"Stiff upper-beak, Revali," Urbosa wryly instructed, patting a powerful hand atop his back.

Unable to catch his reaction, she felt the air surrounding the Champions begin to boil. In anticipation of their arrival, Revali had taken the cloak over his head, hunched over to better obscure his beak, while holding his arms together within the outfit's sleeves, the dragging length of material completing the effect. In this way, he was fully concealed, unless somebody were to contort themselves in some hellish way, however-

"Gah!" he complained, having strode to the left on the path, running into Daruk's swinging arm, "Careful you fool!"

"Hey, don't talk to the princess that way!" Urbosa accused with a smirk.

Unable to see with his head hung low, Revali instantly shuddered, his voice breaking into a stammer, "I-! I-!"

"Urbosa, quit it," Zelda sighed, her voice signaling the discrepancy in her position, "So long as you're playing an elderly man, it wouldn't look out of place for one of us to guide you along, so- Whenever we're walking, make sure he's cared for."

She felt his disdain, "Okay, not cared for, but- Watched over, I suppose. The last thing we need is one of the citizenry to lunge over with a helping hand only to find his plumage beneath that cloak."

Patting where his head had been lowered in his hunched position, Zelda asked with a pang of worry in her trembling voice, "You sure you've got this?"

"Pah! As if this would be any difficulty for Revali!" he seethed, almost courageously, while sputtering in the third person.

"Good, 'cause here comes one of them," Mipha noted with apprehension, sending a visible jolt through Revali's body.

Zelda put on a smile as she waved, speaking through tight lips as though she were a ventriloquist, "Just stay cal-"

"Hello there!" came a boisterous voice, an older man stumbling his way down the hill toward the troupe, "Welcome to Dangarnon! We, uh-"

The man paused, eying Revali with confusion, "Are they- Do you need some help?"

"N- No!" Zelda assured quickly, "We've got-"

The man aimed a thumb over his shoulder, "We've got some strapping young men who can-"

Zelda cleared her throat with a guttural tone, speaking with as much authority as she could muster, "That won't be necessary. I have with me some of the finest warriors this world has to offer, and it would upset them to see their responsibilities overtaken from them."

She turned around, nodding toward Link, "Wouldn't it?"

Taking in a sharp breath, Link sighed before grumbling to himself, stepping to Revali's side to hold him up, sending a disgusted shiver down the Rito's body.

"I see," the man smiled, running his fingers nervously through his hair as his eyes wandered off, "My apologies. We do things diff'rently around here, so-"

"Nonsense; there's no need for apology," Zelda replied with a smile of her own, "I'm Zelda, Princess of-"

She offered her hand, the man swiftly accepting with a handshake of his own as he stymied her introduction, "Oh, we're quite aware of you, my lady. I'm Kobah; one of the, I guess, de facto elders of this settlement, even in middle age. It's a small place, so there aren't many elders of any sort, we're you to count, so-"

He pulled his hand away, smiling fondly, "It's just my wife and son, and a few other families."

"I see," Zelda nodded, "I understand the importance of familial ties, myself. I'm currently escorting my grandfather, here, across the countryside to catch the sights and sounds of the Kingdom before he passes."

Kobah's eyes lit up as he zeroed in on Revali, stepping toward him with an open hand, "Grandfather? Well allow me, my liege, to extend my heartiest-"

"Oh no!" Zelda piped up immediately, throwing her hands up in surrender as Lobah paused, turned toward her with afright, "He's, uh-! He's my maternal grandfather- He's not-! He actually hates being treated as anything resembling royalty!"

"Oh!" Kobah replied in apology, "I'm sorry, sir. I'll just-"

He pittered away as Zelda took a deep breath, reassuring him as Urbosa gave a swift elbow into Revali's side, chuckling softly, "We may yet get you through this, old man."

Another fury-laden trembling beneath the cloak.

"I do wish you had given advance notice; we might have been able to better accommodate such a large troupe of travelers," Kobah muttered ashamedly, even as Zelda gave an assuring smile.

"Fret not," she nodded, "We do not mean to impose. Given the encroaching nightfall, however, a simple roof over our heads for the night would be all the welcome we require."

With good humor, Kobah scoffed, allowing a grin to spread across his face as he turned back toward the settlement, "With all due respect, my lady, our local bog mushrooms are, perhaps, the best amenity we have. I doubt you'll make it too far into your rest before being offered some dinner."

"Did-" Daruk spoke up, raising a finger in interjection, "Dinner..?"

Zelda's eyes shifted in worry, having not considered much in the way of interaction beyond getting to a place to stay. Still, their plan had gone about as well as possible, she considered; however, she knew to be prudent when this far ahead of the-

"I would love some!" Daruk roared happily, forcing an open hand to find itself plastered across Urbosa's face.

