Amazon Adventures

Chapter Twelve: A Joyous Birth

Not long after returning from their summer in Rio, the Spix's macaw family were celebrating a very special occasion: Bia, Carla and Tiago's birthday. Blu and Jewel had invited Eduardo, Mimi and Roberto to their hollow for a party.

"Happy birthday, kids!" Roberto smiled.

"Thanks, uncle 'Beto!" Tiago smiled.

"I didn't even know I had any grandkids until a while ago, and now I'm celebrating the day of their birth." Eduardo smiled.

"Oh, I wish I could have been there when they hatched!" Mimi cooed. "I bet they were just adorable!"

"Aw, aunt Mimi..." Carla cringed.

"You have to tell us about it!" Mimi begged Jewel.

"I'm pretty curious myself." Eduardo admitted.

"Well, it's a long story..." Blu declared.

"I got time." Roberto nodded.

"Come on, tell us!" Bia urged.

"If it's anything like the story of how you two got together, I can't wait to hear it." Eduardo smiled.

"Now, that was a story." Mimi sighed. "I especially loved the part where Jewel was falling, and Blu jumped after her, and they kissed..."

"Ew, not me!" Tiago gagged.

"Let's just stick with the birthday story, please?" Carla urged.

"Majority ruling." Jewel chuckled. "It all started on a day like today..."

Three years ago...

Blu and Jewel flew into the Centro de Conservaçāo Ambiental via an open window. They had come for one of their regular check-ups. Jewel had been apprehensive at the idea of letting a human, even Tulio, examine her on a regular basis. After a lot of cajoling, Blu finally convinced her that since they were (as far as they knew at the time) the last of kind, they had to ensure they would stay healthy, and that Tulio could help spot any oncoming illnesses. Even Jewel couldn't argue with such sound logic.

"Hi, Blu." Linda smiled as they landed. "Hi, Jewel."

Blu and Jewel squawked a greeting. Linda had moved to Rio not long after Jewel's recovery, not only to be near Blu, but because she and Tulio had fallen in love. The two had recently married, with Blu and Jewel as the best man and bridesmaid Fernando was also there, employed by Tulio as an assistant, and later adopted by he and Linda after their marriage.

"Hey, guys." Fernando waved.

"Well, if it isn't my two favourite patients." Tulio walked over. "Time for your check-up already? Right this way."

Tulio offered his arms, the Blue Macaws climbed on, allowing him to carry them to the examination table. Blu went first; Tulio checked his breathing, his feathers, his talons, and his stomach.

"Another clean bill of health for you, Blu." Tulio smiled.

"That's my Blu." Linda chuckled. "He knows how to take care of himself."

Then came Jewel's turn. She chuckled lightly as Tulio ran a finger around her stomach. Suddenly, Tulio, paused, moved his finger back, and circled Jewel's lower stomach. He felt three small, hard objects.

"Meu deus." He whispered.

"What is it, Tulio?" Linda asked worriedly. "Is something wrong with Jewel?"

"Oh, no." Blu gulped.

"Quite the opposite, actually." Tulio smiled. "Jewel... is carrying eggs!"

"She is?!" Linda gasped.

"She is?!" Blu gaped.

"I am?!" Jewel stepped back in surprise.

"Yes, she is!" Tulio cheered. "It's the moment we've been waiting for!"

"Awesome!" Fernando cheered.

"Way to go, Blu!" Linda smiled. "I didn't know you had it in you."

Blu grinned bashfully. Since he and Jewel had been together, they had had quite a few... "exciting" nights.

"This is big." Tulio declared. "I'll have to keep Jewel here for observation, of course. We need to make sure those eggs make it through okay. Luckily, we caught them early. She shouldn't lay for a while yet. I just need to grab some things."

"I'll help you." Linda offered.

"Wait for me!" Fernando smiled.

"'Observation'?" Jewel frowned, as Linda, Tulio and Fernando left the room. "I didn't sign up to being cooped up again."

"They're just trying to help, Jewel." Blu assured her.

"Well, I don't need their help!" Jewel growled. "Our kind have been hatching chicks in the wild for years!"

"I know, I know." Blu nodded. "But we're the last Blue macaws on Earth. We need to keep our chicks safe. And right here may actually be the safest place around. You don't want anything to happen to them, do you?"

Jewel glared at Blu... then sighed.

"Sometimes, I really hate it when you're right." She groaned. "Fine. I'm staying put. ...For now. But I'll need some... 'compensation', if you know what I mean."

"I think I do." Blu nuzzled her.

"Smooth, dad." Tiago chuckled.

"I knew mom couldn't have won every argument they ever had." Bia smiled.

"At least dad won some before we came along." Carla added.

"Kids, do you mind?" Blu asked. "We're trying to tell the story here."

"Sorry, dad." The kids chorused.

"Please, continue." Bia urged.

"Thank you." Blu smiled. "Now, where were we? Oh, right..."

Tulio and Linda had returned shortly after with food for Blu and Jewel, and an artificial nest for her to lay the eggs in. Fernando had even brought in some food.

"Okay, this feels weird." Jewel declared as she tried it out.

