Sometimes when you're traveling, the days feel longer.
The first week was far from unbearable but also far from what any of us had expected. The main road was but a trail made by countless hooves that crossed it. There were century old traces of carriages shattered across the path and Ruins that would sprout dread in any traveler's heart. As heart-wrenching a spectacle as they were, they did come in handy when we sought a quick shelter from the horrible eyes of monsters infesting the path.
Supplies would vanish quickly, which I blame on Shelah's growing appetite. Father believes that his delayed development –he's barely taller than the donkey- justifies his consuming the larger portion of our food. Luckily we can easily restock by the many friendly campfires along the way. Father enjoys listening to adventurers talk about their travels while I enjoy sharpening my dagger by the flame – the one Amarae gifted me, she has such kindness in her heart… Shelah falls asleep by the flame, perhaps because the company of a sword-wielding trouble-seeker is very reassuring, especially in our family. Neither us nor our father are familiar with the blade after all. I believe my father has only wielded it once or twice, probably as part of an experiment, being a man of science. I only acquired the most basic knowledge in my training as well.
Shelah was never interested in the battles either, being such a quiet and reserved kid. It's hard to believe he's turning eighteen this year. Yet, he has not really grown out of his childish ways, his tender skin and soft voice. This is no concern to father, I believe. He enjoys the thought of a son that won't grow apart from him, that won't wish to make a family of his own. Guilt for not being that son is what led me here, tonight, writing this excerpt by the fire as my family sleeps peacefully beside me. When my father's quest is over, I intend to return to Hateno and find Amarae, ask her hand in marriage whilst offering the most beautiful gemstone I can get my hands on throughout this expedition.
But until then, a man can only hope to make it through the night in these infested grounds.
- 8th day on the road, Nayko's diary
This marked their tenth day on the road. It was a day when feet grew blisters and boots sucked up moisture from wet soil, to the point where their legs got heavy and ached with every step. Various paths would lead up to the mountains, all embraced tightly by sharp, glistening slippery rock. Any who wished to proceed ought to be equipped with Climbing Gear if they wished to make it up-top. And the trio was far from equipped for any venturing of the sort.
The words of a lonesome traveler steered them away from the main road; "The trail up the river is flooded with monsters, camping by the lanterns Zora set up over five centuries ago to mark the trail. If y'a try to make it past, the lizards have sharp arrows that spit lightning!"
Nayko instantly begun looking for alternative routes, around the mountains. Perhaps that was a grave mistake, Almodo noted, but that observation was only added in later recollections of the events. As a scientist he was well aware that mixing electricity and water would not favor the Hylian travelers, poorly equipped as they were. He had not much say in it, however, as his eldest son was extremely persistent to stray as far off from those damned monster camps as possible.
The mountain trails would lead them up to Ralis pond, away from the main road and far enough from the river to barely feel a cold spritz from its ancient waters flowing by. Shelah didn't mind much; he had a fear of water that would make one wonder why he chose to follow his father's expedition up to Hyrule's wildest rivers. There, in between steep cliffs and cold slippery rock, one wrong step would be enough to send them rolling down the hills and crushing on the river bank.
Yet, amidst this wild beauty, Almodo found the very first sign of magnificent Zora architecture and inspected the ancient writing with a keen eye. A story of war, lost in the grip of Time. He was no historian, of course. Almodo of Hateno was a humble alchemist, a researcher of sorts. But his natural curiosity had him waste the trio's day inspecting the writing regardless.
As night shed her thick veil of darkness, father and sons were forced to seek temporary shelter and rest their wet feet – leather boots drenched in mud. Up on the hills the wind could be merciless. Shelah started begging to set up camp, whilst Nayko insisted that stopping closer to the pond would be a safer choice – there they could use thick tree branches for a campfire and shield themselves from the harsh winds crossing the mountain's ridges –those very winds that had shaped the rocks to begin with.
Despite his younger brother's pleas, Nayko led them to Ralis Pond, a small pocket of water hidden behind a cliff. Trees surrounded it, fallen leaves and flowers would float in its crystal clear water –so clear that it shone under pale moonlight even in this darkness. Almodo approached the bank with an astounded gaze, silently admiring the serenity of this small oasis amidst the mountain's fierce beauty. The view from up here was beautiful as well; Hyrule's fields extended before them, while behind them sharp mountain peaks concealed an architectural wonder.
"Such is the beauty of the Zora", Almodo whispered by the fire. "Elegant and imposing."
Nayko merely nodded, nonchalantly sharpening his blade by a shy flame. Shelah was desperately seeking warmth, rubbing his hands over the small campfire. Flames were reflected on his red locks, dancing in the hazel of his glossy eyes. Unlike his brother, who sported a long dark braid, his colors were a faded imitation of his mother's fiery curls. Almodo would often note how similar the two were; not only in appearance but in nature as well, both shy and quiet, introverted, hard to read. Nothing like his bold older brother.
"Did you know their history dates back to over 10.000 years ago? They are one of the most ancient tribes in all of Hyrule, along with the Gorons, of course."
