Blu and company in Triple Trouble & Nigel's Revenge

by VPVPVP

Blu and company are forced to leave for Rio early due to facing serious problems from a certain clan of glaucous macaws who DESPISE humans. However, while there, they face another HUGE problem: the return of their old foes bent on revenge, especially Nigel, and they kidnap their kids to use as bait. Blu and co must rescue their kids and confront their enemies once and for all.

15. Stormy rushes

Chapter 15- stormy rushes

Sometime later

Pretty much all the members of the three tribes were now back in their rightful homes. In the mixed-species tribe's territory, Augustus and Melissa were shepherding in some non-flying members of the mixed species tribe such as a small close-knit clan of spider monkeys and some brightly coloured tree frogs into one of the large hollows high up on the biggest tree of their tribe's grove, the Árbol de la Casa, Spanish for 'Home Tree'. As the group entered the tree like a procession of schoolchildren entering their school at the end of break in a human's place, Andromeda and Eragon appeared with their son Spyro and also some of their inner circle archaeobird clan members, such as Spock and Anakin, gazed in the direction of a certain enormous black cloud as it crept like a shadow of a predatory bird towards the sanctuary. Growls emanated from the beast accompanied by flashes in some of its lobes. Winds were also increasing and the branches of the trees including the Árbol de la Casa wavered quite violently. As Eragon and Andromeda helped some capuchins into the tree, some of the dragonbirds which were strange birds with membranous bat-like wings instead of feathers though they still had some plumes on their arms, appeared. Bra'tac and B'Elanna the leaders of the dragonbird clan and their son Kion also gazed at the looming thundercloud.

"Wow, tha's one nasty cloud over there," said the former with awful admiration.

"We'd better prepare for a MASSIVE downpour," said B'Elanna. She then turned to the leader of the large capuchin family, "Is evr'yone in your family present, Fidel?"

The male monkey named Fidel nodded, "Yes, B'Elanna. Me inner circle monkeys have just donna headcount."

"Excellent," said B'Elanna as the monkey then went into the hollow himself, before turning to Bra'tac, Eragon and Augustus, "I'm gonna go help do quick check on th' grove t' make sure no-one is out in th' open."

"Okay," the three said and with that, B'Elanna called for a hyacinth macaw assistant and she jumped onto his back for dragonbirds could only glad and flap somewhat, not actually flap-fly like a macaw. Then the pair flew off to check the grove for any stragglers while the others continued to see in the tribe subgroups into the Árbol de la Casa.

The Árbol de la Casa was a very old and VERY tough tree, able to withstand even the worst of winds and rain. It was part of a species of rare giant trees known for their very MASSIVE trunks and extreme heights. Because of this, the Home Tree towered above the other trees in the home grove of the mixed-species tribe, and it was the only tree of its species that resided here. Its trunk interior was partly hollow and had countless compartments thanks to the honeycomb-like structure of the internal anatomy. This allowed a large number of families from the mixed-species tribe to make their home in this giant tree, and even more can live in the upper areas where the branches emanated from the massive trunk. Augustus and Melissa and their family resided in this tree, their home being one of the upper hollows in the branches. Due to its massive size, the Árbol de la Casa was a very significant tree for the mixed-species tribe as well as the human conservationists which were one of the reasons why this area of the Amazon was included in the sanctuary to protect the massive and very rare tree from being cut down by loggers.

As the stormcloud continued its advancement, growling like a jaguar in the sky and poised to unleash its massive rain downpour and gusts of winds on the Sanctuary de Amazon, some mixed-species tribe search groups have been sent out to round up any remaining stragglers to bring home and shelter before that could happen, and the winds were already tearing at the trees and the first few drops were just beginning.

"HURRY, EVERYONE!" someone shouted as several glaucous macaws part of Rodrigo's clan were escorted by some bat-bird searchers to the grove. Among them were Sirius, Samara, Tristan, Quincy, Sapphire and Trixie and Antares, Bellatrix, Phoebe, Levi and Aiden and they were fighting the winds on their way to the grove to keep up with some silver pterosaurs. These two families were still in UTMOST shock that one of Rudi's daughters Katrina would do such a horrid thing to Bia and Samara and Antares wanted to go over to Rudi's clan's territory to confront him but with such a nasty storm's arrival not too far away now, that was impractical.

