A segundo later, he is out of my flippers in a dash. I glance down to my feet. He's gone. Fear bubbles inside my body, but soon ceases as I hear a jolly giggle.
"Wh-" I stare down to my left, bending over. Another cackle cuts off my sentence. Hiding behind my right leg, Private grins from earhole to earhole.
"I wonder where Private went. Hmmmm. Is he over … here?!" I play along, and quickly turn my head. He's not there.
"Huh?" I ponder, but once again his laughter makes me smile. I just know he's behind the other one.
I take a step adelante, hacia adelante and turn around, catching him off guard. I oscilación down, and lift him into my arms. He contuines that memorable laugh.
"Oh no, the monster's got me!" Private toyed happily. I groan, and think to myself. This is going to be a long trip. It takes almost all my attention to keep the squirming pingüino, pingüino de in my flippers.
"Aw! Whatcha got there?!" Deliah races out staring at Private. She comes up, and takes him carefully into her fins. He clings to her like she's his mother.
"Hi," He weakly says.
"Hi, I'm Deliah! Come on, Skipper we better get him inside." She said. Swiftly, she spins on her toes like a ballerina. They lead to the house.
When we get inside, she stops and sits him on the counter. Her expression is quizical as she looks at me.
"I believe my first pregunta would be where he can from?" She asks her tone edgy.
"It's not what it looks like, I promise."
"Are tu trying to say tu want to stay, and raise him with me?" She asks with false hope. That is a tough subject.
"I'm sorry. He has a family. I found him in a basket." I sigh. Ouch.
"Nevermind. That was stupid. I'm sorry."
"No, it wasn't." While we talk Private wanders around.
"So where do we take him?"
"To the barco going to England. His mother will be there."
"Okay, but tu still didn't quite answer my pregunta about where he's from." She says. It'll be hard telling her, but I have to. The southern colony is liked por no other rookery but its self. Our rookery dispises them the most. But all their hatred together doesn't even come close to Cain's.
"He's from the southern colony." I mumble hesitantly.
"What?!" She gasps.
"He's from the southern colony." I repeat.
"I'm sorry, but I'm not helping a southern brat! He can starve for all I care."
"We can't just abandone him!"
"Yes, we can and we should! We should hate them! tu should hate him. It'll be so much easier to just leave him." She makes a good point. I turn to him in anger, but then I see something that changes my mind completely.
He lays in my cama covered up to his cheeks in the blankets. His small head rests on the almohada as he murmurs in his sleep.
"But I don't. He's never done anything wrong. He's a chick. You're being as cruel and unjust as Jezebel."
"Don't tu ever say that! I'm nothing like her!"
"Exactly, but you're actuación like her. Why do tu judge him just because he's different?"
"He's one of them, Skipper. Don't tu understand?"
"This is the most important thing I've ever tried to do. I can't pass it up."
"What about fighting for the throne?! What about restoring your honor?! Doesn't any of that matter to you?!"
"It means nothing if I don't help. I can save his life! I can make a huge difference for this small hatchling. Are tu in?" I say. She shakes her head in disgust.
"I'm sorry, Skipper, but no." She storms to her chair and plops down.
"That's too bad." I sigh. Bending over, I slowly pick him up into my arms.
"I don't know how you'll do it alone, but good luck." She says.
"Thank you. I'll never forget you." I promise.
"Just go,"
"I'm sorry, it's ending this way."
"Goodbye, Skipper." She gulps, fighting tears.
"Goodbye." I say, and carry him out the door.
Our journey begins on that harsh winter day. The gusts of wind pick up por the hour. Then the snow begins to fall. It taps hard on my back as I hunch over Private, shielding him like my mother once did for me.
Each unruly flow of wind and snow feels like a slap. I stumble backwards, but keep on. Every muscle aches. My body yurns. My head tells me to give up, but my heart, just the opposite. I shiver. The blizard feels like it rages inside me as well as outside of me. I begin to form a cough. I recongnize it immediately as the one my mother had.
"Please, help me. I can't do this alone. I'm not strong enough." I pray in hopes my mother will answer. As if she did, I see a cave in the distance.
