~ Disclaimer ~ Hmm.how shall I say it? I know! *Fires fireworks into the
sky* "I DON'T OWN ZELDA" Heh, there I wrote it as fire in the sky so that
means it is true *nods happily*
Kohachan: I'm just glad you're writing at a decent hour. Well now, hopefully Tarawen won't kill me anytime soon. But still . . .
^_^ He's always thinking of pranks these days. Must be the Kitsune getting to him. That is your answer, Angle1. OK, no long opening again. I want to get this chappie under way! Hey look! I'm doing this in daylight this time! No more insomnia or writers block! *Does a happy dance*
Dedications for this one go out to some new people as well as those we know and love: Veilius (HIII!! I thought you abandoned me T_T), Dragonkiller (Nope, I'm not putting this story down just yet), Rie2 (Who are you? lol Couldn't help it. It rhymed ^_^), Shadow Knight (A gold medal? Hmmm . . .), Crowe (Another new person! Yeah! Welcome to the intro!), Jelie36 (Wow, that chapter came just in time, eh?), SunMoonKnight
Kohachan: I do hope you hurry with the new story. Reviewers will go to it only when their support is earned.
OK, enough lectures. On with the show!
~~~~~~~
~ Parties Aplenty ~
Katie paced about, examining the silver bauble she found on the bed. Andrake was no fun and decidedly intolerable. Even the sailors repairing the sails were useless to her entertainment.
Yet she had a stroke of luck to discover the silver dragon sitting on the bed. It went well with the dress she wore after her hair was brushed to silky perfection and she was cleaned up. She smiled winningly to the mirror as the silver medallion gleamed as a brooch, preparing herself for a new home and better start.
She would miss her pets but they were not the only creatures tamable on the planet. There were bound to be others. And then there would be no pestering swords master or foolish "hero" to kill her dear pets. Yes, life would be better for her. But if only the sun wasn't quite so bright. It was bleaching her hair and the humidity was ruining it!
She heard the young brat waking up once again. That little girl was always so annoying in her naiveté. Katie put up her fake smile, knowing very well that she would only have to put up with the girl for a short time longer.
Cait washed her face, wishing he could wash her very sorrow away. Where was Matt? Was he okay? These questions she asked since the day he was kid- napped. She sighed softly, determined to hold up her spirit, she easily and putting up a mask of childish merriment, strolled to the main room where breakfast would be served.
The two girls met in the hall and forced back words of protest. Something shining on Katie's dress just above her chest caught Cait's attention with shock. Her mouth fell open as Katie grinned in pleasure of the younger girl's obvious envy.
Cait suddenly shrieked as loud as she could, "That's Matt's!! Give it back right now!!!" Katie scowled, her ears lightly ringing from the girl's shrill voice even as Andrake answered the call, coming upon the two girls as they stared each other down.
Andrake scratched the back of his head, remembering an old saying that it was never wise to get into a cat fight. Or in this case, a Cate fight. Yet the age difference made it unfair for the younger Cait. He calmly asked, "What is the problem?"
The two girls stared daggers at him before nearly well growling at each other. Katie suddenly straightened up and said in a delicate purr, "Andrakie, would you please remove this young ingrate from my sight? Her envy of me has apparently driven her to greedy wanting." Andrake held his shudder in check as well as his clenched fist as Cait shrieked her dismay, "What?! That pendant you have doesn't belong to you! You have no right to it! It belongs to Matt!" Cait's eyes welled with tears. She hated the woman so much!
Katie laughed in pure amusement, her cruel eyes shining in triumph as the young girl was being broken, "You, Elf Girl, need to be taught a good lesson. So, listen to me. The fact is only the strong survive. Even if that brings the line in, finders are keepers. And losers, such as this Matt of your, are weepers."
That was enough. Cait finally couldn't hold up the effort and fell against Andrake, hugging his waist as best she could as he stared coldly at Katie. Katie hummed in pleasure of her victory and began swaggering away before Andrake grabbed her arm in an iron grip. "No, Katie. In this case as well as many others, you are wrong."
Setting Cait behind him, he faced Katie, the cold leer not leaving his eye, "Katie, where did you find that silver dragon medallion?" She pouted, her eyes becoming innocent and puffy as her lip trembled in faked fear. She practically whimpered, "Andrakie, I found it. There is no one it could belong to-"
"LIAR!" Cait screamed once more. Andrake shushed her with a hand before turning back to Katie, "Give the medallion over, Katie. Cait is right, you have no right to it." Katie shot him a death glare, a startling change from her soft, innocent looks, then went off to her room. Andrake didn't let her get away.
"Cait, go back to the main room. I will join you momentarily." Cait saw the seriousness in his eyes and decided not to argue at all. Andrake turned about toward Katie's room and knocked on the door with one knuckle. The voice answered sharply, "Go away! I will accept visitors later, perhaps."
Yep, Andrake's headache was coming back. Again. He leaned his back against the door, trying to quell the irritation and listen in to her as well. Katie was a plotter. That could not be denied. But . . . all this for a silver medallion? The metal had worth but . . . Andrake felt he officially would never understand a woman's obsession in jewelry.
