Chapter 7: A Day to Be Exhausted

(Túlio's P.O.V.)

While I was sitting at my desk, I had the Hyacinth macaw Wolf had brought in on the tabletop as I examined its reports, "Hmm… high malnutrition, weakened muscles, but ok blood work." I looked over towards the macaw, which was currently eating a mango I had found in the food supplies reserved for birds. "It seems you can go back to Wolf as you don't have anything wrong that is life threatening. As soon as you finish with that mango, we will set off towards Wolf's home."

I smiled as she chirped happily in my direction, and as I stood up she resumed eating. Turning around, I was met with the sight of file cabinets stacked end to end, and I knew that each one contained various medical procedures, financial records, and important investment costs that helped maintain the sanctuary. I walked over to a cabinet that would serve its purpose for this macaw, and as I opened it up, I carefully slid in her blood work into a section that would become her own if she should somehow make it back into my care. Sliding the container closed, I looked over my shoulder, and was surprised to see the Hyacinth macaw was finished with the mango and watching me.

Chuckling, I asked, "Are you ready to go?" I was answered immediately by her chirping and bobbing her head. Smiling, I walked over to her and held my arm out for her to climb onto. When she stepped onto my arm, I turned around and started walking towards my office door, and stopped long enough to grab my keys. I opened my door, and as I closed it behind me, I couldn't help but hear a faint whisper of something…

(Wolf's P.O.V.)

Landing silently in my hollow, I looked around it and sighed sadly as I observed the empty nest, along with a few twigs that were sticking out of the side with a flower in their grasp. I set the Passion fruit down in the center of the hollow, and then placed the blackberries near it, but a little off to the side. I stepped back and smiled as I observed the food I had collected, now, to go get the rest of my family and share this with them.

Turning around, I walked to the entrance of my home, and when I lofted into the open air, a gentle breeze brushed under my feathers, and gave me a slight push towards Blu and Jewels hollow, that was across the lake. I flapped my wings lazily, and I could make out the different shades of blue from the entrance of the hollow, but a single dark blue splotch seemed to be staying in the same spot. While I was drawing closer, this single spot seemed to resemble a certain little kid that always cuddled me at night.

When I was closer, the dark blue splotch moved out of the hollow, and onto a branch nearby. I slowed down and as I neared the branch, I landed softly and picked up my daughter in swift motions. She giggled as I hugged her closer, and when I loosened my hold, she leaned back and placed her smaller wings on top of my own. I chuckled as I looked into her happy gaze, and I asked, "Now, why are you out here instead of playing with the others?"

She rolled her eyes dramatically before she pulled her wings away from my own and tapped her lower beak, then looked at me and said, "Because I wanted to see my papa more!" I smiled as she wrapped her wings around me and squeezed me the best she could. I slightly exhaled as she did so, "Ah, you're squeezing me to tight darling."

She squeezed slightly tighter and giggled, but I heard, as well as felt, a bone somewhere in my chest pop. I flinched slightly as I felt it reposition itself, and Beleza pulled away and looked up at me and asked, "Are you alright papa?"

Looking down at her dramatically, I gasped and said, "You almost snapped me in half; have you been eating your vegetables?"

Giggling, Beleza hugged me again with a smile across her beak, and I pulled her closer. I hear a small commotion nearby, and as I looked over, I smiled as I saw both Luke and Gabriel looking over at us with smiles. I pulled one wing away and held it out, and saw them both start running towards me. "OOF! Careful you too, we don't want to fall off this branch, now do we?"

"Sorry papa, we are just glad you are finally back. When can we go home?" Gabriel said. I chuckled as I listened to his mumbled speech, but when I looked back up, I saw Jewel standing a foot away with a smirk across her face. I looked behind me before looking back at her, and I asked, "What is it?"

She smiled as she walked closer and said, "Nothing much, except seeing your kids with their father again." She paused as she let that sink in, "So I assume you are going to head back to your hollow with them now?" I nodded as she smiled and started walking back towards the entrance. Before she entered, she turned around, and said, "Oh, and Wolf… take care…"

My smile lightly drooped, but I kept it on for the kids' sake, "Thanks Jewel… it really means a lot…"

I looked back down at my children, and I asked, "So are you rascals ready to go home?"

All of them nodded except Beleza, and as I looked at her, I saw the way she was glaring at me, so I rolled my eyes while smiling, and asked, "And lady?"

Beleza smiled brightly before she nodded as well. I smiled as I set them down; I turned around before I jumped off and started flapping my wings. I looked behind me and saw both Luke and Gabriel flying over to me, but Beleza looked down towards the clearing floor, and then back at me with pleading eyes. I grew concerned, and when I flew back over to her, I said to Luke and Gabriel, "Go ahead and go back to the hollow; I'm going to see what's wrong with Beleza."

