I try to give myself a one-over in the polished surface of the shield. My reflection regards me grimly. In the dim light of the cave, I sparkle. Next to candle flame, I gleam. In the rays of midday sun, I… embarrass my acquaintances by looking like a full grown Nocturne that rolled in glitter. Which I did. Twice. No shame.

Alright, some shame. A little.

Pour glitter on your body they said, it will wash away they said. Liars. It washes as well as a rash would. It falls off when I move, sure, but never enough for me to get rid of it completely. The main result is that my part of the cave is mined with danger flecks all over – the floor, the bed, the chest, the walls…

I swear even the soap is glittery now. I eye it in apprehension. It twinkles threateningly at me, daring me to touch it again. And oh-ho-ho, as if I am, after the scrubbing I had to go through to get rid of this much- was... was the ceiling this shiny before…?

…

Darn it.

“Alright”, I tell myself. “I can work with this. I look like… the night sky. Only it’s day time, and the stars are tiny flecks of stone, insect and glass. And cheap looking. And a little itchy.” I puff my chest out, trying to go for ‘dignified glam rock star’ instead of ‘Tempest Spire freak accident’. I can almost see it, under a certain angle…

If I only had a mane, everything would be much easier right about now. That, or much frizzier. Both.

Eventually, I dare to try the outdoors. I walk into a trio of hatchlings chasing one another almost as soon as I do. It goes as well as imagined.

They stare at me. I stare at them. Their eyes widen. I furrow my brow. One of them looks like it will start crying any moment now. I honestly feel like joining it. It takes us the better part of a minute, and then Amber circles into view from behind a corner. She blinks – to her credit, only once.

“…Still?” she asks.

“Still fabulous to a fault”, I say.

I can see the white of her eyes as she hurries by. “Couldn’t agree more. Just keep your dandruff away from the kids, or the mothers will have themselves a fabulous snack.”

The hatchlings scatter with her, leaving one – the one that almost started crying – behind. It lingers for a moment longer, and then runs away itself.

Well. This will need some getting over.