Author's note:
Regarding the first chapter, I did a goof before uploading it and had pasted only half the document at first, so half of it was missing until yesterday. I fixed that now, though and I'm sorry for the inconvenience. Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoy my story.
( And also thank you to whoever left reviews! I was really happy to read your comments and I'm very thankful for your constructive criticism! )
Their backpack, containing all of their belongings, a change of clothes, their father's notes, tools and funds, had been left behind in the Giant's den. With whatever few rupees were left in their pockets, they stopped by the general store for some fish. There wasn't much of a selection. Almodo noted that was very odd for the Zora, who were known to make excellent fishermen. The river wasn't swollen and the waters had a calm continuity to their flow, so it made no sense for them to offer such poor variety.
Eventually the trio ended up roasting salt-grilled Hyrule Bass outside the Inn. The owner didn't seem to mind too much. Almodo was constantly talking about how odd it was for a Divine Beast to be crying out like that all of a sudden, while Shelah was obviously falling asleep with his back against the wall. Nayko, who was the only one in shape to listen to his father's ramblings, was coldly staring at the food, with a slight frown even.
Even though Almodo had noticed a shift in his son's behavior by now, he chose to keep talking about Vah Ruta.
"It makes me wonder," he continued, "If the rise in monster activity is related to Ruta's cry. If you think about it, the roads weren't that bad last time I visited. And the fact they had a guard patrolling all the way up the mountains is also odd. I'm sure in more peaceful times they wouldn't have minded us dropping by so much, too."
At that comment, Nayko stabbed the bass cooking in the metal pot with his dagger. It was one, sharp and furious move. He flipped the fish over and glared up to his father.
"Sure, they wouldn't."
Almodo's face dropped at that. A quiet hum was heard from Shelah, as he sat up with a soft groan. Nayko stabbed the fish again, gently this time, and put it on a plate for his brother. It was painfully obvious that he had more to say, but didn't want to cause a fuss in that moment. Shelah took the plate with a whimper, pushed himself up against the wall and rested the plate on his knees to pick out the fish's flesh and get to its soft, warm and juicy insides. His stomach roared; he really hadn't realized how hungry he'd been feeling up to now. Perhaps it was a side-effect of medication; for he was certain his father had used something to help him recover from the Hinox attack.
They ate in silence, interrupted only by passerbys. There was some commotion outside, children gathered around a statue set up in the middle of the square and pointing up to the Mountains.
"It moved again! Look!", they would yell.
Almodo's curiosity got the best of him, eventually, and he left the boys behind to finish their meal. The second he was gone, Nayko shifted closer to his brother to whisper.
"I don't care what he says, we're leaving first thing in the morning. If something really is happening out there, this place is a death trap for us!"
Shelah kept chewing, gaze fixed on the fish remnants. He was far from full, but also too shy to ask for more. Nayko leaned in front of him, trying to catch a glimpse of his brother's face.
"If the fish people are scared of that thing, we should be ten times as scared of it! Because we can't even swim down the river and get away from it!"
Shelah shivered slightly at the mention of swimming. Maybe he didn't mind being around the waterfalls as much as he'd thought he would – they were a gorgeous sight after all – but the prospect of diving in water terrified him. He wouldn't make it if he tried to swim in a shallow pond, let alone a river.
"I don't think it can come here, Nayko. The mountains are steep and slippery…", Shelah muttered quietly, now nervously fiddling with a thin black string wrapped around his skinny wrist.
"Well it's a bloody ancient machine-thing, who knows what it can do. Did you hear that noise it made? My ears nearly bled from that alone!",Nayko's eyes widened and his previous whispering now became more of a whisper-yell. "Wasn't the monster enough proof that father has absolutely not a clue about what's going on around here? He's got his head in the clouds, thinking about the potion! And if we left the choice to him, he'd bloody wish to stay here, spend all his money eating fish and watching that thing inch closer every day!", his hand jerked away to point towards the mountain tops.
By that point, Nayko's tantrum had drawn the attention of both the Inn owner, a tall male Zora with shiny blue fins, and the one Shelah recognized as Kodah. Nayko didn't seem discouraged by that, however he did stop to stare intensely at Shelah, waiting for a response and hoping it would be the reasonable one.
But Shelah's eyes drifted to their father, who was busy talking to the Zora children around the statue. He was trying to satisfy his curiosity, extracting information from them, Shelah knew. And as much as he hated to admit it, Nayko was right. It wasn't the first time their father dragged them along in one of his reckless expeditions, often claiming he'd always chose the company of his sons above all. And ever since he was a child, Shelah would often end up coming home with bruised knees. Nayko wasn't shy to admit that he'd always suspected his father had no friends willing to follow his crazy ideas, and that's why he brought his sons along. Shelah knew it too. He'd rather spend a lifetime denying it, however.
