The Champions filed neatly into the small hovel of a home that made up Rabil and Ahie's flimsy abode, leaving Zelda with a crooked brow, horrified to find the squalor that had been left to these hard-working people this far amongst the outreaches of the Kingdom. She stepped carefully into the one-room shack, where only a few accouchements had been sat out. Besides the small area near the fireplace, where a rather decent kitchen setup had been erected, there was little else beyond the two tables that must have been moved in here and slid against one another for room.

Kobah remained silent as he left her Company near the entryway, shuffling deeper into the small home nearing another man, who had already been sitting at the head of the table, leaving Kobah to lean over in order to speak into the man's ear.

Zelda's eyes took wary glances along the landscape, not even finding a bed beyond a small bassinet that stood in the corner, having clearly been constructed from other structures of wood, evidenced by its entirely disorganized pattern of woodworking.

"Still hungry?" Urbosa muttered pithly, speaking in a whisper to Daruk as they shared the same experience as Zelda, leaving Daruk frowning lowly in regret.

Kobah stood up, nodding attentively toward the woman in the corner, tending to the various pots and pans sitting along the top of the fireplace, before turning his attention back toward Zelda, "Please, come on in and take a seat! I apologize for the delay."

"No need," Zelda assured warily, "We're the guests, after all. Thank you, both, for having us."

The man at the head of the table didn't reply. His head remained low, seemingly staring only at the silverware sat out atop the table before him.

With his disinterest, Ahie took the initiative, wiping her hand feverishly against her apron as she stammered, "I- It's nothing, I assure you… Thank you for finding us worthy of your audience."

She took a temperate step toward the Company before bowing her head, "I'm Ahie. This is my husband- uh, Rabil."

Her hand had shifted toward him in presentation, though the man remained silent, failing to move at all at his name being spoken aloud.

"Well, it's an honor to meet the two of you," Zelda smiled, turning to Urbosa, "Uh, if you don't mind, my grandfather probably needs a seat."

Speaking lowly, turning her head to conceal her voice, Urbosa complained, "He's gonna need something else if this goes on too long."

Sighing, Zelda took a moment to lower her head, reconsidering this entire series of events with a wrinkled forehead, only recovering as Mipha gentle patted her shoulders while passing her to join the others at the table.

"It'll be okay," the Zora assured, giving Zelda a reason to smile, however weakly.

Link followed suit, elbowing her arm in a placid motion as he followed along, leaving Zelda and Daruk last to find their spots along the table. Kobah took a deep breath, relieved by something Zelda couldn't exactly put her finger on, before turning back to Ahie once she returned her attention back to dinner.

"If you'd like, I can-"

"It's nothing to worry about," Ahie interrupted coldly, "I can handle the preparations. We're still waiting for Motom, after all."

Nodding, Kobah agreed, turning back toward the Princess to remind her, "Our town elder, of course."

"Absolutely! It would be to my displeasure not to have him present for dinner," Zelda answered, not entirely certain where her verbose language had been hidden all these years.

Daruk had been carefully turning his body from side to side, having forgone a chair entirely, examining the decrepit room surrounding them before leaning closer toward Link, whispering.

"That bassinet is empty…"

Link shut his eyes, "Then don't bring it up."

The Goron's eyes peered across the room in a jolting motion, "But… This place is kind of…creepy?"

"We're not here to do anything beyond getting through this meal," Link noted plainly, "This is Zelda's mission, not ours. We're here to support and keep that bird under wraps."

Link eyed Mipha, sitting across from him, as she took a quiet moment to examine the ramshackle home herself, her shoulders closing in toward her chest as she grew as uncomfortable as Daruk had been.

For her part, Zelda hadn't a clue what to say, herself. These were obviously conditions of squalor, but there weren't any preclusions that such a state wasn't entirely normal for these people of Dangarnon. Should she extend her sympathies? or would that merely offend them? Perhaps they were entirely aware of how awful these conditions were, and Zelda not speaking to them only made her appear blind to their plight? Some of what Kobah mentioned seemed to hint toward the latter, but his silent muttering to Rabil, not to mention the man's silence, seemed to place him in stark contrast to the underlyingly hopeful man whom had brought them all into town.

