A Child's Terror
Near the river, along a thin grassy bank, soft footsteps could be heard in the night. These were followed by the sounds of up heaving soil and a sudden flicker of violet light.
Shikotsu ran, away from the river's edge, into the field; trying to escape the horrors he saw.
He fell to the ground as a mangled, decayed hand erupted form the soil and latched onto his ankle. His eyes filled with terror as he witnessed the stalchild pull its way free from the earth. He kicked at the beast desperately, tearing its arm off in so doing.
His flight across the grass seemed as to lead him into a nightmare. No matter where he ran, the terra exploded with rotting corpses, all after him this night.
He came upon a small stonewall stretching across some distance of the field. He leapt at the wall, throwing his arms over the crown of the barrier, and pulled himself up. He stood there, breathing heavily as he watched a mass of the horrors lurch towards him.
He gazed into the glowing yellow eyes of one closest; he dove into the mind of the beast, his eyes now glowing as well. He could feel the ire within the beast's mind, its evil; seemed as it were trying to corrupt his. He could make out screaming, children's screams.
He nary could believe what it was saying. Nor could he reason with it. For they wanted him to join them, for they were once as he was, a child. His eyes began to tear as he thought of how many innocents died from such evil. He knew of what they did to the children; how they had slaughtered them.
He closed his eyes, telling the nearing creature the he would nay. He scanned the field. His conversation with the stalchild seemed to have summoned more of them. He did not know how, nor would he ask. He merely reached to his flank and clasped his boomerang.
He hurled the timber as never before, thoughts pulsing of his own survival and vengeance for their victims. It stuck the one he had spoken with first, breaking its neck and continuing round its arc to the next, driving itself deep into its side. He didn't want to but he had to retrieve the weapon. He jumped form the wall and shot forward at the beast, now clawing at its impalement. He slammed into the creature, knocking it to the ground in a distorted heap. He drew his weapon once again and loosed it at another, this one seeming to be a more recent victim. For once his boomerang imbedded itself in its chest, a fine crimson mist sprayed from it.
He fought long into the night, destroying as many as he could, but they overcame him eventually. He lay on the grass wet from the night's dew, bleeding, gasping for air. The stalchildren round him, he thought he could hear laughing.
He saw the others fall back as a stalchild, easily several times the size of the others, stepped forward out of the soil at his feet. It drew its arm back as to strike, letting a grin slip across its rotted face. He closed his eyes as the sun rose to his side.
He thought he had lay there long enough to grow moss. Not knowing if death was a mere feeling of rest or if it bore any sting at all. He opened his eyes, only to see the rising sun, his savior. He nay did move as he pondered his attackers retreat. He watched the sunrise as if it were his first, for it could have been his last.
He stood once his strength returned, but by this time his hunger had grown substantially. He limped to the wall nearby, and saw what he thought was a fort of some sort. Once he got closer to the structure, he could hear the neighing of horses. He had heard of a ranch, but did not know of where it was at the time. He made it inside easily, for there was nay a gate or any form of guard.
After passing by a couple wooden doors, he stumbled into an open pasture of some kind, finally resting upon a wooden crate to his left. A large tree shaded him, while numerous cuccos pecked the earth at his feet. A tall fence enclosed a vast grassy expanse, and nearly a score of horses. A wide, dusty track of some kind circled the outside of the fence, with still some grass on the outside of that. He thought it simply for racing. A towering windmill rested in the far back of the area, and a door at its base.
As he got his bearings, a young girl ventured up to his side unnoticed. He jumped to his feet when he heard a faint giggle. But her giggle turned to a gasp as his blood trickled down his chest and legs. A small puddle bore itself on the crate where he had sat. "Mister, you need help. You're hurt," she said nearly crying.
He knelt before he and gazed into her eyes. He told her not to be afraid; this was how he talked to people. He explained what happened, and asked if she could help him. Her youth allowed her to understand without much difficulty, unlike an adult.
"My daddy left early this morning to deliver milk, but he will be back anytime now." She nodded.
"Thank you. Oh, I'm sorry. I have yet to introduce myself. I am Shikotsu. And your name is?"
"Malon, sir. And my daddy's name is Talon." She said, bowing and giving small curtsey.
