"The Destiny Stone"

Disclaimer: 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 the rest. Thanks Sond! Rej is © FogFrontier!

*****

Oookay! I'm back! First things up — shout outs! AKA, stories that everyone should at least take a gander at! The Kirby Kid's stories are fantastic! Very original ideas and a wonderful narrative style that will have you in envy! If you crave a good read, I'd go check them out! And Faethin's stories are also defiantly worth checking out, especially if you're a fan of the epic storyline. I'll tell you now; they're both extremely excellent writers! Work goes quite well — I'm outside most of the time, which beats scooping ice cream any day. Only problem is that I'm usually quite exhausted at the end of the day, so I don't always update at writing. But I'm still alive, and plugging away! Oh, and more good newsmy budgie who was ill for a while is getting betterwe thought she had a tumor, but it ends up it wasn't! It also ends up that she' isn't a she at all — it's a male bird! Poor thing, I've been calling him the wrong gender for about 7 years now Hooray for modern medical science!

*****

"The Destiny Stone" — Chapter 21: Underground Alliance

Pamela and Jim still found themselves practically knee-deep in Deku Scrubs, though fortunately for all of them, this was only a temporary situation. Both had watched with amazement as the initial small tunnel had slowly widened into an intricate archway of sorts, all facilitated by the Goron and his clan. Though clearly they couldn't all be tunneling experts, the race seemed to have an inborn ability for the skill.

Their lever had been politely taken off their hands (not that they were sorry to see it go). It now served as shoring, making a doorway' of sorts, set into the area where the cave-in once held sway. Of course, now that cave-in no longer existed, and both breathed a sigh of relief at the thought of an exit.

The Gorons seemed no worse for wear, despite having retreated underground; then again, they were used to it. The Deku Scrubs looked slightly less at ease, and Pamela understood why. They huddled in small exhausted groups, not quite looking miserable, but coming rather close. Dekus weren't known for liking to spend a lot of time underground — maybe in the top layers of soil it was fine — but being further down like this, within cracks of bedrock, they looked positively horrified. So far away from sunlight, some were starting to look a little callow.

Pamela's father, Daray and the other Bombers were back at the Great Fairy's Fountain. The adults were probably currently busy informing both of the Fairies of what had happened. A small group of Dekus who had been looking extraordinarily pale followed them, in hopes of receiving healing. The chief Goron tunneler had also gone on ahead to introduce himself, while his comrades stayed behind, putting final additions on the new entrance. Right now order of business seemed to be relax and don't get in the way.'

Pamela sighed, and that sigh was echoed by the small female Deku who had been the first to crawl through the hole. As it would prove, she was the current ruler of the Deku tribe. Her given name was Princess Cooksonia Caledonica, but this was almost always shortened to Sonia by her request. Pamela didn't blame her. Though a competent leader (she'd managed to get them this far, after all), it was clear that the position was still rather new to the female; though she was clearly trying her best.

"Are your subjects going to be okay?" Pamela asked her, sitting down on an unoccupied outcropping. She beckoned, and the female followed suit.

Sonia shrugged, looking a little miserable, and very worn out. "I *squeak* hope sothough there *squeak* really wasn't a choice for us, was there? It was *squeak* either come down here or freeze to death"

One of the monkeys, who'd introduced himself as Kiki, threw a reassuring furry arm around the Deku, chirruping in his clipped manner. "No worry! Will work out," he said. "We survive poisoning years back, yes?"

Sonia nodded soberly, looking out sadly at the others. "Still, I can't *squeak* help but feel like there was more to be done."

"It's hard," Pamela agreed. "For everyone. We've still got people up topside to worry about, too."

The Deku Princess looked up sharply. "Aren't you *squeak* from Clock Town? I thought you all escaped!"

"I'm not; I'm from Ikana Canyon, I live with my father. But Jim and some of the others are refugees from Clock Townbut not all of them got out. The Goriya overran the Town completely years ago, and the Mayor and some other families still live there, though it isn't very pleasant, you can imagine."

"You had *squeak* those monsters visit you too?" Sonia looked interested. "They *squeak* tried to invade the swamp territory not too long ago. We *squeak* did refuse them; I'd been *squeak* afraid that the blizzard was some sort of retribution for driving them off."

Jim broke away from his three-way conversation, involving him, the Keaton, and another Deku. All three turned towards Pamela and Sonia at this. "We'd thought that it was because of us," Jim admitted. "The Goriya had tracked us to our original hideout, and the snow started soon after that."

"Yeah, right after that green kid and that wolf came by," Pamela mused.

"That what?" Kiki looked surprised. "Thought them all gone."

"What, green kids?" The Keaton smirked.

"No. Wolvesyou actually see live one?"

"Yeah, is that a bad thing?" Jim looked curious. "He was pleasant enough. Ate a little too much, but"

Kiki shrugged. "Weird, is all."

The unnamed Deku shook his head. "Then again, stranger *squeak* things have been happening lately." He was a lankier sort, almost tall for his kind. And all of them milling about at the moment, he looked to be one of the least ill at ease. He suddenly jumped, looking up at Pamela. "Oh, I forgot to introduce myself to you, madam. Rhus Radicans, at your *squeak* service." He offered his hand to Pamela, who shook it warmly.

