Hawk was four steps ahead of everyone else. He just couldn't stand to think about Grace, Sarge, or Akela right then.
Grace stared at the ground. She kept all weight off her right paw, and it was really taking a toll on her shoulder.
Skipper stopped at the edge of the roof and offered to help Grace down.
She shook her head, sending a few drops of water to the side. "I'm not broken."
The penguin sighed. "I know, but-"
Grace had already started down the stairs.
"I don't think she wants to talk to you." Alexander jumped on the border of the roof.
"What gave you that idea?" Flora agreed.
"She's just being Grace." Skipper glared at them.
"No, she isn't." Alexander followed Grace's lead, and paused on the third step. "Grace's emotions are being overwhelmed. First she gets kidnapped and injured then witnesses as ACIS is destroyed. Just that was enough to trigger a minor Post Traumatic Stress response. That's why she passed out in my floor."
"Oh, well, if that's all." Skipper was relieved at first.
"I'm not finished yet." The monitor moved down three more steps, reaching the 1st platform, "Her ability to cope was under some stress, and quite possibly healing itself, until Sarge attacked her. Now every thought Grace has is just pushing her closer and closer to insanity."
"Grace is not crazy." Skipper landed on the platform next to Alexander.
"Grace is avoiding you because you are a reminder of ACIS, and everyone there." Kowalski finished.
"Are you all coming or not?" Johnson called up to them.
"Yeah" Skipper answered, glaring at Kowalski before trailing after Johnson.
The reptilian wolf growled as he entered the room. Find the scent. He followed the smell with his eyes. The scent was overlapped by another smell, but it was the scent, on a silver penguin.
"Honestly Scout, you've been hanging around Skipper way too much." Lea sighed.
"What?" Amber looked at Scout.
"I have not spent any time with Skipper, or his team. Thank you, Lea." Scout smiled.
The reptilian wolf slipped behind some boxes, hiding from view. Wait until she's alone, and then attack.
The wolf continued to watch.
"Let's go find Skippah." Private took off.
"Yeah, this place is creeping me out." Sara shivered.
"Same here." Lea agreed.
Scout waited for a few seconds while everyone headed for the door. "Amber."
The silver penguin sighed. "What?"
"I just-"
The reptilian wolf saw his opportunity, and burst from his hiding place.
Amber was caught off guard by the wolf and he easily threw her to the ground.
"Amber!" Scout jumped forward and pushed the reptilian wolf away from Amber.
Even though Scout felt her teeth break the skin, when the wolf-hybrid tossed her to the ground, there was no sign of any blood.
Amber drug herself off the ground, only to be knocked back down by the reptilian wolf. The scent wasn't as strong on the penguin as it should have been.
"Hawk!" Private squealed.
The wolf stepped aside, and watched as the small penguin slammed into Grace.
"Ow!" Grace landed on her back. "Private, what the fuck?"
"Grace! Watch your mouth!" Hawk growled.
"There's a monster! It attacked Amber! Scout's trying to fight it but she can't!" Private spilled the story way faster than anyone could listen.
"Monster?" Alexander helped Grace up.
"Uh-huh, with big teeth, scales, and fur."
"The reptilian wolf?" Grace pricked her ears up.
"The what?" Skipper asked.
"Blowhole used DNA transfer to create a wolf/ water monitor hybrid." Grace answered.
"And that wouldn't have been one of the things to say when I said 'Grace, report'?" Hawk growled.
"I… It wouldn't-wasn't supposed to work." Grace tried to defend herself.
"It obviously did." Hawk turned and began giving orders. "Manfredi, Johnson let's go."
"Kowalski, Flora, Private. You're with me." Skipper slid down the hallway.
"Grace you stay here where you can't cause any more trouble." Hawk ordered.
"What?" Skipper spun around and gave Hawk a stern look.
Grace just shook her head, "No way. If Scout's in trouble I want to help."
"You've done enough. I will not lose anyone else." Hawk continued. "Alexander. You keep an eye on Grace."
"Why don't you stay here with Alexander and I'll go fight?" Grace took a step forward.
"I'm not hurt. You are."
"Hawk, Grace" Johnson stepped between them. "Just calm down, there's no need for fighting."
Mani had to throw in his 2 cents, naturally. "Actually I'd like to see them rip each other apart."
"Fine. Go on Hawk, but don't give yourself a heart attack." Grace snapped.
"Ok, now, Grace." Manfredi sighed. "That wasn't nice."
Grace thought for a second before saying the first thing that came to her mind, "You're not nice."
"Really?" Johnson raised an eyebrow. "5 years around me and that's the best you can come up with?"
Grace didn't answer; she just flicked her tail impatiently.
Skipper took one last look at Grace, then joined Hawk. "Maybe we should have brought them along."
"No. I stand by my choice."
"But if this monster is a perfect combination of Grace and Alexander then-"
"You are aware that I raised Grace, and taught her everything she knows. I believe I can handle this little monster." Hawk broke into a run.
"Famous last words." Grace sighed.
So, that's my second chapter this week. I don't think it's one of my best or even among the average but…It's a chapter nonetheless. Review please!