Rio 2 by Christa Roberts

commanded, shocked to see Mr. Perfect turn into a blubbering mess.
    Below them the harvester continued to grind away. “Look, we’ve got one chance to stop this, okay?” Blu said. “I have to find my friends. You fly back and warn the others. Got it?”
    â€œYeah, I got it,” Roberto said, pulling himself together.
    Blu nodded. “Okay. Go!” And the two birds flew off in opposite directions.
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    Eduardo and Aunt Mimi were deep in conversation. “You could talk to Felipe, work something—”
    â€œNever. He’s not a guy that wants to listen to reason,” Eduardo told her.
    â€œFelipe’s not the only one,” Aunt Mimi said knowingly.
    Eduardo gritted his beak. “Everything had been going perfectly until that . . . that dimwit—” He stopped. Jewel was standing right in front of him.
    â€œDaddy—”
    Roberto flew up to them. “Humans! Loggers! The lights! The lights!” He gasped, spinning in circles.
    Eduardo slapped him across the face. “Get ahold of yourself!”
    Roberto took a steadying breath. “The loggers are coming and Blu is with them.”
    This was too much for Eduardo. “Traitor! I knew you couldn’t trust a bird raised by humans.”
    â€œNo, no, no!” Roberto corrected. “Blu is trying to help us!”
    Jewel gasped. “What? By himself?”
    Explosions boomed off in the distance. Jewel knew what this meant: the loggers were getting closer. The other macaws began to cry out in fear as smoke rose on the horizon.
    â€œOkay, pack up the kids, we’re leaving,” Eduardo announced firmly. “Let’s go! Everyone move out! Go, go!”
    Jewel hesitated, searching for the right words. “Dad! Dad . . . I’m not going with you.”
    â€œYou have to go with me!” Eduardo cried. “I will not let my family be in danger again.”
    â€œBlu is our family now, too!” Jewel cried.
    â€œI can’t stand the thought of losing you again,” Eduardo told her, full of emotion.
    â€œI can’t lose Blu. I love you, Dad,” Jewel said.
    â€œWe’re going with you.” It was Tiago.
    But Jewel shook her head. “No, baby, you can’t. It’s too dangerous. But I want you to stick together, stay with Pop-Pop! And Daddy and I will find you, okay?
    Eduardo stood tall and turned to the tribe. “Okay, move out! Let’s go!” More explosions sounded in the distance.
    â€œDoomed! Over!” Roberto cried, freaking out again.
    Aunt Mimi smacked him.
    â€œOww!” Roberto yelped. “Why does everybody keep doing that?”
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    Things were not looking good for Tulio and Linda. They were tied to a huge tree.
    â€œYour left . . . your right,” Linda whispered. They were working together, using the ropes and their legs to shimmy their way up the tree.
    â€œAnd your right leg, my left leg . . . good!” Linda said. “Good, good, good! Now go up!” Sweat poured down their faces. Their hands intertwined around the tree.
    Tulio squinted upward, into the sun, and saw vultures circling overhead. “Linda, I am so sorry. This is all my fault.”
    Linda swallowed. “As bad as this is . . . there’s nowhere else I’d rather be than with you. Even if it is tied to a tree.” His fingers gave hers a reassuring squeeze.
    Squawk!
    â€œJewel! Jewel! Down here!” Linda cried as Jewel swooped down in front of them. “Jewel! What are you doing here? It’s dangerous!”
    Jewel landed between them and expertly picked the knots apart. Soon Tulio and Linda were free!
    â€œThank you. Let’s follow her!” Linda said as Jewel started off in the direction of the logging noises. She flew faster than they could follow on foot.
    â€œI told you I heard him,” Linda told her husband, joyful.
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    Blu flew high above the treetops. He could hear the sound