Chapter 17: A Wolf's Only Love

(Wolf's P.O.V.)

While I had enjoyed my chat with Túlio, I wanted to get home and finally see my chicks, and also I was curious if anyone else had heard the sound of church bells; Túlio hadn't heard them and I was next to him. While I flapped my wings, I felt happy for no reason, and for some reason, the hole in my heart felt like it was once again filled, and this time with a tighter seal in place. All these events took place in a little over four days… I wonder what Blu and Jewel will think when they hear of this little adventure.

I chuckled as I imagined the shocked expression that would most likely take place on their faces and a mix of expiration in Jewels as well. I banked to my side as I entered my clearing, and when I looked across the water and towards my tree, I was surprised to see who looked like Viviana watching me, before quickly dashing into the hollow, and soon afterwards, everyone I knew was standing on the branches leading towards my hollow. Before I even reached halfway across the lake, I could feel nervousness building up in my wings as I continued my glide towards my crowded home.

Alighting down on a tree limb that was leading towards my hollow, I looked over at everyone on both sides, and they just continued to smile at me as I exchanged looks with all of them. I cleared my throat, and failing to mask my nervousness, I asked, "Not that I'm not glad to see all of you… but you are starting to creep me out… what is it?"

"Go inside papa…" I looked over and saw my little daughter, Beleza, smiling as she was sitting next to her brothers. I reached out and ruffled her white head feather as she giggled a delighted laugh, and I chuckled to before I started to walk forward. I stepped into the hollow entranceway, but I stopped as a familiar scent wafted into my nostrils; Blue berry's. Someone pushed my forward from behind, and I stumbled forward as I looked behind me, and I saw dad standing there with a bright smile on his face. I smiled back as I walked forward and shook my head.

I stopped just as heat warmed my face, and I looked forward and down, and made out a dark blue feather tracing up my chest feathers. I saw it come off my feathers and lightly tap the tip of my beak as I heard a heavenly voice ask, "Did you miss me, darling?"

Slowly, and eerily, I looked up, and I was met with the mischievous grin of my mate, and one true love; Azure. I swallowed dryly as her sparkling green eyes drew me closer, and I felt my eyes getting watery as my vision became blurry. I swallowed a few more times before I managed to say, "You don't have any idea…"

I didn't know how, or when, but sometime after I said that, mine and Azure's beaks were intertwined, and I could feel her wings holding me in a tight hug as I held her back. I could feel the tears streaming down my face and down onto my chest, but all that mattered was the bird that I held in my wings. I smiled as Azure pulled away, but I continued to hold her tightly as I laid my head down and onto her shoulder. I sighed happily as I breathed in her welcoming scent, and I said quietly, but loud enough for us both to easily hear, "I love you so much Azure… please don't ever die on me again…"

She giggled lightly as she pressed her beak against mine, and made me feel light headed from the amount of passion I was receiving from her. When she pulled away, I leaned forward slightly, not wanting the precious moments between us to ever end again, but I sighed when I opened her eyes to see hers with a teasing glint in them, and she said, "I won't die as long as you are there to protect me."

I smiled as she finished this, and when I nodded, I spoke in a voice so gentle it surprised even me, "And for you, I will always be there… now come here." Azure giggled as I chuckled, and we locked our beaks with each other's one more time, but I heard a commotion coming from outside, but instead of turning around, I wrapped Azure in a tighter hug, I already know something is bound to spoil this peaceful moment… but at least Azure is finally back…

When a tugging sensation occurred on my primaries, I withdrew from my kissing with Azure, and it was Azure's turn to lean forward and follow me. I chuckled as I pecked her one more time before looking over and down as she sighed in contentedness. The bird that was standing there was the second best lady that stayed in this hollow of ours, and she said, "I'm hungry papa…"

I unwrapped my wings from Azure as I looked at her, and I said, "The one thing that can separate us… is Parenthood. Do you want anything special?"

Azure placed her beak in her wingtip as if she was in deep thought, and she seemed to come up with an idea as she said, "Maybe me and you should go into Rio for something special… I can wait until our sparkles of light are taken care of though." She reached down and snatched Beleza up and hugged her tightly as she asked, "Isn't that right our little beauty?"

She nodded her head as I smiled and turned around, I exited just as everyone smiled and gave me some kind of compliment or heart-warmer. I finally got away from everyone, and just as I started to circle around my tree, I thought of getting mangoes, but decided to get our chicks something special; star fruit. Just as I managed to land near the bush that had the desired fruit, I heard someone land behind me, and when I looked, it was none other than Azure. Before I could say anything, she stepped up to me slowly and said, "If it wasn't for you Wolf… I would've been dead so many times… let me at least help you carry some fruit back home; so then we can go get something in Rio quicker."

