~ Disclaimer ~ Did I forget to mention in the last chapter that I don't own
Zelda? Insomnia is bad for a person! Well, it's true. I don't own it.
*Sigh* Yep, insomnia is bad for one's health! Oh, well. I can't believe I forgot dedications last time! Okay, this chapter is dedicated to Angle1, farmerboy, and GSfreak. Hey, review alert. SHADOW KNIGHT!!! I missed you. Oh, and all the other reviewers too. lol
Kohachan: Give the others time to catch up. You gave every sign that you were going to wait a while before making a sequel, after all.
True. Hey, this story is trying to get out of my hands here! I wrote that chapter 25 but found out it'd be too long and had nothing to do with the first quest so I rewrote it and put it as the first chapter to this sequel and tried to get people to ignore the chapter 25! But they just questioned the "IGNORE". Wahhhh!
Ok, I'm done. ^_^
~~~~~~~
~ Kitsune and Calvary ~
Link stared at the ocean. Had he gotten turned around? That could not be. The island must have been shaped like a crescent moon for at least that point. He turned about and began the other way, back into the jungle and toward the port as yet another crash of thunder momentarily deafened him.
He began to run, wanting to get away from the too close of lightning when he leaped over a fallen branch and ran into another boy apparently his age and height. But his ears were not pointed. Must be from Dondoran or an island inhabitant. Link blinked and tried to see through the darkness of the storm. The boy was familiar for some reason.
He saw the boy before but he felt he was tumbling through nothing and couldn't get himself back upright. He decided even if he didn't recognize the boy, trusting him was better than trusting the storm above him.
Matt grabbed Link's sword buckle and hauled him from the ground before pulling him into a run toward the tavern. Matt pushed the door open and shoved Link inside before pulling it back closed against the gale force of the wind. Link panted a while for the run and Cain ran up to Matt demanding to know what took him so long. She was worried when the strange Sheikah showed up alone. Matt patted her head with a brotherly smile before turning to Link and offering a hand, "Hey, we haven't been properly introduced. My name is Matt."
Link nodded and wiped rain from his face before shaking the boy's hand and saying, "Name's Link." They gripped hands and Matt added, "Nice to meet you while you aren't chucking your guts." He said it in such a friendly way that for a moment, the image suggested was ignored. Link winced as he thought about it and tried to shove it off, knowing it would only come back later. When he had to get back on the boat.
Link felt his stomach growl and flip-flop with hunger and protest but food was out of the question. Before anything worse could happen to his unsteady control, Link went to find where Kohachan was put. Cait grabbed the sleeve of his tunic, stopping him in his place. He turned to the young Hylian, noticing her for the first time as she beamed up at him, "You're a Hylian, aren't you?" Link nodded slightly and tried to get away. He ended up pulling her along as she wouldn't release him but jogged beside him.
"So, are you an orphan too? I am. Those evil Gerudo attacked my family a long time ago and killed my parents. I'm going to grow up and pay them back for what they did!" Link slowed slightly but said to her, "Can you remember an evil Gerudo in particular? Can you remember a man with olive skin, red hair, a large nose, and power hungry eyes? Can you remember an evil Gerudo named Ganondorf?" Was it Link's imagination or did thunder boom at the name?
Cait's gaze was far away for a moment and she finally said, "Yes, yes I do! He was there, a man all in black but I saw fire in his eyes as he robbed from my parents and murdered them in their bed!" Link slowed his pace, anger simmered within him as Ganondorf's vile poison touch upon the land and people was not completely erased.
Link could hear the villain's laughter in the back of his mind. Unbidden, the ache all over his body of flames returned. He fell to one knee, hugging himself and gritting his teeth against the mere memory of the agony. For a moment, it seemed to whisper its promise to him in all it's horror as Cait backed from him and ran back toward Matt.
