~ Disclaimer ~ Why do I even bother with this? I don't own Zelda. Should
I scrawl it again? ^_^
Kohachan: Rats. Shadow Knight returned. I was hoping to use a new attack . . .
0_0 = ^_^ KOHACHAN! *Does a flying leap at him* Welcome back!!
Kohachan: @_@ I was . . . wondering why you are up so late.
Oh, just insomnia. Why are you concerned?
Kohachan: *Sigh* Shadow Girl, what am I to do with you?
^_^ Nothing at all! Oh, well! On with the dedications then new chapter!
Jelie36 (You should know I can't help it and I'm not killing myself.), Dragonkiller (It is the silent ones people must fear *evil grin*), Shadow Knight
Kohachan: Yes, I do dare. *Smirks* Care to accept the dare?
Behave yourself, Kohachan. You just got back . . . Now, where was I?
Kohachan: Angle1 *Grins* Why feel sorry for me? Oh, well. At least I have a fan.
Now then . . . the last of the Mohikans (jk), farmerboy. (Oh, I think everyone will love this one. If they love insanity on a hyped up insomnia spree! ^_^)
~~~~~~~
~ Trips, Dips, and Swigs ~
Smells of fresh baked breads and exotic fruits filled the air. A feast was being set if not a full-out celebration. Kohachan could smell each one and they all made his mouth water. However, with the youth to look after, he stayed in the room and in his hammock. Turned out, if he didn't find trouble, it found him.
Three familiar kits poked their heads in the doorway of the Sheikah's quarters. The girl slightly giggled as she saw Kohachan staring at the ceiling, his mind elsewhere. The two young boys shushed her and all three slipped in, supposedly unnoticed. Kohachan grinned when they could not see. What could the kits be up to this time?
The red head looked up at the single thick rope that held the foot end of the net, which held the Sheikah, but perhaps it was better not to do permanent damage. The girl saw the open supplies lying around and the kid on the ground. He seemed to be recovering from wounds.
She grinned and slipped over to the boy as the other two Kitsune checked the supplies. Kohachan silently began to move. When the boy didn't stir, she picked up his limp hand then let it drop to the floor again. With a thought, she picked it up again and held the arm over the boy's face then let it drop again.
Link snorted as his arm slapped his nose and mouth. His eyes flashed open and he looked to the figure of a girl above him. Only seeing her face, he swore to himself that it was Navi. It was like her to wake him up in such a way!
Following through with the gag, he threw his covers off and onto her, tumbling her over, he managed to capture her in the blanket. Immediately, two other figures only slightly shorter than him tackled him to the other side of the room.
He yelled as teeth sunk into his forearm. One of the figures was plucked off of him but the biting one refused to give up. Link yelped again, trying to push the forehead of the biter away but it only increased the pressure of the bite.
Three sharp words boomed in the room then a choking sound as the biter was grabbed by the back of his neck and forced to let go. Link held his freed arm close to him. Several teeth marks in pale red marked his arm but no tooth broke through.
Link finally looked up to see none other than Kohachan holding the biter by his neck and the other by his tunic hem. The young girl, a pretty blonde girl with white-ish fur held onto Kohachan, a look of fear in her eyes.
Kohachan pushed the kits toward the door but all three paused and looked hurtfully back at Kohachan. It was obvious they wanted to say. With a wave of his hand, he asked them to leave and turned back to gather the scattered items together. Altogether, they stuck their tongues out at him and spat "Nyaahhh".
Kohachan whipped his head to glare at them but they only grinned innocently. Kohachan sighed deeply and began rolling up one sleeve and casually walking toward them.
With equal shrieks, all three. Kohachan laughed merrily as the three became foxes and blurred out of sight down the walk. "Oiy kalahar. He, nine mellonas . . ." He straightened the sleeve and glanced at Link, "So, how is it you find yourself here?"
Link glared sleepily at the Sheikah until Kohachan waved his hands in defense, "I was just asking! I heard you were captured by the fighters yet you are here." Link blinked and rubbed his eyes, "Yeah that's right. Well . . . everything was chaotic. I don't want to remember!" Link threw himself back onto the padding on the floor.
A very slight padding.
Kohachan winced as Link's head thumped solidly on the mostly flat pillow. Biting back curses, Link sat back up, furiously rubbing the injured spot on his head. Kohachan shook his head in sorrow yet grinned in amusement. "Very well. Take a deep breath, perhaps that will aid your foul mood."
With a final rub, he took a beep breath then sighed. The smell of fresh bread and fruits permeated the air causing the little annoyances in Link to slip away. He closed his eyes and hummed softly, ridding himself of the last of his irritations.
Kohan grinned slightly seeing the Hero of Time finally with a moment of relaxed peace. He turned from the items and addressed Link, "Do you know what became of the fighter? The one first seen whom I fought?"
Link opened one eye to regard Kohachan's seriousness then leaned forward on his knees, "Oni fought Demon Zolaris for a bit and I recall seeing that fighter for a short while but when I woke up in the clearing, I only found the fighter's life-less body."
Kohachan nodded, "Then we have little to be unhappy about." He grinned wider, his eyes sparkling in merriment as he got up and started for the door, "Get dressed, young Hero. We have a nice big day ahead of us." Link nodded as Kohachan left then looked to the bright clothes left for him.
~~~~~
Now, where had Tarawen gone? Kohachan wandered around even as two more young kits went to see Link and even one adult Kitsune. Kohachan sighed but didn't turn back. Link could either try to stand the sudden scrutiny or he could tell them off himself.
