Rio: Endangered

The News

This trip to Rio was peaceful, unlike the last time when they were interrupted by an unwelcome guest. They did the things that they didn't get to on their last visit; visiting the samba club for a little fun, giving Eduardo a tour of Rio, and stopping by Linda's home. Blu was excited to find that Linda and Tulio were home this time.

"Oh, Tulio, look. Blu and his family came to visit us," Linda pointed out. "And it looks like they have some new additions. Ask them who they are."

Tulio began his awkward squawks in an attempt to communicate with the birds, but it just made them back away. "It isn't working, Linda."

"Wait, I have an idea." Linda disappeared into another room, then re-emerged with a sheet of paper and an ink well.

"What are you doing?' Tulio asked.

"Watch." Linda set the paper down in front of Blu, picked him up, and allowed him to dip one talon into the well. After setting him down, he scribbled the birds' names in a messy but readable talon-writing.

"Oh, I see. So rolling around the house and typing in your password weren't the only things you taught him. Smart." He squinted at the paper and read the names out loud. "J.. Jasmine and... Andrea."

"What wonderful names," Linda stated.

Blu turned to them and said, "See, not all humans are bad. Some actually care for us."

Carla, Bia, and Tiago were all watching the TV again, which they hadn't realized they missed doing. Carla flipped through some channels: A weather report, an American Western, some epic movie, and a kids cartoon. The last channel she flipped to last is the one that caught her attention. "Oh, my... Dad! Come see this!" Blu and his miniature flock flew to the countertop to see what the kids were making a fuss about.

This just in. A news source has reported sight of smoke in the northern section of the Amazon rainforest. Cleanup crews who have already entered the burnt out areas have reported multiple bodies of wildlife, including barracudas, piranhas, rabbits, and birds. No one knows the source of this fire, but fire crews are putting their best efforts into containing it...

Everyone, including Linda and Tulio, gasped in horror. Wildfire? In the Amazon?

"We need to warn the tribe," Blu informed.

"What do we do now? We're doomed!" Jasmine cried.

"No we're not. There is still a chance. We can defend against this fire if we stay strong and united." Blu assured everyone. "We will need all the help we can get, but it is possible."

"We need to do something to help those poor birds," Linda told Tulio. "We can't have them go extinct now, not after all we've done to preserve them."

"What can we do? We are only three beings," he answered.

"We have resources on our side, people who can provide us with materials. We have to give them a fighting chance."

Tulio pondered the suggestion for a little while. After all she was right. He knew a guy named Hernandez who could provide firefighting materials. There was also José, who could supply vehicles. "Oh, all right. Let's do this thing!"

The birds, who had been waiting in anticipation alongside Linda, jumped in excitement.

"Let's go!" Blu ordered everyone back to the tribe.