Humans weren't meant to fly, at least not by the way nature intended it. Yet the exhilaration that came from feeling the wind whipping past was enough to dispel a little of the fear that Zelda felt knotting in her stomach. Her grip was tight on the glider, and it was reassuring for her to hear Link's breathing in her ear. The faint grunt of pain and soft chewing told her that he was feeling the effects of the strain on their arms and back. She leaned her weight to the left slightly, correcting their course for the rapidly approaching tree. It was far larger than she had anticipated, nearly the size of a small room, giving them a fairly sizable space to land.
Branches smacked across their faces, and arms, leaving welts and cuts from the force of the impact. Link stumbled when their boots hit the rough bark, pushing his weight onto Zelda. Her legs gave out, and she fell hard, with Link pressed against her back. The glider slid out of her hands across the trunk, coming to a stop on the edge.
"Sorry," Link groaned, spitting the bitter herb over the edge of the tree. The only thing keeping his back from agony was the effects of the plant's medicinal properties. He pushed himself off her, sitting a short distance away.
It took Zelda several moments before she could speak. Having the wind knocked out of her made her cough and gasp for breath. "It's not your fault," she panted. "You couldn't help it."
"Still feel bad," he mumbled.
"How's your scar?" she asked, concerned.
"Hurts, but it could be far worse," he remarked.
She opened her mouth to respond, but a low growl interrupted her. Gulping quietly, she peered through the branches. Two large gray wolves were circling the tree, growling and snapping up at it. A third sat still, staring nearly straight at her. Her eyes looked for the fourth, and she found it in the mouth of the cave, observing everything.
"... help… me," she heard a weak whisper slip between the growls. Zelda sat up quickly, her eyes instantly on Link. He gave her a quizzical stare, opening his mouth to speak. Her hand went up to silence him, craning her ears to listen again.
"... please. Help me." the young voice whispered.
Zelda stretched out on her stomach, sharp eyes scanning through the branches. Just out of her arm's reach, a white Rito fledgling cowered, shivering against the thick limb. His left wing hung limply at his side, and fear-filled dark eyes gazed up at her helplessly.
"Can you move at all?" she whispered.
"Only with my feet… I broke my wing," he cried sadly. "I was only trying to surprise my father, and then the wolves startled me. I tried to fly away, but they growled and jumped at me. I flew into the tree and broke my wing. I spent the night huddled here. I want to go home!"
"I won't let them hurt you," she soothed, stretching a hand out as far as she could toward him. "Can you reach up? Link is with me. We'll protect you."
"Champion Link? He helped my father free Vah Medoh!" Relief filled the young Rito's voice. "I'll do my best!" He strained his good wing toward her, but came up just short. "It's no use! I can't reach!" he panicked.
"Shhhhh. Keep your voice down. You'll draw more attention the louder you get." Zelda rested her arm on the tree trunk. "Give me a moment while I think. I'm not going anywhere. I just need to talk to Link."
The fledgling shuddered, backing against the tree trunk again. "Please hurry!" he whimpered.
Zelda pushed herself up on all fours and turned to Link. "It's Turin. He's broken a wing and he's just out of reach. I need you to anchor my legs so I can lean down and rescue him."
"Are you sure that's a wise idea?" Link asked.
"We don't have a choice. I don't have any rope, and I'm not going to have you attempt to reach him when your scar has already been sore," Zelda argued. "Please. Trust me on this."
His blue eyes searched hers for any sign of fear and found none. "Please be careful."
"I will. Don't let me go."
She laid back down and scooted herself to the edge of the trunk. Giving a small sigh, Link knelt between her feet and wrapped his arms tightly around her calves. Taking this a sign he was ready, Zelda pulled herself forward again, allowing her torso to slip over the edge. With hands outstretched, she called softly again.
"Turin! Grab my hands."
The fledgling looked up, hope replacing panic. He reached his wing up and grasped onto her right hand as tightly as he could. Zelda's left hand immediately clasped around his body, holding him securely.
"Pull us up, Link! Hurry!"
The wolves below had caught the scent of the Hylians, and all four of them now circled the base of the tree, snarling and leaping at the lower branches with bared teeth.
Link's grip shifted to her waist, warm hands encircling her hips and pulling strongly backwards. Her chest brushed against the rough bark and for a brief instant, she thought about the impractical color of her snow gear.
"Ahhhh! I'm scared!" the fledgling warbled, clutching Zelda with a death grip.
"She won't let you fall," Link assured while he helped the princess sit up. The chick was cradled tightly in her arms, shivering with fear and relief.
