“I can’t believe you’ve never been to “Wild Lights” before, Fern. It’s a winter must around here.” Javi teased lightly from the drivers seat of the borrowed work truck. “You’ve been missing out.”
“It’s so pretty, you’ll love it, and it’s the perfect clear night for it.” added Amelia as she turned to chat with the two women in the back seat. “There’s so much to see, just take your time and enjoy.”
“I will, thanks. Is this something you do every year?” asked Fern. ”We never had this event where Mom and I used to live. I mean, Mom was always too busy with work anyway, so I probably wouldn’t have been able to go even if we did have one I guess.” she explained, shrugging casually.
“Aw, boooo.” said Izzy lightheartedly as she gave her girlfriend’s hand a squeeze, “We’re going to make up for that lost time then. With everything being crazy busy these days, I’m glad I can show it too you now.” she beamed back brightly.
“Yeah, Amelia and I went last year, we’ll check it out next weekend.” replied Javi as he glimpsed Fern in the rear view mirror, “Our parent’s used to take us as kids to the early openings, but it’s just as good when you’re older and can appreciate the late showing more. They change it up every year so there’s always something new to check out.”
Pulling in to the Pine Ridge Zoo parking lot, Javi slowed the Warden’s work truck to a stop near the main entrance.
“End of the line, your destination is on the right, Ladies. Thank you for choosing Uber Javi, that will be twenty dollars.” he teased once more as he held out his hand through the gap between the front seats. Amelia quickly batted his hand away with a laugh.
“Highway robbery, be nice.” she giggled.
“Hey, gas isn’t cheap! I swear Dad uses a ruler on the gas gauge.”
“He’s not wrong on that,” Izzy nodded, “Anyway, we’re out. Thanks for the lift!” she said gratefully as she popped the door open to the cool winter air and exited.
“Thank you, Javi. “ added Fern politely.
“Any time, have fun you two.”
Waving as the truck departed, the two women made their way into the main lobby and up to the ticket counter where Izzy treated Fern and handed her her ticket.
“This way.” Izzy offered as she pocketed her own ticket and guided Fern to the main Zoo entrance. Exiting the rear lobby doors, they found themselves in the winter air once again, but this time standing on a large wooden platform surrounded by trees of all sorts. A medium sized paved pathway led through the center of the tall trees, faint lights illuminating the night sky in the distance.
“Shall we?” Izzy smiled as she offered her right hand to Fern.
“We shall.” Fern agreed, amused, as she looped her fingers through her girlfriend’s and began their decent through the dark path, hand in hand.
It wasn’t long before the walk led over a small wooden bridge, rows and rows of ice blue lights woven high overhead illuminating the path and spectators in a beautiful icy glow from above as they walked.
“Aw, pretty.” Fern remarked, pleased as she gazed at the crisscrossing canopy.
“Yeah and this is just the entry path, wait until the T-junction.” she responded as she pointed ahead.
“Oh, wow...”
Izzy wasn’t kidding. Upon reaching the junction, the woods thinned revealing an unending mass of 2D and 3D wolves everywhere. All glowing snow white, Fern stopped smack dab in the middle of the largest fantasy wolf pack she’d ever seen. There didn’t seem to be a spot in the woods that wasn’t free of them.
“There must be... over five dozen of them!” spoke Fern with wonder.
“At least, but thankfully they seem friendly though.” Izzy joked with a smirk.
Groaning playfully, Fern took in the various wolf displays, weaving around them, before she was guided along to take a right through the pack. “We’ll do a perimeter loop this way around, ok?
“Sounds good, lead the way.” Smiling as she said it, Fern was already enjoying the first setup as it definitely wasn’t something she expected right off the bat. If this was the beginning of the light display, what other wonders were in store?
Venturing on along the curved path, the lights decorating the fenced pathway became rich with color. The Bison fencing was decked out in a vivid blue, the deer in bright red, and the Elk in a vibrant green. Smaller 2D animals of various colors were hung feet apart along the fences of each enclosure further illustrating their surroundings as a nice touch.
Boots crunching on the wintery grounds, they rounded the bend to the left, only to be faced with a blockade which forced them to take a sudden right. A slight tug on her gloved hand stopping her, Fern was quick to react.
“Hey, what gives, don’t let go yet.” Fern called out lightly as her girlfriend suddenly released her hand and stepped back a step.
