Disclaimer: The Legend of Zelda, its characters and locations are all property of Nintendo. Any and all OCs and original locations belong to me unless specifically stated to belong to someone else.


Shadow and Thief
Part 1


Well, shit, Sheik thought as he looked around, wiping sweat from his brow. Sand. Nothing but sandy dunes in every direction, no matter where he looked. I am so lost...

His careful optimism from earlier that morning was rapidly fading in the face of his continued failure to find his team, from which he'd been separated just after dawn. The Yiga rat had been too fast for him to follow, leaving him far behind after a few hours of relentless pursuit. Losing his quarry after running off without permission from the team leader was bad enough, but once he linked back up with them and they found out he'd gotten hopelessly lost...well, he highly doubted he'd be allowed out in the field again anytime soon.

It wasn't his fault, though! The wind had erased both his and the Yiga's tracks, and the Yiga had taken advantage of this by leading him around in circles before finally vanishing in a series of rocky outcroppings after dropping a smoke bomb. How the hell they'd managed to give Sheik the slip was a damned mystery, since there were no caves or anything else for them to disappear into, just a series of crevices and tight spaces between the rocks that didn't lead anywhere in particular. One minute they'd been there, the next they were gone.

...and Sheik had no idea where the hell he was.

The only comfort he could draw from how thoroughly he'd been tricked by the Yiga was the fact that they did not appear to be the vengeful sort, since they hadn't reappeared after leaving Sheik in the dust. They'd simply been eager to get away from him, likely fearing the rest of Sheik's team being in hot pursuit...

That wasn't very likely. After all, Sheik had gone after the bastard on his own, without alerting the others. It had been a split-second decision he'd made the moment he'd laid eyes upon the red-clad traitor, who'd been spying on them. The time it'd taken to wake the others would have given the Yiga more than ample time to slip away, and he couldn't let that happen!

...or so he'd been thinking, but the Yiga was a lot faster than their bulk had suggested, easily keeping ahead of Sheik as they raced over the dunes and through rocky trenches, none of which he was able to find again.

Cursing under his breath, he stopped at the very top of the next dune, shielding his eyes from the harsh glare of the sun as he turned around in a complete circle, hoping to spot something, anything, he could use as a landmark to hopefully gain some idea of where the hell he was. The map he carried was useless since the territory he was currently in was so far behind enemy lines no one really knew what was there!

At least he hadn't encountered the enemy yet—it'd be hard to explain his presence in Gerudo lands when there was (ostensibly) a ceasefire between them and Hyrule. Were he lucky, he'd be captured and executed immediately as a spy. If he were unlucky...well, he'd heard the stories of what the Gerudo did to their captives. They weren't pretty, especially if a Sheikah happened to that captive. To say there was bad blood between their peoples would be an understatement, especially with the Yiga running amok, giving both of the clans a bad name.

Still nothing. In the far distance, which was difficult to gauge because of the way the haze of heat made the world ripple, he could see mountains. According to the sun, which was close reaching its zenith, those mountains were to the west, which was the exact opposite direction he wanted to go. Putting them at his back should, theoretically, ensure that he kept going east, back to the frontline where he'd left the team...but the problem was keeping himself walking in a straight line. No matter how hard he tried, he kept veering off to the left or right, and he never seemed to realise it until he'd walked in a big circle.

Absolutely infuriating, it was.

Should have given up after the first five minutes, he thought bitterly, reaching for the flask on his belt. Not even a tenth full. They were going to refill their water supply later that day, at a nearby oasis that was considered neutral territory. He took two small sips, trying not to focus too much on how merciless the temperature was, the sun beating down on him like it was personally trying to melt him into a puddle. The ever-present wind did little to help, just as warm.

He'd arranged his uniform's scarf into something resembling a turban to protect his skin from getting burned, but that only made the heat feel so much worse. It was stifling under his mask, almost hard to breathe, but he could not give up the sense of security it gave him. He'd abandoned the leather greaves a few hours earlier, the weight only slowing him down, and he was strongly tempted to do the same with the spaulders, but he didn't want to risk encountering either a Yiga or a Gerudo without some form of protection.

He looked back in the direction he'd come, seeing the same infuriating curve he kept walking in rapidly disappearing thanks to the wind. If he wasn't careful, he wouldn't even notice how badly off-track he kept wandering. Embarrassing, really.

He'd been prepared for the Gerudo Desert to be a hostile environment, but this was ridiculous—how was he supposed to even find his way when the very elements seemed dead-set on keeping him wandering blindly like this?

He turned once more, making sure his back was firmly pointed at the western mountains, and began to walk once more. Sooner or later, he had to find the correct path, right? Or at least something to set him on the direction to it?

Little did he know he was being observed from a distance.


Atiya lowered himself to the sand so that only the top his head peeked up from behind the dune, letting him watch the strange Sheikah boy without being spotted. Not that he needed to, since this particular shadow seemed to be thoroughly unobservant...and had absolutely no sense of direction, apparently, judging from the way he kept walking in ever-widening circles.

Atiya had been following the Sheikah for a good three hours now, having picked up his trail while out hunting.

He'd been patiently stalking the series of rocky hills where a certain species of large lizards liked to rest in the shade, spear at the ready to catch a veritable feast for supper when he'd heard him. A weary, out of breath Sheikah stumbling along the sand, making enough of a racket to scare Atiya's prey away. He'd hidden and observed him for a while, wondering what he was doing all the way out here. Was he after Atiya?

But when the Sheikah simply stumbled by in an aimless stupor, barely paying attention to his surroundings, Atiya was convinced the boy was simply lost.

That should have been it, really. Atiya should have made his attack right then and subdued the Sheikah, and then brought him back to the fortress. Gan would certainly be happy with him for performing well...and it'd certainly soften the punishment he'd undoubtedly receive for sneaking out of the city without permission, it being during wartime and all that. It wouldn't be the first time, nor the last. The only thing that could keep Atiya permanently within the city walls would be to lock him up in the fortress, but even Gan wouldn't go that far to keep him safe.

