A/N Tai here, with my first story, posted up after pesterings from friends. Different fare from what I usually write, but hey. This is a fluffy Link/Midna story, set during the game. Beware of spoilers - if you haven't at least gotten past Lanayru, don't read any further. As spoilers advance, I'll warn you.
Please review. If you love it, tell me what I'm doing right. If you don't like it, tell me where I can improve it. If you think I should burn in the fiery pits of Hell and die a horribly painful death, give me some suggestions for methods. grin I don't mind flamers, as long as they can give me a halfway decent point in the middle of their flames. Don't hold back, I know I'm not perfect, but I'm not going to achieve it if I don't know which way to aim.
Enough of me yapping. Let's get on with the story.
Chapter One
Any Port in a Storm
Lightning split the sky in twain, the boom of thunder rolling over the Twilight Princess and her sacred mount. Link's ears flicked back in irritation at the loud noise, letting out a little growl at the skies as he slowed. Midna ruffled one of his ears gently, watching the clouds. "It's going to rain soon. We should find some shelter." She looked around, then yelped a little as Link nodded his lupine head curtly and turned, loping in that tireless gait wolves possess. Spotting what she hadn't noticed, a cave blocked by a boulder, he paced the perimeter wall, nose twitching. Finding the spot he was searching for just as the clouds split open, he began digging furiously.
Water came down in a torrent, and despite Link's fast work, both he and Midna were drenched by the time he had finished his tunnel. He slipped inside first, the Twili following with a graceful dive, as the wolf quickly set to work. A few moment's inspection later, he was satisfied - the cave hadn't been used in a long time, nothing was coming back. The ground was mostly stone, with a few dirt patches, one of which he had dug his way out from. Link began to shake himself vigorously, sending water flying in every direction. Midna sputtered as she felt the fine mist coat her already-wet fur, giving the hero a cutting glare that didn't last. "Dumb dog," she muttered, with no real malice. Still, Link looked as apologetic as a wolf could look.
He lay down, and Midna shivered - the cave was sealed, but it was still cold. "At least you're drier," she smiled a little, a hint of her solitary fang showing as she swooped down, curling up and shuffling back on the ground. She let out a little sigh as he lifted and put a paw over her, tugging her in a little in a lupine hug. She smiled, her eyes beginning to drift closed before opening wide again at the feeling of something warm, rough and wet trailing her neck. A shudder rippled through her spine, setting her fur on end, and Link drew back slightly, curving his head and looking at her intently. Those piercing blue eyes, fierce and unreadable in battle, were gentle and curious now - she could read the question without anything needing to be said. 'You don't like that?'
I think I like it too much, a tiny part of Midna's mind chipped in. She ignored it. "Just startled me. What were you trying to do, anyway?" She suddenly giggled, a pleasant sound as he lapped at her cheeks playfully. A tiny hand touched the spot he'd licked - it was damp, but a warm damp, and most of the rain had been cleaned away. Turning back around so she could press back against him, using his furry body as a pillow of sorts, she let her eyes slowly slide shut, the slowing, even breathing of the pup beside her telling her he was succumbing to sleep with her.
Agony. Blinding pain, purest burning agony. The air was fire in her lungs, her body begging her to stop the torture, but she stubbornly refused. Each mouthful of air forced into her lungs was a battle won, only to be fought again a few moments later. She could barely see - she could make out her arm in front of her, deathly white where there should have been a dusky midnight. She daren't try to lift her head, but she could feel the fur beneath her, the powerful muscles of the wolf stretching under her. Perhaps there were faster animals, but just judging from time alone she knew this was the best way to travel - it had to have been six hours, and while the wolf's loping stride ate up the distance, she could feel that it would be hours more before he even thought about slowing, no matter what his body told him.
'He's pushing himself for me.' The thought came from nowhere. 'This isn't about him. He's worried for me.' With what little strength she could afford in the burning light, she gripped his fur, barely enough to be noticed. A sad smile drifted onto her features as she felt Link's pace quicken, and she lay her head on his shoulders. She could feel his light, too - but this wasn't a burning light. His light was soft and comforting - his wasn't the burning light of the midday sun, but the soft light of sunset, strong and proud, but gentle and caring at the same time. She drew strength from that light and warmth inside him, holding on tightly as she willed herself to keep fighting the pain that threatened to blot her mind out for good.
