Sorry this is so late. Last minute coursework sessions, concerts, tshirts, Christmas and other annoying whatnot. I swear, the lead up to Christmas is the worst. Anyways, this is probably going to be a short chapter because I need to leave to set up for the 10th anniversary/Christmas party russian school thing tomorrow. What is life?
Chapter 10
Hanging around
"You took your time sweetheart." A zora ghost said.
Link stared.
"Close your mouth dear, you'll catch flies like that."
Link still stared.
"Why ghosts? Why is it always ghosts?" Silver whimpered.
Link was still staring.
"What is life…?" Lana whimpered.
"Link, please stop staring, you look like a startled fish." The ghost continued.
"She's a ghost." Silver said to Link. "You're a ghost. Why are you ghost?"
"Link, why don't you-? Ah…" the ghost stopped herself.
"You're not my Link are you?" Link was still staring. "You must be his descendent. Yes, you're a full blood grey. My Link was only a half. My bad."
Link blinked in confusion.
"My name is Ruto Oceanus Lili-Maria Rutiarta Zora III. The hylian Water Sage, and deceased. A pleasure to make your acquaintance."
"…my head hurts…" Silver muttered.
"So, if you wouldn't mind, could we get on with the rescuing." Ruto said.
Link shook his head in exasperation and knelt by Lana. She shied from his presence. Link calmly held her gaze before drawing his sword. The zora flinched from the metallic rasp. He examined the chains that secured her shackles to the wall. With a powerful swing, the white blade cleaved through the chains. The sword sung, chimes resonating through the air.
"Very subtle." Silver remarked.
Lana opened one eye, checking to see if she still had all her limbs. Opening her eyes, she stood up.
"Ok, I take it I'm on babysitting duty." Silver said.
Link nodded.
"We'll take the cliff path down. You take care of the diversion."
Silver waited for Lana to get to her feet and walked to the door.
"Oh and Link," She called over her shoulder. "a small diversion if you please. Note the word small."
Link grinned impishly.
"One of these days…" she muttered as she led the zora out into the corridor.
Ruto watched Link with mild curiosity.
"I take it I should be worried."
Link looked at her with a mischievous glint in his eyes that gave Ruto the sudden urge to pray.
Link reached into his pouch and took out his bomb arrows.
"Nayru help us…"
Link ran out into the corridor, pausing to listen for the sounds of pursuit. Hearing none, her climbed up the crates nearby and elbowed open the trapdoor to the roof. Climbing up into the noonday sun he took aim fired into the centre of the complex. Blood red flames rose into the sky like a crimson tree.
The yowls of dying Goriya ripped through the air. A flash of white darted across the courtyard to the broken wall. Link smiled and knocked three arrows. With a twang, the white sparks from the fuses drew lines through the sun. Three more explosions rocked the camp.
Link let loose another at a tall watchtower, sending it crashing down onto the buildings, crushing those unfortunate enough to be caught beneath it.
"This is small?" Ruto asked.
Now in the full glare of the sun, she was barely visible, the fierce glare watered down the colour of her form like an old photograph.
An arrow whistled through the air, nicking Link's ear. Hot blood trickled down his neck and his hearing became instantly lopsided.
Link whirled, his bow already knocked. An explosion rocked the building he was standing on. Link dropped to his knees to stabilise his centre of gravity. A rush of wind behind him and Link had his sword out. He spun on his knee and sliced at the legs of a Goriya. It sliced into flesh and the monster dropped. Link leapt to his feet and beheaded it before it before the creature had a chance to recover. The patrol dealt with, Link surveyed his handiwork. The complex was in flames, there was chaos everywhere. The Goriya were struggling to put out the flames. Link turned to leave, heading for the land route. Link ran low and fast across the roof. Any Goriya he saw, were fleeing the flames, too panicked to notice him. Jumping down, Link made a beeline for the path, following the line of the cliff.