Smiling, I looked back behind me and grabbed a star-fruits vine with my beak and carefully yanked it off, and turned around and gave it to Azure and I said, "There, now you can carry the blackberries." I chuckled lightly as her smile grew, along with her eyes, and I leaned forward, and pecked the tip of her beak as the yellow around her beak became tinged with red, and her green emeralds shifted away from my own eyes constantly. I laughed as I asked, "What are you thinking Azure?"

"Oh, nothing too important…" I smiled as I turned back around, and I started to collect more, but I heard Azure mumble under her beak, "Not for now anyways…"

My face warmed up as I thought of the many ways she could've meant that, but I did my best to gather two more vines, so we would have six star-fruit in all. I held the two vines, with two star fruit each, and lifted off and started to fly back home. I looked behind me, and was glad to see Azure was following closely.

When we arrived in the hollow, Crystal and Romeo were playing with Beleza and Gabriel near the nest, and Luke and Isaac were talking and relaxing near the hollows entrance. I placed a vine near the, as I carried the other over to Beleza's group, and Azure did the same. I smiled down at them as I looked over towards Viviana, who was standing outside and conversing with Fay. I walked out and over to her and waited until she looked over at me and I asked, "Would you mind watching over the chicks while Azure and I go out to Rio?"

She smiled and nodded before Fay got her attention again, and when I turned and walked back into the hollow, I told the chicks where Azure and I were going to go, and then who was in charge. Before long, my love and I were flying towards the awakened city…

…

(Azure's P.O.V.)

While Wolf had gone and ordered the smoothies I wanted, I looked around and saw all the different humans walking around, and the extremely pale ones would always stop and gawk at me as the managed to see me. I couldn't help but smile or giggle every time one of them would keep moving, and walk into someone or something.

When Wolf returned, I smiled as a small but thick glass was placed in front of me, and inside of it was a color that looked like a pinkish yellow mixture; I smiled up at him as he sat down with a plop, and put a small box of small and strange looking red fruits between us. I know he can't respond to me since there are lots of others around, so I opted to just take one and see what it tasted like. When I reached over and took one, Wolf said, "Fresh strawberries, smaller than I'm used to seeing them however…"

I smiled as I looked up at him and mumbled out, "Thank you." He only smiled as he grabbed one himself, and I took a bite of the strawberry in my talons, and when the juiciness of the fruit entered my beak; I smiled as I chewed on it. It was sweet and tangy, but it wasn't like anything I had ever had before.

After I swallowed my bite, I said, "This is really good darling!"

He chuckled quietly as he himself took a bite from his strawberry, and I could see satisfactory smile that he wore as he bit into the fruit. As he was eating his, I grabbed another one, and I brought it to my beak as I looked over the milling people, who had started to thin down to just a few. It was then that I stiffened where I stood, and I saw the familiar face of the female smuggler walking up towards us…

(Wolf's P.O.V.)

When Azure stiffened up and was looking past me, I turned my head, and chuckled as I saw Valis walking towards us with a grin on her face. She seemed nervous, but her outwards appearance seemed to radiate confidence. As she sat down across from me, I tilted my head slightly forward as Azure slowly scooted closer to me. I brought my hand up and slowly stroked Azure's port wing and said, "I trust you and the others haven't been doing anything that will threaten my reputation…"

Her eyes glanced down at Azure briefly as she said, "No, we haven't… thanks again for that Wolf… if it wasn't for your kindness… well, you know what would've happened."

"What is she talking about dear?" I looked down when Azure asked the question, and I only smiled as I wrapped my hand under her stomach and pulled her closer to me. She smiled slightly from the action, and I said, "Well, let's just say she isn't a smuggler anymore…"

Valis looked at me like I was some strange person, which is only partially true, and she asked, "are you talking to the bird?"

I looked up at Valis and nodded as I hardened my eyes, and said, "Azure is not just some mere bird to me however… I would gladly give her life for my own, and I have already done so once… and come close also." I saw her brows rise as her eyes widened as I was speaking.

When all was silent, she put her head down slightly, but then regained her composure and said, "Anyways, the reason I'm here is I was just walking around before me and the others leave. Rio may be magical in all its sense, but we think it would be a good idea if we start anew… we are moving to Venezuela."

I felt my own eyes widen, but then I smiled as I let Azure step back onto the table and grab another strawberry. I chuckled lightly as I said, "That is good…" I looked down slightly, before I looked back up and said, "Since you are going to be doing stuff under my name… would you like my number, just in case trouble should start up?"

