Chapter 23- two foolish moves from some of the new additions to Blu's family and group
Later
The boat continued to drift gently down the Amazon River. The second wave of the storm had arrived and its rains and winds ravaged the waters of the river and the trees flanking the giant silver ribbon. The Amazon River waters churned and boiled with the winds and rains while the branches on the trees wavered as the winds ripped through them. The skies were dark and thunder rumbled like a giant jaguar in the sky. Lightning flashed occasionally and lit up the darkened jungle. Thankfully, this wave of the storm was not as severe as the previous wave but it was still somewhat dangerous to fly about in. On the roof of the boat, a certain group of macaws and flying foxes had taken shelter under some equipment packed away onto the area with a yellow waterproof covering to protect it from the elements. Ferdinand peered out of the shelter from under the yellow covering and into the stormy air while Ruby did a headcount of the children to make sure that all were here, including the newest additions to the families of three of them. Ferdinand and Ruby had two chicks while Zephyr and Aurora had five. Brisa and Roberto had two chicks while Sirius and Samara had four including Trixie who had been carried to here due to her damaged left wing which will not regrow its lost primary flight feathers until her next moult; Antares and Bellatrix had three, Blu and Jewel had six including their three second-brood chicks, and Orion and Ahsoka had five children including their twins, Ganymede and Gordie. The total offspring of all seven families was 27 and there was just enough room in the equipment compartment for everyone. It was too stormy to rest on the roof itself and the macaws and flying foxes wanted to avoid soaked feathers, fur and wings once they arrived at Manaus. After all, neither flying bird not built for a water lifestyle nor bat could fly with soaked feathers, fur or wings as the water would weigh them down. Certainly NOT good for a mother bat who had to carry a pup like Ahsoka with either Ganymede or Gordie, and one of the daughters having to carry the other. Ferdinand breathed a sigh and lowered the cover to turn back to the others with him including his scarlet mate and Catalina son and daughter.
Tristan, Quincy, Sapphire, Trixie, Aiden, Levi and Phoebe were asleep; Trixie snuggled with her three older and normal-sized siblings while their parents Antares, Bellatrix, Sirius and Samara looked over them, the latter two UTTERLY glad to have their small daughter back with the family again. Trixie's absence for two days during the first, more severe storm wave had caused the family a LOT of stress and guilt. Nearby, Sandalwood, Acerola, Hermione and Ahsoka were resting while Orion kept Ganymede and Gordie, who were quite energetic as most young pups were, occupied. The Spix macaws also kept their chicks occupied with Blu and Jewel overlooking a sleeping Carla, Bia and Tiago and keeping Arrokoth, Neptune and Chrysocolla occupied; Brisa and Roberto telling a story about how they met to Finnick and Lavendulan while Zephyr overlooked Aurora, Justin, Charlotte, Matilda, Virgil and Eustace as they also rested. Ruby, Opal and Sheldon were also resting. While Ferdinand gazed at the group including his blended interspecies family, Sirius' voice pulled his attention to him.
"It's not fair we should just leave here for Rio so suddenly because of Rudi and his clan's antics," grumbled the turquoise and grey glaucous macaw, his back propped against the side and his wings folded and a sour look lacing his face, "It's just not fair."
"It's for our safety, Sirius," said Ferdinand, "We have been among the most frequent targets for those horrific glaucous macaws and their friends, especially our offspring."
"And the fact that Rudi and Tremaine will NOT do owt about their violent kids just gets my capybara even more," grumbled Sirius crossly, his glare at the de facto blue-and-gold macaw leader of the group, "Especially regarding our poor daughter Trixie over there."
Ferdinand turned and gazed at the smaller-than-average glaucous macaw as she slept with her siblings and cousins. Then he saw Antares stare into space, his chin resting on his wing.
"What are you daydreaming about, Antares?" asked the blue-and-gold macaw, going over to him.
"I've been thinking about that glaucous macaw chick with those unfortunate deformities on his face," replied Samara's cousin and Bellatrix's mate, before he turned to look at Ferdinand, "When we went to collect Trixie from Falkor's infirmary to bring back to the Spix tribe's ravine and then depart for our early trip based on Eduardo and Augustus' advice, Viserys and some other assistants of Falkor had been looking around for that chick but could not find him anywhere. I'm just hoping he's okay since like Trixie, he cannot fly and is missing his wing flight feathers."