“I want you to go first here.” was her smirking reply as she waved Fern along. “Go on.”
With her girlfriend’s amused look, Fern paused for a confused moment, but took her word and walked ahead along the new path. This walkway was much darker than the others, the fences weren’t even lit here. How did they expect people to see where they’re-
“Oh!”
In a flash, Fern was bathed in a bright spotlight from above, the centre of a large red animated snowflake slowly spinning on her, illuminating her body and the ground around her. With Izzy moving towards her but shooing her along still, Fern kept walking out of the range of the red snowflake only to become washed in another projection. A colorful array of smaller but numerous neon green snowflakes beamed down on her, spinning all around in different directions to her delight.
“Motion sensors light the way... so do you.” Izzy spoke with wink as she caught up and slipped her right arm around Fern’s waist to continue their journey through the shifting lights. Cheesiness aside, Fern was amused with Izzy’s compliments and leaned into her as they lit the way forward on their walk to the next section.
As the walkway projections were nearly over, the path curved to the left again. Entering the new section, trees lining the pathway were decorated in a wide array of colors and styles. Some trees were solid colors, some multicolored, others were unique with cascading white icicles like it was raining white light. A couple blinked and flashed while others thrummed like a rave. It made for a colorful scene as they walked amongst the tall trees.
“Oh wow...” Fern expressed, posture straightening somewhat when she caught a glimpse of the next display.
An open field to the right held quite the sight. Craning her head upwards, Fern took in the massive 3D predators, a humungous tiger greeted them in a wash of orange and white. Weaving around the tiger’s right was a lurking lion and further along to the left, she guessed at what she assumed to be a jaguar. Lights could only do so much, but the detail was still amazing, right down to the bright filament whiskers!
“When we were kids, these guys were so massive, like we only came up to their ankles.” Izzy snickered as she reminisced. Looking up at the glowing tiger, Izzy suddenly felt a wave of nostalgia, remembering herself and Javi running around the legs of the lit animals, playing tag in the cold. She always loved the tiger display, who would have thought how much a towering tiger would play in her future. The life she led now was not what she had expected, that was for sure...
“Iz? Hey, where’d you go?” said Fern gently, placing her right hand lightly along Izzy’s jaw as she turned her girlfriend's unfocused face to meet hers. “You were a million miles away there for a second. You good?”
“Ah, yeah, just thinking I guess.” Izzy responded with a cough. “Where we were as little kids and where we are now. School, and college trials, and ...stuff. I dunno. There’s so much going on lately, it’s nice to just do something normal like this with you. I’m glad you let me share this with you Fern.”
“Aw, anytime, like I’d say no to a date with you.” she spoke fondly, “I’m really enjoying this so far, I can see why you like it so much. Thank you too.”
“Any time.” returned Izzy. “Let’s keep moving though, I didn’t remember it being this cold when I was a kid. Brrr.” she added with a mock shiver.
Continuing their trek, they passed some smaller buildings decked out in 2D animal displays from polar bears to reindeer. Even an nbc looking peacock blinked feather by feather brightly. Nothing seemed to shine as bright however as the open barn yard. A petting zoo in the summer, the yard was now a winter wonderland. Trees aglow all around, the red weathered barn in the center was encased in a multitude of blinking green, red and white lights from roof to ground. The fencing was laced in white icicles and the enormous projection screen in the yard displayed animals in motion. Tigers leapt through the bright white snow, mountain goats perched and jumped from rock to rock. Fern watched briefly and reminded herself that they must come back in the summer to see the zoo in it’s original summer state. It had been forever since she had been to a zoo that she nearly forgot how beautiful the animals could be.
After departing the brightly themed barnyard, the two followed the lights and strolled along a long and twisting tree lined pathway, hand in hand in mutual comfort as their breath billowed white plumes into the cold winter air.
Blues, reds, greens, purples, whites, it all seemed endless. Just a sea of colors everywhere Fern looked. The further they went, the more she picked up on Izzy's anticipation. One minute she would be admiring the sea of dazzling trees and the animated animal light displays, and next, as soon as Fern looked to her partner, Izzy would sense it and turn with a smile to her, watching her reactions with pleasure. She really seemed like she was enjoying showing her around, seeing the awe and energy that Fern radiated with each new discovery.
