Disclaimer: Penguins of Madagascar and all related characters are the property of Nickelodeon, DreamWorks, and any or all related affiliates. Characters of my own creation are my property and may not be used by others without express permission. This fiction was created for the purpose of having fun and being creative, no money is being made in any way from its creation and posting.

Hell Hath No Fury

Chapter 7

By

Wildgoose

(The room is moderately lit as Erin and Jr. sit in front of monitors keeping an eye on Ming's brain patterns as well As vital signs. Ming herself lies on Jr.'s bed with the appearance of resting comfortably this time around and Marlene being the concerned mother that she is lies sleeping next to Ming in attempt to keep a close watch. Jr. rubs his eyes and yawns in fatigue.)

Erin: Those are contagious you know, …suck it up already. You're a kid, you're supposed to have boundless energy.

Jr.: I can't help it, …staring at these screens is making me sleepy. And actually mom, we're not really born with all of that energy, …we drain it out of the adults around us. That's why parents seem to age faster after they have kids.

Erin: (looks amused) Strangely enough that actually makes sense. Thanks for letting me know that you're really a life sucking vampire, Jr.

Jr.: Eh, …it's my true calling in life. Being a techie is really just a side job for me.

Erin: So long as your life has direction.

Jr.: (sighs) I'm thinking my life would have more direction if I could get into a school somewhere and put my brains to some real use.

Erin: Humans don't let animals into the kind of schools you're thinking of Jr., Sorry…

Jr.: (optimistic) I could do it all online, …they have schools that let you do that.

Erin: There's probably paperwork that you don't have the information for and from what I've heard human schools also cost a LOT of money.

Jr.: I could use Skipper's credentials to get in and apply for aid, …the zookeeper got him into the system a while back didn't he? Did he ever have Skipper taken out?

Erin: (smirks) Not yet, ….but I'm certain that he's thought about it.

Jr.: (Jabs Erin's shoulder) Seriously, mom.

Erin: (Smirks) This didn't just pop up, …you've been thinking about this for a while haven't you. (Sighs) Jr., you're a penguin. The world doesn't exactly expect a whole lot from you other than to be who you are and look cute in front of the masses. Now please don't think that I'm trying to hold you back but what exactly are you trying to prove?

Jr.: (shrugs) I don't want to prove anything except that I can do it. (Looks away for a moment) Okay, maybe I'd like to prove to myself that I can be more than just an animal in a zoo. (Pause) Haven't you ever wanted that?

Erin: (smiles) It's why I joined Antarctic Command in the first place. You know, …before they shut down my unit. (Notices the other penguins entering the room) We'll talk about this some more later.

Syron: (As she waddles over to look at the monitors) Anything interesting happen lately?

Jr.: Well, she hasn't leapt out of bed lately screaming that she's on fire if that's what you mean.

Erin: She's been pretty quiet lately. (Points to the monitors) There's definite activity but whatever is going on doesn't seem to be disturbing to her. (Pause) Come to think of it, this might be the best sleep she's had in days.

Pepper: Are we able to tell who she's connected to?

Erin: Kind of sort of, from what Ming has described from her dreams we're pretty sure this other pattern being displayed right now is Loki. He also seems to be the sibling she connects to most frequently, …possibly because he's been enduring the most stress, at least in his mind.

Elisa: Why would that be a factor?

Erin: Concern, if she's worried about him then it seems logical that he'd be the one she thinks of when she starts to dream. If that's the case then she might actually be able to learn to control who she connects with.

Syron: Unfortunately any stress is probably not just in his mind.

Jr.: Why, what have you heard?

Syron: We've established communications with the zookeeper, …he's informed us that the pups never met up with him. They were intercepted and abducted by Skipper's old adversary Hans for an unknown purpose. (Sighs) He's sent Skipper and the others after them along with some backup. The only good news he was able to provide is that Hannibal's girlfriend is alive. That's the only word we have for now.

Elisa: Dios Mio, …so what do we do?

Syron: Watch Ming, she's the closest thing to real time intel that we have on what's happening to those kids. (Pause) Maybe she can give us clues to where they are, …if so we can relay that intel to the guys through the zookeeper. With luck we can get the kids home safe and maybe a little faster than they would without us.

Pepper: (groans) What we need is to be able to communicate with her while she's dreaming.

Meg: Well, …if anybody here knows how to insert yourself into somebodies dreams then now is the time to speak up.

