In Jewels Hollow

Jewel was still lying in her nest. She hadn't moved since the night before. The feeling of numbness filled her heart, and weakness overtook her body. Without Blu there, her heart could no longer feel the rhythm to do much of anything. An hour ago, a great pain in her heart had woke her up. She didn't know what it was, but she couldn't help feeling that something bad had happened. Depression had set in when she looked around the empty hollow. The kids were probably out looking for food or their father, and she was grateful for that, but the emptiness of the nest did nothing to ease her aching heart.

In her best efforts, she attempted to get up out of the nest. She tried and failed multiple times, her legs and wings unable to support her. Finally, as she was about to give up, she managed to get up on shaky legs, moving towards the entrance of the hollow. The sun was shining directly in the hollow, and it had lifted her spirits up slightly. Rays of sunshine warmed Jewel up as she sighed. Stepping outside, she stood on the limb of the tree. Although the feeling of being outside did bring her some peace, she knew that nothing was right without her mate. Tears grew and dripped down to the ground as she stepped out of the hollow. It had been about two days since she last saw him, and her fear of being alone again brought her great sadness. She didn't know if she could do it without him. She is trying her best to stay strong for her kids, but when they were gone or asleep, she punished herself for what she felt she had done. She had pushed her children's father away. How was she able to bring herself to look after them without having the thought of what she had taken from them? She closed her eyes and sobbed. She couldn't deal with the guilt and pain anymore. She felt like she failed her children. Her heart was in pieces. What little strength she had failed her as her legs gave out. She caught herself from falling off the limb she was on. The thought of her plummeting down to the ground brought more tears. She had almost lost her life because she wasn't careful. Almost left her children, who were already hurting. She pushed herself away from the edge of the limb. She held her legs close to her with her wings. Her heart began to ache more as her mind thought over what had just happened. She couldn't do something like that. She had to stay strong for her kids.

Jewel continued sitting there, sobbing into her wings. A nearby flapping broke her thoughts. Turning her head towards the noise, she saw her father coming towards her, probably to tell her that they still haven't found her mate. She sniffled. "Hey dad." Eduardo landed next to her panting. "Jewel. You need to come with me." Jewel's head perked up. "Why? What's going on?" She questioned. "I will tell you when we get there. Can you fly?" He said, not wanting to waste anymore time. Jewel shook her head no. She didn't push on any further. Whatever was going on it was urgent. Quickly, Eduardo hovered over his daughter and picked her up in his talons. He began to fly as fast as he could back to the medical hollow.

Upon reaching the hollow, Eduardo set Jewel down and collapsed beside her. "You okay dad?" "Go into… the hollow." He panted. On shaky legs, Jewel managed to walk over to the entrance of the hollow, still feeling the effects of her weakness. She knew that she was at the medics hollow. At first, she thought that she was here to receive help, which she didn't want. Once she stepped into the hollow, her heart dropped. The doctor was there, with a bird that looked like Blu. He was unconscious as the doctor finished up his work. Tears began to fall from her eyes as she dropped down onto the floor. "B-Blu…" she said, fearing the worst. The doctor heard the thud of her fall and turned to her. Carlos walked over to her. "Are you okay ma'am?" He asked. Jewel didn't respond as she stared at her mate. Carlos followed her gaze and asked, "You're his mate?" Jewel nodded slightly. Carlos grabbed her wings and helped her stand back up. "Come with me." He insisted. He walked slowly with her, helping her come closer to Blu.

Upon reaching him, the tears that Jewel had in her eyes began to run down her cheeks. Carlos noticed and wiped the tears away. "Hey, he's gonna be okay. You don't have to worry. He's just unconscious." Jewel began to sob lightly. "But it's my fault that he's like this. If I hadn't been so hard headed he wouldn't have left me and ended up like this. He would have been by my side no matter what, and I would've supported him. I didn't support him, he got hurt because of me, and he still hates me. He had every right to leave." She says crying. Carlos placed his wing on her shoulder as she continued to cry. By this time, Eduardo had entered the hollow, but he was still winded from the flight.