"Link! Have you seen my father?" Turin asked, his head coming up when he saw the blond Champion. "Is he coming home yet?"
"No, I haven't seen him. Can you come sit with me, buddy?" Link gently encouraged, opening his arms to the fledgling. "Zelda needs her hands free for her bow."
"Why is she using a bow? Shouldn't you be fighting the wolves? You're not afraid of anything!" the young Rito insisted, hesitating to move.
"I'm not afraid. I'm still healing from a pretty bad injury, so we're going to let the princess show us what she can do. You're gonna help me cheer her on, right?" the knight encouraged.
Turin slowly nodded and wobbled across to Link's waiting arms, cradling his wing with the other. He snuggled against the Champion's chest, whimpering softly. "I want to go home and see my mom."
"I know. We will soon, I promise. But we can't leave until we make sure that the wolves aren't going to get us," Link explained while Zelda pulled out her Light Bow and a handful of arrows.
"Fi, do these wolves have any elemental weaknesses?" the princess asked while checking the bow string.
The spirit appeared behind Link. "No elemental weaknesses detected, Princess. Aim for the ribcage or the head."
"Can you confirm the number of wolves in the vicinity?" Link inquired, shushing Turin who desperately wanted to loudly comment on Fi's appearance.
"There are four wolves presently encircling the tree. No other enemies detected in the surrounding area," Fi replied without hesitation.
Zelda blew out her breath, kneeling by the edge of the trunk. "Thank you, Fi."
Link shot the spirit a look before she could respond that she didn't need thanks, shaking his head silently.
"Very well, Master Link. The fledgling has sustained a fracture to his left wing and is incapable of flight."
"I'm aware," Zelda commented without turning. "I intend to heal him after taking care of the more immediate threat."
"He will be able to fly again if that is accomplished, Princess. I shall remain on standby should you have any further questions," Fi stated.
Turin's eyes were as big as saucers. "She can heal too?! Wow… the princess is nearly as cool as you are, Link!"
The Champion cracked a smile. "You think so? I might venture to say that she's cooler than I am."
Zelda had to focus to keep her attention on her bow. The compliment made her blush. She didn't feel that it was an accurate one, but the sentiment was sweet all the same. Nocking the first arrow, she leaned forward and silently targeted until one of the vicious beasts stopped moving for an instant.
The arrow flew, and there was a yelp of pain, followed by a second of silence before the other wolves returned to their growls and snarls, followed by the sound of ripping and loud crunching.
Zelda winced, gagging without looking at what the beasts were doing. "Link. Keep Turin away from the edges of the trunk." Her eyes met his, full of horror and disgust.
He nodded silently, tightening his grip around the young Rito. "Are you going to be able to finish this?"
"Yes. If anything, they've just made it easier for me. They're distracted." Zelda swallowed down the bile that rose in her throat and nocked another arrow before sending a second kill shot into the pack of wolves.
"What's wrong, Link?" Turin asked, confused by the sudden seriousness of the two young adults.
"Don't worry. She's going to take care of the wolves," Link assured him.
"... are they the same ones that took away my playmates? Notts and Cree were two of my favorites to play with… their sisters haven't stopped crying since," Turin cried, tears rolling down his face. "It's not fair! They got Fyth too, my best friend in the whole world!"
"Shhh. It's okay. The wolves aren't going to get you," Link soothed, then a thought occurred to him. "Hey Turin? It's okay to be sad for missing your friends. I've lost everyone I ever knew except for the Princess. But let me ask you a question."
Turin sniffled, looking up at the blond Hylian. "What?"
"Would you friends want you to always be sad?" he asked gently.
"No," the Rito wiped his beak with his wing. "Cree was always making sure we were having a good time, and Notts loved singing because it made me smile. And Fyth… we promised to be warriors together when we grew up, like our fathers are."
"Treasure those memories. Hang onto them. It's okay to be sad sometimes, but remember the good things too. I'm sure your father will tell you the same thing when he comes home. It's okay for a warrior to cry, but try to have courage. That's what makes a young warrior strong."
"That's why you're so strong, Link!" Turin's eyes were full of admiration as he looked back up at the Champion.
Zelda heard the entire exchange, having to wipe away her own tears before she could go after the third wolf. Link had a way with the young Rito… something she'd only seen once in passing with two sisters in Kakariko Village. Children seemed drawn to him, and he rarely seemed upset by the attention they gave him. But further thoughts on why that might be would have to wait.
