Oh, Pisces.

Of course, she'd been here before. The cavern was an inevitable stop en route to other places more deserving of her attention. Despite this familiarity, the disappointment that crossed her mind each time she entered its frigid climate always tended to mirror the first. Its main feature, the roaring waters that spilled into a serene lagoon, fell short of her expectations without fail. A shame, but sheer size and thunderous echoes off stone walls could never compare to the beauty the smaller, sparkling cascade of Gemini possessed. It simply didn't meet her standards when it came to presentation.

Miriam shuddered and primly drew the folds of her gem-studded cloak closer to her sides. Not to mention she could do without being pelted by the cold droplets scattered every which way by the nearby crashing waterfall. At the very least the hood drawn over her ears shielded her head from most of the drumming irritation.

"Ghastly thing," she lamented in a soft whisper. Hopefully, if she didn't dally, the serpentine Gembound would be spared from any more of these conditions.

However, a rather curious sight put this sentiment on tentative pause: fragments glimmered against the drab stone floor, their color so eye-catching and impossible to ignore. A low hum resonating in her throat, she picked a chrysalis shard up and angled it to better catch the light. Pinpricks of interest, cold and sharp like that which was delicately suspended in her claws, emerged within her gaze.

"Oh, I wonder who this belongs to?" Behind this playful chirp, Miriam focused on more calculating actions. Magic pulsed through her heart and outward to sweep the surrounding area.

She operated partly on instinct as her magic senses informed of the unmistakable shifting presence at the boundary of her ordinary perception. Miriam, swaying, reoriented herself to catch sight of whoever persisted in these drenched surroundings. The well-tailored cloak shimmered along with the movements of the body beneath it. Slow, deliberate, and falsely relaxed, she craned her neck forward, chin tucked in to peer down at a small rock pile sitting an easy slither away from her current position. Despite best efforts, the tip of a pale wedge-shaped snout stood out stark against the dull surfaces composing their hiding spot.

Giddiness restrained, Miriam didn't allow a wide grin to split her face. Instead her amusement was kept small, only a glimpse of her canines flashed at the tiny creature. She wiggled the chrysalis shard still pinned between her forefinger and thumb like it was bait on the end of a fishing line.

"Excuse me," she crooned. "This wouldn't happen to be yours, would it? I couldn't help but admire"—the corner of her mouth twitched at that word—"its luster. And the healthy color too. Neither too dark or garish."

Another claw applied pressure on the edge of shard. Seeing it remained whole and unbending, an airy giggle bubbled out from the tatzelwurm. "Not even brittle either! You must've had a fine hatch indeed if these are yours."

Mockery or sincerity? Even though her voice was sugary sweet, its delivery was rather exaggerated. Add in the occasional suspicious ring of sarcasm, and there existed the possibility this kindly demeanor was a pretty veneer for a more acerbic nature. Unblinking eyes almost dared the child to call out the flaws in her act. A risky venture when the pretender was of such towering stature.

Other than the twitch and eventual press of Miriam's ears against her skull, she was statuesque throughout listening to the hidden creature's stumbling response. It was so very indicative of what was already known from the shard she held: a child indeed, even their speech was marked by the awkwardness of youth. Much as the newly hatched blundered through their first steps of life, this one's words were hesitant, feeling out footholds on ground they hadn't yet grown accustomed too.

Naturally she'd never struggled so. Why would she ever when her identity and purpose had been so blatant from the very first wisp of air that'd wormed into the cracks of her own chrysalis. Rulers had no place for indecision and doubt. Nevertheless she'd humor this; perhaps some worthwhile fruit would be borne once the initial fumbling faded away.

Although her practiced smile had for the most part been plastered on, the onslaught of flattery drew out a genuine purr. "Oh, yes," she said, breezily waving her unoccupied paw. "I don't mind. One must, after all, always endeavor to look their best. Rather astute of you to have already figured that out."

A shame she'd yet to properly mold Claude to her will yet. If he were here and obedient, a mere snap of her claws could've driven him to attempt startling this child out. But no matter; it wasn't as if she hadn't waited for prey to leave their dens before.