"Was that glaucous macaw chick Pietro and the other three found in the previous storm wave identified per chance?" asked Ferdinand.
"Well, he was not from any of the families of our clan including Rodrigo and Ceu's," said Antares, "In fact, none of the glaucous macaw parents and older chicks could recognise him when they were shown him by Falkor and his assistants. So I'm assuming he could be from Rudi's clan, maybe even from Rudi's own immediate family. To hear that he had been left on that rock in that horrible storm is very troubling. He can't have just landed there himself and pluck his own flight feathers from his wings to render himself flightless with a nasty storm approaching. That theory's kind of dubious as after all, no flying bird, not even a chick, would be that foolish enough to do that to themselves."
"As you and Samara were growing up in your original flock before the fire tore you from them, were the glaucous macaws with unfortunate physical and/or mental problems picked on?" asked Ferdinand, "Like, for example, an albino macaw or a macaw with a facial disfigurement?"
"Often," said Antares, "And Tremaine (who I am ashamed and disgusted is my sister-in-law) is most infamous for being a heinous bully towards such macaws and worse, she had her own gang and she was their leader, like the queen of an ant's nest or beehive. When we had been young, a glaucous macaw contemporary I remember was born with a badly malformed foot with the toes twisted and tangled like the roots of a tree and she was mercilessly bullied by Tremaine and her gang. They eventually did something to her just before the fire broke out and we have never seen or heard of her again. Even though Samara and I had been UTTERLY condescending to 'mud-pets' as we used to call animals associated with humans, we had been against that sort of treatment of the macaws with physical and/or mental issues and disfigurements, whether they were born with them or had acquired them, such as from a close brush with death from a predator like Augustus with that harpy eagle."
"Speaking of an albino glaucous macaw, I heard that there is one in one of Rudi's clan families," said Ferdinand, "It's a male and about the age of our glaucous macaw chicks but he is not one of Rudi and Tremaine's chicks."
"Any glaucous macaw with any form of deformity or problem is treated as outcasts by most of the flock members," said Antares, "So if that chick with the facial problems TRULY was abandoned, even by his own family, then I wouldn't be surprised..."
"Change of subject, I heard from a visiting hyacinth macaw who had been to visit Arándana in the animal hospital tell Eduardo and Mimi that, according to Arándana, Millie and Tillie mentioned Tremaine sending her chicks like Katrina into the Spix tribe's territory to target the chicks of, um," Ferdinand leaned closer to Antares after flashing a look at Blu as he talked with Jewel, "'that mud-pet son-in-law of Eddie' to injure or 'better', kill at least one of them..."
Outrage tore through Antares and he flinched.
"So you're meaning to say that Katrina's motivation to attack Bia and Neptune was from her own mother!?" whispered he in return. Ferdinand nodded.
"After all," the blue-and-gold macaw continued, "Rudi LOATHES Blu's guts. Actually, he and his clan LOATHE and DESPISE humans and ANY animals associated with them or who are for them but it seems that Blu, Aurora, Sirius, Bellatrix and Ahsoka are highest on their hit list."
"Seems kind of ironic that they would settle in an area of the sanctuary that had been set up BY humans," muttered Antares, "I just don't understand that at all," he then flashed Blu a look, "Anyway, back to Blu, it is clear that he has COMPLETELY lost ALL respect for my brother after his attitude towards what had happened to Bia and Neptune at the clutches of Katrina and has developed a caustic enmity with him."
Ferdinand gazed at Blu as he continued to discuss with Jewel. While Rudi despised him for being a former human's companion, Blu despised Rudi for allowing his daughter to almost kill his and attack one of his second-brood sons, as well as his allowing of his violent kids to attack and even endanger the lives of the children of other jungle inhabitants such as what happened with Trixie. In fact he despised the glaucous macaw so much that he had been wishing all kinds of brutal things he would like to do to Rudi the next time he met him and some had been especially violent. Blu wanted to challenge Rudi to a fight to the absolute death but he knew he must stay focussed on getting his family and group safely to Rio in the here and now. Like Jewel, he had been pleased with Virgil for attacking Katrina and also with Jewel for breaking Katrina's wing. Though what Jewel and Virgil had done to Katrina was over the top, Blu didn't care. She deserved it after all, Blu thought. However, harbouring such a grudge was dangerous and it was important that Blu deal with this and move on since it can put him in a difficult position at some point. As he continued to simmer in anger against Rudi and his offspring and their behaviour, Antares decided to have a word with him. Nodding to Ferdinand who returned to Ruby, Opal and Sheldon, the glaucous macaw called Blu's name, catching hold of his attention.
