"Oh, no. Oh no." Bia kept whispering, as they flew through the forest. Azure kept looking back at her, with similar fear. They could hear it now. The shrieking of four species - Spix's, Scarlet, Green-Winged, and Hyacinth. And it was all getting louder, in the direction of Bia's and Azure's home.

"Stay calm..." Azure tried to reassure her, but he could barely keep himself from freaking out. This was bad - very bad. His father, his mother - to his knowledge they were both there. And how were they going to get to Jewel? It would be a nightmare to get through the fight unnoticed. What if the flowers got damaged? Would they lose their power? This was a terrible thought - after everything, it would be ruined on the last minute.

"I don't know if I can..." Bia admitted, shakily. "I feel like I'm about to have a panic attack..." Her heart was beating too fast. They had no idea what was happening to Carla, Bruno, Tiago, and Orchid - they had no idea whether Jewel was even still alive - they had no idea who was in the battle. What if someone they loved was injured, or even killed? All of Bia's family were at the top of Kerja's kill list, and all of Azure's siblings were out in the Hyacinth-riddled rainforest. Roberto and Sophia had to be in the fight, but Azure had an odd feeling about his mother. When the two young Hyacinths in the Kapoks had mentioned her, there was something about the way the female had desperately shushed the male as he mentioned Sophia. Had something happened to her? He tried not to think about it.

"Do you think Eduardo would've let Jewel stay in the ravine?" Azure asked, suddenly. He had only said it in hope that they wouldn't have to go through that ravine, but then he realized. It actually made sense - what would be the point in keeping Jewel hidden in the middle of a battle of warring macaws, and Hyacinths who were hunting her? Surely someone would have the sense to suggest that Jewel be moved? Bia was thinking the same - would Jewel have been relocated to the Blue-and-Golds? But then that would be difficult and too dangerous, to move her that far with the trespassers lurking around every corner. Maybe it was as simple as hiding out in the rainforest.

Suddenly, Bia and Azure were made aware of a distant flapping sound, and panting. It was approaching rapidly. Their first instinct was to hide, but then they caught a glimpse of light blue, green, and yellow. They recognized Johanna as she exploded from the leaves, looking determined and on a mission. She looked quickly at them. "Hey, you kids should be with my tribe, what are you -" Johanna then gasped, recognizing them. She halted in flight, staring at the two. "Bia and Azure?" She asked, in shock.

"Johanna, what are you doing here?" Azure asked, in surprise. This was a battle, the last place they'd expect someone like Johanna to be. The Blue-and-Gold looked so shocked and surprised, it actually looked a bit funny. She shook her head, as if not quite believing they were there.

"I, I - I was caring for Jewel, while you were... away." Johanna's eyes travelled to the bag clutched in Bia's talons. Her eyes widened. "Did you... find it?" She asked, quietly. Bia looked up at Johanna, before reaching into the bag - then she revealed the glowing blue flower. Johanna was silent, as she stared at the flower. She swayed slightly. "I don't believe it." She murmured, shaking her head. "They called my mother crazy for believing it, and it's real..." Johanna looked over her shoulder, where there was the sound of battle, before looking back. "Blu took Jewel north-east, in the palm grove. They're hiding out there - but you must hurry. She isn't well at all."

"The north-east palm grove?" Asked Bia, picturing it in her mind. She looked at Azure, before looking back at Johanna with gratitude. "Thank you - let's go, Azure."

"Be careful!" Johanna warned, before turning and flying away. Bia and Azure didn't watch her go - instead, they made a beeline for the north-east palms. In Bia's head, Johanna's words repeated. She isn't well at all. Bia and Azure both knew what that meant, and Bia was getting more frightened by the minute. They flew along the outskirts of the ravine, the fastest way, and the dreadful sound of shrieking sounded in their ears. Suddenly, Azure stopped. He was staring through some ferns, looking horrified.

Bia paused, and went to his side, wondering what he was looking at - then she regretted it. In the fern gap, they caught a glimpse of the ravine. It was filled with a mass of cerulean, red and dark blue. Talons and beaks tore, and weapons, human and natural, were thrown and struck. Macaws they recognized were being attacked - Azure then let out a strangled sound. Roberto was in the middle of a fight - dodging two Hyacinths, and diving in to strike, only to get clawed. Azure suddenly ran forwards, but then stopped himself when he saw Felipe and Eduardo, flying in from nowhere. He felt the desperation to go and help his father, but resisted. Roberto was fine for now - Blu and Jewel needed help more than he did. Breathing in, Azure turned, trying not to look back. "Let's get to Jewel." He said, before looking over his shoulder with a pained expression. Bia felt a flash of sympathy, and gave him a hug of reassurance, before they both headed for the north-east palms. But as they neared it, Bia froze at two terrified squawks.

