Willow Legend

Season 1 Episode 1 "First Snow"

Episode description: A girl prepares to become a geisha, but turns into a kitsune - a were-fox. Now she is being pursued... not only by people.
...
Matsuo Basho: A handful of the first snow cannot bend a gladiolus leaf...
...
The three hundred and fourteenth autumn of the Iris era in the Noiryo Empire turned out to be cold. The sky above the White Heron Inn was quickly darkening. A winter-like icy wind moved May’s hair and got under her collar. It became uncomfortable and alarming. She thought...
Mei: “Check your luggage and quickly return to Lady Sumiko.”
Shivering chillily, the girl quickly headed to the cart on which she had arrived with her mentor.
There were several more covered carts in the yard, apparently arriving later. A fire was lit nearby, and soldiers were sitting around. The evening twilight cast shadows on the faces, making them unpleasant and rough.
May: “The one on the left has two swords. Samurai."
As she passed by, she lowered her gaze. She was called...
Samurai: Wait.
May turned around, bowing in respect.
Samurai: Take a flask and give him something to drink.
Only now did she notice that behind the circle of light, on one of the carts, there was a cage in which there was a shackled man. The clothes, too light for this weather, were dirty and torn in some places. The hands, wounded by shackles, were covered with a crust of dried blood. But the evil eyes burned vividly on the pale face. The girl was pierced as if by a needle from the captive’s tenacious gaze...
Prisoner: ...
May: “Arrogant pride, as if he’s not sitting in a cage... What if he’s a murderer?”
Samurai: Hey, didn't you hear what I said?
May: Excuse me, sir... I'll be right there.
One of the warriors held out a flask.
Mei: “It’s stupid to contradict a samurai.”
May took it and filled it with water from a barrel standing near the stable. Then she slowly approached the criminal.
Prisoner: Don't be afraid, I won't eat you.
He leaned against the bars. The voice turned out to be rough, like rolling pebbles.
Prisoner: Closer. Sing it yourself, my fingers are numb.
The girl carefully pushed the flask between the bars, her broken lips softly pressed against the neck.
Prisoner: ...
May's hand trembled. A drop ran down the prisoner's chin. He suddenly smiled.
Prisoner: Don't be afraid of me, maiko.
May: What? How are you?..
Prisoner: How do I understand? There are eyes. You are a geisha's apprentice. When our convoy was approaching, I noticed you in the window. Is that woman your mentor?
May: Yes.
Samurai: Hey! What are you muttering there?
The criminal winked at the girl. As far as the cage allowed, he moved so that Mei would not shield the samurai from him.
Prisoner: I say, shame on me. I was caught by the poor blind men.
Samurai: Hold your tongue if you want to live a few more days.
Prisoner: You won't do anything to me. You must take me to the city alive.
Samurai: You can be delivered to execution without your tongue!
There was not a shadow of fear in the captive’s contemptuous gaze.
Prisoner: Don’t be offended by a blind man, the truth shouldn’t offend a noble man. Haven't you noticed how smoothly the girl moves? Just look at the red collar. This is a future geisha, and you, as a maid, force her to bring water to the robber.
The man in the cage laughed venomously, May said...
Prisoner: Thank you.
She returned to the fire.
Samurai: Are you really a maiko?
May: Yes, sir.
The samurai winced with displeasure. Had he immediately realized that this was an actress in front of him, he would not have given the order. However, now, of course, he did not apologize.
Samurai: I'm not holding you.
May: Thank you.
She hurried to the cart. Another warrior came to meet her from the side of the stable.
Stranger: ...
While she was making sure that the luggage was in order, the talkative driver said that the man was a ronin and had just arrived alone. Without delaying any longer, the girl returned to the hall. The teacher looked worried. May sat down opposite. There was a noticeable draft running down my legs.
Lady Sumiko: Why is it taking so long? I asked to check our luggage, and not all the guests of the White Heron.
May: The luggage is fine, madam.
May gracefully sipped her hot tea. Then she calmly explained... 
May: Soldiers stopped in the yard. The samurai commands. They are taking a prisoner to the city. I was asked to give him water. I decided not to contradict.
Mrs. Sumiko: Correct. They are not refused. Did he... want nothing more from you?
May: No.
The mentor pointed with one glance at the warrior who occupied the far corner...
Lady Sumiko: Is he with them?
May: No, it's like a ronin, and in itself.
Sumiko whispered so quietly that only the student could hear her...
Mrs. Sumiko: Ronins... Bandits... Also samurai... We're almost home... Everything is going wonderfully. No wonder we went so far. You will be irresistible in your kimono.
Mei: “Soon I will have to wear it on the occasion of mizuage - a ceremony after which I will become... I will become a woman. Mrs. Sumiko says that the money I receive will probably be enough to pay off all my school debt. And then they will introduce me into business. I will be a geisha... Why is it so difficult to be happy?
Lady Sumiko: The last thing I want to do right now is get into trouble.
May noted dispassionately...
May: Wouldn't it have been better to get into trouble sooner?
The teacher hit her on the head with a folded fan. Not much, for the sake of order. Clap.
Lady Sumiko: Don't be smart. I need to keep a better eye on you. Eat and go to bed. The owner said they would give us a separate room.
May: That's good. You won't have to spend the night in the common room. The floor here is cold.
The girl's eyebrows knitted slightly, indicating dissatisfaction. Sumiko immediately said... 
Mrs. Sumiko: Nobody likes gloomy and grumpy women.
She switched to a conspiratorial whisper...
Lady Sumiko: Smile charmingly like me, and then no one will suspect your true intentions.
Leaning forward to hear better, May received the fan again.
May: Hee hee.
Mrs. Sumiko: Ah-ha.
The companions hid their laughter behind the wide sleeves of their kimono.