"I STILL can't believe what had almost happened to Bia at the clutches of one of our OWN nieces or cousin-once-removed," growled Antares angrily as he helped Levi, who was still traumatised over the incident having seen it directly and briefly before Virgil launched himself at the killer macaw and attacked her to save Bia who was his date. "Good thing Virgil took action even though he did go a bit too far."

"Let's just get back to our hollows, cous," shouted Samara through the wind as she helped a young forest falcon along. Antares then resumed his focus on the task. However, as the group flew along in their haste to get back to the grove, a gust of wind came and caught Trixie. The little macaw was sent flying into a tree. However, the others failed to notice as they were too busy on getting everyone else to safety in their haste and desperation to get out of the incoming storm.

Somewhere else, another search group was checking another area of the mixed-species tribe's territory just outside the central home grove. Wanda, Pietro, Wikstrom and Carolina, together with Cersei the Cuban red macaw and Wilbur's mother, and Archie, a muscled flying fox with dark brown fur and one of Augustus and Melissa's most trusted patrollers and searchers, checked the trees while battling the winds. The chicks of the first four, Jose, Linguini, Remy and Emilia were back at the grove with Alvin and Isabella, the parents of Wanda, Pietro, Sirius and Bellatrix for their safety.

"I think everyone's been returned to our home grove, folks," yelled Archie to the macaws so that they can hear for the howling of the wind drowned out normal talking volume, "We should head back before the winds pick up and the rains increase in intensity."

As he spoke, Wanda noticed something on a large, exposed rock.

"Okay, let's do so," shouted Cersei but before they could make the return journey, the other five saw Wanda gaze at something.

"Wanda, sis, come on, we need to return to the safety of our grove," Pietro shouted, flying up to his sister with the other four.

"What is it?" asked Cersei but when the Cuban red macaw paralleled her gaze at whatever had caught Wanda's attention, the other four doing the same, surprise flashed within them.

Perched on the exposed rock outcrop was a little chick and to the surprise of the six, especially the four glaucous macaws, it was the same species as them as it had grey head feathers and the usual yellow eye rings and beak lappet. Its body feathers were maya blue but then the six noticed something saddening about it. Its right eye appeared malformed and it had a growth above its left eye, coloured green. Concern welling within the six, Wanda approached it first.

"You shouldn't be out here, little chick," she said, "Especially on an exposed rock. You need to be back with the rest of us in our grove. Where are your parents?"

The chick didn't reply and only gave a sad gaze. Wikstrom examined the chick.

"Guys, I don't think that chick is one of ours," he said, "Do you know of any of our chicks with those... um... face features?"

Headshakes came from the other five.

"Except for Trixie who was born unusually small, no," said Pietro. Then Archie, a frown on his face, gazed at the chick.

"Well, that little glaucous macaw should NOT be sitting on a rock outcrop exposed to a severe storm," the burly flying fox said, "Let's pick him up and take him to our grove. It's not safe for him to be sitting there."

Cersei was about to fly to the chick, which was a male, to pick him up when the chick finally spoke.

"I'm waiting for my family," he squeaked. Cersei stopped as the chick continued, "They told me that they will be back shortly. Can you please leave me alone? They'll be fumed if they find out I have been interacting with strangers."

As he spoke, Carolina noticed something a bit off about his wings.

"But you're in an unsafe spot," Cersei replied, "C'mon, let's get you back to our grove."

"No, PLEASE, my family will be FURIOUS!" begged the chick, "Please leave. They'll savagely attack you if they find you near me."

Cersei paused and gazed at the other five for their opinions. Then Pietro spoke.

"I think we'll do as he says," said he, "If what he says is true, then we shouldn't risk facing any angry claws."

"Well, I HOPE is family turns up anytime soon," Cersei retorted angrily, "Because the storm is gonna get worse once it arrives."