In the meantime, it was long due that Kohachan got himself in trouble with either the princess or Zolaris again. Though that thought didn't sound right to him, he decided to go through with some act or another once again.
The pain was completely gone from his cheek, after all and he was able to escape Tarawen's dagger swings. Heh, even the fast Kitsune wasn't fast enough . . .
He was forced to stop as his mindless wanderings brought him running into another Kitsune. "Aii. Vahal, vahal" Kohachan bowed and fervently spoke his apologies until he saw whom it was he was bowing to.
Tarawen glared at him. At their feet was fresh bread broken in half with crumbs surrounding the two halves. Kohachan winced inside. He wanted to get into intentional trouble. Not this!
She growled in her throat, "Well, are you going to apologize?" Kohachan bristled, why did he let this Kitsune in particular get on his nerves so badly? "I already apologized! Twice!" Tarawen's eyes gleamed with an old irritation yet to be sated.
Kohachan groaned and jumped clear over her head, landing in yet another sprint. Yep, morning exercise! Tarawen, as always, gave chase but now that all the other Kitsune warriors have returned, the tribe had a bit more hustle and bustle than usual.
Quickly enough, Kohachan slipped through the crowd, as he was used to doing in Hyrule market as Tarawen fell behind then lost him completely.
He breathed deeply, trying to force more air into his lungs before finally taking a deep breath, letting it out slowly, and started toward the cooking fires and bakery.
He's get back at Tarawen and give her a decent reason to hunt him down later. He owed her that much, anyway. She had been bored to tears the past six years. Bored and stressed out. Even if it was at his expense, Kohachan was glad she was having fun at last.
Taking up a small cloth offered by one of the serving Kits, he selected a few rare delicacies for himself and Link. At the advice of the kit who chose them, he also picked up a couple fish.
With his load of three fruits, two fish, and one loaf of bread, Kohachan turned and started back toward the room, knowing full well that Tarawen either wouldn't search for him there, or would let him off the hook for the moment.
~~~~~
Link stayed under the cover and swore up and down that he was not leaving that room looking the way he did. Upon close inspection of the light green/gray sleeveless vest trimmed in gold, he realized the scars left from old fights were showing off. Not only was it of odd, pale colors, it was sleeveless and didn't even close over his chest completely.
Not only that but the pants and shoes provided were of the same design. The pants were mostly of the same color of the vest. Green/gray but with the exception that around his waist, he was to tie a belt like cloth that was gold and fell half down his thigh.
Then there were the shoes. Instead of boots, like he wanted, he was given small slipper style shoes that closed over his foot that that was it. They clung at his heel and over his foot, showing his ankle under the pant leg.
He snorted and said aloud when no one was listening at the entrance, "Whoever made this outfit has a sick sense of humor." Quite suddenly, the thought of no one listening was proven terribly wrong. Carrying an armful of food, Kohachan returned with a bit of cooked fish in his mouth.
Kohachan quickly swallowed and said, "Well, if you don't like it, you can go without. But that wouldn't be too wise, now would it? Meeting the leader of this tribe in your birthday suit." Link blushed furiously as the bold Sheikah grinned at his embarrassment.
"In other news, you may be silent but your eyes speak loud and clear." He set the food on the floor, claiming one of the bright fruit for himself before Link nearly well pounced on it, grabbed the fish, and tore into it, nodding in thanks. Kohachan nodded in return that bit into the succulent fruit, never minding his inadvertently luring Link out of hiding. The boy's pale skin really didn't go with the outfit but oh well.
Link realized the same thing almost at the same moment then, taking the skewered fish with him, dove under the cover as well, throwing the blanket completely over himself and continued eating the well-cooked fish.
Kohachan shrugged and licked with lip, not letting any of the sweet, tart juice escape. "Well, Link. You have a choice. Wear the smelly, loathed, torn pants you came in or wear that. It is at least alike to the outfits some young Kitsune will wear around here. The men that is, of course."
With a snort, Link shrugged. He would give the ultimate answer eventually. For the moment, there was only one thing he wanted to settle. And that was the emptiness of his stomach. Holding only a stick and bones, Link crawled, taking his cover with him back to the food and sat near it.
Completely wrapped but with his head exposed, he set the bones and stick on the cloth and took up the loaf of bread. Breaking it in two, it was soft and warm inside. With a big grin, his mouth already watering from the fragrance of it, Link bit into it. Ahhh, it was warm, soft, and even sweet with the honey spread over it.
He swallowed and asked the Sheikah, "Are you sure I'm not dead and that this isn't another version of Heaven?"
"Neh? Another version?" Kohachan looked down at the boy, his fruit nibbled down to a quarter left. Link shrugged the question off, the covers falling away as well.
Ignoring this, he bit into the bread again. Not a single sensation of the bread was lost from the pause. He sighed in content and took his time with the remaining chunk of bread even as Kohachan claimed his half before the Hylian strayed to it.
"Link, you have me curious now. What do you mean another version of Heaven?" Link licked his fingers as the last of his share of bread seemed to vanish then looked to Kohachan, "I saw Heaven before. I was joking, though. I know I'm not dead but still, this is like Heaven." Kohachan nodded carefully, knowing full well that the fight he went through must have knocked something loose in the boy's head.
Simultaneously, two heads appeared in the doorway. Both were young men of Kitsune. One had shining red hair and the other shining silver but both were a bit messy, as though they had just woke up. Kohachan jumped to his feat, swallowed the mouthful he had been chewing, and heartily greeted them both.