Lost as she was in her thoughts, her fixation was broken as Urbosa spoke up, her body turned toward the head of the table as she addressed Ahie, "It certainly smells good, whatever you're whipping up over there. Kobah mentioned the local delicacy- said you were the best at working mushrooms."

Zelda wondered if that wasn't Urbosa simply instructing her.

Ahie allowed a brief smile to cross her face, "W- Well, I wouldn't go so far as to say that, but- I've spent- Most of us have spent our entire lives working with the mushrooms from the bog, so- it's more or less second nature."

"We obviously don't have much in the way of mushrooms out in the desert. We have some zapshrooms in the Highlands, but those are a pain in the ass to get," Urbosa explained with a shrug.

Kobah chuckled, "These aren't all that easy to acquire, either. They grow in the ground like any other mushroom, but the bog's murky waters do a number to solidify them in place, all but gluing them to the ground. It takes quite a lot of strength, not only to pick one, but if you're hoping to feed a village, you'll need more than that. What we'll be having tonight, in fact, was harvested just earlier today by Lam, Kalu, and Ica- two of them you met outside."

"Ah, the youngsters," Urbosa nodded with a glint of recollection dipping into her eyes, "Perhaps when we're finished with our little pilgrimage, I could try my hand at harvesting."

With a wistful grin, Kobah nodded in agreement, "I would very much enjoy watching a Gerudo such as you try her hand at it. I've always fancied myself up to the task, but-"

He ran a finger down the side of his thigh, "Tore up this bone, here. Screwed up both my wrists and elbows. Of course, you're little less than twice my own size, so-"

Chuckling at the thought, he suddenly released an empty sigh, "I could use some perspective, though, I suppose; even at my age."

Kobah pointed a thumb toward Rabil, "He'd have to show you, though; he's made it much farther than I did, fightin' those buggers."

Urbosa's attention having turned toward Rabil, the stoic-laced man slowly dropped his head toward the table, a fingernail absent-minded in its stroking at the wooden surface.

"There's a finesse to it."

Rolling her eyes with exasperation, Urbosa mused, "Ah, of course. I'm many things, but graceful hasn't ever been one of them."

"You gotta be smart out here," Rabil muttered quietly, "You won't get far if yer only lookin' out for your own self interests."

Zelda's discomfort grew palpable, rumbling in her gut as she sat there with a silence exuding upon the others with how uncharacteristic it was.

It must have reverberated across the air against Kobah himself, the older man wrinkling his forehead with apprehension while he spoke up, "Y'know, Ahie, that all smells wonderful. Is it ready, perhaps?"

She eyed him in wondering incredulity, "It's been ready, but- Motom isn't-"

"If, eh, you wouldn't mind," Kobah nervously chuckled, "I think our guests are hungry enough. He'll understand."

Ahie watched the middle-aged man with a quizzical look on her face, taking only a moment to do so before returning to the pots-worth of mushrooms that had all been done up a variety of ways, "Uh- Alright, then…"

Her brow curled in thought as her eyes stretched to the edge of her vision, wondering about Kobah's insistence, though she only bit her tongue, doing only as suggested. She went about her preparation, with something of a rush, now that the thought of leaving the Princess hungry had been left at the top of her mind.

"Splendid!" Daruk spoke up with a smile, "It does smell wonderful, I must say, as well!"

Ahie shook her head, still aquiver at the thought of somehow mishandling the time to present the food, "I- It's nothing, really…"

Sensing her stress, Kobah only gave a lighthearted reply in her stead, "She's quite humble, as you've seen. But, please, tell me-"

He leaned casually against the table, resting an arm across its breadth, "I'm interested, seeing how this Gerudo here would like to return- Perhaps some of all your people's foods might be a nice change of pace, if any of you had the inclination to visit again in the future."

