The black sky stretched far, sprinkles of stars decorated. Quiet echos of owls hooted from distance.

I puffed white smoke and rubbed my hands. My new fellow travelers' peaceful snores overlapped the hoots. Harley snored loud like a big brown grizzly bear.

I stared at my katana. It was clean without a smear of blood and polished neatly. My own reflection showed on the smooth skinny metal. The reflection was me, with watery eyes. And the reflection was gone when a bead of tear hit. Salty and small.

How can I survive this island? All the skills father taught me so I can come back to our family again, I couldn't use it against the yeti. If it was not for Cam, I would have died , juicy meat for the big hungry monster. Imagining the dead body of myself chewed by a enormous set of teeth made me almost want to puke. Except thinking about my hopeless moment stopped the disguise to worry.

"Hey Skylar." Cam greeted settling himself next to her. He puffed out white smoke than rubbed his hands and tucked it in his pockets. He smiled warmly.

"Hi." I replied back and made a smile. My heart, surprisingly, thumped faster. I probably had respect for Cam because he saved my guts. Respect.

There was awkward silence. I prayed for a owl to hoot again. But stupid owls, they kept their beaks shut.

"Um so..." Cam tried to start a conversation. "What's your last name? Mine is Russell." He added.

Cameron Russell, I made it echo in my head. "Suzuki. Skylar Suzuki." I answered quickly with a unusual high pitched tone.

"Is that a Asian last name? You do look, Asian." Cam asked politely. His brown hair had frost of snow on it. It made a faint glitter. I do not know why, but I forgot how freezing it was here.

"Yeah," I answered. "My dad is Japanese and my mom is Taiwanese." To be honest the two countries people look the exact same. But you know, my parents always scowls me that they have the same difference. Skinny eyes and whatever. Then what about Chinese?

"Cool." Cam replied. His cheeks and nose are turning bright red. "My parents are American."

Awkward silence. C'mon owls, hoot.

I wanted to start a conversation. But every time I try, my voice doesn't come out. I twirled my hair, it made me relax a bit.

Cam tried to start a conversation again. "What kind of weapon do you use?" I shuffled and got out my katana and one ninja star. They were shiny, clean as jewelry but sharp as any weapon.

"I use a katana and a ninja star. Mostly katana because we don't really need to use the ninja star." I pointed to each of my weapons. A fighting tool that dad past down to me, which he had never actually used. I once asked where he got him from. He says it was a decoration like antiques. It was surprising the fact that it was a family tradition to pass down these decorations through generations. From what he heard, it was older than two hundred years.

Cam's eyes opened wide in awe staring at the ninja star. Perhaps he was thinking about Ninja Go or the turtle ninjas he watched long ago. "Do you like, shoot them to the opponent?" He asked curiously his eyes focused on the four tipped metal. This question was usual for everyone, and I knew exactly  what to answer.

"No that much," I said, "In fact, I never used it one a real battle. I only keep two for each pocket for emergencies. They're really heavy. Most people imagine holding four ninja stars in one hand and four on the other throwing it coolly at the opponent. But the truth is, the ninja stars are really heavy." I showed the other ninja star that was hiding in my coat pocket.

"But still." Can puffed out more smoke of air. "It's cool." My heart thumped louder. My face was burning red actually. Maybe I should wack it in the snow to cool it off.

I glanced at the boy. He probably doesn't realize how handsome he is. And cute. He has brown nut eyes, long eye brows, and tall nose. In additional, he was a great fighter. He jumped off of an high tree than sliced the yeti's finger. I adore him.

Sparkle of sunshine glittered yawning, waking up from the mountains. It said good morning with a dazzle and lightened up the snow. Birds started tweeting. Cam got up and stretched his arched back. His brown hair blazed by the light.

