. He didn't know where he was except that it was snowing and they were somewhere north. The only problem was that north had a broad umbrella. North
America, Europe, Asia, Japan. He could be anywhere in the entire world. Blu then spotted a gazebo. When he landed, there was an abandoned nest, and he and Jewel lied down inside of it, staying warm in each other's embraces.
"Hey, Blu?" Jewel asked.
"Yeah?"
"I'm, I'm sorry."
"For what?"
"For the argument we had." Jewel said, looking to the ground.
"That was mostly my fault." Blu said.
"How so?" Jewel asked, curious on what his answer was.
"Well, I doubted myself when it came to protecting you and parenting that I panicked and turned your offer down. We were only in a relationship that was a week old, so I thought things were happening too fast. When I thought it over more, I realized that I was protecting you perfectly for the past few weeks. Plus, you really don't need it, being a spirited bird that you are." He said, giving her a nuzzle on the beak. Jewel enjoyed his intimacy..
Once they stopped, Jewel asked Blu another question,"Where did you go? I mean, before the cage."
"Well, I was looking for Joe. He was married and I knew he could help. It just took a while to find him, especially him not giving us his location." Blu said.
"You went out early for help?"
"Yeah. I was worried I messed up our relationship." Blu said, looking to the ground. "Again, it has only been a week." Blu said.
"And that week has been the best one of my life, despite the arguments." Jewel said, rubbing her head into Blu's side. "Two more things."
"Hmm?"
"How did you get into the cage?" Jewel asked. "Not that I'm not happy that you did, but I'm just wondering."
"Oh, I saw your cage, got into the cargo pit and waited until you stopped crying to enter the cage, and I kinda kept you warm the whole flight. You were smiling in your sleep."
"Yeah, I thought I was dreaming you were there. Turns out you really were." Jewel said. "I slept soundly thanks to you."
"Yeah. You also kept mumbling my name a few times."
"Well, I'm glad you were there," she said, "even if I really didn't truly know it at the time."
"Yeah." Blu said, laughing nervously.
"And for the second question."
"Yes?"
"Does this new realization mean you changed your mind on my proposal?" Jewel asked. Blu was quiet for a minute. Jewel could see he was thinking, hard. Come on! Please, please say yes!
"Jewel. It's not that I don't want to accept, but like I said, our relationship is still young. I don't want to feel like we're rushing into things."
"O-Okay." Jewel said, saddened once more.
"Jewel, I will ask you to marry me when I feel ready. Is that alright?"
"Yes. Of course. But don't take forever." She said, giving Blu a kiss. They got comfortable, once again in each other's wings.
"I'm going to take a nap. I don't think you're really tired, seeing as you slept through the plane ride."
"I could use a nap too." She said, leaning more into Blu's warmth. She was very happy to be there with Blu again and kept thinking if he hadn't found her, she would be lost alone, in a cage. She felt at peace in his wings and hoped that it'll never end.
A day later, Blu and Jewel adventured around town to see where they were. People kept pointing to Jewel's cast and wondering where the two were from. They assumed that someone owned them, knowing a bird could not put a cast on itself or someone else. Someone called a local pet store to ask a few questions about the birds.
"Hello? Yes, I'm wondering if you know of two blue birds that are wondering the streets out here. Yes, blue. No, there isn't any other colors on their feathers. Hello? How rude. They just hung up."
At the store management, there was a deep conversation going down, "Sir, those birds are almost extinct and belong to the Blu Bird Sanctuary in Rio. I bet the cargo got confused. We need to get those birds back to Rio, for the sake of their kind."
"Agreed. Send out our better employees."
Back to Blu and Jewel
Blu and Jewel were walking because Blu didn't feel like she wanted to be carried all around town. Besides, they were enjoying themselves. They didn't know that the news of their presence was spreading like wildfire. They kept getting fed by some of the people around. They felt bad for Jewel, seeing that she couldn't fly, but relieved that another bird was right there, walking beside her and not flying to prove his loyalty to her.
"Hey! It's those birds on the news!" some kids said, pointing towards Blu and Jewel.
"Looks like the place has english as the first language." Blu said.
"What?" Jewel asked.
"Just trying to pinpoint where we are."
"Oh, okay." Jewel said. The kids ran up to the two. Jewel retreated behind Blu. She didn't trust humans, not even Linda and Tulio at the moment. Blu could understand that, seeing what they just went through.
"We're not going to hurt you." one of the kids said. Blu walked up to one of them, and started to climb up his arm. The kids started laughing as Blu jumped around the crowd's shoulders. Jewel just watched in amusement.
"Oh, Blu. Where would I be without you, AHH!" she said as she was grabbed around the neck by something. The kids stopped, and Blu turned to see Jewel being picked up by someone. She was thrown into a cage. Blu flew to her aid, but was stopped by another human.
"Hey! What are you doing! You can't do that to them!" the kids shouted.
"Yes we can. They are worth a fortune, and I'm pretty sure someone will pay a lot to have them, seeing as one of them already was owned and may want to be retrieved." One of the men said. He threw the cages into the nearby truck, and drove off. What he didn't know was that Blu could open cages. Blu had the both of them out of their cages, and waited for him to open the door so they could escape.