He smiled and stepped back on his left foot. He lifted his right arm to his lower chest and gave a small bow in response.
She led him to a door near the entrance to the ranch, and invited him in. She prepared a table for him and pulled out his seat, asking him to sit.
"Those stalchild are really scary aren't they, mister Shi-kote-sue? I ran into them when I was little, but daddy saved me."
"Wow. Your daddy sounds like a really good guy."
"He is! But he's really bad about sleeping while working." She said smiling.
He leaned back in the chair, trying to save his energy. Another puddle had formed beneath him.
"Does Talon keep any potions around, Malon?" He said, holding onto what little consciousness he had left.
She quickly nodded and ran up a flight of stairs behind him. She returned shortly holding a glass bottle.
"Daddy keeps this around just in case there is an accident out with the horses. But I don't know how to use it."
"That's. okay Malon. Just give me some to drink, and. put a little on a bandage. I'll take care of the rest. " His breaths had become short and unsteady while she was away.
She lifted the bottle to his mouth, tilting it back. Shikotsu raised his hand to the bottle, sipping at the red fluid. He didn't drink very much before his breathing grew stronger.
"Is this right, mister Shi-kote-sue?" She said worried, pulling the bottle back.
"Yes, very good Malon. Thank you."
She smiled, showing a hint of pride; she then headed for a cabinet back in the corner of the room, setting the bottle down on the way.
No sooner had she brought the dressings to him; then the door opened.
"Daddy! You're back." She called out, dropping the gauss at Shikotsu's feet, and running up to the man.
"Hello Malon. Oh, and who in tarnation is this?" He said as he picked her up and sat her on his shoulder.
"This is mister Shi-kote-sue, daddy. He was hurt by the stalchildren last night. I've been helping him."
Talon set his daughter down after walking up to the table, but by this time Shikotsu had risen to his feet.
"Greetings, sir Talon. I am Shikotsu."
"WHAT'N TARNATION!?! HIS EYES ARE GLOW'N!"
"Daddy, this is how he talks to people, the child said smiling." The child said as she pulled on his pant leg. "Don't worry about it. He's really nice, but he's hurt."
"Well, okay. If you say so."
Shikotsu stood there grinning, scratching the back of his head, with a large sweat drop down the side of his face.
"Sorry about that. I've just never heard of anyone who spoke through eyes before. Now then, let's see about those wounds."
He sat Shikotsu down once more and removed his torn, bloodstained tunic.
"Malon, don't look." He said shocked, covering his daughter's eyes with his palm. "Go upstairs and get ready for dinner. We'll be having a third place at the table as well."
After she had gone up the steps, Talon sat down aside Shikotsu.
"You say stalchildren did this to you?" He asked as he unrolled the gauss and sprinkled it with the potion. "Did you get cornered or something? To get such gashes, one must of gotten right up to you."
"No, sir. I fought back."
"Now why on earth would you do that? If you kill one, it will just be replaced."
"I spoke with one while they advanced me."
"???"
"My speech isn't limited to just us. I can speak with creatures as well."
Talon only nodded as he raised the boy's arms and began to bandage him, "Yes, go on."
"They are the remains of children. Those murdered by other stalchildren, given that false life shone to us through their mutilated corpses. It spoke to me saying that they only wanted for me to join them. Yet they attack so viciously once close enough. I lost count of how many I destroyed. I couldn't stand the thought of their evil going unpunished. They would of killed me, but the all disappeared."
"Did the sun rise?"
"Yes. How did you know? Is that why?"
"Yup. They hate sunlight. It hurts them I believe. But no matter, I'm just glad you made it kid. No one ever fights with them, just runs away."
"It might of helped if I had a sword or something. I only had my boomerang, but one of the scarechildren broke it."
"That's too bad, kid. Do you have another?"
"No, but I can make one; I've done it before."
The two talked for some time, but when Malon came downstairs. Shikotsu grabbed his tunic and got dressed. Talon showed Shikotsu where he could wash the blood off and proceeded to help Malon with diner.
The day went by quickly for Talon. Shikotsu had insisted on helping around the ranch in return for the aid and meal. Such chores ranged from milking the cows, to feeding the cuccos, and even delivering milk to the castle. Malon decided to go with them.