"Splendid!" Kobah exclaimed, "Those mushrooms are hearty enough to sate even a Goron, I assure you. Not to mention, our most talented hand has been preparing the meal herself. Plus, I would be remiss were I to greet the Princess without my wife and son being able to say the same."

Thinking of her duty, as well as the underlying reason for this visit, Zelda sighed in defeat, bowing her head lowly, "We would be honored to partake in a meal."

She could feel the hair at the back of her neck raise as Revali's disdain reverberated across the breaths of air separating the two.

"That would make Motom quite delighted. He's the oldest among us, that is to say- Our true village elder," Kobah nodded, waving the Company along as he turned up the hill, leaving Zelda to hurry up to his side as he worked the arthritis through his knees, "And speaking of names, my son is Lamim- he's a real firecracker of a young man, if you catch my meaning. Very quick to act, with all the smarts to keep such an attribute from becoming a detriment."

He nervously tangled his fingers in his hair as he muttered along, "At least, sometimes. He's still a tad impulsive, but he's a mere teenager, so I'm doing my best to rear him properly. After my family, there's Tumon's ilk; his son, Ica, is best friends with my son; the third of those boys is Kalu, whom is from Ecik's family."

Nodding along in recollection, as though these fragments of memory were working their way ever deeper into his mind, Kobah took a moment to press on, "Our chef for this evening, Ahie- she's the last of her family, but she's been married to Rabil, so I often just assimilate the two into the same family. They've been trying to start a family of their own, but-"

He cleared his throat, realizing he'd gone too far, before meandering his way to a satisfactory conclusion, "That is, to say- There are a couple other players, but those would be the most notable of our families here. The Nangah family's line probably precedes the very founding of this settlement, and Dossi's brood are tireless workers; they're some to be quite proud of out here when the going gets rough."

Zelda smiled, "I get the feeling you could talk of the people of Dangarnon even further than you already have."

"Well, I mean-" Kobah chuckled, still scratching his head, now in embarrassment, "I grew up believing I was nothing more than my place of birth. Then I met my wife, and we had a son- That day changed my life in many more ways than any of the broken bones in my body. At least with a broken leg, you may have to learn to walk again, differently than you used to- After my son arrived, it, uh-"

A mournful smile crossed his face, "You know. Everything about your life just changes. Dangarnon is just a place- a rather tumultuous place, at that. but my son is- That's my child. Why would I want for him the same troubling life that I've had to endure?"

He chuckled, raising his shoulders in a shrug, "I suppose that does, uh- make Dangarnon sound rather undesirable. I don't mean to sound ungrateful or anything; we're about as tight-knit of a small community as you'll find."

"No, you didn't sound ungrateful at all," Zelda smiled, "Despite my age, I'm not blind to the unwieldy relationship between the Kingdom and Dangarnon. I know it's been hard enough being so far removed from the Castle, yet seemingly forgotten and given little in the way of help."

She smiled weakly, as if knowing it to be her own responsibility to make amends, "While this trip was meant to simply be a brief one- I would very much like to at least attempt something in the way of improved relations. I fear my father, and his ancestors, might have forgotten that those blips on our map aren't simply tokens- they're people, like you, and those of whom you speak so highly of."

Kobah smiled, "I mean- Such sentiments will make quite a lot of my neighbors quite happy to hear. so long as they can put aside their pride for a moment. There are a few who enjoy the tepid sovereignty we have more or less constructed around us; they see it as a symbol of our resilience in the face of our own Kingdom's might being sent elsewhere. In many ways, out here, so far out along the Ridge, Dangarnon is Hyrule Kingdom in many respects."

"I can't say I don't understand such a sentiment," Zelda sighed, coming to terms with the idea of this prospect of mending fences not being as simple as she might have expected, "But if I could at least set a foundation, hopefully soon enough, it will be a stable sort of place for your son to come into his own."

Kobah chuckled, smoothing out his thin beard as his fingers stroked his chin, "You know, of all the Kingdom's messengers and soldiers who've ever come this far- Patience was never a defining attribute."

"Well," Zelda replied, allowing a wry sort of smile, "I'd like to think I'm more of a mediator than anything else, even if some of my cohorts might think otherwise."

Urbosa nodded, patting Revali's back, "Your grandfather, for one, possibly."

Zelda bit her teeth, though Kobah only laughed in reply, crossing his arms as the group began to step into the small village of Dangarnon. All the 'town' was, beyond its miniscule town square which amounted to very little, was a collection of ramshackle boroughs, having all been seemingly worn down to very little in the previous decades. Zelda's brow fell regretfully at the state of this place; even the mighty watchtower had grown into such disrepair that such a moniker as 'mighty' had long failed to apply to the building.

"Welcome to Dangarnon," Kobah smiled as best he could, "I suppose, unless you wanted to take a look around, we could head over to Rabil's home; it's already getting- Hey!"

