Private shuddered, pushing himself further against the brick wall. He gazed at the dumpster, wondering if it would be warmer in there. Warm enough to keep him alive till morning...

The small, 1 year-old penguin had been running all night with his momma. The clan at the zoo had gone mad after it shut down, and she and him had to leave before it tore them to shreds.

After hours of fighting off the demanding males, She had seen the alleyway and had instructed him to stay while she found food. That had been over 5 hours ago, and she still hadn't come back. Private, even though he was so young, knew what had happened to his Momma. He refused to believe it, telling himself she had just found so much food she was having trouble bringing it all back.

Meanwhile, he was here freezing to death. Literally.

The sores and cuts burned on Privates skin. Hours of fighting for his life, then a few more hours of sitting in the numbingly cold outside air had taken its toll on his body. On some areas it dropped with blood, on others it was frozen solid. His body kept shifting from being too hot to being too cold. He coughed and sneezed, and the cold reality hit him like the brick wall he was leaning against.

He was going to die soon.

He started whimpering in pain and anguish.

Meanwhile, Skipper and the team were sliding down the streets of New York at midnight. They had just finished a tuna-retrieval mission, and Skipper was mad because it was so late, much past 10, they're lights-out time.

"Good job, men. We're eating good tomorrow. For now I need my sleep, because you know how I get whe-"

He was interrupted by a sudden whimpering noise. He gave Rico a look and shook his head.

"I know it's cold, soldier, but your a man! Stop whimpering."

Rico shrugged. "Wasn me."

Skipper looked at Kowalski "You, then?"

"Negative Skipper."

"Then who was it?"

The whimper came once again, louder this time. It sounded strained, like the owner had been at it for hours.

Skipper poked him head around the corner of an alleyway to see a small, dark figure sitting at the end. It had his head in his flippers and...

Wait, flippers? Skipper stared in shock. This whimpering little thing was a PENGUIN, no older than 1. His body was a disaster, and just the look of him made Skippers heart break in two. The cuts and bruises he was decorated with dripped Fresh with blood.

The poor thing looked so young, so innocent.

He slowly inched towards the figure, motioning for the others to follow.

The younger penguin saw them and immediately pressed closer to the wall behind him, shivering even more then before.

"Please don't hurt me..." He begged and pleaded.

"We won't." Kowalski hushed "I promise." He bent over and wrapped his flippers around the little guy, slowly lifting him up. He cradled him close to his chest and the little guy pressed against him, drinking up the body heat. Within time, he was sound asleep, breathing softly. Kowalski smiled down at the little, beaten up and torn down victim in his arms.

He looked cute sleeping.