Brula
A Kapok tree grew, in a spot sitting between the border of the Spix's and the Blue-and-Gold's tribes. It was so old, most of the tree trunk was hollowed out through time. This provided the perfect place to house a samba club. Sitting on a ledge above the entrance, there was a smooth piece of wood. Rough words were carved into it, reading: 'Bem-vindo ao Paraíso', which translated into 'Welcome to Paradise'. Nico and Pedro owned their samba club back in Rio, so Carla had decided to make her own in the Amazon, with more music than just samba. It had only been open for a few weeks, but it was already a huge hit with the tribes and locals. Inside the Kapok tree, the place was alive with music and colour.
Near the higher part of the hollowed-tree, pieces of multi-coloured glass hung. Sunlight streamed in through holes in the trunk, hitting the glass perfectly and sending dazzling colours slashing through the air, colouring the inside of the Kapok tree. Bia had helped Carla put it together, for she knew how to get the glass in the right places. The glass had been recovered from Manaus, since it was the closest city. Various pieces of thin vine tendrils attached them to the ceiling, tied tightly around a strong climbing plant. Flowers and pretty plants grew around the walls.
The sea of dancing birds was multicoloured. Some were macaws of multiple species. The rest consisted of Amazons, cardinals, parakeets, hummingbirds, and countless others. Several birds were hitting various objects; sonorous metals (metals that made a sound when struck, according to Bia) recovered from Manaus, and drums and all series of instruments made from things found in the Jungle. These instruments made the sounds, while there was a singer to sing the lyrics. The singer varied, since the Amazon was full of talent; Carla's own tribe members had sung too, including Roberto, Sophia, Jewel and many others. Today, it was the club owner's turn - Carla's turn to sing, helped by her 'friend', Bruno.
Bruno had the most peculiar set of head feathers, maybe even more unique than that of Roberto and his sons. According to Blu, who knew more about humans than he did flying, Bruno's head feathers resembled that of a human with a so-called 'mohawk' hair style. Bruno had bright, electric-blue feathers with friendly, umber-brown eyes. No one was quite sure why Carla hadn't become Bruno's girlfriend yet - it was clear that there was an attraction, but it had been going on for months now. Why they didn't get on with it, some would ask. Carla was secretive - she had kept her first relationship in the dark from Blu and Jewel, until it was discovered after it crashed and burned. Carla's ex-boyfriend was named Augustus, but their relationship had ended abruptly following his attempt to gain popularity. Carla had only been gone for a few minutes, when she heard him, rather reluctantly, admit that she was 'fat' to a pair of popular teens. Augustus had regretted what he did, but while Carla had somewhat forgiven him, there was no chance that they would ever get back together.
"Hey, guys!" Carla bounced onto the 'stage', a pile of branches at the front. Cheers of admiration rang out, along with a few whistles. She blushed, and then she spotted Bruno, before she beckoned him upstage. Grinning at Bruno, Carla turned to the audience. "Ready for some music?" she asked, which they replied to with whoops. "Okay - hit it!" she turned to the birds dotted around the room, and they began hitting the instruments, forming the tune of a human song she had taught them. Let's hope these guys like 'Boom Clap', Carla thought. 'Boom Clap' was probably her favourite song at the moment. Carla began singing, joined by Bruno.
Carla knew that Bruno really liked her, and he had asked her to be his girlfriend several times, but she had declined casually by changing the subject or pretending not to hear. Carla really did like Bruno, but, honestly, she didn't want to get hurt again. She knew that Bruno felt hurt himself by her vague response, but she couldn't bring herself to tell him the truth as to why she was hesitant when it came to a relationship. Maybe she'd convince herself to tell him one day soon, but something was preventing her. Would he be upset, knowing that she didn't entirely trust him not the break her heart? Maybe he was better off not knowing the truth. Carla fought with her inner conflict every night, wondering: if she couldn't trust Bruno, of all macaws, could she ever trust anyone with her heart again?
Tiachid
"You're absolutely positive that your great-aunt won't kill us for this, right?" Orchid asked, keeping watch to make sure that Mimi wouldn't come back.
"Come on, she can take a joke." Tiago argued, crushing the berries and squeezing the juice into the bowl-like piece of wood that contained some mud. Mimi had put down the mud here, before going to find something to put over her eyes - leaving the mud out, accessible to Tiago and Orchid. Mimi always had a nap at precisely noon – her 'pampering hour'. She would lay there in the shade, in that little hollow in the side of the cliff, with little flowers or fruit over her eyes, and a layer of mud over her face. Neither Tiago nor Orchid could see how having mud over one's face could ever be relaxing. The kind of berries they were putting in this mixture could make a temporary dye, which was a little difficult to wash out. Hopefully, if all went to plan, Mimi's face would turn a shade of purple within the next hour. Also, they had to hope that she wouldn't be too mad. When Mimi and Eduardo were kids, Eduardo had been picked on by an older chick, and Mimi was said to have slapped the one who did it.
