Roberto flew through the trees, flying a few feet behind his companions. They had passed the deforested area; it looked grim. He felt a pang of sadness, remembering the exact trees that had once grown there. But his heart lightened at the sight of the little building that was already being constructed in the bare clearing. The 'Spix's Wing', Blu had reported was it's name, to be the sanctuary headquarters and animal hospital. This could save lives - illnesses and injuries frequently occurred that were beyond healing with jungle medical plants. He wasn't keen on the idea of the alien equipment humans used, but if it would save his life, he'd give it a go - eventually.
"-Augustus is a nightmare sometimes, but in the end he's a little sweetie." Manuela and Tobias were discussing parenthood. "He's so much like Carlos - he's so good at making friends, but I'm a bit worried. He seems too desperate to get into the popular crowd, and they're not really good news, if you ask me. Always stirring up trouble."
"Bruno's not bothered." Tobias said, with a shrug. "He's more interested in befriending the new and shy kids, to include them. I'm glad he's befriended Blu and Jewel's three; he seems to really like Carla. She sings, too, like he does."
"That's good to hear, that Blu and Jewel's kids are fitting in so well." Manuela sounded glad. "You know, Carlos and I are even thinking of having another brood."
"Bruno's enough of a wingful - one is enough, for us." Tobias said, with a laugh. "Jespa, have you ever thought of having kids?" Tobias looked toward the male, to include him in the conversation, for Jespa hadn't said a word throughout the entire flight. Jespa slowly turned their way, and Tobias and Manuela looked uncomfortable as his amber gaze bore into them. Jespa had an unusual eye colour; unusually bright and feline-like. Roberto had always thought that Jespa's eyes reminded him of Esmeralda, an amber eyed tabby cat who had terrorized him during his time in captivity.
A light blue, somewhat scrawny male, Jespa had a short bunch of feathers on the back of his head. He never cared about his appearance - his feathers were never neat, and fairly dull. He was, however, a good-looking male, who should've found little trouble attracting a female. If he didn't go round with a face like stone or have such a foul attitude and personality, he probably would've had a mate by now.
"No." Said Jespa, simply, before turning his head to look ahead. Tobias looked disappointed at Jespa's lack of effort in contributing to the conversation.
"Well, you tried." Roberto whispered to Tobias. Jespa snapped his head back, glaring at Roberto, and he gave him a weak smile - how did Jespa have such sharp hearing? Roberto had barely whispered it, and Jespa was almost a metre away from him. Jespa had never been quite right - always muttering to himself, staring into space, and rarely talking to anyone - except for his mother. That reminded him. "How is Zenaida, Jespa? Is her cough any better?" He asked, hoping to get back on Jespa's good side; but Roberto had always had the impression that Jespa didn't like him.
"She's been better." Jespa replied, sounding genuinely worried this time. Zenaida was the only one Jespa really interacted with, besides his sister. Zenaida, who was a little older than Mimi, was an elegant older female, almost the same blue shade as her son with unique golden eyes. Her feathers had a silver tint that shouldn't have made an appearance for several more years, but despite this, Zenaida had aged well.
Unfortunately, she wasn't exactly the most sociable or sweet of macaws. She bickered with neighbours constantly, and seemed rather dependant on others, always getting someone to fetch food for her. She was usually ordering her two children about, keeping to her little tree. Zenaida had also been coughing as of late, coughing that the healers couldn't subdue. When faced with such dilemma they had advised her to drink more and eat well so that it faded in time, but this didn't seem to be helping.
Roberto felt sorry for the family, nonetheless. When Jespa had been a child, his father had died during a fight with Zenaida, who had been secretly having an affair. The father, whom Roberto had never learned the name of, had injured his wing and fallen to his death. It had been a tragedy, happening before Roberto had joined the tribe, and Jespa's mean spirit had intensified following the death. Roberto had no idea how on earth someone like Jespa could be the brother of Sophia.
In fact, there she was - perching in a tree, in conversation with the Red tribe matriarch, Azalea. The pair, once enemies, were now the best of friends, rather like how Roberto had befriended Felipe, Azalea's mate. Sophia and Roberto had been friends for years, ever since Roberto had joined for the first time.
The tribe scoremarker, Sophia was nothing like her brother. She was small, slender and dark feathered, with an unusual periwinkle tint to her glossy plumage. Her eyes, large and midnight blue, were dark and capturing, any male being easily lost in the depths. Sophia also went around with a scent like wild orchids and coconut water; she was a mysterious female, no doubt about it, but she was kind and easy to talk to. Nothing like her mother and brother.
