I was never into the idea of settling down and having children. courting someone sounded like such an unnecessary hassle.
It was undoubtedly a big surprise and disappointment when my parents introduced to me who they named "my future life partner". Her parents were ecstatic as I was one of the most preferably bachelor in our colony. I wasn't particularly strong or big, but my intelligence made me a suitable partner, I guess.
She looked very embarrassed as our parents laid our lives in front of us. I smiled politely and the time that we spent together alone I would reassure her that everything was going to be fine and that I was going to treat her well.
The sunny days warmed our hearts and soon I was quite found of her, not enough to call love, but definitely a happy feeling.
Soon, it was time for us to start the long journey to the nesting grounds, where both would spend our last times together. Some may linger a little behind, savoring the sweet moments with their loved one, but we decided that what we were doing was out of duty more than anything.
When the cold fingers of winter started to close around us, we knew that it was time. With our egg safe on my pouch, I assured her that she could just go in peace.
With longing glances that I knew were directed more at the life forming by me, she left, waddling towards the sea.

The next days were hard. We all huddled together as it got colder and colder. A giant mass of males and their eggs, fighting for a warm spot among each other.
I looked at the sky, howling at the stars how I actually dreaded being there. My parents, out of the age of breeding, were probably enjoying some freshly caught fish by the seashore. Meanwhile, I grew weaker by the days, my only reason? The little life between my legs.

More days passed and even with my strength draining, I could feel that the life I was carrying was growing stronger, the egg shaking and waddling around, making it a little difficult to hold to some days.
My father warned me about the dangers of dropping your egg. Just some minutes on the ice and your unborn child may never see the light of day. I saw some unfortunate fathers come to such fate, as just like me they are inexperienced and gullible. Some days I don't blame them. Lifting the big weight on their backs must be nice...

The days start to get very short and the sun seems to be hiding from us. I reach towards the ground and scoop some fresh snow on my bill, but living on water alone won't keep me up for long.

While the sky is dark and the wind decides to give us a break I hear a new but familiar sound. Looking around I see that many eggs starts to crack and show signs that time really has passed.
I can hear the faint cries of new born chicks, longing to see the world. My hope renovates as I feel my own egg move and crack. I can hear them. My child. I waited so long. Sacrificed so much. Their loud cries makes the world aware of their presence as I caress their head with my beak.
As my last resort, I can feel some accumulated food coming to the top of my throat. The only thing that I have left. After that, we must wait for her to be back. I feed my child and go take place on the huddle, as the winter hasn't let go of it's cruel ways yet.

On the corner of my eye I can see some children scattered on the ice, their small bodies freezing and forgotten. My heart aches. I don't want more of our children to die.
I look for comfort on the other parents around me, but none of them seem to care. Their children is all they can think right now. I look at the sky and shout at the stars. Why must my kind be so selfish?

Days have passed and no sign of the females. Just like me, my child grows weaker. The thought of losing them before they could even take their first steps was as agonizing as the thought of me not being here to see them do it. It seemed like the sun listened to my pleas and decided to show up more often, once again filling me with hope.

I keep my eyes closed, focusing on the sounds around me. The faint cries of my weak child keeping me awake from my own weakness. There is no point in joining the huddle. I once again curse my parents for putting me on this position. I was doing so well, so why? Why did it have to end like this?

It seemed like years had passed, but one morning, with the sunrise, the sounds of our mates could be heard. I open my eyes and squint towards the horizon. With the last bit of my strength, I waddle towards the huddle, preparing for the line.
While positioning myself, I poke my child. For some seconds they don't move at all and I hold my breath, then suddenly their head jolts up and they start shouting to the sky, calling for their mother. I join them in this happy melody, flapping my wings and trying to get the attention of the females, in the hopes that the right one would find me.

As each female found their mate and child, I grew more and more weary. I couldn't see or hear her. Slowly, the couples were huddling together to care for their children as some of us were left alone with our crying children begging for their mothers.
I release a last cry and stand there, looking down at my child that now looks like just skin and bones. I have nothing left for them... I have nothing left for me...
Once again I close my eyes, this time blocking all sounds around me. My stomach doesn't hurt anymore, but my head does.
Nature is telling me to leave. If I leave, my child will die. If I stay, we both will.
I... Couldn't possibly leave. I look at my child. They stretch their little beak towards me, expecting food.
I failed you... I'm sorry... I failed you, and for that, I refuse to leave you. If you are to die then so do I, as you for sure doesn't deserve it...
My body feels so weak... I can feel my mind slipping away... Sounds getting so far... The faint smell of fish and the sea... The tip tapping of feet around me...

