"Look Auntie Hina! Look at the pretty birdies!" You said running towards them. They didn't fly away from; on the contrary they flew to you landing on your shoulders. You giggled in delight as their feathers tickled your cheeks. You ran back to your mother's closet friend, Hina.
Crysta one of your few companions ran behind you. She was the fastest thing on four legs on your floating island. She was an arctic wolf demon. She had only one form, a wolf. She had soft white fur that you always nuzzled your face in.
Your mother and the other ice maidens of your village had left on a short journey. Where? You really didn't know. You were too young to know. So it was just Hina, the other young ice maidens and you that were left. It was too hazardous, for Hina to go since she was pregnant. You handed her one of the birds on your shoulder, it chirped lightly.
"You have to be gentle on the bird Noline. You could hurt it." Hina said.
"Oh! I'm sorry birdie." You said letting go of the bird it flew away from you scaring the other birds away.
Hina groaned in pain, as she grabbed onto her stomach. She fell to her knees.
"Auntie? What's wrong?" You asked.
"Noline, quickly help me inside." She said struggling to get up. You grabbed onto her wrist, and pulled her along. You tried to support her, but you were to small and weak to truly help her. Crysta had to support Hina the rest of the way.
Hina laid down on the bed, screaming in pain. You sat between her open legs having no idea what you were doing. Younger ice maidens were forbidden to be in a birthing room.
"Stay calm Noline... I'll do most of the work... Just help the baby along." Hina said in between contractions.
"Ok Auntie." You said weakly.
She continued screaming but not as loudly as she was before. You sat there waiting for something to happen. You were getting a little bored.
"Why is it taking so long for her to come out Auntie?" You asked.
"When the baby's ready she'll come out." Hina replied.
"Ok" You whined. You wished she would come out now so you can play with her. Just then you looked down and noticed something coming out.
"Auntie! She coming, She's coming!" You squealed in excitement.
Hina remained silent pushing the baby along while you gently grabbed the baby's head. Instead of seeing the usual light blue hair, you saw pitch-black hair.
Hina gave one final push and an ear shattering yell and the baby was out. A single tear fell from her cheek. You wrapped the baby in blankets quickly completely forgetting about the umbilical cord.
"Noline, Noline. You have to cut the cord!" Hina exclaimed.
"Oh sorry Auntie." You said unwrapping the baby. "Um Auntie which one? There are two of them." You said.
"Two?!" She said looking down at you.
"Yeah. See." You said lifting the baby up for her to see.
"It's a boy." Hina said quite shocked.
"Boy?" You said looking down at the baby.
Hina groaned in pain once more. You looked down noticing something else coming out.
"Auntie there's another one!" You quickly cut the cord, and wrapped the boy up.
You sat next to Hina watching her as she held her twins one in each arm. The boy on the right, the girl on the left.
"Can I hold the boy?" You asked reaching your arms out for him.
"Yes, of coarse Noline. Just be careful." She said giving you the boy. You gently cradled him in your arms. You stuck out your index finger, he grabbed onto it firmly. "You have strong hands." You told him.
"What are you going to name the girl?" You asked Hina.
"Yukina."
"...And the boy."
"Hiei."
"Hiei huh? Can I kiss him?" You asked.
Hina was a little stunned by your request but she thought it would be a harmless peck. Little did she know it be the kiss that would connect the two of you forever.
You brought Hiei close to you and kissed him on the lips. After your kiss you giggled in delight. You would be one of his first memories. You lifted Hiei up and spun around.
"I vow to you Hiei... Someday I'll be your wife." You told him.
"Why do you think that Noline?" Hina asked.
"Because he's different, like me." You replied.
Crysta barked at the door. She was giving the two of you a warning.
"Mama and the elders are here! I'll show them Hiei!" You said about to run out the door. Hina grabbed your wrist.
"No Noline. Take Hiei and hide in the woods. Take Crysta with you. Do not come back until night falls. You hear me?" She told you.
Right then you understood why Hina told you to take Hiei away. Men were not allowed on this island. Who knows what they would do to him if they found out he was here.
"Yes Auntie I'll protect him with my life." You promised. You wrapped Hiei up with two blankets. You ran out the back door, with Hiei in your arms, Crysta behind you.