Something heavy hit him from behind. Link rolled instinctively, coming up just in time to receive the kick to the face. Disorientated, he lashed out. He hit something hard. Shaking his head to dispel the dizziness, he managed to make out a huge dark shape. Link snarled, unsheathing his sword, his shield still missing.
Two acid yellow lights burned in the dark shape, the first feature Link's eyes made out.
A slash ripped through the air. Link swayed out of reach and countered it with a horizontal slash.
Now he could see properly, the Goriya Leader loomed over him. The sharp curved blades of the claws that extended over his natural ones glinted in the bright noonday sun. He wasn't looking too well. Two angry red parallel gorges ran down his face from his right ear down to the left side of his muzzle. The fur around his right shoulder was clipped away and it was bound in off-white rags. It looked painful. The Goriya snarled at him. Link waved with his free hand. The Goriya was not amused. With a bark of rage, it slashed at his hand. Link blocked the strike with his sword. Sparks leapt from the scraping metal. The two fighters snarled in each other's faces. The two leaned their weight on their weapons, the balance shifted between the two. Din, he was strong. Link felt himself being pushed backwards, his centre of balance began to shift out from underneath him.
The Goriya grinned and pushed forward. Link felt his balance go over his shoulder. Her teetered there on one foot, his sword arm losing all strength. The Goriya slashed at his exposed chest just as Link's leg failed and he fell unceremoniously on his backside. The Goriya, having overcommitted in his cockiness and found himself teetering on one leg. Link kicked his leg, sending him toppling beside him. As the Goriya fell, Link shifted into his wolf skin. He snarled and leapt on the Goriya before he had the chance to get to his feet. The two of them rolled in the dust, claws flashing, jaws ripping. Fur swirled in the eddies raised by the scuffle. They rolled closer and closer to the edge of the cliff. Link snapped at the muzzle of the Goriya, trying to get his jaws round his nose and mouth to suffocate him. The Goriya in turn held the beast off him and tried to get his own jaws round the wolf's muzzle. Their hind legs clawed at each other's bellies, their tails lashing wildly. Their snarls and barks filled the air, harmonising with the yowls of the dying and the crackling of the flames.
The sun was high, noon approaching fast. The water covered the shark jagged rocks beneath. The two animals fought, now inches from the cliff edge. The twenty minutes of safe jumping time ticked by. Yet still neither beast could gain the upper hand. Both were tiring fast. The muzzles were lacerated with small cuts, blood coated their fangs and claws, fur wedged between their teeth. Crimson blood and golden dust mingled around them. The metal claws of the Goriya's left paw lay not far from them, lost in the fray. The twenty minutes ticked past, they'd been battling longer than either animal was built for. Sweat and dust made their wounds smart like wasp stings, it got into their eyes, blinding them. The water level began to drop, exposing the jagged teeth of the rocks below, like the maw of a great sea creature, awaiting its hapless prey.
The wolf managed to get his jaws around the Goriya's muzzle. He clamped his jaws, hot sweet blood trickled down his throat. The Goriya thrashed wildly. Through the wall of exhaustion that trapped his limbs, Link, sensing the cliff edge, managed to twist under the Goriya and using the Goriya's muzzle, flipped the monster over his head. The tendons in his neck stood out against his bloodied fur, almst popping with the effort. Lights danced before Link's eyes. Then the weight was gone. As the Goriya tumbled through empty space, it lashed out with its metal claws, burying them in the hollow beneath Link's leg. The claws cracked against ribs, ripping a howl from Link's throat. The Goriya tumbled down, pulled by gravity's inexorable embrace. The weight of the monster dragged Link down over the edge. The mist was already curling around him, replacing on the hero his hylian skin. With his good arm, Link's fingers caught the edge of the cliff. The change had loosened the hold of the claws in Link's shoulder and they slid out with a wet slither. With a howl of despair the Goriya plummeted down. The howl was cut abruptly short as the creature hit the rocks below. The creature echoes still cried out in despair, growing fainter and fainter. Then they were gone.