Chuckling knowingly, under his breath, Kobah went on, "Most of us are quite wary of outsiders in general, particularly those of other races. The Rito across the chasm don't offer much in the way of goodwill, I must say, so I would greatly enjoy our 'youngsters', as you said, experiencing more of the world."

"I'd hate for those beasts to be a mark against everyone beyond Hylians," Kobah sighed, longingly.

The Champions collectively turned their eyes onto one another, forcing themselves not to aim their stares toward Revali all at once, lest they attract attention, yet this left Mipha to reply, alone, as she assured graciously, "Absolutely. You've shown us plenty of good will. I would be honored to extend much the same once our journey is over."

Kobah smiled, "That would be much appreciated. I would very much like our younger ones the chance at-"

He paused, glancing at Rabil, whose head warily fell closer toward his chest, though Kobah felt the point needed to be loosed, "Life here is... a challenge, often times. If they can become more worldly, I- I feel they might have a better shot at- That is to say-"

Mipha smiled, "No need, sir. I understand. As I said, it would be an honor to do so."

Ahie carefully brought over a large pot of stewed mushrooms, sending it aloft before dropping it down onto the table with a nervous gait, warily rubbing her hands along her apron as she returned to the stovetop along the fireplace.

"I could even bring a few of our more scholarly Zora, in fact," Mipha noted simply, "Perhaps they might be able to enlighten them as well."

Kobah's face brightened, "You- How could that happen?"

Smiling politely, Mipha couldn't help a bashful reply, "To be sure, I am royalty, myself, so such an advantageous meeting of peoples wouldn't be much of an obstacle."

Rabil's eyes wandered up toward her.

"I- Wow, that would be wonderful," Kobah noted as Ahie brought over another pot of mushroom-based fare.

Mipha nodded in reply, hoping such an extension of good faith might encourage more cooperation along the Rito's front as well, "Daruk, here, isn't much a slouch when it comes to his own social standing, as well. Perhaps we might could bring a host of individuals to instruct your younger ones and better prepare them for-"

Rabil's nostrils suddenly spewed out a breath of hot air as he raised a fist, slamming it into the table with a blistering *SLAM* that echoed throughout the tiny shack, sending Ahie's arms to trembling as she leapt in place, nearly dropping the next pan of food in her suddenly need for flight. The Champions all locked eyes upon the man's fist, shaking violently even as it remained plastered atop the table- even Revali couldn't help but risk a curious glance from underneath his cowl.

"Rabil…" Kobah spoke up quietly, "Don't-"

"Shut up," the younger man muttered with a quaking tone, "I've held my tongue far too long, listening to you make merry with these wretched people, trying to negotiate a future for those boys when I-!"

He paused for a moment, as if the weight of the world had violently fallen atop his shoulders. For all his anger at Kobah, it was restlessly eclipsed in a gradual moment as Rabil glared at Zelda from the opposite end of the table. He clutched the table's edge, pushing himself slowly to his feet while Kobah swiftly took a hand to the man's wrist, attempting to keep him in place.

The older man pleaded quietly, "Rabil, don't-"

"What brings you here?" Rabil asked, a rage lurking deep in his voice, his haunting voice echoing as though his words were attempting to bait the Princess into a trap, "If you come here to make amends, you're far, far too late. You all come here, think you can be welcomed simply by virtue of your status- Were it my place to decide, none of you would have found anything more than the cold outdoor air to greet you upon your arrival."

Kobah's grip tightened.

"You'll win us over with decadence. Try to ingratiate yourselves amongst the younger among us," Rabil accused coldly before pointing a shaking finger toward the tiny bassinet in the corner of the single-roomed home, "Where was your thought and care for him?"

Daruk felt his spine crawl as Zelda turned warily toward the bed small enough for but an infant, having not come to the same realization as he had, but in a split second, it had become apparent enough to her.

