A late update, but better late than never, right? I'm thinking about uploading another chapter tonight anyways, so hopefully that'll make up for it.

Rikasa: No, I'm not an professional writer, I'm just your average high school junior who has too much free time and creativity XD I won't spoil anything for the readers, so just keep your fingers crossed on who Rin will end up with!

SnowWhiteQueen802: Haha, I love Rin too :) she has to be a little naive at first for her character to develope! Hope you enjoy the chapter, because the next one will be the more exciting one! Enjoy~

Previous Chapter:

I could no longer move. I could only gaze up at the surface, watching it continue to slip away from my grasp as I sunk deeper and deeper. It was almost as if time had stopped, my body no longer feeling light, but dreadfully heavy. The silver chain and the lapis lazuli charm floated up around my neck, gleaming in the faint rays of light that managed to shine through the water.

"On your becoming of age day, the moon shall shine blood red and the curse will take immediate action against you. A terrible fate awaits you; how you chose to change it depends on your actions."

The alluring voice from earlier was no longer soft and sweet, but cold and cruel. I felt my conscious slowly fading away as my feet hit the bottom of the pool.

Current Chapter:

My throat burned and my body ached. There were so many voices surrounding me, but I couldn't make out what they were saying. I felt myself lurch forward, gasping for air. I looked around in a daze, trying to get away from any other possible danger lurking nearby. Something rough, yet warm was around my hand. As my vision cleared, I could see that I was on a bed, covered in two or three blankets. The thing that was warm was still there. My eyes met with a pair of golden brown eyes staring at me.

"Papa?" I croaked out, my voice hoarse. He sighed in relief and quickly hugged me. I cried out as his arms squeezed me. He immediately released me and grimaced. I became dizzy, and quickly shook my head, looking back at my father. Al's long brown hair had streaks of white in it. His eyes had terrible circles beneath them, and he looked as though he hadn't slept for days. I realized I was back in my bed, but how I got here was unknown. I was rather dumbfounded, until I remembered the water filling my lungs.

A burning sensation brought forth the hindering memory of water rushing into my nose and mouth, making me gulp softly. I looked down and saw the many bandages that were wrapped around my chest. They were neatly wound over my body, tied at the very ends in a small knot. I felt myself fiddling with the small knot, my eyes skimming over my torn hands as I did so. There were ripped pieces of flesh covering the palms and the pads of my fingers.

"Rin." I looked up as Papa said my name. "Yes?" I answered softly, turning my body towards him as he looked at me. His eyes looked so tired, but his voice was stern.

"What were you doing out in the woods while it was snowing? Especially so far from the village, where everyone was looking for you?" His eyes bore into my own. I swallowed quietly.

"I…I-I was out exploring." I mumbled. I don't know why I was stuttering, but maybe it was because Al seemed so serious. Papa was not a serious man; he was a lighthearted leader who cared for everyone. The only time I had ever seen Papa so worried was when I was attacked.

"Caterine." He said harshly. I don't remember the last time someone called me by my first name. I've always gone by Rin, or Rinny. Not Caterine. I could only hang my head, knowing all too well what would come next.

"Do you know how close you were to dying? How, if that girl hadn't found Maya, I wouldn't have found you-" I quickly looked up and cut him off.

"What girl? Did she have long hair to her waist and bright blue eyes?" I inquired. Al looked dumbfounded for a moment and began to shake his head.

"No, this young woman had short black hair and gold eyes…she looked startling similar to you…" Papa rubbed his chin thoughtfully. I quickly sighed in relief; yet, a new curiosity filled my mind. Who was this girl?

"Rin, will you listen to me, please? Do you not realize how terrified I was when I found you?" Papa grabbed my shoulders. I could only imagine how panicked he must have been. I quickly reached up and hugged him gently, being cautious of my side. He sighed softly and gently wrapped his arms around me.

"I'm sorry, Papa, I won't do it again. I won't go that close to the mountain by myself." I told him, dropping a kiss on his forehead. He grunted in response and pulled back.

"…I'm sure you don't want to stay in bed all day, but please don't over do yourself. Your side was badly bruised, you're lucky you didn't break anything…" He grumbled. My hand instantly fell to my side. I fell down a hole much too deep to not have any broken bones…my ribs. My heart was racing as I gently prodded my rib cage with my fingers. I groaned softly as a dull pain surged through my side. He was right, there were no broken bones. The cavern wasn't a dream, but how exactly did I get out of it?

I couldn't focus on the question for very long, as someone was knocking on the door. Papa quickly got up and climbed down the sturdy latter onto the floor below us. I quickly peeked over the edge of the upper floor and watched Papa open the door. He spoke to whoever was at the door for a few brief minutes before moving aside to let the person in. I tilted my head, but heard my jaw drop with a soft click as a small girl walked in. She had short, dark hair, the same color of Rei's. Her soft golden eyes were almost childlike as she glanced around the room. I watched her in silence, almost admiring how cute she was. However, just as quickly as she had come inside, her head turned up sharply, her eyes meeting mine.

I lurched backward, squeaking softly. I heard two voices that were familiar below me, and I hesitantly peered over the edge again. Rei and Len were also in the room, talking in hushed whispers. The girl was still looking at me, and I felt myself shiver. Her eyes were a deep golden green, and while they were wide with innocence, they looked as if they could see into your soul.