"Brother! Are you even listening? Please, try to focus for a moment, will 'ya?" Nayko's voice snapped him out of his thoughts.
"I-…", a stutter was all he managed in response. His gaze now moved to the Zoras behind them, Kodah worriedly explaining something to the taller one by the Inn's entrance.
"You boys should come admire this magnificent statue!", Almodo's voice interrupted. Nayko's head snapped around, away from Shelah's face and shot a fiery glare to their father. The younger brother, however, felt relief wash over him. He really hadn't known how to respond. Almodo continued to gesture towards the statue enthusiastically, while Nayko shot up on his feet with eyes that spat daggers.
"Oh, we surely would, if Shelah could walk after that thing nearly killed him!", Nayko yelled.
Now that definitely got some attention on them. Almodo's smile faded and Shelah bit his lower lip, glancing to the children that were now staring at his brother in surprise.
"Nayko-..."
"I'm glad to see you're having so much fun admiring the scenery, father, it's not like your own son nearly died this morning! But I suppose you just can't help but think about the architecture instead!", Nayko smiled, voice dripping with sarcasm. Shelah's voice was heard muttering something from behind his brother, but it was too quiet to be heard. Almodo was shaking his head now, but Nayko obviously wouldn't let him have a word. "What do you say, maybe we should venture up the mountain and get a good look of that machine, too! You can tell your friends back in Hateno lab all about it! Well, that is if we ever make it back to our bloody hometown and don't get our skin shred to ribbons along the roads! Do you ever think before y-"
A deafening noise interrupted him. Ruta's cry sent shivers down the spine of every one present, children running to the nearest cover, heads turning to the mountain where dark clouds were beginning to circle the Divine Beast. Almodo covered his ears and so did Nayko, who folded in two from the sound alone. Shelah pressed his back against the wall and covered his ears as well.
The cry lasted longer this time. When it was over and Nayko could stand straight again, a single tear had dripped down his cheek. There was a moment of heavy silence. The atmosphere got so heavy, that perhaps this silence was more deafening than the scream itself.
The eldest son stared at his father, disappointment in his stare. They froze in that moment, just staring at each other. Before Almodo could attempt to justify his reasoning, however, a firm clawed hand landed on his shoulder.
"Hylians.", it was that same Zora archer that saved their lives before. Almodo gasped lightly and turned around to meet the Zora's cold stare. "I highly suggest that you evacuate the premises. There's a high chance of heavy rain, and the rivers could swell. It's the Prince's command that we escort you to the river bank. You can follow the lights from there."
Almodo's eyes left the creature to take in the sight of thick clouds forming over East Reservoir.
"I'll wait for you at the bridge.", he followed Almodo's gaze up the mountain, then turned back to the two boys behind him to add; "And I suggest you hurry."
And hurry they did. They had nothing to pack, not even left-overs. Even if they had more food –which would be necessary for the trip back home, they had nothing to store it in. All they really had, at this point, was some misguided hope that they'd make it down Zora river into the Wetlands. Even the Zora guard knew how unlikely that was, especially with one of them severely injured already. Shelah could barely walk and had to limp his way to the bridge, using his brother's shoulder as his only means of support.
Despite their pitiful situation, Almodo was still very much intrigued by the Beast. Instead of helping his youngest son walk, he was staring idly at the mountain tops, hoping to catch a glimpse of it moving.
"When it rains", the Zora guard, Gillian, explained, "The rocks by the river bank can be very slippery. And I doubt a Hylian can swim down the stream."
He begun to lead them over the Great Zora Bridge, occasionally looking back to where the two brothers were. Almodo still wasn't paying attention. Even as he followed, his mind and gaze were fixed on the Beast.
"So, maybe it would be best if I helped the young one down the river instead. You could meet him down near the Wetlands by following the path. If he can hold onto my back, that is."
Needless to mention, Shelah's face turned a pale yellow color just at the thought of diving in dark waters. Despite not having much of a choice, he'd rather break his neck on some rocks than be submerged in water.
"Can't we tie him on your back somehow? I mean, thanks for the offer, but I'm just not very sure he's strong enough to hold on.", Nayko responded. His voice was softer now, as he was clearly pleased with the Zora's offer. It was truly an act of kindness and nobility, like King Dorephan said.
"We can tie him on using my belt. When we reach the river bank, that is.", Gillian responded. He sounded worried, but one could tell it was probably because of the imminent threat, rather than the well-being of this one Hylian.
Shelah attempted to protest, but swallowed his words. He wasn't sure what to say and too embarrassed to admit to his fear out loud. Besides, the Zora's offer was indeed an act of kindness that he'd be awfully rude to refuse and a safer plan for them all. He'd only slow his family down if he tried to follow down the path. And if monsters were alerted to their presence, he would be unable to run. For everyone's sake, he had to take a deep breath and face his fear head on.
But that was much easier said than done.