"Katie, listen. Perhaps we can work something out. If you return the silver medallion, I'll get you something new and shiny wherever we are going. And I'll leave you alone so long as you stay out of trouble." Andrake rubbed the bridge of his nose.
Long moments passed without a word. Finally the comfortable silence was broken by Katie's light, musical voice, "Hmm . . . Why not try asking me nicer?" Andrake clenched his fist till his nails dug into his palms. Swallowing and counting quickly in his mind he finally spoke up, "Katie, if you do not return the medallion, we will leave you on this island and never have to think about you again. How long can you survive here, Katie?"
There was only a short pause before the silver medallion was slip under the door. Andrake thought to himself with surprise; that didn't take long. Guess she wants to leave.
He quickly claimed the medallion and as his headache began to fade, he rather happily returned to the main room where Cait sat on her knees in a chair, holding the back of it and watching him anxiously. He maneuvered between the tables to where she was and returned the odd charm.
Cait fairly well whooped for joy and hugged onto it with joy as Andrake laughed lightly. Seeing her joy was the final reward. He pulled out another chair and sat in it properly as Cait slid around to sit in hers as well.
"So, Cait. Why is that medallion so important?" Cait looked at him through her tears of both joy and sorrow, "It's all I have of Matt. Now I know he will return in good health. He has to so I can give it back to him myself."
Andrake nodded carefully, gluing a smile to his face as the keeper brought them some cooked eggs and two warm drinks. He couldn't let her ever- present hope fail so soon but she had to understand that it was possible he may not come back at all. He sighed lightly, his heart not letting him tell her, and took a long pull at the mug.
~~~~~
Evening was catching up with him sooner that Zolaris was catching up to the tribe. Listening to the same waterfall told him he was heading in the right direction. More than likely, they had already begun the drinking of Fighter Spirits.
Named for the eventual defeat of the fighter's army, it was brewed when the war just began. All the Kitsune knew they would win. The only question was when. So, the spirits was brewed at the beginning of the war and saved till the end. A fabulous brew, no doubt both for the age of it as well as for the high spirits of the fighters defeat.
Indeed Toloran's description of the Kitsune's attack upon the regrouping fighters was something to celebrate. Yet there Zolaris was, carrying a knocked out foreign kid on his back, and both covered in swamp mud.
Zolaris snorted a bit angrily at the thought of the slighted drink. He as the other two Sheikah had no problems with the nuke-warm brew but what of the Hylian boy? The thought of him being tipsy was enough to make Zolaris grin in amusement before he came to the stream. They both were closer finally.
He set Matt on the bank and looked at the cool waters. They were upstream of the tribe, naturally and had to head a bit southward. But not before a good cleaning.
He kicked off the shoes and set the sword aside, remembering to scrub them later on, then unfastened his belt once again and pulled off his shirt to throw them into one of the pools of trapped water. The water almost immediately became murky from the grime floating off of the cloth shirt and leather belt. The trapped water was only a tiny area of the real river nearby.
Nearby them was the waterfall Zolaris had listened to and followed. It cascaded only a dozen feet or so but fell into a grand pool all in a stone pit to where Zolaris was looking down at the water. As always, the height made his mind wonder. To jump or not to jump? It was decided long ago that that was never a question.
With a cool grin, he backed up and ran into a flying leap diving straight into the icy waters in the center of the deep pool. The waters were shockingly cold and snapped him to full awareness even as he kicked his way back to the surface.
Breaking the water, he swam to a pile of stones nearby, jumping out of the cold water. It was too cold to stay in! But when he tried to smooth his hair back again, he could feel the bits of moss and muck still in it. Determined not to return in that condition, he turned his back to the water, trying not to psyche himself out of it.
With a deep breath, he jumped backward, performed a quick back flip, then fell into the water bare feet first. The shock of the water surrounding him was less that time and he stayed under, opening his eyes to see the stone and packed dirt covered in water grass before turning around and kicking deeper.
The bottom held no treasure even though he swore he remembered leaving something down there. Something of Kohachan's. Ah, how he would surprise his friend to return it to him! Zolaris decided to make that his mission; find the lost treasure.
He began pulling at a river stone at the bottom, he set his feet firmly on the ground and heaved upward as best he could. When had the boulder gotten there?! He dropped it, a cloud of dirt rose around him. He easily kicked off the ground then and slowly swam through the water, aware of the pull that was the river flowing.
There should have been a marker, something that would tell him where the item was. Yet he ran out of breath before he could find it on the first dive and returned to the surface. As he caught his breath in the seemingly cooler air, he dove through his memory, trying to remember two things. One: what was the item? Two: where was it hid?
He took a lung full of air and dove down again, this time searching closer to the waterfall, by the stones at the base of it. The water forged through, trying to force him back but a natural ladder of tangled, exposed roots aided him.
Water began forcing him down rather than back and he knew he was near the stones. Finally reaching them, he grabbed the first stone only to realize that slippery moss had grown over the old hand holds. His fingers quickly slipped and the water pushed him well to the middle of the pool again. He glared at the invisible current and began swimming against it again.
