Roberto marched into his hollow, with Isaac and Bromeliad hurrying ahead of him, so not to be hassled. In the tree, there were several macaws gathered: Sophia was standing with her wings on her hips, waiting for an explanation, and Eduardo was trying to hide his depressed mood with an angry look. They'd tell Isabella and Tobias what had happened to their son later, for they were out looking for him. Suddenly, someone else entered the hollow - Mimi, and - to their surprise - Blu. Mimi was practically dragging him, pulling him along behind her by his wing. Blu was barely acknowledging her, however, half stumbling, and his eyes unfocused. Roberto felt a flash of pain for his friend. He's an echo of what he once was. Will he ever be the same again?
"I'm sorry." Mimi said, in an exhausted voice. She had clearly been trying to convince Blu to come to Roberto's meeting, but had obviously given up after a while and decided to drag him herself. "But your entire brood is missing and you're not doing a thing about it! Get a grip for five minutes to listen." Blu visibly ignored her, but he obeyed, shuffling across the floor to sit down, wings wrapped around himself. Satisfied that everyone was here, Roberto turned to his older children, and pushed them both a foot ahead, so that they could stand in front of the others.
"Um…" Isaac smiled weakly. "So. What's this about, then?"
"What do you think, Isaac?" Sophia demanded, and she ran up to the pair of them, brandishing the piece of paper Mimi had found in Bia's room. Both Bromeliad and Isaac flinched, clearly afraid of what Sophia would do. She had at all never struck them - she wouldn't dream of that - but she had a temper on her.
"Explanation." Roberto ordered, folding his wings. "Now." Bromeliad and Isaac looked at each other, sighing. Of course they'd expect the truth to come out.
"Fine." Bromeliad muttered. "They've gone to Peru. Happy?"
"Oh, that's grand." Sophia said, rolling her eyes. "Very funny, you're going to have to come up with a better lie."
"It's no lie, mom!" Isaac protested. "Bia happened to overhear your conversation, the other night - we know what's happening to Jewel." Isaac's initial reply was silence. Sophia, Roberto, Eduardo and Mimi stared, stunned - at the mention of Jewel, Blu looked up.
"What?" he said, the first time he had spoken since last night. He stared at the four, his face a mixture of anger and hurt. "You waited a whole day to tell me that Jewel was dying?" he spluttered, looking utterly betrayed. The four looked at each other, uncomfortable. "I was at her side all that time, thinking that she would get better once the cure was found, and then, twenty-four hours later, you decided to tell me?"
"Enough!" Bromeliad interrupted, before an argument could start. "The thing is, Blu, that they didn't go to Peru for a bit of sight-seeing. They went to find Jewel a cure." Both Bromeliad and Isaac felt relieved when they noticed a flash of surprise and, after several moments, a desperate glimmer of hope enter his eyes.
"You can't be serious!" Eduardo interrupted, barging forward. "It's a myth. It's an incredulous tale for chicks, no more. Bia's a smart girl - she should know better than to fill their heads with nonsense about a miracle plant! How could she be so naïve?"
"That's your granddaughter you're talking about!" Mimi reminded him, shoving him with a wing.
"Cut it out!" Roberto snapped, turning back to Isaac and Bromeliad. "Continue."
"Okay. Bia told us what's going to happen to Jewel. So, Bruno remembered that she mentioned the myth, so he thought that it was worth a try. He had Bia explain the myth." Isaac explained, hoping that they wouldn't be too mad.
"What myth actually was this?" Blu asked, in a quiet voice.
"'The Estrella.'" Bromeliad replied, before explaining; Blu didn't know about the myth. "Basically, a fragment of a comet landed in Peru, and from it, grew a few magical plants, called the 'Estrella', as that means 'Star' in Spanish. The Estrella apparently has the ability to heal any illness and injury. Okay, so, with it probably being the last resort, the others decided to go to Peru. They got a map and compass to take them there; the only reason me and Isaac stayed was because Elsa caught us leaving. She said she'd tell you all, but we didn't think you'd believe her, with her young age."
"Here's my question." Said Sophia. "Why on earth did they go… without telling us?"
"It's because of him." Isaac said, and all heads turned to Eduardo. The patriarch's eyes filled with surprise. "Bia heard how you thought of the myth - we thought that you'd forbid us from leaving. That's why we didn't tell anyone." There was several moments of long silence, as the adult birds were lost for words. Finally, Mimi found something to say.
"Six teenagers!" Mimi blurted, out of the blue. She looked terrified. "Teens, Isaac, Bromeliad! Do you have any idea of how dangerous it is out there? For goodness sake! Harpy eagles, jaguars! They could be ripped to shreds, eaten! And humans! The sanctuary is only so large, you two. The moment they leave the sanctuary, there's nothing to stop them being captured by poachers!"