"Pamela Scribshale," she said, grinning at his formality. "And welcome aboard,"

"Rhus always have impeccable manners," Kiki smirked widely until Sonia elbowed him. So instead, the monkey whispered in an aside to Pamela. "He can't help, father's a butler, see"

Rhus cleared his throat importantly, as if he hadn't heard the last. "So, we *squeak* don't actually know what called on this blizzard."

"We just think we do," Jim agreed.

"I would think that the reason for the blizzard has passed, as the storm itself has abated," the Keaton observed. He paused only to flow up onto Pamela's shoulders like a living reverse waterfall. "At least, the magic causing the blizzard has stopped."

"Either way," Sonia put in, "What do we do about your *squeak* people, who are still above ground?"

"We were going to mount a rescue mission or something of the sort," Jim mused. "Though we first needed to find a way out. That cave-in was a doozy. Pam seemed to have a few ideas, though."

Pamela nodded, then briefly explained the concept of her idea, wishing that at least one of the Gorons could have been present to overhear. But they were busy, of course. Her audience, however, was attentive enough. Also encouraging was the fact that they seemed honestly interested in her ideas. Perhaps their days of lonely sojourn had made them more daring.

"It could work, in *squeak* theory," Sonia murmured, her tone excited nevertheless. "Of *squeak* course, it would involve a long, sunless journey into unknown *squeak* territory"

Pamela was quickly taking the squeaky Deku accent in stride, to the point where she hardly even noticed it. "I was actually hoping some of the Gorons might pledge help as well," she said. "They might know more than we do."

Sonia nodded resolutely. "Well, we may not *squeak* be the biggest or the strongest around, but *squeak* my people will be only too glad to *squeak* help in any way they can." She smiled with her eyes. "It is the least we can do."

Rhus went suddenly thoughtful. Despite his size, it made him look rather serious and dignified. "Perhaps *squeak* the folly of Termina, as in the past, has *squeak* been due to the fact the different tribes have *squeak* failed to communicate, and work with each other."

"Wise words," agreed the Keaton. "Perhaps it is time that Termina work as a whole. For the many are stronger than the one, yes?"

Jim nodded. "Always worth a try. Too bad the Zoras are gone, otherwise we could've had another edge."

The Keaton shrugged from his perch on Pamela's shoulders. "They went their way. Therefore we must work alongside those who are left. So goes it, sometimes. Now," he suddenly said, changing the subject with a swish of tails. "I believe it is time for bed."

"Huh?" Pamela blinked at the non-sequitor. "What do you mean?"

"What I mean is," the Keaton stated slowly, "you should all find some rest."

Sonia and Rhus looked about ready to protest, when Jim stopped them. "He's right, you know."

"But we *squeak* need to plan!" Rhus protested.

The Keaton shook his head. "To plan, one requires a clear and rested mind. To go without sleep for so long is as much a folly as inaction."

Sonia looked from Rhus to Kiki to the humans, and then looked at her charges, who were all beginning to look droopy-eyed. She nodded finally. "Then we shall rest."

"B-but-" The male Deku looked slightly hurt.

Sonia looked up at Rhus, and despite her shorter stature, she somehow managed to look down at him as well. "Rhus, these *squeak* guys're running on emptywe've *squeak* been running down these tunnels for at least a day and a half-"

"Two days," Rhus interjected.

"Two days," agreed the princess quickly. "But *squeak* one can only run on excess energy for so long. They're worn out. Literally. You are *squeak* tired as well, though you might want to think otherwise."

Rhus had to concede to this logic.

"In that case," Pamela looked around, then back at Sonia. "Do you think we could possibly offer your people some hospitality? I know rock isn't exactly comfortable, but-"

Sonia looked rather grateful. "T-thank you"

Rhus, having changed his opinion, shook Pamela's hand again. "The Deku tribe thanks you and your people, Pamela Scribshale." The Deku's tone of speech gave Pamela a start — the way Rhus had worded it, it sounded as if they thought her the leader of the Hylians underground.

"But I'm-" She started to protest until she met the Keaton's eyes as he leaned over her shoulder. They told her to stay her protests, and so she desisted.

Then the Keaton actually smiled. "Consider it the first part in this new alliance," he suggested. "Come tomorrow, we'll see how strong we are together."

*****

Chiron hadn't spoken much since the incident with the girl on the horse, although Pedro was sure that his partner has sustained no lasting damage. Instead, he had lapsed into a kind of silent meditative mode, and could most often be seen sitting cross-legged in the stringy grass of Hyrule Field, eyes closed in deep contemplative thought. From time to time, Chiron's lips would move as if he were chanting to himself, or whispering unknown words that only he knew the meaning to.

Pedro found Chiron in this state one early morning. Chiron sat, with his katana clutched at his side like a well-loved toy. Though hesitant at disturbing the Gerudo boy while he looked to be busy, Pedro knew he had to tell him about the Wolfos and the barrier sometime.

"Well, here goes nothingChiron?"

The figure didn't move at all.

"UmChiron? I have something important information."

Chiron didn't flinch as the fairy alighted on his shoulder, and Pedro took that as an acknowledgement to continue.

