"What-" Kobah repeated, unable to fully grasp the situation, his eyes glued to the Rito body clumped upon the ground as though it were a puppet without strings.

Link stepped closer toward the corpse, its contortions rendering the possibly of life futile outright, though he still reached down to check for a pulse, his eyes warily examining the massive arrow jutting out from the Rito's chest. Lam only paused for a moment, confused as he was by the reactions around him, but he forced enthusiasm as he explained further, albeit weakly.

"We- saw them coming, so-"

"Why didn't you sound the alarm, for goddess' sake?!" Kobah growled, terror flooding his eyes as he turned to his son.

Lam finally felt the gravity of the situation bearing down upon him, skittish in his reply, "I-! The princess was-!"

"Goddess," Kobah spoke in a hurry, turning his head back toward Rabil's home, knowing Motom would be arriving sooner than later.

The man ran a hand through his hair, his nerves growing like tremors wiring through each and every muscle. He wanted to run. but he knew that was not an option. Not for him.

"Lam," he spoke up, "Run home. Get enough supplies to last a month and run. Leave this place."

The young man's eyes sunk into his face, terrified as he was, "Father, I-"

"This is not the time to argue," Kobah argued, taking a fierce grip of his son's shoulder, "Get going. Now! before Motom finds you."

Link's eyes darted up, still kneeling over the dead Rito corpse, finding Motom rounding the corner of the home, Rabil nearly carrying the man while Urbosa followed along to ensure the old man's safety, even if curiosity had been a factor in her doing so. Link's eyes locked onto her face, finding surprise as it washed over her expression, only moment before the same reaction took hold of Motom and Rabil.

"What-?! What is the meaning of this?!" Motom roared, immediately jerking his head up to find Lam mid-stride as he leapt into action, the elder's tongue unleashing a blisteringly venomous growl, "YOU!"

Trapped between the need to flee and the furious roar of his lifelong leader, paralyzing as it was, Lam slid to a stop, arms trembling with still-rising terror. His father turned his head down, eyes shut in disheartened realization. He could feel his heart sinking, knowing what must be going through the old man's mind at this moment.

Motom pushed Rabil away, forcing himself to saunter closer to the corpse as if in survey of the body, biting at his whiskers while his eyes constricted in deepening thought.

"Have you any idea what you've done, boy?" he muttered in a low growl, "You have drawn far more than blood. You've taken a life."

"Motom," Kobah turned to plead, "He didn't mean-"

"I don't care what he meant by this," Motom spat, eying the teen with brazen eyes, "He means to kill us all."

Kobah grimace, "Motom!"

The old man's limp leg dug deep into the dirt as he bit his lip, "Get the weapons."

"Motom!" Kobah repeated, stepping up toward the elder, "We can't-!"

"You're lucky I'm not asking you to strap that mongrel child of yours to a wooden stake and leave him for those bastards to peck away his organs!" Motom roared, throwing a finger toward Lam with empty eyes welling up to a cacophonous fury, "The only way we have survived was holding our own! By not overstepping the bounds which our forefathers fought and died to claim! But this-!"

Motom ran a hand across his chin, sending his thick beard rustling, "They've been content with tempting us to provoke them. Now, that bastard of yours has given them license to murder us all in turn."

Halfway across the plaza, Lam's legs had nearly spun into gelatinous pillars, his body weight only barely being held up as hopelessness consumed his very soul.

"We don't fight!" Kobah barked in return, "If we flee to the bog, the Rito-!"

Motom growled, "And leave this land for them to take?!"

He clenched his hands into fists, "My father gave everything for Dangarnon! When a virus ran rampant, he was the first to slice off his own arm to combat the rising tide of infection!"

The elder's eyes coursed narrow, "Are you saying that sacrifice was worth us running off like cowards?!"

"Motom, there won't be a village if we stay here!" Kobah pleaded, "Those kids are the ones who carry your fathers' legacy- Not this pathetic heap of concrete!"

His face spinning into frustrated refusal, Motom threw a hand out to claim Kobah's collar, yanking him closer, face-to-face, while Link looked on, raising to his feet, ready to intervene.

"I've grown tired of your attempts to undermine my village," Motom grumbled, "I've heard you encouraging those boys to leave and I've allowed it to occur, hoping they would all know better."

