Hello faithful readers! I bring you another chapter. It seems like all of you guys agree on what Tulio dropped, let's find out if you are right!
Notice: Another amazing author, Alex The Owl, is holding the Rio Awards! It's a contest made to recognize the authors in the community in various topics. So get out there and vote! Well, after you read my chapter of course!
Guest Review Responses:
Fanfiction guy: Yeah, cliffhanger. "Can't, hold, on, much, longer!" I'll definitely refer to some of your past review ideas. I couldn't really see what was on the video you told me about as the resolution was very low. Do you have an ff account? Thanks for your support and I'm glad to hear from you. Good luck with your exams! :)
Tulio was walking down a hallway in the Aviary. His heart raced like that of a child who overindulged in candy. A bead of sweat formed on his forehead, but he promptly wiped it away to prevent any apparent signs of nervousness. He was leaving to go pick up Linda for another date. But this one was special, and he had no intention of letting it fall apart. Tulio waved goodbye to the receptionist as he walked out of the lobby and into the parking lot.
Back in the breeding cage, the last two Blue macaws had just determined that the shining object they were now in possession of had to be returned to their ornithologist friend.
"But Blu, how are we gonna get out? They closed off the vents and the doors are closed." Jewel asked Blu, wondering how in the world they would get to Tulio.
Blu quickly flew up to the breeding room door, perched himself on the handle, and turned the knob. The door swung open and took Blu with it.
"Woah" Blu said before losing his balance and falling off the door handle.
As the macaw dusted himself off, Jewel walked up to him with a bewildered expression.
"Wait" She said lifting a wingtip up like a finger.
"You can open people doors?" She asked in disbelief. Jewel was a little irritated because this whole time they could have snuck out, but Blu decided to keep his special skill to himself.
"Yeah, it's not like they're going to lock the door during the daytime." Blu replied like it was obvious before looking up at Jewel.
Jewel just stared at him, which made Blu a little uncomfortable.
"What?" Blu innocently queried.
"We're gonna have a talk later. But for now get your blue butt over to Tulio before we lose him!" Jewel insisted, pushing Blu's back.
Jewel pecked Blu on the check.
"I'll meet up with you." She added.
Blu nodded in reply and took off through the hallway in pursuit of the bird doctor.
After a brief fly through the Aviary, Blu made it to the main lobby which Tulio was in but only a few moments ago. Unfortunately, Blu was not fast enough and he was just able to catch a glimpse through the glass door of Tulio's jeep driving into the distance.
"Oh Cheese and Sprinkles!" Blu grumbled in frustration.
The receptionist heard Blu's disgruntled squawk and quickly looked up from behind her computer monitor to see the macaw standing on the stained concrete floor. She was confused as to why Blu was out of his cage, and promptly walked out from behind the counter and to the bird. She kneeled how to Blu and looked at him with a concerned expression.
"Hey there little guy, how'd you get out?" She softly said before stroking Blu, to which he responded by happily smiling. Her nametag read "Amanda".
After the receptionist pulled her hand away, Blu lifted up the shiny object and squawked.
The woman's eyes grew as she realized what the macaw was holding.
"W-where did you find that?" She stuttered as she asked Blu.
"Tulio dropped it in our cage." Blu replied, but Amanda couldn't understand.
Just then Jewel entered the lobby through the hallway that lead to her and Blu's room.
Amanda looked over at Jewel, and was absolutely dumbfounded as to how these birds could escape their cages.
"Another one of these guys?" The receptionist said to herself.
"Hey, who are you calling a guy!?" Jewel antagonistically squawked while spreading her wings a little and hopping forward.
"Jewel, it's just a figure of speech." Blu explained, trying to calm Jewel down. The female macaw just narrowed her eyes and stared at Blu.
"Oh, ok I see. So it's fine if I call you a gal then." Jewel riposted and returned her wings to her sides. She knew what Blu meant, but couldn't resist an opportunity to mess with him. Besides, he was cutest when he was trying to save his tail feathers.
"Well, I mean, t-the saying isn't gender discriminatory but, um" Blu fumbled with his thoughts as he anxiously rubbed his neck with his right wing.
Amanda watched in amazement as the two macaws held on their own conversation.
"Listen you two, I'm sorry to interrupt your, uh, conversation, but we need to find whoever owns this key." The woman interrupted, causing the two macaws to stop their exchange and look up at her.
