Note: Will correct grammar problems in previous chapters ASAP. "**" is when
an Ancestor-Spirit is sensing the thoughts of others. Long Chpt.
****
Link ran across the field, his heart pounding, and his breath shortens into quick bursts, as he was trying to beat time. And with the exception of some stumbling due to him not being used to his adult body, he found that he covered far more ground in one stride as an adult then what he could covered in several leaps as a child. But despite his increased coverage of ground, he found that the sun was setting quickly, which he figured meant that he had arrived in the late afternoon or early evening in this time. He raced up the stairway, and through the gates, noting that there were no guards at the gates. The Hero of Time halted by the tree, waiting to catch his breath before going on.
"Hey!" Navi called out as she flutters next to Link. "It's getting late, maybe we should look for the treasure that Sheik was talking about first thing in the morning." She suggested, but braced herself, for she has an inkling that it was not what the young man wanted to hear.
"NO!" Link shouted as he spun on his heels. "A second's delay could put Saria into more danger!" he shouted, his hands were clenched so tightly that he cut himself.
"Wait!" Navi exclaimed as she circled the boy that she was sworn to protect. "Maybe. Maybe it isn't Saria, maybe it's another girl you know, but. why don't we use her song, and find out?" She asked.
"Maybe." Link sighed. "But I have a feeling that it is Saria." He explained as he took the Ocarina out of his pack. He started through the notes without a second thought, for he had played this melody so often that it was second nature to him now. As the last notes hung in the air, everything else fell silent, and turned black. "Saria.? Are you all right?" He asked, trying to contain the worry in his voice.
"Link! Is that you?" Saria's sweet voice reached to the young man's ears. "Your voice sounds different."
"Yes, it's me. What's going on?" He answered, startled that while he was grown-up, and thus having a deeper, baritone voice, Saria's voice was still a child-like soprano.
"Thank goodness you are all right!" She called out "I'm in the Forest Temple, Link, there are terrible monsters in here, and I-I can't get out! Help me!" She pleaded. "Oh no, He's coming!" she exclaimed.
"Who's coming?!" Link asked, as his hearted started to pound. "Saria? SARIA!" He yelled as the outside noises started to creep into the black silence, he knew right there that Saria or whoever she was talking about had severed the lines. He walked away as the world started to lighten up, and when the last of the blackness vanished, he found himself by the Cucco pen.
"Excuse me," a soft alto pleaded. Link glanced to his right, and found that the Cucco girl was talking to him. "I remember you, you're the boy who helped me catch those Cuccos some years ago." She smiled as she bowed slightly. "I hope I don't sound intrusive, but can I asked you for another favor?" She glanced up as she bowed again.
"Well.." Link started, having a playful half-smile on his lips. He remembered trying to catch those birds well, at first he thought it was to be an annoying task, but actually it had turned out to be quite fun. "I hope it isn't catching any more Cuccos." He grins, as the Cucco keeper let out a laugh.
"No," She giggled. "I have tried to make a new breed of Cuccos, so that I wouldn't get bumps from touching them, and here's the first egg. I have to help Mrs. Key with fixing up the house for all those refugees from Hyrule Town, so I will be unable to take of it for now. will you egg-sit for me?" She asked.
"Well." Link scratched his cheek as he thought about it. "Why not? I'll hold onto it."
"Well, come back when it hatches." She bowed again. "Thank you very much." She waved as she ran off to the small blue-roofed house near the stairway to the pass.
"Now, where could this treasure be?" Link pondered aloud as he wraps a blanket around the egg.
"Link?"
"Yes, Navi?"
"Maybe some of the people in that house would know, and that girl mentioned Refugees, maybe Zelda or Impa's with them?"
"I doubt it, if that was the case, Ganondorf would've razed this village, too." Link shook his head as he followed the Cucco girl into the house as he places the egg in this pack.
"Oh goodness!" a deep female voice called out as Link entered the house. "Another Survivor?" A large woman, with frizzy straw-color hair, and large mouth asked as she ran to the Young man. "My name is Mrs. Key, I have opened my house to those in need."
"No, I'm not a refugee. I've been told of a special item that existed in this Village. I need it to rescue a friend, do any of you here know of it?" Link explained, carefully phrasing his question, so no one could mistake him for a greedy treasure-hunter.
"Well.." A red-haired man wearing a blue shirt started timidly. "I thought I saw the old grave keeper's ghost going into his grave with a strange object. but I wouldn't go in that graveyard if I was you.."
