Storm's brewing

It was midday, the sun glowing above as a Cryo had been hustling around the sands of the beach. Swimming the morning away. She was drawn to the water’s edge, more than a normal Cryolophosaurus, typically would be near the waters. The smell of the ocean filled her nose and lungs. The coolness was nice.  The tide was slowly teasing the shore’s edge as the waves of water swayed to and fro.

Nightingale was at peace. Closing her eyes momentarily, she was enjoying the time alone. Her feet in the water still, having the sensitivity of the freshness from it. The sounds of the water had washed out all other sounds around her. Even though she knew other life had been busy bodies earlier in the morning.

Heaviness was felt throughout the air as she inhaled and exhaled a few times. A storm had to be nearby.

Rumble.. rumble.

In the distance, rolling clouds held heavy across the skyline ahead of her.

“Oh dear,” Nightingale had opened her eyes again, having heard the rumbling of the thunder in the distance. As she muttered softly to herself, a flicker of lightning was seen within the dark clouds.

She spoke softly to herself, before looking around the shores, “I guess I need to figure out where to hide before it comes.

After a few minutes of looking around, or what felt like minutes, Nightingale spotted a thicket of trees near some very large rocks. These rocks were twice her height, they had a slight curve to them, almost tipping to one another making a triangle with the sands as the base. Behind the rocks and beneath the center where it was small enough to curl up for shelter, there was a patch of grass growing. The tree line was still several feet away from this thicket and rock formations. But that was okay.

At least, that would be a start to the shelter. Nightingale glanced around the sands again. What to make and use for a bedding though. Rocks? No, that’s too rough. I guess I need to be quick and head into the forest for some ferns and sticks.

All these thoughts and ideas pooled into her mind as she began to head toward the tree line behind the area where her shelter would be for the storm. She loved rainfall, the sound was peaceful. And luckily for her, she knew what she needed to get now. Hopefully everyone else in the forest is finding their own shelters though. She did not want to disrupt anyone from their own ventures in finding a safe spot.

Walking into the forests’ grounds, the crunches and crackles of the strands of grass and minimal twigs tickled her toes. A giggle within her chest beckoned release as she remained composed.

“Focus girl,” she spoke to herself.

Right, right… I need sticks, twigs, ferns, anything that could stick to the ground and help keep me warm. Anything for the shelter before the storm comes. Ideas continued to puddle through her concentration.

In a slight pause, Nightingale lifted her snout into the air. Taking in the scents, specifically, trying to pinpoint when the storm was going to hit landfall. She had maybe a couple of hours.

Within moments, she spotted some ferns that were detached from the bushel it lived prior. They weren’t quite dead, but they weren’t very lively either. That was okay though. She just needed some padding and cushion to lay upon. 

Her talons curled around the top part of the fern where it curved, and she held as tight as she could. A small collection of 3 or 4 large fern leaves seemed enough.

Turning around, she walked back to the beach. The tide was dancing more aggressively. An hour must have passed by now, or maybe less. She had no concept of time.

Nightingale moved cautiously to the small thicket of trees; they were to the left of the rock-triangle formation. On the plus side, that would block some of the winds that may come with the storm. Granted the waters were on the opposing side. She gently placed the ferns down. Criss-crossing the leaves into a strange pattern, she had learned from when she was just a little pup. A soft coo-sound escaped her maw as she was satisfied with how it looked. It was not enough though.

She shifted her body, to turn towards the rumblings and lightning that now were more prominent as the storm rolled closer to the land.

“Hmm… I guess I need to be fast, I need more ferns or twigs or branches,” Nightingale thought for a moment before the words spewed from her mouth in but a whisper to herself. Trying her best to make a mental note as to how soon the rain was going to touch land.

The dark clouds looked menacing but also quite fluffy. Patches of clouds looked as if they were dancing with each other. Similarly to how the tides continued to dance with the sand.

She winced. A raindrop fell upon her nose. She shook her head to snap out of it, quickly.

Nightingale ran back into the forest, the same area she was in not long before. Looking around with her red eyes, trying to find some more ‘padding’ to her shelter. She hemmed and hawed about how long it would take. Perhaps she needed to grab some berries to suffice her and any hunger pains she would get between now and whenever the storm would stop.

Noting that there were some more broken ferns and sticks were almost the size of her fingers. She grabbed them carefully and almost frantically.

The rumbles were louder now. It must be at the shoreline now.

I oughta hurry up. She repeated the line in her mind as she curled her talons around the ferns and on the other with the few sticks she could carry. Altogether, there should be enough padding now.

As she was exiting the forest line, she spotted a bush of berries. Quickly, she leaned her head down to break down a thin branch of a dozen or two berries attached to it.

Nightingale quickly strolled to the triangle of rocks, dropping the branch of berries to the side to avoid squishing them before she could even enjoy them. Her fingers let loose and dropped the sticks, followed by reversing the shape of the other fern leaves. It created a thicker padding. She looked behind her to the right, where the tides calmed meaning the storm was about to hit.

“Perfect timing!” She spoke excitedly to herself.

Her body shifted and lowered into the bedding she had proudly created in such short amount of time. She was proud of herself. As one should be considering, she found it all by herself.

While her body adjusted and melded into the bedding she created, the raindrops started to fall, quite quickly too. The thunder and lightning started to show more aggressively as the darkness covered the land like a blanket. It was a good spot to watch the storm. She sighed, contently as she decided to try and doze off during this storm. Perhaps it would make it go by faster if she slept through it.