Yeah, my internet is totally out. I've got one bar right now, so, typos galore! :D *sigh* Anywho, I hope you like it, it's just a little something.

Private woke to silence. He lay on a soft bed, which was unusual, and he had bandages around him. His back hurt, and he was still drowsy. A bit of dust fell from shelves every so often, signifying there was another battle going on outside. This was nothing new. He wasn't entirely sure how he had gotten here, or even what had really happened, but he had to get up and help, this much he did know. He lept from the bed, but stopped immeadiately and shut his eyes. His head hurt and his chest was tight. What had happened?

"Private!" CRACK

The memory nearly made Private sick. Was Skipper okay? He had to be. Private quickly leaped through the entrance to find himself in the midst of battle. It was arctic foxes this time. Smaller, but much more agile. A glint of light shining off something caught Private's eye, and he gasped when he saw it's source. It was Skipper's leg. Completely mechanical. Was this his fault? Was-

Private was jolted out of his thoughts when a white fox drove him to the ground, knocking the wind out of him. The fox snarled and raised a clawed paw, ready to strike. Private shut his eyes, cringing, when suddenly the weight was lifted off him with a yelp, and a flipper dragged him up. Rico looked down at him and grunted.

"Back inside. Jou vill get hurt even worse." He muttered.

"B- but I need to help-" Private was interrupted.

"Niegn. Not now. No offense, but jou are more of a... vell jou know." Rico shrugged and turned away, and Private sighed, making his way back inside. The battle would be over soon enough anyway...

~
"No can do, Private." Skipper said, crossing his flippers.

"But Skippah!" Private cried in protest.

"No, and that's final. If anything this leopard seal attack has only made me realize even more just how young you are. You're vulnerable, not quite fully trained. I don't want anything like that to ever happen again. Comprende?"

"But-"

"Comprende?"Skipper demanded. Private sighed.

"Comprende..." He said, half heartedly.

"Right," Skipper said, turning to the rest of the penguins. "Let's get down to buisiness. Kowalski, tell me how many..." Private let the rest of the conversation fade away as he slunk away to the bunk room.

No faith. They had no faith in him anymore... Just one incedent, and it was a leopard seal that had taken him by surprise! If they had been in that situation... Of course, they wouldn't have. Skipper had always tought them to be suspicious at all times, and... if he had just listened... Private shook his head. It just wasn't him though. Everybody had good in them, no matter what Skipper said, and he'd always believe that... right? Private rubbed his eyes as colorless images swam through his head. Images of rivers and jungles, of the open ocean, and the wide arctic tundra. It had been this way ever since the bell tower.

"Calm down Private, we'll be there soon. Then you can have all the fun you want kicking tail."

Private heard the chuckle of the voice fading away, and he sighed. There was so much he didn't remember, and ever since these memories had started coming back... well Private truely wonder if ignorance was indeed bliss. He wished so much that Adelie was with him...