A creature's orange beak emerged from the waves. It was led by a seemingly earless head, and beady black eyes. The birdlike animal scanned the beachy area, then turned around and peered into the distance. No ice in sight.
Zola had been swimming since the last glacier melted. She had lost her family out in the waters, but she didn't let that bother her.
The penguin let out a yelp as the water swept her in. She struggled to gain surface, propelling her flippers toward the sand. Zola's head poked up and she hastily climbed to the land before it could happen again.
The sand felt strangely warm and soft under her webbed feet, unlike the cold and hard glaciers that had washed away. Zola frowned. The grainy particules didn't look like sliding material.
I'll get used to it. Eventually.