Chapter 2

"Gah!" This gasp escapes past cracked lips as pain blasted through the hunter's body. The blow to this back slammed him down to the ground and sent him barreling back down the hill. All the progress was taken from him in a blink of an eye. He'd just fought his way up that hill and now was near the bottom once more, just missing most of the monsters that plagued it. Grass licked and cut into the skin exposed on his temples and wrists as he fell down. The hero wasn't beat just yet though. A blow like that, while painful, wasn't enough to kill him. He'd never admit that it was close thought.

The hunter climbed up to his feet with a frown upon his lips. The monster before him roared in rage at the fact its next meal hadn't died from that blow. It charged with its massive club ready to crush the hero.

Blue eyes focused on the red of the monster's as it charged. Its spiked club was risen high above its head ready to crush him beneath its weight. The hunter stood up to his feet with his sword in hand but off hand free for quick use of his runes. The time is high noon so the sun couldn't factor into any advantage for his situation. He has only this single beast left, and it somehow got the drop him while dispatching his fellows. Moblins are always annoying to contend with, especially when they're sneaky.

The hunter flipped back, narrowly evading an arrow that marked the place he was in previously. His blue eyes flowed in the direction it came and saw it; the archer in the distance amidst the rocks and ridges. The lizalfos above him has always been on his mind, and he's been mindful of its arrows. Their longer bows allow them long range shooting compare to the others that have massive arms but short bows. That didn't make much sense to him because with power comes range. Why give the longest bows to the beasts with the short arms? Why give the short bow to the beast with the largest arms? The young hero couldn't and wouldn't make sense of it at this time.

Power at a short range are how Bokoblin and Moblin function but lizalfos are the opposite. Their loss of power is contrasted by their max effective range with a bow same by their special arrows. The young hunter and monster killer had almost been shot by a shock arrow in the beginning of this push to the top. He's claimed many of the arrows that missed him as well to turn against his foes and the proclaimed hero turned survialist had only two left: the sneaky Moblin and the Lizalfos with the high ground.

Link sighed a bit before jumping towards the Moblin. It had a big head because it got the jump on him, but he's already killed most of its little clan of monsters. This one was just another addition to his log. Ever monster he killed is logged into his Slate but not sure why. It does a lot of things that confused him but never proved detrimental towards the journey. As the warrior spirit took hold of him once more, Link stood ready and willing to come to blows with this monster. Now that the hunter was suppressed, he began to formulate a plan leading to one option. A frontal assault won't help. This moblin is stronger than him so a misdirection tactic might be more effective. Link jumped to the right of the club that slammed into the ground before him. Link stopped next to the arrow that hit the ground before and pulled out his bow. He notched back the arrow then trained on the moblin's uppermost portions. Once he saw red then he let the arrow fly.

Ding!

Every time he knew he landed a critical hit with an arrow that he found himself making that sound for reasons known. It feels right, especially when the monster feels it, so just went with it. Maybe it's something the old Link did once he landed a solid hit. That expression on the monster's face was more than worth it. The widened eyes from the pain, the scrambling of their brains from impact, and the shock to their systems that cause their very bodies to come tumbling down; it was all magnificent to witness. The monster shot back off its feet towards the ground. The shock of the blow triggered it to drop its massive club down to the ground. That arrow pierced into its right eye. Link smirked at the effect a well-placed arrow could make.

'That had to hurt.' Link chuckled after this thought.

Link flipped back and another arrow sailed past him onto the ground. 'Annoying,' he growled. That lizard was beginning to get on his nerves. The young hero rushed past the arrow and snagged it for his quiver before dispelling his sword. Link placed his hand on his Sheikah Slate and felt the light expelling from its surface turning almost physical in his grip. He held up a nice, warm square bomb and let it fly to the left of the Moblin. Link slid and took the large crusher it had in both hands. He winced only a moment from the weight but adapted to it in moments. No matter the weapon he felt he could wield it with at least the most basic of competence.

Just as the Moblin began to stand Link took to its right flank with the crusher in resting atop his shoulder to swing. The moblin roared and looked ready to charge. The lizalfos from before had its view blocked because of the moblin between them. Link waved at the Moblin then placed his hand in this slate and activated his bomb. In a blast of blueish light, the bomb exploded sending the Moblin sailing towards the young killer. His eyes narrowed, his hands tightened in the haft of the maul, and her braced for bash. In one great swing, the maul connected to the moblin's head sending it sailing past him to his far right.

