1
Michaela, for one, was glad to get out of the house. She just couldn't stand her parents sometimes. "I do hope they catch that boy soon," her mother had said to her husband during supper. "He's a good-for-nothing scoundrel, going out and kidnapping the Princess. Why, if he's not caught soon, I'll be keeping you indoors and under more careful watch, young lady," she said, turning to Chael. "If he's done it once, he's likely to do it again, and who knows what he does with these innocent girls."
Chael rolled her eyes. As if she couldn't take care of herself! Zelda must have been a pushover, being a pampered princess. That is, if she even was kidnapped at all. Chael had spoken this thought. "Just because Agahnim says Zelda was kidnapped doesn't mean it's true. Why are you believing him anyway? Everything' gone downhill since he came to power. Everyone's getting sick-" she thought of the little bug-catching boy that lived cate- corner to her, "-and soldiers are lurking everywhere. I'm beginning to think that even the sanctuary is unsafe."
"Nonsense," her father said. "Agahnim is a fine ruler. He's only trying to keep us safe. Why, he's probably better than the old king-"
"What happened to the old King, father?!" Chael interrupted. "He didn't abdicate the throne! We just woke up one morning and he was gone, with Agahnim in his spot. Don't you think it's a bit suspicious?" Chael's voice was rising, incredulity seeping through the coming anger.
"Of course not. Agahnim's King, and that's that. And you'd better not speak of your disloyalty to anyone, or I'll disown you," her father chided.
"Fine. Fine!" Chael had shouted, her temper rising steadily, as she stood. "But if you're going to believe that obvious lie, I won't be a part of it!" She stormed from the house, slamming the door behind her.
Now the frustrated girl walked slowly down the path by her home, absently kicking the stones into the neighboring yard. "Why are they so gullible and stupid?" she whispered to herself. "I'll never understand them." She walked farther north, wondering what Sol would have said to all that if he wasn't off taking care of the neighbor's unyielding garden.
Chael wasn't sure where she was going, but soon she bumped into a fortuneteller that lived in the outskirts of Kakariko Town. She looked up, startled, but her brows were still knit tightly in anger. "What?" she asked as the teller continued to stare at her.
"You look like you need your fortune told," he informed her. "Please, please, step inside, and I will tell your fortune."
Chael peered closely at the teller. He was a short, stout little man with a deep, raspy voice. He wore a strange purple outfit with a pointed hat and long, flowing robes. She couldn't even see his hand when he gestured toward his home. His beady eyes started persistently into Chael's. "Oh, fine," she muttered, and followed him inside.
His home was small and musty-smelling. Cheap-looking trinkets filled numerous shelves, and a gaudy tablecloth covered a round table in the center of the room. The teller circled around the table and plopped on a chair as Chael sat opposite him. "Abracadabra Alakazam!" the teller said in a surprisingly clear, loud voice. He waved his long sleeves over a curious crystal ball that rested on the center of the table. Closing his eyes dramatically, he forcefully spoke the prediction: "You will become lost and full of regret!" When he opened his eyes, he smiled with satisfaction. "That will be fifteen rupees," he said, holding out a sleeved hand.
Chael blinked, shocked. "Fifteen rupees?! But you didn't even tell me anything! You only guessed that I would be regretful tonight because you can tell I'm angry at someone!" With sharp movements she opened her changepurse and plopped down five rupees. They clinked loudly and glimmered brilliantly in the strange light. "You hardly deserve these!" she exclaimed, rising and heading for the door. In seconds she was outside and stomping north again. Before she disappeared among some trees, she heard the shout of the teller carried on the wind: "Now it shall surely come true!"
Chael wasn't at all sure how long she had been walking. She paused to sit on a log and glance at her surroundings. Did these trees seem familiar, or was it all in her head? She hated to admit it, but she wasn't entirely sure where she was. Well, actually, she had no idea where she was. Which way was even south? It was so hard to tell, with the tall, ominous trees and the thick mist that seemed to press in against her. There was only a ray or so left of daylight, and soon all would be darkness. The wild call of a bird screeched overhead, and she started. "Why am I so jumpy?" she asked herself. "It's just a bird, and it's only nighttime. Nothing to be afraid of." Trying to be calm, she forced herself to keep her hand off her dagger and not care that she had, in her rush, left her bow at home. Instead she reached in her pocket and pulled out the roll she had stuffed in there earlier. As she took a bite of the bread, she couldn't help but think of the fortuneteller, and how strangely correct he had been.
2
Heika slowly walked through the woods, glancing around him. He'd been through these woods many a time before ... and every time, he had gotten horribly lost. Naturally, this time was no different.
He collapsed onto a stump and reached down to pluck a long blade of grass. His eyes narrowed, intently surveying his surroundings as he idly placed the grass blade into his mouth and began to chew on it. "Lost again ... " He glanced over his shoulder, seemingly staring at a rock formation behind him. "And being followed." He stood up and adjusted his the sword strapped to his back, making it easier to remove.
... and now, to investigate ...
He walked over, deftly crawling up the boulder. He carefully peeked over the top, trying to stay as concealed as possible. What he saw was simply a girl sitting on a log, nibbling on a roll.
3
After finishing her snack, Chael glanced around again. Maybe she should give it one more try.it wasn't like she could get any more lost.just before it was completely dark and she would be forced to stay put until morning or suffer many scrapes and bruises of fumbling around in the pitch blackness.
