~ Disclaimer ~ All I lay claim to are the towns' people, the Naturals, and the newest made up character I call Tyrant Wolf. Yes, that is whom I left out from last time, I believe.

The fires are hot and the embers are flying in this chapter.

So much so that I'm the only one here this time around. Ok, I really don't want to waste time so I dedicate this chapter to CrysSton16 and all the people who've reviewed up to this point. Thank you all for fueling the fires to help me write!

Okay, as I said earlier, two chapters at once. After this one, you may have to wait just a day. Now then, we are reaching rising suspense with this chapter: Chapter 20.

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~ Tyrant Wolf Finally Emerges ~

Link and Crystal had narrowed the riddle down to one line. "Seek the natural of the wood and cave." Crystal knew the line spoke of the large Wolfos who were the parents of all the Wolfos. They had to be behind the attack and were going to stage another one soon.

Neither of them liked what needed to be done for these Wolfos were huge. Shekro walked with them as the sun was setting into an orange and red sky. All three traveled toward the only place the Naturals would be, the edge of their forest where the Wolfos emerged before in their attack, cutting through the middle of the field straight toward the town. Yet the going was slow for they didn't wish to involve their mounts or any other people.

Suddenly, behind them, Link could hear the sound of quickly moving feet. The steps were beating faster than he had ever heard anyone run. It could only have been one person. Andrake. How Andrake was able to rune only three days after that injury, Link did not know but it was not long until Andrake skidded to a stop beside them all and walked with them, his cape whipping past for the momentum of his run.

"You always knew how to make an entrance, Andrake. Now, tell me how you can run again?" Crystal nearly snapped at him but stayed in good humor for it. Andrake shrugged, "This red-eye man helped me out when I was down for the count." Once again, Crystal saw his image from her dream. Was it the same man? "I believe he was a Sheikah. He asked a few questions about you, Link. Odd one, he was. Very mysterious." Link nodded, it sounded like a Sheikah to him at any rate.

Night was beginning to fall and stars wer coming out as they came upon the forest edge, not one of them was backing out as a rustling in the bush announced the presence of another, larger creature. A rustling of trees proved there was indeed more than one as several night flyers took to the air in fright.

Clouds covered the moon as Link stood beside Crystal at the entrance to the forest. They both knew that if their efforts were not successful, war would break out among the Wolfos and the people. Despite how much Crystal would love to see Katie pay for all she had done, she was still obligated to protect the town and the Wolfos, even if it meant protecting them from themselves.

Andrake tightened his grip on the hilt of his blade as it gleamed in the moonlight and took a deep breath as he started straight at the two great Wolfos staring back at them with absolute hatred. Andrake had his own agenda, however, as he was tied in an affair that was none of his business. That was not to capture Shekro, despite that the black Wolfos was ever present beside Link. It was to protect his little sister. He only hoped that his speed would be enough.

Four more gray Wolfos appeared flanking their parents, the Naturals. The four were each dwarfed by their parents but still taller in the shoulder than Link if only by half a head. Link had to look slightly upward to look into their angry eyes. Andrake could stare them in the eye while Crystal also had to look up slightly. One of the Wolfos barked angrily but was reprimanded by the huge, darker one. The Wolfos went silent and slightly tucked it's tail under in fear. Crystal stepped forward a couple paces as Link glanced at her in worry. Andrake bit his tongue to hold from shouting out at her. She looked into the wolves' eyes and saw one thought, one need.

Justice.

Crystal caught her breath in her throat as she could feel their determination to achieve their goals. She said in a voice they could easily hear and understand, "What is it that you want badly enough to leave your forest?" The lighter one widened his eyes as he stared at her. Crystal could read his answer, "The witches blood. We want justice for all our children she captured, 'tamed', changed, and killed. We demand that devil-woman's blood to be spilt at our claws!" The four other wolves let out low growls as they agreed with their father.

Crystal persisted, "Why do you pursue justice through a path of bloodshed? It will only lead to more suffering and more death. There must be another way. Can there be forgiveness?" Anger blazed in all their jeweled eyes except for the mother's eyes. Katie noted this as the father "spoke" once more, "What she has done, we cannot forgive! Too long has she changed our kind. Too long has her actions gone unchecked. Now, we will end it!" Crystal stepped back as all four wolves began to bark and bare their fangs. Their claws flashed as they clawed into the earth, wanting the earth to be Katie's flesh.

