Chapter One: Isolated Point Part 1 of 3

Day 0

When Yin opens her eyes, it is to stars and trees and cold and silence.

This is it, she thinks and closes her eyes once more. This is how I end.

Finally.

But her heart beats too fast and she's too awake for a quiet death. There will be no lying down to die tonight. Yin reluctantly gets to her feet and walks until she can find an easy, tall tree to climb. At the top, she just stares into the distance. A shooting star lights the world, landing close to the castle in the center of it all.

"The Legend," she whispers, reaching out a hand towards the swirling darkness and mayhem of a castle, "of Zelda."

Breath of the Wild.

Yin lowers her hand and stares some more. Then the totality of the situation sinks in, and she almost laughs. "I am going to die."

She's already past the five minute mark, so maybe not. Yin gets down from the tree and smiles at the forest she's going to end up hiding in for the next few days. It's a bit too close to the Sheikah for her liking, but it could be worse. She could have been a man in the Gerudo's kingdom or in a game she didn't know.

She could have had to interact with a village.

It could have been a lot worse indeed.

Day 3

Yin huddles under the hidden, rocky crevice with the supplies she's managed to gather. As she hastily carves another wooden bowl, she eyes the egg she stole from a nest before the rain came. Two people had come by yesterday and left their fire going when they peaced-out this morning. At least she had time to boil some water. Now she just needs protein because the mushrooms aren't cutting it.

Sometimes she can't cut the mushrooms.

Yin sighs and sticks the ugly bowl outside to catch rainwater. She pauses at her too-young reflection in the puddles and then scuttles back inside to carve another bowl. Yin scowls and scrapes the rock harder in the wood because finding out you've de-aged isn't fun. By the scars left on her body, she's somewhere between eighteen and twenty. Not the healthiest she's been, but give it a few more weeks and her body will either be fit from all the exercise or starving from lack of processed food.

Probably both if she's being honest.

(Also, if she's being honest, the lack of understanding the native language reinforces her decision to stay away from people. Hermit by choice.)

Day 5

The young woman is rather pleased with herself. She managed to sneak to the Bridge of Hylia for some apples. Didn't get seen by one person or monster. Sure, three apples aren't much but they're better than Silent Shrooms and they taste like victory!

Yin tosses the finished core into a bush and shifts the other two more securely against her pyjamas. Everything is peaceful and great and she's proud of herself for going past the forest line.

Then the straggler Bokoblin attacks.

Yin drops her apples while dodging the club it swings. She rolls to the side and dives behind a tree. When it comes after her, she's already halfway up said tree.

"Why'd you go and do that, huh?" Yin grumbles, throat croaking with disuse and rather pissed off. She leans to the side to dodge the rock it throws at her. "That was going to be my dinner."

It chitters and growls, continuing to throw mud and rock balls at her head.

Yin watches for a while before doing something very stupid. She lets herself drop off the tree, right on top of the monster. It squawks, not having seen her fall for gathering dirt, and crumples. Yin leaps off it, gaining another squawk, and scoops up the club. She eyes the monster, twirling its weapon in her hands like a bat.

It… actually looks threatened. She's not even as tall as it, but it crawls away, eyes not leaving hers.

"You leave me alone," Yin says slowly, watching it pause and wondering if it understands, "and I'll leave you alone. Got it?"

It chitters and squawks, flinching when she hefts the club.

"I don't understand a word of what you said," the human deadpans at the Bokoblin. "You understand me?"

It hesitates and then nods.

Yin nods back. She slowly inches for the space where she dropped the apples. Peace offering, she tosses one at the monster. It shuts its eyes and makes no move to stop the projectile from hitting. Yin sighs loudly, drops the club, and continues on her way with a bite into her last apple. So much for dinner.

It understood her, however. A bigger blessing and curse than the whole 'inside a videogame' phenomenon she's experiencing. That's worth losing an apple, and starts a debate in her head: she should start running now before it brings reinforcement?

She doesn't sleep that night.

Day 6

Yin realizes something's changed when she doesn't have to dodge while passing the Octorok's hiding spot.

Day 7

A group of three Bokoblin spot her but don't attack. After a long stare down she holds out a mushroom. The blue one steps forward and grabs it from her, nodding its thanks.

"Welcome," Yin shrugs, hands full of her daily scavenging. She turns to leave, but stops short at the small blue Chuchu sliding towards her. A hand on her back stops her dead, and Yin hardly breathes when the blue Bokoblin steps forward – hand still on her back – to growl somethings at the blob. Then it snaps something to the other Bokoblin behind it. They come up and take her things from her hands and Yin thinks this is it. I'm being robbed and going to be sacrificed to a Chuchu.

She tries to struggle away, but the chirps from the Bokoblin are strangely light as it grabs her hand and holds it out to the Chuchu. Fear makes her shake as the thing slides up and goes to eat-

…It's rubbing its head on her hand.

The Bokoblin guawff at her shocked face and the blue one releases her. Pretty much accepting her worldview being shattered again, Yin starts petting the Chuchu. When it starts to purr she coos at it.

"I am insane," Yin decides, getting the attention of the Bokoblin. "Snapped. Utterly bonkers."

