Chapter 35: Female orange devil
(This happens around the same time that Thomas, Blu, Eduardo, Roberto and Arturo went into the tunnel they were ordered to scout in.)
Jasmine, Jewel, Sapphire, Mia and Mimi were descending into the tunnels of the southern Underpassage. Unlike with the guys, who had many dark places within the tunnels they went in, the tunnels in which the ladies went into were mostly lit with fireflies and recent placed torches.
The girls were all flying deeper and deeper into the halls of the Underpassage, until, after about 10 minutes of flying, they perched themselves on a branch that grew out of the walls. Near that branch, however there was a dark spot, perfect for something or someone to hide.
As they all sat on the branch, they were speaking to each other, mainly about their old lives and how for Mia, Sapphire and Jasmine that life was mainly ruined by the Emberwings, whilst Jewel said that her life was mainly ruined in the past by the loggers when she was just a chick. Then Mimi looked at her niece.
Mimi (amusingly): "But you're so lucky that you met such a kind and wonderful bird like Blu, isn't that right, Jewel?"
"Sure, it is, Mimi."
"Did you two fall in love at the moment you met?" Mia asked.
Jewel chuckled and said: "Far from it. In fact, our first meeting was a total disaster, I hated him and saw him as nothing more than a pet, which was only made worse by the fact that he couldn't fly."
"Blu couldn't fly?" Mia asked confused.
"Nope, he couldn't for literally 15 years when he was living with Linda." Jewel said. "As I was saying, we couldn't stand each other for quite a while when we first met, but eventually we opened up for each other. After an argument we had, he even risked his life to safe me and when I was injured on my wing, he even jumped out of the plane whilst knowing he couldn't fly, wanting to sacrifice himself for me."
Mimi (excited): "Oh, yes! And when he said that you were chained-to-each-other birds, you kissed him for the first time and then he was able to fly."
Jewel (smiling): "Yes, and after my wing had fully healed, we officially became a couple."
Mia was in awe and asked: "And are you two truly love birds, especially after you had 3 wonderful children?"
Jewel: "Yes, we truly are. However, when we lived in Rio de Janeiro we did sometimes have arguments with each other."
"Like all couples have." Sapphire said with a smile, but also rolling her eyes.
"What kind of arguments were these, Jewel?" Jasmine asked.
"It was mostly about the fact that I didn't want Blu to raise the kids with human stuff and wanted them to be wild birds, although he mainly did it to appease them."
"How did these arguments mostly end?" Mimi asked.
"Well, Blu being the timid bird he usually is, mostly laid himself down with my demands, although he did sometimes redo his human habits for the kids, causing us to argue again." Jewel said.
"Oh." Jasmine said. "But did you once have an argument to which one of you later regretted having that argument?"
Jewel sighed and said: "Yes, me."
"How so?" Sapphire asked.
"Well, it was last year, just 2 days after we arrived at the tribe and after Blu scored his own goal in the Pit of Doom. I went to comfort him to ask what had happened, but he was telling me that he was not part of the tribe and that we should head back to Rio. I told him that the kids were thriving, and that the tribe was probably our home. However, he argued back and told me that it wasn't a home for him no matter how hard he tried to fit it." Jewel said with a heavy heart. "I got frustrated and told him that he should stop thinking about himself and start to think about us and flew away. Then, I saw him leave and thought that he was going to abandon us, but later, on holiday in Rio, I learned that he was merely going to say goodbye to Linda and return."
Jewel began to sob some tears, and the others noticed this.
Jewel (saddened): "And even though *sob* it was the right decision to *sob* stay at the tribe, I never apologized for those selfish words I *sob* said to him. I thought that he was nagging that day, but due to my overhappiness of being back at the tribe, I neglected his hurt feelings and *sob* his inability to adapt to the tribe."
Sapphire put a wing on her daughter's shoulder.
"If you truly feel sorry for what you said, then the best option is to apologize to him." Sapphire said in a comforting tone.
Jewel sobbed a bit before asking: "Do you think that he would listen and not get angry about it?"
"Even though I only truly know my younger brother for about a little more than 2 weeks, I have seen how he treats you, Jewel, and I know that he's the type of bird that would listen to what you have to say." Jasmine said, comforting her sister-in-law.
"And I also fully believe that Blu wouldn't be angry with you at all, Jewel, knowing that he's such an intelligent and kind bird." Mimi said smiling.
Jewel smiled at this and wiped her tears away.
"'Bout time you shut up." A female voice said from behind them.
(Music from a variated extended version of 'The Hammer of Thor' from God of War: Ragnarök begins to play.)
Everyone jumped and turned around, but before they knew it, the female Emberwing already had Mia's neck in her right talon and flew fast with her through the tunnel towards where they came from.
Mia looked up and met the glaring eyes of her old nemesis, Terrin's blood-crazed wife Davina.
"For years I've been dreaming of this!" Davina yelled at Mia. "We may have thought you have parished in the earthquake years ago, but I always believe that I would see you one day again. And on that day, I would show my full might against you, Mia."
