"The Destiny Stone"
Disclaimer: (I'm gonna leave this one up for a bit) I don't own Zelda or any characters, places, or events thereof, so there! Of the original characters, I came up with Timbre, Kat, Aka, Benz, Vulcan and some various bit characters here and there. Sond owns most of the rest. Thanks Sond! Rej is © FogFrontier, now go read The Kindred, King of Pawns, and Grifter and Snatch!
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Author's Note: Well, I just got back to school. Ya know what that meansactually, it doesn't mean much at all, just that I'm back on college schedule.' Whee. Hmmthis chapter has a bit of violence in it, I'm wondering if the rating should be upped or noif people think so, I may go and do it, otherwise I think it's okay. What do you guys think?
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"The Destiny Stone" — Chapter 13: Second Chance
"whatever you do, don't let go of each other's hands"
He was dimly aware of wind, whipping past his face in a torrent of sound. Clasped hands squeezed tightly, but the wind was too strong. Muscles ached and fists clenched, but the whirlwind storm tore him away despite everything. And then there was nothing.
"Think we'll find th' Keatons t'day, Kafei?"
Sixteen-year-old Kafei Dotour glanced down at his nephew, whose small right hand was currently curled around his own. It never failed to amaze him how Daray somehow managed to be a cheerful optimist, despite everything that had been at odds against his existence.
When Kafei had been just shy of eleven years old, a gigantic storm had covered the land. The winds of the tempest had been so strong and destructive that some of the older townsfolk had dubbed it one of those cataclysmic legendary storms that only struck the land every fifty generations.
Kafei, for some odd and unexplained reason, could barely remember the storm six years ago, and could not remember at all many of the immediate complications thereof. His sister-in-law, Anju, had been returning with her month-old-son from a visit to Romani Ranch the evening the storm appeared. Back then, Cremia had made her milk deliveries every three days, and Anju had graciously accepted a ride back to Clock Town in the farmwoman's cart that day. They had been nearly all the way to Clock Town when the storm hit. The winds had been so strong, Kafei had been told, that the horse had panicked and reared. With little warning, the cart and its passengers had been completely blown over, spilled out onto the hard ground.
Cremia and Anju had been horribly bruised, though no lasting harm had been done to them. But even though Daray had been carefully cradled within his mother's arms, it hadn't been enough to shield the little boy. The infant's head had struck the wooden edge of the capsizing cart as it tipped over.
Daray had survived, miraculously, though he'd been blind ever since.
The small boy claimed he remembered his mother and father's face, and even Kafei's on occasion, but the purple-haired teenager often thought that Daray was just trying to make them all feel better.
Even though he couldn't see Termina Field as it spread about him like a green carpet, Daray didn't stop smiling. Kafei beamed quietly as his auburn-haired nephew gave his hand a little squeeze.
"S'a nice day out, isn't it, uncle?"
Kafei nodded out of habit, glancing upwards. The sky reflected in his crimson eyes. "Yeah. The sky is bright and blue, and there are barely any clouds. And no Chu-Chus out either."
"And there's a nice wind. Do th' Keatons like days li' this?"
Kafei had never clearly remembered ever actually finding a Keaton. Often though, he fancied that he had at one time or another, he just didn't remember it. Even at Daray's age he'd searched relentlessly for the bright yellow vulpines. He was convinced the ghost foxes were not just a children's legend, something that had not faded as he'd grown. "Yeah, they do," he said finally.
Daray smiled, and whooped as Kafei lifted him easily onto his broadening shoulders. "Keatons like to hide in bushes," Kafei continued. "They usually come out if the bushes are cut. But the bushes are special, they scatter at the sight of any sharp blade."
"Did you bring a blade, then?"
Kafei's eyes flickered down to his hip, where his dagger (a gift from his overprotective parents) was safely buckled to his belt. "We don't need to cut down their homes," Kafei said. "They wouldn't like that very much. You remembered the mask, right?"
"Uh-huh, should I put it on?"
"Yeah." Kafei laughed quietly as Daray pressed the yellow fox mask onto his small face. It had once belonged to Daray's father, who had passed it along to Kafei when it had outgrown him. Kafei, in turn, had given the mask to his nephew as a present on his third birthday.
"Think the Keatons will be fooled, Kafei?"
Kafei laughed. "They're pretty tricky, but I think you'll out-trick them all."
"Are they really good luck to find, Kafei?"
"Of course, I've told you a hundred times, haven't I?"
Daray patted his uncle on the head gently. "Yeah. But I wonder if they could make meyou knowsee again."
Though Daray couldn't see it, Kafei's smile became slightly sad, and he didn't answer directly. Turning towards the tall grass that dominated part of southern Termina Field, he kneeled down and gently lifted his nephew to the ground. Daray dutifully sat cross-legged, with his walking stick laid across his knees should he find need for it. The boy seemed to forget the past subject.
"What did you bring to feed them this time?"
Kafei sat down across from his nephew, and pulled his knapsack around. "Peanut butter."
Daray wrinkled his nose and furrowed his brow. "Just peanut butter?"
Kafei laughed at the six-year-old. "Heh, don't be sillyit's on bread. Peanut butter sandwiches."
"Hehe, their fav'rite!" Daray giggled, pulling the mask up onto his head so he could eat unobstructed. He delicately accepted the half-sandwich that his elder handed him. "My fav'rite too," he added.
The two of them laughed for a while at the joke. In fact, they spent the next several happy hours enjoying the fresh air and summerlike weather, Kafei leaning back to nap in the soft grass. Daray let himself fall backwards as well, Keaton hunting all but forgotten as the warmth of the sun tickled his small nose. Unbeknownst to him and his guardian, however, they were not the only ones in Termina Field that day. They were being watched.
A slight rustle in the tall grass alerted Daray, who sat up suddenly. His pointed ears were rather sensitive to ambient sound, after relying on his other senses to make up for his lack of sight. "Mmm," Daray reached out a tentative hand and grabbed his stick. Poking out in the direction of Kafei's contented breathing, he managed to catch the sixteen year old a small tap on the right foot.
