[SE] I Saw Three Ships

Lena

hope is the thing with feathers
that perches in the soul

Lena had avoided any notions of the tournament in Torchline; not her kind of scene, and instead opted for a day trip along the stretches of the Grounds’ port, hoping to either gain information, unfurl her nervous edges, or shop. Had anyone there heard of Sohalia’s exploits and disappearance? Had there been anything new to report? Perhaps at some point she’d track down Maea too, because initially all the Caretaker had wanted to do was hide – but given the freedom and liberty of her movements and motions, she opted to continue pretending as if nothing was amiss.

And while that was far from the truth, her noble and dignified features could hide multitudes of pretenses, and so it was with a calm demeanor, and a leashed Mittens, that she ventured from the skyport and towards the long stretch of dock around the Jack Tar Landing. She might have otherwise persisted onward, but her companion stopped and stared at a ship nearby, clearly being painted, and snagged with baubles. A festive occasion that she’d yet to participate in, given the way the seasons had been playing out.

She would’ve just waved and carried on, but Mittens opted to offer an ungodly screech, and make its way towards the shiny objects. “No,” she breathed in a calm, placating manner, but was yanked along anyway.

and sings the tune without the words
and never stops at all