It chitters disapprovingly at her.

"Nope, pretty sure I'm crazy." She turns her head and smiles at it. "But thanks for being nice about making my brain implode." It tilts its head, unsure about something in her sentence. "I appreciate it."

It chitters and shrugs. It's nothing. The Bokoblin hand back her food and wave as they march away into the forest. Yin notices some of her supplies is missing, but hey. Monsters got to eat too, apparently.

"You can't follow me home," the young woman says to the slime twisting around her ankles like a cat. She drops a shroom and hurries away while it eats.

Hopefully she didn't just break an ecosystem.

Day 11

The Bokoblin urge Yin to travel deeper into the forest. They've been doing this the past few days and, like the past few days, she refuses. They know by now to leave it or she'll walk away from them.

The Chuchu of the forest follow her like ducklings when they see her. Once she's fed them a little they scatter. All but one. The palm-sized, blue Chuchu likes cuddling her feet until she picks it up. It growls a tiny, high pitch sound at the Bokoblin when they continue to bother her. Then it tries to bite one of them.

Palm-sized Chu is the only monster Yin shows her hidey-hole to. Today she gives it a name: Chu'thulu.

It just purrs and lets her carry it around the small cave-like area. It cuddles against her fingers when it notices they're dry as the rain starts.

This is fine. This is what she wants. There is no anxiety about saying the wrong thing or offending people if she lives in self-imposed isolation. She and the forest creatures only interact when they need to, and Chu'thulu is more like a pet. It only wants attention, food, and cuddles. It's not enough to go insane from the quiet, and that's all she can ask for.

…a little less rain would be appreciated.

Day 15

Two Bokoblin attack a merchant. This isn't uncommon – she's seen the aftermath – but it happens when she's hiding in the tree while waiting for the merchant to pass. The guy stumbles, his mule shakes, and Yin falls on one of the Bokoblin without thinking. She picks up the club it drops while moving between the monsters and the Hylian.

The stand-off goes as well as expected. She knows the Bokoblin only attack travellers for trespassing, but this is her territory too. They watch her wearily and she keeps her back to the merchant. The Hylian panics and freaks out for a few more minutes, shouting things she can't understand, before realizing the monsters aren't attacking. He tries to pull her along, but she just shoots him a nasty glare and says something along the lines of 'shove off'. Her body language must translate well because he picks up his things and drags his mule the way he was going before.

She waits until he is out of sight before dropping the club. The Bokoblin give her a look and a few grunts. This going to happen again?

"It will if you attack them around here," Yin replies, moving back to the tree she abandoned and digging around the roots. More mushrooms, yay. "I don't want any heroes getting ideas to clear you guys out of the area."

The gruff happily before leaving. She waves them goodbye. Chu'thulu is the only one to stay in the area the rest of the day, happily hiding with her from travellers and eating mushrooms.

At least someone isn't sick of mushrooms.

Day 16

When there's enough food for a while and no dangers currently present… Curiosity reigns supreme and she returns to the place she woke up to dig at the ground. There should be a shrine. There should be a shrine. But her hands don't hit anything and nothing glows and-

She's curious because there should be a shrine.

No shrine means no hero, which means no Link. How many years has it been since the kingdom was destroyed? How long since the end of everything and how long until everything starts? Why is she here? Why be here before the game starts and will she be here when it does begin? Could she even face Link without feeling sick or panicking because she'd be meeting a main character and she's terrified to make a bad impression on a good day?

(The lie Yin tells herself is that she has no hero. This way no one disappoints her. She already has to deal with the stress of being here, it's better to pretend she won't care what Link thinks of her. That's if they meet at all.)

Her hand finally hits something other than dirt. It's not what she's looking for, but it is just as curious. A key the length of her palm; gripping around the middle Yin drags it out and holds it up. On one end a large 'EX' stares back at her. She's putting off thoughts of being a DLC character at the sight.

Searching around, Yin finds long leaf blades and braids them into a necklace rope. She's getting pretty good at it, what with attempting to weave a nicer blanket every night. It takes the better part of an hour, but she now has a key hanging on her chest since she doesn't have pockets.

It brings thoughts to weaving clothing for herself. The few washings she's done have been a test of nerves as she cowers behind ruined structures. She can't wear her pyjamas forever.

Day 18

"Yes," Yin hisses, shaking and twisting to make sure everything stays put. A crop top and a skirt made of palm-like leaves are better than nothing. She poses in front of Chu'thulu. "How do I look?"

Chu'thulu yawns and goes back to sleep.

Day 21

Yin slowly jumps out of the tree, Chu'thulu grumbling from atop her head. Her eyes don't leave the small squad that zeros in on her appearance. As relaxed as she can appear, the young woman saunters up to the group.

Three Bokoblin, two Lizalfos, and a tied-up human male. Yin stops a dozen feet away, raising her eyebrows and waiting. This is her first time seeing the Lizalfos, and they look just as weary to meet her. The lead Bokoblin pushes the human towards her. Here.

"What am I supposed to do with this?" Yin drawls, crossing her arms.

It's the human's reaction that makes her pause. His eyes go wide and he tries to speak around the cloth in his mouth. "I undershtand you."

