Disclaimer ~ I still don't own it. If I did, I'd be very, very rich and happy. I probably wouldn't be writing fan fics then either.

A/N ~ O_O It took me so long to write this chapter!!! But I'm finally done!!! *crys with happiness* I never thought I'd finish!!! I hope that you're all happy now. It's very hard writing such an interesting chapter. (Or at least I think it's interesting ^ ^;;) Oh well.

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Chapter 2 - Knives and Milk

Malon stood near a grave in Kakariko Village. This rain lightly falling down upon the stone. Her chin was tucked under, hiding her face from the starless sky. The sky, in fact, had nothing in it except clouds. What used to be such a beautiful, pale, moon in the sky, now stood an ugly, black, nothingness. I void of complete sorrow. Only seven years old, standing alone in the graveyard.

A strange voice came from behind her. "Why are you all alone out here?" asked Dampe, looking around for someone else. "It's not real safe for anyone to be here at this hour." Malon remained quiet. "Come on now. I know how you must feel."

She sniffed. "How."

Dampe sighed. "I've seen a lot of people come and go here. Each of them here for a good reason..." He set his shovel against the fence. "And my mom and dad both died when I was young. I started spending a lot of time here, talking to them. The gravekeeper at the time had offered me a place to sleep, and a job as an assistant gravekeeper, and when he died, I took over."

Malon didn't know what to say. "I...didn't know..."

Dampe smiled gently as he could and said, "Don't worry. But you really need to get back home. Your father is probably really worried. Don't you think?" Malon nodded. "All right then. If you want to come back, then make sure it's in the day time. I've seen the poes roaming around more lately." Dampe made a scary face and Malon giggled.

She said, "Thank you Mr. Dampe," and skipped back to the ranch.

Dampe sighed. "No, thank you," he muttered after she had gone. "I've finally gotten that off of my chest..."

Malon continued to the ranch, happy to know that it was not only she that had gone though such things. She still wished that her mom was there with her though. She had taken care of all the animals when she was there. Just her smile had calmed down the horses when they felt threatened, and a pat of the ground had made the chickens come to her.

"Well, I better hurry. I'll have to get to bed early if I have to feed the horses in the morning." Malon sprinted the rest of the way, but found herself face to face with Ingo, the hired work that was brought here a couple of years ago.

"What the heck are you doing out so late, Malon! You idiot! You had me worried!" he yelled, getting right up to Malon. "What were you thinking?"

Malon's eyes began to water up, falling down her face. "I just wanted to see mom..." Mr. Dampe said it was a good thing. What's Ingo so mad at me for?, she thought.

"I know what you're sad, but nothin's gonna bring her back. Now, how 'bout you get to bed, all right?" said Ingo, his tone softening a bit. "Just don't scare me again."

Malon nodded, wiping her tears away. "Yes sir."

Ingo nodded back and stretched out his arms. He slowly walked inside to go to sleep. Since there were only two beds, him and Talon switched every so often. This night was Ingo's night on the hay. Malon giggled when she saw him already asleep. His heavy snoring made bad sleep for her though.

Well, it's getting close to the time that I get up anyway..., she thought, tip-toeing out the door. I'll just start on my work early.

Malon walked to the stable, and over to the horses. She sat next to Epona, stroking her gently as she sang to her. Malon fed all the horses, and brushed them before she let them out. It was actually kind of tricky getting them out, but her mom had taught her. They couldn't really go through the door of course, so they had to be let out the back way.

"Mom...," said Malon, so barely audible even she could barely hear.

She fed the cows after she was done letting the horses out, and gave them time to rest before milking them. They seemed a little more on the edge than usual.

"Hm...I think they know that something's wrong. The cows are a bit more sensitive than us about feelings," whispered Malon, to no one in particular. "They're probably mourning too. That...or mooing." She stood up to walk to the door. The sun was almost up now, and Malon would have to wait for either Ingo or Talon to get up to find more work, so she decided to ride one of the horses. She still had to be quiet while Ingo and Talon were asleep though. They were both pretty heavy sleepers, but both would wake in an instant if they heard something bad.

