The Jewel of the Amazon

Evidence

Roberto was scared out of his wits. Trapped in a wire cage in a dark movable room? That was beyond the worst of his nightmares. Where he was going was a complete mystery, let alone what was to be done to him. So yeah, the fear was intense. He could hear other birds shivering in fear, too. Or was that the chill in the air? After all, it felt as though he'd entered the arctic ocean while staying in that cage, far from his comfort zone.

This movable room started swerving to and fro, as though the captor were in a panic trying to avoid something. A burst of light filled the room when the door slid partially open. What just happened, Roberto thought as he squinted outside. Did... did that box just fall out?

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The forest was eerily quiet. Not one bird stirred about as this motley group of macaws searched for Andrea. No one to give a hint as to suspicious activity. No one to give testimony to seeing an army of birds fly south. Maybe they all flew south WITH that army? Who really knew.

"This isn't right," Marcus stated. He was always sure of himself, but this scernario put him in quite a different attitude. "Every bird just vanishing like this gives me the creeps."

"You think maybe they had a part in it?" Rodrigo asked.

"Either that, or they were also victims," Santiago suggested.

"True, Santi. I hope that just isn't the case," Marcus replied. "Best scenario to imagine is that they went into hiding upon this maniac's first approach into our territory."

"Oh, when I can get my claws around that bird's throat..."

"Check it, Santi. We all want payback. But it's not for us to handle until we bring him before Eduardo, should we ever find him."

"Mark!" Rod shouted from below. "Get down here!"

Marcus led Santi to the base of the trees to find out what Rodrigo had seen. "What is it, Rod?"

Rodrigo held up two blue feathers in his talons. "Blue Macaw feathers."

"Sure they aren't yours?" Santi asked.

"Positive. One of these was found a few feet away. They traveled south."