WARNING: CHARACTER DEATH.
Yes, I have decided to kill someone. I hope none of you devour my esophagus for this.
I do not known any of the characters represented in this story.
--x--
I had been staying at this ranch for many days now. Mostly because, I had nowhere to go, and the Hero of Time needed many days to heal. The Chu Jelly was helping though, some kind of nectar that Chu's leave behind after being destroyed. The substance helps heal well, as I have noticed. We have made a sort of pattern together, a ritual to say the least. We eat together, then help take care of the ranch, so Malon can have a few days to relax a little bit, and then at night I help him with his wound, cleaning it and rebandaging it. He and I have few conversations, and usually guess on each other's emotion, or what the other is thinking, by the look on the others face, or the way they move. When Link needs help with something, he usually does not have to say anything, and I comply without answer. Malon does not hate me anymore, as I had proven myself to her by my great longing to help care for the injured man. I still do not understand why I want to care for him so badly. Sometimes, for reason's unknown, it hurts almost, deep inside my chest, when he sends off one of those looks towards me. His eyes…his eyes are always so open, so bright. They are a portal for me to delve inside of his soul, tell what he is thinking, what he needs. I pay intense interest to him at all times, wishing many times during that day if I could catch yet another glance from his handsome face. But every time I do, I get so overwhelmed with something that I cannot understand, that I usually turn around, straying my eyes in another direction.
I also became very attached to one of the ranch's horses. I came to learn that the large stallion's name was Skio, a meaning by which literally means 'Black'. He is very tall, about a foot taller than Epona herself. He had black skin, and black feet, but his mane, and tail, is pure white. And from what I had heard, he was very picky about his riders. He did not run away, or attack, like the mare did, but once someone he didn't like sat upon his back, he would kick him or her off in a frenzy. Both Link and Malon had been surprised that when I had mounted the beast, he quickly accepted me, and that day I learned how to ride. This horse was far steadier than Epona, easier for me to hold on to the reigns, and my balance. I took a great joy in riding that horse, spending most of my time jumping fences, and practicing arrow shooting on horseback. I didn't find it very difficult, and had a lot of fun shooting those annoying Cuckoos, which in do time usually, ganged up together to retaliate, and chased me. For many hours, I would laugh, and run away from their sharp beaks. I noticed that in this place, outside of my prison, away from my Master's grip, I steadily became happier. Happy, an emotion I had never felt before was by far the most exciting feeling that I could let coursing through my veins. It racked my body with laughter, and I could always catch Link staring at me, a small smile placed upon his delicate features. Of course, whenever our gazes touched, he would look away, and act as if he had never looked in the first place.
All was well for two weeks, before the incident.
In the middle of the night, when all was usually quiet except for a few animal sounds in the darkness, voices could be heard. Only moments after I had detected the sounds with my sensitive ears, Malon burst into the room, her hair flying, and a look of pure fear traced upon her usually bold and strong features.
"Get up!" She screeched loudly, running over to Link and shaking him. I was immediately up, already pulling on my boots. Soon after, Malon was rousing up Link, her voice now hushed as the sounds of voices became louder, and closer. I strange glow could be seen out of the window, over the fences protecting the small ranch. Link and I ran down the stairs, both feeling the same fear as the young woman, although we both did not understand what was going on. She shoved us into the stable, getting out Epona and Skio, handing their reigns to me. I grabbed them, my brows furrowed, and she led the two of us to the very back of the ranch, near a small wood shed, in order to keep the wood for winter dry. Near it, was an almost invisible door, large enough for horses to enter. She pushed it open, and shoved us outside, with the horses.
"Don't come back. Ever." She stated, and slammed the wooden door closed, shaking the fence slightly. Both Link and I turned to gaze at each other, frightened. I dropped the reigns, and started running along the side of the large, tall fence, until I came to a hole big enough for two to look through. I stood, and gazed inside, and Link soon joined me. There was a band of men on horses, all black with red eyes, somewhat similar to the one in my dreams. The men wore armor, black, and were shielding their faces except for their eyes, which were pure white. One of off his horse, holding Talon's neck. Malon screamed as her father's face became a deep red, and then almost purple, but another man was holding her back. She screamed, tears cascading down her cheeks, as her dad squeezed out a few words. Neither of the two boys could hear him, but obviously it was enough so that the other man would drop the lazy man.
