"I think I'll put on - wings and tail and hindpaws, but not the rest of my legs, bipedal digitigrade walking is hard," decides Bella. "What do you peryton types do?"

"I am a pretty peryton, so I will be bipedal and have thumbs and fingers but otherwise look like a magic flying deer."

"Antlers, wings, maybe the hooves for my feet," shrugs Darren.

"Come to think of it," says Bella, "it's odd that I didn't have more trouble that I did continuing to register Darren as Darren when I saw the definitely-not-a-human-face. Like, the rest of it, sure, but the face I'm surprised I wasn't more confused."

"I think I still kept my same mannerisms as fullform, so that probably helped."

"Maybe that's all. Or it's a matter of me being a critter. I'd ask Dad but Dad's only seen me in fullform, not you, and my face is about the same except I get sort of fangy."

"I can always show him when we're in the Avalon. Savannah can too, since you haven't seen her in fullform yet."

"I haven't!" agrees Bella. "Rumor has it she's a pretty peryton."

"I am!" declares Savannah, without a trace of modesty. "I am so pretty, you have no idea."

Darren laughs. "She probably has some idea now, you realize. Since you've said as much."

"Yes, you've set my expectations very high. What if you're pretty but just not that pretty, what then?"

"Then you're wrong. That's it, no take backs, you are just wrong."

"This sounds like a matter of opinion, to me."

"Nope. It's a fact. Objective truth."

"Says you and what controlled empirical study, huh?"

"The... One I made up. Just now."

"That doesn't sound very controlled or empirical."

"It is definitely both of those things. It's controlled by me, and I declare it logical, too. There, done."

Darren bursts out laughing. "That's not how science works."

"And that's not what empirical means!"

"Details. Petty details, I am right regardless."

"That's not how being right works, either. Everything you're saying is wrong!"

"Woefully, tragically, and completely incorrect. We might have to talk about runes to punish you."

"I have done nothing to deserve this mutiny! As your empress of prettiness I declare you both traitors!"

"I didn't even do anything!"