We decided to go back to the cave to see if Harley or Luna was awake. Honestly, I just wished we could leave Luna behind. She was a princess I was supposed to admire and stuff, but she made me uneasy. Her eyes were colder than ice, and her mouth looked like a vampire. Cause she was the one eventually defeated the monster. And, I know I should not judge a person by their parentage, but she is the daughter of the cruel King Enzo.  It was hard for me to keep in mind that she was a little eight year old.

The cave was empty. The sleeping bags were already packed and backpacks were ready to go.

"Probably went hunting." Cam said in a way of saying 'They probably went shopping'. Honestly, those phrase of words sounded like a caveman.

"Well!" The brown haired boy said. "I'll go and start the f—,"

Loud footstep and crumbling of snow came from the cave entrance. "Cam draw your sword. Skylar stay safe." Harley's sudden order made me jump. He changed his t-shirt to a Nike shirt with a red check mark. My hands wondered for a bit but found it's way to the katana. Cam had his sword up front and his expression was strict. He gulped, and I gulped.

"What is it?" I asked trying to keep my voice calm. My legs shook, why do I have to shake when it was time for me to act brave and fight properly?

"Luna got attacked. She missed the bull eye but it was close. " I looked around and saw Luna slowly making her way to the cave. She looked badly freezing and Cam catches her with his arm before she fell. He rested Luna against the cave wall and put a thick laired coat around her. Her breathing was harsh and she looked desperate.

Moments passed since the commotion. I still had my muscles tensed preparing to strike if necessary. Crack. A rock crumbled. Everyone stayed silent, eyes on full alert. I swallowed my breath.

A girl about our age came in. We relaxed our tensed muscles and gave a sigh of relief.

"Sorry to scare you." The girl said smiling. Her skin was pale white and eyes black like mine. Her hair was complete black, color of the shadow.

"It's fine." Harley said with a smile across his face. "A fellow survivor like us?"

The girl came up to him and unexpectedly, placed one hand on his chunky cheeks. She ran her fingers across. "Oh yes. And your cheeks are very smooth." Her icy blue long hair blew by the wind. Harley jumped a little.

"Are you okay? Your hands are very cold."

"Just freezing." She gave a small chuckle. Than she made her face closer to Harley's. Right that moment, I just realized something. Before the girl could give another exhale I ran and tackled her away. The boys all seemed to be shocked what I have done. Maybe they thought I was jealous or something right now cause this monster was extremely beautiful. Big eyes, small face, and small nose.

"You." I grunted in a sarcastic way. "Your Yuki-Onna." I hissed and the girl nodded her head approvingly. "In other words Snow Woman. Be carful guys, she blows frost breath. One blow of her breath and your body will freeze to death."

The Snow Woman's hair gradually became white with icy blue hair tips. Strange icy aura surrounded her. My traveling mates shivered. They took a step backwards and raised their swords again. If I strike close, I have to risk myself getting frost breathed. Swords were not going to be much help, but maybe my ninja star will be.

This monster was a yokai, a Japanese monster. It was true that King Enzo captured monsters from different country's. Yuki-Onna was a girl who mostly targets men. She gave many creeps to Japanese people in the old times. Now I will too.

Cam looked troubled and Harley rubbed his cheeks where the Snow Woman touched. I heard that this monster skin is super cold but not as the breath. Luna seemed to try to stand up though her half frozen legs were not much use. She used her sword like a old man's stick.

I panicked. My legs trembled. My hands shook. My upper lips but the downer lips. Was this how I die despite all my dad's effort?

Suddenly, the Snow Woman ran towards Cam while spitting in the ground. The spit froze the part of the cafe floor. We had no time to think of a strategy. Harley chased the monster his bold sword drawn aiming for her heart. Cam faced the Snow Woman, his sword shielding him. (By the way, he looked like a actress. Yeah, I should probably focus on something more you-should-focus-this-thing)

I took out one of my ninja star. I ran towards the monster while she was distracted by the two boys. Before the Snow Woman can turn her perfect face at me, I threw my ninja star casually. Praying to hit the bull eye, the ninja star instead hit the arm. It bleed badly and I really wanted to puke. It's just, I am weak seeing a lot of fresh blood. Actually it wasn't bleeding that badly. Though it was unappetizing anyways.