Next to Zolaris, these two Kitsune were simply grand to get into mischief with, as Kohachan remembered from his youth. Kohachan laughed and joked with them as Link was confused enough, one could nearly see the question marks over his head.
After a bit, the silver haired Kitsune pointed Link out and asked a couple of questions. Kohachan introduced them just before pulling the boy up and dragging him out the door to meet more Kitsune.
~~~~~
Matt had to admit. This was the end. Lost out in the middle of who knows where, he had somehow come across a swamp. HOW was well beyond him considering the lush forest that abruptly gave way to the smelly marshes of the black watered swamp.
Staying close to the tree line, he still ended up losing his footing and falling into the waters every once in a while. Yet every once in a wile was often enough. By the time the noon sun was on high, he was covered in black mud.
Finally he yelled his frustrations, "Is this some kind of perk to be a hero?! You get to be the butt end of every misfortune!?! Then I don't wanna play hero!!" He yelled at the top of his lungs just before taking one more step past a knee high shrub and plunging straight down into a waist high swamp pit.
"Gaahhh!!" The water was cold as death and the mud he eventually landed in immediately sucked his boot into them. He reached forward and grabbed two firm hang holds on the next patch of sickly brown reeds and began pulling himself out.
Much to his surprise, this mud didn't let him go so easily. The blades of grass that was the shrubs slightly cut into his palms, the sudden shock of stinging forced him to let go.
The mud pulled him down until his stomach was half-submerged. Panic began to rise in Matt as the icy mud crawled into his boots and began pulling him down ever so slowly.
In such a situation, there was only one thing to do. One last, desperate measure. Matt took a deep breath.
"HEELLLPPPP!!!!" He cried even louder than before. Several birds of various variety took to wing from his yell but no one answered his call. Matt suddenly giggled as the icy water was felt at his ribs. Somehow, fear was choking the giggles out of him.
He slapped himself and tried again, "SOMEBODY, ANYBODY!!!! HEEELLLLPPPP MEEEEE!!!!!!" Again no answer. None except the anticipating cry of a black bird slowly circling overhead.
Matt giggled some more as his eye twitched from stress. He knew the problem then. He should have known the problem from the beginning. His silver dragon medallion. He had given it to that one boy, Link. And never got it back before that fighter had captured him.
Not ten minutes after parting with the medallion had misfortune held back for a good ten years perhaps gained up on him all at once. But still, the indignity! He was not to be given a proper burial in a graveyard or even a burial at sea. He was given an improper burial . . . in swamp water.
"No! I will not be taken under!!" He grabbed at the marshes with bloodied hands. Again the cuts already set in his hands screamed with pain but yelling from both agony and effort, he pulled himself up.
He managed to pull himself free up to the waist before the marsh roots gave way and he was sent back, sinking this time up to his armpits. His eyes bulged with shock of both the icy touch and the new terror of his imminent death, he felt the water still climbing higher and giggled just faintly before whimpering.
~~~~~
Zolaris had heard the yells. He knew the voice was the boys but where the heck had it come from?! With an angry snort, Zolaris left the place where he had left the kid a long time ago. It was obvious that the boy had stupidly wandered further away.
"MAAATTT!!!!" He yelled, casting his voice through the trees toward where the earlier shouts had sounded. His voice was blocked by another, even more desperate shout. Snapping his jaw shut, Zolaris took off sprinting and jumping in the direction the cry had come from. But that sound, it was from the swamps.
How in the name of Din had the boy been stupid enough to go to the swamp? If Zolaris knew the answer to that mystery, he would be content to retire from the rescue. He clenched his fist against the thought and kept up his pressing pace.
Even running as fast as he could, it took time to get to the swamplands. The yelling had sounded only once more before being cut off quite suddenly. It could be too late.
One more leap and then he stopped on the ground, holding perfectly still and mentally willed his feet to stop skidding. The swamplands lay before him. He searched the ground, his pulse thundering in his ears and his breath coming in deep gasps until he saw a funny looking bit of marsh.
Getting up from his squatting position, he trotted to the bush that was moving to find a black, mud-covered hand desperately waving about in the air. Yet the well-submerged figure was too far out for him to reach from safety. One step closer, and he would be caught as well!
Growling in frustration, he took off back into the jungle until he found a fir bunch of semi-thick vines. He leaped into the air above them and, drawing the Hydra Blade, sliced through vines and fell with them. Grabbing them up, he pulled them along with him back to the swamp, the vines dragging behind.
Amazingly, they only became taught at the edge of the swamp, giving Zolaris a good five feet extra length. He pulled fiercely on the length until he was sure it would not give any more.
He tied it once around his waist, loosing a fair two feet in length from it and tied a firm knot that was not about to slip. With a deep breath, he dove headfirst into the water.
Wrapping his arms around the still figure, he turned around. Careful not to touch the sucking mud at the bottom, he pulled fiercely on the vine, pulling them both to the surface. The mud had the boy deep, though. Zolaris yearly yelled with the effort to pull the kid loose. With a mighty heave, the kid came free and Zolaris quickly pulled them both above the icy water.
They were not out of trouble yet. Matt was neither moving nor breathing. With rising panic, Zolaris threw the kid toward the shore then hauled himself out. After cutting the vines free with a small boot knife, Zolaris pulled the kid to firm, semi-dry ground and started trying to revive him.
