Disclaimer: I don't own LoZ. My name is not Miyamoto.

Note: Yes, Red Baroness, the markers that separate sections didn't show up. I went back and changed everything, though. Thanks for the reviews.

Daybreak On The Third

Cardoss needed time to get his night eyes, but there wasn't any. He could pretty easily run right into a Like Like and not notice anything until it had devoured his armor, leaving him undefended. That, thought Cardoss, would not be anything close to good. Wait- he wasn't sure, but he thought he heard something loud and metallic, like the clashing of swords. As sure a sound of combat as agonized screams. Cardoss broke into a run, raising his sword high.

Cardoss dug his blade deep into the back of a Moblin warrior, blood spurting all over his shirt. He pulled it out, then smacked it down hard on the beast's head. There was a faint crack, like that of, say, a skull being shattered, then the Moblin fell. His fellows turned around, bringing their crude weapons to bear on Cardoss. He let his legs fall out from under him and hacked at the leg of the nearest brute. It cried out in pain, falling forward and absorbing the blows of the others. Cardoss took advantage of the time it took for the Moblins to extract their weapons from the corpse of their comrade by smiting off the heads of two of the three that remained. The final Moblin, despite genetic stupidity, realized that the situation was hardly advantageous and fled.

As he scanned the area for his men, Cardoss spotted a fairly large pile of Moblin bodies. As he neared it, he realized that their conqueror was standing on top, looking for any remaining survivors. He greeted Cardoss with a shout, then a "Look out!". Cardoss ducked, a maneuver that saved his life. The monster that would have impaled him prepared to strike again, but was killed before it had a chance. Link lowered his bow, smiling. Cardoss let his breath out in a long sigh of relief. He got himself up from under the dead Moblin, then walked over to Link.

"Hell of a morning, eh?"

"Yeah. We don't have time to sit around and chat, though. Did you see any dead?" Link didn't sound very cheerful for someone who had just saved the lives of a few hundred people.

"Only the ones you got. None of ours, if that's what you mean."

Link put a finger to his lips, then beckoned for Cardoss to follow. He walked slowly toward the nearest tent, then pressed himself against the fabric wall with a hand to his ear. Cardoss did the same.

"Bwee... dey got us good. We's 'oled up in some 'umie tent wit a few tousand men out dere. We's doomed. Da job's over." It was a Moblin, and a pretty smart one. He could talk, at least.

"Da job? It not done. Dese men... dey's gonna die. I got disagrees? (A pause. This probably meant that this Moblin was bigger than the others.) Good. Bwee! Let's us show dem 'umies wut we's made of!" There was the shuffling of feet and the clinking of armor. The Moblins were leaving. Link raised his sword, and Cardoss did the same.

Before either had time to react, a battle cry was heard from the other side of the tent, and the sounds of a commotion could be heard from inside. Without pausing to think, Link and Cardoss slashed a hole in the side of the tent, then ran in. There stood Sheik upon the bodies of three huge Moblins. She greeted them with a grunt, then commented that something stank. Cardoss, who was no longer completely absorbed by the fight, doubled over.

"Ugh... that's disgusting! I'm pretty sure something in here's been dead for a while." Cardoss composed himself, but couldn't help scrunching up his nose in revolt.

"The Moblins said something about a job..." Link said. He turned over one of the dead beasts that had been covering what looked to be a great leather sack. The smell became worse. Link bent down and opened the bag, then recoiled, nearly knocking Sheik over. She ran outside holding her stomach. Cardoss peeked inside and wished he hadn't. Within the bag were the remains of the police officers that had been sent to apprehend the Gerudo, all rotten and maggot- ridden. A head rolled out to greet Link with it's sullen eyes and pale face. It was at that point decided that sufficient time had been spent inside. Both men stepped outside, where they proceeded to lose what remained of last night's dinner.

"Praise be the Wind Fish! Why would anyone do that?" Link wasn't sure, but had felt something when Cardoss spoke. It was as if a veil that had been placed over his eyes had been lifted a little. He had no idea what it meant, and wasn't particularly pleased that it had happened at this moment. He had too much to worry about already.

"I don't think the Moblins killed them. They would have eaten the corpses, not carried them around. The bag didn't look like anything a Moblin could have produced, either. It was too elaborate. No, I think those poor souls were killed by somebody else who then paid the monsters to carry them away. It must have been a lot of money, too. Even a Moblin would be bound to smell that... well, you know." Link avoided mentioning the Gerudo writing on the bag. He knew that Cardoss was the one in charge here, and that such information might cause him to do something rash.

T

They had made it. It had taken several hours to create a pyre to burn the remains of the dead (near the desert, wood is pretty scarce), but the men deserved a break. They had all mounted again around noon, and continued to ride until they reached the crumbling remains of a massive well. This was to be the final point. Cardoss was busy preparing a proper camp and giving hundreds of orders. By the time the tents were up again and everyone knew what they were to do the next day, it was nearly sundown. The men had prepared a bit of a feast in honor of Link, Sheik, and Cardoss for saving their lives without interrupting their slumber, and were a little shocked when none of the three ate anything.

T

The banners were ready, and the soldiers were armed. Moblins and Octoroks and Stalfos, all prepared to march. Upon their helms they bore the purple star of the New Movement. They thirsted for combat, and they would get it soon. On the morrow they would come upon the little human camp and smother it. All of Hyrule would not be far behind. A Gerudo with a horn blew the note of war and the army began to move. A Dodongo roared and sat still until it was prodded, then reluctantly started to walk. Slowly, it was true, but quickly enough. The land was as prone as a pile of dry kindling waiting for a spark, and this force would light it. Then all would burn...