Chapter One: How It All Started
I trotted down the concrete steps of Kakariko High School, glad to be free of its long halls, huge classrooms, and the many, many people that crowded in it day in and day out. My long, raven black hair bounced with each step, stinging my tank-topped back when it hit. I slipped my long, slender fingers into the back pocket of my jean shorts and fished out my iPod, jamming my headphones in and hitting the play button. Tuning out the bustle of laughing, talking high schoolers, I instead focused on the warm Hyrulean sun beating down on me, and the catchy song that was now blaring in my ears. A soft breeze seemed to blow the trees in rhythm to the song, and my feet, dodging several bodies as the tide of people swept around me, danced to it also. Nestled in a shady grove of trees along the sidewalk stood my old bike. In one swift, expert move I nudged the kickstand up with the toe of my sandaled foot, swung my long leg of and straddled the bike's worn leather seat, my 5ft. 9in. frame perched some what awkwardly on top. I pedaled, hard and fast, determined to get my "home" and then up into the mountains as soon as I could.
Trees and houses whizzed by in a blur as I channeled all my anger and frustration from the school day into my legs and feet, until they were a blur themselves. Minutes passed, and the homes petered out, turning into long, white fences with horses grazing in the pastures. Then, suddenly, up in front of me appeared my mansion-like home. I turned into the gravel driveway, then hopped off my bike before coming to a complete halt. I walked up the five steps that led to my beautiful, yet prison-like home, dread growing in my stomach with each subtle tep tep tep of my foot on the steps. My hand closed around the doorknob, and I paused to take a deep breath before I flung the door open to my hell-hole of a home. To my right lay a huge kitchen, with marble countertops, two ovens, a microwave, and a stove at in island located smack in the center of the kitchen. Just to the left of the kitchen stood a door that led to the dining room slash sunroom. Off to my left is the living room, with lavish couches, engraved coffee tables, and tall lamps with huge lampshades. Right in the middle of this are the staircases; the one going upstairs built on top of the one going downstairs, like two slanted lines running parallel to each other. If that makes any sense.
I walked to the stairs, grabbed the banister and took the stairs two at a time. I reached the top and paused, then slowly turned around, my feet making no sound on the wood floor. Passed out on the couch, arm outstretched, hair tousled and clothes bedraggled, was my father. Tilted against the leather couch couch was a bottle—empty. My father had evidently drunk himself to sleep.
"Fancy seeing you there," I muttered, glaring at my fathers drunken, snoring form.
"Raven? Is that you?" My mothers shaky voice came from my right.
"Mom!" I whispered, the jogged into her room, dropping my backpack on her bed. "Oh, Mom." She was sitting with her back to the wall, her knees drawn up to her chest. Several blue-and-purple bruises decorated her thin arms, and her gaunt face sported a long, deep cut. Her pale bottom lip was split, and her eyes had a fearful look in them.
"He was in a drunken rage," she said by way of explaining her bruises. "It wasn't his fault, Raven." I stared at her battered body, then the welts and bruises that were poorly covered in makeup.
"Not his fault…" I hissed angrily. "Not his fault?!" I growled like an animal, punching the wall lightly in frustration. "How can you say that? It is his fault!" I felt the red haze come over my eyes and combed my fingers through my inky tresses to calm myself before I did something rash. My mother stood and walked toward me, and I watched the gentle sway of her hips, the way her auburn hair floated around her face and the way her green eyes shone sympathy at me. She's beautiful, and how anyone could hurt her is beyond me. She enveloped me in a hug, unintentionally pushing on a sore spot I had gotten from my abusive father the night before. I winced and pulled away.
"I'm going up into the mountains," I said, avoiding her inquiring gaze. I grabbed my backpack off of her bed and whisked out of her room. My room was across the hall, and once inside it, I shut the door and locked it. I stripped off my uncomfortable school uniform, and stood in front of the mirror in my purple lace bra and panties. I twisted my top half to see the yellow bruise that practically covered the small of my back. I flinched at the ugly sight of it and shuddered. I walked to my dresser and slipped on a pair of jeans and a loose-fitted purple tee shirt. I tugged on a pair of cowboy boots, then walked over to my large window beside my bed and heaved it open. I then swung both my legs over the sill and sat, perched lightly. I then loosened my grip and dropped to the ground, my knees bending to absorb the impact. Striding away from my home that harbored nothing but horror for me, I opened my mouth, utilizing my smoky, eerie voice to sing the notes of Epona's Song, a song pulled from myth and legend. True to its nature, the song's notes drifted across the field that stretched before me, calling to my horse, Magic. A few minutes later, I saw Magic's black form cantering toward me. As he neared, he lowered his head and nickered into my hair. I laughed, then placed my hands on his withers and gave a little hop; enough to boost me up on top of his broad back. My hand closed around his black mane to steady myself, and I twisted to look at the mountains that were raising up behind the fields. Magic took the cue well, cantering off toward the mountains, then transitioning to a flat out gallop. My body fell naturally into the rhythm of Magic's long strides as we neared the majestic mountains.
