Link appreciated the gentle breeze that met him as he stepped out from the stable, his eyes stuck onto his chest as he pressed the vials of spices against himself in an attempt to hold them steady. His eyes jumped up to catch where he was going only sparingly, carefully making his way through the tracks of dirt that surrounded the stable on his way toward the communal campfire. Coming closer, he caught sight of a Goron sitting beside Daruk while Urbosa poked at the tiny flames, grinning to herself as she listened to the two men of stone chortling amongst themselves.

"-said back to him, 'Hey, buster! You had better step off!' and I'll tell you, Brother, that korok never returned to haunt my stack of rock snacks ever again!"

Daruk gave a furious laugh, slapping his leg in a jovial expression while he replied with a decadent, "Bwah ha ha! Those ghostly beings cannot hope to withstand the booming roars of a Goron!"

As if in demonstration, Daruk let loose a massive, "GWAAAR!"

His compatriot, lost as he was in recounting, gave a booming shout as well, "WAAARH!"

"GWAAAR!"

"WAAAARH!"

Urbosa raised her voice in hasty delivery, "You know, there are people still asleep!"

Allowing a nervous chuckle, Daruk scratched his beard as he gave a dawdling reply, "S- Sorry about that."

A Hylian, who had been tending the fire, spoke to Urbosa with a sigh, "You needn't worry. Given our proximity to Eldin, we are often inundated with…rather bestial roars such as those. Our regular guests know to sleep with cotton in their ears…"

Daruk eyed the Hylian fretfully, "My apologies, uh, Birro. It wasn't my intention to-"

"No, no; this stable was placed here specifically for the benefit of your people," the manager spoke quietly, grumbling lowly to himself while stoking the flames, "Even if it was the work of a overly-domineering mother-in-law…"

Daruk gave a short sigh of relief before returning his attention to his new Goron friend, "Anyway, Banagron; tell me more about-"

Link's eyes narrow curiously upon noticing the massive powder blue cloth that Daruk had tied around his neck which fluttered along atop his shoulders, keeping from sight those large, sickly streaks of charred rock that made up his mantle. He then found a similarly constructed piece of cloth along Urbosa's arm, acting as sort of a sleeve, both of them with some ornate design that seemed to match Link's own shirt.

He stepped toward the fire, crouching low while the manager peered up toward him with a begrudging tone, "Fire's acting up, not wanting to stay lit. Some of the logs were waterlogged or something."

Grumbling, the manager murmured to himself once again, "About as damp as Sase' personality, I'd say…"

Link gleaned the man's pithy expression carefully before replying, "I was about to make up some breakfast for us, so I can keep an eye out on the fire if you've got other things to tend to."

"Gah… There's always things to do here," Birro complained helplessly, "Just a long string of regrets because of that woman."

He woefully shook his head as he rose to his feet, skulking away with shoulders drawn forward, leaving Link to the flames as he silently prepared breakfast beneath the Gorons' chatter.

"We just completed an expedition, ourselves, up to the top of the mountain," Daruk grinned proudly, sending the Goron opposite from him into a look of sheer aghast.

"We?!" Banagron gasped in astonishment.

Daruk crossed his arms proudly, "Yes! Myself, Urbosa here, that Hylian there, Link- We even brought a Zora to the top and back!"

Banagron's eyes flew even wider, aghast at such a claim, demonstrated by a hand stamped upon his mouth, "By the goddess!"

Urbosa began to chuckle at Daruk's line of conversion constantly eliciting such surprise, leaning forward as she smirked widely in mischief, "Tell him about the dragon, already."

"DRAGON?!" Banagron exuded in unhinged excitement, whipping his eyes back and forth between Urbosa and Daruk as he attempted to contain himself, even as Daruk nervously stroked his neck.

"That- That is a lie," Daruk assured unevenly, his smile full of shame before he could continue, "But we truly did bring a Zora along! I can even go and-"

"Goddess, no!" Banagron made in appeal, twisting his hands in front of him, "I do not wish to disturb them! That said, I'm supremely interested in how that was accomplished."

He stroked his beard, thinking aloud, "If Boldon caught wind of such a thing, he would lose his sediments!"