At least Atiya hadn't gone near the warfront this time, staying well away in his quest for...well, adventure, really. He couldn't stand being cooped up in the city for too long, wanderlust seizing him in its strong grip as he felt an overwhelming urge to get out there and explore! A few days out of the city was usually enough, and he relished it whenever he had the opportunity to go.

Besides, it wasn't like Atiya didn't know how to survive in the wild...unlike this Sheikah.

Truthfully, it was curiosity that stayed Atiya's hand. He'd never actually met a Sheikah before, or gotten to observe them outside of the bodyguards sent to guard Hyrulian dignitaries and diplomats...and Atiya wasn't allowed to attend those sessions for obvious reasons, despite how much he begged Gan. But here he was, presented with an opportunity to watch one his people's most hated enemies in action.

So far, he was not impressed.

He'd grown up hearing stories of how the hated Sheikah were brutally efficient killers, able to adapt and survive no matter what environment they found themselves in. Persistent, intelligent, and an innate stubbornness so strong it put some of the veteran Gerudos to shame. An absolute nightmare to encounter on the battlefield, or to find looming above your bed in the night.

The Royal Family of Hyrule had made them their protectors and personal assassins for a reason, and they always had to be taken into account whenever a move was made against the kingdom. Atiya had heard Gan bemoaning the red-eyed shadows during more than one war council, and found himself wondering just how terrified he himself would be if he ever encountered one.

Not very, as it turned out.

He was more amused than anything, watching as the boy made clumsy attempts to correct his path, only to end up slowly turning back east. Granted, this particular part of the desert was confusing like that; the tall dunes kept the mountains out of sight, and forced the wanderer to go around them rather than over. It was incredibly easy to be misled that way, but Atiya had thought that the terrifying predator known as a Sheikah would have no trouble overcoming it.

Again, he was not impressed.

He's going to die out here, Atiya thought. No supplies, barely any water...and he doesn't even know where he's going.

The Sheikah disappeared behind one of the smaller dunes, and Atiya quickly changed position—racing along the crest of the huge dune until he caught sight of the boy again.

Because that's what he was—a boy. His short stature and slight build weren't indicators of his age in and of themselves, but his voice was easily carried by the wind, and Atiya would be damned if that voice belonged to an adult. He was also surprised (and a little alarmed) by the sheer amount of swear words the Sheikah knew.

How had he even ended up out here? As far as Atiya knew most Sheikah operated in teams of four or more when out in the field. Where were the others? Atiya had not seen any signs of them. What were they doing in Gerudo territory? Wasn't there a ceasefire on? Or had it been broken while Atiya was out here?

His mind raced with these questions as he kept a firm grip on his spear, watching. It was almost noon, and the sun would be at its highest. Heat was going to keep building up for most of the afternoon, only cooling down once the sun set. It was usually around this time a sensible person would take shelter somewhere with shade and wait until the temperature became bearable again...but this idiot didn't seem to have any such intention, stubbornly trying to forge ahead with absolutely no clue of how much danger he was in.

It'd be a mercy, really, capturing him. Atiya could easily get the drop on him before the Sheikah even had time to draw the sword on his back. He couldn't imagine there being much of a fight, really, especially once Atiya promised him food and water. Well, water, at least. Atiya's hunt hadn't really gone that well, on account of two noisy interruptions that had sent his prey scurrying into the rocks.

And Gan would be so proud...

...but what then? The ceasefire had been hard-won, and fragile beyond imagination. One of the stipulations from both sides was the withdrawal of troops from each other's territories...but this Sheikah was deep behind Gerudo lines. Was this an attack? Or was the boy and his team here to spy on them? That alone would get him executed for espionage, possibly even tortured first.

Atiya didn't want that for the boy, intruder that he was. Perhaps it was all just a mistake? That wouldn't matter, though, if he were captured. It could ignite the fighting all over again, and Atiya knew for a fact that Gan couldn't win if it did. The Gerudo were already on the verge of defeat by the time the ceasefire came into effect, giving them a reprieve. It was supposed to be a prelude to a more permanent peace agreement, but that was still a long way off as both sides licked their wounds and prepared for the negotiations.

The talks were to be had in a few months, and Gan was already at his wit's end trying to come up with leverage over Hyrule, to stop them from simply walking all over the Gerudo. They had a larger army, more supplies, better equipment...the Gerudo had an iron will, however, which had kept them alive up until now. Gan had nothing, though, and Atiya wished he could do something to help...

...perhaps the Sheikah? He could be carrying valuable intelligence, and if not...well, the shadows were a dwindling race, fiercely protecting their numbers to the best of their ability. If the Gerudo revealed they'd captured one of their spies, perhaps that would be enough leverage to get a fair deal out of the negotiations?

He shook his head. Thoughts for later, those. Right now, he was content to watch the boy some more, curiosity overcoming everything else.

The wind was picking up, though it did not bring any sort of cooling relief. Adjusting his pack over his lightweight robe, Atiya tugged at the cloth of his turban until it covered the lower half of his face as well, protecting it from the sand.

The boy was trying to climb one of the larger dunes, perhaps in an attempt to gain a better view of the surrounding area. Not a bad idea, really. Hopefully he'd catch sight of the rocky outcroppings just to the north-east of their position, where he could take shelter. He'd be stupid not to. Atiya certainly intended to do so.

He needed to get closer. Atiya rose from his prone position and slid down the dune expertly, almost failing to contain his shout of excitement, the thrill almost getting the better of him. He landed at the bottom of the dune and took off running after the boy, climbing the same dune, though at a different, less steep angle to conserve his energy and limit overheating from exertion.

The trek through the clearly unfamiliar conditions was taking its toll on the Sheikah, whose steps were getting slower and slower as he reached the peak of the dune, shoulders low. Even from this distance Atiya could hear the boy's laboured breathing. He could only shake his head, wondering what the Sheikah were thinking, sending someone so unprepared into the desert.

