Rico dove aside, keeping his eyes on his father as he began to circle again. The chieftain, Naruno, spun around to face him again, his gaze dark as he glared at his banished son. Rico relished the simple fact that his father did not dare to leave his back exposed. It meant that the penguin no longer saw a weak entity, something that wasn't a threat. He now saw that Rico was to be taken seriously, and it gave the crazed penguin a sense of triumph even though the fight was just beginning.

Naruno measured every step, looking for a weakness in his son. Rico studied his father, his sharp gaze going over the tall, fierce chieftain. He looked smaller than Rico remembered, and much older. There was a limp on the right side that hadn't been there before, and Naruno was favoring his foot. Despite all of that, there was definitely one thing that hadn't changed. The look of hatred was just as dark and angry as it used to be.

Rico took a step forward, gauging Naruno's response. Immediately, the chief lunged forward, attempting to drive his beak into Rico's flesh. Rico dodged easily. He marveled at how sloppy his father was. The warrior he remembered was unbeatable, meticulous, fearless, the perfect fighter. Was it simply age, he wondered as he began to circle again, that had worn down his father, or had he always been this way and Rico just hadn't noticed?

Naruno was growing frustrated. Rico could tell, and he decided to use his words as well as his body to fight.

"Not so easy to beat me when it's a fair fight," he said in Antarctican.

"Shut up," Naruno snarled.

"No," Rico said. "It's time the tribe knows what you did." He reached up to touch his scarred face, glaring with enough heat to melt the ice beneath their feet. "You're dishonorable. Know that even if you beat me, you will be challenged again. You can't deny that I'm alive, Father, and everybody here knows it, too."

"You've poisoned Iczalie," Naruno said coldly.

"No, Father. Your lies were more poison to her heart than my truths," Rico said. "She will never trust you again. You are finished, whether you kill me or not."

The truth of Rico's statement hit Naruno hard. He screamed in rage.

"I hate you, wretched fool! Die!"

Rico braced himself as his father threw all of his weight at him, and they collided like titans. Naruno immediately managed a bite on Rico's neck, while Rico slashed three bloody lines in the dark feathers of Naruno's side. They parted for only a moment then Rico lunged for the first time, a shriek escaping his beak as he forced his father back toward the penguin circle. Naruno bolted sideways, trying to get behind his son, but Rico turned with grace and ease, keeping his father's face in view.

Neither cared about the watching crowd. Years of anger, fear, tension, and hatred came to a head as they glared at each other. Their stares were almost magnetic, pulling them together for a brief attack then forcing them back. Rico didn't notice the wounds that began to multiply on his body. Blood made the floor slick, but still they fought. Naruno began to slow from the multitude of wounds that his son was leaving behind with each clash. He wasn't as young as Rico, and despite his hatred,. he just couldn't physically keep up.

Rico lunged one final time, dodging his father's beak as he drove his own deep into his father's side, just under his wing. Naruno stumbled back, and Rico took advantage. He clawed open more scratches as his father hit the ground. Naruno lay there, his chest heaving as he tried to breathe through increasing pain and exertion. Rico placed his claws on the stained, wounded belly and glared at him, inhaling great breaths. And, while Naruno lay still in surrender. Rico had won, so, after studying the defeated penguin for a few moments, he removed his foot and ruffled his feathers. Everybody started to murmur around him, surprised by his restraint.

"Well?" Naruno croaked. "What are you waiting for? Kill me!"

Rico tilted his head then shook it slowly, to the surprise of everybody there. "No, Father. You will live with this defeat."

There was dead silence. Then Iczalie broke the circle, approaching her brother slowly. She paused beside him, staring down at their father with anger then looked up at Rico with hesitant hope in her eyes.

"You mean this, brother?" she asked softly. "You will not kill him?"

"He has surrendered," Rico said. "And that makes me chief. I decree he shall be left alive by the tribe to live with this shame."

"Why?" Khlamon asked, speaking for the obvious bewilderment of everyone..

Rico smiled. "Because losing to me and knowing that I spared his life will be more torture than Zennatak could give him. The god of death is more merciful than this fate, I assure you."

And she saw the truth of this as Naruno's expression twisted into a horrified mask. There was another moment of silence then Iczalie raised her head and let out a cry of triumph.

"Hail the new chief!" she bellowed. "Hail, Ree-ko! Hail!"

And the penguins broke into a new chant to the goddess Icza, praising her for her fair decision and the dictation of the tribe's fate. Rico listened with great joy, relishing his victory. Iczalie touched him, nibbling his cheek as the others chanted, and Rico smiled at her. The chant ended and the circle broke. The penguins began to crowd around Rico, asking many questions about where he'd been and what he'd been doing.

Before Rico could answer, a horrible scream sounded out, and Rico perked. That sounded like Private! He pushed through the circle and began to slide after the scream. The tribe followed, bewildered. Rico's heart thundered in his ears. Had he sent Private to his death? At an intersection, Rico paused, looking this way and that, sniffing. He could smell Blowhole's fishy scent and the scent of the military penguins going straight, but Private's distinct scent went off to the right. He hurried down the tunnel into a cavern. The smell of blood hit his nose, and he looked around.

Manfredi was curled up in a ball, clutching his stomach, which was clearly split open, revealing his intestines. Johnson lay in a puddle of blood across the room against the wall. Then he looked at the three moving penguins. Private looked the worse for wear, exhaustion and pain around his eyes as Kowalski bandaged his shoulder. The sharp scent of alcohol told Rico just why his little brother had screamed. Rico waddled over, startling Skipper and Kowalski, who shot up, looking ready to hurt whoever was interrupting. Then they saw Rico and they relaxed.