"Where were you when my son- When-"

Rabil's teeth bit together as he fought back his tears, dropping his head toward the table in an attempt to hide his sweltering emotions, "Where were you when he vanished without a trace? My wife sickened into shock after turning away for a single moment only for our infant to be stricken away from us, lost to the wild. Where were your magicians? your trackers- Your goddamned mass of a worthless army- Anything to find that poor child?!"

Ahie turned away, having already covered her face with her hand, knowing herself to be the one to blame for such an event.

Her gaze hanging low, Zelda could feel the shame welling up within the pit of her stomach.

"I'll tell you where you were. Out covering this land with well worn dirt, digging for shit," Rabil accosted with venomous spit ejecting from his lips.

Zelda remained encloistered, any thought of opening her mouth forcing a wretched nausea to swell up into her throat.

Rabil took a moment to breath a disjointed snatch of air, all but matching his horrendously disjointed heart now that he'd been given a face unto his hatred. His eyes sunken, his fingernails dug into the tabletop, his heart contorting in painful twists as he awaited Zelda's reply, ready to interrupt her voice the same way his son's life had all but interrupted, only to find her reply not forthcoming.

"Fucking speak!" he cried, slamming a fist into the table that sent the entire length of furniture shaking in answer.

Zelda slowly raised her head, revealing her tear-stained eyes. While the Champions at large kept their watchful eyes upon Rabil, Urbosa turned to bear witness to the young princess's reply, a grave expression worn upon her face as she did so, knowing Zelda to be severely outmatched.

Despite her tears, however, Zelda's face remained as still as the very Eldin mountains that had rattled her even more than this man's vitriol. Even more, as she displayed her voice, it carried its cadence with nothing less than regal assurance.

"I can't begin to apologize enough for your loss," she finally answered, leaving Rabil to bite his lip all while his face twirled in anguished fury, "With Hyrule's future on the line, we-"

"Our future?!" Rabil fired back with a strand of heartbreak in his voice, "That boy was our future! You and your gaudy ilk might be content with allowing the death of what we have just so you can feel better about preparing for the next rebellion against your fetid leadership, but I'm not about to stand idly by while it kills off each and every one of us!"

Zelda wavered. Despite her best attempt at remaining placid, summoning whatever courage she might have had within her to stave off this verbal onslaught, to show a face of administrative zeal, it was quickly growing inconsequential. She knew her family history; of its sins that still required atonement. Why had she thought this to be so easy?

Before Rabil could continue his malicious tirade, a tenuous pair of knocks came rapping at the door, forcing the Dangarnonian man's attention up from the princess with a furious whip, as if knowing he'd been caught out of line. He slowly descended back into his chair, still crushing the edge of the table between his tightening hands, leaving Kobah to watch the younger man with a wary stare while Ahie cautiously made her way toward the front door.

Daruk sulkily leaned closer to Link, whispering, "What do we do..?"

His hands folded within one another, head drawn low, Link merely answered, "Nothing."

"But-"

Link's head turned to the side to catch a glimpse of Daruk's terrorized expression, "This is not our fight. It's hers."

A roiling of nerves brought a look of dismay along Daruk's already worried expression, though he remained where he was, surveying the other Champions while the room weighed heavy beneath the gravitas of the previous discussion. His body shook at the whining joints that brought open the door while Ahie stood to the side, allowing a magnificently boisterous man to step into the tiny hovel with his lantern in hand, musing happily while laying eyes upon the visitors.

"Well!" he chirpily shot, raising his hands almost in triumph, "If the goddess had not graced us enough! Ah, thank you, Ahie."

The woman of the house carefully took the man's lantern before turning away to set it aside, allowing the jovial man to work off his coat as he went on, "I was surprised in the most pleasant of ways when I caught word of your arrival!"

Stepping toward the table, he reached a hand out toward Zelda, "I'm Motom! the humble elder of this-"

Zelda had worked her head high in greeting, however, despite her weakening smile, the haphazard marks of tear stains remained painted upon her cheeks. With a darkening look, Motom turned toward the opposite end of the table.

