So you, run down to the Harbor
Need to tell her that আপনি প্রণয় her
As the নৌকা disappears, you've never felt so alone

-Things You've Never Done দ্বারা Passenger

It's frightening how fast things pass, isn't it? Take for example, my youth. Well I'll stay out of that mind-field, and it's classified. But I'm only talking to myself again. Being the Skipper of the team gives আপনি the advantage of knowing all, as far as your crew's loyality goes strong. And they always have. They are my brother's in arms, and my amigos. But they did skimp out on something I'd like to know.

The days are short in the winter, as always but I'm always feeling warm while doing the training. It gives me a good feeling inside and it heats my blood and excitment. The team, as always were following my every সরানো like the talented troopers they are. The sun was just coming over the snow-covered gates and it shed a little warmth on my back. round-house, punch, kick.

"Guys!" Came the familiar voice of someone who is dear to my হৃদয় but in another way than the team.

Marlene. The beautiful asian ভোঁদড় warms my soul and that spreads throughout my body. I feel in control when she's around, but don't have the slightest baring on what's going on around me. প্রণয় is funny isn't it? But why am I asking myself? I know the answer. Yes. I feel like I could lose myself in her পান্না eyes, sappy but I keep to the truth, my policy. I'm horrible liar, and lying to myself would be putting everyone who counts on me at risk.

But I'm rambling again. Marlene. A talented foe and friend. I guess you'd refer to her as "My kind of girl". Hell, I don't care what আপনি call her, but I প্রণয় her. Telling her isn't that important, I think she knows. But if not, we'll see how we go. It isn't as if time is fleeting in our lives. Sure we'll all die at some point but right now, being বন্ধু is good enough for me. I could সরানো on if she wants to but, that's her choice.

It kind of stings when I think that she may not feel the same, but I won't let it take me down. I'll cry in my dreams and let my হৃদয় shatter on my off time. It isn't as if I'll die. It isn't as if I'll live. Broken between two places, at the হৃদয় of the storm, I'll be spinning. But I'm not going to worry about it, it will come when it comes.

When I turned to see her, she was downcast, which made me the same. Her eyes had হারিয়ে গেছে their normal glow and it burned me to see there dead expression.

"What's wrong, Marlene?" I inquired. (Wow, maybe Kowalski is rubbing off on me.)

"I... I am being transfered." She mummbled.

Transfered... Transfered... TRANSFERED... The word took a মিনিট to sink in, but I hated it when it did. Why couldn't it have been a mistake? A slip of the tongue? Alice had finally gone insane? Something for pete's sake! Transfered I hate that ugly word! It only brings pouring rain of sorrow to the zoo. I'd even miss Julien though I'll never admit that to anyone but myself. But Marlene... What is this?

Damn, what is this?! I noticed the shock and horror that had spread on my face, and took it away quickly, but the other penguins had looks of understanding, they must have known.

"Are আপনি sure?" I asked, like an idiot.

"Yes..." Marlene said, moving closer and hugging me.

The hug would have been আরো enjoyable but there was nothing in it. Nothing but a hollow ভোঁদড় frame that was being torn from her প্রথমপাতা and friends. God...

"No," I said. "No, you're not."

"I'm sorry Skipper... I leave today..." She moaned, still hugging me.

Today...

"You-..." My voice cracked, and I kept my eyes averted from everyone. "You just found out?"

"N-no..." I felt her warm tears touch my feathers, caressing them like some হারিয়ে গেছে hope, অথবা a girl I once knew as they dripped down my shoulder. "I-... I've known for awhile, but I couldn't bring myself to tell... you..."

I would've been outraged. Outrage was approitate. How could she not tell me? I thought I was her friend! But no, rage could never be directed at Marlene, not mine. I think I wanted to be mad, but... I couldn't. For once in my life, I couldn't. I hate that helpless feeling and it spat pity in my soul. My stomach was slowly turning. Flips. No not quickly like when you're scared. This was much worse. I felt each silent scream from my depths and it wanted to escape from my beak, but I realized that I would be screaming in front of my crew and the one I loved.

I realize now, I should have. I should have done it, but I had too much pride and that classifies me as one of the biggest idiots in the world. But my thoughts were broken when she broke the embrace.

"I need to go..." Marlene said, walking away.

And I didn't even stop her. I didn't hid her like I should have অথবা anything. But as I turned back to the team, they all had looks of concern but... for me.

"We... knew she was leaving, Skippah." Private mummbled, keeping his gaze down.

"What?" My reply was like a gun shot because I didn't believe it and suddenly rage was a very good idea to me at the time.

"She told us... but we didn't want to tell আপনি because... we know আপনি প্রণয় her." Kowalski said.

"Yep." Rico said, lowering his gaze.

"You're serious?" This reply was dark and shroudded in distrust. The first time they had ever lied to me, for my sake? I hate to say that I was disgusted but I won't lie. I couldn't believe it, and my every since told me to তীক্ষ্নভাবে them and give them a good lecture. But what would that do, they wanted to protect me but I was hurt দ্বারা being protected. Now I realize that I would've been hurt no matter what.

The thoughts of হারিয়ে গেছে প্রণয় burned white hot in my mind and I turned, my flippers clenching, with anger at everyone. The team, Marlene, the world, even myself. Everyone. But this was not the time to take out rage. I needed to tell her how I felt. I tobogganed to her habitat but she wasn't there. The pool was draining and everything was roped off. I reacted quickly though, which would have saved me the grief as I shot toward the লোড হচ্ছে dock for the trucks. Marlene was the only thought in my head, but it seemed as though I had forgotten what she looked like before her dead expression. Her liveliness seemed gone.

As I neared the লোড হচ্ছে dock, I slipped up on my feet and waddled. I finally reached the truck. The বাক্স was being loaded, and I almost shot out to the human লোড হচ্ছে her. But it wasn't a good frontal attack. I'd need a new plan. The first human was getting in the truck, and the other was closing the back of the truck. Marlene was so far away, through metal and wood... but no time... I had to save her...


"Skippah?" Private said, as I stared at the শীর্ষ of my bunk. My eyes burn all the time now. They stay red and I irritated. I don't even remember what I've eaten, if I've eaten at all. Since... Of course I chased after, but I couldn't catch up. My best efforts weren't enough, and now... now it's all done.

"Skippah?" Private repeated because I had slumped into thought and hadn't replied to him.

"What is it, Private?" My voice is always horse, because I don't use it anymore. I keep my beak shut.

"This... we should've told আপনি that Marlene was going... and so we feel আপনি need to know this, no matter how much it hurts."

What could hurt more?

"The truck carrying Marlene... had a wreck... everyone on it was killed."

Darkness... Darkness... and আরো darkness... nothing left now... I had closed my eyes.