Shikotsu and Talon walked along side of the horse, while Malon sat in the wagon. When they entered the town, Talon pointed out where everything was and explained how he provided milk for the people.
They continued along a road leading to a rather tall gate. It reminded him of the one near the Gerudo fortress. Only he could see several ways around this one. But he didn't question Talon about it.
At the gate, Talon waved to one of the guards. Shikotsu lowered his head, hoping the guard wouldn't care. The guard saw the boy, knowing he wasn't a regular, and questioned Talon about him. Talon only said that he had acquired some help. The guard merely shrugged his shoulders and motioned to have the gate opened.
Shikotsu had never seen such a structure. Its size seemed as if it would dwarf the dessert colossus. Again he noticed weaknesses in its construction. While Talon dropped off the milk, Shikotsu wandered around. He couldn't go in. Well, not right now anyway, but still his curiosity got the best of him. He peeked his head into a drain from a pool on the interior court. He didn't see much, but he knew that this could be useful.
His eyes darted to his left as he heard Talon's footsteps coming. He pulled back from the drain, and hopped onto a large stone block, sitting casually. Talon rounded the corner of the wagon, and asked if he was ready.
The three set off once more, yet now, Talon carried a gold rupee in his hand. Shikotsu had seen them before; such rupees could be found within the spirit temple's treasures. Talon seemed surprised at how they had just handed him so much money.
That night, back at the ranch; Talon, Malon, and Shikotsu all sat down around a table covered with food. Talon had gone all out and spent every last rupee on them. Malon got a new dress, while Talon got a new saddle. Shikotsu declined from Talon's shopping spree. He didn't want to spend his friend's money.
But Talon wouldn't take no for an answer. He had slipped a couple of reds into a knapsack the prepared for him. Within it was a red potion for his wounds, some Dodongo meat, the rupees, and some extra gauss.
After supper, Shikotsu gave his leave. He could see Malon out of the corner of his eye, waving. Talon stood aside her.
"Just run next time!" He called out to the kind traveler and skilled Gerudo they never knew.
Near the river, along a thin grassy bank, soft footsteps could be heard in the night. These were followed by the sounds of up heaving soil and a sudden flicker of violet light.
Shikotsu ran, away from the river's edge, into the field; trying to escape the horrors he saw.
He fell to the ground as a mangled, decayed hand erupted form the soil and latched onto his ankle. His eyes filled with terror as he witnessed the stalchild pull its way free from the earth. He kicked at the beast desperately, tearing its arm off in so doing.
His flight across the grass seemed as to lead him into a nightmare. No matter where he ran, the terra exploded with rotting corpses, all after him this night.
He came upon a small stonewall stretching across some distance of the field. He leapt at the wall, throwing his arms over the crown of the barrier, and pulled himself up. He stood there, breathing heavily as he watched a mass of the horrors lurch towards him.
He gazed into the glowing yellow eyes of one closest; he dove into the mind of the beast, his eyes now glowing as well. He could feel the ire within the beast's mind, its evil; seemed as it were trying to corrupt his. He could make out screaming, children's screams.
He nary could believe what it was saying. Nor could he reason with it. For they wanted him to join them, for they were once as he was, a child. His eyes began to tear as he thought of how many innocents died from such evil. He knew of what they did to the children; how they had slaughtered them.
He closed his eyes, telling the nearing creature the he would nay. He scanned the field. His conversation with the stalchild seemed to have summoned more of them. He did not know how, nor would he ask. He merely reached to his flank and clasped his boomerang.
He hurled the timber as never before, thoughts pulsing of his own survival and vengeance for their victims. It stuck the one he had spoken with first, breaking its neck and continuing round its arc to the next, driving itself deep into its side. He didn't want to but he had to retrieve the weapon. He jumped form the wall and shot forward at the beast, now clawing at its impalement. He slammed into the creature, knocking it to the ground in a distorted heap. He drew his weapon once again and loosed it at another, this one seeming to be a more recent victim. For once his boomerang imbedded itself in its chest, a fine crimson mist sprayed from it.
