"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!
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Ga-reetings! Well, it seems like the 'shorter chapters, more updates' side of the debate won out, so I'll be trying that for a while. Hopefully my workload will be somewhat less next semester – I'm not taking quite as many art courses, which oddly enough are what takes up my time the most. That and I'm technically only taking 2 courses next semester, perks of being an almost graduated senior! A-ho-ho! But anyhow, hope you like the chapter. For those of you that think I'm being needlessly mean to Timbre, I'm not. He's just currently in a rough position, rougher then he'd know.
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"The Destiny Stone" – Chapter 30: Hunger
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The days ran into each other, and Timbre felt it. Although for the first few hours he'd tried a break-neck pace, he soon learned it was a bad idea. Although running across Termina Field on a rather full energy store had seemed easy, he realized now that that had been nothing compared to this. He'd since then been badly injured, and he now realized how much of himself had gone back into the recovery. To top it off...he now had extra weight on his shoulders, both figuratively and literally.
So it was that as that morning's fog slowly burned away, Timbre felt his own energy melting into nothing, and then he realized his folly.
Burning energy meant replacing it. And replacing energy meant finding food.
He didn't consider himself soft by any means, it wasn't like he'd never fed himself before. But somewhere along the line of his skipped adolescence, he realized he'd missed some important lesson in self-preservation.
Wolves are taught to hunt mostly by their family and pack, not by instinct, which left Timbre in a position that forced him to mostly improvise. He'd seen adult wolves hunt before, a long time ago. He had an inkling of how it was supposed to be done, but not completely. For one thing, he knew better then to take on anything larger then himself while alone. But that wasn't his main problem.
Finding something larger then himself in the first place would have been nigh impossible. Finding anything to eat would be just as difficult. Hyrule itself was exceedingly desolate, and as he'd noted when the Wolfos had turned so eagerly on him before, food was very scarce. The wolf set himself to his fate busily despite this, knowing he would have to spend as much time on the move as possible.
The first day founds its close with him desperately digging at and catching crickets. As he chewed and swallowed the bits of black carapace miserably by himself, he realized the full extent of the famous proverb his grandmother had quoted to him time and time again.
"A wolf is nothing without his pack." Timbre slumped a little with ears back. Standing with somewhat shaky legs, he strode over to the only brush he'd seen that day. As he curled up under a ragged bush, his stomach snarled, still unsatisfied. Pathetic as it was, he wasn't used to eating so very little. The way I'm going, there won't be much of me left when I finally get to the Desert. The thought of his destination being a desert quailed him – if he couldn't even find food here, how was he going to survive the trip through a desert?
His sleep at night was troubled, and his days were pretty much the same. With the onset of hunger, they started to melt into each other, with only the occasional darkness his only clue that time still passed. At times, he would find himself unable to continue, and had to pause in order to recollect his thoughts, or to find some water to cool himself down, or to dig again in hope of finding something edible. He started measuring not by the days, but by the distance he'd traveled. Hyrule Field itself stretched out into a horizon that seemed to grow closer and closer every day.
He felt miserable, not just because he was hungry, but because he felt so very much alone. On clear nights, he felt the entire curtain of the sky over him like some kind of gigantic cold dome, and felt that he was trapped all by himself in an infinitely large prison. The emptiness in his stomach, he thought, was nothing compared to the growing emptiness in his heart. It made him feel a soul-sickness, and in looking at that sky he learned the truth about truly being alone.
Wolves are not meant to live by themselves. Even the most stalwart among their deserters eventually learn that loneliness is like a disease. It eats them from the inside just as the hunger does. It makes them forget things. They lose some of that vital spirit. Some become so fully consumed by the burning emptiness inside that they eventually they just give up and die alone, with nobody to mourn their passing.
Timbre shook his head of those morbid, yet sobering thoughts. If he succumbed, what would the others think of him? Link especially, would have nothing but sarcastic things to say. He knew his friends were waiting for him, somewhere out in the world. And as long as that meant something to him, he couldn't possibly think to let them down.
