Private Willows do not break under snow

A S H V I L L A G E

"Why are its wings so short?"

"I wonder," his mother murmured, a famed raakgui tamer that had caught the eye of one of the intendant families. "Do the wings remind you of anything in particular?" The cat-like head bumped against his mother's scarred hand and purred as she scratched behind its snow-white ears full of fluff. Enkai regarded the prominent tan eyebrows that protruded from the forehead instead of whiskers. He looked over the tiny, powdery wings without a definite design, though spots of white and cream intermingled with each other.

"A moth?" His mother's smile was all the confirmation he needed.

"Silk moths can no longer fly. I wonder if it took centuries of stunted moths to create a raakgui that holds their instincts while still being a pet." Enkai raised a dark brow, and his mother chuckled. The moth-cat seemed attached to her. "I think it's one of a kind, aren't you?" A high-pitch meow was an answer only his mother could understand. "Intendant Nuyen will find much pleasure in this." She coaxed the raakgui into a cage, shutting the delicate metal door. She placed a red sheet over the cage and stuck a paper talisman onto the cloth. Enkai busied himself by tying a rope around the cage and then fastening it into two straps to wrap it over his shoulders. "Remember, do not let it see the outside world." His mother warned. "It must remain inside, stunted and meek — a pet only for Intendant Nuyen."

"I know, I know." He huffed, looking over to his mother, who fixed his attitude with a twitch of her lips pulled tight. "You don't have to worry, and I won't let you down, I promise." Enkai grinned big and wide, smiling as she did, all teeth and without fear. "I'm going to be a shaman soon. This will be as easy as catching fish with a net."

---

R E D D I S T R I C T; S O N S H A N

Enkai had only been to the capital of Aetochi, Sonshan, a few times with his family. Even if Enkai maintained a swift pace, the journey was long. The ferry slowed him down thanks to heavy mists that refused to let up for three days — and while Enkai saw the traveling wisps belonging to an elemental raakgui, he knew better than to make it leave before it was ready to move on. The old man had questioned him about what he carried in his birdcage, suspicious that Enkai didn't feed it.

The ride over the river was quiet when Enkai couldn't offer much more than a smile and a joke.

The soon-to-be shaman looked down at a map, sidestepping out of the way as a cart pulled by oxen hurtled down the large main road crowded with every sort of somebody one could imagine. Dark eyes glanced over others who were brightly dressed or sometimes saw nothing else but the hats or weapons they carried. This differed from Blue District; people looked less like they had gotten a big whiff of durian here, but the merchants were far more aggressive than the groups of gangs that he passed by.

RED DISTRICT

Music played loudly on one merchant street, accompanied by rhythmic claps often mistaken for drums, but in fact were the sounds of calculated bamboo sticks being used in a folk dance. There were two young men and two young women, bare foot as the men controlled the sticks in unison, tapping their sticks and moving them together to the center, tap, outer, tap tap. The girls, long skirts bundled into one hand, skipped and jump with skill and precision to not get trapped in the sticks. The fact that a band of musicians accompanied them with song helped score the moment, attracting the stares and attention of people passing by.

Misora spun, lifting one foot and she stepped into the center and hopped twice continuing the dance with a large grin on her face. Tinik was one of many folk dances that originated from the the territory Palapu, renowned for it's mineral resources and trading, and the ancestral seat of the Nuyen clan. It was rare for the dance to be performed in Sonshan, but Misora and her cousins felt like giving a display of the traditions of old. The steady beats were her favourite, the consciousness of not stepping out of time spurring her.

Clack, clack. She knew this dance better than most, had done it so many times that she often wrapped cloth over her eyes and performed the steps without the visual aid. Misora had not used one for her earlier dances, but this one she thought it would be added fun for those that decided to stop and watch.

Once the song and dance came to an end, she laughed loudly the moment she felt her cousin's hand at her shoulder, their laughter joining together. It was a performing high that she felt, breathing heavily to catch her breath as her hands went to undo the knot to the cloth covering her eyes.

"Oh..."It proved difficult for her to undo it, and with it so snug over her eyes, she could only move the blue cloth enough for half the visibility in one eye to lead her towards Rina, her Nuyen cousin. "Can you help---"

She turned, but had not seen the young man walking past her as she knocked into him. Unable to see, it threw her off course and suddenly, Misora fell on her arse.

"Mimi!" Hands grabbed at her, helping her up, and all Misora could do was smile sheepishly.

Most shamans were quick on their feet, and Enkai liked to think of himself as just as silent and agile as the others in his clan. Sometimes, he even thought to himself that he was even more nimble than a few of them, though he had the sense not to voice it aloud. He knew he could prove it someday soon. As he went through the busy street, partially checking his map every other second and doing his best to sidestep out of oncoming traffic, it surprised him that he nearly got his head lopped off by a man carrying bags of rice flour on either end of the bamboo pole.