Before I passed him, Luke said, "She hurt her wing earlier, that's why she wasn't playing with anyone else."

Looking at Luke, I asked, "How did she hurt her wing?"

"We don't know papa, she only told Blu and Jewel…" Gabriel said.

I nodded, before I motioned towards home, and they started to fly back with each other. I flew towards Beleza, and when I landed, I leaned over and felt her clamber onto my back. I smiled as I felt her small little feet moving on my back, along with her wings wrapping above my wing joints. I lifted off gently and slowly, and with every flap of my wings, I felt Beleza relax. While I was flying over the lake, I looked down and nearly sighed, but with sadness…

The sight of my reflection was anything but handsome, it was…

It is unique my love…

I looked around us, and then I asked Beleza, "Did you hear that darling?" I felt Beleza shift on my back and ask, "Hear what papa?" I shook my head slightly, and said, "Nothing, you can relax more if you want."

I looked back down at the lake, and as I took in my… unique… physique. I was the average color of any Hyacinth macaw, but where Azure's blood had stained, I was a deep shade of purple, so I had a different coloration. Remembering that horrible night was something I hadn't wanted to do, but it was something I couldn't stop.

Before I entered the hollow, I turned to the side slightly and lighted down on a branch, and helped Beleza off my back. When she was off, I turned around and sat down before I pulled Beleza into my lap and asked; "Now darling, what happened to your wing that it got hurt?"

She hesitated before she said, "I didn't pass a tree all the way, so when I passed it, I hit my wing. It still hurts papa…"

Well, I'm no ornithologist, so I can only think of a few remedies… and one of them is the best kind for this age… "Would you like me to kiss your wing for you?"

Beleza rolled her eyes and asked, "And how will that help it papa?"

"It makes all the pain go away, and it replaces it with love and caring instead." I countered. I smiled as her eyes widened, and she quickly held her wing out for me. I chuckled as I gently took her wing in my own, and I kissed her wing where a few feathers were ruffled up. She giggled as I kissed it, and when I pulled away, I let go of her wing and asked, "There, doesn't it feel better already?"

Beleza gave me a hug the best she could, and she instantly smiled and said, "Yes, thanks a lot papa!"

"Anything for you my little sweet." I smiled as she let me go, and I said, "We should hurry, before your brothers eat the passion fruit…" I turned her around and started walking with her to the hollow entrance, but I stopped when I heard a slightly masculine voice yelling below, "Wolf, come down here!"

I looked over the branch, and saw Túlio standing far below me, and I smiled as I said, "Go ahead and go inside and eat, I will be right there…"

"Can I come with you papa?"

"Don't you want to eat passion fruit Beleza?"

She smiled as she said, "No, I would rather have a mango…"

I smiled as I hoisted her onto my back, and said, "Fine, one mango for the little princess." I chuckled as I finished, and when I let myself fall off the branch into a gentle glide, I asked, "Now, I should've told you this before, but I had also gotten blackberries…"

When I said that, Beleza stiffened and said, "You're lying papa, you wouldn't not tell me if you had gotten blackberries." I chuckled softly, and I felt her little wing slap the top of my wing, "Papa!"

I looked back at her best I could, and said, "If Luke and Gabriel ate them all, I will just go out and get you some. How does that sound?"

"Um… do I still get blackberries?" looking back forward, I replied, "Of course it does, now hold on." I held my talons out, and when I landed on Túlio's arm, I reached behind me and helped Beleza down, and I glanced over at the Hyacinth macaw I had saved from the warehouse with a crooked grin. When Beleza was in front of me, she smiled up at the other Macaw.

I jumped off of Túlio's arm and shifted into a human, and I turned around so now I was facing Túlio, "So… she is in good enough shape to be out here already?"

As he held his arm out, she lofted into a wobbly flight and landed on my shoulder, "Yes, she should be fine, just make sure she doesn't fly for long periods of time, her muscles require time to strengthen. And make sure she eats plenty, she has severe malnutrition, and considering she's a bird, it can be deadly."

I swallowed hard as I looked over at her, and took in just how frail she is, before I looked back forward. I held out my palm for Beleza, and when she walked into my hand, I asked Túlio, "Any suggestions what I should look for when I go and get food then?"

"Try to get nuts, the proteins will help her muscles to grow stronger, and any juicy fruit will do." He advised me. I chuckled as I used my free hand and pointed with my thumb over my shoulder, "Good thing I have a mango tree right there then."