Bash!

That escaped his lips next smoothly. That had to hurt again, but the moblin wasn't dead yet. Link jumped up and sailed down the hill with the spiky weapon aimed downward. The moblin roared once it opened its good eye only to see this coming down. It lifted a single finger before…

Bash!

It went still and that finger fell after a couple seconds. Like most monsters Link kills, he witnessed it fade away into an inky black mess leaving only a couple parts behind for him to take. Most of the time the remains of his kills are random except when he cuts off a part beforehand. With a sword you can eviscerate a monster for its guts or a tail. With a large, crushing weapon, you can knock off fangs, horns, bones, and even sections of its body. Link pondered why monsters fade in death but figured it was related to the blood moon and their Resurrection. These monsters probably died many years ago but cursed to return at the Blood moon's rise.

Link would've pitied them if not for their feral actions.

Link dropped the club and ran up the hill in a sprint. The lizalfos above him screeched, firing arrow after arrow at him. Link simply shifted left and right out of the way until he was close enough to finish this. He pulled his bow out and an arrow then took aim upwards. The lizalfos did the same downward. These monsters are capable of twisting their bodies making them near perfect archers. Most might be intimidated before such versatile archers but Link spent days at the Horseback Archery Challenge to sharpen his mediocre skills. Lizalfos are forced to poke out more of their bodies to fire from above because of their short arm and limited vision. Link can be right under it's mouth and it be none the wiser. From the bottom of the ridge this monster had its head sticking out in an exaggerated manner along with half of its body. That head became the most perfect target to shoot for.

Link keyed into those yellow eyes and let the arrow fly. The lizalfos did same.

Ding!

Link's arrow struck true firing the lizalfos back just as it fired its arrow. From the push back, its arrow flew into a rock a foot or so to Link's right and broke. Link breathed easy as the battle had been won with him losing only two arrows. He checked for any cuts and found himself relatively okay. What hurt the most was his back from that sneak attack. Moblins can be sneaky when they want to be but only when your attention is on five of its fellows. Still, the battle is won with a little more to go until he reaches the top.

After the last moon's rise Link started traveling up north with the Akkala Province as his destination. The rumors of this workshop of Ancient tech caught his interesting and traveled to find it. Since he started this quest thought it's been one wrong turn after another. It's been a decent enough adventure tailing this clan of monsters through the swamp, getting lost the forest, and nearly drowning in the rain, and traversing the plains, but its been a bit draining on his reserves. Meat is scarce in this land but with plenty of wheat and shrooms every which way. The lack of good game forced Link to turn to other sources of meat and the plains are full of that source. That source happened to be horses and they tasted good.

'Speaking of which…' Link reached down to his Slate and sat down on a rock to rest a bit. 'Been traveling for days,' he thought to himself. More accurately it's been a week since he left the Kakariko Village. His eyes flew upward towards the sky, blue and full of white clouds above, but the rain the poured upon him and everything around him.

Link imagined the sky as red instead of blue. 'It might look better that way,' he confessed in his thoughts. One time, near the beginning of his journey, Link dwelled closer to the castle out of curiosity. The rain fell and burned his skin like acid with every drop. Still he bit through the pain and pushed on closer to the castle. The guardians came for him and with his equipment he didn't stand a chance. He was forced to run and hide for his life but still he pushed closer. It wasn't until he was at the base of the castle that he looked into the abyss only for that abyss to look back right at him. The red and black mysticism that is Calamity… It made him feel something unfamiliar. He felt wrong, tainted almost. It's something he's still trying to sort through, but after that moment he felt changed. The moment that massive eye and red evil settled before him.

Once he looked into it he was different in some way. Maybe if he had that sword, they all talk about.

"Tssk," Link scoffed at the thought. A sword of legend that banishes the darkness. How can any power like that even persist through the ages? Nothing lasts forever. Time and forces beyond people eventually wane and destroy all it touched. What lives must eventually die. Even Link died. Yes, he came back, but it wasn't through natural means and must die in time. Hopefully no time soon.

Link placed a finger on his Slate and placed his hands on the surface. He didn't need to see it to know how to get to the food selection screen and materialize some food he stored within. This slate was so convenient and he's the only one with this form of technology to use at his leisure. Maybe Lazli had a point that only important people carried this. Maybe it was for a reason too. Too many of these around could be a nightmare for most but blessing for some.