It did serve to fuel Atiya's suspicions of the boy's presence here being a mistake, however. It had to be, unless there was something else going on here. His imagination wasn't able to conjure up anything plausible, however.

His urge to just outright ask was growing stronger.


Am I getting anywhere at all? Sheik wondered, depressed to find that climbing the tallest dune offered nothing in terms of landmarks or answers. A minor (extremely so, mind you) spike of panic was starting to drive itself into his chest as he slowly came to realise that, while his team couldn't be that far away, they had no way of tracking him...and he was rapidly running out of water. That worried him the most, to be honest.

Well, perhaps it wouldn't be too much of a problem in the immediate future. In the far distance, over the mountains, dark clouds were forming. He could only hope that the rain was heading his way. If they didn't...well, dying of thirst was supposedly one of the worst ways to die...

Why did I run off? he thought, clenching his jaw. I should have shouted something, at least. Kafei would have woken up—bastard's the lightest sleeper in the world!

Prepared to keep beating himself up, he made to climb down the dune again, hoping he could find some shade or something else to protect him from the sun, which seemed to be growing hotter and hotter. The sand was probably absorbing and retaining the heat before reflecting it back or...something. Gods, he couldn't even remember the lecture he'd gotten from Impa before she'd let him set out on the patrol mission in the first place.

The Yiga just had to start messing around in this region, didn't they? Bad enough Hyrule was fighting the Gerudo without the traitors meddling with it all. They were so close to attaining peace, too...

His thoughts occupied, he didn't pay too much attention to where he walked, and failed to shift his weight correctly as his foot sank a little deeper into the sandy dune than he expected, pitching him off balance...and sending him tumbling down the dune in a flailing mass of limbs, hair, and snarled curses.

Dizzy, he came to a stop near the bottom with a mouthful of sand, unable to really fathom what had just happened, or how ridiculous he'd just looked. Spitting out the sand, he let out a litany of curses that would put any sailor to shame.

And then he heard it.

Laughter.

Someone had just watched him take the most embarrassing tumble of his life...and they were laughing at him. He glanced up at the dune he'd just fallen down, certain the sound was coming from there.

"Hey!" he shouted. "I know you're there! Show yourself!"

He wasn't sure who or what he expected to emerge from the hiding place, but he highly doubted they would be friendly. He still felt his heart sinking when a figure came into view at the top of the dune. Covered in light-purple robes and wearing a white turban that obscured most of their features, there was little doubt as to whom had found him. A Gerudo—and not a harmless one either, judging from the spear in her hand and the scimitar in her belt.

There was a moment of silence and inaction, during which Sheik briefly considered running, but that moment came and went as the Gerudo suddenly moved, jumping forward and sliding down the sand like it was slippery as ice, surging straight towards him.

His hand found his sword as years of training kicked in, and he steeled himself.


Atiya hadn't meant to give his presence away just yet, intending to wait until the Sheikah was too tired to fight before putting his plan into action. However, when the boy had taken an awkward step and gone rolling downhill with the most annoyed grunt Atiya had ever heard, he'd found it impossible to keep his laughter from bubbling up, and when he'd heard yet another string of curses from the surprisingly melodious voice, said with such conviction that the universe conspiring against him, the dam had burst and he laughed out loud like a damned fool. Too loud.

"Hey! I know you're there! Show yourself!"

The jig was up, and Atiya could do little but climb the dune and reveal himself to the Sheikah, making sure that his pose was relaxed and not openly hostile.

Easier said than done, given the spear he was carrying, but he didn't exactly have anywhere to put it, now did he?

At least he's not hurt, Atiya thought, seeing no signs of injuries on the Sheikah's body. Other than his pride, that is, he added, chuckling a little.

Steeling himself, Atiya waited for any sign of hostility from the Sheikah, but the boy stood ramrod straight, eyes narrowed. Not surprising. Two enemies encountering each other like this... Even from this distance, Atiya could tell the Sheikah was studying him, and he made sure his turban was firmly fastened so his face wasn't visible. Gan had never failed to let Atiya of the importance of that.

He was about to introduce himself, to put the Sheikah at ease, when he noticed the sand a few feet away from the boy shifting in a circular pattern, beginning to move towards him. Instinct took over, and Atiya was already sliding down the dune before he realised what he was doing. The Sheikah hadn't even noticed yet, and it'd be too late to react by the time Atiya could warn him.

The Leever's head was already out of the sand by the time Atiya raced past the Sheikah, its maw opening to reveal several circular rows of teeth and preparing to pounce on him. Atiya's spear found its mark just in time, driving the creature back with a squeal, the tip buried deep in its gut. It writhed at the end of the long pole, red blood spilling onto the sand, before wrenching itself off it and burrowing back into the ground, the characteristic grunting noises slowly fading away as the monster clearly decided the meal wasn't worth it.

Atiya wasn't satisfied with that, however. Where there was one Leever—

He ducked just as the Sheikah's blade cleaved through the air where his neck had been, spinning around to face the boy and brandishing his spear.

What the hell was he doing?!

"What's the matter with you?!" he shouted in Common Hylian, knowing his pronunciation of the tongue was less than perfect. "I just saved your life!"

The Sheikah's eyes, red as blood, flashed dangerously as he glared back at him, sword at the ready. "Just so you could capture me instead," he growled. "I know your kind, thief!"

Big mouth for someone so out of his depth, Atiya thought, narrowing his eyes at being called a thief.

"At least we're not murderers!" he shot back, unable to keep his mouth shut at the insult. That was surprising—usually it was the opposite.

...what was he doing? He hadn't meant to start a fight! He'd just wanted to keep the idiot alive before he ended up in a monster's stomach.

The Sheikah didn't deign to reply to that, choosing instead to attack with a quick flurry of swings with his sword. Its blade was curved, but also very slim, which made it quite light, allowing him to swing it much faster than Atiya could hope to match with his spear. He managed to keep the Sheikah at bay for a little while, but he soon managed to slip inside Atiya's defences, forcing him to drop his spear and draw his scimitar instead.