"Mingling with the enemy, I see." Jespa muttered, glaring at Azalea and Sophia. Roberto, Tobias and Manuela exchanged annoyed looks, in frustration. Jespa had been the only one who hadn't joined the celebrations a few days before - he hadn't joined the battle, for that matter. He'd stayed in his hollow throughout the entire thing.
"Jespa, get it into your head." Manuela said, speaking slowly, for they'd had this conversation so many times. Jespa never got the message. "The hostility is over. We're at peace, give Sophia a break."
"Peace?" Jespa spat, with disgust. "I hate the word. And you, Roberto -" Jespa said the name with utter distaste. "How can you trust Felipe, of all macaws?"
"Because he helped me in the battle - oh, right. You weren't there." Roberto hissed. Jespa gave him a poisonous look, before he then turned, and flew in the opposite direction.
"Hey! We're still on patrol -" Manuela attempted to call Jespa back, but Jespa was already gone. "I don't know what's wrong with him." She shook her head, dumbfounded.
"Maybe Sophia knows..." Roberto suggested, and he glanced her way. Sophia and Azalea, who hadn't seen the patrol flying by, were giggling like a pair of teenagers. Azalea had a palm leaf spread between herself and Sophia; they seemed to be experimenting with powders. A ground up black powder lay on the leaf, as did some other colours, various shades of blue. Azalea was combining different colours, the area above her eyes creased in concentration.
"-charcoal is really effective. It makes eyes look darker and more mysterious, and the black will look great with your blue feathers. My dearly departed aunt Juanita used to love making eyelid colours..." The Scarlet macaw then looked up, spotting the patrol. "Morning!" Azalea greeted, waving. Sophia turned to see who Azalea was talking to, before she spotted her friends, and waved too - when she saw Roberto, Sophia's smile seemed to grow.
"Hey, Soph, Azalea!" Roberto waved. Tobias and Manuela also called out greetings, before flying on. Roberto found himself still looking at Sophia as he went, but, so distracted, didn't look where he was going. Then he found himself entangled in vines. "Oh, mangoes -" he exclaimed, embarrassed by his clumsiness, trying and failing to free himself. Azalea burst out laughing at his mistake, and Sophia, seeing his struggle, rolled her eyes and flew toward him.
"Okay, let me help, clumsy." She teased, before snapping through the vines that held him. Roberto fell to the branch below, landing in the most clumsy fashion. Sophia laughed, lighting down on the branch beside him. He shook his head to get rid of some vine traces, and Sophia's eyes softened at the sight of his head feathers flying up and down.
"Thanks." Roberto said, gratefully. He paused, briefly stuck for words. He decided against telling Sophia about Jespa; he didn't want to spoil her day. He looked over her shoulder, toward Azalea. "So, what's all that powder for?"
"Oh - um... Sophia looked embarrassed. "Well, I have something to do and I wanted to look nicer, so Azalea thought she'd help me out."
"How can you look any nicer? You always look nice." Nice didn't even begin to cover it, really - Sophia blushed at the comment. "What will you be up to, then?"
"Roberto, let's go!" Manuela called to him, from the trees. Roberto turned, feeling a strange urge to stay and carry on his conversation with Sophia. He always loved talking to her.
"Well, I gotta go." Roberto said, the disappointment in his voice obvious. "See you later, Sophia." He then followed Tobias and Manuela, toward the Hyacinth border. Sophia watched him go, looking lost in thought, before Azalea called her.
"Hey! I think I got the perfect shade!" Sophia hurried over, excitedly, to see what Azalea had made. The area above Azalea's hazel eyes rose slightly. "You like him, don't you?" She teased.
"No..." Sophia laughed. Azalea, a macaw who saw through every lie, didn't believe her friend.
"I think you do." Azalea prodded Sophia playfully. "Anyway, let's get these colours done. What are you up to later, other than your -"
"Sssh!" Sophia looked around, looking worried. Azalea sighed, and crossed her wings; this secret was just plain ridiculous.
"Honestly, who cares if your tribe finds out? They'd be surprised and happy to hear your talent. What's so bad about it?"
"Look, I don't care about the tribe. It's my family that worries me." Sophia admitted. At Azalea's baffled expression Sophia made a rushed reply. "They... they don't like me doing certain things. Zenaida's a bit meddlesome and Jespa's a bit..." Sophia paused. "Over protective."
"Over protective? He doesn't seem it." Azalea narrowed her eyes. "They're your family, Sophia. Wouldn't they want you to be happy?" Sophia opened her beak to reply, but closed it, her eyes casting downward. Azalea knew Sophia was hiding something from her; but Sophia was as tough as a Brazil nut. Azalea had asked about Jespa and Zenaida several times before, but Sophia hadn't said much about them. It was a complete mystery to Azalea.