[Julien's feathers pull in closer to his body.]

...I'm filthy. If I'm flying that's going to slow me down and make me clumsier. Louder too.

[He wing-flips, unfolding just enough to fold them again.]

I have to spend too much time washing this body and straightening out its feathers so it works well. But if I'm in the ocean again right away that's not going to matter.

[It's also not comfortable. His skin is thin and sensitive, salt trapped against it sticks things together and irritates it. And Julien feels like he's forgetting something, but it won't come.]