Chapter 35 – Recovering

"What do you think is going on out there?" Zelda asked fearfully as she huddled with Impa inside a dark cellar. The loud crashes and explosions from outside had ceased only moments before, bringing an air of uncertainty to the group. Ark and Fura were the only sources of light; the former holding the glowing tip of his staff up while Fura held a ball of flame in her palm.
"It's all gone quiet," the Gerudo murmured. "Do you think they've done it?"
"I don't know," Impa said, shaking her head. "But…we should wait a little while longer before we venture out."
"I hope they're all okay," Ark sighed, shifting slightly. Nyara, who sat next to him, had her arm painfully crooked around his neck. Enduring the vibrating and loud noises from outside had been very nerve-wracking, and frequently had Nyara squeaked and mewed her displeasure; usually with Ark on the receiving end. The grey-haired boy had to admit, however; that he was extraordinarily fearful and the presence of Nyara next to him was of great comfort. Throughout the experience, Saria could be heard muttering all sorts of things she was going to do to Link when he came back. She huddled on Impa's other side, mumbling and muttering out all sorts of dark little things.
"That careless…going to get himself killed…teach him a lesson," she scowled.
"Are you all right there, Saria?" Fura asked, quirking an eyebrow.
"Yes…I'm just thinking of all the trouble that boy is going to be in when he gets back. He won't know what hit him…or pinched for that matter. He makes me so cross sometimes."
"Nyara eat Link for Saria," Nyara offered, releasing Ark and holding her arms aloft. "Gobble down nice and fast. He be nice and tender from eating so much and fighting, mmm," she purred, licking her lips appreciatively. Saria looked thoughtful.
"Perhaps," she shrugged. Fura shook her head.
"Sorry, you two," she snorted. "But he's not much good to me dead."
"Me neither," Zelda piped up, happy to have something to talk about besides the battle outside.
"Well I suppose I'll have to agree with you there," Saria grumbled. "I'll just have to settle with unleashing a thousand horrors unto him."
"That's the spirit," Impa chuckled. "Besides; you wouldn't want to disappoint Florella now, would you? I'm sure she's already got the intricate details of all of your weddings planned out meticulously."
"I'm sure she does," Fura laughed. "Even Ark's." The grey-haired boy, who had tried to be as uninvolved with the conversation as possible, had a sudden coughing fit.
"Wha-what!? But I…" he floundered, almost dropping his staff.
"Think nothing of it, Ark," Zelda smiled. "It's not surprising considering that Florella's ultimate goal in life is to have everybody on the planet married off so somebody else. She simply loves weddings; a fact that's going to hit Talen like a ton of bricks. I shudder to think of the scale hers is going to be at." A sudden creaking sound echoed through the dark cellar, prompting Nyara to crouch down on all fours with her ears back. Her pupils enlarged and she waited, poised. Everyone else got ready too, with Saria and Zelda going to the back behind Impa, Fura and Ark. The cellar door, which was two wooden hatches built diagonally into the ground above, began to open slowly. At the last second, Nyara raced forwards and charged through them. There was a startled oath from above, followed by Nyara's triumphant call.
"Ow! Get off me!" the voice complained.
"Oh, it's only Link," Fura breathed in relief. They all went to the door and looked out to see Nyara batting away at Link's cheeks with her hands whilst keeping him pinned to the ground. He didn't look all that thrilled to see the animal girl.
"You're back!" Fura and Zelda cried ecstatically.
"Euh! There you all are," he grunted, trying to push Nyara off as she continued to rain light slaps across his cheeks.
"Were…you successful in your plan?" Ark asked curiously. Link managed to roll Nyara away before getting up and dusting himself off.
"Well…in a way," he winced. "The Golem's gone, though."
"I don't like the sound of that," Fura frowned. "Where's Talen and Florella."
"Don't worry," he said quickly. "They're both alive, but…they both took a bit of a beating, Talen more so. Florella's too weak at the moment to put him right, so we need your help, Zelda."
"Oh no!" she cringed. "Is he hurt badly?"