"Blu, can I talk to you for a minute?" he said. Blu gazed at the glaucous macaw, flashed a look at Jewel and left to approach Antares. Anger was clearly boiling within the brown-eyed Spix macaw's eyes.
"I guess this is about your wretched brother and pathetic excuse for a father, is it not, Antares!?" he snarled. However, Antares kept his composure and ground.
"Listen, I know and understand how ANGRY and UPSET you are with Rudi about how he is letting his kids go round causing life-endangering trouble and that you want to give him a piece of your mind," he said, "And I feel the same way since after all, he is my OWN brother but we need to put Rudi and his troubled clan and family out of our minds and move on. After all, we have this trip to Rio to focus on."
"Yes," said Samara in agreement, "and let Eduardo, Felipe and Augustus deal with him."
"Then I HOPE they put that ROTTEN frog face in his place before he allows his BEASTLY kids and the kids of the families of his WRETCHED clan to go round endangering MORE lives!" growled Blu angrily, "But the next time I meet that glaucous jungle maggot, I'm gonna DISEMBOWEL HIM like a FISH!"
"BLU, COOL IT!" barked Antares, his shouting unintentionally causing the sleeping younger members to stir, making him flinch.
"Keep it down Antares, pleased," said Orion, "Our children are trying to rest"
Antares issued an apology before continuing with Blu.
"Listen, Blu I know you're mad but you need to realise one thing," continued he, "Holding a grudge like that will NOT achieve anything."
"And secondly," added Samara, "If you did that with Rudi, one, you'll make things MUCH worse, and two, you'd be NO better than that cockatoo that tried to kill you so many times..."
Blu flinched violently when Samara said this. He absolutely ABHORRED being compared to his most DETESTED nemesis but Samara had a point here.
"And to add," continued Samara, "It would stain your reputation as a good tribe leader-in-training since you are, after all, the heir to your father-in-law's position once he either retires or something happens to him, since you are the mate of his daughter."
Blu stopped and gazed at the pretty long feather crested glaucous macaw and Antares' cousin for a while. Antares then continued.
"Yes, think of the HIDEOUS consequences you could reap if you actually went through with killing my brother," said he, "It would NOT put you in a good position and it would be FAR worse than Jewel injuring one of Rudi and Tremaine's daughters by breaking her wing. And don't forget how Samara and I had been UTTERLY rotten to you when we first met and found out you used to be a..."
"Macaw owned by a human," interrupted Sirius to prevent Antares saying the 'p' word, a word that Blu DESPISED most and causing an explosion to erupt within him. Antares nodded and continued.
"Back then we DESPISED ANY animal that had ANY association with humans, just like Rudi and Tremaine and the other macaws with them still do, but since we warmed up to you and paired up with Sirius and Bellatrix and had our chicks, our hatred of human-associated animals and humans in general dissolved and we became more trusting of well-meaning humans."
"Though we are still EXTREMELY hostile towards nasty humans like loggers and poachers," said Samara.
"But in the process, you betrayed your own brother and family by pairing up with Bellatrix who grew up under the ownership of a family of humans, didn't you?" said Blu in a calmer tone of voice.
"Unfortunately, yes," said Antares, "But our change of attitude towards humans and city animals occurred in RIO and not out HERE, and I have to admit, I have eventually come to admire your former Lisa for..."
"Linda," corrected Blu.
"Linda, sorry, for raising you with such loving care though I was kind of disappointed that she didn't teach you back then how to fly," said Antares. His gaze then turned to Sirius, Bellatrix, Aurora and Ahsoka, "And I have also grown to admire the owners of those macaws and Ahsoka's foster carer for the same reasons. However," his face then formed a scowl, "I have absolutely NO respect for humans who abuse animals, such as poachers who handle their 'prizes' like they were some objects and those who abuse the animals under their ownership, like the owners did Roberto and Ruby over there," he nodded to said macaws. Antares turned back to Blu, "And I do share some common area of branch with my brother in our attitude towards such humans but when it comes to well-meaning humans, it is where it stops and unfortunately," his face fell, "he has allowed his hatred of humans and any animal associated with them to grow worse to the point of wanting to cause former human-owned animals like yourself trouble, and it seems that fire and the death of his first mate Valeria has plunged the final harpy eagle talon into him..."
