EMPEROR PENGUINS FLIPPER 2


MUSCA, HIGH COUNCIL OF THE CLAN 

Since early December, Aurora’s clan feverishly pursued a diverse menu of penguin edibles in the Southern Ocean. Their sector of the staked-out territorial waters is replete with krill (Euphausiacea), icefish (Notothenioidei), and the Antarctic silverfish (Pleuragramma antarcticum), which typifies the primary diet of all penguins. Relying on their vision while hunting, it’s not known how these larger Emperors locate prey in the darkness or at great depths, especially when diving deeper for another favored food delicacy, colossal squid (Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni). That said, some scientists hypothesize all penguin species are aided by bioluminescence. Thus, the light-producing capabilities of many oceanic squids, crustaceans, and fishes. Because penguins are perfectly at home when in the water, to watch them hunt and feed is witnessing a nonstop energetic ballet whose choreography is both graceful and split-second timing. However, there are no pas de deux synchronized events because all penguins who hunt in hoards have no partners. 
Throughout the summer, these Emperors of Antarctica had one thing on their minds––hunting and gorging their bodies, which explains a maximum effort meant to store body fat and nutrients. Following the voracious summer feeding cycle is, of course, an extended period of intense fasting for Emperor Penguins, with intermittent periods of hunting after the females lay their eggs (therefore, requiring even longer marches across the ice sheet to their territorial waters). Consequently, there are months when the penguins survive on what’s in their stomachs, and, for the so-named brood males, these fathers steadfastly guarding the sole egg delivered by the mother endure a longer-lasting and virtual starvation diet before being relieved by their mates, then hastening back to the territorial waters. Hence, an urgent need to replenish nutrients. Later, the males return and commence their parenting duties where they left off. 
At no time in the water is any morsel of food overlooked and no ice floe that isn’t utilized for rest and digestion. Given this fact, Emperor Penguins live by the motto––Eat as much as possible on any given day, and the more, the better. The popular saying is also a confirmation why most of the overfed assembly of penguins today are somewhat maladroit when pacing and waiting for the rest of the clanners to show up.

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Like a convention of esteemed playmates getting back together again, the returning penguins constitute a steady rank and file that continues adding over a hundred more chatty penguins scattered throughout the staging sector. Now that they’re here there’s nothing to do other than wait to be united with hundreds of other inbound penguins. That said, Aurora considers how long it’s taking for the majority of clan members to arrive. Again, he surmises the delay has something to do with the fact there are less reliable routes to the staging sector compared to past post-summer sorties. And the one penguin in that slower bunch he’s waiting for is Corvus. She was near him for a few hunting sorties over the summer, but, for the most part, she preferred hunting with groups of her pod pals (but always as individuals when each saw something it wanted to chase and eat). Consequently, Aurora spent very little time with his favorite clanner. 
Then again, Aurora not only hunts alone but prefers being alone when hunting. Hence, he seldom pursues a moving and changing menu (so to say) with any clanner, even pod pals. While it’s true he runs the risk of being nabbed by a predator, Aurora thinks with less competition there is more prey for him to consume. Indeed, on these solo sorties, he practically vacuums his fill of edibles on any given day. Hunting alone also means he has had numerous encounters with predators in the past, all of whom he effortlessly evaded.
From his perspective, having the occasional run-in with an adversary also helps fine-tune any penguin’s finesse and cunning. Therefore, eluding a predator while also knowing it is indeed a perilous contest of wits and wily moves but never chance. The reason is that Emperor Penguins don’t believe in chance or luck. Instead, they believe in opportunity. With these observations in mind, there is always a choice and freedom to do what needs to be done, regardless of the risks that are taken. Penguins also live fully in the moment and realize that’s all that essentially matters. The praxis of their philosophy of life, therefore, comes down to this salient motto––Be here now! Besides, the present is all there is (given their perspective) and the future is, as it were, unborn, while the past is over. Living fully in the moment also intensifies every experience. There is also the fact a penguin attempts to make the most of every good, bad, and ugly situation.
Attempting to take his busy thoughts off his concerns, Aurora mingles with a small group of penguins who can’t seem to stop pacing. He understands because they’re getting used to their heavy bodies again. In a way, the waiting is like recess has set in for most of them. Accordingly, the downtime will last until all the clanners muster at the staging sector and individual pods conduct a census. Of course, after recess, the fun, relaxation, and frolicking will be over because the clanners depart the staging sector and are on a nonstop journey. Moreover, these birds without functional wings (on land), will endure a strenuous workout on the demanding slog to First Place.
Adding to their burden is the force of gravity’s constant accelerating rate––9.8 m/s2. It follows how every step of the way the law of gravity works against the penguins; at least until they are fully used to being terrestrial, bipedal creatures again. At times, the effect will also make it seem the First Penguin Parent’s realm (notably, the sky) is somehow pressing down on their bodies. Consequently, they appear to be more robotic when moving across the landscape. 
Previously mentioned, these Emperors of Antarctica have an outstanding trait that wholly complements their disposition. Thus, they never complain. They also know the drill and what’s expected of their lot. Based on the fact there are no alternatives given their tradition, that is, other than to hike and get used to walking again, they all go along to get along because that’s who and what these penguins are––capable.