"It's not life-threatening at the moment. His arm's broken and he's got quite a few burns, but he'll be okay once Florella has her strength back. But for now, let's do what we can…oh; don't look at his broken arm if you're squeamish either."
"Oh my God!" Saria exclaimed quite loudly.
"What is it?" Link asked.
"Look at your leg! I told you things were going to be dangerous, but did you listen!?" she ranted.
"It's only a cu-"
"I don't care if it's a cut!" she shouted. "It could have just as easily been your whole leg! It could have been your neck, it could have been anything! Look at you! You can barely stand on it!" Link stood with most of his weight on his good leg looking rather self-conscious after Saria's outburst.
"I-"
"No excuses!" she snapped. Link's mouth shut very quickly. "Rrgh! What were you thinking? Going up against something that big?"
"But…we won-"
"But what about next time?" Saria demanded. "You may not be so lucky the next time you go up against a walking mountain!"
"I don't think there are any more of th-"
"You think this is funny!?"
"A little," Link said in a very small voice, tapping the tips of his index fingers together. Saria's eyelid twitched.
"Fine," she muttered. "But I'm very, very angry with you right now." Link grinned hopelessly at her and Saria's stony face fell away with a heavy sigh.
"You really are a lost cause," she groaned. "Now give me a hug, you hopeless creature."

Florella was babbling all sorts of things at Talen when Link returned with everybody else. The first thing that was noticed was the amount of damage incurred by the city.
"Look at this place," Fura whistled. "It looks like there's been a war here."
"You're not too far from the truth there, Fura," Link frowned. "Here he is." Talen was still out cold on the ground with Florella holding his head in her lap.
"Hurry, Zelda," the fairy pleaded. "Poor Talen."
"Holy Farore!" Fura exclaimed. "I've never seen him this bad before. Will he be all right?" Zelda knelt at Talen's side and put her had to his head.
"He'll be fine; he's just sleeping right now," she breathed in relief. "It takes a lot to dent this boy."
"He looks pretty dented to me," Saria blanched as she caught sight of the bone protruding from his arm. Zelda pursed her lips.
"I agree with you on that," the Princess sighed. "I'll see what I can do for his arm first of all."
While Zelda set to healing Talen as best she could, Nyara, Fura and Ark set about finding somewhere for them to stay until Talen and Florella had fully recuperated. Link was forbidden by Saria to move around until his leg had been looked at. Although the Kokiri girl was especially cross with Link, behind his back she was just as happy as usual.
"It keeps him in check. I have to keep up appearances after all," she explained to Zelda.
"You're going to have to teach me," Zelda smiled. "You wield great power over him."
"Sorry, Zelda," Saria smirked. "But it's a power meant only for me." The two girls began giggling and Link, who could hear them from his designated spot, could swear it was directed at him. He grumbled lightly and plucked at the bandage Saria had tied just a little too tightly around his leg.
"Don't touch it!" he heard her bark from behind him. He quickly pulled his hand away and used it to scratch his head.
"Can't I move yet?" he asked, looking over his shoulder.
"No. Not until Florella's up to the task of healing you," Saria told him shaking her finger.
"But…it's only a cut," Link said in a reasonably quiet voice. "I'm sure Zelda could-"
"She's too tired after helping Talen," Saria interrupted, holding Zelda back as the Princess made to move forwards. "You're just going to have to stay there for a while. It'll keep you out of trouble."
"Ugh, I'm not a baby!" Link complained.
"Of course you aren't," Saria said, nodding her head.
"Don't patronize me," Link muttered.
"I wouldn't dream of it, Linkie-do."
"Now you're just making fun of me," he grumbled. "Fine. I'll just be here sitting still if you need me."
"That's my boy," Saria smiled.