Blu just breathed a sigh as Antares added, "So there is another good reason why Eduardo and Augustus have sent us on this trip early, Blu. It is to nip any potential temptation to attack Rudi and possibly kill him in the bud."
"I could ignite an instant war between your tribe and their clan," said Samara, "and that would NOT be good to say the least."
"It is NEVER good to hold and nurse a toxic grudge anyway," said Sirius, "And we admit, we have wanted to give Nigel a piece of our mind ourselves for attacking our parents and killing Aurora's but we eventually moved on."
"Exactly, Sirius," said Antares before he turned back to Blu, "So please, Blu, can you let go of your grudge against Rudi and focus on this trip to Rio? Your family will need you during that time."
Blu gazed at Antares for a while, his anger fading. Finally, he obeyed and nodded.
"And let's not forget Nigel and how he became the bird he was when he lost his career to a parakeet," added Bellatrix.
"I KNOW," snapped Blu and with that, he returned to his family. Bellatrix flinched as Antares finished the conversation to Blu with, "So think about what we have said and the HORRIFIC consequences of challenging Rudi to fight on the spot."
Blu just sourly sat down and gazed over the sleeping forms of his three older chicks Carla, Bia and Tiago. Then Jewel came forward.
"And Jewel, you need to do the same," said Antares, "After all, you did put us in a difficult position by injuring Katrina..."
"Oh, don't EVER mention that beastly brat," snapped Jewel sourly, "what she did to Bia and Neptune, I don't wanna discuss it anymore."
"Good," said Samara and with that, she returned to Tristan and the other six glaucous macaw chicks including Trixie. Sirius followed her but then Bellatrix came forward.
"Thinking of conflict," said she, "there is one unresolved enmity between tow certain families that we need to sort out."
"Oh yes, Orion and Rafael's families based on what their older chicks have done to Sandalwood, Acerola and Hermione?" asked Antares, "I forgot about that completely. Thanks for reminding me, Bella."
"We need to get THAT sorted once and for all," said Jewel, "but the question is, how are we gonna do it?"
"We could have a get-together and a chat," said Bellatrix, "But I don't know how Rafael would feel about that. He still hasn't forgiven Ahsoka for slapping Eva across the face and branding her a bad mother and a banshee."
"We'll see to that when we get to Rio," said Antares, "In the meantime, let's get some rest."
The others nodded and returned to their families to settle down. The thunder outside rattled the air as they did and the winds and rains continued ravaging the environment. The boat continued down the river, its destination being Manaus.
Later
The storm has lessened in its winds and rain and the boat on which Blu and company had hitchhiked was close to Manaus, the city now within view. The group of macaws and flying foxes were now outside and awake as the weather was now suitable for them to leave their shelter. The group got prepared to leave the boat the moment it docked at the bay at the city but first, a headcount had to be done to make sure that all the members were present. So to do this, the macaws and flying foxes each got into their families. Ferdinand got prepared to do the headcount as Ruby, Sheldon and Opal stood with him.
"Right, let's make sure everyone is here before we set off on our first leg of our flight to Rio," the blue-and-gold macaw said and with that, he counted his scarlet mate and hybrid chicks. He then moved onto the next family, "Sirius, Samara, Tristan, Quincy, Sapphire and Trixie, check. Antares, Bellatrix, Aiden, Levi, Phoebe, check..."
The glaucous macaws looked on as Ferdinand moved onto the Spix macaws, starting with Aurora's family.
"You remember what I said about how unfair it is of us to be sent to Rio because of Rudi and his clan's antics?" said Sirius, "I take it all back."
"Rudi NEVER liked us to begin with," said Bellatrix, "I think he blames us for the division of the clan after the fire years ago."
"And the fact that his own brother and cousin had paired up with former pets as well," said Samara.