"WOW! There are already four people offering hundreds of thousands for the cyan one!" one of the people up front said.
"We're going to be rich!" said another.
"I've put them on a site. I'm selling each one separately."
"You can't separate the two."
"Why not?"
*silence*
The two burst out in laughter.
"Ugg. Disgusting humans and their money." Jewel said.
"Yeah, that's the worst part about them." Blu said, agreeing with Jewel.
The truck came to a stop, and the doors opened. Blu took his chance and flew out, with Jewel in his talons. "Hey, what the!? Come back here!" One of the men shouted. He reached for the two, but collided with his partner. Blu just kept flying straight and up. "Now what? We need to find those two before someone else does!" The two got into the truck and drove after them. Blu flew to the top of a building nearby, seeing as the two men were chasing them. It was a giant clock.
Big Ben? Blu thought. We're in ENGLAND!? He thought, excited he finally knew where they were. "Jewel, I know where we are!"
"Where?" Jewel asked.
"We're in England."
"Huh, I thought it'd be more, welcoming." Jewel said, referring to the smugglers they just faced.
"Yeah, me too." Blu said. They flew to the top of the tower, and saw the truck park in front of it. "It looks like they are still in pursuit." Blu said as he pointed to the truck.
"Ugg! Why can't we just have a peaceful life!?" Jewel asked, in rage.
Linda and Tulio just arrived in Great Britain. "Linda! Blu and Jewel are up for auction!" Tulio said as he looked at the website that they were posted on.
"WHAT!? What's the highest bidder?"
"Four point two million, just for Jewel! We don't have that money! What are we going to do!?" The phone buzzed. Jewel was sold.
"Curse Humans and their greed!" Linda said.
"What if we called the cops?" Tulio asked.
"Worth a shot." Linda said. She looked to the television. She saw Blu. "Tulio!" she shouted, pointing to the TV.
"The two famous spix macaws are now on top of Big Ben. The two aren't coming down either. We have also received notice that the light blue one was just sold for a whopping four point two million dollars. Good luck to these birds on staying together. I'm Charollet Keyster, brought to you live by Britain's BBC News.
"We've got to go to Big Ben!" Tulio said. They called a cab, and they hurried towards the giant clock tower.
"Blu, I'm hungry." Jewel said.
"Alright, I'll get some food." Blu said. "Stay safe." He took off, going down to the supermarket nearby that threw him and Jewel some fruit the other day.
"Hello, pretty." Jewel jumped. That wasn't Blu.
"Who are you?"
Author's Note: When I create new characters, I chose the names at random. I mean no offense to anyone who has the names I use.
"I'm Scott, and I hope you don't mind me asking you what your's is?"
"I'm Jewel." She said. Don't let your guard down, not for a second. She thought.
"Mind if I take you to lunch, you know, for a date?"
"Ugg! You birds disgust me!" she said as she spat on the ground.
"What? Your beauty is beyond compare around here. Plus, you are an extremely rare bird to come by."
"Well, sorry to disappoint, but I'm already with someone." Jewel said.
"What? Your brother? Well, where did he go?" Scott asked.
"He's not my brother." Jewel said.
"Then who is he?"
"My, my fiance." she lied. She knew that this bird would try and take her as her own, like many have done before Blu came around. She hated birds liking her looks and always wanting an attractive bird by their side to call their mate. Blu just wanted to be with her. He didn't care what she looked like at the end of the day. He just wanted to have her love. He had it. And I have his. Jewel thought. Just then, Blu came back with two mangos.
"Oh, hello. Want some mango?" Blu asked, handing some of his mango towards Scott.
He's polite, I'll give him that. Scott thought. "No, no thanks. I was just saying hi. You have a lovely girlfriend." Scott said.
"Actually, she's my..." Blu started to say. Jewel elbowed him, and gave him a 'play along' type of glare. Okay, Jewel, but I'm getting an explanation. He thought.
"Your, what? Sister?" Scott asked, getting his hopes up.
"No, she's my fiance." Blu said, playing along with what Jewel jabbed his side for. Wow. That sounds, weird. He thought.
"Ah. Lucky bird. Well, see you around." Scott said, leaving in disappointment.
"Well, he seems nice." Blu said. "Why did you tell him we were engaged? We aren't yet."
Scott heard this. Drats. They aren't finances, yet. He thought. The word 'yet' kept ringing in his ears. I guess I still have a chance then. He said. He flew off, planning on how to get Jewel as his own. Too bad he would never see her again, in his life.
"Really? If you were here a minute ago, he was trying to ask me out." Jewel said.
"Well, you can't blame him for that. He didn't know you were in a relationship." Blu said.
"Yeah, but once I mentioned you, he still didn't back down." Jewel said.
"Well, I'm here now, and I promise you I won't leave your side." Blu said, giving her a kiss. Jewel giggled and leaned into his side. They enjoyed their mangos and enjoyed each other's embraces for a little while. Then, a trapdoor opened in front of them.
"There they are!" shouted one of the men.