Fura returned along with Ark and Nyara and led everyone else to one of the many empty buildings. The place they had chosen was a small cottage-like house that had a very homey feel to it. Talen, who was still oblivious to the world, was carried by Nyara. Since Florella had also since fallen asleep, Impa carried her to the cottage. Luckily for Link, Saria lifted his ban on moving just long enough for him to get into the cottage and sit against the wall near a crackling fire that Fura had rather proudly lit in the hearth. The cottage was quite small and had only one bedroom, but nobody complained since they didn't feel particularly keen on being split up at all after the attack of the Golem. Impa and Saria got to work preparing dinner in the small kitchen almost immediately. The heat from the fire started to take its toll on Link; his exertions from the battle with Golem beginning to catch up with him. At one point he closed his eyes for what he thought was just a second, before opening them to the vision of Fura's chest from her shoulder.
"Whoa!" he gasped. Jerking upright and banging his head on the wall. Fura looked at him strangely.
"What's the matter with you?" she asked.
"When did you get there?" he asked, rubbing his head.
"A while ago. You fell asleep," she told him. Link blinked groggily.
"I did? Oh…" his sleep-addled brain tried to process that information for a second. "Oh." He yawned and turned his head the other way so he could blissfully slide down the wall and pass out on the floor, but it seemed that Zelda was blocking the way. He jerked up quickly.
"You too?" he asked, rubbing his head after once again hitting it against the wall.
"I don't have anything else to do," Zelda shrugged, clasping her hands together in her lap. Link stole a quick look at the busy Saria.
"Could you take a look at my leg, please?" he whispered.
"Of course I can," Zelda smiled at him. "For a price of course." Link twigged onto what she was on about.
"On second thought…I can handle the pain," he mumbled.
"Oh well, your loss," she sighed. "By the way…can you make sure you're up straight?"
"Up straight? Why?" he asked.
"To make things fair," Fura told him. "Whoever you fall on wins." Link looked slightly indignant.
"That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard," he muttered. "I'm not going to participate." He made to get up, but a wooden spoon held by Saria came waving under his nose as the girl walked past.
"You're not moving until that leg's better," she told him.
"I could be here all night on the floor then!" he protested. "What if the fire goes out during the night?"
"I'll give you your sleeping mat and Fura can help keep you warm," Saria smiled. "I've heard she heats up a fair bit…in more ways than one."
"Saria!" Link exclaimed.
"Oh grow a funny-bone, you stump," Saria sighed, shaking her head. "Now be a good boy, dinner's nearly ready." She walked off, leaving Link to glare after her with a rather red face. He glanced over at Fura, who was smiling in a rather self-congratulating manner.
"Don't you say anything," Link told her.
"I wouldn't dream of it, Linkie-do," she cooed, flicking his ear lightly with the tip of her finger. He pretended not to notice it and looked rather determinedly at the floor. Fura eventually stopped and stretched with a loud yawn. Zelda leaned forwards and looked rather smugly at the Gerudo.
"Your shameless display there went unnoticed, I think," she snickered. Fura frowned and looked at Link, who was still gazing at the floor. She then looked down at her chest and pouted.
"I need to change my clothes again soon," she sighed.
"What, Again? What for?" Link asked, looking up. "What's wrong with the ones you have on now?" Fura smiled at him and batted her lashes.
"Well I'm glad you appreciate how much leg this outfit shows," she giggled, patting her hands on her legs. "But it rather ignores the top-end, don't you think?"
"Ugh, why did I ask?" he muttered.
"Because you secretly adore this figure of mine and you'd like an eyeful at every opportunity!" Fura laughed. Link narrowed his eyes and glanced around at Zelda, who looked just a little bit pouty.
"Zelda, that's a lovely outfit you're wearing," he told her in a tone bordering on simpering. "I especially like the way it shows off those arms of yours." Zelda blushed rosily and put her hands to her cheeks.
"Why thank you," she giggled.
"And it doesn't show off too much," Link continued. "Perhaps somebody else should wear something like that." He faced back straight ahead and began to whistle as he suddenly found the opposite window very interesting.
"Maybe somebody else should wear something like Zelda," Fura frowned. "But then…who'd add excitement to our motley crew? I say the more skin the better." Fura laughed and crooked her arm around Link's neck rather roughly. He squeaked in surprise as Fura smooshed his cheek up against hers.
