Chapter 5
Hues

I threw myself to Bia as fast as I could, hoping to save her from the speeding vehicle, unfortunately, another one was blocking my way, the gust of wind throwing me once again into the ground, tasting dust in my beak.

I quickly rushed to wake, but my body still sore from the crash. I screamed loudly to warn her, as it was the only thing I could do. "Bia! Move!"

The driver was frantically signaling her to stay away with her horn, Bia finally snapped when the straining noise of the horn reached her ears, but it was all too late as the car had already mere inch from her.

Everything started to pace in slow motion, my heart filled with dread and terror on the inevitable events that was going to happen, and it was my entire fault; If I listened to her, she wouldn't be in this situation.

Another car was blocking the view of the crash, sparing me the terrifying event that would occur seconds, my blood ran cold when I heard the crashing sound, my sight senses were blocked with the car obstructed my view.

Everything returned at a normal speed, my head denied that Bia had gone. I wasn't sure how to tell her family about the incident, yet admitting that I was the sole reason she was gone.

No no please no! please!

I scanned the crash site, hoping to spot her amongst the wreckage. The driver was safe, but her car's condition denied the any possibilities that Bia made it and live.

I frantically squawking her name, searching for any signs of her, but to no avail, I couldn't even spot her body.

My heart was shattered with the revelation, I've lost my love and I was the one who made her gone.

I stared at the sky, tears started to stream down my face as anger slowly manifest within my heart. Rage was burning at its best, blaming myself, but before it blinded me; I spotted something in the sky.

It was one of the eagles, s/he was flying lower than before, carrying something blue in his/her talon. My eyes widened when I realized it was a bird, Bia.

My heart was filled with joy, but the sensation was short-lived as the fact of eagles hit me, and replaced it with rage once again.

I know they can't be trusted! I know it!

Adrenaline was pumped into my vein, ceasing the entire sore from the crash before as I set my eyes for Bia. My adrenaline-rage-infused body was boosted with supreme level, allowing me to fly at a velocity I never felt before, almost matched the eagle's speed.

I squawked threateningly, alerting the eagle about my presence. "Put her down!"

The eagle was pacing faster, attempted to escape my pursuit, but I kept my wings flapping, increasing my speed. "I said put her down!" I yelled, burning with rage. The eagle still wasn't buying.

Okay, you asked for it!

I slowly increased my altitude to gain speed from the wind streams above, targeting the eagle's weakest link; its wing.

I dove quickly back to the ground, allowing the gravity to increase my velocity as I got closer to the eagle, s/he noticed my move, dodging my bite by banking hard to the left, his face finally exposed.

The intensity of my rage increased as I recognized the owner of the face, "You!"

César banked right, adjusting himself to the previous direction he was intended earlier, ignoring me.

I repeated my attack once again, with the same result as he was very agile; something I wasn't expecting from someone like him.

Bia was moving slowly in his talon, her consciousness had returned – which I was thankful that she was still alive. But César talon was sandwiched her tightly, restraining any movement.

I prepared my claw instead this time, If I couldn't ground him, at least I could scratch him to release Bia. I paced myself faster, trying matched his speed.

He was able to dodge all of my attack; every time I tried to claw him, he simply flew upwards or downwards. And every time I tried to ground him, he was banking left or right easily, as he was some kind of martial arts master or something.

He dragged me into a looping phase of flight; I could see the landmark I've passed multiple times, and soon realized his plan. He was trying to exhaust me.

My mind couldn't believe I was tricked, a very clever trick. My wings started to prove my realization, straining with fatigue. But I kept myself to chase him, giving the entire thing I got, as Bia was more important than everything in the world.

I was envious with his endurance; eagles are built to fly very long, their large wingspan was a very great advantages. It allows them to glide more efficiently, as the larger surface provided them with more lifting force from the breeze.

I started to slow down as the day officially called afternoon, gasping for breath, my wings were strained and I started to lose altitude.

César noticed my slower flight pattern, finally decided to land into a nearby roof, gently released Bia there.

I was perplexed by his action, as his action was incredibly weird. My body finally gave up with the stiffness, as my wing wasn't flapping anymore and let myself fell to the earth.

It was then when another eagle catch me, and brought me to where Bia was located.

My wits were too tired to process their act, and I finally let myself to their mercy, bracing to the pain I would soon receive.

César was smiling at me, a warm smile – surprisedly – before walking to the eagle that saved me.

"That was close Selena." He said. "I almost lost her."

"Yeah, but you managed to get her right, that what's matter."

Bia was stammering, I have no idea if she was stammering from the crash or the eagles.

I dared myself to saw their face, another eagles – about four of them – were coming to us, surrounded us with no escape.

