Note: Edited the last chapters. Spelling is better. Special thanks to Luna Eevee for the reviews!

Mayim

The terrain had felt no different as he treads along it, the ancient path of his ancestors laid out in front of him, his feet had carried him down and back more times than he could count. So, when he found out he was the last one there, he was nonetheless flushing redder than the skin of one of the residential Tektites.

"My my," one amongst the gathering already there at the edge of the cliff began. "Catch enough sleep to last you for a week?"

"Perhaps." He answered. "Course you would get in a month's full in sooner than me."

"Shut up!" the other declared, giving him a punch in the arm. This didn't result in a shot of pain, let alone any animosity to develop. Both knew that such an action was of little more than playful banter.

Should one had merely heard the voices of these two, it could've been assumed that they belonged to that of young adult, perhaps older teenaged boys. And to an extent, such an assumption would've been correct, had one not seen the shapes and outlines resting within the shadow cast by the mountain above. And though they had dare not venture out unless the need is, should one have managed to catch a glimpse, they would've seen instantly that these beings were anything but human.

Pairs of small, but developed eyes watched from below their perch at the mouth of a large cave a good distance away. Dawn had come, and all of them had taken part in the vow to observe and examine the said cave. Not for the activity taking part within, yet what was potentially coming out.

One of the figures held a piece of a hardened shell in its hand, careful to keep it hidden.

"What do you think you're doing?" one of them asked, noticing, to his shock, that the item was seen.

"What's your problem?" he asked, clearly confused as to his friend's reaction.

"What's your…do you WANT us to be caught?" the figure retorted. "Those blasted things down there can probably already smell it from here!"

"So, can we!" he retorted. "All the better to track where those men are- "

"Both of you, quiet!" the largest of them hissed, though only just enough, seeing as the main goal was to NOT draw attention to themselves. "Did I select you out of all the others in our great city to come and bicker amongst yourselves?"

The two went silent.

"That said, I do understand the dangers of having that thing with us." He said, gesturing a large, darkened finger to the small object. "But also in that perhaps it may help us better discover a trail." His nostrils were wrinkled. "Din only knows that a stink such as that stays in the air for some time."

"But sir," one amongst them spoke up. "Surely we cannot simply wait here in one place." He mentioned. "After all, this isn't just the only entrance to the cavern." He pointed to the expansive, gaping mouth of the cave below.

"I'm well aware." He answered, eyes falling on the said entrance. "That said if the other entrances ARE known…" his lips tightened. "Then this will require more than just a few of us to secure our borders."

This put them all in a difficult situation. It was well known among them that, by the law of the King and Queen (belated, a pang of sadness coming to the largest one upon remembering such), as long as the borders of their land were not crossed, then their people could work and do whatever they pleased in the designated areas of their territory on the mountain.

Yet with that said, the largest's eyes falling on the piece of a cracked eggshell, said eggs that resided in that cavern weren't getting into their city by themselves.

A Day Later

Harkinian Town

He thought it absolutely bizarre.

All he had brought home was a simple piece of paper, and yet now that lead to him being locked out of the house?

True, while Link was quite glad to have some time to himself outside the shop, let alone time off, as no deliveries were to be made today, he still knew good and well that said benefits were only due to the old man wanting him to stay out.

'Don't come back until tonight!' he said, not even giving a specified time.

Why?

The only possibility was due to the letter he had given to the old man, yet that couldn't have been! Such a notion was ridiculous! Then again…but a day ago when he handed it to him, he seemed to have completely changed. True, it wasn't as if Osmivanna was an overall, 'cheery' guy, and Link could attest to how snappish he could be. Yet he was never 'distant' with him. It was something of a mutual, silent agreement between the two. Nothing of any sort was to be kept secret. Ok, maybe it was more or less for the old man's benefit, as Link was technically the holder of the lower position as 'apprentice', yet for the most part, his superior never withheld important things from him. Or at least things he deemed important in his own mind.

But…this just all felt some strange.

So…out of character for him.

And though it still sounded just as ridiculous as before…what could've been on that piece of paper to warrant such a reaction?

He would continue to ponder it, think about it throughout the day. Yet, as always, the old man's orders were to be obeyed.

Besides, given there were no deliveries, he had planned to make the most of today anyway, patting a small sack tied to his belt, a soft collection of jingles coming from it. True, he'd have to shimmy his way through the crowd in the center of two, but at least he wouldn't be going right through it.

What the money he had tirelessly worked to gain and save over the weeks was going to be spent on making the trek worth it.

Oooh, his mouth of salivating just thinking about it!