"When we went to confront Rudi and his family with Jewel and Ruby about their violent kids' behaviour, Rudi actually disowned us," said Antares, "So I'm afraid even we are not welcome on their land, much less near their hollow."
Suddenly, Ferdinand's voice said, "Hey, Blu, Jewel, where are two of your second-brood chicks?"
"What? I thought they were with us," Blu's voice alarmingly replied. All the macaws turned their attention to Blu's family. Aurora counted Blu and Jewel's chicks and as she did, dismay came upon her face.
"Oh, no, only four of their six chicks are present," she said.
"I can only see Neptune present," said Zephyr.
"Ferdinand, our twin sons have gone missing as well," said Orion. The macaws turned and saw, to their further dismay, only Sandawlood, Hermione and Acerola were present and they were looking for their younger brothers, Ganymede and Gordie. Carla, Bia, Tiago and Neptune were doing the same with the two missing chicks, Chrysocolla and Arrokoth. Ferdinand released a hiss of frustration.
"We MUST look for those four before this boat docks at Manaus over there," the blue-and-gold macaw said, "We CANNOT leave without them."
As he spoke, Roberto, Brisa, Finnick and Lavendulan came over.
"Could they have sneaked off to go exploring without our permission?" asked Roberto.
"I hope they haven't gone into the human decks below us," said Brisa. Anger flared within Ferdinand.
"Oh, I hope... they HAVEN'T... GAH!" he then turned and faced Blu and Orion, "We're gonna have to look for those four and FAST. If they have gone below this roof into the humans' area, they're gonna risk landing in trouble with them."
Blu then turned to the others and called for some of them to help find Ganymede, Gordie, Chrysocolla and Arrokoth. Aurora, Bellatrix and Sirius came over while their mates stayed behind with their chicks.
"Can you help us find our two missing second-brood chicks and Orion and Ahsoka's youngest sons, you two?" Blu asked. Aurora, Bellatrix and Sirius nodded while Roberto, Orion and Sandalwood came forward, also having decided to help.
"Hey, Dad, can I come too?" asked Hermione.
"No, Hermione," replied Orion, "You stay with your mother and sister."
Hermione breathed a disappointed sigh and returned to Ahsoka and Acerola. Then as soon as the search group had gathered, Ferdinand gave them strict instructions.
"Right, Blu, Orion, Aurora and Sandalwood will search the human decks while Roberto, Sirius, Bellatrix and I will search around the boat," said he, before his face turned VERY serious with the former four, "and make sure you be VERY careful in the human decks. Do NOT get spotted. As soon as you find one of the missing four, return to the roof with them right away, okay?"
Blu, Orion, Aurora and Sandalwood nodded and after Ferdinand had given them a few more safety instructions, the eight left the boat and began to search for Ganymede, Gordie, Arrokoth and Chrysocolla. As they left, an ANGERED look came on Carla's face.
"I can't believe that those four HAVE to wander off when we're nearing Manaus," she grumbled.
"I hope they haven't wandered FROM the boat into the forest flanking us," said Bia, "THAT would be disastrous."
"Let's just wait until our missing four members are found and brought back to us," said Jewel. She was fraught with UTMOST worry for Chrysocolla and Arrokoth but at the same time, she was also FURIOUS with them. She made a mental note to discipline those two as soon as they were returned but in the meantime, she sat with the others, hoping that the four hadn't gone far.
Blu, Aurora, Orion and Sandalwood entered the topmost human decks and hid behind a seat. Then they peered out to examine how busy the deck was. They got some good news and they got some bad news. The good news was there weren't many humans awake and walking around and many of them were asleep in their chairs or hammocks. The bad news was there WERE a large number of humans.
"Right, let's be quiet and find Ganymede, Gordie, Chrysocolla and Arrokoth before any more of those humans wake up," said he to the other three, "The driver of this boat will be waking up the other humans any time and it will soon become too dangerous to continue the search here as there will be too many alert human eyes to hide from and avoid."
And with that, the four left their hiding spot and began their search. They split into two subgroups with Blu and Aurora flying in one direction and Orion and Sandalwood in another. While these four began their search in the human decks starting with the topmost one, Ferdinand, Sirius, Bellatrix and Roberto searched around the boat and checked the outside decks and every nook and cranny they could find. They were very careful of the cockpit area where the driver was and made sure to avoid flying in front of the front window to the control room. However, there was hope for the eight as the four missing members hadn't gone far. Furthermore, NONE had wandered from the boat and into the trees flanking the boat and the river.