Jr.: (scratches his head in thought for a moment) Maybe we don't have to.

Meg: This isn't going to have anything to do with "the matrix" is it?

Syron: (Ignores Meg's comment) Go on Jr., I'm listening…

Jr.: Meditation, …it's almost like sleeping but you're awake. Mrs. Kitsune taught Hannibal how to do it, ..maybe she can teach Ming. (Pause) It's got to be worth a shot, …if she's still technically awake then we can talk to her while she's seeing whatever it is that she's seeing.

Syron: Assuming that she can dream while in a trance like state instead of natural sleep.

Erin: Well,…like the boy said. It's worth a shot. (Marlene wakes up and rubs her eyes)

Marlene: What's worth a shot?

Syron: We're just tossing about ideas on how to figure out what's going on in your daughters head. (Syron fills Marlene in on what they've learned about the pups so far and moments later Marlene just sits on the edge of the bed looking dumbstruck.)

Marlene: Oh my God, …and I actually encouraged Skipper to give the guy a chance when he was here supposedly looking to reconcile with him. (Looks at Syron) We can do something, right? We're not just going to sit here are we? (Tears up a little) I want my kids back, ….please get me my kids back!

Syron: Calm down, Marlene. Anything we learn will be passed on to Skipper, I promise. We'll do everything we can to get those kids back. (Marlene looks at her sleeping daughter and moves closer to her)

Marlene: Please sweetie, …give us something we can use. ( At that instant Ming's vitals on the monitor spike and she sits up in bed and starts to vigorously wipe her face and mouth with her paws)

Ming: (still wiping her mouth) EEeeewwwwwwwwwwwww! (Everyone exchanges glances)

Marlene: What happened, Ming? What did you dream about?

Ming: I got kissed on the mouth by another girl! (Light laughter erupts from about the room)

Marlene: (confused) Say what now?

Erin: Just to make sure, was it Loki again this time? (Ming nods) You've got to keep in mind, Ming. What you're experiencing is actually happening to the other person, not you. You don't need to take whatever happens personally.

Marlene: Wait, …some girl whom nobody here even knows kissed my son?

Pepper: Did anything else happen?

Ming: They were thanking each other for something. I couldn't tell what though, …Loki was drowning out the words with expressions of how much his tail hurt.

Marlene: (looks lost) So Loki really was burned….

Jr.: (oblivious) A girl and a guy exchanging kisses and thank you's ? (Chuckles heartily) Hey who knows, maybe my best bud got lucky! (He is met with stares from everyone except Marlene who gives him the evil eye.) I um, …uh, …..or maybe I should just keep my mouth shut and hide under my bed for a while before I find myself buried in an old cardboard box in the park. (Sits in his chair saying nothing for a while)

Erin: Ming, …what did you mean by Loki was drowning out what was being said. If he was talking to somebody how could he drown himself out?

Ming: My "gift" if you really want to call it that seems to be getting worse. (looks down and away as if afraid to tell anyone)

Marlene: Ming, …worse how? Does doing this hurt you?

Ming: (shakes her head) When I dream about the others, …I don't just see and hear what they say anymore. (Looks down again) I hear what's in their head too.

Pepper: Whoa wait, …are you saying you can read their minds now? …Or just that you can hear their internal monologue?

Ming: What's the second one?

Pepper: Internal monologue is what they're saying to themselves on the inside.

Ming: That one, …that's what I hear.

Pepper: This is incredible, …somebody should be writing a paper about all of this! Why is all of this happening now? (Pause as she turns back to Ming) …Or have you always been able to do this stuff and just haven't told anybody.

Ming: (shakes her head) It started a few months ago; I thought it was cool at first because the others sometimes sneak out at night and I could see what they were doing while I slept. (Smiles a little) Hannibal's internet chats with his girl were always interesting, …and sometimes steamy. (Shrugs) I actually liked it…

Marlene: (clears her throat as the others have begun to hang on Ming's words waiting for more details) Okay, that's enough. You can give me all the dirt on your brother later after he's safe at home where I can wring his neck for having a secret romance with an older girl that I've never met.

Ming: If it makes any difference to you mom, I've seen portions of their video chats. She's very pretty, …and while she does look close to your age I think she might actually be a little younger than you. Does that help?

Marlene: (shrugs) Eh, …a little I suppose. (Pause) I still think she's robbing the cradle though! (Long pause) You uh, ….don't have anything on Yoshi that you might want to share with me do you? No mystery guys hiding in the closet or anything?

