The bridge creaked loudly at their passage and Rayne silently hoped that the wind would not pick up. That, coupled with their weight, would make the wooden structure buck and send everyone flying into the area below. It wasn't really a long fall, a good ten or eleven foot drop at most, but the thought was enough to frighten her into trailing close behind the sure-footed warrior. Rayne sighed, resisting the urge to cling to Link when the bridge did in fact swing in a light breeze. It was just her luck to have to confront her deepest fear at the very beginning of the journey.

Chronos picked up on her anxiety instantly. "What's the matter kitten? Afraid of heights?" he asked, his tone mocking at best.

"I wonder if something of your stature could survive such a drop," Rayne mused thoughtfully, tapping a finger to her chin before a wicked grin spread across her face. "Should we find out?"

"Ah, but I would just land on my feet."

"A shame," Navi muttered.

Their banter was cut short as they entered Kokiri Forest. The grasses that covered the ground were mostly dead, brown and withered plants crumbling in on themselves. Nothing moved against the shriveled landscape, only pieces of dried foliage blown about by the chilled wind.

"So they really are gone," Link mumbled to no one in particular.

Rayne's hand clasped his shoulder in what she hoped was a comforting manner. "They're probably in hiding, they always have been clever that way."

"It's possible," Chronos yawned. "They cannot be utterly exterminated. Look at that," he said, casually raising a paw.

Everyone followed the cat's lazy gesture to see a dim light flash by.

"A fairy?" Rayne questioned, stepping closer to inspect the light.

Link shook his head, a ghost of a smile pulling at his mouth. "A spirit," he corrected.

"Spirit?" Rayne asked in alarm, back-pedaling into Link who managed to both maintain his balance and keep her from falling.

He chuckled, the feeling odd against Rayne's back. "It won't hurt you."

The spirits began to gather, slowly flitting toward the party. The first of the glowing lights touched the tip of Rayne's nose, sending a wave of heat through her face. "They're warm," she whispered to Link, careful not to open her mouth too wide lest an overcurious spirit flew in.

Link, who was currently dealing with his own drove of blinking spirits, nodded. "They are the remnants of Kokiri who have passed on. If the Kokiri had become extinct, the spirits would also have disappeared."

Chronos swatted at a particularly interested little spirit, "Great, wonderful. Can we move on now?"

Link gave his unspoken consent to this by gently nudging Rayne and starting to walk further into the place he had once called home.

"Look out!" Rayne cried suddenly from behind him.

The young hero managed to block the blow in the nick of time, stumbling back from the force of impact. The Big Deku Baba smacked its maw unsatisfactorily, readying itself for another lunge. Prepared this time, Link pulled the Master Sword from its sheath and struck back, hitting the sensitive red area inside the plant's mouth.

The Baba jerked back, obviously stunned to find its prey not only resisting, but also fighting back. Link took the opportunity this presented, neatly lopping the creature into two identical pieces.

"So, spirits aren't the only inhabitants in Kokiri," Chronos mused, watching the twitching plant with disinterest.

Link cleaned the blade on the brown grass, sticky fluid from the Deku Baba coming off easily. "We should continue without further delay." the young hero said calmly, before sliding the sword back into its rightful place on his broad back.

They moved on through the fiend-infested forest, hacking away monsters that could not or would not be evaded. This continued for a while, before the party finally climbed the rising slope of a hill that had not quite lost all of its greenery, trekking upwards until they came to the lip of the entrance to the Lost Woods.

"Stay close," Link instructed Rayne, his eyes serious as they took in her face. "Don't lose sight of me. If you think I'm going too fast, say so and I'll slow down."

"Is it really that bad if we get separated?" Rayne asked weakly, glancing nervously into the yawning darkness beyond the portal.

Links stern look was more than enough of a reply.

They entered the Lost Woods cautiously, making sure to keep sight of one another as they steadily made their way toward their destination.

"How do you know where you're going?" Rayne directed her question to Link, who slowly but surely made his way through each circular passage. "Everything looks exactly the same."

Link shrugged nonchalantly, disappointing Rayne who thought that was his answer. The silence was making her uncomfortable, a situation she was certain could be remedied with some idle talk. As they continued walking, what little noises that reached their ears were muffled inside the woods, making the sensation that it was closing in on them even more pronounced. There was magic here, she could sense it. The air reeked of it so strongly that it made her head ache.

Link's words startled her. "I guess it comes from living with the Kokiri for so long. After being in this place for an extended period of time, you learn its pathways. Part of it is trusting your senses, and the other is just knowing from previous experiences."

"So it's a kind of earth magic?" Rayne felt much better with this explanation. The throbbing pain in her temples ceased hurting as soon as her mind was off the pressing discomfort of the magical forest.

