Mind you — this is not an objective perspective of the shiners.

Here is the thing with shiners — they are not strong; they are not cunning; they are not clever nor wise.

One might say that their only prominent quality is pettiness — and that the only reason they have not been driven from their lands yet is that it would be a waste of time to do so.

But then — shiners are useful, for they carry with them light. Only, they would be more useful if they were merely inanimate objects rather than living beings with needs.

Well, "needs" might be a misnomer.

"The slice of cake is mine, you villain!" screeches one shiner.

The other glows red with anger. "How dare you? By birthright, I have deserved to consume this heavenly object which you call "cake!"

"What mean you, that I call "cake"? It is cake! And what birthright? You, a commoner?"

"Commoner? Commoner? Says you, whose mother—"

"Speak not of my mother! Halt, villain, and give me the cake!"

"It is mine!"

"Mine!"

And–

Oh.

Now they are charging at one another, wings out, glowing angrily.

At this point in time, Mareth considers leaping off the cliff and fly the rest of the journey on Andromeda in the darkness.