-- CHAPTER 4: On His Own Thru The Forest --
"Come in," said a throaty-squeak of a voice, "Oh do come in, Tingle's been waiting!"
Link slowly opened the door. The man lives by himself in the middle of the forest, he apparently thinks he's an Elf, and, to top it all off, he sounds funny. Link stood there, hand still on the door knob speechless. ...and, to top it all off, he looks funny, Link corrected himself. Staring back at him was a short, plump fellow wearing a bright-green, full-body jumpsuit that coned to a point at the top of his head. He wore tight bright-red spandex over the jumpsuit that accentuated his gut. His face was chubby too, cheeks popping out from the oval opening that exposed his face. But what stuck out most, literally, was his nose – it was huge, and beat red...and so ugly.
Link turned his head around to look behind him. Hoping, unrealistically to see Draiden standing behind him. Then he turned back to face Tingle, trying his best to hide his disgu... erm... shock.
"Do not be afraid Link, Tingle will not harm you! Come in! Come in! Tingle doesn't get visitors very often!"
Link stepped awkwardly thru the entryway and closed the door behind him.
"Umm, my dad says you make..." Link began uncomfortably.
"Maps!" Tingle finished grinning widely, "Yes, map-making is Tingle's special Elven gift! Tingle is the Map Master of all Hyrule. It is a map which you seek, is Tingle not correct?"
"...yeah...I need a map to find..."
"The fortress of the healing magi! Tingle knows all about your quest!"
The display of knowledge this strange man was showing slightly freaked Link out.
"How, how do you know...all about my quest..."
"The trees, yes, the trees told Tingle! Elves can talk to trees! Did you know that!"
Link stared at him disbelievingly, There was no possible way this guy was an Elf, but he didn't have any other explanation as to why Tingle knew about his quest. "So you... uhh... you'll make me a map..."
Tingles face dropped for the first time since their meeting. "Tingle has run out of paper to make his maps, and Tingle has been forbidden to leave this abode... the others think Tingle will get in the way..." He looked down in shame.
Link was shocked to find himself feeling sorry for the pitiful creature.
"The others?"
Tingle looked him square in the eye. It looked like he was about to say something, but stopped himself.
"Don't worry about what Tingle just said. There are more important things that you must worry about."
Link had a sudden sense of déjà vu. Didn't Draiden just say something to the same effect?
Tingle interrupted his thoughts "You must go to the Kokiri Haven. There you must find a dead Deku Tree. It is from these ancient trees that Tingle makes his magical maps. You will know if it's a Deku Tree if you can make out a face on it. And make sure it's dead. Do not be fooled, many that look dead are still alive, the Deku are a very perseverant race. Take this saw and cut Tingle off a good chunk of wood, Tingle will want plenty extra to make more maps. It is Tingle's only hobby. Now go, even you, who have not fallen ill, are short on time. The Triforce will guide you."
- - - - -
The Triforce will guide me ... what in Din's name does that mean? Link glanced down at the back of his hand. It was still the same as it had been his entire life – three out-lined triangles, bottom left filled in. Well! Do something! Guide me, wouldja! He had been wandering around for what must have been an hour, not feeling in any way 'guided.' He had long since decided to try to find his way back to Tingle's tree-house, but was having no luck. How stupid can you get? 'the Triforce will guide you' 'oh, ok, that doesn't sound too tough, I've been following the Triforces guiding my entire life,' did I think to ask exactly what that would mean? Noooooo, I just leave as soon as possible because I feel a little awkward. And I'd much rather escape an awkward situation than, say... live tomorrow! And where is that Draiden anyway?
"Draaaiiiidddeeennn!" he called out at the top of his lungs for the umpteenth time.
I'm going to die out here... Link sat back down on the ground to 'meditate' on the Triforce. He had no clue what that could possibly mean, or how to possibly do it. But wandering around aimlessly wasn't doing anything, and he was getting tired. I guess it's worth a try... Link sat down and closed his eyes and tried to focus on the Triforce. Triforce. Triforce. Guide me oh great Triforce... Show me the way to the Kokiri...hey that sounds a lot like Koriki... ehem ... focus ... Trifiorce ... show me the way to the Kokiri Haven. This is pointless...
The meditating thing wasn't working too well and Link was too tired to continue his meandering. Although he didn't feel very safe falling asleep in the forest he figured he would have to risk it; either now or very shortly. With a loud yawn Link decided 'now' sounded good. He had recently been wandering around a lake, an amazingly clear lake, Link noted. He remembered a particularly large tree along the edge of the lake that had huge roots jutting out of and then back into the ground. He couldn't think of a safer, more hidden place to take his nap. When he found it, he discovered just how perfect it was, making his way thru the maze of roots he found a perfect nook hollowed out at the bottom of the tree's trunk. He curled up and fell asleep seconds later.