I huddled Bia with my wing, enjoying my last moment with her before we got eaten, she snapped out of her thought, "Frost?"

I flashed a reassured smile, even the circumstances wasn't reassuring at all. "Hush now Bia, I'm her for you." I said, added. "I'm sorry for what I've done."

César and Selena were 'awwed' with our act. "That is so cute don't you think César?"

It was a sick joke, a very sick joke. "Just eat us will you?" I snarled. "If that is what you planned, just do it!"

My statement was replied with a laugh, a good mannered laugh from the entire eagles' flock.

César walked beside me, extended his wing and touch my shoulder. "No no no amigo. We don't eat macaws!" He chuckled.

What? Is this some kind of cruel joke?

"I mean yes some of us do eat macaws, but we here don't eat other birds."

"That's correct." One of the eagles said. "How can we eat our own compadres?"

Bia was fully recovered, joining the conversation, "Really?"

"That was true, señorita. We have sworn not to eat any other birds, with no exception." The other eagles stated.

Perplexed, I asked. "Then why you were dodging me?"

"Because you were filled with rage at that moment." César said. "It's best not to interfere with someone's anger."

"I've seen you spying on us, it seems you don't trust us, any reason why?" César inquired.

Selena then noticed my scar. "Oh my, what happened to you?" She asked.

Should I tell them about it? How would they react when I told them it was their kin who left me this scar?

Sighed, I decided to tell them. "It was my encounter with harpy eagles back in the Amazon. They clawed my eyes." I said nonchalantly.

Gasps were heard among them, many of them quickly rushed to apologize.

"Oh my!"

"Sorry for that, I'm sure they weren't intended to do that."

"If I ever met him, I clawed him back. Don't worry amigo! I'm here for you."

Selena motioned the crowd to silence, avoiding to inappropriately crowding me, "Sorry about that, but we do sincerely sorry about that scar, and I assured you that we won't do that to other birds."

Touched, confused, amazed, I let myself released the tension in my demeanor. "It's… fine… really." Their sincerity was a genuine one, and I started to realize something different in them.

"But why you don't eat other birds?" Bia asked, curiosity sparked.

"Hmm… that's quite a long story, you have time?" César asked.

We nodded our head in confirmation. "Sure."

"Well okay then." He inhaled a deep breath before started his story. "It was…"

It was a sunny day when we were forced out of our home, abandoning our sanctuary that had been existed from my grandpa's grandpa. We harpy eagles were always the highest rank birds in the jungle, and other birds were humbled by ours. We lived carefree; thinking ourselves as invincible, as no one ever match against us.

But each year, the humans pushed us deeper into the jungle, as they started to destroy the trees. At first, it wasn't really a big deal; the jungle was massive, and we think we would never run out of everything. But in the end, we started to realize that we nearing the other edge of the forest. The once green and lush were replaced with tall skyscrapers or mostly crops. Soon after, we understand that we weren't holding on much longer. A meeting were arranged to discuss the issue.

Most of us still denied that one of those days, we would be driven out for sure, and so the meeting was all for nothing. But the condition were getting critical each year, some had decided to leave early, dared themselves to face the outside world, while some stayed and hoped for the best.

I was one of the tribe's main guards, as much as I wanted to leave. I couldn't just abandon my duty.

But in the end, all pray and hope were left unanswered, ironic really when you lived in El Salvador which literally meant 'The Savior' but no one was coming to save us.

We were driven out; the tribe was dispersed as the lack of food started to driven us mad. Most of the time, we started to feed on other birds at a greater scale…

César paused; he hung his head in shame. "I still recalled some of them pleaded me to release them, when they told me that they had family, but only I replied them with cold stare."

Selena rushed to calm him. "It's all in the past, César."

He then stifled a painful chuckle, "Even after all this years, their scream still echoing in my head."

"Anyways, let's continue the story…"

But then, the problem wasn't just food. Our home was lost, so we began to invade their home for our shelter. Birds were driven crazy; we lost our once noble action, and slowly turned into bestiality.

I remembered the time when I was chased by a group of other birds as I trespassed their territory by accident. I was left dying on the jungle floor for days, before someone picked me and tended me to full health.

I never have any explanation why she was doing that to me, nor got a chance to thank her, as she was later killed when my kin attacked their home.

I recalled the agonizing hurt in my heart when her chicks were asking. "mamá, ¿dónde está papá?" knowing their father had probably killed and eaten out there.

I wasn't prepared on such bestiality my kin was offering, they stormed her house, slashing the female bird that have tended me in front of her chicks…

César were trembling, I could see a raging anger burning in his eyes. "They. Make. Them. Watch." He emphasized. "The chicks were scared to death; they run away from the scene, chirping loudly. But later fell to the jungle floor as they haven't yet learnt to fly."

