Okay, so I let it die.

I'm sorry. :) -dodges sharp objects- I'm SORRY! I'M SORRY! NO MORE!

I know I let this story die, and for that, I apologize. Hopefully, I can get back into the swing of updating it. I'll try my best, but no promises. Just to ask for forgiveness, here is a completely chapter. :) Maybe I'll have another one up before the end of the weekend?

And this is just a short chapter. The next one will be longer. :)

Chapter 9:

Homesick

The forest edge was closer than Link had realized.

After their previous drama with the three bugs, Link and Midna had continued through the forest, not speaking or communicating whatsoever. No matter what happened, Link felt he would always dislike the arrogant imp, simply because of his current position. The forest had stretched out in front of them, but it wasn't long before the tall grass and large trees gave way to a more open space, leading simply to a dead end against the rock wall.

Link stopped on his trek, looking up at the large rock wall. He groaned, stepping backward. Apparently, they had went too far. Feeling him stop, Midna shifted on his back and glanced forward, seeing the rock wall. She snorted, leaping into the air and floating toward the road block. Link walked behind her, sniffing the air.

Isn't this wonderful? he told her, snorting unhappily. He was getting more and more irritated at his current predicament, and these little detours were costing him more time. He watched as Midna examined the rock, floating slowly toward the bottom.

"Now, there just has to be a way through," she insisted, her hands feeling the rock. Link sighed, sitting down and scratching behind his ear. The Vessel of Light shifted on his neck, reminding him of his duties. He whined, standing and helping search for a way through.

Hey, I think I found something, he responded after poking his nose around a few minutes. There was a large opening near the bottom of the mountain, a dirt mound set beside it. Midna floated toward it, her ruby eye glowing. She examined it for a moment and smiled, giggling.

"Alright, wolfie," she stated, falling onto his back. "We're going to practice some digging skills." Link huffed. Digging? He sniffed at the hole, picking up a faint scent of bug. Perhaps the rest was on the other side?

Alright...but just this once... Reluctantly, Link began to dig, his paws throwing dirt behind him. Midna laughed on his back, and Link ignored her, continuing his work. It took a few minutes, but the hole was finally big enough to fit through. Huffing gently, Link pushed himself beneath the dirt, crawling forward. He pressed himself beneath the rock wall, suddenly feeling claustrophobic as the darkness and pressure surrounded him. Holding his breath, Link forced himself through, digging frantically. Finally, he was through, and he panted, his heart thudding, as he pulled himself from the dirt. He shook the earth from his fur, and looked around. It was dark, but Link could see fine. It was a large cave, and in front of him were three large tunnels, each leading into shadows. He stood still a moment, studying the tunnels. Midna floated above him, studying them as well. Finally, she sighed, floating closer to the ground.

"I guess we just have to guess," she responded, floating toward the closest one. "Let's go through this one, first." Link, too tired to argue, followed her into the shadows, into a darkness so great he had to rely on Midna's glowing body to get through. They traveled for several minutes before light shone at the end of the tunnel, and both Midna and Link gasped happily, quickening their pace.

But what they thought was an exit was simply a lit lantern, sitting in the middle of yet another large room.

Midna sighed, looking at the tunnel ahead. "Looks like we'll be stuck here awhile." She floated back to Link, falling a bit more gently on his back. Link nodded, sighing unhappily, and started toward the tunnel, succumbing into blackness once more.

This darkness gives me the creeps, he told her, suppressing a shiver. Midna laughed.

"Makes me miss home," Midna replied, sighing gently. She fell quiet, and Link wondered just how much she missed her Twilit realm.

What's it like there? he asked as he stepped into darkness, simply walking slowly until his nose or whiskers brushed the wall. For a few moments, Midna didn't respond, and Link wondered if she were simply ignoring him.

"It's a bit like here," she finally responded, shifting on his back. "The Twili's are friendly, gentle. It's not bad at all. It's acutally...rather relaxing." She laughed quietly. "Makes me wonder why you want your brightness so much." Link felt a bit of homesickness himself.

What exactly is it like? Perpetual Twilight? The idea seemed...actually comforting to Link.