Before he made it, something shone in the glimpse of sunlight and caught his eye. So, the waterfall was innocent after all. He changed his direction and went toward it, knowing he couldn't stay under too much longer. Sure enough, it was a green rupee. Too rare on the island to have concerned the Kitsune, he had used it as a marker. Almost completely buried, it was no wonder he hadn't seen it in the first place.
He picked up the small jewel, about as long as a finger and wide as tow fingers put together, it was all too familiar to him and sent his memories toward home even as he set it down and pushed off the ground to dive upward to the surface.
Finally, he caught his breath then dove down again, going straight down to the easily recognizable green rupee then he dug past that. Deeper past the few small rocks until his hand hit something solid and soft. Waterlogged with age. He wrapped his hand around the fist sized chest and returned to the surface for much needed air once again.
He swam with one arm, looking at his aged prize with the other. He chest was remarkable decomposed but the contents shouldn't have been affected.
He reached the rocks and pulled himself out of the water to open the chest. Yep, it was still there and still as good as new. The small ring was silver except for the waxing/waning moons, two black crescent moons with their points touching while a black, upside-down triangle was poised in the middle. All along the outside band, in tiny script of a strange blue dye on the silver, were small characters flowing together as a single line. Or was it just a random design? He could never decide but it gave the ring the final touch of class and mystery.
It had no magical properties that Zolaris could discover and it didn't quite fit his thin, magic casting finders. Didn't back when he was young so he had kept it for a going away present for Kohachan but the he had left before Zolaris could find it in time and give it to him. So he hid it away.
Only out of curiosity, he slipped the ring on. After six years, his hands had grown well enough. Much to his surprise, the ring hung loosely on his finger, too easily sliding over the knuckle, barely holding around the skin. Obviously, still just as too big for him as it had been back then.
Zolaris held the ring, closing his hand around it. How could it be that the ring had grown as well? Wasn't that impossible? A sound distracted him from above the pit. Turning to look up, grateful for the momentary distraction, Zolaris knew it was Matt starting to wake up, at last.
He sighed and put the ring back in its compartment. Best he leave that mystery until later. He began his climb up the hillside, easy enough. Matt would need to be clean and then they could return to the tribe post- haste.
~~~~~
Tarawen slammed her fist on the table in her rage. Crystal picked up her glass of chilled fruit juice as Tarawen denied her statement, "NO, I do NOT think boys are cute. When they are wise, naïve, stubborn, whenever! One in particular is a trouble-causing, bull-headed, arrogant slacker who lives to make me miserable! Matter of fact, I was GLAD when he was gone those seven years!!"
The other women present looked up at the cause of attention but went back to their own talks, preening, and delicate drinks. Only the men got rough and loud when drinking. Then again, they considered it under them to lift such a fine glass to their lips. Only Crystal and the young were given juice. The other women were given fine, delicate wines of interesting, exquisite taste.
Crystal sighed and tried to explain, even though it was obvious this Kitsune held feelings for Kohachan. Kohachan had told her aboard the ship of the six years he was gone but only briefly mentioned a girl named Tarawen. Only when Tarawen calmed down enough to listen did Crystal say, "Well, Link has his awkward moments-"
She was proved right as Kohachan passed the room, half-carrying, half- dragging the mostly sleeping Link along. Kohachan's red face suggested both that he had drunk and that he was embarrassed. None of the ladies blamed him. Anyone would be embarrassed if having to take a total drunk to bed. It wasn't even nightfall yet!
Crystal wondered how to gracefully pick up after that interruption but said stiffly, "Which he somehow gets me into as well. Bu he is a sweet kid underneath it all. He is modest as well as strong and he likes to play around."
Tarawen gave the girl a skeptical glance before raising her glass to her lips as well and continuing, "Well, I guess it is only a good thing for Kohachan to do that service. Link would have been trampled after a while, more than likely. I guess he is a goof friend. But does he have to torment me? He did as a kid and he does now." She slumped miserably against the table as Crystal took a delicate sip of the juice as though it were the wine.
Navi sighed loudly and began a mostly ignored speech, reciting all the times Link has made a fool of himself including as an adult. Crystal set a hand to her head, trying to silence the fairy.
"Crystal, are you all right?" Tarawen was watching her with concern. Crystal waved it off with a small smile. "I'm fine. Just . . . well, that was awkward. If you will please excuse me, Princess Tarawen." Crystal rose with a polite nod. Tarawen quickly corrected her, "Just call me Tarawen, okay? I'm used to that. And I hope you feel better soon." Crystal nodded appreciative but thought bitterly; I will not feel better until I get the annoying fairy out of my head.
Tarawen wondered at the odd thought from the girl but shrugged it off. The foreigners were certainly strange. She took a sip of wine and went to find another interesting conversation.
~~~~~
Kohachan sighed as he had two cups of cold water brought to the room where Link was on the floor, sobering up. No doubt his head hurt. He wished, though, that he didn't have to pass the ladies area to get to the room. That was just horrible. Link began to stir.