Link smiled at the thought of Beetle having one of these. "What would I call him then?" a chuckle escaped the young man's lips as he rested on his rock.

He rose a plate up to his lap and on its surface happened to be a nice spicy mushroom and meat skewer. It's warm like it came right off the cooking pan. The power to preserve something in suspended animation or stasis or light, which ever it is, is great. In Link's mind he felt this was all three after all without light there is no time. At the castle he had wandered close and found certain hundred-year-old weapons and books still intact after so long. That was just outside the walls. The power to break down something substantial into light is almost the power of this thing holds. He's not sure how he knows this and just accepted it as is.

Link ate his meal and felt its effects almost instantly. Maybe its just because of his "Hero" status or something, but he could always digest food quickly and almost never feel full. He recovers quickly once his body takes in the necessary nutrients to restore its health. This process is done in moments.

Link reached down to his slate and a bottle of milk appeared in his hand. He bit the cork and spat it away before downing the creamy sweet liquid. "Delicious," Link breathed a sigh of relief as the effects of his meal spread amongst his body. His skin felt healthy after taking in a nice chug of his milk and drowned the meaty taste after the meal.

"Hmm, time to go."

Link threw the bottle away and threw a bomb next to it. Once he detonated it, the bottle was completely gone as if disintegrated. "Never litter," he repeated the words of the Old man when he tried litter once. Link suffered a smack of his staff across his back for his attempt. When he was about to throw an apple at his head in response, Link was smacked across the head by that same staff. Link later found out that leaving remains of your presence is the same as leaving a trail for something to follow and find you. A mark on his leg from a Traveler's Sword is a reminder of this lesson.

With that down, Link looked up the slope and pushed on.

There's a shrine in the distance but a camp between him and that shrine. He'd have good vantage point to see where he is and get his bearings. Then he can get to the source of the Ancient Arrows in his quiver. He's only one out of three left. Two of them killed two guardians in his way so far. "I need more," he muttered. He played with the last one by twirling it through his fingers. The glow within the arrow speaks to him. Its whispers are interesting. The screech and clangs the guardians make are like angry screams of every monster he's killed placed into one. Anger and pain are in those screams. This arrow is so pure in comparison. Link shook his head of this thought. Guardians can't speak and this arrow is humming. 'It's probably because of the Sheikah Slate,' he decided to believe. No normal person hears voices. That's just crazy same with roaming without a destination in mind.

Crazy.

Speaking of which, he hasn't checked his map for a while. In the young man's mind, he desired to find his way without looking at his map every two seconds. That backfired in every way possible. Somehow, he ended up going up a mountain without realizing it. He turned back and when around it instead. He tried to head north but his sense of direction wasn't the best, hints him currently lost with a couple towers in the distance.

"Where am I?" Link grumbled as he continued his trek upwards for a better vantage point. He's been side tracked a couple times by towers and shrines he's come across, but it didn't really deter him for long. Most of the shrines are just little tedious puzzles. It takes a couple minutes at most to figure them out. The twin peak ones will be cemented as the most annoying in his opinion until he finds one worse. "Please don't let that happen," he prayed to someone listening, then pushed on. That urge to look at his map growing gradually with every step.

Link soon found himself walking along the stone walkway on the cliff face. The ocean was to his right and heavy rain clouds to his left. One glance down and Link knew falling down was a bad idea. That water will kill him if he falls in. Luckily, there's plenty of space to walk and pockets of wind currents that assisted with traversing the platforms. He landed on a wooden bridge of sorts with a flying Guardian moving around it.

"Don't want to get shot by that." Link measured on how to combat these things still. Arrows to the eye disrupt their sight for only a moment before they attack again. A well-placed ancient arrow can destroy a guardian with a single, well placed shot. He's saving his last one for a bad day.

The Shrine wasn't difficult to find. The large stone plate over the opening was a massive sign that something was hidden there. The task for the Shrine as well wasn't difficult, if a bit mundane. It's not the first time he's come across a shrine with scales in it and felt it won't be the last. Once he got the diamond and Orb of Spirits, he moved on, killing a few monsters, and reached normal land once more.