"Rabil… I explicitly told you to not-"

Zelda quickly shook her head, taking Motom's hand into her own to prevent him from leaving while also regaining his attention, "No, sir, I-"

She paused, "I understand my family's role in this man's misfortune."

"Even so," Motom boorishly muttered, shooting a glance toward Rabil, "Best to let bygones go. This town is of far greater importance than the single life of any one of us."

He broke from Zelda's handshake before stomping in his hobbling way down the length of the table, "And I will not permit you to bring up any further grievances, is that understood?"

Rabil glanced at the man for only a moment before giving a begrudging nod, "Yes. sir."

Taking in an annoyed breath, Motom rolled his head along his shoulders as if to reorient himself, returning to the Champions with a wiry smile that peeked out from his thick white beard as he ejected, "Well, I hope Rabil, here, wasn't too distasteful to speak to. Now you understand why I had Kobah introduce you to our tiny little establishment, here."

He groaned with ever-increasing age wearing upon his bone while sitting down at the table, "Guuh… I would have preferred to have begun this new relationship between our two townships on a much lighter foot. Especially with a few others in accompaniment!"

Motom waved Ahie over, "Please, my dear, bring over that last pot of food! I wouldn't dare let any of you leave without tasting it all, eheheh!"

Daruk shot a particularly uncertain stare across the table toward Mipha, who remained as still as she possibly could.

"Now, you all will be head over heel about our local delicacy!" Motom boasted, as though he were a salesperson, "My father was so proud of those mushrooms! All the best towns, he'd say- They all have that certain something that puts 'em on the map! Well, he had those accursed scourges from the west to contend with, but thankfully, under my care, we've all but eliminated that threat. I do believe Dangarnon is primed to become a heavily traveled hub of sorts- Nay, a destination!"

Zelda knew enough of the threat this man spoke of, but decided to plead ignorant as she answered, "What threat do you mean, if I might ask?"

"Eh, those damned Rito," Motom bit out loud as Ahie leaned over the table, leaving the final pot of food before delicately sorting out portions atop everybody's plates, "But enough about that. As I said, they're nary a nuisance now. I'd rather we speak of my town's upward trajectory rather than its past! I think our relationship would benefit all the same."

Taking a moment to think of his sudden aversion to the topic, Zelda nodded nonetheless, replying simply, "Yes. I agree."

"Wonderful!" Motom smiled heartily before digging into his plate of assorted mushroom cuisine, nodding vigorously toward the others, "Go on, please!"

Ahie just finished serving Daruk's portion as the Goron leaned toward Link once again, "This is how scary stories begin, you know…"

"or end," Link smirked, knowingly sending Daruk into a cold sweat.

Motom made a throaty sound as a thought came to him mid-swallow, nodding as he wiped away his lips, neglecting the bits of soup that hand drained along his beard, "Oh! Will you all be staying beyond tomorrow morning?"

"I'm afraid not," Zelda answered, gesturing toward Revali, who hadn't taken a bite of food yet, "My grandfather's destination awaits, and he isn't one to remain patient in his old age."

Motom chuckled, "I wholeheartedly understand! Please, my good sir, eat your fill as well! If I'm any testament, these will keep you as vigorous as any youngin'!"

His hood moving slightly as Revali attempted a piercing stare toward Zelda, failing to understand how to react, the Rito suddenly fluttered in place with a shocking burst of recoil as Urbosa took the back of his head, guiding a spoonful of grey mushroom paste toward his beak.

"That's what I'm here for," Urbosa noted aloud, albeit with a hint of uncertainty to her voice, afraid that Revali's reaction might blow their cover.

Despite this, Revali managed to keep himself subdued, only somewhat. He sent his knee in blistering slams against Urbosa's leg in detestable resignation, hoping to flee from the encroaching serving of disgusting-looking Hylian food.

"In fact, Kobah might bear witness himself," Motom chuckled, reaching over to pat the middle-aged man atop the shoulder.