Crystal kept her daggers at her sides, refusing to draw them until it was deemed absolutely necessary. Link drew his shield along with his sword while Andrake let just the tip of his sword touch the earth. Shekro bared his own fangs and claws and moved protectively closer to Crystal. Crystal warded them all off and said once more, "Please, reconsider your actions. An eye for an eye cannot be the only solution. If we work together, we can find a way to stop Katie and cease all her actions."

The darker one shook her head in sorrow, "It is too late for that. We Wolfos never have and never will work together with treacherous people. You, Young One, have an interesting gift but still we cannot trust anyone. Now, let us pass in peace so we can claim the justice our children cry for." Crystal felt the sorrow in the wolf's heart and she understood the pain but still. "Listen to me! If you claim Katie's life, then all the rest of the people will hunt you down! If you kill her, then the cause and effects will grow until either all my kind are killed or until all of your kind are killed. Is her blood worth it?"

Then Shekro sounded his thoughts with a low, long howl of mourning. He already knew that what Crystal said was true and that Katie was not worth it. The father growled dangerously then answered Crystal, "YES! If it is war that this comes to, then we will kill all your kind for our lost children! If you insist to stand in our way, then you will be the first to die. Attack!!"

The four smaller wolves leaped forward with a snarl. One swiped its huge claw at Crystal but she blocked with her dagger but the second circled around behind her. Another of the wolves attacked Link before he could take out the second but he easily defended himself with his shield. Shekro tackled the second wolf for Link and they both began their battle tooth and claw. The last one went for Andrake. He ducked under the claw and dashed behind the wolf to deal a fatal blow. The wolf, however, leaped away quickly enough to avoid the shining blade. Thus the battle began as the two parents watched to see how these warriors fought. Link didn't want to kill the wolf but they were intent on killing him. He avoided another strike and leaped sideways, then whispered his apology to the wolf and swung his gilded sword horizontally to sever the spine of the wolf. It let out a long howl of pain and death and fell to the earth. Then Link cleaned off his sword and sheathed it before looking about for Shekro, knowing that Andrake would be busy "studying the opponents' moves" and Crystal could take care of herself.

Andrake continued studying the Wolfos' moves. Then the wolf took a whole new and unexpected approach. It lunged straight at Andrake, knocking him down. It bit at Andrake's face but he defended himself with his forearm. But even the leather protecting his arm did not stop the bone crushing jaws of the wolf. But, it did ease the pain somewhat.

He pushed against the wolf's head, driving it back by its jaws. When his arm was at the back teeth of the wolf, the wolf found itself unable to breathe. It was forced to back off. Just as the wolf backed off enough, Andrake kicked it off of him and leaped to his feet, his cape whipped about behind him as Andrake lunged at the wolf, piercing it's chest with his sword tip.

Shekro continued his fight against his cousin. However, now Shekro was just as big and strong as the gray Wolfos. He bit into the furry neck of the Wolfos and brought it to the ground on its side. The claws of the Wolfos scratched into Shekro's exposed legs but the fur on his legs mostly stopped the sharp claws. Shekro gathered all his strength and threw the Wolfos from the ground through the air. The Wolfos landed with a loud whine but climbed back to its feet and stared hatefully at Shekro. Shekro seemed to smile back.

The Wolfos roared in anger and ran at him but Shekro had a plan. Just before Shekro met his opponent once again, an arrow sang through the air and cut into the Wolfos' head. It crashed to the ground at Shekro's feet. Shekro turned to see Link with his bow in his hand. He growled at Link as Link sent a grin and a victory sign back.

Meanwhile, Crystal continued her close fight against her Wolfos. Her daggers held the Wolfos' claws at bay but already she had a scratch on her cheek from an unguarded moment. The wolf felt it was winning but it did not underestimate its opponent. It broke the lock it held with its claws and her daggers and leaped away. Crystal threw one of her daggers and scored a hit on the Wolfos' side. It let out a sharp yelp and pulled the dagger out of its side and growled menacingly at Crystal as she held another blade.

However, she did not throw it. She knew very well that this one was fast enough either to avoid the blade or to catch it in mid-air. Instead, she threw the blade into the air, taking careful aim and as the wolf looked up, she dashed toward it and with her twin daggers, slit the beast's throat. It fell with a surprised glare in its eyes and a wet gurgle from its throat. Saliva mixed with blood as the Wolfos fell to the ground and the dagger thrown into the air fell into the ground only a few feet away.

With a sigh, Crystal turned to where the Naturals were but neither of them was there. She turned around to see both Wolfos on the attack. They both were running at Link and Andrake. They ignored Shekro but knocked both the boys over with their massive paws. Andrake struggled to get to his feet after the heavy blow from the Wolfos' paw but Link fell and did not stir. Crystal felt her own anger boiling within her. But she knew her daggers would not penetrate even their thick fur. Nor would any normal arrow drive into their skin. She felt oddly helpless as they circled their opponents, seeing if the warriors would rise up again.

