Day one:

I use my beak-like lips to pierce through the soft shell that was my previous capsule. I am free, finally free. I feel the immediate sensation of cold against me, the warmth of the capsule I was in made this cold uncormfortable.

I see my capsule. A large, orange shell sitting on smooth stone. It was once circular, but with my escape, it is now squished.

I see many other capsules. Many of my brothers and sisters were still inside, I was the first. I see many capsules, at least one thousand. I see bulges in the soft armor as my kin break out of their own capsules.

As my kin break loose, they float upwards. It was at this point I realized we were underwater. They were all a orange or red color with white stripes running vertically down their bodies. at this point, I realized something else.

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I am a fish.

I peer down at the stone floor. It was a bright red color. At this point, I realized this was not stone. I rose up a bit and looked around. I saw many large tentacles, trapping me as if I were a prisoner.

I must leave.

Before any of my kin see me, I make a dash for the orange-cream colored tentacles. My newborn fins betray me, and I plummet to the ground with a soft thud. My body racks with pain, but I get up once more.

I cannot give up now.

I go swiftly, but more carefully this time. I make it through the first wave of tentacles. They make stange noises as I pass through them, but they do not harm me. It takes what feels like a decade before I get through the tentacles. Once I do, I find a beautiful coral landscape before me.

I am free.

My newborn body betrays me once more as darkness begins to fall over the reef. My fins grow heavy, and the pain is still coursing through my body. I find a nearby hole and rest in it for the night. Awaking from my capsule and escaping took longer than I expected.

I accept my new life. I am a fish.

Darkness fills my vision as I drift asleep, the usual bustle of the reef falling asleep with me. I can only pray to the fish heavens I am not attacked in my sleep.