Chapter 3

A few hours later, Jewel was preening her children. "Mom, I don't need this." Jewel was cleaning Tiago's head feathers as he complained. "Yes you do, . Now hold still." Bia and Carla sat, watching them and waiting for their turn. "Yeah. Or don't you want to look good for Pearl." He glared at her and mouthed the words shut up. "And who is this Pearl, Tiago?" Jewel asked with a sly smile. "She is a friend of mine from the tribe that's coming. Just a friend." Bia hald closed her eyes, knowing he was lying. "Well, that's not what I've analysed, and what I've heard from that head of yours." Jewel's shot to Bia. "Bia! What have I told you about reading minds!"

"It was an accident. Sometimes I just over hear others thoughts sometimes without wanting to. And when I heard his, I got curious. He even dreams about her sometimes." Tiago growled at her. "I said shut up." Bia continued. "He dreams about seeing her, and kissing her, then-" That was when he burst. "That's it. You are going down." He dived at her, and tackled her to the ground. "BOTH OF YOU STOP!" They stopped and looked at her. "That is enough. Bia, sit over there. Tiago, come back here." Bia sulked over to her nest, seeing he wasn't in much trouble. "Why isn't he in trouble. I mean, he's the one that caused those scratches on the tree." Jewel was surprised to hear this. "Tiago, you did those scratches? I can't believe this. That is vandalism. And you scared some others as well, making them think some predator was on the loose. Sit in your nest, your done." She signalled Carla to come over. "You know mom, I'm glad I don't have powers."

"And why is that, dear?"

"Because otherwise I must accidentally misuse it like those two." She sat, still being preened by her mother.

Cody stood outside the door. Why do women take so long. Men take a few seconds to clean while women take half an hour. We're going to be late. A few seconds later, Lilian came out, her cleansed feathers gleaming. "So, are we going now?" She looked to Cody, who was just staring. "I see you like this. Come on lover boy, or we'll be late." Cody came back to reality and they took off to the party.

Jewel landed with her family, and saw Lilian and Cody behind. "Well Lilian, you look good. Shall we go in?" Cody held back the leaves covering the entrance to the party, allowing the ladies and kids to go through. Lilian, being last to go in, gave him a quick kiss on his cheek, which he blushed to. He followed her in as if he was a mindless pet to her, being controlled by her beauty. "So Jewel, do you see anyone?" Jewel scanned the massive crowd and saw her father and aunt. "Over there. My father and aunt. You must meet them." THey flew over to where they were, and Mimi noticed Jewel. "Oh, there is my little flower. Come here you." Jewel was pulled into a big hug, slightly getting strangled. "Okay Mimi, I think you are strangling her." Jewel recognised the voice as Eduardo, her father. "Hey daddy. How have you been?" They hugged while Mimi attacked the kids with big hugs. "I've been great, how about you?" She looked down a bit. "Still a bit sad over the big loss. I miss him so much." Jewel cried a little in her fathers chest. "I know. Everyone does. Even me. But now he is up there, safe from pain and other troubles of life." Jewel looked up to his face, and saw his caring eyes. "Thank you daddy. I miss him so much. But knowing he is in a better place makes me happy." She saw Roberto approach, and looked away. "Hey Juju. How ya been?" She just looked away. Eduardo looked to him, and whispered something. "Now is not the time. She might see you later tonight. Still recovering from his death." Roberto looked down, knowing who he meant. "I know what you mean. I am also recovering. I mean, he was one of a kind. He taught me many things, like how to be comfortable around those two humans Tulio and Linda. I wish he was still here. I hate to see Juju so upset." He was about to fly away before he heard Jewel. "Thank you Beto, for understanding." Beto smiled and took off.

