Chapter 3
Colors
Another day had arrived in the fabulous city of Rio de Janeiro. Jewel was still sleeping soundly beside me, her wings enveloping my body. She was mumbling something in her dream, and her beak curved a smile. The mere sight was enough to start my day; my lovely mate had never failed to cherish me.
I gingerly readjusted her wing to break free, hoping my efforts would not wake her up. My persistence was paid off as she didn't even flinch after I broke from her embrace and heading straight to the entrance of our room. Another macaw already woke up and perching on the edge of the platform, his wings were opened halfway, enjoying the tranquil morning.
The sky wasn't pleasant as usual this morning, the dark angry clouds were replaced where the usual yellow orb should had been, leaving the city of Rio with a gloomy atmosphere.
Frost wasn't even bother to preen himself; he was so lost with the ambient Nirvana, the cool breeze ruffled his periwinkle plumage, and by the looks of it, he was more rejuvenated than yesterday.
I finally decided to declare my presence, breaking him out of the trance. "Morning there, Frost."
He opened his eyes, turning his head to saw me. "Morning Blu." He said calmly.
"I take it you slept well last night?"
"Like a hatchling," He stated.
Bia and Carla finally emerged from their room, attempted to regain focus on the real world. They fluttered down to the platform, greeted us softly, in respect of other family member that hadn't yet woke up.
"Morning dad, morning Frost." My eldest daughter declared, which repeated by her younger siblings.
We greeted them back as a loud ear-splitting, thunderous boom cleaved the tranquil morning, awakened the entire family in an instant.
Jewel finally rose from her slumber, thanks to the recent thunder. She stifled a yawn when she finally came out from our room. Her beak formed a lovely smile, greeted us, "Morning everyone."
Her greetings were replied by the entire flock, Carla then stated. "Not everyone actually," She paused, "but soon."
Her prediction was correct, in a matter of seconds, a concentrated bundle of energy appeared with a chaotic looks, as he was dreaming some kind of adventure from the far away land.
"Morning everyone!" my youngest child exclaimed.
"Morning Tiago!" We said in unison.
Carla and Bia had just started to preen themselves when the sky finally gave up. Fat and freezing droplets from the rain was attacking us relentlessly, we decided to seek shelter on the kitchen. Linda and Tulio weren't anywhere on sight.
"Dad! Can we get pancakes please?!" Tiago begged. "We hadn't eaten them for like – forever!"
"I gotta agree with him." Carla stated.
"Count me too, I miss their flavor."
Jewel didn't really like the idea. "Kids, we have talked about…"
"But Mom! We haven't eaten them in the Amazon for months!" Tiago begged. "Dad kinda promised us pancakes too when we were back."
"What?" Jewel shot me a stern looks.
Cheese and sprinkles! I've sparked her anger, great.
"Now honey, I think it's fine for kids to just enjoy some little pancakes for our vacation. It's not harmful." I said. "Besides, I believe Frost never taste any pancakes."
"What's a pancake?" Frost inquired.
"You haven't tried, you haven't lived." Tiago smiled, he then refocused his stare to Jewel. "Please Mom!"
At the sight of four puppy dog's eyes, I know she couldn't contemplate any further. "Ugh fine, but don't expect something like this will happen frequently."
"Thanks Mom!" Tiago exclaimed. "Okay come on dad! I've craving them for months!"
"Whoa, easy there little birds." I chuckled at his enthusiasm. "I'll take the ingredients first."
With all the ingredients finally obtained, I began to heat up pan, while I was preparing the batter. After estimated the appropriate time for the pan to be heated, I pour the batter onto the metal pan; the batter's sizzling sound was muffled by the rain outside. It fiercely drummed the hardy roof of the house, almost in deafening intensity.
I took a mental calculation on how long the pancakes would reach its perfect state, lifting the said meal with the spatula to saw the perfect golden-yellowish color, a mark that signifying it was cooked perfectly; before flipped it over, cooking the other side.
My family was looking for something else to do while breakfast was being prepared; Bia was looking at the ingredients content, while the rest of them were caught by the enchanted TV broadcast.