So the girl stood and began walking to where she didn't know, but hopefully to an exit of this terrible woods.
Heika continued watching the girl, surprised when she stood and began walking off. "Now where's she going off to this close to dark?" he wondered, and decided to follow her.
Chael stumbled along aimlessly, her worry increasing with the decreasing light. She almost felt bad for her parents, that they would probably be worrying all night long, but then dismissed the thought on account of her anger and frustration with them.
As she turned in a complete 360, she noticed something sparkling strangely about5 yards off among a clump of bushes. Curiosity took hold, and she went to investigate. While pushing aside the unnecessary shrubbery and wading in among the scraping branches, she suddenly found herself losing her footing and falling through a large hole to a hard earthen floor below. A few seconds passed as she lay there, not wanting to get up from the impact of the fall. Then she heard a shuffling sound of feet and saw the flash of light reflecting off metal. Then a hostile voice: "Heheh! A trespasser!"
Heika was surprised, to say the least, when he blinked and suddenly the girl was no longer there. He blinked a few more times, just to make sure the thick mist and darkness of the woods hadn't gotten the best of him. As the last of the light faded into nothing, he heard a muffled scream erupt from the area where the girl had been.
4
Random solutions to the girl's disappearance shot through Heika's mind, but he quickly put a clamp on each one. Surely she couldn't be an apprentice to Agahnim, or an heir to the Seven Wise Men! But how could she vanish in an instant without the aid of magic?
Naturally, the only choice was to investigate.
Heika cautiously snuck towards the place he had last seen the girl, keeping himself low to the ground and on alert. A quick survey of the brush revealed one possible conclusion: a large hole in the ground. He edged closer to it, quieter than a field mouse, trying to see what was in.
What he saw also shocked him, to say the least. The girl he had followed was lying on the ground, stunned. Evidently she had plunged into the hole. However, Heika also noticed a few shadowy forms standing outside the ring of sunlight cast into the pit by the hole. How many and what, he couldn't be sure ... but he didn't like the feel of their intentions.
5
Chael took a deep breath and whipped out her dagger. It wasn't worth much, she decided, against this band of men. She counted quickly.three of them. No way could she defend herself like this.her dagger was probably as good as a toothpick against their full-length swords and greater number. She crawled backward until she felt the earth wall against her back, getting ready to say her last prayers. Although she knew she probably wasn't getting out of this alive, she wasn't going down without a fight. Maybe she'd take an ear or two off one of them before they put a stop to her life. Funny how her life was going to end.a stupid fortuneteller had correctly predicted she would be full of regret.
6
Heika stared intently as the girl, evidently in fear of her life, scuttled backwards towards the earthen wall. Slowly the menacing figures lumbered towards her ... and into the light. Three of them. Heika smirked. Easy enough to deal with if he was needed.
"Don't be afeared, little girl," one of the men sneered. "We won't do anything too horrible to you!"
Heika's lip upturned with distaste as the three men guffawed. It was time to intervene ... as far as he could tell, the girl was unarmed, save for the pinprick of a dagger she had tucked in her boot. He stood up to his full height, casting his shadow into the grotto.
The three men, startled by this eclipse, looked upwards, only too see a man fully armored plummeting towards them.
Heika landed boot-first on one, knocking another backwards with his shield. He jumped back to wear the girl was laying in the dust, keeping his eye on his three opponents as they backed up to regroup and re-assess their situation.
"You okay?" he asked the girl, not averting his gaze.
7
Chael was very and completely startled. At first she feared she would have one more opponent to fight, but after he knocked out one of the men and turned to ask if she was fine, she felt confident that this newcomer was on her side. He reached out his hand to her, and she stared at it, blinking before taking it and struggling to her feet. One of the thieves snarled at this sudden change. "Who are you, boy?" His partner answered with a rude smile on his face. "Don't know 'bout that, but I believe he'll be dead soon." He charged at Heika, his sword drawn up above his head so he could bring it down on him with full force. Quickly drawing his sword, Heika blocked the flashing blade an inch or so above his head and threw him off. Meanwhile, the other bandit had started walking slowly, dangerously, toward Chael, obviously not thinking her a threat. "Shall we kill the girl?" he asked, more to himself than to his partner that was engaged in a sword fight. Chael gripped her dagger tightly. "I don't think that will be happening," she promised darkly. She snatched up Heika's shield, which he had discarded in an effort to be more agile while fighting. "Come and get me," she dared him. The man shrugged, then ran at her, using the same approach his partner had. Chael brought up the shield and easily blocked it while slashing out with her dagger, cutting a decently long gash through the clothes around his stomach. He glanced down, his eyes flaring. "Little b*tch!" he yelled, swinging to the side with his sword, which Chael instantly blocked. She spun around 90 degrees the opposite way and dug her dagger into his arm, twisting it momentarily before yanking it out. As she did so, the man swung out his leg to strike the back of her knees, and she collapsed to the floor. As soon as she was down he stabbed the sword to the ground, intending to stab her, but she rolled out of the way and back to her feet, though not before the rapier's tip nicked her right shoulder. She put a hand to her upper arm, her fingers smearing blood. She didn't have much time to analyze it, though, because the man came at her again, his eyes flashing madly. She brought up her shield again and successfully blocked the first thrust, but he whipped his blade around with such force and at such an angle that the shield was ripped from her hand. Chael tried to think quickly.he was too close for her to reach down and grab it, so she backed up. Or at least tried to. With one step back she hit the earthen wall, then made the mistake of looking behind her in surprise. At this opening in her defenses, the thief grabbed her wrists and pinned them above her head, his other hand tightening around her neck. She felt his knees pressing against hers so she couldn't kick his shins. "I was going to keep you alive," he stated, his hot stinky breath in her face, "but then you had to go and tear my shirt. And I really like this shirt."