The two remaining wolves paid her no attention, shredding and devouring the corpses of their fellow kin. Normal wolves didn't act like this… something was wrong with this pack. No wonder they were called here. Such vile, savage creatures couldn't be allowed to live, not after claiming the lives of three Rito children.
A calm settled over Zelda. There would be time to mourn the losses later. She drew back the bow and skillfully shot the third wolf dead where it stood. The final wolf lifted its head from the corpse of the first, blood covering its maws. Fluidly, as if she'd done so hundreds of times before, Zelda nocked an arrow, and released it with a precision that impressed even Link. Silence fell as the princess sat back on her heels, lowering the bow.
"It's finished."
"Does this mean we can go home now?" Turin asked, hope returning.
"Yes. But I promised you something first," Zelda reminded him, setting the bow down beside the glider.
"You… you can heal me, right? That's what you said. You're gonna make it stop hurting, and make it all better." Turin's excitement was growing.
"I will, but you're going to need to remain quiet and still in Link's lap while I heal you," Zelda gently chided the restless child.
Link wrapped an arm around the young Rito's waist. "Part of being a warrior is knowing when it's time to listen and be still. Can you do that for us?"
Turin sobered. "Listen and be still. I can do that!" He wrapped his good wing around Link's hand. "I'm ready!"
The princess knelt beside Link and took the broken wing in her hands, earning a sharp yelp from the young Rito. "I'm sorry to cause you pain, but it won't last for long."
Turin flinched but didn't pull away. A tear ran down his face from the pain but he didn't otherwise react.
Zelda's eyes closed as she silently prayed. A warm, golden glow emanated from her hands, and Turin gave a soft gasp in wonder. Link smiled, keeping his grip steady on the fledgling.
It didn't take long for the wing to be healed, and the light to fade from Zelda's fingertips. Blue eyes blinked for a moment when her prayers had been completed before she asked a soft question. "How's your wing, Turin?"
The Rito timidly lifted the limb and turned it, a wide smile crossing his face when he flexed it. "It's healed! Thank you, Princess!" He threw his wings around her neck, startling the weary royal.
Zelda tenderly returned the embrace. "It's my pleasure, Turin. Now, I think we've kept your mother worried quite long enough, don't you think so?"
He pulled back, nodding his head. "Is she going to be mad that I don't have berries for the tart?" he asked, worry coming to his eyes.
"I don't think so, but you did give me an idea," Link replied, cupping his chin thoughtfully. "Hey, Fi. Are there berry bushes between here and the Rito Stable?"
"Yes, Master Link," the spirit stated from her place nearby.
"Are they in sight of… what Zelda has just taken care of?" Link worded carefully.
"No, Master Link. The deceased wolves are to the rear of the tree, away from the path to the stable. Provided you climb down the south side of the trunk, you will avoid them entirely," Fi advised.
Turin's eyes were huge, staring at the spirit. He cocked his head, trying to make sense of what he saw. "Your skin and hair is blue, and you can float without flapping wings! That's so cool!"
"Temperature has nothing to do with my appearance and capabilities, young Turin," the spirit explained. "I am unaffected by weather climates."
The young Rito's face turned to perplexment. "But I just…"
"Don't think too much about it," Link commented, shaking his head. "It's just the way she talks."
Zelda had busied herself packing up the glider and bow into the bag. Glancing down the south side of the tree, she breathed a soft sigh of relief. A good selection of limbs and branches were situated such that it would be easy to traverse down. "Link? I think you should go down first with Turin, and I'll follow behind with the bag."
Link's brow furrowed. "Are you sure?"
"You still shouldn't be carrying all the weight, especially while you're climbing. It will compromise your balance," Zelda argued. "Besides, we need to be able to keep an eye on Turin to make sure that he gets down okay."
The fledgling puffed out his chest. "I don't need help getting down from a tree! With the wolves gone, I'm not scared of nothing!" he boasted.
"Easy there, Turin," Link rumpled the feathers on his head goodnaturedly. "Courageous or not, you should still be careful getting down."
Turin ducked his head. "Sorry. Now that I'm better, I feel like I can do anything!"
"Save some energy for berry picking before we go back to your mom," Zelda encouraged, doing one final check to make sure everything was back in the bag. "I've got a small container that should be perfect for holding them."
Turin hopped to the edge of the trunk and peered down beside where Link stood. "Oh, this should be easy! I can use my wings for balance, and I'll be down in just a few little jumps."
Link nodded. "I'm going to climb down first, then you can follow."
The fledgling was unable to stand still, waiting for the Champion to begin his descent. He bounced from one foot to the other, trilling a soft tune.
