Chapter 20- Samara begins to change and meeting Nico and Pedro again

Meanwhile

Tulio, Francisco, Audrey, Joanna and Brandon continued to drive the jeep to the second smuggler groups' hideout with Jack, Jill, Sunspot the Dalmatian, Katrina the calico and Charon the young raven. They had managed to escape the jam-packed main road and were now driving down one of the side roads. However, they still had to deal with the thick obstruction of the business of the city and this time, it was a crowd of people. Francisco commanded the crowd to disperse by honking his horn, prompting the people to obey and make way for the vehicle but it was a slow process. Tulio then put a hand to his forehead in impatience.

"If only I had kept that bike Fernando had traded my jeep for," he muttered, "It got us there quicker than a jeep."

"I don't know how to get us a motorcycle," Jack said.

"We're not as street smart as Fernando had been," added Jill.

"Well, that's good to know," Joanna sarcastically replied, her arms folded. Audrey and Brandon also rolled their eyes. Then Francisco looked up at the slums of Rio.

"It's up there," Jack said with a point and immediately, Francisco drove the jeep there, honking the horn to get the crowd to move. As they did that, Charon, Katrina and Sunspot looked out and spotted some flashes of black and white through the gaps between the houses. When they saw these forms, they flinched when they recognised the forms but they immediately dismissed them and resumed their focus in helping the twins lead Tulio and company to the second band of smugglers' den. However, Jack, Jill and their three pets were completely unaware that the nine animals Tulio and company were after had escaped and the forms Katrina, Sunspot and Charon saw through the houses were Vecna and some of his crow and raven cronies, searching for the valuable animals including a certain Spix macaw family.

Meanwhile

Aurora and company continued riding the jeep as it drove further into the town. Aurora sat with Zephyr and Brisa while Sirius and Samara sat together. Celeste, Milo, Orion and Ahsoka also sat together while Rafael sat with his beloved keel-billed mate Eva and their 25 current offspring and Blu, Jewel, Carla, Bia and Tiago. All 41 birds and bats kept hidden amongst the cargo of the jeep's trailer, the driver of the vehicle completely unaware of the stowaways hiding among the boxes, crates and other objects behind him. Blu examined how Zephyr, Brisa and Aurora were chained more thoroughly.

"The glaucous and Lear's macaws and the Amazon flying foxes are chained together in twos like how Jewel and I were before we became mates," said he as he examined Zephyr and Aurora's chain and how Brisa's was connected to it, "But YOU three, you are in a far worse situation due to you two being chained together like the other three pairs," he nodded to Zephyr and Aurora, "But your friend there is chained as a third to you two in turn..."

"Brisa is my sister," Zephyr slightly sourly corrected.

"Is this far worse than when you and Jewel were chained together by that first band of smugglers?" asked Aurora.

"No, but I cannot imagine another macaw being chained to the chain that held me and Jewel together," said Blu as he put the two chains down. Nearby, Jewel checked over Carla, Bia and Tiago and calmed them after the horrific sight of Vecna the swan on the beach scared them before she turned to the four.

"It would have been an even GREATER nightmare to get around if we had a third macaw chained to us like Zephyr, Brisa and their new friend there," said she, "I'm still in UTTER awe at how you three have figured out how to get around together without too much trouble."

"It was only possible probably because all three of us can fly," said Aurora.

"It's been a miracle that we have escaped injury especially from the clutches of that HORRIBLE swan when he flattened us, Orion and Celeste back at that hideous den," added Zephyr.

"A grounded macaw would have made things far too difficult," added Brisa.

"It certainly would have done with us had we had a third macaw chained to us," said Jewel with a frown.

"But enough of getting around while chained and the complications it causes," said Blu before he refocused on the two chains of the Spix macaw trio, "But once we get to Luiz, the first thing we're gonna do is get her," he pointed to Brisa, "separated from you two first before we deal with your chain."

"We tried that in the jungle with a rock but it didn't work," said Brisa.

"You'll be glad when we get to Luiz, Ma'am," said Rafael with an assuring smile. Eva near him checked over the 25 chicks including the larger, older ones.

"My name is Brisa, Rafael," Brisa replied slightly snappily.

"Who is this Luiz exactly, anyway?" asked Aurora.