Smelling salts did not work. Heck, they were soaked anyway. He tried shaking Matt to no avail. One more technique came to mind but Zolaris loathed think of that one. At last one final technique came to mind. Hopefully, it would work.
He placed both hand firmly over Matt's chest and steadying himself on his knees, began pushing hard on the boy's chest.
Nothing.
Panic beginning to rise in him, Zolaris tried again, counting the pushes. Nothing. "Dang it all, wake up!" He tried again. He set his ear against Matt's chest but there was no heart beat.
Shock, colder than the swamp waters, washed over Zolaris. He began pushing with extra strength, trying hard not to break the boy's ribs but to push his heart into starting once again. There was no avoiding it. Either Zolaris swallow his pride or this boy died.
Taking the boy's nose with one hand, he knelt over Matt and forced air through his mouth to his lungs. Pulling away quickly, he pushed on the kid's chest. Still nothing! He did it again, forcing more air to the half- swamp water filled lungs then pushing on his chest, trying to force him to breathe.
Finally it worked. Matt opened his eyes and began gasping like a fish out of water. He rolled onto his side in agony, water already spilling from his mouth.
Zolaris released the breath he had held as Mat acted accordingly. The boy began to vomit and hack up the water in his lungs. That was the first step to recovery. Standing up from Matt, Zolaris spat on the ground. Hating what he had just done but was glad the boy was alive. It was insane! Hid demon tried to kill the boy and yet he brought Matt back to life, basically.
Matt heaved one last time to find nothing left in him to cough up. Slowly, he fell to the ground from his hands and knees over onto his back once again. Well away from the mess. What had happened?
He looked up at the clear blue sky with the sun shining down almost from just above him, slightly to the west. Matt nodded to confirm his thought. It was just a bit past noontime. Time to rest, though, not eat. He closed his eyes to the sun and fell into quiet sleep.
Zolaris heard the heaving stop followed by a thump. He turned to see Matt sprawled on his back. Leaping at the boy, Zolaris checked him. He was breathing again. Weak, ragged breaths, but full nonetheless.
Shaking his head in wonder of how the boy could sleep, Zolaris picked the kid up on his back and began a slower walk through the jungle. Wishing fervently that he could stop carrying around kids on Death's door.
~~~~~
Link was full up from food and enjoying the company of the Kitsune. Though he could not understand a word they said. One gave him a pat on the back and a large goblet of cool liquid inside.
He eyed it for a moment but saw Kohachan along with Toloran deeply drinking the same drink. He shrugged and tipped the glass before raising it to his lips, much to the cheering of the fox people.
The taste wasn't bad though the liquid was warm and the goblet cool, for some reason. Rolling the brew around on his tongue, he nodded in satisfaction. It was a deep, earthy flavor the reminded him of river stones being tumbled to smoothness by the waters. Then he swallowed.
Fireworks suddenly went off in the back of his head. The liquid was nuke- warm at best in his mouth but caught flame and roared down to his stomach, not forgetting to remind his head what had happened. Fire burst in his ears, seared in his throat, and steamed through his head coming out his eyes in the form of tears. He was going to die. With Kitsune clapping him on the back and cheering all around, he was going to die right then and there.
Someone was pounding him on the back. Link had the vague expression that it was Kohachan but finally he gasped for air. One Kitsune laughed and spoke loudly to all present at the drinking place. He looked kindly to Link for a moment then raised his own goblet and took a long swig from it.
Link was deeply moved. Whatever the Kitsune had said was meant just for him. He thanked the Kitsune than took another drink from his goblet. The forge that was his belly piped up to pleasant warmth upon sipping the liquid. Link took another drink, then another. Finally drained his cup and set it on the table with a triumphant gasp.
Roars of cheers were heard all around but Link felt good inside. His blood was tingling through his veins. Someone filled his cup again. It was the caring Kitsune who had toasted him. He thanked the fox graciously in a slur then drained the cup in one long pull.
Silence fell the bar until the empty goblet was set forcefully onto the counter before Link. A new cheer roared through. Link didn't care. He didn't hear it. He suddenly saw a flash of red. Ah, it was his friend. He loved his red-haired friend and told him so. Then the blonde-haired one beside him. Whatever his name was.
He embraced the nameless blonde but was carefully set in a stool. No, wait. There was someone else he loved. Getting up from the stool and knocking it backward in the process, he found the Kitsune who toasted him and gave him an affectionate hug before finding his seat again.
Yet the seat had suddenly jumped aside. He fell straight down but grabbed the ledge of the counter for dear life. How dare the stool be move like that! It would pay!!
Link withdrew his sword and proceeded to kill the foolish stool before several arms caught his own, pried the sword from his grasp to drag him away. A voice spoke to him in words he knew but did not comprehend.
His beloved red-head was dragging him away since Link's feet no longer worked either. "Easy there, kid. I think you've had enough for today." Link slurred thrice before coming even close to what he wanted to say, "Yes . . . Malon." He fell to the floor suddenly.
His red-head had dropped him?! She would pay also! He reached for his sword as his cheek was pressed to the wooden floor. His sword gone, he mumbled in confusion before the world closed in on itself and took him along for the ride.
All was good with Link and all was good with the world again.
~~~~~~~
Wheee . . . ok, this chapter was based on pure insanity and chaos extract!
I . . . couldn't . . . help it any longer!!
I had to write a laugh yourself silly part! Had to! No escape! Well . . . my writers block did go away *smiles innocently* And no one died!
Well, stick around cause if you think this is the end of the mayhem . . . you are dead wrong! But for now, let's give Link a bit of time to recover. Nope, the boy can never catch a break.