Andrake rose to meet them in battle. The father lunged at him when two white blurs came from the forest and attached themselves to either of the Wolfos' front legs with their teeth. They were Katie's white wolves. Andrake looked warily at them even as they viscously attacked the large, lighter wolf. He wondered why Katie bothered to send them but decided not to bother with wondering. He looked around to try and spot Link and Crystal. His sister had better still be okay.

Link sat up slowly and rubbed his head. He hated being knocked unconscious. When he looked up, he could see the mother Wolfos standing near him but looking at her mate. He couldn't read her eyes like Crystal could but she did seem unsure as of what to do. He decided to lie still until either she went away or she attacked him but then he looked around to find Andrake standing near Shekro.

Crystal was out of sight so Link decided to take his chances. The two white wolves seemed to have their uses after all. Link dashed away from the mother Wolfos and yelled to Andrake. Though Link himself was not fast enough to save Crystal from the wolves, Andrake was! Andrake stared at the battle among the canines as the mother began to help out her mate in the battle. Yet, the two white wolves were remarkably strong despite their smaller size. The Wolfos were losing.

"Andrake, no mater which side wins, we are going to be in trouble afterward. You need to get Crystal out of here!" Andrake looked at Link but then slightly laughed, "You don't know Crystal too well just yet now, do you? She would never let me drag her away from any battle. Especially one that she feels responsible for, anyway. Look," Andrake gestured to Crystal who could finally be seen yelling at the wolves, trying to get one of Katie's dogs to go after her, "You see, she will not leave, even when her own life is in danger. Will you? I won't leave her to the wolves."

Link understood and grinned at the pun. He knew that though Andrake worked for Katie and was forced to side with her, he still held his moral as a swordsman and a knight. He shook his head, "I'm not going anywhere." In agreement, the two swordsmen drew forth their swords, and Link his shield and they each chose an opponent. The father Wolfos had blood dripping at his throat and one ear was torn bloody. The mother had a few scratches along her flank but nothing worse.

Andrake reached over to one distracted white wolf and pulled it back by the scruff of its neck as Katie would do if it ever were at fault. But instead of holding it, he threw it backward from the darker wolf as hard as he could. It didn't fly far but it was distracted from the fight. Andrake gave it a smart swipe over its' snout with the tip of his sword. He never did like the demon dogs anyway. This one-on-one was going to be enjoyable. The wolf gave a surprised and pained cry before baring its teeth and claws at the offending swordsman. Andrake added insult to injury, "You've been a bad boy."

Link waited for the other white wolf to aid its brother but it continued its attack on the father wolf who was by then on his flank, his fur matted with blood. Link watched the white wolf as it was thrown aside by the father Wolfos, then Link ran to the wolf and bashed it across the muzzle with a horizontal swing of his shield. The wolf was startled enough that it struggled on the ground before regaining its senses and climbing back to its feet.

The father Wolfos rested his head down as his mate stood near him, watching the swordsmen. She didn't know why they were helping nor what the fight meant to them but she wasn't going to concern herself with reasons. Crystal came near them, she felt better with talking with them now that it was obvious Link and Andrake were not enemies. "Are you both okay?" The father did not respond but he was alive. The mother nodded solemnly. Then she asked about the fight.

Crystal held a serious expression in her eyes but then said, "They do this because it is the right thing to do. Those two wolves are Katie's guards. They are nothing but killers so Link and Andrake are going to stop them from claiming any more lives. Well, these wolves are completely unnatural. They were made by your children and by magic. We believe Shekro, the black one, is the same but these white ones were trained to kill. Shekro was not trained at all and he turned out to be a loyal friend. He is a friend who might just be the bridge to help man and Wolfos reach an understanding.

"Though both are unnatural, isn't it obvious that that does not matter? What matters is which is good and which is evil." She let the Wolfos reflect on that as Andrake scored a painful blow to his opponent's shoulder.

The white wolf leaped away from him but sank on its useless leg. Andrake pressed his attack as the wolf tried to get away. Andrake seemed to throw his blade forward in a thrust and the blade bit deep into the fleeing wolf's chest. It roared with rage and bit at Andrake, trying to reach past the blade to reach him. Andrake pulled his sword free, kicking the wolf's ribs to dislodge it.