Carolina continued examining the chick's wings, concern welling within her but the chick packed towards a patch of small grass. Suddenly, a gust of wind threw her in to a brief clumsy flight. She released a squawk of alarm at this.

"We should head back now," said Archie, "It's becoming more and more unsafe staying out here," he then said to the chick, "Look, you find yourself some shelter and quickly and wait for your family to return to collect you. It's unsafe for you to remain out here."

The deformed glaucous macaw chick just gazed at the burly dark brown furred bat and said nothing. Then the six turned round and began their return journey. Carolina gazed back at the chick, a gut feeling welling within her stomach. "Something's not right, folks. A tiny chick left on an exposed rock outcrop in an approaching severe storm..."

"Look, his family will collect him as soon as they can, my flower Carolina," replied Pietro, "Let's just return to the grove before the winds become too severe."

Carolina breathed a sigh and followed the other five. However, the gut feeling remained and it churned within her.

"HURRY!" cried Wikstrom to the other five and with that, they accelerated as the winds and raindrops increased and thunder sounded overhead.

Meanwhile, Trixie continued her flight to the home grove. She had recovered from being thrown into a tree by a gust of wind and was struggling against the fast-flowing air torrent. She was now all alone, the others ahead of her, having flown far ahead and would be back at the grove by now. Desperately, the abnormally small chick tried to battle the winds with her tiny wings but in vain, the winds were just too strong for such a tiny macaw like her to deal with. However, Trixie continued on, the desperation to be back in the safety of the home grove spurring her on, but she soon had to retreat into a tree to rest as fatigue set in her flight muscles. Puffing and panting, she did just that. Trixie flopped onto a node of a sheltered branch and began to rest, her wing on her aching chest as she panted. Then she timidly gazed at the stormy jungle as the rains increased, the winds rose and thunder sounded, lightning flashing in the sky. The storm's arrival was now only minutes away. Trixie knew she had to be back at the home grove and soon. Furthermore, her parents will be wondering where she had gone with EXTREME panic as a result. Putting that aside, Trixie focussed on regaining her breath to continue her flight of struggle back to the home grove and her family. However, she was unaware that she was being watched.

As Trixie continued to regain her breath, a blur shot past nearby where she sat. However, Trixie was too out of puff to notice this at first. Then she gazed out into the stormy open between the trees, hoping that help was nearby. As she did that, another blur, a blue and grey one, shot past behind her. A royal blue feather drifted gently down towards Trixie and landed by her feet. When Trixie noticed this, she picked it up and examined it. However, as she examined the feather, several forms fluttered down behind her, their wing flaps alerting her. Trixie looked up at the forms and felt relief flow through her.

"Hey, some help in getting me back to the grove please?" she squeaked. However, that relief was immediately shattered like a flash of lightning, and a literal flash occurred as two of the forms, both glaucous macaws, came forward and eyed Trixie. Instead of relieved looks on the faces of these two macaws, there was PURE malice. The two glaucous macaws were both female, had royal blue plumage, a slender build and a feather ruffle on their heads. One had brown eyes and the other, hazel. With them were more forms, most of them macaws but one was a large bat and another, a forest falcon. The look of malice was replicated on these comrades' faces as well. Well, almost all of them. Then the hazel-eyed macaw spoke in a spiteful voice tone and as she did, she shoved her beak into Trixie's face, startling her.

"Some help, eh, runt?" growled she nastily.

"Oh, we'll give you some help alright, tiny mud-pet brat," added the brown-eyed one. Then to Trixie's horror, she recognised the pair as Millie and Tillie, the daughters of Rudi and his first mate, Valeria. Millie and Tillie, like their half-sister Katrina, were a nasty pair of glaucous macaws and despised 'mud-pets' but the macaw they loved to target most was Trixie because of her size. Then Millie and Tillie's comrades showed their faces. Many were glaucous macaws with one (to Trixie's UTMOST horror again) being a male macaw, and his new girlfriend. The rest of the gang were Spix macaws including a male that used to date the macaw one of Trixie's cousins nearly killed, two hyacinth macaws, a forest falcon and a flying fox. These members were among the members banished by their tribe leaders for horrific behaviours and unfortunately, some have stupidly befriended this bad group of rotten fruit. Two of the members looked uncertain, the Spix macaw, Raul and a hyacinth macaw female. Then Trixie's ex and his new girlfriend, which was a female azure blue glaucous macaw with yellow eyes like a jaguar and long grey head feathers, advanced in an intimidating fashion towards the little glaucous macaw. The others did the same. Raul and the female hyacinth macaw, moved with reluctance. Then Trixie, though severely intimidated, tried to creep away. However, it was difficult for the presence of Volo and Marishka was threatening to open up the deep emotional wound the former had inflicted on her hours earlier.