Indeed, Kobah nodded as he politely hug his head over his plate while about to take a bite, "It really it good stuff. Might take a little getting used to, but-"

"Bah, it's nothing of the sort; especially how Ahie makes it!" Motom happily released, "Despite his venomous tongue, Rabil truly lucked out with this one. I'm certain they'll work up the readiness for another child soon enough."

Zelda lowered her gaze, uncertain as to the sheer uncouthness of the man's words. Even so, they didn't seem to bother Rabil, while Ahie remained in the corner, peering off into the distance as though attempting to remain hidden.

"We may not all be resilient people," Motom assured easily while poking a fork into some steamed ingredient, "But this small town- Dangarnon has stood the test of time, against all odds, and it will continue to do so as long as-"

*THUNK*

Link's head shot up toward the roof, along with the rest of the Champions- even Revali couldn't help but raise a curious glance up from underneath his shawl. Urbosa's eyes immediately grew into slants as she attempted to ascertain what she had heard, but it was Zelda who first returned from the roof to glance at Motom, who, instead of surprise, showed anger behind his dismissive gaze.

The elderly man bit back his lips, causing his thick beard to flutter about as he leaned closer toward Kobah, muttering lowly, "I thought your son was up to the task."

"He is," Kobah assured with a voice as still and certain as a stone impeding a stream.

"Then why was no alarm sounded?"

Kobah warily ran his eyes along the roof himself, thinking aloud, "I don't know…"

"Uh," Urbosa clamored suddenly, "Are we just going to ignore that something akin to a boulder just slammed into this home?"

Motom's face constricted after wiping away his lips, pushing himself to his feet, "Have no fear. Rabil, help me outside- The two of us will head out and quell your worries."

The two man began their shaky trek up to their feet while Mipha glanced warily toward the others, noting their uncertainty matching her own. Even Revali had returned to his downcast pose, resigning himself to the wary air that had suddenly arisen in tandem with that discomfort that had long permeated this visit.

Before Rabil could pull Motom up to his feet, however, the doorway into the home violently swung open as a young man nearly threw himself through the frame, huffing violently in lost breath as he keeled over, desperately grasping at his knees while standing there. Kobah gripped the arms of his chair, his brow spun forward in worry.

"Son?" he questioned gravely, "Why didn't you-"

His voiced had paused only a second before his son raised his head with a wiry smirk, still grasping for breaths as his eyes jumped toward Zelda before returning, "We got one!"

Motom and Rabil both paused their motion, turning their attention with jolting movement toward Lam.

"..what?" Kobah asked shakily.

Lam waved his father to follow as he turned to leave, "C'mon! Look!"

Kobah quickly made his way to his feet, even as Motom began to complain aloud, "Don't-! Kobah, you don't leave this-!"

Surrendered as he was to Rabil's help, Motom could only curse as Kobah began trudging along the length of the table, brushing past the Champions en route to the door, Link able to catch the utterly wretched expression upon his face, as though he were about to vomit. He quickly took to his feet as well, loosening the Master Sword before resting it beside Daruk and turning to leave, followed along by Zelda as well.

Urbosa began to rise up as well, only to catch Revali in her gaze, knowing better than to leave him, forcing her to groan under her breath.

"Goddess…" was all she could muster with exasperation.

She could only watch as the two Hylian Champions exited the room, following Kobah out into the humid air outside, sticking to their skin as their attentions were far from the oppressive night air.

'We got one'. Link had a terribly good idea of what the teen had meant.

They turned the corner, coming to an abrupt halt at the sight before them. Zelda's hands immediately drew up to cover her mouth while Link could only watch, gravely, the horrendous scene having been played out not minutes earlier.

Kobah's body shook vacantly, as though his spirit had left him, abhorred by his son's current position: standing over the dead body of a Rito, lying there with the unmistakably characteristic maw of an arrow having torn through their chest.

The older man's jaw shook open.

"W- What have you done..?" was all he could ask, bearing the brunt of horrified tears working their way to his strained eyes.