"Did you know that these pancakes are highly nutritious, there are a lot of vitamins and minerals you required to start the day?" Bia said, dropping fact as usual, much to Frost bewilderment.
Carla took notice of Frost puzzled looks quipped. "Oh Bia, looks like you broke Frost, Again."
The first pancakes finally cooked with perfection, I let it slide onto a nearby plate, pouring another spoonful batter into the pan. Tiago was restless as he realized the first pancakes was prepared, like a jaguar that stalk his prey, he never casted his eyes away from the bountiful meal.
I only cooked stack five as Jewel wasn't really like pancakes, she preferred starve to death rather than ate a pancake. "Okay everyone, breakfast is served!" I announced.
Tiago was the first one to claim the scrumptious treats, attacking the pancakes vigorously, reducing the pancakes into nothing in seconds. His beak was stained with the whipped cream as he patted his belly, running his tongue across his beak to savor the remaining bits of the pancakes.
"He is… something I told you." Jewel chuckled.
I scratched my head in confusion. "Yeah…"
Bia and Carla was just half-way of their meal when Tiago requested another one, they were more conscious to act properly than their youngest sibling.
Frost slowly take the first bite of the said pancakes, his eyes were widened in delight as the sweet-tasted pancakes activated his savory senses, and took another bite.
Our attention was not without notice, he look at us in utter confusion. "What?"
The whole family was bursting in laugh by the occasion.
"You like it?" Bia asked.
"It's – well I'm speechless. It's very good."
"I've told you." Tiago teased. "You haven't tried, you haven't lived."
I finally took a bite of my works, it was indeed delicious, just as I expected. The pancakes were officially gone after ten minutes of breakfast. Jewel helped herself a mango from the assorted fruit bowl in the kitchen.
The rain hadn't yet ceased when the breakfast was over, but judging by how stuffed the kids was, it wasn't going to be a problem.
"Man that was sure nice." Tiago stated, "The best meal ever!"
"Agreed little bro." Carla nodded.
I walked myself to the TV, attempting to cease the waiting time, I scrolled down to the available broadcasts: music, telenovela, soccer, until I stopped in the news section, it's about the upcoming carnival.
A vivid memory about carnival hit me; it was the day when I met Jewel.
"Kids, have I told you how I met your mother?"
"Well kind of, but not really the whole story." Bia said.
"Most of your stories are about Minnesota dad." My son declared.
"Well okay then, since carnival was around the corner, I'm started to remember how we met." I walked closer to Jewel. "The adventure we had…"
I recite how I met Jewel in the first place, how she attacked me and called me a pet, I told them our adventure around Rio as we chained together, and the bond that formed as we started to know each other more. I kept many of the embarrassing moment intact, just like when I tried to tell her how I felt and suddenly a flower petal choked me; it would be foolish if I skip some of the part. But I was aiming more than just entertainment purposes, saving the last part of the saga as the lessons.
"When we are in love, we will do anything for our loved one. Even it was crazy. Just like when we fell from the plane together, I had any choice to survive, but I ignored those thought and listen to my heart."
"And it worked. When your mother declared our mutual love, I knew I could do anything, that's when the spark was created in my heart, spreading my wings and let then wind carried me."
"And with that, I captured her heart forever." I finished, smiling. "Words always fail to express how much I love you Jewel."
My words plucked her heartstrings; she leaned closed and kissed me, much to Tiago and Carla annoyance.
"Great Mom and Dad are getting sappy again." Tiago stated, grimaced.
"That was an amazing tale, if you asked me." Bia told her siblings.
"Yeah sure it was Beatriz." Carla quipped. "You and Frost just started to act like Mom and Dad."
Whoa there! That's the line.
Motivated by the urge to distract my progeny from such conversation, I pointed at the sunny weather out there.
"Hey the rain stopped." I declared. "How about visiting your uncles huh kids? We haven't exactly visited them since we arrived."
"Yeah! Finally!" Tiago cheered. "Where are we going to first?"
"Well, since uncle's Rafael hollow were closer, that's going to be our first destination."