Yin blinks. Blinks again. Scoffs a breath and kneels down to his height, removing the strap from his mouth. "The Legend of Zelda?"

"Made by Nintendo," he breathes a hysterical laugh.

Yin sits back on her feet and looks up to the monsters. Then to their prisoner. "Appeared at the Temple of Courage?"

"Pretty much," he wheezes. "Took out a dozen monsters before they managed to knock me out. Been with them ever since. You friends with them?"

Yin rocks on her heels and gets to her feet. No wonder they are scared of her, if this is who they dealt with. "Friendly. We don't bother each other's area." She looks up, "I take it you want him gone?"

The main Bokoblin nods.

"Make sure Chu'thulu doesn't die and I'll drop him at a stable," Yin sighs, places her annoyed Chuchu on the ground, and then pulls the man to his feet. He stumbles a bit, watching with wide eyes. "Thanks for not killing him." I guess is implied. A Lizalfo snorts and cracks a smile at her. She's dragging him away before it sinks in.

When it does he starts squirming. "Wait, what? Untie me."

"No." She deadpans and tightens her grip. The man winces; is her grip really that strong? "They gave you to me. I don't want you around."

"So then, what?" he scoffs right back. "You're just going to live in a forest? Pretend we're not inside a videogame?"

"This is the real world now," she says with a sigh. "You're better off just accepting it and moving on."

"I won't accept it," he growls. "I will find a way home. There has to be one."

She doesn't want to go back. Twenty-one days and she's too changed to be who she was. Besides, here she has fewer days that end with her she thinking 'I want to die'. Here she survives.

(Not thrives, because Yin has never thrived.)

A few people recognize her approaching the stable and she knows them only as the people she's halted the monsters from attacking. Some point, some whisper, one shouts with a wave.

"By the way," Yin mutters next to the man's ear, "they can't understand us."

She pushes him forward before he can reply, and then takes off in a run.

(A coward)

Yin treats herself and Chu'thulu to baked egg that night. She plays with her necklace under the stars and wonders.

(Curiosity

can be such a great motivator.

With 120 Shrines,

will they each have a key?

If each spawned a person,

are they all still alive?

And just who

will save the people from Earth?)

Day 23

Wondering evolves into theories. A natural progression that follows the Who, What, When, Where, Why, and Hows of storytelling. The first week in Hyrule was spent questioning why why WHY her? Why is she here? Why why WHY?

The 'why's aren't answered but they aren't as important anymore. It is natural to doubt, especially since she has no known extras to her very human self. Yin is not special. The only thing that matches the man's story is that she has played a Zelda game before. However, this game does not happen now. She is in pre-plotted events. The whys are not important right now.

'Who' would be important, if she felt like searching for people. It might even unravel some mystery. Who else is in this world from Earth? Who triggered them coming here? Who is important? Who is hiding?

The 'when' is important, but she has no way to figure that out without talking to the world's inhabitants. The monsters don't follow time passage the same way, so asking them when the world ended won't help since it didn't end for them. She's scared of the Hylians, Gerudo, Gorons, and Rito. The Zora too, but she has yet to see any of them. Asking them when the castle came to be sealed off would be a nightmare when she barely knows the words for hello.

("Sav'aaq," she repeats at night until she pronounces it right. She used to always greet the Gerudo when she played the game. The word sticks, even after all this time. "Sav'aaq." Good day.)

Where is she? In map area of Lake Tower. Not that the tower is there. She borders Lake and Faron every day and neither towers nor area shrines have yet to sprout. Where are the boundaries, the warp points, and Link?

(Another 'why': Why does she care if he comes this way or not?)

There are many 'what's that circle in her head. What could have caused this? What does she need to survive? What if she dies? What is the point of de-aging? What is the point of being here? What will happen if the plot starts? What will she do if it never does? What about post-game? What if she's still here post-game?

The 'how's though…

(How will she survive? How will she live? How will she die? How is everything back home? How are the ones she left behind? How will she deal with never talking to her family and friends again? How is she still alive? How is this possible? How is she here? How is she not the only one?)

Yin prefers not to think too deeply on them.

Her latest theory is that this whole situation has something to do with her connections with the games. Wind Waker was the first Legend of Zelda game she ever played, Twilight Princess was the first she finished and her favourite to date, and Breath of the Wild…

Yin muses as she looks between lily pads for a plant to eat tonight. Here, where there isn't anyone she cares her words might hurt, she can accept that she lived to see Breath of the Wild released. It was a beacon she wanted to reach; a goal to realize.

The Legend of Zelda saved her for a long time, but to believe it saved her by bringing her here is a little too out-there for a theory.

The theorizing gets put aside when there's a soft pop and a few footsteps. Yin is frozen in place, looking towards the area it came from. She's saved merchants from monsters attacking them in her area, but she's never run into a Yiga member before.

She knows that's who they are because they are stationary on the main road. It's one of the first rules learned in-game. Weapons and shields break. Grab all the items you can. Stationary Hylians are from the Yiga tribe.

The smile on their Hylian disguise falters the longer Yin stares. Yin moves slowly to the edge of the tiny pond and gathers up Chu'thulu, never looking away from the threat. The Traveler looks surprised when the Chuchu's in her palms, but they only watch as she inches away.

