Chapter 9: The Great Deku Tree
~~~Link began to notice a clearing up ahead. He sped to a sprint, eager to break free of the enclosed feeling of the forest. Zelda followed close behind. When they reached the clearing, they saw what seemed to be trees cut into strange shapes. The stumps were significantly larger than any other tree previously seen.
"Sheik,"
"What is it?"
"Have you seen anything about this place?" Link asked.
"No, but these trees are cut in such a way that it would be assumed that someone, or people, actually lived in them."
It could have been a possibility, but no entrances to the inside of the trees were visible. There were trodden paths that led to each of them as well as through the area.
"Let's wait here for the-!" Link stopped short at the sound of rustling leaves in the woods. Link readied his hand for his sword. From out of the forest, ran Auru, Darmani, and Mikau. They had a significant number of wounds on them.
"What happened to all of you?!" Link asked, running to them.
Auru was grasping his shoulder, apparently bitten by a ReDead. It was bleeding through the bandages. "Monsters that I've never seen attacked us… They made wretched noises that summoned more of-." Auru stumbled and rested his knee upon the ground.
"Were they black silhouettes?" Link asked.
"…Yes. Did you see one?" he asked, looking up at Link.
"We did. Just one though."
"We also heard the sound that you spoke of," Zelda added.
"Where are the leaders?" Darmani asked. He had some bruises, but he wasn't hurt badly, possible because of his tough skin. Link scanned the area. He shrugged his shoulders. Mikau was focused on the path ahead. He appeared to be slashed around his arms. The bandages managed against these wounds.
"Let's keep going. I'm sure they'll catch up…" he stated.
They continued down the path. Darmani aided Auru, supporting his weight. It was well into the afternoon and the sun's heat seemed to be more soothing rather than hot, maybe due to the pleasant breeze that swept through the land. As they went down the path, they re-entered the forest. After a short distance, they reached another clearing. There was a vast meadow, with flowing grass and colorful flowers amidst the forest. At the far end of the meadow, was an enormous tree, unlike anything imaginable. It was easily able to dwarf the Temple of Tim in height. Upon the trunk of the tree, were the features of a human face, with black eyebrows and a mustache. The trees' roots stretch far out.
"You all sure took your time…"
Link quickly turned to the left to see the enigmatic trio standing patiently. Link frowned. "How did you guys lose us?" Link asked.
"If you all would have reached for our hands, that wouldn't have happened," said the middle one.
"I did, but no one reached back," Mikau stated.
"I was just as surprised by the sudden gale as you were. Let's face it. Why would your employers want to kill you?"
Mikau conceded.
"What is this place?" Zelda asked.
"It's the meadow of the Great Deku Tree."
Suddenly, the sound of grinding tree bark was made. Link turned to see that the Great Deku Tree began moving as if to speak. Its leaves shook. "Hrmmmmm!" The Great Deku Tree's grunt startled Darmani, who went into a curl.
"Who art thou?" the tree spoke.
"Y-You can talk?!" Link said, amazed.
"Yes. Who art thou that would travel into this stained forest?" he asked again.
"I am Link!" he shouted, in case the tree couldn't hear him.
"I am Sheik."
"I am Auru."
"Darmani, goro!"
"My name is Mikau."
There was a pause.
"Wilt thou cloaked men let thy names be known?" it inquired.
They looked at each other. "My name is Uryan," the one on the left said.
"I am Nid," said the one in the middle.
"And I am Eroraf," the last one said.
The tree was silent for a moment. "Hast thou seen the black creatures that plague the forest?" the Great Deku Tree asked.
"Yes, we have," answered Auru.
The Great Deku Tree shook its leaves. They seemed to sparkle as the fell. A concentrated breeze guided the falling leaves to them. As they blew through them, Link began to feel refreshed. He noticed that the wounds Auru and the rest received were no more. "Let not thy wit become dulled. These woods art dangerous. The trees thou passeth on thy way here. They art the houses of my children, the Kokiri. They shall open their village to thee. Now go." The Deku Tree fell silent. The trio turned to go back.
"We will rest for a bit. Then we'll search the forest," Nid said.
"For what?" Zelda asked.
"The Kokiri Emerald," he finished.
"That reminds me," Uryan began, "Did you all see anything…curious in the woods?" he asked.
"We found a ruined temple. I think that the source of the monsters is there," Auru said.
"Then that is where we'll go," Eroraf said.