Crystal exited the room after making sure the Sheikah hadn't left so much as a note behind. She saw Link on the ground, a look of absolute pain was across his face as his shoulders trembled slightly. She rushed to his side and placed a hand on each of his shoulders, Navi also cried out for fear for him but at her touch, she felt his skin was burning through the tunic. He lifted his head almost as though in shock, sweat rolled down his forehead as he looked to Crystal. He gasped slightly, as though he had run the same distance again and said, "I s-saw him again. He wants me back. Back down there."
Crystal hugged him, taking the heat away from him as he wrapped his arms around her, surrendering to her cool, relieving touch. She shushed him, calmed him but he wasn't scared. If anything, he was defiant against Ganondorf. Just as much as when they had first met. If it were fate that Link would go back to face Ganondorf, he would go with not a fear shining in his eyes. But those flames . . .
He let Crystal lead her away, the thought's of missing Sheikah completely forgotten, as Link was placed on the dubbed sick bed. She looked down at him, questioned Navi though she had no idea either of what just happened, and left only to get some water for him. He was still burning up as though with fever.
Cait peered into the room from the doorway as Matt, brought by her hand, walked into the room. He asked Crystal what was going on and she explained as best she could about his burning up and of Ganondorf as Navi informed her of all that. She feared reading his eyes to find out. If a simple, painful past shocked her into a coma, she didn't want to know what would bring Link to the edge of sanity.
Matt looked at Link thoughtfully as the Hylian boy stared at the ceiling, his eyes a blend of hate and fighting spirit. He needed to be snapped out of it. With a sigh, Matt raised one fist and brought it down hard across Link's cheek. Link's head snapped to the side, his mouth gaped for the sudden pain. Cait yelped for surprise as Crystal grabbed Matt's vest with one hand and raised her own fist, ready and willing to strike him. He glared at her, seriousness holding her in her place. He pointed at Link.
Link held a hand to his forehead despite the bloodied lip and bruising cheek. He shook his head momentarily and rinned back at Crystal even as she and Navi stared with absolute amazement at him. She still held a fist poised for a strike and the other clutching Matt's vest. He pried her fingers off with a snort and said to Link, "So, what was it that made you freak out so badly?" Link glanced down only momentarily before grinning back up at Matt and Crystal, "Oh, it was nothing really. Just Hell."
Matt shot Crystal a look of question as Link hunkered down for a well- deserved rest. She returned the look of confusion but she certainly didn't doubt what he said was true. She grinned hopelessly at the Hylian boy and nodded to the door, suggesting they let Link relax. Before he left, Matt reached behind his neck and un-cinched a silver chain. Carefully drawing it out from under his vest, he revealed the silver dragon pendant and placed it on Link's chest. He said a few solemn prayers and then left after Crystal.
~~~~~
Toloran lead the way and Kohachan followed. It felt odd and nostalgic to him. He was used to being the only Sheikah around and active and always being either the leader or the rearguard. They passed in silence, paying no mind to the storm. Tarawen spoke with thoughts with no fear of being over-heard.
{We need a plan. That is for certain. The fighters have recently gained a new base on the northern border and are trying to circle in on the main tribe. Kohachan, what do you think we should do? They are almost circling us now!} Kohachan shook his head. He could neither answer her right then and he could not answer without the agreement of the trio of fighters. They worked like a puzzle. Now that he was present once again, they did stand a fighting chance.
Toloran held up a fist, stopping Kohachan. They both crouched, Tarawen hid at Kohachan's side beneath his cloak. They drew the protective clothing over themselves just in time. Three black figures leaped from the trees. One grew close to them but only saw a couple of rain soaked rocks beside a fallen tree. It left with the other two to continue its guard round.
Toloran signaled all clear and they began to quietly pick up their pace. Security was getting tight. Kohachan held Tarawen in the crook of his arm as she gripped onto him, minding her claws as best she could. A throwing star appeared from no where but Kohachan stopped in time to avoid it. He glanced venomously at the area of the attacker but was not surprised to see nothing. If he looked enough like Zolaris, perhaps the secret could still be held.
