48CHAPTER TWO
The heavy rainfall continued to fall, growing harder as the night set in. Blanketing the sky under the black velvety twilight of the night, the jungle grew darker without the face of the moon or stars to give off any trace of light. The canopy groaned under the strain of the water it contained, giving off its dire warning that it would not be long until the water broke through and everything below would be soaked. The same dire feeling brewed deep within Blu's heart as he stood dumbstruck and taken aback by what his wife had whispered in his ear. He simply could not believe it.
"A-A-A-Anniversary? A-A-Are you sure?"
Jewel nodded her sweet little head. Her eyes filled with curiosity about the shakiness in Blu's voice. She couldn't help but stifle a giggle and form a wicked smile as she noticed his face go bright red. The male macaw wiped a wing across his feathery crown and peered down at the perspiration which soaked his wing. Again, she couldn't help but smile. The formation of perspiration was impossible for most members of their species, but it seemed to be very possible and very common for her husband.
"You didn't forget, did you, Pet?" she asked, arching a suspicious eye, and forming a wicked all-knowing sideways grin. "I don't think I could ever forget that day. It was one of the greatest, scariest, and most romantic days of my life."
Blu shifted his body a little uneasily, toying with his wings. His eyes darted around the interior of the tree as he tried to form a coherent thought. He could not believe he had forgotten their wedding anniversary, which also fell upon the Eve of Valentine's Day. Back then, they had not really thought much about the day; they were more worried about Amber and her desire to make Jewel suffer from her dark ambitions for revenge. Now it all came back to bite him in the tail feathers. Lowering his head, he avoided her gaze.
"No, I didn't," he shook his head, "I am just having trouble finding you the perfect gift, that's all."
"Oh, okay." Jewel tried her best to form a reassuring smile. She kissed the side of her husband's beak, "Well, don't knock yourself out too much, I am pretty content with my life just the way it is."
Blu nodded. "Oh right… um… anything you say, dear."
Blu watched his wife lower herself into the nest and quickly fall asleep. Her chest bobbed up and down as her breathing lulled her into a peaceful slumber. He turned to Rose as his eyes filled to the brim with fear. His breathing grew rapid as he tried to find a bag to breathe into.
"We really need to talk outside, right now!"
#
The outside world was damp and dreary, the rain pounded upon the tree which acted as home to the Spix's Macaw family. Blu stepped out onto a small tree branch just outside of the entryway into the hollow. He beat his head with a single talon as the rain drenched him from head to tail. He would have bashed his head against the trunk of the tree, but Jewel would have noticed the impressions left by the gnarled pieces of bark. Once, twice, three times, he drummed his talon across his forehead, while his eyes continued to widen with fright.
"I'm so stupid… stupid…. stupid…. stupid…." he groaned, continuing the self-abuse. "Stupid… stupid… stupid… stupid…"
Rose fluttered out onto the tree branch, eyeing him with a curious eye and a very concerned look. She had never seen this side of him before. He usually seemed so friendly, so happy, so calm, planned out, and organized. This bird was very different. He was timid, weak, fearful, and very concerned over something which, as of yet, she had no plausible idea on what could be bothering him to such a degree.
"What's wrong, Dad?" she asked.
Blu stopped banging his wing for a second and lowered his head sheepishly. "I forgot about our anniversary. With everything we've been through, we have never really celebrated it before. With the whole Jollo thing happening, it completely slipped my mind, and now I'm going to be in so much trouble. Did you know it took only two days to win your mother's heart? Of course, though, it will probably take even less to lose her and all because of a stupid mistake."
Rose cocked her head to one side and studied her father for a few moments. Her jaw hung ajar as her confusion continued to grow.
"But you said you were-"
"I know what I said." Blu held up a wing to silence the girl. His soulful brown eyes widened further as he drummed his talon across his face once more. "I panicked and told a little white lie to buy me some time. I need to find her a gift, something as perfect as she is on the inside… something as unique as she is."
Rose nodded in understanding. She could feel the panic growing inside of her father. He could not stand still for longer than a few seconds. He paced back and forth, his talons sloshing around in the rain. His eyes filled with thoughts on what to do in this current situation.
"Maybe I could take her to the samba club." He told himself. "She loves Samba, and that is where we almost shared our first kiss." He shook his head. "That still doesn't seem like it would be enough." He moved his talon up to his beak again but was stopped by Rose, who held out a wing to calm him down.