"That was mom and dad." She whispered. Bia and Azure looked at one another, fearfully, before remembering Kerja's plot.

Meanwhile

Blu flew faster than he ever had before, carrying Jewel, aware of the heavy wingbeats behind him. Kerja flew in hot pursuit, the pocket knife blade turned out and ready to stab. "You may as well give up! She's already dead, anyway..." Blu stole a look over his shoulder. He had never hated anyone this much - except for that mess with Nigel. Did he hate Kerja more than Nigel? Kerja was much, much worse - she had tortured Sophia, killed countless other innocents. Now she trying to kill Jewel, just to hurt Eduardo. She was, indeed, worse than Nigel.

Behind them, Kerja was gaining on her targets. Her mind had warped since beginning the chase. Before, she had been straight-thinking and calculated, but now her head was in pieces. She was blinded by desperation, the thrill of the hunt. She couldn't wait to use the pocket knife again - Eduardo would crumble, as would Mimi and the grandchildren. It would be a glorious sight to behold - she pictured her entry to the ravine. The corpses of Blu and Jewel in both talons, she would shout it out - they were dead. She imagined Eduardo's shriek of grief, Mimi's tears. They would be feeling exactly like she had, all those years ago, when Kerja had seen her slain father's corpse. Then she would kill the rest of them - Eduardo, Mimi, and then they'd track down the three kids. Or maybe they'd leave the kids - let them live with the grief of losing their family.

Blu was beginning to get exhausted, but he forced himself to fly faster. This can't be how it ends - after everything we've gone through, it can't be. Blu looked ahead, and suddenly realized that he was flying directly into some criss-crossing branches and creepers. He gasped, and, realizing he couldn't afford slowing down, flew for the biggest gap in the plant matter. He threw Jewel forward, through the gap, before hastily following. Jewel plummeted, wings flailing as she fell, but Blu swept down and caught her again. He looked over his shoulder, breathing heavily, where Kerja was shrieking in frustration. She hovered before the gap, trying and failing to fit through. Distracted from her hunt, Kerja tore her eyes away from Blu and Jewel, and began angrily tearing her way through the vines.

Blu desperately looked around, before spotting something. There was a mound of earth, with a hole - it was likely the home of a burrowing animal, but it looked old and unused - it would have to do. Blu flew quickly into the hole, and he put Jewel down, before they cowered there, petrified. Jewel was silent, half collapsed behind him, struggling to breathe. Blu watched the entrance, eyes wide with an unspeakable terror. The leaves on the forest floor suddenly moved, and a thunderous body dropped down. His heart leapt into his throat, and he backed up, wings spread to shield Jewel.

Outside, Kerja paced the forest floor. A strange sound, like a growl, emerged from her throat. It didn't sound macaw. "I know you're around here somewhere... you can't hide." She was thrusting her head into bushes, shoving rocks and leaves out of her way, scanning the trees with her sharp, penetrating eyes. Then she halted. She was turned in their direction, but Blu couldn't tell whether she was looking at their spot. She walked over to the earth mound, and then, for some reason, began to claw her way up it. The earth above them shuddered, and Jewel stumbled weakly to him, throwing her wings around him and beginning to shed some silent tears. Blu cradled her in his wings, eyes closed, feeling her weakening heartbeat as Kerja spoke again.

"Do you think I'm stupid?" Snarled Kerja, through the soil above them. "Do you honestly think it's worth escaping, when she's half-dead already?" The earth above them shook again, and a few bits of soil fell. Kerja then hissed. "Do you want to share the same fate as Mina?" She asked. Blu's head snapped up, remembering what Roberto had told him, how Mina had been buried alive. Suddenly, there was the sound of an impact on the ground above.

Above them, soil and pebbles began raining down. Jewel let out a petrified shriek, and staggered toward the entrance, dragging Blu with her. Recovering from the shock, Blu began shoving her forward, ahead of him, as earth continued falling. Then they both tripped, crashing and tumbling from the burrow, with Blu coughing on soil and Jewel on soil and blood. They both lay there, sprawled at the collapsed burrow entrance, blinking away dust. Then the leaves around them shook.