"Besides, you simply adore looking at me, right?" she asked.
"Yur th' only reason I get up in th' mornin'," Link mumbled with some difficulty.
"That's what I want to hear," Fura grinned, looking sidelong at him. "Now whaddaya say to some chesty-gear?" When Link didn't answer, she squeezed her arm tighter and tighter.
"Absholutely!" he gurgled in desperation.
"Good, good," she smiled. "Oh, and a lot more kisses in the near future. I haven't had one in a while."
"No!" Link yelped.
"Yeees!" Fura chanted, squeezing even tighter.
"Excuse me," Zelda said a little frostily, taking hold of his ear.
"Hnnn! All right! Both of you then!" Fura and Zelda both let go and Link let out an explosive breath.
"What cruel and unusual punishment is this?" he cried.
"Link, behave yourself," Saria said sternly from the kitchen. The boy looked utterly hard-done by and resigned himself to hanging his head sadly. Saria laughed silently and winked at Fura and Zelda. She couldn't help but feel sorry for Link, who seemed to be in just a little bit over his head.

The hearty meal prepared by Impa and Saria was well met by everyone, particularly Link and Nyara. Florella woke up, seemingly drawn by the scent of food and seated herself at the table to eat whilst Talen dozed on oblivious to everything around him. As usual, Nyara took it upon herself to feed poor Ark in front of everyone. The majority of the table found it utterly adorable, bar the actual recipient of Nyara's efforts and Link. After the meal, Florella curled up next to Talen and went to sleep almost instantaneously. Ark also fell asleep, the heat of the fire and Nyara's steady grooming of his hair proving too much to handle. His head lolled and dropped forwards and he slowly fell back against her as she dutifully ran her fingernails through his hair to keep it tidy. Nyara blinked down at him before yawning widely and leaning back against the wall with her arms draped lazily around Ark's neck. The scene of the two of them sleeping away was met by a number of appreciative "awws" from Zelda, Saria and Fura. Link merely dropped his bedroll on the floor and crashed out without a second thought.
"I don't blame him," Impa chuckled, watching the steady rise and fall of Link's chest. "He must be exhausted after everything that's happened today."
"Not even a goodnight kiss," Fura grumbled, folding her arms across her chest.
"You're relentless," Saria laughed, shaking her head. She looked at Zelda. "And you're just as bad." Fura grinned and Zelda smiled.
"Oh well, the best of luck to you both," the Kokiri chuckled. "He's going to take a lot of work."
"I'm up for it," Fura said, clenching her fist. "A few introductions to the differences between boys and girls one day and he'll be putty."
"Not if I show him first," Zelda said. Her look turned sly. "Then again…I already have a head start in that area in a way." Fura narrowed her eyes suspiciously.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Oh nothing," Zelda said in an offhand manner. She cracked up laughing as Fura sat with a thoughtful look on her face.
"Zelda, you aren't behaving in a very Princess-like manner," Impa told her with just the tiniest hint of amusement in her voice. "What would your father think if he knew the way you acted?"
"Oh pooh to him," Zelda sniffed. "He's a bit of a grouch sometimes, but I've got him around my little finger. As long as I act regal when he wants me to, what's the harm? Besides…you're the one that's supposed to be schooling me in the art of regality." Impa laughed quietly and leaned back in her chair.
"I suppose I can let it slide then," she chuckled. "But what I can't let slide is your bedtime. Off you go, Zelda." The Hylian Princess looked like she was about to protest, but kept silent.
"Bed time, eh?" Fura smiled. "I'll just…" She got up and began to wander over to the snoring Link, but Impa hooked her finger in the Gerudo's collar.
"You can share the bedroom with Zelda and Saria. I'll watch those out here," Impa smiled knowingly.
"Aww," Fura pouted, watching sullenly as Impa draped a blanket over Link. The Sheikah woman covered Ark and Nyara as well as checking on Talen and Florella, both of whom were sleeping soundly on a broad, low sideboard covered in rather comfortable cushions.
