Amazon Adventures
Chapter Five: Leadership Lessons
Another day dawned over the Amazon. In their cosy hollow, he blue macaw family all woke up. Blu, who often preferred to sleep in, was finding it easier and easier to wake up early.
"Morning, sweetie." Jewel greeted him.
"Morning, honey." The two shared a quick kiss. "Morning, kids."
"Good morning, dad." Bia said brightly.
"Mornin'!" Tiago smiled.
"And I was having the best dream..." Carla yawned.
As the family stretched and prepared for the day ahead, Eduardo flew into the hollow.
"Morning, daddy." Jewel smiled.
"Morning, pop-pop!" The kids chorused.
"Good morning, sir." Blu declared.
"Morning, everyone." Eduardo smiled, before suddenly turning serious. "Blu, you're with me today."
Blu gulped. The tone in his father-in-law's voice made it perfectly clear that it wasn't a request.
"Oh, o-okay." Blu nodded.
"Have fun, you two." Jewel smiled, remembering what happened the last time her father took Blu out for the day. "Try not to put him through the wringer this time, dad."
"I'll try." Eduardo grinned wickedly.
"Very funny, sir." Blu chuckled nervously. "You were joking, right?"
"Come on." Eduardo took flight, leaving Blu to follow.
"So, are you training me some more?" Blu asked. "Because I think I've got the basics covered by now."
"I'm thinking of a different kind of training." Eduardo declared.
"Really?" Blu said curious. "What kind?"
"Look: the fact is, I'm not a young bird any more." Eduardo admitted.
"Not true, sir." Blu said obsequiously. "You're still in your prime."
"Either way, I won't be around forever." Eduardo continued. "When I'm gone, a new leader must take the reins of the tribe... And I think that leader could be you."
"Me?!" Blu gasped, surprised.
"Yes, you." Eduardo smiled. "You really impressed me when you led us against those loggers. And from what Jewel's told me, it wasn't the first time you stepped up like that."
"Well, yeah..." Blu admitted modestly. "But those were extreme situations. It's not like I can just turn it on and off at will..."
"Which is why you're with me today." Eduardo nodded. "Your job is to watch and learn."
"No offense to your choice, but surely there's a better option for protégé?" Blu offered. "Roberto, maybe?"
"Roberto's good." Eduardo nodded. "But as we both know, he's not exactly at his best during a crisis of the human variety. A leader must be ready and willing to handle all kinds of trouble."
"Well, what about Jewel?" Blu asked. "She is your daughter, after all..."
"Tribal law states that only males can lead." Eduardo told him. "Otherwise, Mimi, as my older sister, would be in charge."
"I see." Blu sighed. "Seems a little sexist, if you ask me..."
"Enough talk." Eduardo declared. "Let's go. We've got a busy day ahead."
It turned out Eduardo wasn't joking. It was indeed a busy day. Blu observed Eduardo throughout the morning, as he went about his duty. As leader of the blue macaw tribe, there were many things the other members needed his help with: Settling disputes, defending against predators, ensuring there was food and nesting areas to go around... It had never occurred to Blu how much Eduardo did for his tribe. This knowledge just made him even more apprehensive about having to one day take his place.
At noon, they stopped off near the clay banks for some lunch. Jewel was already there, and flew over to them.
"So, how's your day been?" She asked Blu.
"Very... educational." Blu answered.
"What have you guys been doing, exactly?" Jewel added.
"I've been showing Blu here the ropes." Eduardo told her. "I figured that, one day, your husband would make a worthy successor."
"Wow, really?" Jewel smiled. "Congratulations, Blu!"
"Yeah, it's... great." Blu smiled falsely. "Really great."
After eating some berries, Blu and Eduardo set off for the afternoon workload.
"I hope you've been watching and learning." Eduardo declared.
"Oh, I have." Blu nodded.
"Good." Eduardo nodded.
As they flew on, they heard a commotion in a nearby tree. Two blue macaws were having an argument.
"Think you should step in, sir?" Blu suggested.
"Actually, I think you should." Eduardo replied.
"Excuse me?" Blu gulped.
"The time for watching and learning is over." Eduardo stated. "Time to see what you can do with what you've learned."
"I, uh... okay." Blu swallowed hard, then flew over to the arguing pair. "What seems to be the problem, gentlemen?"
"My neighbour here stole the Brazil nut I found!" One macaw said.
"It's not yours!" The other snorted. "I had it first! I put it aside for a second, and he took it! I just took it back!"
"That's your story." The first macaw huffed. "It's mine, and I'm ready to fight for it!"
"Me, too!" The second macaw yelled.
