Chapter 10 Thank you to my fellow readers and reviewers. Read My Stories Please - I am glad my cliff hanger was effective in the sense that they made you want to read on! Also, thank you RainShadow for you continued support since day one :D I hope you enjoy it.
Breathing heavily, James continued to valiantly battle against the ferocious winds by lowering his head and taking small baby steps. Progress was slow, yet James kept thinking positively that every step was a step closer to redeeming himself. I musn't give in James thought to himself as his body screamed in agony as his muscles began to involuntarily vibrate with the effort of keeping him upright against the shoving, bullying elements that were fighting him. Fatigued, James decided to take a quick rest and took some comfort in the shelter, under some roots that were poking out of the ground as the tree had clearly been uprooted. Shivering, James rubbed each of his flippers in turn trying to encourage some warmth in to them. Despite the fact he was a penguin, James had never experienced anything like these bitting cold winds before. After all being hatched in captivate meant that he had only known the warmth that radiated from the hum of the temperature controlled habitat (the cables vibrated underneath the concrete on the roof of the HQ). These sub-zero temperatures were not welcomed at all! However, James knew he would gain nothing by panicking about this unfamiliar situation or as he viewed it a change to his normal environment. Jokingly James whispered to himself "It's not like penguin can contract frostbite!" as he giggled and looked around expectantly for the group to erupt in to fits of laughter, for them to groan with annoyance at the cheesy joke or for uncle Skipper to give one of his unimpressed glare. Sadly, James seemed to jolt back to the present as he acknowledge none of his family or friends were here with him. A single tear leaked from his eye, but James wiped it roughly away and although it still stabbed at his heart he recalled Sadie's harsh words even though she didn't mean to say them 'toughen up or ship out!'. "Your right Sadie! Hang on guys I am coming for you!" James shouted defiantly towards the dark skies that seemed to respond as thunder rumbled in the distance.
After what seemed like hours the winds finally gave up and they had slowly retreated. James had moved from his little sanctuary ages ago and that was when he had stumbled across his destination at long last: Hoboken zoo (he had endured a horrible tram journey to get to New Jersey and then had decided it would be safer to avoid human contact by travelling through the woods). James had no idea where Savio's lair would be located, however he had a hunch it would be here somewhere. Boldly entering the already open gates, James tried to ignore the disturbing sounds of the rough and suffering animals of this run-down hell hole. Thouroughly searching the zoo, James felt overwhelmed by Hoboken's maze like structure and the signs were more of a hindrance than being helpful. Partially because they were almost illegible, but also since they did not lead to where they claimed to be sending a passerby! Poor James felt like he was walking around in circles and yet he did not want to risk getting a better look of the zoo by balancing on one of the many inhabitants wall. Just in case he was dragged in and ripped to shreds. If he was fated to die here then it would be in combat with Savio; in a final bid to prove himself and more importantly to salvate his friends! Alerted by a shifty looking shadow, James froze with fear, but then he realised this is what he always did. Now was not the time to be a yellow-bellow so swallowing his fear James leapt in to a fighting stance. Gleaming, a pair of eyes shone from behind the trash can and as they eyes looked diaganol, James wondered if the creature was cocking its head in a curious manner. He relaxed slightly, but then another thought crossed his mind or was this creature (a possible enemy) plotting on how it was going to murder him! Once again James regained his fighting stance and yelled as loud as he dared "I'm not afraid of you!" but he soon regretted his words as the creature prepared to bound towards him. Skidding, to a halt in front of him, James gasped in shock at who stood before him...
Waking up Skipper coughed violently and looked around in a slightly dazed fashion. Picking himself up he took a few wobbly steps toward Kowalski and Rico, who were both still unconscious. Skipper placed a flipper on each of their backs and only removed it when he saw the rise and fall of their breathing. Suddenly, Skipper scanned the perimeter for Private before it dawned on him that Private had plummeted to his death... A wave of grief and guilt hit Skipper and his legs buckled underneath him as he crumpled to the floor and let out a cry of anguish. Slowly, Rico and Kowalski stirred and held a flipper to their heads, which were pounding after the assualt of the winds that they had battled for the entire night before they had succumbed to it. They soon joined in with Skipper's weeping at the loss of their dear friend. "Private had such a big heart and an even bigger smile!" Skipper reminisced fondly as he thought about all of the good times he had spent with his youngest recruit. "I will miss him misunderstanding every sciencetific thing I would say and his naiveity!" Kowalski murmured and Rico just let out a distressed wail of "Private!" before choking on his sobs. Skipper sighed and signalled to his team with a heavy heart to move. "Skipper where are we going? Surely when our planes crashed we were thrown of our course..." Kowalski asked quietly and Rico glanced at Skipper with sad eyes. "I had a gut feeling... I think Savio is somewhere in the Hoboken zoo. It doesn't matter if they aren't we need to find them and for Private's sake, we need to care for Victoria and James as if they were our own flesh and blood." Skipper explained absent-mindedly as he began to walk in the direction his gut was urging him to go. Rico croaked "Private... would do same thing" and Kowalski nodded in agreement.
"Max!" James squeaked in surprise at the ginger tom. "Hey litte guy. Sorry to put you on the defence like that, but it is hard to know who to trust in this domain of woefulness and hopelessness!" Max said with a tone that implied he had a lot of wisdom about New Jersey. James nodded and he explained his situation to Max, but he graciously declined Max's offer for help. "This is something I need to do by myself." James said and Max smiled encouraginly before slinking off. Entering Savio's habitat James felt around the make shift cave before finiding a secret button. Pushing it James let out a small scream of shock as he rapidly desended down a the hole. Rolling in to the lair James stood up and eyed Savio, who was tormenting his friends in the cave by teasing them. Savio kept prodding his tails at them through the bars, hissing and displaying his sharp fangs. "Savio! Let them go you reptilian scoundrel!" James growled and his body shook with adrenaline and rage. "Well well... Who would have thought the pipsqueak has a voice and not one of an angel, but a force to be reckoned with!" Savio said more to himself then anyone else and smiled. He enjoyed a challenge. James took a deep breath and the other chicks shouted encouragement. In frustration Savio slammed his tail in to the cage sending it flying and the chicks landed on the floor still inside their claustrophobic prison. A muffled sound at the bottom of the pile (Roxy) said "Were screwed!". Dolores disagreed "If we don't believe in James then who will!" and Quin said with sincerity "Dolores that is the smartest thing you have ever said in your entire life!" and the other chicks all began to chorous James name in unison once again. James barely acknowledged them as he started to focus and his final thought was 'I'm ready!'.
Me: Well I hope you enjoyed this chapter! The next one might be the last one... We are on the verge of a showdown ;)
James: Don't leave it any longer! I can't take this.
Me: Stay strong James the others are counting on you
Me: Please feel free to review xxxx