8
Heika, after parrying the first strike, realized he had slightly underestimated his opponents. He quickly countered with a strike of his own, which was also knocked aside. He hadn't underestimated -too- much ... but there was no room for even the smallest mistake when protecting a hostage. He followed strike after strike, just waiting to gain the upper- hand ... and then ... With a quick flash of steel, Heika slung his sword towards the pommel of his opponent's blade, knocking it out of the man's hand. Glaring, Heika smashed the flat of his blade against his opponent's head, rendering him unconscious. He turned around to check on the girl when he noticed she was pinned to the wall by her assailant. With a dash, Heika arrived by their side, sliding his sword to the man's neck.
"I suggest you let her go."
9
The man glared angrily, swearing under his breath. Chael, meanwhile, was still struggling frantically as the thief's hand continued to tighten around her neck, draining the air from her body. She gasped brokenly, beginning to black out from the pressure.
Heika pressed his blade closer against the thief's neck until a trickle of blood began to flow from a new cut. Just when Chael thought she was going to pass out, the man released her. As she weakly slumped to the floor, useless, the assailant rapidly turned on Heika. His sword still in the hand that had held Chael's wrists together, he slashed furiously at the younger man. Heika quickly parried the attacks, then easily went on the offensive. The thief blocked every move, desperately yet successfully, until Heika decided to slash at his feet. After jumping just in time, the thief landed slightly off-balance, just as Heika brought his sword down on him. The blow was blocked, of course, but Heika bore down on the sword, putting all his weight on it so the thief used all his strength to hold it off. All this happened in a matter of seconds before Heika kneed his foe in the groin...hard. The thief doubled over in pain, his sword dropping from his hand with a loud thud. Now that he was down, Heika kicked him hard in the stomach, after which the thief promptly curled up into a large ball, gritting his teeth in pain, tears streaming from his tightly-shut eyes. "That's not how you treat a lady," Heika informed him sternly before knocking the man fully unconscious and sheathing his trusty sword.
10
Heika smirked over the unconscious body of the thief before turning to face the girl he had saved. "Hey ... " he said, grinning reassuringly. "My name's Heika. Heika Kinzoku." He ran his hand through his hair, brushing it out of his face. "You alright? Not hurt or anything ... ?"
11
Chael sat upright, yet still leaning against the wall, nodding. "No, I'm fine... Thanks...for all that." She looked up into his blue eyes, finding a calm, kind gaze behind them. Once more he reached down a hand and helped her to her feet. She was a little unsteady at first, the shock still affecting her, but by the time she offered her name she was feeling better. "Name's Michaela. But everyone calls me Chael," she told him. She glanced around his shoulder at the scattered men laying sprawled about the floor. "Are they...dead?" she asked quietly. Heika glanced around him. "Naw, only knocked out for a while. Here...why don't we leave them be and get out of here before they wake up." The two walked around the nearest thief and toward the only other door in the room. A little more light, but not much, flowed from some lanterns embedded in the earthen walls. Across the room they could see another doorway. Although it was wide open, the night was pitch black, and nothing could be seen past that. This fact, however, didn't stop Heika from attempting to leave the hideout. He bent to retrieve a large branch from a pile in the corner and lit it with the fire from one of the lanterns. The fire danced brightly as he walked toward the door. "You coming?" he asked Chael when he noticed she hadn't moved from her spot by the lantern. She hesitated. "You're going out there?" she said incredulously. "In the dark, with all the creatures out there? Hyrule isn't what it used to be. It's not safe out there at night." "You want to say here?" he returned, "with those thieves that might wake up in the middle of the night while you're sleeping? They might end up finishing the job they started." Chael considered this, and reluctantly followed Heika out the door, into the night.
12
Heika slowly walked into the night, glancing behind him to make sure the girl followed. "Don't worry about a thing ... I can take care of you." He flashed her a reassuring smile and continued into the dark night.
The woods were pitch black, and Heika could feel the girl's fear radiating from her. "Michaela, right? ... It's looking like it might take a while to get to Kakariko village. I'd suggest we either keep slugging onwards, or bed down for the night." He looked around himself, as if checking out the surroundings. "Which would you like to do?"
Chael was completely taken aback. This guy was being a little forward for meeting her just a little while ago! Blinking in disbelief, she said hesitantly "Let's ... keep going."
Heika grinned knowingly. "I thought so."
After walking a little further, Heika, trying to start conversation, asked "So where is it in Kakariko that you live?"
Chael stumbled lightly over a rock and, catching her balance, looked up at the man before her. "Near the little boy who likes to catch bugs," she said, her brow furrowing.
Heika, not looking back, lightly continued onward. "Aah, yes ... I remember that little rapscallion!" Heika laughed softly to himself, as if he was suddenly struck by a fond memory. "I used to live in Kakariko ... a long time ago. Near the old sage." He turned around, lending a hand to Chael to help her climb over a hill. "By the way ... what ever happened to that old man? Last I heard, he had gone away ... to someplace."