"Hurry up!" whispered Orchid suddenly. "She's coming back!"
"Uh-oh." muttered Tiago, throwing the final drop of fruit juice into the bowl of mud. They barely had time to hide the remaining berries and themselves before Mimi came back. They concealed themselves behind some rocks, peering out and watching Mimi. The plump, older female sat down, and she began covering her face in a layer of mud. The mud seemed to have tinted a slight purplish-brown, but Mimi hadn't noticed. Tiago and Orchid exchanged glances, trying not to laugh out loud. With a yawn, Mimi walked up to her 'spot', plonking herself down and almost immediately beginning to snore.
"So, how long does the dying process take?" Orchid asked, squinting up at the sun.
"Shouldn't take long." Tiago replied. "I tested a moulted feather beforehand -that took just over ten minutes to dye properly, but since Mimi sleeps for an hour, it'll be well and truly purple by the time she gets rid of that mud…"
An hour later
After having been flying over the Amazon River, Tiago and Orchid returned to the ravine only to be greeted by an ear-splitting scream, which they recognised as Mimi's. Everyone around them jumped, their wings covering their ears. Orchid bit her lower beak, looking at Tiago. "Sounds like Mimi just woke up." They rushed over toward the source of the sound, and eventually found Mimi staring into a puddle, looking horrified. The once-blue feathers of her face were dyed a violent shade of purple-pink. Behind her, Blu and Jewel, and Sophia and Roberto were trying to look unamused - and failing. Blu was covering his beak, Jewel was turned away with her beak twisted into a grin she was trying to suppress, Sophia was covering her face, and Roberto's beak was clenched shut to stop him laughing. Even Eduardo, who rarely found things funny, was fighting against a smile as he looked at his older sister.
"Well, Mimi." He said, casting his eyes toward the sky so he wasn't looking at Mimi's purple face. "What happened to you?"
"What do you think?" Mimi asked sarcastically, seething when she saw how much they were trying not to laugh. "My face! I just washed the mud off, and look what happened!" Mimi was now frantically washing her face in a puddle. Behind her, Sophia let out a giggle, and when Mimi whirled round, she quickly broke into a fit of coughs to disguise it. While Mimi began frantically washing the berry juice out, she was looking around, searching for any clue that could lead to an explanation. The moment she saw her great-nephew, she would surely suss it, but they were hidden in the foliage. Meanwhile, Sophia and Roberto's beaks were open in soundless laughter - Roberto was clutching his stomach, one wing against a tree trunk, while Sophia was doubled over, trying not to laugh out loud.
"They are so mature." Orchid snorted. "Honestly, they act like teenagers…"
Later
Luckily, the berry-juice dye had come out after Mimi had washed her face for around twenty minutes. There was still a hint of lilac about her face, but that would come out soon enough. No-one suspected Tiago and Orchid - well, at least not accused them out loud.
After saying goodnight to Orchid, Tiago had headed back home, exhausted from his day. He had said goodnight to his family and friends, and innocently said goodnight to Mimi, who was still flustered from the events earlier in the day. "Hey, mom, dad, sisters." He said as he entered the hollow, yawning.
"Hey, son." Blu called out. Remembering that his mom and dad had joined Roberto and Sophia in visiting Felipe and Azalea, he decided to find out how that went.
"So, how was Felipe and Azalea?" Tiago inquired.
"Oh, they were fine -" Jewel answered, from where she was attempting to yank a sharp-looking thorn from the wall."There's some brilliant news for them, actually, they've had two -" But Jewel was then distracted by the difficulty of extracting the plant from its stubborn grip on the wall. "This - stupid - thorn -" she hissed, there was then a loud snap, and Jewel was sent flying as the thorn was unexpectedly ripped away. Tiago's mother landed in a heap, grumbling in embarrassment as Blu rushed over to help her to her feet. Tiago couldn't help but laugh at how Jewel had been sent flying by simply tugging a stubborn thorn from the wall. "I'm fine, I'm fine." She insisted, brushing him off.
"Are you sure? Look at your foot!" Blu indicated toward Jewel's talon, and it was then that Tiago noticed that there was a small, yet noticeable cut.
"Oh, that was from earlier on - that's why I decided to get rid of the thorn." Jewel put her foot down, hiding the small wound. "Sweetheart, don't worry about it - it'll be gone in a matter of days." Blu still looked a little hesitant, but then he nodded.
"Okay, okay." He said. "I'm sorry, I worry too much, especially after what we found today."
"What did you find today?" said a new voice, from above. Tiago looked up, to see a small figure several metres above, peering out of her room entrance. Carla, whose room was around a metre below, was also poking her head out of her room, green eyes curious. "You never mentioned anything when we came in."
"It was nothing to worry about," Blu answered. "Some…. some really weird, sick-looking bird approached us earlier, coughing up something… it's nothing to be worried about. But I think we should tell Eduardo tomorrow."