"Well, I-I-I g-g-guess I have to g-g-get going," the abnormally small glaucous macaw stammered, "Th-th-th storm's getting w-w-worse and my parents w-w-will be expecting me..."

"Oh, yeah, your low-down mud-pet father who chose to pair up with Daddy's cousin an' have you four mud-pet chicks?" crooned another female glaucous macaw named Aleera who had sea-green feathers and cyan eyes and long grey head feathers tipped sea-green like her plumage, "That sounds logical to us."

"I wonder if your runty size is punishment for Stinky Samara for pairin' up with a mud-pet, like a curse?" put in Verona nastily. This macaw was blue, slender, had green eyes and a sheet of feathers tipped blue on her head. Titters rolled through the rest of the group. However, Raul and the female hyacinth macaw didn't snicker with the rest of the group. However, the falcon whacked them with his wings to get them to laugh and they reluctantly did so. Then Trixie's nerves snapped, especially as Millie and Tillie advanced towards her and flared their claws.

"Now it's time for ya t' learn a lesson, runt," growled Millie nastily.

"Maybe a clawin' will be suitable," crooned Tillie in the same way. The others including Volo and Marishka also flared their claws and the flying fox, a banished young member from Augustus and Melissa's clan for mixing with this group so frequently, bared his teeth. Trixie tried to put them off by flaring her talons but this was no use.

"Your tiny runty talons won't save you from a good clawin', tiny," cackled Millie.

"And besides, you're outnumbered," put in Volo, "And outsized."

More titters rolled through the group. Trixie finally felt the urge to flee but before she could launch herself into an adrenaline-powered flight, she lashed at Millie with her smaller-than-normal claws and raked them over her right cheek to the startle of the nasty group. The brown-eyed daughter of Rudi from his first pairing released a shriek and clasped her scratched cheek, before glaring maliciously at the dwarf glaucous macaw but to her OUTRAGE and that of her sister and half-siblings present, and their friends, she had gone. Then Millie glared at her group.

"Split up an' chase that maggot down," she instructed her nasty group, "Once we catch her, we're gonna teach her a lesson she will NEVER forget."

"Good plan, half-sis," said a NASTY male named Tybalt. He was azure blue and had red-orange eyes, a stocky build and head feathers similar to Roberto and Finnick and he was as violent as Katrina, his sister. The pair had another brother, Mercutio, but he was absent. Then with their wings beating the windy air, the group began their predator-like pursuit of the frightened glaucous macaw.

Trixie flapped like mad through the windy air. The winds were now stronger and the rains were intensifying for the storm had just about arrived but she didn't care about this. All she cared about was getting to the safety of her home grove and her family, especially her parents Sirius and Samara and siblings Tristan, Quincy and Sapphire to escape the dangers of the storm, and Millie and Tillie and her group which she had in mind to tell Rodrigo and Ceu when she arrived. Desperately, she flew on, faster than she had EVER flown before. Because she was so focussed on getting to the home grove ASAP, she failed to notice her chasers in hot pursuit of her, flying agilely through the trees and easily catching up to her. Millie and Tillie's group had split into two smaller groups and were chasing her like a pack of air-wolves. Tybalt led his group on Trixie's right and got prepared to launch themselves at her the moment they caught up while to Trixie's left, Millie and Tillie and their subgroup got poised to strike. Trixie continued to fly desperately along, her abnormally small wings for a glaucous macaw her age beating the air furiously to propel her along and battle the winds but it was like flying through a human thing called a wind tunnel as the high winds were against her and it was forcing Trixie to expend more energy, the evidence showing with fatigue creeping into her flight muscles again. Then suddenly, a grey and turquoise blur shot in from Trixie's right and tackled right into the small macaw. Trixie released a startled scream as she was sent careening into a tree where she crashed. The moment she was down, multiple wing flaps sounded and the owners cloaked the frightened little glaucous macaw in black shadow like the thundercloud overhead. Trixie tried to scarper but then a talon shot out and pinned her against the tree trunk with a talon to the neck. Millie, her right cheek bearing short claw marks from Trixie's defensive attack earlier, then glared at the small macaw maliciously.