Daruk laughed, "I suppose he would! We actually- Well, uh-"

He sputtered in place, his eyes scanning the entire area as if only now realizing the suit Robbie had constructed hadn't actually made the trip back.

"Uh, Link?" he uttered under his breath, hoping to conceal such uncertainty from his confidently booming voice, "Where's that suit..?"

Thinking for a moment, Link shrugged in between lowering strips of bacon onto the now-steaming pan, "I would guess it's still on Vah Rudania."

"Ah!" Daruk cried with excitement while he stamped a fist into his open palm, "Banagron! You're returning to the city, are you not? Why not get a band together and head up to The Beast and retrieve it?! Rogaro has always wanted to craft armor for the other peoples of Hyrule- and didn't he have that crazy idea for an armor shop?"

Banagron hummed in thought, "'Ripped and Shredded'? You're right!"

Suddenly with furrowed brow, Daruk nervously took himself back, "That, uh- That is to say, if Robbie doesn't need it back."

He eyed Link warily before spinning further to find Urbosa, who merely shrugged in reply, "That man doesn't strike me as the sentimental type. Even if he were, that suit might as well go to good use; if the Gorons can study and hope to perfect it, I doubt Robbie would mind. That was a goal of his, correct?"

"Daruk! You've left me gob smacked, I'll tell you!" Banagron roared with excitement as he slammed an open hand onto Daruk's shoulder, "As soon as I return, I'll-! Brother- Your shoulder-"

A harrowed expression lay upon the guest's face as he ran his fingers along Daruk's rocky skin, concealed as it was beneath Zelda's handiwork. While out of sight, Banagron could feel the warped portion of stone that seemed unending from his current position.

"Your shoulder is-"

Daruk groaned, timidly sliding the Goron's hand away from him before a ginger grasp clutched at the powder blue fabric that ran across his shoulders. He carefully slid it along, revealing the sickly charred skin there, must to Banagron's terror.

"Goddess!" he spoke in a hushed voice, recoiling, "Brother! What I'll fate has befallen you?!"

Daruk's lips trembled in uncertain shame. He managed a glance toward his two partners, a pride sweltering within him as he breathed a heated breath.

"My friends were in danger," he asserted simply, "To save them, I took what magma I could find, and I allowed it to travel atop my own body."

"B- But-!" Banagron stammered in shock, "Such a thing-! How is it that you sit here, now, speaking to me as though you have not cheated certain death?!"

Daruk lowered his eyes, his brow curling in melancholy while he muttered quietly, "My friends needed me. I simply answered the call."

"Brother…" Banagron uttered in near reverence before pulling away his hand, rising to his feet with an unsteady movement characteristic of a Goron, "I must make haste! The mountain must know of your ordeal!"

Daruk's eyes widened in surprise, "Well, I-"

"Not a problem, Brother!" Banagron reassured gently, taking Daruk's hand into a vicious shake, "I haven't the worth to even be within your presence! You-"

The guest took a shaking breath, "You truly are a Champion of the Gorons."

Daruk's brow rose in surprise by the man's words, all while Banagron hastily gathered his things, "I can assure you, we'll do as you suggested; I'll have that contraption back in the city as soon as possible!"

The Goron took off after sharing a few words with the others, as well as Birro, all while the innkeeper furiously swept at some unkempt collection of dirt from the stable's interior, leaving Daruk to turn back toward his own Company, leaning back against his seat while proudly throwing his hands into the air, tucking them behind his head as he settled in.

"I wish I could say it was difficult receiving praise," he noted smugly, causing Urbosa to unleash a pithy laugh.

Her eyes glanced toward Link, "And here we go."

Daruk laughed, shaking his head, "I'm only joking! Being humble is as much a part of being truly Goron as bringing magnificence to the name itself."

"Speaking of humble," Urbosa spoke up wryly, keeping a scrutinizing stare atop Link, "Somebody's awfully quiet this morning."

Link groaned, forcing Urbosa's grin to spin into a far more mischievous sort of smirk.

"Daruk said you never made it to your bed last night," she noted evilly.

Daruk chuckled, shooting the Hylian a teasing glance himself, "I figured you might have had other…matters to attend to."

"Goddess, spare me," Link sighed as his head dropped in exasperation, "I'm even making your breakfast; I don't think you two need to be-"

Urbosa snapped in sinister interruption, "You didn't drown, did you?"

