When the Old Smoke Goes

The wood popped and cracked beneath the blaze, below the stars of night and whispers of the wind. The trees shifted and danced above them, and the grass wavered as the wind dashed quietly through the trees and brush. Fireflies flittered through the air, buzzing quietly and shining like tiny stars in the warm glow of flames. Marshmallows roasted over the flame, smoke rose into the air, and the laughter of the young party sparked into the night sky. They made s'mores and watched the sky. Tonight, the constellations danced around comets that blazed through the astral sea before becoming the dust of the great void.

The stars blazed with light that forever outshined the campfire. Trails of flame dazzled their eyes, and the serenades of the forest sat softly in their ears. They took in the scent of flame and smoke and wondered where in the sky it goes. Would it join the clouds? The stars? A myriad of questions filled their minds, thoughts bubbling up like a beautiful yet terrible mass. The sky glowed as if to answer, a response that none could hear. The earth rumbled and the stars shook. They all gasped in awe and glee with widened eyes as the stars fell all around them; they couldn’t be hurt, they just knew it.

The fireflies knew it, and the owls too. It was just scarily stunning, a starfall unlike any other, fireflies glowing like torches in the night and the trees spiraling in their ancient dance. The party of man began to dance around their campfire, they danced with the trees, the owls, the stars, and sand as the stars took shape. Something ancient danced with them, prehistoric and forgotten, a dinosaur like none seen before, a dinosaur like man. The whole of the forest seemed to be alive beneath the slow descent of the sky that shattered like glass. As the shards rained down, so too did the constellations. Beasts more ancient than life, immortal and beautiful; the constellations danced with them as smoke filled the air.

A beautiful hell surrounded them, the earth shattering as they continued to dance and sing, more alive then ever as the world crumbled. Ursa Major and Minor roared a deep bass to the rhythm, Cancer and Scorpio snapped and clapped their quick tempos, and the Gemini twins sung their melodies. Stars burned around them, destroying all as they delighted in their peace. The earth tore open, and the sky was blank as they all fell back and laughed as their energy ebbed. The stars continued to call to them as the world slowed and rebuilt. They breathed in the smoke of their flame, a last taste of their joyous dance and song.

The stars pulled away into the sky, the earth healed, and the flame died away. No more did the forest sing, the trees did not sway, and the wind was quiet and still. There was calm, but they knew. It would all return when the old smoke goes and a new flame glows.