"NOW to execute OUR PUNISHMENT REAL GOOD!" she snarled, the others cackling evilly to Trixie's fright. Then Trixie began to receive a barrage of attacks from Millie, Tillie and their gang. Millie clawed the little glaucous macaw over her cheek in revenge for her scratching hers, while Tillie seized the macaw by the neck and throttled her. Then Tybalt clawed Trixie over the other cheek while the others took their turn. Aleera also clawed the glaucous macaw while Marishka squished her into the branch by jumping on top of her and squeezing her HARD. Verona struck Trixie's foot with a rock while one of the nasty hyacinth macaws struck Trixie on the head with a small rock, sending her into a daze. This continued until finally, the little glaucous macaw was reduced to a tatty and beaten state. She fell onto her back and looked up at Volo desperately, tears in her eyes, hoping for mercy. However, to her sadness, she got not one SHRED of it from her ex. Then Volo, his malicious glare that seemed to have been rubbed off on him from his new girlfriend Marishka stepped towards her and seized her left wing flight feathers in his beak. Trixie flapped and screamed like mad to the laughter of the others except Raul and the female hyacinth macaw but Volo refused to let go. Then one of Trixie's ex's talons went for the little glaucous macaw's neck and pinned her against the tree trunk while he yanked his head the other way, his beak still clamped on the flight feathers of Trixie's left wing. Screams exploded from the little glaucous macaw into the stormy air as agony ripped through her left wing then with a sicken rip, Volo tore out the primary flight feathers from Trixie's left wing. After this, he spat them out and threw Trixie down as she grasped her left wing with her right and sobbed in agony.

"Yes, wah, wah, wah just like the lil' baby you are, runt," cackled Millie nastily.

"Good thinkin' Volo," Tillie congratulated Volo as he spat out the last of Trixie's wing flight feathers and glared proudly at the poor little glaucous macaw as she continued to sob.

"She will NOT be able to fly into the wings of her mud-pet family now," added Tybalt in addition. Then the malicious flying fox gazed at the birds.

"What shall we do with the little mud-pet runt then?" he asked, "Shall we leave her to figure out her way back home with that useless wing?"

"That sounds like a good idea, Maugrim," said Millie but then Tillie interrupted.

"I have a better idea," she said. She then nodded to the hyacinth macaw who had a rock. The nasty hyacinth macaw nodded in return and advanced towards Trixie. The little glaucous macaw continued sobbing over her torn wing until her world was plunged into darkness with a HARD rock to the head from the NASTY hyacinth macaw, the impact knocking her out. As the hyacinth macaw did this, the female hyacinth macaw and Raul looked on.

"Wait, I think this is going WAY too far..." said the latter, Bia's ex. However, a talon with flared claws appeared near his neck.

"You wanna stay in our group, Raul?" asked Millie threateningly. Raul, intimidated by Millie's claws near his neck, reluctantly obliged. Then Verona and Aleera picked up the unconscious Trixie's body. Next, the malicious group descended through the stormy trees looking for a place to throw Trixie.

"We'd better be fast, folks," said Volo, "the storm's getting worse."

"I wish we can just throw her into the Amazon River but that is WAY too far away," said Marishka.

"I know, we'll gift the little runt as a snack to one of the apex predators of the forest floor," said Tybalt. The rest apart from Raul and the female hyacinth macaw agreed to this and went about looking for a jaguar's den. They continued until they finally found one. However, it was empty but the malicious group of intruders had no time to leave it and look for another den as the storm was worsening. Making their decision, Aleera and Verona tossed Trixie's unconscious body into the den.