"That a girl. I'm just gonna take a little ride," she cooed softly to one of the horses. "Just don't make too much noise," The horse huffed softly, as if to show that she could be quiet. "That a girl..." Malon jumped on the horse and walked slowly around the coral. She patted her gently on the side, showing her appreciation.

Malon always liked to ride bare backed on a horse. It always gave the horse more freedom when she was riding. The horse never felt too restrained from anything, and was more relaxed. Malon always wished to be as free as them. Just like her mom was.

"Hey, girl, what do you think will happen to the ranch?" Malon asked the horse. The horse took two stronger steps than its others, pushing forward faster. "I see." She got off and gave the horse a carrot from her pocket. "The morning's going by fast. Maybe I should deliver the milk for dad, and let him sleep."

Malon walked slowly, dragging her feet as she went. "Everything's so boring now," she sighed. "I hope everything goes well in town though. But then again, why wouldn't it?"

As she pondered this, she realized that she was already at the gate of the market place. As Malon walked in she knew that everything looked fairly normal, as always, but there was something odd about the mood of the market place. She couldn't quite place what it was, but the market seemed somewhat happier, or brighter, than usual.

"Well, that's strange," said Malon. She was looking a small boy with a bright, wooden mask on. Walking up to him, she tapped him on the shoulder. "Excuse me, but where are these masks coming from?"

The turned around quickly, causing Malon to jump back slightly. "Yeah there was a guy that came here awhile ago," the boy said, pointing to the under construction building in the corner of the market. "He made a bunch of masks for a festival that's coming soon." The boy put the mask back on and ran off towards the other children.

"How very strange..."

As Malon went around the market place, and in the alleyway, to deliver the milk, she saw a group of kids huddled around a bench. She couldn't see exactly what it was that they were gathered around, so she stepped in closer to see. There was a boy, not much older than her, sitting there with an unfinished mask in his hands. He was carving around it so gently that it seemed as though he wasn't even touching it. His hands moved so gracefully, so self-assured.

"See, it's not too hard after you get used to it," he explained to one of the smaller children that were around him. "Here, you try." He handed the mask to the girl, who only looked about four or five. He guided her hand over the mask, showing her the correct motions. "Just be careful, I don't want you to get cut."

Malon stepped in closer to look at the mask again. It looked almost exactly like the face of one of the gorons on Death Mountain. She'd seen one or two come to the market place once. They had fairly large heads that were in a large oval shape. And that's exactly what the mask looked like.

"Would you like to try?" The boys voice broke Malon of her reverie. "It's really not that hard." He handed it to her gently, giving her the knife with which he carved it.

"Oh, I don't know. I'm not very coordinated," stammered Malon, backing away from the blade. "Besides, I need to get home. I have some chores to do." This was true, in a sense, but she didn't really know what her chores were exactly. "Bye," said Malon, with a final wave of her hand to the crowd.

'He seemed nice enough,' thought Malon, 'But I'd never be able to handle a knife!' Malon chuckled to herself thinking about it.

She pranced along through the Hyrule market's gate, and past the moat that receded it. The glistening water calmed her soul, and she had a sudden urge to jump in the moat. She laughed at herself for thinking something so strange. But maybe Malon could go to the lake for awhile.

She sighed. "What am I thinking. Ingo will never let me out of the ranch after being gone now."

Ingo stood firm at the gate and glared directly at her. "Where have you been?" he asked, and not waiting for an answer he proceeded to pull her to the stables. "I had to do all of this work by myself. And the milk still needs to be delivered!"

"I already delivered it," stated Malon.

Ingo was silent for a moment. "All of it?"

"Yep."

"Well," muttered Ingo, blushing at making such a mistake. "I guess you have the day off then." Malon's happiness was eminent upon her face. "But, if I need your help you have to help, no questions asked." Malon nodded quickly and ran to one of the horses.

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A/N ~Yay!!! I bet you can't wait until the next chapter! Well...you'll have to wait once again. I almost have an idea, but school keeps getting in the way. *glares at teachers who have homework* Just be patient. ^ ^;; Oh, and about reviews. You can give me flames about this one. I know that a lot of people aren't going to like this story much.