He bumped into someone, felt the cage jostle, and could hear the moth-cat raakgui hissing in displeasure. There was a gasp and whoop as Enkai spun, taking too many steps and getting caught in the sticks. A woman gave a laugh, jumping out of the way as he fell over, ankle still caught within the sticks.

The cage door clacked against the iron, the talisman slipping free just as Enkai tried to get on his hands and knees. He grunted, worried that he twisted his ankle until he felt a wisp of cool air over his head. His jaw dropped open, looking up at what many couldn't see: a raakgui that had gotten free and was riding along a breezy current with a single flap of its white wings.

Her blindfold came undone much easier after her collision. She ripped it free, wincing at the crowd before her.

Misora swiveled around and looked at the young man, apology at the ready on her lips as she followed the racket of iron crashing. "Pasen payan po! I am so sorry!"

She wandered over to him, crouching down to be level with his face."Are you hurt?" She held a hand out to offer him assistance back to his feet, her face full of apology and kindness. Her cheeks were flushed from dance, with exhilaration. That would be her excuse should anyone ask, for she did not want to admit being embarrassed. A Princess Intendant should lead with example, and this was her way of taking things in stride.

"You are lucky I did not elbow your face or something!"An attempted joke, but Misora was not sure how to handle this situation. She could not see what he could, and was unaware of any importance taking place other than making sure he was alright. Misora's cheeks brightened.

Oh. He was... pretty.

"Curses," Enkai spat, grabbing at the oversized bird cage and closing the swinging door. It was too late for it now as he reached for the paper talisman that soon got crumpled inside his clenched fist. He would have said something far more obscene as he grumbled about city folk not understanding personal space when a small, white hand was shoved in front of his face. He swatted it away, a crisp clap ringing out as the back of his hand collided with the slender wrist the hand belonged to.

When he stared up at the young woman, he glowered. It was her fault that the raakgui got away. He saw the spirit float along a breeze, leaping from one unsuspecting person's head to another's shoulder. The people wouldn't realize that the sudden weight on their shoulders wasn't from strain but from a raakgui that was never meant to see the outside world.

"Get out of my way," Enkai spat at the woman, looking at her like she was more of a nuisance than a helping hand. The raakgui was too far away to ask Surume to help him. He only needed to get closer to it, and then she could use a tentacle to pull the spirit back into its cage. Enkai pressed a foot hard into the ground, going to leap into action. He soared over the woman, looking down at her with a smug grin. The moment he landed on his foot, he faltered, going into a roll as if he had just been attacked. The wired cage clanged uselessly on the ground beside him, rolling a little out of reach.

Enkai shook his head in disbelief, realizing with silent horror that his ankle was radiating with a sharp pain that seemed to come from the center of his foot. Had he broken a bone? Did that even matter if it meant he would lose sight of the raakgui for Intendant Nuyen and would have to face his mother's wrath?

Misora cradled her hand, her face flaring with silent outrage that the stranger had s l a p p e d her hand away. She only offered her help and yet... Her brows furrowed, watching him with a scowl.

He was rude, of the highest order! Misora turned to look at her cousins, Len and Morry still crouched and holding the sticks. They were frozen with shock, but Rina was the outspoken one. She was the voice of Misora's frustration and pettiness.

"Hey! You got into our way!"

"Shh! You are bringing too much attention to us."Misora pleaded softly. The bad sort of attention, the one that she did not want getting back to her mother. "Go back home, I will see you later."

"But Mimi—"

Misora did not wait. She waved her cousins good bye and turned. The cage had rolled away from him, and she stooped to right it back up. "You know, you owe me an apology." She declared, ensuring her voice was regal and clear. "I offered you kindness and help when you walked into me." Oh she could not help the slip of pettiness. Perhaps it was her privilege, to expect everyone to treat her they way she treated others in her day to day.

"Why do you have... this?" Her hand patted the top of the bird cage. "It's so large... my button quails would fall right out..."

His face scrunched up in annoyance, feeling the need to mock the loud one the way he did his little sister. Instead of mimicking a girly voice, Enkai kept his lips pressed tight together. A knot of pain thickened his throat, and he worried that if he spoke now, people would know he was hurt. There was nothing worse than being rude and not being able to run away afterwards. He glanced over at the woman who righted his cage, the same one who had offered her hand to him.

The same one who was lecturing him now and asking a question he wasn't sure how to answer. To her, it was an empty cage, too big for button quails; however big those were, clearly they'd slip through the wire. With a grunt, he got to his feet, standing up at his full height. He was unable to bring his war fan, as he had to carry the raakgui on his back.