"Hahaha!" A man looking just like the first speaker guffawed as he slaps the man on the back. "You wouldn't go into the bathroom by yourself, you are a cowardly 'fraidy cat! Well, I did go into Dampè's shack, and his journal mentioned some sort of treasure, but Poes chased me out of the graveyard when I went to look for it. "
"Well. I would agree with Seigmund, The graveyard has become quite dangerous since Ganondorf took over the castle. The spirits are quite restless." Mrs. Key explained as she went back to stirring her soup.
"Thank you, I appreciated your help." Link smiled as he turned to leave.
"Link! Look at this sleeping man, doesn't he look familiar?" Navi called out, causing Link to stop in his tracks.
"Talon?" The young man asked as he crouched, to get a better look at the sleeper.
"Malon.. Is she all right.." Talon muttered between snores.
"Forget trying to talk to him, young man, he's been dozing ever since he was thrown out of the ranch." Mrs. Key sighed.
"All right, thanks again, I'll go take a look in the graveyard." Link nods as he exited the house, before anyone could protest.
"Link, do be careful, Poes will vanish if you look at them directly." Navi cautioned him as they headed towards the graveyard. "Well. it does look like that Sheik fellow was at least telling the truth about Saria, and this 'Treasure'. but why would he hide his face from us if he was a friend?" Navi asked.
"From what I've seen, it looks as though this time is quite dangerous, especially for those who dislike Ganondorf, he just probably doesn't want to be found out that he opposes that fiend." Link shrugged his shoulders.
"I don't know. It does seem awfully convenient that he knew about Saria, and this treasure.."
"Navi, you worry too much. Besides, I've seen the look in his eyes, there wasn't anything in his eyes that struck me as anything but friendly, if a little bit sad. and very lonely.." Link trailed off, as he sighed. "Almost like how I feel. is he a reflection of me, a test of sorts?" he muttered to himself, as he slow.
"Well. if you do say so, but remember Link, things have changed, maybe you should be more weary. and-My Goodness! Look at Death Mountain!" She cried as she darted around Link.
"It looks like the clouds are on fire!" Link exclaimed as he gaped at the sight. Indeed, it does seem like Death Mountain was crowned with a ring of blazing red light. "The Gorons are in trouble." Link cursed under his breath, thought Korkiris never had such language, but Link had been around enough Hylians, Gorons, and Zoras to pick up the colorful terminology.
"Link! That's just wrong! Don't swear!" Navi chastised him. "Any ways, what should we do? We know the Gorons are most likely in great danger, but Saria is in trouble, and probably all the Korkiri as well.." She trailed off.
"We'll continue with our plan, we'll save Saria first, then the Gorons." Link told her as they entered the cemetery; one of the first things he noticed was that there were unusual amounts of lanterns just seemingly sitting around.
"Link. this place is giving me the creeps, I don't think all is as it appears."
"I know, but didn't that strange Poe-man said something about Lanterns?" Link asked as he unsheathed the Evil's bane, and held his shield in front of him. "I know he said Lanterns show signs of Poes, but, I forgot what else-" he yelped as he hopped back, he had barely avoiding being smacked across the face by the lantern.
"Link! If you stare at a Poe directly, it'll turn invisible, I know it's hard, but you'll have to give only side-way glances at it to have a chance of beating it!" Navi advised as she circled the spirit, trying to draw its rage away from the young man.
"All right." Link sighed as he tried to follow her advice, fortunately his first dungeon trudging had drilled the usage of a shield into his very instincts. For at the same moment he struck at the phantom with the final blow, the Poe sent it's lantern flying into Link's Shield, and a nasty sizzling sound alerted him that the lantern did not contain just light. "What the-?" Link gulped as he looked at his shield, and saw that there was a gray-purple liquid seeping down it, eating away at the paint and copper decorations, leaving only dull iron luster behind. "Goddess Damn! Is this some kind of acid?!"
"By the Goddess Nayru! Link, I remembered now, the Poe-man said the Lanterns contained a very deadly poison, so deadly that it even melt weak metals as if it were ice!" Navi exclaimed. "It was a good thing you handle your shield well." The fairy gulped, not even wanting to think of what might've happened if it were otherwise.