"Where is he?" One of them asked, it's voice clashing against my chest, bearing into my very soul.
"I dun know what yer talking about!" The black haired man wheezed, holding his throat.
"If you don't release the information of his whereabouts, then you can say your farewells to this young lady." The evil being spoke again, and I found myself shaking, eyes wide.
"I already said, I dun know!" The man, or whatever it was, sighed in his armor, and raised his hand. There was a loud, gory sound, and both the boys watched in horror as one of the men stepped up, and plunged his sword into Malon's stomach. She screamed a loud, soul wrenching anguished yell. Link, I could tell, was about to yell as well, and I reached over, holding my hand tightly over his mouth, and all that came out was a muffled moan. I pulled him towards me, and held his face against my chest, refusing to let him see more. I watched in horror as Malon fell to the ground, her eyes facing me. They were cold, dead, and lifeless, and blood stained the outside of her mouth. Link's hands reached up, grabbing my tunic at my chest, fisting his hands. He dug his face deeper into my chest as I wrapped my arms around his shoulders, my expression stoic.
I turned my face quickly as Talon's life was ended as well. Without waiting any longer, I pulled Link up, and started running to our horses. Tying Epona to Skio, I placed the Hero of Time on the great stallion, and jumped up to sit behind him, and I grabbed the reigns in front of him. With a flick of my wrist, I had the large beast galloping at full speed, the smaller mare trying hard to keep up. Link, it seemed, was far too out of it to even hold himself up. Too full of grief. All I cared about at the moment was to get the two of us to safety. As soon as we got far enough, where the ground turned rocky, and the plants were all small and covered in needles, I took the chance to gaze back. In the far off distance, a large billowing cloud of smoke rose was a small looking group of buildings, and the fire was a large orange glow. And then realization hit me. They were looking for me. Those were my Master's servants, and he had noticed that I was gone. But how…how had he found out where I was? I knew it…I knew that going with Link to that place in the beginning had been a terrible idea. But I have been too awestruck by the Hero than to listen to my well-shaped instincts. And now those kind people, whom had taken me in, fed me, taught me most about the outside world that I needed to know, were dead, because of me. Their kindness led to their deaths, and it was all my doing. All my fault. I bit back a sour feeling in my mouth, and rode on, holding the boy to my chest. He was slumped, and had stopped weeping only minute's prior. We came to a bridge, broken in half as cruel winds slung it side by side. The sun began to rise, it's orange glow I had once thought beautiful, only now reminded me of the ranch ablaze. Lon Lon Ranch was now gone, forever. Those poor animals, including their masters, died with it, as if they were captains going down with their crew and their ship.
I leapt off of Skio, and cut the rope that held Epona to my beast. "Your master will call for you later." I whispered to it, patting the mare's head. She nodded slightly, as if understanding, and turned to trot away. I got back on the Stallion, and backed him up a bit, grasping Link tightly against my chest. I then dug my heels into the horses sides roughly, and snapped the reigns, and awaited the leap over the gorge, and when it came, I almost yelled out in fright, but did not, and I felt Link reach up to hug my arms to himself tightly. The leap lasted forever to me, and when we landed, I felt the boy relax a little into my arms, having slumped a little. I needed to see his face, needed to see what he was feeling. We stopped by a nearby tent, and I pulled him off the horse, glad that he could still stand on his own. I finally got my glimpse at his face, and awfully regretted looking. Dried tear tracts were shone in a shine on his cheeks, his eyes slightly red from his cry, and the wind making it worse. His body seemed slacken somewhat. And his face looked like it had aged several years. I took in everything that I could see, and finally, hesitantly, reached towards his face with one hand, waiting for his reaction. He did nothing, so I let my hand cup his cheek lightly, my thumb skimming the soft skin there. The sun was rising now, above the horizon, and the ball of fire warmed my back, and made his face look all the more brighter. After a few seconds of me standing an arms length away, he leaned slightly into my touch, and instantly I wrapped that same hand around the back of his neck, and pulled him toward me silently. He reached up, once against fisting his hands against the rough fabric of my tunic, and buried his head against my chest as I wrapped both my arms around him, and held him close.
This was going to be the start of our new adventure. I just felt it.
--x--
Review please! Again, no one eat me please.
Joey: Actually...do eat her. That way, she won't steal mah food in the middle of the night, and steal mah toys.