“Why didn’t you say anything about it three years ago?” asked a rather perplexed Priest Jiro after a brief pause.
“Because she likes her solitude. You see, she didn’t want the villagers to try and track her down, so she made me promise to never tell anyone.”
“Very well,” started Priest Jiro skeptically, “but why are you just now seeking her out?”
“Yes, well,” Akira began sheepishly, “she told me that if I ever wanted to see her again, I would have to wait to become a man first.”
Part of Priest Jiro wanted to believe this almost too simple story, but he still had some unfinished questions to deal with first. “Was there any particular reason for that? You’d made that journey numerous times by yourself by then.”
Akira shrugged, “Your guess is as good as mine.” Feeling guilty about the partial lie, Akira bowed low and pleaded, “I hope you can forgive me Jiro-sama for not being able to say these things sooner.”
Priest Jiro reflected on these thoughts for what seemed like hours, pouring through every detail, every sign that could potentially prove Akira’s innocence or provide his downfall. Finally, after a cleansing sigh, Priest Jiro relented and accepted the incomplete story. With a comforting smile, Priest Jiro said, “It’s alright, my son. I’m just sorry that I jumped to conclusions and forced you to go against your word.” Without pause he continued, “Come, let us put the matter behind us and both return to the village.”
Refraining from taking a much desired look back, Akira accompanied Priest Jiro, satisfied that his hastily edited tale worked. This knowledge, however, did little to appease his ailing heart. “What have I done?” he lamented to himself. “Not only have I failed the love of my life, I’ve also involved Yuri-chan in this madness.”Recalling the Snow Woman’s threat regarding how she would slay him and all those around him should he ever betray her, Akira decided to make one last stand against fate: after darkness fell, he would set out to find the Snow Woman to spare the village, and if he could not do that, then he would take his own life by dawn.
Fortunately, he found no obstacles in the way of his plan. After writing a letter explaining the situation should he fail this critical mission, he set out with only the clothes on his back and a dagger and stole away into the night. Gliding past the rocks and trees that he had known since childhood, Akira covered virtually all of the ground between the village and the pass in no time at all. Before he moved into the trail leading into the mountains, Akira decided to dive into a hidden area for a few moments to make certain that no one was following him. The good news was that here were not any human pursuers anywhere. Unfortunately for Akira though, a symphony of howling in the distance informed him that he was going to have to contend with one of the land’s more efficient predators. Cursing his luck, Akira drew his dagger for some meager protection from the beasts and proceeded onwards more cautiously than before.
By the time Akira had made it halfway along the trail, he noticed that something had gone amiss. Stopping for a few seconds, Akira concentrated his senses to try and figure out what it was that was upsetting him. When he finally realized that what was troubling him was the silence that had befallen his surroundings, Akira’s heart immediately began to pound and his feet became frozen in place.
The wolves had found their prey.