"Mimi, please?" Roberto said, weakly, the blood having drained from his face. "You're not making us feel any better. Those are our kids you're talking about."
"I'm sorry, Roberto, but it's true." Mimi said, looking petrified. "You have no idea of how dangerous it is, out there. Snakes, poachers -"
"I agree with Roberto, Mimi. Just stop talking." Eduardo said, not enjoying the image of his grandchildren being eaten by a snake.
"They're smart and skilled." Sophia cut in. "They won't get hurt, I know it. They're survivors - they all are. But look, kids." Sophia said, her eyes softening as she looked at Isaac and Bromeliad. "It was such a heroic decision… so selfless of you all. But Peru's miles away. Even if they make it home, will it be in time? It'll take a few weeks at least… and Jewel…" she didn't say no more. They all knew how long Jewel had left to live.
"Hold up…" Roberto looked up. "Johanna told me about what she was giving Jewel. It was some miracle plant she'd found, recently. Apparently, it slows down a disease. It doesn't cure it, but… it delays it before it completes its full cycle. It'll add one more week onto Jewel's life expectancy."
"But -" Eduardo began to protest, and then the four macaws began bickering, arguing over their disagreements and opinions. Blu, however, just turned, and slowly walked out Roberto's nest, his tail dragging and collecting dust as he did. Bromeliad and Isaac looked at one another, their faces sorrowful, before they exited their home, leaving the others to argue. Blu trudged through the ferns between Roberto's and his tree, before he disappeared into it, presumably to check on Jewel.
"That went well." Isaac said, flatly. Bromeliad looked at the floor, sighing loudly.
"Come on. We should find Gus and Andrea, or anyone to talk to. This is going to be a long few weeks."
Meanwhile
"When are we getting a new home, Kerja?" shouted a female macaw, with a few sour-faced chicks gathered around her. She, alongside many other mother Hyacinths, were making their impatience perfectly clear. "You promised us!"
"Our territory is too small to sustain us!" a male's voice rose above the rest, and there were loud shouts of agreement.
"Shut it!" Kerja ordered once again, her voice loud and raucous. The tribe faded in silence, but they still hissed under their breath. "I did promise you all a new home. And I never break my promises. My father got you all a new home last time, didn't he?" Kerja shouted at them all, despite the quiet. She held up a multi-coloured vine; feathers were tied onto the ends, of countless species. "You all know what this is. A feather, from the species of every tribe we've ever driven out. It's proof of how efficient I am in leading you all, as was my father before me." Kerja held up three feathers - one light blue, one red, and one blue-and-yellow one. "You will see our home expand."
The tribe began cheering as Kerja tied the three feathers onto the end of the vine, adding to the mass of feathers. "Before long, we will occupy the entire sanctuary region. Leaving our Spix's, Scarlet, and Blue-and-Gold friends to the mercy of the outside. They face poachers and predators, while we spread out over three other territories - safe and sound. Your children will grow up in a paradise. Remember!" she cried, straightening. She raised her deformed talon into the air; down below, every tribe member raised their talons, their toes curling in and out to mimic her deformed foot. It was the official sign of respect, for the Hyacinths. "It is much better to be feared… than loved." While the tribe cheered, Kerja turned, and vanished into a hole in the cave wall, her nest. As Kerja hung the string of feathers on the wall, a small form appeared in the entrance.
"Madam Kerja…" said the form. It was a small, female macaw, who looked like a Hyacinth, but was almost half the size. But she wasn't exactly an adolescent; it was clear that there was something wrong with her. To Kerja's surprise, the female began protesting. "Please, I'm begging you. Don't do this - dozens of us could be injured or killed, if you go ahead with your plan. There's a place on the other side of the Amazon. I've seen. It could sustain us, without driving out a tribe… it's just over the river. They'll be no casualties." Kerja whirled round, her grey eyes burning. Slowly, she approached the younger female, leaning close to her.
"I taught you that showing mercy is cowardice. You should show your respect by being on my side." She snarled. The young female flinched as Kerja reached up with her deformed foot, holding her chin up. "You should be grateful. I chose to spare you, even though your egg was half the size of the rest of my clutch. Most Hyacinths would dispose of such a hopeless case, but no, I decided to raise a potential runt or weak chick." This remark made the young macaw feel hurt, and she flinched again. Kerja's voice became dangerously quiet. "Don't you dare disappoint me, Mina. You're my only surviving child, and I need every warrior on my side." Mina was tempted to say something, but she kept it to herself, instead. That's all I am, to you. I'm not your child, I'm just another warrior for your army.