They continued, careful not to lose the cowls of their cloaks from their heads. Soon the trees thinned as they grew closer to the tribe. Tarawen leaped free and dashed ahead, her tiny legs a blur as she dashed, a ball of fur with two large ears on a domed head and bushy tail following.
Kohachan felt he would have chuckled had the situation not been so delicate. His getting into a Kitsune tribe without trouble was as likely as a shadow fighter surrendering on first strike. He sighed inwardly even as the storm was trying to let up a little. The wind calmed to where the trees no longer swayed so violently. Toloran held Kohachan back and whispered, "Stay her, proceed no further. We are being watched."
Tarawen dashed ahead and barked in soprano voice. Two warriors appeared. They both and large, slit pupil eyes. Both had long hair but one's hair was brownish red while the other was black with tips of white. Both had large, triangle ears above their head even as they trained their arrows on Kohachan.
Both wore armor over their chests, as well as leg guards over their loose fitting dark green pants. Their pants tucked into tan/gray boots that made no sound even on stone. Toloran stepped in front of them as Tarawen became mostly human once again and also faired to stop them. Kohachan lowered his eyes in submission, knowing better than to rile the agitation of the Kitsune warriors.
The one with white and black hair slowly lowered his weapon and snapped at the other, younger one to do the same. It was obvious that he held a high rank. Toloran spoke quickly to the leader and soon he let out a high pitched whistle, not unlike that of one of the tropical birds, Kohachan noticed with interest. His hood was pulled away by a person behind him.
He was careful not to flinch as an arrow point touched his back in warning as the hand pulled the cloak away. Kohachan moved only to unfasten it. Tarawen spoke sharply to the one behind Kohachan and the Kitsune moved away. He raised his head but the sound of stretching bowstrings all around him made him still once again.
For long moments, the arrows remained trained on him. He felt like yawning as the night wore on but the storm let up, leaving a drowsy feel in the air. A couple of the younger Kitsune did yawn but their fingers did not waver or lessen on their arrows.
Finally, a voice called out to Kohachan, "Warrior, what land do you hail from?" The voice was faintly familiar to Kohachan but he answered without considering the owner of the voice, "I hail recently from Dondoran and those areas. I come originally from Hyrule and Kakariko before then. My homeland remains Hyrule." The owner of the voice stepped out. He was a tall Kitsune, regally dressed in silken clothes but cloth-like armor clothed him underneath it. Two guards were behind him. One was yet another of the Kitsune clan but the other was most certainly not a fox person.
This one stood as tall as the Kitsune leader, who was shorter than either of the other two Sheikah. About the age of sixteen, he had silver hair slicked back on his head but with three sharp points at his forehead aiming at his nose. His eyes were dark blue, almost black but they did not represent his soul at all. He wore an outfit of black and purple, which sharply contrasted his hair and pale skin.
On his chest was a pendent hanging on a necklace. It was a jewel masterfully crafted. It held the Sheikah Eye of Truth but it was framed in three triangles. Each triangle was stained a certain color, yellow, blue and red. The entire thing was circled with silver to match the boy's hair. He sighed lightly, recognizing the intruder in question. Despite six year of separation, he could never forget that blood-red hair.
He carried on his waist belt a blade of odd, ancient design. The hilt twisted around the wielder's hand as the three-headed Hydra. The necks wrapped around the fingers of the wielder protectively all except for the heel of his hand where he slipped his hand to grasp the narrow grip of it. Each head met at the end of the hilt, each wedge nose fitted together into three grins, six tiny diamonds were the eyes of the creature. The blade of the sword was sheathed in an equally ancient looking sheath but they both were well cared for. Each golden scale still glittered.
He smiled at the third member, Kohachan. Then looked to the leader of the Kitsune tribe. Being the youngest of the trio, Zolaris had little right to speak over the leader of the Kitsune. Toloran was the eldest so he was allowed to talk freely while Kohachan was in the middle age wise.
