Chapter 3

Deep in the Lost Woods, a part of the world that was still ruled by nature's laws, a tree loomed over the clearing that it had stood in, alone, for many years. A short distance away, the other trees grew in thick, impassable tangles. Here, though, there was only one tree. It guarded a patch of waist-high grass, over which fluttered dozens of butterflies.

Far below the clearing was what it really guarded. Cradled by the roots of the ancient tree was a cave, one which had not seen visitors in many years. Small luminescent globes floated through the air, casting their organic light over the natural surface of the cave walls, the smooth natural obtrusions lining the walls casting deep shadows. At the back of the cave, which was large enough in itself to comfortably house at least one person, was a passageway which led further into the earth.

The passage wasn't very long. Soon enough it came to another room, this one far less spacious. One not in a charitable mood might call it cramped, but others might prefer 'cozy'. Either way, it was too small to be home to most people.

But she didn't care.

She yawned, stretching her muscles luxuriously. Rising from her bed, she stood, giving an unconcerned glance to her surroundings. She was in no danger here, she knew; this was her home. Still, something felt different. Had she thought about it, she might have compared it to the feeling one gets right before someone unseen touches you, the subconscious expectation of something that you know will happen in every way but logically. However, that feeling wasn't something she was accustomed to, since it had been a long time since she had last had visitors.

'Visitors…yes. Someone is coming.'

For some reason, that thought annoyed her as much as it filled her with anxious expectation. The forest above had long been filled with an oppressive evil. Nothing had ever bothered her here, of course, but it was just out of reach, searching for her, she knew. She didn't fear for her life, however.

Reaching out one hand, she smiled. A soft green glow shimmered into life above her palm, and she considered it confidently. Yes, visitors. And if they came looking for trouble…

They would come looking in the right place.

******

The shadows of the overhanging trees fell over Wynn and Tane as they entered the Kokiri Forest. Not far behind them, the light of day fell on the grasses of the field, but here, the thick branches blocked all sign of the sky, save small gaps, through which the sunlight speared down to the ground. The two men glanced nervously into the sylvan shadows, fingering their blades. Before them hung a wooden bridge, the path that led into the Kokiri Village. Both knew the dark legends that surrounded this place, tales of people wandering into the forest, never to be seen again.

"Y'know, I'd never thought about the stories about this place, back when I was comfy and safe back at Kakariko," Tane mused.

Wynn smirked over at his partner. "Scared already?"

"Of course not," Tane blustered. "Stories are no match for this." He patted the ax on his back.

"No, but the truth behind them might be." Wynn drew his sword. "Since I'm supposed to watch your back, you take point."

Tane glared at him. "I can already tell working with you is going to be a pain in-"

"Yeah, yeah, get on with it."

Pulling the ax off his back and twirling it through a quick loop before slamming it into his other hand, Tane stepped onto the bridge. Cautiously making his way across the creaking bridge, followed closely by an alert Wynn, he looked into the hollowed log at the other end. The fallen tree was easily big enough for them to walk through without ducking, and the way it was laying was evidence of someone putting it there on purpose, as a gateway into whatever lay beyond. Tane stepped into it, squinting as he tried to peer through. Shrugging, he moved on, glancing behind him just once to make sure Wynn was close by.

The two stepped out of the log into a village. Amazed, they stared all around them, not believing their eyes. The entire village was formed from the forest around it. Houses were made of hollowed out stumps, stepping stones led across pools of water, paths meandered through expanses of grass. Every bit of it looked completely natural, untouched by man or tools. It was almost as if the whole village had grown into place.

"The doors, the houses…they're all kid-sized," Tane pointed out.

"Yeah, and no signs of their inhabitants. I say we keep it that way."

Tane nodded, pulling a map out of the pouch at his side. "Right on, cap'n. Let's see…the map says-"

"Halt!"

The pair whirled around in shock at the voice that had come from right behind them. For an instant, they looked around, confused, until they looked down. Not far away was a kid, dressed all in green. A green cap lay across unruly red hair, almost orange, that concealed the eyes of the young man. His mouth, however, was set in a stern frown. "You're not supposed to be here."

Tane nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah, O.K. We'll be leaving now."

Wynn was occupied, however, looking down in shock at the young girl, dressed similar to the boy minus the cap, who was holding on to his sleeve. "All visitors should be taken to the Deku Sprout! He'll know what to do!"

Tane let out a shrill 'eep' as he noticed several more of the children right beside him. He batted away their hands as they tried to clutch to him. "The stories, Wynn! They probably want to feed us to it!"

Wynn scowled down at the young girl tugging at his sleeve. "I know, Tane, I know." He yanked at his sleeve. The girl glared at him, and tugged back just as fiercely.