Breaking the treeline, Izzy pulled Fern towards a neat little row of smaller buildings decked out in Holly and festive floodlights and quickly ushered her inside, out of the cold. Grateful for a moment to warm up, it took a moment before Fern realized where she was.
“Oh my God. They. Are. Adorable!” Fern gushed giddily, practically bouncing on her toes as they approached the first pane of glass in the enclosure.
Leaping from limb to limb in the wooded home were some of the smallest primates she’d ever seen.
“Absolutely! I love watching the marmosets, they’re beyond cute.” Izzy replied happily. “Perfect chance to warm up and enjoy these little fuzzballs.” she beamed.
“Yes, oh, just look at them! They’re so tiny...and hyper!” she laughed as she watched their non-stop acrobatics.
How long they spent checking out the Marmosets and Tamarins in their habitats, she wasn’t sure, she could have probably watched them with Izzy for the rest of the night and be happy. Soon enough though, it was time to continue their walk.
“You ready to brave the cold again?” nudged Izzy with a gentle shoulder bump, head tilted slightly as she gazed at her partner.
“Well, if I have to.” Fern joked back, leaning in loosely with a shoulder nudge of her own.
“Come on then, there’s still more I want to share with you.”
Opening the door, the frigid air hit them like a sledgehammer. Heading out, the two women hunkered close together for warmth as they walked from the monkey houses and soon came about a sharp curve.
“Once we get around this bend, there is the theme display. They switch it up every year with something different. Like, last year it was a display of tigers and cubs. It was to honor their mascot who passed. I don’t know what they have in mind this.. year?...”
Fern was watching Izzy’s face as she spoke, her range went from pleasant and relaxed to stunned in an instant, stopping Izzy in her tracks.
“Oh they’re going to freak when they see this...” Izzy voiced low in awe.
Following her stunned gaze, Fern looked ahead to see the beginnings of a magnificently huge set of 3D lights that certainly didn’t seem to belong in a modern zoo. This time it was Fern’s turn to pull Izzy along to see the next display.
“You think the zoo staff decided to continue the “honour” theme this year?” smiled Fern broadly at her comically stunned girlfriend.
“I... maybe... wow. I didn’t expect this. It’s incredible...” she managed to reply.
Fern couldn’t blame her. It wasn’t every day you’d see a gigantic glowing Tyrannosaurus on display. Whoever built these beasts deserved a raise, she thought. The blazing red Tyrannosaurus towered more as they approached, size dwarfing the other displays. Soon enough the full scope of the new theme display was revealed.
“You’re really loving this, aren’t you, Iz?” Fern gestured lovingly as she couldn’t help but watch the emotions on her girlfriends face as she approached the next form. Staring with a wide overjoyed grin, Izzy hadn’t taken her eyes off of the massive green Tiger, even placing a hand on it with a stroke like it were alive.
“You have noidea.” responded Izzy gleefully with a pat on it’s broad chest. “Damn, they did their homework.”
“I’d say, it must have taken them forever to make these!” Fern gushed as she walked around the bright pink Ankylosaurus, it’s club tail raised high in a defensive posture, blinking lights illuminating the spine and broad club tail.
“Yeah, the detail...” Izzy spoke, still grinning like a fool as she stopped in front the Stegosaurus, looking up at it’s spiked head and lightly shaking her own head in wonder. “Just do me one favour though, Fern?”
“Yeah, anything. What is it?” she asked.
“Don’t tell the gang about this display, especially Javi and Amelia. I want them to be just as surprised when they see it, ok?” begged Izzy with a mischievous smile.
“I promise. Think they’ll flip when they see it?”
“I know they will.” chuckled Izzy. “I don’t want to spoil their fun.”
“Alright, I promise I won’t say a word to them.” she reiterated while miming zipping her lip and making an X across her heart. “Promise.”
“Good. Man, they even made waves...” Izzy whistled as they inspected the Mosasaurus, painted wooden display base making the beast look like it was rising from the sea in a wave break. Lastly the somber Triceratops stood sentry bathed in blue with glittering horns illuminating it’s broad face.
“Kinda hard to top that display.” Izzy exclaimed after they had wandered and had their fill, “but it’s not over yet.”