Tiago, after escaping Mimi's monsterous grip, was looking for his friend Pearl. He thought he saw her before getting a tap on his back. He jumped up in fright and turned quickly to see his sister Bia. "I think you need help finding a certain someone." She closed her eyes, trying to find her. She pointed towards a table. "Over there. She looks lonely. Seems her family left to join others. Go join her." Bia gave him a frinedly push towards the direction she pointed. He saw Pearl sitting at a table, moving her feather around the surface of the table. She looked bored and lonely. Remember Tiago, confidence. He walked over to her, only to be knocked over to the table by a passing bird. He stumbled and tripped to hit his beak on the end, startling Pearl. "What the-Tiago? Are you alright?" He rubbed his beak after hitting it on the table. "I'm fine. I've felt worse. Sorry to scare you like that." She helped him up and sat him down next to her. "I wasn't scared. Just startled. So why were you coming over anyway. Just to say high, or was it something else?" Tiago felt hot under his feathers. "W-well I w-was just wondering i-if you wanted to watch the fireworks with me"he stuttered. "Of course T. Why wouldn't I?" Everyone referred to him as T or T-bird. It was basically his gang name. "I'll see you there then. Bye." She waved as he left, and looked back at the table, feeling lonely again.

He was flying around, looking for his friends when he was pulled behind a post. He saw that it was Bia with Carla next to her. "So, how did it go?" He rolled his eyes. He should have expected them to get nosey. "Fine. I asked if she wanted to see the fireworks, and she said yes. Besides, I have a surprise then. And no, I am not telling you." They looked down in disappointment. "Don't worry sis, you'll see it when it happens." He flew away before they could stop him.

Zeel was walking where his friend told him to be. He hadn't seen him in a month. While walking, he sensed someone behind. "How long have you been following me?" He turned slowly to see his friend who, once again, had a dark cloak to cover his entire body so no one could see any part of him. The bird responded with a deep, dark voice. "How is everyone? I've been away for a month dealing with some things." Zeel smiled. "Kyle and Angel are still angry at eachother, Lilian and Cody may beexpecting, Jewel's kids are fine, but Jewel herself is still recovering after you know who died." The bird looked down. "Enough about him. In a couple of weeks, I am bringing help to aid in preparations." Zeel's smile dropped. "How long do we have?" He didn't like the answer. "About six months. They have already begun, doing small hits to weaken us before the full on assault. This will be one of the first places hit. I will continue learning as much as I can. If you are wondering, the help is some enemies that are now friends, but do not know my identity. They are very resourceful. I believe you can guess who. But tell no one else. Understood?" Zeel nodded and turned to head off to watch the fireworks. "I wish you could join us." The bird shook his head. "It is not time yet. Look after everyone. I will return in three days. I will see you then, old friend." Zeel turned away as the bird left. "I will wait till then." He took off and headed for a view point to watch the display.

Tiago sat near his family, wanting some space away from them to enjoy with Pearl. He was beginning to worry she wouldn't show up when he heard wing beats behind him. "Sorry, got caught up with some friends." They sat next to eachother, waiting for them. "So when will they be set off?" She watched Tiago as he lit a match. "Just wait." He put it to a small rope, which lit. She noticed others being lit at different areas. "In three...two...one...boom." As he said boom, the fireworks went off and exploded in a shower of color. Pearl was so captivated by the lights to notice Tiago pull out a shiny object. She looked surprised as a word made by fireworks covered the sky, followed by others. She read it out loud. "I love you Pearl." She didn't know who did it till she looked to her left. "Pearl, will be my girlfriend?" He was kneeling with a pearl in his wing, holding it to her. She felt her heart beating very fast. "Yes I will." She jumped into his wings, hugging eachother as their families looked. "So sweet. That's my brother." On the other side, Kyle and Angel were huggng. Jewel noticed them, and smiled. She looked down to Carla, who was with her boyfriend, a blue macaw from the tribe. She then looked to Bia, who was lonely. She walked over to her, and sat. "Now it's just us two single ladies now, eh Bia?" Bia looked up at her mother, slightly sad. "Yeah, I guess so. I feel so lonely. When do you think I will have someone?"

"One day Bia. One day you will have someone who loves you for yourself. One day." She held her daughter close, watching the show as it went on through the night.