He found the others just where he had left them, patiently waiting for him to return. Ava and Kowalski were talking about some science-y stuff. Skipper's eyes narrowed.
"Okay men," he said, as much to break up their conversation then to attract his men's attention. "Next we'll go to the higher mammal's habitat."
"Ooh," Private said and clapped. He turned to Ava. "You'll like them," he informed her. "They're really smart and fancy."
Kowalski scoffed, but Ava smiled "Cool." She said, "Lead the way."
Private eagerly slid off, the other four closely following. He vaulted the wall and landed in the habitat.
"What the deuce?" Mason asked. He had been having an evening tea with Phil when the five penguins had jumped over their wall.
"Oh, sorry Mason," Private apologised sheepishly. "We didn't mean to startle you."
"Private!" Skipper said. "Stop messing around!"
"Oh," Private said, confused. "Um, sorry Skipper." He turned back to Mason and Phil. "This is Ava." He told them. "She's our new roommate," he added abashed.
"I say, a girl?" Mason said.
Ava gave him a charming smile. "It's an honour to meet to you," she said.
"Well…uh…yes…umm," Mason began, stunned. Phil shook his head and tapped on Mason's shoulder. Mason turned to him just as Phil began a long stream of hand-signals.
"I'm not drooling!" Mason said outraged.
Ava gave a giggle. Both chimpanzees stared at her.
She smiled. "Sorry. I'm Ava, by the way."
Mason grabbed a flipper and kissed it in a very gentlemen-like way. "Mason. And this dope over here is Phil."
Her smile widened.
Skipper looked at the unfolding scene with disgust. Was there no one this spy couldn't charm?
He coughed. "We better be getting on. Lot's to do."
"Oh, of course," Mason said, dropping Ava's flipper. "It was very nice meeting you. I hope you'll visit?" he said, in the form of a question.
"Of course," she promised.
"Excellent," he replied.
"Come on men." Skipper said, "We have a schedule to keep."
"Actually, Skipper, that's not strictly true. In fact our whole day was planned around the-"
Skipper slapped him. "Sche-du-le!" he repeated through his beak.
"Yes Skipper, sorry Skipper." Kowalski said quickly.
They all leapt over the wall. Ava lingered for a second. She wondered how she was ever going to be friends with such a crazed, aggressive, paranoid penguin. She sighed, then followed them over the wall.