"If the jaguar owner of this den doesn't turn up, then a snake will have to take the snack," said Millie, "Let's get home before the storm becomes too severe to fly in. Our job is done."

"Yes, let's move out," said Tillie. Raul, however, protested.

"But... but..." began he but Tillie snarled, "I said let's MOVE OUT!"

Raul then reluctantly obeyed but he flashed one remorseful gaze at Trixie's unconscious body before following the rest of the group.

Sometime later, the storm finally arrived and had unleashed its maximum fury on the jungle. Rain hammered down like a human army weapon called a machine gun, pelting and pummelling ANY exposed and uncovered area. The high winds tore at the jungle and made the trees waver violently. It was also very dark, except when lightning flashed. On a certain outcrop, a deformed glaucous macaw chick tried in vain to shelter against the downpour and the torrents of winds, shivering to keep warm. However, its efforts were in vain due to how exposed this rock was to the open. On the forest floor, a certain beaten and traumatised little glaucous macaw was struggling through the foliage. Trixie had recovered from her unconsciousness and had escaped the jaguar's den just in time before one arrived. Thankfully, that jaguar had a capybara in its jaws and did not see the glaucous macaw flee. But though Trixie had managed to escape death at the jaws of the jaguar, she was still in the woods of danger, especially since she could not fly with a damaged left wing. Battered, bruised, cold, in pain and frightened, the little glaucous macaw continued trudging along through the forest floor maze, screeching for help and desperately hoping to be heard. However, her screeches of distress were drowned out by the high winds and the thunderous rain. Though the canopy acted as a partial umbrella in dampening the severity of the downpour and the winds, rain still fell towards the forest floor, but that was not the only danger for Trixie. The forest floor level was NOT the place for macaws to be wandering around for there were dangerous floor predators on the prowl. Though Trixie had managed to escape the jaws of one jaguar, she may never be able to escape another or the jaws of a snake, and the little glaucous macaw knew this. Then when she realised that she may never be heard because of the storm, Trixie gave up and began to look for a shelter. As she searched for one, thoughts of being in the warmth of her parent's wings in their hollow, nice and dry flashed in her mind, adding fuel to the fire of Trixie's longing to be back with her family, her aunt and uncle and her grandparents and friends. Seeing that this was impossible with a ruined wing, tears welled within the little glaucous macaw's cerulean eyes and ran in rivulets down her cheeks and soon, overwhelmed by EXTREME emotions of despair and fear as severe as the winds and rain in the treetops, the little glaucous macaw walked over to a fern, sat under it and began to sob, HARD.

In the Árbol de la Casa

Much of the mixed-species tribe that had taken shelter in the giant tree rested to ride out the storm, the sounds of the wind and the rain beating heavily against the upper levels of the tree where it towered above the rest of the grove. Parents huddled their young against their chests with their wings or arms as the sounds frightened them while several more were distributing food stocked up in the tree. Cersei bit into a mango to cut it up and then distributed the pieces to Wanda, Pietro, Wikstrom, Archie and Carolina. The four glaucous macaws looked over their sleeping chicks Emelia, Remy, Jose and Linguini, while Wilbur sat in his and his mother's nest, eating some berries his mother had given him.

"Here's some mango," the Cuban red macaw said to the glaucous macaws and flying fox.

"Thanks," said Wanda as she took a piece. Pietro, Carolina, Wikstrom and Archie took their pieces and began to eat while Cersei settled down to eat hers. As they ate the mango, Carolina was staring off into space.

"What are you daydreaming about Carol?" asked Pietro to his mate.

"I was thinking about that glaucous macaw chick," replied Pietro's mate, before she turned and looked at him, "Do you suppose he'll have been collected by now?"

"I hope so," said Archie seriously who hung upside down from a ridge in the wall, "The storm out there is in full swing now."

"I wouldn't worry about it, dear Carolina," said Pietro, trying to assure his mate, "I'm sure that the chick will have been found and collected by now."