"Well? Off to bed, girls," Impa tutted, shooing the three of them off. "You can pester him tomorrow morning."

The sun was just beginning to rise when Talen groggily opened his eyes. He yawned and lifted his arm to scratch his head, but found it to be bandaged with a splint. The boy looked at it in puzzlement for a moment before the events of the previous day caught up with him.
"Wow," he murmured sleepily. With another yawn, he rolled over. There was a muffled squeak, followed by movement underneath him.
"What? Who's that?" he asked, quickly rolling back and sitting up. Florella's head popped out from under the blanket; her dark purple hair skewed all around her face. "Florella?"
"Oh Talen!" she smiled. "You're finally awake. How do you feel?"
"I'm all right…where are we?" he asked, looking about the room. He could see Link sound asleep on the floor with Navi perched atop his chest. Ark was also present with Nyara lying a few feet away; kicking and pawing at the air as she dreamed odd Nyara dreams.
"We're in a cottage in Gale. We didn't want to move on while you were…" Talen lifted his splinted arm and moved it like a chicken wing. "Yes…and you feel all right now?"
"I'm pretty hungry," he admitted as his stomach grumbled. Florella's eyes twinkled.
"Well no wonder after missing out on dinner last night," she giggled. "Here, let me take care of that arm for you." Florella peeled away the bandages as Talen crossed his legs patiently. The fairy then proceeded to repair that which Zelda was unable to mend the night before. Talen watched as a myriad of tiny pink particles came spiraling from Florella's little hands and into his skin. He could feel the bone in his arm coming together while patches of skin around his body tingled and buzzed. She finished up by tapping her knuckle on his forearm.
"There we go," she said proudly. "Good as new."
"Thank you, Florella," Talen said. He flexed his arm a number of times.
"And those nasty burns have gone too," she grinned. "Not too bad if I say so myself."
"You did a wonderful job, Florella," he told her as his eyes wandered over to the kitchen.
"Oh! You're hungry!" she said, eyes brightening. "Here…I'll find you something to eat. Wait there." Talen opened his mouth to protest, but Florella quickly pushed his jaw up and skipped onto the floor. She padded along in bare feet, stopping to kick Link lightly in the side as he uttered something unsavory about her in his sleep.
"Hurm…what?" he mumbled, jerking upright with his eyes half closed. "Who?"
"It's time to get up, lazybones," Florella sang before continuing on her way. Link blinked at her as she bobbled into the kitchen and began rummaging around. He looked over at Ark and Nyara as they continued to doze and frowned.
"You didn't wake those two," he muttered. Florella didn't reply, but rather began humming to herself. Link scowled at the fairy before noticing Talen.
"Talen! Good to see you awake again. How are you feeling?" he asked.
"I'm fine. Florella fixed me up when I woke," he told his friend.
"Oh, that's right…she passed out next to you," Link frowned. "What a thing to wake up to in the morning." Link was suddenly clutching the back of his head as Florella cracked him one with a wooden spoon.
"That's enough out of you," she told him, walking past with a loaf of bread and some butter. "Here you go, Talen." Her tone was giggly and girlish and it almost made Link sick. The Hylian shook his head and looked over towards Ark and Nyara as when he heard one of them shuffle around. Nyara, in the midst of one of her odd dreams, had rolled around onto the floor until her head bumped against Ark's. She snuffled something that could have simply been some kind of growl before opening her mouth and biting Ark's cheek. Link winced as Ark's eyes flew open, only to find Nyara with half of his face in her mouth.
"Haaaaah!" he gasped as she mumbled unintelligibly and began to mouth away at him like a chew-toy. He flailed his arms about and rolled away before he accidentally shocked her. Ark cringed as he touched his fingers to his cheek and felt a great smear of saliva clinging to him. He looked down as Nyara rolled onto her back and resumed making odd noises and pawing at the air.
"Good morning, Ark," Florella greeted him. Ark almost had a heart-attack and jumped about a foot in the air.
