The carnival was a decent walk on the opposite side of town from the lodge. It wasn’t on any beach side, but rather it was nestled on a man made plateau on the side of a slightly sloped hill.
Though unlike the bleak empty nights, this town was alive under the sunlight. As if it were a transformation, people filled the paths of the carnival to the brim. The few mechanical rides were unheard from under the people’s roars of boisterous laughter.
Sights like these were always magical at first. The town’s community was plagued yet they still found a way to put everything aside at this moment. Yet it found a way to ruin it.
People split around me as I walked through the paths. A decent gap of space is always left between me and everyone else. This perimeter of air was only ever broken by those who weren’t paying attention, being quickly pulled out of the way the next second by a friend. But I paid them no mind. I pulled my chin up, held a graceful walk, and kept my eyes forward towards my goal. Though this time I found myself at a blockade.
I stopped in my tracks as for once someone wasn’t whisked out of my way. It seemed to have been Michael. She had new clothes on now that were better suited for being out in public but still shabby enough I would not want to be seen in myself. To my surprise she looked terrified. Much like a statue she was frozen in place with her hands over her ears and breathing like she had just been running. I gave her an inquisitive look. Other than that waste of ripped jeans, she seemed to be otherwise alright.
I spoke over the loud crowds. There was no doubt she could hear me, “Michael dear, are you alright?”
The quick breaths and panicked expression began to seem familiar as she didn’t respond or look at me. I had seen it before in large gatherings like this so I at least knew how to help.
It was a bit awkward to say the least but I was able to grab her hand and lead her out of the crowd and towards a quieter edge of the carnival. Her hand was a bit different than I would have imagined it to feel. It was frail and thin. Under the fur the skin went straight to the bone. Perhaps the rest of her was just as brittle. Under all of her hair and fur, the world would never be the wiser.
I let go of her hand and wiped my own hand clean of any debris with a handkerchief I kept in a pocket. She was calming down by now and was aware enough to look at me strangely for cleaning my hand.
Folding and putting away the handkerchief, I then politely asked, “Do you often find yourself stranded in crowds like this one?”
The comment must have been taken the wrong way as her face contorted. She would still sound a bit out of breath for a while, “No. I’m not usually in any crowds… do you think I’m filthy or something? You wiped your hand so roughly. It’s as if I was covered head to toe in pure disease.”
My eyes only rolled at the thought, “Oh please. You practically are but that doesn’t make you any less of value.”
She peered down her nose at me in judgement.
I continued, “Your pelt dear. You are head to toe in fur and hairs. Each strand is just moments away from shedding off like an insect and dropping its carcass on the ground. I wouldn’t want all those dead fibers on everything I touch.” the thought sent a shiver down my spine as I shook my head, “Euh. Just the thought of it makes my skin crawl.”
Michael tries to process the comment as she looks down at her own hand a moment before looking back at me, “...nevermind that. How did you do that?”
“Do what dear?”
She grumbles under her breath, “Stop calling me dear.”
I respond with a polite nod, “Very well. Do what darling?”
Despite me listening she faintly growls before continuing, “That crowd is denser than Rosey. I was trying to get out of there but I couldn’t even see over everyone’s heads. Then I kept bumping into everyone’s shoulders. It’s insane out there. I swear some kid even tried to grab my tail.”
My eyes drifted out to the wall of people moving ahead of us as I was careful with my wording, “Most people keep their distance from me. That buffer seems to help me get where I need to go without too much hassle.”
“Is it because they know you?”
“Quite the opposite. Though I’m a hint surprised you had to ask. Do you see nothing wrong with me?” I look back over at her.
She quietly looked me up and down and slowly shook her head, “I mean unless you mean the suit not quite matching you then I guess not.”
“The suit matches me. Now ignore the attire. I am talking about myself as a person. You don’t see anything wrong or of concern at all? Nothing to be weary of?”
Her eyes squint while trying to piece together a thought before speaking with uncertainty, “People hate you becuase… you’re bald?”
My eyes narrow at her, “No…People hate me because they see a snake. A creature known for being poisonous and unpredictable. That is a risk of danger they don’t want to bump shoulders with.”
I was surprised again when I saw her still confused. But then she stated as if it were fact, “You’re not a snake.”
I was now the one more baffled than she was as I gestured to her, “What the hell else would they see me as? I have scales, the split lip, long tail, even the damn eyes.”
A realization comes to Michael, “Ohhh! I thought you meant like a personality trait. Like you were a snake, as in I talked behind your back kind of thing. Not species.”
I rolled my eyes at her this time, “You say Rosey is dense but you're denser than her!”
She glared at me, “To be fair you didn’t clarify that at the beginning. And either way I still don’t see that as a reason to keep my distance. All the people out there avoiding you need to consider what they’re capable of too.”
My silence wasn’t her getting me to become emotional. She simply said a lot of words and I was prone to dry eyes due to how late I stayed up. Any watering in the eyes was warranted here and was not related to anything previously stated. I did not cry but I had to wipe my face because watering eyes can leave residue on my face that would also dry out my scales.
Though she kept surprising me. Despite how miserable she always looked, she smiled slightly for the first time. All because my eyes were dry.