The only sounds coming from the hollow were the sounds of Jewel's sobbing. Carlos lowered his wing as another bird placed a wing on her other shoulder. Jewel leaned her head up to see a red wing. She looked back and saw Felipe standing there. Jewel moved away from him, clearly uncomfortable with his presence. She stepped back away from both Blu and Felipe. "F-Felipe?" She questioned. The Scarlet nodded and said, "You must be Jewel." Jewel nodded slightly. Felipe beckoned her back over to him and Blu. Jewel didn't do anything but stare at him. She didn't know whether to trust him or not. "It's okay Jewel. He just wants to talk." Her father said from behind her. Jewel looked back at him then back to Felipe. She began to inch forward towards him. As she was close to him, she ended up tripping. Felipe caught her in his wings and chuckled a bit. "If you wanted a hug all you had to do was ask." Jewel blushed as she stepped back a bit. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to do that." She apologized, thinking he would retaliate against her. She knew what had happened to him when Blu was trying to get her a nut, so she felt that something was gonna come from this. Felipe smiled. "It's no big deal. It was an accident." Felipe stood next to Blu and looked at him. He looked so peaceful in his state.

Jewel stood there, looking between Blu and Felipe. Her gaze eventually rested on Blu. Her thoughts went back to what had happened between them, and she let out a soft sob. Felipe looked back to her. Seeing her in pain like this brought a tear to his eye. He turned her head towards him with a feather. Jewel looked up towards him. "He will be just fine Jewel. He's a strong bird." He said. Jewel nodded. "I know. I just don't know how I'm gonna be able to talk to him. I don't know what to say or do. He doesn't love me anymore, not with how I treated him." She let out a sob. Tears once again began to flow down her cheeks. Pain radiated in her chest again. Felipe wiped away her tears and said, "I need to talk to you. I need you to stop crying and focus on me Jewel." Drying up her tears as best she could she looked up at him. Although able to calm down a bit, Jewel still had a few tears in her eyes. Felipe sighed as he looked back at Blu. "He didn't end up like this because of you. This wasn't your fault. None of this was." He looks back at Jewel. "I found Blu lying on a limb in my territory. His chest had this long scratch across it. I brought him back to my hollow and patched him up. He has been under my care since then. And He also told me about what happened." Jewel bowed her head, ashamed. He lifted her head back up. "Blu blamed himself for everything. He told me that you deserved someone better than him. All he wants is for you to be happy." Jewel began to speak. "But I'm not happy. Not without him." She grabbed Blu's wing softly, interlacing her feathers with his. Felipe smiled softly. "And that's what I told him. I told him to come back and confirm that with you. I didn't want you or him suffering like that. You two are made for each other." Jewel smiled slightly. "So, he still loves me? Even after all I did to him?" "You will have to talk to him about that." That was enough for Jewel to know that he still had feelings for her. It brought some hope back to her.

"So how did he end up this way?" She asked. Felipe sighed. "On our way back over here, we ran into your father. He apologized to Blu, and had some matters to talk to me about. While we were talking, a snake came out near us. If it weren't for Blu's quick thinking, Eduardo and I may not be here, and who knows what would happen to Blu. He pushed us out of the way and took our place." Jewel gasped as she held Blu's wing tighter. "We rushed him here after we fought off the snake. Eduardo left to get you and I helped the doctor with Blu." Felipe finished. Jewel smiled and gave Felipe a short hug. "Thank you… for saving my Blu." Felipe smiled and hugged her back. "You didn't ask permission to hug me." He joked, chuckling. Jewel released the hug and rolled her eyes, before turning back to Blu. She sighed.

"You know. Blu is one of the bravest birds I've met. No bird would sacrifice himself for two birds he barely knows." Jewel turned back to him. "Well he did save me as well when we first got together. Even after how harshly I treated him." Felipe smiled. "He told me about that as well. He told me that he felt it would be better if you didn't take him as your mate. He didn't feel like he deserved you." "But it's really the other way around. I don't deserve him." Jewel said. "He has done so much for me, and all I've done is shun him and shoot down his ideas." Shaking his head, Felipe spoke up. "You can't be so negative about your relationship Jewel. Blu saw something in you that he loves. He even gave up everything just to be with you. I'm sure this is no exception." Jewel looked at her wing in Blu's, then up to his face. Nodding slightly, she told Felipe. "I will do everything I can to make it up to him. He deserves the best. I'll be the best me I can be for him." She kisses Blu's cheek softly. "I promise to be a better mate to you. Even if you leave me, I'd want you to be happy with whatever decision you make. Please come back to me soon." Jewel said as she laid her head on the nest Blu was on.

Felipe walked away from where Blu and Jewel were and back over to Eduardo. "What do you think about calling our two tribes for a meeting at the pit? Let's bring them together again." Both birds stepped out of the hollow and flew off to the pit calling all birds of the tribe for a meeting.