With all my energy left, I race as fast as I can. I finally make it, and lay Private, who's still asleep, down on the ground. I fall on my back, and collapse.
"Thank you," I say softly.
I wake up to something poking my face. Wearily, I open my eyes. Private stands in front of me worried.
"Where's Deliah?" He whimpers.
"She's not coming." I moan.
"I'm sorry."
"Why?"
"I heard tu two arguing."
"Oh, don't worry. She's just ..." I trailed, and sighed. Private climbs up on my belly. He starts hopping up and down.
"You can't be serious!" I scold. He shrinks at my yelling. His giant blue watery eyes dread me with remorse. I sigh.
"All right, let's get some sleep."
"Sleep? I'm barely tired! I slept the whole way!
"Sleeping is the last thing I wanna do."
"Well, it's the first thing I want to do."
"You're no fun."
"I really don't care." I remark, and close my eyes. I feel his cold feet mover up on my chest. His petite body drops down. He squirms until he's under my flipper.
"Goodnight, I guess."
"Goodnight."
"Skippah?"
'What?"
"What are we having for breakfast?"
"Fish o squid. What else would we have?" I mumble sarcastically.
"I amor squid! I like herring, too. Do tu like herring? It's really good! But I like squid more."
"Goodnight, Private."
"I've always wanted a dad." He yawns, and nuzzles my feathers. I am just shocked, but strangely happy. What if I mess up, though? I've never had a real father.
"Don't tu have a father?"
"No, he died before I was hatched."
"Oh I'm sorry."
"I still have my mom."
"It's hard losing a father."
"Do tu have one?"
"No,"
"Skippah?"
"What?" I answered más calm than before.
"I have to go potty." He says. I groan. All night he wants something sometimes it would be water. When he gets water, it just made him have to "go" more. He runs around as I wearily chase him.
Finally we get to sleep. Only minutos later I realize the sun is about to come up. At dawn I was going to fish, but it seems like all my energy is flushed out of me. Private sleeping soundly.
Of course, the time when I need him up he's asleep, but when I'm trying to sleep he's wide awake. Let's just say tonight's not going to be a replay of last night.
I use one of my mother tactics to get him up. I gently stroke his head, and call his name.
"Private? Private?" I invite. He gradually raises his head, and rubs his temples.
"Time to get up." I smile.
"But I don't wanna."
"Get up, Private!" I say sternly. He gives up, and jumps to the ground. I do the same, once he's off.
"You stay in this cave. I'm going to fishing." I say. He nods sleepily.
"Be careful!" I warn. Not listening, he stares out into space.
"Private, listen!" I yell. He glares at me and folds his flippers saulking.
"Goodbye," I wave. He ignores me with his back facing toward me. When I reach a yard from the cave, Private scurries behind me.
"I thought, I told you-" I start complaining. But Private hushes me with a hug around my leg. His grip is firm. It is clear he is sorry, and doesn't want to let go.
"Be careful, Dad." He whimpers.
"If tu do too." I say rubbing the back of his head.
"I will," He promises.
"Now, get back in the cave where it's safe, okay." I say calmly. He nods, and finally he releases my leg. I watch as he waddles to the cave.
My eyes meet a lone sello in the distance. How strange, o should I say forunate for me. They almost never travel por themselves on land.
An icicle dangles from the ledge of a nearby glacier. It's way too high to reach. I turn around, but then I remember the first time I picked up an icicle. It was underneath snowballs.
I quickly get to my knees. With the thick snow around me I form a snowball and toss it with all my might. The sword like object falls to the ground, penetrating the snow.
I take my time to pull it out. I strain and tug to get it unstuck. Suprising me, it pops out of the ground. I fall to the ice. I get up angrily.
I glare at the seal. It clumsily lays on its back unable to get up. It sees the weapon, and realizes what I'm about to do. It just stays there helpless. An evil grin widens on my face.
For some reason, I stop. The wind blows softly. I hear a soft sound like my mother's voice.
