Chapter 3: Tragedy

(Azure's P.O.V.)

Wolf had been pacing back and forth, muttering as he did. I had been comforting Beleza since Wolf hadn't shown any signs of response since we had returned home. I sighed loudly when Wolf turned around yet again, and I said, "Darling, I'm coming with you when you go." His head instantly shot towards me and he said, "No! I don't need you or Beleza getting hurt…"

I got up, carefully as to not wake up our slumbering chick, and as I wiped a few of the tear marks from my feathers, I walked towards Wolf and asked, "And what if I decide to go any-" I didn't finish since Wolf had pressed his beak against mine, and I felt myself slip and fall against his chest, but our beaks remained locked. I was practically melting into his body as a shiver ran up my back, and I broke away gasping for air. Wolf was looking me in the eye sternly and said, "I will arrange for you and Beleza to stay at Jewel and Blu's place, if not there, then at the sanctuary."

My feathers puffed out as he turned around and flew out of the hollow, He may think I will stay there, but I will just have to follow him there then. I'm going whether he approves or not… they are my children also. *sigh* I will just need to make sure Jewel understands though, I NEED to go… I can't just sit back and wait helplessly while Wolf or the boys are being killed… it would kill me not to know… "Mama…?"

Turning around and noticing Beleza waking up, I walked up to the nest, "Yes sweetheart?"

"Where's papa?" Beleza asked as she yawned. She hadn't yet grasped how bad things had really gotten, and that was what made this whole ordeal easier on both of us. I smiled as I picked her up and held her tight in my wings and said, "He went to see if you could spend the night with Jewel and Blu… mama and papa have to do some things while you are over with them, ok?"

"Ok mama."

I sighed softly as she snuggled deeper into my feathers, and remembered how she rarely did that with anyone else except Wolf. smiling softly, I pulled her closer as I heard a fluttering of wings, and soon Wolf was standing in the entrance and said, "Come on, they agreed. I'm going to go as soon as you two are safely inside the hollow."

"Ok, but do you want to carry Beleza before w- you, leave?" I didn't mean too, but I nearly said we, and I'm glad Wolf didn't notice, but he nodded as I handed Beleza to him, and smiled when she instantly cuddled deeper into his feathers and sighed softly.

…

Wolf was flying away as I turned around and looked at the nest; Beleza, Romeo, Isaac, and Crystal were all sound asleep. I looked towards Jewel and Blu, and just as I opened my beak, they both nodded. Jewel stepped forward and said, "We understand, just be careful while you are out there…"

Smiling, I nodded and turned around before spreading my wings. I stepped outside, and with a few silent wing flaps, I was trailing towards Wolf. When I get there, I will just be observant, no need to get involved…

(Wolf's P.O.V.)

The redeemer statue was looming ominously, and I could make out the form of a large white bird sitting atop the statue, Nigel better not have hurt them…

A noise sounded off far behind me, and as I wiped my head behind me, I saw no one, but I still observed the surrounding foliage to try and see anyone who might be a threat. I sighed after I was sure that it was all clear before I turned around, missing the sight of a delicate blue smudge among the greens and browns.

Bathed in the light from the statues light and in Nigel's view, I spoke up, "Nigel, where are my chicks!" I looked around when I couldn't visually find them, and I was about to launch an attack at him when I heard him chuckle sinisterly, "Did you honestly believe I would have them here, and when you are coming? You are even more foolish than I had originally thought…" PEWW…SHISSSHH

"OW!" I had been entangled in a net that had shot from somewhere below on the ground, and the net had pushed me directly into the statues' arms. When I landed in a heap of feathers, net, and pain, I instantly shifted into a human and ripped the net off of me. Since most items stayed on me when I shifted, I had the AR in my hands cocked and ready, and was swinging it towards where the net pushed me away from. The sights were now aligned up to three surprised and scared smugglers, and I grinned. Just as I was about to pull the trigger, a scream and screech filled the air, No… it can't be…!

But it is… I could have sworn I made sure I left her with Jewel and Blu… my gun was now aligned up with Nigel, and I drew my pistol and kept it pointed towards the smugglers, who had tried to walk towards me. If I shoot this rifle like this, I'm sure to break something, but it will be entirely worth it.

"NIGEL! PUT HER DOWN OR I KILL YOU AND THE SMUGGLERS!" I shouted out as I took a step away from the smugglers and towards the edge of the railing. I glanced back and saw the smugglers were still standing in the same spot, but I quickly looked back at Nigel and swore under my breath as he was pinning Azure up against a stone pillar with a clawed talon around her throat. He picked her up and held her in front of him; between me and him. I growled as he held her close to him and said menacingly, "Go ahead and shoot Wolf… we both know if you miss, you will kill your lovely mate here."

I threw my pistol over the railing as I brought my other hand up to the barrel and stared down the crosshairs towards their target, and said, "How do you know I will miss?" A quiet shuffling was heard from behind me and I said again, "If I'm moved in anyway, not only will Nigel die, but so will you three." And then the shuffling died down until it was nothing again.

A cry of pain and a whimpering brought my full attention back towards Nigel as he slammed Azure down and onto the railing, but before I could shoot, he said, "Change back into a bird, and I can guarantee you will see your sons again, and your mate… probably." The rifle started to shudder in my hands as beads of sweat gathered onto my forehead, and just as I heard Azure cry out again, I threw my AR over the ledge. I sighed as I bowed my head and shifted back into a bird, and heard Nigel tuant as hands wrapped around my body, "That's a good pet…" I shuddered as I heard a cage nearby being opened, and I was harshly thrown into it by my captors. Nigel flew towards the cage, and as he threw Azure towards it, I quickly got in the way as Azure sailed through the entrance. Her momentum flung me back into the cages' wall, bringing black spots to my vision as my head was flung into the bars.

Azure was gasping in breaths of oxygen, but I quickly wrapped my wings around he and held her as tight as I could, and I mustered the energy to say, "You shouldn't have come baby… you… shouldn't have… come…" and the wave of black dizziness finally surrounded my consciousness, and I left the world of the waking…

A.N.: Ok, how was this chapter? I know it was a while before I updated, but I have been going to football practice and I haven't been in the mood to write, but once I got started, I couldn't stop… I'm going to start implying my old technique where I reply to reviews in the form of author notes… more reviews will equal in longer chapters.

crafty-boy-FTW: anything can happen at the beach XD… I'm only replying to this review now since it is the only one, out of 3 chapters… which is horrible… good amount of hits and visitors, but only 1 review? Wow… thanx for leaving a review though crafty, GREATLY appreciated.