"Okay, okay, just relax, guys!" Blu tried to get in between them. "What say we all take a nice, deep breath, and-"
"Forget that!" The first macaw tackled the second, and they began to wrestle.
"Come on, there's got to be a better way to settle this-" Blu began.
"BUTT OUT!" The two macaws yelled, before resuming their struggle.
It was then that Eduardo stepped in.
"Alright, that's enough!" He bellowed, causing the two to instantly stop. "Now, here's what we're going to do..."
Eduardo took the Brazil nut in his talon, and flew down to the ground. He slammed it down on a sharp rock, breaking it in two. He then brought the two halves back up with him.
"There." He tossed one half to each macaw. "Now you both have one."
"Thanks, Eduardo." The first macaw smiled.
"You're the best!" The second added.
As Blu and Eduardo flew off, Blu hung his head in shame.
"Oh, I'm terrible at this!" He groaned.
"Ah, I'd say you're doing about as well as I did when I first became leader." Eduardo declared. "When I started out, I had no idea what I was doing. I made so many mistakes."
"Really?" Blu gasped.
"As time went by, I got better, made fewer and fewer mistakes." Eduardo recalled. "I still make mistakes every now and then, but I learn from them. You'll learn too."
"I suppose." Blu sighed.
As they neared the area where the loggers had cut down several trees, Eduardo was surprised to see a small building standing there.
"What's this?" He asked.
"That must be the new outpost." Blu mused. "Linda told me about it."
"Outpost?" Eduardo repeated.
"You know how I said humans were going to protect the Amazon?" Blu asked. "Well, this where they're going to protect it from."
Blu then saw a most welcome sight: Linda and Tulio, making one of their regular visits.
"Look, there's Linda and Tulio!" Blu pointed. "Maybe we should drop by and say hello."
"No thanks." Eduardo said firmly. "I know humans aren't all as bad as I thought, but all the same, I'd prefer to keep my distance."
"Oh. ...Okay." Blu shrugged.
As they flew back the way they came, a python suddenly slithered out from behind a tree branch.
"Look out!" Eduardo yelled.
The two birds veered off to the right. Eduardo's wing grazed a gnarled branch, producing a nasty cut on the top of his wing.
"Agh!" Eduardo groaned, setting down on another branch, his ability to fly compromised.
"That looks bad." Blu noted. "Maybe we should go to Tulio. He can help."
"No need." Eduardo grimaced. "It's fine."
"I'm afraid there's no choice." Blu said firmly. "If that cut isn't seen to fast, it could get infected, and we don't want that, do we?"
"...Fine." Eduardo groaned. "Take me to this... 'Tulio'."
Grabbing Eduardo's wings in his talons (taking care to avoid the wound), Blu carried him back to where he saw Linda and Tulio.
"No offense sir, but you're a little on the heavy side..." Blu groaned.
"Yeah, it's called 'muscle'." Eduardo retorted.
Luckily, Linda and Tulio hadn't gone far. Blu found them quickly.
"Blu, what's the matter?" Linda asked, noting the urgency of Blu's squawk.
Blu put Eduardo down in front of them, his wounded wing on display.
"Oh my, that's a nasty cut." Tulio reached for him. Eduardo stepped back on instinct. "Relax. I'm here to help."
After a moment's hesitation, Eduardo climbed onto Tulio's outstretched hands, and taken in the direction of the outpost. Blu followed, perched on Linda's shoulder.
"Wait, where is he taking me?" Eduardo asked worriedly.
"To the outpost." Blu replied.
"That human box?" Eduardo blanched. "You never said anything about that!"
Though he could not understand Eduardo's squawks, Tulio recognised their panicked tone.
"Easy there, easy!" He winced, trying to keep him from jumping out of his hands.
"Eduardo, calm down!" Blu told his father-in-law.
"I'm not going in there!" Eduardo yelled. "It's unnatural! Those flat walls, and big wooden flaps!"
"You mean doors?" Blu asked.
"Who cares what they're called!" Eduardo yelped. "I'd rather take my chances with the cut!"
"Eduardo, look at me." Blu glared fiercely. "It's going to be okay. Take a few deep, calming breaths. Like me."
Blu began breathing steadily, and Eduardo did the same, gradually becoming calmer, and ceasing trying to jump out of Tulio's hands.
"Good job, Blu." Linda smiled. "I have no idea what you just did, but good job."
As Eduardo was brought inside, he froze momentarily, fearing the worse. Tulio set him down on the table of the treatment room, and examined the cut.
"You're lucky, my feathered friend." He smiled. "I have just the thing to deal with this."
Tulio took out a plastic tube and squeezed it, producing an orange salve. He rubbed it on a bandage, and pressed it against Eduardo's cut. Eduardo sighed as he felt the pain receding.