"He's a bulldog and a friend of ours," said Blu, "He's a mechanic and a city dog."

When he, Jewel and Rafael received three "what!?" gazes from the trio, Rafael added assurance.

"Don't worry, he's not one of the awful poachers' dogs you encountered," said he, "He is owned by one of Tulio's employees. The only thing he doesn't do is go to the Aviary as the premises are strictly off limits to city dogs."

"That's good to know," said Brisa slightly sarcastically. She was not keen on city dogs at all while Zephyr and Aurora just breathed out sighs.

Next to the Spix macaws, Sirius continued gazing at the passing surroundings of Rio when he heard sniffles and sobs. He turned and saw Samara lying on her side with her head resting on a small ring, tears running down her cheeks and sniffles escaping her beak. She was weeping from the guilt of being so nasty to everyone throughout her life and especially regretted the incidences where she almost strangled Sirius into unconsciousness and severely insulted Blu and Jewel because of the former being human-raised. Furthermore, she loathed the prospect of being alone for the rest of her life in the jungle and shunned by everyone due to her bad attitude. On top of that, being the only glaucous macaw in the jungle and living alone didn't help either. Though she initially despised Sirius to begin with, she was glad to have found another macaw just like her after losing her clan to the fire. Sirius turned and saw her weep but instead of scorning her, he took pity on her, a complete opposite reaction.

"I guess you're upset over being so nasty to the rest of us?" he asked but Samara got up, walked two steps and lay back down for she was not in the mood for talking but it was not because she still hated him. Then Rafael stepped in. Though he was glad that Samara was finally admitting guilt over her vile attitude, he was also very comforting.

"Now, now," he said, "You may think all may be lost but that does not necessarily mean that it's the end of the world, especially if you are willing to change."

Samara didn't reply at first and continued weeping. Finally she spoke in a strangled voice.

"Sometimes I wish it was," said she, "After looking back at all the times I've been nasty to everyone and violent as well, especially against those that have offended me including unintentionally, I'm beginning to think that I deserve a life of being shunned into being alone after all."

"Look, I've been nasty to you as well," said Sirius gently, "I've been threatening to give you a piece of my mind but..."

"No, you were right to do just that, Sirius," Samara replied, "You were right in calling me a jungle brat. I AM exactly that and when I insulted those two over there," she nodded to Blu and Jewel as they continued to talk to Zephyr, Brisa, Aurora and also Milo and Celeste about the chains, "It had been the last straw. I should NOT have said that Blu should leave Jewel and pair up with Aurora because they are... mud-pets which was an EXTREMELY derogatory term my clan often used against human-raised animals or animals that lived in jungles near human cities," she then closed her eyes and continued to weep, "I guess 'estúpida' should be my nickname after all..."

"I agree it was an EXTREMELY stupid thing to say to Blu and Jewel but don't forget," said Rafael, "Just because Blu was human raised doesn't mean that he is any less of a macaw than Jewel who grew up in the jungle. He's still a Spix macaw and I can say the same for Sirius there. He's still a glaucous macaw despite being human-raised."

"I don't mind being called a pet because technically, that's what Aurora, I and Milo had been," said Sirius with a smile, "Ahsoka, however, is an exception as flying foxes cannot be pets," he then slightly glared at Blu with a little confusion, "But I don't know why Blu hates being called a pet. He was one when he was under that American woman's care am I right?"

Rafael just raised his wings in an 'I don't know' gesture. "I guess the word 'pet' is not for everyone."

"It certainly isn't for macaws and other animals that had been raised in captivity but not actually kept as such, Orion once told me," said Samara, "But sometimes I think Ahsoka there seems to blur the line a little," she nodded to the ginger bat as she talked with the brown one about the chain and learning to fly. Then Samara's face fell and she exhaled as she turned to the chain linking her to Sirius. "Well, I guess once this is off and I am free, I'm gonna be facing the rest of my life in the jungle alone just as I deserve."

"Not necessarily, Samara," said a voice. Samara turned and to her surprise, it was Jewel speaking to her.

"In fact, it would be a bad idea if you did," said she, a firm look on your face, "Unless of course, you're not willing to change your rotten attitude, that is but you do need the company of another glaucous macaw since you're one of the last ones known in existence."