And he still had his purpose to fulfill. If he didn't show up with the Master Sword for Link, it wouldn't be just him who died. It would be the entire world. At that particular moment, it was counting on him.
This one thought didn't cheer him, as much as fill him with determination. It wasn't a matter of if he could go on. It was a matter of that he would. Although these thoughts comforted him, he couldn't help but throw his emotions out into the night sky in the form of a lonely howl every night.
Link had asked him once what a wolf's howl meant, and he'd quailed a little, unable to find an answer that a human would understand. Because in a way, there was no answer he could have given as he himself did not quite understand.
But now that he was faced with the grim reality of a singular existence, he thought he could now start to understand. A wolf's howl had no literal meaning. Nor was it meant to be heard by itself. It was at heart a part of a chorus, half of a duet. By itself, it was harmony without melody, it was incomplete. And somehow, it seemed sadder and less comforting for that fact. Yet he howled anyway. Just my way of proving my existence, maybe, he thought
Or maybe it's just my stomach screaming for a decent meal.
-----
If Timbre thought his calls would go unheard, he was surprisingly wrong. Koume and Kotake were taking the Skyway back to the desert, and wisely chose to give all of Northern Hyrule a wide berth. They felt Ganondorf's presence there as if it were a bed of hot coals. And they had every thought that if he discovered them 'sneaking around,' he would ask more questions then they would want him to know.
At least the land is more interesting, Kotake thought, as behind her she heard the tirade of her sister.
"Sword, sword sword...what could it mean?"
"No offenssse, but the lassst fifty timesss you sssaid that did not yield any anssswersss either," Kotake interjected.
"But it might this time," Koume replied snidely.
Kotake smirked. "Well then. Did you learn anything new?"
Koume's answer was delayed, and Kotake knew it was because her sister was seething. "No."
"Well then...do usss both a favor and ssshut up."
"Why you!" Koume snapped. "We're in this together, you know! If Ganondorf finds out-"
Kotake whirled dangerously, and the two sister's forehead jewels collided in midair. "Thatsss why he won't find out, am I right? Thatsss what we agreed on, yesss?"
The two hags hung in silence, looking like two headbutting rams. Koume's scowl didn't lessen, even as her sister's eyes blazed angry ice at her. She was used to it, and so was unafraid of anything her sister could do.
"Yes, it is, sister. Unfortunately, I di-"
ARRROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOWWLLLLLL!!
Both hags froze, and their pupils slowly rived down towards the ground. Kotake's eyes narrowed at her sister, much to Koume's annoyance.
"What?! It wasn't me!"
Disengaging from their previous position, the two witched turned their heads downward.
"Just a Wolfos," Koume snorted.
"No, it wasssn't," Kotake said quietly.
This comment only derived a concerted snort from her sister.
"Who would know better, you tell me that!" Kotake snapped at the wordless reply.
"It's nothing," Koume said finally. "We're late, let's go on."
"But that wasssn't-"
"Weren't you the one telling me not to babble on?! What else could it be?"
Kotake sighed. "That wasss a wolf's howl."
"You're mad," Koume said simply. "They're all gone, you know that. For Hades' sake, we were there when it happened, don't you remember?"
"Of courssse I remember, you old fool," Kotake said. "But I'd ssswear-"
The Fire Witch sighed. "Let's put it this way, sister. We do not tell Ganondorf what we do, because you decided that. Now here's my decision: it was nothing. We're wasting time here. Let's go."
Kotake was forced to give in to her sister for the moment, and the two witches moved on. But it did nothing to lessen the crease in the old ice hag's brow.
-----
Down below, Timbre was never aware how close he had come to discovery. He was still more concerned with just staying alive. Even on just meager amounts of food, Timbre was surprised how far he could go. He reflected on this one late afternoon, after finding a barley brush along a large river where there were some mice. The river crossed directly in the path that the Sword wanted to go, so he decided to take a small break before he attempted it.