"Take her to the club, Dad," she suggested, "It'll be a wonderful distraction."
Blu cocked his head sideways, trying to make sense of what his daughter had just suggested. "A distraction?"
"Yes," Rose nodded her head, "Leave everything else to me. I'll have the boys set up a nice romantic dinner for you two, while I work on setting up the romantic atmosphere… it'll be a surprise so big, she won't even know how you pulled it off, mark my words, it'll be great."
"Oh, so like pretty much everything else I do," Blu smiled, nodding. "That's very good," he chuckled. "How did you grow up knowing so much? Even I don't know that much about romance and anniversary surprises?"
Rose shrugged her wings. "I guess I learned from watching you." She admitted, dragging her talon across the bark. "You got mom to fall in love with you after only two days of knowing each other… however… I never really thought about how or why I know this stuff. I just sort of know it."
Blu forced a pleasant smile. He now had a game plan. "Thanks, Rose, you have just saved my blue, feathery butt again. I owe you one."
"No," Rose shook her head. "I owe you plenty more than you owe me. Remember you saved my life from Jollo."
#
Rosy pink clouds hovered in the sky as the sun rose on the horizon. Rose spread her wings and stepped out onto the small tree branch. Yawning and shaking the sleep from his stiff body, she eyed the damp forest and the rainbow veil as the light reflected through the water droplets. She breathed inwards, letting the fresh fragrance of damp dewdrops and tropical mango trees fill her nostrils. She smiled and peered back at her father briefly.
"I will be back," she said, peering back at her father as he stepped out onto the branch. "I just need to find an old friend of yours to help prepare your little romantic getaway with mom."
"Are you sure you don't want me to come?" Blu asked. "The jungle is a big place and-"
"I'll be fine," Rose smiled. "You taught me all the defensive maneuvers of flying. Also, if you come, my surprise will be ruined."
"Wait, surprise? What surprise?" Blu arched a curious eye. "I thought you were setting up dinner for the two of us?"
"Well, there's more to it than that." Rose explained, "I can't tell you though or you wouldn't be surprised."
Blu nodded, letting out a defeated sigh. He could not argue with her. She was just too smart. Even though he hated to see his daughter flying off through the jungle alone, deep down, he knew that he simply needed to trust her.
"Okay," he sighed. "Just please be careful."
"Aren't I always?" Rose formed a sly smile. The same smile that Jewel used to give him when they had first met.
Before Blu could answer, Rose fluttered off through the trees as fast as her wings would carry her.
"That is what I'm afraid of." Blu noted, "You're too much like me and your mother and if history taught us anything, its trouble is usually never far behind."
"I'll be fine."
Blu spun around to see Rose pass him. She had circled around to spy on him before finally disappearing for good amongst the trees.
#
A little after mid-morning, Rose had made her first stop, landing right in the center of Rafael's grotto. The sun broke through the trees, filtering through the green foliage like specks of little gold dust. It cast upon a small pond, adding a much-needed touch of class to the little bird-made home of Rio's favorite toucan family. She eyed her surroundings, folding her wings flat against her body, all the while eyeing her surroundings, noting the shifting leaves moving opposite of the breeze. She knew from experience that something was there… watching her… she shuddered at the possibility of it being twelve of Rafael's little devil children ready to tear into her flesh and separate a few of her feathers.
"Hello, Rafael?" she called out, "It's me, Rose."
The large male toucan poked his head out from his hollow and formed a passable smile. Without a word, he fluttered down to the ground where a young macaw awaited him. He held up his wings in welcome.
"Greetings, Rose, my how you have grown since the last time I have seen you."
Roes wrapped her wings around the toucan and pulled herself in for a hug. "It has been a couple of months, hasn't it?"
"Oh yes," Rafael grinned, "We haven't seen each other since the whole Nigel incident. You were just a little thing back then. Now, you've grown into a fine young lady. I'm happy to say that you're absolutely beautiful and perfect for Carnaval. All the boys will look at you, I'm sure of it."
Rose pulled back her head in disgust at the thought. "Boys? Really? Peering at me? Nuh-uh, not going to happen."
Rafael burst into laughter, slapping his wing on the young girl's back. "Aye Corumba, amigo, I'm joking. You have got a lot of time before you have to worry about small things like boys. Now, what brings you to my little stretch of paradise?"