"Exactly," put in Blu, "And don't forget, you've just saved our three chicks from a potential trap on the beach and possibly their lives as well. That Vecna there certainly is a VILE brute who DESPISES ALL parrots as you described to us."

"Best move you've ever made and for the first time as well," added Jewel. Samara shot Linda's companion a surprised look.

"You know that swan?" she asked. Blu gave her a dark look.

"We haven't met him directly but we have definitely heard of him," said he, "It was through some news via a radio which is a device humans use to listen to music and talks while we were waiting for Carla, Bia and Tiago to hatch at Tulio's Aviary. He used to dominate a lake in a park in another country and was a tyrant with his mate and cygnets."

"They were completely unlike many of the other swans living on the lake who were normally friendly," added Jewel, "But were only vicious when threatened. Vecna and his family were eventually driven from the lake by the other waterbirds and animals and a group of macaws viciously killed his mate and cygnets."

"He explained that to us in his HIDEOUS song that I still cannot get out of my head," said Orion.

"Gabriel, an elderly blue-and-gold macaw resident, also told us about that evil swan," said Blu, "He once met him but he managed to escape with his life."

"Have you ever met Vecna in person?" asked Ahsoka.

"No until we saw him with our own eyes on the beach with those corvids after your wild flying lesson fail," said Blu but Jewel shot him a glare at the insensitive remark over Ahsoka's inability to fly during that lesson but Ahsoka didn't mind so he continued.

"You wouldn't want to," said Zephyr darkly.

"As we've described before, he is EXTREMELY vicious," added Brisa.

"And he torments his prisoners, especially those of the parrot kind," added Celeste. Jewel then lowered her head and exhaled.

"To be honest with you," she said, "We're SO glad to have met you guys, including Samara there despite her rotten attitude but I think she is finally changing," she then gave Samara a slightly suspicious glare, "By the way, despite the fact that you saved our three chicks from flying to that vile swan and his band of crows and ravens, I'm still untrusting of your move to do that. I didn't think you'd make such a move. If your mother had been in your place, she wouldn't have bothered..."

"She ABSOLUTELY wouldn't but the thing is, Jewel," Samara continued defensively, "I just couldn't let your chicks fly off and let their inquisitiveness put them in danger at the beak of that VILE mud-pet swan and his cronies, but most especially the mud-pet swan himself since he DETESTS ALL parrots. He would even killed them."

"Will you STOP using that term, mate!?" demanded Milo angrily. Celeste, Orion, Ahsoka, Aurora and also Zephyr and Brisa also looked on with agreeing looks while Blu put his wing on his forehead in irritation at Samara's constant use of the derogatory term. Jewel, Rafael and Eva also looked on with glares but Sirius, however and to everyone's surprise, sided with the female glaucous macaw.

"No, she's right, folks," said he, "Those poachers' pets especially Vecna really ARE mud-pets, getting themselves involved with the wrong owners and the wrong business. Don't get me wrong, I do pity Vecna's loss of his family but that is STILL no excuse to do what he does now."

"Like how that vile cockatoo Nigel did after he lost his career as a show bird to a parakeet," said Blu.

"Indeed," said Rafael, "And he too, deserves some sympathy as these things happen but it's still no excuse to become a vile torturer in the business of poaching against those poor birds."

"By the way," Jewel said, "Thanks, Samara, nonetheless, for saving our chicks."

"Yes," said Blu in agreement. Samara shot the couple a surprised look but then accepted.

"You're welcome, you two," said she, "But just remember, since you and your chicks are the ONLY family of Spix macaws in existence, you're HIGH on those poachers' catch list."

"Together with us," said Sirius.

"So you will need to be prepared to defend yourselves and your chicks in the event we DO come across ANY bands of those poachers' pets," added Aurora.

"Oh, we will, Aurora," said Blu in a deadly voice.

"ANYONE who DARES threaten our chicks will face SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES, I can TELL YA!" Jewel yelled. Samara winced but then smiled.

"Heh, you certainly are aggressive and you have good reason to be," she said, "I'm aggressive too but even I would be a cute and fuzzy macaw compared to you two."

"Oh believe me, Samara, when you have your own chicks, you will be the same," said Rafael with a stern look.