- - - - -
Running. Running from... no... chasing after. Chasing who? Chasing Saria. Saria? Saria! My best friend! ...What was that? Not remembering... anything... for just a second... so surreal. Wait... Saria... where'd she go?
"Hey you!"
Link spun around to see his friend on the other side of Aonque Lake jump out of Old Tree Aonque, of whom the lake was aptly named after.
"Hey! No sage tricks! It's not fair!"
"Well if you can use Farore's wind!"
"I used it once! You're never going to let it go are you!"
"And then there's the hook shot, and those hover boots, and all the masks! Like you used that Zora one to hide at the bottom of the lake for an hour!"
"Ok! Ok! By Din! You know, tag doesn't work very well between us. Nobody's been caught. How 'bout we just arm wrestle?"
The exhausting, friendly game of tag had been going on for over a week, 7 days and 21 hours to be exact. The rules were simple, Kokiri village was safe, anywhere outside that the person could get tagged. They'd switch off every day taking turns being the hider and seeker. Being a gentleman ... or, perhaps, just being cocky, Link let Saria be the seeker first. It started to settle an argument between which was better, a Triforce bearer or a sage. It was all in good fun; they both knew that the outcome of this competition had no bearing on the significance of either of their importance.
"Ha! You wish!"
And with that Link shot his hook shot across the lake and stuck it into Old Tree Aonque. He was paralyzed from his bottom third down, and loved playing with the Kokiri. He didn't mind what they did so long as they didn't fell him. Link gave the tree a quick double pat. Thanks Aonque.
No problem. The tree bellowed heartily.
Saria was already running off towards Kokiri village unable to contain her giggles.
Link chased her all the back. He did make up some distance, but, alas, he was unable to catch her.
- - - - -
Link, yawned and stretched his arms out as he awoke. He blinked a couple of times, what a nice nap. He had slept surprising well considering he napped on the forest floor. In fact he couldn't remember sleeping better in his own bed. Strange, he thought, if anything I would have figured I'd have a horrible night's sleep. I had gotten the impression I was unwanted in this forest. He made his way out of the tree's base and stared across the lake. Maybe Draiden and Tingle weren't crazy to love the forest so. He looked up along the huge tree that had provided for his unexpected treat of a nap, smiled, and patted it twice on its bark. Then he redirected his gaze to the lake; it was so peaceful, so beautiful ... so... almost so... familiar... Everything, suddenly felt familiar. Without thinking he turned around and headed off, marveling at how everything seemed familiar all of a sudden. He couldn't help but feel as if he'd been here before ... but how? Thank you... Triforce... I suppose...
Link continued on, half-knowing where he was going, half-confused as to why he felt he knew where he was going. It had only been about 15 minutes when he noticed sunlight shinning at him. Not the occasional break thru the tree tops, but eye-level, coming at him thru the tree trunks. There was an opening in the forest ahead. Is that it!? He jumped and dashed off to the open field just a few yard in front of him.
A great chill of sadness overwhelmed Link. He stood there, speechless to sight of the ashes. What should have been thick green grass was black, burnt, dead. Leafless trees scattered the field sporadically, bark burnt off and the wood black. Link walked thru the ashes, staring at the ground as he went, looking for anything green.
The Triforce is strong with this one.
Link jumped. Who...
Yes, if only he could better tap into it.
The boy is only twelve, and he hasn't been brought up to recognize the Triforce. And maybe it's for the best that the boy didn't remember the nightmares that have been haunting his sleeping hours,
Link darted his eyes about his surroundings. Who said that...
Well I'll be condemned to the sacred realm... I think the boy hears us...
Nothing but trees! Funny, I can almost make ... out ... a ... Face! It's a Deku! Tingles word's echoed thru his mind 'Do not be fooled, many that look dead are still alive, the Deku are a very perseverant race.' Link was ecstatic; he had finally found the Deku!
-- WRAP UP --
Hmm... hope that wasn't too confusing. I know I jumped around a bit pretty suddenly at points. But if you felt like you didn't know what was going on at the beginning at some points that was the effect I was going for. I hope you never got too lost though and eventually caught on to what was happening. I know you might still have some questions. I hope to get to most of them in the next chapter... I think, I really don't have very good perception of how far I'll get over each chapter. I never get as far as I expected before I decide the chapter is long enough. Also, as I'm sure you've noticed by now, I'm not very fond of dialogue tags. If I think the reader can figure out who's saying what just fine without a dialogue tag I tend not to put one unless I want to convey a specific tone. I just hope I'm not assuming too much to be obvious. Being the writer of the story and all, most things seem obvious to me.
Anyway, if you've made it this far please tell me what you think. I'll take the good and the bad. Well, thanks for sticking with my story thru chapter 4. Hope to see you at the next one. Happy days till then. Choi.