"Let me go!" Tane said, backing away from the swelling mob of children. "I don't want to be tree food! Um…hey, look, a fire!" Tane shouted. The children gave him a suspicious frown before looking in the direction of his frantic pointing. Taking the chance, he sprinted past them, dashing for the outskirts of the village. "This way, Wynn!"

"If you'll excuse me," Wynn said civilly, prying the girl's fingers off his tunic. She shouted at him as he took off after Tane, and the crowd was not far behind as Wynn chased his partner. The red-headed man was busy climbing a vine-encrusted cliff wall, desperate to escape the situation he was in. Wynn scrambled up right behind him, throwing himself over the top of the wall. He lay there, trying to catch his breath, as Tane looked down on the furious children.

"Sorry! You'll have to find someone else to feed to your sprout!" Tane shouted cheerfully, waving down at them. They scowled up at him, but made no move to climb the wall.

"Don't antagonize them," Wynn groaned. "We have to get out of here somehow, and that looks like the only way."

Tane shrugged. "They don't run very fast."

"Not when they're occupied! You left me back there!"

Tane smiled arrogantly. "I figured you could handle her."

Wynn sighed. "We really have to work on this whole 'teamwork' thing."

Nearby was another hollowed-out log, this one leading into the murky forest beyond the edges of the village. Paying more caution to what lay behind them than what was ahead, they walked through. When they came out, their unease increased dramatically. Here, the trees were even thicker, blocking almost all light. The gaps between the trees were almost too narrow to squeeze through, in the best of cases. Wynn surveyed the forest warily as Tane consulted the map. Something felt wrong here.

"This way," Tane declared, pointing to a small gap in the foliage. Wynn followed as Tane moved through the forest, their path twisting and turning through the tangled growth. Even though it seemed like an eternity, the small clearing they stopped at could not have been far from where they had entered the forest. As they stopped to rest a moment, Wynn concluded that he understood the truth behind all the dark stories about these woods. If someone got lost here, it would take a miracle for them to find their way back to civilization. The best place in the world to hide something, he believed, save the difficulty in finding it when you came back for it.

Wynn blinked as Tane plopped down on the ground, pulling a biscuit out of his bag of supplies. "You sure this is the best place to stop for lunch?"

"Who said anything about lunch? I'm just trying to figure out this blasted map. I swear, if we get out of here, it'll be by luck alone. At least none of those brats would come in here."

"And what does that say about this place?" Wynn asked, squatting down beside him.

Tane shook his head at his partner's pessimism. "Kids are lazy. They just didn't want to climb that wall."

"Right. Lazy. Figure out that map yet?"

Climbing to his feet with a weary groan, Tane dusted off the seat of his pants with one hand and cleaned the crumbs off his mouth with the back of the hand holding the map. "Dead ahead, and then sharp left, I think. Should be another clearing nearby, a bigger one."

Wynn nodded, standing. "And then we get the treasure."

"Right. Lots of rupees, all around. Now, just up here-"

"Stop!"

Tane grimaced at the high-pitched voice. "Not another one!"

Another red-haired boy walked up to the two, stepping out from behind a nearby tree. This one wore his cap higher, showing a freckled face and narrowed eyes. He walked with fists on his hips, chest jutted out cockily. "No one is allowed past here. Saria said so."

Wynn clapped his partner on the back. "You handle this one."

Tane groaned piteously. "Listen, boy-"

"I am Mido, boss of the Kokiri! You listen to me!"

"Two of a kind," Wynn murmured, turning his attention aside. He noticed a cluster of nuts on the ground, and knelt to examine them. As he tried to open one, a brilliant light shot out, nearly blinding him. He closed his hand over it, nodding to himself. Deku nuts were common enough, and living in a forest, along with his father's lessons, had taught him to consequences of cracking one open. The light inside the nuts could easily blind a person for several moments. Useful for pranks, but not much else.

He turned back to Tane and the boy. By now, Tane had picked Mido up by the back of his collar and was dangling him in the air, waving a lecturing finger in front of the boy's nose. Mido was windmilling, flailing about in a valiant effort to sock Tane right in the face. Wynn shook his head in exasperation, standing up and looking about. This could take a while, he knew.

It was the unnaturally cold breeze that caught his attention first. Suddenly, the forest seemed darker, more hostile. The air was silent, except for the branches rustling in the strong wind. Wynn's hand fell to his sword, and he peered about, searching for the danger. "Tane," he said, not turning away from his search. "Company."

Tane blinked, dropping the boy. "Where?" He looked around in confusion. "I don't see anybody."

The mercenary looked down at Mido. The boy had gone pale, and was moving away from the trees ahead of them. With a loud gulp, he backflipped, and vanished into nothingness. Tane gaped in the direction the boy had fled, and then turned back to Wynn. "What's going on?"

