Sophia stood on the branch, back against the tree trunk, her left wing holding the right, the one Jespa had grabbed. The back of her head rested against the wood, her eyes closed. Her heart was going ten to the dozen - fluttering like a hummingbird's wing. She flinched when she felt the part Jespa had seized - he had never grabbed her wing like that before. It wasn't the first time, but never had it been so strong or brutal. There was no explaining this to Roberto.

"Sophia? Where are you?" His voice rang out, sending a chill down her spine. She dreaded his questions - dreaded him getting involved. He can't get involved! He can't be around me, not after ... Sophia covered her face. She desperately wanted to call to Roberto - she always loved talking to him. She had always found him to be a good friend, ever since he had first arrived in the tribe. She remembered seeing him for the first time - all by himself in the big ravine, like a little lost jaguar cub. She could've befriended him there and then, had Zenaida not called her away. Her childhood had not been fun at all, made miserable by Jespa and Zenaida.

Sophia was split over her relationship with her mother. Zenaida was not the most warm and loving mother of all, but she had defended Sophia countless times from Jespa's anger. But then, after what had happened with dad... Sophia cut off that thought at the sound of wings. There was something she couldn't forgive Zenaida for.

"Sophia..." Roberto had appeared at her side, seemingly out of thin air. She had been so lost in thought she hadn't seen him land on the branch. His blue eyes were disturbed, and filled with something else - genuine concern, and care. Sophia felt a pang - hardly anyone showed concern for her, or care. His wing tips brushed her wing, and she flinched. Roberto's eyes flashed with fear. "Let me see, please." Sophia hesitated.

"It's fine, honestly..." Sophia tried to protest, but when she saw the look on his face, she found her attempts of resistance useless. Giving in, Sophia allowed him to gently take hold of her wing. Roberto held her wing so gently, it was as if it were suspended in air, rather than held by someone. He looked up at her worriedly, then she felt him tense up as he brushed back the feathers, revealing the skin beneath.

"It's bruised." He almost whispered the sentence. Sophia clenched her beak, and pulled her wing from his grasp, wrapping it around herself.

"It's not his fault." Sophia began, but her next words stuck in her throat at the mortified look on his face.

"I can't believe... you're actually defending him? After what he just did and said?" Roberto spluttered. "Sophia, he's your brother! Siblings don't do that! Siblings protect and love each other, not this!"

"What would you know about siblings?" Sophia asked, sharply, desperately looking for an excuse.

"I know because I had a sister." Roberto retorted; then his eyes flooded with memories and sorrow, and he looked away. Sophia felt a heavy twinge of guilt.

"I'm sorry. I..." she blinked. "I never knew you had a sister." Roberto nodded heavily.

"I never told anyone the details." He admitted. He shook his feathers. "It doesn't matter. Sophia, has Jespa done that before?" Sophia tried to keep her beak shut, but knew Roberto wouldn't settle for that.

"He never does it that hard... it's his brain that does it, not him." Sophia insisted. "We can't help him - I just got on his nerves. He's very sensitive when it comes to Zenaida."

"But that gives him no right!" Roberto cried, taking hold on her shoulders and looking into her eyes with his worried expression. She couldn't bring herself to look back. "Sophia, you can't let him do that ever again. You're a brave bird - you always stand up for yourself. Why won't you defend yourself from him?" Sophia knew the look on her face said it all. Roberto's voice was stricken. "I know he's your brother, but you can't just let him bully you - especially not like this. You have to do whatever's necessary to stop him grabbing your wing like that again. If you won't, I will."

"I don't need protecting!" Sophia protested, feeling a surge of panic. "Besides, it's none of your business. You shouldn't have to go through such bother, just for me."

"I'd do anything for a friend -" Roberto paused briefly. "Especially for you, above anyone else." Sophia blinked, and finally looked up at him. She wasn't sure why he would say that - but something told her it wasn't just her singing voice. There was something else.

"Why?" Sophia asked, quietly. They stood there for a few moments, briefly unable to break eye contact. Then Roberto's wings dropped from her shoulders, and he suddenly looked rather awkward. Sophia then sighed. "Okay. If you want to look out for me, I can't stop you. Just don't ruffle Jespa's feathers, okay? I don't like admitting it, but he's dangerous." Sophia regretted saying that last sentence - it would make the situation worse.

