emperor penguin · tap dancing · shy · kind · adhd · happy feet · outcast · brave · animal protagonist · family drama
A bitter Antarctic gale whipped across the ice. Mumble huddled on a jagged ledge, his grey-and-white feathers fluttering. Below, the bustling colony dove and feasted, their songs weaving through the frozen air. His bright blue eyes, wide and watchful, tracked their movements. Isolated by his split tail and the incessant, nervous tapping of his feet against the frost, he lingered apart—an outcast waiting for the celebration to end, hoping a few forgotten scraps might remain.