Till next time!
Kohachan: Rats. Shadow Knight returned. I was hoping to use a new attack . . .
0_0 = ^_^ KOHACHAN! *Does a flying leap at him* Welcome back!!
Kohachan: @_@ I was . . . wondering why you are up so late.
Oh, just insomnia. Why are you concerned?
Kohachan: *Sigh* Shadow Girl, what am I to do with you?
^_^ Nothing at all! Oh, well! On with the dedications then new chapter!
Jelie36 (You should know I can't help it and I'm not killing myself.), Dragonkiller (It is the silent ones people must fear *evil grin*), Shadow Knight
Kohachan: Yes, I do dare. *Smirks* Care to accept the dare?
Behave yourself, Kohachan. You just got back . . . Now, where was I?
Kohachan: Angle1 *Grins* Why feel sorry for me? Oh, well. At least I have a fan.
Now then . . . the last of the Mohikans (jk), farmerboy. (Oh, I think everyone will love this one. If they love insanity on a hyped up insomnia spree! ^_^)
~~~~~~~
~ Trips, Dips, and Swigs ~
Smells of fresh baked breads and exotic fruits filled the air. A feast was being set if not a full-out celebration. Kohachan could smell each one and they all made his mouth water. However, with the youth to look after, he stayed in the room and in his hammock. Turned out, if he didn't find trouble, it found him.
Three familiar kits poked their heads in the doorway of the Sheikah's quarters. The girl slightly giggled as she saw Kohachan staring at the ceiling, his mind elsewhere. The two young boys shushed her and all three slipped in, supposedly unnoticed. Kohachan grinned when they could not see. What could the kits be up to this time?
The red head looked up at the single thick rope that held the foot end of the net, which held the Sheikah, but perhaps it was better not to do permanent damage. The girl saw the open supplies lying around and the kid on the ground. He seemed to be recovering from wounds.
She grinned and slipped over to the boy as the other two Kitsune checked the supplies. Kohachan silently began to move. When the boy didn't stir, she picked up his limp hand then let it drop to the floor again. With a thought, she picked it up again and held the arm over the boy's face then let it drop again.
Link snorted as his arm slapped his nose and mouth. His eyes flashed open and he looked to the figure of a girl above him. Only seeing her face, he swore to himself that it was Navi. It was like her to wake him up in such a way!
Following through with the gag, he threw his covers off and onto her, tumbling her over, he managed to capture her in the blanket. Immediately, two other figures only slightly shorter than him tackled him to the other side of the room.
He yelled as teeth sunk into his forearm. One of the figures was plucked off of him but the biting one refused to give up. Link yelped again, trying to push the forehead of the biter away but it only increased the pressure of the bite.
Three sharp words boomed in the room then a choking sound as the biter was grabbed by the back of his neck and forced to let go. Link held his freed arm close to him. Several teeth marks in pale red marked his arm but no tooth broke through.
Link finally looked up to see none other than Kohachan holding the biter by his neck and the other by his tunic hem. The young girl, a pretty blonde girl with white-ish fur held onto Kohachan, a look of fear in her eyes.
Kohachan pushed the kits toward the door but all three paused and looked hurtfully back at Kohachan. It was obvious they wanted to say. With a wave of his hand, he asked them to leave and turned back to gather the scattered items together. Altogether, they stuck their tongues out at him and spat "Nyaahhh".
Kohachan whipped his head to glare at them but they only grinned innocently. Kohachan sighed deeply and began rolling up one sleeve and casually walking toward them.
With equal shrieks, all three. Kohachan laughed merrily as the three became foxes and blurred out of sight down the walk. "Oiy kalahar. He, nine mellonas . . ." He straightened the sleeve and glanced at Link, "So, how is it you find yourself here?"
Link glared sleepily at the Sheikah until Kohachan waved his hands in defense, "I was just asking! I heard you were captured by the fighters yet you are here." Link blinked and rubbed his eyes, "Yeah that's right. Well . . . everything was chaotic. I don't want to remember!" Link threw himself back onto the padding on the floor.
A very slight padding.
Kohachan winced as Link's head thumped solidly on the mostly flat pillow. Biting back curses, Link sat back up, furiously rubbing the injured spot on his head. Kohachan shook his head in sorrow yet grinned in amusement. "Very well. Take a deep breath, perhaps that will aid your foul mood."
With a final rub, he took a beep breath then sighed. The smell of fresh bread and fruits permeated the air causing the little annoyances in Link to slip away. He closed his eyes and hummed softly, ridding himself of the last of his irritations.
Kohan grinned slightly seeing the Hero of Time finally with a moment of relaxed peace. He turned from the items and addressed Link, "Do you know what became of the fighter? The one first seen whom I fought?"
Link opened one eye to regard Kohachan's seriousness then leaned forward on his knees, "Oni fought Demon Zolaris for a bit and I recall seeing that fighter for a short while but when I woke up in the clearing, I only found the fighter's life-less body."
Kohachan nodded, "Then we have little to be unhappy about." He grinned wider, his eyes sparkling in merriment as he got up and started for the door, "Get dressed, young Hero. We have a nice big day ahead of us." Link nodded as Kohachan left then looked to the bright clothes left for him.
~~~~~
Now, where had Tarawen gone? Kohachan wandered around even as two more young kits went to see Link and even one adult Kitsune. Kohachan sighed but didn't turn back. Link could either try to stand the sudden scrutiny or he could tell them off himself.