Sometimes he wondered if catching mice was worth the effort. They were barely even a mouthful, and they were fast. It took him as much energy to catch the little things as he probably gained from eating them. But his stomach wouldn't leave him alone until he'd eaten something, no matter how little. Or fast.
The mice kept stock still in his presence, probably hoping that their brown color would keep them safe in the equally brown tall grass. Timbre on the other hand, found himself at a great disadvantage, as his color made him stand out all the more. But he could smell them, like little pools of liquid life hidden among the dryness. If he could get one of them to move predictably...
He inched forward a millimeter, and the air tensed as dozens of whiskers suddenly vibrated, sending at least three of the little mice scattering. He oriented on one of them and pounced.
A toss, a brief crunch, a swallow, and it was all over. The wolf sighed. Not even a mouthful. He'd barely tasted the thing. Still, one mouthful was better then none.
And at least I haven't resorted to trying to eat the grass yet. Of course, that was bound to be worse for him then not eating-
"Hey! What do you think you're doing here, wolf?!"
Timbre's ears stood straight up, and he whirled in the direction of the voice. All he saw was empty field, and part of the river. Even the mice had gone. Timbre let his confusion take form in a quiet growl.
Must just be my imagination, he thought firmly. I can't go completely mad yet. The wolf hunched, and stalked off towards the river. It was a river that ran shallow here, but became steeper and steeper, until it ran down into a rocky valley. As he peered down at his reflection, he was a little shocked at the dark and hungry-eyed creature staring back at him.
Yikes, I hope I don't just get attacked on sight, looking like this. I look about ready to eat someone's children. As he stooped to lap up some water (and get rid of that disturbing reflection), the unfamiliar voice returned.
"You're trespassing here!"
This time Timbre caught a flicker of something behind his reflection, but as he turned to look behind him, the voice was gone again. Starting to feel annoyed, the wolf growled, but didn't reply. Instead, he sat up and stalked back towards the long grass, forming an idea in his mind. The voice didn't sound immediately familiar to him, but he thought he recognized the intonation-
"You'd best get out of here, you poor excuse for a canine!"
Timbre sat and completely ignored the voice this time. He was careful not to even let his ears swivel. The voice, instead of vanishing as it had this time, suddenly seemed to pause in confusion.
"Didn't you hear what I just said, mutt? You're trespassing, you know! As in, you should not be here! As in, you'd best get your-Aaack!"
Timbre suddenly whirled, and pounced on the voice just like he had the mouse.
"Grak!" Something small wriggled underneath the wolf's paws. "Gerroff me!"
"Not until you tell me what you think you're getting at," Timbre growled back. It was the first time he'd actually spoken aloud since he'd left Kakariko. His voice sounded a little raspier then he would have liked.
"You're trespassing!" yelled the tiny creature, and Timbre snorted as he looked down as a tiny little person's head stared up at him. It was a fairy. A green one, that was currently attempting to wriggle its way out from under his paws. Feeling a little vindictive, Timbre smirked wolfishly.
"And I'm hungry," he replied.
"You wouldn't!" the green fairy snarled back, though his voice had considerably less bravado then it had before.
"You'd think so," Timbre said. "But I've been very hungry for days...you eat what you can when that happens, right?"
"Eat me and you'll regret it, you fleabitten oaf!"
For half a moment, Timbre considered actually eating the fairy.
"You've bruised my wings, you know," the fairy pouted. Then he blinked. "What are you doing here, anyways?"
A little put off by the change in subject, and a little desperate for any kind of company, Timbre humored the little creature. "I'm just passing through. I'm on my way to the desert."
"The desert?! Why in Din's name would you want to go there? You a glutton for punishment or something!?"
"No," Timbre said. "I just have some business there."
"You think you're skinny now? You'll waste away to nothing there."
"Whatever."