He barred his teeth, revealing the two lines of crooked teeth that accompanied his growls, "If they won't live for this village, then they'll die for it if need be."

Cocking his head to the side, Motom ordered, "Rabil. Get the weapons."

Rabil agreed, even as Urbosa watched him with wary eyes. The Gerudo turned to Zelda, noticing the zealous attempt to remain silent in the face of these events. Surely she knew better than to interfere with the affairs of this village, yet she knew the people, their circumstances. What good would it be to return favor to this village, only for it to be stricken from the land of Hyrule entirely?

Motom turned toward the Princess, pushing Kobah away in the process, "My liege, I assure you. We will make quick work of these interlopers."

"Interlopers? Sir, these are Rito," Zelda retorted, "Excuse me for lacking insight, but I do believe I've only seen one man die at the hands of another, and the victim was not a Hylian."

Motom sighed, "I hadn't a wish that you might witness any of this, but this is life amongst these plains. I don't expect you to understand this early into your visitation, but I do ask that you allow us to act how me must to sustain our way of life."

His lip curled inward, frightful with regret, "Even if that means defending ourselves to survive."

Zelda's eyes shot toward Urbosa, recognizing the uncertainty upon her surrogate mother's face, before returning to Motom with a deep tone lying under her voice, "And you would have your own people die to sate your own desire to claim these lands?"

"I warn you, Princess, you're taking a stance that your own ancestors failed to heed themselves," Motom shot back with bile in his voice.

Zelda felt her heart burning with zeal, "And we both know what's said about two wrongs."

Motom's lips chiseled into a warped frown as he took an extended glance toward the Princess before turning away, shaking his head as he disengaged from the conversation, pointing toward Lam, "Get that accursed weapon you felled this one with, for Goddess' sake! Its damned brethren will be back any second!"

Urbosa strode up toward Zelda with wary glances toward the elder, biting her lip before muttering, "I'm afraid this is all a bit beyond those areas where I can offer advice."

"There's no need," Zelda confirmed with narrow eyes, her arms crossed to accompany her scowl, "I require no advice to tell me that this wrong. I've had textbook upon textbook reciting stories of my ancestors resorting to these same reactionary follies."

Link approached the two, looking over his shoulder toward Kobah, the middle-aged man heatedly strolling toward his son, Lam having been accosted by Motom, "You better have a plan forming, then. Those two are about to create a problem larger than any approaching force."

Her eyes descending toward the dark patch of earth beneath the three of them, Zelda silently allowed a breath of meditation, her brow curling, sinking in thought.

"Go get Daruk," she commanded, turning her eyes up toward Link.

Kobah's voice rang out, "Motom! Let him go!"

The elder whipped his head over his shoulder, scowling as he grappled with Lam, "Then tell your whelp to do as he's told!"

His voice rumbled in continued reply, "He's about two seconds away from me strapping him up!"

"Over my dead body!" Kobah shouted, stepping closer until he finally shoved Motom aside, nearly sending the hobbling old man to the ground.

Motom sneered angrily, waving a hand in reply, "You're all insubordinate! How's about I allow the lot of you to perish?! Dangarnon has no need for such shit!"

Kobah took Lam's shoulder, pulling him close enough to whisper into his ear while still locking eyes with the teetering old man, "I already told you. Go get your stuff and-"

His breath evaporated from his lungs as the inexplicable click of a readying crossbow tore through the air. Still with a stare upon Motom, he could feel Lam's body begin to shiver, telling him all that he needed to know about what had happened behind him. He turned his head to find Rabil, with a collection of crossbows strapped over his shoulders, yet with the most notable weapon held in his hands, aimed in its deadly trajectory toward the two of them.

"Rabil…" Kobah seethed, "Don't do this."

"I've done nothing but give all that I am- all that I could give- to this place," Rabil breathily answered, "You're the one doing the unthinkable. not me."

Lam felt his father's tug grow stronger, the man's arms tightening as if to keep what he loved most dear away from harm, even if that meant putting his own body in the way of his son's.

Zelda remained sidelined, almost as if in experimentation; her eyes piercing while the scene played out, she kept herself apart from the action, merely in critique. For all their words, claiming maturation, this new situation had brought her to a far more ghastly understanding of these men.