"Rin," I heard Papa call my name, his voice sounding more relaxed now than it had when he was speaking to me. "You have guests." I moved away from the opening in the floor and quickly hurried to throw on some clothes. I quickly pulled a pale gray shirt and black trousers. I searched for my old brown leather boots, but could not seem to find them. I made my way down the ladder, feeling eyes on my back as I did so. I was moving rather slowly as to not bother my injuries, but the feeling of self-consciousness made my body burn with embarrassment.

"Papa, have you seen my boots?" I inquired, keeping my eyes focused on him so that I wouldn't have to look at Rei, Len, or the girl. Al grinned rather sheepishly. I raised an eyebrow at him as he suddenly disappeared upstairs. A few moments later, he came backstairs with a box in his hand. The box was solid white and looked out of place in my father's dirty, callused hands.

"I figured a lady deserved a nice pair of shoes, and your old boots were rather tattered…so I gave up my horse in exchange to get you something nice. I know we aren't materialistic, but…I hope you like them." Al said, bringing the box to me. I was at loss for words and I only smiled at Papa, for a moment before opening the box. Inside were a pair of white fur boots. They must have been made from a white snow shoe hare, because the pelt was a soft and thick as one. They were beautiful boots, and could only stare at them.

I could stare at the boots before beaming at my father. A smile slowly crept onto his face as he watched my expression. I hugged him, ignoring the pain, and quickly put them on. They were soft inside, almost as if you were walking upon a cloud. I heard someone clear their throat, and I turned to see Rei hitting Len. I smiled at them.

"Please ignore Len. He can't help his ignorance towards the moment." Rei said sternly, glaring at Len. I waved a dismissing hand and slowly walked towards them. My eyes wandered back towards the girl, whose eyes were already back on me. I had noticed the striking similarities between her and Rei, and could only come to one assumption: this was Rui, Rei's and Len's sister. Rei must have caught us gazing at each other, and he quickly began to introduce us.

"My apologies for not saying something earlier. Rin, this is our sister Rui…she found you two days ago." Rei said. I reached my hand back, but quickly froze. Two days ago? I was unconscious for two days? My eyes widened and I quickly looked between everyone.

"I've been unconscious for two days?" My voice hitched. Len raised an eyebrow and watched me. "Why hadn't anyone told me? That means tonight is the solstice! I haven't prepared!" I groaned inwardly. Today is the winter solstice, a day where the villagers feast and celebrate once the sun sets.

"Because you would have tried to run out and help prepare for it. Everyone has it taken care of, you do too much anyway…you're going to end up overdoing it. Why don't you just go out with your friends and relax a bit?" Al said, putting a hand on my shoulder. I put my hand over his and looked up at him.

"Alright, Papa, I will…but please tell me if there's any work to be done. I really don't like being dead weight." I told him, and he smiled, ruffling my hair. Rei moved aside to open the door. Len quickly walked out, and Rei shook his head at his back. Rui followed after Len, and I stopped as I was about to walk out.

"I'm glad that you're alright…your father was quite frightened…and…I was concerned about your well-being as well." Rei said in a hushed voice. My lips tugged in a smile, and I felt that I was floating on air. Rei was worried about me…Rei cares. I was internally screaming with joy as I walked out. I know I looked like a tomboy from my current attire, but nonetheless, I felt as though none of that matter. There was snow on the ground, and my boots crunched in the powder ice. Snowflakes clung the fur of my boots, but my feet were warm as I walked with Rei, Len, and Rui.

The smells of food being cooked hung around the village, and I breathed deeply. Pork and venison were being smoked, and pastries were being baked. There was already a large pile of gathered up wood and sticks were at the center of the village, towering several feet above me. It would be lit tonight under the moon, where dancing and feasting would take place around it. I saw Len looking around, his facial expression one of childlike curiosity. I had never expected to see such an expression from Len, who, from what I had seen, only smirked or glowered.

"What is the point of all of this?" Len turned to face me. I smiled slightly, and began to explain to him the tradition of my village.

"When the village was first being settled, it was said that a woman founded it. She helped establish the village and was kind and beautiful. One day, a man got lost trying to reach the Royal City, and wandered into the village. He was said to be quite handsome and that many of the village girls tried to capture his heart, including an ill-natured woman. The only woman who was able to catch his eye was the founder. They fell in love and were planning to get married in the Royal City. However, the ill-natured woman who was deeply infatuated with the man, loathed the founder. She planted false evidence of witchery inside of the founder's home and brought the priest, claiming that the founder had bewitched the traveler into being her lover," I told him. Rei, Rui, and Len were all listening to me now.

"…They burned her at the stake the day of the winter solstice. The founder claimed to have been pregnant at the time and begged for them to kill her after she gave birth, but they had no mercy. As they were burning her, she prayed to God to save her. She supposedly sprouted large wings with black feathers. We now celebrate the winter solstice in the founder's name, because we ask for our ancestor's forgiveness. It's almost like a curse." I smiled. Len made a face.

"You celebrate the solstice because your ancestors tried to stake an innocent girl? All because of some petty love triangle?" He said, his voice's volume slowly raising. I snorted softly.

"I'm just fooling with you. It's something I was once told by some old women of the village before they passed on. They were fooling with me too. We celebrate it each year, because we usually have a good harvest. We celebrate the ending of the gathering period and prepare for the winter ahead." I replied. Len's eyebrow twitched, and Rei coughed, trying to suppress his laughter.

"There's always a little truth in some stories. Some more than others."