Good fighter, though, Atiya begrudgingly thought as their blades clashed with a loud clang, sunlight catching on the metal in a dazzling display. Side-stepping a jab at his stomach, Atiya aimed a two-handed diagonal blow at the Sheikah's left shoulder. The Sheikah spun out of harm's way and they both pulled back, sizing each other up.

What little visible skin on the Sheikah's face was absolutely drenched with sweat, and his colour was red from the exertion of fighting in such heat. Atiya could feel his own body heating up to an intolerable degree.

This was stupid. They were wasting valuable energy and fluids by doing this, and he still hadn't made sure they weren't alone here. He had to do something.

"Look," Atiya tried, "we got off on the wrong foot, here. I've been watching you for a while—"

"Oh, you have, have you? Trying to find the perfect moment to ambush me?" the Sheikah asked, eyes narrowing even further. Atiya wondered how he was able to see through such a narrow gap. "Well, you failed!"

The tone was filled with so much suspicion, and Atiya couldn't help but take it personally. What had he done to earn so much ire? Surely the Sheikah was aware that he was the intruder here, and in no position to hurl abuse at Atiya for protecting his home?

"I wasn't trying to capture you!" Atiya shot back. "I was just...just watching to see what you were going to do! And then the Leever appeared—"

"Convenient, huh?" Sheik said. "I bet you were controlling it, trying to gain my trust!"

Huh? Atiya thought. "What are you talking about?"

"We've heard about your witches," the Sheikah said. "Witches who can...can use magic and control people and beasts! I bet you're one of them!" He charged forward without warning, aiming an overhead blow that Atiya easily parried.

Atiya was trying to keep his distance, still not entirely committed to the fight. This wasn't how it was supposed to go, damn it!

And as for the witch comment...well, there was just too much wrong in it to even start refuting it.

It did remind him to ask Gan about just how powerful Kotake and Koume were, however, because the power to control man and beast alike was not something he'd seen from either of them.

The Sheikah surged forward again, and Atiya met him, their blades scraping against each other as they pushed, trying to knock the other off-balance, faces inches apart.

"I don't want to fight, you idiot!" Atiya snarled. "I'm trying to save you!"

"Pull the other one," the Sheikah snarled back, "it's got bells on!"

Realising he had both height and weight on the Sheikah, Atiya used it to lean forward and push, forcing the Sheikah backwards. With a yell, Atiya forced them to separate, aiming a harsh blow meant to knock the sword out of the Sheikah's hand, but the (admittedly) clever bastard simply let go of the sword just before Atiya struck it, grabbing it again with his other hand and stabbing upward. It forced Atiya to jump back, lest he get the tip punched through the bottom of his chin.

Atiya adjusted his stance for the best stability on the slippery sand, secretly impressed with how the Sheikah actually managed to keep his footing in a fight...even if he clearly wasn't able to walk on it. He was about to make a comment about that when he realised the Sheikah wasn't attacking anymore. In fact, his eyes weren't even on Atiya anymore.

"Uh..." the Sheikah said, intelligently.

Atiya heard the slight hiss and reacted instantly, spinning around on his feet and lashing out with the scimitar. It cleaved through the Leever's neck like a hot knife through butter, separating its head from its body with nary a sound save for the wet thump as the newly decapitated monster fell dead to the ground.

It wasn't the same Leever from before. He knew worm-like creature wasn't alone! Leevers usually moved in roaming hordes all over the desert, and if you saw one chances were that the rest of them weren't far away! The deep sand in the area had concealed their presence, and Atiya had followed the bumbling Sheikah right into their path.

Glancing up, he saw several patterns being carved through the sand as the monsters realised their presence was more or less discovered, rushing towards their prey, kicking up sand as they accelerated.

Shit!

The Sheikah was in a defensive posture, but his form was flagging both from exhaustion and sheer confusion at the enemy they found themselves facing. How did you react to a bunch of six-foot, writhing worms with more teeth than a lamprey that could burrow through the ground as fast as a person could run?

Bet you don't have those in Hyrule, Atiya thought as he sheathed his scimitar before grabbing the other's arm without thinking and shouting, "Come on!"

Taking off at a run while dragging the Sheikah with him, he was barely able to snatch up his spear in time to avoid a Leever who'd been waiting behind them. It nearly leapt out of its hole in an attempt to snag them and drag them underground, but its aim was off, the mouth closing around nothing.

"Don't stop running!" Atiya shouted at the Sheikah, aiming them north-east, where he knew a series of cliffs would offer them protection from the monsters. He hadn't gauged the distance, but he could only hope they weren't too far away—he wasn't sure how long he could keep up running in this heat!

It was nothing but chaos as they kept moving, dodging and weaving their way through the horde of Leevers, ears filled with the monsters' grunting—a nightmarish sound when you were facing just one of the buggers!

At least the Sheikah wasn't attacking him anymore—far too busy trying not to end up as Leever food. Every now and then he struck out with his blade, or tried to hit one with a throwing dagger, but his aim was off from the exhaustion, and the creatures were wily and in their element, too fast to pin down.

Atiya made a wide sweep with his spear ahead of them, forcing a Leever that had gotten ahead to swing its undulating body aside to avoid getting the tip shoved into its gullet, letting them slip past it.

In the corner of his vision, he saw the Sheikah's blade cut one of the creatures in half as it erupted from the ground next to him. He tried not to imagine how it'd feel if the Sheikah had hit him during their fight. Hopefully he'd take Atiya's statement on trying to save him seriously after this...that is, if they made it out alive.

Atiya had done many stupid things over the years, but wilfully walking into a horde of Leevers was not one of them. Not that he'd planned on it, but...Goddess, Gan could never know about this, or he'd never let Atiya out of his sight again!

"Do you actually have a plan, or are we just hoping for the best here?!" the Sheikah asked, his voice a little higher-pitched than before. His eyes were wide and continually scanning the area around them, wary of any Leevers suddenly appearing.