Once around the cliff he pushed in a bit further with the rain growing heavier with every passing step. Link reached to his slate and the sticks in his hair. With a tug he changed his stealth mask for his hood. The sticks turned into light before receding into his slate. The sensation was strange like electricity hugging his skin. He gripped fabric then pulled his hood over his head. He pulled his canvass rain cloak tightly over his body then secured the button on at his neck and waist. The broken-down carriages he passes by periodically on the side of the pathways provided more than enough canvass to fashion this coat. This helped keep him dry. Once the rain started getting heavier in some odd places, he'd throw it on with ease.

Link wasn't sure what happened to the owners but could easily imagine it. Strangely enough, this rain didn't feel normal, or safe with the massive amount of flooding the land is facing from it. The main reason Link couldn't navigate the land well is because the further north he went the harsher the rain fell. It was the point seeing more than 10 feet in front of him became a chore. Whatever is causing this rain it's getting in his way, because it's not the heavens that's cursed the land with this downpour.

The rain really started to batter him down and Link groaned. "I hate the rain," I growled while looking up to a clear sky but still rain poured down. The light is blocked by the clouds.

'This isn't right! It's getting in the way.' Link roared internally. All of this flooding is what forced him to make his way to the mountains before getting completely lost. He could teleport to a tower or shrine to get a closer look at the cause but that takes the adventure out of the journey.

Link threw back his cape to get some of the water off. He pulled his boots out of the puddle before him and trudged on up the hill. "Cursed rain. Cursed puddles. Ahh!" The hero tripped forward. He lost his footing and slid but quickly got his balance. "And cursed mud!"

Link halted suddenly when he heard something amiss within the rustling of the grass and branches in the wind. It sounded almost like notes from an instrument but that's impossible. What man or woman would journey this fair from the main path? What man could climb this high up with Guardians so very near? His mind raced with ideas as well as mistrust. Anyone this far away from the path aren't normal

'I'm a prime example of this.' He thought with a dark cloud of depression hanging overhead. Some mountainous people he'd met previously attack him and was forced to take care of them yesterday. Link imagined turning into that if he embraced the mountain life.

Link's thoughts cleared once he sat a figure above him. He blinked once he saw the being above playing what sounded like an accordion. It was one with a familiar and soothing tone. A smile appeared on Links lips as a renewing burst of energy filled his body. He rushed up the hill towards the figure and waved down the person above once he recognized him. In the midst of the pouring down rain even now he plays his little instrument with glee. 'I'm sure with all those feather and water just drips right down,' Link chuckled a bit as he walked up to the Rito.

"Ho Kass!" Link hailed his friend with a gesture of good faith in the way of a left armed wave across his face and back down. This friend that soothed his mind with his songs every time he saw them.

"Oh! My goodness you came out nowhere!" Kass stopped his song and looked upon the young hero that stood in his trademark "Conversation" pose with his hands in his belt around his waist. "Oh, Wild my friend. It's good to see you again," the Rito bowed his head and Link followed suit with glee.

Link smiled at Kass's use of his name before meeting Impa, "Wild". It was good to see his first and only friend, outside his horse, again. Another chance to hear his comforting song is worth the stop to talk. He remembered well the reasons why he was called Wild by Kass and took to it well. He liked that nickname and could accept it before Link.

"For a moment I thought I was the only one out here. How did you get here?" Kass wondered verbally.

The reminder of his current state of misplacement, Link's expression dropped and so did his chin. It's something Kass noticed with ease.

"This wasn't intentional?" Kass stated more than asked as his friend with the Sheikah Slate turned downcast further before him.

"No… I got," Link sighed a bit before biting what pride he had left to continue. "I'm lost, and I don't know where I am." Link confessed. He wasn't too prideful not to admit his own faults or misgivings. He knew Kass as well and he would never judge him for making small mistakes like this.

"What happened my young friend?" Kass asked genuine concern.

Link focused on his eyes that didn't have a hint of deceit within them. Link nodded and told Kass about the last couple days. Once he finished Kass looked upon him with a thoughtful gaze.

"Ah, I see." Kass turned his head around and pointed with his peak. He tapped the spot next to him with his foot and waited for Wild to join him. The young hero got the picture quickly and shot up atop the small boulder and looked out to the area. Upon the high ground Wild appeared speechless what he saw. Kass faced towards the direction he was looking it was happened to be the wetlands.

