Identity Realized (open)

[Rima Nishizawa]

She hadn't been at camp all that long, and already she was finding out that she prefered being alone. It was just now daybreak, and Rima hadn't been able to sleep. She sat in the grass by the lake, wondering what it would look like frozen. She actually wanted to be able to skate on this one day, and she thought that everyone else would like that too. It would make this place feel more like home. She didn't feel like she had to pretend to be someone she wasn't here. She could go around camp in her favorite white dress without a coat on and the rest of the campers wouldn't care. Or at least, they wouldn't say anything.

She'd noticed something since ariving here. Some of the kids who were in the cabin with her had left and moved to other cabins. She knew she wasn't the same as the other kids who shared the cabin, and that feeling wasn't exactly one of the best. She curled her knees to her chest, grasping her wrists, laying her chin on her knees. She looked at one of her hands, wondering if she had the ability to freeze the lake. She decided not to try it, figuring that she didn't have enough control over her powers yet. The grass around her was frosting, then freezing completely, and she couldn't feel it at all. She wrapped her arm back around her knees, looking at the lake as light began to show over the horizon. The water was so pretty this early in the morning, when the air was still and no campers were on the lake. It made her feel happy, and the ice around her began to melt.

Her powers were undeniably tied to her emotions, but Francis had believed that she'd get control as she got older. She hoped he was right, even though she didn't really understand what he meant.

[theresa]

Theresa had taken an interest in this small girl ever since she randomly showed up at the camp. Rima seemed to be a tiny and meek girl, someone who was alone. Too alone for Teddy's liking. She didn't know why, but she felt a small connection to this other nomadic outsider. The only difference was that everyone Rima met loved her almost at once. Then again how could they not, she was adorable and seemingly harmless. Yet there was something about her that told a person that this child could hold her own. All of this combined could be why the sixteen year old demi-nymph decided to follow Rima to the lake that day.

At first she just watched trying to decide how to approach the girl and not scare her off. Soon enough opportunity knocked for Teddy. As Theresa stood in waiting she noticed the ground around the tiny blond start to frost over and freeze, a few seconds later begane to melt. The small girl had just used her powers. Possibly on accident, but she did. "Neat trick, can you do anything else like that?" she asked sitting down beside her."I'm Theresa Jones, but you can call me Teddy. Everybody does. Rima Right?" she asked even though she already knew the answer.

[Rima Nishizawa]

Rima didn't turn when the girl spoke to her, but the grass frosted again. She came here this early to be alone. It wasn't normal for someone else to be awake this early. This girl, though, Rima didn't mind as much. She kind of liked this older camper, actually. This one seemed to be friendly. If the way she acted around other people was any indication. She didn't react to the first question. All of the campers, even the ones she didn't know, knew she couldn't control her own powers. She didn't even know where her powers came from.

"Watashi wa... Rima desu," she said quietly. "Teddy-onee-chan seems... nice..." she added softly. Her Japanese accent colored her voice, despite her having grown up in Canada. "I... Can't do it again... Ice grows when I am not happy, and melts away when I am happy." That was the best way she could describe it.

A cold, abnormal wind suddenly blew around them, whipping Rima's curls around her face. She didn't react; to her, the wind wasn't cold. It was comfortable. She had a higher cold resistance than the rest of the campers, and that was obvious by the fact that she was outside in midwinter wearing a short-sleeved dress. She felt something in that wind, though... Something... Not normal.

My child...

Rima looked around, startled. "Did you hear that?" she asked, shocked out of her normally distant demeanour. "I just... Heard something... Almost like... The wind was... Talking to me."

[theresa]

Theresa glanced down at the grass as she felt it begin to get colder. 'Yep, powers are definitely connected to her emotions' she thought smiling she looked out onto the water. It was so peaceful and still. The demi-nymph could see why the small girl beside her would come here to think. She listened quietly to Rima tell about her power. Admitting that you had no control over something like that was not an easy thing to do. This was one thing Teddy new from experience. It had taken her a year to get as far as she had on control, and still she wasn't that good at it.

Smiling down at the tiny blonde Teddy spoke softly to her in a comforting tone."I have trouble controlling my powers too. One in particular, it's okay the more you practice the better you'll get, just don't be afraid." She frowned as in her mind she saw flash backs of the day she first used her power, and of the look on her father's girlfriends face the day she left. At first Theresa thought that these memories were causeing her to shiver, but then she noticed the cold wind. Looking back at Rima, the Demi-Nymph saw that she took no notice to the cold. Something else did catch her attention though. The startled look on this child's face worried the sixteen year old camper. That was until she said she heard a voice on the wind. Placing her slightly green hand on Rima's shoulder she smiled."No, I didn't. It probably was talking to you. Like the trees talk to me." The petite blonde thought for a moment before continueing. Moving around on her knees so that she was in front of Rima, Teddy grabbed her hands."I want you to try something for me. Close your eyes and concentrate. Listen to the wind. Can you do that for me? Don't worry you can trust me."

