AN
hey guys, spc here, and this is my first ever story! well, the first one i'm submitting. i'm kinda new at this, so please review my story! i need critique and input from others in order to improve, and if i improve then that means better stories get submitted, and if better stories get submitted, then people read better stories, and if people read better stories, then people are happier! (by people, i mean YOU)
so anyways, yeah, read, review, enjoy, hate, do whatever you want. but yeah, please review.
so this story takes place in the TP setting, sheik is a girl and NOT zelda. i don't own the characters or places, just the story.
Chapter 1
He was riding fast, the grunts and sound of hooves quickly approaching him from behind. He spared a glance over his shoulder, and could see the red in the creature's eyes, the rage in its muscles propelling it forward. Panicking, he dug his heels deeper into Epona, pulling on the reins to turn her, attempting to dodge the charging beast. It didn't work. Epona let out a cry as Link fell from her, the ground coming up to meet him. The blades of grass did nothing to soften the blow as he collided with the rocks and dirt, his hands and knees scraping against them. Dazed, he scrambled to his feet, to see Epona galloping around the pasture, the buck turning around to charge at him again. Link knew he wouldn't have the time to catch Epona and mount her again, so facing the enraged goat, spreading his feet and bending his knees, Link steadied himself. The goat was almost upon him now, fury in every clop of his hooves. He lowered his head, aiming his long, curling horn at the boy. Reacting fast, Link grabbed the horn, holding off the beast. The bony ridges dug into the dirt-covered cuts on Link's hands, the muscles in his arms struggling to keep the goat at bay. He stepped to the side, pulling the horn to the ground, the buck coming with it, and dust and pebbles sprayed from the impact, the ground giving a shudder. Link let go of the horn, the animal had calmed, the throw shaking him of his rage. The buck slowly got up, his head lowered submissively as he walked to the barn.
"Whoo boy, that was a fine show!"
Yes, the life of a goat herder, very exciting. Link turned to see Fado, the owner of the ranch and its goats. He was a large man, tall and muscular, and had short brown hair. With drooping green eyes, a large nose, and a mouth too small for the rest of his face, he had a perpetually dopey expression, but that was forgotten when you noticed the bulging muscles covering the rest of his body.
"Y'know, I think you've been pissing them off just so they'd attack me," Link called to him. Fado chuckled at that as he walked towards Link.
"Actually, I have not, but that's a pretty good idea. And you gotta admit, it makes for one helluva show when they get mad." More laughter from Fado as he clapped a large hand over Link's shoulder, making his knees buckle from the weight. Epona had made her way back to Link and was nuzzling his hair. Asmile broke out over his face as he jerkily moved his head, attempting to avoid the mare's tickling nose.
"Yeah, for you maybe. I'm the one stuck with more bruises than you can count. I gotta get these scrapes cleaned out. I'll see you tomorrow for your daily fill of child abuse."
"Not a child no more, are ya, lad?" Fado said with a smile. Link just waved a hand over his shoulder as he grabbed onto Epona's reins and left the ranch. His muscles were too sore for him to ride Epona, so the two walked together in companionable silence. The sloping hill was hard on him, his legs struggling against gravity as they descended into the village.
Ordon Village was a sleepy little spot on the Hylian map, surrounded by a forest with a stream running through it. The land was speckled with pumpkin patches and quiet homes, chickens and monkeys often roaming through. Legend was that the land had once belonged to a race of forest creatures, but they were long gone now, their home inhabited by humans and a Hylian. The village was isolated from the rest of Hyrule, and the people had learned to be self-sufficient over the generations, starting up the goat farm, and taking advantage of the surrounding forest for wood and other useful plants.
Link's family had been the guards to the village, in charge of defending it from anything that might be a threat. More often than not, however, they had been the ones to greet the occasional salesman or wandering traveler.
Link and Epona were at the bottom of the hill now, the sun low and red on the horizon. It had been a hot, windless day, with no clouds to break up the sky. There was a sort of hush to the village, the chickens and hawks and finches quiet in their usual songs. The only sound his long ears could detect was from the river, giggling and warbling and singing as it ran through the village, tripping over stones and swimming past fish.
Link led Epona to one of the bridges that crossed the river as he heard the creak of a door behind him.
"Hey farm boy!"
Link didn't react at all, but kept walking, pretending not to have heard.
