Saria's feet pounded rapidly against the soft dirt of the forest floor. In one hand she gripped a shovel, while the other was free. Her breath was coming in ragged gasps as she chased after the monstrous creatures.

Stalfos

She knew that she posed no threat to them. Zero, none at all. But she had to try.

Just a little girl with a shovel against all those Stalfos. Saria wasn't even sure what she would do when she caught up, if she caught up.

At this rate it seemed like she never would.

The Stalfos were running at a much faster rate than her, covering gigantic distances with each step. Yet Saria sprinted after them, determined not to abandon Fado to their mercy.

But as much as she struggled, Saria found that it was useless. There was nothing she could do to catch the monsters. They were outrunning her and it seemed unavoidable now that she would fall behind and lose sight of them.

And with that seed of discouragement, Saria felt her knees start to grow weak. Her limbs grew heavy and her lungs began to burn. The air seemed thick and her sight grew blurry.

Despite her dedication to protecting Fado, Saria's own body forced her to abandon the girl. She wasn't perfect, and she couldn't run forever, and Saria hated that fact. Hated the fact that Fado was all alone and Saria couldn't help her.

Hated the fact that despite all her efforts, she had failed the Kokiri.

Saria stopped and doubled over, gasping for breath with her hands on her knees.

Her heart was pounding in her ears, drowning out the whole world and isolating her. Saria held that stance for what seemed like forever, just staring at her knees while her mind itched to keep running after them.

But even if she caught them, what would she do? The shovel wasn't anything that should be taken into battle. And even if she had been well equipped, Saria was no warrior.

How was she going to take on several Stalfos with just a shovel?

Saria stood straight, staring in the direction she had last seen the Stalfos heading.

With an inadequate weapon, inadequate preparation, and inadequate experience, how could Saria even make a difference? If she kept going after Fado, the only thing she accomplished would be getting herself killed.

What could she do?

She couldn't leave Fado to the Stalfos, she was supposed to protect the Kokiri. But if she went after Fado, the Kokiri might be left alone.

There was a loud snap behind her and Saria's decision was postponed when she turned and saw a monolithic Stalfos standing behind her.

Saria took a step backwards in shock, her hand tightly latched around the shovel's handle.

It reached down toward her with long skeletal fingers. Saria felt mesmerized by the thing's burning gaze.

But suddenly she broke out of it and swept the shovel across the Stalfos's knuckles as hard as she could. The impact caused her to lose her balance and she took another step backward to catch herself.

Looking at the shovel in her grip, Saria saw that the metal blade she had been using as a weapon was horribly bent and disfigured. It was never meant to be a weapon, and it didn't stand up to the call of duty.

Saria looked back at the Stalfos and more specifically at its hand. There was hardly any damage. A crack had appeared in one of the finger bones, nothing more.

Saria backed away from the creature, searching fervently for something else she could use as a weapon. The only things in sight were twigs and sticks too small to be of any use.

She heard a loud thud and the ground shook for a moment. Saria looked back toward the Stalfos and saw that it had pulled out a large studded club.

So this was how it would end. Trying to fight against a well-armed Stalfos with nothing but a broken shovel. Why had she even come into the forest in the first place? There was nothing she could've done even if she had caught up with the other Stalfos.

She watched the monster raise the club and prepare to swing it like a bat at her. Saria held the shovel out in front of her with a hand on each end, hoping that the inch-thick wooden shaft would take the impact and protect her.

It didn't.

Saria saw the club coming and closed her eyes, waiting for something horrible to happen. She heard the sound of splintering wood and then Saria felt herself land in some bushes.

Her lungs felt empty and Saria found herself struggling for breath. She lay there gasping and listening to the approaching sound of the Stalfos's feet.

Saria tried to push herself out of the bush but couldn't find anything solid. She felt a jolt of terror as the feet stopped just in front of her. Saria saw the shadow of the club being raised for a second time.

Saria grabbed onto something solid inside the bush and was able to drag herself out of the club's path.

Falling out of the bushes, Saria felt the solid thing fall with her, stuck in her clenched fist.

Saria looked down to see what it was, and was surprised to find a gleaming sword in her hand. Embedded near the base of the blade was a green stone.

Feeling her breath come back to her suddenly, Saria realized that she might have a fighting chance now.

Closing both hands around the handle, Saria advanced on the Stalfos whose club was now tangled In the bush.

She raised the sword over her head and brought it down sharply on the creature's neck, severing the spine and causing the skull to drop into the bushes.

Everything was still and for a moment Saria thought it might turn around and continue its attack, but suddenly the bones fell apart and disintegrated on the ground.

Wiping sweat off of her brow, Sara searched the bush with one of her hands and found a sheathe that matched the sword. As she pulled it from the foliage, a bit of yellowed parchment fell out of and onto the ground.

Saria picked it up and was able to read the few words written on it before a strange gust of wind tore the paper out of her grip and carried it off into the forest.

The Kokiri Sword, it is an aid to any of the children who should direly need it.

"Didn't Link take this before?" Saria wondered to herself, "I hope he's alright."

Saria buckled the sheathe over her shoulder and headed after the Stalfos, feeling more hopeful about the chances of Fado's rescue.