Túlio repositioned his glasses and nodded when he saw the tree. He looked back towards the way he came, and he looked back at me and said, "Well, I should be heading back, but before I go Wolf… how did Azure… you know… die?"

This time I couldn't hold back the sadness that dripped into my sigh, and I said in a little above a whisper as I looked away, "In due time I will tell you… but for now, I would rather not relive it at this moment."

"I can understand Wolf… just please; remember Linda and I are here for you if you need it."

I nodded as I wiped my damp eyes, and then I took a deep breath in and held it before releasing it heavily. I was still looking away as I said, "Well, I'm going to get back to my family… have a good day Túlio."

I turned around and walked towards the base of my tree, and I held out my palm and leaned against the tree. I bowed my head as I fought back the tears. I crouched down and gently ran my hand across the grave of my beloved Azure. A flash of memories ran through my head; when I first saw her gazing curiously at me, our first hug, when I dove down and grabbed a flower for her, our first kiss, dancing with her in Victor's club, and all the way up until we had sealed our relationship. I brought my other hand to the ground and let Beleza scamper off, and then I held up my other hand and let the Hyacinth macaw walk onto it before I lowered her to the ground as well. When they were both off, I stood up, and focused onto a Hyacinth macaw again.

When I was back into a bird, I was hugged by my sweet little girl. And I looked over towards the other macaw and asked, "Sorry, but what was your name?"

Her feathers lightly ruffled as she shifted on her talons, when she opened her beak, her stomach grumbled slightly. I chuckled as her feathers rose up, and I said, "Never mind, we will talk later, I will get you two fed first…" I looked up towards my hollow, and looked back down across from me, and asked, "Do you think you can make that flight up there?"

When she looked up, she shrunk back a little and looked down at me sadly and shook her head. I sighed as I looked down at Beleza, and mumbled, "This is going to be a tiring day for me, isn't it…?"

Beleza giggled before she nodded, and then said, "And today is bath day too."

I groaned as she giggled some more. I lifted her up, and I settled her down and onto my back. And lifted off into a hover and said, "Now, I'm going to pick you up, try not to move unless you're uncomfortable…" I flew over to her, and when I was above her, I clamped my talons onto her shoulders and pumped my wings harder until we were all flying upwards slowly. I angled myself forward and we started to fly into a tight spiral upwards. Boy… I need to work out more if I'm already tired…

We had finally reached the branch, and as I set her down, I lowered myself down next to her. I was breathing heavily as Beleza climbed down my back. "You two go ahead and go in; I will be back with two mangos."

"Ok papa."

I watched as Beleza walked towards the hollow, and when she was in it, I looked to my side and was stunned when I was pulled into a tight embrace. Before I could get my wits about, she pulled away and said, "I just wanted to say, thank you… for everything. If you didn't find me, I would most likely be dead by now…"

Before I could respond, she walked towards my hollow and into it. I shook my head as I processed what just happened…

(Azure's P.O.V.)

While I knew what she was going to do, I didn't try to stop it in any way, even though I already knew I was powerless. I sighed as I watched him take off from the branch, and when I walked in, I could see my boys talking to each other while Beleza walked towards them, and glanced back at the passion fruit and blackberries. The boys looked at her as she said, "I'm surprised you two didn't touch the fruit…"

"What, do you think we are that rude?" Luke asked while he looked surprised at her. Gabriel scoffed lightly and Luke looked at him and asked, "What?"

"Not us… you." Gabriel said, and this caused Luke to frown. "You practically love food."

Luke's frown took a turn, and he was grinning mischievously as he asked, "Well, what about you and your love for-"

"NOPE! Forget I said anything!" Gabriel frantically said as his feathers rose and he started to blush. Beleza looked confused, but walked away and towards the guest. I was about to go with her and see what she was going to ask, but I heard Gabriel whisper hotly, "You said you weren't going to mention that!"

"But I didn't promise, did I?" Luke countered. I was about to check what they meant, but I heard Wolf return with two fairly plump mangos. I felt my ghost/angel stomach grumble, and I blinked my eyes and yelped in surprise; Angel was hovering in front of me with a smile. "Come with me, I forgot to show you something…"

A.N.: HAHA… it wasn't my best cliffy, but it will do its job. I hope you all enjoyed.

crafty-boy-FTW: yup, I finally got my break, and I'm back into writing big chapters… just now I forgot how to finish this story, I gotta find something to add drama, like a way Wolf can do good, that is extremely hard and/or tiring…

Here is a tip to anyone and everyone… plan your stories out… or you end up like me, no way to end it easily.