"Eh?" Kafei sat up, startled. Seeing his nephew's alert face, he put a hand on the small boy's shoulder. "What?"
"The bushes n' grassover that way." The stick pointed out towards the verdant expanse. "They were shaking."
Kafei's head turned in the stick's direction. "Hmm," he hummed quietly. Besides the natural movement caused by the wind, there was nothing there. "Seems alright to me," he said after a moment.
"No, I swear I heard it!" Daray said in his child's voice. "Maybe it's a Keaton! Chuck some of the food over there, maybe he'll come out!"
Though puzzled, Kafei followed his nephew's request. He threw a half-sandwich towards the tall grass. The small projectile was swallowed up in the grass and disappeared completely from view with a rustle. Kafei squinted.
Suddenly, the grass began to crackle violently, as if something were struggling within it. Daray perked, his eyes wide and staring, as if straining for a look.
"There it is again!"
"Shh," Kafei soothed, somewhat alarmed. Whatever it was, it was too noisy for a ghost fox. He'd always been told they moved nearly silently.
The grass continued to quiver noisily, though now Kafei caught another sound: voices. High pitched, squeaking voices.
"Mine!"
"Mine!"
"Kchah, mine!"
Kafei was startled as two small monsters abruptly burst out of the tall grass, rolling and spitting madly as they fought tooth and claw, apparently over the tidbit of food that he had thrown. Though it was hard to tell, both of the creatures appeared to resemble upright rodents. The double blurs of the grappling creatures seemed a reddish color, with short grubby fur and pointed ears. Loose grass flew in all directions as the two monsters battled. Kafei noted that they both couldn't be much taller than a young child. Suddenly, one hissed in the middle of its roll, and sank its sharp canine teeth savagely into the other's paw.
The bitten monster immediately squealed loudly, and Daray backpedaled in fright at the sound. Kafei caught his nephew in his arms, lifting the blind child to safety and stepping back from the third, larger monster that had arisen from the grass. It too, was rodent like, though now that he could see one up close, he also recognized a rodent's muzzle-snout, and a terrier's beard.
"A G-goriya?" Kafei choked in surprise. He had reason for concern. Goriya hadn't been present in Termina Field for generations, or so his father had said. He only recognized the monsters from the huge Scribe's Atlas that his mother owned. The pointy ears, beady eyes, the white beards,' it all seemed to fit the small, but ornately sketched illustrations he had once viewed. And the Scribe's Atlas had been quite clear that Goriyas were neither friendly creatures, nor overly pleasant to meet in the middle of nowhere.
The third Goriya was a lot taller than the two currently attacking each other. Its fur was an odd blue, and surprisingly enough, small dark glasses were perched on the end of its long ratlike nose. Instead of a comical figure, as Kafei would've thought, this somehow made the Goriya all the more alarming. It had intelligent beady eyes behind the dark glasses, small as they were.
It strode out of the grass, and leapt at the two smaller monsters. Practically wading into the fray, it started striking about randomly with the flat of a long metallic boomerang it drew from its belt. It was yelling orders as well.
"Idiots! Now we've lost the element of surprise!"
Unlike the two squeaking reds, the blue had a deeper, almost human voice. The two now soundly-bruised lesser Goriya stood up at rigid attention.
"S-sorry"
"Boss Blind, sah!"
Kafei, meanwhile, had started retreating the moment the blue Goriya had yelled about the element of surprise,' Daray clutched safely against his chest.
Boss Blind aimed a vicious booted kick at the two bumblers. "Get them, then! All of yeh! I want that brat eliminated!"
A chorus of affirmative squeaks, squawks, and squeals answered Kafei's worst fears: there had been a lot more than just three Goriya in the tall grass.
Daray whimpered loudly, his small body quivering at the sound of rushing feet. "W-what's appening? Is it monsters?"
"No tears now, Daray," Kafei panted, not daring to look over his shoulder at the small swarm pursuing them both. "We just have to get back to Clock Town"
Daray swallowed. "I'll be brave," he said resolutely, though the six-year-old's voice was still quivering.
They were nearing jut of rock that protruded, fanglike, from the green ground. Kafei paused at the top of it, and dared a look back. At least a dozen red Goriyas were scampering after them both, some starting to draw boomerangs from their belts. Turning his head towards the north, Kafei saw the walls of Clock Town, looming close. They'd never make it in time.
Leaping down, Kafei laid Daray down in the lee and shadow of the jutting rock. There was a small hole that some overgrown weeds had hidden there, and Kafei gently wedged his nephew into the niche with a small grunt.
"Daray, whatever you do, don't move. Okay?"
"K-kafei"
"Hush now, be brave, okay?" Kafei didn't have any more time for words. Leaping out from behind the rock, he drew his only weapon, his dagger, silently thanking his parents. "Alright you monsters," he challenged boldly. "Who's first?!"
Three Goriyas leapt at him. Kafei kicked out viciously and caught one in the jaw. It screeched and its head snapped back, causing it to fall backwards. The second clutched its right shoulder as the youth's dagger slashed across it. The third snapped angrily and bit into the calf of his right leg, even as he kicked out at the first.
"Ouch!" he yelped, shaking the little monster off and stabbing wildly downwards. Out of complete dumb luck, he managed to slam his dagger right into its left eye, and it fell back, unfortunately taking his dagger away with it. Two down, one wounded.
But even now, as Kafei bent to retrieve his weapon, the futility of the situation was dawning on Kafei. All he wanted to do was to keep them away from Daray. With this in mind, he pulled a hasty retreat, running parallel to the distanced walls of his hometown. He needed to lead them away. The youth tried hard to think, and found it difficult. Somewhere behind him, he heard the voice of the blue Goriya, Boss Blind.
"Idiots! Don't wear yourselves out. Knock him down, use your boomerangs!"