"O-Oh! Lady Florella…you're awake?" he stammered, madly wiping his cheek.
"Yes, I am," she giggled. Ark flushed and looked again at Nyara before looking back at Florella.
"Erm…" he began.
"I wonder what she's dreaming about," Florella mused. "Whatever it is, it sure provided some great morning entertainment." Ark blinked and looked around uneasily.
"Stop torturing the poor guy. He's just woken up to that horror on the floor," Link told her. Nyara's eyes snapped open and swiveled up to where Link was sitting. The boy stared back at her with his mouth slightly open. Her tail fluffed up and her pupils enlarged in an instant.
"I didn't mean it!" Link protested hopelessly. Nyara flipped herself over and crouched down on all fours with her backside wiggling in reparation for a mighty pounce. What followed made Florella's day. She watched in amusement as Nyara leaped across the room and slammed into Link, knocking him backwards onto the floor. The animal girl then proceeded to roll him around, bat at his face, pull his hair and bite his ears. Link wailed pathetically as he tried to get free, but she only stopped when Ark told her that Link was most likely sorry. She gave him one last bop on the cheek before leaping over to Ark and delivering a bone crushing good-morning hug. The sound of Ark's back popping echoed across the room, drawing shudders from Florella. The animal girl eventually let go, leaving Ark to stagger about for a while as he got his breath back.
"Goody, Talen awake," Nyara smiled, noticing the smith was tearing into his breakfast eagerly. "Talen good? Good." She yawned loudly and sat down on the floor to lick at the puffy balls on her wrists and shoulders.
"Oogh," Link groaned, sitting up. "What a way to start the day." It was at that point that the door to the adjoining bedroom burst open and Fura breezed in dressed merely in her underclothes. Ark slapped his hands over his eyes with a startled gasp, causing Fura and Florella to laugh.
"Good morning all," Fura said heartily. "Oh, Talen's awake too. Did everyone sleep well?"
"Good morning," Link greeted her in a rather flat tone. "And please go and put some clothes on." Fura looked down at herself.
"Why? It's still early," she shrugged.
"Granted, but the sight of your semi-naked form is a little too much to handle for some of us," Link informed her, keeping his eyes trained on the floor. Fura pursed her lips and glanced over at Ark, who still had his hands clasped tightly over his eyes.
"Oh, right," she laughed. "I'm sorry, Ark."
"O-Oh, that's all right, Lady Fura," Ark stammered. Fura chuckled quietly and then looked over at Link.
"You, however; should be more appreciative," she scolded. Link refused to bite and kept his gaze quite firmly averted. "Humph, your loss." The Gerudo swaggered back into the bedroom, but not before filling a small basin with water from a hand-pump in the kitchen.
"I think I'll have a look around outside until everyone is fully awake," Link sighed before pulling on his boots and exiting the cottage.

Shortly after Link had left the cottage, Ark followed suit and ducked outside.
"It is getting rather hectic in there," the grey-haired boy told Link when he walked over. "I wouldn't want to see, erm…"
"I know what you mean," Link laughed. "I'm afraid Fura isn't afraid to flaunt herself every now and then…with as little clothing as possible. Even I haven't gotten used to it."
"I see," Ark frowned thoughtfully.
"Please don't think any less of her because of it," Link said quickly. "She's lived her whole life surrounded by women and…they're a little less modest around each other."
"Oh no, no, no!" Ark said, waving his hands. "I didn't mean it like that. I have great respect for Lady Fura! I could never think ill of her, let alone any of them."
"Me too, I'm afraid," Link sighed. "Even that ball of irritation called Florella. Sometimes I wonder what things would have been like if I'd never have met them."
"I think things would be a lot quieter," Ark murmured. "But that girl…" Ark looked out at the valley as the sun rose.
"What girl? Oh, you mean her," Link frowned. "I wonder what it is she wants…then again, I wonder who or what she is."
"The place she took me to that time…it was very dark," Ark said, recalling her place of residence. "And it seemed quite big; almost like a manor or a mansion…perhaps something bigger."