"Still, I'm surprised you made it this far."
"What do you mean, this far? I have forever to go yet."
"Not really...this is the Gerudo Valley river. Well, former Gerudo Valley. Not much there anymore, besides some old ruins."
The wolf blinked. He hadn't even realized how far he'd come. "Well, all the better, I'll get there sooner then I thought."
"You'll never make it through the Wasteland, let alone into it."
"Well, I can try."
"You won't make it very far on your own. Anyhow, it doesn't matter. Even if you pass the Wasteland,. you'll just be killed by the Gerudo."
Timbre's ears perked up. "Aha, so they are still hiding in there. Good to know."
The fairy cursed, realizing he'd been tricked into giving information. He sighed. "You wolves are all fools, you know that? All caught up in your purposes and loyalties. You're too stubborn for your own good! All of you...ergh...might as well ask, can't hurt anymore...I suppose you're here to rescue those three males, then?"
The wolf blinked. Three males. Could it be...
"I suppose it's none of your business, really." the wolf replied. "But let's just call this a truce. I promise not to eat you if you take me through the Wasteland. We both benefit, because I make it there in one piece, and you don't end up in my very empty-at-the-moment stomach." Timbre glared down at the green creature. "Deal?"
The fairy sighed and rolled his eyes, knowing he'd lost. "Deal. But you are going to give me a ride there. You're really hurt my wings, so it's not like I could fly off anyway."
Timbre slowly let his paws up off the fairy. The creature looked a little flattened and bruised, splayed in a rather uncomfortable position, but otherwise uninjured. The fairy sat up and stretched out. His wings looked a little bent and off-kilter. "At least you wolves always keep your promises," he remarked. Timbre suddenly stared, as he saw the fairy fully.
"Wait...your name wouldn't happen to be Obol, would it?"
The fairy raised an eyebrow. "How'd you know that?"
The wolf shook his head. "Nevermind...a little bird told me."
"Huh." The fairy looked suspicious, but dropped the subject. With a painful flutter, he alighted on the bridge of Timbre's muzzle. "What about you?"
Oh. "Timbre."
"Well then, Timbre," the fairy strode boldly up the wolf's muzzle, and settled himself on top between Timbre's ears. "You have a human form?"
"Yeah, why?"
"Don't bother using it, it's better that you get through that Wasteland at as fast a pace as possible. It's afternoon now, if we enter the Wasteland by evening, we'll do better for it. With your pace, prolly get there by next noontime. So get going!"
Timbre just groaned, not sure if this situation was altogether an improvement. Still, at least he now had someone to talk to. It was just weird, considering the last time he'd seen this someone, he'd been unable to talk back.
-----
Link looked over at Kafei. "Well?"
The Shadow Hylian looked a little proud of himself. "It works."
"Great!" Link tried to keep his voice low, in case any passersby happened to listen in. "I told you it would work."
Kafei sighed. "I just wish we'd thought of this earlier, we might have gotten away by now.
Link just sat back, feeling better than he had in many days. Although the Gerudo compound cells were thick and completely sealed, they, like most solid objects, could do nothing to keep intangible things within them.
The Hylian had pondered Kafei's situation. In full sunlight, the Shadow Hylian became just that – intangible. So it became a curiosity of his when a few hours earlier, he'd outright asked Kafei if he could willingly make himself intangible, even if there was no light around.
Kafei hadn't known the answer to that question, having never tried before. This had led Link to ask him to try anyways. So Kafei did try.
He'd had to make sure to do so quietly. He'd started with just the index finger facing away from the door. After a half-hour or so of concentration (most of which was simply gaining confidence), he'd felt it start to go numb, and slowly begin to sink through the stone. With a slight gasp, he snatched his hand back, and the feeling quickly went away. He kneaded his hand, convincing himself it was still all there.
"Told you so," the green-clad Hylian said. "Now it's just a matter of..."
