The horse's feet met the dirt with a repetitive thud. The Lost Woods were not much different than any other forest as long as you knew where you were going. Revis, growing up exploring these woods, knew it like the back of his hand. While the woods carried an aura of mystery that many Hylians found frightening, it seemed to strike a more peaceful note with Revis. The wind, birds chirping, the sun shining through the treetops and the sound of ones heart beating was refreshing to the young man. Eventually the army of trees gave way to blinding sunlight, and beyond was the vast plain of Hyrule Field. Revis pulled the reins of his escort to examine his view. Hyrule Castle Town was in the center of the kingdom, and had outgrown it's "town" status long ago. The towers that dotted the city scraped menacingly against the sky. Hyrule's advances over the years were to atleast be admired.
"Hyrule Castle Town shouldn't be more than 10 minutes away." Revis stated reassuringly. His hand shielded his eyes from the sun, and the smell of the earth penetrated his nostrils.
"Well then what're doing standing here." Amyn retorted, floating back into his hood for shade. "Lazy oaf."
"Hey," Revis chuckled, "It's not polite to insult someone one hundred times your size."
When the pair got within 100 feet of the gate, Revis hopped off the horse and commanded it to stay put. The gate was a small room that one would have to have permission to enter into, and then proceed through it to the other side and into the the town. The outside of the gate was patrolled by a handful of armed guards. The guards wore an eagle-crested helmet on their heads, and a full suit of carbon-fiber armor covered them from mouth to feet. In their lefts hands they wielded the latest issue Hylian Shields, and in their right hands they carried submachine guns. Revis shuddered slightly before remembering that they were on his side
"State your business sir." The one closest to the pair stated plainly. Revis could spot one of the soldiers closer to the gate scanning him with some sort of wrist-held device. Revis didn't like them, they seemed to... distant for him. He wondered if Elio had turned out like this, cold and strictly professional. Revis stood his ground and answered accordingly.
"Just visiting sir. Picking up a package." Amyn peered from under Revis' hood to see the guard father back call out "He's clean" to the others. The guard closer to Revis steeped aside, and the others followed suit.
"Right through there sir."
Revis simply nodded before walking through the automatic doors and through the gate, and was greeted by the loud, bustling city on the other end. The city was the largest in Hyrule, and as such there were many skyscrapers, markets, housing and factories lining the skyline, which was darkening by the smoke produced. Revis shook his head in disdain. Do people actually enjoy living here? he asked himself as he ignored the ringing of phones, hum of engines and the laughter of small children and spotted his destination.
"I forgot how scary those guys were." Amyn exclaimed exasperatedly. Revis had been "processed" by the system a while ago, but he didn't appreciate being treated like a terrorist every time he wanted to go into town. Then again, he thought to himself, having a drawbridge like in the olden days wasn't much better.
"Damn straight." He advanced towards the building he was looking for, a much smaller and older building simply labeled "Pawn". Inside it was filled with various objects of value and the lingering smell of foreign spices. Behind the counter was Umar, a short, chubby Hylian man with short brown hair and a Pancho Villa mustache. The shop was currently empty, so Revis walked straight up to the counter and shook Umar's hand.
"Hi Umar, how's it going?" Revis asked.
"I'm good, and you? How's Harrith?" Umar beamed.
"Same old," Revis said truthfully. "Speaking of Harrith, he sent me here for his ocarina. He wants it back."
Umar pulled his upper lip up in thought before ducking under the counter to find it. He pulled a leather bag out from under the counter and handed to Revis.
"Ah yes, that old thing. Be careful with that bag Revis, and make sure it gets back to Harrith safely, posthaste!"
Revis nodded and proceeded back on his way.
"He's coming this way, shut up Gustaf!"
"Shhh, don't make any noise."
In the canopy of trees hid two Hylian men in black garb, drapped over their heads, covering all but their eyes and continuing down to their feet. One was a man named Gustaf, a large, dim-witted fellow with a wide gap between teeth and the other was his much smaller partner in crime Irin. The two men had been waiting on the edge of the forest for a young man with a leather sack to come passing through. When the crunching of leaves sounded underfoot, the two lowered their heads just out of sight to listen and spot the coming traveler. Sure enough Revis pulled the reins on his horse and pulled the bag from the side of the horse up to his chest.