Carolina, however, wasn't convinced. Then Cersei formed a scowl on her face.

"You know, we've been having macaws and other exiled former tribe members roaming our territories lately," the Cuban red macaw grumbled, "And they have become WAY too frequent, and I'm dreading to think that they are worsening in their attacks against many of us. The worst that had happened was what Katrina, one of Rudi and Tremaine's daughters had done to Bia and Neptune."

"Sheldon was targeted too, but by Aguamarina," said Archie. Then the chocolate brown muscular flying fox formed a worried look on his face. "Do you think they could be targeting certain individuals more than others rather than just ANY macaw or other animal?"

"I doubt it," said Wikstrom, "Alexandre, one of the young silver pterosaurs, was badly hurt by Katrina."

"He was trying to defend a young Lear's macaw that had been treated by our human protectors for an illness that we couldn't cure from that violent glaucous macaw," said Cersei, "Katrina had intended to target that macaw but Alexandre intervened."

"Then it seems to make sense," said Archie, "Any tribe member that has any ties with humans, no matter what sort or for how long, are the main targets for these marauders. After all, Rudi and his clan ABSOLUTELY DESPISE humans and ANYTHING to do with them and have done since the fire."

"Well, if that is the case, then that is not good for certain individuals who grew up with humans, such as... our brother and sister Sirius and Bellatrix," Pietro said worriedly. Then Carolina felt worry for the glaucous macaw chick explode within her and she shot the group a horrified look, dragging them out of that conversation thread.

"I don't think that chick on the outcrop has been collected you know," she said, "I think we should go out there and investigate."

"No, Carolina, the storm's too severe," said Cersei, "You could get hurt or worse."

However, Carolina dropped her half-eaten mango piece and hurried into the main vertical compartment of the Árbol de la Casa tree. Archie, Cersei and Pietro followed and shouted her name.

"Stay here with our chicks, Wikstrom and Wanda," Carolina called, "We're gonna go out there and rescue that chick."

Then before Wikstrom and Wanda could protest, their sister-in-law had gone with the other three after her. The four's rush to the entrance attracted the attention of many of the other animals as they then launched themselves out into the stormy air through the hollow entrance, including a few certain individuals.

"Carolina, Pietro, Cersei, Archie; where are you four going!?" Rodrigo called while Ceu and Neytiri looked on in disapproval at the four's reckless behaviour.

"Return to your hollow will you!?" commanded Augustus with Melissa looking on.

"Sorry, Rodrigo, Augustus, but we have left a chick out on an exposed outcrop and we're gonna rescue it," cried Carolina in return and before anyone could protest, the four had exited the hollow entrance. Augustus immediately scrambled to the entrance to call them back.

"YOU FOUR, you GET BACK RIGHT HERE THIS MINUTE!" the flying fox clan patriarch yelled. However, the four was out of earshot, having disappeared onto the grove below. Augustus slapped a hand-wing on the lip of the hollow and retreated into it, not wanting to risk himself serious injury from the storm by following the four.

"That is WHY we have sent those search groups out to ROUND UP EVERYONE before THE STORM!" yelled he. Nearby, Orion, Ahsoka, Sandalwood, Acerola, Hermione, Ganymede and Gordie flinched. Then the second one gazed at the first.

"I hope they make it back safe and sound, all four of them," whispered she to her mate, "It's incredibly dangerous out there."

Orion didn't answer to this, however, for he was incredibly angry at the four's recklessness.

Pietro, Cersei, Archie and Carolina charged like rockets through the stormy jungle, the winds beating against them and the rain pelting them heavily. Lightning flashed in the sky above them and shattered the air with a literal crack of thunder, lighting up the darkened jungle in a few split-second blinks. However, the quartet kept to the most sheltered areas of the canopy wherever possible to escape the rain.

"I KNEW we shouldn't have left that chick STRANDED on that rock in the FIRST PLACE!" screeched Carolina as she flew at the front.

"This is INCREDIBLY dangerous," shouted Cersei as she was suddenly pushed to one side by a gust of wind, "We could either catch a cold or worse, get injured."

"Well, no-one told you to come along with us," growled Pietro in irritation.