At some level, penguin awareness is instinctual and they differentiate rest from energy and exertion. Then again, Emperor Penguins do not shirk their duty. Given what tradition demands during the upcoming nine-month interval, they rely on tenacity and conviction to do what has to be done and always for the sake of survival and procreation of their species. Thus, it’s not the human emphasis of E pluribus unum. Instead, it’s more the case out of the one comes the many where the emphasis is placed on the many. In the Emperor Penguin’s lingo, the phrase would, therefore, be E penguinbus unum, only in reverse. Accordingly, the clan always rates higher than the individual, yet the individual represents the clan’s community. One simply does not exist without the other and mutual importance is ascertained. Naturally, this attitude relates to the most important aspect of Emperor Penguin life and protocol––the moment is all there is, like it or not. 

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Like his comrades, Aurora’s pacing on the ice sheet might appear that he’s agitated about something. In fact, it’s more the case of a functional workout while biding his time. Hopefully, the mob of inbound penguins includes Musca and Aurora intends sharing some of his latest concerns with the High Council leader about the strangeness of the pack ice. If nothing else, Musca will be apprised of the situation. On the other flipper, he will likely be unwilling to engage in a dialogue with Aurora because their discussions tend to turn into disputes. Nevertheless, he’s the High Council leader of the clan, and, therefore, needs to hear Aurora’s concern on the matter. 
Since Musca is one of the slowest swimmers in the clan, likely, he won’t show up until later in the day. If so, Aurora is okay if a delay should prove to be the case because he never looks forward to having any discussion with Musca. On the other flipper, their conversation will eventually take place; that is assuming Musca won’t be attacked and consumed by a predator. If and when he does show up, first he’ll assemble other council members and afterward, seek Aurora’s counsel. The reason is because Musca counts on Aurora’s reports about the well-being of the clanners. After said report, Aurora will explain his notions about what might be happening to the staging sector, and may, in fact, be connected to something that may likewise happen to First Place. Naturally, he expects Musca will commence a snap roll with his head when he hears Aurora’s perspective, which, in human terms, infers dismissing Aurora’s concerns and comments as though preposterous or silly.
Apart from a proposed counseling that Musca hears from some of the clanners, especially Aurora (who typically tends to irritate the High Council leader), sometime tomorrow the general order for all the penguins to depart will be given (again, by Musca). Each pod will also muster in and take a final census of absent members. (Therefore, these penguins are either still en route or no longer breathing and wheezing on this side of the ice.) Naturally, every pod sacrifices some penguins due to predation or injury. On the other flipper, from the perspective of penguins, death is another phase of the life cycle. While they feel the loss of their pod pals, they do not dwell on such matters. The loss of any pod member also strengthens surviving members. Unlike humans who respect and mourn for the dead, as cherished memories, Emperor Penguins absorb the memories of their deceased clanners without having to dwell on the loss. Therein lies the strength that binds the penguin genus into an extended fraternal family.
As for the expected long march ahead, and presented with a forthcoming announcement that will mark the first slog of the season, a large horde of Emperor Penguins will come to attention and assemble on the ice sheet. One by one by one they’ll fall in line, with the scouts at the front. Starting in a single file (or sometimes it’s two penguins side by side), the knotted procession moves forward. Ergo, the annual pageant officially begins and one pod after the other departs across the ice sheet. Musca and the other council members will have another function given this somewhat orderly rank and file procession––maintaining order and ensuring all the penguins stay together. Thus, linking all the segments from front to rear. Otherwise, if a segment of penguins gets separated from the main body, and if there is no leadership in the small or large group, said penguins might soon get off course, and, consequently lost. Naturally, if this scenario were to happen, it would not bode well for that assembly of penguins; that is if they don’t soon find their way and catch up with the main body of penguins headed into the hinterland.
As for Musca's presence when he arrives, his role in the clan is more for show and mock leadership. Given this fostered sentiment by most fellow clanners, at best, he’s tolerated though barely. Moreover, his title is a mere formality. Like other council members, this penguin functionary of considerable age mainly serves his appointed post in absentia. In other words, he denotes a titular head of sorts. As Aurora once said of the High Council leader, although meant in jest, What Musca knows about clan leadership could easily fit inside a krill’s casing!
Meanwhile, there is still no sign of Musca or other council members. There’s also nothing much for Aurora to do other than continue what he’s been doing––pacing. At times, he twirls his flippers and wheezes to himself. Apart from this exercise and occasional audible reports, he’s observing other penguins who tend to keep their minds busy with small talk (gossip). Just about anything and everything might be discussed among penguins but mostly it’s canards, though never vicious. This kind of shared discourse is also something all penguins learn to master, which is part of the reason First Place is often a booming auditorium; that is given the echoing reports of thousands of reunited colony penguins and seemingly talking all at once. The other thing Emperor Penguins are famous for is a tendency to be outright busybodies. Thus, the impetus behind a proclivity for small talk and meant only to have something to say or hear. Already, some of the penguins are meddling in the affairs of others, merely for the sake of having something to do with their comrades, including jest and having a little fun. 
But not Aurora. His preoccupation with his thoughts has taken him in a new direction. 