Metal sang as Wynn freed his blade from his sheath. "There!"

Tane turned, grasping his ax, as three forms worked their way out of the forest. All three were ragged, the clothes that still clutched to them in strips, the armor rusted. The jagged blades they held and the bucklers guarding their left arms were still serviceable, however. Tane gasped as he looked into their eyes…or where eyes once had been. Empty sockets glared back as the three skeletons emerged from the forest, looking about menacingly. "Stalfos," Tane breathed, freeing his ax.

"Why won't dead things stay that way? Wynn growled, stepping into a battle-ready stance.

The lead Stalfos motioned to the one on his left. "Take that one," he gasped, the breathless voice chilling the men. He pointed his sword straight at Tane. "We will have the other."

"No giving peace a chance? Maybe even resting in peace?" Tane questioned, spinning his ax.

"Doesn't look likely." Wynn said grimly. "Two on me; you'd better finish yours off quick."

The Stalfos advanced silently, fleshless smiles directed toward their opponents. Tane charged in with a yell, meeting his opponent in a dash. The skeleton slashed at his ribs, but Tane swatted the strike aside with the blade of his ax. He let the motion continue, bring the butt of the ax towards the skull, but the shield met it. He reversed his swing, bring the head of the ax up past the Stalfos's defenses and knocking the unnatural creature back.

The Stalfos would not let him keep the advantage, however. It leapt forward, bringing its sword over its head in a viscous strike. Tane caught it on the heft of the ax, but the buckler caught him in the stomach. He grunted, doubling over, and the Stalfos chuckled as it raised its blade. Desperately, Tane charged, bowling the creature over. "Don't get up," he growled, bringing the ax over with two hands and onto the chest of the skeleton. Bone chips flew through the air as the chest shattered.

Tane smirked as he walked away, heading towards his partner's battle. He stopped suddenly as he heard a chuckle behind him. He whirled, gasping as he saw the rather battered skeleton rise from the ground. The chuckle turned into shrieking laughter as Tane's eyes widened.

"Oh no you don't!" Tane shouted, bringing his ax around in a horizontal slash that cut off the skeleton's laughter by slamming through the skull. "Stay down this time!" Tane roared as the corpse collapsed.

Wynn, meanwhile, was in more dire straits. The Stalfos circled him, searching for a weakness. Wynn stood between them, looking from one to the other. "Do you want to come on, or should I make the first move?"

One of the monsters laughed. "Come on, little boy, if you think you can!"

"Very well," Wynn said calmly, closing his eyes. He flung his left hand down, throwing the nut he had held. The flash of light blinded the two skeletons, who tried to shield their empty sockets a moment too late. Wynn did not hesitate, charging at the one that had spoken. He whipped his blade through the monster's neck as he passed, then turned, bringing the sword back and down, catching the spine where the small of the back would have been. He reversed his blade, and dropped to one knee, driving the sword through the skull when it hit the ground.

The other monster, however, was the leader, and wiser than its fellow. It had nearly turned away when the nut collided with the ground, and wasn't incapacitated nearly long enough for Wynn to stand again. It checked him to the ground, slamming its shield into Wynn's forehead. The man fell onto his back, fighting dizziness. He could hear the monster's grating chuckle as it stood over him. "You're a smart one. And arrogant. You'll serve him just as well when you're dead, I think."

"Nobody's gonna die that isn't already that way!" Tane yelled, slamming into the Stalfos. He bore the creature to the ground, knocking the sword from its hand in the process.

The monster hissed as it looked up at the man. "You annoy me." It brought its bony fist across Tane jaw, and then shoved the limp body aside. It put its hands on the ground, moving to stand.

"And you talk too much for someone who's supposed to be dead," Wynn commented, stepping on the Stalfos' wrist.

The monster grabbed the calf of Wynn's leg with fingers like claws. "You left your sword over there. Bad decision. You're unarmed."

"So are you, if you hadn't noticed."

"Ah, yes. It just means I'll have to tear your heart out with my bare hands."

"I'm afraid not," Wynn said coldly, reaching down. Snaking his fingers into the eye sockets for a better grip, he wrenched to skull from the Stalfos' neck.

This did not deter the monster. The hand tightened on Wynn's leg, and the skull laughed. "You'll have to do better than that, boy!"

"No, I don't." He motioned over to where Tane was standing, leaning heavily on his ax and rubbing his jaw. "Ready, partner?"

Tane nodded, smiling ferally. "Oh yeah."

"You'll pay for this!" The Stalfos shrieked.

"I'm sure," Wynn said, tossing the skull underhanded. It arced through the air, until Tane's ax met it, shattering the skull into a thousand shards. The grip on Wynn's leg fell away as the skeleton fell apart, freed from the enchantment that had brought it back to life.