Yin doesn't return to her shelter until hours later, when she's positive she isn't being followed. That night Chu'thulu cuddles close while the human cries in time with the rain.

(How did she forget about the Yiga?)

Day 24

"Hello!"

Yin startles badly and almost drops her mushrooms. The voice is faint, but she can understand it.

"Hello! Lady in the forest! My name's Isabella! Cain told me about you helping him away from the monsters!"

Who's Cain, is quickly followed by, two people from Earth in a couple days?

Taking a leap of faith that it isn't a coincidence and the humans from Earth don't have a network figured out, Cain is the guy who made the monsters scared of humans and this girl – teenager – is from the stable area. Yin gives a long-suffering sigh, hides the mushrooms, and rubs Chu'thulu to comfort herself. The blue blob could really care less about her inner turmoil and purrs along with the motion.

"What do you want?" Yin steps out from a tree behind the girl, startling the other human. Somehow, Yin isn't surprised the girl looks similar to the man. Hers is a completely different accent, though. Three people from Earth all using the same language? Yin's calling shenanigans.

After the girl's calmed herself from the surprise, she smiles brightly and bounds forwards. "Hello! My name is Isabella! What's your name?"

Yin doesn't flinch.

(What is [Y/N]?)

They shake hands. "Call me Yin. What do you want?"

The girl is taken aback for a second and then is right back to her bubbly self. "I- well, I want to make sure you aren't alone out here. I know what it's like, thinking you are the only one but the rumor mills have been talking about lots of people just appearing and I assumed you dropped off Cain because of it and. Um. Do you think you can help? You can come with us, or something, and it's really nice to be able to talk with people who understand and… um… please come back with me?"

"No," Yin deadpans at the defeated look she gets in return. "The guy I dropped off was the only one I know of and I'm not going back with you. Not only do I not want to leave the area, do you think Chu'thulu would be accepted into a monster-free area?"

The girl chokes and looks down at the Chuchu dozing in Yin's hand. "It's called Chu'thulu?"

"I named it Chu'thulu."

"That's…" Isabella lets out a disbelieving laugh. "Wow. Are you fond of it? Them?"

"I'm going with it," Yin shrugs, "and yes. It's like my cat."

Isabella's laugh is a bit more real. "That's strangely adorable."

Yin cracks a smile. And then sighs. "If I find any humans I'll make an… attempt at sending them your way. No promises if they're a*****es."

Isabella laughs fully at the censoring kicking in. "Rated T for Teen, am I right?"

"Whoever used up our one swear…" Yin mockingly shakes her head. "Will you and- Cain was it? Will you two be alright? The stable people and the whole… rumor mill?"

"Yah," Isabella blinks in surprise. "They're actually teaching us the language and I get to help with the horses so it hasn't been too bad. Just… difficult, you know? Being here."

Not being home. Yin gets it.

"I can ask if they'll teach you too," Isabella brightens, eyeing Yin up and down. "And maybe get you some clothes…"

"Don't bother with clothing, but I'll take you up on some language lessons if they're offered. I can bring some mushrooms and maybe an apple or two as trade if it helps convince them."

"Sounds good!" the smaller girl jumps with a smile and then gets serious. "Will you be alright here, with all the monsters? I'm sure Chu'thulu is very scary, but…"

"It's fine," Yin hesitates before patting the girl's shoulder. It cheers the other girl up, so that's something. "The monsters and I have an agreement not to attack each other around here, and Cain's pretty much scared them off of attacking armed humans so that's a thing."

"Oh," the girl laughs. "Alright then. Good to know. Um…"

"Look out for the Yiga clan," Yin warns frowning and finally looking away from the human to peer into the forest. "One of them showed up yesterday, which doesn't leave me much hope they'll stay away from here."

The girl's a shade lighter and nods furiously. "Got it." Yin has to smile at the uncomfortable shifting the girl does. "Um… I like your necklace."

"Thanks."

"Where'd… you get it?"

"Found it," Yin doesn't know why she doesn't want to mention she dug it up, but she should share that information. The other shrine items aren't hers to take. "I'll tell you how, if you answer a few of my questions honestly."

Here Isabella looks weary. She still nods her consent.

"What was the first Zelda game you played?" Yin lists off with her free hand. "What is your favourite Zelda game? What was the date when you disappeared and how long have you been here?"

"Um," the girl relaxes and thinks about it. "First game was, and don't laugh, Skyward Sword. Favourite game: Breath of the Wild." She lists the date like a mantra, not noticing Yin's frown. "And I've been here… about three weeks? I wasn't keeping track of the first few days but the stable master would know."

"It's fine," Yin replies. The date matches the day after Yin last remembers, so it's either everyone has a different day or time zone differences during the same moment. She had hoped there was an obvious link between gaming preferences and players besides having played a Zelda game, but she'll need more information to narrow it down. "I dug around the area I woke up. Couldn't find the top of the shrine, but I found this key in the dirt."

"Really?" Isabella breathes, looking at it in a new light. "Do you think there's something in mine?"