Guiding Fern with her arm around her waist once more, they departed the massive display and continued down a long lit pathway among the trees for a time. “The next spot is special, I hope you like it.” Izzy said, aiming to please. Fern nodded, but once Izzy stopped her at a plain wooden bridge, Fern was a touch confused. Compared to the rest of the park bridges that they had been through, this area was unassuming.
“I... don’t get it?” Fern spoke with a smile knowing to expect something, “It’s special, you say?”
“Absolutely.” replied Izzy, “Please, I want to share this with no one else but you.” Warmth beaming on her face despite the cold, she held the crook of her arm out to Fern and beckoned her forward with her.
Fern complied, holding onto Izzy’s arm with both hands as they stepped forward onto the dark bridge... or what once was a dark bridge. As soon as they stepped onto the wooden planks, light exploded all around them. It wasn’t just a bridge anymore, a host of thin piping created an archway covered bridge, one that was fitted with thousands of small lights that were activated by a sensor once they stepped under the archway. It turned a simple wooden bridge into a beautifully animated light show. Colorful arrays of all colors darted down the covering, creating patterns that looped down and back up the bridge. Zigzags, waves, even a few hearts amongst others zipped along the way bathing them in glowing, moving lights.
Turning to face Fern, Izzy released her arm and lightly clasped both of Fern’s gloved hands in her own. Head tilted slightly, looking lovingly into her girlfriend’s eyes, she explained softly.
“I always thought this spot was neat as a kid, I didn’t understand its importance back then, but once I did, I always wanted to share it with someone special.” Rubbing her thumbs on the back of Fern’s hands, she continued with a unusually shy blush.
“This spot is known as the Lover’s bridge, or the lovers archway. It’s tradition for couples to take a photo at the beginning and walk together to the end and make a wish. So, will you do me the honor, Fern?”
“Like you have to ask, Iz.” she happily replied. She didn't see this side of Izzy often, she wouldn't think of saying no to her.
Izzy beamed from ear to ear. Letting go of her girlfriend’s grip, she brought her right hand up, brushing aside Fern’s long black hair. Settling her palm still along her cheek and jawline, she rose slightly to embrace her partner in a long awaited kiss. Closing her eyes, Fern reciprocated as she wrapped her arms around Izzy and pulled her in, marveling how soft her lips were, how tender and gentle Izzy could be when she wanted.
While they didn’t want it to end, eventually they had to come up for air.
“Had I known how much you were looking forward to this, I might have suggested we hit the bridge first.” teased Fern affectionately.
“Hey, good things come to those who wait.” sassed Izzy playfully before pulling her hand away to take out her phone.
Fern was a little too flustered to do more than blush and agree with the sentiment.
Posing at the beginning of the bridge in the archway, Izzy lifted her phone to get a good shot of their faces, then took a full photo by hooking her phone on a limb of the closest tree and setting the timer.
“One more.” Fern insisted. Pulling out her own phone, she held it up and clicked the shutter as she turned and kissed Izzy on the cheek, much to her partner’s delight.
“You want another pic, I have another spot right here.” Izzy snickered as she turned her face and pointed playfully to her other cheek.
Laughing at her “cheekiness”, Fern did just that, leaving a matching red print on her right side. “Smile!” grinned Fern as she raised her phone and clicked just as Izzy stuck her tongue out at her. “That’s a keeper.” she said, cracking up as she looked at the result on her phone. “The picture, or me?” quizzed Izzy. “Both, silly.” she chuckled as she gave Izzy a playful push.
“Some days I wonder why you put up with me, but I’m sure glad you do.” laughed Izzy as she clasped Fern’s hands once more. “What say we walk and wish before we hold these people up?” said Izzy with an upward flick of her head. Turning to follow her gaze, Fern could see a couple in the distance as they walked the paved path towards their spot at the bridge. “Sure thing.” she agreed.
Patterns glowing, blinking and rushing by overhead, the wooden floorboards creaked again, breaking the pleasant quiet as they walked the length of the colorful covered bridge.
The overhead lights turned off suddenly as they left the motion sensors at the other end of the bridge, but a flood of light still remained on ahead. Fern and Izzy had exited onto a square pier, light glowing from under and beyond the closed railing around them. The amplification of the splashing of water as they stood caught Fern's attention, and guiding her to the edge of the fenced in platform, Izzy beckoned her to look over the side to the water below.