Toloran did speak out to the leader as Tarawen stood away from him at a respectable distance but she inched nearer Kohachan. "Lord Kalahan, may I introduce to you Kohachan. He is the Sheikah reigning from the west, the third member of our trinity, Kohachan." Lord Kalahan raised his hands to his warriors, they withdrew their arrows from the bows and came into plain sight. Kohachan was silently requested to rise to which he did and smiled at his friends, both Toloran and Zolaris.
Kalahan then said aloud in a regal, commanding voice, "May it be recognized that at long last the elite of the Sheikah are now present and accounted for. We will rest well tonight, my people. The end of the struggle is nigh." Kohachan swallowed hard, hoping the Lord did not truly believe that his appearing meant the fight was over. Oh, no. It was still far from over. He looked to his comrades as they too stared dubiously at the Kitsune Lord. So, the leader truly believed what he had said was true?
Zolaris dared leave the leader's side to join the other two. Tarawen, smiling brightly, allowed the three to join together and lock hand to wrist in a triangle. They softly whispered the traditional lines for whenever they united once again.
Kalahan called his warriors back all the way from the nearby trees. Toloran sighed to the other two and said, "Perhaps we are going to have to have a word with the Kitsune."
Kohachan cut in, "Indeed, he seems to think this trinity means absolute victory."
"Unfortunately, that is exactly it. He is compelled to think we can do this on our own. Now, we'll be invited to a feast again." Zolaris said with exasperation. None of them had slept the night but if the guards were well set for the day, the shadow fighters would stick to tradition and stay away under the sun. Then they could sleep. Yes, indeed sleep sounded well enough but first that talk . . .
All three went after the leader but not at all formidably. He turned to then as they all smiled calmly, blinking more often for fatigue, understandable fatigue for the long day. Toloran had only left for a while in search of a stray fighter when he got to the adobe where Matt met him. Zolaris was duty bound to protect the Lord of the Kitsune at least until Toloran returned.
Toloran spoke for all three, "Lord Kalahan, please understand that the third member may have arrived but that does not mean we should let down our guard-"
Lord Kalahan smiled at them and calmly stated, "Don't be ridiculous, of course I'm not calling off the day or night watches. But for the rest of tonight, we can rest easy. I understand that perfectly well. Now, you three are all tired and have earned your rest. First, though, have any one of you something of interest for me?"
Kohachan finally spoke up, "Yes. I've come with a company. Two swordsmen of fantastic skill as well as a young woman who holds the ability to read the soul." Toloran slightly shivered and added, "Indeed, I have met this young Reader. She is far more skilled than I in the art."
"Also," Kohachan said with a sharp glance at Toloran, "upon arrival, young Tarawen was being chased by a shadow fighter of formidable skill. I battled with him and he is captured with the others as of now. I'll go back to them after a fair rest for I don't know how much longer I can carry on." The lord nodded in understanding, "Very well then, get your rest, warrior. We'll become better known to each other tomorrow when you will be informed of the present situation." With that, he dismissed the trio.
Zolaris clapped Kohachan on the back, "Welcome aboard, friend. Welcome aboard." Kohachan nodded slightly to him but said as he hung his head, "In all honesty, I'm not myself right now. I need sleep. No, Toloran, I am not lazy. That sleep was not restful at all. Now, if you don't mind, can anyone show me to a bed?"
Tarawen signaled sharply for him to follow and led the way back to the tribe. Zolaris nudges Toloran, "Well? Has the boy changed or what?" Toloran shrugged and sighed, "I know he can still hold his own. If anything, he is better than before. If only he can get over that accursed allergy of his. He will be tasting much more of the potion before this minor war is over." With that, they followed from far behind, not worrying about the darkness behind them or whatever it held in store for them in the near future.
~~~~~~~
Is that a fair place to stop at? I'm sorry but my mind has wandered away and didn't come back. Seriously, is it healthy to be typing a chapter till three in the morning? Don't think so . . .
Grr . . . There was something else . . .
Oh, yeah. As for the Hydra, I don't know all about it but legend has it that for every head cut by blade, two more grow to replace it. The uneven number of heads is because the center head is supposed to be the original and immortal head. And that is the fun fact for tonight . . .er . . .day.