"Hey hoh!" Daruk blurted out amidst a boisterous laugh, "No buildup- she just goes for the throat!"

Link glared at the Gerudo, a droll tone lining his voice, "I hope your bacon doesn't end up burnt."

With a haughty movement, Urbosa shook her shoulders while sitting up in her seat as though she were prim and proper, raising her head high, "Do your worst, boy."

She smirked devilishly, "I'm not the one aiming to taste Zora for breakfast."

Pinned as he was between his cooking and an inability for rebuttal, Link simply stared at the sizzling pan with sunken eyes while a blush emerged there upon his face, leaving Urbosa to laugh rather childishly, nearly with something of a giggle, joining in with Daruk's humored chortles in chorus with her own.

Link tightened his lips as he desperately attempted to hide his embarrassment, though after a hearty spell, Urbosa began to calm down, shaking her head, "We're only messing with you. At least I caught a glimpse of how truly cute you can be.

"And all I'm catching," Link scowled in reply, "Is just how much like a crotchety old grandma you can be."

Shrugging, Urbosa feigned indifference as she assured simply, "As if I haven't been called worse."

Link shot her a stare, "Then maybe I'll-"

"Hold on," Daruk muttered, his curled brow signaling his confusion, "Why would you be tasting Mipha? Isn't that rather barbaric?"

Immediately strewn about once again by shame, Link clamped up beside the campfire while Urbosa let out another scoffing laugh, "Pfft-! I suppose it would be something unknown to a man of rock."

"Say no more," Daruk assured, "For one so worldly as I, I do believe I understand, now that you mention it that way."

He sent a ginger elbow into Urbosa's arm, winking while Link watched, the Hylian rolling his eyes before returning his attention to his skillet.

"If you say so," Urbosa shrugged, "I'm more interested in whether or not we'll be embarking today. Revali has already gone off for his daily chore, so I wonder if we might as well remain here another day while Mipha reacquaints herself with the world of the walking."

Daruk nodded thoughtfully, "I wonder what Zelda might decide. I wouldn't mind hitting the road again, myself! Making trails across this-!"

"You're not even going to ask him what he meant?" Link suddenly interrupted, still with a revolted look as he stared at Urbosa, "You'd better get on the same page before he, himself, hunts down and licks Mipha's arm or something to get a taste."

Urbosa's eyes tensed with subdued distress, "Boy… You seriously did not stop at licking her arm, did you?"

Flushed once again upon his face, even more so, now, that he had dove into that verbal lash with reckless abandon, Link hushed himself as he stared furiously into the hot pan, simply choosing to ignore the others now. Urbosa chuckled at his continued embarrassment, grinning while turning her attention away, figuring he had endured quite enough, only to find Zelda and Mipha emerging from within the stable.

"Well, well; look who decided to wake up," the Gerudo smiled, "The two princesses, amongst us once again."

Zelda frowned, "What's with the ceremony..?"

"Nothing," Urbosa confirmed as she stood, making a swift stride toward the two women and immediately embracing them, "Nothing at all."

A quizzical expression plastered itself upon Zelda's face as she spun her head against Urbosa's body to find some semblance of a glance toward Mipha, grumbling, "I'm thinking it's not nothing…"

Mipha giggled, enjoying the warmth she had been without for the better part of a week, "If you keep this us, Daruk's gonna want a-"

Without any introduction, Daruk had wormed his way into the group hug himself, stretching his massive arms around the women as he happily regaled, "The Champions are back, baby!"

His bounding leaps in place while still embracing the group sent the collection of bodies asunder, leaving Zelda and Mipha to clutch onto whatever they could to keep from toppling over amidst the giant bodies of Urbosa and Daruk.

"Tch."

Link looked up from his flaming pan to find the source of that very familiar scoff, finding Revali having returned with a bundle of firewood strapped against his chest between his arms, dropping the lot of them to the ground before wiping the tiny bits of bark from his mantle.

"What's their problem?" he wondered aloud in smarmy curiosity, only to himself, though Link still answered.

"Something that Daruk's inclusion turned quite amorphous," Link shrugged while poking at the skillet to keep the food from being scalded in place.