"Will you stop assuming we're gonna pair up!?" demanded Sirius, Samara nodding in agreement. However, Rafael kept his hopes up since after all, this pair was the last glaucous macaws in existence. Samara then smiled after shaking off the guilty feelings. She has decided to stay with the group and the group was glad as well, including Blu and Jewel for even they did not want the female glaucous macaw to spend the rest of her life entirely alone and shunned. After all, it was a terrible sort of life to face.

A little while later, the jeep arrived at a fruit market where stand owners were chopping up fruit and preparing them for sale on their shelves. The jeep on which the group of birds and two bats had hitched a ride backed into a space. As soon as it has stopped, the stowaways prepared to disembark and pushed the flap open at the back. However, as they did that, Ahsoka, who was so eager to be off the jeep, jumped off and onto the ground, briefly forgetting she was chained to Orion and he was pulled by the right leg and chain off the jeep and onto the floor. The birds then touched down with Eva and Jewel calling the chicks back to them when they began to wander off but Milo unintentionally landed a bit too far away than the length of the chain and pulled Celeste slightly along to her annoyance. Orion glared at the chain linking him to Ahsoka.

"I don't know what else I would like to do to this piece of junk but even if it means extreme measures to get this thing off, so be it," he grumbled.

"Huh, that brings to mind when I wanted to chew through my own leg to get the chain off of me when I was chained to Blu," said Jewel. Aurora, Milo, Ahsoka and Sirius shot Blu's mate a horrified look.

"You wanted to amputate your own leg!?" the first one blurted out.

"Amputate?" asked Samara.

"Cut off a limb, in this case a leg," Sirius whispered to prevent the chicks from hearing this. After all they were too young to hear about such a disturbing process. Then Samara frowned.

"Well, if that is the case, I'm willin' to do that to MY own leg right now," she said to Jewel.

"Oh, you wouldn't want to," said Rafael.

"So would parrots in the wild actually amputate their own legs?" asked Aurora.

"They would if they were in a life-threatening situation and their leg was stuck," said Orion, "And if they had no other choice. It's a survival thing."

"A hyacinth macaw living in our mixed-species tribe did just that when he got his leg trapped under a fallen tree's branch and couldn't escape," said Celeste.

"It sounds unbelievable but I've known that even humans would be willing to cut off their own limbs in extremely dire situations involving trapped limbs as well," said Ahsoka, "One American hiker I know did just that with his right arm when he fell into a canyon and got it trapped under a large boulder."

"I've heard of that story," said Blu. The chicks were with Eva at a suitable distance to avoid hearing this grownup subject.

"Well, like I've said, I don't want ANY of you macaws and certainly not you two flying foxes doing that with your legs," said Rafael, "I'd like all nine of you have BOTH your legs intact. Just be patient."

The nine chained animals exhaled and glared at their chains once again. Suddenly, two small birds appeared. They were a yellow canary and a red-crested cardinal and the moment they saw Rafael, they flew over to him and reunited with him.

"Hi, Nico, Pedro, amigos," cried the toco toucan as he hugged them before breaking the embrace, "How ya doin'?"

"Oh, jus' fine thanks, Rafy," said Nico in his gangster talk.

"'ow are ya doin' wit ya BIG family wi' ya toucan tots?" asked Pedro. As he said this, his gaze turned to a certain keel-billed toucan and a small mass of black and colourful beaks surrounding her, "Oh, ya takin' 'em on a tour trip o' Rio? Dat's good."

"Yes, but they still have a clutch of three eggs back at their nest being looked after by a babysitter," Blu said in disapproval. Nico and Pedro shot the Spix macaw father a look.

"He an' 'is mango Eva 'ave 'ad... three more?" asked the canary.

"I thought 25 kids is enough," said the cardinal. Rafael smiled proudly and put his wing around Eva and nuzzled against her.

"Yeah, but my lurvely angel toucan with an angelic voice wanted another brood, you two," said he, "So I gave it to her."

"But you're gonna be OVERWHELMED, man," said Nico.

"An' besides dat, aren't ya gettin' a bit old to 'ave more chicks?" asked Pedro. Behind Blu, Jewel, Carla, Bia and Tiago, Samara looked on.

"Who are those two small birds?" asked she.

"Nico and Pedro, the samba duo," replied Sirius.

"We met them before we met you," added Aurora.