Link knew there was an army of Gorons in the room. Each one beating as loudly as they could on a drum. He turned over, burying his head under the covers but the Gorons crowded around him. Then they picked him up and spun him in circles above their heads until he was sure he was going to throw up.
He threw the covers from his head but the Gorons disappeared. They had quieted down and ducked around outside, Link knew it. Well, let them hide. They could keep their noisy old drums. Link wasn't tired anymore.
Yet, he should have been tired. Stars were shining in the air. But.it was barely dusk. The sky was turned a brilliant gold and orange color though it was all a blur of colors and haze. Then why the stars? Link slowly realized that they followed wherever he looked.
So it wasn't the stars. It was him. He suddenly remembered the drink. He had two full mugs of the stuff. But . . . it was so good in the beginning! How could that have happened? He looked blearily to a sound in the room. A soft sound that pierced the throbbing echo of the drums, "Link, you okay there, kid? It's me, Kohachan."
Link slowly, carefully nodded. He recognized the voice. Slowly the face also became visible. He shook his head, closing his eyes to focus them but the stars shone more brilliantly behind his eyelids. He quickly opened his eyes and stayed awake.
A hand held his ten pressed a cold glass into it. Kohachan suggested Link drink it. Link slowly drank from the glass, the cold water a blessing balm to his throat, which still felt scorched by the odd brew. He breathed deeply, realizing he had drunk it all in one long drink.
Soon, a figure, tall and slender, came into the doorway. Kohachan looked over at him as Link whirled around, suspecting the Goron was back. Instead of any Goron, it was the same Kitsune who had toasted Link.
The silver Kitsune grinned widely at Link before letting himself in saying fairly softly, "I do enjoy watching a boy enjoy his drink but didn't know it would hit him quite that hard. Guess we should have left him with the women, eh? Kohachan?"
Kohachan lightly laughed and nodded until Link could take no more, "What's with the whispering?" He quite suddenly realized why they whispered. He held his head as the throb returned with a vengeance at his own voice. Both men laughed as lightly as they could but were not without pity for the boy.
The silver Kitsune revealed a small pack containing a small glass, an egg as well as a strange powder and bottle of oil. He knelt to the floor and set to work fixing an odd drink. Link watched as the fox poured the oil into the glass and swirled it, holding it up to the dying light.
Setting it aside, he picked up the egg and carefully cracked the shell in half. The shell held many blue speckles on it that made Link stare at it in wonder before the oil caught his attention again. It smelled strongly of something along the lines of vinegar and old shoes. Link was staring at it dubiously when the Kitsune began carefully juggling the egg, separating the orange yolk from the clear part.
It seemed odd as the white part was left to drip onto the wood and leave a mess but the Kitsune remained intent on the concoction as he poured the yolk into the oil in the glass without breaking it and then sprinkled the powder over it.
Finally, the Kitsune grinned in victory and set the drink towards Link. Link widened his eyes, the Kitsune couldn't possibly think he would drink that!! Yet, Link knew he expected it of him. Hoping it was a miracle antidote, he took it and pressed the glass to his lips. It didn't go any further. The smell of it overwhelmed him until he set it far away from him and gagged slightly.
Kohachan shrugged and said in a normal voice, "Well, if you want to suffer for longer or for a short time, be our guest." Every word grated in Link's ear and punished his already throbbing skull. Link waved his free hand in surrender and them pinched his nose. Taking a deep breath, he lifted the glass and forced himself to swallow the warm, foul, slimy thing. Yet, it only went halfway down before aborting the swallow.
A hand wrapped around his face and forced his chin up, forcing him to finish swallowing the egg/oil. To his amazement, when it went down, it did stay down. Not only that, his eyes cleared up from the stars and the dull throb in his head subsided.
Link grinned in pleasure than shouted gladly, "It worked, I'm CURED! Ack! No, I'm not!" The thrum returned again, reminding him of his miss-deed. He set a hand gingerly to his forehead, hoping it didn't explode but the pain slowly left as well.
The silver Kitsune laughed softly but said in a normal voice, "It'll take a bit more time than that to go into full effect, kid. By the way, my name is Malth." He held out his hand to Link. Link slowly felt the pain subside completely then took the offered hand, "Name's Link. I'm . . . not usually like this. I've been in this kind of pain . . . but not all for a supposedly innocent drink."
Malth laughed again and said, "Link, that was NO innocent drink!" Link flinched on the emphasized words but knew he would suffer at least the rest of the night. When would that absolutely nasty stuff take effect? It sat in the pit of his stomach waiting for the first wrong move as an excuse to evacuate.
Link slowly stood up, the shoes working with him fairly well. They clung closer to his feet, letting his natural balance take control in such movements. Thus, the antidote was still settled if only by barely as he breathed deeply and the various aches in his skull began to numb away.
Kohachan clapped Link on the back as Malth was cleaning the mess with the cloth and gathering the jar from oil to leave as well. "Hero of Time, this night is hardly begun . . ."