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Recalling that troubling incident before the summer recess began, those baffling sounds and pulse-like tremors certainly got all the penguin’s attention a week or so before they left the rookery. To describe the suspense, the crunching and grating noises seemed to have come out of nowhere and were by a floating sensation below the foundation. Those simultaneous events never happened in the past, which is why many penguins didn’t grasp the consequences of what happened. After those simultaneous  and anomalous incidents lapsed, nominal conditions returned. Often, those daunting and repetitive disturbances were repeated, sometimes only once or twice a day, and sometimes four or five times. By the time the penguins were free to depart at the end of the season and happy to do just that, the only problem was leaving the fledglings behind without any adult supervision. Therefore, entirely on their own. Then again, that phase of the mating and offspring season could not be helped because the adults always depart the rookery before their offspring. Moreover, fledglings cannot survive the frigid waters until their plumage is thick enough and can insulate their bodies. The time it takes to prepare the fledglings for their new lives (and serving on their own) about two weeks.
Stepping away from the entanglement of other penguins milling around or standing idly nearby, Aurora goes off by himself and changes channels on his thinker, as it were. Recalling some of the daft discourse he had with Musca a few months ago, their one-sided debate was entirely centered on those troubling sounds and tremors. (One-sided because Musca understood very little Aurora’s concerns about this matter.) Shaking his head, he thinks to himself, My essence might as well have been talking to a squawker! (In Emperor Penguin lingo, a skua, which is a seabird in the family Stercorariidae.) His sentiment brings with it a measure of exasperation, but not the case the High Council leader hasn’t earned Aurora’s respect. Instead, it’s a fact Musca, from Aurora’s perspective, doesn’t employ penguin sense (a counterpart to a human’s common sense) or effect sound leadership for other penguins to model. Specifically, he’s more akin to a bureaucrat who goes through the motions based on one’s title, yet tends not to listen to advice.
Given that singling out of Musca's character, Aurora thinks, and has always thought, the leader of their clan is a well-practiced virtuoso when it comes to rhetoric. Equally, Musca is thoroughly lacking when it comes to administration and doing for the clan what is in the clan’s best interest. In short, he knows how to avoid the issues that don’t interest him, though, of course, all penguin issues should matter and interest him. What Aurora is most perturbed about today, however, is the fact Musca did not consider the peculiarity given what happened at First Place. 
Later, when Aurora and a few other penguins questioned Musca about the sounds and tremors, he brushed them off. Even now Aurora confirms what he thought earlier––he has a feeling in the pit of his stomach he and every First Place clanner hasn’t heard the last of whatever phenomena happened a few months ago. Aurora is also convinced there is prophecy given the import of what he’s presently pondering in more detail. Accordingly, hiss profane view regarding the attitude of all clan leaders, though mainly directed at Musca and his opinionated ways that always ruffle Aurora’s plumage. Anticipating Musca’s typical composed mannerism when they have discussions, Aurora is already starting to get annoyed.