It was official.

Kneading was NOT something she was good at. "How am I supposed to know when it's finally done?" she questioned, powder all over her hands and strewn in the fibers of her blonde hair.

"Just until the majority of it is covered well enough." The young woman of equal age opposite of her informed, she too engaging in the same task. "Really, I don't understand how you think this is so difficult."

"Hey, I'm just not a fan of flipping gooey, white stuff until it feels like my arms are going to fall off."

"Well, if anything, at least it's good enough arm exercise."

She sighed, rolling her eyes and going back to her work. Besides, as much as she wasn't a fan, Goddesses knew that should she be caught slacking off, dad would've gotten onto her. Especially today of all days. Every other week on a Tuesday, their father, the owner of this small bakery, had set out for those particular dates to be the day that freshly baked, sweet soda bread would be popped out of the oven and presented out in the open for all to purchase and consume. And purchase and consume they did, for on these days, the entire town's populace and the others that had come to sell their wares made their way there and practically drained them dry of every piece of dough baked, big and small. Sure, those days were always frantic and full of orders, this being a rare, quiet moment in the midst before the eventual afternoon rush, and while neither girl wasn't particularly fond of the chaos (save for the income, at least from her point of view), they both went along and continued preparing their wares. Still, despite the demand, sales had been beginning to dwindle slowly, though the owner seemed to be completely oblivious as to why.

She wasn't, however. After what she had seen in the market yesterday she knew exactly why.

"All right, those look good, girls!" a joyful, hearty voice said from the back, the owner had come from the back room. "Cybele put those in the- "

RING!

All three of them turned around, the sight of a developed, blonde young man entering in worn, somewhat tattered clothing giving them all pause.

He in turn gazed upon the three occupants of the small shop. The owner of the shop was a stout, red-haired man with a bulbous nose and a hearty disposition, garbed in the wear befitting a baker, tall, white cape and white top and trousers, simple brown shoes with red and white striped socks on his feet. He bore an apron that the others wore, though given the absence of color that composed of his outfit, it seemed to serve him better than the other two. In the shop with the baker were two, young woman that were not much younger or older than Link himself, all three of them bearing a similar shade of blonde and similarly colored eyes, though the two women bore irises of sky blue.

The one kneading dough on the right behind the large island counter wore a pink dress with a split down the middle to show a lighter shaded portion, a beige undershirt with sleeves that ended just above her elbows with frills. A pair of similarly styled trousers were seen under the dress, ending just above her knees, simple, brown shoes and short socks completing her attire. Her hair bore waves upon waves of gold, small braids done above her pointed ears that held small, white flower hairpieces positioned at the front of them, situated behind her ears.

The one opposite of her, as if to contrast the other's attire, bore a brown vest that ended just below her breasts, a top of blue with a white mid-section coming down to above her hips, a brown belt fasted around her waist. A pair of brown trousers were situated on her legs, and in contrast to short shoes on the other girl's feet, brown, leather boots were on hers. The two were as alike as they were different, mirror images of each other. Even more due to one particular element they shared along with their hair and eyes: two small, colored orbs on thickened strings rested around their necks, the one garbed in pink bearing a sky blue, whilst the one garbed in blue bore a ruby red.

"Ah, Link, my boy!" the baker greeted, going over the blacksmith's apprentice and patting him on the back. A bit more gently compared to Mutoh, of which the boy was thankful for. "Good timing! Then again, I suppose you wouldn't dare miss a day like this, would you?"

To that, Link gave a light, silent chuckle and shook his head.

"Well, I'd hate to disappoint, yet we're in the process of making a new batch, seeing as we've sold out already." The red-haired baker informed though he leaned forward towards the boy's ear. "Come back after closing hours. I've got a surprise set up for you."

Link's eyes lit up, his mind already processing what said 'surprise' already was, enthusiasm more than visible in his features. Of course, his secret words weren't so secret, seeing what came next from the blue-clothed girl.

"Rupees upfront."

The pink-clothed girl nudged her in the side. "Ereen!" she hissed.

"What?" she asked, the other girl and baker giving her disapproving looks. "He was going to buy it anyway! Why not take the payment now? Keeps him from spending it on anything else." Link was somewhat taken aback by her forwardness, yet to her befuddlement, he said nothing. "Well, do we have a deal?" again, nothing. "Well, come on." She pressed. "Speak up. Do you want to pay now or not-"

"Don't mind that." The pink girl chipped in, cutting her off. "We're going to be quite set after today. You go on and enjoy your day now!"