~~~~~~~
Yeah! That will be a fair amount for one chapter, eh? Just a bit more vacation and then on with the main story so just stick with it! lol
But that is entirely up to you.
Till next time!
Kohachan: I'm just glad you're writing at a decent hour. Well now, hopefully Tarawen won't kill me anytime soon. But still . . .
^_^ He's always thinking of pranks these days. Must be the Kitsune getting to him. That is your answer, Angle1. OK, no long opening again. I want to get this chappie under way! Hey look! I'm doing this in daylight this time! No more insomnia or writers block! *Does a happy dance*
Dedications for this one go out to some new people as well as those we know and love: Veilius (HIII!! I thought you abandoned me T_T), Dragonkiller (Nope, I'm not putting this story down just yet), Rie2 (Who are you? lol Couldn't help it. It rhymed ^_^), Shadow Knight (A gold medal? Hmmm . . .), Crowe (Another new person! Yeah! Welcome to the intro!), Jelie36 (Wow, that chapter came just in time, eh?), SunMoonKnight
Kohachan: I do hope you hurry with the new story. Reviewers will go to it only when their support is earned.
OK, enough lectures. On with the show!
~~~~~~~
~ Parties Aplenty ~
Katie paced about, examining the silver bauble she found on the bed. Andrake was no fun and decidedly intolerable. Even the sailors repairing the sails were useless to her entertainment.
Yet she had a stroke of luck to discover the silver dragon sitting on the bed. It went well with the dress she wore after her hair was brushed to silky perfection and she was cleaned up. She smiled winningly to the mirror as the silver medallion gleamed as a brooch, preparing herself for a new home and better start.
She would miss her pets but they were not the only creatures tamable on the planet. There were bound to be others. And then there would be no pestering swords master or foolish "hero" to kill her dear pets. Yes, life would be better for her. But if only the sun wasn't quite so bright. It was bleaching her hair and the humidity was ruining it!
She heard the young brat waking up once again. That little girl was always so annoying in her naiveté. Katie put up her fake smile, knowing very well that she would only have to put up with the girl for a short time longer.
Cait washed her face, wishing he could wash her very sorrow away. Where was Matt? Was he okay? These questions she asked since the day he was kid- napped. She sighed softly, determined to hold up her spirit, she easily and putting up a mask of childish merriment, strolled to the main room where breakfast would be served.
The two girls met in the hall and forced back words of protest. Something shining on Katie's dress just above her chest caught Cait's attention with shock. Her mouth fell open as Katie grinned in pleasure of the younger girl's obvious envy.
Cait suddenly shrieked as loud as she could, "That's Matt's!! Give it back right now!!!" Katie scowled, her ears lightly ringing from the girl's shrill voice even as Andrake answered the call, coming upon the two girls as they stared each other down.
Andrake scratched the back of his head, remembering an old saying that it was never wise to get into a cat fight. Or in this case, a Cate fight. Yet the age difference made it unfair for the younger Cait. He calmly asked, "What is the problem?"
The two girls stared daggers at him before nearly well growling at each other. Katie suddenly straightened up and said in a delicate purr, "Andrakie, would you please remove this young ingrate from my sight? Her envy of me has apparently driven her to greedy wanting." Andrake held his shudder in check as well as his clenched fist as Cait shrieked her dismay, "What?! That pendant you have doesn't belong to you! You have no right to it! It belongs to Matt!" Cait's eyes welled with tears. She hated the woman so much!
Katie laughed in pure amusement, her cruel eyes shining in triumph as the young girl was being broken, "You, Elf Girl, need to be taught a good lesson. So, listen to me. The fact is only the strong survive. Even if that brings the line in, finders are keepers. And losers, such as this Matt of your, are weepers."
That was enough. Cait finally couldn't hold up the effort and fell against Andrake, hugging his waist as best she could as he stared coldly at Katie. Katie hummed in pleasure of her victory and began swaggering away before Andrake grabbed her arm in an iron grip. "No, Katie. In this case as well as many others, you are wrong."
Setting Cait behind him, he faced Katie, the cold leer not leaving his eye, "Katie, where did you find that silver dragon medallion?" She pouted, her eyes becoming innocent and puffy as her lip trembled in faked fear. She practically whimpered, "Andrakie, I found it. There is no one it could belong to-"
"LIAR!" Cait screamed once more. Andrake shushed her with a hand before turning back to Katie, "Give the medallion over, Katie. Cait is right, you have no right to it." Katie shot him a death glare, a startling change from her soft, innocent looks, then went off to her room. Andrake didn't let her get away.
"Cait, go back to the main room. I will join you momentarily." Cait saw the seriousness in his eyes and decided not to argue at all. Andrake turned about toward Katie's room and knocked on the door with one knuckle. The voice answered sharply, "Go away! I will accept visitors later, perhaps."
Yep, Andrake's headache was coming back. Again. He leaned his back against the door, trying to quell the irritation and listen in to her as well. Katie was a plotter. That could not be denied. But . . . all this for a silver medallion? The metal had worth but . . . Andrake felt he officially would never understand a woman's obsession in jewelry.
