The age that had overrun the inside seemed to calm itself on the stairway they'd stepped out onto. Two walls erected on either side of the stairs suggested that the temple was just a little below ground level. Vines and moss spilled over the edge of the walls, and started up the two pillars at the top of the stair case. It was eroded and weathered, but not nearly as bad as the side they'd first seen. Link started up the stairs, and after studying everything a bit, Tya followed. The two couldn't help but walk slowly.

It looked nothing like Skyloft, and it was just so new to them. There were so many trees, so much long grass. It seemed so wild, and it was obviously not lived in like Skyloft was. Skyloft didn't have things like this. There were trees and grass, but it was well cared for to not get in the way of the humans.

And the air that lingered there.

It was amazing.

So pure and light. Breathing it in felt amazing, and the smell was great, but it actually made Tya a little lightheaded.

"There's the beacon." Link pointed out toward a light that pierced the tree tops and disappeared into the sky.

"It doesn't seem to be that far away. Shouldn't take long to get there, I think." Tya replied as her eyes followed the beacon upward. After a second she looked back to Link, then back around to where they'd stepped out into.

There was what seemed to be worn brick walls lining the edge of another ledge. They opened at a part, and the dirt path there led through the opening and over the edge.

As they approached, the two of them paused and quieted entirely. They looked at each other, and didn't even need to speak. The look they gave each other asked the same question- 'do you hear that?'.

Tya was a stranger to real battle, but that sound was unmistakeable. And the way Link moved to draw his weapon confirmed her thoughts...

Tya looked at Link's sword, and then her hands opened again, palms showing toward the ground. This time, she didn't just allow the sparks, she allowed full flames to engulf her hands. The fire against her skin was a magnificent feeling. Not one that burned, not at all, her skin was immune to the heat of fire. But the warmth on her was so soothing. Soothing enough to calm a bit of the worry she held for what may be waiting for them.

If it weren't for the fact that they were about to step into battle, Link probably would have flooded her with questions about what she was doing, but instead he just watched in surprised for a second or two before shaking away the curiosity and starting toward the sounds.

Over the ledge, the two could see a group of smaller red beings with blades surrounding a tan being. The tan one seemed to be a traveler with all the items it held... But it was certainly nothing Tya had ever seen. It was beyond strange to her. Plump and actually rather adorable. It was humanoid, but... Not human.

The red beings were the same- humanoid but bot human. They were hunched over, and far from adorable. She was a little grossed out by them- they seemed.. unclean, though given the fact that there seemed to be nothing but trees around them, it was probably to be expected.

Link's hesitation wasn't long lasted. He jumped down off the edge and rushed toward the group, which immediately turned and became hostile toward him, all but the tan thing.

Tya was going to jump, but she stopped herself, realizing she had a bit more of an advantage at that point. The fire in her hands took the form of a nice tight ball, and shot toward one of the red beings, hitting it hard and practically slinging it away from all the others.

Link thrust his blade through one's stomach, drawing back and swinging around just in time to cut open another's chest. As that one was slain, Tya cast another ball of fire, this one a bit more unruly than the last, and hit the last of the hostile strangers.

When the last fell, Tya slid her way down off the ledge, not nearly as gracefully as Link had. He'd held a hand out to help her, but she didn't see it until she was on the ground and he was chuckling at her.

The tan being moved to both of them, a relieved sigh escaping him before he said "Thanks for jumping in there to rescue me, bud!" And patted Link on the shoulder rather roughly.

"N-No problem." Link replied happily as he directed his attention to the stranger. Tya couldn't help but examine the other carefully. He wore nothing, but his body was decorated with white markings. The largest looked to be a sun, and it was on his stomach. As much as she wanted to ask what he was, she realized that was more than likely rude.

"Just who were those red pests? I did not expect to run into a pack of them in this peaceful forest... Same goes for you. This is the second time I've bumped into one of your kind today, I tell you, all sorts of weird things are going on lately..." The information was given unintentionally, but it was a relief to Tya. Zelda (or who she assumed to be Zelda) passed through. They were on the right track, and Zelda was alright. At least for now... "Hey, bud! I am Gorko the Goron. I am researching the ancient history of these woods here." As he informed the two of his name, he made his way to a worn statue that appeared to be a bird. "According to ancient texts, there is some kind of place up above called the Isle of the Goddess. Far up in the sky! Apparently these old statues serve as landmarks to those traveling up to the sky or down from the Isle of the Goddess Place. I like to keep tabs on the number of landmarks I come across, they are rumored to be quite useful."

Link moved toward the statue as well, looking it over as he neared it. Tya joined him, carefully stepping around the bodies of whatever they'd killed. But her thoughts remained on what this 'Goron' said. She was worried that since they knew a sure way home, Link would once again try to get her to leave... But she was also curious as to what Gorko was saying. He spoke as if he didn't now whether or not this place in the sky truly existed. Then again, for the longest time, she spoke of the surface as if she didn't know it existed...

It was just odd to her to think that others didn't understand her world in the same way she didn't understand theirs.

Her thoughts were brought to a halt by the statue reacting to Link's touch and Gorko reacting excitedly to it. Of course Link had no idea what he did, and apparently neither did the Goron, but whatever it was, he was excited about it.

They had a way home now, able to return should they need more supplies. And Tya's worries were laid to rest when Link turned away from the Goron, waving a simple goodbye that was absently returned- Gorko's interest left the two and now remained on the 'activated' bird statue. He started toward the beacon again without a word to Tya about returning home. But she was a bit surprised that Link wasn't all that interested in what had happened with the statue. Tya just guessed it reacted like it did because they were from the sky which it was supposedly tied to.

They weren't far at all then, the beacon touched the ground on another ledge, where a new path began into a more dense area of the forest. They made their way to the ledge, and Link studied it as if he was trying to find a place he could maybe start to climb. Luckily for Tya, he didn't find one that he could use surely and comfortably... She was no climber.

But after stepping back, Link began to look around. There were a few large stones, but they were dug into the ground and would be difficult to unearth and even more difficult to move and use to get onto the ledge. There was however a large log that lay on its side, and Link seemed to get the idea before Tya did as he was already beginning to move the log. It was easy enough to roll over and against the ledge close enough for them to jump up onto it.

Link motioned for Tya to go first, but Tya refused. She knew he was only being polite, 'ladies first', but she knew she'd more than likely need his help getting up there...

"I'm not sure if I'm strong enough to pull myself up without help." She admitted softly, that worry of being burdensome flooding back into her head. But the smile Link gave eased that some...

He pulled himself up onto the log and jumped a bit to get a hold of the edge. He pulled himself up, then knelt and held his hands out for Tya.

She really couldn't understand why Groose was so unfriendly toward Link... He was sweet even when he had no reason to be...

Tya crawled onto the log as well, one hand placing into Link's, and the other on the ledge. He pulled her up, then turned and looked at the beacon just in front of them.