"You could label it that if you want."

The young woman considered Links character before determining that he meant nothing by that statement.

"We're here," Link announced finally, steeping onto the lush carpet of green grass with evident relief.

"'Bout time," Navi growled, hopping onto Links head. "For a second there I thought you were just pretending to know where we were going."

"Lost in the Lost Woods, what an inexcusable pun," Chronos remarked, before leaping off of his preferred seat on Rayne's shoulder. "The Temple is very close."

Rayne closed her eyes, allowing her senses to intermingle with the air in the meadow. There was still magic as there had been in the Lost Woods, but it was less malignant. She pulled back into herself when the magic brushed against her mind, filling her head with feelings of welcome. This place was sentient, possessing a level of alertness that made her gasp. The meadow was alive, much as she or Link.

"I wonder if Saria is around here," the fairy mused, floating upward to search above the tall hedges. "I can't see much from here, it's kind of misted over," she called to the others.

Rayne arched a black eyebrow, disengaging her mind from the speculations of the Sacred Forest Meadow. "Saria? Who is Saria?" she asked, noting Link's brightened expression when the name had come up.

"She's an old friend. Goddesses, I haven't seen her in a long time."

As soon as Link ran out onto the maze-like path, the Sacred Meadow sent a warning signal in Rayne's direction. Without a second of hesitation she grabbed the back of the young man's tunic and pulled, hard. Link fell back into her just in time to avoid being skewered by a spear held in the hands of a large, brown-skinned warrior. Rayne braced herself when it occurred to her just how hard she was going to hit the ground, her mind calculating the added weight of an armed Link crushing her into the earth. Thankfully the hero twisted in mid-air, landing next to instead of on top of her.

All of them stared incredulously as the creature faced them.

"Is that a gingerbread man?" Chronos snorted.

"In a loincloth?" Navi added unnecessarily.

The whole group would have dissolved into giggles had the monster not charged again. Link was quick to draw the Master Sword and parry the deadly strike. Sparks showered the dry ground, causing the blades of dead grass to erupt in flames, which Rayne quickly worked to put out.

'Fleeing from ridiculous monsters is one thing', she thought as she stomped the burning blades into oblivion, 'Being forced to do so from a fire is another matter entirely.'

The creature growled, pushing Link and gaining ground. The difference in their strengths was enormous, as the eight-foot tall behemoth was rock solid, unhindered by flesh or bone. Link quickly jumped back, sending the beast sprawling, before carefully springing forward, delivering a parallel cut to the mid-section of the monster. The sword glanced off the dark stone skin, jarring Link's arm painfully but leaving no visible sign of injury on his opponent.

The young hero was forced to dodge to the side when the spear was thrust at his chest. The sharp obsidian head ripped through his tunic, grazing flesh. Link sucked in a deep breath of air to keep from yelling obscenities as he skipped out of the way of another fatal blow.

Without warning there was a sharp twang, followed by an arrow suddenly materializing in the monster's eye socket. It blinked its remaining red eye dumbly before toppling to the ground with an audible boom.

Link turned to see Rayne lowering her bow. "Are you okay?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly and chest heaving with every breath.

"Yes," he replied as he put a hand to his injury, only to find that it was nowhere as serious as he had thought it to be. "Are you all right?"

She opened her mouth but her voice refused to respond. Link watched her, patiently awaiting her reply.

"It was just really sudden," she admitted finally, composing herself. "We can go now."

Link hesitated. Rayne's face was still unusually pale, and although it was less noticeable than before, she was still shaking. "We can rest a minute, he decided finally.

"No," her lips drew into a stubborn line, "I said I was fine."

"Isn't it just like a woman to insist that she's fine, even when she's really not?" Navi mused to Chronos, sitting on his back as the pair watched the drama unfold before them.

"It's more like Rayne than women in general," Chronos replied, snickering. "Do you think they'll finish this quarrel soon?"

"Probably not."

"Perhaps we should try to stop them," the cat suggested.

Navi hooted merrily at the thought. "You do that, I'll sit back here and watch."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Some King of Evil Ganondorf is," Navi remarked as another of the buff creatures fell lifeless to the ground. "His minions look like something you'd serve children during Yule."

"I should have coined that gingerbread thing," Chronos muttered to Rayne, who shook her head and rolled her eyes. "Ten rupees every time someone says anything even vaguely related to it."

"And what would you do with the rupees?" Navi drawled, smiling. "Buy kitty food?"

"I despise you."

"Feeling's mutual," the fairy giggled.

"Is it just me, or do they argue more than is strictly necessary?" Rayne snickered to Link.

"This way she picks on him instead of me." Link replied, grinning at the scowling Chronos.