Kerja landed heavily before Blu and Jewel, and the pocket knife reappeared. She glared down at the two macaws before her. Blu sprang to his feet, and leapt in front of Jewel, who desperately crawled backwards, toward the burrow, crumpling at it. Kerja wrinkled her beak, as if in distaste, as she saw Blu blocking her path to Jewel. "Stand aside." She ordered. Blu didn't say a word, but he only dug his talons into the ground. "I told you before. Move it."

"Over my dead body." Blu hissed, in a voice he didn't recognize. He spun round to Jewel. "Run!" He begged, before turning to face Kerja. Jewel tried to run, but she was too weak. She stumbled a few paces, before she fell again, eyes half-shut. Blu knew he couldn't just stand there - he had to act. Kerja then bolted for Jewel, squawking as she did. Blu intercepted, and hooked his talons onto Kerja's left wing. Distracted, Kerja's focus on Jewel broke, as she tried to dislodge him. Blu began clawing at the back of Kerja's neck and back, where she couldn't reach him. The large Hyacinth staggered, shrieking in anger, while Blu continued ripping out feathers - despite how much he hated her, he couldn't bring himself to shed blood.

Despite his efforts, Blu was soon overpowered. Kerja caught hold of him, and, in anger, threw him away. Blu crashed against a large boulder, his shrieks cutting off. Slowly, he slithered down the rock face, to the ground, his breathing slowing as the impact rendered him unconscious. Jewel let out a strangled cry. "Blu!" She began stumbling toward him through blurred vision, but then a body crashed into her side. Jewel gasped as she hit the hard forest floor; in her head, her mother's voice was shouting for her to get up. But Jewel's body wasn't communicating with her mind. That link had been shattered.

Kerja stalked to Jewel, who struggled to rise, but Kerja slammed a talon onto her side to keep her still. Jewel tried to crawl away, but Kerja's weight was too much. After a moment of struggle, she went limp, eyes closing in exhaustion. She was done. She couldn't get away - this was it. Kerja seized her pocket knife, and turned out the blade. The moment she rose it, however, there was a shriek of protest. She looked up at Blu, surprised, but he was still unconscious, only moving slightly as he began to regain consciousness. Then a feathered comet came out of nowhere.

Azure crashed, headfirst, into Kerja's chest. Kerja didn't expect it, and she was torn away from Jewel. She and Azure went flying, tumbling across the ground, in a whirlwind of light and dark blue, with an occasional glimpse of paint and yellow from Kerja. Bia lighted down, before rushing to Jewel. Bia was shocked by Jewel's appearance, but she was only concerned for her health. "Mom..." she turned Jewel over, praying that they weren't too late - to her relief, Jewel was still breathing. Behind her, she heard a moan. Bia turned, and gasped, as she saw her father, stirring at the foot of a boulder. "Dad?" At her voice, Blu's eyes opened, and then he rose shakily, stumbling a bit, before remembering what was happening.

"Bia?" He asked, incredulously, before rubbing his head, wincing a bit at the pain. Blu then remembered Jewel, and ran back to them both. Upon arrival, he swept Bia into a hug. He hadn't seen her in weeks, and he had so many questions. "Are you alright? Where are Carla and Tiago, and the others?"

"They're all in the Blue-and-Golds, helping the kids get there." Bia replied, feeling a wave of joy at being with both parents again. Finally, Blu let her - his eyes held the silent question, as he caught sight of Bia's bag. She nodded. Suddenly, there was a woosh of air, and a frustrated squawking. Turning they saw that Kerja - and Azure - were gone. "Azure?" Bia stared at the empty space, and then she heard his voice, fading through the trees.

"Let me go, you piece of work! Someone help me - Bia!" Azure's cries were fading in direction of the ravine. Kerja was taking him away. Horrified, Bia shoved the bag at Blu's chest.

"Dad, feed her all five petals from one flower. I got to -"

"Yes, yes - go. Are you sure you can -" but Blu couldn't finish. Bia was gone, tearing after Kerja and Azure, shouting Azure's name. "Bia, wait!" He protested, knowing it wasn't safe. But then, behind him, Jewel whispered something inaudible. Blu was torn between his daughter and mate - but then he realized which situation was more dire. Focusing on Jewel, Blu reached into the bag. He fumbled around, past pencils and paper - then his talons brushed something that felt like a plant. Blu was momentarily mesmerized by the teardrop-like, vibrant blue petals and the sheer beauty of the flower, before he shook his head in disbelief. Tears of relief flooded his eyes, and Blu felt his heart fill with hope - something he hadn't felt for weeks.

With that, Blu fed Jewel the petals, and held onto her wings as he waited for the magic to work.