"Uugh, kee' i'h down, will yer?!" Nick curled forlornly in one corner, looking paler then ever. That had been Link's other reason for asking Kafei so bluntly. The Volcanian sailor was looking worse every time he looked over at him. Link didn't blame him. After being used to the wind and the sea and the open air and sun, a place like this would be like living death. It didn't help that he refused half of his food on the pretense that he didn't consume meat, either.
"Sorry, Nick." He stifled the urge to tell the Volcanian their plan. It might just get overheard.
"No worries," said the Volcanian weakly. "We're jus' me spittin' off, ta' no heed..." The man groaned and turned onto his back, staring up at the ceiling.
Kafei nudged Link. "Keep talking to him, I'm going to give this another try."
Link was seated closest to the door, on the same side of Kafei. He nodded, realizing what Kafei meant. "Stinks being in here, doesn't it. Nick?"
"Aye," said the Volcanian. "Y'know...if'n I stare 'ard 'enough at th' ceilin', I start thinkin' I coul' see th' sun...what I would'n give fer th' chance..."
He turned his head towards Link and smiled sadly.
"Ah, don' worry, I don' turn traitorous tha' easily...I'll prolly die down 'ere, bu'...better dead then a livin' shame, eh?"
Link just nodded. It was hard to tell with Volcanians, but he was pretty sure Nick had gone a little feverish. At least the last time he'd felt Nick's forehead it had been burning hot.
The Volcanian turned back towards the ceiling. "I only regret tha' I won' get ta' see m'father again, if'n I go under 'ere...I'd apologize 'fer not bein' more 'elp..."
Link dully remembered the 'other business' Nick had mentioned having, off in Holodrum. "What didn't you do?"
The Volcanian sighed. "Me father...'e been taken ill fer months...I been tryin' tae fin' somethin', 'er someone, oo coul' make 'im better again..." Link was surprised to see a few tears run from the corners of Nick's eyes. "But I loo'e everywhere, Link. Everywhere. I though', even if I coul' fin' one o' th' Magmus brothers..."
The Volcanian swallowed. "Ah, we all fool' in' th' world, aren' we?"
"Maybe," Link said. "But...it's those same fools that keep the world alive, too. You'll live to see your father again."
The Hylian glanced to his side, and realized Kafei was gone. He smiled a little.
"Maybe even sooner than you think."
-----
The thought of consciously going intangible had just never crossed Kafei's mind. He was terrified of being like a ghost, unable to see himself or being able to touch anyone or anything. But the things that made up other's nightmares was currently a reality to Kafei.
He'd sighed, and leaned back, submitting himself to the feeling of numbness as it completely passed though him. Link and Nick's voices faded into opacity, as with a silent gasp, Kafei suddenly fell through the wall.
At first, he kept falling, but then he willed himself to hang in mid-space. The Keaton had taught him to do that after one terrifying experience of nearly falling through the ground. He realized now that there was probably a lot more the fox could have taught him about his abilities (or liabilities), had he been only willing to ask questions.
Ah well, spilled milk.
If he wanted a good look around the compound, he'd have to move himself upwards a few stories, in order to break the surface. This was easy enough, as the stone walls turned to bedrock. By finding tiny cracks in the bedrock, he discovered he could solidify just a mere pinpoint of himself, enough for him to lever his otherwise weightless self higher.
This worked perfectly until he hit sand. The hard-packed sand was fine for this form of leverage, but the looser stuff had a tendency to shift and let light in. He found himself practically floundering the last few feet or so.
Bright morning sunlight made him flinch, and he pulled himself up onto the ground plane with an invisible grimace. The last time he'd been out in full sunlight like this, he'd lost his nerve after several minutes. He'd always worry about disappearing completely, and then he'd hide back inside, where he was at least able to touch things again.
But this time Kafei nerved himself to continue. Actually, it was kind of amusing how he could walk around without anyone seeing him. And at least he didn't have to worry about accidentally bumping into anyone.
