Starlight Solitude

The chatter of the carnival slowly faded as his stout legs carried him through the snow. The clashing of various voices, from the youngest hatchling to the oldest elder, gradually became nothing more than the slightest ambient noise, only noticed if he truly paused to listen. Soft clouds collected at his nostrils as he breathed, and the chill of winter pinched the male’s hide. As much as he enjoyed the free food, socialization, and showing off… Turbo was used to being alone. His head buzzed, the young male finding himself quite overstimulated by the bustle of the event. He felt as if he would soon poke a hole in someone’s eye if they dared speak to him, the collective noises starting to feel quite painful to his body. His teeth subconsciously clenched with tension, and his brows furrowed in a silent deterrent to idle chatter. 

Turbo swung his frilled head, sending the few snowflakes that had kissed his scales flying to the ground. The snow was light. Gentle. While he had come to hate the snow and the way it froze him to the tips of his toes, he had to admit the beauty in a calm icy drizzle. Each snowflake appeared nearly weightless, easily carried off route by the lightest breeze. The brief moment allowed Turbo to relax his jaw, though his scowl remained as he slowly walked through the snow. With one glance behind him, his steps slowing in the moment, he regarded the way the carnival decorations contrasted against the darkness the night sky offered. Even where the lights didn’t reach, the colorful ribbons, flags, and signs could be noticed to anyone who looked for them. They were obnoxiously flashy, if Turbo had to describe it. 

Still… he had to admit that it was a nice change of pace to meet so many new faces. A surge of pride warmed his chest as he recalled his performance among the other styracosaurus individuals, and he couldn't help his scowl fading away to be replaced with a satisfied smile. 

He continued on, finding himself a quiet spot under a bare tree. The branches stretched over Turbo like a threatening set of talons, and they swayed slightly as the young male plopped himself against the trunk, rumbling a tired snort as he did so. His head turned back to look toward the distant building, eyelids heavy as he allowed the cluster of lights to distract his eyes. He watched the silhouettes of creatures, all shapes and sizes, entering and leaving the event. Lowering his head to rest on his lorelimbs, Turbo idly watched, noting the diversity of shapes, the ones he saw arriving alone or in groups, the ones who eagerly sprinted to and from the event, the ones who, like him, had been absolutely spent for the night. 

Perhaps he was actually spent for the rest of the season. 

Gradually, and without him realizing, Turbo’s eyelids fell heavier and heavier. A few times, perhaps he even dozed off, only to jerk back awake and continue watching the event from afar. Eventually however, he couldn't resist it any longer. Within seconds, a snore groaned from the male, and his body fell limp as he leaned against the tree. Tiny snowflakes accumulated on his body, creating a delicate icy coating upon his gray hide. He wouldn't know how much time had been spent sleeping, and perhaps if he had realized he had nodded off, he would have shook himself awake out of pointless stubbornness. 

It wasn't by will he woke up, though. Through closed eyelids, through a deepening sleep, the young male was urgently forced awake when a bright light had flashed his vision, sending what was a peacefully sleeping creature into a wake roused by adrenaline and shock. Turbo pulled himself up with speed unexpected of a clumsy creature of his bulk, and he was immediately guided to look toward the sky, seeking the source of what had attempted to practically blind him in his sleep. 

His mouth fell agape, and Turbo could not tear his green eyes from what he was witnessing. 

It started with one. A long, white streak flew through the sky, faster than anything he had seen so high up before. It was faster than any pterosaur he had ever seen, and cut through the sky smoother than any lightning. Once the one had faded into the void, another followed, and then two more. Before he knew it, he was watching a large accumulation of lights in the sky, visibly different from the stars themselves. Turbo could only stare in silence as he propped himself up into a sit, his beaked face pointed at the sky in awe. Only for a moment was he able to look back toward the distant event, and he could see the shapes of others observing the sky. Some creatures lifted their forelimbs to point up, while others jumped and danced as if in celebration. Some, shockingly to Turbo, continued to walk in and out of the carnival as if they see this sort of thing on the daily. He simply could not! 

The young male turned his focus back to the sky as he watched the lights practically put on a show for him. With only moments to separate each group of lights that streaked through the sky, Turbo had mere heartbeats to notice each object, as they would fade away as quickly as they became visible. He did not track the time. The world around him was null as he focused on the sky, his pupils following each light with curiosity and amazement. Only when the lights slowly started to reduce in frequency did he realize it was coming to an end, when it felt like it had only begun. Turbo looked back towards the carnival. Several others had sat outside to watch, and for a moment, Turbo felt a small flame of jealousy spark within his chest for those who had another to share the moment with. Even if he had someone to collect, the lights surely would be long over by the time he got to them. With a small, conceding snort, Turbo lifted his head once more. 

As the lights reduced in frequency, Turbo noted just how bright some of them were. Others, meanwhile, were barely more than a fuzz in the sky, only visible in its movement. He wondered if perhaps, should he explore the direction they landed, would he find the lights themselves? Could he perhaps collect some and take it home with him? Turbo’s frilled head tilted in idle curiosity as he watched the lights eventually cease altogether. The sky was completely dark once more, save for the tiny pinpricks of your typical stars, and when he looked back towards the carnival, he could see groups standing to go back to their own doings. He looked toward the sky one final time, admittedly hoping for another unexpected show. None came, however, and Turbo could see that the light show was finished. Perhaps he felt a bit of disappointment that it had seemingly ended so soon. He had never seen anything like it, and it was nice to, for once, not have it be a frightening calamity like a thunderstorm. It was actually quite beautiful. Would he see something like that again? Or did it only come with this carnival thing? 

Lying back down, he adjusted himself to become comfortable once more. He continued to think about the lights, so engrossed in remembering what happened just minutes ago that he hardly cared to complain about the snow that chilled his body. He had a feeling he would be remembering this for a good while.