Tane laughed as he smacked Wynn on the back. "That'll teach them, won't it?"

Wynn smirked as he booted the crumbling hand halfway across the clearing. "I hope so. Come on. Let's do this."

Seconds later, the clearing was empty, except for three shattered skeletons spread across the ground. The cold wind that had marked their arrival blew over them once, and then moved on, out of the forest.

Tane and Wynn came to their destination shortly thereafter. The area was disturbingly clear of the tangle that had dominated the rest of the forest. Instead, a tree, long dead, stood as a sentinel above a patch of waist-high grasses. The pair surveyed the scene for several moments, looking for any more trouble. They didn't find it; besides the butterflies floating above the grass, they were the only thing moving in the clearing.

"So…now what?" Wynn questioned.

Tane blinked. "There should be a cave somewhere around here…"

Wynn groaned. "Somewhere? A bit more specific, please."

Tane consulted the map again, scratching his head. "I think the map indicates the center of this area. But…there's a tree in the way…"

Wynn smirked, crossing his arms. "Why, that there is. Why don't you put that ax of yours to good use, hmm?"

Tane nodded, replacing the map in his pouch. "Sounds easy enough." Spitting on his hands, he grabbed the heft of his ax and stepped up to the impediment. He took a deep breath, and drew back, holding the ax far down its length. Roaring, he took a mighty swing at the tree.

The ax slammed into the tree with a ringing 'clank'. Not believing his eyes, Tane stared at the unscathed wood where he had struck. "Not even a dent…"

Stepping up beside his partner, Wynn raised an eyebrow. "Having trouble?"

"You could say that. Look at it. Not hurt in the least. That cut should've splintered this old chunk of termite-ridden wood." Tane reached out, poking the part of the tree he had struck. "No wonder! This tree is as hard as rock!"

Wynn blinked in confusion. "Hunh?" He reached out, feeling along the tree. "Feels normal enough to me. You're just-"

He cut off as he noticed the bright light shining from his side, where his sword was buckled. Looking down, he squeezed his eyes shut at the brilliant white light that was coming from the hilt of his sword. "What the…"

A loud rumble emanated from the tree before him. Wynn stumbled forward as it moved away from his hand, grating backwards. The man looked down, into the hole the tree had covered just a moment ago. "What did I do?"

"Good question," Tane murmured, staring at his partner.

Whirling, Wynn faced Tane. "Where did you get that map?" he demanded.

"I bought it from a guy in Kakariko. He always has a bunch of odd stuff, and doesn't know the value of any of it. I saw this old map and the letter that came with it-"

"Letter?"

"Yeah. He said he found them both in Hyrule Marketplace. He's been accused more than once of having sticky fingers, so 'found' is an interesting way to put it, I'm sure. But he said he got it a couple of years before Hyrule Castle fell and has just hung on to it ever since. I'd believe him, on that at least."

"Do you have the letter?"

"Ah…yeah. I think." Tane rummaged around in his pouch. "Yeah. Here it is. Nothing important; just someone asking someone else to take care of his treasure." Tane's mouth split in a wide smile. "It was intended for some 'Baro' guy; his loss."

Wynn snatched the paper from Tane's hands. "Baro!" He scanned the paper. "This was addressed to my father!" He read under his breath, eyes quickly roaming the page.

Dear Baro:

It has been many years since I last had the chance to speak with you, my friend. Times have passed, our worlds have changed. I am hardly the man you once knew. I know you have thought me dead for the past eight years. Only a few have known otherwise, and I made the decision to stay out of the conflicts for their sake. Now, though, it is time to emerge.

I am afraid you most likely will never see me again. The time has come for me to visit an old friend, one I thought I had killed eight years ago. I now know Devain still wanders this world. He must die for what he took from me. I will avenge my wife, my daughter. The Alterians have constructed a final outpost on our land, beyond Death Mountain. I will destroy them for their transgressions against our people, our world, and myself. They will soon see the wrath of one of Hyrule's greatest wizards, and it shall be the last thing they witness. I refuse to pass from this world until Devain precedes me.

I have one final request for you, my greatest friend. My greatest treasure, the only good result of Devain's vile strike against the Zora's that claimed both Zarillia and our daughter, will soon be sheltered deep within the Lost Woods. The woman that saved my life after the Alterian attack, one of the brightest lights of my life for the past six years, left this world three days ago. She was stolen from me by an Alterian scout, an apprentice mage sent to investigate the magics of the forest. The fool paid for harming her in a way that left him screaming as he died. So will the man that did the same to Zarillia years ago.