"I'll have to be more careful." He shrugged his shoulders casually. Navi was always amazed at how little those things fazed him after the initial shock wore off. "If it wasn't for it's so dangerous, this may come in handy." He commented off-handily as he watched the iron of his shield fizzles, the poison was stilling doing its work. "Damn, I need a new shield.." He cursed. "But the stores are closed, let's just hope this one will hold out for the time being." He sighed, then shuddered as he felt an icy wind on his back. "Navi did you feel that?" He questioned as he spun around, trying to find the source of the chill. "That coldness? I can't see where it might've come from." The fairy replied as she also took a look around.
At that moment Euryale drifted away from the two, she would be smiling smugly if she had the mouth to do so. Neither the boy nor the fairy had noticed her presence as she was following them up until now and even then they had no ideal that the chill was her. She felt the stares of Poes on her ethereal back, and shot a glare at them. Damnable Poes, the only form viler then they are the ReDead! She grumbled mentally as she flew above the village, and back towards the sacred meadow. The Sheik is going to have an interesting report. The boy obviously is a good fighter, Tartarus! Maybe even a Phoenix Incarnate! She thought to herself as she landed in the clearing.
She rested on her gravestone as she spied upon Sheik resting up in a tree, eyes partially closed, arms crossing his chest. Though his face is serene, she could sense the turmoil below the surface. The Ancestor-Spirit rose up, still wearing a veil of invisibility, and ever so lightly brushed her ghostly fingers against his forehead, trying to sense his thoughts without him noticing her. A tricky task when it comes to sensing the thought of a Sheikah Shadowdancer, one that specialize in catching the foe off guard using Shadows, and at the same stroke not easy to surprise or sneak past one of them.
*He is an odd prey, more like a Falcon then a sparrow...* she sensed that he was referring to the Hero of time, she felt a creeping cold on her neck about the way he referred to that boy as 'prey', why would he consider the very savior of Hyrule something to hunt?! *Damnit, do not think of him more then necessary, it'll just make it harder for me to finish the task. Phoenix, lend me the strength to not falter... heh... Old habits do die hard, I'd doubt the firebird would lend strength to a betrayer of the Sheikah.....* Euryale gasped audibly at thought as she pulled away, eyes dimming to a rusty red as she took in the news.
She suspected it, mainly by the kind of dagger the boy was carrying; The Sheikahs used Stilettos, long thin daggers more suited for piercing, and easy to conceal. But the daggers this boy had were more like double-edged knives, more useful for slashing, a style virtually nonexistent in the Sheikah community, but common amongst the 'filthy' Guredos 'Kensai': the dual-weapon warriors. And there was also the way he worded things, dodging around the answer like a cucco avoiding a wolfos, but she wouldn't believe that someone, even the most abused Sheik would betray their own kind!
"Euryale...." Sheik hissed as his eyes snapped open, his hand going for the black dagger on pure instinct, though he knew better then to think a blade could injure an Ancestor-Spirit, or that the action will be well-received. "May I ask why you felt that it's needed to sense my thoughts?" He asked icily as he raised an arch brow. Though she knew he could not hurt her, or banish her back to her grave, Euryale suddenly felt reluctant to answer, By the Phoenix! He's just a Sheik! She shook her head. There has be to a reason why he would do that!
"Why would you-?" She stopped immediately, silently cursing her large mouth, the one that always gotten her into trouble in life.
"Does it really concern you? You would never understand any ways." He retorted as he looked away.
"Understand what? That you like talking to yourself?" Another voice calls out above Sheik's head. He groaned mentally, recognizing the female contralto. The groan became audible as a Guredo woman leapt off the ledge, and landed in front of him.
She rose up to her feet, as Sheik peered up to her face. She was of average height, and of a cut build, with the typical bronzed skin, and reddish hair of her race albeit she had it up in a bun, pierced by many bejeweled pins, her green eyes gleaming mischievously. She smirked under the black veil.
"Zosharu...." He growled as he glared at the Guredo, "What do you here? Doesn't matter, just go away." The Sheikah scowled.
"I'm seeing if you are doing your task, BOY." She spat, as she pull a pin out of her hair, her eyes follow the flight of a late butterfly. In a sudden blur that even Sheik's eyes could not catch, Zosharu flicked her wrist, impaling the pitiful creature upon the pin, and showed it to Sheik. "This what may happen if you fail. I doubt even if you were Ganondorf's whore you would be spared any mercy!" purred velvety as she ripped the wings off the squirming insect, causing the young man to recoil in horror, and Euryale to cringe. Then she rubbed the wings into his face, making him gag from pure repulsion.