Motom took one of the crossbows from Rabil's shoulder, leaving him able to keep watch over Kobah as he spoke up with authoritative zeal, "I've got them. Get Tazull and Ijoh out here, and whomever else can carry a weapon. We're not about to hole up and let those beasts pick us off like bugs. Princess-"

He turned toward Zelda, "-I suggest you wait inside."

The regal eyes of the Princess narrowed for a brief moment atop Motom's face before turning to see Daruk and Link exiting Rabil's home, "I believe I'll remain out here, thank you."

"Tch," Motom scoffed with irritation.

Zelda frowned, "Perhaps you'd prefer me not witness what you're about to do?"

Motom ignored her quip, returning his attention to Kobah, allowing the Princess to turn her gaze toward Daruk and Link, her brow scrunched in curiosity. For whatever reason, Link had left the shirt she had woven for him within the house, though she couldn't think of why he required a change in wardrobe.

"Goddess!" Daruk exclaimed, noticing the crumpled-up body that sat only a few paces away from the building, "Brother! What happened?!"

Link frowned distastefully, "One of the town's children decided to play 'hero'…"

"So they-!" Daruk decried, pulling his hand up to his chin to allow his fingers to stroke along his mouth in time with his hurried thoughts, "I can't believe this."

Sighing, Link shook his head, leaving Daruk behind as he took another few strides toward the Rito's paltry body, kneeling beside the frozen form, "There's only so much we can do about it, now."

Daruk's eyes widened as Link took hold of the thick bolt that had pierced the Rito's most hefty portion of flesh and feather, yanking it out as Daruk exclaimed, "What're you doing?!"

"Buying however little consideration we might can afford," Link spoke in low reply, "Zelda's staying out here, probably to try and negotiate her way out of this situation. I'd rather her not have a desecrated body to work with. Take his legs and straighten them out."

Daruk froze for a moment, rather perturbed by the deathly sight before him, before nodding, making his way around Link to lend down and posture the body in something of a respectful manner, "Gah, I just-"

"Gorons don't witness death, I suppose," Link shrugged.

His lips curling in light revulsion, tempered only by some level of reverence, Daruk answered coolly, "Even when we do, it's often at the hand of some pit of magma rock. Finding a body devoid of life is-"

He sighed, shaking his head, "Particularly one such as this. Poor thing looks as though it led a rough existence."

"That's lowland Rito for you," Link explained, "Far more meager beings, in general."

Link pulled out a handkerchief, reaching over to clean the Rito's deadly wound, "Pitiful patches of feathers, gaunt frames. They wear their exile on their bodies, whether or not they choose to."

Watching with dread, Daruk lifted his head to stare out into the darkness surrounding the scene before them. The few lanterns that stood tall in and around Dangarnon, their orange-lit tops flickering in reply to the cool night air, only served to blind his vision beyond the immediate area. Even with eyes narrowed, the surrounding mountains stood hidden, leaving them in a small bubble, leaving them little in the way of protection.

His eyes suddenly bolted to a far off lantern as its flame suddenly dulled. Its already loose hold on flickering life quickly gave way; in a split second, it shrunk into little more than a bulbous ember, as if the oxygen surrounding it had evaporated, sucked out of the very atmosphere.

or vacuumed out, torn away from the small township by a sudden swarm of wings, ever approaching.

Daruk felt a sudden gust of wind pass him, forcing his mighty frame to whip around to allow his eyes chase, though he caught nothing beyond the careless fluttering of leaves swept off the ground. He returned to Link, the soldier rising to his feet as he kept an eye on Zelda, muttering quietly.

"They're here."

Motom whipped his crossbow up into his shoulder, preparing to aim, though leaving its crosshairs toward the ground. His teeth shown as he left Kobah and Lam, turning to the north-west to find only darkness greeting him.

"Rabil!" he cried out angrily.

A voice replied, "We're here."

The clicking of crossbows readying to fire passed his ear, his attention focused solely on the direction of the approaching Rito.

"Princess," Motom grumbled, "I told you to-"

Zelda sharply replied, "I know what you told me. and I'm telling you that I'm staying. Your ways will never lead to resolution."

"These are demons, you- child!" Motom spattered back, nearly resorting to a slur, "They know nothing of resolution!"