Just then, Jewel, Sapphire and Jasmine came onto Davina and began to punch and claw her fiercely. After receiving some claws and punches from the 3 spix females and later also Mia, Mimi (being the plump macaw she is) bumped into Davina and all the females were send flying towards a wall of the tunnel.
They all bumped into the wall hard, with them all falling to the ground and before Davina and Mia hit the ground, Mia delivered a punch with her right talon to Davina's beak.
As they all were lying on the ground, they all quickly got up, with Jewel, Mia, Sapphire, Jasmine and Mimi standing next to each other, ready to face Terrin's blood-crazed mate.
"That was for my brother's (Skarsnik) defeat on the plaza. Now show me all the might and strength you got!
And so, the battle between the 5 female macaws and Davina began.
The battle began with Davina toying with the five macaws, her attacks more about testing their limits than dealing real damage. She swooped in and out, her talons flashing dangerously close but never quite landing a decisive blow.
"You're all so weak," Davina sneered as she lashed out at Sapphire, her talons barely grazing the older macaw. "You've grown old, Sapphire. How many more times do you think you can thwart my husband's plans before you crumble like the rest?"
Sapphire responded with a swift swipe of her talons, aiming for Davina's beak, but the Emberwing dodged effortlessly, her laughter echoing through the tunnel. "Too slow, old bird. You're nothing like you were in your prime."
Davina's attention then shifted to Jewel, who had been watching for an opening. "And you, Jewel, right? Following in your mother's footsteps, are you? You'll die just like she will - fighting for a lost cause."
Jewel's eyes blazed with anger as she lunged at Davina, but the Emberwing sidestepped her attack with ease. "Is that all you've got? No wonder your husband was so easy to manipulate. You're all bark and no bite."
As the battle raged on, Davina's taunts grew more venomous. She targeted Jasmine next, her voice dripping with mockery. "You couldn't save Twelve Peaks years ago, Jasmine, and you'll fail again. How does it feel, knowing you're doomed to repeat history?"
Jasmine gritted her beak and launched herself at Davina with renewed fury, but the Emberwing's agility kept her just out of reach.
Finally, Davina turned her cruel gaze on Mimi. "And what do we have here? A fat lady herself! How do you even manage to keep up with the others? You should've stayed in the nursery."
Davina's words cut deep, but they only served to fuel the macaws' determination. With a fierce battle cry, they launched themselves at her, their talons ready to strike.
Davina, however, was toying with them. She moved with a brutal grace, dodging and weaving through their attacks with ease. Every time they got close, she lashed out with a quick swipe of her talons, sending them reeling back. It was clear that she was enjoying this, using the fight to mock and belittle them rather than trying to finish it quickly.
Weaklings, all of you," Davina spat. "Show me your true strength, if you have any."
Despite their best efforts, the five macaws struggled to land any solid hits on Davina. The Emberwing was relentless, her movements a blur of speed and precision. Then, with a sudden burst of speed, Davina grabbed Jewel by the neck, slamming her against the wall with a force that knocked the breath out of her. Jewel gasped as Davina's talons pressed against her throat, the Emberwing's eyes gleaming with sadistic delight.
"This is too easy," Davina whispered menacingly, before delivering a savage punch to Jewel's stomach. The pain exploded through Jewel's body, but before Davina could follow up with another blow, the others sprang into action, raining punches and scratches down on Davina, forcing her to release Jewel and roll back to regain her position.
"If you're not fighting dirty, you're not fighting at all, right?!" Davina roared, her demeanor shifting from playful to brutally savage. The Emberwing attacked with renewed ferocity, and her taunts only grew more vicious.
Sortnar fugla sól (Twilight of the Birds)
Davina caught Mia in a headlock, hissing into her ear, "You've always been my favorite, Mia. The way you squirm when you're scared is just delicious."
Hinsti bardagi er nær (The final fight is near)
With a powerful twist, she threw Mia aside and turned her attention to Mimi. "And you, fat lady," Davina jeered, her voice dripping with contempt. "What are you good at in a fight? Being a fat walking target that is ready to fall at any second now?"
Æðrulausir skelfast þau (The mightiest will fall and)
Mimi, seething with anger, charged at Davina, but the Emberwing dodged her easily, causing Mimi to stumble. "Pathetic," Davina laughed. "You're all just too easy."
örlög þungbær (The Fearless will know fear)
The battle became a brutal struggle as Davina's relentless onslaught began to wear down the five macaws. Despite their efforts, they found themselves struggling to keep up with the Emberwing's savage attacks. Then, in a moment of raw power, Davina locked talons with Sapphire, engaging in a fierce wrestling match.
For a brief moment, it seemed as if Sapphire might overpower Davina, but with a roar of triumph, the Emberwing overpowered her, slamming Sapphire to the ground and knocking her out cold.
"MOM!" Jewel screamed, rushing to her mother's side as the others gasped in horror. But Davina wasn't done.
"Oh-oh, no, I say when we're done." Davina growled, planting her talons into Sapphire's belly, causing the older macaw to cry out in pain as she was jolted back to consciousness. "I'm not leaving until I see your real strength! Get up!
