the shrine guardian

On a well-traveled path through the snowy mountain range, stretching from Shenkuu all the way to Brightvale, a merchant spotted a shrine by the road.

This is a Shrine to Guard Travelers through the Snow, stated a small, stone sign near the shrine.

The merchant thought it was silly. Travelers? The majority who traveled through these parts were merchants like himself, and it was made apparent by the stone ornament. Littered in front of it was an assortment of goods made as offerings to the shrine.

The merchant, however, didn't believe in offering his precious wares to a piece of rock. How would a piece of stone help him on his journey? He decided to poke fun at the shrine.

Taking one rice ball from one of his many sacks, he held it in front of the shrine. Here is my offering, he mocked. If you ask for it, I'll give it to you. In fact, I'll give you all of my rice balls.

I'd like them, actually, thanks! came a voice.

The merchant jerked away. He waited. When only silence followed, he stuffed the food back in his sack and feverishly started to go on his way. This place was probably haunted -

Hey! Where are you going? You promised me those rice balls! the voice said, only louder and deeper. I promise to help you on your trip, and you give me nothing? You asked for it, merchant, give me those ----!

The merchant would then never leave his house without some rice ball close at hand, for he never intended to leave a shrine empty-handed again.

Simply put, [Onigi] is a spirit born of the snow, who soon inhabits a newly-build shrine and became its guardian. He now acts as a guardian spirit to merchants and travelers who are journeying across the snowy terrain. While [Onigi] usually stays around his shrine, it's not uncommon for him to accompany those who pass by to the nearest town or so. He protects them from the dangers of the road, from evil spirits to thieves and thugs, by either giving them his blessing or personally acting as their hidden bodyguard.

During his early years of existence, he has picked up some habits from the travelling merchants, and eventually he became a merchant himself! He takes the things that passerbys leave at his shrine (what else is he going to do with them?) and trades them to other spirits, and when he has the energy, disguises himself among Neopets and humans and sells it to them. [Onigi] usually asks for food or other interesting knick-knacks in exchange - sometimes he trades those things as well, and other times he keeps them.

❖❖❖ A guardian ❖❖❖

Being a guardian spirit, he takes full responsibility of his role and takes pride in being able to help those who pay him respect in return. He finds that helping them makes him happy, a sort of cycle. People pay respects to him when they pass, he watches over them for a while, both parties benefit in some way.

The villagers in the nearest town often recall stories of the shrine and pay their own respects. They say a merchant was protected from bandits from a rush of snow and a flash of fur and wooden-antlers - the spirit himself. They say when one sees a man with white hair, sporting a necklace with a wooden block, asking to show you his wares, it's a very lucky and fortunate chance one should take.

His role also has his drawbacks. Being a spirit formed with snow, he can't stand being near fires and heat, which most travelers use to keep warm. In his spirit form, he's not usually seen by normal people on an everyday circumstance - it takes a great deal of effort to appear...

❖❖❖ HOW HE FARES ❖❖❖

... not to mention, [Onigi] himself is not always the bravest. In his early days, he was often terrified of actually coming under any harm while assisting merchants and travelers. Nowadays, he's more confident, but he has his moments where he's very skittish in times of need.

If some of his faults need to be spotlighted, he rarely lets himself "let loose", if you will. He rarely ever leaves the pathway he guards (while it is partly because it's his duty, he just doesn't have the courage to stray far from home). While he's very protective of those he guards, he doesn't let himself have any long-term contact with anybody - he probably has only one or two people he can really call friends (see 'story). [Onigi] is too used to short-termed acquaintances, never straying from home. He feels a bit lonely. His stubbornness plays a part - he refuses to let himself reach out because he's afraid, while assuring himself that he's fine.

But, onto the more positive side of his personality! While one thinks he would have a grandfatherly-like air about him, he comes off as more of a homey, older brother. When he gets the chance, [Onigi] actually becomes a bit of a chatterbox and brings out his more fiery side (probably due to not having many to talk casually with anyway - in fact).

He's a great haggler and salesmen, of course, and is the go-to guy for other spirits when they need things. He loves being able to mingle and talk business at the same time. When [Onigi]'s alone, which is most of the time, he likes to dabble around in philosophical things or wanders around the neighboring villages (but never goes in them).

[Onigi]'s also a lover of a few types of food - namely, Shenkuu foods (rice balls!!), cold things, and chokatos. Being a spirit, he doesn't need to eat to survive. He has the pleasure of eating when he wants, because he wants to. Anything too warm, and he begins to melt.

He's also a packrat, given his merchant nature and being a shrine spirit. He keeps some of the things offered to him, or what he finds during trades. His branch antlers, his scarf, and his piece of wheat are all from travelers (a pair of brothers, an elderly woman, and a androgynous farmer, to be specific). Where does he keep them all? He makes a good magical use of his shrine.

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[Onigi] has three forms, up there on the reference. On the left is his guardian form, an appearance he rarely takes on unless he's on full-attack mode or to make himself look more stately. He's almost always in his small, usual form, and then there's his more humanoid look. His abilities are strengthened by the offerings and the beliefs of those who pass his shrine: the less people, the more lazy and weak he becomes, and vice versa.

[Onigi] watches as a Neopet approaches his shrine. She is going in the direction of Shenkuu, and looks ill-prepared for the icy weather ahead.

I never should have started this journey, she says to herself, covering herself up with her layers of jackets. I'm not fit for this cold! If you're actually a guardian of sorts - or a Faerie, I don't know - I'd love your help. I'll give you something in return.

[Onigi] is usually skeptical about these types of passerbys, but he goes on with his promise anyway. Of course - as long as it's something good! he replies, knowing that she cannot hear him.

But she can hear him, very well in fact, as she jumps away in fright. She can also see him, a hazy figure that resembled a Snow Aisha, appearing in front of the shrine.

And [Onigi] jumps back in response. Oh, he says sheepishly. His wary grin then turns into a genuine smile, You can see me!

Y-Yes, I can...

Oh, oh, don't worry, miss, no need to make that face, I've already promised to take care of you while you travel across this road. It's a little chilly - well, more than - but if no thugs or evil spirits come by, that'll be the worst of your problems. But either way, you've got me to guard you, since you stopped by my shrine and all. And it's great, you know, that you can see me, otherwise I'm wandering around everyone without anybody knowing! At least, most of the time. Oh wait, of course, of course, my name's [Onigi], and yours... ?

Amused by the sudden avalanche of words she never expected to hear on this journey, she smiles, Sonia.

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And so he accompanies the Kougra from Mystery Island, across the mountains until she reaches one of the neighboring villages. No evil spirits came, and no theives and bandits. The day was full of falling snow and spirited conversation.

... And here, something to give you, just like I promised. With a smile, Sonia took out from her backpack a strange-looking fruit that [Onigi] had never seen before. A soft blue fruit, with curious little brown spots. Thank you for being such a wonderful guardian.

As the Kougra walks into the village, the snow spirit is tempted to follow her. But instead, stopping himself from wanting to wander about, he slinks away from the bustling crowd, and waits in the nearby trees to see if any other travelers will come in his direction.

He studies the fruit again, thankful and glad for the offering. It amuses him how silly it looks. Is it tasty? Well, here goes nothing...

It is the greatest thing he has ever tasted.

Now if he stuffed this in a rice ball...