Ming: Mom, all I can really say is that Yoshi is, ….Yoshi. That's about all I can give up without humiliating her.

Marlene: Uh huh, ..growing up stuff? (Ming nods) Got it… (Sighs) Okay listen, …we're going to try something new so the girls here are going to bring Kitsune in on everything that's been happening to see if we can teach you a few things.

Syron: Don't worry, …we'll tell you everything once we actually have a plan.

(Cut to Legoland as Humans are seen running in all directions as all hell breaks loose near the buses. From the POV of people looking back as they run, sporadic explosions take place. Snapping to the courtyard outside the bus terminal the penguins have their flippers full with the puffin security force. Occasional grenades are thrown from either side which are the explosions being seen from the fleeing people. Amidst the melee Kowalski jumps toward Rico who takes him by the flippers and spins about like a top using Kowalski to knock down as many of the puffins as possible. Skipper is engaged in single combat with another puffin as is Private.)

Skipper: (blocking kicks and punches from his opponent) Kowalski, …I need options man!

Kowalski: (gets knocked to the ground by a puffin who in turn gets partially ingested by Rico who then regurgitates him into a rain barrel nearby) Our points of egress are blocked Skipper, …there's just too many of them! (Kowalski is knocked down again and once again is rescued by Rico who grabs the puffin from behind and performs a spinning pile driver. Once completed Rico quickly gets up rubbing his rump as the birds beak caught him there. In the background Private calls over as he gets dog piled by several puffins.)

Private: Skipper, …we need to get the heck out of here!

Skipper: Stand your ground men, ..what we need is firepower! Rico, ….tell me you've got something special for us! (Rico regurgitates a mini gun with ammo and immediately begins to lay down suppressing fire. While he is doing this the penguins take cover behind some benches in front of the bus depot)

Private: (As the puffins are seen ducking for cover anywhere they can) Rico won't be able to hold them off for much longer Skipper.

Kowalski: I concur, …that weapon simply expends ordinance far too quickly.

Skipper: (looks about for an exit) Options Kowalski…

Kowalski: It doesn't look good, Skipper. We can't hold them off long enough to exploit a point of egress. We may have to surrender.

Skipper; Negative, …that word doesn't exist in my vocabulary. If we surrender then we can't get to the kids and THAT is NOT an option. Now think, …what do we have to use to our advantage around here.

Kowalski: (Scratches his bill for a moment) Air!

Private: This is hardly the time to have a bout of gas, Kowalski.

Kowalski: Bodily exhaust can hardly be considered air, Private. I'm talking about air support, …we could call in the blues to provide another exit for us. (Rico runs out of ammo and the penguins begin to take fire from the puffins)

Skipper: The Dane's brought guns too? Why didn't I get the memo about that?

Kowalski: Since we've been in the middle of a combat situation, Skipper. I would say you didn't get the memo because I have yet to actually WRITE the thing.

Skipper: Alright calm down man, …don't get your underwear in a bunch. (Ducks even lower to avoid a close call from incoming munitions)

Rico: (grunts) I didn't wear underwear today!

Private: What are you talking about, we're penguins. We don't wear underwear.

Rico: (grunts) Speak for yourself! (The scene briefly snaps to a moment in the past where Rico is alone in the HQ waddling about in a pair of briefs and playing with the elastic waist band as he chuckles to himself. (Think Opus from Bloom County®) The scene snaps back to the present.)

Skipper: Never mind the details, Private! Rico, get on the com and let the blues know that we could use a hand ASAP. (Looks toward the buses as Rico puts his flipper to the com piece in his ear and begins to talk) Rico, grenade me. (Rico hacks up four grenades) When I give the word the three of you high tail it to the closest bus, …I'll be right behind you. (A grenade flies over the bench and lands in Skipper's flippers) Hot potato! (Tosses the grenade to Private who tosses it to Kowalski who tosses it to Rico who finally tosses it back at the puffins before it explodes.) Now is as good a time as any, …GO, GO! (The other three belly slide towards the bus as Skipper begins to toss his grenades to the puffins to keep them ducking.)

(Cut to inside the MH-53 as the blues lounge about in boredom having been forced to wait in their hiding spot. Everyone picks up their heads however as the radio comes to life with Rico's distress call. Mel hops into his seat at his console and puts on his head gear. A moment later he speaks up to the others.)

