Day XV

Sitting in the Sun.

"Kaysho?" the Prince asked, no more than three weeks after having left the Gerudo fortress, "…How is it that you are so smart?"
The keaton, who lay on the tile floor below the boy's chair, looked up from a leaf he'd been focusing on, wedged between his front paws. He'd found it the day before, drifting silently in the wind, all alone in the midst of the millions upon millions of grains of sand. "…What do you mean? How come I can talk and think like you? Very many creatures of the field talk as well, it's just that you cannot understand them."

"No, I mean…" Ganondorf paused, "…How come you know all the things that you do…all the stories and legends. Where did you hear them? And…you know a lot of things about the land and about people…but where did you live before I found you?"

Kaysho paused, ever so slightly, but smiled up at the young man, "I lived in a forest. Deep…deep within, very far away. There were no structures like the kind you create here, or the sort that Hylians build. Only beasts of the earth and of the sky and of the water."
Ganondorf imagined this, and then grinned wistfully, "What did the land look like?"
"Very different from here. No sand, only wet, cold dirt. It was cold in the mornings and at night, and the only warmth was there the sun sometimes broke through the trees. The trees were tall and wide, and everywhere was a dark color of green. There were streams and rivers, and the water was always cold and had a strange taste. For a span of time too long to remember, I lived in a little cave…alone. My birthing pair left it to me when I was young, of course, such is the way we keaton live. It was a nice cave, but quite small…you would not have fit inside. The rock kept it cool when the air outside was hot, and likewise the ground was warm when the air turned cold and the water froze. The trees blocked away all of the sunlight, and all we beasts lived within our own world." Kaysho said calmly.

"Oh," He now seemed slightly confused, as he could not picture such a thing, having never seen anything like it. "…Why did you leave?" Ganondorf persisted.

Kaysho stayed silently for a longer moment this time, "It…was strange. …F-funny…now…I can't seem to remember very well." The animal looked confused, and maybe tired, "I remember…one day, I was hiding…" The keaton looked up at Ganondorf's concerned looking face, and then explained more clearly, "From Wolfos. Horrid, ugly dogs, I tell you, vile. Anyway, The area I was in was strange to me…there were less trees, and there was wonderful looking grass. Some trees were bigger than others, and I choose to hide near a large one. Then…I heard a voice."

"A voice?"

"Yes…a quiet one. It said, 'I can see…'" Kaysho paused, vaguely remembering, "'I can see…all of you. Fall…fall now. Better to fall now…such pain. Fall into…darkness.' …Yes, that's what it said, 'Such pain, it would be better to…fall now. Fall into darkness.'" Kaysho blinked, then smiled sheepishly, "It really frightened me at the time…then…I remember waking up a time later. It was raining, and I wondered if it was all a dream." Kaysho stood up and stretched, in the manner that a dog would, first his front legs and then his back. Then he looked over to Ganondorf.

Ganondorf seemed to be pondering Kaysho's story, "…Was it a dream or was it real?"

"I don't know. But it happened again." Kaysho answered, now in a serious tone.

"Again?"

"Yes. Very many times. …That's why I left my den. …I just ran away one day, hoping that it wouldn't follow me. I never dreamt that dream again."

"…So…that is how you wandered into the desert?" Ganondorf asked, seeing the pieces of Kaysho's puzzle fitting together now.

The keaton nodded and twitched his ears a tad, "Yes. I don't know why I came towards the desert…I was drawn to it." Kaysho sighed, then smiled at Ganondorf, "It might seem that we were fated to meet."
Ganondorf grinned more, like an excited child; this story was like the great stories that Kaysho use to tell him; only now this one was brand new, "What else did you pass through before you came here?"
Kaysho studied Ganondorf's face, "…Have you never left the desert?"
"I have not." Ganondorf replied plainly.
"Truly?" Kaysho asked, but then continued, "Well, the journey from the forest was long, and I soon got lost. I'd never seen your sort before, but then one day, I saw a…a child. It looked like a Hylian pup. Since I was lost and the pup seemed to know the way about itself, I followed it. It led me to what I now know is called a Village. I hid, listening to their talk and stories. They were the Kokiri."

"The Kokiri?" Ganondorf repeated, "…The forest folk who stay a child until they die?"

"Yes, that is right." Kaysho smiled, "You've quite a keen memory. You never forget a single story that I tell you. I finally decided that the Kokiri were of no harm, so I came forward to the one I had followed and spoke with her."
"Her?" Ganondorf repeated.

"Yes. She was very very small…of course Kokiri grow much slower than Gerudos or Hylians, but still she was smaller than the others. She had a small round face, skin pale like the moon, not like you or the lovely Miss Nabooru at all. Big bright eyes, and hair the color green. Like the ferns on palm trees."

"Green!" Ganondorf asked in disbelief, and laughed a bit, "Green hair?"

Kaysho nodded, "Yes. Is it unusual?"

"Yes, very!" Ganondorf replied, "…Then what happened?"

"Well, I talked to others afterwards too. Apparently they never leave the great woods, yet some of them knew the way out. So I bid the children farewell and left. And very soon enough, the trees cleared, and I walked into Hyrule Field."

"How did you know its name?"

"I didn't at first. But you see, it's very very large, so I was wondering, again, for days. Human travelers came across the road, and these were Hylians, not the children Kokiri, so I hid in the grass because they were very large." Kaysho paused as Ganondorf chuckled, then he continued, "I overheard them say the name of the field. They walked upon a dirt pathway. After they'd left, I took to the dirt road instead of staying in the grass. It led to a place…I'm not sure how to describe it. I didn't know at the time. I suppose that it's like the fortress, but built of different things. Many people lived there."