"That is why I say Guredos are evil witches!" Euryale called out as she made an obscene gesture. "Let her rot in Tartarus! You, Why do you let her do this to you?!"
"She's somehow special to him... I don't exactly how." He muttered under his breath.
"What did you say?" She demanded.
"I said, 'I understand the consequences', Zosharu. However, Link is my prey, I do as I see fit, unlike you, I like a little challenge to my tasks, it shows I am not a simple cutthroat." He retorted as he rose. "And are you suppose to be looking for the princess and her protector?"
"Heh, It'll be easy, the Princess is obviously an idiot, if she trusted the fate of Hyrule on a little boy!" She laughed as she walked to the end of the branch. "Well, you better get rid of the brat. So long," She smirks as she shook her hip flirtatiously, "Lover boy." She laughed hysterically as she leapt over him onto the wall, and beyond, leaving Sheik alone.
"And you have to work with her?!" Euryale blanched. "You know I hated you after learning about your betrayal, and now I just feel sorry you had to deal with such a witch."
"Fortunately its not too often I had to put up with her." He muttered dryly. "And Now, Euryale, what do you have to report?"
"Some things you already knew, like that he is an excellent warrior. I dare say the Phoenix blessed him with its gifts the way he handled the Poes. And second, you probably have a day and a half to wait, unless he somehow acquires a horse." She reported, feeling slightly disgusted at having to help out one who is obviously in league with a Guredo, no matter how obviously maltreated he was by said race, but she was obligated to do so. "You did seemed to had a chance to had kill him outright, why did you not take it?"
"As I said, I enjoy a challenge, and the legendary Hero is one I should find most amusing. Besides, when he was in the temple, he was too child-like in his trusting, it wasn't fair... and...." He faltered as he shook his head. "Why am I telling you this?! Euryale, you are to follow Link, why don't you do that?" He huffed as he looked away.
"As you wish." She nodded as she floated away.
"Sheik, don't start acting foolish, and do not identify yourself with him! Link is a prey, and no more... he will go down, I WILL KILL HIM!" He screamed to himself, sending the crows flying out of the trees in fright. "Yes... he'll die...." He whispered softly as he fell to his knees, sighing. Somehow, it didn't sound right.
****
Link ran across the field, his heart pounding, and his breath shortens into quick bursts, as he was trying to beat time. And with the exception of some stumbling due to him not being used to his adult body, he found that he covered far more ground in one stride as an adult then what he could covered in several leaps as a child. But despite his increased coverage of ground, he found that the sun was setting quickly, which he figured meant that he had arrived in the late afternoon or early evening in this time. He raced up the stairway, and through the gates, noting that there were no guards at the gates. The Hero of Time halted by the tree, waiting to catch his breath before going on.
"Hey!" Navi called out as she flutters next to Link. "It's getting late, maybe we should look for the treasure that Sheik was talking about first thing in the morning." She suggested, but braced herself, for she has an inkling that it was not what the young man wanted to hear.
"NO!" Link shouted as he spun on his heels. "A second's delay could put Saria into more danger!" he shouted, his hands were clenched so tightly that he cut himself.
"Wait!" Navi exclaimed as she circled the boy that she was sworn to protect. "Maybe. Maybe it isn't Saria, maybe it's another girl you know, but. why don't we use her song, and find out?" She asked.
"Maybe." Link sighed. "But I have a feeling that it is Saria." He explained as he took the Ocarina out of his pack. He started through the notes without a second thought, for he had played this melody so often that it was second nature to him now. As the last notes hung in the air, everything else fell silent, and turned black. "Saria.? Are you all right?" He asked, trying to contain the worry in his voice.
"Link! Is that you?" Saria's sweet voice reached to the young man's ears. "Your voice sounds different."
"Yes, it's me. What's going on?" He answered, startled that while he was grown-up, and thus having a deeper, baritone voice, Saria's voice was still a child-like soprano.
"Thank goodness you are all right!" She called out "I'm in the Forest Temple, Link, there are terrible monsters in here, and I-I can't get out! Help me!" She pleaded. "Oh no, He's coming!" she exclaimed.
"Who's coming?!" Link asked, as his hearted started to pound. "Saria? SARIA!" He yelled as the outside noises started to creep into the black silence, he knew right there that Saria or whoever she was talking about had severed the lines. He walked away as the world started to lighten up, and when the last of the blackness vanished, he found himself by the Cucco pen.
