The lights are dimmed. The tent is hushed. A single spotline shines down on Ilya walking into the center of the stage. She stops there for one moment, pausing dramatically, then launches into song.

Only a few people will be able to recognize the words of a traditional German birthday song, but those few who do speak German will be able to appreciate the fact that she went out of her way to sing something appropriate, even if it's not one of the tragic or horrifying dirges she prefers.

But as beautiful as Ilya's singing is, that's not the whole of the act. At the first chorus, an Aerodactyl soars over the top of the tent, circling around and swooping in towards Ilya. Harpy loops, twirls, and flaps from point to point, a choreographed dance timed precisely to sync up with her Mistress's song, never once touching ground.

Finally, as the song winds to an end and Ilya's voice rings out with the last notes, Harpy rises up to the very top, and for one shining moment the entire tent is illuminated as if the sun were shining inside it. Ilya's voice trails off as the light fades, and as she takes her bow, Harpy drops down next to her to join her.