Chapter 8: Smuggler Cell

(Azure's P.O.V.)

I looked on confounded as Angel gestured towards a large Papaya and explained once again, "Even though we are nothing more than spirits in this world, we can still interact on a level, though it isn't quite the same. We can still eat, bathe, and in some cases," Angel raised his eyebrow suggestively at me, "interact with the living; though the highest form I have seen possible is a kiss." I felt myself blush as I thought of trying that with Wolf. You seem to have failed to mention that the first time…

Angel chuckled and continued, "Yes I did… and now, back to the issue at hand; you are hungry. Now, we don't need to eat, but it does satisfy ourselves in other ways, by giving us energy back is an example, and with this energy, we can talk more to the living like you did before. So I want you to come over here, grab a fruit, and eat."

I stood at him, and I asked, "I can eat although I'm not truly alive?"

Angel sighed good mannerly and answered, "Yes… will you come over here and eat, or do I need to go fetch Wolf?" He finished with a grin across his face, and I giggled and stepped closer to the fruit. Hesitantly I reached my wings up towards the fruit, but before I touched it, I looked back at Angel, and while he was smiling, he gestured with his hands towards the fruit. I sighed and looked back at the fruit, and as I 'wrapped' my wings around it, I felt firmness beneath my wings. When I pulled them away; a transparent version of the papaya was in my wings, sort of how my body is. I turned towards Angel with a stunned face, and he said, "Dig in."

I grinned, and when I looked back at the fruit, I took a bite and savored how my beak slid through the skin, and the juiciness and flavor that seeped over my tongue, along with the soothing texture. As I swallowed, I looked over at Angel as he grabbed a Papaya and took a bite of it, and I said, "Wolf once said Papaya's are like solid smoothies… but he never did get me a smoothie, whatever that is."

Angel chuckled as he swallowed, and he replied, "I wouldn't know, I've never had a smoothie… I haven't been alive for a long time either." I opened my beak to say something but before I got anything out, Angel continued, "Don't be, it isn't anyone's fault. Now, where do you want to go once we are finished?"

After he asked that, I smiled and looked off towards the direction of the city, and smiled even wider as I took another bite, I haven't been to Rio that much…

…

While Angel was sitting in a vacant chair outside of a café, I was looking around and enjoying the sights from a human's perspective. I watched as kids ran by, tourists snapped pictures of various things, and people with stuff hanging from their arms followed the tourists around. I sighed happily as I opened my wings and said to Angel, "I'm going to go flying for a bit…"

"Don't let me hold you back, oh, and a suggestion, try going to the alley down that road," he pointed off towards our right, "and the second door you come through, fly towards it; you may find something of grave importance in there." I looked at him, but he just shrugged and said, "I can help you with anything, just give you advice and suggestions."

"Alright, well, I will be back soon, don't go anywhere…" I smiled as I finished that, but I soon took off and flew towards the direction he had advised for me. I turned into the ally, and instantly I felt chills move across my back as I looked onwards; the alley was dark and damp, and had a few dumpsters and trash bags near the walls on both sides. I flew down it and I passed a door that was boarded up, and I kept going. I stopped and hovered as I looked at another door, and this one was metal and seemed to glare down at me, even without any eyes.

Flying at the door, I closed my eyes and felt a chill move down my body and onto my tail, and when I reopened my eyes, I was on the inside of a well-lit staircase. I flew down it and was feeling scared all the more, and then I heard a voice say, "…Other group, Wolf must pay for that! They weren't perfect, but they still brought in plenty of birds."

When I reached the bottom of the stairwell, I gasped and looked at the sight before me. I saw a rectangular table that had around four men standing around it, along with a lady with a large brown falcon on her shoulder. I flew closer and landed on the overhead light and watched as another man said, "But are we sure his info was valid? I don't know about you Valis, but Marcel wasn't the same after he failed to smuggle those Spix macaws out. And then when he claimed a teen boy… shifted… into a bird, that is ju-"

The lady who was apparently Valis looked up and at the bulging man and said, "I know that Farlun, but Marcel never lied before… I still say we kill this Wolf, just to be safe, I don't like leaving loose ends." She held her hand up near the falcon, and when he stepped onto it, Valis placed her hand on its back and looked into its eyes and said, "Marcel had said Wolf lived in a clearing, across from the Spix macaws. I want you to go scout it out for me, don't cause too much trouble, and don't harm any birds… rough them up if needed."