The knight smiled, focusing on listening to the song to keep his mind off the back pain that shot through him as he climbed. Fortunately, it didn't take long for him to reach the ground, and he opened his arms to the fledgling. "Come on down now, Turin."
The young Rito let out a whoop of excitement and bounced down the limbs into Link's arms in a matter of seconds. "That was fun!"
"Hang out here with me for a second. It's Zelda's turn." Link reminded the boy, moving him into his shoulders.
She dropped the pack through the branches. The knight stepped forward and caught it, grunting at the weight that pulled on his scar.
"Link! Are you hurting?" Turin asked. "My father makes that noise sometimes when he comes back from his trips."
"I told you I got hurt, didn't I?" Link gritted his teeth and set the bag aside. "It's getting better but still hurts."
Goddess, I haven't done this since I was a little girl, sneaking out of my bedroom window and climbing into the garden to explore all the plants growing there. It was far more pleasant than the books Father demanded I read. Zelda recalled, steadying her shaking hands to lower herself onto the first limb. Of course, my arms were stronger then because of all the conditioning from my riding and archery lessons. Don't panic though. Just take things slowly. Her feet inched toward the next limb down. She had blocked out the "helpful" cheers from Turin in her focus on climbing.
Her grip slipped and she gave a shriek, grabbing at the limb to stop herself from falling. It held and she peeked down dangling by her arms. It was still too far to drop down without injury. Her arms ached from the exertion of supporting her own weight. There were no other branches between her and the cold ground.
"Zelda. Let go. Let me catch you," Link quietly ordered.
"You're still healing! You don't need more injuries," she weakly protested. Two fingers slipped and she couldn't force them to grasp any longer.
"I need you to trust me on this."
Turin flapped up toward her. "You can do it, Princess! I know Link will save you!"
"I only hope I can save him too," Zelda prayed aloud, letting go. Her eyes squeezed tightly shut as she fell. Impact was coming and it was going to hurt either her, Link, or the both of them.
Strong arms wrapped around her, cradling her slender form. Link stumbled and dropped to his knees, panting hard from the movement, yet refusing to let her go.
"Link? How's your pain?" Zelda asked in a small voice.
"Sore. Not… as bad as it could be though," he bit out through clenched jaw while resting her on the ground.
Turin's wobbly wings brought him back to the pair. "See? I told you he could do it! Link is so cool!"
"He is. Can you do me a favor though, Turin?" Zelda reached for the discarded bag, rummaging through it. "To the right, by the edge of the path are several Wildberry bushes. Take this jar and fill it with as many as you can, as fast as you can."
"Oh, like a race? I love races! I'll be super fast! You'll see!" The Rito boy's competitive nature shone through and he darted off with the container in hand.
Zelda's attention immediately went back to her knight. "How are you feeling, honestly? Don't lie to me," she demanded sharply.
He narrowed his eyes at her. "I didn't lie. I'm sore, but it's been worse."
"You idiot! Why did you catch me?" she scolded, reaching into the bag for the herb. "I would have been just fine without it."
"You don't know that," he argued. "You might have sprained an ankle when you fell, or worse, broken a leg. Better that I suffer some short-term pain than have you seriously injured."
Zelda bristled but didn't reply to his comment. "Where is that herb? I know it was in here somewhere…" she mumbled to herself.
Link huffed and looked away. Her attitude infuriated him at times. His job was to protect her. Scolding him for doing just that wasn't something he appreciated.
"Found it. Took long enough," she grumbled, handing it to him.
"... I suppose a 'thank you' is expecting too much." Link couldn't hold back the sarcastic remark.
"You could've gotten yourself killed because of your stubbornness. How was I supposed to react?!" Zelda threw up her hands. "I can't revive the dead! All I can do is heal the sick, and even then, it takes all the prayers and concentration I can muster."
"I'm not asking for much. Just a simple acknowledgement that I carried out my duty and kept you from hurting yourself," Link shot back.
"But I would have been fine without your help," she insisted. "You're worrying too much over me."
"Isn't that what you're supposed to do with the people you love? You worry about their well-being, and do your best to protect them from harm. Or has that changed in the last hundred years?" Link argued, spitting the bitter herb aside.
"Concern is perfectly reasonable, but there is no need for you to be overly worried. I, the person in question, can take care of myself," Zelda said firmly, turning her back to him.
"Fine. Then maybe you should show some concern for the fledgling that's currently in the same circumstances that got him in trouble, minus the wolves," Link commented, gesturing behind him.
Zelda stomped away in frustration, her temper still flaring.
