Author's Note: Hello, all! I am so excited to finally be publishing this fic. At the moment, I plan on updating every Wednesday. I also plan on having at least 20 chapters (some of which will eventually be rated MA), so please stay tuned! POV will switch with each chapter. Enjoy!

Link

Link arrived at East Akkala Stable in the early evening while the copper-colored sun was still pouring its rays down upon the storm-soaked earth. Leaves of perpetual autumn swayed in the breeze and shimmered in the fading light; a wolf's cry pierced the air. Link inhaled deeply as he dismounted Eros and took the reins in hand, leading his steed to the stable. He had been to the Lab to deliver some materials and stock up on ancient arrows, but decided it was time to leave when Robbie had asked him to help test a new armor prototype he'd been working on—something he called 'The Combustion Cuirasse'.

Having come from Eldin, he knew that Eros would need to rest before continuing on to Gerudo and had decided not to continue traveling after nightfall. Suddenly plagued by the thought of the last Divine Beast that awaited him there, he ran a hand across his tired face. Just one more, he thought. Pushing away the thought of Ganon that then threatened to invade his mind, he gently tugged on Eros's bridle and led him up to the stable owner, Rudi. They were greeted with a warm smile. Link waved a silent hello in return.

"Link! Good to see you back," Rudi chimed. "What can I do for you, my friend?"

"I'd like to board Eros," he responded as he plunged his hand into his pocket, digging for rupees, "Oh, and we're staying the night. Please." He finally produced a purple rupee and set it on the wooden counter in front of Rudi. He grinned as he collected the gem, and quickly swapped it out for two blue ones.

"As always, thank you for your business! We'll get Eros all settled for you."

Link nodded and gathered the money, slipping it back into his trousers. Rudi stepped out from behind the counter and walked around to the side of the stable. After peering out into the field for a moment, he called out.

"Kira, bring her in, please!"

The sound of pounding hooves neared, and a beautiful chestnut mare came cantering in from the field, a young woman astride its back. She laughed as she gently tugged on the horse's mane, causing it to slow to a brisk trot. Both horse and rider circled Rudi, who shook his head. The young woman grinned down at him as she continued to ride.

"She's getting to be so fast, father. And you should have seen her jump…"

"Kira…"

"She's just fantastic; and such a good listener. Aren't you, Diana?"

"Kira, please."

Kira and Diana came to halt right in front of Link. She quickly slid down off the side of her horse and thudded to the ground. Sweat glimmered on her arms and wisps of auburn hair clung to her damp cheeks. Eros whinnied softly, catching Kira's attention. She smiled at him as she spoke to Rudi.

"I'm sorry, father," she said halfheartedly.

"No, you are not," Rudi responded. She glanced back at him.

"No, I guess not."

He gave his daughter a small, exhausted grin and waved his hand.

"Eros needs to be groomed and stabled, please. And don't you go getting attached to this one," he chided, pointing to the horse she had called Diana.

"You shouldn't be naming every wild one you manage to catch; you know from experience that they may not stick around."

Kira looked after her father as he made his way back to the stable, a melancholy expression on her face. It went almost as quickly as it came, though, and her focus was back on Eros. She raised a hand to his cheek and scratched gently.

"Malanya's blessings on your head, Eros," she whispered with a smile. The horse pawed the ground as if in response and Kira chuckled.

"Hello, Link," she finally said, as though she had just noticed his presence. Link noticed that even though she spoke to him, her eyes were still on Eros.

"Kira," he greeted, "Ah…hello."

"Still a man of few words, I see." She grasped Eros's reins and began to lead him towards the back of the stable. Kira then made a small motion with her hand, and Diana started to follow behind her.

"I'll get him all cleaned up for you, and he'll be tacked up and ready to go come morning," she called to Link. He nodded and waved his thanks. He started towards the inn, eager to lie down, but stopped when he heard Kira speak again.

"Oh, and if you're interested," she added, still not facing him, "I'll be cooking for everyone tonight. Please join us if you'd like."

Link paused at the invitation, as it was the first of its kind. He had stayed at the inn many a night, but Kira usually paid him little mind unless it involved his horse. Link typically kept to himself as he found making conversation with strangers somewhat tiring. However, the thought of a hot meal (prepared by someone other than himself) was enough to make him consider suffering through small talk.

He stared after the young woman as she walked away; she looked especially small in stature compared to the two beasts that accompanied her, he thought.

Though he'd stayed at East Akkala Stable more times than he could count, he had learned very little about Kira. She had a way with the horses, he knew. He'd watched her talk to them, laughing and carrying on as though she were reminiscing with old friends. As odd as it was to him, the animals certainly seemed just as taken with her as she was with them; something that Link could respect. He knew the importance of the bond between rider and steed.

