Shirahime-Syo
Humboldt Penguin
Chapter: 8
Curtain Call: Ringo Akai
Swaying Thoughts
The woman looked to the source of the chilling winter wind. "My child, the snowflakes are not the Snow Princess's tears," The black haired woman said. Ringo looked up at her. "What do you mean, reifujin?" The girl asked. "Man is sinful, imperfect," The lady said. A sudden gust blew by. Her silken cloak parted, revealing a splendorous silver dress with diamonds sprinkled on it liberally. Ringo looked in awe at the woman. "When snowflakes fall . . . man is crying," The woman paused.
Six white dogs traveled through the air. The wind blew harder, then lightened as the dogs stopped before the woman. Ringo looked and saw that the dogs pulled an ornately carved white sled, such as a queen might ride in. The woman stepped into it, and, as she did so, she said, "The snowflakes, they are the tears of man."
"Refujin, you are Shirahime-Syo; you are the Snow Princess!" Ringo cried. The pallid princess looked at Ringo as the dogs ran off the mountain and into the air. Her silk black hair seemed to sparkle with snowflakes that glittered like diamonds. She smiled a small secretive smile as she vanished. Ringo looked after where the sled had vanished, shocked at what she had seen. "Go, my child, a blizzard is coming," the princess's voice echoed through the howling wind. The young Ringo blinked and wondered at her fortune.
Ringo snapped back into reality and quickly started down the mountain. She scuttled down the chilling mountainside to her snowy village. She walked by the houses. Windows glowed with warm firelight and curling smoke was blown off the chimney stacks. Ringo trudged down to her own house and paused at the door. The Snow Princess's words echoed in her mind. She shook her head and smiled to herself. Ringo pushed on the door, but it would not open.
She pounded, but nothing happened. She walked to the window and found the lights were out. Ringo clutchedUsagi's fluffy coat around her and shivered. She looked around and watched as one by one the lights of the village went out. All except one. Ringo hurried down to that one light against the wind. She stumbled against rocks and branches. Ringo made it to the door and was about to knock when she shivered one last time and her world went black.
Do you guys want the endings to these stories?