"Well, maybe you shouldn't have been playing in the middle of the street," Enkai shot back, going to snatch the cage from her. He was favoring his injured foot, preferring to hop away from her as he pulled it back onto his shoulders. He grumbled something unintelligible. "Don't touch my things with your normie hands." He added with a huff. He glanced back in the direction that the moth raakgui had floated off to.

Enkai breathed in loudly through his mouth, preparing himself to go back into that crowd with a limp, in search of a raakgui that was never supposed to see the outside world. What in Khurun did that mean, exactly? Perhaps he should have asked his mouth before leaving for the consequences. His stoic gaze was quickly brought back to the woman who had stayed.

"I'm sorry if I hurt you, but I really gotta get that pet for Intendant Nuyen." That was all he offered before he started a brisk, clumsy walk back to the crowds.

Misora liked to think she would never hurt someone intentionally.

As she stared at him, wondering how a beautiful face was wasted on such a nasty man's... beautiful body, she really wanted to run back for a bamboo stick from her cousin and whack Bird Cage Man with it.

That was until he surprised her, giving an apology like she had asked. So surprised, watching him start to leave, that she had not heard the name, the one she wore. He had something for his mother, but all of that was lost on Misora as she did not want him to actually leave.

"What do you mean by normie?" Was it something used for those that lived outside the Golden District? Was she mistaken for someone not of good and well upbringing. She set off after him, careful not to walk into incoming people passing by. "Are you always this rude?"

The crowded streets were even worse when someone pulled a cart, whether it was an animal or a person pulling it, the effect was the same. Enkai had to push a wide, bony shoulder out of his way and sidestep a small child that was about to lose its mother's hand, risking being swept away by the busy current. He gave the kid a push in the right direction, giving just enough momentum to their step so they could remain close to the woman who cared more about getting the best crabs at the fish market.

Enkai gritted his teeth, grinding them together until he felt the pressure at the corners of his jaw. He didn't bother looking back at her. She apparently had no trouble keeping up with him. He blamed it on his foot — or ankle, whatever of the two that was actually injured — and tried to hobble away from her faster. A couple of short, old women with curved backs kept him from passing through the throng of bodies.

"I'm not rude, I have a duty to fulfil." Now, his dark eyes darted towards her. "You wouldn't get it." Because what average person could understand the complications of a raakgui on the loose? They couldn't comprehend the danger they couldn't see. Enkai didn't like admitting that he also couldn't see the ball of fluff right now, either. His frown was slight but pronounced. His fingers twitched in anticipation, finally finding a spot to go around the waddling old women.

Misora let out a half laugh, the amusement dying from it when her own pride of her own duty reared. "I grew up with duty every day since birth!" A scoff left her, executed with a flair of princess etiquette.

Who was he to judge?

Her steps were easily placed against the stone paved streets, the markets taking up a fraction of space of the flat land in this area. Misora liked moving this way, of adding a touch of performance to the way she moved when every one else moved in the same fashion. Not this Meanie. Her head tilted down, her eyes watching his feet as they moved.

"You hurt yourself in your fall?" It was more statement or observation than a question of concern, but she pursed her lips either way. Misora expected a mean reply, and something about him compelled her to be more appealing and see if this grumpiness was merely a temporary mask. "I can wrap it up for you." She waved the silk that had been used to cover her eyes earlier while dancing.

Enkai rolled his eyes. Of course, she would say something like that. And of course he couldn't doubt it either. Women carried the family name. Women were raised to take on all the worst things in a household: the family planning, the finances, the stress of having to make all the decisions. But that was to be expected, it wasn't anything really special in the end. Not like the duty that he carried, not only for his family but for his village as well. He was a shaman. He had the sight. And right now, he was missing a raakgui that his mother had specially tamed for an intendant family.

"Like I said, you don't get it." He raised his chin, defiant to nothing but the sky and towers above. The crowds lessened, either he was going the right way, or the wrong way. Enkai was glad for the space, but what if the raakgui was still resting on someone's shoulder and they had turned right while Enkai was still walking straight ahead? His poor foot got stuck on a bit of uneven stone, and he nearly fell over again. Enkai turned, ready to tell the woman to go away and to stop following after him, if only so he could stop feeling like a fool in front of her.

Speaking of fools... only a fool would refuse aid when he had little time and needed much more speed. His mouth hung open, no words coming out. He shut his jaw with the speed and sound of a snapping turtle. Dark eyes regarded the silk warily. She must have money if she was using silk to cover her eyes and was willing to offer it to a stranger.

