NIGHT WATCH

3. Remlits

Pipit hated dealing with remlits. It wasn't that he disliked the creatures, particularly. Even the most stoic heart could melt upon encountering a remlit in the daytime, with their sparkling eyes and oversized ears; it's just that, at night, they were almost an entirely different race of creature. As fragile-looking as they were, they were tough little buggers. The hide beneath their soft fur was as thick as boot-leather. Pipit was glad for this because it meant that it was difficult to truly harm them. If they were as fragile as they looked, he would have killed several of Skyloft's family pets by now, including the little beast belonging to the Headmaster and his daughter.

Mia tried to sneak back inside the Academy at night often. Pipit was there to protect the students and the instructors (the soft-hearted Horwell in particular) from getting their kneecaps chewed off. Horwell was going on of late how he was thinking of getting a remlit of his own, perhaps a kitten. He'd go on and on about Mia being the cutest little remy-wemy. From all the time he spent on night patrol, Pipit knew the truth. Sure, they were cute, but they were adorable killers.

The cuteness was what made it so hard for the boy to set his sword to them. Pipit had learned that the best way to deal with an attacking remlit was to spank it a few times with the flat side of a blade. Since their skins and fur were thick, there was little fear of the sharp edges cutting them. As horrible as they were while on the warpath, the little fuzzballs would cry and whimper when properly subdued. It was pathetic and sad. Horwell was supposedly running a study into why the remlits were so different at night. Pipit might have helped him, but his study-specialty was birds, not mammals.

The time was hovering close to midnight and Pipit was on night shift again, bored as usual. He gazed off over a ridge. Down below was Link – running from a remlit. Pipit didn't spring into action like he would for a normal Skyloft citizen only because he knew that Link had a sword and was competent with it. Link, unlike him, also had a shield. While the sword was issued to him, shields were optional gear for academy students and were quite pricey, therefore Pipit lacked one. Link had recently gotten a hold of one of the five-hundred-rupee models and had apparently upgraded it. Where in the world did he get the money for that? As far as Pipit was concerned, Link could fend off a little lone remlit on his own with that nice-looking new sword of his and that fancy shield. It wasn't like he really needed help from his nearly threadbare self.

More remlits scurried out from the long shadows and from beneath the bushes. Pipit heard music.

"What the hell is he doing?" the young night watchman said to himself out loud. He squinted. Link was playing a golden instrument in his hands – a harp. It looked like the one that was used by the Maiden in the Wing Ceremony. Had Zelda given him that?

Link just stood there, playing dulcet tones. The remlits didn't appreciate it. They pounced all over him.

"Link!" Pipit shouted, vaulting down and running to him. He brought out his sword and walloped a couple of felines. Link stowed his harp and followed suit. Soon the whole pack of them was quivering and cowering.

"Are you alright, Link?" Pipit asked, breathless.

"Link?"

Link had gone over to a shadowy area and was bending down. He returned carrying a remlit by its sides, holding it at arm's length. The animal snarled and sputtered, clawing and gnashing its fangs helplessly at him.

"How cute! It wants to claw my eyes out!"

Pipit sighed. "What in the world were you trying to do, Link?"

Link turned to him, still holding the crazed cat. "Well, I thought I could calm them down with a little music. During the day when I play for them, they seem to like it… they bob their heads and wag their tails. It's so…adorable!"

Pipit put a palm to his forehead. "During the day, Link, during the day."

"Well, haven't you heard that music can soothe a savage beast? I thought I'd try it." He turned to the animal in his hands. "Who's a fuzzy-wuzzy? You're a fuzzy-wuzzy! Who's homicidal! You're homicidal! Oh, yesh you are!"

Link turned around.

"Link, can you… do something with that creature? Link! You're bleeding!"

"Oh, I hadn't noticed…"

"Your arm is covered in blood! One of them must have bitten you. How can you not notice something like that?"

Link shrugged. "I dunno. I guess I've just had worse than this. It's not bothering me."

"I should have a look at it. Remlit bites can get infected."

"Do you think I'm going to turn into a were-remlit?"

"Wha?"

Link turned back to the still-enraged animal he was carrying. "Who's a big-bad hunter? Oh, yes, cutie-patootie!"

"Link… the man whose mind turns to mush when he's around cats."

Link walked over to one of the docks and causally tossed the remlit off. Horwell would have yelped at him for that if he'd seen, but both he and Pipit knew that remlits could fly. I'd probably flap off to some other part of the island.

Pipit brought out his first aid kit and carefully rolled up Link's sleeve. He poured a little red potion on some rather sizeable punctures and some deep claw-gashes. The senior knight quickly wound a bandage around his underclassman's left arm as he complained.

"You've had worse than this? When? Where?"

"Yes I have," Link answered, "Recently and I can't tell you where because you probably wouldn't believe me."

"You are a mystery, Link. There you are, patched up. No more playing with the remlits for you tonight."

Link laughed. "I don't think I want to play with kitties any more tonight, either. Sorry for bothering you and getting you in danger."

"It's alright, Link, it's alright. To tell you the truth, night patrol is the most boring thing in the world. Having to rescue you is really livening things up. Are you sure it doesn't hurt? I have more potion if you need a drink."

"I'm alright, really. Thank you."

Pipit's eyes went wide.

"Pip…what's wrong?"

"We should run. It would be very prudent for us both to run right now, Link. To the Academy, now!"

"Run?"

Pipit pointed. Link turned around. Truth be told, he didn't need to look around because he heard it before he saw it.

Flap. Flap.

The remlit he'd tossed off the pier was hovering right toward them, its eyes aglow and murder on its mind. The two boys pumped their legs as fast as they would go. Pipit struggled with the key to first-floor doors.

Flap. Flap. The cat landed and came running right for them at top remlit-speed. Pipit and Link got inside and slammed the heavy doors behind them.

Scratch. Scratch. Howl. Moan. Snarl.

"That was close!" Link panted.

"Yeah," Pipit replied.

"I think I'm going to go to bed now," Link announced.

"That would be a good idea."

"What about your route?"

"I'll be able to shake the remlit if I head back out the upper doors. I'm sure it will wander off by then."

"Be careful."

"I'll be more careful than you. Take care of that arm, you hear?"


By morning, Link was gone, off on his own secret business. Pipit wandered back into the Academy halls, yawning.

He almost stepped right on Mia. For her part, Mia mewled and looked up at Pipit with a coy cock of the head.

Pipit gave her a death-glare. "I'm onto you."