peace at last

Hanako slept a lot lately, not out of laziness or even from just a lack of something pressing to do. Just exhaustion. She welcomed the void, the peace and quiet that came with it. And yet this place was far soften than the world of her nightmares, colourful like the magic that swirled around that statue. There was no pain here, as though such a thing couldn't pass through, so when Hanako pushed herself into an upright position it didn't hurt. But her tail was a mangled thing still, shorter than it used to be and when she swiped her tongue across her teeth she felt the uneven edge of her canine. Had she some water to look at her reflection she would have noticed the bruises that bloomed across the pink of her skin, blending in with the splodgy koi markings in a cruel mockery. Just to rub things in further.

And yet there was peace here,a soft voice on the wind she thought she recognised...