This is just a random idea I had. The story will pick up the pace at some point.

Chapter 1: The New Arrival

The penguins arrived at the warehouse at the zoo. In front of them, was a large crate with air holes on the sides.

Skipper turned to his second-in-command. "Kowalski, analysis."

"It's a crate," Kowalski replied, receiving a slap from Skipper. "Um, right." He cleared his throat. "Well, this appears to be the transfer we've been expecting."

"Where's it from?" Private asked.

Kowalski examined the label on the crate. "Uh, the Birmingham Zoo, in, well, Birmingham, Alabama."

"Birmingham, eh? Hm. That's where I'm from." Skipper said, thoughtfully.

Rico hacked up a crowbar. "Maybe ya know 'im."

The leader-penguin shrugged. "Maybe." He grabbed the crowbar. "Why don't we find out?" He used the crowbar to pry open the crate. A girl cautiously stepped out of it, and Skipper gasped.

The girl was a small mammal that Rico thought looked like a cross between a squirrel and mouse. She had brown fur with a white belly, a flat brown tail, and large dark brown eyes. She stretched, and Rico noticed a wide, furry stretch of something from her wrists to her ankles. What was that?

She gasped. "Skipper?" She had a thick, southern accent.

"Connie!" Skipper exclaimed, smiling. "I can't believe it!"

Connie tackled Skipper to the ground in a hug. "Well, I'll be a cactus in a horse fly costume! I ain't seen you since you and the others left for Denmark!"

"I know!" The leader-penguin narrowed his eyes. "Now, get off of me."

She blinked. "Oh, uh, sorry." She stood up and so did Skipper, who dusted himself off.

The others exchanged looks. "I, uh," Kowalski stammered, "I take it you know this woman, Skipper?"

"Heck, yeah!" the superior told him. "Boys, this is Connie." He looked at the female. "Connie," he gestured to the other penguins, "these are Kowalski, Rico, and Private. My new teammates."

Connie waved at them. "Pleasure to meet all y'all birdies!" She returned her attention to Skipper. "Speakin' of birdies," she looked around, "them-Manfredi-and-Johnson-fellers 'round here, at all?"

Now all the penguins exchanged looks. Rico told her, "Pro'lly dead." This earned him a slap from Skipper.

"What Rico means, is," Skipper paused, "well, uh, yeah. I'm pretty sure he's right."

"What!?" Connie exclaimed. "When'd that happen?"

Skipper shrugged. "Let's just say, it involved a certain previously mentioned trip to Denmark."

"Oh, my word..."

After a short pause, Skipper cleared his throat and turned to his teammates. "Boys, if you don't mind, Connie and me have some catching up to do."

"Skippah's friend sure seems nice," Private piped.

He, Rico, and Kowalski were back their headquarters. Skipper was out with Connie.

Rico nodded. He still couldn't place Connie's species. "Wha is she, anywa?" He asked Kowalski.

Kowalski punched Rico's stomach, and Rico coughed up a notepad and a red crayon. The scientist picked up the items and began drawing. "I believe Connie is," he showed the others a scribble of the new female, "a southern flying squirrel. Despite the name, however, they bare a bit of a resemblance to a mouse, and they are incapable of flight. Instead, they stretch out the furry membrane on the sides of their bodies and glide through the air. Think of it like a hang glider-"

"Boring!" Rico interrupted.

Marlene jumped out the pool in her habitat and shook off the water droplets clinging to her chestnut fur. She breathed in the fresh, spring air.

Her heart did somersaults, when she heard her crush's voice.

"And, over here, we have the lemur habitat," Skipper was saying. "Steer clear of that place."

Marlene hopped up and looked her habitat wall. She frowned. There was a girl with him. She seemed to be some sort of squirrel.

"How come?" the girl asked with a thick, southern accent.

"Once the one with the crown starts talking, I think you'll understand."

Marlene shook her head. Come on, Marlene, she scolded herself. Don't be like that. You're not the only girl Skipper's ever met.

She jumped down in front of them. "Hey, Skipper," she greeted smiling. She glanced at the girl next him. "Who's your friend?"

"Marlene, this is Connie," Skipper answered. "She's a friend from my old zoo. Connie, this is my pal, Marlene."

Connie stuck out her paw. "Put 'er there, Marlene."

Marlene shook her paw. "It's nice to see another girl in this zoo. It's mostly a bunch of guys." She looked Connie over. "Not to be rude, but, uh, are you a squirrel, or...?"

Skipper's friend chuckled at this. "I reckon you's is mighty close. I be a southern flyin' squirrel." She shrugged. "Kicker is that I can't fly none. Can only glide 'round like a tumble weed in a twister."

Whatever that means, the otter thought, confused by Connie's statement.

So... What do you think?