The men storm in. I peek from under the dangling sheets under my bed. They split up.
"We know you're in here, kid. If we have to come, and find you it's going to be a very long and painful death." He warns, and inches closer to the bed. "You're hiding like a coward, but we'll gut you like a fish!" He says slicing the sheet.
No one's there. I breathe a sigh of relief from beneath the other bed. I hear them march out. As I wriggle out from under the bed.
A strange feeling of heat touches my face. In the corner, is a glowing light. I stagger over, following the hot light. There I see something I've only seen once before. It's fire.
I stare, stunned by the semi-new sight. I reach out my flipper. I am so curious. With the tip of my flipper, I tap it. The flames transport to it.
It burns in the worst way. It's one of the worst feelings I've had so far. I dig my flipper deep into the snow. It seems to sinch the flames. The feeling is still there, but something tells me to keep some snow on it.
I charge into a side wall. Under the press of my body, a hole forms. I squeeze through the hole.
As I watch the house melt, my mother is being held back by the soldiers. She's in tears, and shouting my name. Once it is completely water, they leave her there. Mother falls to her knees, and crys.
Before comforting her, I double check if it's safe. I race to her and hug her tight.
"Skipper? Oh, sweetheart, I love you so much! I'm so proud of you! Don't ever scare me like that again!" She says.
"I'm sorry, momma. Please, forgive me. This would have never happened if I won."
"Skipper, you have nothing to be sorry about. I love you! You proved you're just as strong and brave as a king should be." She said in tears. I hug even tighter. My damaged flipper rubs onto her feathers. The burning sination erupts inside my flipper, and I react by yelping.
"What is it?!" My mother crys. I extend my to show it. There's a patch of feathers missing. The skin is red from the injury and peeling.
"Keep this ice over it. We need to leave." She explains urgently.
The guards are way too distracted to try to catch us this time. It's a much easier journey to withhold.
We enter the same shack we did during the first escape. She immediately locks the door and all the windows. The soldiers march past the house.
We prepare to hide, but they leave.
The rest of the day I sit and am forced to be silent. The night comes soon enough. Mother tucks me in.
"Do you have any questions about what happened?" She asks.
"Who's Sam?"
"Skipper, he was my husband, and your real father."
"What?"
"A long ago, Sam and I were married. We lived here together, and had you. He loved us so much."
"What happened?"
"One day, the central colony invaded. The king was looking for a wife. He kidnapped us before you even hatched. And I became his wife. I love you, Skipper."
"I love you, momma." I say sleepily.
That night, I fell asleep soundly. In he middle of my dream, strange noises wake me. I call out my mother's name. There is a thick silence then.
I stumble out of bed. The sounds come from the kitchen. It seems like stomping. It only takes minutes, but it feels like hours to get there.
There he is. The penguin, who caused our newest disaster, Cain. By his sides are the guards from the village. One has a sword to my mother's throat.
She's tied up, and lying on the ground.
"Cain! Let her go!" I scream.
"Not until you sign this." Cain says, unrolling a scroll.
"What is it? And why do you want her?"
"This is just a simple contract. This is just business."
"What does it say?!"
"If you want your mother alive, you need to hand over the throne."
"You already have it."
"Yes, but not legally. I'll let you in on a secret: You won the battle. Now, sign!"
"No, Skipper! Let him kill me!Don't give it to him!" My mother begs.
"What happens if I don't?"
"Oh, so many questions. My guards will have no problem finishing you both off."
"Give it."
"Skipper, no!" My mother gasps.
"Shut up!" Cain yells and kicks her flank. I lose all control, and go at him. The guards block me, defending themselves with a solid shove.
"Come on! I'm the one you want! You sick penguin! Go to heck!" I yell.
"Be careful what you say. Let's remember who's at the mercy of who." He said remaining a phony friendly voice. He hands me the paper and ink. I take a breath, and stick my foot in. I stomp it slowly to the paper.
"Now, let her go!"
"You think, I'd be so stupid to let the only person that protects you live? Sorry." He says smiling, and in the following seconds, he grasps the sword. Before I can move, he slits her throat.
I catch her in my flippers. I bawl on her chest as they walk off with what they came for. Next to us is the icicle used in her death.
"Skipper,"
I stare furiously at them, and then the icicle.
"Skipper, listen to me. Don't go after them. Please! I love you so much. No matter what, you're always a prince to me."
"Don't die, momma! Please! I love you too much! Don't leave me."
"I won't. I'll always be with you, I promise."
"Don't leave. Don't leave. Please don't leave ...."
There she dies in my flippers. The only one who really loved me. I can't cry. There's nothing left. This whole time, I've been so unthankful to her. She saved my life countless times. I'll get the throne for her.
As time goes on, I get better with the technique of sword fighting. I begin getting stronger every day. Everyday Deliah stops by. Eventually, we started dating.
One very magical evening sticks out in my mind as one of the best memories. Deliah is over at my house. It's my final day in Antarctica. We sit down for dinner. It's my last time with her.
Our conversations are interrupted by a crying. I track the noise down outside. In the water floats a basket. A letter is attached to the top. I take off the letter, and read. It reads:
Please, take care of my son. His name is Private. We're from the southern colony, which is at brutal war, and I'm frightened for his life. Please, him to me at the human boat going to England. It'll be safe for him. Please, care for him like he's your own.
I slide the lid off. I am stunned.
"He's beautiful." I gasp. I pick up the sleeping chick in my flippers. He opens his eyes with a yawn. Immediately he smiles and giggles.
"Hi, Private. I'm Skipper."
"Sk-i-p-p-a-h," He sounds out, his blue eyes gleaming.