"Excuse me, then, if I'm not confident in your assertion," Zelda retorted angrily, "You speak of yourself, just the same."

Motom's brow furrowed angrily, yanking back the bolt that sat atop his crossbow, still aimed toward the ground, knowing that his grander plans rested upon this woman's opinion. The wind kicked up with a sudden burst of speed, billowing Motom's beard over his shoulder, leaving his eyes narrowed in the face of the gust that fought against his sight.

"If I sense anything that even hints to this going south, I won't hesitate to do what I must to protect my township."

Zelda replied coldly, "You threatened to murder your own people in the name of that same goal. I don't doubt your intentions for a moment, sir."

The respectful punctuation of her words was broken by a sarcastic drawl, though Motom was left with no time to make mention of the tone. Within a moment, a sprawling pair of wings burst through the darkness, broadened in a threatening aura as its owner descended to the ground, the graceless slamming of talons against concrete only serving to threaten the people of Dangarnon, only if it forced Motom to take a heartier grip of his weapon. The Rito stood up straight as his cohorts flew to the ground behind him, quickly posturing their improved numbers to the citizens of Dangarnon.

The man's eyes constricted so fierce, as though he were attempting to shoot daggers with his vision, as he surveyed the Hylians before him, coming to find the odd addition of a Gerudo and Goron.

"You're a long way from home, Goron," was the first words out of the Rito's mouth, though he continued quickly enough, "And you-"

His head tilted in examination as he critiqued Zelda's appearance, "You're far too impressively bred to be amongst this town's ilk."

Even with the rather uncouth compliment, Zelda remained severe in her mood as she turned toward the Rito, bowing her head respectfully, "I'm Princess Zelda of the Kingdom of Hyrule."

"Pah!" came a sudden scoff from the Rito, his funereal expression suddenly breaking into one of amusement, "You offer these puerile vermin far too much respect with your appearance, I assure you."

Motom threw his arms down against his body to rattle his crossbow, though failed to earn the Rito's glance, "You stupid little insect!"

The Rito smugly replied with a grin, shaking his head as he continued ignoring the elder for Zelda's more regal position, "I am Yzi, leader of the Lowland Rito; a people so forged my misfortune, bred by such degradation, yet we have remained valiant in our efforts to survive."

He chuckled, "Though, I can tell by your austere attitude that you are not swayed by such simple rhetoric. While these simpletons can be dealt with simply enough, I wouldn't bargain you to be the same."

Yzi raised his hand in direction, aiming his posture toward his companions, "While I supposed we might arrive and handle our business swiftly enough, I assume with one so regal amongst the chaff, an explanation is expected."

Clearing his throat, Yzi allowed, "We were returning from a routine flight along the plains beneath Sartori. Upon arriving home, we realized that my cousin hadn't returned with us."

Finally, the Rito aimed his fierce glance toward Motom, "You wouldn't happen to know what must have befallen him. would you?"

Motom's reply only came with the gritting of teeth. Even Zelda remained silent, hopefully keeping her brow free of worry as Yzi turned toward her in expectation.

"Well?"

He scanned the area. The only movement came from Link, taking a side-step away from the fallen Rito to give Yzi a clean glance at the man.

"Ah…" Yzi spoke up, a longing in his voice, yet with a still-solid tone that kept his august façade intact.

Ignoring Motom once again, he turned toward Zelda, "And who felled him?"

Biting her tongue, Zelda replied, "I don't-"

"All I requested was a name, fair Princess," Yzi interrupted, "I recused myself of needless rhetoric in your presence, and I would hope I could expect the same from you."

His eyes burned, "Who killed him?"

Balled up in his father's arms, Lam shook violently with fright, Kobah having pushed the teenage boy behind his body to conceal his trembling. Still, Yzi's eyes scanned the townspeople with a vicious pursuit, glaring, one by one, at the lot of them, before passing by the boy's father, taking a moment to recognize the shivering form behind-

"I don't know," Zelda shrugged.

Yzi's eyes shot back toward her.

"He was like this when we arrived."

Sighing, Yzi frowned, shaking his head, "Pity. I suppose I'm forced to attempt to speak to these whelplings to get what I need."

"A life for a life won't change anything," Zelda spoke up, hoping to reason with the Rito.

Scoffing once again, Yzi returned to her, "I'll change the score."