Mel: Digger, we have a priority message from the yanks. They're under fire and requesting extraction. They're located at their transports drop off point along heading zero six eight about ten cliques in.

Digger: At least we planned ahead of time where that would be. (Turns to Babs) Spin the blades! Let's go to work people. (Everybody takes their stations as the helicopter begins to power up) Toby, Don, get set up. I need you ready to hook up as soon as we get to the LZ, it may be too hot down there to try to touch down.

Toby: We've never been into an actual combat situation, Digger. How do we know what to do?

Digger: You'll do exactly what you've always done when ordered to do so. The rest of us will have your backside and we'll figure this whole mess out when we get there. (Looks about) This is what we do, mates. It's just gotten a little sporty this time about. (The chopper lifts off soon after reaching full power and people out for a walk nearby struggle to keep their footing as a helicopter rises out of a clearing very close by with a gale of wind beneath it. Babs quickly climbs to two hundred feet while en route.) Mel, the yanks will likely need some cover before we can pick them up. On my authority, go weapons hot.

Mel: (works at his console) Weapons are hot, radar is up, and FLIR is online. We're ready for action.

Digger: Right then, …let's go get some.

(Cut to the NY crew as they take refuge inside of a bus. The weapons fire has ceased but the puffins are moving to surround the penguins.)

Kowalski: Do you need options Skipper?

Skipper: (huffs as he looks at the situation around him) Negative, …I've already got one. (Pause) Kowalski, …I need you to hotwire this thing. Rico, Private, you're on pedal duty. (Smirks) We're taking the scenic route and the Dane's don't have any bus fare! (Kowalski jumps under the dashboard and after crossing some wires and shocking the daylights out of himself he finally gets the bus started. The engine grumbles as diesel exhaust pours from the tailpipe causing the puffins to halt their approach in wonder of the penguin's intentions)

Simon: (raised voice) We know you are in there, Skipper. Surrender now and your comrades will be allowed to leave unharmed, …we only want you.

Skipper: (pauses in thought) Men, ..assuming that puffin is sincere. I'll understand if you want to take the offer and bail out of here. This is my mess, …and my kids. None of it has to be your problem.

Private: Bail out? Rubbish!

Rico: (grunts) Bail out! (Regurgitates a tissue and then proceeds to wipe his posterior with it.) That's what I think of bailing out.

Kowalski: They're right, Skipper. Whether you caused this god awful mess or not we are a team and penguins never let penguins swim alone. However under the circumstances we will reserve the right to demand at a later time the reason WHY the Dane's hate you so much.

Skipper: Glad to have you all on board, …now let's make some puffin road pizza. (Rico and Private jump on the pedals and begin to rev the engine. At Skippers command Kowalski jumps onto the shifter and puts the bus in gear. The puffins closest to the bus attempt to fly away but collide with the windshield as Skipper plows through the scores of puffins in front of him.) Kowalski, …is that a radio on that console?

Kowalski: It appears so Skipper.

Skipper: (As he brings the bus about for another pass by jogging on the steering wheel in the direction he wants to turn.) Find me some tunes to set the mood on this fine drive. (Kowalski begins to fiddle with the radio dial)

Kowalski: It doesn't appear that we're going to find any broadcasts in English, Skipper. (Pause as he ejects a home burned disk from the CD player) However there DOES appear to be an unlabeled CD in here.

Skipper: I'll take it, …something is better than nothing. How can I be expected to run down my enemy without some tunes to listen to? (Kowalski re-inserts the disk and "Highway to Hell" by AC/DC begins to play) Huh, …interesting taste in road music this bus driver has. (Thumps are heard as the bus jostles about a little.) Any idea what that was, Kowalski?

Kowalski: (looks at the mirrors to look behind them) Um at a guess, …I would say that was your aforementioned puffin road pizza. Clearly these birds are not as quick to get into the air as other species.

Skipper: (Chuckles) That should teach mother nature for making those guys so awkward in the air. (Ahead of them several Puffins fly cris-cross ahead of the bus's path of travel while dropping nails.)

Kowalski: Road hazard! (Skipper attempt to turn but still clips the nails rupturing the tires on one side causing the bus to veer into a nearby building, crash through the other side and then veer sharply again causing the bus to overturn.)

(Cut to inside the helicopter as the blues approach the town and perform a flyby before slowing and coming about for another pass.)