"'S why I mentioned it," Yin shrugs. "If you do find something, I might try going through the monster's foothold to see if the guy's shrine has something. Unless he wants to go himself, but I don't suggest it."

"Cain doesn't want to be near another monster," the girl shakes her head. "I'll let you know if I find anything. And the lessons. Yah."

"Thanks, Isabella," Yin nods politely and starts backing up. "I appreciate you taking the time to talk to me."

"It's no problem!" the bundle of sunshine and energy gives her blinding smile. "If we all work together, I'm sure we can get home faster!"

Yin gives her a smile she doesn't feel. "Sounds good."

The others can go back to Earth if they are dead-set on it. Yin will get them to leave her behind if they manage it.

("I'm fine," she tells Chu'thulu after she has a panic attack that night. "I'll- I'll be okay.)

Day 25

Yin stands between the monsters and the Traveler. This time her back's to the Bokoblin that were ready to attack the hidden Yiga member. The Hylian disguise keeps smiling. Taunting.

"Do not bother this one," Yin whispers over her shoulder to the monsters still prepped to attack. The Traveler raises an eyebrow. "They have enough strength and ability to kill us all."

The Bokoblin go silent. One grabs her woven shirt and pulls her behind them. They glare at the disguised Yiga member, and then hustle the human away.

Who? Is the silent question they ask her.

"Someone from the Yiga tribe," she replies. They talk amongst themselves for a bit.

Then she is shuffled away. The woman may miss-understand what they say but it sounds like, we give you a weapon. Do not engage.

"I wasn't planning on it," Yin says slowly, unsure. She doesn't ask them to repeat. "Be safe."

They laugh at her.

Day 26

A Lizalfo appears beside her, startling her to falling backwards into the pond.

Sorry, it seems to say when it helps her up. Its hissing laughter hints that it's not really all that sorry. Didn't mean to scare you.

"Nothing to do about it now," Yin sighs and tries to wipe off the excess water. Ew. "What are you here for?"

It hands her a boomerang.

Weapon, it points to the sharp blades. Will come back if you throw it, but do not try to catch. Your hands are too squishy.

A startled laugh leaves Yin. "Thanks. This is appreciated."

It smiles. No use for mundane tasks. No use on us.

"Understood," Yin nods her head. "Only to defend myself."

Exactly, it smiles.

Day 28

To give credit, the people at the stable don't attack at the sight of a Chuchu on her head. The mushrooms she hands them probably help.

(No, she's not thinking of the panic attack she'll be having later tonight. Too many new people. Too many faces to disappoint.)

Chu'thulu stays with her the whole time, eyeing all the strangers as wearily as her. She won't let anyone near him and that seems to work for the stable hands.

"Hello," Isabella makes sure to enunciate the foreign word. Yin repeats until she can pronounce it right. Cain watches them across the table with a stormy gaze. "My name is Isabella."

"My. My na- … My name are-"

"My."

"My."

"Name."

"Name."

"My name."

"My name."

"My. Name. Is. Isabella."

"My name. Is Yin."

"My name is Isabella."

"My name is Yin."

("Hello," Yin says over and over that night. "My name is Yin.")

"Why would you want to learn sorry next?" Isabella asks after Yin's request.

"I don't want to offend anyone," Yin says jokingly. Cain rolls his eyes. She's apologized to him earlier, but she knew it wouldn't be enough. She'll be nice because she owes him at least that for dumping him and running.

("I'm sorry," Yin says over and over that night. "I'm sorry. I apologize. I didn't mean to cause harm. I'm sorry.

"I don't understand.")

Day 30

You are getting lessons from the Hylians, states the Lizalfo who gave her the boomerang. He motions to his friend. We wish to teach you how to fight.

Yin blinks, feeling something in her crack. She has no idea her face has fallen into a heartbreaking expression. Has no idea that's why the monsters pause. "Why?"

You are the reason no one dies along this road, says the other Lizalfo.

You have earned our trust, says the one she knows. The world will break you if you do not fight back.

She wants to reply, the world has already broken me.

The first Lizalfo reaches out to lightly grip her shoulder. You are not protected unto death. You bleed and bruise, unlike us and the Goddess followers. We do not want to see you break or left to a slow death.

"You and me both," Yin barks a laugh. She smiles hopefully at them. "Will you really teach me to fight?"

They nod. The one she knows gives her a light squeeze and then releases her. We shall be in different places every day. Seek us out and we will train you.

"Thank you," the human woman replies. She takes a deep breath. "My name is Yin."

They are Opaque and Grasshus. They teach her how to throw the boomerang properly.

Day 31

"What's this?" Cain mutters, watching Yin drop double the amount of mushrooms on the table. "You don't have lessons today."

"Where's Chu'thulu?" Isabella asks kindly.

"Chu's with its friends and the Bokoblin," Yin says, staring hard at a knot in the table's wood. "It's officially been over a month for me."

Cain gets it quicker than Isabella. He grunts and leans back in his seat.

"Over and month…?" Isabella wonders softly.

"I've been here, in this world, for over a month," Yin elaborates with a forced monotone voice. "I…" her voice cracks. "I didn't want to spend today alone."

She feels there eyes on her.