"Just follow me!" Atiya replied, too out of breath to properly explain the correct strategy for dealing with Leevers (that is, if you fail step number one, which just says "Don't!"). He led them between several pairs of sand dunes, hoping to the Goddess that he'd picked the right direction, and that they were quick enough and—

There!

A series of rocks and cliffs, all that remained of what had surely once been an impressive mountain eroded to nothing by the wind and sand, squatted in the middle of a large, flat area. An old, dried-up oasis, judging from the skeletons of long-dead trees rising defiantly out of the dry soil. He didn't care about those, however—the rocks were the key!

"There!" he shouted, pointing at the large outcrops. "Climb as high as you can!"

"What?! Why?!"

"Because the—"

Atiya stumbled and went tumbling along the sandy ground. Something passed through the air above him, and he felt his pack getting wrenched off his back, the leather straps snapping like they were nothing. The Leever's tail end smacked in the temple for good measure, causing his vision to swim and blacken for a moment.

So close. He'd been so close, and now he was going to end up in the stomach of a Leever...or several of them.

Gan...I'm sorry...

Then he was being tugged back up, the Sheikah's voice roaring into his ears. "Get up, damn it, or do you want to die?!"

No, I don't, Atiya thought, finding his feet and balance once more, letting the Sheikah drag him with him, only somewhat aware that he was leaving his supplies behind in his pack, along with his spear, which had gone flying off in...some direction or other, he had no idea.

The Leevers were right on their tail now. Atiya could hear their mouths snapping and feel their breath on his neck. The Sheikah's grip on his forearm was firm and unrelenting, as if he expected Atiya to just drop if he let go.

Then their feet hit ground more solid than sand, and soon they were scrabbling over the rocky outcrop, desperately climbing out of reach of the Leevers' insatiable mouths. One tried to jump at them, but Atiya drew his scimitar and immediately cut the thing down to size, the two pieces pathetically rolling off the outcrop and curling up in their death throes, spilling blood. None of the other Leevers jumped, crowing around the spot their feet had been last, before pulling back and burying themselves into the ground once more, disappearing from sight.

Out of breath, Atiya and the Sheikah sat down on the rock, trying not to pass out. Atiya was on all fours, gulping in massive amounts of air, trying to get his head to clear up, ear still ringing from the blow he'd taken to his temple.

"They...can't follow...us?" the Sheikah asked, panting.

"Can't...burrow...through rock," Atiya replied.

The Sheikah nodded at that, leaning back, looking a little more relaxed. "That's...good..."

Quite an understatement, but Atiya was happy enough at not being worm food to let it slide. In the back of his head, his instincts told him that the prudent thing to do right was to disarm the Sheikah while he was occupied with catching his breath and tie him up, ensuring a compliant prisoner for the fortress...but he couldn't find the energy or willpower to do so. Looking at him, the Sheikah appeared to have similar thoughts based on the way he kept a firm grip on his sword, watching Atiya warily.

"Don't worry," Atiya said. It was easier to speak now that he could actually breathe again. "I'm not looking for a fight. I wasn't looking for one to begin with, to tell you the truth."

"Forgive me if I do not fully believe you, Gerudo," the Sheikah said. "Given the circumstances..."

"My name is Atiya," Atiya said, giving him his Gerudo name instead of his Hylian one, bestowed upon him when he'd been taken in by the desert dwellers. "I'd appreciate if you used it, Sheikah," he added pointedly. "Seems only fair after I saved your life and all."

The Sheikah had the decency to look ashamed at that, at least, the visible portion of his cheeks and the bridge of nose colouring slightly as he averted his eyes. It was kind of cute.

"Atiya," the Sheikah said, as if testing the name. "Sheik."

"Hm?"

"Sheik," the Sheikah repeated. "My name."

Atiya blinked. "Sheik the Sheikah?" he asked.

"Don't ask," Sheik said, rolling his eyes. "It's a long story."

"As you wish," Atiya said, closing his eyes for a moment, realising that the afternoon was far from over, and that it would only get hotter and hotter. They needed shade, as soon as possible.

"Thank you."


Sheik blinked when Atiya looked at him in surprise at his murmured thanks.

"What did you say?" she asked.

"I said thank you!" Sheik said again in an annoyed tone. He hated having to repeat himself. When she appeared to be waiting for some sort of explanation, he sighed. "For...saving my life," he gritted out.

"Oh," Atiya said, cheeks twitching behind the mask of her turban. "You're welcome. I'd prefer an apology for attacking me right afterwards, but..."

Her grasp on the Common tongue was surprisingly good compared to some other Gerudo Sheik had heard speak during meetings with Princess Zelda, though her accent was unmistakeable. She kept her eyes averted as she spoke, which he found strange, but he wasn't an expert on Gerudo culture other than their battle strategies and how they fought. Perhaps their eyes weren't supposed to meet unless they had a certain relationship, or weren't enemies, or...

Eugh, too much bother to think about right now, he thought. It was almost too hot to even think straight, much less try to discern cultural faux pas after almost getting eaten by giant fucking worms...

Still, she had a point. Up until now, he had been the aggressor. He truly hadn't realised there was a Leever behind him until she'd run it through with her spear, and he'd repaid that by attacking her. Not a very good first impression, even during wartime.

"Sorry," he muttered, his mask sticking uncomfortably to his face.

"Hm?"

Eugh, is she deaf or something? he wondered, repeating himself a little louder, unable to stop himself from rolling his eyes once more. If Impa had seen him now, she'd tan his hide for being disrespectful to the one who'd saved his life.

...then again, he had also saved her life, so...

Luckily, Atiya only seemed to find his annoyance amusing, chuckling a little. Her voice was a little deeper than Sheik had expected, but it only made her seem more...formidable, somehow? More mature?