Although intended as a tongue-in-beak observation, many clanners tend to go along with Aurora’s humorous remark how Musca should consider missing the upcoming return to First Place. Therefore, he should remain in the clan’s territorial waters and continue hunting to excess on a year-round basis. In so doing, Aurora thinks penguin-style politics can run more smoothly; at least, the clan’s social affairs can be attended to as should be the case.
Given this resourceful suggestion (though never mentioned to Musca), Aurora also implied how some penguin in the clan or any other cslan for that matter should have investigated the unnerving sounds and tremors instead of doing nothing other than complaining or worrying. Furthermore, he thinks what happened then––and might still happen upon their return––is not only distressing for all colony members but something worrisome that isn’t going to go away. Indeed, each time the anomalous sounds echoed across the rookery and often followed by a delayed floating sensation a few seconds later, which manifestly added to the suspense, the usual noisy community’s chatter instantly ceased. After a brief and taut silence, a louder riot of penguin protest and squawking commenced. The community-wide response was unequivocally indicative of the colony’s reaction because both coinciding events were, in fact, repetitive. A subsequent pattern also was stronger and louder before the penguins departed. That said, Musca and his council member cronies did nothing about the upsetting matter. Likely, the same could be said for other clan leaders.
Ironically, Musca's reticence and resistance to taking action irked only a relatively few penguins but mostly Aurora. Those few outspoken penguins in Aurora’s clan who commiserated with each other also wanted Musca to do more than open and close his beak. Thus, take action and not just open his mouth and breathe. Musca, however, had only one thing on his mind––departure—and let that be the end of it. As the Emperor Penguin adage goes, Talk does not put food in a penguin’s belly. Then again, talk is cheap for penguins and humans, alike. The truth is, Musca didn’t want to talk about the problem! In fact, he didn’t want anything to do with the problem other than to depart and distract himself with hunting and eating once the clan returned to their territorial waters. 
All that to one side, Aurora now desires to back his discussion with positive assurance. Accordingly, he will mention this concern again to Musca when they have their discussion. If necessary, their anticipated conversation will take place whether Musca likes it or not. Furthermore, if the disquieting sounds and tremors happen again, and, of course, Aurora thinks both anomalies will happen, he’ll demand Musca give his approval to launch an investigation and determine the source of whatever’s causing the sounds and tremors. Given this focus and determination, Aurora thinks someone in the colony should, at least, do that much––investigate. 
Because he, like all other penguins, have never heard such odd reports in the past, much less experienced the subsequent floating sensations, the freakish and cyclic distractions are not only unnerving but ultimately may be perilous. Thus, life-threatening for the colony, as well as possibly destroying the foundation. Those joint disturbances also registered such a magnitude and Aurora felt then as he does now it is senseless not to assemble a volunteer task force to discover what might be happening to the colony’s homeland. Of course, he intends to be the first volunteer.
After these latest musings pass, he remarks to himself, Thou, Musca, will listen this time. If not, my essence will take matters into my flippers. There is something wrong happening that you are not getting right.
In the meantime, all these thoughts crowding Aurora’s thinker are starting to vex him, and, therefore, not fully immersed at the moment, much less still concerned about Corvus and her pod pals.