Two of the missing members, Ganymede and Gordie, gazed at a massive box. This box had a transparent screen at the front and a solid, opaque base. In front of the base was a flap and through the transparent screen was a set of shelves. These shelves contained objects in wrappers and it was these that had caught the twin bats' attention. However, one particular set of objects, called snacks with the box called a vending machine, were the fruit bars and it was these bars that Ganymede and Gordie were after. Licking their lips, the two young pups flitted over to the vending machine and began to look for a way in, especially after realising that the transparent screen was solid. As the pair eventually found the way in by way of the flap at the base of the vending machine which led to a dispenser, two larger bats, one brown and the other golden yellow appeared around the corner of the wall. Sandalwood spotted the chocolate brown forms as they lifted the flap of the dispenser.
"Dad, look, I think it's them," said he. Orion turned but the moment his eyes landed on what his two missing sons were doing and what they were entering, HORROR and OUTRAGE flared within him and he flapped over to the vending machine, Sandalwood not too far behind. As soon as the father and son were at the vending machine, they glared through the glass screen at Ganymede and Gordie, who were now inside the machine, as they tried to help themselves to a fruit bar.
"GANYMEDE, GORDIE, you GET YOURSELVES OUT OF THIS BOX THIS MINUTE!" shouted Orion angrily. Ganymede and Gordie flinched, shot Orion and Sandalwood, their faces laced with outrage, a startled look and resumed trying to free a fruit bar from one of the dispenser shelves. However, the fruit bar was held there by a silvery helix, the sort that rotated and released the snack when a human selected it. Rolling his eyes, Sandalwood decided to enter into the vending machine to get his younger brothers out there himself. Rushing to the dispenser, he raised the flap and entered into the machine while Orion kept a frantic eye out for any humans that may come here to get a snack. The last thing the father wanted was that human seeing three bats flapping around in the vending machine and raising the alarm.
While Orion and Sandalwood sought to Ganymede and Gordie in the high-risk place of the vending machine, Blu and Aurora continued searching for the other two missing members, Chrysocolla and Arrokoth while Ferdinand's group continued outside. Blu looked over some sleeping forms of the humans in hammocks and saw two of them stir.
"We must hurry, Aurora," said he, "Those humans will be waking up any moment."
"Blu, I've found your missing daughter," called Aurora's voice. Blu darted over to the pigtailed Spix macaw as she lifted out a small cyan bird from the seating area.
"She was looking at a map of Brazil," said she and with that, she hauled Chrysocolla, who was struggling in her talons, to her father. Blu immediately seized Chrysocolla and hauled her back to the roof with Aurora following. As soon as Blu appeared with Chrysocolla, Jewel, Carla, Bia, Tiago and Neptune rushed over to them and pulled Chrysocolla into a relieved hug.
"Oh, you sure HAD us worried, Chryso," cried Jewel.
"Lil' sis, you could have got wrecked," said Carla.
"Yes, this is a HUMAN'S vehicle, and it's not safe to go around exploring," said Bia. Then Jewel began to severely reprimand Chrysocolla about wandering off while Blu and Aurora returned to the deck to look for Arrokoth and perhaps Ganymede and Gordie. As the pair left, Ferdinand appeared and when he saw the cyan chick receiving a scolding from her mother, gladness washed over him.
"Oh, brilliant, you've found one of the missing members," the blue-and-gold macaw said. Jewel flashed him a look and continued telling off her younger daughter.
"But Mom, I was only exploring," Chrysocolla tried to concoct an excuse.
"Chrysocolla Gunderson, listen to your mother," said Ahsoka firmly. Hermione and Acerola looked on in agreement as did the other macaws. Chrysocllla flashed the ginger and red bat a look before returning her ashamed gaze to Jewel as she finished scolding her. Then Jewel commanded her daughter to return to Neptune's side and she did.
Back at the bow of the boat, Roberto met up with Sirius and Bellatrix.
"Hey, Beto, any sign of Arrokoth or Orion and Ahsoka's twin sons?" asked the latter, calling Roberto by his nickname.
"I've checked every area of the bow of this boat," said Roberto, "No sign of them."
