Well, I got another chapter out. I originally planned for this part to be shorter, but I also should've made this part of Chapter 3. When I saw how little was in this chapter I expanded it so it would be the size of a regular chapter. Chapters 1 and 2 should've been one as well if I'm being honest with you.

Despite the warm welcome, Mailan noticed that Iris still hadn't taken off her mask. After the cold reception she'd gotten when trying to learn more about Tennor, though, she decided not to press the issue. Still, she had to wonder what the girl was hiding.

"So where are you two going exactly?" Iris asked, "In the long term. You mentioned some kind of community of survivors?"

"Kakariko," Tennor replied, "According to Mailan here, it's apparently fortified and full of the living... though admittedly I have my doubts."

"Kakariko is safe. Trust me," Mailan replied firmly. Unconsciously, she gripped the triangular, golden pendant around her neck.

"I went to Kakariko a few days ago," Iris replied, "That was where I was able to get my hands on this bread. There was life there, but I dunno whether it was people in their right mind or if it was mutated ones. I never went close enough to anyone to find out..."

Mailan paused in her thoughts when she heard that, "When you were there, did you see...?"

"I didn't see anyone," Iris told her, "I got in, got what I needed, and got out. Are you looking for someone?"

Mailan's hand squeezed the golden triangle harder, "Yeah."

Tennor gave her a knowing stare. A quick glance in his direction allowed her to see him putting the pieces together in his head. He knew.

The Zora gave her a comforting pat on the back, "We'll know when we get there," he told her simply. His voice was filled with understanding... he'd lost someone too. She couldn't tell if it was recent or a while ago, but he understood what she was going through.

"We need to move quickly," Mailan reminded them, turning away and wiping a quick tear from her eye, "We still have a long way to go before dark."

The building they found was a veritable fortress hidden within the woods. The outer walls were all natural - trees and bushes used to hide the building inside. Anyone looking from the outside would assume it was just a small cluster of plants. The citadel itself was made of a heavy, ivy-covered stone, granite maybe. Mailan had been here quite a few times, though it had been a long time. It was Zelda's favorite place to get away. Hidden away from the world, far off the beaten path. Zelda had once mentioned that this place was where she'd waited for the Hero of Time to awaken.

Despite his great deeds, Mailan had learned to have a small well of hatred for that knight. Even though he was no longer among them, Zelda always spoke of him fondly, and the look in her eyes whenever she talked about the boy in green...

Passing those thoughts out of her mind, as she'd learned to do, Mailan waded through the flora. The door was blocked for now by only a single lock, which was removed usinh a small key she carried. The others followed behind her. There was a small kitchenette on one side of the room, and some chairs. Not far away, a door led to a silent yet ornate bedroom. On the wall across from the door was a ladder, which led down to a storage room and up to the roof. The light of the sunset flowed in from above, through an innate stained glass window featuring a blonde girl holding a set of triangles. Once more, Mailan's hand went to her neck. Maybe coming here was a mistake. It was safe, sure, but there were a lot of memories here that weren't conductive to her own survival.

She was brought out of her thoughts as Tennor loudly slammed the door behind them. He gave them an apologetic wave before quietly lowering the long timber to lock them in. A quick search of the building, as expected, returned no results of any fellow survivors or hidden dangers.

"We'll be safe in here. Go ahead and get comfortable. I'm going up to the roof."

Shutting the trap door below her, Mailan observed her two companions in the room below. They talked for a little bit before Tennor gestured towards the separated bedroom. Iris gave him a curt nod and disappeared into the room, while Tennor took a seat in one of the large chairs. He dropped his bag on the ground and leaned his spear against the wall, sinking into the soft cushion.

Moving away from the window, she stood and peered over the trees, out across the field. The sun was low, and she watched it set slowly, disappearing over the horizon as the world became darker.

I'll find you, she thought to herself, Whatever it takes.