"Uh oh." Blu said. He grabbed Jewel's shoulders and flew off again. The men barely missed their grasp on them. "STOP CHASING US!" Blu shouted. He started to fly off again.
"We can't get our money without them!" said one of the poachers.
"No duh!" said the other. "After them!" he said.
Linda and Tulio just pulled up. The saw Blu and Jewel starting to fly away. "BLU!" Linda shouted. They were too high up to hear Linda. She got back into the cab. "Follow those birds!" she said. The driver took off, in pursuit.
Blu was looking everywhere for a high spot someone couldn't climb up to get them. Then he saw Buckingham Palace. So this is what it looks like from this high up. Blu thought. As he flew over it, he saw how intricate the architecture was. When he set Jewel down, he saw a cab pull up to the gate.
"Great. More people." Jewel said.
"Well, they could be touring the palace." Blu said.
"Yeah, but as you carried me, that cab kept following us."
"Major coincidence?" Blu said.
"I think not." Jewel said in a low tone, making the two start laughing. Once they stopped, they looked towards the cab. Two people stepped out. Then another few cars came. Men in suits stepped out and they started to conversate. Blu and Jewel couldn't see who was down there from where they were.
"Oh, hello officers. Can we help you?" Tulio asked.
"Yes. First, who are you, second, are you chasing those two blue birds up there on the palace?" one of the men said.
"Yes! That's Blu and Jewel up there!" Linda said.
"How do you know?"
"We're from the Blu bird sanctuary." Tulio said, handing him his business card.
"And how do you two know that those two are yours?"
"I did the bandaging on Jewel on her left wing." Tulio said.
"So just how did they get here?" another man asked.
"The cargo was aboard the wrong plane, and they tracked it here, in England. We came here seeing that Blu, the one that doesn't have the broken wing, had broken out of the cage and the two have been here ever since."
"Alright. We'll get these birds, but you have to prove to us that they are yours because a big price is on them."
"Yes, we know." Tulio said.
Back to Blu and Jewel
"I wonder who's down there." Blu said. They continued to watch the people's conversation. Then they started to enter the gates.
"Blu, I think we should go." Jewel said.
"Alright." he said. He grabbed Jewel's shoulders and started to take off.
"BLU!"
Blu stopped. He turned around. "Linda?"
"Blu!" she shouted again.
"I can't believe they found us!" Jewel said. She didn't know how they were going to get back to Rio, but now she did. Blu brought both him and Jewel down on the path in front of the humans.
Linda picked up Jewel and Blu climbed her shoulders. "Blu! Jewel! I'm so glad we found you guys!" Linda said.
Blu squawked with joy. Jewel just smiled, happy seeing that she'll make it back to Rio.
The men next to Tulio and Linda looked at the two birds, and spoke, "Are you two from Rio De Janeiro?" One asked. He didn't think that they could understand his question, but he was surprised when Blu nodded along with Jewel. "I've seen enough. Pull their auction down, they are going back to Rio." He said.
"Blu, Jewel! We were so worried. Blu, where were you!? Jewel was extremely sad you weren't there. Then again, how did you even get into the cage aboard a plane!?" Tulio asked. Blu wrote down every detail on a paper and pen pad while they headed for the airport. Linda and Tulio, were surprised once again at another adventure Blu and Jewel had. They had arrived at the airport after a few hours of traffic.
The two lovebirds were put into another cage, much to Jewel's dislike, and was loaded onto the correct plane, back to Rio De Janeiro. Blu and Jewel enjoyed each other's embraces on the cold flight back home, to Jewel's enjoyment. "Blu?"
"Yes, Jewel?"
"When we do get married, are we going to have kids?" Jewel asked.
"Uh, yes. Yes, of course. Is that what you want?" Blu asked.
"Of course it is. I would be the happiest bird alive if that happens." Jewel said.
"I bet I'll be happier."
"Will not." Jewel said, teasingly.
"Will to."
"Will not." Jewel said. She was pulled into a kiss.
"Will to." Blu whispered into her ear.
"Okay, fine. You win." Jewel said, smirking. She thought of another way to tease Blu. "I guess I'll have to leave you now."
"Why?"
"So I can win this argument." Jewel said. Blu picked her up and Jewel was laughing and screaming, playfully. Blu kept carrying her around.
"Then I won't let you go." Blu said. Jewel kept struggling to get out of his grasp, but she was positioned just right so she couldn't.
"Fine, you win, again." Jewel said, giving Blu a playful smile. Blu laid her down on her feet, and went to the other side of the cage and lied down.
"Aw, did someone get bored of his love?" Jewel said.
"No. *Yawn*. Just tired." Blu said.
"You know what? I could also use a nap." She said. Jewel walked over to Blu and lied down next to him. He put his wings around her, and she accepted his gesture. The two fell asleep for most of the flight home.
Blu woke to a sudden start. He had just woken from a nightmare, one about his childhood before he met Linda. He was relieved to see that Jewel wasn't woken by his sudden actions. He just stayed up for the remainder of the flight, and enjoyed Jewel sleeping soundly, right in his wings.