"As cheeky as they seem, even THEY seem to disapprove of Rafael and Eva's breeding," said Zephyr. Celeste, Brisa and Orion also talked to each other about the samba duo while Ahsoka talked with Milo. Then suddenly, the three Spix macaw chicks squeaked, "UNCLE NICO, UNCLE PEDRO!" excitedly and flapped at the pair to hug them.

"'Ow 'ave you grown, you three," said Nico. The chained nine winced in confusion.

"Uncles?" asked Milo in confusion. Blu turned to him as Nico and Pedro continued to play with Carla, Bia and Tiago.

"Nico and Pedro, together with Rafael, because they helped me and Jewel to pair up, are like extended family to our chicks," said Linda's companion.

"They may be family friends but they are still like our extended family despite not being macaws," said Jewel.

"I can see the eldest of your chicks is most excited to be around those two," said Ahsoka with an amused smile. Blu and Jewel turned and saw Carla as she tried to demonstrate her singing talent to Nico and Pedro who were very impressed. Bia looked on proudly while Tiago was a little jealous.

"You're gettin' good, Carly," said Nico.

"Yeah, ya musical talent sure is blossomin' for ya age," said Pedro to which Blu and Jewel proudly nodded in agreement. Nearby, Rafael, Eva and their 25 current chicks looked on though some such as Marco were also jealous. Aurora and company them smiled.

"At least she can sing better than that big-nosed banshee, you two," Aurora said, "Her voice sounds like an eagle singing outa tune."

"I heard that!" Eva retorted, Rafael also glaring on offended by this remark. Aurora shot the toucan pair a glare and looked away.

"Fingernails-across-chalkboard screecher," she hissed, her wings folded and her gaze turned away, "She must have the hearing of a city cat."

"I heard that too, pigtails," Eva retorted again. Zephyr and Brisa just glared on, clearly in agreement with Aurora while Sirius, Samara, Orion, Ahsoka and Milo and Celeste Sid nothing. Then Nico and Pedro's eyes found the nine. Immediately, they commanded Carla, Bia and Tiago to return to their parents' side and went over to them.

"Are dose three macaws th' same macaws we met near Copacabana Beach?" asked Nico as he examined Sirius, Milo and Aurora, "Particularly de Spix macaw whom we thought was Jewel?"

"Looks like dey 'ave won over their guys an' ladies without our courtin' advice," said Pedro, "I'm impressed."

Zephyr, Brisa, Samara and Celeste rolled their eyes in annoyance at this. Nico and Pedro then flew over to Ahsoka.

"An' I'm sure we 'ave seen ya before, flyin' fox?" said the canary as he flitted around Ahsoka, "Ol' Gabriel told us about ya includin' how ya were orphaned by some poachers as a pup."

"An' I believe dat winged man 'as managed to win her over as well," said Pedro, his gaze on Orion. The canary and cardinal then gazed at the chains as Orion began to explain.

"Before you get any ideas," the male Amazon flying fox said, "No, I haven't."

"And besides that, we had been FORCIBLY chained together," said Sirius.

"By a band of second poachers," said Samara. The others nodded in agreement. Nico and Pedro shot the group a disbelieving look.

"You're kiddin' us," said the canary.

"No, we ain't," said Rafael, "Aurora and company explained everything to us."

"Plus they have cats, dogs, crows and ravens and an INCREDIBLY nasty swan named Vecna helping them," said Aurora.

"We have narrowly evaded them on Copacabana Beach," said Zephyr.

"And Blu and his family here are high on their catch list like us," said Sirius. Nico and Pedro continued gazing at the group but then they moved on, returning to Ahsoka's subject.

"Um yes, as we were sayin' Ol' Gabriel told us how he an' 'is blue-an'-gold macaw buddies managed to rescue her and hand her to some bat expert humans," said the canary, "As it was too dangerous for 'er to be raised in the jungle."

Samara blinked with surprise.

"So that's how Ahsoka became Joanna's bat?" she asked, "Some blue-and-gold macaws simply gave her to her to be raised by her?"

"According to Gabriel to which Nico and Pedro agree," Blu explained, "It wasn't safe for Ahsoka to be raised in the jungle due to the frequent 'visits' from poachers and because the blue-and-gold macaws cannot raise a baby flying fox very well. We macaws and the flying foxes may be volant or be able to flap-fly but we have our massive differences."