"I'm sure you'll get used to it." Blu shrugged. "So... it's really happening. We're going to be parents."

"We sure are." Jewel nodded.

"I mean, I know that was the whole point of us being brought together in the first place, but still..." Blu rambled. "Do you think we're... y'know, ready?"

"Of course we are." Jewel assured him. "It's all instinct. Like flying."

"That's... not very reassuring." Blu cringed, remembering all his failed attempts at flight.

"You'll be fine, Blu." Jewel stroked his cheek with her wing. "A bird as sweet and caring as you will be a great father. I know it."

"Thanks, Jewel." Blu took Jewel's wing in both of his own. "And I'm sure you'll be an amazing mother."

"Thanks, sweetie." Jewel smiled.

"Ick." Tiago grimaced.

"Tiago, stop interrupting." Jewel admonished him.

"Sorry, mom." Tiago winced.

For a while, things were uneventful. Then, as evening fell, Jewel felt a twinge of pain.

"Ah!" She seethed.

"What's wrong?" Blu asked.

"I think I'm about to lay!" Jewel cringed.

"Tulio!" Linda called, noticing something was wrong. "Fernando!"

"Oh, my!" Tulio gasped. "The eggs are coming!"

As the humans rushed over, Jewel cried out in pain as the first egg emerged.

"Are you okay?" Blu asked.

"Am I okay?" Jewel spat. "Am I okay?! DO YOU KNOW HOW BIG THOSE EGGS ARE? WELL, DO YOU?!"

"I-I have an idea..." Blu trembled.

"OF COURSE I'M NOT OKAY!" Jewel screeched.

"Sorry I asked." Blu gulped.

Jewel's temper suddenly faded.

"I'm sorry, Blu." She panted. "I didn't mean to yell. It just hurts so much!"

"Here, take my wing." Blu offered.

"Thanks." Jewel curled her wing around his.

"Now, just breath." Blu urged. "In, out, in, out."

Jewel did as Blu asked, then felt another jolt of pain.

"Ah!" She screamed, as the second egg slid onto the artificial nest.

"You're doing great." Blu smiled. "Two down, one to go-ooohhh!" He yelled, as Jewel squeezed his wing tightly.

"Nnnngg!" Jewel grunted, expelling the final egg, which was also the most painful. "Oh, finally!"

Her iron grip loosened, and Blu waved his sore wing.

"They did it." Linda smiled.

"Amazing." Tulio chuckled. He glanced at Jewel. "May I?"

Jewel grudgingly allowed Tulio to examine the eggs. She was so tired, she couldn't stop him if she wanted to. She leaned against Blu, who wrapped his good wing around her.

"You were great, Jewel." Blu declared.

"Seriously?" Jewel smirked. "You call screaming my head off 'great'?"

"Well, uh..." Blu stuttered. "What I meant was-"

Jewel silenced him with a kiss.

"I know what you meant." She smiled.

"All three eggs seem to be doing well." Tulio declared. "All they need now is some tender, loving care."

"That's where I come in." Jewel nodded, climbing back into the nest and sitting on the eggs.

"How long do you think it'll take for the eggs to hatch?" Linda asked.

"At a guess, around twenty days." Tulio answered.

"That long, huh?" Linda blinked in surprise. "I should've brought a magazine..."

"Wow, I never thought laying eggs was that painful." Bia declared.

"I bet that last egg was Carla's." Tiago smirked.

"Don't even go there, shorty." Carla scowled.

"Hush up, kids." Mimi declared. "I want to hear the rest!"

"Thank you, Mimi." Blu smiled.

For the next three weeks, Jewel sat on the eggs, day in, day out, with brief flying and eating breaks.

"Maybe I should sit on them for a while." Blu offered. "It doesn't seem fair for you to do all the work..."

"No offense, honey, but this is really more of a female thing." Jewel told him. "I laid the eggs, and I'm going to hatch them."

"Okay." Blu sighed.

"But I wouldn't mind some... emotional support, if you know what I mean..." Jewel smirked.

"Oh, I think I do." Blu chuckled, nuzzling against her.

Late one morning, it finally happened. The eggs started moving.

"Blu, it's time!" Jewel called.

"Whoa, really?" Blu spat out a mouthful of seed, having just starting eating. "Coming!"

As Blu joined Jewel at the nest, Linda and Tulio noticed the eggs' movement.

"Here we go!" Tulio declared.

"I've never seen eggs hatch up close before!" Linda smiled.

"Me neither!" Fernando agreed.

As the eggs continued their movements, the largest one developed a crack near the top. The crack grew wider, until it encompassed the whole egg. A tiny green-eyed head popped up.

"Oh, wow..." Blu gasped.

"Our firstborn." Jewel nuzzled him. "A beautiful girl."

"Time of hatching: 10:37 a.m." Tulio wrote on his clipboard.

"Awww, look at that." Fernando beamed.

All eyes turned on the other two eggs, waiting for the chicks inside to join their sibling. One finally cracked open, revealing a skinny female chick with brown eyes.

"Time of hatching: 10:40 a.m." Tulio noted. "Oh, and 2.5 seconds."