There were only a few Gerudo women outside. All four of them were veiled and cloaked. Kafei hung around briefly. He first and foremost needed to find the key to his friends' prison. Once he got that, the three of them could escape proper. However, it would only be a matter of time before the feeding guard would come, and possibly discover his absence.
After observing for a while, he noted they all appeared to be only guards, and probably wouldn't have the key on them.
Hopefully it won't be in that woman Nabooru's possession. He didn't relish the thought of having to pickpocket a thief. At least if it was just a subordinate or somesuch, he could corner them and take the key by force if necessary. Though all of these women looked like they meant business.
Kafei re-entered the compound, through the entrance this time. As the light fell away from his presence, he felt himself begin to automatically solidify. Panicking, he quailed the sensation and managed not to blow his cover as two Gerudo suddenly turned a corner.
"Phew!"
One of the Gerudos turned towards the sound. Kafei calmed himself. Even if they tried to stab at his sound with scimitars, it wasn't like they would be able to hurt him. But he still didn't want to ruin the chances of an escape. He quickly left before he aroused any more suspicion, and followed another pair down a small stone hallway.
For the next two hours, he found himself aimlessly following random groups of Gerudo women, but felt more and more frustrated as each one proved to have nothing to do with the prison. This isn't getting me anywhere. I need to find someone with keys!
He was passing the kitchens (for the third time), about to give up and head back towards the prison when a sudden group of voices caught his ear.
"We going to feed the prisoners?"
"Soon as this stew's done, why?"
There was a sigh. "I have duty down there tonight. I hate it, it smells like male. I'll send the one I'm replacing to you, it's her duty in the kitchen next."
The first Gerudo who spoke turned away from her companion. Something quiet jingled at her belt. Kafei felt euphoria and a slight panic at the same time.
She has the keys...and we're supposed to be fed soon – that means I'll be missed and all this will be for nothing if I don't hurry up!
As the guard headed down the sloping hallway leading from the kitchens, Kafei followed her. He thanked the fates that he couldn't betray his presence with loud breathing or footsteps – since neither occurred when he was unsolid. All he needed now was to wait until the changing of the guards occurred...
"Hey! Wake up there!"
The guard his target was replacing was one that Kafei recognized, if only by hair color. She was that odd blue-haired one, the one Link had been speaking with. He studied her face carefully, just so he'd remember it in the future.
Of course, she could just be as easily some teeth at my throat.
The guard who had the keys appeared to be older and of higher rank, considering the way she spoke to the guard. "You're off for now, but the kitchen needs you to deliver the prisoner's meal. Go get it."
"Right away!" The blue-haired guard hurried off, and actually passed directly through Kafei on her way back up through the hall. She'd been leaning against the door when they'd arrived.
Talking to Link again, I wonder...it's a miracle she didn't notice I was missing.
The remaining Gerudo peered inside the cell and rapped on the door with her scimitar.
"Get away from the door!"
There was shuffling from inside the cell.
"That's better," the guard muttered, as she propped herself up against the far wall and crossed her arms. "You males had better give up soon, if you know what's good for you."
There was no response from the cell. Kafei looped around behind the Gerudo as she continued to speak.
"Nabooru's not going to go easy on you anymore. She'll let you die and rot down here if she has to, and claim that Triforce for herself."
Silence.
The Shadow Hylian was now halfway out of the wall, directly above the Gerudo, so close that he could see the individual red hairs on the woman's head. How was he going to take her on, unarmed? That scimitar was a dangerous liability...and to fight he had to be solid.
Or did he?
He acted on his impulse before he could decide otherwise. He solidified only his hands, clapped them over the Gerudo's mouth, and pulled back sharply.
The back of the woman's head cracked violently against the unyielding stone wall, and she slowly slumped, sliding down. Wincing, Kafei stepped through the wall after her, and solidified.
