Chapter 30: Rallying speeches
The night flew by rather fast and on the third morning of the journey, all the birds were gathered up the trees, each tribe/clan standing next to the other. In the front, the leaders of each tribe/clan was perched on a tree, as if they were ready to give a speech.
Sapphire, Blu, Jewel, their kids, Roberto, Nico, Pedro, Rafael and Mimi also stood next to Eduardo in front of the spix macaw tribe, although they wouldn't give a speech. Although Jasmine and Thomas also stood next to Eduardo and the others, they were the 2 spix macaws who stood closest to Andor, Amalia, their kids and Willfried, since they are super close to the Azul Clan. Left of the leaders of the Azuls (right in the crowd's POV), was Felipe, who stood in front of his tribe, and left of him were Mia, Arturo and Megeslav, who stood in front of Mia's entire tribe.
The atmosphere was dense. Some had excitement, but others had some uncertainty and fear (mostly within the spix macaw tribe of Eduardo and Felipe's scarlet macaw tribe) for the upcoming battle.
Eventually, Andor was the first one to speak.
"Loyal Azul Clan!" Andor began. "Scarlet macaw tribes of Felipe and Mia, and spix macaw tribe of Eduardo, our distant kin!"
Everyone went silent and listened attentively.
Andor: "Today is the day that when we, after years of rebuilding our clan, reclaim our ancient home of Xlaxlan Twelve Peaks!"
A roar of excitement was heard across all the members of the Azul clan, and even Thomas and Jasmine cheered along.
Andor: "However, our temples are beset by an evil that we have tried so hard to prevent them from taking over our ancient home: the Emberwings, led by Terrin the Terrible!"
The Azuls booed at hearing Terrnin's name.
"Yes, my clan, Terrin seems to have survived the flood just like us, just like he seemed to have survived the earthquake that Sapphire told us about. However, today, or maybe even in the following days, they will not survive the might and power of the Azul Clan. True, they might outnumber us if we were on our own, but just like in ancient days, we have allies. This time, however, it isn't caimans, beavers and birds that don't belong to a specific tribe. This time it is 3 organized tribes, each with at least 1 leader, who's aid will surely grant us a decisive victory!" Andor exclaimed, to which his clan and the other tribes cheered.
"So prepare yourselves, everyone. Prepare yourselves to attack those Emberwings in the most unexpected way possible, as they did to us years ago. Do not show any of these orange demons mercy, whether they're adults or even children. For they have never shown us any." Andor said and then yelled the defiant battle cry of the Azul clan.
Andor (hitting his wing into the air): "Áfram, Ászulæ!"
"Áfram, Ászulæ!" Yelled the entire Azul Clan, alongside Amalia, Willfried, Henrik, Astrid, Bruno and even Thomas and Jasmine.
Andor (hitting his wing into the air): "Áfram, Ászulæ!"
Azuls, Thomas and Jasmine: "Áfram, Ászulæ!"
"ÁFRAM, ÁSZULÆ!" Andor now yelled at the top of his lungs.
"ÁFRAM, ÁSZULÆ!" The Azuls, Thomas, Jasmine and even many other birds from the tribes yelled it, even if they didn't understand what it meant.
Then, Andor gave Eduardo a look and nodded that he may start his speech.
Eduardo took a deep breath and began his speech.
"Spix macaws, Azuls and scarlet macaws of both tribes." Eudardo began. "Today will be a day unlike any we have ever seen."
He paused for a moment and looked at his tribe.
"For years we have been on the run from loggers and poachers, who pushed us deeper and deeper into the heart of the jungle. For years we had a rivalry with our neighboring scarlet macaw tribe, led by Felipe. However, that all ended more than a year ago, when my son-in-law, Blu, rallied us all to defeat them once and for all and we've lived in peace and prosperity ever since!" Eduardo exclaimed.
There was another roar amongst the spix macaw tribe and Felipe's scarlet macaw tribe. "Blu! Blu! Blu! Blu!" many spix macaws and even scarlet macaws cheered. Blu waved modestly and shyly, with Jewel nuzzling against him.
"However." Eduardo said as he calmed down the tribe. "Today we don't face humans. Today, we face a bird-like enemy unlike anything we've ever encountered before. True, my tribe and Felipe's tribe had been quarreling with each other for years, but our wars were nothing short of a ball game we now use as a friendly sporting event."
Eduardo: "This tribe, these Emberwings as my wife Sapphire, Mia and the Azuls have talked about, will not challenge us to a duel with a ball. Here, we will have to use all of our physical strength and might to destroy them once and for all. We need to safe, not just our home, not just this Twelve Peaks, but all of South America. But like Andor said earlier, we do not stand alone in this fight. We have our scarlet allies led by Felipe, the scarlets led by Mia, who's a great friend of my wife and our distant kin, the Azul Clan, who know the ways of battle more than any other spix macaw!"
The spix macaw tribe cheered at this and then Sapphire spoke up.
Sapphire: "Remember this, however, the Emberwing are merciless killers who feel neither remorse or mercy, whether they are adults or even children. Like Andor said before, show them no mercy at all. Fight them the way you drove away the loggers last year!"
To this, the tribes and the Azul Clan let out another roar.
Now it was Felipe's turn to speak. Felipe stepped forward, his scarlet feathers catching the morning light, and surveyed the assembled tribes. The atmosphere was thick with anticipation, a palpable energy coursing through the ranks of birds perched high in the trees. His tribe, known for their fierce loyalty and fiery spirit, looked to him with unwavering trust. He knew the weight of their expectations, but he also knew that today, they would not be disappointed.