"Hey!" The voice was a little irritated now, and Link knew what came next. He tilted his head to the side as a rock went whizzing past. Link paused in his walking and smiled, turning to see his friend, Ilia.
"That almost hit me. What if I got a concussion? What if I suffered serious brain damage and died?"
"Oh please," the girl laughed as she skipped towards him, "as long as Epona's fine, I couldn't care less." She was standing next to him now, stroking the mare lovingly across the face. "Besides," she added, "your head's so hard, I could smash a pumpkin over it and you'd never notice."
Link feigned offence as Ilia giggled. She was a small girl, which was odd considering Mayor Bo, an ox of a man, was her father. Her white shirt was tinted orange in the fading light, her light brown hair taking on a fiery glow. Her green eyes met his as she said, "Are you gonna watch the meteor shower tonight?"
"Yeah, Rusl's taking his family 'n me out past the bridge. Apparently there's this great spot to see the sky, away from the lights."
"Cool," she replied. "Papa and I are gonna watch it from our roof. We're setting up some blankets and everything."
"Y'know, you guys should head up to the ranch. It's higher up and the grass is softer than a tiled roof."
"It's also covered in goat poo and your blood," she retorted, eyeing his red palms.
"Whatsa matter, you don't like blood?" he laughed, pushing his hand towards her face as she desperately dodged it.
"Eww!"
Epona just snorted, looking on.
"It's getting kinda late, and I have to go help Papa with the blankets," She said, holding Link's wrist a safe distance away. "Wash this out before you go and don't hurt yourself anymore."
She released him and he turned back towards the river, waving his left hand behind him, showing her the Mark on it. "No worries," he laughed over his shoulder, "I'm protected, remember?"
0~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~0
It had been a long day. Sheik had been running since the sun had first stretched its golden fingers across the sky, stopping only to change into her disguise when she'd had to pass by a lantern vendor. When dusk had begun to fall, she had finally stopped and let her legs collapse beneath her. She was sitting against a tree, tall grass enveloping her as she closed her eyes.
She was sotired.
Forcing her eyes open, she moved her hand to the bag that hung around her shoulder, feeling for her water flask. Finding it, she clutched the cool leather and brought it out, twisting the cap off and taking long, greedy gulps. The cold water slid like ice down her burning throat, easing the pain that came with each breath. Removing the flask from her lips, Sheik opened up her senses, surveying her surroundings.
She was sitting on the edge of a green meadow, surrounded by trees and rocky ledges, and the sky was the color of fire, ignited by the evening sun. About a hundred feet away was a deep gorge with a wooden bridge reaching from one side to the other, meaning people sometimes came this way.
The grass was still in the windless air, noiseless. It was eerie, the silence. There was no rustling in the leaves of the forest, no bird songs, no running water, no sound at all.
She fingered the loose strip of cloth at her neck, a part of her disguise. She'd change back into her normal clothes when it was dark and she had enough energy to climb through the forest trees. Concentrating once again on where she was, she could smell the soil and the sweet grass she was sitting in. There was some type of spice in the air, coming from the forest, but Sheik decided it was natural, and closed her eyes again.
She felt safe. She felt like she could stop running, if only for a moment and rest her aching body.
0~~0
Sheik's eyes snapped open as she heard movement approaching her. The sun was still barely above the horizon, so she couldn't have been asleep for too long.
Damnit, she needed to be more careful!
She tensed her muscles as they screamed at her, wanting more time to rest. She remained still as she strained her ears, hoping to gain more information on her visitors.
Hooves. Hooves walking on wood, along with the subdued sound of several pairs of feet. A man talking. Laughing. A soft female voice, and a young child. Three people at least – no… there was another voice, it sounded like a young man. Regardless, they only sounded like a family passing through.
Even though they weren't a threat, Sheik didn't want to be seen. The grass was tall enough that it covered the top of her head, and she prayed that would be enough for them to not notice her sitting against the moss-covered tree.
The Sheikah pulled the white cloth at her neck up over her eyes, just in case.
sooooooo, what'd ya think? there was originally more to it, but it was getting too long. i'll upload the 2nd chapter soonish, hopefully, so you can read more if you want.
reviews are fluffy bunnies, and i love them, so please review!
sorry... random metaphor... doesn't even make sense
