Footsteps entered the dark, silent cave. The sleeping lontra snored and rolled over onto her stomach. The footsteps stopped suddenly, as if afraid to wake her up.

Kowalski sighed in relief to see Marlene still sleeping peacefully. So the scream obviously didn't come from here. He quietly took a loop around the room just to be sure nothing was out of place.

He tip-toed back to the enterance. Kowalski was almost out the door, feeling relieved he was able to leave without waking Marlene, when his walkie-talkie buzzed.

"Lieutenant Kowalski, this is Agent Skipper. Do you read?"

Kowalsk swore repeatedly under his breath.

Marlene sighed and opened her eyes. Still drousy, she questioned, "Who's there?"

Kowalksi's radio buzzed again.

"I repeat. Lieutenant Kowalski, are you there?"

Kowalski put the walkie-talkie up to his beak and whispered harshly, "Roger that, Skipper."

"That's Agent Skipper to you. What's your news?"

Marlene sat up, looked across the room, and noticed the tall pinguim staring nervously at her. Her drousiness cleared away and instantly started firing questions. "Kowalski? What you doing here? What time is it? Why didn't you knock? What's going on? Where are the others? What's that in your hand? Is that a walkie-talkie?"

Kowalski opened his mouth to speak, but was immediately cut off por Skipper.

"Lieutenant Kowalski! Do you read!?"

Kowalski, still eyeing at an unhappy Marlene, spoke slowly into his walkie-talkie.

"Roger that, Agent. I am in the Asian lontra exhibit with no extraordinary finds."

"Report back to the HQ immediately."

Kowalski, wanting to avoid Marlene's glare, quickly turned and tried to waddle away back to the pinguim exhibit.

But he was being held back. Kowalski turned back to see Marlene out of her cama and gripping his flipper with her paw.

His coração skipped a beat and he felt the blood rush to his face.

A moment of silence went por with the two staring at eachother. Kowalski felt uncomfortable, but he couldn't help but lock his eyes into hers.

Marlene was the first to speak up.

"What's going on?"

Kowalski opened his mouth, but he couldn't speak. He stood there gaping at Marlene. His thoughts left him empty minded and at a loss for words. Eventually, he found his voice.

"Um, th-that's classified information. Er- sorry. I... have to leave." Kowalski felt embarrassed. Why was he stuttering? What was happening to him?

"Okay..." Marlene was also in a awkward position.

Kowalski and Marlene stood silent, both unable to speak up, their eyes still fixed on eachother.

"So... uh - I have to leave." Kowalski repeated.

Marlene realized she still had a firm grip on Kowalski's flipper. Embarrassed, she quickly let go.

Kowalski hurried out the door, trying to leave as fast as possible back to the head quarters.

Marlene still stood there, shocked. She watched as the pinguim waddled away.

She was confused. What was wrong with her? What was this weird feeling that swept over her so suddenly?

Eventually, Kowalski was out of Marlene's sight and she walked back to her bed. She couldn't fall back to sleep. She lay there on her back, deep in thought.