13
"The Elder...?" Chael repeated absently, taking Heika's hand. Her mind at the moment was concentrating on getting around this terrain with this stupid dress on. She would have to shorten it soon if she was going to keep this up for much longer. "The Elder...no one knows where he is. The little boy with the chickens thinks he's somewhere out east, but I don't know how credible that is."
"That's sad," Heika said. "I would have liked to see him again."
A new silence ensued, and Heika tried a new question. "So what brings you to the Lost Woods? It's not the safest place, especially for a pretty young girl like you."
Chael ignored the compliment, instead concentrating on the first statement. Her ignorant parents, that was the reason she was lost. And a few rupees short, she thought, remembering the fortuneteller from earlier in the day. "My parents upset me, and I needed to get out. I just didn't intend on getting this far and this lost," she confessed. "My anger must have gotten ahold of me..." she trailed off as she tripped on a stone for the final time. "That's it! I've had it with this dress!" She stopped, finding a stump nearby to sit on. Heika turned around curiously, wondering what she was intending to do. The girl pulled out her dagger and carefully inserted it in the middle of her dress, a couple inches above her knee. Slowly she cut an impressively straight line in a circle around herself, struggling a bit with the back, but Heika of course didn't offer to help, and Chael didn't ask. When she was finished, the bottom half of her dress crumpled in a circular pile around her feet. Then she stood up and kicked it off, surveying her shorter dress that had now become a skirt. "Much better," she said, satisfied.
Heika stared, surprised at her little outburst of energy. Finally he grinned. "Ready to continue?" he asked.
"Certainly."
14
Heika chuckled to himself as he turned around, heading up a hill. "Yes, parents ... I know what you mean. They have a tendency to act a little irrational."
"A little?" Chael scoffed. "More like completely irrational!"
Heika's grin broadened. "Alright, I'll give you that one." He slid down an embankment and then looked up at Chael, who hesitantly did the same. "Just curious ... what did you fight about?"
Chael glanced down at him as she slid down the hill, guiding herself by holding onto a knotted tree root. "Nothing, really ... " Like she would tell some stranger about a fight with her parents, or the fact that she hated Agahnim.
Heika laughed. "Always the way. You never really remember what the fight is about afterwards."
Chael grinned silently to herself. Let him make his own assumptions. It wouldn't hurt her one bit. "Heheh," she heard a nervous laugh coming from Heika's direction. He slowly turned around to face her, rubbing the back of his head and bearing a sheepish grin.
"I think I'm lost," he said brightly.
15
Chael shifted nervously. She had thought he knew where he was going. "What do we do then?" she asked, turning in a full circle about herself, though not seeing much past the flicking light of the torch.
"Keep going, I guess. But keep an eye out for places that look like we've already been there," Heika answered grimly. "Come on..."
Chael followed obediently. At least if they were lost and going in circles, she wasn't stumbling around as much as she had before.
They continued walking for another half an hour or so, until Chael started to get tired. She was one who needed her sleep, but had been deprived of it tonight. "Do you need to rest?" Heika asked her. "No," she lied, trying to make herself look more alert. Heika hesitated, but kept walking.
Soon they came upon another hollowed-out log. Chael couldn't for the life of her figure out why there were so many of these logs, but she crawled through it anyways, just like the numerous ones before. When they emerged from the other side, Heika could notice slightly longer beams of light that poured from the burning fire on the torch in his hand. "Odd..." he murmured to himself. It was a strange clearing, almost as if the trees had been cut in a nice rectangular shape. The trees themselves didn't seem as overbearing, rather as though they threatened to dominate the area but were held back by some unknown force. As Heika looked about himself, he noticed something he hadn't seen in any other part of the woods...animals, friendly animals. A squirrel crawled slowly along the branch of a tree, and a rabbit hopped off quietly in the darkness. He looked behind him to see if Chael was still following. Indeed she was, and she too had become a bit more alert at the sudden change in atmosphere. Spotting a bunny rabbit in the middle of the path, she passed in front of Heika and slowly approached it. Surprisingly, the small animal didn't run away, but instead waited patiently for her. Chael kneeled before it and petted its soft ears, running her hand over its light-brown fur. Heika smiled gently at her, and deemed the clearing safe enough to leave her alone for a little while, and continued walking. As he stepped forward, the light cast a glow on a stone monument before him, and he climbed the steps. He was taken aback by what he saw. A sword was inserted in a large square stone, with a few unintelligible characters inscribed on the front of the stone. The white stone platform beneath his feet was remarkably smooth, though years of dirt had accumulated upon it, making it a dreary gray color. He stepped up next to the sword, his eyes shining brightly. A hunger of all swordsmen consumed him as he ran a hand over the handle, his fingers softly caressing the powerful weapon. He could almost feel the power, though it was dormant, flowing beneath the deadly metal. A layer of dirt fell from this, too, and he wondered how long it had been since the last person had been standing at this spot, deep in the Lost Woods. Gripping it hard, he tried to remove the sword from its slumber, but it would not budge. He tried harder, draining all his strength, but still it stayed rooted to its spot. Disappointed, he began to turn back around. As he descended down the few steps, he glanced back at the sword longingly, then made himself forget the impossible dream to wield it. He approached Chael, who had lain down upon a soft patch of grass, her head resting lightly on her hand, the bunny still nestled against her chest. He smiled gently at her sleeping form, then decided it was time for him to rest as well. Finding the way out of this maze could wait until tomorrow.