"Only unconscious," he reassured himself as he quickly unbelted the keys. As much as he wanted to escape, he didn't want to kill anyone. These Gerudo were only looking out for themselves, after all. Shaking his head of thoughts, he stepped up to the cell and rattled the door slightly.
"What do you want?" Link's voice snapped from within.
"I want...to get you out of here!" Kafei hissed, fumbling with the lock. There were quite a few keys. "The food'll be here any minute, this is our only chance to get out of here-"
"Kafei! I thought you were going to steal the keys and come back here-"
CLICK.
The door swung open, revealing Kafei's semi-opaque form in the dim light.
"I did. Let's just get out of here!"
Link needed no second bidding.
-----
Supporting Nick between them, they hurried down the hallway. They'd taken care to lock the unconscious Gerudo in their former cell, but Kafei was still nervous.
"What's wrong?" Link whispered.
"It's just...this place was packed with Gerudos before, and we haven't come across a single one-"
"Well, last time you were going in the main way, we're sneaking the roundabout."
The Shadow Hylian swallowed. "I still have a bad feeling about this..."
Nick's legs were still a little shaky, but the Volcanian was starting to slowly regain his senses. Each hallway corner or intersection was like a tense nightmare, as all three prepared for a group of Gerudo to suddenly pop out at them, brandishing their weapons.
But none ever came.
"This is a trap," Kafei muttered.
"I don't care if it is," Link said. "I'll fight them all with my bare hands if I have to. I need to get out of here!"
Nick shook them both off. "I kin' stan' now, thankee..." He stretched a little, and gave a somewhat shaky grin, but seemed steady enough.
"You sure?"
"Ya'...an' I 'gree wi' Link. T'ain' no better way tae go down then a brawl – better'n rottin' away in th' dark."
The Hylian nodded fiercely, and led the way down the last hallway. "I smell fresh air...this should be the last one. Finally!"
"And then what?" Kafei said. "We going to try an' get through the Wasteland? Last time it was a lucky draw-"
"I still have the Triforce," Link said. "Either we'll make it through ourselves, or it'll do it for us-"
Kafei hung back slightly, not out of fear, but out of concern. "Link, you're starting to sound irrational again...like that time over the ocean. Is something wrong?"
"I feel it pulling me again...I have to get out of here!"
It. The Master Sword. As soon as they'd left the cell, it's call had been like a million magnets. Or a hurrcane's wind at his back, pushing him inevitably forward. It's close...very close...Link was dimly away are Kafei said something, and grabbed his arm, but he pulled away and ran for the entrance.
Bright sunlight flooded into his eyes. Dark silhouettes suddenly blocked him with chuckles.
"Well...I was wondering when you would show up..." he heard Nabooru's voice.
All forty Gerudo formed a crescent against the entrance. A veritable human wall. Link stared angrily around at him. All of the Gerudo were smiling in a way that infuriated him.
Nabooru strode up. She was not smiling. "I congratulate you on your escape, however...You didn't think your plan through. How were you expecting to leave the compound without raising an alarm, especially when you were unarmed and unable to defend yourself?"
Link stared. "You knew?"
Nabooru shrugged. "I was waiting for your attempt for several days. It was only a matter of time before your Sheikah made his move."
Kafei's voice sounded surprised. "A what? But I'm not a-"
If Nabooru had heard, she didn't respond. "I hardly expected you to be the types to just let yourselves be imprisoned. I'm glad you didn't disappoint me."
"Damn. I told you it was a trap," said Kafei's voice from behind him. Kafei himself had vanished, of course, as it was practically midday.
The sun shone down on all of them, and Link's brow furrowed deeply. "I had to get out..." he half-snarled at Nabooru. "And if you're arrogant enough to think that I'll stand for your games...then I dare to call you fool."
There was an angry murmur throughout the Gerudo.
"Link..." Nick said, squinting. "This ain' makin' any of this easier..." Although he was ready to fight for his freedom, he didn't see any reason to make the Gerudo any more unreasonable.