"It's...nice." Midna's voice was soft. "Actually, you see it here as the light sets on your world. Just when the light touches the horizon... That's what it looks like back home." She paused, and suddenly her voice was hard. "This Twilight... It's not the same. It's filled with darkness. It...blots out the light. My Twilight... It's like darkness and light embracing." Midna's voice was gentle, homesick, and Link felt a twinge of pity. Something in her voice told him there was a deeper trouble to Midna that she let on. There was something mysterious about the small imp, something that Link wondered if he could uncover.

I acutally like watching the sun set, Link told her, turning another corner, He could see light at the end of the tunnel, and he quickened his pace.

"Really?" she responded, shifting again. "Most humans hate the Twilight. It's like...scary to them, or something stupid." She sighed. Link smiled.

I find it...rather relaxing. A perfect way to end the day is watching a sunset. Link 's mind returned to the sunset he viewed just two nights before. Had it only been that short of time?

"Yeah, well, I'll bet it's nothing compared to how beautiful the Twilight Realm is..." Midna's voice was whimsical, and Link barked a chuckle.

Guess I'll just have to show you, then, he told her, just as he reached the end of the tunnel. Midna laughed.

"Alright. I'll be counting on it, once we get out of this blasted darkness."

But, once again, the tunnel simply led to another tunnel. Link and Midna groaned, Link feeling a bit of hope slip away. They were never going to escape this cave. They were hopelessly lost.

But Link kept on, entering the next tunnel. He and Midna chatted about both the Light world and the Twilight world, speaking of their favorite things and their least favorite things about them. Neither realized that they were actually getting along, or that they were really enjoying each others company.

Link continued through the caves, feeling more and more tired with each step her took. Exhaustion was gripping his muscles, and he nearly fell a few times, struggling through the darkness. Midna didn't seem to notice, however, still chatting about the beauty of her world. Only when Link saw another flickering light did he feel a surge of energy, just enough to reach the edge, finding yet another lantern. However, this wide room didn't lead into another tunnel. It simply stretched out, the flickering flame not reaching the edge of the walls. Wondering if they had made progress, Link stepped further into the open space, until the flickering fire no longer reached him. However, he searched the entire area, reaching the edges and returned to the lantern. It was an empty, dead end.

Atop his back, Midna was becoming frustrated. "A dead end?! After all of that running, we reached a dead end?!" She leaped from his back, floating into the air and crossing her arms. "We're never going to get out of here!" Link whined an agreement, sitting down to rest his paws. Exhaustion tugged at him, and his eyes threatened to close. Midna groaned loudly, and she whipped around, heading for the tunnel once more. "Come on, wolf! We have to get out of here!"

Midna, can we rest? Please? Link begged, yawning. The imp turned to him, angry.

"What?! Rest?! We don't have time to rest!" She floated toward him, getting on his back. "Let's go!" She kicked him in the ribs. He yelped, but didn't budge.

If I don't rest, we're not going to get very far, because I'll fall asleep fighting the little bastards. He yawned again. Please. Let me rest awhile, and then we'll continue. You have to be tired, too. You can't tell me you're not. The imp growled, leaping from his back. He apparently won the argument, for Midna lowered herself to the ground, curling up.

"Fine. But as soon as I open my eyes, we're leaving. Got it?" Happy to get some rest, Link barked in agreement and neared the torch, curling beneath it. The fire warmed his fur from the cold walk through the tunnels, and soon, he was dozing.

He was thrust back to consciousness, though, when he heard a chattering noise come from where Midna was laying. He blinked awake, glancing toward her. She was shivering, curled against the floor with her arms wrapped around her body. The wolf huffed, standing despite his desire to rest.

Midna, come over here and sleep, he insisted, curling back up. The fire is really warm. The imp didn't reply, and Link shrugged, yawning again. Okay, whatever. But I know it's cold over there... When she didn't responded, Link felt himself losing the battle to sleep, and he lowered his head, falling back into unconsciousness.

Meanwhile, Midna, huddled against the floor, had her eyes opened, listening to his deep breathing. She shivered gently, wrapping her arms around herself. But there was no way she was going to sleep near that wolf...

Cold and homesick, Midna finally drifted off.

end of chapter