"I'm sorry," Yin shakes her head and moves to leave.

"Stop apologizing," Cain's voice makes her freeze. "Just don't do it again." Isabella looks between them, confused. "Don't leave another human hanging and sit back down."

Yin sighs and turns to them. "I…"

"We'll have a mini feast tonight," Cain declares, gathering up some mushrooms and debating what to do with them. "I'm sure Beedle has something we can buy to cook with."

("I'm a pretty good chef," Cain tells Yin while he's seasoning the mushrooms. "Nothing too special, but I fed myself real food for thirty plus so I picked up a few things.)

When the first bite of steamed mushrooms hits her tongue, Yin chokes on a sob.

"What's wrong?" Cain asks, voice full of bewilderedness. "It's not that bad is it?"

Yin shakes her head and reigns in her sobs enough to swallow and speak. "It's the best thing I've had in a month."

Day 33

Opaque teaches her the proper ways to fight with the weapon he's given her. He likes to practice by the dirt roads, and then send her into the forest to go bother Grasshus. The second Lizalfo is a bit sterner, but has warmed up enough to move her body into the proper fighting poses.

Know thy enemy, he tells her when explaining how he knows a stiff, humanoid's body poses. Are you still doing the stretches?

"Yes," Yin replies, moving into the next unarmed pose.

Good, he hisses with a rare smile.

If she wants to preen under the Lizalfos' praises, she'll keep that part of her buried behind the grateful smiles and thanks she sends them.

Day 35

"Horses," Yin doesn't realize she's speaking as she peers out behind a tree. Chu'thulu shifts on her head to look as well.

It's different, seeing a small herd like this at the edge of her forest; the area before the Bridge of Hylia comes into sight. The horses she normally sees are around the pond of the stable and in the stable itself. Those are relatively friendly and at a perfectly acceptable height. These ones are a few hands taller. Some are skinnier, some more muscled, and not a hint of fat in sight. Some are blue.

"Really?" Isabella says with wonder when Yin describes them in between their language lesson that day. "Can I come with you this afternoon to see them?"

Yin nods, proud when even Cain agrees to come with.

"Oh, by the way," Isabella digs around her bag and pulls out a familiarly, heartbreaking, item. "We dug around the place I woke up and found this."

Horse Call. Ilia's Charm. The item used to call Epona from Twilight Princess. Just the sight removes most theories Yin had about EX charms or personal connections.

"She doesn't understand the importance," Cain grumbles beside Yin, watching Isabella attempt to tame the wild horses of the forest.

"Do you want to try and see what's in yours?" Yin whispers back.

"F**k no," Cain stifles his biting laugh. "I don't want to see another monster again, never mind go back into their hideout."

Yin nods. "I won't force the issue, but I won't be asking permission into their lair without a solid plan either."

"You'd need a scale," he ponders out loud. "Possibly two if it tries to lock you in."

"Last time I used a bow I was nine and going through a phase," Yin makes a face. "And let's not anger a dragon."

"Are you going to let her keep the item?" Cain wonders.

Yin frowns. "Why wouldn't I?"

He's silent for a moment, broadcasting his movements as he elbows her side a little. "Isabella told me you asked about favourite games. Mine's this place. Seeing how you looked when you saw the charm…"

"Twilight Princess is mine," Yin agrees softly. "The item isn't mine to have, though."

He sighs. "It's probably not hers to have either. Just luck or convenience." He side-glances her. "You haven't tried seeing the Mirror of Twilight."

"I would love to," Yin admits, "but I'm scared of pretty much everything so I'm not going to hike through the forest just to see a broken mirror."

"That's not fear," he snorts and grins. "That's survival."

A pause.

"I'll let you know if others find things in their shrine spots," he whispers with a heavy air. "I almost don't want to tell anyone, but Isabella made a couple good points. I shouldn't be afraid some super-powered object is just lying about or that the Hylians or monsters will find the items and screw us all. It's just paranoia."

"That's not paranoia," Yin whispers back with a smile. "That's acknowledging the possibilities and preparing for the worst."

He chuckles. "No, pretty sure that's paranoia."

Day 40

"How old were you?" Cain asks as they share dinner around the campfire.

She smirks a bit and stares at a faded scar on her arm. After a moment she answers.

"You were like me then," he chuckles dryly. "Had a life?"

"Yah, I had a life," she laughs.

"I was late thirties," he grows morose and stares at his own hands. "Now I'm back in my twenties and fitter than ever." He sighs.

They share a moment of understanding silence. It's not a good thing if you didn't make the choice; it's a violation.

"We were so hungry before you started coming around," he whispers, looking to the stable where Isabella's already gone to bed. "These people don't need to eat as much as us. They could probably survive on less sleep, too. And they don't get sick not boiling their water."

"Neither do the monsters," Yin tells him.

He smiles humorously. "I chalk it up to game mechanics but…"

"Don't worry," she broadcasts her movements as she elbows him lightly. "I get it." They have another understanding silence. "Do you know how old Izzy was?"

"Eighteen," his laugh is gruff and sour. "She's now twelve and not enjoying the start of puberty again."

Yin winces because yep, that isn't anyone wants to experience never mind do it twice. "Any information about others?"