Valis smiled as she pulled out her phone, which looked to be some kind of slide variant, and when she got done clicking a few buttons, she looked up at me, and I recited my number for her. When she smiled and clicked it closed, I said, "Only text me, because I'm not always going to answer my phone… I will most likely not even check it for weeks at a time."

"Well… I will keep that in mind, but I should be going, we are planning on leaving tonight."

"Ok then, have a safe trip." I said as she stood up. She smiled down at me and Azure before turning around, and departing into the streets, which now didn't have the same amount of people as before. I looked up, and noticed why; it seemed to be late in the day as the sun was sliding down the sky ever so gracefully.

I slid some money under the nearly empty glasses, and I picked Azure up in one hand, and the strawberry box in another. I started to walk down the street as I held the box up for Azure, who took another strawberry gratefully and asked, "Where are we going now dear?"

I smiled slyly as I answered, "Only where the soul sways, our minds clear, and enjoyment is the only rule…"

(Azure's P.O.V.)

"Oh… so that's what you meant." I smiled as I walked next to Wolf, who was now in his bird form. I pecked him in the area where the yellow surrounded his beak, and I started to walk towards the club faster as I pulled him with me by his wing.

As we entered the club, strobe lights were shining in every direction as birds flapped near the tents roof, and various birds were dancing in every part of the club they could. The tables weren't nearly as full as they usually were, but instead, they were pushed to the sides as a massive crowd of birds danced in the central area as Nico's and Pedro's squawks and lyrics drifted into the air. The air vibrated with the beat of the music and I could already feel my body becoming hyped up and ready to dance.

Suddenly, I felt myself twisted around multiple times as I heard Wolf chuckle softly, and when we stopped moving, I was beak to beak with Wolf as he store deeply into my eyes. I giggled softly as he held my wings with his own, and I could feel our bodies swaying to the song as Wolf's feathers puffed out and he twirled me around another time as he said, "We shouldn't ever have to be separated from one another darling… it is too heart breaking for either one of us." I smiled widely as he said this, but I smiled even wider when he stopped a twirl halfway, and my back was pulled up to his chest. I felt my heart flutter as he laid his head over my shoulder and said, "I love you too much to lose you again…"

(Wolf's P.O.V.)

After I finished that, I heard Nico's voice over the music suddenly become slower as he continued to sing, and I heard Pedro shout out, "Okay everybody, this is for those couples out there!"

Surprisingly enough, only a dozen or so birds exited the throng of birds and a few I could recognize from various events out here in this magical place. I smiled as Azure pulled away, but was soon pressed up against me as he head laid on my shoulder while she wrapped her wings around me. I smiled as I did the same, except I couldn't really rest my head on her shoulder since she was shorter than me by a full head. I took a deep breath in, and relished in Azure's distinct jungle scent with a ting of something sweet. Must be the strawberries…

"I love you Wolf… even before I loved you, you went out of your way to protect me." as she said this, I remembered what my… reward was for being the hero. The hidden emerald of Azure had given me a hug, which she had done so little with her own parents. "I also remember our first kiss… it was so perfect; my first and perfect kiss…"

I grinned as I tightened my hold around her, and I said, "You were also my first kiss too Azure… and I couldn't imagine something more amazing than kissing you on that day. It was sort of how we sealed the love that was growing between us." I sighed happily as I rested the end of my beak near Azure's, and finished, "I can just see it in my mind… we were next to the lake as the sun was going down, and to me, you were the most beautiful thing." I could see Azure blush deeply as she opened her beak in a stunned smile, "You were already beautiful as it is, but when you had that flower in your feathers, it was like nothing else in the world existed… it was a perfect moment."

Azure's eyes looked watery as we swayed with the songs beats, unaware of the peeping canary that was hovering silently above us while Pedro continued to keep the crowd's attention on him as he soothingly continued the song. "I'm glad, Azure, that I was able to be the one to experience such a wonderful moment with you; it is the second most amazing thing we have had between us…"

Azure was now looking at me dreamily as she absently asked, "And what was the first?"

I felt myself blush lightly as I moved my beak until it was next to her head, and whispered, "The moment when we guaranteed our future as parents…"

She suddenly blushed a deeper red, which showed right below her eyes and along the side of her beak, and she smiled sheepishly. Her hold on me tightened, and I was soon in another surprise open beaked kiss. It was an experience that I had only felt once before, but it was none the less stunning, and amazing. Her hold on me only tightened the longer we kept with our beaks locking together. I leaned downwards more, and the result was Azure was able to deepen this kiss even more, causing me to feel light headed. I held Azure even closer as she slowly separated from the kiss, and I opened my eyes while we both started to breathe slowly, but deeply. Oh… I know how to make this moment even better.