He took a moment to study her a little closer. There wasn't much to tell based on her appearance—her purple robes and turban kept most of her features from view, but he could see that she was solidly built—she'd have to be in order to swing her heavy-looking scimitar like that. Locks of unruly, dark red hair were sticking out from the folds of the turban, and what little he could see of her face was all bronzed skin, with a little bit of the dark substance called kohl around her eyelids. Her eyes were closed, but he knew he they'd be the usual golden colour of her people.

"It's okay," she finally said. "I wouldn't have assumed you were there to save me either, were I in your shoes." She stood up and looked towards the now empty stretch of desert, towards the spot where she'd dropped her pack. "Damn," she muttered. "All my food was in there."

"I'll go get it," Sheik volunteered without really knowing why. He'd been trying to kill this woman not long ago. He made to jump down to the ground, but a hand on his shoulder suddenly stopped him. Her grip was firm.

"Don't!" she said sharply. "The Leevers are still there!"

"I don't see any," Sheik said. Nothing but sand and some pathetic-looking, dead trees, surrounding what looked like a dried-out lakebed. The remains of an oasis, perhaps? "Surely they're gone?"

Atiya shook her head, bending down to pick up a sizeable rock about the size of her fist. Testing its weight, she found it satisfactory with a nod, and hurled it at the flat, sandy ground. The moment the rock hit the surface, sand exploded everywhere as Leevers emerged from cover and swarmed the spot, disappearing as quickly as they appeared upon realising it wasn't something they could eat.

"They hunt by sensing vibrations in the ground," Atiya explained. "And they are very patient. We won't be able to get off this rock for quite some time."

"How long?" Sheik asked, glancing worriedly down at his flask. Barely enough water in it for a mouthful.

"Tomorrow morning?" she said, shrugging. "Hard to...er...predict?"

Why did she phrase that as a question? Language difficulties?

Sheik sighed. "Gonna run out of water before the day is over," he informed her, tapping his flask. "Not much left."

Barely any.

"Oh, that won't be a problem," Atiya said, reaching into her robes and pulling out a heavy-looking water skin. "Plenty for both."

That was a relief, at least, knowing they weren't going to die of dehydration...for now, anyway. He had a couple of ration bars in his dagger holster, so they were covered for food as well.

Wait, should I be getting this comfortable around her? he wondered, realising he was already beginning to relax, despite being a few feet away from an enemy combatant. Everything he'd ever been taught by Impa and his instructors said no, but so far Atiya hadn't actually taken any offensive actions against him...save for during the fight he started. Surely, if she meant to kill or capture him, she'd have done so already?

Still, that didn't necessarily mean she wouldn't do it eventually. Perhaps this was all about lulling him into a false sense of security, only to ambush him later when he was at his least guarded?

Kind of risky, though, going after me all alone...

That struck him as odd.

"Are you alone out here?" he asked.

She offered a half-hearted shrug. "For now," she said. "Once they find out I'm gone, I'm sure they'll send someone after me."

"Who?"

"My sisters. They don't like me going off by myself, but I hate being cooped up, so..."

Sisters...so, the entire Gerudo people, then. They all referred to each other as sisters, apparently, save for the king, who was their brother. Sheik didn't much fancy the idea of still being here when Atiya's people came looking for her.

"And you?" Atiya asked. "Are you alone?"

He considered lying and saying yes, but that struck him as a bad idea. She probably wouldn't believe that he was a single operative, not as under-equipped as he was. "I have a team," he said. "We got separated, but I was on my way to linking up with them when you...well..."

She snorted. "You were completely lost, weren't you?" she said. "When I found you, you'd been walking in circles for hours, I bet."

"That...!" Sheik growled. It was completely true, of course, but he wasn't about to admit that. "I knew where I was going," he said weakly.

"Had it all under control, huh?" she snarked.

He didn't dignify that with an answer, turning away and studying the outcrop. He needed some shade, or he was going to go insane. Unfortunately, none of the rocks were high enough to provide anything decent, and there weren't any trees save for the dead ones...in the middle of a Leever death field.

"Al'lama!"

He looked up at her. She was scanning the horizon, shielding her eyes.

"What is it?" he asked.

"The storm is picking up," she said, pointing. "Looks like rain...and thunder. And dust."

He looked where she was pointing. In the distance, the dark clouds he'd seen before the Leever ambush had formed a giant wall, heralding a thunderstorm. "That's good, isn't it?" he asked. "I mean, water's always welcome."

"Not if the dust storm comes before—it will shred us into nothing. We need shelter," Atiya said, a sense of urgency in her voice. "See if we can find a cave, or something."

They searched the outcrop for a while, finding nothing near ground-level. Atiya kept glancing up at the small rock face above them, humming under her breath. Sheik sat down, leaning against the wall, exhaustion threatening to overcome him. It was all too much.

"Wait here," Atiya said, rolling up the sleeves of her robe to reveal more bronze skin and strong-looking, compactly-muscled arms. The enduring sort, well-suited to this kind of environment. Before he could ask her what she was doing, she was already climbing the rock face. His eyes widened as she shimmied up effortlessly, like she was crawling on a horizontal surface, easily finding handholds and pulling herself upwards. Soon after she was hauling herself over a ledge and disappeared from view.

Sheik sighed, wondering if she was going to leave him behind if she found some way off this outcrop without getting mauled by Leevers. It was the smart thing to do, instead of being confined to a small space with an enemy. His training certainly told him to do so if he got the chance.

"Find anything?!" he called up to her.

It took her a while to answer, her head appearing over the edge, waving. "I found a cave!" she called back. "Or...well, more like a hole, but it'll fit us!"


Honestly, even calling it a hole was being a bit charitable, in Atiya's opinion. Really, it was more an extremely narrow opening in the cliffs leading to a tiny hollow barely big enough to fit them...but beggars couldn't be choosers. It was the only form of shelter he'd found, and they didn't have long. The wind was already strong enough to kick up the dust and sand around them, and Atiya would bet his right hand on a dust storm being imminent.

Typical, really. The one time something interesting happens on an excursion, and the elements decide to ruin everything. Would he even be able to convince Sheik to go inside? The other boy didn't seem the type to appreciate being forced into close quarters.