"All right Amyn, shut up, I'll take a peek."
"Good, I hate things being kept from me."
Revis loosened the mouth of the sack and reached in, pulling out a small blue instrument that looked like it had seen better days.
"Woah, this thing has the Triforce on the mouthpiece! This must have been a royal relic or something." The old ocarina seemed to vibrate with music, even standing still.
The two thugs looked at each other, grinning.
"Hey Irin, that's that powerful thingy that the boss needs, right?" Gustaf whispered.
"Yeah! That kid has the freaking Ocarina of Time in his hands!" Irin covered his mouth, not wanting to alert the pair below. His brain grinded in thought for a second, before his hand reached for the handgun on his belt. He clicked the safety before taking aim at Revis' leg.
"For the shadows."
BANG
Revis screamed in agony as he fell off his steed. Amyn choked back a scream before flying over to Revis to make sure he wasn't critically injured. The horse, panicked, began to buck in fear and darted off into the distance. The world was a blur, the trees laughing menacingly. Revis noticed a pool of blood forming under his right thigh as he slinked over to a tree to recover from the shock. The two thiefs dropped down from the trees and advanced toward him. Irin pointed the gun in Revis' face and pointed at the ocarina.
"Gimme it! Gimme the damn ocarina!"
Their faces were black blurs, but he didn't need to see them to realize that they were serious. He wanted to fight back, but knew that ] he had no other choice then death, so he turned the instrument over to the men. Irin still held the gun to his face, contemplating shooting him anyways, but decided otherwise when Gustaf pulled on his collar, repeating "we gots to go!"
When the adrenaline shock had ceased, Revis began to curse and slam his fist into the ground. It didn't help the pain. Examining his thigh, he noticed there was a clear hole cut through, and the blood was beginning to darken and smell. It took until that moment for him to fully process how excruciatingly painful the wound was. Luckily the bullet just missed the bone, so he could regain the ability to walk soon if the wound was treated right, but he needed to stop the bleeding first. Whipping tears from his eyes, he went to reach for his backpack only to realize that he had left it on Harrith's horse. He swallowed hard and called for Amyn.
"Oh my goddesses, are you ok?" She asked, her normal shade turning brighter. Revis grunted in pain.
"Yeah, I'm just fine and dandy. I can barely move my leg." He cursed the shooters before tearing his hoodie off and wrapping it around his leg. "I left my freaking backpack on that horse though. I need you to get somebody out here, A.S.A.P. I'll stop the bleeding if I can."
Amyn shook her body in defiance.
"Are you kidding me? There is no way I am going to leave you out here by yourself! What if they come back?" She glanced around with paranoia. "Can't you text someone? You've got a phone on you, right?"
Revis finished tying the knot with a gasp of pain.
"In the bag..." He said with exasperation. "I should've left it in my pockets..."
This answer did not please Amyn.
"Argh, you're an idiot!" She spat out, her form glowing a darker. "What're we gonna do now?"
Revis pointed in the direction of home, spitting out angrily his words.
"Get a medic, that's what!"
"Revis, I'm not-"
"Yes you are!" He growled. "I'll manage. I promise. Don't debate me, you know you owe me more than 20 rupees."
Amyn knew she was beat. As she left, Revis tried to move his leg, and was met only with another wave of pain.
"Oh Din have mercy, that was a terrible idea." He yelled out to nobody in particular. The pain began to subside to rage. 'Who in their right mind shoots somebody for an old flute' he pondered bitterly. 'Probably just going to sell it for a quick rupee. s.' He closed his eyes.
"Revis? Oh, poor soul!" Harrith exclaimed, catching sight of the bloody wreck Revis' thigh currently was. Trailing Harrith was Ruwan, Ordon's chief medic. Ruwan was a well-defined woman, with chestnut hair and a soft face. She was carrying a bag of medical supplies on her back, and she knelt down next to him and began to unravel the hood wrapped the wound.
"About time," Revis stated as-a-matter-of-factly. The wound was about a thumb's width around, and the blood flow had slowed down but had not ceased altogether. Ruwan flashed a light into the wound, seeing if the bullet was lodged into his thigh, but thankfully it had not. She began to wrap large bandage tightly around his thigh and lifted Revis to his feet with Harrith's help.
"Come on son," Ruwan stated, "We'll get you patched up."
