My apologies for abandoning this fanfic for as long as I did; however this time I can assure you it's going to be finished. It is part of my Camp NaNoWriMo this year so there will likely be multiple chapters a week. Also I have revised my chapters 5-8 in case anyone had happened to glance at them. The first four might need some TLC too but I am focused forward at the moment; the edits were to get mentally prepared for NaNo.
Enjoy.
.Chapter 9.
Waterfalls and daydreams
The sound of gushing water was deafening and the torrent of frothy liquid streamed down the cliff face at a humbling rate. The churning white-water held Link's gaze as if in a trance, his reddened stare lost to the movement of the falls almost entirely. Around him the rest of the group was slowing down, stretching their lean bodies and yawning as they relaxed and prepared for the coming dawn. For the normal world it would mean rising and going along with daily business but, surely, for them it would mean time for sleep and rest. As Link would hang back a bit, Veshte would join him and quietly settled down near him with a great yawn. Link would glance to the other man, but movement out of the corner of his eye would have him looking back to the falls as little moving figures starting to emerge at the base from behind the frothy curtain.
Darus was already nearly there and, like wolves, the Infected that had just emerged from behind the falls would greet their leader enthusiastically. Though Link couldn't hear what was being said the large male suddenly looked very pleased and, as the others departed back into the caves just out of sight, Darus would turn and bark to the rest of them.
"It would appear that fortune has smiled our way whilst we were out this evening. Come, fellow children of the dark, we have a feast awaiting us."
Clearly these were the magic words to put haste in everyone's step and, as Veshte grunted to get back up and move forward, Link would curiously fall into line beside him and follow the mass of dark-skinned bodies.
"A feast? So will there still be a hunt in the next few days as Darus said?"
"Maybe; who cares?" Veshte sounded amused. "So long as I can stuff my gut tonight I'm happy!"
His good mood certainly helped put Link's own puzzlement to bed and, as they got closer to the water, he realized just how hungry he really was. Food did sound good right about now and as the rest began to vanish behind the watery mass, he would follow. The caves were not ground level as Link had originally anticipated and he'd find himself staring at a steep, slick wall of stone. They weren't flat to the wall, however ,and as Link evaluated the best route he'd notice that there were jutting stones that made something of a slanted stairway. And there at the top was the entrance to the cave beyond. It wasn't a tricky climb for all the trouble it had originally presented and, only after a couple slips, he and Veshte would enter the cavern where the rest were gathered. Well now this was impressive.
The entrance was harder to reach, hidden, and surely remote enough to place them away from human interaction. But that was just the start of this amazing hideaway; the mouth of the cave was puny in comparison to the walls that lie within. It was a surprisingly wide tunnel and not too much further in it opened up into an immense space. The ceiling was high above his head and it was dry in here compared to tunnel, making it the ideal place to collect with others of the group. Beyond this large cavernous room lay what looked like smaller tunnels. This system must carve its way deeper into the cliff than Link originally anticipated. The air was surprisingly fresh in here too but among the smell of the living and water he could detect something else too.
Link would draw a deep inhale and, beside him, he'd hear Vesthe do the same before the male would rumble low in his throat with pleasure. "I can smell it…food!"
He'd grin to Link and give him a nudge of encouragement before he'd join the mass of fellow Infected already in there. Many were surrounding the meat and hid it from view but their bodies did nothing to hide the smell. Link found his mouth watering as he got closer, trying to distinguish just what sort of prey this was. Deer? Elk? It seemed like something bigger since it was clearly going to feed so many mouths. Even with the food here the mood was light, jovial even, and after tearing off their share many Infected would move back to eat their meals in groups. Amazing. There wasn't a trace of aggression in anyone right now. How was that when the stench of blood was so thick? So tempting? So mind consuming…
"Hey Link are you going to come eat with us or what?"
He'd spy Veshte already moving away from the kill with slabs of meat in his hands as he stopped a few feet off to sit with Nelia and what looked to be a couple. The male was thin and lanky; his body almost mimicking that of a weasel type creature, but the woman was still overall human. She didn't even have the beginnings of a snout yet but she was leaning against the weasel-like man and sharing meat with him. Interesting.
Link would hurry and move towards the carcass to gather his share only to be blocked by none other than Darus. The leader would eye Link closely and he felt his skin begin to crawl under that chilling stare. Don't do it; don't try to challenge him. It's far too soon for that.
Link would grit his teeth, doing his best to keep his face straight, but Darus would only coo a soft note and offer him a thick slab of raw flesh. The sight of it didn't distract Link at first but, soon enough, the smell got to him and his focus was drawn to it in a way that he was sure was unnatural. Darus would move closer and he'd get right in Link's space so that only he would hear him, the meat just inches away now.
"Take it, Link. The carcass is bare. I don't want my newest hunter to go hungry now do I?"
Blinking, Link would snort and break free of the trance the bloody scent was holding over him. The tone Darus spoke in was calm but it held an edge to it too. Like a threat in hiding. "What will you eat if I take your meat?" And what was he trying to keep Link from the carcass for?
There was no warmth in Darus' gaze as he leaned in and he'd rather violently thrust the offering of meat into Link's hands. That beastly snout was just inches from Link's ear and instantly he was nearly overwhelmed with the hot stench of carrion riding Darus's breath. "Do you really want to defy me so soon? Go now. You've no right to the carcass until you've fell your first prey item. Be thankful you get any sustenance at all seeing as this is your first night with us."
Oh it was more than just a threat and Link had to fight to keep the snarl out of his words as his clawed fingers dug into the food Darus just gave him. When would this chance to prove himself come then? "When is the hunt? We just had food tonight."