Link ignored the Volcanian. The call...the Sword...was getting even closer...he could almost touch it. "I'm fighting for something that concerns not just your little band, but the fate of the entire world. Delaying me here, playing your games – you might think you're being benevolent for your people – but you're only ensuring their deaths. Keep me here and they will die, every one of them, along with the entire world. You say Ganondorf betrayed you. Keeping us here is exactly what Ganondorf would want. Keep me here, and he wins. What do you think about that, Nabooru?"
The Gerudo leader seemed somewhat stunned by his words. Her composed expression was less so, as if she'd seen the gleam of truth in his furious eyes, and felt the blows of his words like hot irons. Breathing in, the Gerudo closed her eyes.
"I believe you," she said simply.
Suddenly, the entire group of Gerudo tensed.
"What the-what's that?!" Kafei's voice rang out.
Heads turned. From the north, a dark four-legged shape had suddenly burst from the Wasteland's curtain. It charged madly towards the group, clouds of sand belting up from its tracks. Link's heart leapt, and so did Courage. He knew who it was.
Timbre! With the Master Sword!
Suddenly, a second lupine shape burst in from the south, and collided with Timbre with a snarl. Both were sent off their feet, rolling on the sand with terrible and angry growls. There was a moment's melee, and then the two burst apart, hackles raised, both spitting and snarling at each other.
Link shivered. He'd never seen Timbre look quite that angry or threatening before.
Nabooru had turned towards the incident. "Stand down!" her voice suddenly rang out.
The second wolf suddenly twitched, and turned into the blue-haired Gerudo.
Timbre's hackles deflated, and appeared to almost shrink back to normal size.
"Take human form, male," Nabooru's voice rang out at him.
Timbre did so, and boldly strode towards the group. The blue-haired Gerudo started, as if she wanted to attack him from behind, but desisted.
As he drew near, the group of Gerudo suddenly brandished their swords at Timbre. "What is his business here?" Nabooru demanded.
Link was a little startled. His friend looked wild-eyed and ragged, as if he'd been running for his entire life. Without his coat, he looked wiry and bunched. He looks like he's starving. The Master Sword was strapped to his back, though he never made a move to draw it, even as weapons were turned towards him.
"This male came to challenge for the release of the prisoners. Will any fight him?"
"Hm," Nabooru said, and Link couldn't tell if she was amused or impressed. Or perhaps both. According to Gerudo law, a male was allowed to challenge Gerudo authority until he fell at their threshold. Then he was at the complete mercy of the Gerudo, and could be imprisoned or killed as need arose. Those who aspired to capture a Gerudo wife often found they had bitten off more then they could chew. Link bristled. That custom left him at the bottom of their rungs. If he were allowed, he would fight them all for the right to his freedom. But by their law, he was not. Escape had been his only option.
"Well?" Timbre demanded.
"Will any accept the male's challenge?"
"I will!" came the call from behind Timbre, as the blue-haired Gerudo ran up. "Lady Nabooru, I want to fight him!"
Both Nabooru and Link suddenly shared a smirk. I thought so, Link thought. If she hadn't rose to that, I don't know what would have.
"Very well then." Nabooru said. "It shall be so."
-----
Expect a fight scene next chapter. Like, a real one. I've had this particular scenario up for the idea board for a long time now, so it should be very interesting! In other news, I've almost finished Paper Mario, which makes my time for finishing games even shorter then it usually is. Among my friends, I'm one of the slowest and worst game-players ever, but I do prevail, slowly. This 'short' chapter was a bit longer then I'd thought, but that's good, as I'm being less rambly. Looking back at the last dozen chapters or so, and from reading some reviews, I've realized how slow and rambling I can get. For that I apologize. There's no reason this story can't be just as good but have less wordiness to it. When the situation asks for it, yes, of course I'll lay on the introspection...but otherwise, I'm going to try and keep it cool. Feedback's always appreciated, thank you for reading!