Chapter 6
Resting Wolf
"I am become death, the destroyer of worlds."
-J. Robert Oppenheimer
Now I am content as I return to the forest that has been my home for seven long years. The armor has been delivered to the Hero, and I did not destroy the Assassin Magistro. He was made to wear that armor, and I hope it and the armor he wears now both serve him well.
He invited me to dine with him at the ranch-girl's home today. It was almost a 'last supper' for he and I. For Link, it was the last time he'd eat and rest before he killed Ganondorf. For me, it was my last meal.
His fairies and I had a heart to heart during the meal. I no longer viewed Yack as irritating. He was a kind little one, and that I did not care for him in the past shames me. The blue one, Navi, was loving and kind, and it pleases me to know that the Hero is accompanied by fairies such as they.
We said goodbye after the meal, and I retreated to the forest while Link headed for Ganondorf's Castle. I wondered if he thought of a way over the pit of lava in order to enter, but I assured myself that the boy thought of it. If the boy was not resourceful, he would not have made it out of the forsest temple.
With nothing else to do when I returned to the forest, I went to my home by the watering hole. No, I did not rest in it. I just stared at it. I stared at the grass flattened by the frequent resting I did there. I looked at the watering hole that nourished my thirst and cooled my body on humid days. I looked at the place that, before meeting the hero I used to mourn the past.
I was grateful. Had I not encountered the Hero, I don't know what I would do right now. Would I have spent every day wandering aimlessly, eventually dying in a random spot in the forest as a wild beast might? Would I not wander, but wonder; wonder what now could have been like had I succeeded seven years ago? I do not know, and I do not want to know.
I looked at my former home, and I just stood there for ten minutes or so. Part of me wanted to lay down in the flat grass again. Another part wanted to drink from the stream; to lay in the water for a moment. I did none of these things.
It was sad, leaving my home. I decided to do what that man recommended: I would visit the Sacred Forest Meadow and relax.
I made the trip to the meadow where I found the first cache, and I stood over the entrance behind the stump for a while and stared at it, specifically the symbol on the door- that of the Assassins. I heard the Soul of the Forest as all animals do, and I bowed my head to the symbol respectfully.
I began to get tired while watching the symbol, and my body lost a little feeling. My heart beat was slowing, but more noticeable to me. I could feel it.
As my heart slowed I thought of the battle with Ganondorf- that which went on now. I thought of what Link might be doing to the man, and I smiled the best I could.
"Lie down for a moment and rest," said a familiar voice. I did not look around for the source because the source did not exist. It was only the sound.
My heart slowed further, and I became sleepier. I trudged before the stump and sat.
"...Perhaps I'll just... lie down and rest a moment."
That is what I did. My energy was fading, and I lay my head down as well. For a few moments, all I could hear was the Soul of the Forest. My breathing slowed, but did not quite stop. My body became more foreign. It felt as I was having an out of body experience.
I was wounded by Ganondorf that day seven years ago. When I took this form, it was strong and healthy, but the curse was a wound that would take my life from me.
My vision blurred, and I shut my eyes to try and fix my sight. I heard footsteps approach, and I thought it was the Hero for a moment.
I could sense the presence crouch down before me. I could feel eyes on me.
"Canis."
"What time is it?" I asked, opening my eyes. Now I saw the strange man one more time.
"It's time to go," he said. With that, he placed his hand on my side, and the agony I endured for seven years faded away. I was finally dying of the wounds I received seven years ago.
The last thing I can think now is that the Hero of the Time... was... successful.
Al la fin to the max.
846 words. I told you it'd be short.
There will be no Christmas one-shot for this story because of it's frequently somber tone.
If anybody cares enough about this story and is wondering who the Strange Man was, I don't know either. Like the Red Dead Redemption character he is based off of, he was designed to be whatever you think he could rationally be. There is no correct answer, and no incorrect one.
I don't have much to say about it now. I'm relieved I'm done, though.
Next chapter is trivia, so it might take me a bit to get all the info together.
