Nemesis

___ had been told, just like every other child, about the world pillar and the Arcanist's climb. Time and again she stared up into the endless blue of the sky and wondered just how high the sky actually was, how far away the stars and moon were as they endlessly spiraled around Sorineth.

Lured by the gleaming full moon, ____ left the warmth of her nest one night and wandered to the highest hill she could see. She turned her gaze skyward, only to catch sight of a higher hill some distance away. Determined to get closer to the moon, she spread her wings and jumped, pushing herself to reach the hilltop before the night wore on. As soon as she neared it, though, she caught sight of an even higher hill.

Clenching her jaw with determination, ___ flew and flew until she could find no place higher to rest. Finally, she settled down to examine the moon and stars, letting the wide spread of the heavens amaze her. She let herself drown in the sights, barely realizing when dawn started to shade the darkness into a lighter blue, barely noticing when a humming started behind her.

A shooting star roared across the sky, and ____ let out a startled gasp as it flashed out of existence before her eyes. The flash burned against her eyes and skin, and she turned from it instinctively, hissing a few words of pain under her breath. The humming behind her grew louder, and when she could see again, ____ turned to look at the sprite that hovered tamely, waiting for her undivided attention. ____ reared back in shock, but the sprite merely spun in the air before gesturing widely at her. It took a long moment to realize the sprite wanted her to look down, but when she did ____ realized that something was very different than before the sun had set all those hours ago. Where before her hide had been smooth, now it bore shiny, reflective pieces that shimmered in the low light like the Arcanist's power realized!

____ turned and twisted as she tried to see all of the new pattern as the sprite merely giggled and vanished with a small pop. What was she going to tell ____ when she got home?