Step right up (Trade)

The night had barely fallen and already the icy bite of winter had intensified to an uncomfortable degree. Frost was crawling across the long dead grass out front of the museum, while ice continued to layer the windows that were more opaque than transparent now between the collecting dirt and the patterns of ice that never got to fully melt as winter dragged on and on. Being outside was losing its appeal and the crusted over snow left behind the evidence of where everyone here seemed to be retreating to; a well worn path had been forming in the iced over snow that showed prints of every shape and size headed toward the museum. Joining the many that had passed by before them, a trio of Cryo’s was making their way across the courtyard together. The all male group sported colors that weren’t particularly vibrant, aside from the tan and white, Mocker, who had a noticeably bright orange dimorphic from his crest to his snout. Keeping a low profile was good though, especially for a carnivore. 

“What are we doing anyway?” asked Tumbler, brow raised but still willingly following at the tail end of the procession despite feeling uncertain about their destination. He wasn’t opposed to going, if he knew where exactly they were going, anyway. That would definitely help sell the whole endeavor. 

“I already told you,” Mocker huffed. 

“Well, humor me.”

“We are going to see what’s so interesting that all these other dinos keep going this way. Something’s either driving or drawing them and we’re going to find out what.” Mocker laid out the plan in a tone that suggested they’d been over this more than once and he was getting sick of explaining himself. The exasperation either missed Tumbler, or else he didn’t care. “So, wasting time instead of getting out of the cold or finding food. We’re just satisfying your curiosity? That sounds stupid,” Tumbler grumbled. 

With the tension in the group getting thicker, and the air getting a whole lot colder, the third member of the group, a dark brown, black and white dimorphicless male took it upon himself to interrupt, “I guess you guys didn’t see that because you were so busy bickering, huh?”

“Hush up, Bulrush,” Mocker grunted. But, his curiosity once again got the better of him and he scanned across the overgrown museum lawn, spotting nothing until his gaze crept up the front steps and he found the figure of a loudly marked Oviraptor hovering in the open doorway with its head cautiously tilted as it observed him too. Oh ho ho! Finally, something interesting! With a grin he picked up the pace and left his friends behind, further irritating Tumbler who didn’t appreciate having their argument suddenly abandoned. This was some rank bullcrap. So the three of them, two straggling along behind the first, made a beeline for the dramatic looking feathered oviraptor. 

Before they could fully commit to any ideas, the Ovi popped up with an all too chipper, “Hello, hello! Welcome, you’ve made it to my amazing carnival, how wonderful!” He fluttered a bit, his feathers rustling. He sported all kinds of complimentary hues, creams, rosey browns, charcoal and white in stripes and spots, with bright green eyes that scanned the group with an unflappable sort of positivity. Tumbler immediately curled his lip, not a fan of whatever that was, but intrigued enough to quietly watch the rest of the interaction unfold as Mocker approached with patented curiosity and asked, “A carni-who? Are you looking for Carnivores?” Maybe this Oviraptor was confused or something.

“Oh no no,er, well, I mean- yes, you’re all welcome, but no, a carnival is just a fun event we put on, it’s really quite something, you’ll have to come see for yourselves just what I mean, won’t you?” He beckoned, somehow not taking a single breath between words.

Now it was Bulrush’s moment to turn skeptic, “Why, what’s in there?” He wasn’t going to just follow some weird little overgrown pigeon into a building because it told them to. 

Cheron grinned and waved a wing in a dismissive fashion, “All sorts of things, food, drinks, games and activities, there’s lots to do, and you can win prizes! Come on, it’s the talk of the town, you gotta at least see and try one game- oh, or the talent show, you could show off some skills to impress, well, me, and any adoring fans you might acquire!” He chattered, already turning to enter the building and apparently assuming that they were following right behind him. At first they just stood there looking uncertain. This wasn’t what they’d thought they might find when they started following the trail. But, it was out of the cold and the wind, and it didn’t seem like going would hurt… 

“What’s the harm?” Mocker asked before padding after the eccentric Oviraptor. For a beat the others hesitated, then shrugged and did likewise, making their way through the echoing halls that were thick with the scents of so many other dinos it was tough to put a number to it. By the sound of it, even from a distance they could tell they were about to find themselves among quite the crowd. 

Once Bulrush and Tumbler had caught up, they tried not to regret their choice to follow as they entered into the still going conversation. “Of course, I’m not picky about the talents, or the games, there’s really quite a range of activities you know, creative freedom and all that,” the ovi rambled on.

“Sorry, what’s your name?” Bulrush asked. 

“Ah, I forgot my manners again, so sorry! I’m Cheron, the ringmaster of this carnival! Say, why don’t you try a game? We have great prizes!” He pivoted the conversation so abruptly they weren’t ready hent hey rounded a corner and found a large room that dwarfed any cave they’d ever happened across, decorated with banners and flags and all kinds of brightly colored booths stationed between huge displays of nighttime stars and planets that they recognized but not immediately. Mocker for one had never thought you could know what these things looked like up close like that! In all the hustle and bustle of the room though, the displays were the least attention grabbing part. Every size and shape of Dino was present here and they were all playing games. Some looked way too easy and others looked like they weren’t worth attempting because it wasn’t easily apparent how you’d even win.

When tumbler turned to look for Cheron he noted with a start that the Oviraptor was gone. How could such a creature that sucked in all your focus like that just vanish? Probably for the best anyway, Tumbler was hungry and feathers or not that Oviraptor could have been a snack. He wasn’t sure that would go down well here though. “Do you guys wanna try one of these games, or look for food?” He asked, hoping that the answer would be the latter only to have his hopes crushed when Mocker quickly replied, “Games!” and took off. Oh, cool. Fine then. Bulrush gave him a knowing look and they agreed without words that food was definitely next since it apparently was on offer here.

Mocker stopped at the first game he found which happened to involve a huge tub of water. Tumbler squinted at it suspiciously, noting the fruit that quietly bobbed along at the surface of the water, occasionally bumping the side of the metal tub. A black and white Utah came bouncing over to them when she noticed them eyeing the game, “Hey there, wanna play?”

Mocker nodded, “What do we do?”

“Oh, easy, you just try and grab the fruits in your mouth, if you get one you get a prize!”

“It’s that easy?”
“Yep.”

Tumbler stepped up first and dunked his head in, snapping at the slippery fruit repeatedly. While he tried to get one, Mocker asked, “Bulrush, are you going to try?” His companion looked at the game and shrugged, “I guess, if you want me to? I’m not sure what the point is.” 

Mocker rolled his eyes, “I think the point is to have fun.” which got him a sweet smile from the Utah who nodded her agreement. Just then Tumbler’s head shot up and he announced, “I ate three!” to stunned looks from his companions and the Utah in charge of the game. “Come again?” she replied in disbelief. “Three,” He repeated confidently, “Usually I’m not a fan of fruit but those were okay.” The group eyed him for a while, trying to decide how to respond and coming up short. 

“Anyway, my turn,” Mocker finally announced, trying to break through the awkward heaviness in the air. He leaned over the tub and snapped at a close apple, managing to skewer it with his sharp teeth in a few tries. This was so easy! Bulrush also tried and succeeded with minimal effort.

“I guess, you all get tickets…” The Utah said after a moment, handing them out and sending them on their way so she could go get more apples to make sure there were enough.