He fought long into the night, destroying as many as he could, but they overcame him eventually. He lay on the grass wet from the night's dew, bleeding, gasping for air. The stalchildren round him, he thought he could hear laughing.
He saw the others fall back as a stalchild, easily several times the size of the others, stepped forward out of the soil at his feet. It drew its arm back as to strike, letting a grin slip across its rotted face. He closed his eyes as the sun rose to his side.
He thought he had lay there long enough to grow moss. Not knowing if death was a mere feeling of rest or if it bore any sting at all. He opened his eyes, only to see the rising sun, his savior. He nay did move as he pondered his attackers retreat. He watched the sunrise as if it were his first, for it could have been his last.
He stood once his strength returned, but by this time his hunger had grown substantially. He limped to the wall nearby, and saw what he thought was a fort of some sort. Once he got closer to the structure, he could hear the neighing of horses. He had heard of a ranch, but did not know of where it was at the time. He made it inside easily, for there was nay a gate or any form of guard.
After passing by a couple wooden doors, he stumbled into an open pasture of some kind, finally resting upon a wooden crate to his left. A large tree shaded him, while numerous cuccos pecked the earth at his feet. A tall fence enclosed a vast grassy expanse, and nearly a score of horses. A wide, dusty track of some kind circled the outside of the fence, with still some grass on the outside of that. He thought it simply for racing. A towering windmill rested in the far back of the area, and a door at its base.
As he got his bearings, a young girl ventured up to his side unnoticed. He jumped to his feet when he heard a faint giggle. But her giggle turned to a gasp as his blood trickled down his chest and legs. A small puddle bore itself on the crate where he had sat. "Mister, you need help. You're hurt," she said nearly crying.
He knelt before he and gazed into her eyes. He told her not to be afraid; this was how he talked to people. He explained what happened, and asked if she could help him. Her youth allowed her to understand without much difficulty, unlike an adult.
"My daddy left early this morning to deliver milk, but he will be back anytime now." She nodded.
"Thank you. Oh, I'm sorry. I have yet to introduce myself. I am Shikotsu. And your name is?"
"Malon, sir. And my daddy's name is Talon." She said, bowing and giving small curtsey.
He smiled and stepped back on his left foot. He lifted his right arm to his lower chest and gave a small bow in response.
She led him to a door near the entrance to the ranch, and invited him in. She prepared a table for him and pulled out his seat, asking him to sit.
"Those stalchild are really scary aren't they, mister Shi-kote-sue? I ran into them when I was little, but daddy saved me."
"Wow. Your daddy sounds like a really good guy."
"He is! But he's really bad about sleeping while working." She said smiling.
He leaned back in the chair, trying to save his energy. Another puddle had formed beneath him.
"Does Talon keep any potions around, Malon?" He said, holding onto what little consciousness he had left.
She quickly nodded and ran up a flight of stairs behind him. She returned shortly holding a glass bottle.
"Daddy keeps this around just in case there is an accident out with the horses. But I don't know how to use it."
"That's. okay Malon. Just give me some to drink, and. put a little on a bandage. I'll take care of the rest. " His breaths had become short and unsteady while she was away.
She lifted the bottle to his mouth, tilting it back. Shikotsu raised his hand to the bottle, sipping at the red fluid. He didn't drink very much before his breathing grew stronger.
"Is this right, mister Shi-kote-sue?" She said worried, pulling the bottle back.
"Yes, very good Malon. Thank you."
She smiled, showing a hint of pride; she then headed for a cabinet back in the corner of the room, setting the bottle down on the way.
No sooner had she brought the dressings to him; then the door opened.
"Daddy! You're back." She called out, dropping the gauss at Shikotsu's feet, and running up to the man.
"Hello Malon. Oh, and who in tarnation is this?" He said as he picked her up and sat her on his shoulder.
"This is mister Shi-kote-sue, daddy. He was hurt by the stalchildren last night. I've been helping him."
Talon set his daughter down after walking up to the table, but by this time Shikotsu had risen to his feet.
"Greetings, sir Talon. I am Shikotsu."
"WHAT'N TARNATION!?! HIS EYES ARE GLOW'N!"
"Daddy, this is how he talks to people, the child said smiling." The child said as she pulled on his pant leg. "Don't worry about it. He's really nice, but he's hurt."