I go now to meet Devain. I know I face an entire fortress of Alterians. I know I face their creations. I know I will face Krite, a man with powers far beyond my own. I know I am to die. But not before I take Devain with me!

Now, I beg of you. See to my last precious light. See to my legacy. See to the last good thing I leave this world. Please.

Your comrade,

Vailen

Wynn frowned down at the letter in hands. "I remember father mentioning Vailen. An elementalist, and one of Hyrule's strongest mages. And one of his best friends. But Vailen died a couple of years after I was born. Father never said how."

Tane shrugged. "Don't guess it matters, right? And since its obvious the letter never reached your old man, the treasure is still there, most likely. I mean, if it was meant for your father, your entitled to it…well, half, at least."

Wynn handed the letter back to Tane. He bit his lip as he pondered this new mystery, shaking his head. "Money wasn't important to father. And not to Vailen, judging by what Baro said of him. What could it be?" he muttered.

"Only one way to find out!" Tane announced cheerily. He looked down into the hole cautiously. "Err. I can't see the bottom. I wonder how deep it is?"

"Don't know. You first."

Tane glowered at Wynn as the other man bowed, sweeping his arm towards the pit. "How…generous…of you."

Tane stepped to the edge again, lowering himself down by gripping onto the edges. He stretched out, trying to feel the bottom, but his flailing feet caught only air. He sighed, trying to muster the courage to let go. However, he didn't get the chance; the soft ground at the edge gave way, and Tane plummeted.

"Yaaaaaaaaaa-" Wynn winced at the 'thud' as Tane hit the bottom. "OUCH!"

"Great," Wynn grumbled, looking over the edge. "That sounded painful." Taking a deep breath, he counted to three, then dove in after Tane.

He hit the ground rolling. When he finally tumbled onto his side, he groaned as the pain from the dozen bruises he had just racked up hit him. He forced himself to his knees, then to his feet, not even bothering to dust himself off. He looked up, and up, to the light shining from the roof of the cave they were in. "That was a long fall."

"No kidding!" Tane moaned, rubbing his sore tailbone. "Next time, you go first."

Wynn looked around, checking for danger. The pair was in a fairly large cave. Gnarled roots lined the walls, shaping the cave into a spherical shape. Nearby was a tunnel, which led further down, most likely into another room of the cave. There was no obvious way to return the way they had come, and the walls weren't rough enough to easily climb.

"Now what?" Tane asked, scratching his head.

Wynn nodded at the passageway nearby. "I say we-"

"Now, you put down your weapons. And start telling my who you are and what you are doing here, for starters."

The two men turned around. A girl stepped out of the shadows behind them, not enough that they could see her features clearly. A mischievous smile was the only thing they could see of her face. Wynn's first thought was that the girl was one of the children from the village. It didn't take him long, however, to notice she was too tall for someone that age, even though she was still shorter than he.

Tane chuckled as he drew his ax. Wynn had far more tact, merely holding to the hilt of his sword without drawing. "Sorry, sister, but its traditional for the person with the bigger weapon to ask questions first. Who are you?" Tane demanded, resting his ax on his shoulder.

"I don't think that's any of your business," the girl said quietly, stepping from the shadows. "But with that attitude, you can call me 'trouble'." Her brown eyes flashed darkly as she threw out a wrist toward Tane.

"What the-?" Tane yelped as a vine sprouted from the wall and wrapped itself around the heft of his ax. The plant yanked, and the weapon flew from his grasp. Tane eyed it, and then glared at the girl. "I don't know how you did that, but you had best give it back."

"I think not." She motioned again. This time, arm-thick vines thrust from the ground at Tane's feet, wrapping themselves around his chest and waist. He yelled as they picked him up, slamming him into the opposite wall of the cave, higher than Wynn could easily reach. More vines burst from the wall, shackling him to the wall.

"And now for you-" the girl began. She turned to face Wynn, but froze as his sword rested against her throat. She glanced at the blade fearfully, and then up at him, her eyes full of resentment and anger.

"No thanks," Wynn said calmly. "No quick movements, no tricks, got me?"

The girl nodded, silent still.

"Now, let him down."

"As you wish." She motioned slowly. The vines retracted, dropping Tane to the ground. The man's yelp was cut off as he hit the ground face-first.

"I should have been more specific, I guess," Wynn sighed. He stepped back, keeping his sword directed at the girl. He looked her over, intrigued. The girl wore a green dress, much like the kind worn by the children of the village they had escaped. It was belted at the waist, and ended just below her knees. The sleeves came only halfway to her elbows, and the only other thing she wore on her arms was a wooden bracelet, decorated with green stones.

"Your name?" Wynn asked, meeting her eyes. They were brown, and by now clouded with anger. Her face was gently rounded, and shoulder-length brown hair framed her face. Her lips were tightly pressed as she stared at Wynn, inspecting him as he returned the favor.