I watched as a red light flared near the falcons' neck, and what seemed to be a machine with a blue line started to move as the falcon chuckled sinisterly, and it spoke in a deep voice, both in human and animal, "I understand, do you want me to capture any bird or only scout?"

Valis smiled and said, "Just scout for now Arien… and try not to be sighted, we don't want to scare our targets away, now do we…?

I gasped as I saw the immense bird open its wings, and it jumped off the ladies hand and flew towards the staircase and up it just as a skinny man punched a large green button on the table; whirring and other mechanical sounds sounded briefly, and I heard the groan of the metal door opening and closing. "Boras go and check what we have in our inventory." A skinny man with golden skin nodded and walked off and further into the room, somewhere around a turn."

I turned to leave, but I looked back one last time and saw her point to a large man with huge muscles, "Dinkle, go make sure we have enough bombs… we are going to level that warehouse that Marcel compromised."

Looking back forward, I flew fast and accurately, and when my wings got to close to the walls, they just faded through. I looked at the door, but I didn't close my eyes as I flew through it and raced out of the alley way and towards Angel, who was sipping on something that looked pink, but milky since it had that see through visage. I landed on the table and he said, "I hope you gathered what you need, because with that information, you can make a certain someone do certain things… and if done the right way, do something special for an even better person…" He put the drink down, and he slid it towards me and said, "Try that… Wolf was correct; these smoothies do taste like fruits."

I giggled slightly, but then remembered what I had just witnessed and it dropped quickly as I said urgently, "We need to go warn Wolf and the kids, they can be hurt!"

"Don't worry sunshine, it is bath day, remember? I will take you to them, but I first want you to drink some of that, you will like it." I looked at the drink, and I watched as a drop of moisture was forming on the glass, and I looked into it and saw the pulpy liquid inside, and I grabbed the straw with my beak. As I sucked, I felt coldness swell into my beak and my mind had an explosion as the flavorful liquid gushed inside my beak, and the coldness chilled my tongue while I swallowed. I pulled my beak away and gasped and said, "That tasted amazing!"

Angel was grinning as he said, "I know, right? We need those in heav… actually; I think these are already in heaven… I'm just always by the gate."

I giggled and asked, "Well, may you take me to Wolf and my children now?"

Angel stood up and said, "Sure, just follow me and we will be there in no time!" Angel finished off with a smile, and I flew after him as he started to float away while his robe billowed in a mysterious way.

(Wolf's P.O.V.)

I stood outside of my hollow as an American hawk, and I had everyone, including our guest on my back. I said, "Ok, don't fall off, I didn't feel like turning into an eagle…" I then took off as a gust pushed at me and towards our destination. I heard chuckling as I felt someone shift on my back. I smiled as I felt someone gripping my feathers tightly, and I then felt wings grab onto my neck. I turned my head as I continued to flap, and I saw Beleza looking into my eye as she asked, "Will that lady be bathing with us, or will she be bathing somewhere separately?"

When I chuckled, I heard Beleza giggle and I answered, "I didn't think off that, how about you go ask her, we will be there soon."

I felt Beleza release her hold on my neck, and felt her little feet scampering down my back. I looked back forward, and I looked slightly down and almost jumped as I saw two golden eyes staring up at me within the shadows of the trees. I blinked and it was still there, so I yelled, "What are you looking at creeper!"

When I heard a sinister chuckle, it was barely above a whisper, and then a shadow seemed to move within the shadows, and the golden eyes were gone. I shuddered, but I angled down as I saw the bigger clearing with a stream cutting through it.

When I landed, I felt everyone get off, and I shifted into a Hyacinth macaw. I looked around as I walked towards the creek, and I turned around and said, "Well, come on everybody… even you, I don't want you to run into whoever that was alone…"

I watched as everyone came forward, and as the boys jumped in, Beleza stayed next to me, and I looked towards our guest and asked, "So, what is your name?"

She looked away shyly and answered, "My… my name is, Viviana."

