Kowalski smiled weakly at Kara as she snuggled close to the chicks. It was Kowalski's turn to fish. He waved to her. Kara waved back, her eyes bright and vibrant with joy. She looked at the chicks, ready to feed them. Kowalski breathed in deeply, determined to catch an abundance of fish for his children. He followed the others, all on their way to the ocean. As they made their way, a penguin caught his way up to Kowalski.
"Congrats man, you got a good pick." He said, as they all slid across the ice. Kowalski looked at him.
"What do you mean?" He asked. "Scoring with Kara like that! Who would have thought a science geek like you could get a girl like that." He said grinning. Kowalski frowned.
"She's very educated, and likes science as much as I do. She not just some girl you know." Kowalski said. The penguin shrugged.
"What ever you say man, but the whole colony is talkin' 'bout it. Kara and Kowa they say, all the time Kara and Kowa." Kowalski frowned, and turned his gaze back ahead of him, the edge of the ice coming into view. Finally. Slowly they all came to a stop at the edge of the ice, Kowalski trying to inconspicuously make his way to the front. Eventually he was able to peak over the ice, down into the water. He looked around.
If he jumped first, he would be able to get more fish... but then there was always the probability of leopard seals... Kowalski weighed the pros and cons. He looked to each side of him, took a step back, and then shot forward, diving into the water.
Hitting the water was nearly heart stopping. His feathers were waterproof, but under the water the temperature still dropped.
Exhilarating and dangerous.
Kowalski swam in a circle, disoriented for a moment. Finally he righted himself, and sped for the surface. He shot through the water into the air. "It's all clear!" He shouted, diving back down, all the others following suit. Kowalski analyzed the situation. Fish, where was the most probably place to find them? Kowalski scanned the water, the blue expanding for miles upon miles.
A glimmer of silver.
Fish! Kowalski shot forward, in the direction of the fish, the others getting the hint and following.
Private looked at him curiously.
"How did you ever catch the fish, without a fishing rod?" He asked, bewildered. Kowalski looked up from his notepad.
"It's a talent you learn, only outside the zoo. In the wild penguins are naturally talented fishers, able to swim fast enough and dive deep enough to catch the fish in you beak."
Kowalski said, pointing the tip of his pencil to his beak for emphasis. Private stared at him wide eyed.
"How fast can you go? How far can you dive?" He asked, clearly amazed. Kowalski sketched some more as he thought.
"My estimation would be that I swam my fastest and dove my deepest, that very day. My speed... I was a tad preoccupied to track my speed at the time, but from the pressure I remember, my diving range went about as far as one hundred and sixty eight meters. I would assume." Kowalski said, not taking his eyes off the paper. Skipper was impressed, of course, as the leader, he masked it with a question.
"So, what's this got anything to do with your clipboard?" He asked, crossing his flippers. Kowalski looked at him.
"I'm getting there..." He said slowly.
"So, what made you dive so deep, if the fish were right there?" Marlene asked. Kowalski looked up from his notepad.
"You know... a leopard seal's preferred way of killing it's pray, penguins, it to clamp its jaws on a penguins feet and bash them on the ice." The other three penguins winced, knowing this all too well. Marlene's eyes widened. Kowalski moved his clipboard so they could all get a clear view. Across his legs, were scars you would have never been able to see unless directly pointed out. Then they became all too obvious. It was clear that he had gotten them many years ago.
"It might explain a few things, getting bashed around like that. You know... what happens when I'm electrocuted, or hit too hard in the head.
I was a bit too eager to get home that day, I guess..."