Constellations Of The Heart

8.

The twelve signs piled out of the car, a cacophony of chatter and laughter echoing through the quiet suburban street. As they made their way to the house, the excitement of the upcoming camping trip hung like a cloud above them - a distinct mix of anticipation and mayhem, typical for this lively group.

Once inside, Capricorn led the brigade to the twelve-seater dining table.

“Okay, everyone, gather ‘round!” Capricorn announced, tapping the table for attention. “I made a booking for three nights at the Orion Sun Resort. You all know your camping buddies, right?” she looked around, ensuring each pair was locked in.

“Alright!” Capricorn continued, flicking through the notes she had meticulously made. “The rules are simple: you and your buddy always remain together. Got it?” A chorus of nods confirmed that everyone understood, though Leo looked more interested in fiddling with her hair—typical for her.

“With that said, Taurus and I are in charge of the whole trip,” Capricorn clarified, raising an eyebrow dramatically. “If anything happens—like, I don’t know, a bear attacks—come to us, okay?” She offered a reassuring smile, which somehow only confused the group more. This was both a joke and a serious warning in their festive world.

“Do we get to roast marshmallows if we are attacked?” Sagittarius chimed in diligently, a glimmer of mischief in his eyes. The corners of Capricorn’s mouth twitched; it wasn’t a bad idea at all.

“Only if you survive,” Taurus teased back, receiving a collective eye-roll from the rest.

“Okay, you guys can go have some me-time now. You look pretty exhausted,” Taurus chuckled, sending the signs scattering like confetti, each with their own personal agenda.

********
The twelve signs were tucked away in their rooms, indulging in some much-needed "me time." The air buzzed with an unspoken competition of hobbies and preferences, each sign engaging in their own peculiar pastimes, oblivious to the existence of their neighbors.

Aries was in his room, bouncing off the walls while trying to beat his high score on a racing video game. "Come on, come on! Yes! Full speed ahead!" he shouted, only pausing to adjust his headphones, the sounds of raging engines echoing against his wall. His competitive spirit was boiling over, but little did he know, all the noise would have consequences.

In the next room, Taurus was snuggled luxuriously in blankets, indulging in a marathon of nature documentaries. With a bowl of gourmet popcorn pristinely seasoned with truffle oil, Taurus watched a majestic elephant wade through the savanna, fully convinced that nature was the ultimate form of relaxation. "There’s nothing like a bit of nature and good food," he mumbled, his face glowing in the dim light, when the booming cheers from Aries seeped through.

Gemini was clad in pajama pants adorned with stars while creating a scrapbook. She giggled while cutting pictures to paste, nearly cutting her fingers in the process. Little did she know that the wild sounds from Aries made her DIY project disastrous as the glue spilled all over her laptop.

Across the hall, Cancer was curled up with her fluffy bkanket, singing to her favorite pop ballads, creating a genuinely heartwarming scene. She had decided the best form of self-care was a little soulful karaoke. "Oh, Blankie, you’re my number one fan!" she sang, cradling her blanket until the earthshaking laughter from Gemini's room startled her. “What is happening out there?” she exclaimed, her gentle demeanor slightly shaken.

Scorpio was hunched over a desk piled high with journals and countless candles flickering against the shadows in his room. He loved writing mysterious tales and solving complex puzzles. He scribbled furiously when he heard the uproar from next door. "What on earth is so funny? Can't they keep it down?" he growled, but his curiosity got the better of him. Peeking through the crack in his door, he shone a light onto Gemini's chaotic scene, and smirked.