"I am Fami, trespasser. Who are you, that invades my home?" she demanded imperiously.

Wynn chuckled softly at that. "I am Wynn."

"And me, I am 'trying to keep himself from throwing you at a wall to see how you like it.' But my friends call me Tane," said the mercenary, who had already reclaimed his ax, and glared at the girl.

"I'm honored, Wynn and Trying. Leave."

Tane stared incredulously at Fami. "She doesn't seem to understand who is in charge here."

Wynn shook his head, his sword not wavering an inch. "We came here for something. Give it to us, and we'll leave."

"Yeah! Fork over the money!"

"Money?" Fami seemed confused. "I have no money."

Tane gaped. "But…no money? You sure?"

She glared at him. "I'm quite certain, you buffoon. Does it look like I have a lot of money?"

"She does live in a cave," Wynn pointed out.

"Well, what did you do with all of it?" Tane demanded.

Fami screamed in frustration. "There never has been any money here! Can't you understand that?"

"But…the letter…"

"Fami. Will you promise not to attack us if I lower my weapon?"

She gave Wynn a considering glance. "I will not attack you."

Wynn did not need Tane, who was frantically motioning to him, to point out the loophole in that statement. "Both of us."

Fami sighed. "Very well. Neither you nor the idiot."

"Isn't this lovely?!? All this way, and all I get out of it is a sore butt and a headache! Stupid, lying letter!" Tane roared, pulling the paper from his pouch and preparing to rip it to shreds.

"Wait, Tane!" Wynn shouted, snatching the paper from his partner.

"What letter? What are you talking about?" Fami demanded, staring at the item in question.

Wynn gave her a considering glance. "A letter from a man named Vailen to Baro, my father. He never received it. The map that led us here was attached to it."

"Vailen! That's…Let me see that! I beg you!"

Wynn hesitated, then handed her the letter. She instantly began reading, all attention on it. Tane, however, took this opportunity to begin pressuring his partner. "Its time to leave, Wynn. No rupees here, no reason for us to be here. I hate to leave empty-handed, after all we've been through; those psycho kids, the skeletons, her," Wynn noticed that his ally obviously felt Fami was more problematic than the Stalfos, and questioned the man's priorities, "but I say we get out of here before anything else happens!"

"You want to leave?" Wynn asked, raising an eyebrow. Shaking his head at Tane's emphatic nod, Wynn sighed. "And we do that…how?"

Tane blinked, then looked straight up, at the distant entrance to the cave. "Oh."

"Yeah. Forgot that, didn't you?"

Tane's eyes widened as he considered the implications of this. "You mean we're stuck down here with…with…with her?!? No!"

Wynn's response was cut off as he felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned, looking into the uncertain eyes of Fami. "Yes?"

"You…you're Baro's son?" Wynn nodded. "Father- I mean, Vailen said Baro was a good man. He said I could trust him. Does that mean I can trust you?" She bit her lip as she waited on him to answer.

Wynn paused, uncertain. "I…I guess so."

Fami glanced back down at the letter. "Yes…Do you know if Vailen…if he?"

Wynn shook his head. "Baro never told me. We thought he had died years before he sent that letter. Baro might know…but, he's…" Wynn swallowed. "We just can't ask him."

Fami nodded, turning her head slightly and squeezing her eyes shut. "I…see."

"My condolences. Can we figure a way out of here, Wynn?"

Wynn sighed at his partner's blunt insistence. "I'm working on it."

Fami walked away from the pair, towards the passageway. "I'll be back, in a moment. I need to…take care of something."

Wynn watched her go silently. He knew how she felt. He wished he could ease her pain, but knew there was nothing he could do. Besides, he reminded himself, he had problems of his own.

"A one and a two and a three- hoo-ha!" Tane clawed at the wall, trying to find a handhold. His feet had hardly left the ground when the handhold gave way, and he fell back to the ground. Tane frowned at Wynn, motioning with his chin towards the wall. "You could help, y'know."

Wynn crossed his arms. "But you're doing so well on your own."

"Hardy har har."

A futile while later, Fami returned to the room the pair was in. Tane had not managed to make it much father, but still went on with unconquerable tenacity. Wynn had causally plopped down onto the ground, and was watching his partner as he munched on some of the rations he had bought in the village. The girl now wore a brown leather satchel slung over her shoulder, and her eyes, slightly reddened, seemed full of doubt.

Wynn noticed what she was carrying. So did Tane, a moment later. "What's that?" the mercenary demanded, stabbing a dirt-covered finger in the direction of the bag.

"My belongings. Things I will need on the journey."

"Journey?" Wynn asked. "Where are you going?"

She gave him a small smile. "I don't know. Where are you going?"

