A Dream of a Long Winter

Prologue

The vast mountains of the land of Qi were blanketed with fresh snow and icy footprints. The northernmost region was desolate, but many made their homes amidst the wintry landscape without a care for what the future would bring.

A small girl wrapped in furs emerged from her home with the woman she called sister, her large eyes scanning the fluffy white ground with joy. Snow never failed to make her excited. There was much to do in the cold; she could make snowmen, build castles... how could she not be filled with glee? With her small red hand rubbed raw from the chill, she pulled at her sister's white robes anxiously.

"Come sister!" she begged. "Let's go out and play! I'm bored from sitting in this ugly cave all day."

Her sister's amber eyes only swept along the forest as if she hadn't heard. She always seemed to be searching for something. Even when the two conversed, the child never felt as if she actually listened. Even when the two played in the snow, never was there emotion in her eyes. They were like the stagnant river that flowed near their home, still and forever calm.

The young girl pouted, once again pulling her clothes.

"Sister?"

Finally, a trace of a smile graced her lips. "Go and play."

Sister's one suggestion held another meaning the girl couldn't understand, so she bounded into the forest without a care. Her tiny fingers reached for the snow as she knelt among the barren trees. With a giggle, she thrust her body forward, falling face first into the cold powder like substance.

She threw the snow into the air, sparkling little flakes floating down around her like fresh flurries. "Look sister, I'm a snow angel!"

But when she looked back, the older woman was already moving forward, without even a glance. Her long white robes drifted on the ground, and her shadow danced under the lonesome trees that branched out above.

The child immediately sat up, a worry growing in her oblivious little heart. As she watched the woman's outline disappear deeper and deeper into the forest, she couldn't ignore the tiny voice in her head telling her something was different. Sister usually left her to take walks while she played, but something felt wrong... she felt as though Sister would really disappear if she left this time.

Tears streamed down her face as she ran clumsily after the woman, kicking up the cold snow she so loved behind her.

"Sister, sister!" she yelled. "Wait for me!" With a desperate lunge, she held onto the woman's clothes no longer caring about playing.

The woman turned around slowly, her slanted eyes widening as she looked down at the child grasping her ever so tightly. She knelt down and wiped her tear stained face with cool fingertips, and laughed.

"Silly girl."

The girl cared not, only tightly hugging her sister's long leg. She didn't dare let go. The harsh winter breeze drowned out the sounds of her chokes and sobs.

The woman lifted the child's body effortlessly into her arms, as she used her wide sleeves to dry her tears and clean her face. A single elegant finger tapped the girl's nose teasingly, as she walked deeper down the forested path.

As long as Sister didn't let go, the child was happy. She nestled deeper into her arms, though the body she leaned against was ice cold.

"Ah Xian, do you see that?" Sister said.

The girl looked up in surprise. How long had it been since Sister called her name? She almost forgot. Xian. It was a name with no origin or meaning. Sister told her she was left by an old acquaintance, and she was taking care of her until she returned.

Xian stretched her small neck to peek over the arm that held her, and saw a stark patch of red dying the snow in front of them. She looked in wonder. Little Xian had seen yellow snow, which Sister had told her over and over again not to eat. She had seen dirty snow too, but never had she seen red snow.

"What is that?" Xian asked curiously.

Sister only remained silent, and walked slowly until they were closer. The red patches continued further and further into the forest, and as the two followed the trail, Xian's excitement only grew.

An adventure! A mystery! In the books Sister gave her, the main character would always find a strange item that would lead them to a life of adventure, and then true love. She sighed, and dreamed of the hero that would sweep her off her feet and bring her to travel the world... her prince on a white horse that the heroine always found.

Sister's body shivered, awakening Xian from her daydreams. She looked up nervously, for Sister never was cold. The face in front of her was rigid, and her lips were pressed tightly together. But her eyes... the expression was something Xian would never forget.

Sister was always so calm, so devoid of emotion, that the little girl never thought she would be swayed. Today she was proved wrong. In the woman's eyes was an expression she couldn't understand. Sadness, perhaps? She didn't know, but even wrapped in the warmest furs, did Xian feel like she was freezing.

She slowly followed Sister's line of sight, and saw a woman lying in a large patch of red snow. Her body was deathly white, and her lips a stark blue. She was in just a plain blue dress, soaked in red, and her long black hair was caked in ice as if she had been sleeping in the winter storm.

"Is that woman asleep?" she asked in her innocence.

Sister slowly put her down. Her eyes were closed, but her long lashes trembled as she spoke.

"Little Xian..."

The child watched as the woman fell to her knees, her white robes slowly staining with the red snow. Sister caressed the sleeping woman's face with shaking hands, a single tear rolling down her pale cheek.

"Yes, Ah Xian she is sleeping forever in a beautiful dream."

Sister leaned over and embraced the child, her cold breath sending shivers down her spine. "Your mother has finally returned home to her people," she whispered. "And... to you."

Xian felt warm tears fall on her face, and had the sudden desire to move. "Sister, are you crying?"

The woman only held her tighter, her thin body arching as if she wanted to shield the child from the falling snow. The girl struggled to turn in her arms, and glanced at the woman sleeping amidst the forest.

"Who is she?"

Moments of silence passed, nothing but the low moan of the wind an answer to her question. Sister's strained voice finally spoke.

"She is a woman, blinded by love for a mortal man, who has finally returned home."

There were so many questions Xian had, but she swallowed them down and remained still. Only the muffled cries of her sister, and the muted sway of the trees echoed through the forest.

The cold, mountainous region of Qi they called home was calm as always, but could not suppress the growing storm in her heart.