Seven Events of the Night

The last light rays of the day began to flicker out and die, drowned beyond the many waves of the distant, unending waters. Everything in the forest began to prepare to rest, and among them a styracosaurus female of earthy tones. She dug into the ground, clearing the itchy branches as she weaved the leaves and vines around her for support and warmth, clearly looking forward to a good night's rest. Her beak clicked, her head shook, and her crest took with it many small branches that only seemed to make an already frustrating job even more so as she turned around like a hound not quite ready to settle in, her grunts becoming more and more obvious and forceful and her tugs and pushes becoming all the more impatient.

Then, something catches her ear. A faint sound in the distance that did not seem to make sense in the dark depths of the coastal forest she was in. It was rhythmic, melodious, like some sort of birdsong that should not be here at this deep a wilderness. To Clay, this was an unknown sound, which meant she grew quickly interested in it as opposed to her rapidly more and more useless endeavor of making a nest for the night. Stepping over her many misplaced branches, and almost taking a tumble for it as one catches onto her foot, she brushes herself off of any residual leaf litter and begins to, very carefully, follow the sound of this odd sound she would later learn is called 'music'.

It did not take her long to realize that this sound was coming from the beach. She had lived her entire life in this area, and thus knew well which forest trails lead where. With a little grogginess and displeasure at the constant snagging of her crown on the low foliage, the brown styracosaurus broke her way through the forest, beginning to follow the sight of light more and more as opposed to the ever growing sound. Chirps of animals, of dinosaurs, begun to accompany the unknown sound, and the light began to dance in front of her like the feathers on the tail of a raptor. Both rather concerning signs in Clay's eyes, but the curiosity was too much.

As she finally broke through the tree line onto the empty beach, the brightness of the light and it's warmth almost blinded her. Even though her eyes began adjusting to the difference in brightness, the foliage dampened the true brightness of what was in front of her. She could feel the touch of very small claws against her flank, as well as hear the concerned chirps of the creature that they belonged to, but it took a little bit of squinting and shaking of her head to make any sense of the dancing light and shadows, the styracosaurus sow almost turning around to lash out at the claws. Slowly, moreso due to her turning around to look at the other creature rather than the bright light, did her eyes adjust to the situation.

In front of her was a very tiny little raptor-like dinosaur, for a moment she had thought it a young utahraptor which had brought alarm, but that was quickly dispelled as it showed off it's belly as a sign of good will. She then slowly, oh so slowly turned around to survey the surroundings. In front of her, on the beach, stood every conceivable species of dinosaur she had ever heard off, each having exactly one participant, excluding that of a styracosaurus. It was almost as if she was predestined to come here and enjoy the show. These dinosaurs were all separated in exactly 7 different groups, 7 different activities that they all seemed to enjoy, and the little raptor offered to guide her around through all of it.

First was the bonfire, bright and well lit, around which a Carnotaurus, an Utahraptor, a Therizinosaurus and a Parasaurolophus sat next to, with the predators chasing each other around it for fun. The Parasaur nudged for Clay to join them, but she was rather anxious and, after staring the horned beast for a moment, declined the offer with a quick turn and a quickening of her pace.

Second was a tidal pool, around which a Pachicephalosaurus and a Suchomimus splashed around. The large styraco waded into the pool with them for a moment, but without feathering it felt far too cold at night, and she had to excuse herself from the party. The two dinosaurs did not seem to mind, in fact being rather happy that she had paid them a visit at all.

The third was a game of sorts, with a large Shunosaurus letting two rather excited fliers: a Tapejara and a Tropeognathus, hang lights and trinkets around it's neck, up high, to play around and pass through. Clay attempted to join them, hopping up as far as she could, but her large body could not lift itself off the ground enough for her to do more than poke them with her horn, so, as much as she'd wanted to, she had to concede the game to the fliers.

The fourth game seemed to take place in the water, with a large Aristonectes breaching the water as high as it could, followed by a very tiny Atopodentatus who attempted to reach similar heights to little success. Clay watched them for a while, marveling at how beautiful these creatures were in the night against the light of the fire, but as she could not visit them herself, she grew bored and decided to visit the other attractions.

The fifth attraction was a game of strength, where an Albertosaurus, a Dacentrurus and an Acrocanthosaurus competed against each other to see who had the most strength and could thus push the other out of a ring. The styracosaurus, full of youth and desire to prove herself, stepped forth, and the Dacentrurus took her on, yet try as she might she could not move it and was quickly pushed out of the ring, much to her dismay.

The sixth was a contest of beauty, with a beautifully feathered Oviraptor, Iguanadon and Euplocephalus all trying their best to decorate their bodies and show off their strutting skills. Clay had no feathers, and thus can decorate little, but she gave it her best and the three seemed to cheer her on despite not quite fitting in with the theme. She had a good time, but it felt as if she did not fit quite in so she bid farwell to these creatures as well.

The night drew colder and darker, and the seventh and final event was less an event and more... a place to be alone. A lone Cryolophosaurus sat by the bank, watching the sea and the reflection of the stars in them. Having been exhausted, Clay moves next to it, asking for a place in this party of two. The theropod moved along to make space, and the two sat next to each other enjoying the night, with the small feathered raptor hopping up and down around them playing with the water.

It was a nice night, she was happy to have not spent it sleeping..