"Yes, yes, see you later!" the baker bid Link farewell, the boy more than a little disappointed. Still, if his assumption on what this 'surprise' was, then he'd at least have that to look forward to. Giving a small smile and wave, he exited the shop, leaving the three the only inhabitants of the shop. Though it was clear that said smile faltered when his eyes fell on the other young woman.

The two others looked at the girl dressed in blue. "What?"

"Ereen," the baker began, "He will do so when it's time."

"Well then, what's wrong with him making sure that he does so now? Seeing as he's coming for your 'surprise' anyway."

"Ereen," the pink-clothed girl now interjected. "Link, he…" she sighed. "He's not…that good with words."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"You…just forget it." with that, the girl in pink continued her work, their father going in the back to gather more ingredients for the day.

Really, what was that all about, the girl in blue, Ereen, wondered, her sister seemingly ignoring her. With little else to do, she went back to her kneading, yet still, the boy's lips falling when he laid eyes upon her had apparently seen fit to seep itself into her mind for what she would assume to be some time.

Death Mountain

More eggs.

Smashed.

Tarnished.

Small, underdeveloped hatchlings nearby some of them, still covered in the nearly devoured yolk. He was far from a fan of the creatures, yet that did not translate to him wishing to see their young savaged in such a way.

"Finding more?" he turned, another one of his kind emerging from some of the deeper shadows in which he watched from.

"Unfortunately." The hidden figure confirmed, looking to a small, legless, green reptilian sprawled on the ground nearby, mouth agape as if it had perished struggling for its last breath. He felt a hand place itself on his shoulder.

"Dad thinks you've been out here on patrol all day." His friend told him. "And well, he's kind of wanting you to come inside."

He chuckled. "No way I'd be watching nothing all day." Once the hand on his shoulder had been removed, he stretched out his arms. "I'm just wanting to get away from Gor Jomo's complaining."

"Can't blame you on that." His friend sighed. "The old fart's getting to be unbearable." He paused. "Don't let it slip I said that to dad."

"My lips are sealed." He then rubbed the back of his head. "Though…guess I wouldn't be too happy in his position either." He turned back to the cracked eggs. "Still no clue on who's doing it?"

"It changes on who you ask." His friend shrugged. "Gor Jomo's convinced it's those 'dirty Hylians' trying to drive us out. Gor Fabumi says that perhaps it's those shadowy folks that have been seeing lurking around at night, and Gor Uche says there's not enough evidence for either."

"That sounds like them all." He confessed. Though really, if he had to be honest, he'd never want to be in any of their positions.

The three old men were far from the most compatible of fellows, especially in decision making, but they all shared the same goal in the preservation and protection of their people. And considering all it took to even gain and have these very borders protected by Hylian law, their concerns were perhaps more than relevant. Still, if one were to ask him, honestly, he had no idea. As Gor Uche had said, there really wasn't enough to make a conclusion. Yet thus far, throughout the weeks that this had been going on, there was little that was even being done about it. Very little was seen or caught in any of the patrols throughout the day, leaning towards the theory that these 'shadow people' were responsible for scenes like the one before him. Yet given the tense history involving the peoples that lived outside of the mountain, that gave credence to Gor Jomo's theory, as a clear motive would've been established.

And yet, as Gor Uche said, again, there was not enough evidence for either.

"Uh, hello?" a far younger voice was heard, drawing both of their attention.

"Ah!" he yelped, going over to the far smaller figure, also concealed in shadow. "What are you doing so close to the edge!" he wasted no time in scooping him up. "You'd crack you head wide open!"

"No, I wouldn't!" the little figure argued. "I'm just as good a climber as you!"

"Yeah, maybe in the next few years." His friend added in. "You still need to get your arms a bit…" he paused. "No, a LOT more pumped up!"

The smallest of the three stuck out his tongue.

Thankfully, the environment wasn't too tense, and frankly, he was getting hungry for some rocks. Though, as he went with the other two, he looked back to the scene, a gnawing doubt assaulting his very being. Even though nothing was around, he couldn't help but sense a pair, or perhaps, many pairs of eyes were on them at that very second.

Harkinian Town

"Here you are!" Cybele chirped, handing Link the hidden, coveted roll of bread. It was still quite strange that he wouldn't have to pay, yet at the moment, he wasn't complaining. As far as he was concerned, everyone won here. "Pleasure doing business!" the pink-dressed girl told him, he in turn beginning to turn towards the door. "Oh, wait a minute." Confused, yet curious, he turned back. "Please forgive Ereen for earlier." The baker's daughter asked, uncomfortably biting her lip. "She's…well, she's a little…" she then sighed. "Frankly, she's very good at speaking her mind. Whether others appreciate or not." Link shifted his eyes, more than remembering the other blonde's rather vocal observation about him. As far as he was concerned, he was speaking with someone far more pleasant. "That said, hope you enjoy!" Cybele told him, shifting back into her personable persona. "Hope to see you again!"