Revali sneered as he picked out the remaining bits of bark from his feathers before groaning as he sat down, shaking his head, "Whatever it might be, hopefully it means a swift exit from this place. My heart longs for the sweet scents of Tabantha."

Keeping to himself, Link simply managed the noisy collection of sizzling breakfast foods, his eyes suddenly jolting up toward the Rito for no other reason than having caught sight of something in his peripheral vision. Sure enough, Revali had strung across his chest the same powder blue fabric as the others, leaving Link curious as to how such a thing had been accomplished in the first place.

"What?" Revali spat out suddenly, "I can appreciate you admiring greatness, but staring is still wholly impolite, Hylian."

Link didn't reply, though he reached up to grab at his collar, tugging at his shirt, which sent Revali's attention down to his chest, following the fabric that wove around his torso from overtop his shoulder, frowning, "What of it?!"

Shrugging, Link replied lowly, "Nothing. Just didn't take you for the type to wear just anything given to you by anybody."

"Pah. Shows what you truly know, whelp," Revali scoffed, turning his attention elsewhere as Link returned to his cooking.

Listening only with slight interest to the conversation of the others, Link focused mostly on the meal, deciding not to bother ruining Urbosa's portion, while he began carefully pulling the bacon, eggs, and assorted bits of potatoes onto an awaiting place, not bothering to divvy up the meal into sixths, as that responsibility could be done by another more willing to answer the questions of not having received enough, mostly by Daruk. Almost meticulously, however, Link began pouring the assortments of spices into the waiting palm of his hand, taking only pinches at a time before carefully seasoning the feast-like portion, his attention set only on ensuring the food was-

"She's not anybody."

Link's brow raised as his eyes did what they could to peer up toward Revali while keeping his head low, feigning uninterest as Revali muttered those words. He wondered, silently, what Revali must have thought of that sacred act of resurrection for him to wear anything foreign given to him by the Princess of Hyrule, no less. Despite an insatiable need to discover more, however, Link remained silent while doling out the remaining bits of seasoning, lost more on his thoughts than the culinary task at hand.

"OH! I can smell it!" Daruk charged with a boisterous tone, leaving the women for the savory-smelling delights by the campfire, "Well done, Brother!"

Link shrugged, "It's no big deal, really. The cooking, anyway. I'm usually more concerned with making not-soup and whomever has to separate the portions."

"Hmm," Daruk nodded, knowing better than to suggest himself by this point, "How about Mipha? She's always perfect for the task, and what a better way to return to the forefront?!"

Mipha smiled, giggling fondly at Daruk's reverence for her meticulous sense of division, before slowly stepping toward the food, "I suppose I could try my best to keep the bowls equal, perhaps according to each of our sizes."

"HMM!" Daruk hummed loudly in anticipation, forcing a look of antipathy upon Link's face, "Brother, have you any idea the amount of food needed to maintain this Goron engine?"

Link tilted his head inquirously, "How many stomachs do you actually have, again?"

Daruk turned away in bashful relegation as Urbosa spoke up, taking charge, "Alright, alright; enough of that. We're all hungry- Mipha, just get that divvied up, if you don't mind. Now-"

The Gerudo crossed her arms, taking a moment to pause as her eyes scanned the group before her, The Champions, as a smirk crossed her face before turning her attention back toward Zelda, "It's plain as day by now, but you all know that you've been given different garments, hand-made by Zelda, and-"

Nearly in a panic as such recognition, Zelda slammed a shoulder into Urbosa's side, crying out quietly up toward her surrogate mother, "Urbosa!"

Raising an open hand to calm Zelda down, Urbosa continued, "Well, there's another surprise that only I am privy to…"

Despite her insistent plea for Urbosa to stop, Zelda suddenly turned curious as she pulled away, lips pursed in inquiry as she spoke up, "..what?"

Urbosa smirked knowingly as she reached out a hand, snapping a finger in Revali's direction, "Yoo hoo! Revali! Can you toss me that satchel, there?"

Frowning at such a impotent task, Revali nonetheless acquiesced, swinging a hand low to find the nearby bag, "I want some of your portion for this."