"Well, okay. If you say so."
Shikotsu stood there grinning, scratching the back of his head, with a large sweat drop down the side of his face.
"Sorry about that. I've just never heard of anyone who spoke through eyes before. Now then, let's see about those wounds."
He sat Shikotsu down once more and removed his torn, bloodstained tunic.
"Malon, don't look." He said shocked, covering his daughter's eyes with his palm. "Go upstairs and get ready for dinner. We'll be having a third place at the table as well."
After she had gone up the steps, Talon sat down aside Shikotsu.
"You say stalchildren did this to you?" He asked as he unrolled the gauss and sprinkled it with the potion. "Did you get cornered or something? To get such gashes, one must of gotten right up to you."
"No, sir. I fought back."
"Now why on earth would you do that? If you kill one, it will just be replaced."
"I spoke with one while they advanced me."
"???"
"My speech isn't limited to just us. I can speak with creatures as well."
Talon only nodded as he raised the boy's arms and began to bandage him, "Yes, go on."
"They are the remains of children. Those murdered by other stalchildren, given that false life shone to us through their mutilated corpses. It spoke to me saying that they only wanted for me to join them. Yet they attack so viciously once close enough. I lost count of how many I destroyed. I couldn't stand the thought of their evil going unpunished. They would of killed me, but the all disappeared."
"Did the sun rise?"
"Yes. How did you know? Is that why?"
"Yup. They hate sunlight. It hurts them I believe. But no matter, I'm just glad you made it kid. No one ever fights with them, just runs away."
"It might of helped if I had a sword or something. I only had my boomerang, but one of the scarechildren broke it."
"That's too bad, kid. Do you have another?"
"No, but I can make one; I've done it before."
The two talked for some time, but when Malon came downstairs. Shikotsu grabbed his tunic and got dressed. Talon showed Shikotsu where he could wash the blood off and proceeded to help Malon with diner.
The day went by quickly for Talon. Shikotsu had insisted on helping around the ranch in return for the aid and meal. Such chores ranged from milking the cows, to feeding the cuccos, and even delivering milk to the castle. Malon decided to go with them.
Shikotsu and Talon walked along side of the horse, while Malon sat in the wagon. When they entered the town, Talon pointed out where everything was and explained how he provided milk for the people.
They continued along a road leading to a rather tall gate. It reminded him of the one near the Gerudo fortress. Only he could see several ways around this one. But he didn't question Talon about it.
At the gate, Talon waved to one of the guards. Shikotsu lowered his head, hoping the guard wouldn't care. The guard saw the boy, knowing he wasn't a regular, and questioned Talon about him. Talon only said that he had acquired some help. The guard merely shrugged his shoulders and motioned to have the gate opened.
Shikotsu had never seen such a structure. Its size seemed as if it would dwarf the dessert colossus. Again he noticed weaknesses in its construction. While Talon dropped off the milk, Shikotsu wandered around. He couldn't go in. Well, not right now anyway, but still his curiosity got the best of him. He peeked his head into a drain from a pool on the interior court. He didn't see much, but he knew that this could be useful.
His eyes darted to his left as he heard Talon's footsteps coming. He pulled back from the drain, and hopped onto a large stone block, sitting casually. Talon rounded the corner of the wagon, and asked if he was ready.
The three set off once more, yet now, Talon carried a gold rupee in his hand. Shikotsu had seen them before; such rupees could be found within the spirit temple's treasures. Talon seemed surprised at how they had just handed him so much money.
That night, back at the ranch; Talon, Malon, and Shikotsu all sat down around a table covered with food. Talon had gone all out and spent every last rupee on them. Malon got a new dress, while Talon got a new saddle. Shikotsu declined from Talon's shopping spree. He didn't want to spend his friend's money.
But Talon wouldn't take no for an answer. He had slipped a couple of reds into a knapsack the prepared for him. Within it was a red potion for his wounds, some Dodongo meat, the rupees, and some extra gauss.
After supper, Shikotsu gave his leave. He could see Malon out of the corner of his eye, waving. Talon stood aside her.
"Just run next time!" He called out to the kind traveler and skilled Gerudo they never knew.