Michaela, for one, was glad to get out of the house. She just couldn't stand her parents sometimes. "I do hope they catch that boy soon," her mother had said to her husband during supper. "He's a good-for-nothing scoundrel, going out and kidnapping the Princess. Why, if he's not caught soon, I'll be keeping you indoors and under more careful watch, young lady," she said, turning to Chael. "If he's done it once, he's likely to do it again, and who knows what he does with these innocent girls."
Chael rolled her eyes. As if she couldn't take care of herself! Zelda must have been a pushover, being a pampered princess. That is, if she even was kidnapped at all. Chael had spoken this thought. "Just because Agahnim says Zelda was kidnapped doesn't mean it's true. Why are you believing him anyway? Everything' gone downhill since he came to power. Everyone's getting sick-" she thought of the little bug-catching boy that lived cate- corner to her, "-and soldiers are lurking everywhere. I'm beginning to think that even the sanctuary is unsafe."
"Nonsense," her father said. "Agahnim is a fine ruler. He's only trying to keep us safe. Why, he's probably better than the old king-"
"What happened to the old King, father?!" Chael interrupted. "He didn't abdicate the throne! We just woke up one morning and he was gone, with Agahnim in his spot. Don't you think it's a bit suspicious?" Chael's voice was rising, incredulity seeping through the coming anger.
"Of course not. Agahnim's King, and that's that. And you'd better not speak of your disloyalty to anyone, or I'll disown you," her father chided.
"Fine. Fine!" Chael had shouted, her temper rising steadily, as she stood. "But if you're going to believe that obvious lie, I won't be a part of it!" She stormed from the house, slamming the door behind her.
Now the frustrated girl walked slowly down the path by her home, absently kicking the stones into the neighboring yard. "Why are they so gullible and stupid?" she whispered to herself. "I'll never understand them." She walked farther north, wondering what Sol would have said to all that if he wasn't off taking care of the neighbor's unyielding garden.
Chael wasn't sure where she was going, but soon she bumped into a fortuneteller that lived in the outskirts of Kakariko Town. She looked up, startled, but her brows were still knit tightly in anger. "What?" she asked as the teller continued to stare at her.
"You look like you need your fortune told," he informed her. "Please, please, step inside, and I will tell your fortune."
Chael peered closely at the teller. He was a short, stout little man with a deep, raspy voice. He wore a strange purple outfit with a pointed hat and long, flowing robes. She couldn't even see his hand when he gestured toward his home. His beady eyes started persistently into Chael's. "Oh, fine," she muttered, and followed him inside.
His home was small and musty-smelling. Cheap-looking trinkets filled numerous shelves, and a gaudy tablecloth covered a round table in the center of the room. The teller circled around the table and plopped on a chair as Chael sat opposite him. "Abracadabra Alakazam!" the teller said in a surprisingly clear, loud voice. He waved his long sleeves over a curious crystal ball that rested on the center of the table. Closing his eyes dramatically, he forcefully spoke the prediction: "You will become lost and full of regret!" When he opened his eyes, he smiled with satisfaction. "That will be fifteen rupees," he said, holding out a sleeved hand.
Chael blinked, shocked. "Fifteen rupees?! But you didn't even tell me anything! You only guessed that I would be regretful tonight because you can tell I'm angry at someone!" With sharp movements she opened her changepurse and plopped down five rupees. They clinked loudly and glimmered brilliantly in the strange light. "You hardly deserve these!" she exclaimed, rising and heading for the door. In seconds she was outside and stomping north again. Before she disappeared among some trees, she heard the shout of the teller carried on the wind: "Now it shall surely come true!"
Chael wasn't at all sure how long she had been walking. She paused to sit on a log and glance at her surroundings. Did these trees seem familiar, or was it all in her head? She hated to admit it, but she wasn't entirely sure where she was. Well, actually, she had no idea where she was. Which way was even south? It was so hard to tell, with the tall, ominous trees and the thick mist that seemed to press in against her. There was only a ray or so left of daylight, and soon all would be darkness. The wild call of a bird screeched overhead, and she started. "Why am I so jumpy?" she asked herself. "It's just a bird, and it's only nighttime. Nothing to be afraid of." Trying to be calm, she forced herself to keep her hand off her dagger and not care that she had, in her rush, left her bow at home. Instead she reached in her pocket and pulled out the roll she had stuffed in there earlier. As she took a bite of the bread, she couldn't help but think of the fortuneteller, and how strangely correct he had been.
2
Heika slowly walked through the woods, glancing around him. He'd been through these woods many a time before ... and every time, he had gotten horribly lost. Naturally, this time was no different.
He collapsed onto a stump and reached down to pluck a long blade of grass. His eyes narrowed, intently surveying his surroundings as he idly placed the grass blade into his mouth and began to chew on it. "Lost again ... " He glanced over his shoulder, seemingly staring at a rock formation behind him. "And being followed." He stood up and adjusted his the sword strapped to his back, making it easier to remove.
... and now, to investigate ...
He walked over, deftly crawling up the boulder. He carefully peeked over the top, trying to stay as concealed as possible. What he saw was simply a girl sitting on a log, nibbling on a roll.
3
After finishing her snack, Chael glanced around again. Maybe she should give it one more try.it wasn't like she could get any more lost.just before it was completely dark and she would be forced to stay put until morning or suffer many scrapes and bruises of fumbling around in the pitch blackness.