"Why would you do that?" The question blurted out before he could nod. He cleared his throat, steadying his voice into something far more even and indifferent instead of full of surprise. "You said I'm rude."

"Because I have siblings that are always rude to me, but they become normal again." She answered, and it was the patience in her tone that accompanied it. "My cousins also can be rude and moody, which either means my family get mean when we are hungry, or we just need to get it out of our system."

To have such a large extended family, Misora had to learn quick that even she was the same, but because of her mother naming her as the heir, there was an unspoken expectation to be the better one. To be the example to her family. Sometimes, even that annoyed them to be reminded she was more important than them.

"Stay still!" She insisted, and her hand gripped him by the arm. Misora never really handled someone like this outside her family, and it was just her misfortune that her face turned red so easily. "Let me..."

She pulled him to the side, out of the middle of the street where people still walked through even though it was less bodies and carts now. Awkwardly, she looked down to the suspected foot that was injured. "I will just... uh..." Misora knew it was not proper practice to kneel on the ground outside of prayers, only if it was to someone of higher rank. She turned, seeing a crate that looked ready to break, but Misora moved to sit on it gingerly and carefully.

"Alright, now I can do my work."

He thought back to the small girl who had told him he was the one who had gotten in their way with their sticks and dancing feet. Enkai assumed that when she was hungry, she likely turned the world upside down until she was no longer hungry. He smirked at the dark-haired woman, looking down at her with subtle mirth in the way his brows rested over his eyes.

"So you're telling me I remind you of your family and you can handle me the way you handle them?" He wasn't sure if it was an insult or not yet. Even if it was, it was cleverly hidden and hard to find fault with. Her red face told him that she wasn't used to throwing her words around, or maybe she worried she had said too much. It surely couldn't have been because she took his arm and led him to the shadow of a low building.

"Shouldn't I be the one sitting down?" Enkai said with one brow raised. He hardly sounded upset, a sense of shallow humor lingering around his words. He didn't seem much bothered by it when he lifted his injured foot, all weight on one leg, and yet his sense of balance was unchanged. Even with the empty birdcage on his back, he stood with ease, no sway in any limb. He looked down at her. "Thanks, Mimi."

"No." She scoffed, making sure not to look up at him as her hands gingerly go to feel around the injured foot. Misora was gentle about it, but knew it was only a minor sprain. It would be annoying for a while, but would feel better once he got some rest.

Her mouth opened to say that, only she froze when he called her Mimi.

"Oh, that is no — I mean, you are... welcome."

Her cheeks were warming up, she could feel it as she could feel her skin also cool down from all the dancing. Misora adamantly kept her head down, untying his boot and loudly protesting any protests he would have, but eventually, pulled off his boot and set his foot down.

"Can you stand straight please? Hmm... alright, now lift your foot a little..." She wrapped the silk slowly, firmly, but not too tight. Supporting him for the moment, her work was nearing done. Unfortunately, she had been keeping most of her weight off the crate, feeling it sway here and there whenever she moved. Her legs were beginning to tire, unused to holding such a position. Almost done. "Well, you know my name. What is your's?" She asked, looking up at him finally. From the corner of her eye, she reached for his boot and placed it before him. "Oh, my name is actually Misora, not Mimi... that is what my..."

Nervous blabbering. When had she ever done that?

He stood straight, at least as straight as he could on one leg. His hands came away from his sides, helping to balance him. Enkai made sure to keep his face stoic, mimicking the look of his many shaman mentors, unwavering and indiscernible. There was some pain, but not enough to topple him. His pride was too great for that. The relief came quickly when the silk was finally tied around his ankle, firm but not uncomfortable.

Enkai's brows furrowed in brief consideration when he heard her name. Misora? That name sounded familiar. Was there someone in his village who shared the same name? Probably not if he couldn't bring a face to the name. Had he met her before then, perhaps the last time he had come to Sonshan? The corner of his lips dipped into a slight downward pull. Last time he was here, it had been during the night, and he hadn't needed to interact with many. Enkai peered closely at her face. He was good at recognizing eyes, remembering the shapes and feelings behind them. Nothing came to mind. He shrugged it off as a sense of a lingering dream and nothing more.

"Enkai," he answered smoothly. He angled his foot, body and balance following suit. Enkai found himself leaning forward, unceremoniously placing a hand on Misora's shoulder to steady himself before slipping his foot into his yak-leathered boots. It was improper in the city to do it, but Enkai was a village boy. The divide between men and women was less extreme back in his home, even if his little sister was the one to receive tutelage from his mother. "Nice to meet you, Misora. Thanks for fixing me up." He leaned forward a little more, until his heel finally hit the thin sole of his boot.