"Furthermore, I was orphaned," said Ahsoka, "I had lost both my parents as a pup, apparently by some of the poachers' ravens and crows when they tried to protect me," however, a small pang of doubt pricked her regarding the ravens and crows killing her parents as she didn't actually believe that her parents' killers were ravens or crowd but she pushed that aside as it was not important right now.

"Exactly," said Blu, "So it was the best option for Ahsoka. She would be safely away from poachers' hands and the dangers of the jungle until she is old enough to return to it. After all, she is one of the two only Amazon flying foxes alive besides Orion."

"So that's how animals can end up in human care at times?" asked Samara. She then gazed at Ahsoka and winced at guilt at her being nasty to her. Sadly, she bowed her head in shame once again and looked away as tears welled in her eyes once again. However, Rafael and Sirius went to comfort her. While Samara was being comforted, Nico and Pedro continued smiling at Orion and Ahsoka.

"Another reason Ahsoka was put in human care was so that hopefully, a male bat her species would be found for her," said Blu.

"Dat sounds good," said Nico.

"Absolutely," said Pedro.

"Wait, before we start talking about further relationship stages, we're just friends at the moment," Orion protested, "Okay? We're not ready to take things further yet."

"Absolutely," said Ahsoka.

"Same with us," said Aurora and Milo together with Zephyr band Celeste nodding in agreement. Then Rafael appeared after comforting Samara and smiled at the chained group.

"Well, you may be friends at th' moment but it's time to take it up a notch," said Nico, "T' move up a division... to hop onto th' next level."

"Maybe a lil' dance at our club would help," said Pedro with a smile.

"A dance!?" Samara replied a little repulsively.

"But what about our chains!?" demanded Sirius.

"We gotta get these things off," said Aurora.

"Yes, especially us three," added Zephyr as Brisa nearly stumbled over her chain and theirs as well.

"We're REALLY losing our branches with these STUPID SNAKES!" Brisa squawked, "Especially US THREE!"

Milo, Celeste, Ahsoka and Orion also protested in agreement but Rafael flapped behind them and got them moving.

"Come on, you lot, you're in Rio, you should enjoy it," he said and before the nine could protest further, they got moving. Eva followed with the 25 toucan kids and Blu followed with his family. However the large group of birds and two flying had been completely unaware that they had been watched and eavesdropped upon by a group of certain pets. As the group left, from behind a crate, a fluffy dog with white fur and purple eyes peered out and gazed at the receding group. As it did that, its muzzle formed an 'Oh, yes!' smile. Immediately, the dog, which was a female poodle, seized the phone and began to ring someone. As soon as she had connected, she began to talk to the receiver. As she did that, several other dogs and cats, among them a black and white border collie and a Russian grey tom, appeared from their hiding spots and gathered around her.

"Hi, Brutus, we bring bearin' good news," said she. On the other end of the communication line, Brutus spoke on his group's phone while his underlings sought to some captured birds and primates. Among them were Mauro and his son named Marty and they were writhing in their cages only to be barked at by their captors to shut up.

"Hi, Aliana," said the intimidating Doberman (but not nearly as intimidating as Vecna), "What news do you have to bring us?"

"We have finally found our number one targets in a fruit market and they I think they are heading off to some city club for birds and bats or something," Aliana the poodle replied and she gazed after the receding group, "All seven blue macaws and both flying foxes are present but that's not all. So are the Spix macaw family of five so they are altogether. Hopefully, it should be a fairly easy sweep in catchin' all fourteen individuals."

"That's EXCELLENT news, Alilana," said Brutus, "Right, you track those feathered and furry gems to the club and do NOT lose them. I'll relay this news to some of the other poachers' pet teams and establish a plan of attack. Vecna and Dooku's group, however, are every busy with our owners back at our base so they will not be able to join us at the moment but this is our chance to make them proud. Now you follow that group and as soon as they reach their location, phone us back, okay? I gotta go as those marmosets are fighting back against my teram members and they will need my help in sortin' them out. Smell ya later."

"Smell ya later, Brutus," Aliana replied and with that, both dogs hung up and put away their phones. Then Aliana and her group began to follow Blu and company to the bird and bat club, being careful to avoid getting spotted by them and by the surrounding humans.