Sunlight pooled across the floor of the hollow, pale and golden. It was a lovely morning - it wasn't too humid or hot, and the air had a pleasant coolness. The party had lasted for a few hours, and now, from fatigue, hardly anyone was up yet. Most of them were usually up before dawn, but not today.

From the nest, Roberto and Sophia gazed outside. They were both watching the sunrise - it seemed exceptionally beautiful. The sun was a honey-tinted gold, the sky rosy and amber, with the sound of birdsong filling the air. They watched the sun, Sophia tracing his wingtips with her own. The smile had not faded since last night - it was a wonderful mixture of being in love and seeing Jespa be humiliated on the dance floor. Finally, someone had stood up to him in front of everyone.

"So." Sophia said, breaking the silence. "Where do we go from here?"

"I'm not entirely sure." Roberto admitted. There seemed to be a hint of worry to his tone, and Sophia immediately guessed.

"We can't worry about Jespa." Sophia said, with a sigh. "I don't care whether he hates us. It's not up to him - this is our future. We can't allow him to ruin us. I love you, and I don't want to lose you." She could hardly believe these words were coming out of her beak. It was like a dream. "I'm still gonna love you like I'm gonna lose you, though."

This reference to their song made Roberto laugh. He looked at her, with a grin. "I don't want to lose you, either. You're right - whatever he throws at us, we'll stick together." There was a pause. "I didn't offend you by pushing him onto the floor, did you?"

"He's not my brother, so how could I care?" Sophia asked. "He certainly doesn't act like it. Besides... after what happened next, I don't care." The kiss was so vivid in her mind - she knew she'd remember it for the rest of her life. She smiled with one side of her beak, reaching up to turn Roberto's face toward her with a wingtip. "Stop worrying about him. He's got to get used to the idea." She leaned forward, kissing him again. She drew away, resting her head on his shoulder.

"I'm guessing this roommate thing is no longer temporary?" Roberto asked, and Sophia rolled her eyes.

"You're stuck with me." She said, before, with a surge of energy, she leapt out of the nest, jolting him slightly. "Come on! It's way past waking time." Roberto yawned.

"Oh, yay... just a little longer? It's cozy."

"You sound just like a chick." Sophia laughed, taking his wing to help him up. She bounced energetically toward the entrance, a sleepy Roberto following. Hardly anyone was up - only a few sleepy macaws were outside their nests. Although, most of the chicks were up, since they had eventually been sent to bed before their parents. They flew around like comets, happy that their parents and families weren't keeping a protective eye on them. Sophia couldn't help but wonder if her own kids would be flying out there someday. "So, what do you feel like doing?" She asked.

"I don't know - what do you want to do?" The fatigue was finally gone. Roberto now looked bright and alert. "Breakfast?" He suggested. But then he stopped in his tracks. "Oh, no. Morning patrol." They were headed his way, looking groggy and tired - Carlos, Isabella, and Jacinta. Bruno, Isabella's son, was sitting in the feathers of his mother's back.

"You're late, Roberto!" Carlos laughed, half-heartedly, due to tiredness. Despite this, he and Isabella were glancing from Roberto to Sophia with happiness. Many of their friends had spotted them the dancefloor, since nobody had missed Jespa getting pushed over. Both Sophia and Roberto, for the first time, felt a little embarrassed at the public kiss.

"Hey, lovebirds." Isabella teased. "Bruno's tagging along - Toby's asleep and he wouldn't stop nagging me."

"I wasn't nagging!" Bruno protested. "I just wanted to go on patrol. I know I'm too young, but dad's asleep and I'm bored."

"Okay, okay." Isabella rolled her eyes.

"Come on, we're already late! Sophia, feel free to join the patrol." Jacinta said, sharply. The older female was rather like Zenaida - no-nonsense, stern and always on a tight schedule. As the morning patrol went to go, Roberto turned to Sophia, apologetic.

"Sorry we can't have some time to ourselves."

"Don't worry, I can tag along. I might see Azalea." Sophia assured him, with positivity. Roberto smiled at her, before they followed the patrol together. A few moments after, another blue shape followed, unnoticed.

Later

Roberto flew with Sophia - they kept falling back a few feet, for they kept talking. Talking about memories, funny stories - and, in undertones so the others wouldn't hear, Jespa and the plastic ring under the feathers of Roberto's leg. He knew Sophia was still in shock over his story - he was the last bird she'd expect to have suffered so much, losing his whole family and almost dying in captivity. They had passed the construction of the Spix's Wing - word was that it was a few weeks from completion. Was it possible that the burden Roberto had literally carried for nineteen years was soon going be no more than a memory?