"Um, well, it's like thisnight before lastfirs' night of the full moon, I was out flying patrols like you told me to, and that stupid Poe and his buddies were guarding the barrier like you set them toy'know, maybe you should talk to those ruddy ghosts, they don't know their places, they don't"

Pedro trailed off slowly as he noticed Chiron's brow slowly furrowing. His master was becoming annoyed, and the fairy laughed nervously.

"Eh-heh, sorry. Anyway, there was a disturbance, and a bunch of Wolfos came running our way, towards the village. That Din's Fire girl and that horse girl cross the barrier were keepin' guard, and one of em took out a bow and she shot some funny arrows at them, but I got the ghosts to attack the Wolfos anyway. Well, all the Wolfos were all took care of but for one, and it tried to jump the barrier" Pedro quailed, watching for a reaction. He swallowed dryly, and continued miserably. "Andit got through."

Chiron's grip around his katana suddenly tightened convulsively, though his eyes had not opened, nor was he moving. But Pedro knew he had just crossed the line. Coughing quietly, he hovered back into the air with mumbled apologies.

"S-sorry s-sir, we did all we could, though that wretch of a Poe wouldn't listen to me, even when a fairy followed the Wolfo-"

The katana whistled through the air, missing Pedro by a millimeter. Pedro yelped as Chiron's other hand flew up and neatly caught him in a trembling fist. Chiron's arm swiftly brought the trembling fairy up until he dangled directly in front of his master's nose, dark eyes livid with rage.

"Enough! I've had it to here with your excuses, Pedro! Why didn't you tell me of this sooner?" Chiron's voice was quietly fuming.

"W-well s-sir," Pedro choked (Chiron's grip was slowly crushing him), "I couldn't find you beforeyou've been awfully s-secludedI can't breathe, you know"

Chiron let his grip slacken, though not enough to allow the fairy's escape. "I've been trying to think, without your gibbering in my ear every moment like some kind of mosquito. Did anything else try the barrier?"

"Y-yes. The Poes tried to fly in after the Wolfos, but they couldn't pass-"

"And what of this Wolfos? Did the girl kill it?"

"N-no sirshe ran over to it in fact, as it collapsed, and tried to help it. It was almost like it were-"

"An ally?"

"A p-pet?"

"Either way, on their side, yes?"

"I s-suppose so, boss."

"Hmm" Chiron released Pedro, who shook fitfully for a moment as his wings unbent. Fortunately he hadn't broken anything. "Interesting spell, then."

"What?"

Chiron ignored his fairy, and re-sheathed the katana. "A barrier that only lets a friend or ally pastdon't you see?"

"See what, boss?"

"Listen to me: apparently that barrier won't let enemies or any with ill intentions past it. I couldn't get past as I am their enemy. The Poes could not pass as they are under my orders, and therefore with an intent to harm. However, that girl on the horse must have been an ally, as was that creature"

"Hmmso how do we get by? Pretend to be friendly?"

"I doubt that the barrier would be fooled, Pedro. No, we need to get them to come out to us."

"But they aren't going tonot unless they starve first, and they'd probably just die in there to spite us."

"All the better for us. No, we have to find some reason for them to want to leave. Did you overhear anything that any of them might have said in your presence?"

"Uha lot of it was too far away to overhearsorry boss"

Chiron grunted in annoyance.

"Though" Pedro went thoughtful. "What I do remember was that they were talking about some boomerang they found, and oh yeahthe horse girl was confusedsaid something about wondering where a link was, and something about the missing piece of the Master Sword."

"What?!" Pedro instantly found himself back in that death-grip. "Whatdid you say?"

"T-they t-talked ab-about a link, an' t-the M-master Sword. I d-don't remember anything else, s-sorry"

Chiron didn't release his captive this time, and hissed through his teeth as he stood. He ignored Pedro's quiet squeaks and helplessly fluttering wings.

"If that is the caseit would be quite in our favor to dispose of this problem before Grandmotheror Ganondorfreturns." Chiron's brow furrowed. "Pedro, go find Rej, and tell him I want to know every word overheard from that village. Every word."

"Why's that boss? You got a plan to lure them out?"

"Perhaps" Chiron released the fairy. "Oh, and Pedro?"

"Yessir?"

"No more excuses. Next time I guarantee much more dire consequences."

Pedro swallowed hard.

*****

Timbre awoke with a start that sent him lurching onto the floor with a dull thud. The wolf had no warning — one moment he'd been completely senseless, the next had been an explosion of movement that left him half-stunned, all four legs sprawled in opposite ways.

With a groan, he tried to remember where he was. For a moment, he was sure he was on Nick's ship again, until his nose told him otherwise. Timbre kept his eyes closed for the moment, because he knew he'd be dizzy if he opened them. His head still swam, and he felt a vague ache along the back of his head, between his ears. Trying to ignore that for the most part, he inhaled slowly, letting the ambient smell of — wherever he was — tell him more of his surroundings.

No, definitely not Nick's ship. For one thing, the salty, fishy smell of the ocean was nowhere to be found (or was that smelled?), nor was there any vague scent of sealant or pitch, two things that were imperative to a vessel's structure. It smelled more instead like an enclosed, yet clean area, and he got the vague scent of linen, and to his surprise, coffee.

Sond! Timbre nearly lurched again, only a second surprise as he found yet another familiar scent. He let out a heaving sigh. Kat too. It's not super-strong, but they're here. Wherever here' is.