"Okay." Roberto replied, but he still looked troubled. Sophia felt her emotions swirling within her - for some reason she wanted to give him a hug. Maybe that would make him feel more assured? Without thinking, Sophia stepped forward and wrapped her wings around him. Roberto jumped in surprise - at first, she was afraid he'd push her away, but then he returned it.

Sophia rarely hugged anyone - the only recent hug had been with Jewel, when she had returned a few days before, and with Azalea last night. Before that she had gone some time without a hug, since her mother and brother were certainly never up for one. This was by far the most memorable hug - she could hear his heart beating under her ear, and she had never felt this warm or safe. After a few moments, the moment was disturbed by a sudden cascade of rain onto their heads. Immediately they broke apart. "Ugh!" Sophia shook her feathers, looking up. The large leaf above, with a dip directly above their heads, was slowly pulling back into place. The weight of so much rainwater had finally made it spill it's contents.

Roberto shook his head, scattering raindrops. Sophia looked up at him, where his crest feathers lay in a mop over his head - he looked ridiculous. She tried not to laugh, but she couldn't help herself. She burst out laughing, and then so did he - she probably looked funny herself, covered in water. "Okay, we should get back - look at the weather." She indicated to the darkening sky. More rain was to come.

"Good idea." Roberto agreed. To her relief, he sounded cheerful-sounding. Maybe he would forget about Jespa - she hated being fussed over. But in Roberto's mind, the worry still remained. Jespa couldn't be trusted.

Later

Sophia watched the rain pouring down from her hollow. It was a small, rather ancient tree - her friends had tried to persuade her to move out, telling her it was dangerous living in such an old and weak tree, but she was sure it could withstand a lot. Besides, it was old and, according to the elderly macaw who had lived in it before her, had withstood worser weather than this. Those words hadn't directly come from the old resident - Jespa had passed on the message. She didn't see the need for finding a new one anyway, as she frequently spent nights around her mother's, as her ill health meant Zenaida needed keeping an eye on.

One of the few things she and Jespa had agreed on was the sleeping arrangements; she spent at least three days a week sleeping in the branches of Zenaida's tree in case her demanding mother needed something in the middle of the night, or if the healers needed to be summoned. Jespa took the other four nights of the week - whenever it was her turn he disappeared to his own tree. She would've taken more shifts, but Jespa insisted. A good thing, perhaps.

She found her gaze wandering across the home of Blu and Jewel. It was so much bigger than hers, as tall as Roberto's, suitable for a family. From here, she could make out the silhouettes of the sleeping couple in the entrance, just out of the appalling weather. She was so envious. She'd always loved the idea of having someone to love, having kids. She had never had the opportunity. At nineteen, she could've gotten settled years ago. Spix's macaws could have chicks as early as five years or so, but since nobody stayed in a relationship with her for long, it was impossible.

She closed her eyes, remembering the last male who had gotten close to her. Jacques had been the last of several males over the years, all of whom had mysteriously disappeared or cut off all ties with her after a certain point. She had lost count of how many times her heart had been broken. Maybe they had broken things off because of a terrifying brother-in-law, for Jespa had always treated her partners like utter dirt.

Sophia was then made aware of a groaning sound. She frowned, and looked up, but it wasn't coming from above - it was from below. She attempted to look over the hollow edge, but the hammering rain and howling wind forced her back. Had the wind ever been so powerful? Sophia pushed forward, clinging onto the side, and managed to look over the edge. She frowned again - pools of water gathered at the foot of her tree, and there seemed to be more roots than before, and the old ones that had always been there seemed longer. She blinked - hadn't soil once covered them? The pools of water swirled at the roots, and then there was yet another groan and gust of wind.

Suddenly, the world seemed to go lop-sided. Then Sophia realized why - not the world, but the tree. Before she could leap out of the entrance, there was a loud series of snaps, and a squelch of mud - she was thrown back. Sophia let out a squawk of panic as the tree began to fall, the roots tearing from the mud. She tried to dive out of the entrance, but then she realized that there was no time. She could only scream as the ancient tree crashed to the earth.