He tossed the bag toward her, only for Urbosa to scoff in reply, "Pfft, not a chance. Anyway- Now, Zelda, I know why you felt it necessary to create these, but-"

"Urbosa…" Zelda spoke up lowly, a shiver in her voice, "You don't have to-"

"I think I do," the Gerudo managed matter-of-factly, "Now, I think there are some misconceptions going around in that head of yours, princess, and now that we're all here, it's time to put some of that to rest, alright?"

Before Zelda could retort, Urbosa reached into the bag, pulling out another article of clothing, this one the same powder blue as all the others, causing Zelda's brow to fall in confusion while also causing her pause.

"I borrowed some of what you had left once I realized what you were up to," Urbosa smiled, "I won't pretend I have much of an idea of what I was doing, but- Hopefully it'll work."

She dropped the satchel to allow her a chance to grasp the shoulders of the plain shirt, unadorned as all the others had been, perhaps due to Urbosa's inabilities within the realm of handiwork, though it still matched all the others, and by Urbosa's eye, seemed to fit.

"After what we've gone through in just this last month or so- You no longer must burden yourself as a Princess leading a band of people," Urbosa grinned, turning her attention toward the others, "We're not your subject to whom you're beholden to, nor expected to protect. We're a Company. a Company of Champions. But even more than that-"

The Gerudo returned to find Zelda's face sunken in anguished realization, smiling as she reached over to swipe a loving thumb across Zelda's cheek, "We're just about family, now. Aren't we?"

Her words had been intended for Zelda to answer, but in a sudden rush of ozone, Daruk's raucous breath seemed to shake the atmosphere surrounding the entire group as he roared, "WAH HA HA! Indeed we are!"

Zelda watched him with trembling eyes, ready to tear up as Daruk smiled softly, "For you, Zelda- For any of you, really- I would make the journey up until this moment all over again."

Urbosa grinned maternally as Zelda dropped her shoulders, listlessly bringing her arms up as she shook her head, "Y- You can't- say that and not hug me…"

"D'aaw," Daruk smiled warmly, stepping up toward her before taking her into a gentle embrace, "When you gave me this, you went on about hiding my injuries, but- These rough marks will go away soon enough. What won't remain is my ability to so proudly proclaim to the whole of Hyrule that it was all for you that I managed to withstand these scars."

Zelda shivered in an amalgamous mixture of happiness and anguish, managing to only mutter weakly, "D- Daruk…"

"Hey, I'm far more than a mouth to be fed," he chuckled brightly, pulling away from his embrace only to allow him a chance for his warm smile to be met by her watery eyes, "I'm not wearing this- I suppose it's a cape, really- I'm not wearing it to hide anything. I'm wearing it so that the whole of Hyrule can see that I had the most wonderfully lucky opportunity to travel alongside this gaggle of crazy people."

A broken chuckle found its way through Zelda's tears as she wiped away her face.

"Hmm," Urbosa mused, "I hadn't thought of it that way. I was simply thinking of forcing Zelda's inclusion, but it is sort of like a uniform in some way, huh?"

Daruk's mouth widened in amazement, "Oh! How regal-sounding!"

At his childish reply, Urbosa smirked, turning toward the others, "Well?"

Mipha smiled, nodding sweetly as she ignored her culinary task in exchange for a careful bow in Zelda's direction, "This journey has given me moments I never could have hoped to experience otherwise. None more special than those nights where we've been sitting along the fire, complaining or discussion or telling stories."

She gave a muted giggle, "I would be honored to count myself one amongst this Company."

Zelda's tears covered her smile as she found Link next, the soldier watching with a listless expression, as if he were having serious doubts about such a thing, though Zelda already knew it was merely a game.

Sure enough, Link shrugged, "What the hell. You've won me over once, already. I shouldn't hedge my bets for the second time."

Taking in a deep, sniffling breath through her nose, Zelda dropped her head, her mind awash with memories of their relationship. For such a tumultuous beginning that saw death as a probable escape from this soldier, Link had become something of a magnificent friend to her, his simple acceptance of this strange collection of people only magnifying how close of friends they had become.

"Hey now," Link muttered softly as he stepped toward her, embracing her as Daruk had done, "You don't know if this fabric will stain."

Zelda gave him a swift kick before releasing a series of choking laughs, "Shut up."

Patting her back, Link assured her solemnly, "You're going to do great things. Destiny always arrives. one way or another."

