Threads 138-Concert 1

On a high mountain peak, a soft wind blew, whispering through glittering teeth of hanging ice. Below slept a valley under cover of snow, blanketed in purest white.

Peace, whispered the wind, stirring snow as light as powder. Crystals of ice danced in the air, tracing fanciful shapes to the tune of the groaning ice that capped the valley stream. On worn and weathered bark glittered frost and clear ice, gleaming elegantly under the moon.

And lo, there was winter’s maiden, dark hair stark among the pale snow. Her voice was the tinkling of bells and the song of the winter wind. Amid the swirling snow she danced, her voice raised in song, soft and light as the winter breeze blowing amongst the boughs.

Under the moon, the frozen river was her stage. Delicate feet danced soundlessly upon groaning ice, and the maiden twirled, her soft voicing echoing like the ringing of bells from ice laden boughs. Ice clad trunks swayed in the cold winter wind as the maiden danced among phantoms of blowing snow.

Peace, whispered the wind, and all the land was quiet, save the maiden’s song.

Ling Qi clapped politely as Hanyi’s song wound down, and the phantom of a peaceful winter night faded from her thoughts. With how much time Hanyi had spent practicing in this grove, one could hardly tell that it wasn’t the dead of winter in truth. Frost dusted the withered grass, and gleaming icicles hung from branches which still held leaves, glistening and frozen. Hanyi stood atop a crude stage formed of a frozen tree stump, flowers of pale blue ice blooming around her feet.

“So, what do you think?” Hanyi asked brightly, hopping down from her stump. “I don’t think the last verse is really ready yet, but the rest was good, right?”

“It was beautiful, Hanyi,” Ling Qi said. Hanyi was not quite as good as her on pure technical skill, but she could feel that Hanyi had been putting her all into the song. “I’m surprised at your theme though.”

Something so bright and whimsical seemed an odd thing to make for Hanyi’s main piece.

Hanyi twisted a strand of her hair between her fingers. “Well, there’s no point in just copying. Yours and Momma’s songs are always so…” Hanyi trailed off uncomfortably.

“It’s fine, Hanyi,” Ling Qi said hastily. “I think Zeqing would be happy that you’re branching out. It’s just not the way I’m used to thinking of things. Like I said, your song was very pretty.”

“I get it. But, winter is really pretty. It’s not all gloomy stuff. It’s fields of white, glittering as far as you can see. It’s sledding down the cliffs and listening to the wind and the snow blowing through the ravines,” Hanyi said quietly. “It’s home. I want people to know how nice it is.”

Ling Qi nodded, stepping forward to rest her hand on Hanyi’s shoulder. “That’s a great inspiration even,” she said encouragingly.

“You miss it though, huh?” Sixiang murmured. Their face was reflected in the hanging sheets of ice. “Hopping up to the mountaintops just isn’t the same?”

“It’s not ‘cause Sis’ home is down here. Everything down here is just so noisy with the bugs and the birds and the people. And it’s always so hot. I just miss Momma’s peak sometimes,” Hanyi huffed. “I want to make a song about how nice the cold can be.”

Ling Qi supposed that perspective could really change even the most fundamental meanings. “So that’s what was bothering you,” she mused. “And here I was worrying that you were worried about the battle and your wound.”

“Huh?” Hanyi asked, blinking. “It was scary, but it’s done now. Why would I worry about that?”

Sixiang snickered, and Ling Qi sighed.

Hanyi shifted from foot to foot, not quite meeting her eyes. “I mean, I know I have to help you out, Sis, but fighting kinda sucks. If food can fight back, that’s no fun at all.”

Ling Qi gave Hanyi a searching look and found that there really was no deception in Hanyi’s words. Her thoughts on battle were really that simple. It reminded her that despite her appearance, Hanyi really was a spirit. She really didn’t think anything of battle and death, except that she didn’t like getting hurt.

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“I guess not,” Ling Qi said wryly. “You’re not much of a hunter, huh?”

“Well, duh,” Hanyi scoffed. “A real lady shouldn’t have to traipse around and pick fights like that.”

Ling Qi’s lips quivered, and Hanyi’s eyes widened.

“Not that Sis isn’t a lady!” Hanyi defended quickly. “You’re super cool and elegant! It’s okay for people to have weird hobbies!”

“I dunno. I think you kind of have a double standard there. And elegant? This dork?” Sixiang mocked.

Ling Qi swatted away the wisp of wind that poked her in the side.