So the girl stood and began walking to where she didn't know, but hopefully to an exit of this terrible woods.
Heika continued watching the girl, surprised when she stood and began walking off. "Now where's she going off to this close to dark?" he wondered, and decided to follow her.
Chael stumbled along aimlessly, her worry increasing with the decreasing light. She almost felt bad for her parents, that they would probably be worrying all night long, but then dismissed the thought on account of her anger and frustration with them.
As she turned in a complete 360, she noticed something sparkling strangely about5 yards off among a clump of bushes. Curiosity took hold, and she went to investigate. While pushing aside the unnecessary shrubbery and wading in among the scraping branches, she suddenly found herself losing her footing and falling through a large hole to a hard earthen floor below. A few seconds passed as she lay there, not wanting to get up from the impact of the fall. Then she heard a shuffling sound of feet and saw the flash of light reflecting off metal. Then a hostile voice: "Heheh! A trespasser!"
Heika was surprised, to say the least, when he blinked and suddenly the girl was no longer there. He blinked a few more times, just to make sure the thick mist and darkness of the woods hadn't gotten the best of him. As the last of the light faded into nothing, he heard a muffled scream erupt from the area where the girl had been.
4
Random solutions to the girl's disappearance shot through Heika's mind, but he quickly put a clamp on each one. Surely she couldn't be an apprentice to Agahnim, or an heir to the Seven Wise Men! But how could she vanish in an instant without the aid of magic?
Naturally, the only choice was to investigate.
Heika cautiously snuck towards the place he had last seen the girl, keeping himself low to the ground and on alert. A quick survey of the brush revealed one possible conclusion: a large hole in the ground. He edged closer to it, quieter than a field mouse, trying to see what was in.
What he saw also shocked him, to say the least. The girl he had followed was lying on the ground, stunned. Evidently she had plunged into the hole. However, Heika also noticed a few shadowy forms standing outside the ring of sunlight cast into the pit by the hole. How many and what, he couldn't be sure ... but he didn't like the feel of their intentions.
5
Chael took a deep breath and whipped out her dagger. It wasn't worth much, she decided, against this band of men. She counted quickly.three of them. No way could she defend herself like this.her dagger was probably as good as a toothpick against their full-length swords and greater number. She crawled backward until she felt the earth wall against her back, getting ready to say her last prayers. Although she knew she probably wasn't getting out of this alive, she wasn't going down without a fight. Maybe she'd take an ear or two off one of them before they put a stop to her life. Funny how her life was going to end.a stupid fortuneteller had correctly predicted she would be full of regret.
6
Heika stared intently as the girl, evidently in fear of her life, scuttled backwards towards the earthen wall. Slowly the menacing figures lumbered towards her ... and into the light. Three of them. Heika smirked. Easy enough to deal with if he was needed.
"Don't be afeared, little girl," one of the men sneered. "We won't do anything too horrible to you!"
Heika's lip upturned with distaste as the three men guffawed. It was time to intervene ... as far as he could tell, the girl was unarmed, save for the pinprick of a dagger she had tucked in her boot. He stood up to his full height, casting his shadow into the grotto.
The three men, startled by this eclipse, looked upwards, only too see a man fully armored plummeting towards them.
Heika landed boot-first on one, knocking another backwards with his shield. He jumped back to wear the girl was laying in the dust, keeping his eye on his three opponents as they backed up to regroup and re-assess their situation.
"You okay?" he asked the girl, not averting his gaze.
7
Chael was very and completely startled. At first she feared she would have one more opponent to fight, but after he knocked out one of the men and turned to ask if she was fine, she felt confident that this newcomer was on her side. He reached out his hand to her, and she stared at it, blinking before taking it and struggling to her feet. One of the thieves snarled at this sudden change. "Who are you, boy?" His partner answered with a rude smile on his face. "Don't know 'bout that, but I believe he'll be dead soon." He charged at Heika, his sword drawn up above his head so he could bring it down on him with full force. Quickly drawing his sword, Heika blocked the flashing blade an inch or so above his head and threw him off. Meanwhile, the other bandit had started walking slowly, dangerously, toward Chael, obviously not thinking her a threat. "Shall we kill the girl?" he asked, more to himself than to his partner that was engaged in a sword fight. Chael gripped her dagger tightly. "I don't think that will be happening," she promised darkly. She snatched up Heika's shield, which he had discarded in an effort to be more agile while fighting. "Come and get me," she dared him. The man shrugged, then ran at her, using the same approach his partner had. Chael brought up the shield and easily blocked it while slashing out with her dagger, cutting a decently long gash through the clothes around his stomach. He glanced down, his eyes flaring. "Little b*tch!" he yelled, swinging to the side with his sword, which Chael instantly blocked. She spun around 90 degrees the opposite way and dug her dagger into his arm, twisting it momentarily before yanking it out. As she did so, the man swung out his leg to strike the back of her knees, and she collapsed to the floor. As soon as she was down he stabbed the sword to the ground, intending to stab her, but she rolled out of the way and back to her feet, though not before the rapier's tip nicked her right shoulder. She put a hand to her upper arm, her fingers smearing blood. She didn't have much time to analyze it, though, because the man came at her again, his eyes flashing madly. She brought up her shield again and successfully blocked the first thrust, but he whipped his blade around with such force and at such an angle that the shield was ripped from her hand. Chael tried to think quickly.he was too close for her to reach down and grab it, so she backed up. Or at least tried to. With one step back she hit the earthen wall, then made the mistake of looking behind her in surprise. At this opening in her defenses, the thief grabbed her wrists and pinned them above her head, his other hand tightening around her neck. She felt his knees pressing against hers so she couldn't kick his shins. "I was going to keep you alive," he stated, his hot stinky breath in her face, "but then you had to go and tear my shirt. And I really like this shirt."
