"Trading one For Three"
Chapter 2
Jewel opened her eyes, peering into Blu's handsome face as he slept, breathing melodically. He had his wings around her, keeping Jewel warm throughout the night, and she cheerfully allowed thoughts of him to run through her mind. [Hmm... what to do today... I won't have my cast on, so we can fly around... Maybe go to the beach...] Blu suddenly interrupted her thoughts with a slight snore, and she giggled quietly. [Or maybe we can just, lay here all day.] She smiled, [In the warmth of each other's wings... I'd like that.] Jewel found herself beginning to think beyond these feeble thoughts, appreciating him more with each passing minute. [I can't put my wings around him though... I wish I could, that's all I need to do today.] Her eyes widened a little in realization, [I can't put my wings around him... I wonder if he gets cold in the night. It's like, It's like all he does is think of me.] Jewel's wing in the cast felt fine, and she smiled at the thought of flying again. She quietly yawned, and decided to give Blu a reason to wake up. She faced him and closed her eyes, then leaned forward, startled when Blu closed in the kiss. Blu whispered, "Good morning Jewel," and that was all she needed to hear. She shoved him and stood up angrily, and Blu watched helplessly, "Why didn't you tell me you were awake?" Jewel shouted. Blu sat up quickly and retreated to the wall of the hollow, stammering, "I- I- I just, I don't know..." He stared on terrified, as Jewel glared through him with a glance that could cut through steel. "Don't you think it would be nice to know you were awake?" Blu tried to redeem himself, "I just- I just wanted to know what you- what you would do, and-" Jewel's stomach growled, but she held her ground, staring at him angrily. Blu stood up and sidestepped around her, "How about I- Uhh, get us something to eat?" Jewel remained silent, and Blu nervously flew up and out through the vent.
The moment he was out of sight, Jewel broke down, asking herself, "Why did... why did I shout?" Her eyes widened, and a slow frown crept across her face. Suddenly she lurched forward, hurling onto the ground all that was left in her otherwise empty stomach. Eyes watering and on all fours, she weakly said aloud, "What's happening to me?" It was like nothing she'd ever experienced before, and she became frightened. [Am I sick? Maybe something Blu brought from Mini-sota?] Jewel tried her best to stand, but fell flat on all fours again, and tried to crawl back to the hollow. Jewel watched uncontrollably as colors merged, and halfway back to the ground hollow, she collapsed.
Blu was on his way back with a full folded leaf packed with nuts and berried that he could scrounge, struggling to support his weight, let alone the added burden of the sustenance. It'd taken him at least five minutes longer to collect all of the finest fruits he could, and prayed upon his return that Jewel wouldn't still be upset. All around him, birdsong echoed, the winds blew in the morning breeze and life was bustling, but he paid no attention to these things, as he was focuses on making things right with Jewel. He flapped frantically through the vents, following a feather trail he'd left himself since the first day he went inside. He rounded the corner, heading down the metallic hallway to the light at the end, and emerged in the artificial jungle. A quick glance down and he caught sight of Jewel laying on the ground. His eyes widened and he called, "Jewel!" before he flew down as fast as he could, dropping the bundle with a heavy 'thump' to the ground. Blu rolled Jewel on her back and pressed the side of his head on her chest, and let out a sigh of relief when he heard her heartbeat.
Jewel hazily opened her eyes to see Blu nuzzling her neck and she let out a soft laugh before reassuring him, "I'm alright you goof." Blu looked down smiling and helped her to her feet, "I got some food if, if you're still hungry." She nodded, and Blu watched her sit by the bundle to eat, and he quietly walked over to the pond and plopped down, looking at his reflection. A while later he turned around to check on her, and she was looking around the leaf. "Is everything alright Jewel?" She nodded, but asked, "Do you know if Tulio put birdseed anywhere?" Blu's jaw dropped a little; the bundle was empty and Jewel was still looking for food. "Uhh, y- yeah, hold on, I'll be right back," Blu said worriedly. He turned around and flew out to get Tulio, with food the last thing on his mind.
Tulio had taken Jewel to a different room this time, as she wasn't getting x-rayed, but rather receiving medical attention. He sat in one of the waiting room chairs, twiddling his feathers with a look of concern, hoping she'd be alright. Just then, Linda walked through the doors with a brown paper bag, searching for Tulio when she met Blu's worried gaze. She walked over and knelt by him, asking softly, "What's wrong Blu?" He cawed softly, looking at the floor with a morose expression. Linda beamed, "I know what'll make you feel better, how about we go make a nice cup of hot chocolate?" Blu nodded, realizing how long it'd been since he last had Cocoa and cookies, and hopped up onto her shoulder as she walked into the aviary staff room.
Jewel looked up at Tulio, eyes glittering with tears of happines sliding down her cheeks. He smiled, then said, "Oh, and let me get the scissors." She watched as he reached into a drawer and picked out a shiny silver pair of clippers, and held on to her wing as she watched. Tulio carefully cut the cast off and Jewel looked at her wing, front and back. Her feathers were ruffled from the isolation, and she reached up to her face and used her left wing for the first time in two weeks to dry her eyes. Tulio reached his arm out, and without second thought, Jewel hopped onto his arm, and Tulio walked out of the milk white door and down the hallways to see Blu on Linda's shoulder with a tray of hot cocoa lavishly surrounded by chocolate speckled cookies. They locked eyes, as did the Macaws and Linda set down the tray on a table next to the chair Blu had been sitting on. Blu hopped off of Linda's shoulder and on to the chair, beckoning to Jewel happily. She complied and flew over to him as the humans hugged behind her, and they held wings, staring into each others eyes; with Blu unaware that Jewel didn't have a care in the world about flying again.