Okay, I'll sleep now.
Till next time!
*Sigh* Yep, insomnia is bad for one's health! Oh, well. I can't believe I forgot dedications last time! Okay, this chapter is dedicated to Angle1, farmerboy, and GSfreak. Hey, review alert. SHADOW KNIGHT!!! I missed you. Oh, and all the other reviewers too. lol
Kohachan: Give the others time to catch up. You gave every sign that you were going to wait a while before making a sequel, after all.
True. Hey, this story is trying to get out of my hands here! I wrote that chapter 25 but found out it'd be too long and had nothing to do with the first quest so I rewrote it and put it as the first chapter to this sequel and tried to get people to ignore the chapter 25! But they just questioned the "IGNORE". Wahhhh!
Ok, I'm done. ^_^
~~~~~~~
~ Kitsune and Calvary ~
Link stared at the ocean. Had he gotten turned around? That could not be. The island must have been shaped like a crescent moon for at least that point. He turned about and began the other way, back into the jungle and toward the port as yet another crash of thunder momentarily deafened him.
He began to run, wanting to get away from the too close of lightning when he leaped over a fallen branch and ran into another boy apparently his age and height. But his ears were not pointed. Must be from Dondoran or an island inhabitant. Link blinked and tried to see through the darkness of the storm. The boy was familiar for some reason.
He saw the boy before but he felt he was tumbling through nothing and couldn't get himself back upright. He decided even if he didn't recognize the boy, trusting him was better than trusting the storm above him.
Matt grabbed Link's sword buckle and hauled him from the ground before pulling him into a run toward the tavern. Matt pushed the door open and shoved Link inside before pulling it back closed against the gale force of the wind. Link panted a while for the run and Cain ran up to Matt demanding to know what took him so long. She was worried when the strange Sheikah showed up alone. Matt patted her head with a brotherly smile before turning to Link and offering a hand, "Hey, we haven't been properly introduced. My name is Matt."
Link nodded and wiped rain from his face before shaking the boy's hand and saying, "Name's Link." They gripped hands and Matt added, "Nice to meet you while you aren't chucking your guts." He said it in such a friendly way that for a moment, the image suggested was ignored. Link winced as he thought about it and tried to shove it off, knowing it would only come back later. When he had to get back on the boat.
Link felt his stomach growl and flip-flop with hunger and protest but food was out of the question. Before anything worse could happen to his unsteady control, Link went to find where Kohachan was put. Cait grabbed the sleeve of his tunic, stopping him in his place. He turned to the young Hylian, noticing her for the first time as she beamed up at him, "You're a Hylian, aren't you?" Link nodded slightly and tried to get away. He ended up pulling her along as she wouldn't release him but jogged beside him.
"So, are you an orphan too? I am. Those evil Gerudo attacked my family a long time ago and killed my parents. I'm going to grow up and pay them back for what they did!" Link slowed slightly but said to her, "Can you remember an evil Gerudo in particular? Can you remember a man with olive skin, red hair, a large nose, and power hungry eyes? Can you remember an evil Gerudo named Ganondorf?" Was it Link's imagination or did thunder boom at the name?
Cait's gaze was far away for a moment and she finally said, "Yes, yes I do! He was there, a man all in black but I saw fire in his eyes as he robbed from my parents and murdered them in their bed!" Link slowed his pace, anger simmered within him as Ganondorf's vile poison touch upon the land and people was not completely erased.
Link could hear the villain's laughter in the back of his mind. Unbidden, the ache all over his body of flames returned. He fell to one knee, hugging himself and gritting his teeth against the mere memory of the agony. For a moment, it seemed to whisper its promise to him in all it's horror as Cait backed from him and ran back toward Matt.
Crystal exited the room after making sure the Sheikah hadn't left so much as a note behind. She saw Link on the ground, a look of absolute pain was across his face as his shoulders trembled slightly. She rushed to his side and placed a hand on each of his shoulders, Navi also cried out for fear for him but at her touch, she felt his skin was burning through the tunic. He lifted his head almost as though in shock, sweat rolled down his forehead as he looked to Crystal. He gasped slightly, as though he had run the same distance again and said, "I s-saw him again. He wants me back. Back down there."
