I open my eyes. I am surrounded by mud. I hear muffled sounds above me. I move my legs.

Hungry.

I thrash all four limbs and push until I am out of the mud. A wall of water is above me. The water is cold but at least it isn’t frozen. I shove off the mud and paddle upwards. I see light.

My beak breaks the surface of the water. I turn my head in both directions. The coast is clear.

I swim to the shore and crawl onto a flat rock.

The heat of the sun warms me.

I am back.