Zelda battled back, "I didn't come here just to visit. I'm attempting to improve this vicious cycle between your two peoples."

Returning his whole attention back toward Zelda, Yzi shot her a glance of shock, "And here I was, supposing you understand well enough."

"I understand that this cannot continue. You come here to take another life, what happens next?"

Yzi shrugged, cocking his head to the side, "We kill the lot of them. Were it not such an unsightly proposition, we would have exacted such retribution long ago."

"Tch!" Motom scoffed, "Like your pitiful pack of rejects could ever hope to overcome the might of Dangarnon!"

Yzi gave the elder a fierce glance.

"My father sat in that tower, day and night, weathering storms, illnesses- Showing you bastard Rito what it means to truly have a home to defend!"

Now with a vicious sneer, Yzi bit back, "You sanguineous little worm."

As if to compose himself, Yzi raised his head, shaking his violently enough to adjust the thin plumage of feathers surrounding his head before returning his attention to Zelda, "You ought to find out yourself, Princess, because if I attempt to reason with these placid fools, I'll do far more than seek vengeance. I'll tear this pathetic settlement apart, stone by stone."

"Do it!" Motom growled, raising his crossbow toward Yzi, his voice a violent roar, "See if I'll stand idly by while you steal away what it rightfully ours!"

"Pshaw!" Yzi exclaimed, almost merrily at such an absurd accusation, "Such delusion. No wonder you feel compelled to aim that pitiful weapon at me as if you have a chance to fell a lowlander outside of the element of surprise."

He raised his hand. A Rito emerged from behind him, catching Motom's attention.

"Ilyzo," Yzi nodded, "Confiscate the poor old man's weapon."

The subordinate Rito nodded before stepping toward Motom. With a vicious tremor running down his back, Motom felt his trigger finger shiver with anticipation, his posture swaying above his broken leg, leaving him torn between the fear of falling and the fear of an encroaching enemy. He brought his crossbow up to his eye, aiming as Ilyzo stepped ever closer.

"Yzi!" Zelda shouted.

The leader of the Rito shrugged, remaining sighted on Ilyzo's approach, "You'd best identify your murderer, Princess, before I tear apart every limb, every stone, in my own search."

He glanced at her, "Surely you can be just as persuasive."

Zelda turned toward Motom, readying a reply that never came. Her words failed her as she watched, helplessly, Motom's muscles constricting at his arms, readying with a tensile motion the crossbow that was about to kill yet another Rito. This was her own watch, yet she stood, helpless, beneath the cyclical demon of vengeance that threatened her very goal of peaceful resolution.

Was she wrong? Was this venture truly worthle-

Her eyes broke away from Motom as she noticed Ilyzo's feet immediately come to a pause just paces away from Motom's bolted weapon. Just beyond the extent of her vision, she caught the presence of moving forms, forcing her to-

"What is this?" Revali muttered, his voice wholly curious as he excavated the scene before him, "A rising interest in what was occurring out here and I cannot say that I'm disappointed by the sheer amount of drama taking place."

Zelda's eyes zeroed in on the cloak Revali had held atop his shoulder, allowing Rabil to scowl, turning his crossbow onto the Champion, "You brought a demon into my home..?!"

Throwing a hand over his opposite shoulder, Revali dismissed the sentiment, "Pah! Please. I took no pleasure in such a dwelling, I assure you."

Zelda noticed Mipha to the side, ostensibly having joined Revali in his journey of curiosity, though she was freshly taken aback by the corpse still lying upon the ground that had now congregated a rather sizable mass of people.

Yzi cocked a grin as he crossed his arms, tilting his head to the side, "Revali, the Unnamed. Your reputation precedes your arrival, I assure you."

"Has it?" Revali replied unenthusiastically.

The Lowlander nodded simply, his lips still curled with intrigue behind his sharp beak, "Word does travel. Perhaps your people took no notice, but we have. You challenged, and defeated, the mighty Beast, Vah Naboris, did you not?"

Now Revali couldn't help smirking, pleased as he was by such admiration.

Yzi brought his arms apart in offering, "Word spread down at the Kara Kara Bazaar. Your name wasn't known, but for a Rito to be traveling alongside an expedition of Hyrule Kingdom- your village does not simply offer help to the Hylians, unless they wish to be rid of them."