Crystal hugged him, taking the heat away from him as he wrapped his arms around her, surrendering to her cool, relieving touch. She shushed him, calmed him but he wasn't scared. If anything, he was defiant against Ganondorf. Just as much as when they had first met. If it were fate that Link would go back to face Ganondorf, he would go with not a fear shining in his eyes. But those flames . . .
He let Crystal lead her away, the thought's of missing Sheikah completely forgotten, as Link was placed on the dubbed sick bed. She looked down at him, questioned Navi though she had no idea either of what just happened, and left only to get some water for him. He was still burning up as though with fever.
Cait peered into the room from the doorway as Matt, brought by her hand, walked into the room. He asked Crystal what was going on and she explained as best she could about his burning up and of Ganondorf as Navi informed her of all that. She feared reading his eyes to find out. If a simple, painful past shocked her into a coma, she didn't want to know what would bring Link to the edge of sanity.
Matt looked at Link thoughtfully as the Hylian boy stared at the ceiling, his eyes a blend of hate and fighting spirit. He needed to be snapped out of it. With a sigh, Matt raised one fist and brought it down hard across Link's cheek. Link's head snapped to the side, his mouth gaped for the sudden pain. Cait yelped for surprise as Crystal grabbed Matt's vest with one hand and raised her own fist, ready and willing to strike him. He glared at her, seriousness holding her in her place. He pointed at Link.
Link held a hand to his forehead despite the bloodied lip and bruising cheek. He shook his head momentarily and rinned back at Crystal even as she and Navi stared with absolute amazement at him. She still held a fist poised for a strike and the other clutching Matt's vest. He pried her fingers off with a snort and said to Link, "So, what was it that made you freak out so badly?" Link glanced down only momentarily before grinning back up at Matt and Crystal, "Oh, it was nothing really. Just Hell."
Matt shot Crystal a look of question as Link hunkered down for a well- deserved rest. She returned the look of confusion but she certainly didn't doubt what he said was true. She grinned hopelessly at the Hylian boy and nodded to the door, suggesting they let Link relax. Before he left, Matt reached behind his neck and un-cinched a silver chain. Carefully drawing it out from under his vest, he revealed the silver dragon pendant and placed it on Link's chest. He said a few solemn prayers and then left after Crystal.
~~~~~
Toloran lead the way and Kohachan followed. It felt odd and nostalgic to him. He was used to being the only Sheikah around and active and always being either the leader or the rearguard. They passed in silence, paying no mind to the storm. Tarawen spoke with thoughts with no fear of being over-heard.
{We need a plan. That is for certain. The fighters have recently gained a new base on the northern border and are trying to circle in on the main tribe. Kohachan, what do you think we should do? They are almost circling us now!} Kohachan shook his head. He could neither answer her right then and he could not answer without the agreement of the trio of fighters. They worked like a puzzle. Now that he was present once again, they did stand a fighting chance.
Toloran held up a fist, stopping Kohachan. They both crouched, Tarawen hid at Kohachan's side beneath his cloak. They drew the protective clothing over themselves just in time. Three black figures leaped from the trees. One grew close to them but only saw a couple of rain soaked rocks beside a fallen tree. It left with the other two to continue its guard round.
Toloran signaled all clear and they began to quietly pick up their pace. Security was getting tight. Kohachan held Tarawen in the crook of his arm as she gripped onto him, minding her claws as best she could. A throwing star appeared from no where but Kohachan stopped in time to avoid it. He glanced venomously at the area of the attacker but was not surprised to see nothing. If he looked enough like Zolaris, perhaps the secret could still be held.
They continued, careful not to lose the cowls of their cloaks from their heads. Soon the trees thinned as they grew closer to the tribe. Tarawen leaped free and dashed ahead, her tiny legs a blur as she dashed, a ball of fur with two large ears on a domed head and bushy tail following.
