Maddi had no intentions on going to school that day. But when her father banged on her door the next morning, she had no choice but to roll out of bed. A soft peep greeted her as she did so. The six birds were nuzzled into her side, and when Maddi rolled out of bed she nearly crushed them
Realization set in as she woke completely. Quickly getting dressed, she shoved the birds into her backpack and ran downstairs. Maddi didn’t hear her parents yelling for her to come back inside. She didn't notice that the weather was a little warmer as well. She ran across the iced over river and continued to follow the beaten down path to the clearing. 
Maddi dumped the birds into the slushy snow and counted all six of them to make sure she had them all. Once they were free, they ventured back to their rotting log. They were silent after that. She peered into the log and saw that they were plenty comfortable in the old towels that she gave them.
Maddi slowed her pace as she walked back to the river bank. Now she noticed the steady drip, as the snow melted from the trees. Already half gone, as the temperature felt to be close to forty degrees fahrenheit. Not thinking about what she was doing, she stepped out into the river. Maddi heard a crack as the thin ice below her gave way, and she was consumed by the murky, freezing water.
Her scream was sucked into nothing and she couldn’t breathe. Maddi didn’t know which way was up and which way was down. Fear clouded her brain. Maddi thrashed in the black grip of cold water. Somehow finding the surface, Maddi screamed for help. Her cry was cut short, as more water filled her mouth.
She was only slightly aware of her surroundings as she was swept farther and farther away from her original entry point. The bluebirds watched in fear as the family they had recently found was pulled away from them, becoming more and more distant as they watched. They flew after her, trying to guide her to the shore, shrieking loudly.
Maddi seemed to hear them, semi-consciously pulled herself onto the shore. She laid still for several long moments, she felt a wait on her frozen body. Slowly she gave in to the black abyss taunting at the edges of her eyes. She fell deep into the pit, not to awaken for many days.