"As for exactly where it is though…" Link left it hanging. The two boys sighed in unison.
"Well at least Lady Florella has done something to help stop her," Ark said a little more cheerfully.
"I guess she's good for something then," Link snorted.
"Ark! Link!" Saria's voice rang out from the door of the cottage. The two boys turned around. "There's a Cuccoo hutch along the side of the house! Can you see if there are any eggs?"
"Okay," Link called back.
"And don't you provoke the poor things! I know what you're like with them! Ark, keep an eye on him!"
"Yes, Miss Saria," Ark nodded. Saria went back inside. "What did she mean by that?"
"Oh, Saria has this idea that I usually can't be trusted around Cuccoos. It's not my fault the fat little things can't take a tiny bit of teasing," Link shrugged as he and Ark went around the side of the cottage. "They're vicious beasts."
"They don't look all that vicious to me," Ark frowned as they stood in front of the hutch. Six odd Cuccoos pecked and scratched around the ground inside the hutch, their nests displaying a number of rather nice looking eggs.
"Don't let appearances deceive you," Link told him. "Now when I tell you, grab some eggs."

"Are your sure it was a good idea to send Link to get the eggs?" Zelda asked. "From what I've heard, he doesn't have a very good track record with those birds.
"Ark is with him," Saria said. "I'm sure he'll manage." The two girls were pottering around in the kitchen while Impa helped Fura to get her incredible amount of hair under control. Talen sat by the table whilst Florella worked at repairing the tears in his clothing. Nyara sat watching a bird outside the window with intense concentration. There was a sudden noise from outside the cottage, drawing everyone's attention.
"Go, Ark! Go!" Link shouted. "Don't let them near your eyes!" The sounds of clucking and flapping followed, along with a few cries of pain from Link.
"Augh! Devil birds! Don't attack me! He's the one with your eggs!" There was the sound of something thumping into the wall before the sound of the hutch slamming closed could be heard. Saria shook her head in despair.
"I guess I was wrong." The door opened up to reveal Ark more or less unscathed and carrying two handfuls of eggs. Link, however; had feathers clinging to his tunic and hair with Navi madly pulling them off.
"You couldn't resist, could you," Saria sighed. "Tell me…what did you do to set them off this time?"
"I was trying to protect Ark," he said haughtily. "They just attacked."
"Just forget it," the Kokiri girl sighed. "And good job with the eggs, Ark." Ark was relieved of his cargo by Zelda, who placed them in a bowl.
"All right!" Saria said, clapping her hands together. "Who wants breakfast?" Talen and Link's hands shot up almost immediately, drawing a chuckle from Impa.
"Always hungry," she smiled. "Well eat up, boys. We should be heading out today."
"What about the city?" Zelda asked.
"There isn't anything we can do about it," Impa sighed regretfully. "The people will eventually come back."
"I can clear a way through the wrecked gate," Talen said as he pulled his top back on. "It shouldn't take very long." Impa nodded.
"All right then. Ark, is the Compass still pointing in the same direction?" Ark pulled out the blue sphere and looked at it before nodding.
"Yes. It's still pointing north." Impa looked thoughtful.
"Is there something wrong?" Florella asked.
"Oh no, it's nothing wrong…but we may be getting into some rather cold climes quite soon. If we keep going north, then we may have to cross the Crystal Sea."
"The Crystal Sea?" Ark asked a little fearfully.
"There's an ice continent on the other side. Terribly cold place, but there's a city there we can go to, so it's not going to be anything like trying to survive out in the wilderness."
"That's a relief," Fura breathed. "The last thing I want is more trouble in the snow…except of course if it involves bunking up in a cave with L-"
"Thank you, Fura," Link cut in. The Gerudo grinned and winked at him.
"In any case," Impa said, slapping her palms on the table. "We should stop along the way and get some warm clothes. Oh, and Ark?"
"Yes, Miss Impa?"
"Don't worry about the sea. We don't cross on a ship for most of the way."