Kafei half-choked a swear word and threw himself to the ground in a roll that surprised even himself. Not too soon, either, as three boomerangs whirled wickedly over his head. He stood, and chanced a look back.
WHAM.
Bad idea. Kafei winced, as a fourth boomerang clipped him right across the face. Turning to run and yelling in pain at the same time, Kafei half-closed his eyes and turned his booted feet back towards the south and the tall grass. He didn't need to probe to know the wetness currently running along his nose and mouth was blood, brought from the boomerang's strike. With any perverse kind of luck, he'd have a broken nose at least.
But Kafei didn't care at this point. All his energy and will was tested to its limit as he ran doggedly towards the tall grass, the mob of Goriyas circling in like a crimson scythe. He vaguely remembered a hole hidden within the confines of the tall grass, nearly invisible until stumbled upon, but perhaps a means of escape for him.
Boss Blind was the only Goriya currently not in pursuit. He watched, nearly bemused as the Hylian ran parallel to his field of vision, hair whipped back in tangled violet ropes. His Goriya horde panted behind the teenager, some with their tongues flopping out of their muzzles. Their legs were shorter than Kafei's, and so they wore out more quickly.
"Idiot minions," the blue Goriya murmured, shaking his head. "Useless, practically. I suppose I'll have to try out my new toy" Boss Blind glanced down fondly at the shiny metal boomerang, inset with an equally metallic charm that bore the insignia of the Triforce. Master Ganondorf's symbol. The charm had an uneven edge, almost as if it had been broken off the part of a greater whole.
"Hmm. Take this, brat!" Boss Blind flipped the boomerang, sighted along his long snout, and gracefully cast the metal boomerang with a long curving sweep of his clawed hand.
Kafei had located the hole. He practically flew into the tall grass, ignoring the stings as the green strands cut, whipping against his legs and arms as he ran. "Two yards to the left, and one forward" The Hylian suddenly slowed as the hole yawned before him, a black, toothless mouth. Braving for a jump, he teetered for a vital moment.
This proved to be a fatal mistake. Boss Blind's metal boomerang slammed into the back of Kafei's head with the force of a sledgehammer. Yards away, the blue Goriya watched impassively as the youth gasped, crumpled soundlessly, then fell headfirst, tumbling into a hole Boss Blind had not been aware of moments before. There was no scream as the Hylian was swallowed up, just the vague sound of impact as the boy hit the bottom.
Chuckling to himself, he strode boldly towards the hole, catching his returning boomerang easily in one hand as he moved. It had been a perfect shot. The metal weapon glinted dangerously in the day's sun, crimsoned with the Hylian's blood, one of the first (but not the last) to fall to the charmed weapon.
Eager Goriyas, having finally caught up, crowded about the hole's circumference, chattering to each other eagerly and pointing downward. A respectful pause came over them as their leader approached. They saluted and parted, allowing their leader to peer down into the maw of the hole.
Down, down, the hole ran deep, nearly seven men's heights in depth. Squinting, Boss Blind focused on a pitifully crumpled figure, which sprawled like a rag doll at the center of the hole's bottom. He lay there, broken, and unmoving. The Hylian's eyes were tightly frozen shut in a grimace of pain, and a telltale dark reddish stain from beneath the youth's head was slowly spreading along the tan and sandy earthen ground.
"Now that, my comrades," Boss Blind declared with a grin, "Is a dead Hylian."
There were several ragged cheers at this statement, but the blue Goriya waved them off.
"No matter though. There will be more joining the likes of this one, as Master Ganondorf means to conquer this land. He has promised us many rewards, and even a gift. We cannot lose." Boss Blind stared fondly at his charmed boomerang.
Some more cheers, brighter this time, greeted his words. Boss Blind swept his claw over Termina Field, pointing dramatically towards Clock Town. "Come, now," said the leader. "There is much work ahead of us." Without a second glance at his victim, Boss Blind strode off, his steps emboldened.
Cheered by their leader's jovial attitude, the mob of Goriyas quickly scampered after Boss Blind, abandoning the hole with the same sort of disdain that their master had. A few even spat in the hole as they passed by, before jogging to catch up to the head of the line.
Silence prevailed, down in the hole where Kafei lay motionless. Not even the sound of the wind blowing the grass high above seeped down this far. It was with an equal soundlessness that the bright yellow fox appeared with a flick of three tails. Its dainty paws scratched the earth by the motionless youth, as the Keaton regarded the fallen victim. Then, a single blue tear fell from a slitted vulpine eye, and ran like rainwater through the smooth, short yellow fur. Plummeting, the tear soaked quickly into the earth, though it did not darken the soil half as much as the blood of the fallen Hylian.
"Uh!" Kafei snapped up from his sleep with a grunt, his crimson eyes wide and fearful. He'd been having nightmares again, and he groaned as his muddled mind slowly cleared.
Well, he thought to himself, this is what I get for trying to sleep at night. Running a hand across his heavy eyes, he shook his head. His hand combed through his unruly, tousled hair, mussed from the night of tossing and turning. As his fingers twined through the purple locks, they traveled further back along his skull. Finally, Kafei's finger traced over the slightly risen scar that ran along the base of his skull and under his left ear, the mark hidden by the Hylian's hair.
So much for sleep, he thought, sitting up in his cot, which bounced slightly as the weight upon it shifted. Looking around, Kafei noted the five other beds in the underground bedroom, containing Jim and the other Bombers. Stretched out on the floor was the huddled form of one of the visitors, laid out flat on his back, half hanging out of the sleeping bag. Link's blonde hair fell over his mouth and nose, the loose strands rising and falling with every open mouthed breath the Hylian took. A second sleeping bag lay crumpled on the floor, empty.
"So, I'm not the only restless one tonight," Kafei murmured quietly. He stood, and quietly made his way to the door. He'd never liked the underground rooms too much, as he found them rather stuffy, and too warm. Maybe some fresh air would do him some good.
