Yuki Onne has a minion!

Spirit of the Sakura

My name is Yuki Onne, the Snow Spirit. How do I know that? The Moon told me; he's my only friend in this world of snow. He told me that I was human once, a maiden known for her beauty and refinement. it was he who reminded me of my past.

One day, whispers of my fair face and fine upbringing reached the ears of the local warlord. A cruel and brutish man, he sent his messengers to fetch me on my 15th birthday. I feared that I would end up as one of his trophies like many before me, just a doll for him to admire for awhile before he gets bored and tosses me aside.

I begged my father to send me away so I may escape this fate, but to my dismay he had already received a handsome payment for me! With the walls closing in all around me I ran from my home and knocked on the doors of our neighbors and friends. All refused me refuge fearing the wrath of the warlord. I still remember how my bare feet left a trail of blood on the snow, how with every gust of wind I could feel my body getting colder and colder.

Finally, I heard the voices of strange men. Fear that the messengers would drag me in disgrace to the warlord gave me the strength to run, faster and faster to the heart of the mountain. I could no longer feel my feet nor did I care about the trail I left behind me. The icy wind seemed to try and wipe away my tears and the snow conspired with it to hide my trail.

The men never found me; no one did. Perhaps I had died that night. When I opened my eyes next I could no longer feel the cold. The icy winds of the north embraced me and the moon whispered gently into my ears, telling me of many things; of travelers who, like me, have ventured into these snowy plains ill prepared. I would visit them, letting my lullaby be carried with the wind so that when they finally slept I'd kiss them good night.

I had walked these snowy fields for hundreds of years and met a lot of travelers. Some thought themselves smart and hid away from my icy touch inside a pathetic little hut to the east. I'd ask the winds to seep through the cracks in the walls and nip at their toes. Soon enough their fire would weaken, and with nothing to feed it slowly die into a pile of glowing amber. That is when I'd slip in my little lullaby with the wind and wait for them to nod off into eternal slumber.

Such was my new life; that is, until that fateful day… two woodcutters from the nearby village had ventured into the mountains and got caught in a snowstorm of my creation, they did as many before them had, and hid from me in the little hut seeking refuge. As always, I waited for them to fall asleep from my lullaby before slipping through the cracks in the wall. The fire had long since died out, and the old man was huddled in a corner shaking from the cold. I started with him and softly let out a breath of frosty air from my lips. Slowly, his body stopped shaking and it was over. I turned to the younger man on the other side of the room but to my surprise he was wide awake and staring at me both in horror and in wonder.

He was different from others that have ventured into my mountain in the past; he was young, strong and very handsome. "You're different," I told him gently. "You're not like the old men that often trespass on my mountain. I had intended to kill you tonight, but I'll let you live. Tell no one of what happened here or of meeting me, or else I shall return and kill you where you stand." The young man promised not to breathe a word of this and begged me for mercy. With that, I made my exit and made sure he lived through the night.

I took a human form and, wearing my fine silk kimono, I followed him to his village. There I enchanted an old couple to see me as their daughter, Oyuki, so I may stay close to him. After a couple of months he asked me to be his wife; and so we were wedded and lived in bliss for many years. I gave him three beautiful daughters, as white as snow and with hair as dark as a moonless night.

As the years passed, my husband became troubled with his burden. Every winter he'd toss and turn in his sleep, begging the monsters in his dreams to spare him. I tried to sooth him as best as I could but one cold winter's night the secret became too heavy for him to bear alone. "My beloved Oyuki," He said, "there… there is a secret I had promised not to speak off to anyone, but it is now too much for me to bear and you are my wife. I would tell you and only you. Truly, I don't even know if it was real or just a dream I had. Will you listen and promise to never speak of this to another?" My heart sank at his words but I knew that it was too late to save the life we had together, that the next time his lips parted it will all be gone. "Yes… Husband"

Story by Hamda
Profile by soren
Overlay by shinteki
X Line art from X
X Line art from X