"Please, Skipper. Turn back. This isn't you. Please, have mercy." I growl.
"If tu cared then why did tu leave me?!" I snarl.
"No do it! Be a man! You're a disgrace! You're nothing but a banished prince. Do this to at least gain some honor!" A voice like my father's yells.
"Please, Skipper." My mother gently pleads. I close my eyes. This isn't right. It won't bring my trono back. And it won't bring my mother back. My mother. It's all my fault she's dead. Rage and anger boils inside of me. I stare at the sello in hatred.
"It's all my fault!" I slam down the weapon. The dying beast lays gasping for its final breath. A pitiful whimpering sound catching my attenion.
I look back swiftly. A tiny pup nuzzles its mother, crying.
My corazón breaks. I just did what I had to to get my honor. In doing so, I killed a sello that did nothing to me. I killed the pup's mother.
How could I do that? I'm just as bad as Cain, Jezebel, and Deliah combined. Tears drizzle down my face.
"I'm so sorry!" I cry out. "I don't deserve to live! I didn't gain honor! I turned into a killer. A mindless killer!"
"No, Skipper, you're better than that! Pick up your sword, clean it, and go. I'll mostrar tu how to help the pup. But in the meantime, get home." My mother says. I do as she says. When I lift the sword, the pup flinches.
"Where is your pack?" I wonder, so I can help.
"You, penguins, already caged them all!"
"What?"
"Stay away! o I'll kill you!" He warns, and bares his teeth. I run to the cave. What did he mean? Cain must have put the seals in captivity.
Back at the kingdom, Cain sits on the throne. Jezebel sits por his side. Servants carry trays with banquets of freshly-caught fish. The general barges in.
"Your highness, I need to speak to tu in private about your newest proclaimation." He explains out of breath.
"How dare tu enter my trono room without permission!" The king snarls.
"It's important news! Not only about the seals, but King Ahaz's death!"
He rolls his eyes, and uses his flipper to shoo off his servants.
"Come, general." He says and finally gets up.
"Where are we going?" He trembles. Cain doesn't answer. His fins are folded behind his back as he walks to the window.
"What do tu see out there?" He asks the military leader. On the ground below, little penguins play in the distance. Right near the castle, is a cheering crowd.
"Happy penguins."
"Happy and safe penguins."
"I see,"
"Without the seals, the waters will be safe."
"Yes, nice touch on your part." The noble nodded.
"Do tu know what that means?"
"Uh, them catching más fish?"
"Yes, and that's a good thing. Because I'm raising taxes to ninety percent of their fish. And if they don't pay, o if they don't pay enough, feed them to the seals."
"But, sir. We need the seals. If we're parte superior, arriba of the comida chain, the pescado will go instinct! We'll starve!" The guard stammers.
"Was that insubordination? Cause those seals are getting pretty hungry! Besides, there are still orcas."
"Dear, tu can't do that." Jezebel reasoned.
"Enough! I've had enough of your barging in to every proclaimation I've made, mother! Feed her to the seals!"
"If is is your wish, your majesty." He commander bows. Soldiers grab his mother, and drag her out.
"You can't do this! I'm your mother! tu wouldn't even be here without me!" She yells.
"Much better." He smiles.
"Now, about Skipper's father." He gulps.
"This is your last warning! tu mention Skipper one más time, and you'll be where my mother is!" Cain warns.
"A thousand pardons, your highness. There is treasion among your kingdom. Some know of your order to 'take care of' King Ahaz."
"Just do what I told tu to do. If anyone gets in my way, even the smallest chick, they'll be eaten." Cain explains. He sets his flipper on a pingüino, pingüino de toy. His troops found it during their raid on the southern colony. It was Private's. He grasps it, and tears it in two.
Private sits in the cave with his three new "friends": Predator, Cat, and Skull. The three are skuas. They stare at Private with hunger in their eyes.
I waddle in with my head hung low. I don't notice the danger my hatchling friend is in.
"Hi, Skippah, do tu want to mean my new friends?" Private asks excitedly. The birds of prey panic. I roll my eyes, and smile, still oblivious to them, thinking they're imaginary.