"My fellow scarlet macaws, scarlet macaws of Mia's tribe, brave spix allies and noble Azuls." Felipe began, his voice strong and steady, cutting through the morning air. "Today, we stand on the precipice of history. Today, we face an enemy that threatens not just our homes, but the very essence of our freedom. These Emberwings, led by the vile Terrin, believe they can take what is ours. They think they can drive us from our lands, enslave our families, and extinguish the flames of our spirit."
He paused, letting his words sink in, watching as his tribe's eyes narrowed with resolve.
"But they are wrong," Felipe continued, his voice rising with passion. "They are wrong because they do not know the strength that lies within us. They do not know the fury that burns in our hearts when our loved ones are threatened. They do not know that when we are united, we are unstoppable!"
A cheer erupted from the scarlet macaw tribe, their voices echoing through the jungle like a war cry. Felipe raised his wings to silence them, his gaze intense.
"Today, we fight not just for ourselves, but for our future. For our children and their children. We fight for the right to live in peace, to soar freely through the skies of Xlaxlan Twelve Peaks without fear. We fight for the memory of those who came before us, and for those who will come after. And we fight with allies who have proven their worth time and time again."
He gestured to the Azuls and the spix macaws, acknowledging their strength and the bonds forged in adversity.
"Remember this," Felipe said, his voice now low and deadly serious. "The Emberwings will show no mercy, but neither will we. They are ruthless, but they are not invincible. Today, we take the fight to them. We will strike first, strike hard, and leave nothing behind but the ashes of their arrogance. Every beak, every talon, every feather will be a weapon in this battle. Let them know the wrath of the scarlet macaws. Let them taste the power of our unity!"
Another roar of approval surged through the tribes, the sound reverberating off the trees and filling the jungle with a sense of impending doom for their enemies.
Felipe then turned towards Mia and gave her a nod, approving that she and perhaps Megeslav and her brother may begin their speech.
"My dear tribe, my family." Mia began, her voice steady and unafraid. "Today is a day where we will face an old enemy, an enemy we thought to have perished by the earthquake in Peru, years ago. That's right, my tribe, today we're going to face the ruthless Emberwings once again."
She paused for a moment, letting her words sink in, watching as her tribe's eyes narrowed with resolve.
"Our Tribe might be small in number as a result of all the misery that we have gone through. But remember this: just like in old days, we are not alone in this fight! Just like in the old days, we fight in total with 4 great tribes/clans against a common foe, one that seeks to put us out of hope and destroy each and every one of us. So today, we'll proved the Emberwings that together, we shall stand strong!" Mia exclaimed, her voice clearly rallying the spirits of her people, as well as the ones of Felipe's tribe, the spix tribe and the Azuls.
Then, Arturo came forth after Mia gave him a nod.
"There!" Arturo yelled while pointing his wing tip towards Xlaxlan Twelve Peaks. "There, in those temples they are…"
"…the maniacs, the orange devils that took the lives of so many of our 4 tribe members, Megeslav's two daughters and countless Azuls and the mongrels that almost reduced me to nothing but ashes." Arturo said with much disgust in his voice.
Arturo (determined): "Today we will show those orange maniacs that we aren't the weak and sentimental birds that they think we are. Today we'll show them that we stand strong united!"
A cheer erupted from all the tribes and the Azul Clan. Then Megeslav came up, his voice filled with courage, bravery, but also emotions with heavy weights from the past.
"Today, my comrades, is a day for many to claim vengeance! Today is a day where we fight Emberwings." Megeslav began as he then looked at Mia's tribe. "Scarlet macaws of Mia's tribe, will we allow these dangerous orange demons to live one second longer on South American grounds for everything that they have done to us all?!"
"NO!" Mia's tribe yelled.
"Indeed, the answer is 'no'!" Megeslav said as he then turned his attention towards Felipe's and Eduardo's tribe.
Megeslav: "Scarlet macaws of Felipe and spix macaws of Eduardo. In those temples, an ancient enemy stirs at all of South America, including the sanctuary where you all live. Are we going to let them simply fly towards our homes and claim a place that is now protected from all evil human activities?!"
"NO!" All of Eduardo's and Felipe's tribe yelled.
"Exactly!" Megeslav yelled and then turned his attention towards the Azul Clan.
Megeslav: "Azuls! The lost temples of Xlaxlan Twelve Peaks are within reach! Are we going to let these Emberwing trespassers get away with their sneaky and cruel shenanigans? Will we let them steal the beauties and valuables which belong to the Azul Clan by right?!"
"NEVER!" all the Azuls yelled.
"Indeed! We do not!" Megeslav yelled.
Megeslav (determined and serious) "Let all of our grudges be settled. Let our vengeance begin! YAAAAARH!"
And with that, all the birds, including Blu, who was mostly shy, let out an immense war cry. Some of the Azul Clan even sounded their self-made horns.
Then Blu said something to rally all the spix macaws and red macaws alike.
"Birds of blue and red feathers!"
"HAVE TO STICK TOGETHER!" all the spix macaws (including the Azuls) and the red macaws yelled.
And with a final war cry, all the birds that were perched in the trees flew once again westwards with high speed towards Xlaxlan Twelve Peaks. The greatest battle of their life was about to begin…