CC came back from inviting her friends. She smiled.
"Rune has said yes, and so has Kiva, Monique, Dylan and Lexii. I'll hear from the others soon. I'm so excited." Skipper, Rico and Private smiled as she spoke. "Where's Kowlaksi?"
"He's in the lab," Skipper replied. "I think he's building the plane."

CC went into the lab and approached Kowalski.
"How long until it's finished?" she asked.
"Soon enough," he replied, chuckling. "I've planned for us to leave early the morning before your birthday, stay for a few days, maybe even spend natal in Australia, and come back."
"I forgot my brithday was so close to Christmas," CC laughed. "Do you think Skipper would approve?"
"I've already talked to him, and he said it was alright, if you're happy."
"Christmas in Australia too. I'd amor that!" Kowalski chuckled.
"How many mais are coming so far?" he asked.
"Lexii, Rune, Kiva, Dylan and Monique so far," CC replied. "That's already five. I can only invite one more."
"Skipper is going to be my co-pilot," Kowlaksi said. Then he thought for a moment. "I think I can squeeze in another row of three seats."
"That would be fifteen, and I can invite a few more." CC said. "That means, seventeen of us are going. I've never had so many people at my birthday." CC skipped out of the lab to see if her friends had decided.

Private still pondered the problem of what to purchase CC for a present. He thought all day, but just couldn't decied. He HAD, however, narrowd it down to four things; a diary, so she could write about what she did on the birthday trip, and other times; a locket, so she could have pictures of her friends, or even her parents inside; her own clipboard and pencil to sketch with, because she got in bit of trouble with Kowalski for using his options clipboard; or a lunacorn doll.

He thought over his options, and decided that she wouldn't want a lunacorn doll, so he had narrowed it down to three things in the end.

CC went to Kiva' habitat, along with little Rune, the raccoon they rescued from Blowhole. CC wanted to just chat with Kiva, but Rune wanted to come along.

They jumped over the mural and walked up to Kiva.
"Hey guys," Kiva called. She patted seguinte her on the ground, and CC and Rune sat down.
"What's up?" the rato asked.
"Not much," CC answered. "I just wanted to talk to you."
"I was about to come visit you," Kiva said. "I wanted to ask you something."
"Yeah?"
"What would you like for your birthday?"
"what would I like?" CC repeated. "I would just like for you to come on the trip. And since you already said you would, well, I'm happy with just that."
"But it's proper for you to get a present," Kiva protested.
"Not if I don't want any," CC laughed.
"If you insist," Kiva gave in.

They both laughed, then Rune spoke up.
"When are we leaving?"
"Kowalski said we're leaving early the moring before my birthday. Skipper had told me everyone who's coming has to camp out with us in Central Park, because that's where the plane will be, and it'll take less time than to gather you all up." She smiled. "And Kowalski also said we'll spend Chisrtmasin Australia too!"
"How stange it'll seem, having natal in the Summer," Rune pointed out. "I wouldn't care WHAT season it is. I like Weihnachten."
"What?" Kiva asked.
"That's natal in German," CC explained. "she sometimes speaks German, because that's where she's from."
"Oohhh!"
"We best be going," CC said, standing. "Come on, Rune."

CC and Rune went past the lemurs' habitat on their way home. Julian spotted them.
"Hello, pretty, lady-penguin!" he called. CC sighed.
"What do you want, King Nuts-for-Brains?" she snapped.
"I do not eat nuts," Julian replied. "That big elefante with the nose eats nuts."
"Whatever," CC snapped again. "Just don't make me soco you again!"
"That was not punch. That was a smooch. And I'd be glad to have another." He puckered his lips, as CC went up to him.
"For goodness sakes, don't you ever learn?" She sighed, and curled her flipper into a fist.

Julian might have been seeing stars, if he hadn't gotten knocked out.
"I REALLY hate it that I have to do that everytime I see you!" CC shouted. She turned to leave. Rune stayed behind to play with Mort.

Back at the HQ, Private went up to CC when she came in.
"What so you like better," he asked. "Writing, or sketching?" He has decided to go with the clipboard or the diary, because CC already had a neckalace, and didn't need another one.
"Oh, well," CC was a bit surprised with this question. "I think I like sketching better. Speaking of which," she turned to leave. "I must go beg Kowlaksi to let me use his clipboard so I can sketech a little something. I'm just dying to, and there's nothing else to use." She chuckled and headed into the lab.

Finally, Private had made up his mind. He knew just what to get CC.
"The only problem now is, where do I get one?"
"Get one what?" Skipper asked, making Private jump.
"A clipboard, for CC on her brithday."
"Just ask Kowlaksi where he got his," Skipper suggested.

Private entered the lab, and saw CC happily sketching away in the corner. Kowlaksi looked up as Private approahed him.
"Kowalski," he said softly. "Where did you get your clipboard from?"
"Um, I got it from, I believe it was from Alice's office. Why do you ask Priv-" but Private had alreay run out the door. Kowalski sighed, and got back to work.

CC, who didn't noitice Private go in or out, moved from the corner and tore out the piece of paper she sketched on. She handed it to Kowalski, who looked at it.
It was a picture of him with Doris the dolphin. He smiled.
"What's this for?" he asked.
"To thank you for doing this," CC replied, smiling. She left the lab and went up to the ice floe, excited about the trip ahead.

If only she knew...

There's chapter 2. Please comment, I still have a couple of places left for OCs. Seven, to be exact...pretty sure.