With that, Link headed out of the shop, loaf in hand.

And just as he exited-

SNATCH!

A flash of red blinded him, the feeling of hands scratching at his own only disorienting him further as, once his vision cleared, he came to realize that the coveted, baked good was gone from his hands.

Lon Lon Ranch

The horses had run by again today. Link would've killed to have seen then, Terran thought. Yet that one amongst them, the red mare…she was going slower than the others. And whilst the dark-haired boy couldn't exactly tell, he could've sworn he saw something wrong with her leg…

KNOCK!

"Hm?" his father looked to the door, rising from the table, both he and his son had just come in for lunch. "Get that, would you?"

As Terran approached the door, the knocking began to get more and more frequent, surprising the both of them. Even more so when the door was opened.

"Link?" the other young man questioned.

"What's up with you, boy?" Tarnis questioned, it clear that something was wrong.

Link opened his mouth, a small noise coming out that resembled the beginning of a word, yet it didn't come to be formed. Again, he tried, yet no results. A small growl came from him, the one time that this would actually help him, and he couldn't do it! Why?! He had been practicing with Osmivanna on his speech! So why?!

"Whoa, whoa, hold on." Terran urged, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Take a breath." Link stopped, doing so. "Maybe three or four would do you good." From the looks of it, the blonde was rather frazzled and, dare he say, rather enraged. Still, he obeyed Terran's words and steadily began to ease himself out.

"Now," Tarnis began. "What's this all about?"

Link bit his lip, blue eyes searching. He had a method for communicating what he was attempting to say, yet where was it?

Ah, there it was!

Stationed on the shelf on the western wall, behind the table, a small ink well and a stack of paper lay. Grabbing it, Link opened the small container and immediately went to write-

Write…write? Write with what? Where was the feather?

"Oh, yeah," Tarnis said. "We've been meaning to replace it."

"Hang on." Before anyone could say anything, Terran left the house and began to make his way towards the coop. True, the chickens had been let out, yet seeing if maybe a stray feather or two was laying around would definitely be easier than trying to catch one of the blasted birds.

Suddenly, his long ears heard something.

A light, munching sound. A sound coming from the rafters above.

The tanned boy stood below, listening in at the repetitive, rhythmic noises that seemed to be purposefully kept at as low a volume as possible. Whom…whatever was up there, clearly didn't wish to be heard. Finding a ladder, Terran steadily made his way up, not going up all the way, but just enough to see a vague shape seemingly kneeling down and hungrily chowing down on something. He tried to get a closer look-

CREAK

Only to subsequently draw attention to himself.

The shape whirled its head around to face him, large, frightened, green eyes looking dead at him before whatever they were attached to stood up and ran. Terran climbed up after them and the two engaged in a chase of sorts, the darkness of the area at the top of the coop far from helped either party, yet the risk of either being caught or letting the trespasser get away. The figure continued to run whilst Terran continued to follow. Until-

CRACK!

One of the boards broke apart at the intersection, splitting beneath the feet of the trespasser. A shrill scream escaped them, Terran's earthy brown eyes widening at both the sound and the breaking of the boards. The figure felt gravity take them, they dropped a good distance down. Climbing up here was precarious already, yet a fall such as this would surely result in something being broken. Though before they were out of reach-

SNAG!

They felt a hand seize their own, the one that had grabbed them pulling them upward, albeit with difficulty. Their legs kicked blindly at the air with nothing to use as support, Terran continued to try and drag them up, still, the angle at which he was holding them didn't allow for much leeway, much less room to maneuver for himself.

"Son?!" a voice shouted from nearby, the boy relieved when he saw his father and Link rush into the coop.

"H-Help!" Terran shouted voice strained. "I…I can't hold them!" Both Tarnis and Link saw the figure hanging by the farm boy's hand, his grip steadily leaving him. "Somebody…get up here! I can't pull them up on my-"

He got no more words out, the figure's hand slipping out of his grasp. The intruder released a high-pitched scream as they plummeted downward. Down, down, down they went, sure to hit the ground.

That was until they felt a pair of arms catch their falling form. The one that had done so had fallen to the ground, yet from the feel of it, they were down, and from what they could tell, nothing had been broken or sprained. Tarnis rushed over to Link's side, Terran looking down at what had taken place. The sunlight that came in through the now opened doors of the coop allowed everyone to see the figure's true appearance.

