all she want is commas

Hanako puffed out a sigh as she pressed her ribs against one of the many trees that sheltered the Grande. The weather had looked pretty nasty when she'd set out earlier, but foolishly she'd hoped it would pass, like all bad things were supposed to. Except naturally it hadn't. Nestled beneath her shelter it was hard to say whether it was rain or hail, all she knew was that it was falling hard. More than to make the surface of the Grande ripple and splish, casting circles across the water's surface in captivating patterns. Winter, by far, was her least favourite season and the weather seemed to be determined to double down on her negativity. If nothing else, she sought to find solace in the fact it wasn't as bad as last year.

Hopefully nothing could get as bad as it used to be. Onwards and upwards, as they say.

Except Hanako wasn't really feeling all that optimistic as of now. Ultimately she'd gotten what she had wanted, so then why did it feel as though the recompense was a bitter pill to swallow? Glancing up to the tree branches above, Hanako watched as Ruri groomed her iridescent feathers. At least she wasn't alone, her companions had returned to her side along with her freedom to roam and wander. Though if the weather was as nasty as this from here on out maybe she'd stay closer to the Armada till spring came.

"Speech"