Altora: The Chronicles Of The Ren-Ky Warriors

Gale looked outside to see the snow change colour as it fell. "Hey Mopsa, why does the snow in Winterstorm change colour?"

Mopsa looked up at Gale as he was getting ready for her day, "Well, the theory is that the pollen from the other seasonal cities tint the snow, as they have different times for pollination, blue symbolizes summer, red or copper tinted snow is the fall and pink is winter." Mopsa looked at the clock, "Oh shit, sorry, Gale, but I have to go, be sure to make it to the Festival today!"

Gale waved her goodbye as Thunder jumped onto his shoulder. Gale let out a sigh as he made his way to Zephyr's room. "You almost ready for the festival, Mopsa had to rush out the door before reminding me."

Zephyr nodded as she got up and walked over to him. "Yes I am, now let us enjoy the Moon festival."

Gale smiled as he leaned in and kissed Zephyr. "Alright, then let's get going as I want to enjoy the day just like the last festival, even if it had a rough start."

Zephyr nodded as they headed outside, Nevada yawned as he looked over at Zephyr and Gale walking away. Zephyr turned and called him over as he raced over. Gale walked over to the concession stand and ordered their day passes. Zephyr looked over to see people making writhes and garlands as others made masks and costumes. Gale raised his brow as Zephyr dragged him towards the garland making.

Gale smiled as Zephyr helped the younger children with making theirs. Before making their own. Gale touched Zephyr's hand as she looked up at him, as all the kids grossed out by their affection for one another. Gale and Zephyr smiled at each other before laughing at the children.

Gale then turned back to the mask and costumes, "Hey Zephyr, what are those used for?"

Zephyr looked over to see the mask and costumes people were making, "Oh that, It is for the contest this year. Whoever can make the best costume will be apart of th parade this year, or so Mopsa told me yesterday."

Gale smiled as he looked over to her, "Why don't we try it out if we have time after all the other activities. I think we could dress Nevada up as part of something? Anyway, where to next?"

Zephyr looked around as she dragged him to the next stand. They walked around from activity to activity then helped out where they could with people having troubles as Mopsa watched them enjoy themselves from a distance. Giggling as she watched her plans unfold, while her adviser dragged her away.

Gale was enjoying the festival as they reached the last stand being the mask and costume making. Zephyr looked around to see that everyone had taken many of the same ideas as they walked around. When a woman walked up to them.

She smiled at them, "Why not looking like a warrior and priest from the old legend of the Winter Maiden?"

Gale looked over to the woman as she sat down. "Thr Winter maiden? Zephyr, do you know of this legend?"

Zephyr shook her head as the woman smiled, "Well, why don't I tell you the story then. Long ago, there was a maiden named Yukino, that lived in this very place—Back when WInterstorm was not ever a place on the map. She tended to the sick and weary travellers, but ever one asked for her hand in marriage. But she told them she could not as the land was her mother and the forest beast her captives. Many of the men tried to slay all the beast. But a white wolf, the size of a horse, drove them off every time."

Gale looked over to Nevada as he yawned, "Was the Wolf a Winter Direwolf?"

The woman shook her head, "No one knows for sure, but some stories say it was a tiger I am just going with the local version." The woman cleared her throat. "Now where was it i–Ah yes, One day a warrior came into the forest in search of a winters tear, a flower that blooms once every full moon during winter. He heard of the winter forest and head to seek this herb for his sister. Once, he entered the Maiden, spotted him and sighed as she looked away from him. The warrior heard the Maiden Yukino's sighs and turned to her and called out to her, What seems to be the matter, my lady? Yukino turned to him and said, Every man who comes is killed by the beast that guards me, yet I see the same fate for you as well. AS you have come to take me away from my home and the only place I can live without dying."