Braving himself to open his eyes, Timbre let his other senses re-orient themselves as he peered about. He found himself in a room, obviously a bedroom, due to the style of décor ( and the linen, which attributed to the scent ). The floor was hard and wooden, though there was a small throw rug, which he realized with embarrassment had tangled up his legs and paws when he'd fallen.

Fallen? Timbre blinked, turned his head around, and looked up, realizing he'd been on the bed until not too long ago. But how had he gotten up there? Or better yet, how had he ended up here in this room in the first place? He didn't remember going to sleep here. In fact, the last thing he could remember was-

Something about that portal, and then I left the Ranchand then I was going to bring the — something - to Kakariko - then it all goes blank. Did something happen?

With a vague sense of unease, Timbre realized whatever had happened before he'd woken up here was a indistinguishable blur, at best. As he tried to pull himself up into a sit, he winced, learning another piece of the puzzle. He'd also been hurt sometime during this blank period, that was clear enough. Timbre realized this as he looked himself over and found several bad twinges and slashes under his fur, the most painful of these a gaping wound on his left shoulder. Oddly enough, as he craned his head around to look at it, it had the look of an older wound, one that had been healing for some time.

Instinct made him lick his shoulder a few times, and he made a face, realizing that he was practically saturated in mud. It wasn't a recent coating, either. It was flaking off in little dirty bits, though it clung in annoying clumps to his fur. That can't be good for wounds, he thought. But stillwhat did this to me?

Either way, I'd like to know where I am, he thought. He was in a bedroom, yes. But where? He dared to put his paws under him and stand up. Although he felt complaints, and his legs shook terribly with momentary weakness, there were clearly no broken bones.

Curiosity found him slowly and carefully (he still felt a bit drowsy) padding towards the light filtering into a window across the small room. The curtains were drawn, but Timbre just poked his snout around the opening, and squinted out as the warm golden sunlight hit him full-blast.

The scene that greeted him was a village square, centerpieced by a large tree. People were milling about, busy with various duties that seemed to occupy most of them. Timbre sighed with relief. He recognized the tree and the shape of the square, and knew he'd made it, somehow, to Kakariko.

But how had he gotten here, again?

Withdrawing from the window, Timbre sat down and tried to remember. He had the feeling that something overly unpleasant had happened. He'd been in some kind of fight, obviously. But how did that connect to him finding himself suddenly in the middle of the village? And where was Tael?

Frustrated, Timbre realized he was coming up with more questions than answers. And somehow, just thinking of those questions were making him itch, and his wounds sting. Glaring down at himself, Timbre made a small sound of disgust, in this case a small snarl. The mud had to go, and he had a feeling that his wounds could use a good disinfecting as well.

The wolf's eyes roved about the room, and rested upon the two doors it also contained. One door was closed, and Timbre assumed this led to the rest of the house. The other was swung halfway open, as if awaiting his investigation. As he approached it, he saw that this door seemed to lead to a washroom of sorts.

As if replying to his earlier request, Timbre discovered in one corner of this new room a large basin of water set out, along with towels, soap, and a sponge, as if patiently waiting for him. Sitting next to these was a clean set of clothing. But what clinched him was the fact that his trenchcoat, neatly cleaned and folded, lay beside them.

Must be Sond's doing, Timbre realized with a slight grin, smelling coffee again.

Seeing the inviting water there, Timbre changed form and took full advantage of it. More often then not, he and his friends had depended on cold rivers to stay at least moderately clean out in the wilds. This was practically a luxury, as the water was warm, and the soap easy to lather. It wasn't quite as nice as the shower back at Link's house (which worked by an ingenious mechanical system of cisterns that Timbre didn't quite understand), but he wasn't complaining either. He winced a little, running water carefully over his hurts. The shoulder especially liked to sting, and he couldn't help but wince looking at it. Without the fur, it looked a lot uglier, and it throbbed an angry flushed color, though at least it was now clean. The last thing he wanted or needed was something festering.

By the time he was done, he was clean, while the water now looked slightly clouded with the muck he managed to rinse off of himself. "Yech," Timbre said, more to hear his own voice than anything as he dried off.

That done, Timbre changed into the new set of clothes, folding his ripped and muddied clothes as neatly as he could. They looked a rather sad sight, and Timbre frowned. He'd owned that shirt and pants for almost as long as he'd been in Hyrule, and he hoped he'd be able to get them mended. Wearing new clothes after so long made him feel very odd.

He was just about to examine his coat when he heard a noise outside the bedroom door. Mildly alarmed, he changed form, his new clothes thankfully changing with him. If he'd been a wolf when he'd woken up, any stranger that might check on him would be expecting a wolf in the room, and not a human. If it was Sond, then all the better. But one never wanted to take chances. With this in mind, he peered out from behind the washroom door, tried his best to appear calm, and waited.

Timbre didn't have to wait long, though the woman who entered the swung-open door was neither Sond nor Kat. For one thing, she was clearly older than either of his friends. For a second, her hair was a bleached silvery color, and she wore armor like one would normally wear a tunic. As she entered, she looked directly at him with a pair of piercing blood-red eyes. He nearly retreated back into the washroom as the gaze settled upon him.