"Excuse me," a soft alto pleaded. Link glanced to his right, and found that the Cucco girl was talking to him. "I remember you, you're the boy who helped me catch those Cuccos some years ago." She smiled as she bowed slightly. "I hope I don't sound intrusive, but can I asked you for another favor?" She glanced up as she bowed again.
"Well.." Link started, having a playful half-smile on his lips. He remembered trying to catch those birds well, at first he thought it was to be an annoying task, but actually it had turned out to be quite fun. "I hope it isn't catching any more Cuccos." He grins, as the Cucco keeper let out a laugh.
"No," She giggled. "I have tried to make a new breed of Cuccos, so that I wouldn't get bumps from touching them, and here's the first egg. I have to help Mrs. Key with fixing up the house for all those refugees from Hyrule Town, so I will be unable to take of it for now. will you egg-sit for me?" She asked.
"Well." Link scratched his cheek as he thought about it. "Why not? I'll hold onto it."
"Well, come back when it hatches." She bowed again. "Thank you very much." She waved as she ran off to the small blue-roofed house near the stairway to the pass.
"Now, where could this treasure be?" Link pondered aloud as he wraps a blanket around the egg.
"Link?"
"Yes, Navi?"
"Maybe some of the people in that house would know, and that girl mentioned Refugees, maybe Zelda or Impa's with them?"
"I doubt it, if that was the case, Ganondorf would've razed this village, too." Link shook his head as he followed the Cucco girl into the house as he places the egg in this pack.
"Oh goodness!" a deep female voice called out as Link entered the house. "Another Survivor?" A large woman, with frizzy straw-color hair, and large mouth asked as she ran to the Young man. "My name is Mrs. Key, I have opened my house to those in need."
"No, I'm not a refugee. I've been told of a special item that existed in this Village. I need it to rescue a friend, do any of you here know of it?" Link explained, carefully phrasing his question, so no one could mistake him for a greedy treasure-hunter.
"Well.." A red-haired man wearing a blue shirt started timidly. "I thought I saw the old grave keeper's ghost going into his grave with a strange object. but I wouldn't go in that graveyard if I was you.."
"Hahaha!" A man looking just like the first speaker guffawed as he slaps the man on the back. "You wouldn't go into the bathroom by yourself, you are a cowardly 'fraidy cat! Well, I did go into Dampè's shack, and his journal mentioned some sort of treasure, but Poes chased me out of the graveyard when I went to look for it. "
"Well. I would agree with Seigmund, The graveyard has become quite dangerous since Ganondorf took over the castle. The spirits are quite restless." Mrs. Key explained as she went back to stirring her soup.
"Thank you, I appreciated your help." Link smiled as he turned to leave.
"Link! Look at this sleeping man, doesn't he look familiar?" Navi called out, causing Link to stop in his tracks.
"Talon?" The young man asked as he crouched, to get a better look at the sleeper.
"Malon.. Is she all right.." Talon muttered between snores.
"Forget trying to talk to him, young man, he's been dozing ever since he was thrown out of the ranch." Mrs. Key sighed.
"All right, thanks again, I'll go take a look in the graveyard." Link nods as he exited the house, before anyone could protest.
"Link, do be careful, Poes will vanish if you look at them directly." Navi cautioned him as they headed towards the graveyard. "Well. it does look like that Sheik fellow was at least telling the truth about Saria, and this 'Treasure'. but why would he hide his face from us if he was a friend?" Navi asked.
"From what I've seen, it looks as though this time is quite dangerous, especially for those who dislike Ganondorf, he just probably doesn't want to be found out that he opposes that fiend." Link shrugged his shoulders.
"I don't know. It does seem awfully convenient that he knew about Saria, and this treasure.."
"Navi, you worry too much. Besides, I've seen the look in his eyes, there wasn't anything in his eyes that struck me as anything but friendly, if a little bit sad. and very lonely.." Link trailed off, as he sighed. "Almost like how I feel. is he a reflection of me, a test of sorts?" he muttered to himself, as he slow.
"Well. if you do say so, but remember Link, things have changed, maybe you should be more weary. and-My Goodness! Look at Death Mountain!" She cried as she darted around Link.