Unknowing to the distress of his plight Link was speechless for two reasons. He recognized the sight before him as the wetlands north of Kakariko Village. Wet lands he was in about five days ago last he remembered. The second is because instead of going north like he believed he go so far side tracked that he ended south even as far as going around a mountain. Link pointed it out as his starting part and his Rito friend nodded in understanding.

"By the sound of it you somehow journeyed north of Kakariko Village to the Lanayru Wetlands. You got blocked by the rain and lost your direction which must've forced you back down south over Quatta's Shelf." Kass pointed down southwest in the general direction Quatta's Shelf. "You glided from there to the Piere Plateau then got sidetracked by a shrine I believe between the Phalian Highlands and the Lanayru Bluff from how you described the landscape." Kass faced to the south and then southeast. "You found your way to the Lanayru Mountain range but drew away for the cold was too much for you. Then you traveled further east along the edges to Lanayru Bay to an area west of the Zora Domain." Kass turned a bit more and gestured with his instrument towards the plains Link came from. "In that direction is the Brynna Plains and Samasa Plains, but you somehow diverted back down south to here. I believe by some means you got so discombobulated in your sense of direction that you ended up going in complete tangent of what you originally desired. Traveling in a complete circle back to here."

Every single word of that clarification crushed down Link's sense of self-worth and confidence in finding his way anywhere without a map. "Ugh, did my ancestors have these issues with directions as well?" Link nearly cried while gripping his head in frustration. "Goddess, are you kidding me!" Link hates to raise his voice but after these last few days traveling, he's nearly at his wit's end. How he did to get back to a place just a bit east of where he started?

From what he's heard he's not the first hero and that he has many ancestors of heroes before him. If he's like them in anyway then they must've gotten lost like this at some point. Just how did they not get lost to the point of dooming the world?

Kass quickly noticed this and leaned back in shock. "Oh, my friend please forgive me for my words. Here!" Kass slowly began to play the sound of the Legend of this land and even sang the words coupled with it.

ʆ A beast that wears

A crown of bone,

Prancing through the lush green.

Mount the beast

Upon its throne

For only then the shrine is seen…ȴ

Link listened to another one of the Ancient songs that Kass would play near another riddle for a shrine like the last two he's sure. The song was nice, and it made him almost forget the heavy rain. The tones of the accordion and the amazing voice of the Rito had Link swaying a bit to the flow of the music. It placed a smile on his lips once more as the music continued. Link hummed with the melody as it consumed him. 'Maybe I should learn to play an instrument,' Link contemplated. If anything, to help relieve the stress of life and dark feelings of hopelessness he feels sometimes. Link has noted a lot of certain things he's felt and tried to ignore. It's not easy but this gave him much needed relief.

"Do you feel better Wild?" Kass asked with his other song playing instead earning a nod from his friend. "Excellent!" Kass cheered. He'd hate to make his young friend feel more pressured than he's already facing to this day. Kass recognized the young wild boy's face from pictures from the past. With that Slate on his hip he knew Link, a boy named after the Champion of Hyrule who died a century ago, held a destiny even he might not understand. The resemblance between the two means one of two options: This is the champion or his next reincarnation. Either way this young man is connected to the world. As a student of his teacher he can only travel in hope that a hero arrives to fulfil his teacher's expectations.

"That song?" Link inquired.

"Yes," Kass nodded. "It's an ancient song for this region and has something to do with this pad here." Kass stared upon the colored pad before him.

Link looked down to the orange platform and jumped atop it to nothing to happen. 'It's never that easy,' he thought before facing Kass.

"I suppose "the lush green' in the song could refer to this place," Kass explained to which his friend Wild simply nodded agreeing with the Rito.

To Link it made sense with the lush vegetation this land held. Outside of that the rest didn't make sense to him. "What about the rest?" Link asked.

"Well, I'm not sure what manner of beast wears a "crown of bone'." Kass sighed with a careful eye on the hero. "This is quite the conundrum I'm in. There's definitely a secret hiding here, but sadly it's beyond me my friend," the Rito sighed.

"I can help you," Link said quickly. It's the least he can do Kass for taking time out of his day to care for his health and emotions like this. Some days Link can't make heads or tails of what to feel. Once he woke up it was like having no emotions outside of a sense of duty. Then the thoughts of doubt, fear, anger, and sadness slammed into him as he traveled. From feeling little to nothing to suddenly being crushed by such dark emotions, it was crippling in a way. Kass though sang and played music for him when he was down. Even now he did it. Link nodded with determination to assist Kass with finding a way to get this shrine up.