Link watched her go from his seat then pushed himself up and turned the other way. He had no doubt of her capabilities, but he wanted to see for himself if he could determine the cause for their cannibalistic behaviors. There wasn't much left for the knight to see, but that did nothing to deter him. Broken arrow pieces were scattered with discarded bone. The final wolf was the only one nearly completely intact, with the exception of the arrow piercing it. Wide eyes staring into nothingness confirmed it was dead before Link crouched beside it. Nothing outwardly explained the behavior they'd seen. "Fi. Are you able to analyze why they became like this?"
The spirit floated over the messy remains. "My calculations tell me residual effects from encountering Malice affected their mind and instincts. They could no longer tell friend from foe when faced with the scent of blood and flesh."
"And the fledglings they killed?" Link asked.
"All injured in one way or another in proximity to the cave the wolves chose to reside in. The two females had bleeding scratches after wrestling in the Wildberry bushes. And the male came across the two females being attacked by the wolves and attempted to save them. He stood no chance," the spirit informed him.
A chill ran down Link's spine and he straightened, turning away from the bloody scene. "I can't let anything happen to Zelda because I was powerless to save her. I already failed her once; I can't afford to do so again."
"The princess and fledgling are unharmed. Their container is nearly full of the tart berries," Fi remarked.
"I didn't mean right now," Link scowled impatiently. "I meant… overall."
"You have deep affection for the princess. It impacts your emotional state as well as your physical state of being. I have no capability for such things, but it is a vital part of your health and overall well-being."
"You don't say," Link looked away, scuffing his toe in the grass awkwardly. "What about her?"
"The princess has grown stronger since your return. Her physical health is improving, as well as her emotional state," Fi elaborated. "Her courage has increased, as have her wisdom and discernment."
Link rubbed his hand over his face. "Was I too harsh wanting her thanks and appreciation for catching her?"
"Master Link, the princess has displayed self-sufficiency against the wolves. Praise would not be misplaced in her," the spirit commented.
"And yet I didn't say enough when she killed the four wolves… or when she kept us from falling out of the tree when we landed," Link sighed, shouldering their bag with a grimace and beginning the walk to where he could hear Zelda's voice. "I owe her an apology and my thanks."
Fi floated behind, wisely saying nothing further. The sun was sinking low as Link approached the bushes. The lighthearted chortle from the young Rito made him smile in spite of himself.
"Hehehe! Do that again, Princess! Do it again!" Turin crowed, jumping up and down.
"Last time I'm going to do this. Then we have to get Link and go to your mother," Zelda explained. Her fingers effortlessly tossed up a Wildberry, and Turin rushed forward, catching it in his beak. He swallowed it down in a quick gulp, laughing as soon as his throat was clear.
"That's a fun game!" He exclaimed. "A game and a snack, all in one!"
"Indeed. Looks like fun," Link remarked, alerting the two to his presence. "Are you ready to go?"
"Yes! We got a whole jar FULL of berries! Mother is going to be so proud of me!" Turin flapped in an uneven circle around the two Hylians. "What are we waiting for? Let's go!"
"Wait at the base of the bridge leading up to the village," Link instructed. "I need to talk to the princess for a moment before we go."
Confusion flashed across Zelda's face. "What is it now?" she asked as the fledgling flew the short distance away.
He set the bag down and put his hands on her shoulders. "Zelda. I'm sorry that I got frustrated with you earlier. It wasn't my place to do so. Not after all that you've done for me, today, and especially back in Hebra."
Zelda stiffened initially at the touch but relaxed as he began to speak. "I'm sorry too. I was rather affected by the… horror of what those beasts did. There was no reason to take it out on you."
Link took a step closer and wrapped his arms around her in a tender hug. "I'm so proud of you today," he murmured in her ear. "You didn't hold back, even when it was difficult and intense. You did well."
"Thank you," she whispered back, tucking her head against his shoulder. "I only wanted your approval."
"You have that and so much more," he replied, smoothing her hair. "You've shown me the strength that wisdom and discernment can carry with them. But enough talk," he prompted, stepping out of the hug. "Let's get this fledgling home."
Zelda felt a pang in her chest with that word. Home. Hers was overrun by monsters. No. That wasn't right. Home was wherever Link was. Whether he recognized that or not, she wasn't sure. But she was certain of one thing. There was an untapped source of strength within her. It wasn't just from being the princess, or carrying the TriForce of Wisdom. This came from the knowledge that someone had faith in her. Someone who cared enough to be there for her, no matter what. In that regard, she was truly blessed.