Two stone pillars announced an end to the hedge maze. The party walked through the opening into a narrow pathway that eventually led to a stone staircase. Upon defeating the large Moblin that attempted to flatten them with a huge spiked club they finally came to the end of the Sacred Forest Meadow.

Link glanced around expectantly, particularly paying attention to the stump near the corner of the square field. Rayne was quiet, the Meadow having already informed her that the one Link sought was no longer within its boundaries. After countless minutes of searching, the young man seemed to give up, his expression one of sorrow.

"She could be inside the Forest Temple." Rayne said quietly, glancing up to see the ruined stairway.

Chronos had followed the young woman's gaze and realized their current predicament. "And how would you propose we venture up there? I don't suppose any of you can jump that high," he remarked snidely.

"I could levitate us up there one at a time," the young woman offered, judging the distance and finding it acceptable.

The cat looked at her for a second, before turning to Link and Navi. "Anyone else have a less deadly idea?" he enquired.

"I'll have you know I'm very competent in levitation magic." Rayne snapped angrily.

"Competent?" Chronos hissed back. "Define competent in the context you are using. Competent as in well end up bruised at the end, or competent meaning well be in little pieces when you're finished?"

"Enough."

Rayne and Chronos both turned to look at Link, who was observing them with vexation.

"We don't have time for this. If you want to find an alternative means of getting up there Chronos, be my guest. Otherwise were going with Rayne's levitation spell."

"Fine," the cat said, surprisingly smug for having lost the argument. "But when you end up dismembered, don't come to me crying."

Link stepped in front of Rayne, ignoring Chronos' last comment. "Do I need to do anything?"

The young woman shook her head, averting her eyes from his face, "Just stand still."

Taking in a deep breath she relaxed the muscles that had tightened during her disagreement with the black cat. Rayne concentrated, gathering her strength and tuning out all other sound. Her magical core came to life with a low roar, several threads glowing bright as they activated. Levitation was a relatively simple spell, requiring only basic wind knowledge. The only issue was that the element was naturally playful and tended to pull mischievous little tricks on the unwary sorcerer.

Rayne kept this all in mind as she mentally grasped the strands of power, weaving them into a net form. She cast the web out of herself and caught a stray gust of wind. Unfortunately she had selected a particularly feisty gale, which struggled against the bindings, trying to slip out. Frowning, Rayne sang out three musical notes in quick succession, more magical threads exiting from her mouth and wrapped around the element. That seemed to accomplish it; the wind ceased fighting and became properly docile.

"Okay, here we go." Rayne notified Link, and then directed the zephyr underneath and around him.

His feet rose with reluctance, hovering several inches above the grass. Rayne whistled out another note and he began floating higher.

"Don't drop him," Chronos called.

"If I do, it'll be on top of you," Rayne hissed through her teeth in reply.

As soon as Link reached the point where his head was level with the broken stairway he grabbed the cracked stone and hauled himself up.

"You're next Chronos," Rayne sweetly informed the little black cat, who looked at her warily.

"I have this sneaking feeling this is going to take several trips," he said suspiciously.

"Now Chronos, would I do such a thing?" she replied, putting an innocent look on her face.

"Yes, in a heartbeat, and take pleasure in it as well."

Rayne appeared to consider that while she levitated Chronos into the air. "Well," she said as she flashed him an impish smile, "At least you'll land on your feet."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

When they were all safely on the platform that lead to the entrance of the Forest Temple, Rayne released the wind from her magic net and then turned to Link.

"Be ready, you don't know what we'll run into in there," the young man warned her, gripping the Master Sword in both hands.

Rayne gulped, deliberating between having her dagger out, or her bow drawn. At length she decided that a long range weapon was preferable since Link already had a blade, and plucked a green feather-fletched arrow from the leather quiver on her back.

"I don't have many arrows left. I'll have to make more soon," she announced, notching the one she held to her bowstring.

Link adjusted his hold on the hilt. "Let's hope you wont need them."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The room they entered was very large due to the high ceiling, and made remarkable by the trees that towered above the strange group. Vines covered the walls, running from floor to ceiling in intricate patterns and designs that one could spend all day examining.

"How could all of this grow without sunlight?" Navi voiced the question that was on everyone's mind as they gazed around in awe.

"It's probably a type of independent magic that allows the plants to live without water or sunlight," Rayne replied as she approached one of the gnarled giants. She was about to put her hand on it to ascertain her supposition, when a low growl discouraged additional movement.

She froze as a furred foot stepped into her line of vision, but it was the pearl white claws that ended in deadly points that really caught her attention. Another foot appeared, closely followed by the rest of the beast's body. It was wolf-like, with an elongated jaw like that of a canine and a gray pelt covering the whole of its body, but standing on its hind legs, regarding her with cold intelligence most animals did not exhibit.

