Static Dinosaurs and Unspoken Hearts |ShellVision|

The air was crisp, the breeze carrying with it the scent of falling leaves, and the world outside had begun to transform. The bright green of summer had faded into warm oranges and golds. It was fall, and Connie couldn't be more excited. She stretched as she rolled out of bed, throwing on her favorite oversized sweater. The pumpkin spice everything was calling her name, and she grinned at the thought of all the cozy days ahead. She couldn't help herself—fall was her season. "YES! It's fall! Finally!" Connie shouted as she bounced into the living area, her voice full of excitement. "The best season of all!" She spun around in the middle of the room, arms wide, as if the whole world could share in her joy.

Rudie, however, was not so thrilled. He groaned, rubbing his face as he trudged down the hallway toward the kitchen. "Fall? Are you kidding me? Christmas is better! I don't get the whole fall thing. Halloween's okay, I guess, but Christmas is way better. The lights, the food, the snow—now that's a season I can get behind." As Connie continued to revel in her autumn excitement, Vee stood near the hallway, glancing over at Shelly's door. She felt a small flutter in her chest, though she couldn't explain why. The warmth spreading through her cheeks gave away the hint of a blush, but she quickly looked away and tried to focus on the moment. Still, there was this feeling inside her, like something was stirring, and it made her uncertain. She wasn't sure if she was ready to confront whatever this was, but there it was—every time she thought of Shelly. Trying to distract herself, Vee took a deep breath and pushed her thoughts aside as she knocked lightly on Shelly's door. When the door creaked open, Vee couldn't help but smile at the sight in front of her.

Shelly stood there, her dino onesie adorably mismatched but still somehow looking perfect on her. She had a small, embarrassed smile as she looked up at Vee, clearly flustered. "Hey, Shelly," Vee greeted, trying to keep her voice steady. "You look... cute in that." She couldn't help the small smile that tugged at her lips. She immediately regretted not being able to say something else more casual, but there it was. Shelly laughed nervously, her face turning a shade of pink. "Thanks... I know, it's silly, but it's comfy." She shifted on her feet, looking away briefly before locking eyes with Vee again. "Anyway, um, good morning! What's going on?" Before Vee could respond, Rudie appeared from around the corner, muttering about the changing seasons. "Do you all know where Blitzen went?" he asked, clearly annoyed. "He was acting weird yesterday, and now no one's seen him this morning."

Vee, Shelly, and the rest of the group shared a quick glance. No one had heard from Blitzen either. As the group gathered in the main area of the center, Astro and Dandy immediately got to work preparing breakfast, the smell of pancakes and bacon soon filling the air. Cosmo and Sprout joined them, making light conversation as they went about their tasks.

But Blitzen was still nowhere to be seen.

Meanwhile, Blitzen was slowly stirring in the maintenance room, his eyes fluttering open. He groaned softly, his body sore and heavy. The events from last night flooded back, and he felt the sharp ache in his chest once again, though now it was just a dull, pulsing throb. The crystal was still embedded deep within him, the sensation of its presence ever constant. He winced and pushed himself upright, his legs shaky, but at least he was no longer overwhelmed with that chaotic sense of vertigo. He looked around the maintenance room, his mind still clouded. The room was dim, the only light filtering through from a narrow window above. He realized that he must have passed out after everything with the crystal. There was no one around. Good. He needed time. He needed space.

Standing, he slowly made his way down the hallway, pausing only for a moment as he glanced back toward the area where he had been. There was no sign of anyone, and he sighed in relief before continuing his walk down the hall toward the kitchen. Rudie, who had been in the middle of an animated discussion with the others, immediately stopped when he saw Blitzen appear at the doorway. "Well, well, well... look who decided to show up," Rudie remarked, crossing his arms with a raised brow. "Where have you been? I looked all over for you this morning. You've been gone since last night." Blitzen's gaze briefly flickered to the group before he gave a nonchalant shrug, his voice even, calm. "Just went for a walk," he replied coolly, trying his best to keep his tone steady. He knew full well that lying wasn't something Aether would approve of, but in this case, he wasn't ready to share what he had gone through. Not yet. Not with anyone.