"What a key?" Jewel pondered in her head.
Blu nodded and flew up to the receptionist's desk and landed in front of a keyboard and mouse.
He grabbed the mouse in his right talon, and opened up a notepad program. Blu then hopped over to the keyboard, and began tapping away.
Amanda's jaw dropped as she watched the unbelievably smart bird form a complete sentence. It read: "Tulio dropped this in our cage. I have a feeling that it is very important. Can you help us find him?"
Jewel walked up and watched Blu tying on the keyboard.
"Wow, there is so much I don't know about Blu." Jewel thought.
After Amanda regained her composure, she shook her head quickly to shake herself back from her thoughts and responded to the blue birds.
"Y-yeah, I guess we can take my car. I think Tulio said something about going to a hotel to meet his date."
Blu squawked happily as a smile formed on his face. He handed her the key he had picked up from the breeding chamber. The woman stretched out her left arm so Blu could perch himself on it, and looked down to see Jewel looking up at her.
"Come on, let's go." She said to Jewel.
Jewel backed away, unsure whether to trust this human she just met. Blu saw this and tried reassuring Jewel.
"Don't worry Jewel, we can trust her." Blu said while gesturing for Jewel to hop on Amanda's arm as the receptionist was how kneeling down to the female macaw.
"Are you sure Blu?" Jewel queried, still wary of this unfamiliar person.
"Yes, yes I am. And besides, this may be your only change to get out for a while." Blu said with a coaxing voice.
Jewel glanced down at the ground, and then quickly picked her head back up and hopped on the woman's arm. As Amanda returned to her upright position and started walking towards the door, and eventually to the parking lot, Blu playfully, yet carefully, bumped Jewel with his hip.
Jewel looked at Blu and saw he was smirking.
"What?" Jewel innocently asked.
"You. You're trusting a human." Blu answered.
"Yeah, but don't get used to it. I just want to get outside for bit, that's all." Jewel replied before scooting over to her lovehawk and nuzzling her head into his side. Eventually, Amanda made it to her car, opened the door, and got into the car. She let Blu and Jewel hop into the passenger side seat while she started the car. For some reason, the car wouldn't start.
"Hmm, maybe the battery is dead?" Amanda said to herself. She put down the key Blu gave her on the armrest, and went to the trunk to pull out a handheld jumper. The two birds could hear the woman talking to herself from outside the car.
Jewel looked at Blu with a worried expression.
"Blu, what's wrong?" Jewel inquired.
Blu turned his head to the right to look at Jewel.
"I don't know, but it looks like we aren't going anywhere anytime soon.
Jewel collapsed on the car seat, and sat down. She crossed her wings and sighed.
"So much for getting out. Maybe we should just go back inside."
There was no reply.
"Blu?"
Blu was staring upwards out the passenger side car window.
"Blu!" Jewel yelled.
"Wha!" Blu jumped a little and looked down at Jewel.
"What happened?" Jewel asked, arching the feathers around her eyes.
"Oh, I-I was just thinking what this key could be for."
Blu changed his expression from a dazed one, to a sincere one.
"Jewel, I think Tulio needs my help. I don't know why, but I just feel it."
"What are you saying?" Jewel inquired, now a little worried.
"I need to find him." Blu responded while walking over to the armrest. Jewel stood up and watched her lovehawk.
Blu hopped on the armrest and grabbed the diamond studded key. He then walked back to Jewel.
"I don't think this is such a good idea." Jewel asserted.
"But, if you feel like this is important, then I'm behind you." She said while smiling.
The two birds pulled each other into a hug. After a moment, Jewel looked up at Blu.
"I still don't like it though. And if something happens with this human, I'm blaming you." Jewel said while poking Blu's chest.
"Don't worry, she's one of Tulio's aides. I'm sure you're safe with her."
"OWW! STUPID CAR!" A voice rang out from under the hood.
Jewel looked at Blu with a saucy expression.
"Hehe, yeah I'll hury." Blu said before breaking the hug.
Blu then flew up to the door, and opened the car window with a button. He glanced quickly at Jewel and then flew out the window.
Amanda heard flapping and looked up to see Blu flying into the evening sky.
"Ohhhh, Tulio is gonna kill me."
Well, I bet you weren't expecting that. What is the key for and why is it so important? All this and more when we come back! Sorry, couldn't resist that classic line. Let me know what you think in the reviews! Thanks, and see you all next chapter!