The Snow Woman screeched in pain. Her voice was high pitched and sounded like a very stressed actress who has been betrayed by her handsome boyfriend. With the other arm, she pulled her magnificent frosty hair making some strands pluck out. Cam gave a casual thumbs up along with a crooked smile not very determined what to do.

We did not need to kill the monster. She ran like a maniac screaming and left the cave. While we travelers were silent, the scream echoed until it was far enough to be not heard.

"Um okay." I squeaked. Luna moaned something that caught Harley and Cam's attention. They rushed for treatment worried expression in their face. I padded over to join too even though I was not much help.

Luna chuckled. "That was one weak monster. If any of you realized, the ninja star was thrown off too weak so after it touched the flesh of the monster, it just fell off." It was true, in fact. Where the Snow Woman has just been standing earlier, there was my ninja star with only few splotch of blood. I guess my nervousness decreased my throwing power.

"You have no time to be chuckling Lulu." Harley said sternly unpacking his first-aid supplies. "You are deeply wounded along with your half frozen leg."

Luna rolled her blue eyes and let Harley treat her. Cam made some warm fire that slowly heated the injured girl leg that it was able to move again. I, whom basically did not even have a scratch, revived by the heat. My shaking legs started to follow what I ordered and my legs felt like it can jul anywhere I wanted. The fire sparkled the rising flames and talked by flinching. The burning brown wood began to smear in black.

"Can you guys go food hunting? I need to treat Lulu." Harley asked. More of an order than asking kind of way. Cam and I nodded and headed out of the cave. I quickly gave a glance to my ninja star that was still on the floor, but decided to pick it up later since it was disgusting. But what really was in my mind was praying to stay near the fire and enjoy the warmth and to snuggle inside my sleeping bag.

Than on the upper side, it was just me and Cam you know?

Cam sighed on the way. "Before I met you, Luna and Harley made me jump on trees to trees. And I fell hundred times on the butt. Since I was satisfied and had other body parts that hurt such as my legs, it didn't bother me but now it's starting to hurt." Few things I wanted to point out. One, did you just say jump trees to trees? Two, falling on your butt is okay than other hurts? Three, why do I feel like the 'hundred' was not exaggerating?

"Why didn't you stay and rest?" I pointed that out instead.

"Luna seems to be more in pain and your butt being in pain from falling from trees is nothing compared to being half frozen." He shrugged. Which I say he should not have shrugged.

Before we can boost up the conversation, I heard a hoot behind a tree. Cam seemed to hear it too and he wondered his eyes. We gave a silent signal than silently tip toed to the tree where the hoot came from. I carefully peeked and saw a owl.

It was pure white like the newborn snow but had frosty blue tips where normal Snow Owls would have grey. It's eyes we're blue as ice, beaks were sharp as the great hawks, and feathers fluffy as kittens. The bird showed wisdom and it's powerfulness at the same time.

Owls have great sensibility. The strange Snow Owl realized our appearance and nodded. I nodded back and so did Cam. The owl tilted it's round head to me and flapped towards my way. It landed in my shoulder, a bird keeper and the pet. Instead of pecking with the great beak, it studied my curiously. It gave a little flap than disappeared into the trees.

Before I can ask Cam what is going on, the owl showed itself again, carrying a round smooth rock. It was icy blue as the mother's eyes. An egg.

The mother owl gently placed the egg by my foot. She stared at me for a quick second, and flapped away, this time farther across the tree. I gently picked up the egg that had speckles of snow. No owls hooted. Like this morning.

It was weird, but I called, "Why didn't you hoot when I wanted it?"

Author's Note

Owls! Honestly this took forever for me to plan this bird. I thought about it for three days and even went to the zoo. It was like, owl or parrot body. But I'm glad I chose the owl. 🦉 Cute. So how did you guys like the POV of Skylar? Happy Reading!