Link hung there. Sweat rolled down his face, getting in the wounds on his face and making them sting. He was exhausted from the fight. The muscles in his good arm were screaming, his finges cramping under the strain. His other arm hung uselessly at his side, hot blood dripped from his fingertips. He'd be feeling that tomorrow morning. Link tried to pull himself up with one arm. His muscles screeched in agony. His muscles gave and Link's arm snapped straight with an audible click. So much for that idea. Link hung there. His other arm ignored his brain's commands, hanging like a dead weight. Link's vision was going fuzzy from a mixture of exhaustion and blood loss.
"I had feeling you'd be behind these explosions." A voice called from above. "Hold still now."
Four ropes were lowered, a sheet strung between them. The sheet billowed out below him and the ropes were hauled up. The sheet reached his legs and they buckled. He managed to kneel somewhat to take the strain off his shoulder. Strong jaws grabbed his collar and helped pull him up.
"I said small." Silver said as she hugged him.
Link's good arm hurt like hell, he couldn't feel his fingers and he couldn't bend it either. But nonetheless he hugged Silver back. Her warm fur slowly thawed his stiff muscles.
"I swear, I'm getting you a dictionary for Christmas!" she muttered.
Then someone blew a warm puff of air into his face. Epona, the ropes tied to her saddle was leaning down at him.
"Idiot…" she said as she nuzzled his ear.
The warm smell of hay washed over Link and a huge sense of relief followed it. He hadn't known how long he was dangling there, alone, but it was over. His pack was here and everything was going to be alright.
Once Link's trauma and Shock had been treated with nuzzles and hugs, Epona instructed Lana, who had been watching the little reunion, to make a concoction of blue potion, red potion, heart berries and various wild herbs to deal with Link's fatigue and blood loss. Link obediently drank, too exhausted to complain.
In order to dress his wound, Lana had had to help Link take off his heavy chainmail vest. There were a few tears in the shimmering material, mainly where the claws had slid in. Link gingerly pulled off his tunic, mindful off his injury. Lana carefully cleaned his wound with a wodge of linen. She marvelled at the pattern off pale marks on his sun darkened skin. He had the strong build of a farmer, tempered further by his role as a warrior. His scars told the tale of every battle he had fought in his life. From the gouged scars caused by charging goats to the deep claw wounds made by monsters. On his abdomen, then a sun shaped silver scar curled, ridged by the hard muscles beneath. On Silver's belly while they had been swimming, Lana had noticed a similar scar, outlined with the shorter bright white hairs, shaped in a curving crescent. The tale of a shared battle; a test of the bond they shared. The mare too. All tied together, their lives woven like the intricate patterns of a rug. It almost made her envy them.
Once Lana had dressed his shoulder wound per Epona's instruction, he curled up by the mare under a blanket and fell promptly to sleep. Silver lay next to him, watching the fire.
"He's out like a light." Lana noted.
"I think he's earned a nap." Silver muttered. "He always does this."
"What hang half dead from a cliff over an hour?"
Silver glared.
"No, take control of the situation, remove himself from the equation. He thinks he's invincible, that he's dispensable."
"And is he?"
Silver fixed her with a growl.
"No he bloody well isn't!"
"Ok, ok! I'm sorry! I didn't mean it like that!"
Epona opened one eye, her ears flattened.
"Sorry" they both whispered.
"Get some sleep." Silver growled.
She turned her head so that it faced Link, breathing the comforting scent of pine and mist.
"Silver…" Lana whispered.
One ear flicked back.
"I'm sorry for stabbing you…"
The wolfos didn't reply, but the growl died in her throat.
"Nice to see everyone getting along." Ruto said.
"Shut up!" Lana muttered, snuggling under the blanket.
Ok, short chapter. My brain is killing me from all the stress. I'm gonna go and learn my ensemble now. So yeah, do review and I'll see ya around. –goes searching for a glass of water and a blanket before slouching off to the piano-