Global climate change’s devastating effects on Antarctica are compelling as the facts are disturbing to scientists. Studying and researching what’s happening throughout the continent, as well as seas and ocean that are, in fact, now relatively warmer, it appears there is no stopping what mankind has caused––not Nature. Humans! As for the ongoing epic and great meltdown in progress, meltwater undermines towering walls of ice holding back Antarctica’s glaciers. Consequently, there is no longer any doubt or guesswork Antarctica’s polar ice expanse at the bottom of the world is disappearing. Given the relative sense of all these proven global facts and facets, the meltdown is both unprecedented and rapidly developing. For a more complete analysis of this ongoing and worrisome scenario, this topic is discussed at the close of the novel (see the VANISHING POLAR CAPS Addendum).

Still reflecting on his offer to be part of the scouting mission Aurora has in mind to organize, in Musca's usual flippant manner, when Aurora first proposed this idea, the High Counsel Leader sidestepped Aurora’s concerns by discretely dismissing the slightly younger penguin’s impassioned take on the matter. As Musca candidly dubbed it––Those odd sounds and tremors are little more than natural events. (Notably, the previously mentioned adjustments he thought were affecting the foundation.) And that was all there was to it. Of course, Musca presented his terse declaration to Aurora without knowing the science behind the phenomena, and, specifically, how the continent’s ice sheet veneer routinely adjusts to a changing temperature gradient that affects parts of the ice sheet in that far southern vicinity. Indeed, that was the end of their perfunctory discussion on the matter last summer––a routine adjustment and nothing for the colony to wonder or worry about. 
After that declaration, Musca also casually mentioned something about the so-named and honored First Parent Penguin always takes care of all penguin colonies. His remark got a chuckle and a brusque wheeze out of Aurora. (The latter might also be construed as an expletive deleted in Emperor Penguin lingo.) Whenever Musca conspired to avoid any serious debate with a fellow clanner, typically he fell back on this go-to abstract and terse explanation.
Musca, his back was turned when Aurora ardently explained his position on the matter, finally turned and faced Aurora after saying what he did about the First Penguin Parent. With a smug look on his face, he bowed and thanked Aurora for the offer, then avoided another potential diatribe by saying there was no need to do anything. The decision about the entire matter was, therefore, not suppositional. In other words, his ruling on the matter was final. Reminding Aurora how clan politics works in the council, a direct rebuttal was also not possible. 
After Musca strutted away feeling confident his opinion about the matter prevailed over all the clanners in their group, Aurora realized Musca didn’t want to be bothered with something they considered was little more than a fluke. In short, what Musca contended––a natural adjustment to the rookery’s foundation––was nothing less than an annoying contingency, at best, and certainly nothing more. And that was Musca’s lame excuse on the matter. 
Watching Musca walks away as fast as he could and avoiding another admonishment or whatever it was Aurora had planned as a follow-up, Aurora vented his frustration with a hearty laugh. Neither did he pursue Musca to annoy him for the sake of having fun with the opinionated High Council leader. Besides, Aurora had made his point, then stepped back and waited to see if Musca would take the next course of action in the process. And so he did, only Musca headed into a crowd of penguins and soon disappeared in that large gathering.
To Musca's surprise, however, those anxious he encountered also demanded answers to their questions and concerns. Doubtless, he would try to appease some of that feisty group with more penguin malarky intended to avoid taking any action when such business is better left to the likes of the First Penguin Parent. Although Aurora thought the matter was pressing, he considered going off on his own and do some sleuthing. The only problem was he and Corvus had a lot on their flippers at the time. Mainly, preparing their offspring, Cetus, for his upcoming adventure. Aurora was also skittish after a recent bout and a surprise attack by a petrel (a tube-nosed seabird, Thalassoica antarctica) that almost took the life of their offspring. Somehow, she managed to escape certain death. Nevertheless, Aurora, like Corvus, sensed Cetus was more tentative after that plumage-raising encounter and they stayed closer and wanted to protect their offspring from future encounters with all aggressive seabirds harassing the latest colony members.
Although Aurora kept the thought to himself, he wasn’t sure their fledgling could make it through the sea trial years. Even with the company of other fledglings making up the shorter list of the colony, Aurora fostered such doubts. Compared to the much higher number that was hatched four months earlier, the newest colony members would systematically be hunted and killed off by predators once they were on their own. Accordingly, relatively few among their gathering would live to maturity. Given their all-too-short sequestered five years separated from the adults, there would not be a day go by when the young penguins were not threatened and some were consumed. On the other flipper, penguin self-reliance and assurance characterize the objective for every fledgling during the time spent solely with their peers. Thus, once leaving First Place, there was no adult supervision whatsoever. Such aplomb and self-reliance also define the quintessential nature of an Emperor Penguin’s essence, which is both a learned trait and social skill.
This morning, Aurora has reflected on such incidents and conversations that replayed in his thinker, almost verbatim. Mostly, he’s still miffed or mystified about Musca's prior refusal to have delved more deeply into the urgency he dodged last summer. In short, how Musca conveniently did nothing other than try to convince the clanners in their collective everything was still okay and all was in order under the First Penguin Parent’s perch.
Given the outcome of what didn’t happen last summer, Aurora’s memories fade away. Shaking his head in disbelief, he thinks Musca's nebulous and evasive remarks were nothing less than incredulous. He also has another outbreak of laughter about Musca. Specifically, a contradiction associated with his honorary title: High Counsel Leader. Indeed, if it wasn’t for the fact Musca's non-action approach was so pitiful, Aurora might have had another belly laugh that day of their somewhat fervid discussion predicated on wry circumstances Aurora just recalled. Then again, he senses the import of these past occurrences, and along with the visible peculiarities of Above Place he presently notices, once again, Aurora has an unshakable feeling the worst is still to come.