The entire flock nodded in affirmation, we swiftly made our way to the kitchen window. The chilling temperature still lingered in the air, but slowly deteriorated as the hostile ray of sun piercing its warmth into the wet spongy earth below.
We flew south from we were located, attempted to saw the landmark Vista Chinesa, the place when Jewel and I were spending our first night together in Rio, and also the where Rafael's hollow was located.
The sight of the said landmark finally materialized after roughly ten minutes flight, and I quickly spotted my toucan friend with his chicks – and they were getting larger in number these days.
"Hey Rafi!' I exclaimed.
He lifted his head to the sky and saw us, his beak formed a smile.
"Hey amigos! You back again this summer Blu?" He asked as we landed.
"Sure are uncle Rafi!" Carla said happily. "We wouldn't miss it for the world!"
Rafael soon noticed another presence of the macaw, the one he didn't recognize.
"And who is this?" He hopped closer to Frost.
He looked nervous than ever as Rafael entered his personal bubble.
"That's Frost, Rafi." I said, "Bia's boyfriend."
At the mention of "Boyfriend", Rafael formed a very wide grin. "Aw really? Bia's got a boyfriend huh?"
Bia was getting red under her cerulean feathers, and her face was blushing red, nonetheless, she nodded her head. "Yes."
"Alright Bia!" Rafael cheered; he then noticed something else on Frost. "Oh you got a scar?"
"Um yeah… it's a long story."
"Hey Rafi, where's Eva?" Jewel asked.
"Oh she was taking breakfast for all of us, probably heading home soon."
Jewel nodded her head and drifted her attention to Rafael's chicks; her response confirmed my thought earlier. "I see you got more kids these days."
"Oh yeah! In fact, there's more on the way." He then caught something in the corner of his eyes. "Hey! It's not a maraca stop shaking up!"
"Gah, I'll grow gray feather for sure this time." He sighed.
We were talking about some event in the Amazon as well as what happened in Rio lately, and according to Rafael, nothing was changed much, while the news in the Amazon was quite shocking him, as well as the story how Frost got his scar.
"I know a few fellow harpy eagles but they seems nice." He stated. "They usually visit the samba club once a week."
I let out a sigh, watching Frost and my kids having a chat. "I wish we can settle this out. They started to attack more macaws; it isn't going to be good."
"There is nothing good in violence and war Blu." He replied.
Eva's presence then manifest from a nearby canopy, bringing one ripe papaya with her.
"Oh hello there Blu! Hello Jewel!" She exclaimed.
"Hi there" we said in unison. "Kids! Here's Aunt Eva!" I shouted.
They arrived seconds later. "Hello Aunt Eva!"
"Hello to you too!" She greeted warmly. "Oh Blu! You didn't tell you get another chick!"
What? Oh right…
"That's Bia's boyfriend." Rafael stated.
"Oh lovely! What's your name?"
"Frost." He replied.
"That's a wonderful name, I remembered a song all of the sudden." Eva stifled a cough, preparing her voice.
"Ohhh! We need to…" My words were cut by a nudge from Jewel, sighing, we exchanged looks, before nodding and bracing for the strain.
Frost was unprepared for the ocassion, he was closing his eyes tightly while moving backwards quickly; his act was rewarded with him plopping to the ground.
Seizing the opportunity, Rafael's broods had other plan for Frost.
"Attack!" one of them cried, which followed by his siblings attacking the helpless Frost on the ground.
"Wha?" He screamed. "Help!" dodging the attack as best as he could.
His cried reach Eva ears; she stopped her singing (Thankfully!) and flew straight to Frost.
"Kids! What I told about attacking strangers! Put him down! Now!"
Her kids dispersed as she got closer, leaving Frost on the ground, shocked.
"I'm sorry for our chicks' behavior." She said as Frost slowly rose from the ground. "It's okay." He said.
He then flew closer to us, where we tried our best to suppress a laugh.
Bia hopped closed to him, asking if he was okay, which he replied with a resounding "Yes", although he couldn't cast his eyes away from the chicks for the rest of our stay.
We extended our chat until our internal clock remembered us what time that was, the grumbling stomach signifying its need for another meal. We bid Rafael and Eva a farewell as we go deeper into the jungle, searching for food.