"While we all speak the same language it seems," he drawls blandly, "not a lot of us write the same, though. I can't read half of the notes, so I'm working on the Hylian alphabet. But we lose the advantage of others knowing what we say."

"I honestly don't think a lot of them care," the woman glances off to the side. "The Yiga and Sheikah maybe," and yes, she does notice the stiffening of undercover Yiga member who's been popping up in her forest every now and then. Cain sees where her eyes are and huffs a breath; he's the only one she's told. "But the rest? We're more of an inconvenience or the newest labor force."

Cain chuckles and leans over to one-arm hug her. "That's probably true too." A pause. "How do you think about everyone's shrines…?"

"I prefer not to."

Another pause. "That's fair."

It's easier not to think about those who have died because of their shrine placements. The 'what if's may circle around their heads, but there is nothing to do now. There is nothing they want to do now, expect to survive and try to find a way back the Earth.

"Would you return, if you could?" Cain mutters, leaning his head on hers and watching the fire. "To Earth, I mean."

Yin is silent for a long time. "What answer do you want from me?"

"You can lie to others, but don't do that to me. I don't… I won't be offended if you want to stay." Quieter, "I want the hope of going back, but I don't want to wake up and pretend none of this happened. What therapist would believe my PTSD came because I was a prisoner of a monster camp for weeks?"

"Think of the bright side," Yin drawls flatly. "Real plumbing and toilet paper." He smiles. "…None of us will be okay, Cain. Not even Izzy. I don't want to go back, because it might just kill me to give up all of this."

"You can't mean that."

"You know what?" the woman blinks, eyes widening as she comes to an awful realization. "I think I might. O-oh my. Oh wow." She leans away to wipe at her eyes. "I don't think I can go back to living on Earth."

"…that could be the P-"

"Do you want to go back?" she cuts him off. "To electricity and TV and videogames and rules and structure and society and- and all those people you love who want the old you back?"

She made Cain cry. S**t.

"I'm sorry," Yin hugs him. "Wow, I'm so sorry. We should, we shouldn't talk about this anymore. No, to answer your question. No I don't want to go back. But if you want to it's fine and if you don't it's fine too and I'm sorry. If we end up back on Earth we'll figure out how to survive, just like we did here."

He laughs through his tears. "You're a b***h."

Yin flinches. "Yep, probably am. I've seem to have lost all manners out there in the forest. If you find them, please call 1-800-Iam-B***h or visit the website. W-w-w dot you're-a-little-s**t dot com."

He smiles at her. "We never would have been friends, would we?"

"If there was anyone else to talk to, probably not. So we are friends? You aren't still angry at my general being?"

"Well, Phanna says I should probably get over it since we wouldn't have met without you," he sends a sly look over and Yin breaks out into a smile. "So yah, friends."

"Thanks," Yin can't stop grinning. "Sorry for making you cry. So, you and Phanna? Even with the language barrier?"

"We're treating each other right," he says with a fond smile aimed towards the stable. "Izzy doesn't know yet, so don't tell her until I can."

"Pretty recent then?"

"Yah. Last week."

"Good luck, man. I guess I should tell you I have your back if she breaks your heart, since we know Izzy will have hers."

He snorts. "Thanks."

"Cheers to Highland Stable," Yin raises her dinner plate, "for taking in you lost souls and helping you find a place in the world."

Day 43

What is Your Name:

Enter Your Name:

Yes or No:

What is [Y/N]

Enter [Y/N]

[Y/N]

Really.

What is [YIN]?

Yin wake up breathing hard. Chu'thulu gulps loudly, asking what's wrong.

"Nothing," Yin wheezes out, clutching a hand over her racing heart. "Just a nightmare. Thank you."

Chu'thulu slides up to her leg and purrs comfortingly. She cracks a smile and pets its head.

"I'll be okay," Yin assure it. "Thank you for caring."

Always, Chu'thulu promises.

Day 47

Yin makes her way back from training with Grasshus. Every time she is lead further into the forest. You need to know where to run, hide, and scavenge is the reply when she first asked. By now she isn't worried they'd kill her or leave her for dead. She almost never runs out of food now, as she scavenges on the way back to her crevice. Today she sees the treasure chests floating in the water when she crosses the bridge.

"Do you think I should try opening them?" the woman asks the Chuchu on her head. She gets a negative. "You're right. I'll bring a change of clothing when I do, and maybe when it doesn't look like it's going to rain."

She's lucky to not have gotten sick so far. Better not push that.

Day 49

"Someone found a Clawshot," Isabella says, bouncing on her feet. "It was buried in one of the shrine spots in Zora's domain."

Yin wants to be excited, but Cain looks too serious and is hiding it from the girl. The woman smiles and dutifully theorizes other items with the girl.

"Why couldn't we have gotten something cool like that?" Izzy whines.

"So we don't risk breaking our neck," Yin drawls, and Cain flinches. So whatever's bothering him is like that. When Isabella leaves to do her job, the woman gets serious. "What happened?"