"Now, I'm afraid we're going to have to keep you overnight." Tulio declared. "It'll take at least that long for the cut to heal."
"Overnight?" Eduardo gasped.
"Don't worry, sir." Blu smiled. "I'll stay by your si-"
"No." Eduardo said simply. "You should go back to the tribe and explain where I am. They'll probably be getting worried by now."
"You sure you'll be okay here by yourself?" Blu asked.
"Sometimes, a leader must put his tribe before himself." Eduardo stated.
"Understood." Blu nodded, quickly flying outside.
"What do you suppose he's in such a rush for?" Tulio asked.
"Search me." Linda shrugged. "As close as we are, Blu sometimes does things even I don't understand."
"He certainly has good taste in friends." Tulio smiled at Eduardo. "It isn't often you see such a strong, distinguished bird."
Eduardo smiled. He was beginning to understand what Blu saw in those two.
By the time Blu returned to the jungle, it was the early evening, and the tribe had already gathered together in mutual worry for their missing leader.
"Everyone, listen up!" He called. "Eduardo has been injured. I took him to my human friends for treatment."
"What?!" One macaw gasped.
"Traitor!" Yelled another.
"Eduardo's been imprisoned by humans!" Roberto cried.
The tribe descended into panicked yelling. After a few meek attempts to get their attention, Blu decided to get serious.
"ENOUGH!" He yelled as hard as he could, getting the tribe's attention. "Eduardo is not a prisoner. He'll be back tomorrow, I promise. For now, everyone just stay calm and go about your business. Is that understood?"
The tribe muttered words of confirmation.
"Good." Blu smiled. "Meeting adjourned, I guess..."
As the tribe dispersed, Jewel flew over to him.
"Can I just say, I love the way you handled that?" She smiled warmly.
"Yes, you can." Blu grinned proudly. "Honestly, I have no idea how I did that."
"I do." Jewel told him. "It's a little something dad sees in you. Something I see in you."
"Something I didn't even know I had." Blu shrugged.
The next morning, Blu, Jewel, their kids, Mimi, and even Roberto (despite his own feelings about humans) flew over to the outpost to meet Eduardo as he was released. Tulio carried him out of the building himself, the distinguished macaw perched on his arm.
"Oh, look." Linda smiled at Eduardo. "You've got visitors."
Eduardo leapt off Tulio arm and joined his family.
"Everything okay, sir?" Blu asked.
"Everything's fine." Eduardo smiled, showing off his healed wing. "Your 'Tulio' did an excellent job."
"Come on kids, let's say hello to Linda and Tulio." Jewel declared.
"Me, too." Mimi added. "I've never seen friendly humans up close before."
"I'll s-stay up here, if it's all the same to you." Roberto quivered.
"Don't be such a wuss, uncle Beto." Tiago rolled his eyes.
The family flew down to greet their human friends.
"Long time, no see, Jewel." Tulio smiled, as Jewel cawed a greeting.
"Look at you, Tiago." Linda chuckled, stroking his crest feathers. "You're getting so handsome, just like your dad."
"Aw, yeah." Tiago crooned. "That's the spot."
"And you girls are getting to be as pretty as your mother." Tulio told Bia and Carla, who both nuzzled against his cheek.
Mimi boldly perched on Linda's shoulder.
"And who are you?" Linda chuckled. "Not that it matters. Any friend of Blu and Jewel's is a friend of mine."
Mimi cawed positively.
Seeing how friendly Linda and Tulio were, Roberto, following a supportive nudge from Blu, hopped down to the lower branches.
"Well, look at you." Tulio noticed. "What a magnificent specimen you are. Such a fabulous crest."
Roberto couldn't help himself from grinning with pride. He sang his signature song.
"And an impressive call." Tulio smiled. "I'll bet the lady macaws can't keep your wings off you!"
"Alright, I'll admit it." Roberto told Blu. "These humans aren't so bad."
After they parted ways with their human friends, the blue macaws headed for home.
"Jewel told me how you handled things yesterday." Eduardo told Blu. "Impressive."
"Oh, I wouldn't say that..." Blu said modestly.
"Not to mention how you took charge during my little... episode yesterday." Eduardo added, a little embarrassed. "You have the makings of a great leader, Blu. The day I go, I'll go knowing the tribe will be in safe talons."
"Thanks, sir." Blu smiled. "But to be honest, I hope that day doesn't come for a long time."
"Me too." Eduardo nodded. "I don't intend on going anywhere just yet."
The two shared a look of mutual respect as they flew home.
To Be Continued...
(Rio 2 and all associated characters are the property of Blue Sky Studios and 20th Century Fox.)