In the meantime, it was long due that Kohachan got himself in trouble with either the princess or Zolaris again. Though that thought didn't sound right to him, he decided to go through with some act or another once again.
The pain was completely gone from his cheek, after all and he was able to escape Tarawen's dagger swings. Heh, even the fast Kitsune wasn't fast enough . . .
He was forced to stop as his mindless wanderings brought him running into another Kitsune. "Aii. Vahal, vahal" Kohachan bowed and fervently spoke his apologies until he saw whom it was he was bowing to.
Tarawen glared at him. At their feet was fresh bread broken in half with crumbs surrounding the two halves. Kohachan winced inside. He wanted to get into intentional trouble. Not this!
She growled in her throat, "Well, are you going to apologize?" Kohachan bristled, why did he let this Kitsune in particular get on his nerves so badly? "I already apologized! Twice!" Tarawen's eyes gleamed with an old irritation yet to be sated.
Kohachan groaned and jumped clear over her head, landing in yet another sprint. Yep, morning exercise! Tarawen, as always, gave chase but now that all the other Kitsune warriors have returned, the tribe had a bit more hustle and bustle than usual.
Quickly enough, Kohachan slipped through the crowd, as he was used to doing in Hyrule market as Tarawen fell behind then lost him completely.
He breathed deeply, trying to force more air into his lungs before finally taking a deep breath, letting it out slowly, and started toward the cooking fires and bakery.
He's get back at Tarawen and give her a decent reason to hunt him down later. He owed her that much, anyway. She had been bored to tears the past six years. Bored and stressed out. Even if it was at his expense, Kohachan was glad she was having fun at last.
Taking up a small cloth offered by one of the serving Kits, he selected a few rare delicacies for himself and Link. At the advice of the kit who chose them, he also picked up a couple fish.
With his load of three fruits, two fish, and one loaf of bread, Kohachan turned and started back toward the room, knowing full well that Tarawen either wouldn't search for him there, or would let him off the hook for the moment.
~~~~~
Link stayed under the cover and swore up and down that he was not leaving that room looking the way he did. Upon close inspection of the light green/gray sleeveless vest trimmed in gold, he realized the scars left from old fights were showing off. Not only was it of odd, pale colors, it was sleeveless and didn't even close over his chest completely.
Not only that but the pants and shoes provided were of the same design. The pants were mostly of the same color of the vest. Green/gray but with the exception that around his waist, he was to tie a belt like cloth that was gold and fell half down his thigh.
Then there were the shoes. Instead of boots, like he wanted, he was given small slipper style shoes that closed over his foot that that was it. They clung at his heel and over his foot, showing his ankle under the pant leg.
He snorted and said aloud when no one was listening at the entrance, "Whoever made this outfit has a sick sense of humor." Quite suddenly, the thought of no one listening was proven terribly wrong. Carrying an armful of food, Kohachan returned with a bit of cooked fish in his mouth.
Kohachan quickly swallowed and said, "Well, if you don't like it, you can go without. But that wouldn't be too wise, now would it? Meeting the leader of this tribe in your birthday suit." Link blushed furiously as the bold Sheikah grinned at his embarrassment.
"In other news, you may be silent but your eyes speak loud and clear." He set the food on the floor, claiming one of the bright fruit for himself before Link nearly well pounced on it, grabbed the fish, and tore into it, nodding in thanks. Kohachan nodded in return that bit into the succulent fruit, never minding his inadvertently luring Link out of hiding. The boy's pale skin really didn't go with the outfit but oh well.
Link realized the same thing almost at the same moment then, taking the skewered fish with him, dove under the cover as well, throwing the blanket completely over himself and continued eating the well-cooked fish.
Kohachan shrugged and licked with lip, not letting any of the sweet, tart juice escape. "Well, Link. You have a choice. Wear the smelly, loathed, torn pants you came in or wear that. It is at least alike to the outfits some young Kitsune will wear around here. The men that is, of course."
With a snort, Link shrugged. He would give the ultimate answer eventually. For the moment, there was only one thing he wanted to settle. And that was the emptiness of his stomach. Holding only a stick and bones, Link crawled, taking his cover with him back to the food and sat near it.
Completely wrapped but with his head exposed, he set the bones and stick on the cloth and took up the loaf of bread. Breaking it in two, it was soft and warm inside. With a big grin, his mouth already watering from the fragrance of it, Link bit into it. Ahhh, it was warm, soft, and even sweet with the honey spread over it.
He swallowed and asked the Sheikah, "Are you sure I'm not dead and that this isn't another version of Heaven?"
"Neh? Another version?" Kohachan looked down at the boy, his fruit nibbled down to a quarter left. Link shrugged the question off, the covers falling away as well.
Ignoring this, he bit into the bread again. Not a single sensation of the bread was lost from the pause. He sighed in content and took his time with the remaining chunk of bread even as Kohachan claimed his half before the Hylian strayed to it.
"Link, you have me curious now. What do you mean another version of Heaven?" Link licked his fingers as the last of his share of bread seemed to vanish then looked to Kohachan, "I saw Heaven before. I was joking, though. I know I'm not dead but still, this is like Heaven." Kohachan nodded carefully, knowing full well that the fight he went through must have knocked something loose in the boy's head.
Simultaneously, two heads appeared in the doorway. Both were young men of Kitsune. One had shining red hair and the other shining silver but both were a bit messy, as though they had just woke up. Kohachan jumped to his feat, swallowed the mouthful he had been chewing, and heartily greeted them both.