Stepping out into the hallway, Kafei traveled the well-known stone passage, and mounted the steps that would carry him to the ground floor of the Music Box House. Although there were emergency rooms should the need arise, both Pamela and her father preferred the light, and slept above ground. Daray was staying with them, and the three of them would most likely be fast asleep at this hour.
With this in mind, Kafei opened the secret door slowly, and closed it behind him quietly as not to disturb the father and daughter. The door seemed to melt seamlessly into the wall, fooling most casual observers of its existence. If one was going to have a hidden base, it might as well be supplemented with an equally concealed entrance.
The endless music that gave the Music Box House its name was slightly more subdued during the night than it was during the day. Unbeknownst to most, the music actually served a purpose. For some reason, Kafei suspected an enchantment, the music that sang from the building's core acted as a barrier against some of the less-than-alive residents of Ikana Canyon. He was thankful for that, it provided a slight feeling of security.
Kafei tiptoed across the room. He pushed the front door open a small crack, and felt the cool night air wash over him and send pleasant shivers down his back. Dawn was still hours away, which meant he might even manage a little stargazing, if the clouds weren't too thick.
The darkest marks on Kafei's face only seemed to make his bright red eyes even more poignant as the Hylian quietly let himself outside. Much to his expectation, he found that he was not the only one who had exited the Music Box House that night.
Lying to the left of the doorway, chin on crossed forepaws, was the large black and white wolf that Kafei recognized as their second guest. Kafei could admit to himself that it had been a bit of a shock to find himself in the presence of a shapechanger, but if the Keaton trusted the wolf, then the red-eyed Hylian couldn't say anything against him. The ghost fox was much older, and much more experienced. Nobody could trick a trickster.
Timbre lifted his head slightly, and turned one pointed ear in Kafei's direction. He blinked and yawned widely. Kafei had to admit that the wolf had an impressive set of teeth. Glad he isn't on the bad guys' side.
"H'lo," Kafei murmured in an all-too-familiar reserved way. "A mite stuffy downstairsI'm guessing you had the same problem?"
The wolf slowly pulled himself up until he was sitting on his haunches. A moment later, the raven-haired human shuffled into a cross-legged position, hands on knees. "Yeah," he rasped. "A mite stuffy, and a little tooI dunno, tight. Sometimes places like that get me antsy."
Kafei leaned against the side of the Music Box House, breathing the chilled air with a relish. "I know what you mean."
"That, and I wanted to think," Timbre added suddenly. "You're not going to simply leave Daray's parents without a single word that their son is safe, right?"
Kafei chewed his lip. "Well, I certainly don't want them to worry, problem is that everyone here isn't exactlywelcome in Clock Town anymore. Even the fairies. Tatl got herself captured just the other night, and nobody would listen to her anyhow. None of us would be able to carry a message. As for me" the Hylian trailed off quietly.
Timbre turned his head.
Kafei seemed to find his voice again. "Well, as for methey think I'm dead."
Timbre's green eyes seemed to reflect some inner knowledge as he asked the next question. "are you?"
Instead of shocked or offended by this, Kafei seemed almost bemused, a vast change over his pensive attitude. "Funny question to pose. What makes you ask that, Timbre?"
"Well, odd thing, really. Wolves have sensitive noses, andyou don't have a scent. At all. For a while, I though you might be-"
"No, I'm not dead," Kafei said finally. "Maybe half-dead, just a shadow of who I once wasbut half-dead means still half-alive, right?"
The raven-haired youth nodded at this simple logic. "What happened?"
"Daray says he told you some of itwe were out in the Field, I had to distract the Goriyas. Ran off in the opposite direction. Took a boomerang right here-" Kafei made a slicing motion with the side of his hand as he indicated the back of his head. "Cracked my skull, fell down one of those open holes."
Timbre swallowed.
"At least, that's what I figure happened," Kafei murmured, his voice trailing off. "I suppose that hole should've rightly been my gravebut, I guess I got a second chance. The Keaton found me, and I presume he's the one that brought me back. I woke up several days later, a complete messI couldn't move or anything. That is how Pamela found me one night, bruised and battered beyond recognition."
"And she brought you back here?"
"Yeah, and I slowly regained some stamina, though I've been different ever since."
"You mean the marks under your eyes?" Timbre prompted, not sure why he was being so nosy. "Those weren't always there."
How did he know that? "I've had em ever since that day I fell into the hole."
"So why didn't you return to your parents and your brother?" Timbre asked.
Kafei just stared at his hands. "Coming back after being killed?' Looking like this? I couldn't do it. Besidesmy face looks different because I'm not who I used to be. The Keaton once said the marks were a side-effect of becomingbecoming a shadow."
"You're ashadow?" Timbre was strongly reminded of the Sheikah. Maybe Kafei had some Sheikah blood in him, generations ago. He did have those red eyes, after all. "Well, that explains part of it. Shadows don't have a scent."
Kafei just nodded. "And being a shadow, I must stay in darkness always. In the lightI'm there, but I'm not."
Timbre looked thoroughly confused. "What do you mean? You justdisappear?"
"Pretty much. Without the dark, a shadow is nothing." Kafei shrugged sadly. "No substance. No form. But I'm still there. So, I have to stay in shadow. That's why I can't return to Clock Town. I'm not who I was. I don't belong there anymore. I must dwell in the shadows."
"So that's what the Stone meant," Timbre murmured to himself, gaining a quizzical look from his companion. "Erwhat I mean isI could always deliver the message."
Kafei quirked an eyebrow. "I can't ask you to do that."
"You didn't ask me to do anything. I volunteered. Though I understand if you still think I'm a spy-"
Kafei shook his head, denying the accusation before it was even finished. "I don't. If you or Link had meant any harm towards us, trust me, you wouldn't be here. But surely you can't want to go back to Clock Town, all by yourself?"
"No, I mean it! I could sneak in through the Observatory, if that old secret passage is still intact-"
"How'd you know about that?"