Kass noticed a fierce desire in the blue eyes of the hero and swelled with content. He had a feeling this would happen for a hero's sense of duty and loyalty has been passed down in every story of the past and ever legend. While the hero's beginnings, looks, thoughts, feelings, and desires may differ their Courage never waned same with the desire to do what's right. Kass could recognize that shine within his eyes of a hero. He also has an old portrait of the Champion of Hyrule and Wild has to be the grandson. Though the name of the Champion has been known by many, this young man didn't seem to inherit it. Despite this, a hero is still a hero. "Thank you Wild. May the light illuminate your path." Kass bowed for the farewell.

"And yours!" Link bowed and turned towards the forest for something to help him solve this riddle.

Link walked down to the forest into the shadows of the forest until he ended up at a watering hole with good game at it. The skilled archer reached for his bow and drew an arrow. Deer have some Prime meat on their bones and lots of it. It's soft as well and when mixed with rice and honey it's just amazing to eat.

The Wild hunter spirit within him erased any thoughts of the riddle for now for a little itch scratching. Wild pulled back on the string to hit one with another arrow in his teeth. This new prey of his could help him with that itch, and he wants at least two to skin and cook tonight. He can save that meat and pelts for a… Rainy day unlike this one.

Wild aimed down for the heart of one but stopped once he saw something interesting. "A Mountain buck," he narrowed his eyes at the large male deer. Upon his head as well was what he thought could be seen as a "Crown of bone?" According to the song you have to ride a beast with a crown of bone up there probably to the platform. The trick is riding one and getting it up there as well. Wild scanned the area around him. He noticed a pretty nice boulder that looked high enough for him to glide from. He once tamed the giant horse, but couldn't get close without the others noticing him, so Link climbed up to a massive tree and landed right on top of it.

Wild formulated the plan and made his way to the rock quietly so not to alert any of the doe. He placed his arrows back same with his bow but made sure to grab a few vines for what's to happen. "Okay." Wild took a breath before jumping with his glider out. The buck looked up just as Link got right above him in just the right position.

"Got ya!" Link landed right on top of the buck and roped the vines around its neck and crown of bone. The buck bucked and kicked, but Link had broken horses a plenty and some little Buck can't conquer him. The buck kicked and the fawns around decided to flee. Link wasn't concerned for his target was in his hands.

No matter what the buck did Link simply shifted his weight to counter. Stamina is key and Link has it in spades. He'd pull back on its neck, choking the beast of air and letting up only when it was an inch from desperation. That need for air can cause its struggle to nearly double but that regain weakens its wild will. Link begins to control how it lives and the rest follows. So, with sharp kicks into its sides, he progressively weakened the beast's will, inch by inch.

With one last strong pull on the vines and duel kick on the sweet spot on its thighs, the buck fell down into the mud before him. Link caught himself with his left leg at the buck fell to the ground, exhausted and broken. Its brown eyes met his blue ones and that's when he saw the fear. That was all he needed to see to adopt a smirk. He won this battle of attrition and earned another beasts respect. Maybe it could be called fear. Who knows?

"Does it really matter," Wild mused. His smile had yet to fade. "Now," Wild reached for his sword and held it firm. He pointed it down to finish this. He would've too if not for that noise in the distance.

ʆ A beast that wears

A crown of bone,

Prancing through the lush green.

Mount the beast

Upon its throne

For only then the shrine is seen…ȴ

Link sang a bit with a heavy breath.

The Shrine and Kass.

"Whoa ho," Link pulled on his makeshift reins. The buck struggled but soon stood on its hooves, picking Link up from the ground. He got comfortable atop its back and pulled on the reins forcing it to face towards the platform. While he couldn't see it that well, the sounds of Kass' music was good enough to lead him onwards. The buck frolicked towards the music after a strong kick to the sides until he got up to Kass who awaited his return. Link was still in disbelief of his little journey. He went around a mountain and got lost in plains and plateaus. Just like that four days were wasted taking a long way around in what should take a half day horseback ride.

"What's this you got here?" Kass questioned.

"We'll see," Link replied. He spurred the buck forward to the top of the platform and waited. The orange turned blue meaning it's activating. He had done it. Like before a shrine began to rise out of the ground in the distance just like before.

