The Brontos Take a Snow Day

The Brontos had played outdoor shows before. Rainy shows. Windy shows. Once, a show where a kite got stuck in Thumper’s drum kit. None of those prepared them for Groovy’s latest idea.

“A ski trip,” Groovy said, adjusting her leather jacket. “Cold weather builds character.”

“Or frostbite,” Thumper replied, staring at the snow-covered slopes ahead.

Luminera smiled, already tightening her scarf. “Dinosaurs lived in cold places once. This counts as research.”

That settled it. Sort of.

High in the Mountains

The ski lodge sat high in the mountains, wrapped in snow like a powdered donut. Kids zipped past on skis. Adults shuffled carefully, pretending balance came naturally, making the scene lively and fun. The Brontos stood out immediately. A blue-green Allosaurus, a slender albino lizard, and a green Ankylosaurus drew attention anywhere, but winter gear made the scene extra strange.

Their breath puffed white in the cold air as they got ready.

Thumper wore a helmet two sizes too big. It wobbled when he nodded.

“Why do I have to wear this?” he asked. “I’ve got a hard head!”

Groovy clipped on her skis with calm confidence. “Momentum. Gravity. Mild confusion.”

Luminera leaned on her poles, watching snow fall in quiet flakes. “Dinosaurs from ancient North America dealt with freezing winters. Some lived near the Arctic. Long nights. Cold ground. Snow.”

Thumper blinked. “Did they have skis?”

“Unclear,” Groovy said.

They started on the beginner slope. The sign showed a smiling cartoon snowman. Nothing dangerous, supposedly.

Groovy pushed off first, smooth and steady. She glided downhill like she had practiced all year (which annoyed everyone else).

The Snowbank

“Show-off,” Thumper muttered, then pushed.

He started out great, but started spinning and sliding to the side. He landed in a snowbank, sending a curtain of snow high into the air.

Luminera skied next, graceful but cautious. She stopped beside Thumper and offered a hand. “Cold weather survival tip one. Stay calm. Panic wastes energy.”

Thumper accepted the help. “Survival tip two. Sit down before gravity turns it into a somersault.”

As they worked their way down the slope, the Brontos noticed something interesting. Their bodies adjusted. Muscles warmed with movement. Breathing slowed into a steady rhythm. The cold stayed sharp, but manageable.

“Dinosaurs had tricks,” Luminera said as they rode the lift back up. “Feathers for insulation. Fast growth. Strong hearts.”

Groovy nodded. “Some scientists think many stayed active all year. Cold did not stop them.”

Thumper looked across the snowy forest. “So… dinosaurs could handle winters like this?”

“Yes,” Luminera said. “Not tropical. Not cozy. Still home.”

The chairlift crested the hill. Wind rushed past. Below, the slope stretched wide and bright.

Groovy pointed downhill. “One more run. For science.”

Thumper sighed. “If I survive, I demand hot chocolate.”

They pushed off together.

This time, Thumper stayed upright. Mostly. Groovy laughed as snow sprayed behind her skis. Luminera followed, light and controlled, scarf trailing like a ribbon.

At the bottom, they regrouped, tails cold, eyes bright.

Thumper grinned. “Okay. I get it. Cold does not mean weak.”

Groovy clapped snow from her gloves. “Exactly. Dinosaurs adapted. So can drummers.”

Inside the lodge, steam rose from mugs of cocoa. Outside, snow kept falling, quiet and steady.

The Brontos warmed up, tired and smiling, already planning the next adventure.

Next time,” Groovy said, “someplace with palm trees.”