Oops. "Trust me, okay? If you know I'm not a spy, then you must be able to trust in my competence, alright?"
Kafei paused, then nodded. Some might think his acceptance too easy, after all that had happened, but he just couldn't deny the good judgement of the ghost fox. He did, however, remain skeptical of the proposed mission. "And presuming you somehow made it through the passage, and to the Mayor's residence, you could tell my brother that Daray is alright?"
Timbre nodded and puffed out his chest. "Of course. I'll go first thing in the morning. And while I'm at it, I could always, y'know, scope the town out, see what is going on"
"Well, I suppose" Kafei's eyes turned skyward a moment, taking in the multitude of stars. Then, he seemed to make a decision. "Alright then," he said with an air of finality. "Since you voulunteered. I could always send one of the fairies with you-"
"But I don't-."
"You still need a guide. I'll send Tael, he's got common sense. And he doesn't snap as much as his sister."
Timbre shrugged, too tired to argue. "Alright then."
Then Kafei yawned. "Good, I'm getting tired again. Maybe I can sleep now It's odd though, I'd almost given up sleeping at nightbetter to do so during the day, right?"
"Hmm," Timbre said, turning back towards the door. "I didn't know that shadows slept."
Kafei actually chuckled. "I wish you'd been around years ago," he said, not in an unkind tone. "I'd almost forgotten how to smile"
If only you knew, Timbre thought to himself. Well, if Link had been able to awaken Sond and Nickperhaps Kafei's liberation wouldn't be too far off.
*****
Dawn. A slight curtain of humid mist hung over Hyrule Field, though even this brief respite of moisture wasn't enough to heal the dead and dying grass. It did, however, cast a certain surrealistic and otherworldly aura, as if the world and all that occurred was only the thing of dreams.
Unfortunately, this would not prove to be a mere dream for the people of Kakariko.
A single tall figure slowly materialized out of the mist, followed almost immediately by more than a half-dozen floating cloaks, swinging their lanterns mournfully so that the mists wouldn't extinguish them. Chiron stepped forward, and regarded the ruined, charred bridge that prevented them from crossing the river into Kakariko village proper.
The Poes halted as their temporary commander did so. Rej, apparently the only one allowed to speak since his promotion, spoke up. "So, now what?"
"We have to get into the village. Unfortunately, thatdestroyed the bridge." Chiron sighed in exasperation as Pedro gave another loud snore, dozing on the assassin's shoulder.
"Yeah, well, you'd better hurry up and find a way in," Rej suggested. "Otherwise we'll be in trouble."
"I know that." Chiron scowled. "Why did you have to earn a grudge from those Wolfos, anyway?"
As if on cue, several four-legged shadows loped out of the mist, clarifying with an alarming alacrity. Chiron sighed. He'd already had to slay one of the Wolfos when it got too close to his party, but the others were still pursuing them doggedly. One of the shadows moved with an obvious limp, though that didn't seem to slow the Wolfos down much at all. The beasts halted a measured distance from Chiron and the Poes, slightly respectful after the demise of their packmate.
Still edging away, Chiron activated the same spell he'd used when talking to the snakes. The spell worked on any living thing, however, the more intelligent the creature, the less simple it was to get them convinced of your trustworthiness. And Wolfos, though not geniuses, were cunning enough. Definitely more so than the snakes. Of course, the upside of this was that he didn't have to convey his message through pure emotion, as the beasts could comprehend a spoken' language.
As the connection finalized, Chiron inclined his head. "Why are you following us?" he demanded.
The big Wolfos with the limp replied, almost disdainfully. "When we are hungry, we consume. You will suffice."
"I would suggest otherwise, unless you want to end up like your packmate."
The Wolfos just shrugged mentally, though in real life it growled softly. "One less to feed."
That gave Chiron an idea. He still had a hand on his guitar' handle, in case the Wolfos decided to rush him. "If you are hungry, perhaps we could strike a deal."
"It would be very kind of you all to offer yourselves as food" The limping Wolfos stepped forward, flexing his claws, but Chiron quickly quelled him of any ideas, drawing the katana and levering it between the beast's eyes. The Wolfos stiffened slightly. Hunger might make it irrational, but it wasn't that crazy. Yet.
Chiron narrowed his eyes. "Listen. Inside that village is a large group of humans. I need to eliminate one of them. Aid me in this endeavor, and I will make certain that you are fed."
The Wolfos growled quietly once more. "Humans. So full of empty promises. Twinrova promised us something similar, and what came of that? The death of two and my laming."
"What are you babbling about?" Chiron demanded, the point of the katana still pointed directly between the monster's eyes.
"I wasn't always so crippled. Twinrova promised us great rewards for destroying the Heroes of Time-"
"But that's who I was after!" Chiron argued. "Where did you fight them?"
"Closer to the huge stone fortress," replied the creature. "One of them struck two down with his sword, and the other snapped my leg in two."
Chiron snorted, but really didn't feel that much sympathy at all for the Wolfos. But he did feel confused. "How di-"
Rej made a small noise that sounded like a cough. "Umthe sun's rising. Are we gonna actually go to Kakariko or not?"
"Give me a moment, will you?" Chiron snapped at the Poe. "I'm trying to get these Wolfos to go away, or ally themselves."
"Ally? With Wolfos?" Rej made another funny cough. "You must be worse off than I thought if you think that'll work. It's not going to happen. Wolfos don't deal well with others. Best you can do is stop them from eating you right away. Let's just go."
The Wolfos almost seemed to grin in a grotesque fashion. "Humans. So indecisive."
"Fine." Chiron turned his attention back towards the Wolfos. "Go away, then. Go ahead and starve, or whatever. I don't care."
The Wolfos just snarled unpleasantly. "Good luck taking Kakariko, human," he said disdainfully. "But it looks like they already know you're here."
"What?" Chiron turned his head a fraction of an inch, and saw movement on the other bank of the Zora's River.