To clarify what and who the First Penguin Parent refers to, this mythical and iconic penguin perched above the temporal world is a passive overseer (as opposed to an overload). In another sense, an archetypal presence construed as transitional. Moreover, there are many singular or standard outlooks Emperor Penguins perceive about such a nonmaterial presence in their lives. As such, the First Penguin Parent oversees the flock without interference and is not construed in an Ontological (the nature of being), Cosmological (suggesting a primal Big Bang Theory), or Teleological sense (the end or final cause of the universe). In short, there is nothing God-like and metaphysical about the First Penguin Parent other than its implied status in the mindset of Emperor Penguins. To them, the First Penguin Parent is approached with humility and respect and is never referred to as “Him,” “Her,” or “It.” For their species, it is equally customary to use the phrase Beneath the First Parent Penguins’ perch whenever the physical world of Nature is mentioned. 
Being genderless, the closest match in human spiritual terms (and, therefore, non-religious) is Taoism’s “Form to Formless” principle. Like the Tao, which is nameless and without an origin (thus, no beginning and no end), there is no rational way to explain the presence penguins refer to when addressing The First Penguin Parent. In this light, penguins are practical as they are inclined to a minute by minute existence. Thus, a so-called now-present awareness. They can reason and imagine what they will but prefer the quotidian routine of their lives and activities. Thus, the praxis of their existence and always in the moment as it is. This attitude holds as a universal conviction. If not a philosophy that is similar in some ways to a Taoist’s belief, then perhaps a Zen Buddhist’s outlook might suffice.

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Now that Aurora has had more time to ponder the nagging issue with Musca and the subject matter he routinely denies, he realizes that he should have put more thought into the matter, meaning urgency. Then again, it was bad enough many penguins were jittery and apprehensive about those combined incidents. The real insult, however, was how clan leaders throughout the colony went about their business as usual or pretended to effect such a disposition. It’s also no wonder Aurora thinks Musca set that tone in a private group-wide discussion with other clan leaders. Ergo, no wonder Aurora thinks Musca would be better off being by himself in the clan’s territorial waters and talking to whatever happens to swim by; that is until the rest of the clanners returns months later. Aurora is also not acting unkindly by contemplating such a scenario. 
Over the cycles of many seasons, which can be measured in years by human standards, Aurora and Musca have had quite a few disagreements about a variety of topics that mainly centered on social clanner issues. Then again, each time these conversations came up Musca thought his views on any matter were more realistic compared to Aurora’s ideas. Thus, the High Council leader talked louder and sometimes intentionally crowded Aurora’s personal penguin space (PPS). Then followed an intentional dramatic tone of voice meant to try and silence Aurora or, at least, dissuade him from having a say about anything further. 
Despite Musca’s theatrics, Aurora always held his ground and knew what and who he was up against. Moreover, in the past, he was offered the High Council leader’s position on, at least, three occasions but politely declined those offers. In fact, a couple of years ago he was told he wouldn’t have to matriculate into a lower council member position before assuming the higher rank. Instead, the job and title were merely for accepting the offer and position. Aurora still declined because he thought his talents and skills were best utilized in a germane and social role. Namely, he was a notable penguin admired by other clan members but not a leader in any formal sense. He also didn’t want to bother with typical politics and ploys council members are known for, especially Musca. Aurora even admitted to some of his pod pals how he wasn’t inclined to penguin opportunism as were some others in the clan. That said, he didn’t have to mention which penguin he specifically had in mind, although they all knew who fit the description.
Of course, Aurora’s declaration of how some penguins rise to the heights of their unrecognized limits was equally apparent. In short, promotion to a High Council leader’s position is essentially based on achievement, success, and merit. On this note, a penguin is typically given the post even knowing the position is beyond his or her level of ability. In other words, a penguin is promoted beyond a proven level of ability. (In human terms, a concept based on the so-called Peter Principle where one is unfairly promoted.)
Despite how Aurora’s concerns were handled in the past (though mishandled is the better word for it), today he has decided that he will most assuredly pursue the High Council leader upon his return to the staging sector. Thus, take what he conjures from the past and into the present. Specifically, to inform Musca the matter is not closed; also, to convince the obstinate counsel member how the tandem irregularities at First Place are not mere adjustments. Instead, Aurora senses the events are simultaneous, which implies a temporal cause-effect connection. Clearly, what has happened is not associated with something akin to the human term, transcendental. Musca's thesis, therefore, has nothing to do with the First Penguin Parent. Furthermore, Aurora feels these disconcerting disturbances ultimately might lead to what he has thought all along: something disastrous. The abstract of which is his counterpoint to Musca's specious reasoning. Not only will Aurora volunteer to be part of the investigating committee to prove or disprove his hunch but he desires to lead other penguins who also want to be part of the investigation. 
At this point of Aurora’s contemplation, if he could cross his flippers as a sign of defiance, he would effect such a stance. Then again, he senses Musca still thinks the matter is much ado about nothing. It follows how he likely will not grant Aurora permission to undertake such a mission. Nevertheless, Aurora has a modicum of confidence the High Council leader might finally come to his senses, thereby giving Musca the rare benefit of the doubt that he can act more wisely when he puts his thinker to it. Presented with this comforting thought, Aurora is now more encouraged by how weird and wonderful things sometimes happen.
Considering any further confrontations with Musca are likely in the days to come, Aurora finds something else to do with his time at this hour, with the purpose of getting his mind off Musca. Besides, it’s a lovely day in Antarctica ,and Aurora not only needs to rest his body but also his troubled thinker.