The sun was setting behind them, lighting up the gathering storm clouds with and eerie, golden glow. After an hour passed, Magic and I had made it behind the first row of mountains. We were in a small valley with a lake in the middle. Trees bordered half the lake and stretched up the mountainside. The other half of land bordering the lake was shores and a wide expense of tall grasses. Then the trees started up again along the the grasses, secluding my haven.
I was sitting on the pebbly shoreline, knees draw up to my chest, my long arms hugging them in place. Magic was rolling comically in the long grasses, snorting with pleasure. I snaked my hand down, snatched a flat stone, and skipped it across the lake, sighing contentedly. Life was perfect when I was out here, alone, with Magic and nature. Away from my abusive father, away from boring old school. I reached down again to select another stone when a silvery flash from my palm caught my attention. I held both my hand in front of my face, studying the scares on each one.
On my right hand, etched in silver, was the Triforce symbol. The three triangles that were pointing up were outlined in silver, but the middle triangle, the one that was pointing down, was outlined in a purply color. I had had this scar since I was born. It gave me visions of the past, present and future, but it had been dormant for about a year now.
On my left hand was a full moon, with a howling Wolf's silhouette engraved on the moon. The wolf was black, and the moon around it was a pale, silvery color. This scar I had had also since birth. It gave me uncontrollable magic that I had not tested the limits of. The magic help with certain day to day things, like biking to school, jumping out of my second story window, and mounting my tall horse from the ground with a small boost.
My magic also gave me super-senses, which were going on high alert at the moment. I expended them, my long, pointed ears, that were signature to the Hylean race, picked up light footfalls of to my right slightly. I slipped my hand quietly into my jean pocket, my slender fingers closing around the handle of my pocket knife. I stood quickly, calling on my magic to aid me with speed. My knife was under the intruder's chin before he even knew what was happening and I found myself staring into a pair of striking cerulean eyes.
My heart skipped a beat at his striking gaze, and I tore my eyes away from his mesmerizing eyes to take in the rest of him. His unruly, golden blonde hair was long, just long enough to run my fingers through it… I mentally berated myself. Focus, Raven Violet Mara, focus. My eyes lingered uncomfortably long on his red lips that were curled in a confident smirk before moving to the rest of him. He was only slightly taller then me, I realized. His hands were up in a gesture of supplication, though his smirk and the calm why he held his body suggested anything but.
"Who are you? What are you doing here?" I growled, pressing my blade into the soft neck of his chin slightly harder. I realized with a start that my elbow was resting on his muscular chest, and I couldn't stop the heated blushed that crept, unwanted, into my face. He grinned wider.
"My name is Link. And I'm here to answer your questions," he drawled, still trying to make eye contact.
"Questions about what?" I asked guardedly, not daring to look at those startling blue eyes again. He tilted his head, as if contemplating something, then suddenly flicked his hand up to hold my wrist and pivoted so that my back was against his chest and gently pried the knife out of my hand. His left hand closed around my left arm, my heart fluttering at his touch. Then Link pressed his thumb against the inside of my right wrist, making my fingers spread enough to see my Triforce scar. Then he did the same to my left hand, displaying my wolf scar.
"The questions about your scars," he whispered softly in my ear, causing me to shudder slightly. The he turned his right hand, palm facing me.
On his hand was the same Triforce symbol.
A/N: Hi all! My pen name is Raven Mara, and this is my first Legend of Zelda Fanfiction. I do not own Zelda (obviously; this IS a Fanfiction site) but I do own Raven Violet Mara. I understand this is only the first chapter, and there really is no plot development yet, but please review! Reviews keep me motivated. {Hint hint, wink wink, nudge nudge} ;)
If you have any question/comments/concerns, please let me know in a review and I will get back to you asap! Also, this is rated 'T' for mild sexual content (intense kissing, touches, and such, nothing too bad) and you have been warned! There will be no vile language whatsoever, so we are good there.
Now, on that awkward note, see ya'll next chapter! :D