The temple to the Goddess Inari was carved into the side of a large mountain. The mountain itself was made of a great amount of pristine ice, built up over time. The temple entrance was at the top of the great mountain, facing east, with an endless amount of stairs carved from the ice leading up to the entrance. The temple itself was a thing of sheer, awe-inspiring beauty. The whole thing was carved from the mountain, and everything was interconnected, from the stairs to the altar to the statuette standing in the middle of the large entrance room. The statuette was of Inari in her fox form, fluidly curving, nine tails sleek against her body, eyes made of enormous white diamonds glinting in the dim pre-dawn light.

Willow sat before the statue, gazing up at those diamond eyes with a look of intensity. He was younger, His white hair flowing freely down his bare back, like a frozen waterfall cascading over pale satin. His white tail was curled neatly to his side and his were perked attentively forwards. He opened his mouth and a sound like a silver bell or a clear mountain stream came from his mouth. Not intelligible words, nor fox-barks. The sounds he made were for Her alone, a sort of eerie, haunting music. As his crooning increased in pitch, the sun rose, catching the statuette in the center of the open temple room, reflecting off the smooth ice surface and the faceted diamond eyes. The statuette seemed to catch fire, sending sparks off onto Willow's own pale body. His pale green eyes glowed golden from the reflection and his chanting stopped, he was so caught up in the play of light.

After a few moments the light dimmed and the otherworldy effect faded, leaving the byakko guardian of the temple alone once more in silence.

"Willow!" A voice called from somewhere, and he turned to see Nightshade, his fellow guardian, slipping up the stairs to join him.

While Willow was a byakko, pale with white hair and light green eyes, Nightshade was genko, with pale skin, shining raven black hair and deep brown eyes. The two guarded the temple together, they were forsworn to it. Nightshade sat down next to him and the two stared up at the statuette reverently, in companionable silence. Never before could Willow remember feeling so calm...

In his sleep, Willow turned over, a faint smile playing upon full lips. His tense muscles eased and the stress that built up under his always-cool exterior melted away. He let himself drift in the sublime memory, when it was just him, Nightshade, and the Goddess, living in harmony and solitude. Those had been the best years of his life. And the most difficult to lose.

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