Next to Zolaris, these two Kitsune were simply grand to get into mischief with, as Kohachan remembered from his youth. Kohachan laughed and joked with them as Link was confused enough, one could nearly see the question marks over his head.
After a bit, the silver haired Kitsune pointed Link out and asked a couple of questions. Kohachan introduced them just before pulling the boy up and dragging him out the door to meet more Kitsune.
~~~~~
Matt had to admit. This was the end. Lost out in the middle of who knows where, he had somehow come across a swamp. HOW was well beyond him considering the lush forest that abruptly gave way to the smelly marshes of the black watered swamp.
Staying close to the tree line, he still ended up losing his footing and falling into the waters every once in a while. Yet every once in a wile was often enough. By the time the noon sun was on high, he was covered in black mud.
Finally he yelled his frustrations, "Is this some kind of perk to be a hero?! You get to be the butt end of every misfortune!?! Then I don't wanna play hero!!" He yelled at the top of his lungs just before taking one more step past a knee high shrub and plunging straight down into a waist high swamp pit.
"Gaahhh!!" The water was cold as death and the mud he eventually landed in immediately sucked his boot into them. He reached forward and grabbed two firm hang holds on the next patch of sickly brown reeds and began pulling himself out.
Much to his surprise, this mud didn't let him go so easily. The blades of grass that was the shrubs slightly cut into his palms, the sudden shock of stinging forced him to let go.
The mud pulled him down until his stomach was half-submerged. Panic began to rise in Matt as the icy mud crawled into his boots and began pulling him down ever so slowly.
In such a situation, there was only one thing to do. One last, desperate measure. Matt took a deep breath.
"HEELLLPPPP!!!!" He cried even louder than before. Several birds of various variety took to wing from his yell but no one answered his call. Matt suddenly giggled as the icy water was felt at his ribs. Somehow, fear was choking the giggles out of him.
He slapped himself and tried again, "SOMEBODY, ANYBODY!!!! HEEELLLLPPPP MEEEEE!!!!!!" Again no answer. None except the anticipating cry of a black bird slowly circling overhead.
Matt giggled some more as his eye twitched from stress. He knew the problem then. He should have known the problem from the beginning. His silver dragon medallion. He had given it to that one boy, Link. And never got it back before that fighter had captured him.
Not ten minutes after parting with the medallion had misfortune held back for a good ten years perhaps gained up on him all at once. But still, the indignity! He was not to be given a proper burial in a graveyard or even a burial at sea. He was given an improper burial . . . in swamp water.
"No! I will not be taken under!!" He grabbed at the marshes with bloodied hands. Again the cuts already set in his hands screamed with pain but yelling from both agony and effort, he pulled himself up.
He managed to pull himself free up to the waist before the marsh roots gave way and he was sent back, sinking this time up to his armpits. His eyes bulged with shock of both the icy touch and the new terror of his imminent death, he felt the water still climbing higher and giggled just faintly before whimpering.
~~~~~
Zolaris had heard the yells. He knew the voice was the boys but where the heck had it come from?! With an angry snort, Zolaris left the place where he had left the kid a long time ago. It was obvious that the boy had stupidly wandered further away.
"MAAATTT!!!!" He yelled, casting his voice through the trees toward where the earlier shouts had sounded. His voice was blocked by another, even more desperate shout. Snapping his jaw shut, Zolaris took off sprinting and jumping in the direction the cry had come from. But that sound, it was from the swamps.
How in the name of Din had the boy been stupid enough to go to the swamp? If Zolaris knew the answer to that mystery, he would be content to retire from the rescue. He clenched his fist against the thought and kept up his pressing pace.
Even running as fast as he could, it took time to get to the swamplands. The yelling had sounded only once more before being cut off quite suddenly. It could be too late.
One more leap and then he stopped on the ground, holding perfectly still and mentally willed his feet to stop skidding. The swamplands lay before him. He searched the ground, his pulse thundering in his ears and his breath coming in deep gasps until he saw a funny looking bit of marsh.
Getting up from his squatting position, he trotted to the bush that was moving to find a black, mud-covered hand desperately waving about in the air. Yet the well-submerged figure was too far out for him to reach from safety. One step closer, and he would be caught as well!
Growling in frustration, he took off back into the jungle until he found a fir bunch of semi-thick vines. He leaped into the air above them and, drawing the Hydra Blade, sliced through vines and fell with them. Grabbing them up, he pulled them along with him back to the swamp, the vines dragging behind.
Amazingly, they only became taught at the edge of the swamp, giving Zolaris a good five feet extra length. He pulled fiercely on the length until he was sure it would not give any more.
He tied it once around his waist, loosing a fair two feet in length from it and tied a firm knot that was not about to slip. With a deep breath, he dove headfirst into the water.
Wrapping his arms around the still figure, he turned around. Careful not to touch the sucking mud at the bottom, he pulled fiercely on the vine, pulling them both to the surface. The mud had the boy deep, though. Zolaris yearly yelled with the effort to pull the kid loose. With a mighty heave, the kid came free and Zolaris quickly pulled them both above the icy water.
They were not out of trouble yet. Matt was neither moving nor breathing. With rising panic, Zolaris threw the kid toward the shore then hauled himself out. After cutting the vines free with a small boot knife, Zolaris pulled the kid to firm, semi-dry ground and started trying to revive him.
Smelling salts did not work. Heck, they were soaked anyway. He tried shaking Matt to no avail. One more technique came to mind but Zolaris loathed think of that one. At last one final technique came to mind. Hopefully, it would work.
