The youngest Hero clung to the Champion's arm as the group passed through a small graveyard. Rain bounced off of tombstones and muddied the ground. The Wolf passed them, allowing the young boy to run a hand through his thick, wet fur.
"Relax," said the Champion. "You're safe, remember? We've got your back."
"It should be safe here during daylight hours," said the Old Man. "Poes and Stalfos shouldn't be out, at least."
"Help!"
The group turned towards the cry in unison. A little girl ran up to them, soaked to the bone and shaking from chills. "Please, can you help me?" she sobbed. "I lost my kitty! He ran up that tree—" she pointed to what had once been a tall pine "—but then the wind blew it over, and now he's stuck way up there!" She pointed to a high ledge in the cliff wall. "He's been stuck there since yesterday! I haven't been able to feed him or— or—" she burst into tears.
"I don't see anything we could grab with a hookshot," the Veteran remarked.
"Or a grappling hook," said Wind.
"Can you climb it?" the Traveler asked, turning to the Champion.
"Not in this rain," he grumbled. "Even then it might be a touch too high. I mean, I still have a few stamina potions, and the weather's bound to change soon—"
"We don't have time to wait around for that," said the Old Man, reaching into his bag for something.
"Maybe we can get to that ledge from the back?" remarked Sky. "There might be an easier way up on that side—"
"What's he doing?"
All deliberation stopped at the Smith's quiet comment. Mild panic shot through the group—the Champion especially—as they spotted their youngest companion partway up the cliff wall, free-climbing.
"What are you doing‽" cried the Champion.
The little girl gasped. "Be careful!"
A sharp melody pierced the air. Several eyes turned to the Hero of Time, who was holding his ocarina. Day switched to night, then back to day. The skies suddenly cleared.
The Champion dashed to the wall, throwing on his climbing bandana before leaping up after the little boy. The Champion struggled to keep up with him, his arms and legs burning about a quarter of the way from the top. He paused to rest, digging around in his bag for a stamina potion as he watched—amazed and relieved—as the younger boy pulled himself onto the ledge. The Champion downed the green potion to calm his aching limbs before finishing the climb.
The Champion found the little boy kneeling next to a bush. Tears were trickling down his face. "Are you okay?" the Champion asked.
The boy startled. "Do you have meat on you?" he asked frantically. "Any fish, birds, anything?"
As the Champion approached, he saw a bundle of cloth in the boy's arms, probably his cloak. A fuzzy grey head peeked out of one side, but the animal wasn't moving.
"Please, he doesn't have much time, he—" the boy choked "—he's barely breathing. I think he got sick."
The Champion knelt next to the boy. "I don't think food is going to help at this point—"
"It's not the food! I can give him a red potion if I just have some meat to put it in! I—" He hugged the bundle of wet fur and cried.
The Champion dug around in his bag. "I don't think I have any meat left, but— a-ha!" He held out a bottle of Lon-Lon milk. "Malon let me have some. I haven't used it all yet."
The boy stared at him.
"What? Oh, Malon is Time's wife. They own a ranch in his Hyrule; we got to stay there for a couple nights before you showed up."
"Oh, right." The boy wiped his face and pulled a red potion out of his bag.
The two Heroes mixed the milk and red potion together in a shallow dish. The Champion held the dish at an angle as the younger Hero gently coaxed the kitten to drink. It started very slowly, then drank more freely as its strength returned. Soon the dish was empty, and the kitten began purring contentedly in its makeshift blanket.
"Everything alright up there?"
The Champion stood and peered over the edge. He gave the group a thumbs-up. "We found him!" he called. "He's alright. We'll bring him down in a minute."
"Oh thank you!" the little girl called.
He turned back to the boy. "You gave me a heart attack earlier," he said sternly. "Don't go climbing up cliffs in the rain, it's not safe."
The boy smiled. "It's fine. I have to go slower, but other than that I can climb in the rain just fine."
The Champion's heart was caught between pride and severe envy. "Well, still. It makes me look bad," he teased.
The boy giggled.
"Here, put fuzzball in your bag and hop on my back. It'll be faster if we glide down."
The boy tensed, then took a deep breath. "Okay." He fastened the kitten securely in his bag and climbed onto the Champion's back.
"You ready?"
"Just go," the little boy whimpered.
"You'll be alright," the Champion soothed as he readied his paraglider. "All you've got to do is hang onto me, okay?"
The boy nodded.
The Champion leapt off the edge. The boy kept his eyes shut and his grip tight the whole way down. The Champion arced his flight to land near the group and the little girl. He crouched down to let the younger Hero off his back. "See? That wasn't so bad, was it?"
The little boy was trembling as he slid off the Champion's back. The girl ran up to him. "Do you have my kitty? Is he alright?"
The youngest Hero smiled at her and pulled the bundle of fur out of his bag. The kitten mewed and snuggled happily into the girl's arms.
"Oh, thank you! Thank you so much—I was so worried!" Tears of joy streamed down her face. She stepped forward and kissed the little boy on the cheek.
The young Hero blushed profusely.
"I'm glad we could help," said the Champion.
"Let's get going," said the Old Man. A soft smile lit up his entire face. "We're always happy to help a young lady in distress. Isn't that right boys?"
Everyone gave their assent. Even the Wolf gave a little howl.
"Bye everyone!" The little girl waved as the group walked out of the graveyard. "Thank you!"
The Champion gave their youngest companion a pat on the back. "I'm proud of you," he said quietly.
The boy—who had just finished fastening his cloak—gazed up at the Champion with large eyes.
The Champion merely smiled back at him and continued walking.