Babs: (looking down at the ground) That's a lot of puffins! (Glances at Nigel) What do you figure, …about fifty?

Nigel: Close to it. Mel, …see if you can get the yanks to mark their position.

Mel: (Over the com) Yankee one, blue squadron. We do not have a visual, say your position. (Skipper comes over the com)

Skipper: (over the com) We're holed up in the overturned bus, …you can't miss us.

Mel: Understood. (Glances at Babs as she gives a thumbs up from the cockpit) (Over the com) We have a visual on the bus . What is your situation?

Skipper: (over the com) The Dane's are getting too close for comfort, ...we could use some breathing room and a way out of here.

Mel: (over the com) Understood, …you need breathing room. (Works his console) Yankee one, get small. The rain is coming… (Gives a thumbs up to Babs)

(Cut to inside the bus as the penguins look out at the puffins through a window)

Private: Get small? Are they expecting Kowalski to shrink us? (Fifty caliber machine gun fire begins to dodge across the ground between the puffins and the bus.)

Kowalski: No Private, …they mean GET DOWN! (The penguins all hit the deck as the machine gun fire continues)

Skipper: (looks out the window again) They're not advancing on us anymore, …but they're not backing off either. (Over the com) The Dane's aren't getting the message, what else have you got?

Mel: (over the com) Stand by… (Looks at digger) Orders sir?

Digger: If we use unguided rockets then there are going to be casualties any way you slice it.

Mel: Agreed, …I recommend we give the GDO a try. If I understood Kowalski correctly, It's output can be precisely controlled and it may be enough to knock them on their bums and make them think twice.

Digger: GDO?

Mel: (Smirks) Garage Door Opener, …it's Kowalski's idea of an affectionate nickname for his kids weapon design.

Digger: Sounds interesting, …very well then. Light em' up!

Mel: (works his console) Weapon is powering. (Over the com) Yankee one, stay small. We're sending heat. (Cut to outside of the chopper as stores pylons extend from the large box Kowalski installed underneath the helicopter. Cut to the inside again as Mel gives a thumbs up to Babs who orients the helicopter to bear on the puffins and fires. A bright blue plasma burst is emitted that lands just short of the Dane's sending earth and puffins into the air. Babs fires three more times as the intended result is achieved with the puffins retreating away. Babs repositions the craft over the overturned bus as Don and Toby hook up and prepare to be lowered over the side to retrieve the NY crew. )

(Cut to a short time later inside of the chopper as it leaves the area of Legoland.)

Digger: Things didn't go as planned I take it?

Skipper: (grumbles) They were waiting for us, …I don't get it. How did the Dane's know we were coming?

Mel: Could Hans have tipped them off.

Skipper: The Dane's hate him too so I don't see why he would.

Private: (Looking out the still open side door) Skipper, …why are we heading back toward the coast?

Skipper: (looks out the door) Good question, …the last time we checked the kids were only a couple of miles from that town. What's the problem, Digger?

Digger: We need to re-think this plan mate, we've been getting communications over the short wave from your zoo keeper about your kids. He says he's been getting intelligence that they're being tortured.

Skipper: What?

Digger: He set one of them on fire, …I'm sorry to say.

Skipper: WHAT? Turn this thing around now! Why didn't you say something sooner! Turn this thing around we have to get them right now!

Digger: (calming tone) We will mate, …with haste. …But we need a plan first or we're going to run into exactly what we just bailed you out of, a mess. Now we know where Hans is but we still don't know where the kids are being held inside that bunker. You don't think that if Hans has gone to all of this trouble he's not going to have a few surprises for you? The whole point of making them suffer is probably to make you rush in there without thinking things through first. (Pause) This Hans guy seems to be doing his best to make sure you lose your mind before you get there. (Skipper lets out a frustrated yell as he kicks and punches the side of the helicopter several times)

Kowalski: We're going to get them back, Skipper. (Pause) …And then we're going to level that place right on top of Hans, Rico can make sure of that. (Rico nods vigorously as Skipper begins to stare at the floor

Skipper: How did the zookeeper get this information is he's all the way back in the states?

Digger: We're not sure, …all he said was that the source was considered reliable. (Skipper sighs heavily with worry)

(The scene snaps to the ground just outside of the town as Red and several dozen squirrels having watched the penguins be extracted now watch as the chopper leaves.)

Red: (Sighs) Well that's going to be disappointing for him.