Though this creature had killed before, it knew to fear the bow she held limply in her hands. As she stood frozen, Rayne could see it gauging the damage she could inflict on it, debating that against the meat her body would supply.

Without warning, Chronos jumped down from her shoulder, and in a blur of movement attacked the wolf's face, biting and scratching in a mad attempt to distract it long enough for Rayne to regain control of her rooted limbs.

The wolf snarled in anger and shock, clawing at the cat's slim body with a vengeance. Chronos loosed a yowl of pain as the nails raked his back, before falling away from the beast. Rage surged through Rayne when she saw the black form hit the ground and lay unmoving. Unthinkingly she pulled the loaded arrow back to her ear and fired. The beast caught it in midair, snapping it into a mass of splinters as it hurtled toward the young girl. Rayne drew her dagger and caught the wolf full on with a clumsy upward sweep of her bladed weapon, flinching as its claws sank into her upper arm. A howl escaped the creatures opened mouth just before it died.

Ignoring her wound for the moment, Rayne dropped her weapon and ran up to Chronos, sinking to her knees before she gently lifted his prone body onto her lap.

"You stupid cat, why did you have to do that?" she sniffed as the feline's blood soaked into her tunic. "Why did you have to get hurt?"

Link quickly joined her, having just disposed of another wolf creature that had surprised him when Chronos had attacked the first. "How is he?"

Rayne didn't respond, instead beginning to concentrate once more, the strands of her magic rising rapidly at her distressed command. White threads spilled out of her fingers as she focused on healing the cat's body. She imagined the veins repairing themselves, the muscles and fat that had been ripped apart growing back at an accelerated rate. Her magic responded to this by actually accomplishing it on the physical plane, the blood that had soaked her clothing vanishing as it returned to Chronos.

The white magic faded, the radiance it had generated remaining only for an instant before winking away. Chronos groaned, made an effort to open his eyes, and then decided he didn't really need to see what was currently happening. "That stung like hell," he said weakly.

Rayne burst into tears, squeezing the cat to her face, "Don't you ever pull a stunt like that again!"

"Ugh, I assure you if I had known I'd end up aching like this I would have thought it through more seriously," the cat said in a strained voice as he squirmed in her grasp. "Kitten, I think you should release me before you end up having to heal some broken bones."

Rayne lessened her grip but did not free the cat altogether, instead hugging him lightly to herself, afraid to let go.

Link smiled at Chronos protests, knowing they were half-hearted. Being pressed against Rayne's chest was not something one needed to complain about too much. After a few minutes the cat gave up trying to act outraged.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~


Authors Notes: Wow, another useless chapter, I just cant seem to bring myself to actually have them enter the Temple. *Sighs*

A special thanks to The Pilot who was kind enough to set right my wrongs. If I hadn't sent it to him blood would have been spilled over the poor quality of my work.


Now to all those who reviewed:


In response to The Pilot: *Sighs* I must apologize sincerely for sending you such a rough copy of this chapter. When I saw all the corrections you had to make I was most abashed, Im astounded that you didn't e-mail me a verbal beating for my ignorance.


I think you might be catching on to several surprises, shrewd as you are, it doesn't surprise me much, although it does kind of take the wind out of my sails. :P


In response to GuruGuru214: Me? Clever? My dear boy, I fear you are sadly mistaken. If I were truly as smart as one my age should be, I would have caught onto what you were saying the first time you reviewed.


I'm glad you like Rayne, she can be exceedingly complex at times and amazingly simple at others. Perhaps you know precisely what I have in store for Dreamers, you would have the last time if I hadn't of changed my mind before I began writing. I don't mind if you make predictions about my story, to hell with fanfiction.net, you're entitled to review in whatever way you please.


In response to Grrr666: I really shouldn't even reply to that... I am in no mood to write lemons/limes and I probably never will be. I like how you made up your own word at the end of your rant though.


In response to Girl With Many Names: Yay! I thought I had lost you when you didn't review on chapter 17. *Does victory dance*


Now to answer your question. There is no 'Life' because Hyrule and its inhabitants are technically life incarnate. The Goddesses (mainly Farore if I remember the video game correctly) created the beings that reside in Hyrule and imbued them with the ability to reproduce, so the entity life was never needed. Time, Fate, and Death were required because without them the world would have been overrun with an ageless, fearless, and undying populace. I hope that explains it well enough.


Thanks for returning to review me again, I really missed hearing from you.


In response to Black Demon567: Wow, that's a lot of 'really's. Thank you very much for your flattery. By the way, you are in no way stupid and it offends me that you would call yourself such, no reviewer of mine is idiotic, and you are no exception.