Author's note: If anyone was wondering about "Mount Hinome", I made it up. "Hi no me" (which is a phrase I stole from Hunter X Hunter) means "eye(s) of fire". I figure it's probably a dormant volcano, but it isn't important. At least, I think not.
The morning sun glimmered and danced across the frozen cliffs of Koorime. As it shot through the ever-icy air, it wrapped around two small figures trudging up the slope towards the edge of their world.
The brilliance of the morning sky was in stark contrast to the mood of the pair. The one in front had an expression of grim anticipation, while the one following her, though her expression was neutral, had an air of sorrowful resignation.
As the two approached the edge of the cliff, they could finally take in the fullness of the view below them. For the most part, the ice maidens stayed away from the edge, so they had had little opportunity to appreciate how truly majestic the view was. The landscape poured out beneath them, rivers flowing into forests petering into fields dotted with tiny settlements that might very well have been cities. Everything was dyed with brilliant colors: A thousand shades of green, reds and purples, dark blues, softened by the calmer browns and greys. It was a very different sight from that of their home, with its palette of white, ice blue, pine green, and the pale pastel colors picked up by their ice.
However, it wasn't the broad outline of the landscape that interested them, but something closer to hand. On their right, not far below the ground they stood on, was the top of a giant mountain. Their vantage point was the closest they could easily get to it.
The two women slid the packs they had been wearing off their backs and got down to business.
Hina drew herself up, all emotion draining from her face as she raised her hand toward the mountaintop. Her eyes glowed blue, and a sheet of ice shot from her hand to the edge of the cliff, and from there down towards the mountain.
Rui watched for a moment, and then reluctantly raised her hand and joined her ice to Hina's. Together, the two women paved an icy bridge to the outside world.
Finally, it was complete. Together, the ice maidens dropped their hands and gazed at their creation. It would not hold for long, they knew. The movement of their floating island would shear the bridge in half. It was now or never.
Silently, Rui picked up the pack she had been carrying and gave the few items inside to Hina.
Hina finished repacking her bag and turned toward the ice bridge. Rui stopped her with a hand on the shoulder. For an instant, neither moved.
Then, Rui pulled Hina into a tight embrace. The two ice maidens hugged for a timeless moment, and then let go.
Hina turned again toward her future.
Rui remained where she was.
Hina stepped up onto the bridge they had made, steadied herself, and pushed off. She flew down the bridge, with her long, loose hair flying behind her in the wind.
She was gone in an instant, but Rui stayed on the edge of the cliff for a long time. The ice bridge crumbled, gone as if it had never been. The icy shards fell to the earth like glass daggers.
And among them, unnoticed by anyone, fell a single, shining tear.