"Ah, you're awake," she said, as if she gave greetings like this every day. "I suppose you found the washroom on your own?"

Impa. Princess Zelda's guardian and nursemaid. The mental image finally found itself a name, and a marker of ally,' all in the same instant. Timbre nodded in acknowledgement, shyly re-entering the bedroom. He wasn't sure if Impa knew other languages than her own. The Sheikah woman was carrying a large bowl with her, and also a corked ceramic bottle, which she held pinned under one arm.

The Sheikah smelled slightly metallic, as if her person were made of iron and steel instead of flesh and bone. This seemed to reflect Impa's personality, and somehow kept her label of ally' intact in Timbre's mind. Had she come meaning any kind of harm, he would have sensed some sort of deceptiveness about her. So either Impa was trustworthy, or just exceedingly good at fooling others. Timbre hoped for the former.

"You are among friends, and yes, I know of your nature," Impa said bluntly, setting the bowl and jar down on the bedside table. "If you would resume your human form." Timbre was surprised at being so bluntly asked to change, but did so, mostly due to her tone of voice. Her voice rang with the authority of one who often gave orders, and the mind behind the voice was clear, learned and calm. Then again, she is a Sheikah, and their symbol is the Eye of Truth. Timbre wasn't so sure why, but that thought made him feel a lot less awkward. There would be no secrets hidden or unknown by Impa. She would not lie to him, nor would he be able to lie to her. He hastily stood up, self-consciously pulling the wrinkles in his shirt straight.

Impa hardly even glanced over at him, before pulling a nearby chair out. "Sit down here, if you please."

"Uh-" Timbre bit his lip and did so, again compulsively due to that voice. The chair creaked as he fidgeted uncomfortably. The chair wasn't padded, though its carpenter had sculpted it to fit the sitting form. "Why?" He blurted this before he could stop himself. He flinched at his rudeness, expecting a frown in return.

Impa, however, seemed to overlook the blunt question as she uncorked the bottle, poured it into the bowl, and began soaking a clean rag in it. "That shoulder-wound of yours needs looking after. Take the shirt off for a moment."

Modesty made him quail for a moment, though complied eventually. Feeling his ears burning slightly even as he pulled the shirt off, Timbre dared another question, even though he already half-knew the answer. "Where am I?"

"You're at my house in Kakariko Village, as you might have discovered already." Impa sloshed the rag around the bowl, sprinkling some sort of cut greens into the bowl as she did so. The pungent smell of the concoction made Timbre's nose sting slightly, and he had the sinking feeling it would feel just as sharp when applied to the wound. "I am called Impa."

"I'm Timbre," he replied nervously, trying to stay polite as he stared apprehensively at the tonic. It was all he could do to stop himself from getting back up and making a run for the door. "UhI hate to sound ungrateful, ma'ambut I don't think my shoulder's too bad off. You don't need to go through any trouble for me-"

Impa's crimson gaze became slightly withering. "Timbre, is it? I'm sorry to say this, but as this village's only acting medical agent, I will have to request that you accept treatment. Otherwise," she added, "I might have to have you restrained first. Please try to understand that I'm only trying to help."

Timbre gritted his teeth and sat back. "It's justI don't know if you've ever encountered a wolf's instincts-"

"Which are currently making you flinch away from all other contact," Impa finished for him. Though her voice remained curt, it wasn't exactly unkind. "I'll admit, my dealings with your kind have not been extensive, but yours is an expected reaction, seen in many creatures, even humans. However, seeing as you are a thinking and feeling being, it is clear that you are quite lucid, and have the ability to desist from allowing something like inborn urges get the better of you. Biting one's healer is not exactly in accordance with Hylian etiquette, so please try to refrain from doing so, alright?"

Timbre flinched. "I don't bite," he assured her. "At least, not too often." He tried to make light of the situation, though he strained to curb instincts a little too eager to rear up.

"Good. Now, this might sting a little." With little fanfare she suddenly immobilized his shoulder by firmly grasping his upper arm. She then applied the medicine-soaked rag to his wound.

Timbre hissed through his teeth, though Impa's grip stopped him from squirming too much. He squeezed his eyes shut and tried not to think about the living fire that seemed to be searing though his shoulder. "Ouuuuch," he moaned, elongating the word in the human version of a whimper.

Impa tried her best to be amenable. "At least your friend Sond had a red potion for you," she said as she worked. "Otherwise, this gash would have needed to be stitched closed, and I am not exactly learned in the art of making flesh immune to pain."

That made Timbre wince more than the sting had. But a moment later his eyebrows unfurrowed in curiosity. "So Sond is here," he remarked. "Is Kat here too?"

To Impa's credit, she didn't exactly start, though Timbre felt the pressure of the rag let up for an instant when Kat's name was mentioned. "Yes," Impa said in a normal tone. "Hmm. So it is true. You know of her, despite the fact she does not remember you."

"I suppose you know of that whole story then," Timbre said, whimpering again when the sting returned.

"Yes. At least enough. I know what the fairy Tael has said, what Vulcan has said of you, and of the Master Sword, which you so helpfully restored to us."

Timbre did start; as he had neither the poise nor the training of the Sheikah leader. The boomerang! How could I have forgotten that?! "I-I did? I made it?"