8
Heika, after parrying the first strike, realized he had slightly underestimated his opponents. He quickly countered with a strike of his own, which was also knocked aside. He hadn't underestimated -too- much ... but there was no room for even the smallest mistake when protecting a hostage. He followed strike after strike, just waiting to gain the upper- hand ... and then ... With a quick flash of steel, Heika slung his sword towards the pommel of his opponent's blade, knocking it out of the man's hand. Glaring, Heika smashed the flat of his blade against his opponent's head, rendering him unconscious. He turned around to check on the girl when he noticed she was pinned to the wall by her assailant. With a dash, Heika arrived by their side, sliding his sword to the man's neck.
"I suggest you let her go."
9
The man glared angrily, swearing under his breath. Chael, meanwhile, was still struggling frantically as the thief's hand continued to tighten around her neck, draining the air from her body. She gasped brokenly, beginning to black out from the pressure.
Heika pressed his blade closer against the thief's neck until a trickle of blood began to flow from a new cut. Just when Chael thought she was going to pass out, the man released her. As she weakly slumped to the floor, useless, the assailant rapidly turned on Heika. His sword still in the hand that had held Chael's wrists together, he slashed furiously at the younger man. Heika quickly parried the attacks, then easily went on the offensive. The thief blocked every move, desperately yet successfully, until Heika decided to slash at his feet. After jumping just in time, the thief landed slightly off-balance, just as Heika brought his sword down on him. The blow was blocked, of course, but Heika bore down on the sword, putting all his weight on it so the thief used all his strength to hold it off. All this happened in a matter of seconds before Heika kneed his foe in the groin...hard. The thief doubled over in pain, his sword dropping from his hand with a loud thud. Now that he was down, Heika kicked him hard in the stomach, after which the thief promptly curled up into a large ball, gritting his teeth in pain, tears streaming from his tightly-shut eyes. "That's not how you treat a lady," Heika informed him sternly before knocking the man fully unconscious and sheathing his trusty sword.
10
Heika smirked over the unconscious body of the thief before turning to face the girl he had saved. "Hey ... " he said, grinning reassuringly. "My name's Heika. Heika Kinzoku." He ran his hand through his hair, brushing it out of his face. "You alright? Not hurt or anything ... ?"
11
Chael sat upright, yet still leaning against the wall, nodding. "No, I'm fine... Thanks...for all that." She looked up into his blue eyes, finding a calm, kind gaze behind them. Once more he reached down a hand and helped her to her feet. She was a little unsteady at first, the shock still affecting her, but by the time she offered her name she was feeling better. "Name's Michaela. But everyone calls me Chael," she told him. She glanced around his shoulder at the scattered men laying sprawled about the floor. "Are they...dead?" she asked quietly. Heika glanced around him. "Naw, only knocked out for a while. Here...why don't we leave them be and get out of here before they wake up." The two walked around the nearest thief and toward the only other door in the room. A little more light, but not much, flowed from some lanterns embedded in the earthen walls. Across the room they could see another doorway. Although it was wide open, the night was pitch black, and nothing could be seen past that. This fact, however, didn't stop Heika from attempting to leave the hideout. He bent to retrieve a large branch from a pile in the corner and lit it with the fire from one of the lanterns. The fire danced brightly as he walked toward the door. "You coming?" he asked Chael when he noticed she hadn't moved from her spot by the lantern. She hesitated. "You're going out there?" she said incredulously. "In the dark, with all the creatures out there? Hyrule isn't what it used to be. It's not safe out there at night." "You want to say here?" he returned, "with those thieves that might wake up in the middle of the night while you're sleeping? They might end up finishing the job they started." Chael considered this, and reluctantly followed Heika out the door, into the night.
12
Heika slowly walked into the night, glancing behind him to make sure the girl followed. "Don't worry about a thing ... I can take care of you." He flashed her a reassuring smile and continued into the dark night.
The woods were pitch black, and Heika could feel the girl's fear radiating from her. "Michaela, right? ... It's looking like it might take a while to get to Kakariko village. I'd suggest we either keep slugging onwards, or bed down for the night." He looked around himself, as if checking out the surroundings. "Which would you like to do?"
Chael was completely taken aback. This guy was being a little forward for meeting her just a little while ago! Blinking in disbelief, she said hesitantly "Let's ... keep going."
Heika grinned knowingly. "I thought so."
After walking a little further, Heika, trying to start conversation, asked "So where is it in Kakariko that you live?"
Chael stumbled lightly over a rock and, catching her balance, looked up at the man before her. "Near the little boy who likes to catch bugs," she said, her brow furrowing.
Heika, not looking back, lightly continued onward. "Aah, yes ... I remember that little rapscallion!" Heika laughed softly to himself, as if he was suddenly struck by a fond memory. "I used to live in Kakariko ... a long time ago. Near the old sage." He turned around, lending a hand to Chael to help her climb over a hill. "By the way ... what ever happened to that old man? Last I heard, he had gone away ... to someplace."
