Zelda stared at the Sheikah Slate on the table in the library. The blips had fallen silent after a short one at the edge of the screen. She was concerned at what was causing this but at least now the Yiga were also involved. Ever since Kohga had come to them following the battle at Fort Hateno, the Yiga had become allies. Very good allies. She knew she could count on them and on Kohga to help them out, even if the blip turned out to be some roaming large monster.

She leapt backwards, the books and pieces of ancient tech cluttering to the floor as a flurry of red and black spell papers appeared before her. She stumbled into Impa behind her. "Master Kohga?!"

"D-don't do that!" Impa fussed, propping Zelda up. "At least announce when you're here! And why are you covered in sand?"

He dropped the large vine covered in spell papers on the table. It was so thick it could've been a small tree trunk. "I found your blip."

Impa stared at him, knitting her brow. He was caked in sand and scratches, gripping the table a bit too tightly for someone who was just investigating a blip. He'd seen something and this thorny vine was linked to it. "A vine? In the desert?"

Zelda peered at the large vine now on top of all the research. "How peculiar. I didn't think vines got this big. And in the desert? I don't ever remember seeing them when I visited Urbosa."

"There aren't any," Impa confirmed, "and not any that require papers to bind them. What happened out there?"

"And are you alright?" Zelda added. "You're covered in scratches and your leg is bleeding!"

Kohga honestly should've expected concern from the princess, but he was still getting used to seeing concern instead of ire. He'd probably never get used to it, especially if he still hadn't after a year. "I'm fine," he waved off the concern. "It was just a fight with this blip, and I came out on top, of course. Because it's me."

Impa wrinkled her nose, leaning across the table to stare intently at him. "What really happened, Master Kohga? And why were you in the desert? I figured you would let everyone else do the work?"

"I-impa, please!" Zelda fussed.

Kohga leaned on the table, his faceless mask seemingly staring back at her. He couldn't tell her the full truth, about the ancient Yiga home or about the burial site recently used out there. He didn't want to talk about seeing Sooga either. "A singular blip in the desert is mighty suspicious, you know. A bit too close to the hideout."

"It is, but I'm surprised that you went out yourself," Impa reiterated.

"But of course," Kohga said. "Who better to take care of my clan and my allies than me? No one touches the Yiga and gets away with it. Unless they end up becoming allies. It's a weird situation."

"It is," Impa agreed. "But it's a good thing you're on our side. That vine has a lot of dark arts radiating off it."

"Good, you can feel it too," Kohga said.

"We haven't lost all of our past knowledge," Impa said with a grin. "But that still makes me concerned who or what is creating these vines? Why were they out in the desert and other random places? That blip was pretty deep into the desert in a seemingly random location."

"In the sandstorm," Kohga confirmed, not saying that he knew something was out there. "But who knows yet. They're after something, and I want to know what it is."

"I do too," Impa agreed. "So you'll keep helping us out? Trying to avoid accounting?"

"Accounting is the wrong kind of boring," Kohga said. "Besides, like I said, I don't like it when things threaten my clan or my allies." And impersonating Sooga in a sandstorm sure felt like a threat, especially when it was deep within the tempest near the ancient city.

Zelda glanced between the two. She had to admit it wasn't the strangest of exchanges recently but it was definitely up there. "I think first thing's first, we should get this vine to Robbie and Purah. They're more knowledgeable with technology, but perhaps they have something that can analyze this vine and tell us more about it."

"And if they can't, then they can find one who does," Impa agreed. "And besides, you give them something strange, they'll want to investigate it."

"This is true," Zelda grinned. "I'm sure we can find something out at least."

"Oh goodie, the coward is already here."

Zelda knit her brow, turning as the sudden arrival interrupted the conversation. "What's wrong, Revali? What do you mean?"

The Rito slammed his feathers down on the table, practically shoving Impa out of the way to glare at Kohga. "Oh you know what I mean. If you have a problem with me, Master Kohga, you should at least have the courtesy to say it to my face."

"Oh I'll say it to your face right now, bird brain!" the Yiga seethed.

"Hey!" Impa fussed. "What is your problem, Revali?"

"My problem is this false ally right here," Revali jabbed a feather at Kohga. "He's already caused enough trouble with his little lackeys storming settlements around Rito Village."

"Now why would my Yiga do that?" Kohga shot back. "We have better things to do than frolic around in the snow!"

"Please! Please, you two!" Zelda attempted to push them apart. "Let's not fight! The Yiga have been helping me with some research into a strange occurrence so there must be some misunderstanding!"

"Oh please," Revali scoffed. "The only misunderstanding was that the Yiga ever were our allies. Without Ganon around, what loyalty do they have to Hyrule? Sure, they seemed like allies for the past year, but I bet they've grown bored and decided to go back to their old ways."

Zelda knit her brow. The Rito certainly was fired up but she couldn't imagine that Kohga would send the Yiga out to attack Rito Village. It just didn't make sense. Kohga had made alliances and worked with the Gerudo, the Sheikah, and even the Hylians after feuding with them for so long. Astor's betrayal really had changed things between them. "You can't mean that, especially not after how much the Yiga helped us out against Calamity Ganon. They have alliances with over half of Hyrule."

"Oh I am quite serious," Revali stated sharply. "There is nothing stopping them from becoming the new great threat to Hyrule."

"Revali, please!" Zelda begged him. "This isn't the time for fighting. We have something with dark magics on our hands right now."

"I can't believe this!" Revali scoffed. "I'm done here. Obviously no one is listening to reason right now. I have to protect Rito Village from this nonsense. I'm leaving." He turned, storming out of the room.

"Not if I leave first!" Kohga proclaimed, disappearing in a flurry of spell papers.

Impa heaved an annoyed sigh. "This is what happens with two egomaniacs in a room. What does he even mean, the Yiga attacked? They've been busy helping us with this blip problem. And now a vine problem." She glanced at the thorny vine laying silent on the table.

"I don't believe that Master Kohga would send the Yiga to attack another city," Zelda said assuredly. "He's been working with us as our ally now. He's even getting along with Urbosa and they were constantly feuding before. It doesn't make sense."

"Yeah I agree," Impa said. "Master Kohga is bored, but he's doing accounting lately. Certainly not something that would lead him to attacking a city."

Zelda frowned. "Impa, do you think you can spare a Sheikah to investigate?"

"Of course, Princess," Impa nodded. "Nothing about this sits right with me either." There had to be an explanation for this.

…

Author's musings

Well Revali is in a pretty sour mood isn't he? I can't exactly see him as a very trusting person, especially of those who were once his enemies. And well strange Yiga showing up would make him rather upset. If they were even Yiga. I wonder if he's just seeing things.