"You arrived two nights past, in a rather spectacular fashion," Impa observed, letting go of his arm to soak a new rag. "You are probably still a bit disoriented, yes?"

Timbre nodded, and she continued.

"It is not an uncommon thing to have a very slight amnesia after sustaining some serious injury. Allow me to explain what happened. You were running rather doggedly, if you'll excuse the pun, from three Wolfos, with the last missing piece of the Sword in your possession. You managed to jump clear over the river connecting us to the Field in one bound, though the effortincapacitated you. Thanks to Sond and Kat for the most part, your pursuers were unable to catch you."

"Ah," Timbre said, though this was mostly due to the fact his shoulder seared again as the rag was re-applied. Wisps of memory were slowly returning, and suddenly were locking into place. He remembered running now, away from that pack of savages, after he-

"Ugh." Timbre shook his head, though not from any sting.

"Hmm?" Impa looked interested.

"I just remembered why. They goaded me into a fight, andI killed one of them," Timbre said, his mouth dry. "Grabbed him under his chin and ripped his whole throat out. After I broke one's leg againTael didn't see, I made him go on ahead." Timbre's whole throat felt slightly thick from the memory of it all.

Impa blinked, noting duly his reaction. "Bloodshed is not a foreign experience to you," she stated firmly. "Your kind are hunters by trade, yes? And you acted defensively. It is nothing to be ashamed about."

"Yeah, but I just can't help but feel like I could somehow avoided it altogether," he said, the memory of the conversation of with the lamed Wolfos returning suddenly. "I had no business stalling. I had a job to do."

"Which you completed," Impa said quietly. "I don't consider taking one's safety into consideration stalling.' Or the safety of the village."

"Um-"

She wrung the rag out and started to fold it before he could say anything else. "There, I think you'll survive. That wasn't so bad, was it?"

Timbre looked back at his shoulder. Somehow, talking had kept his mind off of the pain a little. "No. Thanks, ma'amI suppose I've been a bother."

"Not overly," Impa admitted. "Oh, one more thing about that night: you were discovered in possession of a rather odd charm, tangled about your neck fur by a small chain." She reached inside one pocket, and withdrew the Destiny Stone. "I don't suppose it is important?"

"Hey! I'd almost forgotten about that!" Timbre accepted the charm, and the Stone turned a slight pink as it nestled in his hand. "Yeah, this little thing is a bit important."

"Kind of a guardian spirit, eh?" Impa half-smiled. She was now wrapping his shoulder in an intricate bandage of a sort, so that the medicine wouldn't be worn off as quickly. The shoulder twinged, but it was with the numb sensation of the newly medicated, rather than the pain of infection.

"Something like that," Timbre said, pulling the chain back over his head. "Thank you, though." The Stone seemed to hum as it thumped around between his ribs. Next, he pulled his shirt back on, careful not to catch it on his newly medicated arm. "Um-"

"Now, you must eat." Impa turned on her heel and exited the room with the bowl in her hands. Timbre stared after her, his stomach clamoring the moment it remembered the function of food.

Timbre poked his own torso rebelliously. "Quiet you."

He didn't have long to wait Impa's return, though she brought enough food with her to feed an army. The mere sight of so much food made him swallow, which in turn caused even stone-faced Impa to smile slightly. "Sond said you would be hungry after all was said and done,"

"I'll have to admit, ma'am, I'm always hungry," Timbre eagerly helped himself to what looked like a ham sandwich as soon as Impa pushed the plate towards him. He chewed and swallowed as slowly as his stomach would let him, out of politeness. Last thing he needed was a reputation for having horrible manners.

"What's with this ma'am' business?" Impa raised an eyebrow. "Please, just call me Impa. I get enough of the formalities as it is."

Timbre's first sandwich was gone, so he took another. "Right." He chewed thoughtfully for a minute or two, then let fly with a question: "Is Sond around?"

Impa nodded. "Yes, you'll be able to see her later, but first you must rest."

"But I-"

"I can guarantee that you will find yourself extremely fatigued after you've finished eating."

Timbre stared down, wondering if she'd drugged his lunch.

"What your body needs at the moment is rest, to continue naturally what healing has begun. Once you've replenished your energy supply, you'll want nothing more but to fall asleep again. Sond realizes that, and promised to be waiting for you when you're rested up."

Timbre said nothing.

"You've already slept for two days," Impa added gently. "What is one more?"

"I suppose" Timbre knew in his mind that what Impa said was the truth. His body needed downtime to repair itself. And it was true that eating a lot of anything tended to make him somewhat drowsy afterward. Actually, it was something he and his friends had learned out adventuring: eat sparingly if you plan to get anywhere.

Impa asked him a few more questions while he worked at the plate of sandwiches, mostly about clarifying Tael's side of the story, how they had arrived in Termina, how they'd retrieved the boomerang, and how Timbre had seen Ganondorf himself. As he expounded upon this part, he noticed the corners of Impa's mouth tighten until it resembled a grim slit. But she didn't comment.

After all of the sandwiches had disappeared, Impa asked him about how he and Link had come across the Sword in the first place. Timbre acknowledged her questioning, though some sixth sense told him that Impa already knew, and was only asking him to let his mind settle. If this was the case, it was working. Timbre slowly found his eyelids beginning to droop. As he yawned the third time, Impa herself stood and directed him back towards the bed, where he promptly sat.