'Yes, he did it!' Kass internally cheered as he watched the shrine appear. Just like last time Wild figured out the answer to the riddle of his teacher's song and made the shrine appear. He knew he could do it.

"Well," Link smiled before climbing off of the buck with his sword in his hands. He positioned it right to make sure to make this painless. He's already made up his mind to get some prime meat before this day's end, but this will do.

"Wild, what are you doing!" Kass gasped as his blue-eyed friend positioned the tip that sword on his back behind the frontal right leg of the great beast he caught. The buck suddenly bucked taking them both by surprise, but the young man responded swiftly. He pulled back and grabbed hold of the beast's antlers. Kass watched as Link twisted its head sharply then slammed it down to the ground on it's side. He grabbed the vines that looped around its neck and finally the legs. With a sharp tug, he dragged the beast to the dirt off the platform then stabbed his sword down between the antlers to stamp it down. It was then that Kass realized that Wild planned to kill the same beast that assisted him with the shrine.

"I was going to make it quick," Wild grumbled as he checked over the restraints on beast's legs keep it from running. Its already tired from being broken but now it can't fight to get away. "I need meat," he said with a shrug.

"But…" Link rose a hand and Kass came to a halt in his response.

"Anyway," Link waved off whatever worry or sympathy he felt for his kill to something more important. "This rain… do you know where it comes from?" He noticed while he was "adventuring" that the rain seems to grow heavier the further north he traveled. Even at the last shrine the downpour made it exceedingly difficult to climb out of the hole it was in. Thankfully he fashioned some lizalfos scale additions for his gloves for grip. The scales seem to be resistant to water and cuts through and grips on it. It's worked well enough to keep him from slipping every two seconds.

"Ah, this?" Kass sighed while looking up to the clear but rainy sky. "This rain originates from the Zora Domain I believe. Its focused on the areas surround it domain actually."

"Really?" Link cupped his chin. So, the rain that's causing him to lose his way is in the place. He thought back to this map from the past and realized that to head north he'd have to travel through that large red mountain and that Zora Domain as Kass called it.

"Oh yes," Kass narrowed his eyes at the young hero lost in thought. "I believe that rain has magical properties that cause travelers to lose their way with ease as well."

"That's not good." That rain needs to be stop or he'll never north to the Ancient workshop for more arrows. This though leaves one little question for him he needed an answer for. "What's a Zora?"

Kass blinked in disbelief. Link didn't know what a Rito or a Gerudo was so it makes sense that he's could be ignorant of what a Zora is as well. He's had to teach his young friend much during their few meetings here or there. He had to teach him about the Rito and his curiosity of the customs of his people made it quite an experience. To teach a young hylian about his people was different and Link was always full of questions and a desire to learn. He learns fast even took to there custom to bow and the waving of the wings to show he comes in peace. It warmed his heart to see this.

Kass played a small song to begin. Link grinned and gripped his belt under his cloak to listen. "You see Wild, the Zoras are a race of aquatic folk who possess fish and amphibian like traits. This is including fins, webbed feet, and gills; all of which allow them to swim and thrive under the water." Kass told and took note of the fascination growing within his Wild's eyes. "Zoras, which is the plural, can come in many shapes and sizes but all share humanoid shapes but with long tail fins on their heads and finned appendages on their arms and legs. Some have heads that come in the shape of different aquatic life as well like a ray or whale. According to the legends they're protectors of water."

"So, fish people?" Link simplified.

"To make it unpretentious, I suppose."

"I see. And this rain is because of them?" Link tapped his chin. If these Zoras are protectors of the water, then are they flooding the plains. It's raining so heavy the droplets can hurt. Maybe he should take care of them if they're the cause of this.

"I believe there're rumors of the Zoras searching for a hylian to hire for help with this," Kass looked about to the rain.

"Hire? Like for rupees!" Link could jump at that. Fix the rain and get paid as well. That could work!

"Ah yes. Come Wild! I'll show you the path." Kass laced his accordion to his hip and flew up to the top of the shrine.

"Right!" Link was about to rush after him, but that buck appeared in the corner of his eye. "Hmm," he grumbled at the beast. "Might as well let you go," he reasoned with himself as he pulled his sword out from the antlers of the buck.

That Wild feeling from before took him as he slid the edge of his sword across its neck before following after his Rito friend. The buck kicked and cried from the pain as blood poured out it's neck. Wild knew it'd stop struggling soon and be free to go.

