Following the direction she pointed, Dick only saw snow-covered mountains. "Where would there be a cave, Mia?"
"It's real!" Seeing that he still didn't believe her, Mia hurriedly ran over to confirm the cave's location.
It's definitely there, it has to be there! She was certain.
"Mia, wait! Wait for me!" Dick chased after the sprinting Mia, stumbling as he ran, astonished at how fast she moved through the thick snow.
This creature, it's as if she's been here before.
Panting, Mia stopped at a pile of snow and pushed hard with her hands. The loose snow instantly collapsed backward, revealing a deep, dark cave. Immediately, a faint smell of blood wafted slowly from the cave. Such a familiar scent?
"My God, there really is a cave! But, Mia, how did you know?" Dick caught up, looking at the seemingly dazed figure beside him.
"I don't know, I really don't!" Mia shook her head repeatedly, a faint fear rising in her heart. She had never been here before, yet she felt an intense sense of familiarity. How could she explain this feeling?
What was happening? She sensed something else was about to happen, but what could it be?
Seeing Mia's terrified expression, Dick suggested, "Mia, how about this? No one knows who we are here. Why don't we go inside and take a look? Maybe we'll find out something."
"I…"
"Come on, don't hesitate. Let's go in and see what's there!" Thinking Mia would follow, Dick took the lead and walked into the cave.
Mia stared at Dick's back as he entered the cave, but suddenly turned around, gazing at the snowy ground in front of it.
Standing there, she felt compelled to search for something. But what was it? What was she looking for?
Looking at the endless snowscape, a flood of questions surged in her heart. But her eyes were filled only with white, and this whiteness filled her with fear. Wasn't white her favorite color? Why did this fairytale-like snowy place now feel so repulsive? It was as if the snow was obstructing her, hiding whatever she was searching for…
What was she expecting? What was she looking for? This place had nothing but snow!
Suddenly, as Mia frantically searched, a flash of gray appeared in the distance—a gray speck, completely different from the snow.
The sudden glimpse startled her. That's it! Yes! That's what she was looking for!
Unable to contain herself, she rushed toward the faint gray speck with all her strength, heedless of everything else.
"Where are you going? Mia, Mia, Mia!" Dick shouted in panic, but his cries didn't stop her from running forward. Her mind was consumed with the need to reach that gray speck, even as the thick snow underfoot hindered her, making every step a struggle.
As if responding to her determination, the gray shadow began to speed toward her.
Closer, closer! She saw it! A snow-white fox was running toward her.
Seeing the fox, her excitement surged, as if she had finally found a rare treasure meant just for her in this vast world. She desperately wanted to hold it tightly in her arms.
But why? Why couldn't she move her feet? Why, just as she was about to reach it, could she no longer move?
Why…?
At the border of the Northern Desert, near a snow-capped mountain that stands frozen year-round, a legend has been passed down through generations:
About 700 years ago, a clan of snow foxes thrived in the snowy mountains. These creatures were adorned with fur as white as snow, not only flawless in its purity but also an exceptional shield against the bitter cold. Snow fox pelts were incredibly rare and difficult to obtain, making them fetch astronomical prices in the wealthy royal city. Driven by greed, hunters set their sights on hunting these elusive creatures for profit. Though snow foxes were cunning and timid, they could not withstand the relentless pursuit of profit-driven hunters. Their numbers dwindled, and sightings of them became rare, almost miraculous.
One day, a group of greedy hunters discovered a pair of deeply devoted snow foxes in their den. They cruelly killed the female, tearing the pair apart, and scoured the mountain for the remaining lone fox. From that moment, the anguished cries of the surviving snow fox echoed through the hunters' village, its mournful wails resonating across the snowy peaks, stirring the hearts of all who heard it. As the villagers mourned the fox's loss, the creature embarked on a path of vengeance.
The first hunter fell to the unseen snow fox, bitten to death in a gruesome manner. He was one of those who had hunted the fox's mate. Terrified, the hunting party resolved to strike first to avoid further deaths. But one by one, they were bitten to death by the swift, elusive snow fox, which no one could catch.
As the hunters perished, their families, consumed by hatred for this enemy, vowed to kill the fox at all costs. They banded together, forming a protective circle around the last surviving hunter, waiting for the fox to appear. They knew it would come, driven by its burning hatred for those who had killed its mate.
And come it did. The snow fox appeared before them, its pristine white fur stained with blood-red flames. The villagers could hardly believe it—this creature had chosen to appear in a way that would lead to its own destruction. Frozen in fear, they only snapped out of their stupor when the flames began to spread, engulfing the surroundings. They scattered in panic, but the last hunter was already consumed by the fiery fox, lost to the inferno.
To avenge its beloved mate, the snow fox sacrificed its own life. The villagers, filled with remorse, were deeply moved by the fox's unwavering devotion. The people of the hunters' village swore an oath: they would never again hunt snow foxes or raise a bow against them.
This poignant legend has been passed down through the ages at the foot of the snowy mountain…