[Rima Nishizawa]

Rima nodded slowly, doing as the girl told her. The words became more obvious to her, but they were repetative.

My daughter... My daughter...

"I... I think mother is trying to talk to me!" Rima realized with a gasp. There was only one thing this could mean. She'd been called an Unclaimed demigod, whatever that meant. Of course, Rima didn't realize she was being Claimed. Not yet.

Yes... I am... Your mother...

The wind picked up, whipping snow around the girl. The snow coated her, even covering her dress, turning her hair to an almost pure white. Rima stood, eyes still closed.

Listen to my words... My daughter...

"Hai... Okaa-sama..." Rima whispered.

I am Khione, the Snow Goddess... My father is Boreas... God of the North Wind... My brothers aer Zethes and Calias...

"Wakarimashita..." Rima said quietly.

You are my daughter... a Snow Princess...

A tiara formed on Rima's head, made entirely out of snow.

And this, my daughter... Is my gift to you...

A rod of ice formed in the air before the child, only as large as a pencil.

When you wish it, this rod of ice will become a staff... To assist you in channeling your abilities...

The rod of ice grew to a staff about the height of the girl and thick enough to be a usefull weapon, yet thin enough for one of her hands to fully grasp it, and it would grow to her size as she grew. Rima reached out, palm up, eyes still closed, and the staff shrank back to the size of a pencil before falling into the girl's hand. Her fingers wrapped around it, and she lowered her arm to her side.

The ice will not melt... Use it to help strengthen your powers... Become a true child of ice and snow...

The wind began to slow, and the snow fell around Rima in a strange pattern... Like... A winter rose.

I will watch you, my daughter...

The snow began to slow, and the flakes that had been covering the child began to detatch themselves from her. The snow fell away from her hair, leaving the curls white-blond. The dress, which had obtained minor staining, was also white. The dress itself had been changed from a simple sundress to a floor-length dress with pale pink trim, and pale pink outline of winter roses. On her brow still rested the tiara, now made of ice that would also never melt.

Make me proud... To call you... Mine...

The wind slowed, then died, and with it went the snow. Left on the ground around the child was a winter rose made of snow. She opened her eyes, head raised to the sky, then looked down at the ground. She gasped, turning on the spot, then realised what had happened. A smile broke on her lips, and her dark blue eyes glimmered happily. She brought her hand out, opening her fingers, looking down at the pencil-sized rod of ice on her palm. It didn't feel cold, but it had the same smooth texture that ice often had. She looked at Teddy, then down at her dress. She gasped again. She'd never had a dress like that before, having never been to a big city. It was so pretty! And... What was on her head... She reached up to touch it, smiling wider. She really was a Snow Princess!

((For anyone who doesn't know, this is what a winter rose looks like.))

[theresa]

Theresa held the girls hands and watched her the concentration was obvious on her face. Smiling as Rima, listened. Slightly jealous that this small girl's mother was in fact contacting her. It was an amazing transformation to watch. So surprising that Teddy felt herself standing up and stepping back a few inches to allow Rima some space for her claiming. Her mouth dropped as a beautiful crown was miraculously placed on her head, and a small pencil sized piece of eyes formed in her hand. It grew, and shrank back to it's original size as if by Rima's command. Teddy wondered what this small blonde's mom was saying to her, and what it would feel like to be claimed. Possibly some sort of spiritual or mental enlightenment.

As Rima began to open her eyes, Theresa's smile widened at the small girl's excitement. Right in front of her was the happiest little girl Teddy had ever seen. The demi-nymph allowed her to have a moment of silence before speaking."Congratulations Rima!"Walking back over Teddy kneeled in front of her. Making eye contact with her she gave the small girl an big toothy smile."You look beautiful, just like a little snow princess." Theresa knew that Rima may not be comfortable with this, but the sixteen year old was so happy for her that she just had to hug her. "I'm so proud of you."

---

Notes: Sorry if Rima isn't comfortable with the contact, Teddy just tends to act big sisterly towards younger campers.

[Rima Nishizawa]

Rima couldn't stop smiling at what had just happened. She finally knew who her mother was! That feeling was... Amazing! "That's what mother called me," Rima said to Teddy. "Mother called me a Snow Princess." She hugged the older girl back, equally happy. "She said this could help me control my powers." After she was released, Rima turned to the lake, picturing what it would look like frozen. She closed her eyes and held out one hand open, the other clutching the rod of ice. A cold wind began to blow from behind her, toward the lake. The water began to frost white, then clear slightly. However, her powers were not quite developed enough to freeze the lake. She only succeeded in freezing about a quarter inch layer over the water in a three-foot diameter around her before it tired her out. She lowered her hands, breathing heavily, but smiling as she opened her eyes.

"I felt it," she said, looking at the frozen water. "I could feel the energy flowing through me, out toward the water." She turned back toward Teddy. "This rod... It really does help me focus my power." She looked down at it, smiling. "This will help me make mother proud."