I smiled as I looked at her, and I said, "Nice name, well, go ahead and bathe, I won't look, I promise." I chuckled as her feathers rose, and I looked down at Beleza and said, "Well, let's get you in there with your brothers, shall we?"

Beleza giggled and raised her wings up towards me, and as I reached down, I chuckled. I picked Beleza up, and when I walked into the weak current of the creek, the chilliness made me shiver slightly, but I walked deep until it was up to the bottom of my chest, and I set Beleza down, and it was up to her neck. I smiled as she shivered, and I asked, "Can you do this yourself?"

She smiled up at me and nodded, and I smiled back. I leaned backwards and let myself slide into the water. Hey, since I can shape shift, I wonder if I can be a fish or something…

I smirked as I submerged myself in the water, and I focused on a catfish, and I felt myself growing smaller but longer, and before I knew it, I was a fish. Trying to move was awkward, so I gave up and shifted back into a bird. I pulled myself up until I was out of the water, and when I looked around, I noticed the boys were having a splash fight, Beleza was bathing quietly, and Viviana was running her beak through her feathers… but behind her slick and curved form, I was frozen from fear, and anger; those golden eyes where staring at me, but what scared me, was that they belonged to a large brown Falcon, that looked like it could easily tear a human up in a fight.

Viviana looked up and at me, and I saw her start glowing red in her cheeks as she covered her body with her wings. Just as she opened her beak, the falcon was gone. I growled in my throat as I shook my head. I looked towards Viviana, and I just now realized how much the curves of her body fought with how skinny she had become. I felt myself blush as I turned around, and I was met with the fearful eyes of Beleza, and I instantly forgot about everything else and asked, "Darling, Beleza, are you alright?"

"That was a big bird papa…" I sighed as she finished, and I brought her closer and into a hug. She shivered violently as I cooed, "Don't worry; I won't let anything happen to you or the boys… I will try to protect Viviana also."

"Protect me from what?" I turned around and saw Viviana standing there, while still covering her body. I shook my head as I said, "It would be better if you didn't know…"

Wolf… I need to talk with you!

I looked around, and I realized how every time I heard what sounded like my beautiful mate, it was in my head. I took a deep breath in and said, "Hey, guys, and ladies, I'm going to be over there… finish your baths and I will be back soon. Viviana, I can't force you to do anything, but I advise you to stay here… I will be over there; I got to think for a bit."

They all nodded, and this time, the boys came over to Beleza instead of resuming their splash fight. I stepped out of the creek, and walked fifteen feet away from the creek, and I quietly whispered, "Azure… is that you? Is it really… you?"

It is dear; now, I can't talk long, since it takes much energy. I have found a group of smugglers that are intent on killing you; they plan to get revenge for Marcel. They sent a hawk to 'scout', be safe.

I sighed, and I whispered, "I already saw him I think then, twice. Very large and has golden eyes… I'm not sure I can take him… these birds are worse than Nigel could ever have been."

I have good news also, if you gain enough goodness, you can reincarnate me.

"How do you know what 'reincarnate' means?" I asked quietly, marveled that my shy mate new a word I never use.

Angel told me, and the only reason you can't bring me back yet is you killed… even if it was for a good reason. I must go, energy almost gone… I love you Wolf… be good.

"I love you too Azure, I will have you back before you know it." I whispered quietly, and when I turned around, I saw Viviana standing out of the water along with Beleza, who seemed to be talking. And the boys seemed to be drying off in the sun, and partially preening there feathers. I couldn't help but ask silently, "Should I tell them that I can bring you back?"

Very briefly, I saw an extremely transparent version of Azure shaking her head, but it was gone as quick as it was there… I sighed, and I started walking back towards the group, and I was sorting through what I now knew, and how I could solve this without committing any bad deeds…

A.N. Hello all… I managed to finish this in just 1 hour! It seems my Rio fic is becoming easier to write, so expect them to be coming along smoothly (Not fast, smooth)! I would also like to thank none other than Crafty for giving me this idea about smugglers! This fic isn't dead yet, and I managed to get a lot done in this lone single chapter…

Hey, my stories may not be as amazing as EMK's 'Shine A Light', but may I get some long reviews like that also? I would greatly appreciate it!