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As an ongoing and helpful mental stimulus and distraction, Aurora scans the periphery of the pack ice and monitors penguins leaping out of the water. With their sleek fusiform profiles targeting scattered eyelets, these latest arrivals are airborne for a few seconds. With fluttering wing-like appendages meant to control propulsion in and out of the water, their sporty aerobatic maneuvers are entertaining. At times, some of the penguins appear to be impatient and too hasty regarding an exit strategy. Ergo, occasionally leaping upward and out of the water when the penguin should have angled slightly forward and downward. Thus, a more practiced flight path imitating the semblance of a graceful parabola. For exiting penguins who have not honed such expertise, they tend to miss the intended mark and quickly plunge back into the water, usually with a surprised look on their faces. When these incidents occur, the penguin has to regroup and try, try again. 
Naturally, these literally misguided penguins are the youngest in the clan. It’s simply another lesson to learn and there will be many other lessons to follow in their lives. Given the so-called proper exiting maneuver, it also comes down to timing and adjusting the angle of profile that needs polishing. Aurora often teaches this training exercise or penguins who want to master the finesse entailed in the L & L maneuvers: leaping and landing. As a matter of fact, there are some older clanners who also need to refresh their leaping skills because they have either gotten too lazy or too careless over the years.
For the most part, today’s latest arrivals appear to chase each other out of the water and some are having fun doing it. Sometimes it’s the case where two penguins emerge at the same time if the opening is wide enough. On the other flipper, sometimes the opening isn’t large enough. Consequently, a mid-air collision is imminent. Aurora doesn’t know anything about ballet but the timing and choreography of returning penguins are assuredly a coordinated affair. In this sense, the penguins mimic vaulting dancers on the stage, except it’s an aquatic ballet that ends where the performer crashes on hard ice in a heap of plumage. Although Nature’s design for the Emperor Penguins works perfectly when dodging penguin traffic and snagging prey on this, their return to Above Place, and its less dense atmosphere, flippers don’t always work to their advantage. Another way to describe the aftermath is how landings on the crusted surface are more akin to a controlled belly flop. After such a clumsy exit, and depending on how the penguin managed the feat, the newly arrived clanner jettisons excess water from its plumage, followed by a curt or long wheezing sound to onlookers that might have watched and judged the performance.

The reason penguins have difficulty when returning to the staging sector is that water has a density of 1,000 kg/m³ (1,000 kg approximately equals 2,204 pounds) while air density, like air pressure, decreases with increasing altitude. It also changes with variation in temperature or humidity. At sea level, and the temperature is 15 °C, the air has a density of approximately 1.225 kg/m³ (1.225 kg approximates equals 2.7 pounds). Water, therefore, has more density than air. Another way to put it is how air is lighter because there are fewer molecules per unit volume compared with a unit volume of liquid water. A mole of water is 18 grams (18 grams approximately equals 0.039 pounds) while a liter of water contains about 55 moles (1000 grams, which approximately equals 2.2 pounds).