Night fell quickly, bringing with it a gentle, salt-scented breeze from the coast. The sound of the waves crashing against the cliffs could just be heard above the chorus of creatures stirring in the night. Large clouds cast lilac shadows across the vast plains surrounding the stable, offering only an occasional glimpse at the starry sky they concealed as they passed by.

Link lay on the bed he had deemed 'his', his hands folded and resting on his stomach. He stared up at the dead-eyed horse silhouette embroidered in shades of blue on the canopy above him and sighed audibly. No matter how often he stopped to rest, whether it be at an inn, stable, or camp, the feeling of being truly rested always evaded him. Even then, though he felt comfortable, he did not feel safe. Perhaps he couldn't get quality sleep because he was never totally at ease, he thought. He wondered then if he even remembered what that felt like.

His attention was drawn away from his thoughts by the sound of laughter just outside. He sat up slowly, feeling his muscles pull and ache, begging him to lay back down. Glancing over, he saw Kira and her father on the other side of the large, open archway bantering with one another as they added chopped vegetables to the cooking pot. Seated around them were the usual suspects: Hoz, still wielding his spear, sat next to Khini and Aya. Nobo, a young Hylian traveler that Link had seen several times before, sat nearest Kira; the two women conversed as she continued to tend to the boiling pot. And then there was Beedle, who sat with his back against a nearby tree.

Link continued to watch from afar as Kira and Rudi both began to serve everyone. Rudi ladled heaping portions of a hearty-looking beef stew into bowls as Kira made her way around with a breadbasket full of thick slices of rye. Finally, Rudi handed a bowl to his daughter before serving himself and taking a seat next to Hoz. Kira smiled as she took it from him and sat next to Nobo. Link observed everyone as they ate and felt an unusual urge to join them. The atmosphere was not only communal, but also familial. He had no memory of either of those feelings, but knew he missed them.

As though she'd heard his thoughts, Kira looked up and met Link's gaze. She gave him a questioning look, brows raised. She gestured to an empty stool near Hoz, shrugged, and turned her attention back to her food. Link hesitated. Admittedly, he had questioned the sincerity of her earlier offer. He watched her for a moment more as she laughed with Nobo; the amber glow of the fire illuminated her face, the flames reflecting in her eyes. He noticed that their copper color almost matched that of the cauldron.

Link made his way outside and stood in the doorway, unsure of what to do next. Rudi looked up from his meal and grinned at him.

"Well, look who's decided to join us! Link, my boy, sit."

Hoz patted the seat next to his as the rest of the group voiced their agreement. Link smiled sheepishly as he sat. He was quickly served a bowl of stew and slice of bread.

"So, Link," Hoz asked as he tore his hunk of bread in half with his teeth, "where're you headed this time?"

"Ah…South," he replied, "just along the coast."

"Oh, are you going to Lurelin Village?" Nobo asked excitedly.

"I hear that it's just beautiful there; it's on my list, for sure."

"Uh, well, yes. But my final destination is Gerudo. I'm just…making a stop first."

"Gerudo, eh? Good luck getting into town!" Hoz laughed.

"Tried myself one time. Wanted to see if all of the women were really as beautiful as they say they are."

Hoz stopped talking and turned his attention back to his food. Khini and Aya looked at him expectantly.

"…Well?" Khini finally asked. The older man looked up from his bowl.

"Well, what?"

"Were they as beautiful as they say?" Khini pressed.

"Yeah, Hoz," Aya chimed in, "You can't just stop mid-story like that." Hoz let out a hearty laugh.

"I wish I could tell you. Never made it in; they don't allow men inside. Sacred tradition."

"They're the most beautiful women you'll ever lay eyes upon," Rudi said softly, catching everyone's attention. Save for Nobo and Kira, who had since begun a separate conversation with Beedle. Link raised his eyebrows. He himself would need to enter Gerudo Town in order to speak with their chief, and it had only just dawned on him that he had no idea how.

"You've been inside?" He asked Rudi, "How?"

Rudi smiled somewhat sadly.

"I've never been inside. I met a Gerudo woman once, though, on my travels. Many years before I decided to become a hostler. I was a much younger man then."

"What was her…" Aya's sentence was cut short by a sharp jab in the ribs from Hoz. He shook his head. Link watched Rudi as he stared into the fire still crackling beneath the cooking pot. He stood rather abruptly and began to make his way back to the stable.

"It's about time for me to turn in, I think," he said, his back to everyone. He was almost inside when he briefly turned back.

"Thank you for joining us for supper, everyone," he said. He gave Link a slight nod and was gone.

