The next morning Nanako opened her eyes with her father’s kiss on her forehead.
“Come on sleepy head. Time to rise and shine. Did you rest well? ” Her father inquired.
She nodded her head smiling happily.
“Good. Get dressed and eat something. We will be leaving soon? ” He said as he got up from her bed and started to go.
Nana grabbed his robe and tugged and said ” Go? Where? Right now? ”
” Yes darling. We will go to the northern borders. It is still not too late for us to catch some snow. It seems like it’s been ages since we went out together. ” He patted her head and went away.
Nana stood up and hurriedly called for her maids. As they ran inside, she shouted instructions about her food, dress, hair and so on. The room got busy decking her up for the day. The kitchen too was alive with clutter as the chefs hurried to get Nana ‘s favorite dish ready in the quickest possible time.
Jin on the other hand was dreaming happily on his humble bed when suddenly the rooster started crowing at his full volume. It so startled poor Jin that he fell on his face on the ground. He pulled himself up. Dirt and mud all over his body.
” Friend, are you alright? ” Jin’s host asked worried. He dusted himself and nodded sheepishly.
” Good, good. Since you are up already, go get yourself washed . I will prepare something good for us for breakfast. Alright? ” Jin’s friend smiled a warm smile and got himself busy.
After washing and having a fulfilling morning meal, Jin was asked to join his friend to go to the woods to collect timber. Jin had other plans obviously. He needed to go find ways to get inside the imperial Palace to seek a peek of Nanako. But his host had been too nice to him. He felt really bad to turn him down. And after all it was just a two day trip to the woods. If he could help him collect sufficient amount of wood, he would be able to pay off a portion of his kindness. Soon they were ready and riding away on a humble cart.
At the palace, the doors closed as the caravan carrying the king and the princess left. Soon they reached their destination. Nana’s father was right, they were indeed on time to catch the last snow of the season. The guards accompanying them got busy unloading and setting up the camp. Nanako walked around, trying to take in the beauty of the snow. It really felt like a long time since she and her father had a good play fight with the snow.
” I will take a walk around father. You guys get the place ready. ” She told him and rode off with a horse.
” Don’t forget your… ” Her father tossed her sword to her .
” Honour” She finished his sentence as she caught the weapon mid-air. Her father smiled and got busy with the works at hand again.
But the mere remembrance of their favorite phrase disturbed Nana when she pondered over it’s meaning as she rode at full speed. Soon she was far away from the camp. The place she stopped had two mountains criss-crossing and hence the horse could not pass. She got down and walked around a little. She had forgotten to bring her water pouch. So she started looking for a spring or any water source. After looking here and there, she thought she heard sound of a waterfall. She followed the sound. It lead her to a cave.
” There must be an underground waterfall here” She thought as she went inside. True enough there was a fountain. But it was unlike any fountain she had ever seen. It had a glow to itself. In the darkness on the cave, the water dropped with a spark from above before mixing with the ground. Nana hurried in and drank to her fill. But her thrist wouldn’t quench. The more she drank, the more she felt the need to drink more. Her stomach was already feeling uneasy but she couldn’t stop herself.
“Stop missy, what are you doing? ” A voice ran towards her from the back as a pair of rough hands pulled her away from the stream.
” How dare you touch me? Do you know who I am? ” Nana roared back.
“Missy, I am sorry but you can’t drink from this. You will be scarred for life missy. You cannot drink from this poison fountain. ” He kept pulling her desperately as she fought him to the water.
” Missy no one who has drank from this has ever been able to stop until they were dead. ” He kept pleading with her in vain. But their struggle was short lived as a fierce howling tore through the cave. Both turned around to find a huge wolf, with manes touching the ground, and tail as bushy as a forest standing between Nana and the fountain.
The man immediately left Nana and backed off. Nana too was startled. The beast looked her straight in the eye. Her heart trembled with fear. But the thirst got the better of her. She sprang towards the stream on the other side of the beast. She was immediately caught at her robe with its sharp fangs. She could actually feel it’s hot breath on her legs. It pulled her towards itself. Sure that death was imminent, Nana closed her eyes.
When suddenly a similar voice called out her name and even the beast turned to pay attention. It was Jin. He ran towards her. The beast strangely bowed and retracted silently.
As Nana’s eyes became hazy, she saw Jin pulling her on his lap and desperately trying to make her wake up. With her eyelids getting heavier and heavier, she saw him worriedly bent over her, shaking her frantically, shouting out loud “Nanako, Nana, wake up, you need to wake up, don’t close your eyes. Noooo. Don’t close your eyes. Nana. ” But slumber seemed like a lustful delight that Nanako could not resist and finally dozed off in his arms.