There was another nod from Shelah, though it was doubtful if they were nodding for any reason other than being polite. Nayko rolled his eyes and kept at the blade –as if sharpening it further would make it more useful in his weak hands. A small smirk blossomed on Almodo's face at that reaction –mischievous, even.
"Hey, Nayko. Do you remember when we last visited here, over a decade ago? We went on this big expedition with a carriage, stopped halfway up the mountain because the horses slipped on the wet rocks…The road was still much clearer back then. Do you remember?"
Nayko glanced up to his father without much of an expression and let out a quiet sigh. Almodo's smile didn't falter, but it became increasingly more forced as neither of his sons were too eager to make conversation. Shelah's hazel eyes observed his expression quietly.
"Father, would you mind sharing a story from your last visit with me?", their soft voice was barely audible over the pond's waters dancing and the distant howl of mountain winds. Almodo's face lit up.
"Of course not! Actually, I have a really interesting one too! You see, Zora live many centuries, and thus it's hard to notice much growth in them –even if some faces are familiar. Their growth is slow and hardly noticeable. Sometimes you might see one that looks as a child and yet discover they have been alive for half a century already! And when I first visited, I mistook a seemingly child-like one for a kid, but she was nearing her twenties already! We were the same age, yet she was half my size. I suppose by Zora standards that still made her a child, since they live for so long, but it was an odd experience for an inexperienced traveler such as myself. She took no offense though. She only asked we play a game of water tag as an apology- which, is basically the same as tag just in the water. I lost of course, haha ! A Zora is simply unstoppable in the water, really."
By the time he snickered and looked to his son, Shelah had already curled up by the fire. And Nayko was staring at the pond without much of an expression. Almodo sighed quietly and reached into his backpack for a thin shred of fabric to throw over his youngest son. He noted how sickly thin the boy was, slender long legs and tiny wrists. Hopefully the fish sold at the Domain were as delicious and nutritious as he could recall.
Nayko had pulled out the torn pages clumsily stitched together, his 'diary' as he called it. He was scribbling quietly on it and Almodo slowly shifted to lay on his side against moist soil and leaves as he watched his son in silence. There was rustling in the distance. Nayko didn't seem alerted by it. Almodo was beginning to drift off, Shelah shivered and curled up into a ball as close to the flame as he could.
The night spoke of something sinister. Yet the Hylians surrendered to the sweet embrace of sleep, protected only by the dying flame of a small campfire.
A gentle sprinkle woke Shelah up the following dawn. The sky was a pale blue, shrouded by thick white clouds; an omen.
The boy sat up and got his hands dirty in moist soil. A smell of wet earth lingered in the air around them. Shelah took it in with a quiet sigh, stretched lightly and got on his feet. He headed for the pond to wash the dirt off his freckled complexion. Small hands cupped in cool, crystal clear water. Beautiful flowers danced on the pond's surface. They made the sight a bit more bearable to him. He watched the fallen leaves travel across the bank before bringing the fistful of water up to his face –quickly, he only meant to brush it over his cheeks.
The first rinse had him shiver; icy water ran down his cheeks, draining his face of whatever heat it could hope to harbor. He opened his eyes and stared across the pond; some blurry, indefinite dark mass was shifting.
He narrowed his eyes, shifting closer to the bank for a better look. Now that he observed it like that…it really looked like something was moving across the pond. And the more he stared at it, the more he begun to pick up on a low growl- a roar? Heavy breathing? – coming from its way. He stood up slowly, quietly, and glanced back to his sleeping father and brother.
It would be impossible to sleep here again after spotting something so large across the pond. But he wasn't sure if waking them up would be the best option, either. He bit his thin lower lip and clenched his fists, glancing over his shoulder to whatever monstrosity was asleep at the other side.
With both fists clenched tightly against his hips, Shelah begun to make the pond's round as quietly as he possibly could. His worn out leather boots carefully avoided the leaves on his path, cat-like steps following the bank to where the Beast lay asleep.
There, he saw it. The sight alone had him cup a gasp into his mouth. A Giant was sleeping only a few feet away from where they had camped, sleeping heavily with a low grunt in its stinky breath. How come they'd missed the awful sound last night?
His face went pale in horror. This thing could easily smash his skull to pieces with a single wave of its hand. He had to alert the others, but fear had him paralyzed. So instead he stood with a hand to his lips and a horrified expression, completely still beside the sleeping Giant.
Suddenly, something brushed over his shoulder. Shelah jumped on the spot, squeezing his hand against his lips as hard as possible to keep silent. Nayko's face appeared beside his shoulder, dark hair dancing in the light breeze, all ruffled from his sleep. His hazel eyes were fixed on the sleeping beast, an calm yet obviously worried expression on his face as well. The dagger was clenched in his free hand, edge pointing towards the Giant. He pushed Shelah behind him, aiming to back away from the beast.
But in this momentary push, Nayko had already doomed them both. Even though he only meant to protect his little brother, Shelah's foot had crushed a twig as he stepped back, producing a loud 'crunch'. One would think this wouldn't be enough to disturb the giant, but Shelah's frightened gasp right after did the job anyway.