"Rico," Skipper sighed.

"You okay Private?" Rico asked in English, wincing at the shoot of pain.

"I'm okay, Rico. Alcohol hurts," Private replied tiredly.

"You won," Rico said, grinning.

"Looks like you did, too," Private laughed. "Though you look worse than me!"

"Father's a good fighter," Rico replied, shrugging.

"Are they safe?" Kowalski asked nervously, gesturing at the tribe members that had followed Rico in.

"I'm chief now," Rico grunted. "They won't hurt you."

Kowalski nodded then glanced at Manfredi and Johnson. "They're losing a lot of blood."

"I don't want them to die," Private said fiercely.

Rico turned to the tribe and spoke in Antarctican. "Healers?" Several penguins raised their flippers. "You go and heal them. They will be tried by the military courts."

"I'll help," Kowalski said, speaking in the same language. "I'd like to learn their ways."

Rico glanced at Skipper, who nodded. "Get to it, Kowalski."

One healer came up to Rico. "Chief, would you like healing?" he asked.

"I'll be fine. They will die without immediate help," Rico replied. "Go."

He bowed and hurried over to Johnson. Rico plopped down beside Private, wrapping a flipper carefully around his shoulders.

"I never knew that it hurt so bad," Private said, reaching up and rubbing his shoulder tenderly.

"Who got you?" Rico asked, reverting back to his native language.

"Manfredi. He cheated," Private said.

"What happened?"

"He pinned me!" Private snarled. "That cheater!" He paused. "That was cheating, wasn't it?"

Rico nodded. "Yep. Pinning is a military move. How'd you get him?"

"Clawed him open, apparently," he said. "I think I got him bad. I could see pink stuff."

The new chieftain laughed appreciatively. "You got him bad," he assured him. "What about Johnson?"

"Got him first. Hit his back then Manfredi threw him into the wall. He was down after that."

Skipper waddled over, looking a bit disgusted. "Geez, Private. They're down for the count. Where'd you learn those moves?"

Private beamed then looked up at Rico. "Rico taught me, Skipper."

Their commander glanced over them then nodded. "I see. Well, that was one heck of a fight. You taught him well, Rico. Thank you."

Rico inclined his head. "He's a smart penguin," he croaked in English.

"You're going to hurt yourself if you keep talking like that," Private said. "You speak Antarctican. I'll translate for him."

Skipper smiled. "I can understand a bit more of that language now."

"Really?" Private asked. "How?"

"Iczalie," Skipper said. "She's been holding language lessons for us for a while. Kowalski's better than me, but I've gotten better."

There was a shout. "Private! Rico! Answer me!"

Private sighed as Skipper tensed. "In here, sir!" he called.

The sound of the general and his penguins sounded out in the tunnel then they came out. Buzz took one look around and froze.

"What in blue blazes happened here?" he demanded. "Rico?"

Rico shook his head, and Private stood straight, saluting. "No, sir. This was me. All me."

Buzz stared at Private as if he'd never seen him before. "Are they dead?"

"No, sir. Just as we discussed, they are down but not dead," Private replied. "They probably need serious medical attention, though."

"The natives will stop the bleeding, but I'm sure Manfredi needs surgery," Rico said in a low voice. "His intestines are showing."

Private looked a little sick, but Olek stepped forward and translated. Buzz nodded.

"Well, we'll take them back to camp and get them what they need. Just let us know when your boys are done, Rico."

Rico nodded, and he forced himself up. Now that the adrenaline was disappearing, he was really feeling his numerous injuries. Olek looked concerned as Rico swayed, but he didn't say anything. Kowalski came over at that moment.

"They'll live, but they need more than what the natives can give, Rico," he said, wiping his flippers on a towel. "They say they've done all they can."

Rico nodded then turned toward the tribe. "My people," he called. "Go back to our lands and prepare the feast for the changing of the chiefs. I shall be there within three days to celebrate with you. Until then, Iczalie is in charge. You shall listen to her as if she were me. Go now."

They all gave a crow of acknowledgement then began to leave. Iczalie shook her head sadly.

"We part again?" she asked.

"It is brief for now," Rico said kindly.

"For now," she said. "But I see your heart. You will leave me again for your friends."

"No, sister," Rico said. "They are not friends. They are family."

She stared then nodded. "I understand."

"Go now, Snowdrop. Go and prepare for the feast. I will be there soon."

Iczalie nibbled his cheek then turned to leave. Rico watched her go then turned to Kowalski.

"I need healing," he said tiredly. "And you're the only one I trust for that. Come. Let's get back to the camp."

Kowalski nodded. As he turned to follow Rico out, he saw Olek, whose gaze hadn't left his son's face since he'd waddled over. They stared at each other for a moment then their Kowalski nodded and Olek nodded back. Skipper's gaze was locked on Buzz, who was supervising everything. The general didn't even acknowledge his son, and Skipper turned away bitterly. Private didn't even have the energy to comfort Skipper, but he knew that once things calmed down that Skipper and Buzz would have a talk. He just hoped that the two would be civil. But for now both he and Rico needed medical attention. And sleep, too. So he wearily began to follow his superiors back to the military camp, knowing it was going to be a long march.