"It looks like the clouds are on fire!" Link exclaimed as he gaped at the sight. Indeed, it does seem like Death Mountain was crowned with a ring of blazing red light. "The Gorons are in trouble." Link cursed under his breath, thought Korkiris never had such language, but Link had been around enough Hylians, Gorons, and Zoras to pick up the colorful terminology.
"Link! That's just wrong! Don't swear!" Navi chastised him. "Any ways, what should we do? We know the Gorons are most likely in great danger, but Saria is in trouble, and probably all the Korkiri as well.." She trailed off.
"We'll continue with our plan, we'll save Saria first, then the Gorons." Link told her as they entered the cemetery; one of the first things he noticed was that there were unusual amounts of lanterns just seemingly sitting around.
"Link. this place is giving me the creeps, I don't think all is as it appears."
"I know, but didn't that strange Poe-man said something about Lanterns?" Link asked as he unsheathed the Evil's bane, and held his shield in front of him. "I know he said Lanterns show signs of Poes, but, I forgot what else-" he yelped as he hopped back, he had barely avoiding being smacked across the face by the lantern.
"Link! If you stare at a Poe directly, it'll turn invisible, I know it's hard, but you'll have to give only side-way glances at it to have a chance of beating it!" Navi advised as she circled the spirit, trying to draw its rage away from the young man.
"All right." Link sighed as he tried to follow her advice, fortunately his first dungeon trudging had drilled the usage of a shield into his very instincts. For at the same moment he struck at the phantom with the final blow, the Poe sent it's lantern flying into Link's Shield, and a nasty sizzling sound alerted him that the lantern did not contain just light. "What the-?" Link gulped as he looked at his shield, and saw that there was a gray-purple liquid seeping down it, eating away at the paint and copper decorations, leaving only dull iron luster behind. "Goddess Damn! Is this some kind of acid?!"
"By the Goddess Nayru! Link, I remembered now, the Poe-man said the Lanterns contained a very deadly poison, so deadly that it even melt weak metals as if it were ice!" Navi exclaimed. "It was a good thing you handle your shield well." The fairy gulped, not even wanting to think of what might've happened if it were otherwise.
"I'll have to be more careful." He shrugged his shoulders casually. Navi was always amazed at how little those things fazed him after the initial shock wore off. "If it wasn't for it's so dangerous, this may come in handy." He commented off-handily as he watched the iron of his shield fizzles, the poison was stilling doing its work. "Damn, I need a new shield.." He cursed. "But the stores are closed, let's just hope this one will hold out for the time being." He sighed, then shuddered as he felt an icy wind on his back. "Navi did you feel that?" He questioned as he spun around, trying to find the source of the chill. "That coldness? I can't see where it might've come from." The fairy replied as she also took a look around.
At that moment Euryale drifted away from the two, she would be smiling smugly if she had the mouth to do so. Neither the boy nor the fairy had noticed her presence as she was following them up until now and even then they had no ideal that the chill was her. She felt the stares of Poes on her ethereal back, and shot a glare at them. Damnable Poes, the only form viler then they are the ReDead! She grumbled mentally as she flew above the village, and back towards the sacred meadow. The Sheik is going to have an interesting report. The boy obviously is a good fighter, Tartarus! Maybe even a Phoenix Incarnate! She thought to herself as she landed in the clearing.
She rested on her gravestone as she spied upon Sheik resting up in a tree, eyes partially closed, arms crossing his chest. Though his face is serene, she could sense the turmoil below the surface. The Ancestor-Spirit rose up, still wearing a veil of invisibility, and ever so lightly brushed her ghostly fingers against his forehead, trying to sense his thoughts without him noticing her. A tricky task when it comes to sensing the thought of a Sheikah Shadowdancer, one that specialize in catching the foe off guard using Shadows, and at the same stroke not easy to surprise or sneak past one of them.
*He is an odd prey, more like a Falcon then a sparrow...* she sensed that he was referring to the Hero of time, she felt a creeping cold on her neck about the way he referred to that boy as 'prey', why would he consider the very savior of Hyrule something to hunt?! *Damnit, do not think of him more then necessary, it'll just make it harder for me to finish the task. Phoenix, lend me the strength to not falter... heh... Old habits do die hard, I'd doubt the firebird would lend strength to a betrayer of the Sheikah.....* Euryale gasped audibly at thought as she pulled away, eyes dimming to a rusty red as she took in the news.