"Oh yeah, an' no-one told ME to help rescue a chick in need either," Cersei snapped back. The quartet continued their hasty flight to the rocky outcrop just outside the home grove, running the gauntlet of the soaking rains and freezing winds on the go. On the rocky outcrop, the deformed chick continued in vain to keep warm by wrapping himself in the small grass leaves. He was soaked to the skin and shivering from the freezing winds and rain as they continued to beat him like a merciless predator. However, there was a literal predator slithering towards the poor chick. A vine snake was creeping towards the little helpless bird to make a meal out of him. Then Carolina's voice penetrated the windy roars.

"There it is!" the shapes of the three macaws and large burly bat melted out of the dark, rainy air and accelerated towards the outcrop where the chick was. The snake then reared up and released a hiss and bared its fangs, frightening the weak chick into cowering at its mercy. However, before the snake could lash at the chick to plunge its venomous fangs into its prey, an orange, brown and blue rocket surged in, her claws poised and aimed at the serpent. Cersei rocketed in like a comet and released an enraged squawk. The snake shot a surprised gaze at the incoming feathered comet in time to receive a flying cat scratch to its face. A pained HISS exploded from its mouth and it thrashed violently.

"GET OUTA HERE!" screeched Cersei and with that, she added a second claw swipe to the snake. The serpent, giving up its chance at having glaucous macaw for its next meal, quickly retreated from the outcrop, its face clawed by the Cuban red macaw. The snake dealt with, Cersei landed near the chick while Carolina, Pietro and Archie appeared. However, they knew they should not be out here too long or their feathers and Archie's fur and membranous wings will become too soaked to allow for flight. Cersei quickly scooped up the chick in her talons and retreated to a branch sheltered by a thick umbrella of leaves. As the Cuban red macaw began to examine the chick, Carolina seized the opportunity to check the chick's wings. To her horror, she realised that the horrible feeling that she had was right all along.

"Oh, no, his wings are missing their main flight feathers," cried Pietro's mate.

"And he's shivering and VERY cold!" put in Archie, "We need to get him to Falkor's medical hollow NOW!"

"I'll carry him!" said Cersei and with that and without hesitation, the four made their hasty return journey with the chick in their clutches. The winds continued to tear at the trees, making the branches waver while the rains continued pummelling the topmost parts of the rainforest. Lightning flashed and penetrated the dark air while the thunder's growls penetrated the winds' noises. Four comets, one furry with skin-wings and the other three feathery, shot through the dark air. Cersei kept a firm grip on the chick as she flapped her wings like mad.

"QUICKLY!" screeched Pietro, "THE STORM'S GETTING WORSE!"

The four continued their speedy journey, battling the winds on the way. One gust of wind nearly sent Carolina into an uncontrolled flight but Archie flew in and caught her before she could careen into a tree. The group continued flying on.

Back at the grove, from his medical hollow's entrance, a large green macaw with blue markings and pale eye rings and beak lappet stood, gazing worriedly into the stormy sky. Falkor had heard that four of the tribe members had flown off into the stormy jungle 'to rescue some stranded chick' and was hoping that they would make it home safely. Finally, four forms melted out of the stormy, dark air and headed towards his hollow's entrance.

"FALKOR!" cried the one at the front, Carolina.

"WE NEED YOUR HELP!" added the second one, Pietro.

"IT'S THIS GLAUCOUS MACAW CHICK!" shouted Archie.

"HE'S IN BAD SHAPE!" put in Cersei who carried the chick. As soon as the four arrived, they disappeared after Falkor into the hollow to escape the storm. As soon as they were inside and out of the dangerous atmosphere, Cersei showed Falkor the freezing and shivering chick. The milicinth or hyacinth/military hybrid macaw and lead medic of the mixed-species tribe's nurse group took immediate action.

"Get him into a moss bed, QUICKLY!" he shouted. Cersei did so while Falkor yelled to a medical assistant, an extremely rare lutino blue-and-gold macaw named Ámbar (whose back plumage is ivory instead of blue, aqua blue and green due to a rare mutation) to prepare the bed.