"Katie, listen. Perhaps we can work something out. If you return the silver medallion, I'll get you something new and shiny wherever we are going. And I'll leave you alone so long as you stay out of trouble." Andrake rubbed the bridge of his nose.
Long moments passed without a word. Finally the comfortable silence was broken by Katie's light, musical voice, "Hmm . . . Why not try asking me nicer?" Andrake clenched his fist till his nails dug into his palms. Swallowing and counting quickly in his mind he finally spoke up, "Katie, if you do not return the medallion, we will leave you on this island and never have to think about you again. How long can you survive here, Katie?"
There was only a short pause before the silver medallion was slip under the door. Andrake thought to himself with surprise; that didn't take long. Guess she wants to leave.
He quickly claimed the medallion and as his headache began to fade, he rather happily returned to the main room where Cait sat on her knees in a chair, holding the back of it and watching him anxiously. He maneuvered between the tables to where she was and returned the odd charm.
Cait fairly well whooped for joy and hugged onto it with joy as Andrake laughed lightly. Seeing her joy was the final reward. He pulled out another chair and sat in it properly as Cait slid around to sit in hers as well.
"So, Cait. Why is that medallion so important?" Cait looked at him through her tears of both joy and sorrow, "It's all I have of Matt. Now I know he will return in good health. He has to so I can give it back to him myself."
Andrake nodded carefully, gluing a smile to his face as the keeper brought them some cooked eggs and two warm drinks. He couldn't let her ever- present hope fail so soon but she had to understand that it was possible he may not come back at all. He sighed lightly, his heart not letting him tell her, and took a long pull at the mug.
~~~~~
Evening was catching up with him sooner that Zolaris was catching up to the tribe. Listening to the same waterfall told him he was heading in the right direction. More than likely, they had already begun the drinking of Fighter Spirits.
Named for the eventual defeat of the fighter's army, it was brewed when the war just began. All the Kitsune knew they would win. The only question was when. So, the spirits was brewed at the beginning of the war and saved till the end. A fabulous brew, no doubt both for the age of it as well as for the high spirits of the fighters defeat.
Indeed Toloran's description of the Kitsune's attack upon the regrouping fighters was something to celebrate. Yet there Zolaris was, carrying a knocked out foreign kid on his back, and both covered in swamp mud.
Zolaris snorted a bit angrily at the thought of the slighted drink. He as the other two Sheikah had no problems with the nuke-warm brew but what of the Hylian boy? The thought of him being tipsy was enough to make Zolaris grin in amusement before he came to the stream. They both were closer finally.
He set Matt on the bank and looked at the cool waters. They were upstream of the tribe, naturally and had to head a bit southward. But not before a good cleaning.
He kicked off the shoes and set the sword aside, remembering to scrub them later on, then unfastened his belt once again and pulled off his shirt to throw them into one of the pools of trapped water. The water almost immediately became murky from the grime floating off of the cloth shirt and leather belt. The trapped water was only a tiny area of the real river nearby.
Nearby them was the waterfall Zolaris had listened to and followed. It cascaded only a dozen feet or so but fell into a grand pool all in a stone pit to where Zolaris was looking down at the water. As always, the height made his mind wonder. To jump or not to jump? It was decided long ago that that was never a question.
With a cool grin, he backed up and ran into a flying leap diving straight into the icy waters in the center of the deep pool. The waters were shockingly cold and snapped him to full awareness even as he kicked his way back to the surface.
Breaking the water, he swam to a pile of stones nearby, jumping out of the cold water. It was too cold to stay in! But when he tried to smooth his hair back again, he could feel the bits of moss and muck still in it. Determined not to return in that condition, he turned his back to the water, trying not to psyche himself out of it.
With a deep breath, he jumped backward, performed a quick back flip, then fell into the water bare feet first. The shock of the water surrounding him was less that time and he stayed under, opening his eyes to see the stone and packed dirt covered in water grass before turning around and kicking deeper.
The bottom held no treasure even though he swore he remembered leaving something down there. Something of Kohachan's. Ah, how he would surprise his friend to return it to him! Zolaris decided to make that his mission; find the lost treasure.
He began pulling at a river stone at the bottom, he set his feet firmly on the ground and heaved upward as best he could. When had the boulder gotten there?! He dropped it, a cloud of dirt rose around him. He easily kicked off the ground then and slowly swam through the water, aware of the pull that was the river flowing.
There should have been a marker, something that would tell him where the item was. Yet he ran out of breath before he could find it on the first dive and returned to the surface. As he caught his breath in the seemingly cooler air, he dove through his memory, trying to remember two things. One: what was the item? Two: where was it hid?
He took a lung full of air and dove down again, this time searching closer to the waterfall, by the stones at the base of it. The water forged through, trying to force him back but a natural ladder of tangled, exposed roots aided him.
Water began forcing him down rather than back and he knew he was near the stones. Finally reaching them, he grabbed the first stone only to realize that slippery moss had grown over the old hand holds. His fingers quickly slipped and the water pushed him well to the middle of the pool again. He glared at the invisible current and began swimming against it again.