..............................................................

As I recover conscience, the air looks much different. There is no wind and I can feel the sun warming up the snow around me.
Once again I can smell fish and the sea... I look around me, still feeling quite dizzy, my stomach growls. As my eyes adjusts with the light, I see the source of the smell. Fish.

A pile of regurgitated fish rests in front of my feet. I lunge towards it, gulping them quickly.
Amidst of my haste, my mind takes me back to what really matters: my child! I look around frantically, choking on the fish I was eating. As I turn my back, the vision behind me stuns me in place.

A chubby and short penguin stands staring at me with big eyes.
A faint peep caught my attention and as I look down, I see the familiar tail of my child between their legs.
I stand tall and flap my wings, but the short penguin just keeps looking at me, a surprised look on their face. Then they flash me a smirk and say in a cocky tone:

- easy there, big guy. You don't really want to scare away the one who saved you and your baby, right?

I slowly let my wings fall on my sides and stare at him. I've never seen a penguin like him, so different from all of us.
I look around and realize that there are more of them around my colony, poking the huddles and being loud and nosy.
He waddles close to me, his little beak touching my belly:

- yo big fella, little kid here may look comfortable, but I'm sure a bigger pouch would fit them way better.

I understand the message and huddle closer to him. Passing the chick was a little difficult, considering the difference on our sizes, but soon my child was safe with me again.
He flaps his wings, satisfied with himself, and turns towards the fish on the ground. I follow his gaze and stare awkwardly at it:

- you... Did this...?

He looks at me and smiles:

- yep, there was enough for me and my big belly but then...

He looks at my child:

- then I saw you, barely hanging on to yourself, and when I got closer I saw the child. I knew that I had to do something!

He stares at my eyes, looking up and down at me:

- where is your mate? Shouldn't she be back by now?

I hang my head. I don't really know what happened to her, but I'm certain that she won't be back.
He seems to understand my silence and sighs:

- gotcha... I'm sorry, dude...

I keep my head down, eyes glued on my now sleeping child.
The penguin suddenly perks up again:

- when they don't come back, shouldn't you just leave?

I shoot a glance at him, anger and sadness welling up on my throat:

- I could never leave my child!

I shout at him. He takes some steps back and tilts his head backwards, scratching it with one of his feet:

- ok, ok, gotcha. Sounds honorable. To be honest, I don't get all this mate stuff. I mean, it's fine if you wanna do it, but settling down and having a child is so not me, you know?

He flaps his wings and shakes his tail, seeming content with himself. I just stare at him. How can someone just say no to our destinies? How can someone just decide not to follow what has been laid down in front of us? I poke my child with my beak gently:

- I never wanted any of this. I never wanted to be with her. I never wanted to come here. But now, here I am... And here they are... And I cannot leave them, as them being here is my fault...

My child lets a faint peep while snuggling closer.
He tilts his head and approaches me silently. Usually I would swat him away from my kid, but his kind demeanor and my tiredness told me to do otherwise. Slowly, he reaches his beak closer, shooting glances at me as if waiting to be reprimanded. He caresses my child's head with his beak, making my kid peep and open their beak, waiting for food.
As I start to get sad again for having nothing to offer them, the short penguin opens his beak and feeds my child. I just stare at them in disbelief. He looks up at me and smiles, remains of fish stuck at the corner of his mouth:

- I think I see what you mean... You stay right here, big daddy. I'll get you and your kid some food.

He tip toes to the point of his feet and touches his beak to mine. A warm sensation fills my body. Something that I have only felt when caressing my child. I lock eyes with him and nod, reaching down and caressing his head with my pointy beak. He giggles:

- hehe, I'll come back, big fella, I promise.

..............................................................

He did come back, belly filled and ready to feed both of us. He made sure to take care of us until I was strong enough to leave. He promised to take care of my little girl while I was gone, and so he did, her growing stronger day by day.
When she was around his size, others would try to get closer, childless mothers trying to snatch her away. At first I was concerned about leaving them alone, but he showed me that I had nothing to fear. His small stature meant nothing when he was defending my little girl, shouting and biting away anyone who dared to get closer.