With a growl, the Hinox sat up and rubbed its eye drowsily. Nayko's eyes seemed ready to pop out of his head. Shelah quivered in fear, tugging at the edges of his red curls.
"Run.", Nayko whispered. "Run, run run!"
He'd already turned around, beginning to dash for their camp. But the Hinox's glare was already fixed on both of them. Shelah's jaw had dropped open so far down it almost seemed to have snapped out of place. The Hinox got on its feet and shook the ground hard enough to send Nayko flying on his face, dagger slipping out of his grip and landing somewhere near Shelah's feet.
The younger boy had stepped back, almost losing his balance as well from the small earthquake that was a Hinox's step. The Giant turned around, various jewels hanging from a chain around his neck clashing together. At once, a stench of fish, pig and dried meat filled the air. The Giant approached. Nayko was still getting back on his feet with a grunt. Shelah bent over to grab the dagger, hazel gaze fixed on the Giant all the way.
But before he even had the measly weapon in his grip, even, the Giant's hand slapped him away and sent him flying against cold rock. There was a horrible 'crack'. Nayko screamed. Almodo had picked up on the fuss by now and rushed to his son's side, only to be stopped by the Giant's foot stomping right before him. The old man fell back, Nayko dashed to pull him away from the Giant's leg whilst screaming; "Shelah! Shelah, no!"
The Hinox had its full attention to them, now, leaving Shelah behind it. The boy rolled down the rocks and fell on his back unconscious. Almodo could tell he was critically hurt even from that distance. He got on his feet and held his son's hand as they both tried to run as far away from the Giant's foot as possible.
With a horrible grunt, the Hinox clapped both its hands before it, attempting to crush the Hylians between them. Even though it failed, the attack alone was enough to send both Almodo and Nayko into frenzy; both screamed and jumped away from its grip, landing on their faces beside the pond's muddy bank.
Nayko's eyes were desperately looking around for the lost dagger, but it was nowhere to be found. It had flown off in Shelah's grip, now dropped somewhere behind them. Another scream came from his father as the Giant's hand hovered above them. Once again, they barely even managed to dodge it and now all color had been drained from Almodo's face. He was too old for such thrill. In a vain attempt to save both his father and his own skin, Nayko grabbed a tree branch and tossed it against the giant's foot.
The monster screamed. Nayko's eyes widened in shock. It wasn't until a few seconds later that he realized it was not the twig he threw that hurt the Giant. The Hinox turned around to glare towards a long, slender figure standing atop a nearby hill, wielding a silver bow. Almodo sat up in shock.
Bow string pulled back, arrow aimed straight into the Giant's eye; the Zora archer bought Nayko enough time to get up and dash to Shelah. The Giant fell back with a thud, ground shaking. Almodo sprung up and dashed towards the cliffs, forgetting all about his backpack on the other side of the pond. It was a matter of life and death to get as far away from this thing as possible.
The Zora archer aimed again, but the Hinox was too busy rubbing its sore eye.
"This way!", he called. Nayko picked Shelah up in his arms and followed his father, all lead by the soldier over a cliff and down a steep hill. The river's song grew louder, rocks crumbling beneath their feet and falling into fierce water. They caught up to the archer a few feet further, leaving the beast behind them once and for all.
Shelah was still unconscious, breathing heavily in Nayko's arms. His head was falling back into his brother's lap, arms dangling on the sides of his body. One could easily see the horrible wounds left behind by his collision. Almodo was tugging at his white hair furiously.
The Zora approached calmly, still wielding his silver bow, ready to shoot in case the Hinox decided to venture out of its territory.
"Greetings. My name is Gillian and I'm under the command of Captain Bazz. You must follow me."
Nayko was too shocked, busy staring at his brother's raspy breathing, to take in much of the Zora's appearance. Almodo merely managed a nod.
"Please, please, you need to help my son! He was severly wounded!"
Gillian's yellow gaze landed on the unconscious Hylian. He hadn't seen many Hylians, but even he could tell this one didn't look so good.
"You must follow me.", he repeated, then returned the arrow on his bow to its quiver and tied the weapon on his back. They'd need free hands to slide down slippery rocks and onto the nearest path. Being that he was escorting Hylians, he couldn't expect them to cross the river as a Zora would. So Gillian lead them all the way down to the river bank instead, then picked the trail up Ruto mountain, carefully avoiding monster infested areas.
Despite moving at a fast pace, with an experienced Zora guard by their side, the Hylians still took a couple of hours to see the Great Zora Bridge. And by that time Shelah's breathing had slowed down. Almodo was whimpering, wondering if his son would make it through the night.
The two men were halted at the Domain's entrance. Gillian spoke to his fellow guards about letting the sick boy in first. Dunma picked him up, light as he was, and carried him to Seabed inn to be taken care of. The remaining visitors would be allowed to spend the night only after a hearing with Captain Bazz and perhaps the King himself, even. Almodo had been through the procedure before, yet this time he was too worried about his son to focus on responding to any questions. All he did was mutter "Please, please let me help him!" over and over.