Before he made it, something shone in the glimpse of sunlight and caught his eye. So, the waterfall was innocent after all. He changed his direction and went toward it, knowing he couldn't stay under too much longer. Sure enough, it was a green rupee. Too rare on the island to have concerned the Kitsune, he had used it as a marker. Almost completely buried, it was no wonder he hadn't seen it in the first place.
He picked up the small jewel, about as long as a finger and wide as tow fingers put together, it was all too familiar to him and sent his memories toward home even as he set it down and pushed off the ground to dive upward to the surface.
Finally, he caught his breath then dove down again, going straight down to the easily recognizable green rupee then he dug past that. Deeper past the few small rocks until his hand hit something solid and soft. Waterlogged with age. He wrapped his hand around the fist sized chest and returned to the surface for much needed air once again.
He swam with one arm, looking at his aged prize with the other. He chest was remarkable decomposed but the contents shouldn't have been affected.
He reached the rocks and pulled himself out of the water to open the chest. Yep, it was still there and still as good as new. The small ring was silver except for the waxing/waning moons, two black crescent moons with their points touching while a black, upside-down triangle was poised in the middle. All along the outside band, in tiny script of a strange blue dye on the silver, were small characters flowing together as a single line. Or was it just a random design? He could never decide but it gave the ring the final touch of class and mystery.
It had no magical properties that Zolaris could discover and it didn't quite fit his thin, magic casting finders. Didn't back when he was young so he had kept it for a going away present for Kohachan but the he had left before Zolaris could find it in time and give it to him. So he hid it away.
Only out of curiosity, he slipped the ring on. After six years, his hands had grown well enough. Much to his surprise, the ring hung loosely on his finger, too easily sliding over the knuckle, barely holding around the skin. Obviously, still just as too big for him as it had been back then.
Zolaris held the ring, closing his hand around it. How could it be that the ring had grown as well? Wasn't that impossible? A sound distracted him from above the pit. Turning to look up, grateful for the momentary distraction, Zolaris knew it was Matt starting to wake up, at last.
He sighed and put the ring back in its compartment. Best he leave that mystery until later. He began his climb up the hillside, easy enough. Matt would need to be clean and then they could return to the tribe post- haste.
~~~~~
Tarawen slammed her fist on the table in her rage. Crystal picked up her glass of chilled fruit juice as Tarawen denied her statement, "NO, I do NOT think boys are cute. When they are wise, naïve, stubborn, whenever! One in particular is a trouble-causing, bull-headed, arrogant slacker who lives to make me miserable! Matter of fact, I was GLAD when he was gone those seven years!!"
The other women present looked up at the cause of attention but went back to their own talks, preening, and delicate drinks. Only the men got rough and loud when drinking. Then again, they considered it under them to lift such a fine glass to their lips. Only Crystal and the young were given juice. The other women were given fine, delicate wines of interesting, exquisite taste.
Crystal sighed and tried to explain, even though it was obvious this Kitsune held feelings for Kohachan. Kohachan had told her aboard the ship of the six years he was gone but only briefly mentioned a girl named Tarawen. Only when Tarawen calmed down enough to listen did Crystal say, "Well, Link has his awkward moments-"
She was proved right as Kohachan passed the room, half-carrying, half- dragging the mostly sleeping Link along. Kohachan's red face suggested both that he had drunk and that he was embarrassed. None of the ladies blamed him. Anyone would be embarrassed if having to take a total drunk to bed. It wasn't even nightfall yet!
Crystal wondered how to gracefully pick up after that interruption but said stiffly, "Which he somehow gets me into as well. Bu he is a sweet kid underneath it all. He is modest as well as strong and he likes to play around."
Tarawen gave the girl a skeptical glance before raising her glass to her lips as well and continuing, "Well, I guess it is only a good thing for Kohachan to do that service. Link would have been trampled after a while, more than likely. I guess he is a goof friend. But does he have to torment me? He did as a kid and he does now." She slumped miserably against the table as Crystal took a delicate sip of the juice as though it were the wine.
Navi sighed loudly and began a mostly ignored speech, reciting all the times Link has made a fool of himself including as an adult. Crystal set a hand to her head, trying to silence the fairy.
"Crystal, are you all right?" Tarawen was watching her with concern. Crystal waved it off with a small smile. "I'm fine. Just . . . well, that was awkward. If you will please excuse me, Princess Tarawen." Crystal rose with a polite nod. Tarawen quickly corrected her, "Just call me Tarawen, okay? I'm used to that. And I hope you feel better soon." Crystal nodded appreciative but thought bitterly; I will not feel better until I get the annoying fairy out of my head.
Tarawen wondered at the odd thought from the girl but shrugged it off. The foreigners were certainly strange. She took a sip of wine and went to find another interesting conversation.
~~~~~
Kohachan sighed as he had two cups of cold water brought to the room where Link was on the floor, sobering up. No doubt his head hurt. He wished, though, that he didn't have to pass the ladies area to get to the room. That was just horrible. Link began to stir.