Burying her face against him, both to wipe away her tears as well as making an attempt at him eating his earlier joke, Zelda nodded against his shoulder, "Alright."

He pulled away, patting her shoulder heartily before stepping away, knowing the final member of the Company to be the most difficult of the troupe to win over. An expectant series of glances made their way toward Revali, who had remained seating, watching the entire emotional affair with ambivalent eyes. He didn't appear disgusted, but his expression was something of a mystery to the others.

His beak turned only momentarily, his eyes peered up from his slightly downturned attention as they examined Zelda from afar, as though he were sizing her up. Link thought of those words he had muttered a moment ago, thinking of their meaning, even while glancing over toward Urbosa to find a hardened stare upon Revali from her. Revali slowly made his way to his feet, stepping closer to the group with an almost sickeningly slow gait, his eyes staring over Zelda like a man possessed behind such intense thought.

"I will not hug you," he suddenly shot out, to the surprise of nobody, though his brow, curling narrow as if in realization, did bring confusion to the others as they watched him stop a few paces apart from Zelda.

"But-" he paused, allowing himself a final chance to escape this moment, only for him to continue, "-I will follow you."

Zelda's face nearly gushed as her body sunk for a moment, those words weakening her legs as she worked out behind her tears, "Revali, it's so difficult to not hug you right now."

"I would tremendously appreciate the restraint," he bit back, returning almost preemptively to his usual temperament.

Working an arm across her face, Zelda turned up to Urbosa, smiling, "I, uh- All this has left me pretty hungry, so-"

"Then we'd best get to eating," Urbosa agreed with a nod, "Wearing these scars so proudly- This truly is our first meal as Champions."

A clench fist pumping into the air, Daruk proclaimed, "Yes!"

Link reminded simply, "That's not an invitation to become an eating champion."

"Bah! I know that!" Daruk charged in reply, before grinning expectantly, "That's for when we return to Hyrule Kingdom with a feast awaiting us! I can taste it now… Sautéed veggies, roasted boar ribs, rock sirloin- Hey, you think I could even get to taste how Zoras are?"

Mipha's eyes widened in shock as Link cleared his throat, "I don't, uh- No."

He shared a cautious glance with Mipha before a meandering shrug left the Zora with something resembling the wary relief of not being eaten. She quickly worked the portions out to give Daruk a quick avenue to eat before working out the other bowls of food, Revali's ambivalent attitude leaving him apart from the group and, by virtue, last in line. Link glanced toward him, still thinking of those words, until Mipha handed him his bowl.

"Thanks," he smiled.

Mipha nodded, sharing a bright grin of her own as Link stepped away to continue the line, though instead of stopping to eat, himself, he strode purposefully over toward Revali, catching the Rito's scornful stare as he did so.

Revali's eyes narrowed in scrutiny as Link approached, his arms curled across his chest as he sneered in disgust of the Hylian's approach, though his entire face suddenly flinched out from that woeful state as Link reached the bowl out toward him.

"Here," Link ordered.

Revali watched him, critiquing the entire gesture, before Link spoke up again, "Just take it, alright? You helped me, so- Here."

"Yes, breakfast should leave us quite square," Revali scoffed.

Fighting the urge to retaliate, Link left his arm extended, muttering, "Look, just-"

Revali kept his eyed glued onto the man, his suspicion roused, wondering what this Hylian's game was. Despite whatever history they had up until now, Revali wasn't about to loosen his caution simply over a bowl of food.

His eyes slanted in curiosity as Link's head wandered away, his voice leaving him as something of a hollowed echo, "She isn't just anybody."

The Rito remained stagnant.

Link watched the landscape at his side, wholly uninterested in taking a glance at Revali while standing there, though his attention was stolen with blistering speed as the Rito suddenly took the bowl, nearly yanking it free from Link's clutch while the Hylian watched with concealed astonishment.

"Thanks," was all Revali said before he turned away, strolling toward a seat that wasn't so close to the man who had just brough him his meal.

Link watched him move away, rather torn on how he now felt about the man who had so much venom behind his words, though who so gallantly took Link to his lover's side for only the most unfathomable audiences of a resurrection.

He remained curious as he returned to the others. As uncertain of that man as he was of the journey to come.