Kohachan felt he would have chuckled had the situation not been so delicate. His getting into a Kitsune tribe without trouble was as likely as a shadow fighter surrendering on first strike. He sighed inwardly even as the storm was trying to let up a little. The wind calmed to where the trees no longer swayed so violently. Toloran held Kohachan back and whispered, "Stay her, proceed no further. We are being watched."
Tarawen dashed ahead and barked in soprano voice. Two warriors appeared. They both and large, slit pupil eyes. Both had long hair but one's hair was brownish red while the other was black with tips of white. Both had large, triangle ears above their head even as they trained their arrows on Kohachan.
Both wore armor over their chests, as well as leg guards over their loose fitting dark green pants. Their pants tucked into tan/gray boots that made no sound even on stone. Toloran stepped in front of them as Tarawen became mostly human once again and also faired to stop them. Kohachan lowered his eyes in submission, knowing better than to rile the agitation of the Kitsune warriors.
The one with white and black hair slowly lowered his weapon and snapped at the other, younger one to do the same. It was obvious that he held a high rank. Toloran spoke quickly to the leader and soon he let out a high pitched whistle, not unlike that of one of the tropical birds, Kohachan noticed with interest. His hood was pulled away by a person behind him.
He was careful not to flinch as an arrow point touched his back in warning as the hand pulled the cloak away. Kohachan moved only to unfasten it. Tarawen spoke sharply to the one behind Kohachan and the Kitsune moved away. He raised his head but the sound of stretching bowstrings all around him made him still once again.
For long moments, the arrows remained trained on him. He felt like yawning as the night wore on but the storm let up, leaving a drowsy feel in the air. A couple of the younger Kitsune did yawn but their fingers did not waver or lessen on their arrows.
Finally, a voice called out to Kohachan, "Warrior, what land do you hail from?" The voice was faintly familiar to Kohachan but he answered without considering the owner of the voice, "I hail recently from Dondoran and those areas. I come originally from Hyrule and Kakariko before then. My homeland remains Hyrule." The owner of the voice stepped out. He was a tall Kitsune, regally dressed in silken clothes but cloth-like armor clothed him underneath it. Two guards were behind him. One was yet another of the Kitsune clan but the other was most certainly not a fox person.
This one stood as tall as the Kitsune leader, who was shorter than either of the other two Sheikah. About the age of sixteen, he had silver hair slicked back on his head but with three sharp points at his forehead aiming at his nose. His eyes were dark blue, almost black but they did not represent his soul at all. He wore an outfit of black and purple, which sharply contrasted his hair and pale skin.
On his chest was a pendent hanging on a necklace. It was a jewel masterfully crafted. It held the Sheikah Eye of Truth but it was framed in three triangles. Each triangle was stained a certain color, yellow, blue and red. The entire thing was circled with silver to match the boy's hair. He sighed lightly, recognizing the intruder in question. Despite six year of separation, he could never forget that blood-red hair.
He carried on his waist belt a blade of odd, ancient design. The hilt twisted around the wielder's hand as the three-headed Hydra. The necks wrapped around the fingers of the wielder protectively all except for the heel of his hand where he slipped his hand to grasp the narrow grip of it. Each head met at the end of the hilt, each wedge nose fitted together into three grins, six tiny diamonds were the eyes of the creature. The blade of the sword was sheathed in an equally ancient looking sheath but they both were well cared for. Each golden scale still glittered.
He smiled at the third member, Kohachan. Then looked to the leader of the Kitsune tribe. Being the youngest of the trio, Zolaris had little right to speak over the leader of the Kitsune. Toloran was the eldest so he was allowed to talk freely while Kohachan was in the middle age wise.
Toloran did speak out to the leader as Tarawen stood away from him at a respectable distance but she inched nearer Kohachan. "Lord Kalahan, may I introduce to you Kohachan. He is the Sheikah reigning from the west, the third member of our trinity, Kohachan." Lord Kalahan raised his hands to his warriors, they withdrew their arrows from the bows and came into plain sight. Kohachan was silently requested to rise to which he did and smiled at his friends, both Toloran and Zolaris.