"That's a good idea." Jewel agreed. While his parents started talking, Tiago found himself feeling tired. It had been a long day, and he and Orchid had plans for the day's activities.
"Good night." He said, cheerfully, before flapping his wings, flying up toward his own room.
Azia
With a sigh, Bia sat down in her nest, and took off her moonstone necklace. She and her siblings had gotten one each for their birthdays, a few months ago; Blu and Jewel had gone to Manaus, and gotten human bracelets that were the perfect size for macaw necklaces. Bia had moonstone, Carla had emerald, and Tiago had amber with a little insect frozen inside.
Bia heard her family calling goodnight, and she returned it, before sitting down in her nest. Before she could begin to go sleep, however, she heard a voice. "Hey, Beatriz." Bia smiled to herself, and got up, heading for the other exit to her room. This one was a gap in the room wall, covered by a moss curtain, but it was also an exit to outside. When she put the moss aside, she found herself looking up at Azure.
The youngest son of Roberto and Sophia, he was only a few months younger than herself, but he was much taller. Like his sisters and mother, Azure had the slightest tint of periwinkle to his blue, rather fluffy feathers, only the tint was less prominent. But, like Roberto and Isaac, Azure shared the crest feathers. Azure seemed to have more of them than his father and brother, shorter and more numerous. His ones fell more gently, while Roberto and Isaac's flicked out more. Azure did look a bit like Roberto, but his beak shape was different - more curved, rather like her own.
Azure also had a thin scar on his wing - stretching over the radius bone. That had been a souvenir from the fire that had occurred a few months before. Bia preferred not to think about that fire, where she had almost died going back for Azure. She still had nightmares about it.
"Hi," Bia whispered, gazing up at Azure. "What are you doing here? Do you know what time it is?"
"Midnight, I know - but I wanted to see you." He flashed a smile. "Are you tired?"
"Not really - why, a fly-about?" Bia felt a warm, inviting breeze ruffle their feathers, and she yearned to stretch her wings and fly on the warm drafts of night air.
"If you're up for it." Azure nodded, looking up at the starry sky. Feeling a surge of excitement, Bia opened her wings, and soared up into the air. When she looked back, she could see Azure following her. The stars were luminous and the moon was large and full, casting a silver glow upon whatever they touched.
Bia knew that 'young love' could be a little cliché, but she had fallen for Azure a long time ago. She loved him, and he felt the exact same way. When she was with him, she felt whole. Content. Peaceful. Safe. Her heart felt warm, and it flickered like a butterfly's wings. If he had died on that day, in that fire, she would never be the same again. The only conclusion was love.
There were several glowing things below, which Bia could identify as fireflies. She knew that the shedding of light by living organisms was known as 'bioluminescence' - she had an entire book for wildlife all over South America. "Hey, watch this." Spotting a mass of them in some branches, Bia folded her wings, diving into the leaves. There was the furious beating of tiny wings as the fireflies swarmed up. Bia flew back up, beside Azure, watching the fireflies emerging. They looked like tiny floating lanterns, before they resettled in the leaves.
"Stunning." Azure declared, before they lighted down on the branch of a ceiba tree, watching the fireflies. Bia sat down, her legs hanging off the side off the branch, before she settled herself under Azure's wing. She looked at the scar again, feeling regretful that she hadn't reached him faster. Maybe if she had noticed him disappearing, she could've found him quicker and spared him of a scar. Azure followed her gaze, and sighed, as if reading her mind. They had this conversation practically every time they saw one another. "It wasn't your fault. I shouldn't have been separated from the group."
"I feel guilty, though." Bia admitted, running a wing-tip over the parting of the feathers. "You're so young, and you've got a scar already."
"It doesn't really bother me." Azure was lying - it did bother him. But he cared about Bia more than a silly scar. It wasn't her fault - even if she'd gotten to him quicker, a scar was inevitable. The wound had been what had slowed him down, separated him from the group in the first place.Azure, not wanting to remember how he had gotten the wound, shook it off. Forget about it. So what if I've got a scar? It's not even that noticeable. All I care about is her. To reassure Bia that he didn't blame her, Azure leaned down, and gave her a kiss. "The fire was months ago, Bia." He said, pulling away. "It's time to move on. Nothing bad can happen now."
"I guess you're right." Bia admitted. Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted a piece of fruit. She rose to her feet, plucking the fruit, before sitting back down and tearing it in half. She handed a half to Azure, and kept the other. "To the future." She declared, holding up her fruit piece. Azure chuckled, holding up his fruit, tapping it against her piece.
"To the future."
Originally (before I paused and edited this story) each couple had their own chapter. However, all three were cut down and squeezed into one, because I had too many chapters overall for the 'time point' of the story. Might also explain why this chapter isn't my best, as I had to cut out a lot of parts. Do you like the shipping headings for each couple's part? Cute.