Twenty minutes went by as the Spix and the Scarlets gathered on opposite sides of sides of the pit. Although the Scarlet Tribe already knew what this was about, they still remained separated until the word was given. Eduardo and Felipe stood in the middle of the pit and called for everyone's attention. "Attention everyone! Quiet down!" Eduardo called. All the birds began to quiet down and focused on him. "On behalf of both tribe leaders, we have decided to call this meeting with some great news." Eduardo began. Felipe stepped forward. "As some of you may already know, both of us have decided to make some changes concerning both tribes futures." Some birds began to murmur. One Spix Macaw called out, "Is this about us leaving our side of the groove?" Felipe shook his head. "No. This is more of keeping your side of the groove… and then some." The Spix Macaws looked at each other confused. Some more murmurs were heard as Eduardo began to speak again. "Felipe and I both talked things out. About our pasts and everything leading up to today. We have decided as a whole that our tribes shouldn't be separated. Many years ago, our tribes lived together in peace and harmony, but after the fire, all that changed. I let the loss of my family get the better of me, and I put the blame on a family of Scarlets that had nothing to do with it. I was quick to blame them, and I was wrong to do so." Eduardo paused. The Scarlet Tribe looked to the Spix side of the stands. They were looking at them with some sadness, remembering those horrible times. "Eduardo and I called this meeting for us to make amends." Felipe continued for him. "We both agreed that our tribes would be better off working together than apart, but we want what is best for everyone."

The Spix's and Scarlets once again began to talk to one another. One Spix spoke up from the crowd. "What about having full control of the groove? You have everything. Why give it back?" He questioned. Felipe smiled. "Well, some things happened over the last few days that opened my eyes. You all remember Blu." The Spix groaned in frustration at that. "Imma take that as a yes. After the whole war that we had, he had a fight with his mate. They both separated, both broken hearted. I found Blu near my hollow the day after. He was injured and I helped patch him up. After discussing what all had happened, we had a discussion about what was to become of us. Blu opened my eyes to what we had as a combined tribe. So, when I got to talk to Eduardo here," he gestures to Eduardo, "we got to talking about how we can be stronger than before." The Spix tribe had a look of surprise at how Blu had managed to do all this for the tribe, even after how terribly they had treated him. "So Blu came up with this idea. Where is he then?" The same Spix asked. Felipe sighed and looked back to Eduardo. Eduardo stepped up next to Felipe. "While both of us were agreeing to the idea, we were ambushed by a snake. Thanks to Blu's quick thinking, we were unharmed in the attack, but the same can't be said about Blu. He put himself in our place. Without him, we would not be here right now. He is currently unconscious in the medical hollow, with my daughter at his side." Both tribes gasped at the story. "And that's why we would like to honor Blu's sacrifice by becoming one tribe again, but we need an answer from the Spix tribe. The Scarlet tribe has already agreed." Eduardo finished.

The Scarlets smiled over at the Spix Macaw tribe, clearly excited for their answer. Looking to one another, the Spix's all knew what their answer was. They smiled to Eduardo. Taking that as an answer, he turned back to Felipe. "I believe we have agreed to become one. Do you agree to become one tribe?" He said raising a wing. Felipe smiled and shook his wing. "We are one tribe." The Spix and Scarlet Macaws cheered as the tribes finally became one again.

Felipe and Eduardo watched as they celebrated. They smiled. "One tribe." Eduardo said. Felipe nodded before he spotted one bird. Roberto was standing on a branch outside of the pit. He had a saddened expression on his face as he watched the celebration. Felipe turned back to Eduardo. "Do you mind if I talk to Roberto in private for a little while?" Eduardo smiled. "I am okay with that. We are one tribe now. Go on and do whatever you'd like." Felipe nodded and took off in the direction of Roberto.

Seeing Felipe flying to him, Roberto quickly wiped away any tears that he had on his face. Once he landed, Felipe walked closer to him. "Hey Roberto. Everything alright? You look upset." He said concerned. Roberto looked to him. "I'm fine. I'm just so happy the tribes are one again." Roberto said, faking a smile. Felipe shook his head. "You know I can still tell that you are lying. We have been best friends for years before. I know you, and I know something is wrong." Roberto sighed. "I know. I just… I can't help but feel like what Blu is going through is my fault." He started. "I visited Jewel after he left. She told me everything that happened. I couldn't help but feel guilty about the whole thing." "Love is a powerful thing. Isn't it?" Felipe asked. Roberto nodded. "It is. I just… I've felt like that once before, and I never want to see anyone go through that again. But I feel like I caused this. I was the one who was with Jewel and made Blu feel jealous. He left her so she could have me, but she didn't want me, and that's not what I wanted either. I just wanted to catch up with her." He said sadly, a tear rolling down his cheek.