"Let's sweep the entire outer deck again," said Sirius, "Make sure we have not missed any nook or cranny in which they may have entered."
The other two nodded and dispersed to start their search of the outer deck again. However, the fourth missing member hadn't gone far either. Arrokoth had also flitted into the human deck and had found a large red circle on a pillar. The moment the little blue chick's brown eyes landed on the circle, they widened in fascination and the chick flitted over to it. As he did, Aurora came by. At the same time, a struggle took place within one of the vending machines. Sandalwood wrestled with his twin brothers for the fruit bar in an attempt to seize them and bring them out of the vending machine while Orion looked on in angst and impatience.
"Come on, you two," shouted the golden yellow bat and oldest son of Orion and Ahsoka, "This is a HUMAN'S place and these things are HUMAN food! It's NOT for us flying FOXES!"
While Sandalwood continued to struggle against Ganymede and Gordie as they continued to try and pull a snack bar from its shelf, a blue macaw appeared behind Orion and called the bat's name. Blu flew in but the moment his eyes landed on three more bats inside the vending machine, HORROR tore through him.
"Get those three OUT OF THAT VENDING MACHINE NOW!" he yelled, "It's NOT THE PLACE FOR FLYING FOXES!"
"Then let's help Sandalwood get those two naughty sons of mine OUT OF THERE," Orion replied angrily and with that, the brown bat and the Spix macaw entered the vending machine via the dispenser and began to try and help Sandalwood get Ganymede and Gordie out of the machine.
Aurora looked around until her eyes landed on a blue form. Immediately, she rushed for the form but the moment she saw what the form, Arrokoth, was near, HORROR washed over her, especially as the little macaw's tiny talon advanced towards the red circle. At the same time, Roberto, Ferdinand, Sirius and Bellatrix appeared, just in time to see Arrokoth touch the circle.
"NO, ARROKOTH, THAT'S THE..." cried Aurora. Too late. The little macaw's talon made contact with the red circle and pushed it. A MASSIVE, MASSIVE BOOMING noise EXPLODED and fissured the quiet, fairly peaceful air apart, throwing EVERYTHING into chaos on the boat, both on the inside and out. Human WAILS exploded within the boat's decks as humans were woken from their sleep while on the roof, the rest of the group launched into the air. The frightened chicks, screams exploding from their mouths, then bolted into the air.
"DON'T LET OUR YOUNG ESCAPE!" Antare's voice exploded and with that, the parents rushed to seize their chicks and pups before they could scatter everywhere. Antares seized a screaming Levi, Aiden and Phoebe and brought them back to the boat while Samara seized Tristan, Aiden and Sapphire. Thankfully, Trixie was grounded due to her damaged wing but she still ran around screaming. Brisa and Jewel seized Finnick, Lavendulan, Carla, Bia, Tiago, Chrysocolla and Neptune while Ahsoka, Hermione and Acerola helped Zephyr seize Justin, Charlotte, Matilda, Virgil and Eustace to prevent them from flying off and scattering. Then they struggled to bring the chicks back to the roof of the boat as they continued to scream and wail. Ferdinand, Roberto, Sirius and Bellatrix surged towards Aurora as she seized Arrokoth and crashed into her. After a brief moment of flapping chaos in midair, Roberto, Sirius and Bellatrix left for the roof while Ferdinand seized Arrokoth and followed with Aurora. However, the group hit HARDEST by the booming noise of the boat horn because of Arrokoth were Blu and the male members of Orion's family. The four winged mammals and the Spix macaw flapped about in the vending machine like fish caught in a box, trying and fighting to escape the snack dispensing box. Even worse, a human male rushed in to see what all the noise was in the vending machine room but the moment his eyes connected with those of Blu and Orion through the glass, screams erupted from both parties. At the same time, Sandalwood seized Ganymede and bolted for the dispenser. The two bats flapped out of the flap and past the human, who was armed with the newspaper. Immediately, Sandalwood hauled Ganymede, who had a snack bar in his clutches, through the human deck and out onto the roof with the others. However, the other three were still trapped in the vending machine. Blu immediately seized Gordie and rushed for the dispenser, Orion seizing the flap to pry it open. Then the three made their escape but not before facing trouble with the newspaper-armed man and he lashed at the blue parrot and large bat with it, SCREAMING in Spanish at them to get out of here. Blu, Gordie clutched firmly in his talons, had some of his blue feathers swiped off from the paper baton, those feathers dancing away in the wake of the newspaper clutched in the man's hand. The man then swiped his newspaper at him again but Blu dodged and bolted for the outside, Orion hot on his tail. However, one of the swipes of the man's newspapers managed to catch Orion and send him into a chaotic flap, but he recovered and followed Blu. The newspaper-armed man ran after them, continuously yelling at them in Spanish. Orion shot through the human deck and to outside via the gap in the boat to the roof. As soon as Blu, Gordie and Orion had joined the others, the booming noise of the boat horn stopped. But it took a good while to calm everything down for a LOT of the members, especially the chicks including Arrokoth who had been stunned by the noise, had been shaken up by the whole ordeal. But the ones most shaken up were Blu, Orion, Sandalwood, Ganymede and Gordie.
