Stardust moved her head into herself a bit with embarrassment. She could imagine Celeste scolding her for not taking the compliment with great poise and regard, and so she quickly straightened up again. Even with Aunt Celeste in another world, she was loud enough to hear from here.

”Why yes, thank you dear,” she responded, head high. ”You…are my best friend too,” she tried to say confidently, but she was never used to expressing emotion that wasn’t agitation, anger, or annoyance. That, she was quite good at.

Annoyance like right now, when Kirain was being all weird about the paints.

”Oh, nonsense! It isn’t like I have any particular plans!” she said, which was mostly true. She was still getting the hang of the whole process, and was very much like a pup learning to walk. Practice was needed.

Stardust shook her head. ”You don’t have to wait for Lestan to return. I mean, they don’t move much right? You can even meet him out there,” she offered, watching as Kirain groomed her little ones. Thank goodness Kirain was trying to keep them clean. They were pristine, at least right now.