Fun fact: Stratus clouds are commonly found at very low altitudes and frequently spontaneously form at night as temperatures drop and humidity rises. Ply is a stargazer, and he knows this fact pretty well. He curses stratus clouds more than he curses the knots and tangles in his long-haired mane (and the finicky comb he uses with his two available fingers to get them out!) This is because on clear evenings he'll be all set and ready looking out his window, or sitting on the rooftop of his apartment building, and then they'll start to form right as the stars are coming out at sunset, covering any view he hoped to have.

Tonight was a clear night that yet again became covered by these pestering clouds, and tonight was also the night he's decided he's had enough star-filled nights ruined by them. Ply already lives moderately above sea-level, and the apartment building he lives in adds more height - and so these low altitude clouds were within flying distance from him - no more than a thousand feet. If he could get above him, he'd be able to enjoy the stars for at least a little while, as opposed to no time at all.

And so at sunset, with a look of determination, a healthy amount of resentment, and after hydrating enough to last a good hour or so in the air, he took off from the rooftop, and started climbing altitude in a mostly vertical pattern. As dusk came, the clouds continued to grow and began to refract the orange and yellow hues of the now nearly settled sun. At the same time, he began to feel the moisture mix with his sweat as he climbed deeper into the layers of gray and white. As he finally parted the clouds, he was instantly rewarded by catching a glimpse of two falling comets that would have otherwise been completely masked by them. Many emotions came at once. An overwhelming feeling of excitement from watching the comets fall amongst a lovely, star-filled sky, pride from enduring his tenacious ascent, and a feeling of relief that he had finally made it up. Looking down, Ply shrieked at the irksome clouds in triumph. He finished off the hour by flying around above the clouds to gaze at the speckled starscape before returning back to his apartment holding not only new memories of the passing comets, but self-admiration for the journey he just partook in.

Drawn by  Xeshaire
Circa March 2025