The wolf fell away but still managed to climb to its three good legs. Blood now coursed down either side of its chest as Andrake stared at it in wonder and fear. How could it still be alive? He had pierced the stupid things' heart! It began its attack once again, able to rear onto two back legs and swipe at Andrake with it's good claw if it had to in order to defeat him.

Link also faced his opponent but with gaining ground. The wolf, bloodied equally bad as the father Wolfos, lunged once again as Link crouched down, focusing magic into his gilded sword. He could feel his bade pulsing, vibrating his hand with it's newfound energy. Link felt the candle within him flare up into a torch. The wolf met a wave from the magic blade and Link spun in his spin attack. The white wolf fell away with magic crackling like lightning through its body. Then it fell limp.

Link looked over to Andrake, expecting the swordsmen had defeated his opponent with just as much ease but to his surprise, the other one was alive if not well. Nonetheless, it was still fighting fit. Link drew forth his bow and arrow and focused on the wolf. Hearing the bowstring being pulled and stretched, the wolf turned to see Link. It remembered the encounter on the field and how Link had used his magic arrows. It growled and began to limp over to Link. It was ready to rear and run on its back legs if it had to. Link narrowed his eyes but something in the forest distracted him.

A small blue light shining in the dark. It wavered and flitted about, then it darted from the trees to be seen in the open. Link's eyes widened. He could not believe it was her but surely enough, his search was over. Link was snapped out of his daze as a large paw swiped into his stomach, knocking the breath from his lungs and sending him skidding backward through the dirt.

He gasped and tried to get up. He wasn't hurt, just winded. He tried to sit up but corrected himself on the last thought as what felt like fiery daggers jabbed him in the side. He was hurt. A few broken ribs were going to slow him down but still he knew he had to fight. To his surprise and relief, the white wolf did not attack immediately. It was sitting beside its dead brother but the look on its face was that of triumph, not mourning. Link looked past the wolf and saw Navi going back into the trees. He reached out a hand, "N-Navi, where are you going?" Andrake was at his side in a moment, helping him up.

He stared at the two white wolves. The one that was alive pressed a paw onto the dead one and a black aura surrounded them both. Slowly, the dead one's body became a type of dark energy and was absorbed into the live one. The transfer reminded Link of when Ganondorf drew energy from the air in the last mighty battle. When the transfer was over, the white one gave a long howl as its body changed.

Again, Link thought of Ganondorf as it transformed into a beast all its own. The fur on its back gained an almost blade-like quality and gleamed dangerously in the moonlight. Its claws grew and became serrated but its back legs changed to be able to easily support all the weight. The creature's shoulders seemed to also grow out a blade each. Link knew this battle was going to be very unpleasant as the creature grew in size even greater than the Naturals.

Andrake swallowed hard as a stream of sweat rolled down his temple. Link was inclined to agree with him as the creature swung its head around to look at each of the people and Wolfos around it. Its blood red eyes gleamed and it smiled in chaotic amusement as the transformation light faded, proving that the nightmare was very much real.

First, the Tyrant Wolf decided to finish its first job. It walked toward the fallen Wolfos as the mother bared her teeth and crouched, ready to spring and Crystal stood in front of them both, her two long daggers drawn. The Tyrant seemed to laugh and it swung its enormous paw into Crystal's head. Crystal managed to jab one dagger into the flesh of the creature but then was knocked into a tree in the forest. Link felt his heart stop. Andrake could not believe his eyes.

Unnoticed, Navi returned with a pink fairy fluttering behind her. The pink fairy touched Link's side and the ribs were repaired and any scratch on him was healed perfectly. Her light and energy drained, the pink fairy flew unobserved back into the forest. Navi didn't say anything as she settled into Link's hat.

Link forced breath after ragged breath into his lungs. If she was dead... He could feel a rage and power flowing, building inside of him like only once before. The flame, once a torch, had flared up into an inferno and the magic engulfed Link's entire body in an almost visible flame of light. He looked up, his eyes glow white and his sword glow blue as he stared at the creature.

"I won't." Link drew another breath, "I won't.let you." He pulled himself to his feet, "Get away with this!!" Link remembered feeling such power before. He recalled that it felt the same when he pulled on the Fierce Deity mask. Despite that he no longer carried that mask with him, it seemed that some of the mask's power was shed into Link as part of him. And he intended to use it!

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Hmm.guess I haven't lost it, eh? Not yet at any rate. Lol

Well, now. Link is just a little bit mad isn't he? I think I will just leave him alone for a while after that scene.

One more thing: NAVI'S BACK!! RUUUN!!

Just kidding. Have I yet to steer this story wrong? (Don't answer that ^_^;; )

Till next time!