She suspected it, mainly by the kind of dagger the boy was carrying; The Sheikahs used Stilettos, long thin daggers more suited for piercing, and easy to conceal. But the daggers this boy had were more like double-edged knives, more useful for slashing, a style virtually nonexistent in the Sheikah community, but common amongst the 'filthy' Guredos 'Kensai': the dual-weapon warriors. And there was also the way he worded things, dodging around the answer like a cucco avoiding a wolfos, but she wouldn't believe that someone, even the most abused Sheik would betray their own kind!
"Euryale...." Sheik hissed as his eyes snapped open, his hand going for the black dagger on pure instinct, though he knew better then to think a blade could injure an Ancestor-Spirit, or that the action will be well-received. "May I ask why you felt that it's needed to sense my thoughts?" He asked icily as he raised an arch brow. Though she knew he could not hurt her, or banish her back to her grave, Euryale suddenly felt reluctant to answer, By the Phoenix! He's just a Sheik! She shook her head. There has be to a reason why he would do that!
"Why would you-?" She stopped immediately, silently cursing her large mouth, the one that always gotten her into trouble in life.
"Does it really concern you? You would never understand any ways." He retorted as he looked away.
"Understand what? That you like talking to yourself?" Another voice calls out above Sheik's head. He groaned mentally, recognizing the female contralto. The groan became audible as a Guredo woman leapt off the ledge, and landed in front of him.
She rose up to her feet, as Sheik peered up to her face. She was of average height, and of a cut build, with the typical bronzed skin, and reddish hair of her race albeit she had it up in a bun, pierced by many bejeweled pins, her green eyes gleaming mischievously. She smirked under the black veil.
"Zosharu...." He growled as he glared at the Guredo, "What do you here? Doesn't matter, just go away." The Sheikah scowled.
"I'm seeing if you are doing your task, BOY." She spat, as she pull a pin out of her hair, her eyes follow the flight of a late butterfly. In a sudden blur that even Sheik's eyes could not catch, Zosharu flicked her wrist, impaling the pitiful creature upon the pin, and showed it to Sheik. "This what may happen if you fail. I doubt even if you were Ganondorf's whore you would be spared any mercy!" purred velvety as she ripped the wings off the squirming insect, causing the young man to recoil in horror, and Euryale to cringe. Then she rubbed the wings into his face, making him gag from pure repulsion.
"That is why I say Guredos are evil witches!" Euryale called out as she made an obscene gesture. "Let her rot in Tartarus! You, Why do you let her do this to you?!"
"She's somehow special to him... I don't exactly how." He muttered under his breath.
"What did you say?" She demanded.
"I said, 'I understand the consequences', Zosharu. However, Link is my prey, I do as I see fit, unlike you, I like a little challenge to my tasks, it shows I am not a simple cutthroat." He retorted as he rose. "And are you suppose to be looking for the princess and her protector?"
"Heh, It'll be easy, the Princess is obviously an idiot, if she trusted the fate of Hyrule on a little boy!" She laughed as she walked to the end of the branch. "Well, you better get rid of the brat. So long," She smirks as she shook her hip flirtatiously, "Lover boy." She laughed hysterically as she leapt over him onto the wall, and beyond, leaving Sheik alone.
"And you have to work with her?!" Euryale blanched. "You know I hated you after learning about your betrayal, and now I just feel sorry you had to deal with such a witch."
"Fortunately its not too often I had to put up with her." He muttered dryly. "And Now, Euryale, what do you have to report?"
"Some things you already knew, like that he is an excellent warrior. I dare say the Phoenix blessed him with its gifts the way he handled the Poes. And second, you probably have a day and a half to wait, unless he somehow acquires a horse." She reported, feeling slightly disgusted at having to help out one who is obviously in league with a Guredo, no matter how obviously maltreated he was by said race, but she was obligated to do so. "You did seemed to had a chance to had kill him outright, why did you not take it?"
"As I said, I enjoy a challenge, and the legendary Hero is one I should find most amusing. Besides, when he was in the temple, he was too child-like in his trusting, it wasn't fair... and...." He faltered as he shook his head. "Why am I telling you this?! Euryale, you are to follow Link, why don't you do that?" He huffed as he looked away.
"As you wish." She nodded as she floated away.
"Sheik, don't start acting foolish, and do not identify yourself with him! Link is a prey, and no more... he will go down, I WILL KILL HIM!" He screamed to himself, sending the crows flying out of the trees in fright. "Yes... he'll die...." He whispered softly as he fell to his knees, sighing. Somehow, it didn't sound right.