Rose seated herself on the dirt ground. She related the story about her dad's injury and how she helped him to find a special flower to help him heal properly. She mentioned Jollo, the albino macaw who attempted to murder him, but he was stopped because of her father's unusually high intelligence. Rafael listened to every word, nodding only when she stopped to catch her breath.
"That certainly sounds like one marvellous adventure. Why does it always happen to you guys? Why do I always miss these sorts of things?"
Rose shrugged her wings, then lowered her head. "Actually, that is why I am here," she explained. "I need help to prepare an anniversary dinner for my mom and dad."
"Did he forget?" Rafael queried. "That certainly sounds like Blu. They've been through so much over the past few years. They certainly deserve some time to relax and just enjoy the time of being a couple."
"So, you'll help me?" Rose asked.
"You can always count on your Uncle Rafael," the toucan smiled. "When is this celebration?"
"Valentine's Day."
The toucan thought about it for a second. "I would have to bring Eva along, but I am positive I can be there. You have my word."
Rose held out her wing and shook the toucan's wing. She smiled and thanked him with her most heartfelt feelings. "Thank you, I owe you one."
"No," Rafael shook his head. "I do this out of friendship, kindness and I also do this for romance."
Rose's eyes narrowed as she continued onwards. "You wouldn't know where a monkey named Jose is, would you?"
"As a matter of fact, I do," Rafael laughed. "He traveled to Borneo to start a new life. He said that he just needed to get away for a while."
Rose nodded in understanding, though she felt a little disappointed by that fact. She was hoping the monkey would come to her little celebration. "Oh well, if he isn't here, then there's no point in worrying about it. I'll see you on Valentine's Day just before sundown."
Rafael nodded a reply. "Alright, I'll see you then. Good luck till we see each other again... oh and watch out for the children as you leave. They're spying on us through the trees. I wouldn't want to see you get hurt."
Rose peered away from the toucan and spotted a large black blur speed through the treetops. She swallowed a large lump in her throat.
"Aye corumba."
#
Blu paced around the innards of the hollow. His beak trembled as he peered out at the clear blue sky. Usually, the warmth of the summer sun brought him a deep satisfaction, but today he couldn't help but worry about his daughter. He could not stop his talons from prodding across the floor in eager anticipation to see her come through the hollow's entrance.
"Will you calm down?" Jewel asked, eyeing him with her peripheral vision. "She's fine. I know it in my heart."
"She's out there alone in the jungle." Blu protested. "She might not be fine for long. Trouble seems to follow us wherever we go. Why wouldn't it follow our children too? Can she even handle the danger?"
Jewel stood up and wrapped her wings around her husband. She peered softly into his warm chocolate brown eyes. "She's a good fighter," Jewel whispered into his ear. "She helped a lot during your hunt for the blood orchid. Even now, she beats me every time we spar. She's also the responsible one, remember?"
Blu nodded. Jewel made sense. He couldn't deny that. He had even witnessed a couple of Jewel's and Rose's sparring matches. Rose would usually pull off an intelligent trick and outsmart her opponent... not that Jewel wasn't smart. Rose had inherited his intelligence and her mother's fierce determination and strength.
"I know," he sighed, "It's just that-"
"You're her father and you don't want to see anything happen to her." Jewel finished with a sweet smile.
"Yeah," Blu nodded. "I wish she would have told me where she was going..."
Jewel nodded her head. Blu had always been the worrier of the family, his concerns usually reflected upon his face. She, on the other hand, held as much concern but could hide it amongst her tough personality.
"Just relax," Jewel repeated for the umpteenth time. "She'll be back soon. If there's any trouble, she would probably try to find one of our friends. Rafael isn't too far away, and Nico, Pedro, and Luiz are in the city."
Blu heard wings flapping through the breeze. A smile formed on his face. Without a word, he ran to the entrance and collided with Rose, who tried to enter. Both macaws fell backwards, the sense knocked from their heads. They rubbed the resulting lump and peered at each other.
"What on Earth was that?" Rose moaned, "My head it hurts..."
"I could say the same thing," Blu winced sourly as pain shot through his head.
Jewel shook her head and studied the sight of both macaws lying on the ground at her feet.
"Well, at least she's back." Jewel giggled. "Aren't you feeling better?"
Blu stared at the mirror image of Jewel swaying around him. His vision couldn't focus as he saw double.
"I think I might have a concussion," he groaned, "But at least she's back."