"You will sleep soundly until tomorrow morning," she stated, heading towards the door. "When you wake up, I'll probably be outside. Your shoulder will need another treatment by then, so try to find me as soon as you're properly awake."

Timbre nodded, and was about to ask her about how Vulcan was doing when he suddenly became too drowsy to talk straight. He leaned back and was asleep again before Impa had shut the door completely.

*****

"Lan' ho!"

"That is such a clichéd thing for you to say, Nick." Tatl sighed. "Besides, I don't see any land yet."

"I'm tellin' y'is there," Nick stated, pointing towards the horizon. "Y'jus don' recognize i' yet."

"All I can see is sea," Tatl countered. "And besides, the sun's in my eyes. You sure you're not just seeing things?"

Link was completely ready to believe the sailor; besides, he had almost forgotten that there was a world beyond endless waves. "I'll just be glad to be back on my own two feet again," he said.

"What, you don't like to fly?" Tatl said snidely.

The green-hatted Hylian stared down at the reflection of the sun sparkling upon the ocean as they passed high above. "No, its not thatit's justwell, everyone wants to be themselves, right? I mean, you'd feel out of place as a human, wouldn't you Tatl?"

Taken aback, the fairy had nothing to say for a moment. "Y-yeah, I suppose you're right."

Kafei sighed, looking slightly depressed. "And I was just getting used to the sun again," he muttered. "Well, it was nice while it lasted. Guess I'll have to find some kind of shelter during the day."

"Kakariko a village, I'm sure there's plenty of room," Link reassured him. "I, on the other hand, am going straight to Vulcan the smith."

Nick pulled at his red hair. "'Ee th' one makin' th' Sword over? Ow you know ees there?"

"Well, for one thing, I helped escort him there," Link replied. "And for another, someone's been working on reforging the Sword for nearly two days already, ever since the full moon, so he must be there. I can tell."

"That sense of yours is getting kind of creepy," Tatl remarked dryly. "Doesn't it concern you a little?"

The Hylian shrugged. "Not particularly. You get used to it, I guess. Being a tool of Destiny and all"

"Huh." Tatl shook her head. "If I were you, I'd be frustrated at not being able to make your own decisions in life, and having these random compulsive urges."

"It's not like that," Link said hotly. "You make it sound like I'm some kind of puppetI used to feel the same way, but it really isn't. It's more like my job, than anything else. It's just, sometimes I have to do certain things. But there's no rulebook on how I'm supposed to do it. Nick will agree with me there, right?"

The Volcanian shrugged. "More n' one way t'skin a cat."

The land' that Nick had pointed out grew more clear and defined by the minute, until even Tatl was forced to admit they'd made it.

"Hopefully this is Hyrule," she said. "I mean, it should be."

"'Shou' be?'" Nick sounded slightly alarmed.

Tatl shrugged. "That Skyway took us due west, though if we drifted south too much we'd end up in other country."

Kafei blinked. "Other country?"

"Well yeah, you didn't think Hyrule was the only place west of Termina, did you?" The fairy crossed her arms. "You weren't naïve enough to think that?"

"Well-" Kafei started.

"You know that in the south you've got the lands of Holodrum and Labrynna, yes?" Tatl interrupted.

"I've heard of those places," Link said quietly, and Kafei nodded as well.

"An' I been there fore!" Nick piped up, grinning. "M' Da used t'go round there, an' that's where I w'a headed, fore you an' th' lobo came long, Link."

"See, they agree with me," Tatl said. "And everyone knows that north of Hyrule is the northern wildsmountainous area, an' further west past that desert the Gerudos live in is Catalia."

Kafei shrugged. "It's been years since I've seen an atlas," he admitted.

"Well, good thing you're not navigating, then." Tatl smirked.

"Hey, how do you know all this anyway?" Kafei shot back suddenly, feeling slightly insulted.

"Fairies have a long history of cartography," Tatl declared proudly. "It makes sense, doesn't it? We see stuff from a bird's eye view, we can fly, and we're smarter."

"I think that is Hyrule," Link cut in before the conversation turned into an argument. To clarify, he held out his left hand. "Because that's where the Triforce is saying the Master Sword is. Or will be."

"'Saying?'"

Link nodded at Kafei's question. "Well, not saying' in the sense that there's a voice in my head or something. Erit's more like I just know, that's all."

"See, I told you he's off his rocker," Tatl argued.

Link, slightly annoyed with Tatl now, flew on ahead and pointedly ignored them all. Nothing more was said for a long time, and the only sound heard was the whistle of the wind and the gentle whir of their fairy wings keeping them aloft. The day had dawned bright and rather cold for the season, though two days at sea had probably made them feel slightly chiller than usual. Nick was the one that broke the silence.

"Well, sure be' avin snakes r bein' wore ou' by th' sea," he said absently. "Thou' I miss m'ship an' Leviathan a bit"

The sun shone down on them, still a bit in their eyes due to their direction. Link made a sound like he'd suddenly lost his balance. "Ack!"

"What, is there a voice in your head this time?" Tatl smirked.

"No, shut up about that!"

"Then what's bugging you?"