Continuing to monitor the ongoing spectacle of the new arrivals, which, at times, can be quite amusing, Aurora is happy to see the clanners assemble in greater numbers. In fact, by this time, over half the clan is assembled. Some new arrivals appear antsy and shuffle about while others collapse on the ice and some that fall down and go to sleep. For these penguins, they’re fatigued from nearly nonstop swimming getting to the staging sector. Either that, or it’s the digested contents lodged uncomfortably inside their big bellies that suck their energy levels. There also remains the fact there’s nothing more to do other than what all the penguins are forced to do––wait and wait some more for other clanners to show up. Perhaps, too, it’s the larger crowd that tends to offset the tedium that prevails. In this case, a mood swing that sets some penguins off when they feel their personal space is violated. Already, there are a half-dozen shoving contests among the gathering and growing assembly. yet nothing that can be construed as all-out aggression motivated by vexation. Instead, it’s something for the penguins to do in the meantime, which, as an exercise, helps vent frustration.
Naturally, with numerous penguins that are still inbound, not all of their swimming rank and file will make the rendezvous before it’s time to depart. Either some of the clan members were killed by predation while others got delayed, even stymied given the fact the pack ice’s foundation continues freezing and closing more openings by the hour. There are also a relative few who might have been injured in an attack but managed to escape the worst outcome. Likely, these penguins will perish because a return to the ice sheet is exhausting as it is fraught with peril. 
In the meantime, their aquatic and stalking enemies are chasing after a final meal based on the clan’s timely return to the continent. The good news is most penguins will survive the ordeal and eventually join their comrades at the staging sector. Then again, cautionary advice is also paramount. In this regard, those penguins who dally for any reason will not make the muster, and, therefore, they’ll be left behind and entirely on their own. When missing the grand departure of the clan, the latecomers face an automatic death sentence and Nature will eventually claim the victim or victims.

From instinct, stragglers might realize getting a late start by so much as half a day could ultimately turn ruinous for their survival. Ergo, a cogent incentive for the penguins to get a move on, and more importantly, keep up with the others. Besides, Emperor Penguins survive communally, not individually. Since their rookeries are located so far inland, it’s easy for latecomers to get left behind. Here, again, is the reason some penguins who can’t maintain their pace with the others often end up befuddled or disabled, especially if the penguin stumbles and damages an appendage. Eventually, these hapless clanners end up well off the beaten path. Consequently, their next rendezvous is, so to say, with the First Penguin Parent. Other clanners who realize this or that penguin is not accounted for come to an understanding of how situations for some penguins sometimes work out differently. That said, they accept life as much as they do its diametric opposite and never take the process for granted.

Despite a grim outcome that some colony members will face in the course of their lives, Emperor Penguins never dwell on the negative aspects of their existence. Although it’s a solemn fact there was an unusually higher toll of fatalities this past summer, Aurora’s clan’s population remains numerous. As for those penguins who eventually show up at the staging sector, the fact some are consumed remains a private matter. Thus, they deal with the grim outcome though without dwelling on what happened. Nevertheless, they honor the absence of a penguin, yet are never affected by the circumstances that ended a penguin’s life. In this regard, life and routine must go on the way the seasons come and go. Once the clanners hit the trail, so to say, on tomorrow’s excursion, the only thing on any penguin’s mind is what the gathering is all about. 
When the entourage arrives at First Place many days later, the purpose of the return is, for some penguins, parenting and raising their offspring. This inviolate ritual and regimen of their species is, therefore, instinctual, and cannot be ignored. Moreover, Emperor Penguins do not concern themselves with such coming events. They already know why they’re here and what’s about to happen. For them, once they’re underway it’s never the destination that’s important. Instead, it’s always the journey that takes precedence. This critical reminder is another demonstration and example of how the Emperors of Antarctica are mindful of every passing moment––their focus is that concentrated. Moreover, the heroic seven-day trek across the ice sheet for Aurora’s clan will be physically and mentally exhausting enough as it is without making the exercise more difficult. It follows how a penguin’s thoughts and energy are better served elsewhere. In short, focusing on one step at a time where one foot always follows the other––Que sera, sera.

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