Leaning over the rails slightly to look down to the water, the source of light and sound became clear. Below was a cascading fountain jetting water, color changing lights beaming from under the surrounding sheet of ice, illuminating the numerous juts and stalagmites formed by the constant splashes of cold water pulled by the winds.
“This is the ice fountain where people make a wish for the new year. Just, ah... just don’t throw coins in it, the staff don’t like that.” Izzy noted while looking away.
“You sound like you have experience with that.” Fern ribbed, knowing exactly where this was going.
“Heh, yeah, when I was a kid, I thought you had to throw a coin in for a wish. I threw a handful of pennies I had for a bunch of wishes. Took out a few spikes. Got a lecture for that one.” Izzy shrugged. ”Never did that again!”
Picturing a young Izzy whipping coins at the fountain like a softball caused a bit of laugher from Fern, but she cut it off quickly. “I don’t doubt.” she replied, “I so see you doing that when you were little.” She mimed with a wild windup and throw, “Take my wishes!”
“Yeah, I go for a more subtle approach now, ha!”
“You? Subtle?”
“Ok, more subtle, I’m working on it.” Izzy explained with a lighthearted eye roll, “but it’s hard to be subtle. Around you especially, seriously. Thank you, you’ve been a blessing in my life and my wish here is that we keep going. I don’t want what we have to end anytime soon. Hell, I don’t want it to end at all.” she sighed.
“Well then, my wish is that you get your wish... and that saying our wishes out loud doesn’t negate these wishes." Smiling warmly as she shook her head, she added, "I have no intention of breaking up with you Izzy.”
“I’m so happy to hear that from you.” whispered Izzy as she clutched Fern in another welcomed embrace. She would never tire of the comfort that came with hugging her.
Wind picking up, whipping their hair around, Izzy felt Fern shiver in her arms. Looking Fern in the eyes and rubbing her hands briskly on her back, she spoke up concerned. “Hey, I didn’t realize you were that cold! Why didn’t you say something?”
“Oh, it’s not that bad, and I’m enjoying this night, I’ll be fine.”
“Nope, nope. Not on my watch.” Izzy replied. “It’s a good thing we’re near the end, lets go to the final stop then, I think it’ll help.”
“Yeah? Is it another indoor space like the monkeys?” she asked as Izzy clumsily brushed more loose strands of hair back behind Fern’s ear with her gloved fingers.
“No, not this one, but I think you’ll like it none the less.” she beamed, “Come on!”
Heading out, Izzy’s arm back around Fern’s waist, they walked their way back down the Archway bridge, passing the approaching couple who looked at the women with smiles and head nods and continued on their way.
Taking a left from the bridge, then making a right on the next marked pathway, Fern saw a small, stand alone hut a few feet away in the treeline which Izzy made a beeline for.
“Two Hot Chocolates, please.” ordered Izzy politely as she raised two fingers and pulled out her wallet. Fern wasn’t going to say no to the warm treat and stood amused as she watched the clerk smile broadly at Izzy. She took the money with a nod, turned slightly to look with a smirk at Fern, then turned back to the machines to get to work preparing the drinks. Shortly the clerk returned with two capped Styrofoam cups and handing them out, gave out a pleasant, “Have a good night you two, and thanks!” as Izzy dropped her change in the glass tip jar.
Hot beverage warming her hands through her gloves, Fern couldn’t wait to take a sip to warm up her insides as well. Before she could remove the lid however, Izzy stopped her. “One more second, almost there.”
“I thought that was the last stop?”
“No, second to last, that was just a pitstop, the last stop is up there.” she said as she pointed to a warm orange glow in the distance. “Besides, the drinks come out of the machine so hot I’m surprised the cup doesn't melt.” she laughed.
Returning her hand around her cup to stay warm, they walked further down the path, light glowing brighter until Fern could see what the source was.
“Now, this is the last stop, the perfect spot to warm up after the trek through the cold.”
An oversized burn barrel was glowing and crackling, reflecting light off its surroundings. Cut out silhouettes of Lions and Tigers allowed more light and heat, the orange glow looking comforting and warm. Surrounding it on 3 sides were wooden benches and stump chairs that looked hand carved with patterns, giving it a nice rustic feel.