Tane's eyes widened at her statement. "Oh no you don't! Don't even think it!"

She gave him a cold smirk. "Fine. I'll leave you here, then. See how you like sitting down here for eight years or so before someone comes to get you."

Sighing, Wynn shrugged, spreading his hands. "I don't think we can get out without her."

"And I don't think I want to get out with her! I have no intentions of…of babysitting this-"

"Then stay. Come on, Wynn," Fami said, too sweetly, as she pushed past the gaping mercenary. Wynn gave a sheepish grin to his partner as he followed her to the center of the room.

"I have a bad feeling about this. If I'm right about her, she was dead on with that 'trouble' comment," Tane muttered, moving next to the other two.

"Oh, so you decided to come with us, did you?" Fami asked, her words honeyed.

Tane glowered at her. "I won't leave my partner with a witch like you, thank you very much."

The girl placed her hands on her hips, glaring daggers at the mercenary. "Apologize, or I'll leave you here!"

Wynn coughed, putting a hand gently on her shoulder. "I'd like to leave today, sometime, if you please. Perhaps you can have this argument at a more convenient time? Maybe when I'm not around?"

"Very well," the girl said sullenly. She gestured grandly, her hands glowing a brilliant green.

For a long moment, long enough to inspire Tane to smirk at her, nothing happened. Then, the ground began to rumble, shaking the trio. A sprout erupted from the ground in the center of them, climbing swiftly towards the light shining out of the entrance of the cave far above. The three stepped back, Wynn and Tane watching the plant's growth with wonder, Fami with satisfaction. Moments later, a plant easily as thick as the two men stood in the center of the cave, and reached up into the light of the day outside.

"Up we go," Fami motioned, before reaching out and slipping her fingers into a crevice in the plant. "An easy enough climb, for me at least. Think you're up to it, Tane?" Her too-sweet smile made the mercenary scowl at her and Wynn roll his eyes.

Tane rolled up his sleeves, and nodded, gauging the plant. "A bad, bad feeling," he whispered, grabbing onto the vine. "Catch me if you can," he shouted, climbing up the vine with all of his strength, racing to the top.

"Hey!" Fami yelled, scrambling to catch up.

Wynn reached the top after the two had already climbed out and collapsed on the ground, panting and shooting evil glares at each other. He didn't know who had won their little race; he didn't rightly care, either.

"Any time you two are ready," Wynn said, looking from one to the other. He hadn't even broken a sweat from the climb.

"I'm fine, but perhaps the little girl needs a break?"

Fami glared menacingly at Tane. "You don't look fine. You look like you just ran a marathon."

"Yeah, but I'm in shape. You can't have gotten much exercise in that cave. Certainly doesn't look like you did."

Wynn winced at Fami's outraged scream. He dove between them, trying desperately to keep the young woman from grasping Tane's throat. The mercenary gave her a wink and a wave. "Wynn, let me at him. Just one second. That's all I need."

"Fami, either calm down, or I'll have to carry you out of here to keep you away from him."

She looked scandalized. "You wouldn't!"

Wynn said nothing. His slight smirk and raised eyebrow said more than words could.

"Very well," she huffed, crossing her arms and pointedly looking away from Wynn.

"Tane? Ready to lead us out of this place?"

The mercenary fumbled with his pouch. "Erm…it was right here, I swear…"

"Bah. Who needs him?" Fami said, walking toward the tangled undergrowth nearby. She gave Wynn a confident smile, then pointed at the plants, her hand giving off an emerald glow. The tangles and briars shifted, trembled, and then completely moved, laying down or shifting to the side. In moments, a path stretched straight out, completely clear of obstructions.

"That works," Wynn noted, impressed.

"I think I preferred the map," Tane grumbled.

The walk through the forest took much less time and effort on the return trip, thanks to Fami's powers. Wynn and Fami strolled along, but Tane keep tripping over conveniently upraised vines and roots that hadn't been there when the others had walked by. With every fall, Fami's smile got bigger, and Tane's knuckles turned whiter.

Finally, just before they reached the forest's exit, Tane pulled the other man aside. "Please, Wynn. Just one punch. Just one. I might even get lucky and knock her out. I mean, we got her this far. Please, please, just stand out of the way."

Wynn stepped back, shocked. "But she's a girl!"

"So?"

The brown-haired man blinked. "You can't hit a girl."

"Says who?"

Wynn was clearly confused. "Everyone!"

"Not me!"

Wynn considered this, then shook his head. "I won't let you hit her."

"You and your stodgy morals."

Fami watched the pair, impatiently tapping her foot. Wynn walked back over to her; Tane looked around for a convenient rock. Not finding one, he followed the pair, grumbling all the way.

