"Cold."

He treaded upon a path he had never known before that midnight. Link let out a tired breath as he rubbed his arms with his hands in an effort to keep warm. Faron Woods had never felt this cold before nor would it after. Only tonight would that empty chill blow through the sacred wood.

The young Hylian knew he was lost now. The trees here loomed above him as though their branches would collapse on him any second and the grass here reached his waist.

Strangest of all, there was tiny wooden signposts every thirty or so feet it seemed. Each one sporting the same message: Kokiri Forest ---

The first time Link had found one of these signs, he became intrigued by its message. He immediately began to follow the direction it was pointing toward: East.

But, soon, the sun began to set over an orange horizon. The path became dimmer and dimmer. Then, that dreadful chill spread through the forest like a fire spreads through a cottage.

Naturally, Link began to think the sign was a simple trick.

Midna would have probably noticed this little trick... Link thought to himself, his feet continuously dragging him forward. He could hear Midna moaning right now.

I told you the sign was a fake! How could you fall for something that obvious?!

About to tell her off, Link remembered Midna had left for her world seven hours past. He let out another drawn out breath. Midna had been such a great friend. Sadder yet, she had liked him. Not that he'd ever return the same feelings for her (He had known her only a few months.), but still...maybe...just possibly...they could have been...

Suddenly, he heard a voice.

"I will wait until the end of..."

Blue irises instantly glanced at a suprising sight. The sight that removed all Link's doubts about the sign...

Footprints. Footprints headed east.

Link sprinted forward to gaze at the prints. They were fresh, meaning someone had left these in their wake minutes ago, but he had not noticed whoever it was that left them.

In a split second, Link fell in line behind the footprints, not looking ahead, just gazing at the footprints, letting them lead him.

"...until the end of days

In this place we'll promised we'd meet again

One last time, my dear friend..."

Link's ears twitched a bit. He was closer now, at least. He began to smell smoke, signifying someone had lit a fire dead ahead. Link, then again, heard the voice, reciting the words to a song it seemed.

"You promised and I believe your words

I know you would not lie

You said to me, let's speak once more

But, you're running out of time..."

Suddenly, something hit Link. This voice...was that of a child. A female child. He looked down a t the footprints, again noticing something he hadn't before. They were small...like a child's. Link remembered when Talo had followed the monkey into Faron Woods, he had followed the boy's footprints, whose were a tad bit smaller than these.

"We haven't much longer my friend

Please don't make me cry

Why are you years and years late?

I start to ponder why..."

Then, the trail stopped and Link came to a halt. Link looked ahead of himself. In front of him was the person who had left the tracks behind. Her appearance matched her footprint size, she was a child. She had green tresses, the same shade of the trees above them, bound by a headband of a darker green color. She was wearing a green dress with a darker green, long-sleeved undershirt made out of a thick cotton it seemed. Over that was a small coat made from wool. But what held Link's glance captive most was the material her dress was made from: it had the same texture that his green tunic had.

She immediately sensed his presence, then, turned toward him, obviously examining this stranger. In a minute, she smiled at him radiantly.

"I've been waiting for you, Link. For a century you've kept me waiting!"