13
"The Elder...?" Chael repeated absently, taking Heika's hand. Her mind at the moment was concentrating on getting around this terrain with this stupid dress on. She would have to shorten it soon if she was going to keep this up for much longer. "The Elder...no one knows where he is. The little boy with the chickens thinks he's somewhere out east, but I don't know how credible that is."
"That's sad," Heika said. "I would have liked to see him again."
A new silence ensued, and Heika tried a new question. "So what brings you to the Lost Woods? It's not the safest place, especially for a pretty young girl like you."
Chael ignored the compliment, instead concentrating on the first statement. Her ignorant parents, that was the reason she was lost. And a few rupees short, she thought, remembering the fortuneteller from earlier in the day. "My parents upset me, and I needed to get out. I just didn't intend on getting this far and this lost," she confessed. "My anger must have gotten ahold of me..." she trailed off as she tripped on a stone for the final time. "That's it! I've had it with this dress!" She stopped, finding a stump nearby to sit on. Heika turned around curiously, wondering what she was intending to do. The girl pulled out her dagger and carefully inserted it in the middle of her dress, a couple inches above her knee. Slowly she cut an impressively straight line in a circle around herself, struggling a bit with the back, but Heika of course didn't offer to help, and Chael didn't ask. When she was finished, the bottom half of her dress crumpled in a circular pile around her feet. Then she stood up and kicked it off, surveying her shorter dress that had now become a skirt. "Much better," she said, satisfied.
Heika stared, surprised at her little outburst of energy. Finally he grinned. "Ready to continue?" he asked.
"Certainly."
14
Heika chuckled to himself as he turned around, heading up a hill. "Yes, parents ... I know what you mean. They have a tendency to act a little irrational."
"A little?" Chael scoffed. "More like completely irrational!"
Heika's grin broadened. "Alright, I'll give you that one." He slid down an embankment and then looked up at Chael, who hesitantly did the same. "Just curious ... what did you fight about?"
Chael glanced down at him as she slid down the hill, guiding herself by holding onto a knotted tree root. "Nothing, really ... " Like she would tell some stranger about a fight with her parents, or the fact that she hated Agahnim.
Heika laughed. "Always the way. You never really remember what the fight is about afterwards."
Chael grinned silently to herself. Let him make his own assumptions. It wouldn't hurt her one bit. "Heheh," she heard a nervous laugh coming from Heika's direction. He slowly turned around to face her, rubbing the back of his head and bearing a sheepish grin.
"I think I'm lost," he said brightly.
15
Chael shifted nervously. She had thought he knew where he was going. "What do we do then?" she asked, turning in a full circle about herself, though not seeing much past the flicking light of the torch.
"Keep going, I guess. But keep an eye out for places that look like we've already been there," Heika answered grimly. "Come on..."
Chael followed obediently. At least if they were lost and going in circles, she wasn't stumbling around as much as she had before.
They continued walking for another half an hour or so, until Chael started to get tired. She was one who needed her sleep, but had been deprived of it tonight. "Do you need to rest?" Heika asked her. "No," she lied, trying to make herself look more alert. Heika hesitated, but kept walking.
Soon they came upon another hollowed-out log. Chael couldn't for the life of her figure out why there were so many of these logs, but she crawled through it anyways, just like the numerous ones before. When they emerged from the other side, Heika could notice slightly longer beams of light that poured from the burning fire on the torch in his hand. "Odd..." he murmured to himself. It was a strange clearing, almost as if the trees had been cut in a nice rectangular shape. The trees themselves didn't seem as overbearing, rather as though they threatened to dominate the area but were held back by some unknown force. As Heika looked about himself, he noticed something he hadn't seen in any other part of the woods...animals, friendly animals. A squirrel crawled slowly along the branch of a tree, and a rabbit hopped off quietly in the darkness. He looked behind him to see if Chael was still following. Indeed she was, and she too had become a bit more alert at the sudden change in atmosphere. Spotting a bunny rabbit in the middle of the path, she passed in front of Heika and slowly approached it. Surprisingly, the small animal didn't run away, but instead waited patiently for her. Chael kneeled before it and petted its soft ears, running her hand over its light-brown fur. Heika smiled gently at her, and deemed the clearing safe enough to leave her alone for a little while, and continued walking. As he stepped forward, the light cast a glow on a stone monument before him, and he climbed the steps. He was taken aback by what he saw. A sword was inserted in a large square stone, with a few unintelligible characters inscribed on the front of the stone. The white stone platform beneath his feet was remarkably smooth, though years of dirt had accumulated upon it, making it a dreary gray color. He stepped up next to the sword, his eyes shining brightly. A hunger of all swordsmen consumed him as he ran a hand over the handle, his fingers softly caressing the powerful weapon. He could almost feel the power, though it was dormant, flowing beneath the deadly metal. A layer of dirt fell from this, too, and he wondered how long it had been since the last person had been standing at this spot, deep in the Lost Woods. Gripping it hard, he tried to remove the sword from its slumber, but it would not budge. He tried harder, draining all his strength, but still it stayed rooted to its spot. Disappointed, he began to turn back around. As he descended down the few steps, he glanced back at the sword longingly, then made himself forget the impossible dream to wield it. He approached Chael, who had lain down upon a soft patch of grass, her head resting lightly on her hand, the bunny still nestled against her chest. He smiled gently at her sleeping form, then decided it was time for him to rest as well. Finding the way out of this maze could wait until tomorrow.