The Champions' intrigue piqued as Kobah groaned, stepping off toward the edge of the township as a group of bodies run along the cobblestone square, hidden as they were by the encroaching darkness. The middle-aged man's voice immediately caught them in a petrified state, however, leaving Kobah to frown as he took the two boys by the shoulders.

"Dad!" Lam spoke up in a fright, "We were just-!"

Kobah frowned, "Just not in the tower, looks like."

"Kalu 'n I were just- By the goddess!" Lam exclaimed, peering over his father's shoulder, "Is that her?!"

His father growled with low dismay at his son's flighty train of thought, leaving Kobah to pull his son closer, "If I let you meet her, now, do you promise to stay up in that tower until morning?"

"Y- Yeah, of course!" Lam rushed to reply, scurrying about in his fathers clutches, "She's really a member of royalty?"

At his son's insistence, given his promise, Kobah allowed the two boys to leave his grasp, sighing in answer as he turned about with a grave motion, muttering, "Yes, about as close as one can be. Now, you two behave yourselves, alright? I don't want-"

"Woah!" Kalu suddenly spoke up, his excitement betraying his natural introversion, "and that's a Goron?"

Kobah bit his lip, understanding, right then, just how distant these children were from much of anything beyond Dangarnon. The father nodded in agreeable regret, hiding his dismay at his son's birthright of having to grow up here.

"Yes," was all he could muster.

Thankfully, Daruk was quick to carry the mantle, throwing his arms up in flexation, "Bwah HA! Now that is what I'm talking about! How about I swing you around so you can experience true Goron might, eh?!"

"No, thank you," Kobah sighed, concealing his displeasure at this entire meeting, "These two were just getting to their assignments this evening… If you don't mind, my lady, their insistence; they've never met one of royalty before."

Despite Zelda's presence, Kalu was far more intrigued by the other races amongst her Company, particularly Daruk, yet he still found hasty moments of greeting when it came to Mipha and Urbosa, the latter of which was quick to shoo him once he strayed dangerously close to Revali.

"Now, watch it," she frowned, her open hand fluttering toward Kalu, "Papa Bosphoramus does not like to be handled."

Kalu's eyes narrowed at Urbosa's hold of the hunched man's frame, leaving Urbosa to continue with feigned certainty, "Unless he knows you. Then you can smack him around all you-"

A vicious blow struck Urbosa's side as Revali grit his teeth.

"W- Wow," Lam muttered in awe, holding out a hand for Zelda to accept in a handshake, "I, uh- I never thought I'd meet a member of the Royal Family before."

Zelda smiled contentedly, shaking his hand, "Well, hopefully, once I return to the Castle, there will be more opportunities for you all to meet with us."

"Alright, that's enough, boys," Kobah chided, pulling Lam away while Kalu noticeably stepped away in tandem, "Motom'll be upset to know you spent so much time out here, so you'd best get a move on, alright? Once dinner's been prepared, I'll come and get Ica for his meeting, so you two have no excuses for leaving your post, got it?"

"Yeah, yeah," Lam complained with the vocal breath of a teenager, "You can let me go- I'm not a kid, dad!"

Kobah's brow raised with intrigue, "Leaving your post during an assignment? Is that was adults do these days?"

Kalu tried to hide a snicker at his friend's being berated, leaving Lam to pull away toward the tower with his head hung low, having once again felt the sting of his father's critiquing words.

"Now, get along, you two," Kobah repeated, "I'll make sure you get your dinner."

The two boys sauntered off, Kalu taking a teasing swipe at Lam once the two faded far enough away for their words to vanish before reaching the others. Kobah ran a hand across his face as he returned his hosting attention back toward Zelda and her accompaniment.

"My apologies," he sighed, "Of course it's during your visit that things go wrong."

Zelda smiled, bowing her head in understanding, "It's quite alright. I'm just happy to have seen how excited they were to see us."

Kobah grinned lightly in reply, though his face quickly fell once Link's voice broke his focus upon his royal guest, "What assignment are a few teenagers on?"

His eyes glazed over in thought, Kobah considered what to say, having already thought of a few rebuttals before their arrival, simply answering with, "It's become tradition by this point. We haven't been victim of any Rito incursions in quite some time, but- It helps the young ones build character."

Link nodded in understanding, "I see. Good to toughen them up."

"Yes," Kobah agreed, his mind now locked upon that possibility of any number of moments on this night when a possible encounter could arise.

"Anyway," the man nodded, thankful for an out, "Allow me to lead you to Rabil's home. Dinner should be ready soon."

Daruk happily smiled, raising his hands with wiggling fingers as he anticipated the menu, "Oh! Well that does sound delightful! I would hate to keep you from continuing to be a wonderful host!"

