Son of Snow

“Your child—” Natsuno gasped as he trudged through the snow, each step seemed like a mountainous effort, before stopping next to Sumire. “Your son— What’s his name?”

Yuki Onna looked surprised, but in a voice that tinkled like a glass chime, she uttered one name, “Nowaki.”

“A half-yokai, correct?” Natsuno asked, sounding amazed. “A male snow-spirit. Very rare kind of yokai.”

“How did you—” Yuki Onna stopped, shaking her head. Tears fell from her eyes, freezing before they could roll down her cheeks. “It doesn’t matter. Nothing else matters anymore.”

“I’m so sorry for your loss”, Natsuno said, and somehow Sumire could tell that he really meant it.

“Sorry?” Yuki Onna wept. “Sorry doesn’t bring him back. Nothing will!”

“I know, but—”

“They burned him!” Yuki Onna shrieked, and the wind picked up its speed once more. “They dragged my son from our home and burned him alive!”