But what else could they do? A desert sand storm could flay the skin right off one's bones if the wind was strong enough, and Atiya wasn't in any hurry to test the one that was brewing to the north...and moving rapidly towards them.

"Is there nothing else?" Sheik asked, rising wearily to his feet and swaying slightly. The heat really was getting to him.

"I'm afraid so," Atiya replied, waving him up. "Come on, climb."

Confident the Sheikah would be smart enough to follow his instructions, Atiya returned to the small crack in the wall, looking inside. Some sort of animal had made its nest here at some point (a lizard, by the looks of it), but it was long gone. That was good, at least. Having to fight something for the shelter wasn't an appealing idea.

He took the opportunity to uncover his face and wipe it. He hadn't realised it at first, too busy worrying about not getting eaten, but his eyes would give him away the moment Sheik saw them. Dying his hair red helped from a distance, but up close anyone could tell his eyes were actually blue and not gold. That was one of the reasons Gan wouldn't let him interact with any foreign dignitaries—it'd raise questions the Gerudo had no wish to answer.

He thanked his lucky stars that Sheik was too weary from his trek through the desert to really pay attention to such details. He didn't seem to have noticed that Atiya was actually a man, either, which was...well, that was neither here nor there. Not really important, in the long run. Right now, survival was taking all priority.

I shouldn't trust him, he thought, listening to the shuffling and grunting from below, signalling that Sheik had started to climb as well. What if he turns on me?

Too late for such thoughts now, he knew. Likely, Sheik had similar thoughts going through his own mind. Atiya could only hope that self-restraint was considered a virtue among the Sheikah. If Sheik remained calm, so would Atiya.

He sighed, studying their shelter a little closer. They could sit next to each other in there, but that was about it. No room for a fire, which would be a problem come nightfall, if they weren't washed away by the storm by then.

"Ah...hah..."

Sheik was panting heavily when his hand finally cleared the edge, desperately trying to find something to hold onto. Atiya took hold of Sheik's wrist and braced himself, serving as an anchor so the other boy wouldn't fall. Only now did Atiya realise just how lithe Sheik's build was, and how little weight there was to him, like a mild breeze could push him over...or carry him away.

Now there was a mental image.

"Th-Thanks," Sheik said as he cleared the lip, taking a moment to catch his breath. A desert really wasn't his ideal environment, it seemed.

"Just in time," Atiya said, pointing northwards. Ahead of the rainclouds, a brown wall that filled nearly the entire horizon was rushing towards them, promising death to any unwary traveller caught in the middle of it. "Come on, get inside."

"You weren't kidding," Sheik said, squeezing himself into the crevice. "This is barely even a hole!" He moved at a slow shuffle, front and back scratching along the walls before entering the hollow.

Atiya took a series of deep breaths before expelling all the air from his lungs and crawling inside the rock, taking up as little space as possible. Even then he felt his robes snagging on the sharp, uneven surface, the fabric ripping a little. Emerging into the hollow, he let himself breathe again, nearly tripping over Sheik's legs.

The Sheikah had made himself comfortable on the hard dirt floor, removing his makeshift turban to reveal blonde tresses that appeared to have come loose from a braid, completely soaked. He ran his fingers through it, getting it out of his eyes.

Sighing, Atiya shuffled to the opposite wall, sitting down as well. Their legs nearly touched; there was barely any room to stretch out at all. Cramped as hell.

They were just in time, a moment after Atiya sat down, the wind outside began to howl, and their view through the crevice was obscured by the brown wall of dust that had descended upon them. The hollow grew dark as the storm blocked out the sun, the air taking on a suffocating heaviness from the heat. At least the entrance faced away from the wind direction, so they weren't about to get blasted by sand and dust.

"That was...close," Sheik said drily, clearing his throat when his voice cracked in the dark. Atiya could barely see his outline, let alone any details.

Atiya wordlessly handed him the water skin. Fingers fumbled with the cork stopper. He'd meant to give it to Sheik earlier, but finding shelter had taken priority. Poor bastard must have been completely parched.

"Thank you," Sheik said after taking a deep sip, sighing in relief.

"You're dehydrated," Atiya said. "Drink some more."

"Don't have to tell me twice," Sheik said with a chuckle.

Great, now what? Atiya wondered after Sheik handed the skin back to him.

"How long do these storms last?" Sheik asked.

"Depends," Atiya said. "Could be over in minutes, could last for hours. Might as well get comfortable."

"Hm, I guess."

Sheik didn't sound happy. Atiya didn't blame him, not particularly thrilled with the situation himself. Trapped in extremely close quarters with a sworn enemy, his equipment lost (the storm was going to ruin it all), and no chance of escape until the storm and the Leevers were gone...it was almost like he'd been the subject of divine punishment for disobeying Gan.

He really will lock me up in the fortress for this, he thought bitterly. His scalp was itchy, but the turban stopped him from tending to it, and he couldn't take it off because...

...well, he could, couldn't he? It was too dark in here for him to see anything at all, so...surely it would be safe. It'd be nice to breathe proper air not filtered through cloth.

Taking the chance, he unwound the turban until it fell away from his head, relishing in the slightly liberating feeling of it. He wasn't fond of the heavy cloth, preferring the lighter veils he wore while in the city, but they didn't offer much in terms of protection out in the desert.

He breathed out, smiling a little to himself. He blinked when he heard a slight hitch in Sheik's breath, and he made an inquisitive sound.

"Something wrong?" he asked.

"N-No, nothing," Sheik's voice answered. "Just...tired, is all."

"I'm not surprised," Atiya said. "As far as desert treks go, you did everything wrong."

"Shut up."

There was no venom in his tone. He probably knew just how badly he'd fucked up by wandering aimlessly the way he had.

"What are you even doing out here?" Atiya asked, his curiosity once more taking precedence over everything else. "This is Gerudo lands—and there's a ceasefire, you know?"