Link shot his sword down to get most of the blood off before sheathing it on his back once more. He walked up the hill and stopped at the pedestal of the shrine to activate if before anything.

"Wild," Kass called down to the young man. "The many islands within the wetlands might get in your way so its best you travel west of Quatta's Shelf to Rikoka Hills. Be wary of any great beasts you may come across as well until you reach the travel's path. Then head north to the Wetland Stables and follow that north. Stay on the path and don't get side tracked Wild," Kass jested.

"Don't tell anyone," Link begged. He anyone finds out he got lost, whether or not he's the hero of legend, he doesn't want that in the history books if he survives to see Calamity's fall.

"I teach songs of the land and heroic deeds my friend," Kass responded with a chuckle. Though he will keep this on his mind just in case of a… Rainy day. "Continue North and I'm positive you'll meet a Zora that can direct you the rest of the way."

"Okay. Are these Fish people decent?" Link didn't wish to combat anymore humanoids if he could help it.

"Ah, most from the Zora Kingdom are but there're factions that have long broken away. One such group you may meet are known as River Zoras."

'River Zoras?' Link mused.

"They appear more reptilian than amphibious and almost attack on sight. Some say that Lizalfos are close cousins to that of the Zora people as well," Kass admitted from the legends. He watched as his friend's fist clenched and his eyes turned sharp with an unnatural blue hue to it. Kass knew well enough that Wild regarded Lizalfos and Bokoblins with abhorrence. Those moments in the Faron Woods weren't the brightest with either one of them.

"I see. If they attack, I'll kill them," Link declared evenly. If those River Zora are related to that of the Lizalfos then they must be proficient in the use spears, bows, and boomerangs. His own boomerang came from a Lizalfos he killed not too long ago. The spear arts are fascinating and battling Lizalfos have assisted with sharpening his skills against a superior fast foe with impressive maneuverability.

"I know Wild. I know," Kass sighed. His friend at times can act more like a savage animal then a normal person. Being alone in the forest and wilds he heard could cause this. "Well, I'm continuing my journey to the next land my Teacher taught me of. Maybe I'll see of then Wild."

"Maybe." Link looked up and bowed with his chin up along with his eyes. Kass did the same as is custom. "Thank you again for your help, Kass."

"Of course, Wild." Kass saluted with his wing. "Farewell!" With that Kass launched upward into the sky and flew west leaving Link alone.

Link watched until the rain hid him away from view. "I wish I could fly," Link confessed. He could imagine the easy of shooting monsters from above if he could fly. Kass gave him much to think about and maybe a good place to journey to before getting to that ancient lab. A small detour before getting a weapon to hunt those Guardians in his way. Link turned to the buck and found it in a pool of its blood but still very much alive. Its breathing was labored and eyes still, but it was alive, if barely.

Wild pulled out his sword and held it pointing downward towards it. "I wanted to make fast." With that much blood lost though this last stab won't be painful. "Meat." Wild slammed the sword down into its heart and in moments the buck's life faded away. He cleaned the blood off on its fur before sheathing his sword and hoisted the buck up and walked up to the shrine. He threw it down on the ground and pulled out his lizal boomerang to get to skinning and get some meat out of his kill. After that he can get to the shrine. After than to stop this blasted rain. He was forced to get under the shrine to work because of this rain.

"Annoying," Wild growled as he got to work.

He's never truly accepted the name "Link" as his "old" compatriots called him. Link is the name of a hero but he's not hero. He's much too… Wild to be called one. He didn't realize this until he talked to Impa. He didn't understand why the name Wild felt so right to him to him, but it's beginning to make sense. It's still not substantial, but maybe he'll find out who or what he is in time. Maybe liberating the Zoras can help fill his pocket on top of this.

Nothing in life is gained without something lost.

Life, love, liberation, and loot are lost in the pursuit for ambition.

Is he a fighter or a hunter?

A warrior or a killer?

A savior or destroyer?

A hero or a soldier of fortune?

"Hmm, does it even matter?" The blue-eyed killer huffed at his inner turmoil. Thinking too hard on this doesn't help. It helps no one. He's got meat to cook once the rain stops.

A/N: Making a character with recessive memories, thoughts, and feelings that contradict with their future self isn't easy. You have two sides of a malformed coin trying its best to right itself. This was very interesting to make to hope it's enjoyable.