The camp was really a nice place, if didn't mind the gun-powder scent, which I eventully got used to. Leeland showed me around, going from tent to tent. In less than five dakika the whole camp knew me. I realized how dangerous that was. If my mother was to come here looking for me, anyone could give me away and the gig would be up. This wasn't hatchling's play. This was real. We came to the last tent, Leeland's tent. "Oh, Alexander," Leeland began suddenly, looking at me over his shoulder, "There's someone I want wewe to meet." He dissapeared into the tent. I could hear voices and the sound of feet inside. I shifted my weight from one foot to the next, catching words from inside the tent like, 'hurry already' 'waiting' 'don't have to get'. I was confised. Who in Alvin York's Ice Cream was he talking to? Then I heard the voice that sounded..feminine. "Daddy! Stop!" The voices faded. Then Leeland appeared and walked out of the tent to stand beside me. I opened my beak to speak, and it stayed that way, maybe even getting wider as my eyes fell on who stepped out of the tent. Her bright red hair glistened in the sun. Her light blue eyes lifted and shone as they caught mine. I probably looked like I'd Lost my mind, a 'gaga' expression on my face and my beak gaping. She walked up to me, smiling. I thought I was going to melt. Then she said, "You must be Alexander." I couldn't make my beak form words. I was too taken in. All I could manage was a deep, heavy sigh with a huge grin. We were almost face to face. That was something new. Often everyone was taller than me. That's when she stood up straigh, holding out her flipper to me. Then I had to look up. She reminded me of an angel. (I know this sounds really sappy for a guy like me, but I'm not lying when I say it). "Alexander..are wewe okay kid?" Leeland asked. I snapped out of my daydream, eyes wide. My beak snapped shut, "I uh..dab-du..-uh! What?" I stuttered, feeing like an idiot. The female penguin, auk only laughed, still holding out her flipper, "Hi, I'm Hanna." she introduced herself. I took her flipper, standing up as tall as I could, "Nice to meet you. I-I uh..I mean, what are wewe doing here- I mean like..but..you're-"
"-a girl in a military camp? Yes, I get that reaction often." She replied. I couldn't help but grin from would-be ear to would-be ear. I was in love. Suddenly Leeland put a flipper on my shoulder, taking me out of yet another loony trance, "I've got to go Alexander. Some privates need training this morning and we have a tight training schedule. Come on Hanna, wewe can watch too", He winked at me and led us to a spare lot where three penguins and one puffin were standing, lined up along the fence with an erect posture. Each one held a rifle. Leeland motioned for me and Hanna to stand back a distance where, (I assumed) we wouldn't get our heads shot off. (The male, dramatized assumption). Leeland paced back and forth in front of the row of birds, "Gentlemen, today is the siku wewe prove your abilty, your wits, your aim. Try your hardest, not for the little lady-" he motioned to Hanna, who blushed. I noticed Leeland's eyes were fixed specifically on the puffin. I started to wonder if my true upendo wasn't already taken. Hanna caught me gawking at her and I quickly looked away. Leeland had his flipper in the air, "On my mark..fire!" Guns blasted, spitting fire, exhaling thick puffs of smoke. I saw the puffin's shot hit the bullseye dead in the center. My facination and amazement soared. This guy wasn't too bad..as a matter of fact he was pretty good. Leeland lectured two of the penguins, adjusting things like, how they positioned the barrel of the rifle, they way they held the bunduki itself, ect. Hanna seemed bored, but I was locked on with interest.
After the training session I walked up to the puffin. He saw me first and said, "Vell hello, and who are you? I trainee here? No one told me."
"I'm Alexander Fahlcon, uh, most guys call me Alex." I replied, swishing my foot in the dirt. The puffin shook my flipper, "I'm Hans Johannason." he greeted. Hanna strode up behind me, "Well, I see you've met my friend Hans." she said, smiling. I started to smile too, then I saw the look in Hans' eyes. It was love, and he was looking at Hanna. Something died inside of me. She was taken. "Are wewe okay Alexander?" Hanna asked. I faked a smile and replied quickly, "Oh sure sure! I'm perfectly fine!" But I wasn't. I was anything but fine.