"Three confirmed dead in the desert," he answers gravely. "Dehydration. It really shook up the people and monsters who found them because bodies don't normally stick around after the person dies. Someone froze in the mountains; another was pushed by a Yiga member into a volcano. Apparently it's normal to respawn after you've drowned in lava, and we humans can't do that feat."

"F**k," Yin lowers her head. "F**k. You didn't tell Izzy?"

"I don't know how," he admits honestly.

"We'll tell her together," Yin gives him a hard look. "But it should always come from you since you two live here. She trusts you to tell her these things."

"I know."

"She was eighteen, once. She's still an adult at heart."

"I know!"

"Then stop acting like those six years her body's missing never happened."

He can't say much to that.

"Why did you get all this information at once?" Yin asks, changing the subject. "They didn't all die around the same time, did they?

"I asked to get the information translated into something I could read," he says. "The information is anywhere from a week to six weeks old."

They've been dying since they came here.

Day 50

"Ugh," Yin complains. "It's so cold. Sure you don't want to come in?"

Chu'thulu yawns from where its laid out on a sunny rock.

"Suit yourself," the woman grumbles and then gets knee-deep into the river. It's times like this when she wishes she had shoes. Real shoes. She's thankful for the boots Phanna lent her, but she normally goes barefoot because they blister her feet. The pebbles digging into the cuts aren't helping. "Please be worth it. Please be worth it."

She has to swim the chests to shore, and it's really gross to feel the fish brush up against her. She floats like Rose on the Titanic driftwood and determinedly doesn't squeal when a particularly large fish circles her feet.

"There aren't sharks in these waters," Yin repeats like a mantra as she goes out for the second chest. "Nope. No piranhas either. I am a-okay-eep! I thought you fish were supposed to be scared of people!"

Chu'thulu laughs at her wet-cat imitation as she drags the last chest out of the water. Yin rolls her eyes and wrings her hair out; fixing the key around her neck so it's hidden in her woven bra. Then she gets to opening the chests, keeping in the sunlight to dry off.

What am I supposed to do with these? Yin mourns as she holds up a red rupee and a slab of amber. If she was playing the game she might rejoice. Unfortunately, these can't help her now. "Do you think I can bribe Beedle to bring around some exotic foods?"

Chu'thulu's fast asleep.

"Yah," Yin sighs and places them in her woven sling. "Probably not." Guy's crazy. She'd be better off hunting around for a beetle to bribe him for items.

The woman leans back into the sunlight and kicks the chests back into the water. She watches them float down the river, wondering if she can find any chests with a bow. Maybe some arrows, since buying them from Beedle is a crapshoot most of the time. Maybe the Bokoblin archers will trade with her, but they are pretty good about doing their jobs and ignoring her. She doesn't want to set them off-

The chests are stuck on something.

Praying that maybe it's a treasure chest with something useable in it, Yin finally gets her hair wet and dives under. It is one of those metal chests. Yin's lost weight and gained some muscle, but she's nowhere near strong or heavy enough to lift it out in one go while battling the current. It takes twenty minutes to get it close enough to shore so she doesn't have to keep coming up for air. Another five to drag it into visible range.

"Huh," Yin wheezes, giving one last pull to get the EX chest up. She plops down beside it and takes greedy breathes. Absolutely exhausted, Yin gives the chest a swift kick.

It doesn't open.

"Stupid," chough, "thing." Yin sits up and glares, unhooking the key from her neck. "This better," wheeze, "work."

The lock isn't rusted or degraded like the wooden chests; she actually needs a key for it. With shaking hands she jams it in the opening and turns. The lid springs open, almost hitting her in the face, "F**k!"

The spoils inside is a bunch of cloth. After slipping back on her necklace, Yin wipes her hands on the dry material. With full-body shivers – because it's cold and she's tired, d**n it – Yin stands and holds the thing out. It's some kind of chest armor, complete with long sleeves, gloves, and a cape. She lets out a slightly hysterical laugh, thinking no capes as she holds it up against her body. It's way too big, but it might keep her warm.

"I think that's too big for you."

She freezes, not having heard anyone approach. Her wide eyes travel up to the bridge where a man sits, legs kicking air, and watching her with an aura of amusement. The human makes sure she's positioned in front of Chu'thulu, hiding the monster from sight. The man looks distinctly Gerudo with his sharp angles, red hair, and golden eyes. He can't be though.

Ganon's already trapped in the castle, Yin thinks as she slowly gathers her things. The sling with her dry clothes and scavenged items goes on her and she folds up the EX item, stuffing it on top. The man's slowly losing his air of amusement the longer she watches him. The Gerudo don't have a male every one hundred years.

The Gerudo merchant almost took of Cain's head for asking but they got the information. The Gerudo don't birth males. Period.

Yin is holding Chu'thulu to her chest when the man speaks again. "Can you…" he sounds like he doesn't want to hope, "see me?"

Yin doesn't answer, but she doesn't stop looking at him while she climbs the rocks. That is probably an answer enough. He's on his feet when she's atop the embankment. Strangely, he doesn't blink. The human files this under the 'I finally cracked' section of her thoughts.

"What's your name?" he asks, taking a step forward.

Yin runs away.


Disclaimer: I do not own The Legend of Zelda. All rights belong to their respective owners.

A/N: Thanks for reading!