As day was breaking over the city, the four ducks were treading soundlessly through. Until at last, they made it back to the base.
"Phew! I'm bushed! All I want is a hot shower." Greybeak said, before stretching his arms.
"Yeah, I just wanna sit with some tea and a book." Wally replied, bending backward. But then quickly had to pull down the front of his shirt. Danielle saw this, and a slight laugh escaped her beak. She turned to face Canard, then the smile on her beak quickly faded. He was cross.
As Wally and Greybeak gave their salutes and left, Canard stood with his arms crossed.
"Angelwing, a word if you will."
Danielle fidgeted under his intense stare. "Sure-I mean, yes Captain."
Canard nodded, walking towards an empty room, out of the early bustling of the hallways. Danielle hesitantly followed him.
When the door shut behind them, Canard closed his eyes, teeth clenched. "What the hell were you thinking going out on your own in an enemy-occupied area?!"
"I-I-I t-thought she was gonna help me, I swear!' Danielle tried to explain. She backed up until she was pressed to the wall. 'Captain, I'm sorry! I-I, I didn't know who she was!"
Canard stomped up to her. "You could've been killed! And is it true? Were you trying to find Duke L'Orange?"
"I-I-!"
"Were you?!"
"...yes!" The female squeaked.
Canard looked absolutely livid at that response, opened his beak to say something, but stopped. Taking a deep breath, he briskly walked away, opting to place his hands on a nearby desk, head down and gripping the edge of the table like it was a stress ball. After a few moments he was able to calm his emotions, and he stood back up to turn and face Danielle.
"Lucretia DeCoy was a private, like you, and had no authority to go out on a mission alone, much less authorize you to tag along. If you want to be a part of this Resistance, you need to respect the rules of the establishment." His hands went to his waist and he looked away, still breathing heavily to try and quell the rising anger. "And Duke L'Orange is the leader of a gang. The Resistance has been slowly testing his loyalty to our mission, with meager success, but it is not for you to decide, is that understood?"
Danielle had a look of shock. She was told this before, but she didn't even think about any of that before she left.
"Canard, I'm sorry. I-I completely forgot about that. But d-doesn't this whole mess prove my point?"
The tan drake looked at her. Secretly hoping she's not thinking what he thinks she's thinking. "What point?"
"Well,' Danielle continued. 'we all thought Lucretia was a soldier, but she was working for the Saurians to get the 'you-know-what.' Just because a duck has been a thief or a soldier, doesn't mean they have to stay that way."
Canard growled lowly. She's still giving Duke the benefit of a doubt?
"His loyalty still lies with the Brotherhood," Canard snapped. "L'Orange has done very little since showing his face around here."
Danielle frowned at him. "How can you say that? He's put his life on the line, we all have. He doesn't have to help us-he chose to. And that loyalty for the Brotherhood is not something to brush off. They are ducks too, you know."
"They are thieves, Angelwing," Canard argued back. "Before the War, they stole from innocent lives. They damaged property. They hurt our citizens." The captain felt his teeth clench in agitation, but he restrained himself from yelling. "And L'Orange was the leader of all of that."
'How can you be so stubborn?!' Danielle thought, but didn't say out loud. "Maybe, Duke just doesn't want to face authority, because he knows he did bad, and is afraid?"
"And you know that for a fact?' Canard retorted, 'Oh, puh-lease!"
"What's that supposed to mean?" The female asked, with her eyes narrowing.
"You forgot about being authorized today."
"Drop it, Thunderbeak!" Danielle snapped, angrily.
"I am your captain and you will address me as such!" he yelled, towering over her.
Danielle did not shy away from him, but she did not reply to his reprimand, either. After a moment's silence, Canard seemed to regain his composure and stepped back.
"It is up to my superior-your superior, as well, mind you-to determine Duke's role in the Resistance," he calmly stated. "You do not get a say in his future, as he will not report to you." The tan mallard took a second to run a hand through the feathers on his head. "Besides, it seems like your judge of character needs a little refinement, anyway," he added with a hint of condescension.
"You arrogant-!" Danielle blurted out, then she clamped her beak when she realized her mistake.
The tan drake had his back turned to her when she said that, he froze.
"What.' he sneered as he faced her.'Was that.' He had the exact same look, when he fended off the scavengers.'You said?'
Danielle's blood froze throughout her veins, and her heart pounded with fright. "I-i-it just s-slipped out, Sir. I-I didn't mean to-!"
"No, please," he interrupted her sarcastically, "tell me more about how you find me arrogant."
Danielle did not respond.
Canard walked back up to her, his hands behind his back and his eyes narrowed. "What do you suppose would have happened if our little spy had succeeded? She had you captured, and she damn near had me captured. What would have happened if I had brought the mask along, after all, and it had fallen into the Saurians' claws?"
The cream-colored duck felt her eyes travel to the ground guiltily.
"There is a fine line between losing and winning this war, Angelwing. And it's up to a select few to decide who gets to walk it."
Gathering courage, Danielle raised her head to look him in the eye. "Y-yes Sir. I'm sorry, I was out of line."
"Damn right, you were.' Canard replied. 'You here me once on this, mind your manners from now on."
As Canard said those words, Danielle's breath hitched in recognition. Her eyes grew large and her pupils shrank in fear. That choice in words brought up painful memories. Memories she'd rather die than relive.
The captain was quiet as he studied Danielle's reaction, and in a way it sobered his attitude. "Go get some rest, Angelwing. You're dismissed."