The cart trundled forward across the field at the speed of a single horse's comfortable gait. Several large crates full of metal milk jugs were piled in the back and Link heard them sloshing in time with the cart's motion. The summer heat was not nearly so oppressive out in the field. A gentle breeze cut across their path and wicked away any unpleasant weight of the day so Link could settle back and enjoy the view.
He could not remember exactly when he had last ventured off the ranch. He kept trying to think of the answer but nothing would come up. A scattering of healthy trees covered the long plain and even stuck up at the horizon in most directions. Malon guided the reins while leaning halfway against him, but still managed to keep her head high and aware of the world before them.
"So we'll be going to Kakariko first," she said. "You've never been along on the milk delivery so I thought I should tell you. First Kakariko to deliver to the families there. I have list but I don't really need to check it anymore. After we've finished that we will deliver to Castle Town, drop a crate off at the castle, and then make one last delivery before returning home."
"Okay, I got it. I'll only take a minute getting supplies in Kakariko and then I can help you with the deliveries." He looked back at the solid crates which nevertheless rattled softly with every movement. "How many of these are going to Kakariko?"
"A crate for Kakariko, two for Castle Town, one crate for the castle itself, and then one more for the last delivery and then we're done."
Link nodded and settled back against her. As an activity this was infinity more pleasant than working in the barn, but Link couldn't help thinking that he had skipped out on some chore or other. There was always something to be done on the ranch, but Talon hadn't seemed to have a problem with him tagging along for the deliveries. He glanced off to the side and caught something dark rustling around near the roots of a tree. The longer he watched it the less human it seemed. The thing's whole body was one bulbous form and it rippled against the tree with a strange, otherworldly movement that he'd only seen in dungeons.
"Hey, stop the cart for a second. I've got to go check this out. Do you see that thing over there, right there by the base of that tree?"
"Huh, yeah I think so. What is it? I've never seen anything like that."
The cart meandered to a slow halt and Link vaulted over the side. Approaching, he began to wish for his sword, but it was back at the house leaning safely against the corner of his bed. There had been no reason to take it, but that old thought began to seem foolish as he grew nearer. Malon climbed down and began to walk just behind him. He had fought without his sword before, so this thing shouldn't be a problem, but still he wished that he had the tool with him now.
The figure seemed to turn toward him, but Link couldn't quite tell. Its surface was an amorphous blob and Link could only imagine it to be faceless and featureless. It shifted toward him slightly and Link took this as an attack. He rushed forward to meet it in case the creature might try to dart past him and get at Malon.
He stopped just a couple feet short of driving his foot through the monster, and sighed with a heat in his cheeks. The only sound was rustling leaves in the wind and Malon's slow footsteps behind him. The monster was just a swaying bush with a tattered coat caught on the top. Link just looked down at the thing and groaned a little before Malon caught up. She stepped up beside him and didn't even look at the decoy, not at first.
She just looked at him and asked, "What's wrong?"
Link just laughed and pointed down at the false alarm. "It was nothing. Just nerves or something made me see this."
He reached down and pulled the mangled coat loose. The wind caught at it immediately and pulled it away rolling across the field's swaying grass. Malon watched it go and then looked at the naked bush, and then laughed along with him.
"You weren't really so bored that you had to invent a monster, were you?"
Link laughed at this as they walked back toward the cart.
"Of course not. I don't even know where that came from. Just my imagination, but... come on let's get going."
They climbed back itno the cart and Malon set the horse pulling again. It wasn't long before they reached Kakariko and left the cart beside the foot of the long stairway there. Malon allowed the horse to wander the grass area, confident that it wouldn't go far. They cracked open one of the crates and each took a few tins per hand. They clanked together a little on the way up the stairs, but Malon remarked that it would be easier having him along since they wouldn't have to carry the milk up in two trips like she usually did.
The sunlight was warm as they entered the town and people walked about placidly from house to house or sometimes just lounged in the grass between. The first few houses they came to were empty, so Malon said to just leave the milk on the doorstep. The deliveries only took a few minutes because every house was close together, and they ended with just one tin, knocking on the last door. A woman answered and smiled at Malon before inviting them in.
Malon left the tin on the woman's counter and they all sat down at a table. She explained that this was a friend of hers named Jean who she liked to visit whenever she came to town. Jean was a few years older but they had known each other for a long time. Link sat at Malon's side while they talked and caught up with each other, but he wasn't sure what he could say.
From another room, a little girl wandered in and stared at them. Jean called her over and said that this was her daughter Alice. Malon had obviously known the girl for a long time as well and explained to Link that she was four years old. Her father was one of the men working on the last of the town's construction and he would be back later, after they left for Castle Town. Jean offered them some of the milk but Malon just laughed.
"It's yours and besides, we have enough back at the ranch."
Link watched Alice standing beside her mother. The little girl stared back at him and he couldn't help taking notice of the distinct resemblance. Eventually Alice left back into the other room and some time after that Malon said that they should probably get going to finish the deliveries. They all said goodbye and parted at the doorstep.
From there they found their way to one of the remaining construction sites. Link bought the supplies he needed from one of the workers and Malon pointed Jean's husband among the brickwork. After that they headed back down the steps to harness the horse again, which had not wandered, and begin their journey to Castle Town.