And so, the battle once again raged on, with Davina taunting the 5 macaws more and each macaws tried to hit a heavy blow onto Davina, but they only met her heavy blows in return.
At one point however, Davina grabbed Sapphire by the neck, lifting her off the ground as she turned toward her tribe's direction.
"Where do you think you're going?!" Jasmine shouted, launching herself at Davina with fury in her eyes. Jewel, Mimi, and Mia followed suit, all four of them crashing into Davina and pinning her to the ground with all their weight.
Davina was done playing games. She roared with rage, her strength seeming to double as she threw the four macaws off her with a mighty heave.
Meðferð Svo þo (A treatment so harsh).
"You want to see strength?!" Davina bellowed, her voice echoing through the tunnel. "Then show me yours!"
Svo harmats (So sad). Á Maður Óts (In the midst of fear). Allur Strybja (All strife).
The final phase of the battle was a whirlwind of fury and desperation. Davina's strikes came fast and hard, her talons slashing through the air with deadly precision. The five macaws fought back with everything they had, but Davina's power was overwhelming. Each hit she landed sent shockwaves of pain through their bodies, and their exhaustion was beginning to show.
Allur má þá stá (Then everyone can stand). Raunverð það (It is worth it). Þrönva (Impose yourself).
Davina's taunts became more frenzied, her voice a mix of rage and derision. "Is this all the strength you have? You're supposed to be the mighty protectors of your tribes, and yet here you are, on the brink of defeat!"
Meðferð Svo þo (A treatment so harsh). Svo harmats (So sad). Á Maður Óts (In the midst of fear). Allur Strybja (All strife).
Davina's strength was now unimaginable high, and she attacked the 5 macaws with extreme ferocity. Although on the brink of exhaustion, the 5 females kept fighting and dodged every attack Davina had.
Allur má þá stá (Then everyone can stand). Raunverð það (It is worth it). Þrönva (Impose yourself).
Gørðusk, at þetta endi nú! (Make sure it ends now!)
At this one final moment, however, Davina smashed Jamsine, Mia, Sapphire and Mimi to the ground with all her might and grabbed Jewel's neck, readying herself to break it.
Davina (frustrated): "Such weakness. You may have made my brother retreat, even as Sapphire's daughter. But I am NOT my brother. And your husband and kids? Terrin might have plans for them!"
This causes Jewel to react in a primal fury and headbutts Davina and with all her might and strength punches Davina on the beak, letting out a roar of anger in the process. Davina only chuckles and then says: "There it is. There's your true strength."
Then, Davina turned towards the other females who were standing back up and said: "Consider this battle to be a draw for now. Be seeing y'all."
And with that, Davina flew back into the direction of her tribe, leaving the 5 females behind, exhausted from the fight.
(Music fades and ends)
Jasmine, her voice gentle but firm, broke the silence. "We need to return to the Azul Clan and the other tribes," she said, looking at each of them in turn.
The others nodded in agreement, their expressions serious. They knew that the fight with Davina was just one battle in a much larger war. The tribes needed to be warned about the strength and savagery of their enemies.
Mimi, still catching her breath from the earlier fight, placed a comforting wing on Jewel's shoulder. "Are you ready, Jewel?"
Jewel took a deep breath, her thoughts swirling with the intensity of what had just happened. "Yes," she said, her voice steady. "We need to go."
And so, the 5 females took off to the location where the tribes were resting for the moment.
During the flight Jewel couldn't shake the vivid memories of the battle. Her mind replayed every strike, every taunt, every moment when they had teetered on the edge of defeat.
Never in her life had she faced an opponent as physically strong as Davina. The Emberwing's sheer power had been overwhelming, far greater than anything Jewel had ever encountered, even more terrifying than Nigel, the cockatoo who had tormented her and Blu years ago.
Nigel had been a formidable foe, cunning and ruthless, but his strength had been in his mind and his traps, not in raw physical power. Davina, on the other hand, was a force of nature, her strength almost unnatural, as if driven by some dark, primal rage that fueled her every move.
Jewel's heart pounded as she thought about how close they had come to losing. Davina had toyed with them, her taunts cutting deep, her strikes intended to cause maximum pain and suffering. Jewel had felt the sting of every word, the pain of every blow. And yet, through it all, she had fought back, driven by a fierce determination to protect her family, her tribe, and everything she held dear.
But the fight had left its mark on her. It wasn't just the physical exhaustion that weighed her down; it was the realization that there were enemies out there far more powerful than she had ever imagined. Enemies who would stop at nothing to destroy them.
Jewel's thoughts turned to Blu, to her children, to everything she had been fighting for. The image of Blu risking his life to save her flashed through her mind, reminding her of the strength they shared, the love that bound them together.
She couldn't afford to let fear take hold. She had to stay strong, for her family, for the tribe. They had won this battle, but the war was far from over. And she knew that they would face even greater challenges in the days to come.
As they flew on through the tunnel, Jewel steeled herself for the trials ahead. She would face them with the same courage and determination that had seen her through the battle with Davina. She would protect her family, her tribe, and everything she loved, no matter what it would take…
To be continued…