[private] family is who you set fires with

[Derelict]

Although she had not intentionally sought to beat the boy to the chipmunk, when he seems disappointed Derelict’s knife-tail flicks behind her in pleasure. He comes closer, circling her, and the light from her still-small horns catches on his face and effectively distracting her from what he wants. So there is just a small moment where she cannot stop staring at the teeth clustered around where his eyes should be. Not because it is odd - she’s hardly one to judge. Not even because she wasn’t sure how he knew where she was or that she had a catch - her mother couldn’t see but little escaped Fiorina. Mostly, she was just confused which of the three mouths to offer the chipmunk to. Another girl arrives, continuing the cycle of distraction (that was only just beginning), and the chipmunk squirms indignantly in Derelict’s mouth. Her jaw is clamped shut and will not budge, though, even though her eyes are wide with amazement. The new foal has clusters of stars that look like wings and Derelict’s bone wings twitch in embarrassment as she compares herself to the brilliant star before her. This beautiful filly speaks, revealing that the scaled boy is her brother, and before Derelict can remember that she was, actually, going to share her sister then arrives and the clack of their bone wings together in greeting reassures the armoured girl. She would not wish for any wings but the ones she shares with her twin. And as if mocking her for this, two others arrive - both with magnificent wings. Figures. Just as another filly joins their group, the chipmunk bites Derelict’s tongue. Instead of dropping it (already well trained not to waste food) she bites it clean in half and moves her head so the tail end will drop before the boy with the multiple mouths. She’s very curious to see which he picks it up with. She swallows her own half whole and is still mentally catching up when the bombshell that they are all family is dropped - and then confirmed. Well, the one confirming it is older than the rest of them which Derelict easily enough means he is telling the truth. They are all, apparently, siblings and Derelict wonders where Fiorina had been hiding the rest of them (not yet having realized that it takes two to parent). Though she’s going cross-eyed from trying to watch the first boy eat, and being fascinated by the rotting flesh of the latest girl, she manages still to answer the question. “Derelict!" She announces this single word proudly in a voice that is light and sweet and, fortunately, completely free of the utter bafflement currently flapping around her mind on pretty star and dragon wings.

@[Sepulcher]