Link knew there was an army of Gorons in the room. Each one beating as loudly as they could on a drum. He turned over, burying his head under the covers but the Gorons crowded around him. Then they picked him up and spun him in circles above their heads until he was sure he was going to throw up.
He threw the covers from his head but the Gorons disappeared. They had quieted down and ducked around outside, Link knew it. Well, let them hide. They could keep their noisy old drums. Link wasn't tired anymore.
Yet, he should have been tired. Stars were shining in the air. But.it was barely dusk. The sky was turned a brilliant gold and orange color though it was all a blur of colors and haze. Then why the stars? Link slowly realized that they followed wherever he looked.
So it wasn't the stars. It was him. He suddenly remembered the drink. He had two full mugs of the stuff. But . . . it was so good in the beginning! How could that have happened? He looked blearily to a sound in the room. A soft sound that pierced the throbbing echo of the drums, "Link, you okay there, kid? It's me, Kohachan."
Link slowly, carefully nodded. He recognized the voice. Slowly the face also became visible. He shook his head, closing his eyes to focus them but the stars shone more brilliantly behind his eyelids. He quickly opened his eyes and stayed awake.
A hand held his ten pressed a cold glass into it. Kohachan suggested Link drink it. Link slowly drank from the glass, the cold water a blessing balm to his throat, which still felt scorched by the odd brew. He breathed deeply, realizing he had drunk it all in one long drink.
Soon, a figure, tall and slender, came into the doorway. Kohachan looked over at him as Link whirled around, suspecting the Goron was back. Instead of any Goron, it was the same Kitsune who had toasted Link.
The silver Kitsune grinned widely at Link before letting himself in saying fairly softly, "I do enjoy watching a boy enjoy his drink but didn't know it would hit him quite that hard. Guess we should have left him with the women, eh? Kohachan?"
Kohachan lightly laughed and nodded until Link could take no more, "What's with the whispering?" He quite suddenly realized why they whispered. He held his head as the throb returned with a vengeance at his own voice. Both men laughed as lightly as they could but were not without pity for the boy.
The silver Kitsune revealed a small pack containing a small glass, an egg as well as a strange powder and bottle of oil. He knelt to the floor and set to work fixing an odd drink. Link watched as the fox poured the oil into the glass and swirled it, holding it up to the dying light.
Setting it aside, he picked up the egg and carefully cracked the shell in half. The shell held many blue speckles on it that made Link stare at it in wonder before the oil caught his attention again. It smelled strongly of something along the lines of vinegar and old shoes. Link was staring at it dubiously when the Kitsune began carefully juggling the egg, separating the orange yolk from the clear part.
It seemed odd as the white part was left to drip onto the wood and leave a mess but the Kitsune remained intent on the concoction as he poured the yolk into the oil in the glass without breaking it and then sprinkled the powder over it.
Finally, the Kitsune grinned in victory and set the drink towards Link. Link widened his eyes, the Kitsune couldn't possibly think he would drink that!! Yet, Link knew he expected it of him. Hoping it was a miracle antidote, he took it and pressed the glass to his lips. It didn't go any further. The smell of it overwhelmed him until he set it far away from him and gagged slightly.
Kohachan shrugged and said in a normal voice, "Well, if you want to suffer for longer or for a short time, be our guest." Every word grated in Link's ear and punished his already throbbing skull. Link waved his free hand in surrender and them pinched his nose. Taking a deep breath, he lifted the glass and forced himself to swallow the warm, foul, slimy thing. Yet, it only went halfway down before aborting the swallow.
A hand wrapped around his face and forced his chin up, forcing him to finish swallowing the egg/oil. To his amazement, when it went down, it did stay down. Not only that, his eyes cleared up from the stars and the dull throb in his head subsided.
Link grinned in pleasure than shouted gladly, "It worked, I'm CURED! Ack! No, I'm not!" The thrum returned again, reminding him of his miss-deed. He set a hand gingerly to his forehead, hoping it didn't explode but the pain slowly left as well.
The silver Kitsune laughed softly but said in a normal voice, "It'll take a bit more time than that to go into full effect, kid. By the way, my name is Malth." He held out his hand to Link. Link slowly felt the pain subside completely then took the offered hand, "Name's Link. I'm . . . not usually like this. I've been in this kind of pain . . . but not all for a supposedly innocent drink."
Malth laughed again and said, "Link, that was NO innocent drink!" Link flinched on the emphasized words but knew he would suffer at least the rest of the night. When would that absolutely nasty stuff take effect? It sat in the pit of his stomach waiting for the first wrong move as an excuse to evacuate.
Link slowly stood up, the shoes working with him fairly well. They clung closer to his feet, letting his natural balance take control in such movements. Thus, the antidote was still settled if only by barely as he breathed deeply and the various aches in his skull began to numb away.
Kohachan clapped Link on the back as Malth was cleaning the mess with the cloth and gathering the jar from oil to leave as well. "Hero of Time, this night is hardly begun . . ."
~~~~~~~
Yeah! That will be a fair amount for one chapter, eh? Just a bit more vacation and then on with the main story so just stick with it! lol
But that is entirely up to you.
Till next time!