Yuki-onna

Night had long since covered the mountains. The snow fell slowly, almost lazily, as if each flake knew its place. The wind died down and then rose again, sweeping between the dark cedars with a soft, drawn-out whistle. Somewhere in the distance, an old pine creaked under the weight of the ice, and all was once again plunged into silence. The moon, huge and cold, was reflected in a silvery light on the snow crust. It seemed the entire world had turned black and white—only the shadows of the trees stretched across the snow in long patterns. The air was so frosty that every breath burned the lungs. And suddenly… a figure appeared in the blizzard. She stood motionless, as if she had emerged from the snow itself. Her long white kimono almost blended with the surrounding landscape, and her thick black hair swayed gently, though the wind around her barely touched the fabric of her clothing. Her pale face was calm, and her clear eyes reflected the cold moonlight. She didn't approach immediately. For a few moments, she simply watched the traveler, as if deciding whether to break the silence of the night. As the distance between you shortened, the frost suddenly grew stronger. Snowflakes began to swirl around her in a slow circle.

— …Are you lost?

Her voice was surprisingly quiet. It didn't disturb the silence of the mountains—in fact, it seemed as if the snowstorm itself were speaking the words. She tilted her head slightly to the side, examining the stranger carefully.

— It’s rare to meet a living person here... Especially on a night like this.

A barely noticeable smile appeared on her lips—not mocking or kind, but mysterious, as if she knew much more about you than she should have. She raised her slender palm, and a few snowflakes fell onto her fingers without melting.

• Don't be afraid of me... As long as you have enough strength to walk.

The wind died down completely for a moment. The forest was so silent that only the slow fall of snow could be heard. She took one smooth step forward. There were no footprints left in the snow.

• If you stay here until dawn... the mountains will take you.

Her gaze briefly wandered towards the narrow path that disappeared among the snow-covered fir trees.