Kalahan then said aloud in a regal, commanding voice, "May it be recognized that at long last the elite of the Sheikah are now present and accounted for. We will rest well tonight, my people. The end of the struggle is nigh." Kohachan swallowed hard, hoping the Lord did not truly believe that his appearing meant the fight was over. Oh, no. It was still far from over. He looked to his comrades as they too stared dubiously at the Kitsune Lord. So, the leader truly believed what he had said was true?
Zolaris dared leave the leader's side to join the other two. Tarawen, smiling brightly, allowed the three to join together and lock hand to wrist in a triangle. They softly whispered the traditional lines for whenever they united once again.
Kalahan called his warriors back all the way from the nearby trees. Toloran sighed to the other two and said, "Perhaps we are going to have to have a word with the Kitsune."
Kohachan cut in, "Indeed, he seems to think this trinity means absolute victory."
"Unfortunately, that is exactly it. He is compelled to think we can do this on our own. Now, we'll be invited to a feast again." Zolaris said with exasperation. None of them had slept the night but if the guards were well set for the day, the shadow fighters would stick to tradition and stay away under the sun. Then they could sleep. Yes, indeed sleep sounded well enough but first that talk . . .
All three went after the leader but not at all formidably. He turned to then as they all smiled calmly, blinking more often for fatigue, understandable fatigue for the long day. Toloran had only left for a while in search of a stray fighter when he got to the adobe where Matt met him. Zolaris was duty bound to protect the Lord of the Kitsune at least until Toloran returned.
Toloran spoke for all three, "Lord Kalahan, please understand that the third member may have arrived but that does not mean we should let down our guard-"
Lord Kalahan smiled at them and calmly stated, "Don't be ridiculous, of course I'm not calling off the day or night watches. But for the rest of tonight, we can rest easy. I understand that perfectly well. Now, you three are all tired and have earned your rest. First, though, have any one of you something of interest for me?"
Kohachan finally spoke up, "Yes. I've come with a company. Two swordsmen of fantastic skill as well as a young woman who holds the ability to read the soul." Toloran slightly shivered and added, "Indeed, I have met this young Reader. She is far more skilled than I in the art."
"Also," Kohachan said with a sharp glance at Toloran, "upon arrival, young Tarawen was being chased by a shadow fighter of formidable skill. I battled with him and he is captured with the others as of now. I'll go back to them after a fair rest for I don't know how much longer I can carry on." The lord nodded in understanding, "Very well then, get your rest, warrior. We'll become better known to each other tomorrow when you will be informed of the present situation." With that, he dismissed the trio.
Zolaris clapped Kohachan on the back, "Welcome aboard, friend. Welcome aboard." Kohachan nodded slightly to him but said as he hung his head, "In all honesty, I'm not myself right now. I need sleep. No, Toloran, I am not lazy. That sleep was not restful at all. Now, if you don't mind, can anyone show me to a bed?"
Tarawen signaled sharply for him to follow and led the way back to the tribe. Zolaris nudges Toloran, "Well? Has the boy changed or what?" Toloran shrugged and sighed, "I know he can still hold his own. If anything, he is better than before. If only he can get over that accursed allergy of his. He will be tasting much more of the potion before this minor war is over." With that, they followed from far behind, not worrying about the darkness behind them or whatever it held in store for them in the near future.
~~~~~~~
Is that a fair place to stop at? I'm sorry but my mind has wandered away and didn't come back. Seriously, is it healthy to be typing a chapter till three in the morning? Don't think so . . .
Grr . . . There was something else . . .
Oh, yeah. As for the Hydra, I don't know all about it but legend has it that for every head cut by blade, two more grow to replace it. The uneven number of heads is because the center head is supposed to be the original and immortal head. And that is the fun fact for tonight . . .er . . .day.
Okay, I'll sleep now.
Till next time!