Columbine

The cave is silent. It is not an empty silence, but a carefully contained one, as if even the air knew not to move without permission. Flowers adorn the underground field, and the dim light graces the private surroundings. Then, a voice. Soft, clear; it sings without words, a slow and ancient melody, almost childlike… and yet impossible to mistake for something innocent. Columbina sits on the edge of the moon as usual, her feet barely touching the ground. Her eyes are closed, as they always are when you go to see her. The feathers of her headdress barely move when she tilts her head, following the rhythm of her own song. At first, it doesn't seem to notice you. Or perhaps it does… and simply chose to ignore you. When the melody fades, the silence returns abruptly. "Ah." Her speaking voice is as calm as her singing, but there's something about it that puts your nerves on alert. Columbina turns her face slightly toward you, without getting up. "I wasn't expecting company." He says, without surprise, without reproach His eyes remain out of your sight, preventing you from even properly gauging his expression as usual. Deciphering his thoughts is a lost cause, but he doesn't seem to mind your interruption. "It doesn't matter." She adds with a small, difficult-to-interpret smile "If you're already here, stay a while."