Scales of Soot

Rin felt the nostalgic embrace of the river course around her body, gray feathers merging into the frosted current. Swimming became hypnotic after a point – the simple motions of the body transcribed into a rhythm that resonated deep within her soul. Her muscles rippled at the gentle resistance of her travel route. Battles had marred the landscape near her home, so the serene waters she was travelling through were a blessing. 

The thought of leisurely travel was once a foreign concept to Rin. Nothing particularly interested her enough to instill the vigor to travel… at least… until now. Rumors of the meteors had come to her pond mere days before the event itself. She lived on the sandy shores of Isla Kela, with her tidal pool being at the cusp of what one would consider ‘livable’. So it was a shock when an older Oviraptor had travelled all the way to her pond. His hide reminded her of some of the swirls of volcanic rock she saw when diving for fish. Before he soaked his weary bones, he introduced himself as Cheron. Echoes of foreign stories bounced in the hollows of her mind at the mention of the name. A deathbringer? A boatman? Before she could pry the potential relevance from the castes of her memory, Cheron spoke. His squawking tormented her eardrums but her curiosity endured.

“This place is a~mazing! Only second to my glorious carnival, sweetness!”

Rin didn’t even attempt to hide the contempt that decorated her face. She nearly spat out the words with a low, gravely snarl.

“Sweetness?”

 The bird’s countenance quickly faded from sated to fearful.

“Oh!” 

Cheron’s voice cracked. She was almost amused at the abandonment of his frivolous attitude - unveiling the emotion she was most known to incite: fear.

“My apologies, my dear…?” 

“Rin.”

“Ah YES! Rin! Rin, rinny, Rin-tin-ting! A few of your friends mentioned how you hardly get any visitors around here. I figured I’d fix that right up, ya see? A little soak for Ol’ Cheron and a big bit of company for the lovely Rin! A win-win, one would even say a rin-rin! GET IT?” 

She did not. Rin let the silence wash over the Oviraptor. His anxiety was palpable. She was savoring its taste.

“‘Friend’ is a generous term for someone who’d direct you my way. Especially with how you… speak”

Cheron meekly smiled at her, realizing his predicament instantaneously.

“So… I take it you aren’t a fan of company?” 

“Not particularly.”

“Ah, what a shame. Oh! Would you look at that, it’s about time for me to go! Oh it was a real pleasure rin tin, but I got-” 

“Stay. I’ll let you live if you entertain me for a moment.”

“ALRIGHT! Wow! What a generous lady! A real gem. You know what would entertain you? A good ol’ look at Cheron’s mighty meteor shower. World famous! Maybe you’ve heard of it. Does the Geminids Meteor shower ring a bell?” The fake smile was back on. She snorted.

“No.”

“WELL! IT’S about time you see it. Real WONDER! Excellent view. I could even give you directions, a ticket to my carnival if you let me live?” Hope decorated the tail end of his statement. Rin considered. Meteors interested her. At least the concept of a sky fire did.

“That would be intriguing.”

-

And with that, she was here. Swimming along Cheron’s ‘direct route’ to the so-called ‘legendary’ meteor shower. 

At least the brine is nice tonight.

Rin’s snout cut the glass-like surface of the water - stars speckling either side of her - appearing as she was sundering apart the heavens with every movement. She slowly dragged her muzzle to and fro, obscuring the reflected landscape with languid movements. Her inner monologue was often starkly quiet, but the combination of sensations coaxed the words out.

Maybe the glorified turkey was right in his assertions to go out.

The thought was accompanied by a dull rumble of dissatisfaction from her throat, breaking the sordid silence of the night. The unpleasantness of their interaction stained what would otherwise be good advice. She did not indulge in meat unless it was convienent. Fish were a far better and easier hunt; however, it did not subdue the thought of hunting Cheron. Perhaps she should have killed him. It did not matter now. Her destination grew closer, bright lights cusped over the horizon. String lights of various hues illuminated the decripit building: blues,reds, yellows – no color was left out of the bunch. She had a distaste for others, preferring the company of somber night; but, this was the time of the year for exceptions. She glanced up and cracked a slight smile – the first brazen white streak had pierced the dull eve. Interesting.

Rin felt her body pick up the tempo, the slithering motion of her sides breaking up more of the water’s surface. Her claws tore through the liquid, hungry for the promise of something new. Soon she had reached the shore, the once distant lights now singed into her vision. The sound of something forgotten hit her ears. Laughter. She heard the talking of others from her kind. She paused. She swallowed. She gazed back up at the sky. 

Please. If there is a god and you can hear me, give me a reason. 

The second meteor’s long tail had entered the skyline. She stopped and watch it crest over her head. A snarl escaped her. This is why she had no faith in gods. Their answer’s vagueness was secondary only to her own mother’s. Another meteor had soon joined the first, burning defiantly across the night. Rin wondered if that’s how the first mother was born. 

Did the stars send her here? 

Religion was not something she dabbled in but history did vaguely interest her. Is that why her own mother was the color of soot? The one trait she had inherited from her ilk was her color. The sky was now littered with meteors. They reminded Rin of the pearls from the otherwise juicy innards of a clam. What a useless concept. Fallen stars. Who would even believe that? A child? Her body carried her as her thoughts danced – the plebian tents and scholarly marble were engaging in a garrish matrimony all around. Bodies were crammed all around. The whole farce reminded her of how her siblings gathered to peek out of her home cave. Astonishment and whimsy was palpable among the children and adults. She would have that look on her own face if she didn’t perceive the most irritating creature approaching her location. The puffball of brown feathers and gray-black swirls approached her, microphone and treat in hand. She had never seen a microphone in person. Human devices were completely useless to her life, in a practical and common sense. This vile sound maker was no exception to that rule.

“I’m delighted to have you here, Rin. So happy! Would you like to play some games? There’s karaoke! It’s an old human tradition. You know those silly little creatures – always had a good sense of how to really spice things up!” Cheron practically sung the words. A devilish grin decorated his disgustingly saccharine face.

Rin cursed herself for not eating that damn turkey when she had a chance.