"It's a woman with white hair and a Deku Scrub in a cape," Rej said, squinting. When he did so, his little eyes became even narrower. "Looks like we lost the element of surprise. Twinrova'll be so pleased with you."
This last sarcastic remark was too much. Chiron let out an livid yell of fury, and struck out at the Wolfos. However, the furry creature leapt backwards, leaving Chiron's katana to swish through open air. The communication spell slowly abated, as the Wolfos and his pack danced away, and all Chiron could hear was the guttural, growling nasty chuckles that rang in his ears.
Chiron let yell with a rather potent curse word as he slammed his katana into the soil. "I hope they all burn!" He yelled.
Pedro's head snapped up immediately. "Burn? Huh? Where?"
Rej smirked. "Temper temperand you shouldn't do that to your nice sword, it'll dull the blade horribly."
Chiron was about to show the Poe how sharp the blade was when his attention was drawn again towards the group on the shore. It had grown now, and now the Din's Fire girl and a Skull Kid had joined the woman. That girlChiron's eyes narrowed. For some reason, she was familiar and not just because of the encounter the other day. It was almost as if he'd met someone whom he'd parted ways with long ago.
The white-haired woman, whom Chiron recognized as Impa, yelled across to him, and broke his train of thought. "What are you doing here, Chiron?" Even though it was a yell, Impa managed to convey her demanding tone.
"I've been sent by Twinrova, second to the royal Gerudos of Hyrule, to search your village," Chiron yell-replied, trying hard not to grit his teeth. He'd had too many things annoy him this morning, and he was condemned if he wasn't going to lose it while in the sight of enemies.
"I cannot allow that. I do not permit treachery and assassins into Kakariko village."
"Since when do you rule who enters and leaves the town, woman?" Chiron yanked his katana out of the ground. "King Ganondorf is the ruler, not you."
"He may rule the land, but he does not rule the people. If he did, he would prove himself compassionate and wise, and he is neither. He is simply a thief and a murderer. He therefore cannot rightly call himself a King. He is an imposter."
Chiron's face broke into a slight smirk. "I'd watch your tongue. That kind of talk will earn you a cut throat, Sheikah."
Impa smirked as well, her red eyes cold gimlet rubies. "Come and try it, then."
"I wouldn't" Rej started, but Chiron had already risen to Impa's bait, and waded quickly into the river, his tunic turning blue as the water. Though it was hard going and the water rather cold, Chiron pressed on. Pedro rolled off of his companion's shoulder, and hovered along the bank, for once at a loss for words. "Eh, what do I know, anyway?" The Poe rolled his eyes as he and his comrades hovered and watched.
Benz looked nervously up at Impa. "He's *squeak* coming this wayhe looks kind of *squeak* madaren't you worried at all?"
Impa's face didn't turn, though her eyes flickered down to the Deku Scrub. "Not at all. I'm thankful you warned us. We should be grateful that your kind rises so early. He might have caught us unawares otherwise."
Benz's barkskin turned slightly pink at the comment. "It were nothing," he mumbled with squeaky bad grammar.
Impa nodded, and her eyes flicked back towards the assassin, who was not about halfway across the river. It had gone over his head, but Chiron could swim well enough. He'd had to sheathe his sword in order to swim, however.
Impa, however, stood impassively, as if she's casually become a statue.
"Er *squeak* ma'am?" Benz looked slightly nervous again.
"Kaaaat" Aka tugged on the hem of the brown-eyed girl's skirt. "What's Impa doing? He'll attack her."
But Kat seemed as calm as the Sheikah woman. "Just wait and see what happens, alright?"
Chiron was swimming with powerful strokes, towards the far bank. However, something unexpected occurred. Just as he was shooting forward from another kick, his shoulder slammed into something. Chiron gave a startled yell.
"What the-?!"
Impa's smirk widened. "Problem?"
The assassin tread water with a puzzled expression. Striking out with a fist, his knuckles impacted with what appeared to be empty air. He slammed a palm, and encountered the invisible barrier once again. "What is this?" He drew the katana, and the sword clashed with open air as if it had hit a wall.
CLANG. CLANG! CLANG!
As the blade hit multiple times, a slight shiny ripple seemed to appear, cleanly cut across the median of Zora's River, like an impossibly thin curtain. Rej spotted the anomaly, and floated over the river, intrigued. He probed out with his left hand, the one currently not holding his lantern. Questing fingertips gingerly encountered the wall,' feeling as solid as any castle fortification. "Hmma barrier has been set up." Looking down at the Sheikah, he called out, "I suppose this surrounds the entire village?"
"Indeed. It is designed to keep those who would mean us harm out of Kakariko. People like him." Impa gestured down at Chiron, who was breathing heavily from his futile attacks on the barrier.
"Very smart, Sheikah," the assassin snickered with bad grace. "Tell me, are you that cowardly, or did becoming a matriarch make you soft?"
"No," Impa said quietly. "I am simply protecting the innocent residents of this village. Never mistake that for softness, or cowardice. Cowardice is better represented in other ways. Cold-blooded murder, for one. Or do you wish to contest me further, Chiron?"
Curling his lip, Chiron fumed as was forced to retreat to his side of the bank again, his cape and tunic up to the shoulders completely soaked. Without a way in, there was just no point in attacking the barrier. The Poes and Pedro looked to him for further orders.
"Very well," the assassin said coldly. Pointing out ten Poes, he said. "You. I want you to travel to the Northern entrance of Kakariko, the one that leads off to the mountain pass. If any try to cross, kill them." The Poes nodded and dispersed quietly. "The rest of yousecure this area. As of this moment, Kakariko Village is under siege." Chiron called over to Impa. "You hear that, old woman? You can't hide in your bubble forever. Eventually you will starve. Of course, you could always make it easy on yourself, and hand over the blacksmith now."
Impa said nothing, but shot a glance at Kat, Benz, and Aka. Apparently they were being dismissed, and they quietly walked up the path leading into the village proper. Impa, however, remained.
