Not your average penguin. Abandoned as a chick on the shores of San Diego by an ungrateful Tik-Toker was Puddles.

Puddles learned early that survival meant more than just catching fish. He spent two years training along with a year making it home. While home he yearned to protect his colony from leopard seals. The ever-shrinking ice also posed risks. So he fashioned makeshift helmets from discarded clam shells.

His drill sergeant, Corporal Waddles, scoffed. “Penguins fish, Penguins Train!” As Puddles trained relentlessly, perfecting his waddle-lunge and clever.

The Great Fish Migration grew closer as the still in the air grew eerie. A massive leopard seal union attacked, scattering the colony. Puddles, rallied the penguins, using his tunnels to outmaneuver the seals and create a diversion. The colony prevailed.

Puddles, the abandoned Tik-Tok penguin turned soldier, was a hero. He returned to the rookery, his clam shell helmet gleaming. Corporal Waddles grumbled, “Maybe there’s more to being a penguin than fishing.” Puddles, surrounded by his grateful squawks, kneeled. He knew his bravery, his cause, had made a difference. He was the smallest, most overlooked penguin soldier, protector, hero.