CHAPTER EIGHT: Sacrifice

Skipper saw his Mom in a full close up now. She was lying on a pile of snow, her face all swollen and distorted in pain. He made a rush towards the hill, calling on her. She slowly turned her head. Weak smile leaked on her pale beak.

"It was meant to be, Skipper dear" she said in a painful whisper. "But remember, it's only my body dying, not my soul.. I will always take care of you.."

Before he had a chance to embrace her, everything faded into black and he'd found himself back in the middle of the Growen Park, little Carrie snuggling against his chest. They were sitting under a large oak tree. It was already four o'clock a.m.

His body was still frozen from shock and fear. It took some time for him to cool down. He'd dreamed about his own mother, dying away in a pile of snow. There was that frightening feeling deep down inside him, that what he d' seen in his nightmare wasn't just a dream.

Carrie's weak, sleepy voice jarred him away from his unhappy thoughts.

"I'm hungry" she confessed, rubbing her eyes with her flippers.

"Don't worry, dollface. We will find something to eat" answered Skipper and covered her with a piece of yellow cloth to keep her warm. They made their way towards a deserted sandbox. Lots of toys were left unguarded. Skipper would even spot a half emptied bag of peanut butter winkies wallowing in the corner. He let out a relieved sigh. He didn't really expect to find anything edible that quickly.

After Carrie had appeased her first hunger, she started to show great interest in colorful moulds, lying hereabouts in the sand. She sat on the ground, took a blue mould in her flippers and started to play. Skipper sat on the wooden desk nearby, to keep an eye on the kid and got lost in his thoughts again.

Suddenly he shivered. Just as if someone's gentle flipper had scuffed his left cheek. He glanced back behind himself, but there wasn't a single soul to be seen. He knew that touch…

A female, heart ripping sob broke the silence. Carrie raised her head from above the mould, took a nervous glance around and pricked up her ears.

"Carrie, dear!" they heard someone's desperate call echoing off the tree trunks.

"Moooom?" cried Carrie. She dropped the mould and rasped to her feet. There was a female, penguin-shaped silhouette shining between the bushes. Carrie immediately ran towards her mother.

Skipper stepped aside and hid himself behind the tree. From there he would observe a touching scene. Carrie and her Mother embraced each other tightly, tears streaming down their cheeks. He decided it would be better if he remained unnoticed. He didn't really feel like revealing his presence. Carrie was saved, she found her mother – case closed.

He turned slowly on his heel and made his way towards the nearest forest. He was making the most of himself to hold back tears but he couldn't stand it anymore. He would eventually burst out crying, bitter tears flooding his pale cheeks. It would at least bring him some relieve. He missed Carrie. He missed his Mom. He couldn't smother his real feelings anymore.

But now he had nowhere to go. What should be his next step? Should he cocoon himself in one of the most remote street nooks of Manhattan, waiting for Officer X to find him?

He looked up the sky. He saw beautiful, delicate, pearl clouds passing through the light blue sky. He could feel her presence. She was already there, watching over him and smiling. She would eventually find eternal peace.

"Why can't I join you, Mom?" uttered Skipper between the sobs, sorrow and despair tearing his heart apart. "Please take me with you…!.."

Somebody from up there told him to look straight. Was it his own Mom?

He spotted a squirrel shaped silhouette limping slowly towards him. His heart sank violently. It was Mrs Jenkins! He desperately started to wipe his face from tears and tried to stay frosty. Several seconds later, Mrs Jenkins was already standing in front of the penguin, concern and tenderness written all over her face.

"God bless that woman.. It's all over now!" she exclaimed. Skipper noticed her lips were trembling from emotion. Before he had a chance to come up with a reply, Mrs Jenkins wrapped her arms around Skippers neck and embraced him tightly.

"It's all over now, my son. We're safe.. thanks to her…" she whispered against the gentle rustle of leaves.