"What? Nothing to say for yourself?" Chiron mocked.
Impa spoke one last time before retreating. "You know that this is untrue. Lies do not become us, Chiron."
*****
"Who in their right mind piles half a pound of sugar on their oatmeal?"
Jim looked up at Link with a raised eyebrow. "I like sugar. And it's not half a pound, it's only four spoonfuls."
The green-clad Hylian shrugged and gave up the argument. He'd been in a bit of a rut, ever since the discovery of Daray the day before. Although he considered himself quite the morning person, he'd found it difficult to wake up this morning, despite the insistence of the Triforce of Courage. The Hylian leaned, chin in elbow, poking halfheartedly at the oatmeal set out on the wooden table before him.
"You don't like oatmeal?" Came Pamela's voice, directly to his left. Pamela had certainly been less rough since they'd earned their trust, but not all of the disdain had retreated from her tone of voice.
"Just not too hungry," Link mumbled, staring at his spoon with a look of disgust.
"In that case-" A black-gloved hand snaked in from the right and neatly hooked itself around the bowl. Link's breakfast practically zipped across the table. "Thanks."
"Hey!" Link looked up sharply at Timbre who was now downing his oatmeal as if it were going out of style.
"What?" Timbre paused and licked his spoon thoughtfully. "You said you didn't want it"
"I didn't meanack, nevermind" Link switched elbows and scowled deeply.
"You snooze, you lose," Jim commented.
Pamela's father, who was sitting on the right side of Timbre, poked the raven-haired youth on the shoulder. "Huh, with this one around we're gonna run out of food very quickly." Pamela's father was a sort of self-proclaimed scientist-field researcher, and had taken particular interest in the wolf, as he'd never seen one of his species in person before. The older man glanced over at Link, who still looked a bit crestfallen over losing his breakfast. "Aw, don't worry, we've got more in the kitchen."
Link nodded and hurried off to replenish his bowl as Timbre finished off the oatmeal with a slightly guilty air. It was hypocritical of him to yell at Link for being mean, and then pulling stunts like this. Though a lot of times it was just his stomach acting before his brain could catch up to it. Maybe Link had a similar problem, his mouth acting before his brain could. "Wellguess I'd better take off, then."
"Where you going?" Daray's voice echoed from the counter across the room. The little kid looked rather comical as he stood on tiptoe, his chin resting on the counter. His head was turned in the direction of voices.
"I'm going to tell your folks that you're alright," Timbre answered him. "Kafei and I-"
"By the way, where is Kafei?" Link rhymed, his voice echoing from behind the counter.
"He's still sleeping," Pamela said after a moment.
"Heh must be pretty sleepy," Link's voice said.
"Anyway, before I was interrupted-" Timbre paused. "Kafei and I agreed on it last night. I shouldn't be long, I'm pretty fast."
"Yeah, especially if you're hungry and you dangle food in front of his nose," Link said as he reappeared with more oatmeal.
Well, I kind of deserved that one. "Tell you what, Link." Timbre stood and stretched his arms out behind him. "Once I get back, we'll go and track down Boss Blind, knock the stuffing out of him, and take back what's rightfully yours. And while we're at it, we'll get Daray's goggles back. How's that sound?" Daray cheered in the background.
"Sounds noble enough," Link said, feeling slightly better as he took a spoonful of oatmeal. "I think that fulfills our heroics requirement for the day."
Tatl flew in with a whir, apparently catching the last thing said. "Heroic requirement?" She snorted. "Sounds almost like you do this kind of thing for your job."
"Er" Link started, and suddenly the Destiny Stone about his neck turned bright green. So far, no one had really commented on it, probably because they thought it was simply some kind of ornament. But now that it had decided to change colors, it was turning every head in the vicinity, save Daray's.
"Woah." Tatl floated down and poked the stone curiously. "Does it do that often?"
"Er, yeah. Even when it shouldn't," Link said, partially reprimanding the Stone. It seemed to shake, cradled in his hand, as if dissenting against being scolded. Link, not in the mood to argue, pulled the chain over his head with one fluid movement.
"Here Timbeyou take it for a while." The Hylian tossed the Destiny Stone to Timbre, who easily caught it in one hand.
The youth stared. "Why?"
"I don't knowjust think you might need it."
"Well, I'll admit it's a bit neat if it can change colorsbut it isn't that special" Tatl remarked, her arms crossed.
"Eh." Link shrugged noncommittally, then changed the subject. Tatl still hadn't warmed up to him, and it was kind of freaky how she didn't remember him despite all the companionship she'd provided, however grudgingly. "When will you be back? Before lunchtime, I suppose."
"Sounds good," Timbre smirked.
The Keaton appeared from around the counter, tails flowing like gentle water as the ghost fox practically glided across the floor, leaping catlike onto one of the stools at the large wooden table. "Be careful," the Keaton advised in its wheezy tone. Timbre felt a slight surge of jealousy that the vulpine could manage human language when the best he could do as a wolf were exaggerated mimes, and vocalizations that expressed affirmation. "Clock Town is a dangerous place."
"I've had tough times there before, but it's nothing I can't handle," Timbre reassured the Keaton. "Link'll agree with me."
"Mmm-hmm," Link said compliantly through a mouthful of oatmeal.
"All the same," the Keaton replied. "Be careful."
"Don't worry. I will."
At that moment, Tael floated in. If people were close enough, they would have read the perplexed expression on his face as he hovered in front of Timbre's nose. "You're the guy going to Clock Town? You'll never get there fast enough."
Timbre just smirked. "You think so, eh?"
A short while later, Link watched the wolf streak away from the Music Box and plunge himself into the unprotected rocky desolation of Ikana. Tael was a harried violet speck, trying hard to keep up with his sprinting four-legged charge. The Destiny Stone was looped about Timbre's neck, and bounced against the wolf's neck fur every time he bounded forward. Link stared. Hopefully he'd be fast enough to outrun the Redeads. The Hylian shook his head. Of course he is, Link thought. I just hope that he knows what he's doing.
