The night air buzzed with quiet energy as we gathered closer to the fire, the flames painting shifting patterns on the grass and casting everyone's faces in warm, flickering light. I sat near the edge of the group, close enough to be part of the banter but far enough to observe without being dragged into every word of it. Not that I minded, of course. It was always more fun to watch the chaos unfold before stepping in with a well-timed quip.
Ellie, of course, had already started. She was perched cross-legged on the grass, waving a marshmallow-tipped skewer like a conductor orchestrating an invisible symphony. Her red hair caught the firelight like molten copper, and her freckles danced as she spoke.
"Alright, question of the night," she announced dramatically, her voice brimming with enthusiasm. "If you could rename a constellation, what would you call it?"
Solace, lounging on a nearby stone as if he were the king of some wild and mystical court, tilted his head in mock contemplation. "Hmm, how about 'The Dashing Rogue'? Catchy, isn't it?"
Ellie rolled her eyes. "Only if we're naming it after your ego."
I snorted, half-chewing on a marshmallow. "You'd need more stars to do that justice. Maybe a whole galaxy."
The group erupted in laughter, and Solace leaned back, utterly unbothered, a grin tugging at his lips. "Jealousy is such an unbecoming color on you," he drawled, golden eyes glinting mischievously in the firelight.
Ellie, always quick with a retort, jabbed her skewer in his direction. "Oh, please. You'd name every star in the sky after yourself if you could."
"And why not?" Solace smirked. "I've always thought the universe could use a bit more charm."
Before I could throw in another jab, Ellie turned her skewer toward me. "Alright, your turn. What would you name a constellation?"
I leaned back, pretending to think as I tossed another marshmallow into the fire. "Easy. 'The Snack Thief.' Dedicated to everyone here who keeps stealing my chocolate."
Ellie gasped in mock offense. "Excuse me, I've stolen exactly zero of your snacks tonight!"
"Yet," I pointed out, holding up the half-empty bag for emphasis.
She grabbed a handful anyway, popping a marshmallow into her mouth with a satisfied grin. "Well, now it's tradition."
The fire crackled as Solace shook his head in amusement. "You lot are impossible."
Ellie gasped again, feigning horror. "We're impossible? Says the guy who tried to name an entire constellation after himself."
"Self-awareness is key to greatness," he countered, his grin widening.
Across the fire, someone conjured a faint spark of blue light, sending it zipping into the night sky like a tiny comet. The group ooh-ed and ahh-ed as it fizzled into the stars, and Ellie clapped her hands.
"Alright, who else has secret pyrotechnic talents?" she asked, glancing around. "Because if we're not lighting up the sky, what's the point of this class?"
"Pretty sure the point is learning," muttered Marlowe from his spot, earning a wave of dismissal from Ellie.
"Learning can wait. Fun, however, is fleeting," she declared.
Solace chuckled, toasting a marshmallow with unhurried precision. "Careful, Ellie. That kind of philosophy could get you in trouble."
"Trouble is the point," she shot back, her grin as bright as the flames.
The chatter around the fire grew louder, laughter blending with the crackling of wood and the occasional pop of a marshmallow catching fire. Someone had broken out a guitar, strumming softly under the hum of conversation. It wasn't long before Ellie tried to sing along, wildly off-key but unapologetically enthusiastic.
Elara, with her violet hair catching the light of the flames and her delicate frame casting gentle shadows, watched the scene with quiet interest. She shifted closer, her eyes reflecting the flickering fire.
Ellie, noticing her, grinned. "Elara! Got any fun constellation ideas?"
Elara smiled shyly, her cheeks tinting a soft pink. "I've always liked the idea of a constellation called 'The Dreamer'," she said softly. "For anyone who looks up at the stars and wonders what's out there."
Solace's eyes twinkled with amusement. "A constellation for dreamers? Sounds like something right up your alley, Elara."
She ducked her head, hiding a smile. "Maybe. I just think we could all use a bit of wonder."
Ellie nodded vigorously. "Absolutely! We should all have our own constellations. Mine would be 'The Curious Explorer'. Always asking questions, always looking for the next adventure!"
"And mine," Marlowe interjected dryly, "would be 'The Silent Observer'. Watching all you lunatics from a safe distance."
The group laughed, the firelight dancing in their eyes. It felt good, this easy camaraderie. As I leaned back on my elbows, letting the rhythm of the night wash over me, I couldn't help but feel that this—this ridiculous, messy, wonderful group—was better than any constellation could ever hope to be.
And as the night wore on and the stars above seemed closer, I realized that sometimes, the best stories were the ones we made together, beneath a sky full of possibilities.