They were all quiet then. Link turned to Hoz, silently asking for an explanation for Rudi's odd behavior. It was the first time that he'd seen the man be anything other than cheerful. Hoz let out a heavy sigh and glanced over his shoulder at Kira. Still engrossed in her conversation with Nobo and Beedle, she hadn't seemed to have noticed her father's absence at all. Hoz laced his fingers together and leaned forward, letting his elbows rest on his knees.

"You've been here enough times for me to get to know you, Link. You seem like a trustworthy man. Especially considering how you helped me sniff out that Kilton," he spat on the ground at the mention of his name. Link chuckled inwardly but made a point to not show his amusement on his face.

"I've been with Rudi a long time—was here for the stable's construction. The day we met, everything he had was strapped to his back. Including Kira." The man paused for a moment, listening. When he was certain that the young woman in question was still preoccupied, he continued.

"Tiny thing, she was. Couldn't have been more than a few months old. I thought it was odd, a single man traveling alone with an infant…but it wasn't my place to question him.

Rudi never spoke about Kira's mother, and so I never asked. Visitors would sometimes ask about her whereabouts and it always seemed a sore subject for him. So, I kept my mouth shut.

One night, a young Gerudo woman came to the stable and demanded to speak to Rudi. He told me to take Kira inside and stay with her there, and so I did. I figured that this woman might be some sort of a threat, the way he was acting."

Hoz ran his hand over his face.

"By Hylia, was she angry. I'd never seen anyone so mad. She eventually started shouting in Gerudo, so I really have no idea what she was saying. I almost intervened, but she eventually gave up and left.

When Rudi came back inside, he was a mess. I had never seen him that way before and haven't since. Kira was too young to remember, but Rudi didn't let her out of his sight for almost a year afterwards.

I still don't know why she came that day; I've never asked him, and he hasn't told me. I don't know who that woman was, but I can only assume that she was Kira's mother."

Link sat in silence. He was unsure of what to say, as he'd never been confided in this way before.

"So…" Aya began, "you have seen a Gerudo woman before."

Khini smacked Aya's shoulder as Hoz began to cackle.

"That's really all you took away from that?" Khini asked. Aya shrugged innocently.

"What's funny?" a voice said from behind Link. He turned his head to see Kira grinning at Hoz as he continued to laugh. He waved his hand in dismissal.

"Oh, Link here just told a real rib-tickler," Hoz said. Kira's brows shot up.

"Link told a joke? Well, go on." Link froze.

"I…what?"

"Tell me the joke. If it was that funny, I want to hear it, too."

Link sat bewildered as Khini and Hoz stifled laughter. Did he even know any jokes? He wracked his brain as he glared as Hoz for putting him in this position. Kira crossed her arms and stared at him with an expectant smirk on her face.

"Uh…what do you call a Moblin holding a mop?"

"I don't know. What?"

"A mop…lin."

The corner of Kira's mouth quirked up and she nodded slowly.

"Wow," she muttered, "You've really been holding out on us."

Link's face flushed with a sudden heat and he glowered at Hoz again. The older man clapped Link on the back, startling him.

"Missed his true calling, this one," he chortled.

Turning the attention away from himself, Link stood and held out his hand towards Aya and Khini's empty bowls.

"I can take those for you," he offered. He collected the dishes as they voiced their thanks. Kira looked at him curiously.

"I'd like to help you clean up, if I may," he said. She smiled.

"That would be very helpful, thank you. Just bring those to the pump out back; I'll go and get the lye soap and meet you there."

Link watched Kira as she disappeared into the stable. As he turned to gather up the remaining bowls, he felt someone grab him by the wrist. Hoz's demeanor had changed completely, and Link felt a little unsettled by the austere look on his face. Everyone else had gone; the two men were left alone. Link stiffened in Hoz's grasp, unsure of why he was acting this way. He pulled Link down towards him.

"Listen to me. Not a word of what was said tonight to Kira, understand? She knows nothing of this, and I think it's better that we keep it that way."

The young man nodded once in agreement. Hoz released Link from his grip, but kept his eyes locked on him. Link searched for something to say in response, he could find no words. Instead, he began hastily making his way to the water pump, leaving Hoz and his secret sitting alone by the dying fire.

Link and Kira washed the dishes together mostly in silence. Aside from the occasional instruction from Kira, only the sound of running water interrupted the stillness of the evening. When they had finished, Kira thanked Link and bid him goodnight. He lingered by the water pump for a while after she had gone, quietly watching the lava pour from Death Mountain in the distance.

Admittedly, he felt somewhat guilty. Though he'd hardly spoken to Kira, he knew her more intimately now than he ever thought he would; all without her knowledge. He had mulled over Hoz's warning in his mind several times and became increasingly tempted to disregard it. It didn't seem fair to keep such sensitive information from her but Link ultimately decided that it was not his place.

He finally crept back into the stable to find everyone asleep. He undressed in the dark and climbed into bed, doing his best to put his restless mind at ease.