Moments later, they left the Lost Woods and entered the village. Tane and Wynn stayed cautiously away from the cliff edge overlooking the town; Fami strolled right up to it. Looking over, she sighed. "It hasn't changed one bit. Not a thing different since…since…"

"You used to live here?"

Fami nodded, smiling back at Wynn. "A long time ago, yes. I lived here with my parents, and my friends. But then…"

Tane stepped up to the edge, warily peering over. "A village full of crazed, pushy, under-grown brats. No surprise you come from here."

Wynn was there in an instant, slapping a hand over both their mouths. "One shout, one scream, one loud noise, and the whole village is on us. Quiet."

Fami pulled his hand away, shaking her head. "These are my friends. They wouldn't bother me."

"Sure they would recognize you after all the years?"

Fami's mouth formed a small 'o' as she considered Wynn's point.

"So, we get out of here all sneaky-like. Any one of them sees us, I'll bash him, and we run."
Wynn nodded. "Sounds simple. Simple plans usually work."

Fami grinned. "A simple plan from a simple mind."

Tane turned to Wynn. "If she really was the treasure, you can take my half. If you want her. I sure don't."

Wynn scratched his head, unsure how to reply to that.

And so the three stealthily made their way towards the hollowed log that marked the exit of the village. The village was silent, perfectly calm. They almost made it.

"You again!" came the cry from beside them.

Tane whirled, intent on bashing the speaker. Mido glared up at him, swinging a rather hefty stick at his head. Tane ducked it, then stepped forward to cover his partner's retreat. He paled when he saw the child had six or seven friends. "Run!"

And so the three dashed out of the forest, a pack of stick- and rock-wielding children hot on their trail. They didn't stop running until they were clear of the forest. As they reached the edge of the murky woods, the children stopped, shaking fists and throwing last futile stones, before turning back to their village.

Simultaneously, all three escapees collapsed on the ground, leaning on each other. "Never again," Tane groaned. The other two agreed enthusiastically.

******

Silence returned to the forest as the Kokiri returned to their village. The last of them, Mido, crossed the bridge, scratching his head uncertainly. He had certainly recognized the two men; what he wouldn't give for another swing at that red-head! But the girl had looked familiar too. And she hadn't been with them when they had come through the forest. How had she gotten there, if she hadn't come in that way? Mido walked home, shaking his head in confusion.

As he moved away from the wooden bridge, the silence was broken by a giggle. With a shower of green sparks, another Kokiri, oddly enough with green hair, appeared on the bridge. She laughed quietly, smiling fondly in the direction the three had ran.

"So, they finally came for you, Fami? Its about time!" Saria, the Sage of the Forest Temple, waved in the direction of her unseeing friend. "Good luck, Fami. You move on to a world neither of us have seen before. Maybe you'll finally get to find what you've always looked for somewhere out there. Maybe…maybe you already have?" With a final laugh, and another explosion of green light, Saria disappeared again, and silence reigned over the Lost Woods.

Author's Note: Finally, I reach something of an acceptable schedule. Hopefully, if I don't get too sidetracked by homework and the wicked world of Everquest, chapters will be released on a three-week timetable. I'm going to try and crack down and keep to that schedule, but who knows how the summer and working night shift at the local Wal-Mart will affect my writing and sleeping schedules? Time will tell, I suppose.

Also, I am proud to say I just finished, over the course of 4 days, Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker. I would highly recommend. The graphics are a little...well, that you can see for yourself. But the plot...! Simply amazing. They did SO much to flesh out the character of Ganondorf that it isn't even funny. And we finally have a Zelda with an actual personality! If you have the chance to get this game, don't let it pass. You won't regret it.

Ahem...anyways, back to story issues. I'm sad to say that the downside of my schedule is that I hardly ever have the time to work on my other stories. This is slightly irksome to me; I had the last chapter of book 5 nearly complete, but writer's block concerning a certain battle scene has kept me tied up completely. Actually, that scene is a good part of the reason I'm putting so much effort into this story. Still, I suppose some of you might be a little curious as to what happens. I do have the whole chapter done, minus one fairly unimportant fight scene, ready to post. I'm not going to put it on FFN until its done...but if anyone cares enough to want to see what I have, send me an e-mail/contact me on MSN Messenger. I'll be more than happy to show you what I have from it.

^_^ Just a little teaser, to pique your curiosity about it. That chapter shows a lot of Devain, a character that will play a major role in books 1-10. It also has one of my favorite battles, with a surprising twist to one of my two main characters. Not to mention some sappiness all around, especially of a Seron/Kiara kind.

So, if you're interested, feel free to e-mail me at hyrules_hero@hotmail.com. Thanks for reading, and for putting up with my nonsense. ^_^

~Wynn Pendragon