Chapter 1
The sun was a normal summer day. It was nearing New Years. All was bright and peaceful. But to Jewel, it was dark and cold. For she was a widow. Her mate, Blu had died two years ago in a battle against his brother. Even though his nor his brothers body was found, but everyone believed them to be dead. Everyone but Jewel. She still hoped that Blu was alive, but she was on the verge of giving up. She sat in her nest, waiting for her children to return. They should be back soon. She looked down to the feather she held. She always had it with her. It was the feather she had found near Blu's supposed death spot. She held it close to her chest, letting her worries go. It made her feel that he was still near, next to her. If she ever lost it, she would fall apart. Every time she was about to breakdown, she held it close. It was partly singed on the end from the battlefield. It was the only feather of his she had. As she was in her trance like state, she heard running outside the door. Finally. It opened to reveal three adolscent birds, almost at the adult stage. It was her children. The first one to come in was her daughter Bia. She looked exhausted, probably from more training. "Hello dear, how was your day?" She walked over to her nest and fell in, face first, going to sleep instantly. Guess that answers that. The next was Tiago. His face was black, as if he was in a fire. "Hi mom, and before you ask, my day was great. I helped Boah show his class how to create fire with magnesium. I think we used too much." That explains the black feathers on his face. He walked over to his nest and started playing a game on the ipad he had. A gift from his father, and the only thing he had from him. Bia's gift was a book, which shows all types of birds from all around the world. Carla's was a music disc which had music from some of his favourite bands, which she enjoyed. Speaking of Carla, she was the last to enter. As usual, she was sad, probably thinking she didn't fit in. "How was your day sweetie?" She continued to walk slowly to her nest as she answered. "Fine" she answered in a low tone. Jewel could tell she was lying, but this was usual for her, so she let it go. "Tiago, it's your turn to get dinner." He looked up to his mother with a disappointed look. "Awww, but-" He stopped when he saw his mother's look. "Yes mom." Her frown turned to a smile, and she watched him fly out to get some food. He reminds me so much of...him. Remembering her mate, she started to silently cry. Bia mustvhave sensed her emotions, because she walked over to her and hugged her. "We miss him too mum. Please, don't cry. It's not your fault." Carla came over and joined her sister in calming their mother. It went on for several minutes till Tiago came back. He saw them crying, and dropped the food to join the family hug. She eventually calmed and they began eating. The rest of the night was calm, and the kids were asleep while Jewel stayed awake. Maybe a visit to Angel will help. She opened the door quietly, careful not to disturb the kids, sleeping peacefully, and walked down the hall to Blu's parents.
Angel stared at the image of her son. She glanced to her husband, who was silently sitting in the nest. They hadn't spoken to eachother much since his death. It all started a week after his death.
Flashback
Kyle and Angel sat in the nest, upset after they heard how Blu was believed to had died. "We should have told him." She leaned on Kyle's chest, being cradled in his wings. "It's our fault. We should have told him. I never should have banished him." Lisa looked into his guilty eyes. "It's not your fault, it's both of ours. An it's not because we banished him, it's because we didn't warn Blu." Kyle let her go. "Don't you think I know that. I think it's my fault because if we never banished him, then he wouldn't want revenge." Lisa didn't agree with this, thinking if they didn't banish him he would have killed Blu earlier, since they knew that he hated him. "Stop beating yourself up, Kyle. If we didn't send him away, then he would have killed Blu earlier, and then us."
"How do you know! How do you know that he wouldn't have done something else." Kyle had broken out in fury. He reached the breaking point. "I'm starting not to blame myself now. It was your fault!" He pointed his wing at her as he accused her. "My fault! Why is it my fault?"
"If you stayed like I said, Blu wouldn't be gone in the first place."
"If Blu never disappeared, he wouldn't have a family. Are you saying Blu never disappeared?"
"YES!" She was shocked by his answer. "So you wish that he never had a family?"
"Don't you dare turn this on me."
"Then answer me. Do you wish that?" He stayed silent, becoming more furious. "ANSWER ME!" She was knocked back by his wing and felt a stinging pain on her cheek. "NO" Kyle yelled as he hit her. When he saw the mark, he looked down at the claws he had out. In his rage, he let them loose, and scratched her cheek. "Angel I-I'm s-s-orry." He approached her slowly as he appologized, but was stopped by her raising a wing to him. "Just stop, before you do more damage." She exited the room, looking for Lilian to treat her wound.
Present time
She felt the scar on her cheek from the argument. It was very noticable if the feathers were apart, so she kept it covered with her feathers. While she was feeling the scar, she heard a knock. "Who is it?" She asked with a sad tone. "It's Jewel, may I enter?"
"Of course, darling." She looked to see Kyle was still zoned at in the nest. the door opened, revealing her sons mate. "Can I talk to you?" Jewel asked. Angel looked to Kyle again, and saw he didn't care. "Of course, but not here." They left the room, closing the door as they did, leaving Kyle in the darkness.
"So, what is it, Jewel?" She looked down, thinking of what to talk about. "I just couldn't sleep, and thought I could see how you were doing. So how have you and Kyle been?" Angel growled at the mention of his name. "I don't speak much. We haven't gotten along since his death." She looked down and felt tears. Jewel did the same. "I wish he was here still." There was silence between them till Jewel broke it. "Do you think me, you and Lilian could have some time together tomorrow?" Angel liked the sound of that. A get together with friends sounded like just what she needed. "That would be lovely. I can't wait."
"I will go ask Lilian, if she's awake." Before Jewel left, Angel quickly stopped her for a question. "Wait." Jewel turned to face her mother-in-law. "I was just wondering if I could sleep in your room for a few nights, I don't feel safe around Kyle." Jewel wondered why she didn't, not knowing about the scar. "Of course, the kids would want to see you anyway. You can head there now if you like. I will join you soon." Angel smiled and walked down the hall towards Jewel's room as Jewel took off the other way.
When Angel arrived to the room, she heard snoring. She quietly walked over to see who it was, and identified the source as Tiago. He laid in his nest, sprawled in it, taking up most of the room. She looked over to Carla, who was huddled in the corner of her nest. Then she looked to Bia, who cas curled up in her nest. Angel sighed peacefully, seeing that they were having a good sleep. As she approached the spare nest, she heard feet on the ground behind her. "Grandma, what are you doing here?" She turned to see Bia. "Well I can't lie to you." She knelt next to her granddaughter and began to tell her why she was there. "Grandpa and I haven't been getting along since your father's, um, passing, and I thought that maybe we should spend some time apart, so I asked your mother if I could stay here for some nights, and she said yes. So I'm sleeping here for the night, and maybe a few more after. Is that okay?"
"Of course, Grandma. I'm actually glad you are here, and I'm sure the others will be too." She looked over to her siblings for some time. Angel thought about what she was doing. "You know, darling, you shouldn't look at others dreams." Bia looked surprised by how she guessed what she was doing. "But they are so peaceful. I wish mom's were peaceful."
"What do you mean, Bia?" But Bia didn't answer. Instead she hopped over to her nest. "She's coming, I should go back to sleep. Goodnight, Grandma."
"Goodnight sweetheart." She watched as Bia fell, and then thought about what she meant about Jewel. Probably about Blu. I miss him so much. She looked out the window. I wish you were here, son. She fell asleep as soon as Jewel entered, thinking about tomorrow.