A/N: Y'know, someday I'll go back and combine a bunch of chapters so that this thing doesn't look like it's ridiculously long, which I suppose it technically is, I think it's almost in the running for one of my longest fics… jeez… never thought they'd get longer than Family of Happenstance but… here we are. Anyway, let's get on with our regularly scheduled chapter huh?
Disclaimer: Still disclaimed.
Respite
The morning sun came much too early, in Link's opinion, but he couldn't help but rise with it when it came. His body told him that when the so rose, so did he. He wondered briefly when that had changed, back in the village Fado had always had to come yell up at his house to get him up and to the field by a reasonable hour of the day. Maybe sleeping on the ground for weeks had something to do with it… He yawned and stretched, seeing that Dante was not having the same problem, the hunter was still settled into a deep sleep, one of his firearms within arms reach all the same. Link shook his head and walked slowly over to Renado's hut, hoping that the shaman was awake. He was curious of the state of the Zora child, and also he was hoping to find some food.
Renado opened the door of his hut after the first knock, the smell of bacon seeping out from the doorway. Link felt and heard his stomach rumble at the smell, Renado gave a tired laugh and ushered him inside. Some of the other children were up and Colin handed him a plate as he sat near the cookfire, the shaman sitting next to him.
"The Zora child is doing better," he said and then looked curiously at the teen "but do you happen to know the fate of the child's mother?" Link paused, and set the bacon back down on the plate. He had a sinking feeling he knew who this child was. Renado watched him but continued anyway "Her welfare consumes him. He has been mumbling deliriously about her almost constantly…" there was a pause "I see…" the shaman put a hand on his shoulder "I can see the knowledge grieves you. It must be an awful memory." Link swallowed against his suddenly tight throat and nodded. He could feel Midna's grief and regret pouring out from her hiding spot. A small hand was placed on his shoulder and the teen turned in surprise to see Colin standing behind him.
"I'll stay with him until he's better!" the blond said with a grin "No matter how long it takes!" Renado smiled at the kid
"Thank you Colin." the shaman said, voicing the words that Link suddenly felt himself choking on. The three of them paused in what they were doing, watching Ilia follow Luda around, gathering new bedsheets and clean water. Colin looked very sad suddenly.
"Is it true…?" he started, and then stopped, appearing unable to put the thoughts into words.
"Yeah." Link said quietly "She has no memory." it hurt to have someone that he'd known for so long look at him like a stranger, a dangerous stranger at that…
"We just have to have hope," Renado said warmly "I'm certain that she'll get her memories back, it will take work, but it can be done."
-Legends-
It was nearly afternoon when Dante woke up, he grinned at the sight of the sun actually moving throughout the sky and got to his feet, stretching thoroughly. He hadn't been able to appreciate the fact that the time of day had been moving again for a while, they'd been pushing forward so quickly. The half devil looked outside to see the teen sitting at the spring near the front of town, pants rolled up to his knees and lifting buckets of water over Epona, the horse occasionally shaking off the extra drops, much to the delight of the children, who would squeal and run off. It was good to see them happy, he hadn't seen them as spirits, but he'd seen them just after they'd lifted the twilight and the whole group of them had been terrified, jumping at every shadow. He holstered his guns and sword and stepped out into the day, both Telma and Renado were walking back from the gorge, baskets of some type of herb with them.
"Hey there sleepyhead." Telma called out with a grin, Dante smiled and waved back to her
"Hey yourself. I haven't been able to sleep on bed in ages, you can't exactly blame me for wanting to make the most of it." he said, Renado smiled warmly at him but the half devil could tell that the shaman was a little uncomfortable around him but was far too polite to say anything. Dante pretended that he didn't notice. He offered a hand to Telma, who gladly handed over her basket, which was a lot heavier than it looked.
"Oh, why thank you good sir!" she said exuberantly "You didn't say that you were such a gentleman!" Dante couldn't help but laugh at that
"I wouldn't go that far!" he said and then looked at the herbs "Are these for medicine or for food?" he asked curiously
"A bit of both." Renado said politely, opening the door to his hut for all of them. "There's some food left," he said "provided that the children haven't eaten it all already…"
"I'll take what I can get." Dante said with a grin, his stomach growled in agreement.
"Also, feel free to take advantage of the hot springs, I'm sure you'd like to wash off the grime of the road."
"That. Would be wonderful." the half devil said, thankful for the minor respite in their travels, maybe they were getting toward the end of their journey…
A/N: Alright, finishing this up and just need to work on some DM prep stuff, man, running three campaigns and playing in three others is rough…
Till next time,
-Winged Element
