Chapter 3: Chained

Ginger found out about the fishbowl opening instead of the underwater one, that would save her some breath. Thanks Kowalski her heart was literally singing and she wasn't sure why. She was a semi-aquatic animal so why should her breath be bothering her under the water, today the water was stinging her nose.

She let Kowalski go in first, he opened the fishbowl and slipped down a little tunnel, Ginger followed closely behind. Ginger regained balance on a little platform, she looked around and saw the other 3 penguins playing a game of cards while balancing on their heads.

" Umm I'm I intrupting something?" Ginger had to feel that she was intruding something out of most importance. She stared at Kowalski hoping for some answers.

" No, It's poker day here, we usually train all week and it's our fun day, officially" Kowalski waddled over to the other 3 and motioning for Ginger to follow. Ginger timidly, followed over and saw the other 3 penguins looking at her.

" Kowalski," The shortest and stern penguin glared between Ginger and him.

" I brought her back" Kowalski smiled shyly and Ginger looked down flustered.

" Sure" The penguin just rolled his eyes back to the game.

Kowalski stood there beside Ginger, probably suprised about the outcome of the conversation. Ginger wasn't sure of herself either. Maybe she should just leave, it was pretty obivious that she wasn't really welcome here. Slowly, Ginger walked towards the ladder.

" Wait, er, Ginger" Kowalski ran after her.

Ginger turned around, part of her didn't want to leave but common sence said to. She turned to see Kowalski staring down at her, Ginger felt like crying but it wasn't the time to make a fool of herself. So what if she wasn't liked here? She was liked by Marlene and she still had many people or animals to meet here. Ginger felt a smile tug at her face and it exploded on her face.

Kowalski, unsure of what her expresion meant, just looked at her while tapping his flippers nerviously.

" D-do you still want to leave?" he asked, while trying to stay cool and collected.

Ginger hopped off the ladder, it was starting to hurt her hand since she grasped it so tightly. She stood on the platform and smiled, she turned towards the 3 and hollered.

" Hey! got room for 2 more players?"

It was about nightfall when the poker day ended.

Frankly, it was the most wonderful day Ginger ever had in her life. She had won at least 3 out of 5 games, though she did feel sorry for the short, stern penguin, she should stop calling him that since she had just learned his name.

Skipper.

Skipper was being made fun of since he was losing a lot of games, since he was the leader he was all about pride, glory and masqulinity. Ginger apologized numerious times but all she got was a glare, she felt so foolish for even trying on someone so thick skinned. After she won the 3 games she decided to leave, she left even after the youngest one, Private. Had told her that it was still going on.

Ginger had the most fun playing " Stomp the wambat" since it well known in Tasmania. It made her feel less homesick after playing something from her culture. Ginger knew it well so she played flawless, she won the first round of it and then she didn't afterwords. She loved the fish cookies they made, even though she prefered shrimp. And they all devoired a huge stash of candy that the penguins stold from the zoo storage.

Ginger was now in her burrow and rolled into a ball, her eyes blood shot and tired from exustion. She wished she could sleep but the eyes that bore into her mind where of Skipper's. The madness and threat that was held within them. She hadn't meant to shame him, she was in it for fun. She tried to sing a lullaby that her mother sang to her when she was young, but that didn't help a bit.

She came out of her burrow and dove into the lake. The warmness aroused her and she glided peacefully through the water. She was aware of a presence watching her, but she paid no attention. She swam on her back watching the moonlight as it danced around the ripples on the waves. Slowly the curiousty got to her and she turned to see her admirer. Marlene, was watching her and smiling.

" Hey" Marlene smiled and jumped from the wall into Ginger's exhibit.

Ginger turned on her belly and swam towards inland and waited for Marlene to come on over. Marlene had an apologetic look on her face as she aproched Ginger.

" What's wrong?" Ginger asked, while looking at her.

" I heared what happened with the guys, umm well I was over there and Skipper said he'd like to see you" Marlene replied.

Ginger's stomach twisted in a thousand knots, Skipper? wanted to see her? Was she really in that much trouble that she had to see him again? Even though she didn't feel like it, she followed Marlene to the penguin's exhibit.

Marlene and Ginger went through the fishbowl opening and slipped though the tunnel together. When they came into the penguin's HQ all eyes were on them. Ginger felt once again the hurtful presence in her stomach. Marlene walked over to Skipper, grabbed his flipper, and literelly pushed him onto her.

" Now say sorry, you hurt Ginger's feelings" Marlene said sternly,

Skipper looked at Ginger with a suprised look that turned into an unexplainable look. He turned towards Marlene and glared, then stared at Ginger once again.

" I will do no such thing," Skipper explained to Marlene.

" And why not?" Marlene asked,

" Because you told me to apologize, not her to ask me to apologize" Skipper said with a bit of a smile.

" GRR, your so stubborn!" Marlene yelled, she walked aways.

Skipper turned towards Ginger and smiled, he put one flipper on her shoulder and leaned forwards.

" Now how can I be of assistance?" He asked with a bit of a sweeter, nicer tone.

" Oh no please, don't-don't worry about it, I should be sorry! I know how males are, and and I lived with many male platypi, so i'm sorry for ummm raining on your parade" Ginger ran out of breath and felt like she was going to collapse.

Skipper was suprised, he firmed his grip on her so she would stay held up. He put his other flipper around her waist and held her close.

" Woah, woah woah! It's fine I'm sorry too, I didn't mean to come on strong like that" He did seem to calm her down though.

Ginger smiled a goofy looking smile, she let go of Skipper after she felt stabolized, she turned to Marlene and smiled and turned to Skipper and smiled.

" That's all I needed to hear" Ginger whispered, she held out her webbed hand.

" Friends?"

Skipper helf out his flipper and smiled a kind little serene smile,

" Friends"

After leaving with a more cheerful mood, Ginger full of exhaustion, carefully watching every step she took. She walked to her exhibit. Ginger aimlessly climbed up the wall and almost fell severel times, when she felt herself enclosed by warm water it relaxed every muscle in her body. She let herself float to her burrow, when she touched the warm grasses she slowly walked to her burrow and laid close to the dirt enclosed den. She rolled herself into a ball and fell into a calming deep sleep.