"I know," Sheik said. "We were...patrolling the front lines, watching for signs of trouble."

"We," Atiya said calmly. "So, you're really not alone?"

"I...no...there is a team," Sheik said haltingly. "We got separated, though."

"How?"

Sheik was quiet for a moment, probably contemplating whether or not he should tell a Gerudo about his business. Not that Atiya was in a position to do much with whatever information he could glean. Honestly, he was just trying to pass the time, and the silence was uncomfortable.

"I ran off," Sheik said with a sigh. "I was on watch, and spotted a Yiga operative spying on us, and I gave chase. Didn't make enough of a racket to wake the others, and...well, I refused to give up. Led me on a merry chase, and then I lost him. Been wandering since."

"A Yiga?" Atiya asked. "What are they doing here?"

As far as Atiya knew, the Yiga were a splinter faction of the Sheikah, and there was no love lost between the two groups, bitter fighting occurring wherever they met. The hatred must have been strong, for Sheik to take such a stupid risk in chasing his enemy so far. That is, if it were true.

"We've been pushing them out of Hyrule for the past few years," Sheik answered. His voice was even and measured, not a hint of a lie in his words. "Lately, they've been seeking refuge in the desert—your lands. We can't go after them in your territory, so we've been mostly patrolling the front to ensure they don't sneak back into Hyrule."

Atiya bit his lip. This was valuable information. If the Yiga were encroaching upon Gerudo territory, Gan would want to know. "Do you know if they have any bases in our lands?" he asked.

"No idea," Sheik replied. "As I said, we haven't gone behind your lines to look for them, just making sure they don't come back."

"I see..."

He would definitely let Gan know about this. Even if he didn't have proof, his big brother would take him seriously...though it would help if he had Sheik there to confirm it. Once more he felt a pang of guilt—he really should have captured Sheik when he had the chance.

Uncomfortable silence once more descended upon them. Only the sound of the howling wind outside filled the hollow. Atiya reached up and started playing with one of the rings in his ear, a nervous habit he couldn't quite get rid of. His robes were stifling in the enclosed space, and he wanted to take them off, but that would get Sheik's attention, and if he found out Atiya wasn't actually a Gerudo...all hell would break loose, surely?

"How old are you?"

The Sheikah's question came out of nowhere, and made him pause. "Eh? Why do you want to know?" he asked suspiciously.

"Just curious," Sheik replied. "We'll be stuck here for a while, and there isn't really all that much to do here to pass the time, is there?"

Atiya's point exactly. "Seventeen," he offered. "You?"

"Same. Were you born in the Gerudo city, or...?"

"No, I was born outside our lands and brought here when I was a child," Atiya replied, technically telling the truth. "You are from Hyrule?"

"Where else?" Sheik said, snorting a little. "Born and raised." He paused. "You asked me about my teammates...do you have anyone with you? Or were you alone?"

"I like to wander by myself."

"Isn't that dangerous?"

"Not when you know how to survive out here...which you clearly don't."

"Fair enough. How long were you watching me?"

Atiya hissed. "You're not going to like the answer."

"There is a lot I don't like about this situation," Sheik said. "What's a little more going to do?"

Provoke you into attacking me, Atiya thought. His scimitar wouldn't do him any good in such a tight space, if it came to a fight. "A few hours," he answered honestly.

Sheik's breath hitched again. "I'm not sure how to react to that."

"You were an enemy deep into our territory," Atiya said. "I needed to see what you were up to. At first I thought you were simply pretending to be lost."

"Huh..." Sheik hummed. "That would have been a good strategy to draw out potential stalkers. Gave yourself away when you laughed, though."

"How could I not? You looked ridiculous!" He still chuckled at the image of Sheik sprawled out in the sand, cursing up a storm at his own clumsiness. "Funniest thing I've seen in weeks."

"I'm glad my misery could give you joy," the Sheikah muttered sarcastically. "I...still appreciate it, you know. Saving my life. I think any other Gerudo would have taken the opportunity to kill me."

Atiya's brow furrowed. "Only if you didn't surrender," he said, a little more harshly than intended. "We're not savages; I would have captured you and brought you back to the city."

"And then?"

Well, he'd be interrogated and...er, better not finish that thought.

"Same as us, then," Sheik said, breathing out, when no answer was forthcoming. "Interrogation, torture, and likely execution for espionage."

"Y...Yes."

"Well?"

Atiya frowned. "Well what?"

"Are you going to capture me? You have the advantage here—I have no idea how to survive out here, nor do I know where I am. Hell, for all I know I could be your prisoner right now without even knowing it."

It all sounded so matter-of-factly, like it was already decided when that was the farthest thing. Atiya shook his head. "If you were a prisoner, you wouldn't be armed," he said.

"Then what happens when the storm clears?" Sheik asked. "When the Leevers are gone?"

I'll show you the way home.

The words were at his lips before he could even think, and he had to force them back. He didn't want to make promises he couldn't keep. Fact was, he had no idea what he was going to do about the Sheikah he'd managed to collect.

On one hand, he knew he was supposed to do as Sheik suggested; capture him and bring him to the fortress. On the other...well...he wanted Sheik to make it out alive, to survive. But that was tantamount to treason, and while Gan let him get away with a lot, he had a feeling he'd be crossing a line by letting Sheik go. His brother had a frightful temper, especially these days with the pressure of the war weighing heavily down on him.

"I...don't know," he said slowly.

"Huh..." Sheik shifted in the dark. "I guess I've got nothing to lose, then."

Atiya tensed up at those words, hand straying to his scimitar. He couldn't swing it like he was used to in here, but he certainly could stab Sheik with it, if necessary. "I suppose not," he replied.

"Then...would you mind satisfying my curiosity?"

"About what?"

"Just...you're a Gerudo, right?"

"W-Well, of course." Atiya grimaced, realising his voice was anything but convincing in that moment.

Sheik cleared his throat. "That's interesting, since you're clearly a man."

Shit!


To be continued in Part 2