"All right, Private." I chuckle, and turn my head. But my light mood erases, when I see a skua with their beak about to bite down on Private's head.
I jump, and slap the monster off.
"Hey! What was that for?!" Private whimpers.
"He was just about to bite your head off!" I explain.
"Why would tu do that, Predator?" Private whines.
"Forgive him. He's just stupid." Says the only female, Cat.
"Come on, Private. Play time's over." I say, picking him up.
"We were just getting started." Skull snickers. I tighten me flippers around Private. They cover over him completely, leaving only a small hole from him to breathe out of.
"Listen, we might have an understanding here. We can take that little suculent moursel off your wings - well, flippers." Skull tries to persuade me.
"Never," I defend Private. Who would do that? Oh, yeah, my father would. I guess, I didn't mess up on that so far.
"It's almost always the hard way. Well, except with the ex-prince. His father wanted us to eat him." Skull sighed. I flinch. The memory almost seems like only a amargo, amargos dream. I'm a new penguin.
"Oh, can we eat him now?! How about now?! Is now okay?! Can we eat now, Skull?! Huh?" Predator asks enthusiastically.
"We maybe able to have both of them, if we could kill the fat one." Predator sneered.
"Hey!" I yell. "Fat? This is muscle!" they burst out laughing. Even Private giggles.
"Oh, whatever!" I sigh, and begin running.
"After 'em!" Skull commands.
They begin flying after us. A glacier blocks our path. We meet a dead end.
"Love you, Daddy." Private says.
"Love you, too. No matter what happens, stay down. Run as fast as tu can if they somehow manage to get to you." I say.
They land in front of us. Skull looks to his team of hunters.
"Predator, tu get the juicy flank. Cat, tu know what to do." Skull leads.
"Aye, aye." Cat winks.
Predator digs his talons into my leg. Like a woodpecker, he drills into my ribs. I know, exactly what they're doing. They think, I'll try to hit him, which would take my flipper away from shielding Private.
That's when Cat tries to steal Private. I Peck down on her head. She retreats.
"I promise, I won't let them hurt you!" I promise Private. I fall to the ground, careful not to squash Private, which is greatly appreciated.
They peck and dig into my back. I shriek in pain. The attacking ceases on my back, and I relax. Then, they besiege the back of my neck. My body aches. It's clear that I can't take much more.
A saving sound blares from the water. It's the boat! The barco to New York. The sound causing the birds to flee. I get up and stare in awe.
"Thank you, Skippah." Private whispers. I had forgotten he was there in my daze.
"Ship's leaving in a minute!" The captain calls out. I'll never make it to the British barco and back in time. It's a hard choice, but I make it.
I race forward.
"Skippah, where are we going?" He asks. I make a turn at the end of the glacier, passing the ship. His ship's already leaving his mother is on board searching for him frantically.
"Goodbye, Private."
"Will I ever see tu again?"
"Maybe some day. tu come and visit me in New York, maybe."
"I will," He promises and hugs me.
"Now, tu be good."
"I promise." He smiles. "Mommy!"
She sees him.
"My baby!" She calls out.
"Hold on," I instruct. He grabs my flipper, and we jump into the water. I help him up onto the barco from the water. He leaps into his mother's arms.
"Bye-bye, Skippah." He waves. I wave back.
I swim as fast as I can to the other boat.
"Hey! Can some one help me up?" I call. A fin reaches for mine, and pulls me on.
"Thanks," I say.
"No problem," He answers.
"So, tu going to New York, too?"
"New York? Oh, tu must have gotten on the wrong ship. This is going to Denmark. My name's Hans." The frailecillo, puffin smiles.
Many years into the future, Private shuts my mission file.
"Private, what are tu doing in there?" I ask.
"Nothing," He answers, shuts the file, and runs into the main room of the HQ, where I stand.
"Skippah?"
"Yes?"
"Thank you! Thank tu for everything you've done!" Private says and hugs Skipper.

THE END ....... OF PART 1!
To Be Contuined
And thank you for reading! ;)