"This is so exciting!" Linda whispered.

Before long, the smallest egg opened, revealing what looked like a miniature version of Blu.

"Time of hatching: 10:43 a.m." Tulio smiled.

"Picture time!" Linda waved a camera. "We need to commemorate this special moment!"

Linda took a picture of the three chicks.

"An excellent addition to the records." Tulio declared.

"Be sure to get a copy." Linda suggested. "We could put it on our fridge door."

Tulio and Linda left the room to develop the photo. Meanwhile, Blu and Jewel looked upon their newborn children as they forced their way out of what was left of their eggs.

"The moment's finally here." Blu gasped, a little unsteady. "I'm a dad..."

"Easy there, daddy." Jewel teased. "Don't pass out until we've named them."

"Right, names." Blu nodded. "I've thought of lots of names these past weeks. Names a' plenty. ...You can go first."

"Okay." Jewel chuckled, turning to the first chick. "Let's call this one 'Carla'. I've always liked that name."

"Carla it is." Blu nodded, rounding on the middle child. "And I have the perfect name for this one: 'Bia'."

"Bia..." Jewel mused. "I like that." She turned to the youngest chick. "Now, what about this little fella?"

"I was thinking, maybe, 'Bobby'?" Blu suggested.

"Nah, too regular." Jewel shrugged. "How about 'Tiago'?"

"Huh, that's not bad, actually." Blu noted. "Rolls off the tongue pretty nicely. It's settled!"

"Wonderful." Jewel smiled. "Welcome to the world, Bia, Carla, and Tiago."

Jewel lightly nuzzled each one in turn. She turned to the Blu, silently urging him to introduce himself to the chicks.

"Hi." Blu said awkwardly. "I'm, er... I'm your daddy."

The chicks looked up at him for a moment, their faces blank.

"Oh, they don't like me." Blu groaned. "I'm a terrible father. I-"

Bia suddenly nuzzled against Blu's side, followed by Tiago and Carla.

"Really?" Jewel smirked. "I'd say they think differently."

The chicks started making chirping noises.

"What's wrong, kids?" Blu asked.

"They're hungry." Jewel declared. "Breakfast coming right up, kids."

Jewel took a bite of some nearby mango, chewed it up thoroughly, swallowed then leaned over and regurgitated it into Carla's waiting beak.

"Ew, gross!" Blu cringed.

"Oh, come on." Jewel rolled her eyes. "It's perfectly natural. You should try it yourself."

"No thanks." Blu said flatly. "Like you said, some things are really more for females."

"Suit yourself." Jewel shrugged, as she went for more mango.

Linda and Tulio returned to the room.

"It's like a dream come true!" Tulio cheered. "The birth of three brand new Blue macaws!"

"It is pretty amazing." Linda agreed.

Blu squawked at Linda.

"What is it, Blu?" Linda asked.

Blu pointed to a pencil and notepad.

"You want these?" Linda inquired. "Okay..."

Taking a page from the pad, Blu tore it into three, wrote one chick's name on each piece, then placed them in a corresponding position by the nest.

"Bia, Carla and Tiago?" Linda smiled. "Look at that. They've named their chicks."

"Incredible!" Tulio declared. "Looks like we don't have worry about naming them ourselves..."

For the next couple of days, they remained in the treatment room, Jewel's motherly instinct to protect her kids overriding her need to fly free.

"We have a surprise for you guys." Linda declared. "Come with us."

Blu climbed on Linda's arm, and Jewel on Tulio's, while Fernando gently picked up the chicks. They carried the birds to their cottage, where, waiting in the back yard, was a birdhouse, with four compartments.

"Ta-daa!" Linda smiled. "Welcome to your new home!"

"Wow!" Blu jumped into the birdhouse. "Jewel, check this out!"

"Yah, not bad." Jewel inspected it. "Beats living in that room, anyway..."

"Not to mention, we are technically in the wild." Blu added. "And the kids each get their own room. When they're a little bigger, that is..."

"I think they like it." Fernando smiled.

"I knew they would." Tulio nodded.

"Welcome home, kids." Jewel beamed. "Welcome to our life."

"And that's about it." Blu finished. "Not bad, huh?"

"It was quite a tale, I'll admit." Eduardo nodded.

"It was one of the best days of my life." Jewel declared. "Right behind finding the tribe again. And the day I fell in love with Blu, of course."

"Aww, thanks, honey." Blu nuzzled his wife.

"Yuck." Carla grimaced.

"Ruined a perfectly good story!" Tiago gagged.

"The day you kids came into our lives was the day we became a family." Blu declared. "Becoming a father was one of my greatest accomplishments. I'm so proud of you all."

"Thanks, dad." Bia smiled.

"We love you, kids." Jewel declared.

"We love you too, mom." Carla beamed.

"Ugh, not more mushy stuff!" Tiago cringed.

Blu and Jewel pulled all the kids into a family hug.

"...I guess this isn't so bad." Tiago chuckled.

To Be Continued...

(Rio 2 and all associated characters are the property of Blue Sky Studios and 20th Century Fox.)