"…Hyrule Castle Town. That must be it." Ganondorf said.

"You've been there?" Kaysho asked, "But-"

"No, I've only seen it on a map." Ganondorf corrected.

"Ah," The keaton nodded, "I see. Well, I looked inside, and started in…but then…those people, those awful people! They crowded around me, their pups and some of the adults, and were saying so many things at once that I couldn't make out a single voice! So I ran away from there as fast as I could!"
Ganondorf grinned, "You draw people to you. Hylians say keatons bring great luck."
"Really?" Kaysho asked anxiously, "Is that why you were so fascinated when we met?"
Ganondorf started and his face grew a bit flushed out of an embarrassed guilt, but he nodded and replied yes.
Kaysho grinned his toothy grin, "It's quite alright!"
"What else did you see?" Ganondorf asked, and sat on the ground then give Kaysho a light pat on the head. The keaton twitched his ears and smiled contently. "Did you see the big lake?" Ganondorf continued, recalling maps of Hyrule to his mind.
"Lake? …Ah, a lake, it is like a huge pool of water, right? Yes, I saw a very large lake, but only from a long distance. It was so strange…the water was deep and blue, vast and delicious looking. It was so big."
"What's strange about that?" Ganondorf asked.
"That is was quite close to the entrance to your valley and desert." Kaysho said, in more serious tone now.
"…Really…it's close to here?" Ganondorf's grin faded, and he slowly arched his neck back and looked out the window. Outside, he saw the blazing sun and searing winds, and the hills of sand never ending. He frowned, "So close, but still useless to us. Those damn Hylians…they wouldn't give us an inch of fertile land…"
Kaysho blinked, unaccustomed to matters such as politics. "What's wrong, master Ganondorf?"
"Its – don't call me master, Kaysho please? – the Hylians, they and us don't…get along, you could say. We've had a history of war…you know that. Their King calls us dirty thieves…but don't they understand? The only reason we have to steal is because the only soil they've left us is dead…we'd starve if we didn't take things off their land. If they would just share even a little, it wouldn't be a problem…" He frowned even more, "The suffering of our people…it's all their fault! It's Hyrule's fault!"

Kaysho blinked and looked up at the boy who'd become a man, finding Ganondorf's sudden behavior a bit unusual. But the keaton smiled, "Such a noble face, Ganondorf. You're becoming a king."
Ganondorf stared, "…What? Oh...no…everyone says things like that, the women too…I…I'm not ready yet Kaysho. You know that."
Kaysho smiled, "No, you will be soon. I see it growing in you."
"No…no…you're mistaken. I could never…I don't think I'll ever be ready, Kaysho."

"No no! Nonsense!" Kaysho laughed, but then continued, "Of course you will be. You're strong and intuitive…" He smiled, "…A fire alight in the darkness. You'll be a good leader, I can promise you."
"…Why do you think so? You really think…I'm ready?" Ganondorf practically whispered.
"Yes, I've thought so for some time. That's why I call you master now. You're nearly ready, it's quite exciting. You're nearly of age now, are you not? 20 in your years now, right?"
"In three moons, I will be, yes." Ganondorf sighed. He looked at Kaysho and tried to subtlety change the subject, "How old are you now? …In my years?"
"Hmm…I can't remember exactly. Close to 130, perhaps."
"What!" Ganondorf exclaimed, "You lived in the forest for that long!"
"Well…I suppose. I saw a tree as tall as you when I was young. When I left, it was as tall as this temple. …But enough of me!" Kaysho smiled more, "You're so young, so young, 20 years! But you've grown so fast, you humans must not live near as long as we do. We might even be the same in distance from the beginning to the end of our lives."
"I suppose that would make sense…" Ganondorf said, but in his face it was apparent that he was still shocked at Kaysho's age.
Kaysho chuckled to himself, "I'd always wondered why you never asked my age." He fiddled about some more with his leaf, then looked back up to Ganondorf, "You know I prefer not to lie, so I tell you the truth. I happily await the day that you become king of this land. And you'll be a great ruler, I know you will be."
Ganondorf sighed again and smiled weakly at the keaton, "What makes you so sure?"
"Because you care for us."
"Us?" Ganondorf asked. Kaysho nodded and looked at him, waiting for him to say more. "Us…" Ganondorf pondered. "…You, Kaysho. And Koume and Kotake I suppose. And…"
Kaysho interrupted slyly, "And the beautiful Miss Nabooru."
Blood rushed to Ganondorf's face and stained his skin red, "K-Kaysho! I…"

Kaysho grinned, "Come now. I see you watch her. When you look at her, your lips press tight together, and your eyes are alight with flame! Hmm," Kaysho made a purring noise, "She's beautiful, is she not?"

Ganondorf couldn't help but smiled to himself. He covered his face with his hand sheepishly, "Well…yes…she's…she's very beautiful."

Kaysho smiled, "You should go visit her more, you should. She's very nice, Miss Nabooru."
"Oh no…or at least…I couldn't go without you, Kaysho."
"Don't be shy!" Kaysho teased, "You're the Prince! Be brave!"

Ganondorf covered his face more and laughed, "I suppose. But…she doesn't think of me…the way I think of her. And her mother…" he laughed, "Nefyret hates me."

Kaysho paused and couldn't think of anything to say about Nefyret, but he smiled slyly again, "You truly think so? If only you weren't so quick to look away, my master. Miss Nabooru looks at you the same way you look at her."

"R-really?" Ganondorf stammered, and moved his hand.

Kaysho smiled, "She must think like you do. She must think that you're very beautiful."

At that statement, Ganondorf flushed deep red again and buried his face awkwardly in his hands.