When the parents started to leave together to the ocean, he decided to stay behind and take care of all the chicks. Some of the big ones already towered before him, but he was not afraid, nipping at their fluffy tails when they misbehaved.
The moments that we were all together were the best. Even if his small frame would contrast with the one of my little girl, huddling together felt better and warmer than huddling with all the others of my own kind. I longed those days when I was out at the sea.

After some months like this, I realized that the fluff on my chick was starting to come off, showing her adult plumage.
I knew that it was time to leave and let her be by herself, but what would be of our little family once I had to leave?
He told me that his kind only comes by at summer, as the cold that my kind endures is too much for them.
Leaving not only meant leaving her, but also meant leaving him, and I did not know if I could do such a thing. I loved them both too much.

Love... That's what I felt. Not only towards her. I loved him. I wanted to be by his side. Forever. My life partner...
My kind is shy and reserved compared to his. They are loud and energetic. There isn't a day that I don't see him hopping around.
They also have different ways of doing most things. One of them is courting. I've being around their colony and saw what they do. How they favor the stones over the ice.
I was surprised when I woke up one day with a circle of stones around me. Pebbles of all sizes and shapes. I looked around with a puzzled look and saw some of his kind shooting dirty glances towards me.
He comes in waddling with a pebble on his beak. Seeing me awake, he drops the rock and scrambles towards me:

- you are awake! Good morning! What do you think?

I look around me and poke a rock with my beak, getting an annoyed reaction from him:

- no no! You're not supposed to move them! It's our nest!

I look back at him in shock and he stares back at me, hesitantly.
He then says, shyly:

- my kind gifts the ones they want to partner up with with pebbles and rocks... It's to... Build our nest... Although we don't have any eggs to put on it...

He picks one of the biggest pebbles and places it closer to my feet:
- what do you say, big guy? Wanna partner up? I know that your kind is leaving soon, but mine is staying around and since your kid is all grown up, there is some new chicks in my colony that could use some babysitters...

I stare at him. This little penguin that saved my life felt the same way that I did? Even thought we were both males he wants to be my life partner?
Stepping closer, I pick up the pebble and place it on the middle of the circle. Then I smile at him and huddle closer, caressing his head with my long beak. He gets closer as well and for some seconds everything is alright in the world.

..............................................................

It has been years since we've been together, our routine is always the same.
On the winter, I join my brothers and sister on our breeding grounds, looking for stranded children or starving parents to help. When the sun comes back and snow starts to have mercy on our backs, my partner shows ups.
Together, we take care of the chicks while their parents leave to fish and when the winter is over, we move to his colony, doing the same.
Every year our nest is the biggest one and all children are welcome to get warm by our side.
When the breeding season is over, we move back to the sea, where we spend the days the way I hoped we would: Together.

Pet Treasure

Shy Little Penguin Figurine

True Love

Flirty Little Penguin Figurine

Avian Courtship Stones

Rainbow Pride Flag

Wedding Congratulations Plushie

Squeaker Penguin

Twilight Cybill Plushie

Dark Freckled Eggs

Medium Freckled Eggs

Pale Freckled Eggs

Baby Penguin Cookies

Baby Penguin Beanbag

Twilight Lifelike Cybill Doll

Twilight Cybill Beanbag

Frostwing Nestegg

Yellow Giant Cracked Egg

Spectrum Vesnali Egg

Plumpy Penguin Toy

Raw Ostrich Egg

Tall Penguin Toy

Cybill Snow Sculpture

Raw Duck Eggs

Luminaire Sweater Cybill Plushie

Raw Chicken Eggs

Oddly Heavy Egg

Rainy Vesnali Egg

Pudgeling

Egg Seed

Fresh Mallarchy Eggs

Vintage Cybill Heart Card

Empty Egg

Lonely Black Penguin Plushie

Dull Blue Egg

Dual Colored Smashed Egg

Tuxxy

Cream Dyed Mortiking Egg

Cloudy Vesnali Egg

Blue Flowery Vesnali Egg Balloon

Twilight Slushii Plushie

Blue Solid Hidey Egg

Blue Small Vesnali Egg Balloon

Pet Friends