Felipe watched as he began to sob. Felipe held his shoulder. "Hey. None of this was your doing." Roberto looked up at him. "But I should have realized what he was thinking about me." Felipe shook his head. "You were trying to catch up with her. You weren't trying to steal her away from Blu. You can't blame this on yourself." Roberto wiped his tears away. "I… I guess you're right. I still feel bad though." Felipe took his wing away from him. "You were trying to be her friend again. I'm sure Blu will understand that. He asked me about you and her. I explained to him about our past, including the part where you and Jewel agreed to remain as friends. Nothing more than that."

There was a pause as the two birds looked at each other. Roberto was the first to break that silence. "So, um, the tribes are back together again?" Felipe nodded to him, saying, "Yes they are. Hopefully everything can go back to the way things were." Looking towards the tribe, Roberto saw that both Scarlet and Spix Macaws were having a great time together, talking, laughing, and even dancing around. He smiled. "I think that everything will go back to normal soon enough." Felipe looked back to the tribe. His smile dropped slightly. Roberto noticed and asked, "So, does this mean we can go back to being friends?" Felipe looked back over to him.

Looking into his crushes eyes, he saw everything he loved in Roberto. Not only was he good looking, but he was strong, smart, and charming. His heart beat harder as he looked at him. He really didn't know what to say to him. Roberto waited for a response. "Felipe? You okay buddy?" He questioned, waving a wing in front of his face. Felipe shook his head, snapping out of his state. "Um what did you say?" "I asked did you still wanna be friends?" Roberto asked again. Felipe smiled to him and reached for his wing. Roberto saw this and took his wing, thinking it was just a friendly gesture. "I have waited so many years to ask you a question. I wanted to tell you since the last time I saw you, but the fire ruined my plans." Roberto looked at him curiously. "What are you talking about? What did you wanna ask me?" Felipe stepped closer to him, bringing his face closer to his. "I didn't know if you felt the same way as I did. What we had before was something, but I wanted more. I don't want to be your friend anymore, I want us to be more than just friends." Roberto looked at him wide eyed. "Are you asking…" he trailed off. Felipe nodded. "Will you be my mate Roberto?"

Roberto looked on at Felipe, stunned. Did Felipe just ask him that? Sure they were best friends in the past. They told each other everything about themselves, relationships, work, everything. Felipe held his wing tighter. "I love you Roberto. I've regretted not telling you ever since the fire. That day when we were kicked out of the tribe, seeing you angry with me and everyone else, my heart broke. I thought that you hated me and wanted nothing to do with me. Thinking about that kept me in my hollow for a week. I knew I couldn't do anything to tell you that I did love you, and that broke me." Felipe dropped his head down. "I just wished that everything that happened never did occur. Cause then maybe, just maybe, we could have had something. I ask you now, if you do love me like I love you. If you don't, then I hope we can still remain as friends." With that, Felipe finished. Hope was building in his chest as he waited for Roberto's answer. He noticed a few tears had weld up in Roberto's eyes.

Just as Felipe began to lose hope, Roberto smiled at him. "Felipe. Before the fire happened I knew that you were someone I can't live without. That night, when we were on patrol talking about our love lives, I knew I couldn't have a better relationship with anyone else other than you. You are the bird I've wanted. I can't say how badly I wanted you, because I love you too much to even put into words." Roberto wrapped his wing around the back of his neck and said, "I love you so much Felipe." With that, Roberto locked his beak into his. Both birds were shocked to finally feel their crushes kiss. Felipe's eyes rolled back as the kiss became deeper. "Mmm…" they both moaned lowly as their tongues wrestled each other. Both birds wrapped their wings around each other, drawing them in closer.

A full minute passed before the two birds separated. Both were panting with smiles on their faces. "That… was amazing." Felipe said, holding onto his lovebird. Roberto smiled at him. "I never thought that I'd get to do that with you." He then added, "And to answer your question, I would love to be your mate. You complete me." Felipe smiled as he held him close, resting his head on Roberto's chest, while he rested his on top of Felipe's.

Throughout the rest of the night, both tribes continued to celebrate their reunion. All except for two birds. Jewel was still lying at her lovebirds side. She would occasionally remember all that had been said and done between them, and would cause her to sob. Blu was still unconscious and hadn't woken up. The steady rhythm of his heart beat gave her some relief while she stayed next to him. "I will be here for you Blu. I will stay by your side waiting for you." She whispered as she slowly nodded off next to him, her wing clasped with his. Her only hope in the world was that he would wake up soon.

'Poor Jewel. Hopefully Blu comes back to her soon.'