The team was walking through a forest on their way to Death Mountain Cavern later that day. Link looked around at every one. Mido was talking with Darunia, Makar was sitting on Mido's head, Ruto was talking to Tingle, trying to get him to bother somebody else, and Medli was walking by herself. She looked at Link, then walked up beside him.

" Sooo…" she said. " You're the Hero of Time?"

" Yeah," Link said, trying not to boast.

" Hmmm…" she said.

" What was up back at the castle?" Link asked. " You acted as if you were embarrassed, or something."

" Oh…" she said. " Nothing…"

" Not that I mind," Link said. " I was just wondering."

" Oh," she said, going pink. There was a pause.

" What is your tribe like?" Link asked. " In the future."

" Oh," Medli said, as though surprised by the question. " Well, it's called the Rito tribe, which is on Dragon Roost Island. We worship the great Valoo, the spirit of the skies. In the matter of fact, I'm training to be an attendant of Valoo. When a Rito comes of age, they go to see Valoo, who gives them a single scale. The Rito would then earn their wings."

" Uh…" Link said, confused. " Wings?"

" Yes, " she said. " Us Rito have evolved wings. Our very way of life is in the sky. We have the best postal system you can imagine. That's what we mainly use our wings for."

" Do you enjoy it there?" Link asked.

" Well, there's a problem," she answered. " You see, the great Valoo has been very angry. Nobody really knows why. The cheiftain's son, Prince Komali is old enough to earn his wings. However, because of Valoo's anger, Komali is afraid to get his wings. He spends hours in his room just holding his special treasure, Din's Pearl."

" Hmmm," Link said.

" Actually, I think I'm the one at fault fore his bad manner," Medli continued. " Before me, Komali's grandmother was Valoo's attendant. She was great. She understood Valoo by not only his language, but his feelings. I know and Komali knows she would be able to calm him down. However, because of his grandmother's death, he does not have faith that we can help. He believes nobody but his grandmother would be able to calm the great Valoo. I wish Komali would only trust me as Valoo's attendant like he trusted his grandmother. It is also my duty to look after Komali. I fear he may think I replaced his grandmother. That is why I think it is my fault he has had little faith."

" Don't be so hard on yourself," Link said. " It can't be you who's at fault. And who knows? Maybe someone who can calm down Valoo will turn up and try. I know I would." She didn't say anything, but smiled at him.

" I highly doubt that…" she said. " … but thanks."

" So do you always talk to other girls behind my back?" a voice said. It was Ruto. " We're engaged remember!"

" Ruto!" Link said, very annoyed.

" No, it's alright," Medli said, starting to walk away. " I'll just go." Link grabbed her arm before she could leave.

" No! Ruto, listen!" Link said. " For the thousandth time, we are not engaged! I can talk to Medli if I want to! We're only friends. If you want an engagement at age fifteen, you should go engage somebody who wants to be!" Filled with rage, Ruto stomped off. Link looked back to Medli and noticed she was looking at a small necklace in her hand. Attached to the necklace was a small pendant. The pendant was a golden heart with silver wings.

" What's that?" Link said.

" Oh this?" Medli asked. " My mother gave me this. It's a Hope Pendant. There's a legend about these. It says that you give one half of it to someone who is special to you, like a close friend, that lives far off. You keep the other half for yourself. If you do, no matter how long you wait to see each other again, both of you will always remember each other. See? There are two halves." Link watched as she separated the pieces with relative ease.

" What's your mother like?" Link asked.

" She died when I was 5 years old," she said, in a sort of depressed tone of voice. " My father died the year after that."

" Oh," Link said, feeling very guilty for asking. " I'm sorry."

" That's alright," she said. " The chieftain has given me a small home for myself, but I'm having a bit of trouble with the payment. I am on a tight budget because I don't get full payment since I am not a true attendant." Link felt so bad. He could just imagine how hard her life must've been right now. He reached into his Rupee (currency in Hyrule) Bag and took out a Red Rupee (a red gem), which was worth 20 Rupees.

" Here," he said. " This should help with your payments." He handed Medli the Rupee.

" I can't take this," she said.

" I insist," Link said. She smiled at him.

" Thank you," Medli said.

" Behold…" Darunia said, rather suddenly. " … Death Mountain Cavern!"

" Great! Let's go!" Mido said.

" Wait just a minute, fine fellow," Darunia said. " We are weary from walking already. We shall camp here and enter tomorrow morning, if it's alright with Link."

" That's fine," Link said. With that, they began to set camp.