"Hehe," Kobah chuckled, "Your rocky body betrays how soft your heart is, my good man. Please, allow me."

"Dude! Dudedude!" Lam yelled with elation as he sprinted up the final steps of the watchtower, catching Ica's porous attention as the portly teen shot a surprised glance toward the encroaching friend.

"What?!" Ica shot back, "You got 'em, right?!"

Sliding to a stop along the coarse wood of the tower floor, Lam suddenly recalled his and Kalu's reason for leaving in the first place, turning his head down to his pockets before stopping himself, "No! I mean, we get 'em, but I can't get 'em for you."

"What?!" Ica repeated, turning to Kalu, "He didn't eat any of them, did he?!"

Lam groaned, "No; I'm not that stupid. Look-"

He reached out his right hand, which Ica glared at with disinterest, turning his eyes back up toward Lam's face, "Those pellets weren't invisible, dumbass."

"Just- Shut up!" Lam fired back, waving his hand in place, "Look! Notice anything?!"

Ica rolled his eyes, "Yeah, that you didn't-!"

"We met the Princess!" Lam interjected with excitement.

With the quickness of a octorok, Ica's expression flung itself from frustration to astonishment, "Get. out."

"Look!" Lam insisted once again, "She shook my hand!"

Ica's jaw dropped as he stood up to appraise the skin upon his friend's hand, "Dude… Why didn't you say so?! We oughta be worshipping your hand; don't you dare pull out any of that ammunition! I'll-"

His eyes narrowed with suspicion, "She wasn't… you know…"

Lam's eyes glistened, "She was the prettiest person I've ever seen."

"Like you've seen anybody out here…" Kalu complained.

"Oh, hush; it's the thought that counts," Lam explained, returning his attention to Ica wholly enamored by his palm, "Like, I can't wash my hand ever again, right?"

Ica watched him, stunned, "Why would you even think that?!"

"I didn't! I just wasn't sure," Lam replied with deepening uncertainty, "But, I mean, I've gotta help you two keep watch 'n all."

"Pfft, screw that," Ica interceded, quickly reaching for Lam's pocket, shoving his hand inside to retrieve the bullets he and Kalu had gone to procure, "You're a god, man! I'd bow if it weren't so creepy!"

Now a bit addled by his friend's reverence, Lam chuckled nervously, "I mean, it's not that big of a deal…"

Ica turned his attention to Kalu, "She was pretty, right?"

Lacking much of any amusement, Kalu stood still for a moment before finally nodding his head, "I suppose so, yes."

"HA!" Ica shouted, "That's the test! She must be gorgeous if even he thinks so!"

Lam rolled his eyes as Ica pulled away, dumping the small cache of stone pellets into a small box he had brought with him, "When do I get to meet her?!"

"Dad said whenever dinner's ready, he'll come trade you out," Lam explained simply, "Kalu 'n I are outta chances, though."

Ica gleefully leapt in place, "Dude! I get to see the Princess! That's endless eons of those Kingdom dogs finding only the most beautiful of Hylian women all condensed into one person! That's, like, adaptation to the extreme!"

Kalu grumbled in retort, "Evolution, you dolt. And seriously, if you do anything weird down there, I'll make sure Kobah ain't the only one smacking you around."

Rolling his head along his shoulders, Ica replied sarcastically, "Oh yeah, like I'd do something stupid."

"I'm serious," Kalu warned further, "She seems legitimately invested in our village."

"Yeah, yeah; that's what they always say," Ica answered in a droll enough fashion, turning back toward the wide-open segment of tower wall that had been destroyed, leaving a wholly open window overlooking the wide expanse of Hyrule Ridge leading toward Tabantha, "Kobah said it himself. We're in charge of our own destinies; if we want to leave this place, we have to strike when we can."

Kalu rolled his eyes, softly hitting a fist against Lam's arm to gain his attention, "You know it's bad when he starts waxing poetic…"

"Oh, shut up," Ica frowned for a moment, his thoughts only raising his lips back up into a smirk as he proclaimed, "Just watch. If any Rito decides to even take a scenic flight near enough, I'll show the Princess just how much of a catch I am- by catching a Rito of my own!"

Lam grumbled, "That's literally the worst idea."

"Yeah, only 'cause you weren't the one who thought to bring the proper equipment," Ica smirked, patting the crudely made bow he had strapped around his shoulder, "Marksmen are sexy, right?"

Lam threw his arms up in uncertainty, "How would we know?!"

Frustrated with the sudden impediment in his thinking, Ica simply turned back toward the Tabantha plains before him, patting the bow as it strode down along his side.

"Guess we'll just have to find out when the Princess leaps into my arms after I bag one of those demons," he spoke with an impetuous spirit.

Kalu leaned closer to Lam, whispering, "He couldn't hit a tree with that thing…"

"I heard that!"