“Oh, I love bonfires, I haven’t been camping in years.” exclaimed Fern. Beelining for the fire barrel, Fern sighed as the heat hit her exposed face, nothing beat wood fire on a cold night.
“I’m glad you said that. Well, no, not the no camping part, that sucks. The loving bonfires part.” Izzy reiterated.
“Now, hold that thought...” Izzy said as she raised a finger. “It’s not a bonfire without these... “ she said as she sat her drink down on the bench. Unzipping her jacket some, she reached into an inside pocket before gleefully pulling out a package.
“Marshmallows!” beamed Izzy as she waved a baggie full of the sugary treat in front of her.
Fern burst out laughing. “You snuck those in? Why am I not surprised you’d do something like that.”
“Keeps things interesting.” Izzy laughed as she pulled out two telescopic skewers and got to work. “It’s the little gestures that tie everything together, you know?” smiled Izzy as she leaned into Fern’s shoulder and handed her a prepped marshmallow and continued, “What say we get you warmed up with this bonfire roast, then sit with our drinks and enjoy.” finished Izzy as she put an arm around Fern’s shoulder and tapped the skewers together with an audible -Ting-!
“Let’s.” she agreed as she returned the tap and got closer to the fire, welcoming the break from the cold.
Spending more time making sure Fern was comfortable and warm than paying attention to her skewer, soon the marshmallows were ready over the roaring fire, Fern’s a golden brown, and Izzy’s unevenly charred.
“Eh, Javi's the marshmallow King, not me.” Izzy tilted her head with an unbothered shrug. “We’ve got more.”
“Good, ‘cause you’re not eating that chunk of charcoal.” snickered Fern as she removed a glove. “Here.” Gingerly removing the roasted golden fluff from her skewer with her fingers, she raised the treat to Izzy. “First bite, go on.” Fern offered.
Izzy obliged with a grin, a bite, and an obligatory “Wow, hot, HOT...” as she jokingly waved a hand in front of her mouth. Maybe she should have let that cool a few seconds longer, but overall, no regrets.
“Wooo...okay. Burny, but delicious.” laughed Izzy as she guided Fern back a few steps to the seats and they sat down. “Okay, I may not be the smoothest, give me a pass on that one.”
“Nope, no pass. We’re keeping that one too, you goof.”
“Too? What do you mean, too? tilting her head slightly, she shrugged her shoulders again, curious.
“Have you noticed the looks you’ve been getting?”
“Well, we got a few looks along the way. I mean, they weren’t bad. It’s late, it’s couples hour, they were smiling at us.”
“Yeah, they were smiling at us, but more at you.” Fern replied giddily.
“What? No. They’re just having a good night like we are. You’re exaggerating.”
“Yes, they're having a good couples night too,” Fern giggled, “but you’re the one who’s a walking billboard for it.” Pressing lightly with her index finger, she placed a dot on each side of Izzy’s face, a dimple for each cheek.
“...”
“...”
“... I still have lipstick on my face, don’t I?” mumbled Izzy in a rush.
“Yes. A nice shade of red to match your blushing cheeks.”
“Wellll.” Izzy playfully dragged out as she raised her chin and nodded like she was in thought. “ You know, let ‘em look. I’m not afraid to show everyone I’m your girl.” she finalized confidently, raising her drink to Fern. “I’m not one for wearing lipstick, but this is a badge of honour I’ll wear with pride.” She stated heartily before giving Fern a kiss on the cheek as if to leave an imprint of her own.
“Never change, you hear me, Izzy?”
With a playful head shake and roll of her eyes, Fern leaned into Izzy and kissed her tenderly, the taste of sugary marshmallow on her lips still. How she ended up with Izzy after their rocky start still amazed her. Not exactly friendly rivals, she had tried to leave Izzy in the dust during the big race, but Izzy set her win aside to help her when she went down, wrecking her ankle. This was the Izzy under the competitive façade, the kind hearted soul. The playful woman living in the moment for more than herself, content, kind and carefree as is. She could get used to this.
Parting, Fern caught her breath and gave a contented sigh as she snuggled into Izzy’s embrace, head tucked into her neck and shoulder. Curled up comfortably with her partner, basking in the bonfire’s heat, she closed her eyes and felt the love and warmth. Forget studies, forget rivalries and competitions and whatever else would happen in the days ahead.
This moment right here was all that mattered right now.
The world could wait for one night.