He worries when he sees dark shadows flying overhead. Sometimes the shadows glide slowly, aimlessly.
To anyone who'll listen he says, "You have to keep your eye on them because once they pick up a bit more speed and maneuver, it can just as easily be you, your family or friends that are gone. Sink or swim, that's the way life is around these parts. It can be a bit stressful when you first become aware of that, but eventually one gets used it."
Even so, he seemed to shudder a little. More shadows than usual began crossing the sky.
He thought of a good hiding spot in a rocky crevasse close by, but it would probably be occupied first because everyone was near it. His heart began beating faster. He would have to hurry to make it to the backup shelter.
Suddenly, a darting movement. Everyone around him hid behind what they could. The nearest crevasse filled up quickly.
He hurried.
He was barely in the second crevasse, when he saw the shadow fall, fall and splash into the water. He promised himself he wouldn't look, but he couldn't help but admire how the bubbles rolled off of the shadow's dark waterproof feathers. The shadow wriggled and swam until its beak and a small fish were joined.
It could have been him, the fish thought.
