[SE] and so much more

Lena

hope is the thing with feathers
that perches in the soul

“The enrichment helps keep them occupied while they’re mending,” she mused, shrugging her shoulders. “They wouldn’t need to be good students anyway.” Though she could imagine she’d be compelling them to return the brushes and pencils instead. A thought for another day perhaps; as she watched a bird settle along another rock, and excitedly began to sketch out its brown feathers.

She hadn’t been certain if he’d take her up on the offer, but was all the more amused to see him striving regardless. The Caretaker watched for a few moments, head tilting to see what he was opting for, and when shapes appeared she left it at that, back to the privacy of his practice.

Following the figments of the bird’s plumage, and watching in turn as it dashed about, either inspecting the water or finding something that had caught its attention, she hadn’t anticipated his following question. “Oh. Hm.” Narrowing her gaze, striving to hold any particular fondness or favorites, she’d have to admit on a recent one. “I painted my sister’s dragon on her lantern. I think I got him right. That one would probably be my favorite.” She paused, and then aptly swallowed something down, before focusing once more on the parchment. “Do you?”

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