The entire episode of Jewel performing the Heimlich maneuver on me was needless to say both embarrassing and painful. I didn't know what hurt worst, the dull pain in my chest as my lungs screamed for oxygen or the continuous rough thrusting of Jewel's wings into my gut. Finally with a small 'pop' sound the seed shot out of my trachea and off the counter onto the floor below. Jewel released me from her grasp and I fell to the counter top inhaling like a fish out of water. With the fresh flow of much needed oxygen into my brain I began thinking about what she had asked moments before.

"Are you okay?" She asked in a concerned voice.

Completely ignoring her question I rebutted with my own, "Y-You want me to go to Brazil?"

She widened her eyes slightly, as if that wasn't what she expected me to say. But why wouldn't I ask? Just now she asked me to accompany her back to her homeland but right before she was insulting my human like traits and habits then she throws a curveball like that at me. I began to wonder if this was even the same bird.

"Sure, why not?" She shrugged.

I got to my feet and scratched my head. "But I thought you hated me?"

"I never hated you, I pity you." She said in a dry monotone voice.

The last part of stung me in my chest. The reason she wanted me to go to Brazil was so she could change me? Did she pity me because she feels I am pathetic for a bird, just because I act human at times? My mind immediately jumped to this conclusion, the worst possible answer, and the more I thought about it the more pain I felt in my chest. It had became obvious to me that the fact I was feeling so distraught over something so petty meant that I had became attached to Jewel, which was what I was avoiding since I met her.

"Blu is everything okay?"

I looked up from the ground, "Yea, everything is fine." I whimpered. I turned around and wiped away the tears fogging my vision.

"Blu, did I say something to hurt your feelings?"

When I heard those words spoken out of Jewel's mouth all the sadness and misery in me turned into a fiery burning anger. Never did I recall being so infuriated, so ticked off, and so frustrated. And at that moment all of that built up rage was targeted at Jewel.

"Did you hurt my feelings!" I roared at the top of my lungs, I swung around to face Jewel. "After insulting me, saying you pity me you have the audacity to go and ask that!"

"I never meant to hurt you." She muttered. "I just thought that maybe you would want to see the jungle and actually live like a normal bird."

My swelling anger left me as quickly as it came and was replaced by an overwhelming feeling of regret.

"Jewel, I didn't know that is what you meant."

She didn't reply, only stood there silent and still looking at the ground like a statue.

"Please Jewel I didn't mean to yell at you like that." I told her in the most caring and apologetic voice I could muster.

"Forget it Blu, I should have never asked."

"J-Jewel..."

My words had no effect in stopping her from walking to the far edge of the counter. Jewel quietly sat looking forward at the wall; her face expressed what seemed to be a violent mix of anger and depression. I contemplated the idea of walking over and apologizing for my inconsiderate behavior but decided against it. If watching television my entire life has taught me one thing it's that women become extremely moody when upset. I began thinking instead about what she asked and why she did. Could I really go to Brazil, a bird who can't fly and is so familiar to the sheltered lifestyle of being ones pet. That brought up another question, what about Linda? Would she actually let me leave and if I did would I be able to live with myself knowing I left Linda here in Minnesota alone? There were too many questions and too little time to answer them all. In the end I leaned my head against the wall and slowly closed my eyes letting these stressful thoughts leave me for the time being.

~Jewel~

I sat at the edge of the counter top leaning against the perpendicular wall to my side; slowly I followed the lines and spirals inside the hardwood floor to pass the time while my mind wandered. I regret asking Blu to come to Brazil, I knew the question would catch him off guard, but I never expected him to become so verbal and aggressive. It wasn't like him, this entire time he had put up with my continuous insults on his behavior and abnormal lifestyle but now he decides to stand up for himself? He caught me off guard, that's all. I could care less if he thinks I am a selfless, rude, and inconsiderate jerk. After all, he's just a pet, who cares what he thinks!

Even though I conjured up all these thoughts to dilute my feelings for Blu none of them were able to rid of the lump of guilt tugging on my heart, dragging me down like an anchor into a black sea. As much as I hate to admit it I had actually began to care for Blu. Even though I said it, I don't really pity him. I pity myself. Blu was the first friend I had made in a long time; he was the first bird to actually greet me with a smile rather than a frown. I had grown accustom to other birds avoiding me, knowing that I was the last of my kind, the one who will never find happiness but roam the jungles alone for the rest of her days. So when I found Blu, even though I acted like a hard ass to him I was actually enjoying his company, to be one with my own kind. I wanted to bring him back to Brazil, teach him everything I knew about the jungle, teach him how to fly, what fruits are the sweetest, what kind of tree make the best dens, everything. But mostly I wanted to show him to the rest of the jungle, rest of the world, as a trophy to show that I'm not alone and that they can stop pitying me...that I can stop pitying myself.

I glanced over at him and seen he had fallen asleep, his head hanging down over his chest as he took slow deep breaths. I wanted to apologize for what I said, for making him so angry but decided against it. Now that he had already fallen asleep I didn't want to wake him when he looked so peaceful. This was the Blu I knew. Not the monster that I awakened with my harsh words. I figured that once he woke up I would apologize and from then on give Blu compliments on his talents rather than insult them. To pass the time I decided to go on a bit of an expedition around the small two story building. I hopped off the counter top and elegantly glided to the floor. Quietly I made my way to what the humans and Blu call the Living Room. Using the skills I began to develop on climbing thanks to Blu' guidance, I scaled the side of the wooden coffee table. Once a top I began looking around for something to entertain myself for the time being. There were colorful pieces of paper scattered across the top of the table with women and men posing on the front covers. Since I couldn't read what they said I pushed them aside and found what seemed to be some kind of toy. It was a slender black piece of plastic and on the top was an array of colorful rubber buttons.

During my random pushing of the various colored buttons I managed to summon what seemed to be thunder from the heavens. In front of me was a large black box with moving pictures in the middle. Whatever the box was it was loud...really loud. I began panicking, pushing the buttons as quickly as possible hoping to silence the beast.

"Jewel!" I heard Blu yell over the ruckus.

A.N.-I'm happy to see everyone is welcoming me back, sorry for leaving so long. I guess you may want a little update on myself and what has been happening. Well I am going to be a senior in High school finally! I've been working at a dog adoption shelter for the summer and watching a lot of anime. The funny thing is (dont get mad) I would much rather write some stories for my favorite anime, Eureka Seven, but the community on FF is so inactive and dead I feel it wouldn't exactly be worth it, I haven't watched the movie Rio for at least 6 months or so and don't really have any urge to as well. But I am still enjoying writing for Rio at least for now and I'm glad to be back.