Squirrel: Should we try to track them?

Red: No, …he'll be back. It's a shame though, …Hans was so looking forward to having some quality time with Skipper. (Turns to the other squirrels) The rest of you head back to base.

Squirrel: You're not coming with us?

Red: (points to the town) What, and just leave all of that wonderful kindling to sit out there? (Chuckles evilly) I'll be along soon enough. (The squirrels turn to head back to base leaving Red to walk toward the town alone while singing to himself.) "The roof, the roof, …the roof is on fire! We don't need no water…."

(Cut to the control room inside of Han's bunker. Hans is occupied with the radio while Heidi and a number of squirrels work in the background.)

Hans: I remember our agreement, Doris. have no fear. I do feel the need to ask a question though, …are you CERTAIN that these otters are Skipper's children?

Doris: (high pitched voice) Of course I'm certain, Kowalski has never failed to spill the beans on anything. Even with a family he still has a thing for me, …all I ever have to do is splash him a bit and stroke his ego. He turns to putty in my flippers every time. (Pause) Why do you ask by the way?

Hans: Skipper just seems to be taking such a long time to get here, and to top that off I'm worried about what blowhole is up to.

Doris: I told you not to trust him…

Hans: Yes, …I remember. (Pause) Do you have any new information for me?

Doris: Nothing, …the penguins have been holed up in their habitat for days. Even that young skittish otter has made herself scarce.

Hans: I doubt that's of any concern. I'll talk to you later…

Doris; Wait, …before you go. I heard the word is that Menschen finally laid another egg after all of this time. Congratulations, …has it hatched yet?

Hans; What the, ….? How could you possibly know about that?

Doris: Hey, …I have my connections. So…?

Hans: (grumbles) One offspring doesn't replace another, Hans out….(disconnects from the radio) There is no privacy in this world anymore.

Heidi: (waddles over) Isn't that similar to what Menschen said to you when you hatched this revenge plan of yours?

Hans: What's your point?

Heidi: That killing somebody else's kid to get revenge won't bring yours back. (A tear rolls from Han's eye)

Hans: Leave me be…

Heidi: Hans, …

Hans: I said leave me be! (Heidi sighs and waddles away. As Hans watches her leave he drifts in thought and the scene ripples to a moment in the past.)

(It is night at the Hoboken zoo and the vet has arrived on scene to take a very young puffin into his care. As an animal carrier is being set up Hans consoles his daughter.)

Hans: Have no fear leipschen, …you will be back before you know it.

Leipschen: (Hacking cough) …But why do I keep getting sick poppa? I've been to the doctor more times than you or momma.

Hans: It's this wretched place. (Looks about at the habitat) Nothing is clean here, …not even the food.

Leipschen: I don't wanna live here anymore, poppa. Can't we go live somewhere else?

Hans: I'm trying, sweetie. I'm going to get us all out of this cesspool if I have to blast the fences down. (The vet scoops up Leipschen and puts her into the carrier.) I'll see you soon… (Leipschen can be heard coughing as the vet takes her away. The scene fades to a week later as Hans works in the far corner of his habitat trying to gain access to an electrical panel that he managed to dig up next to the electric fence. After an eternity working with a screw driver he fashion from a piece of metal he found Hans finally get the panel open and begins to chisel at the wires. Sometime later Hans comes running to Menschen.)

Hans: I did it, … I deactivated the fence! Be ready to leave when I get back, …I'm going for leipschen. (Hans runs off and vaults the fence without consequence. He eventually makes his way into the vets office through the building ventilation shaft. Watching from the grate near the floor, Hans see's the vet filling out paperwork but see's no sign of his daughter.) Where is she? (Moments later the vet receives a jolt to the neck knocking him out. He slumps over revealing Hans behind him looking about. He jumps from the back of the chair onto the table.) Leipschen, …where are you? We're getting out of here! (Pause) Leipschen…? (He waddles forward and hears the crinkle of the paper the vet was working on as he steps on it. Hans looks down to study it and is able to make out the words "deceased animal record". Hans looks across the table and notices that not far away is a wooden box marked for incineration. He grabs something to pry the box open with and as soon as the top comes off Hans falls to his rump with face paled. Inside was the body of a young puffin.)

(The scene ripples to the present as Hans sobs in his chair in remembrance of the moment. The squirrels working nearby look on saying nothing.)

Chapter 8 coming soon….

Comments and suggestions are always welcome.