Interlude: The White Rabbit

A small, pale girl dressed in a simple yukata stumbled out of the forest, carrying a small parcel wrapped in a silk cloth. Her hair cut into a bob, was white as fallen snow with blood-red irises, blinking as she adjusted to the afternoon sunlight. She took a few uneasy steps, holding the bundle close to her chest as she followed a narrow path through the tall grass, the desire path leading from the wooded area towards the village bustling with activity today.

She shuffled through the tall grass, twisting and contorting her body along the narrow worn path, moving with purpose a green silk bundle held firmly in her grasp. Her eyes focused forward, squinting at both the light and errant blades of grass that towered over her, framing the path created by villagers over the years. Her focus was solely on fulfilling the task assigned to her, delivering the silk bundle she kept pressed close to her.

Emerging from the grass, she heard the faint murmur of the crowd as well as a distant hum of music. She brushed off her cream-colored yukata, replete with rabbit designs, as she shifted the bundle to her back, tying a knot around her shoulder to hold it in place as she ran quickly to the main path heading towards the boisterous matsuri, weaving in and out of the men, women and children heading towards the festivities.

Once she passed the entrance, she stepped off of the main path, slowing to a more casual walking speed, her senses taking in the various sights, smells and sounds of the festival atmosphere. She reluctantly took a few more steps, trying to head towards the nearby village itself, but the rhythmic dun-dun of a distant taiko caused her to gaze back into the bustling stalls. She shook her head, trying to ignore the sensory overload that was the matsuri, but the smell of the food made her nose twitch and was halted in her movement once more.

Wiping the drool from her lips, the small, pale white-haired girl with the red irises, turned back towards the stalls and wandered into the bustling crush of people, her important delivery the furthest thing from her mind.