I chuckled as I smacked my beak together, and Azure looked at me with her red face curiously as I opened my beak and said, "You taste just like strawberries darling…"

Her blush worsened to where she looked absolutely purple, and I felt her lurch forward into me as I jumped as Nico made his presence known, "Now THAT is what I call a kiss!" with my eyes entirely wide, and my heart hammering away at my chest, I looked up and saw Nico floating down towards the ground. Azure was still pressed up against me, but I asked Nico, "How long have you been there?"

"Long enough apparently… hey, why hasn't Azure stood back up yet?"

It was now that I looked down and saw Azure's relaxed posture and her closed eyes. my eyes widened as I picked her up some, and as he head lulled against my chest, I choked on my surprise and chuckle, and I looked at Nico and said, "You made her faint… you scared her that bad.

He seemed to gasp, and then he looked like he was ready to laugh. Instead, with great restraint, he kept a straight face as he asked, "So… did you see Blu and Jewel when you two got here?"

Shocked, I asked, "What do you mean?"

Now that he wasn't fighting to hold in laughter, he said, "Blu and Jewel… they were dancing in here not too long ago… they said something about getting back early from a trip… anyways, how is Azure alive?"

"Ummm…. I will tell you later. We need to go."

Nico then grinned as he raised his eyebrows in a wave fashion, and said, "Well, if you got to go, have fun."

I chuckled slightly at his… weirdness… but I was soon outside the tarp, and with my dear mate sleeping on my back, I was flying back towards the clearing…

…

When I was home, I settled Azure on the branch as I prepared myself, and when I picked her up, I slowly walked in, and saw the kids were already sleeping, and Viviana was sitting there watching them quietly, and she seemed to start dozing off herself. I chuckled quietly, but Viviana snapped her head up, and smiled slightly when she saw me carrying Azure.

Steeling my nerves, I carefully placed Azure in the nest so that I wouldn't wake the chicks. When I brushed against Beleza, she mumbled incoherently before quieting down again. I smiled as I stepped back, and when I started to walk towards the hollow entrance, I motioned for Viviana to follow me.

As we stepped outside, she quietly said, "Jewel wants to talk to you, she is over at her hollow."

I turned and looked at her and said, "Thanks for telling me that, and thanks for watching the chicks… I just want to let you also know this…" she looked at me intensely as I let the silence drag on, before I finally said, "Sleep well."

I chuckled as her shoulders drooped, and she smiled slightly and said, "You sure let that drag on…"

Before she walked into the hollow, I wrapped her in a hug that startled her, and when I pulled away, I said, "Thanks Viviana… you are like a sister, so I need to treat you like one…"

I grinned as she slightly blushed, but I took off towards Jewels home as a dumbfounded Vivi stood there, before walking back inside to go get her well needed sleep.

…

Landing near Jewels hollow, not knowing how she felt about me leaving her kids to be watched by someone else, along with the fact that I don't know how she was feeling, I slowly walked closer to her entranceway, just to see her head stick out of the hole and look at me. She smiled as she walked out of the hollow, and said, "Congratulations Wolf… how did you do it?"

"Do what…?" I asked, suddenly confused.

"How did you bring Azure back to life?"

"Oh… well… let's just say you don't really want to know the details…"

She cocked her head to the side slightly, as she said, "Sure I do."

I sighed softly as I began, "To put the long story short… I managed to end the threat of the smugglers, while being taken a hostage myself."

Jewel then gasped, and I nodded as I added, "Yeah… but everyone is safe, and someone is literally, back from the dead." She seemed to be taking it in well, so I said, "Well, it has been a long day… so if you would, I need to get home so that I can sleep and recuperate… today was an amazingly crazy day."

She slowly nodded, and as I turned away and prepared to take off, I heard Jewel say, "But we will talk tomorrow… apparently Gabriel fell in love with Crystal…"

I nearly tripped as I looked behind me, but Jewel was already walking back into her home. I shook my head as I took off, and I could only think of one word that would fit the news I had just learned, "Meau deus…"

A.N.: HEHE… here we are, the LAST chapter is finally up, and it is also at an amazing 4k words for the story… I would like to thank everyone that has ever reviewed this story and its predecessors as well… this series may not have been as popular as I would have liked (From the review amounts), but for those that did enjoy it… please let me know how this last chapter was!

-If, or I should say, when, I write another thing for this story line, I will be refreshed, and ready to go, WITH prewritten chapters…