As soon as everything had calmed down, the twin bats and two of Blu and Jewel's second-brood chicks found themselves on the receiving end of a MASSIVE barrage of scolding from Jewel, Orion and Ferdinand for wandering off into the human decks against strict orders not to. Nearby, the others, especially Carla, Bia, Tiago and Neptune, winced and flinched as their mother shouted at their younger brother and sister.
"SERIOUSLY, you FOUR, YOU COULD HAVE GOT HURT OR CAUGHT!" yelled Jewel angrily, "WHY DO YOU THINK WE INSTRUCTED YOU NOT TO GO BELOW THIS ROOF!?"
"And YOU, Arrokoth," Ferdinand glared at one particular Spix chick, an ashamed look on his face, "YOU have caused a LOT of confusion and chaos by pressing that BOAT HORN BUTTON."
"I was only..." began Arrokoth.
"Arrokoth Gunderson, listen to your elders," interrupted Blu, cutting him off. Then Orion saw something in Ganymede's wings. Immediately, the father bat walked over to his twin sons and seized the object, a fruit bar Ganymede had managed to seize from the vending machine and haul back, and took it away to dispose of it to Ganymede and Gordie's objection.
"We WANTED THAT, DADDY!" cried Ganymede.
"IT'S MADE OF FRUIT," put in Gordie.
"It's got fruit in it but it is NOT a natural food product," said Ahsoka, "It is a HUMAN food product. WE are FLYING FOXES! OUR food products come from the TREES!"
"But Mom," began Gordie.
"Gordie or um... Ganymede, whichever you are, YOU listen to your mother as well," interrupted Blu, getting the two confused due to their identical appearance. This time, Ganymede and Gordie were too ashamed to take advantage of this for prank purposes. Blu breathed a sigh.
"We SERIOUSLY need something to put on your sons to distinguish between them, Orion and Ahsoka," he muttered.
"We KNOW!" snapped Orion and Ahsoka at the same time, making Blu flinch. Then Ferdinand came forward.
"You four are GROUNDED for the rest of the trip and will STAY by your parents' side until we get to Rio," the blue-and-gold macaw de facto leader said, "You shall NOT wander off until then. If you do, we will bestow upon you further punishment for disobedience. UNDERSTOOD?"
At first the four didn't answer but they nodded when Ferdinand hardened his glare. Then Ferdinand commanded them to return to their families.
"We're quite close to Manaus now," said he in a calmer voice, "and it will be docking at the harbour. Once this boat nears the docking area, we will be disembarking on our long flight to Rio."
The others nodded and Ferdinand once again reminded everyone to KEEP THEIR KIDS WITH THEM AT ALL TIMES! Then the seven families prepared for their long flight once the boat reached the harbour in Manaus.
Then as soon as the boat was close to the harbour in Manaus city, Ferdinand, Blu, Aurora, Sirius, Bellatrix, Orion and Roberto and their mates and families all took off or dropped into flight from the boat's roof and began their long several-days' flight journey to Rio. Ahsoka carried Gordie while Acerola carried Ganymede and Trixie rode on Sirius' back. As the flock left Manaus, those with the strongest instinctive navigation skills like Jewel, Orion and Antares, took the lead and within minutes, the flock was far away from the boat and Manaus harbour. Luckily, no-one saw the flock of macaws and bats as they left the area.