The woman cleared her throat as Gale listened to her story, Zephyr was intrigued as the woman continued. "THe warrior smiled and said I did not come for you fair Maiden but to gather a herb to save my sister's life. I never dreamed of seeing such a beautiful maiden living in such a beautiful place. Yukino turned to the man as she saw he was telling the truth. If this beast attacks me, so be it. I will not attack as I wish not to take you with me. You are a maiden of the snow, not fit do be where it is warm. The man bowed and left without a word. Yukino felt her heart stolen by the man as he did as said and went with the herb. Days passed as he returned to see the Maiden and let his sister thank him. Yukino came to great them but found the girl's heart was corrupt as the warrior turned away for a moment where his sister killed the Maiden. The man turned and asked his sister why she did that, and she grinned, she would have replaced me. I only want you to have eyes for me and no one else! The man roared at hi sister as the forest granted him the power to kill his sister, by turning him into the beast of the woods. Yukino awake as the snow healed her wounds but became the man she loved into an animal. She pleaded with her mother to turn him back, and her brother, as the other beast, was her brother. Her mother whispered I will if you b.a.r.e his children as he is, then I shall turn him back, but your brother was killed by this man as he tried to defend his men."

Zephyr started tearing up as she listened, "That is terrible, poor Yukino, her brother was cursed to protect her, and now the man she fell in love with is a beast, how cruel is her mother."

The woman smiled as she continued, "Yukino placed her head on the warrior's as she spoke out, I am aware as you made him lose his mind when men came for me, but not this man, I will have his children but as what he is. If I die, then I am free, and so shall he. The warrior found the strength and called out to her, I love you as well and would rather be dead than leave this place, I am content to be a beast but are you? Yukino needed as the warrior howled and they—well, you know while she was still person, and then the warrior asked her to kill him as to defy her mother and become the beast. Yukino shook her head and told him that she will die regardless as she saw her own future if she were to have children the warrior ask if there was a way to break her mothers curse and she nodded, the fountain she stays it he only way, dink from it and the curse will be broken but be warned be cursed again, and you will never return."

Gale leaned forward as he narrowed his eyes, "I am guessing he did that and was successful?"

The woman shook her head at Gale, "No, he went there and killed her mother, preventing the recusing of himself and to others as he returned to Yukino, she was giving birth to his pups, each one the size of an average dog pup. The warrior ran to Yukino and gave her some of the water. Sparing her life as she looked at him, what of my mother? Did you kill her? The warrior nodded as he explained himself, hoping for her forgiveness. She did as they stayed in the forest living together until her next birthing, where she gave birth to their son. The pups became the very beast of the forest, and Yukino passed away in peace, knowing she had a normal child. The Warriors settled down in this area and begin the village as we now know it. Yet, the one thing the people don't know is that he made a contract with her spirit where she became the sacred summon Yuki the White Tigress."

Zephyr stared in shock as she turned to Gale, "So, a sacred summon was created here. In Winterstorm?"

The woman nodded as she started to was=lk away, "Yes, I should know as I am her."

Zephyr went to ask what the woman said, but she was gone Glae looked around as well before turning to Zephyr, "Well, she did give us the idea. Why don't we go with it? I will work on the Warrior part, and you will work on the Maiden. Then we will make something for Nevada."

Nevada W.h.i.n.ed as he was confused. Zephyr laughed as she nodded in agreement. Turning to the table and starting on her costume. Once they finished, Gale felt ridiculous as hse walked over to were the other contestants were. Zephyr smiled as Mopsa got up onto the stage. She noticed everyone was doing the same thing as she gagged. She scanned over to see if anyone did something different as she spotted Gale, Nevada and Zephyr standing off to the side wait for the night to end.

Mopsa cleared her throat and began her announcement. "I welcome all of you to this year's Fall Moon Festival! I will be announcing the winning costume to go one of the winter Maiden Float this year. As many of you know, the Winter Maiden is a treasured story amongst our people, and this year is that many changes took place. The return of the Heart Gold Ridder Wolves, or Winter Direwolves, The end of the corrupt Mayor Kole, and this being my first Festival as Mayor. I would like to announce the winners are …" Mopsa looked at the numbers, "one, eight six, Gale McKnight and Zephyr Foxtail!" Everyone cheer as Mopsa watched them walk up.

Mopsa guider them to the float as Gale covered his face with his mask. Zephyr chuckled as everyone cheered for them.