Though he lay there with his eyes closed desperately wishing for sleep, it evaded him. His mind was too alive, his ears too alert. Every sound caused him to tense and consider reaching for his sword that was waiting just beneath the bed. Frustrated, he sighed heavily and turned over onto his back. He struggled to regulate his breathing, attempting to recall Impa's instruction during meditation.

"You cannot be at war with your mind," she had said sternly, "When you are already at war with everything else."

Link had dreaded those unending hours of meditation, deeming them unnecessary. Now, he tried to heed the Sheikah's words and regretted not doing so from the beginning.

"The mind-body connection cannot be neglected. You must always be able to return to your breath to ground yourself; it must be as constant as a reliable friend."

Link felt himself finally relax, the weight of his body sinking into the bed. Just as he felt as though he could let his guard down, a hand covered his mouth. His eyes flew open and his hand groped for his sword. In the pitch, he heard a hushed voice.

"Woah, woah! Don't…hey, just relax! It's me."

Focusing his gaze on his nameless assailant, he recognized the eyes looking down at him.

"…Kira?"

"Yes, now hush. You're going to wake my father up if you flail like that again," she scolded.

"I was not…flailing."

She rolled her eyes.

"I'm not going to argue with you. Come on, outside. We need to hurry."

Kira swiftly slipped outside; her bare feet almost silent on the wooden floor. Link stared after her, unsure of whether or not he was dreaming. After a moment, he saw Kira poke her head back into the archway and impatiently wave her hand at him. Link rose and shrugged his tunic on in a daze as he followed her out to the side of the stable.

It was still dark outside; the moon was now nowhere to be found. The only light came from Death Mountain's molten peak, resulting in the fields being painted a gentle crimson. Kira's face was illuminated by a small, dim lantern that hung on a nearby fencepost. She stood by two large, dark shadows, but Link could not make out their shape. Upon hearing him approach, she turned towards Link, a look of disapproval on her face.

"What are you doing?" she whispered, "Go and get your things!"

Link remained where he was, still thoroughly confused.

"Kira, what time is it?" He asked, squinting in the darkness. She sighed.

"I don't know…an hour or so before twilight?"

"Then why…are we awake?" He did not even remember falling asleep. How could so much time have already passed?

Before he could question her any further, a soft whinny caught Link's attention. Curious, he took a few more steps toward Kira, and two horses came into view. Eros and Diana waited patiently next to the young woman, fully tacked up. He then noticed that Kira was dressed in traveling clothes and riding boots, a knapsack strapped to her back. Link narrowed his eyes at her.

"I told you that I didn't need to leave until dawn. What's going on?"

"We need to leave now," she asserted. She looked nervous, glancing toward the stable's entrance every few seconds.

"I'm sorry," Link said, "We?"

Kira took a deep breath in and smoothed out the front of her shirt as though she were about to recite something she'd rehearsed.

"I'm coming with you. To Gerudo, I mean. I need you to escort me there."

"You…what?"

"Maybe that was a little demanding. May I come with you to Gerudo?"

"Just hold on a second…"

"Please?"

Kira came forward, shortening the distance between them. He could see her face clearly now; she wore a pained expression he'd not seen before. She said nothing, but her eyes pleaded for her.

"Link, please. I need you to take me there; to show me the way. I'd go on my own, but I've never traveled further than the Akkala Highlands. I'm just not skilled in navigation. But, you…"

"Why?"

Kira was quiet. She inhaled deeply and cast her gaze away from Link. He watched her as she wrung her hands together.

"I need to go and find my mother," she said finally. Link swallowed.

"What…what makes you think she's there?" He asked tentatively.

Kira scoffed.

"Don't act like you don't know. I heard what Hoz said to you tonight," she answered, looking back up at him. He stiffened as though he'd been caught stealing.

"I hear everything," she murmured to herself. Kira walked over to Diana and began tightening the girth on her saddle.

"What Hoz told you wasn't entirely true…I do remember that day. My father has tried to convince me that it was all in my head; a dream I had as a child. But, now…after hearing that story tonight, I know for certain that it happened."

Placing her foot in the stirrup, Kira hoisted herself up onto Diana. She settled into the saddle and held the reins tight, looking towards the horizon. The sun was threatening to appear from behind the mountains.

"This might be my only chance to find out who she is; who I am. Haven't you ever wanted something like that?"

Link felt uneasy about Kira's proposition, but hearing the sincerity in her voice caused something in him to soften. Had he been presented with an opportunity to regain lost memories of his family he would not have hesitated. His memories were lost to time—they existed in an entirely different lifetime. He realized that there was only one right answer.

"We have to make a stop first."

Thank you so much for reading—It means so much. See you next Wednesday!