He placed both hand firmly over Matt's chest and steadying himself on his knees, began pushing hard on the boy's chest.
Nothing.
Panic beginning to rise in him, Zolaris tried again, counting the pushes. Nothing. "Dang it all, wake up!" He tried again. He set his ear against Matt's chest but there was no heart beat.
Shock, colder than the swamp waters, washed over Zolaris. He began pushing with extra strength, trying hard not to break the boy's ribs but to push his heart into starting once again. There was no avoiding it. Either Zolaris swallow his pride or this boy died.
Taking the boy's nose with one hand, he knelt over Matt and forced air through his mouth to his lungs. Pulling away quickly, he pushed on the kid's chest. Still nothing! He did it again, forcing more air to the half- swamp water filled lungs then pushing on his chest, trying to force him to breathe.
Finally it worked. Matt opened his eyes and began gasping like a fish out of water. He rolled onto his side in agony, water already spilling from his mouth.
Zolaris released the breath he had held as Mat acted accordingly. The boy began to vomit and hack up the water in his lungs. That was the first step to recovery. Standing up from Matt, Zolaris spat on the ground. Hating what he had just done but was glad the boy was alive. It was insane! Hid demon tried to kill the boy and yet he brought Matt back to life, basically.
Matt heaved one last time to find nothing left in him to cough up. Slowly, he fell to the ground from his hands and knees over onto his back once again. Well away from the mess. What had happened?
He looked up at the clear blue sky with the sun shining down almost from just above him, slightly to the west. Matt nodded to confirm his thought. It was just a bit past noontime. Time to rest, though, not eat. He closed his eyes to the sun and fell into quiet sleep.
Zolaris heard the heaving stop followed by a thump. He turned to see Matt sprawled on his back. Leaping at the boy, Zolaris checked him. He was breathing again. Weak, ragged breaths, but full nonetheless.
Shaking his head in wonder of how the boy could sleep, Zolaris picked the kid up on his back and began a slower walk through the jungle. Wishing fervently that he could stop carrying around kids on Death's door.
~~~~~
Link was full up from food and enjoying the company of the Kitsune. Though he could not understand a word they said. One gave him a pat on the back and a large goblet of cool liquid inside.
He eyed it for a moment but saw Kohachan along with Toloran deeply drinking the same drink. He shrugged and tipped the glass before raising it to his lips, much to the cheering of the fox people.
The taste wasn't bad though the liquid was warm and the goblet cool, for some reason. Rolling the brew around on his tongue, he nodded in satisfaction. It was a deep, earthy flavor the reminded him of river stones being tumbled to smoothness by the waters. Then he swallowed.
Fireworks suddenly went off in the back of his head. The liquid was nuke- warm at best in his mouth but caught flame and roared down to his stomach, not forgetting to remind his head what had happened. Fire burst in his ears, seared in his throat, and steamed through his head coming out his eyes in the form of tears. He was going to die. With Kitsune clapping him on the back and cheering all around, he was going to die right then and there.
Someone was pounding him on the back. Link had the vague expression that it was Kohachan but finally he gasped for air. One Kitsune laughed and spoke loudly to all present at the drinking place. He looked kindly to Link for a moment then raised his own goblet and took a long swig from it.
Link was deeply moved. Whatever the Kitsune had said was meant just for him. He thanked the Kitsune than took another drink from his goblet. The forge that was his belly piped up to pleasant warmth upon sipping the liquid. Link took another drink, then another. Finally drained his cup and set it on the table with a triumphant gasp.
Roars of cheers were heard all around but Link felt good inside. His blood was tingling through his veins. Someone filled his cup again. It was the caring Kitsune who had toasted him. He thanked the fox graciously in a slur then drained the cup in one long pull.
Silence fell the bar until the empty goblet was set forcefully onto the counter before Link. A new cheer roared through. Link didn't care. He didn't hear it. He suddenly saw a flash of red. Ah, it was his friend. He loved his red-haired friend and told him so. Then the blonde-haired one beside him. Whatever his name was.
He embraced the nameless blonde but was carefully set in a stool. No, wait. There was someone else he loved. Getting up from the stool and knocking it backward in the process, he found the Kitsune who toasted him and gave him an affectionate hug before finding his seat again.
Yet the seat had suddenly jumped aside. He fell straight down but grabbed the ledge of the counter for dear life. How dare the stool be move like that! It would pay!!
Link withdrew his sword and proceeded to kill the foolish stool before several arms caught his own, pried the sword from his grasp to drag him away. A voice spoke to him in words he knew but did not comprehend.
His beloved red-head was dragging him away since Link's feet no longer worked either. "Easy there, kid. I think you've had enough for today." Link slurred thrice before coming even close to what he wanted to say, "Yes . . . Malon." He fell to the floor suddenly.
His red-head had dropped him?! She would pay also! He reached for his sword as his cheek was pressed to the wooden floor. His sword gone, he mumbled in confusion before the world closed in on itself and took him along for the ride.
All was good with Link and all was good with the world again.
~~~~~~~
Wheee . . . ok, this chapter was based on pure insanity and chaos extract!
I . . . couldn't . . . help it any longer!!
I had to write a laugh yourself silly part! Had to! No escape! Well . . . my writers block did go away *smiles innocently* And no one died!
Well, stick around cause if you think this is the end of the mayhem . . . you are dead wrong! But for now, let's give Link a bit of time to recover. Nope, the boy can never catch a break.
Till next time!