I felt a nudge at my side and groaned, smacking at the offending leg. I didn't want to wake up yet; the hay feels so very nice. Said leg and foot combination did not agree with me and continues to pester my sides.

"C'mon Link, you can't expect me to do all the work around here?"

I begrudgingly sat up and yawned, sleepily replying. "Aw, Fado, Epona and I already herded the goats back into the barn. What more is there for me to do?"

"We have to care for them too, I already brushed the things, you can feed them."

I groaned and shuffled my way down to the loft ladder and to the barn floor below, pulling scraps of hay with me. Fado climbed down after me and watched me with a raised brow as I fed the goats.

"There, that ain't so hard is it? Now we can go home and you can sleep in a real bed if you gotta nap so much." I gave him a light punch to the shoulder and he used his height advantage to ruffle my mess of hair.

"And get Illia to get all the dang hay out of your hair or the goats will be trying to eat it." He picked a blade of hay from my bangs and poked my nose with it before dropping it on the ground. He waved goodbye as he began to walk down the path back to the village, and I went over to Epona in the pasture.

I smiled at her as she whinnied and nuzzled my cheek. She plucked a stray chunk of hay from my hair as I ruffled her mane and climbed into the saddle. The boys still couldn't figure out how a girl as short as me could hop up into Epona's saddle so easily, but to me it was as natural as breathing. Epona had been with me since she was a foal and we understood each other completely. I suppose that's why I was the only one that wrangled the goats these days, Epona and I are much more efficient than just leading them on foot.

As Epona trotted down the path into Ordon, Illia called out to me and began to walk next to us. She gave Epona a hug and a sugar cube, spoiling her as usual.

"If you give her too many she might get lazy~"

"She gets too much exercise with you. The only time you aren't sleeping is when you're riding her."

"Hey that's not true! The kids bother me so much I never get a chance to nap."

She laughed at me as we entered the clearing in front of my treehouse. I dismounted from Epona and began to take off her saddle while Illia took off her bridle.

"Can I take her to the spring again? She deserves a good bath after a hard day of work."

"You know you don't have to ask. I swear you only talk to me for my horse."

"Well, the horse is an improvement." ,she laughed and led Epona through the trees towards the spring.

"Hey what's that supposed to mean?"

I didn't get a reply from her retreating figure. I wasn't mad though. Illia and I were like sisters, and I always knew she didn't mean it when she teased me. I sighed and entrusted Epona to her, climbing up into my house and into bed. We had worked slightly later than usual and the kids weren't out bothering me for once, so there was nothing to interrupt my sleep.