The stream wasn't all that far away from the cavern's entrance and I had reached it rather quickly.

  Well, as quick as one can go without tripping over every slight bump and hole in the ground.

  The creek was apparently a little overfull because the ground I was walking on became rather muddy. This just made me more cautious as I didn't want to find the flooded embankment and fall into the deeper parts of the water. I did not like my chance of learning how to swim in this new body

  Heavens, I have yet to understand how to control these darn wings! Easier said than done, which was the reason for them dragging on the ground a little. Nothing for it right now. I'll have to try and train this later. I do seem to have some kind of muscle memory slash instinct, otherwise, they wouldn't even keep as steady as they are.

  This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

  At last, I found the creek's edge — A lot of those going around, apparently. — and leaned down to sniff. It didn't smell bad and the sound did not betray any rapidness. So I dunked my beak-like snoot into the water and drew it in. It tasted a little...salty and metallic, I guess one could say? Maybe it had a lot of minerals or something.

  Whatever, not the most important thing right now. I had drunk and now I —

  Wait. When things hatched, weren't they usually kinda slimy? I hadn't felt like it, but...

  I quickly scooped up some water with my front paws and threw it in my face while rubbing. I repeated the process and soon something seemed to peel off piece by piece. After I couldn't feel any more of that happening, I rinsed a couple of times and slowly, oh so slowly, opened my eyes.

  ~Woah.~