"Tomorrow night; it's a bit sooner than first anticipated but I think it's due since prey is good right now. And Link?" He'd pull back and his mean smile was all teeth. "Do keep up."
With that Darus was gone, stalking towards the corpse and blocking a few others from it. Clearly there was still some meat there and as the leader moved away he drug the remains of the kill with him. Who did this man think he was? Link felt his lip curl back as he glared at the large male's back, his patience wearing dangerously thin already. However he'd feel a hand on his shoulder and, snapping out of his dark thoughts, he'd turn to see Vesthe frowning back at him.
"Take it easy, Link. He's just testing you."
Was he now? A low growl rose in Link's throat and he'd stalk to the group Veshte had just been sitting at and he'd sit down next to Nelia. Ripping into the meat, he'd ignore the uncertain glances the couple across from him exchanged and he'd hear rather that see Vesthe join him. He'd finish chewing his mouthful before anyone else could speak and he'd break the silence as he glared up at them all.
"Do you really think Darus is just 'testing' me? Does he do this to all new comers?" He'd squint to towards the woman now, expecting her to answer, but it was the weaselly man who would scoff now and lean in.
"Listen, bud, you really outta get off your high horse and just fall into line, alright? We all must prove we are worthy of what Darus has to offer and to do that you've got to forget whatever stupid status you came from. I don't care if you were some snobbish noble; hell you could have been King for all we care! Titles don't follow you here, hero, so get over yourself and stop whining."
Fury rose in Link and, with a snarl, he'd tense in pure challenge to this man's words. He had never had such a short fuse before. What was this going to prove? Beating a man over such a petty matter was very unlike him. It was time to get a grip on himself; that much was truth in the man's blatant lecture. He'd force his temper at bay and, injecting calm into his words, he'd lock his gaze with this other man. He clearly knew he was the Hero of Hyrule. But what else did he know?
"I apologize if I came across as 'snobbish'; I am just trying to understand all of this and why it's happened. Don't you want your old life and self back as you were? As you said…I am a hero. And some habits don't dull just because of a virus."
"Were a hero, Link."
Veshte's voice was subdued and he'd shake his head now, looking across the cave. So Vesthe knew him as well? Rather, he probably knew the publically advertised version of himself and the mysterious tales of how he helped save Hyrule from an unknown fate. So why did he look so nervous? "Like Shane said; titles don't follow here but many of us do know who you once were. No, Darus doesn't always bully the new recruits but…you know…since you were once of high renown…"
"He wants to make sure I behave and play 'follow the leader' like he wants me to, right?" Link's tone was flat now. "I can understand that. What I don't understand is why it feels like he is hiding something." He'd glance to Shade and then Nelia before back to Veshte. "Is there anything I should know?"
There it was, the distinct downcast of eyes as all of them refused to meet his gaze. Well all of them but Shane whose eyes only took on a gleam of cunning as his lip curled unpleasantly. "You'll know things only as Darus wants you to; that's the way it's always been. Now are you going to eat your food or what? If you're not going to then pass it over here; I'm still hungry and it is shameful to waste any food."
Link really didn't have much of an appetite left right now but it hardly seemed ideal to fork over the slab right now. Huffing Link would tear off one last chunk for himself and he'd hold it out towards Shane. "Take it then."
However the man didn't bother to move and, with a purposeful shove, he'd elbow the woman leaning against him. She'd flinch with a look of obvious uncertainty but, silently, she'd lean forward to take the meat from Link before handing it all over to Shane. She'd bow her head now as she leaned back against her partner as he began to gorge himself, the lost look in her eyes dulling and reminding Link highly of a trained, and highly unhappy, dog.
"What is your name? I don't think I got it beforehand."
His words were soft and he'd dip his head lightly as he tried to meet her gaze. She did look at him but, as he picked at his teeth, it was Shane who would reply. "Her name is Linda if you must know. She was my wife before the change and now she is finally reunited with me."
Shane would give her shoulders an affectionate enough squeeze but something about this still wasn't settling right with him. He'd take another bite of his food and chew it thoughtfully, his eyes on hers, but a sense of fear rose in her eyes and she'd turn away as if with disgust. Had he done something wrong?
Veshte would softly nudge Link's side to get his attention and he was shaking his brutish head. This pack just kept getting stranger and stranger. There was something not being said here. Something dark; a virus of a different sort that reeked with ill secrets. If he was good at anything it was getting to the bottom of messes no matter how grotesque they got. He would sit in silence now and, as they all finished eating, there was no more conversation.
Presently the cave began to empty as other Infected began to file out; yawning and stretching as the world beyond their cave began to brighten and give way to dawn. Link would notice the light becoming uncomfortable near the entrance again and, as Veshte rose to his feet, he'd give Link a tired look.
"You're more than welcome to share my quarters tonight; we all tend to sleep in groups except for Darus."
Why didn't that surprise him? Nodding Link would get to his feet as well and, as Nelia fell into line with the two males they'd descend down one of the smaller halls to where a neat gathering had already formed. Shane was already there and near the entrance, looking far more like a guard than a fellow bedmate. The brute remained there far too alert to be heading to bed himself and Link would force himself to look away as he got comfortable. Nelia would curl up in front of him with a grin and she'd even boldly kiss his cheek before getting fully snug where she lay.
"Sleep well, Link of Hyrule. You'll need your strength tomorrow on the hunt."
His nod must have looked awkward but she merely closed her eyes and he'd do the same, all too aware that there was a pair of crimson eyes watching them all from the entrance. Need all his strength tomorrow? He didn't doubt that idea at all. He truly didn't. But it was not the kind of strength that could be found in a sword, fang, fist, or claw. He needed to recapture himself and focus; he had to stop his temper from getting the better of him as it had been far too much recently. More than just his survival depended on it.