"An astute observation," Revali shrugged, "I hoped that such an expedition would bring me the notoriety I craved; and it seems I have found it."

Zelda turned to Urbosa in questioning, the Gerudo merely watching with sunken eyes, uncertain as to what was going on.

His body trembling as he hid a chuckle, Yzi rolled his head along his shoulders with an exasperated motion before nodding, "By the great god, Witwa- It is such a joy to hear that you find our admiration commendable. We have long sought your spirited personage; knowing how desperate your people were to rid themselves of such an awesome being- such wasteful perceptions that wouldn't ever be considered by us Lowlanders. We see the value in one such as you, perhaps even more than your Hylian compatriots, here."

Revali shot a glance toward Link.

"I can certainly understand that sentiment."

Yzi finally revealed a chuckle, grinning from ear to ear as he proposed, "Perhaps you would enjoy a tentative sojourn amongst our unassuming home, then? It would be an absolute honor to have you taken from this rabbleous flock of cretins."

Revali returned his glance toward Link, meeting a fierce stare that had become no stranger to Revali since his arrival to Sanadin Park near months ago. He critiqued Link's guise, which appeared to fit Revali's opinion far better than his usual, soldierly wear, cricking a rather nasty smile before returning to Yzi.

"On one condition," Revali spoke up, leaving Link with a chill, "You allow me to extend my thanks for such an invitation."

Zelda finally spoke up, "Wait-! Revali?! You're not-?!"

His glare silenced her, "These many, many, weeks I've done little less than exude that magnificence that ought to have brought each and every one of you to your knees in reverence!"

Yzi's smirk was nearly palpable; Revali could just about feel it despite his addressing of Zelda.

"Now that you've borne witness to one so readily willing to accept such a specimen as myself, you so flippantly alter your tone! Perhaps my ambition ought to aligned with sterner ties than your own."

Zelda felt her heart drop at his words. She understood their relationship had been rocky, yet- At no point had she ever fit the description as the one he offered, at least, not to her knowledge. She had expended much in the way of welcoming the man- even his invitation had been meant to demonstrate her faith in his wonderous abilities.

Had this been how he had viewed her efforts this entire time?

Revali stepped toward the pack of Lowland Rito, crossing his arms in a haughty show as he did so, leaving Yzi mightily pleased as he returned his attention to the Hylians now behind the newest addition to his pack, "Wonderful. Now, we're merely left with the pressing issue of who amongst these venomous wretches murdered my cousin."

"Worry not," Revali offered quickly, "I explained my desire to thank you, did I not?"

Zelda's breath left her.

Revali shrugged, "Zoom in on the child behind that man over there."

Even before he could gesture toward Lam, the teen began to tremble, nearly collapsing to the ground if not for his father's grip along his shoulders. Kobah grit his teeth as the Rito collectively eyed him.

"A life for a life is all you need," Revali relayed simply.

Motom's arms suddenly gained some semblance of stillness as his eyes constricted with realization, turning away his crossbow, which newly gained the attention of Yzi before the Hylian spoke up, his old, ragged voice appearing with authoritative zeal.

"Is that all that you ask?"

Sighing, Yzi shrugged, "I do suppose I was hoping for more, but- I believe our hatred would be best tempered by flailing alive the one who brought death to my cousin."

"That boy was in the watchtower," Revali recalled loosely, "I doubt there would have been any other to have felled your countryman."

Urbosa felt a wry twitch working its way down her back.

Yzi shrugged, "If it is as he says, then fine."

His eyes coursed toward Kobah and Lam, "Give us the boy."

"Over my dead body!" Kobah cried.

Yzi snickered, "If that's what it takes, I suppose."

Without much hesitation, Motom's arm fell to his side, turning his body around with a motion full of effort as he dragged his broken leg along with him, finding Kobah with arms tugging at his son. The elder's eyes scornfully took stock of the two men, wondering just how important their lives were in comparison to the whole of Dangarnon- How important they were in the shadow of all his ancestor's magnificent deeds.

"Kobah," he spoke up coldly, "Give me your son."

"NO!" Kobah cried.

