It was a bright, gorgeous day! The sun was shining over the ice and making it shimmer and shine. I breezed through the opening of my cave and stood outside. It had snowed overnight! My eyes twinkled as I skated over the hills. It was fun to be free! About half a year ago I had escaped during Puffle round-up when some careless penguin let me escape. I greatly enjoyed the peace and tranquility of the forest, but sometimes I felt lonely, and I longed for a good home. My stomach growled, and I figured I’d better get something to eat. I peered around the forest for a Puffle-Berry Tree. I saw none. I sighed and ventured toward the Puffle-Berry Tree I had found last week. It took a while to get there, but my stomach just kept pushing me. I arrived, but I was out of luck. A large seal was nibbling on the last of the berries, and I did NOT want to get in its way. I sighed and slumped down behind a bush. I had many days like this in the past. Sometimes I would go for up to three days without food. My hunger made it hard to think, which is probably why what happened, happened. Now, almost a year later I am so thankful that the seal was there. It must’ve been an angel watching over me.

I saw a pink shape approaching. I thought I was hallucinating so I closed my eyes again. However, I heard a voice. It was speaking the same language of the creature that let me escape in puffle round-up. Oh no. I thought It’s a penguin. I tried to run away, but I was too dizzy. I hadn’t eaten in three days! In the end, I don’t remember what happened. My vision blurred and eventually gave way to black. The last thing I saw was a gleaming crown on the penguin’s head.

When I awoke, I immediately realized I was not in the wild. I was in a dinky igloo with no decorations, but it was warm. I saw that there was a tray with assorted food items on it lying next to me. There was gum, puffle food, Puffle-Os, cookies, and fruit. I looked at the penguin. She smiled and said “Go ahead.” I didn’t need to be told twice. I tottered weakly out of the bed I was in and inhaled every bit of food there was. Even the gum. After I was full, and ready to burst, I rolled back into the bed I was in earlier and I slept the day away. Dreams of sweet, sweet cupcakes and crème brulee filled my head. In the wild I hadn’t been able to eat those things. Now that I had a temporary home, maybe I could. The next morning I woke up to the sound of the penguin singing, “Et Et Et!” When I lifted my heavy eyelids, the penguin was right up in my face, smiling. I awkwardly turned away. The penguin beamed and stood up.

“Hey there little one!” she cooed. You look a lot better today! I dared to peep open my eye again. The penguin had moved away. I had learned from my experience in the wild to be shy, and hide form unfamiliar creatures. I had been tricked into almost being eaten by a polar bear, but that, my friend is a story for another time. The penguin continued smiling.

“I am Sweet Samoa,” she said, “but you can call me Sweet Sa.” I grimaced at the name. What the heck was a Samoa? I didn’t care. I didn’t mind the “sweet” part. I thought for a moment. Aha! Sweetie! It was such a soft, lovable name. I’d call her Sweetie. I told her this, but unfortunately Sweetie heard only squeaks.

“Ok, then!” Sweetie said. “Now there is the matter of naming you!” I looked at the ground bashfully, realizing that I didn’t have a name. I hoped that Sweetie chose well.

“Hmm…..” she mumbled. “I’ll list some and you tell me if you like them.” She cleared her throat and she began to go into deep thought.

“Uh…….lessee……..” she mumbled. “How about Sylvia? Sophie? Uh…..Reneè?” I grimaced. I wanted a beautiful name that flowed like honey over the tongue. Sweetie saw the disgusted look on my face so she kept going.

“Lorraine? Larissa?” Ew. I thought. Sweetie paused for a minute and kept listing. “Fay? Autumn? Chrysanthemum?” Hm…that last one wasn’t bad but it was kind of long. I shook my head.

“Ugh!” exclaimed Sweetie. “This is hopeless!” Her penguin phone rang and some person from her dance group spoke. Sweetie started yelling at the person that they were cruel, heartless, and mean.

“Ugh!” Sweetie complained to me when she’d hung up. “He wants me to go to dance on Sunday morning! His heart is like a chunk of ice!” Then her face lit up.

“Hey! That just gave me an idea! How about the name Icis?” I fell in love with it instantly. I smiled and started hopping up and down to let Sweetie know that I loved it.

“OK.” She said, grinning. “Icis it is.” I smiled at the penguin. Now that I was fed, I could see clearly. She was a hot pink penguin with a flower-y blue lei and a shiny crown perched upon her head. I hoped that this was going to be the beginning of a long, beautiful friendship.

“C’mon, Icis.” She said. “Let’s go get some crème brulee.”