"Hey! Keep up!" Jacinta barked, over her shoulder. Beginning to get annoyed, Roberto and Sophia increased their speed. Ahead, Bruno was chattering away to Isabella about medical herbs, since it was something that took his interest. Isabella and Tobias had both once been apprentice healers, but had given up, realizing it wasn't right for them. They had still acquired some skills, something that they had passed onto Bruno.

"-the lilac berries induce sleep, kapok bark is good for headaches, and unguruhai leaves are good for -"

"He does go on a bit, Isabella." Carlos said, with amusement.

"Oh, you're just jealous." Isabella chuckled. They were along the Red and Hyacinth border, now. At this point, they usually stopped for a break, which they did. Jacinta landed on a branch, with a huff. "Jacinta, are you sure you should be out on patrol?" Isabella asked, gently. "You keep complaining about your aching joints, and flying out here won't be doing much for it." As the older female began to protest, a red form emerged from a branch.

"Hey!" Azalea greeted, brightly. Roberto smiled at the look of delight on Sophia's face, as she rushed to meet the Scarlet macaw, pulling her friend into a hug. "Where have you been? It's been a while!" Azalea hadn't heard of the recent events, of course. Sophia sighed, knowing she'd have to explain the business with Zenaida. After a few minutes, Roberto retreated into his thoughts, for Sophia and Azalea were talking, Carlos was peeling a fruit, Bruno chasing a butterfly, and Isabella advising Jacinta over her joints.

It was that moment that a distant snapping distracted him. Roberto looked up, seeing the leaves rustling. He frowned, glancing at the others - but they hadn't noticed. Curiosity driving him, Roberto slipped away in silence, knowing that he needn't alert them. He wouldn't take a minute.

As the leaves closed behind him, Roberto thought that there was nothing. The rustling and snapping was probably just the wind. But as he turned to go, something dark caught his eye. A long, dark blue feather. He stiffened, and rushed to it, plucking it up. A shiver ran down his spine as he recognized it. Hyacinth. The deadliest tribe in the Amazon. Their deranged leader, Kerja, had a grudge against Eduardo, since he had accidentally killed her father, Jorge, in a battle years ago. Jorge had been about to kill him - it was kill Jorge or die. Kerja thought it was out of malice, but it wasn't true. She reminded him of Jespa.

But this was bad. Hyacinths rarely appeared unless they were causing trouble, but to see one of their feathers in his tribe's territory was intimidating and dangerous. But as he went to turn back, to alert the patrol, another feather caught his attention. That feather was followed by another - anger shot through him, and he went for that feather too. More and more feathers appeared, snagged in branches and caught in leaves and thorns. But as he put more distance between himself and the patrol, it dawned upon him.

It was a strange coincidence. It was unusual for a Hyacinth to moult this much, in almost equal distances - to make things even stranger, they were different sizes, shades and conditions. Some were more dull or ragged than others, or darker than others. Were they in a group? But then a memory turned in his mind, making him pause.

When he was young, a little younger than a teenager, Roberto had followed a similar trail of red feathers. They had lead him to the Brazil nut grove border, where he had been confronted by a hostile Felipe. They had fought, which had caused their rift - now that they were friends, Felipe had apologized, explaining that his father, Rojo, had told him to do it. Felipe had taken red feathers and lured him to the border. Lured. Roberto was being lured into a trap.

How had he not seen it? Feathers in an orderly line, a few metres apart, taking him further away from the protection of his companions. Of course the Hyacinths hadn't been here. Somebody had collected moulted Hyacinth feathers. They had been planted here.

But then something ragged and blue shot toward him - it crashed into his chest, driving the breath out of him. Jespa's face loomed in his. "Hasta la vista." He snarled, before diving into some leaves. But then something enormous exploded out of the trees, from where Jespa had appeared. It had menacing amber eyes, the colour of Jespa's. It was twice the size of a Hyacinth, with slate-grey plumage and talons that could strangle the life out of him in a second. It's claws glistened like polished bones, outstretched - it's beady eyes fixed on him as it lost sight of Jespa, and its beak stretched open to let out a piercing cry.

A Harpy eagle. The deadliest predator known to macaws. And Jespa had lead it straight to him.