Whilst the voice indicated such, it was still somewhat of a surprise to see that it was a woman. A woman that bore no connection to anything relating to their country, far tanner than Terran or Tarnis, and while not heavily muscled, bore a toned, evidently worked body. She was clad in clothing that consisted of nothing more than a blue, sleeveless tube top that rested what seemed to be another of yellow, albeit this one was of lower quality, torn at the edges. A wrap of magenta cloth was fastened around her hips, tied in a loose bow to the right, it holding up a skirt of brown with golden trims containing yellowed dots in between the borders. Another longer skirt of false white rested underneath seemingly split down the side, the skirt above covering the open area from the waist to her knee. Around her neck and right arm were 'jewelry' of sorts formed from strands of a wound, braided rope or string with bits and pieces of small, colored stones and shells, one pink, larger shell resting in the center, the armlet following in the same fashion. And along with that, what appeared to be half of a 'flute' of some sort. Her hair was red and wild, mimicking that of a burning flame, a hair ornament composed of items such as a sand dollar, a pink starfish, and a piece of pink coral rested on the right side of her head. She bore no shoes, her feet bare and worn, yet seemingly, not too damaged. Running a finger down one, Link noted that they felt almost akin to boot leather, clearly used to the hardened, uneven terrain. Yet that was not his main focus.

The bread clutched in her hands as if her life depended on it was now in his sights, Terran making his way down from the rafters, he joining both Link and Tarnis in viewing the now caught intruder.

Later

"So, care to explain yourself?" the older man questioned, the red-haired girl simply looking down to the ground, having been brought in, Terran and Link stationed by the door to keep her from escaping. The latter was giving her quite the glare, shifting between her and the now dirtied, ruined loaf sitting on the table. "What did you think of coming here, stealing not only OUR food, but the food someone else paid good, hard-earned money for?"

Well…technically, his loaf was free…but still! He had been looking forward to it for so long, and now it was ruined! But wait, stealing OUR food? Looking to Terran, said farm boy leaned forward. "Perhaps we should explain a little. Let's just say, these past couple of weeks, there's been some activity going on here."

"I'll say." Tarnis agreed. "Milk bottles stolen, eggs smashed with everything sucked out, and our cabinets raided of spices and whatever else." The red-haired girl lowered her head even further. "So, what do you have to say for yourself?" She murmured something after remaining silent for what felt like forever. "What was that?" again, she murmured. "Speak up."

Finally, she raised her volume, though what came out baffled everyone. "Eh-ka-na. Sutei, ko-chi ko-ma." What came from her lips were words and phrases that they had never heard. It was nowhere near Hylian, let alone words that they had even considered to be words. For all they knew, she had just uttered out strings of gibberish, though, given the sincerity in her voice, they all doubted that this was just some farce to make them believe she was insane. "Ko-ma." She continued, seemingly bringing out a small, cloth bag that had been fastened to her side via the wrap around her waist. "Ko-ma. So ki mei." She opened it, revealing several little fragments of what appeared to be crystal and pieces of glass. Was she offering them payment?

"You." Terran began. "You're not from around here, are you?"

She looked to him. "Ko chi am?"

He knew that there was no getting to her, his and her tongue were too different. Still, it was clear that the situation was more than simply being that there was a thief in their home. A low, yet a rather long growl sounded out throughout the room, it clear where the source of it was. It was then that Link stared back at the dirtied loaf, then to the one that had taken it from him. He wasn't feeling as angered as before.

"What's your name, dear?" Tarnis questioned, only realizing that his question wouldn't be answered. Not in a way he or anyone else could understand.

It was then that Terran sat down at the table, sitting across from the young woman. "I'm Terran." He told her, she, in turn, looking up at him with large, confused, green eyes. He tried a different tactic. "Terran." He pointed to his chest. "Terran." He repeated, the young woman shifting her gaze back and forth before gesturing to him.

"Terr…an?" she said in an unsure, wavering voice. "Terran?"

"Yes. Terran." The farm boy confirmed with a nod, she nodded as well. Well, at least it seemed that some gestures were universal. He pointed to her, then to himself again when she appeared confused. "Terran." He repeated, pointing to her again.

She remained quiet for a good while, nervously fidgeting in her seat. Though after some time, it seemed she responded to his inquiry, seeming to at least marginally understand what he wanted of her. "May…im." She said in a hushed whisper. Again, she repeated. "Mayim. So ma, Mayim."