*****
It took considerably less time for Timbre to make it back to into Clock Town's sight, due to obvious reasons. The Stone bounced continually against the wolf's neck, but he ignored it, keeping his senses peeled in case something nasty, fast, unexpected, or all of the above happened to try anything. Tael, who had long given up trying to fly to keep up with Timbre, was now seated comfortably between his ears, with a fistful of fur in each hand for grip. The fairy hung on grimly, not wanting to accidentally be thrown off. Timbre felt almost euphoric, as it wasn't often he was able to get a run like this. His friends wouldn't be able keep up with him, and he didn't want to leave them anyway.
Not even any Chu-Chus today, he thought, impressed. Termina Field remained precariously on that fine edge between listlessness and sickly, slightly faded grass causing waves of movement, as if the wolf were afloat in a viridian ocean. Even the breeze smelled slightly stale.
Timbre shook his head, slightly disgusted, and Tael uttered a slight jingle of displeasure as he was nearly dislodged again. Timbre growled a quiet apology, and turned his continued easy lope southwards, turning away from Clock Town. If he wanted to get into Clock Town in secret, he would need to take the secret passage via the Observatory. And that, was situated outside of Clock Town.
There it was, poking lumplike out of the terrain like a giant spyglass, a small dome-shaped stone structure, though it wasn't nearly as large or impressive as some. Either way, Timbre needed to get over the fence that cut the Observatory off from Termina Field proper.
The wind abruptly changed direction as the wolf circled the structure, looking for the telltale door that led inside. It had been a while since he'd last seen it, after all-
As the wind suddenly blew into his face, Timbre was practically smacked upside the head with a musky equine scent. Daah! Timbre's hippophobia reacted about a millisecond before his brain did, meaning his forequarters and hindquarters tried going on totally opposite directions. The lupine stumbled, the horse-scent still hovering around his head. Tael took flight about his head, confused at the reaction.
"What's wrong? It's just a horse. Over there, see?"
Timbre's ears went back. If there was one thing that scared him in the world, it was horses. Actually, there was the whole kissing issue, but horses were the main animate thing that scared him. His friends had tried unsuccessfully snapping him out of it, but Timbre's fears couldn't be allayed, and they had soon given up.
And it was still in force apparently, as Timbre backed away slowly from the black armored stallion that currently stood tethered to the fence. Geez, that thing's more massive than Epona
The black stallion's nostrils flared, and one wild red eye roved back, the whites of the eyes a stark contrast to the raven coat. It spotted the wolf and violet fairy with an alarming accuracy, and the stallion snorted in plain anger, and reared slightly. It was not pleased at all. Maybe it was just the armor, but the stallion didn't seem the friendliest of its kind.
As Timbre gained control again, muscles quivering because they wanted out, he suddenly recognized the horse. A long time ago, during the first months he'd known his friends (at least it had felt like that), they'd encountered Ganondorf riding a huge armored stallion with red eyes.
"Erhello again" Timbre stammered.
He wasn't sure whether the horse understood him or not, but the equine squeal he got in reply, coupled with the sharp jerk on the rope tethering the horse told Timbre it wasn't feeling overly polite. In fact, the wolf had a pretty good idea that if the stallion wasn't currently tethered, it would do a very good job of trying to squash him flat.
At that moment, the rope creaked as it was pulled at again, several strands of the twisted fibers breaking against the semi-sharp edge of the wooden fence.
"Yikes!" Tael squeaked, summing it up for the both of them.
Timbre had had enough, as had his spazzed muscles. Tael could tell Timbre was going to try and jump the fence. Grimly, he flew down, clinging to the wolf's left ear, which was lying flat against the skull still. Nerving himself, Timbre charged the fence. The horse squealed loudly, and reared on its hind legs, ready to kick if anyone got too close. However, closing in on the horse was probably the last thing on Timbre's mind. He ran at the fence, keeping a respectful distance between him and those wickedly sharpened hooves. There was the fence. Ten yards, five yardstaking an almighty leap, Timbre practically flew through the air, clearing the fence easily. As he sailed past, the stallion bucked angrily, furious at the trespasser. However, it seemed to calm suddenly as Timbre's paws hit safe ground on the opposite side. Mouth slightly agape, the wolf stared at the mad horse from the safety of the other side, Tael still clinging to his ear.
"Woah, that thing's crazy!" The thoroughly frightened fairy squeaked.
"Yeah. I hope he doesn't decide to try and jump over after me," Timbre remarked. This was more to himself than for Tael, as the fairy didn't understand growls. Turning towards the door, Timbre looked the portal up and down. "Oh please don't be locked" Reaching up a forepaw, he rattled the door handle, and was gleeful as he found it able to turn. Round doorknobs could be a problem without opposable thumbs, but unlocked door handles were practically a Goddess-send. It took the work of a second to turn the door handle.
The black stallion snorted disdainfully as he watched a black and white tailtip whip around the now slightly ajar door to the Observatory. Moments later, the winged violet speck followed.
*****
Goshdarn it all! Kafei's flashback was at least TWICE as long as I had intendeddarned descriptive adjectives*scoffs* I was meaning to get about a scene ahead in this chapter, but this seems like the closest cutoff point for a while. Otherwise, you'd be stuck another week without a chapter and about 20 extra pages of stuff to read. Bleah. Well, now that you've read my so-called kind of angsty sad violent' (Pssh, yeah right) chapter, are people still cool with the PG rating? I mean, I could always up it to PG-13 if I had to, but I don't think it's THAT bad. If I don't feel the need, then I won't. Oh, and the villains SHALL be making another appearance next chapter, seeing all goes well. I'm thinking next chapter's going to be a lot more action-oriented, and I'll try my very best to get this plot moving. *cracks whip over plot's back* Move faster! Faster, I say! *whip-crack* Muahahah*cough* Till next time! ^_^