"Days With the Down Feathers"

Thanks for the reviews and thanks for your patience, everybody. Anyway, here is the next chapter. Please enjoy.

Chapter 15

Shortly after the penguins finished eating, they went to bed. Nigel slept on the bunk above Rico, while Kowalski and Skipper

slept in the bunks below. Suddenly, a clap of thunder rattled the penguins' habitat, which woke up Skipper. Groaning,

Skipper grabbed the ends of his pillow and squished them against the sides of his head. Unfortunately, the sounds from the

storm still seeped through." Man, I wish this storm would just stop already," he grumbled upon hearing the thunder roar,

again. Moments later, Skipper peeked his head out of the bunk and faced Kowalski. "Kowalski," he murmured. "Kowalski?"

"What," Kowalski mumbled with a yawn.

"I've finally figured out that problem you gave to me," Skipper chirped. "It's one eighth, right?"

"Yeah, it is," Kowalski piped then sneezed. "Looks like you do have a brain in that flat-topped skull of yours."

"Thanks, I think," Skipper uttered then went to sleep.

Soon, it was the next day. Rico was the first to wake up and jump out of his bunk. He looked around the habitat, trying to

find something to do. After a few seconds had passed, his eyes widened. He spotted the microwave in the corner, which

went untouched after his parents left. He glanced at the bunks. The other penguins were still sleeping. Quietly, Rico tip-toed

over to the microwave and coughed up a fork. He peeked at the bunks one more time then looked at the fork. He steadily

put it in the microwave then set the timer. Rico had been told not to do this when he was younger, but was still curious.

Suddenly, sparks surrounded the fork. Rico widened his eyes, grinning. Next, the microwave began whirring and bouncing.

Rico pointed and giggled. Suddenly, the microwave blew up, rattling the whole habitat. The rest of the penguins woke up,

gasping.

"What in the name of Chef Boyardee was that," Skipper squeaked.

Kowalski looked around, squinting his eyes. He spotted a flipper under a pile of metal then widened his eyes. " Oh no,"

Kowalski yelped as he hopped out of his bunk. He sprinted toward the blown up microwave and started removing the

pieces. Skipper followed then helped. Eventually, they found Rico, who was unconscious and had a bleeding beak. Skipper

and Kowalski picked up Rico then carried him to the bottom bunk. Nigel jumped onto the floor, waddled toward Rico then

widened his eyes.

"I'll go get the medical kit," Nigel stated as he ran to the bathroom. Meanwhile, Ace was in his crib, bawling. Kowalski

cradled him, trying to calm him down. Skipper stared at Rico, frowning.

"Skipper," Kowalski uttered.

"Do you think he's going to be alright," Skipper muttered. "It looks kinda bad."

"By the looks of it, he'll be fine," Kowalski retorted, while rocking Ace in his flippers.

A few minutes later, Nigel busted through the door and ran toward Rico. When he got there, he pulled out the medical kit

and began cleaning his wound. The others stood, watching. After the wound was clean, they covered their beaks, gasping.

There was a gash in the side of his face. It stretched from the top corner of his beak to his collar bone. Next, Nigel stitched

up and bandaged the wound. Soon, Rico opened his eyes then sat up, flinching.

"Ow," he grunted then patted the side of his beak. Rico growled then started peeling the soft fabric off.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you," Nigel snapped.

"Why," Rico snarled.

"You have a cut on the side of your face," Kowalski stated then sneezed. "It's very deep."

"Oh," Rico muttered then hollered. "What?"

" I'm afraid you have an injury," Nigel said. The others nodded their heads.

"Oh," Rico retorted.

"Rico, what were you doing," Skipper stated then pointed at Rico. "And don't tell me you were putting forks in the

microwave, again."

"Uh," Rico stuttered, while looking up at the ceiling and twiddling his flippers.

"Rico, you didn't," Skipper squawked as he threw his flippers in the air. " You know why we're not supposed to do that and

now look at what happened. You could've killed yourself."

"Killed," Rico peeped, while raising an eyebrow.

"Yes, killed," Skipper bellowed. " As in not waking up ever again."

Rico's lower beak trembled, while his eyes filled up with tears. "Sorry," he whimpered.

Skipper sighed then stormed outside, slamming the sewer entrance door behind him. The group gawked at the door then

looked at Rico, who was sobbing.

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Whoa. Poor Rico. Anyway, coming up next in Chapter 16. How will the group handle Rico's accident? Please stay tuned and find out more.