An acai palm was growing adjacent to a stream. We picked some of them to satiate our hunger, and quenching our thirst from the nearby stream. Tiago was pulling her sister into the water, spraying them with water; her sisters soon joined his game, in endeavor to avenge him, but there was another macaw that wasn't enjoying the activity.
Frost was staring at the stream; his pupils were shrinked into mere dots as he watched the current went by. I wasn't surprised by his reaction, as a memory of almost drowned to death wasn't exactly nice, and he hadn't yet prepared to deal with his past.
I walked slowly to him; he was still looking at the stream blankly, "Frost." I called him.
He wasn't aware I was there, lost in his fear.
"Frost." I snapped him out of his trance.
"Uh… Oh Blu, you scared me." He admitted.
"Are you okay?" I asked, although I already know what was going to be his answer.
"Yeah, I'm… fine." He said, but his face wasn't convincing.
I flashed a smile on my face, attempted to calm him down. "I know it must be hard for you to face the stream." I said, patting his back. "But sooner or later, you need to face it anyway."
He sighed. "I know… I'm just still wasn't sure."
"Okay maybe we can do it slowly, what do you say?"
"I don't know…"
I flashed a reassuring smile to him. "You'll be okay, I promise."
He nodded his head, slowly made his way into the stream. His steps were hesitant, but I keep urging him to continue.
The stream itself wasn't strong and deep, barely high enough to cover his talons.
"Okay slowly, slowly." I reassured him as he walked into the middle section of the stream.
He then slipped, splashing to the riverbed. He frantically looking for a grip, panicked.
"Whoa whoa there Frost, easy easy…" I help him back on his talon.
"I'm sorry…" He said, tremor within his voice.
I let out a sigh, his condition were much worse than I thought. "It's okay, Frost. It's okay." I reassured him. "Come on, try again."
He nodded his head, and slowly made his way into the deeper section of the stream.
"There you go! See it's okay!" I told him.
"Yeah… I guess I'm fine now."
Our activity wasn't going on without notice as my remaining family come closer to us. "Frost is afraid of water?" Tiago inquired.
"No… I was afraid of the stream." He admitted.
His confession was replied with a perplexed looks among them. "Uh… Why?" Carla asked.
"It's a very long story." He replied. "Maybe sometime later."
Jewel shot me a proud smile. "I like it when you do it."
"He was troubled, honey, and I felt it was my task to help him." I replied. "He always reminds me of myself a few times from now."
She continued to smile at me, nodding her head in understatement.
We were basking in the warmth of the sun's ray that pierced to the trees' canopy, drying our damp feathers after the activity from the river. the event lasted no more than ten minutes, as the heat intensity of Rio's sun grew each seconds.
We soared once again into the sky, and this time, we head straight to the center of the city, where Nico and Pedro's club was located.
The unobstructed view from the sky was amazing; it never ceased me to amaze just how beautiful and colorful Rio was. The massive structure of Cristo Redentor casting a massive shadow to the city, the Copacabana beach, as usual, was crowded with humans. Some were relaxing, some were playing games. The skyline was also crowded, not only with birds of multiple species, but also humans did some hang gliding.
The city of Rio de Janeiro was full of colors, swirls of red covering the jungle where a flock of the scarlet macaws were flying. Hues of green where the dense jungles and hills that surrounds the city, and of course, the stroke of blue, yellow and other colors adorned its sky with perfect seamless blending, offering a sight that not only enchanted the one who saw it, but also seeping perfectly for those who treasure it deeply within their soul.
The building slowly replaced by stalls and humans as we approached the market, nostalgia hit me in the head. It was the place where we almost shared our first kiss, and the trolley above hadn't yet much changed, all those memories came back around like boomerang.
As we approached the samba club, I couldn't help but notice a shade of something massive flying in the sky. And judging by its shape, it was indeed birds, my eyes were widened when I decided to uncover what it was.
It was them.
A/N: so here it is the third chapter. I hope this wasn't dragging up.
Please kindly leave a review and Thanks for reading.