“That is how all your ribbons should look on the eight count,” the man said. “But you’re all a beat too early!” He reached up a long arm and tugged the ribbon. The star immediately undid itself and folded itself neatly in his palm. Letting out a great sigh, the man rubbed his temples. “Let’s review again why the Starfell Dance of Ribbons is so important. Can anybody—?” But he hadn’t even formed his full question when a forest of hands shot up in the air. Claire bit back a smile. The kids of Needle Pointe, it seemed, didn’t have a shy bone in their bodies. The Spinners really were a guild of Sophies.

The director nodded to a girl with hair as black as Lyric’s who promptly said, “Because it’s tradition. The Dance of Ribbons is always performed on Starfell.”

“Yes, but why?” the director asked. “Why this dance at this time? Anybody?”

Only one hand went up, and the person didn’t wait to be called upon. “I know, Director!”

Claire glanced toward her left while the rest of the dancers and the director turned around to look out over the seats in the auditorium.

“Is that you, Weft?” the director asked, scanning the dark shadows in the theater.

Beside Claire, Lyric slowly stood up. “It’s me.”

The director fixed a tough eye on her. “I thought you were cut from auditions already.”

Lyric hung her head. “I was, but … I still know the answer, sir.”

“Go on, then.”

For once, Lyric was quiet, and Claire recognized the slight quake in her knees. “You got this,” Claire whispered quietly. “He’s no Spyden.”

There was a slight uptick of her lips, and then Lyric spoke. “The dancers, they’re supposed to represent the shooting stars. And the ribbons in their hands are meant to remind the audience of unicorn manes and tails. There are songs about unicorns galloping up the mountains during Starfell, as though they were racing the stars themselves. The light of the shower would turn their manes and tails all silvery. That’s why we dance with silver ribbons and decorate Needle Pointe with them around Starfell.”

“Very good,” the director said, and Lyric beamed widely as he turned back to address the dancers on the stage. “You can hit your steps perfectly, but if you don’t know the meaning behind what you do, then the motion is worthless. When you dance, I want you to think about how these steps connect us to the past and how the Dance of Ribbons was created to remember something of great value.”