Chapter two

After saying good bye to our friends, I flew beside Tiago as we went to his parent's tree, eagerly telling me about them as we flew to pass the time. "Don't worry; my parents have accepted me and my preferences. Also, don't tell my dad I told you this; he could swing either way, go as far as copulating with Roberto from a dare from my mom" Tiago whispered right before we landed on the branch outside the tribe leaders hollow.

Instead of being shocked as I am sure you would be expecting, I laughed instead; what he told me was the funniest thing that I have ever heard! Tiago led me inside with a smile. "Mom, dad; I have someone I want you two to meet!" Tiago called out. A few moments later two birds came out of one of the hollows, talking about a date-plan of theirs. "Hey Tiago; who is this?" my tribe leader asked his son, his tone curious.

"You guys know how I have been hanging out with my friend's right, more so with Jason?" Tiago asked them in turn; they both nodded. "Well, this is Jason; my recently declared boyfriend" Tiago stated with pride as he wrapped a wing around me.

Tiagos parents smiled with joy in response. "It's good to finally meet you!" my tribe leader stated, extending a wing to me. "Nice to meet you too sir" I stuttered, shaking his wing nervously; he chuckled with warmth. "No need for the formalities young one; you can call me Blu" my leader told me; I blushed, but told him I would.

While we talked pleasantly, I was involved in the conversation, I noticed the tribe leaders mate studying my face with a look of concern; I was hiding behind a mask after all, one that I had perfected over the years to shield my true emotions. "Hey Blu, I need to talk to Jason in private about relationship rules" she told Blu, giving him a look that said 'he has something that he needs to talk about' before leaving with me.

We both left the hollow before the leaders mate lead me to a tree a few minutes away, safely out of hearing of Blu and Tiago. She led me inside the hollow before sitting down across form me. "What's wrong?" she asked me, surprising me. "I mean no disrespect ma'am, but I am fine" I tried to lie, but my voice cracked at the end. "You can call me Jewel. Listen, I know that look; you've been hurt, haven't you?" she asked me. I couldn't even speak; I began to cry into my wings, the pain fresh. Jewel wrapped her wings around me and began to sing "Three little birds", emphasizing 'Every little thing is going to be alright', slowly but surely stopping my tears. "What happened?" Jewel asked me. "My dad saw me kissing Tiago and he, he" was all I could say before tears started falling again, but I told her what happened through them.

I saw a spark of anger in her eyes, but she spoke in a calming tone, one only a mother could achieve. "Forget what your father said; if he could not accept your love for someone, then he is an idiot. Love is a beautiful thing and no one should be judged for who they are attracted to. Also, since I am sure you don't want to be around him at the moment, you can stay with us for as long as you want; you will be protected from him" Jewel offered/promised me.

Tears started to fall again, but not out of depression, but out of joy; I nodded my head, silently telling her that I would love that. As we were about to leave, Jewel told me the rules; well, rule, since there was really only one. "Don't be too loud; we support you two, but if we do not get a decent amount of sleep at night, we WILL make you move out" Jewel told me; she laughed, but I could tell that she was serious. I blushed but nodded my head anyway as we flew away.

With my spirits lifted to the sky, I felt like I could sing to the world! However, as soon as we began to close in on Blu's hollow, I could hear arguing; my soul did a crash landing when I realized one of the voices was my dad's. "I told you once, I tell you again; I will not banish Jason for being gay!" Blu yelled to my dad, clearly frustrated. "Why not?! Filth like him does not deserve to live in the tribe!" my dad yelled back. I walked into the hollow with Jewel to see Tiago just standing in a corner, a deep anger in his eyes that I could tell would snap at any moment. Tiago said two words during a moment of silence.

"Tell him" Tiago whispered. Nodding to his son, Blu spoke again, but calm this time but increasing in volume as he went. "So you think I should banish all homosexual birds? You know what? If you can tell that to 100 birds that, then start off with these four; my son Tiago, my aunt Mimi..." Blu began, causing my dad's eyes to widen with shock as he looked at Tiago; he just now realized that he had just indirectly insulted his leader's son. "My right wing bird Roberto and... me" Blu finished, glaring daggers into my dad's eyes. My dad just kept on looking at Blu and Tiago, who just stood there with a smug smirk on his beak. "Normally, I would exile you right now with me declaring it, but..." Blu said before he turned to me. "I'll make an exception in this case. I'll leave your destiny up to your son; he alone will decide on either or not you stay in the tribe or not. Jason, when would you like the trial to be?" Blu asked me.

I turned to my dad to see... nothing in his eyes; that really ticked me off. "In two days" I responded, steeling my emotions from breaking. "You heard Jason; you have two days to prepare. Or beg for forgiveness or mercy; your choice. Now leave my hollow!" Blu yelled at my dad. I stepped out of my dad's way; he didn't look twice before leaving.

I broke down into tears soon after, from depression, stress and anger. Tiago comforted me as he held me close; trying to comfort me as he told me everything was going to be fine. "I hope so" I sniffed in response.

Yeah, thats right: I made Roberto gay! You got a problem with that, I am fine with it; I honestly don't care. I personally am very open minded about the subject, so if you want to argue about same-sex relationships, come at me; I dare every single one of you! If you find this idea acceptable, good for you all!

Have a good day!