Link pointed wordlessly, and the other three stared in the direction. Several dark shapes were winging towards them, though at such a distance they resembled dark rags being blown about. Tatl's creature-sense aroused itself in a moment, and she started muttering to herself.

"Keese? No, couldn't be, they don't like the sun, and they don't fly this high-"

"Tatl, what are those?" Kafei asked urgently.

"It's coming, give me a second-aha! Got it!" Tatl's brow furrowed grimly. "They're Guays. We'd better get out of the way."

"Huh?" Link looked insulted. "Tatl, they're just Guays."

"Just Guays, and you're currently about a quarter of their size!" Tatl shook her head. "You Hylians don't think, do you? Just because you shrunk doesn't mean the world did too! Listen. Pop quiz. What kind of animal is a Guay?"

"They're birds." Kafei cut in.

"Andwhat do birds eat?" Tatl continued.

Link shrugged. "Fruit, I guess."

"Guess again."

"Bugs n' insects," Nick offered. "Keep th' mosquitos away."

"We have a winner. Now, can we get out of here before we're lunch?"

"But Tatl, fairies aren't bugs, you've practically ground that into our heads-"

"Huh. Try telling that to those birds, see how far you get."

Link shook his head. "Whatever. Let's just get out of here before something bad happens." He beckoned and flew higher with a kick of his wings. "They won't see us if we hide in the glare of the sun!"

Tatl's eyebrows rose together, and she followed him. "For once, not that bad an idea," she muttered, as Nick and Kafei followed suit.

Normally, the height would have been utterly dizzying for humans, as well as the distinct, increasingly thin air that was the upper atmosphere. However, thanks to the Fairy Spell, Link and his companions were no less ill at ease. As they stared down at the Guays, Nick counted them aloud.

"Mmm, fourtee', na, fiftee' all together."

"Fifty?!"

Nick shook his head at Link. "Naw, fiftee'."

"That's what I thought you said."

Nick sighed. Sometimes his accent made his words muddle. So he tried to talk slowly. "Fi-fuh-teen."

"Oh, fifteen. Why didn't you say s-"

"GRAACK!"

All four of them were suddenly sent spinning as a dark shape descended upon them with a dry rustle of black feathers. A sheer wall of wind slammed into them like iron bars, knocking their cries of shock out of their lungs with a whoosh.

The world seemed to turn like a mad kaleidoscope as the wind buffeted them about, scattering them before they could clearly think. All four spun out of control, wings bent back from the forced stall.

Tatl, being the most experienced, recovered first. Instead of fighting the spin, and trying to pull up, she turned her fall into a roll, feeling her wings regain purchase as she regained control. Even as her flight evened out, an orange shape slammed into her side, and she quickly grabbed onto Nick he fell out of the sky. Steadying him, Tatl watched as the Volcanian's wings took over and he began to hover again, looking winded. Two down. Two to go.

"There!" Nick wheezed, pointing to their left as they saw a violet shape trying fitfully to pull upright. Ragged blackish shapes were quickly closing in on all of them. More Guays! They were in the glare of the sun, and we flew right up into their attack!

"Kafei!" Tatl yelled. "Don't fight a drop like that head on! Keep your wits about you!" She and Nick dove to his aid, their locked arms providing a blockade for Kafei to collide with before the Guays. The shadow Hylian grunted as he was caught, and his wings fluttered and sputtered a moment before regaining function.

"Look out!" The three of them scattered as another bird plowed by, the wind pressure caused by its descent threatening to stall them again. As they recovered, more quickly due to warning, the three looked to each other. "Where's Link?" Tatl asked Kafei.

"I thought he was still above us?" Kafei looked confused.

"Th'ere ee is!" Nick pointed at a green speck below them. "Link! Ey!"

Link, however, found himself in a topspin and unable to answer. As he vainly tried to fight the current, throwing him earthwards, the whiplash twisted his entire body painfully backwards. His head snapped backwards, and the Hylian saw stars explode in front of him as if he'd been struck. Stunned, he toppled downwards with a cry of shock. The first Guay, which had plowed directly through their group and caused their original disorder, was fast after the senseless fairy.

"Link!" Tatl's concern turned to panic as she threw herself to the side, just as a pair of dirty talons clicked in the air above her. She looked upwards, only to find out there were even more Guays above them, now. Kafei quickly drew his borrowed sword, and swung fiercely at the bird. He managed to dislodge a few feathers, though the sword was hardly a real threat to the bird. He swung a second time, and the blade just clacked harmlessly off of its talons, disgruntling the avian further. It hissed at them angrily, and Kafei felt it better to leave.

"Let's get out of here!" Kafei shouted.

"Yeh! Gotta elp Link!" Nick agreed.

Meanwhile, Link had finally recovered his senses, though his neck ached. His topspin slowed, enabling him to recover from his fall. Battle instinct found his hand drawing his own sword as he saw the huge shape of the first Guay hurtling towards him. Its talons, each easily the length of his sword, opened wide.

*****

Sorry about that. EhehI know how annoying cliffhangers are, but its either this or no update for a few more days. I'm going to have a busy time of it before the Fourth of July, and I don't know if I'll be able to write or not. Soohave an early chapter. Anyhow. I do hope you'll check out both the authors I mentioned at the start of this chapter, as they are definitely worth it. Until next!