Marlene picked up her tray full of oysters. It wasn't often she could have oysters like this, and she thought now was the perfect time. The humans all left early do to the thunderstorm, so she could even take a run over to the penguins' habitat to share them. She knew of course they liked fish not oysters, but still, it never hurt to visit right? She grinned at the thought, making her way to the pathway, Skipper and the others had excavated just for her. It lead to the Private's first prize entrance. Suddenly there was a loud crack of thunder and the power went out.
"Ah!" Marlene shouted as she tripped and fell, scattering the oysters everywhere. "Oh, just great." She grumbled picking herself up. She stumbled around trying to find her tray and all the oysters. Finally after a moment she stood up.
"Okay," She mumbled to herself, "one, two, three" She continued to count the oysters. "Oh, I'm missing o-" Marlene shrieked and dropped the tray when she heard an explosion from the penguins' habitat that caused the whole ground to shake. She stood stock still. She could have swore... she heard them all scream. Marlene rushed forward to the penguin habitat... or... at least she tried to, but ended up smacking to the wall instead.
"Ow." She whined quietly, rubbing her nose. Keeping her hands along the wall she edged around trying to find the entrance. It was amazing how dark it got so quickly, even with the power out. She stumbled around until she found herself at the cave entrance. She frowned at the rain still pouring outside, having wanted to end up at the passageway. It would do, though.
Marlene slipped out and dove into the water, launching herself up with a flip to the top of the fence around her enclosure. She froze when she heard whispering and scuffling. Ducking down as though the bars would hide her Marlene slowly peered around one of them. She frowned seeing shadows moving about, but was unable to make out much else. Suddenly the four shadows dropped to the ground and lay there for a moment. She raised an eyebrow.
What were they doing? This was strange behavior even for humans. She dropped herself down more when the shadows moved again, getting up and running for the gift shop. Once, they were out of sight, Marlene launched herself over the fence and began making her way over to the penguin's habitat. She didn't get far before she muttered in pain, holding her foot. What had she stepped on?
Suddenly lights flickered and power was returned to the zoo. Her eyes fluttered as they adjusted to the sudden change in lighting, even though it was still fairly dim. Her first thought was how amazed she was that no one had freaked out, in that short amount of time. Apparently they had all learned their lesson after the whole jungle law incident... Then she opened her eyes and all other thoughts were pushed out of her mind. It was a good thing that the zoo had closed early that day, because if it hadn't the zookeepers would not have left long before then, and had that not happened, one of them might have noticed an otter screaming outside her habitat.
Marlene rushed over to the penguin habitat, leaping over chunks of concrete and bent metal. The habitat had been completely blown apart, the water still steaming, and the artificial ice floe nothing but chunks of rubble now. Marlene ran up and grasped the railing, which was bent and mangled beyond repair.
"Skipper!" She shouted. "Guys! Guys can you hear me!" Her voice became more frantic. "Skipper! Skipper!" Marlene started when she hear a voice behind her.
"What is with all da yelling, I am trying to have my kingly beauty nap, not that I need one of course, which I cannot do if there is to be screaming!" Julien said angrily jumping over his wall and walking up to her. Maurice looked around wide eyed.
"What happened!" Marlene stood there shaking, at a loss for words.
"What the dickens?" Phil and Mason wondered over to the habitat wide eyed. "Everyone heard, and felt, the explosion. What happened?" Mason asked, astonished. Marlene remained silent for a moment, then finally managed to speak up.
"I- I don't know, I just, the penguins- an explosion- I- I- tried to call out to them but... none of them answered, and a few minuted ago I saw four guys running out of the zoo." She said, stuttering. Phil grimaced and signed quickly.
"Oh, dear, I certainly hope not." Mason said grimacing as well. Marlene turned to the two, and Maurice stared, while, of course, Julien was in his own world frowning disapprovingly at a bit of fruit Mort had fetched for him.
"What? You don't hope what?" Marlene asked frantically.
"Eh, well, Phil and I have had our experiences with the penguins..." He glanced down at Maurice. "When they were trying to get back home from Madagascar... and Maurice has told us a couple of stories... One in particular involving Christmas day and a few reindeer." Mason looked down at Marlene who was looking up at him intently. "You wouldn't think it, Marlene, but those penguins do have enemies. Phil... suggested the possibility of an attack on the penguins... meaning their lack of response either means they've been kidnapped, or..." Mason trailed off.
"Oh, man..." Maurice mumbled under his breath.
"Wha... you mean, that, they might be... No," Marlene laughed nervously. "No, no, you're way off, they weren't attacked, I- I mean we live in a zoo, they're just a bunch of penguins who think they need all that- that training and stuff, and- and, just no-" Marlene waved her arms once, and shook her head defensively. "I- I mean, just watch, it's just another one of their inventions gone wrong, they're trapped is all, not hurt, not kidnapped, not- not, just watch I'll go get them!" Marlene, leaped over the railing.
"Wait!" Mason shouted, and reached out, grabbing Marlene's tail before she touched the water. He yanked her back.
"Ow! What-" Mason interrupted her.
"Forgive me Marlene, but..." Mason yanked a leaf from Julien's crown. Julien looked up.
"What was dat?"
Mason looked at the steaming water and dropped the leaf in. It drifted downwards slowly being slightly kept aloft by the rising hot air. Down, down, down, the stem of the leaf touched the water and before the rest had a chance to land it spontaneously combusted, bursting into a white flame and crumbling into ash, that then proceeded to drift along in the water. Marlene swallowed, and Maurice's eyes went wide.
"Thanks..." Marlene squeaked. Maurice turned to Phil and Mason. "Well, what do we do then?" Julien sent Mort sailing through the air as Phil signed to Mason. He sighed.
"Phil's right, the only thing we can do is wait. If they did in fact survive, then they will be back." Mason said.
"What? That's it?" Marlene asked. Mason nodded.
"I'm afraid so."
Marlene stood there staring at them all as they walked away.