Selena kept comforting him; she also felt the sadness that radiated from him.

We were a monster; we only listened to our instincts. I've tried to convince the tribe's leader to stop this madness, but he replied me with cold shoulder, threatening me, telling me to just shut up.

I was sick enough with this; this wasn't the tribe I was served before. With that, I decided to pack up, and leave behind this sickening village and venture to the outside world, start a new life. Alejandro, Santiago and Adelia were coming with me, for the same reason; never crossed in my mind that I would finally leave behind my home one day, all of this because of humans, the creature that always looks for trouble when they didn't have one.

Deep down, I was cursing them, I hate them. They took my home, took my friends and family. They were the reason everything got worse…

He turned his head at me. "We are all had scar to remember." He added. "Some are physical; others were carved into their soul."

"But then, they did something."

We were flying aimlessly from town to town. I didn't exactly know where we were, but along the journey, I began to learn very valuable lessons.

I've seen so many bold letters that said. "Save the earth!" "Go green!" "Protect the rainforest!" and such.

They were trying to fix their mistakes, that non-verbal action was enough for me to realize that they were sincere, they want to reconcile with the Mother Nature, restoring her to her glory.

My hatred for them slowly ceased. When people want to change, I'll give them a chance, and humans proved that they can and willing to change.

I began to understand not to judge something from one perspective, but rather perceive them with multiple angles. To ensure you weren't wrong to judge something before you confront them.

That's when I finally reached this marvelous city; I was welcomed greatly with them, both humans and the birds. I decided to stay and savor my time here; it was also when I finally met Selena.

Selena was nuzzling to his chest, while the other eagles chatted about his story.

"I've even heard some of the humans that prepared to give their life for the environment." César concluded. "That was the most sincere things I've ever heard in my life on how they really want to redeem themselves."

"In fact, do you know that each year, there would be an occasion where Rio will stay dark for one hour?"

"Earth Hour?" Bia asked.

"Ah yes, that one. You are such a smart girl don't you?" César grinned. "When people want to change, give them a chance. You'll be surprised when they really sincere to fix themselves."

Bia blushed at his comment. "That one happened all across the world! Not just Rio!"

"Even greater than I was expected." César stated. "So yeah, that's why I don't eat other birds anymore; whew we really drifted away from that don't we?" He chuckled.

"I must say your tale opened a new thought for me." I said, amazed. "I… um… I always think that all harpy eagles are the same."

"Good thing you learn right?" He smiled warmly. "That's what's important"

"Yeah." I said. "I'm really glad I had a chance to talk to you."

The yellow orb had disappeared into the horizon, Bia, noticed this, exclaimed, "Oh great! We almost passed dinner! Come on!"

"Uh… We.." Bia words were cut by Selena. "Sure, I don't want your parents get worried either."

"Goodbye everybody!" She exclaimed, I echoed her response.

"Goodbye! Be safe this time!" César and Selena said. "By the way, I just realized I haven't exactly known your name." César stated.

"Oh yeah, my name is Frost." I said warmly.

"Frost huh? Alright, see you later, Frost."

"Bye, César!"

"Come on, Frost!" Bia shouted.

"Coming!" I exclaimed.

For ones who see the world, we see them as color pallets, as the world is full of color. Stokes of yellow, blue, green adorned the world with their unique traits.

The problem is, when we saw the world, just like color pallets, some of the color are saturated. Just like when you choose your favorite colors, it was based on how you perceive them, what suits your personality preferences. The way we perceive the worlds is unique, truly are something that only we can understand with greatest precision.

But again, those perspective involuntary tinted our sight, thereby saturated some colors, creating a subjective judgment based on what we know, not what we don't know.

When you decided to take a closer look on those colors, you will noticed that they weren't all the same, because they have hues, a more complex color than what they seems, even a simple blue had almost thousands of hues. If you said an apple spoiled the bunch, then you just saw something from your mere judgment, unwise and naïve.

To break the tinted lenses that colored our perspective, sometimes, it is as easy as removing that lenses: open your eyes, your mind and your heart, allow them to see another angle of a problem.

Take a closer look
before you judge something by their look

Everything is saturated
as we see from our perspective, tinted

Because you don't see the world as it is
you see the world as you are

as the world revolves in its axis
it's time to leave behind those lenses
experience the world and its hues
Because we simply didn't know when it ceases
and replaced with bold blues

A/N: That's the third chapter of "Perspective" Side stories, you guys probably want Bia and Frost's romantic chapter right? It's on the way! stay tuned!

and yeah, please help me to fill the poll in my profile as I need the data for my future stories.

P.S: Please kindly leave a review, thanks for reading.