Motom motioned his head toward Rabil and the others who began to approach the two men with their crossbows now drawn toward them. Kobah spun around, holding his son in a forceful hug, pressing Lam's face as tight as he could against his chest to shield him from the sight of impending death. He could feel his son's fingers digging into his torso as he shook in quivering tears.

"I'm sorry, father!"

Kobah sneered vengefully toward Rabil, though his voice remained warm in its paternal devotion to the boy in his arms, "It's okay. It's gonna be o-"

"Take me!"

Yzi's head fell backward in exasperation, "Goddess! such theatrics!"

He reoriented his glance to center upon Link, who stood front and center along the avenue of Hylian bodies that twisted and turned between villainous zeal and ferocious passivity. He kept his gaze unwavering as his eyes met with Yzi's, the Rito critiquing not only the newcomer, but his effect on the current situation.

"You?!" Yzi wondered in exclamation, "You haven't a think to do with-!"

Revali leaned toward Yzi, turning his head to speak as though he were an advisor, "It might not be foolhardy to accept such a proposition."

"How so?" Yzi inquired.

His lips spinning evilly, Revali stared daggers at Link, "In fact, this might be beneficial for the both of us, if you were to indulge me so soon after our meeting. Since our arrival at this hovel of a settlement, that man has done nothing but spite me, as if to lessen the greatness you wish to admire. Such brash stubbornness, it seems, comes with an explanation- he was once a Knight in the King of Hyrule's court."

Yzi's brow rose in intrigue, "You don't say?"

"Were we to have him, I could sate my desire to inflict the greatest punishments upon that man, while you would be left with a symbol, not merely some insignificant worm of a child," explained Revali matter-of-factly, "Who would tremble in fear at the thought of your people taking retribution upon a mere child? But a Knight? Perhaps that would raise some eyebrows."

Shrugging in reply, Yzi tilted his head in agreement, muttered easily, "And to think, on our way here, I expected the slaughter of these vermin. To have come upon the one and only Revali, as well as a Hylian of this worthless town worth more than the dirt beneath his feet- I can hardly say my cousin's death didn't come with some blessing."

He motioned to Ilyzo, who left Motom to make a beeline toward Link, which remained still, offering nothing in the way of a fight. He turned around with his hands pressed together at his back, allowing him an uncertain glance toward Mipha. His relinquished garb came to her mind- she knew that she couldn't do anything, lest the guise be brought to an abrupt end. These Rito wanted Dangarnon blood. Revali wanted Link.

Such a sickly coincidence nearly brought Mipha to a wrenching heave of nausea.

Link held his head low as Ilyzo took his wrists, though his eyes never broke from hers. The thought came to her that this might even be revenge for her own trial atop Death Mountain- for her to face certain death, perhaps Link was doing much the same. Her shoulders fell helplessly while Ilyzo yanked him away toward the Rito gang; by now, the whole lot of the Champions had caught on, though it didn't relinquish Zelda from her own downtrodden expression.

Link was a Knight, sworn to protect the people of Hyrule, first and foremost- even as a Champion in her company.

As he passed Motom, the elder didn't bother much of anything in the way of thanks, having already figured this outcome to be rather ideal, if not victorious for his Dangarnon. He nearly had to chuckle at the ruse- they had killed a Rito for nothing in the way of repayment. Motom had to fight the urge to turn away and conceal a grin.

"My journal," Link suddenly spoke up toward Motom, perking up Mipha's auditory senses, "You know who to give it to."

The elder's face screwed in confusion, even as Yzi scoffed, rolling his eyes, "It never ends with these people. Kakk, tie him up, and please, find a way to keep his mouth shut."

In the few moments that saw Link being led to the slaughter, Zelda had gone from sorrow to anger, watching Motom with a deep-seated hatred. Such benign leadership, hidden behind the guise of tyranny- it reminded her so much of her great grandfather.

Revali could barely contain a smirk as Kakk and Ilyzo went on with tying Link down, almost as though he were a hog being trussed so as to better transport him across Tanagar Canyon. The Rito strode in a circle around the newly-caught prey, until his eyes could meet Link's with a particularly venomous stare.

"Almost makes everything worth it," he grinned, leaving Yzi to chuckle in time, albeit devoid of the context.

"Indeed," the leader of the Lowland Rito nodded, "And with you, brother, this is merely the start."

Brother…

Revali quite liked the thought.