Lazy Gossip

The crisp air of the cold season clung to the mountain sides of the isles. The wind carried a sharp bite that made even the hardiest dinosaurs seek shelter as it gnawed at their bones. Snow covered the ground in one flowing sheet like a glittering blanket, and frost coated the bare branches of trees. Even in this frigid climate, one corner of the isles, where an active volcano kept the air, pleasant warmth bubbled up from beneath the earth, transforming the landscape into a steaming oasis.

Here, the thermal springs gurgled and hissed. Their waters appeared to shine with a turquoise glow in contrast to the gray and white of the surrounding snow and stone. The air was heavy with the scent of minerals, and the soothing heat rising from the pools was a haven to stave off the cold clinging to one’s core. Not many dare approach the active volcano and its lava flows, but it was well worth it for most that did.

A soft pink Parasaurolophus with darker stripes and spotted face was one of those visitors. Her herd ventured here for the sake of the elders who've been hit the hardest by the harsh weather, but really, everyone was happy to take a break and soak in proper warmth.

Cozy’s delicate crest reverberated as she hummed a quiet song while she carefully navigated down the rocky slope. Her hooved feet slipped slightly on the slick stones, but she was ever enthusiastic to reach the warm water of a larger pool. The cold had stiffened her limbs during the long trek, she felt a little sore even, and she yearned for the comforting embrace of the springs.

As Cozy lowered herself into the pool, pushing a wave of steaming water out the sides with her mass, a contented sigh escaped her beak. The heat seeped into her sore muscles, and the tension in her body began to melt away. She closed her eyes, letting the steam curl around her as she fully settled down and laid her head on the rim of the bath. The world beyond the springs seemed to fade, leaving only the soft bubbling of water, distant conversations of nearby herd mates and strangers, and the faint hum and hiss of steam escaping between subtle cracks in the rocks.

Her peace was interrupted, before she could doze off, by the sound of heavy footsteps and the crunch of snow nearby. Cozy merely opened one eye, peering through the haze of mist, and saw the distinct shape and spiky head of a pachycephalosaurus approaching.

The newcomer was a stocky brown creature with a thick, domed skull. Her feather coat webbed with more shades of brown and her bright green eyes scanned the area with curiosity and a faint hint of reluctancy. When the stranger realised the pool she was approaching had someone occupying it already, she hesitated, one clawed foot poised at the edge of the pool.

Cozy wasn’t particularly perturbed by another dino seeking to dip into the springs, but as the two herbivores stared at one another in silence, she guessed the other shy. Before the pachy ended up collecting snow on her back from waiting, she gave her an encouraging nod. “Don’t just stand there,” she chimed out, her voice lazy and inviting. “Come on in. It’s wonderful.”

The pachy blinked, then let out a soft huff of laughter. “Oh! If you don’t mind!” she let out a nervous laugh. She was caught staring again. “This place has gotten all crowded over the last week. Good to know people are still willing to share.”

“Naturally. Why would I mind, this place is kinda for everyone,” Cozy replied.

The brown pachy tested the water with one foot, then lowered herself into the pool with a drawn out sigh of approval. She let out a low rumble of contentment as the warmth enveloped her. Mirroring the larger parasaur, she rests her chin on the smooth rocks at the pool’s edge.

“Ah, this is just what I needed,” she said, steam rising in curls from her drenched coat.

Cozy tilted her head. “Long day?”

“You could say that,” she replied, cracking a small smile. “The name’s Lyra, by the way.”

“Cozy,” she said, tilting her head in a small nod. “Nice to meet you.”

They settled into a companionable silence, the bubbling water filling the space between them. After a while, Lyra glanced at Cozy, her brow raised in a curious look.

“You don’t look like you’re from around here,” she said cautiously, not sure if it’s a rude thing to point out. “Soft colors like that... Most here are hardy and have colours to boot. Dark coliurs or muted browns.”

Cozy chuckled, droplets of water flung off her as she moved her tail. “You’re not wrong. My herd usually stays in the southern valleys and meadows, where the winters are milder. I first heard about these springs from a wandering shunosaurus, but my herd has been here generations before I hatched. The herd thought it was a good idea to come here again for a break. What about you?”

“Born and raised in the nearby wetlands,” Lyra replied, puffing out her chest as if it was an achievement. “Though I tend to stay low and don’t climb the hills too often. The herds don’t like it when I wander off to the higher ground. Safety in numbers and all that.”

Cozy nodded in agreement. “Can’t argue with that. It’s important to stay close to the herd. It just gets a little dull, sticking to the same spots and walking the same paths all the time.”

Lyra let out a snort. “You’re telling me. It’s nothing but the same grass patches and knee-deep streams day in and day out. Coming up here is one of the few times I get to feel like I’m doing something different.”

Placing her front limbs over the edge of the pool, Cozy raised her head expectantly. “Say, what’s the gossip around here? Every herd has its drama and you seem like you know the circles here better.”

“Oh, you wouldn’t believe it. I know I said dinos here are hardy, but maybe stubborn is the better word,” Lyra smirked, suppressing a chuckle. “There’s been a spat between the lead styracosaurus and her second-in-command. It started simple, like something about who gets the best grazing spot in the foothills, but it’s turned into this whole ridiculous power struggle. Half the herd doesn’t know whose side to take while the two have nothing better to do but butt heads.”

Cozy let out a short exhale, a half amused laugh. “And I thought my herd was dramatic. We had a fight break out last spring because one of the guys kept stealing the bedding from someone’s favorite nesting spot. It ended with them chasing each other in circles for an entire afternoon and they still bicker about it.”

Lyra chuckled, shaking her head. “Some dinos just never grow up, huh?”

The conversation drifted easily from topic to topic, ranging from tales of strange sightings in the snow to the best places to find sweet flowers in the summer. Cozy found herself relaxing more than she had in days, all while Lyra chimed in with new news or stories she babbled on about.

Lyra, for her part, appreciated Cozy’s calm and gentle company. She didn’t seem to mind her excitable demeanor or her occasional tangents about local terrain, and her laughter was a refreshing change from the constant seriousness of her herd.

As the afternoon wore on, Cozy sighed, stretching her legs under the water.

“I suppose I should be heading back soon,” she said reluctantly. It was time to rejoin in with the rest of the herd.

“Same here,” Lyra agreed, though she didn’t move right away. “The herds will get worried if I’m gone too long, but they probably expect me to run late.”

As the parasaur rose from the pool, water cascading off her pink coat in shimmering rivulets, the water level lowered quite a bit without her mass filling it in. She gave her body a shake, sending droplets flying, and grinned at Lyra.

“Thanks for the company,” she said. “Maybe I’ll see you here again sometime?”

Lyra nodded, a smile tugging at her lips. “Count on it!”

With their farewells, Cozy began the climb back the way she came, singing her tunes again and listening for a reply. The pachy, who’s left alone in the pool, watched her soft colors disappear into the mist. 

Lyra lingered in the pool for a few moments longer, savoring the warmth before she too stepped out into the cold. She really hopes they get to meet one another again and wondered if they ever run into each other outside of the cold seasons.

(1472 words according to Google Docs)