Komali had waited so long.

So long..

Too long.

He stared anxiously at the horizon from his perch on the ledge, waiting.

Waiting...

...waiting for the aching in his heart to dull to something manageable so he didn't explode...

How many days since Ganondorf's defeat had gone by? How many days had he waited here sleeplessly?

And he saw it then.

There, on the edge of his vision, he saw something that made his heart stop, and then thump wildly.

A blot of slow-moving crimson was heading for the island at an excruciating pace. Komali longed to pluck it from the horizon and..snuggle it. He gave a cry of frustration and forced himself not to fly towards it.

It would be so easy! And the horrible longing would be gone, and he would be happy again..

..And after what felt like hours, the boat landed.

The object of his heart's desire was on the island.

Link was there.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Link glanced around nervously as he waded onto the island.

He couldn't help being nervous.

I mean, if you'd been tackled, tied and gagged, and then taped to the wall of a cavern.

He didn't even know where Komali had found the tape, even.

It was creepy.

Cautiously, he walked up the sandy path to the mailbox, letter in hand.

"Stupid mail-order limited edition figurines.." He mumbled, all but inaudiably as he dropped the envelope in.

And then shrieked in horror as a figure swooped down from the cliff above.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Komali," Link pleaded, horrified, from where he was coccooned against the wall, enveloped in the horrid chemical-smelling...'duct tape?' Wasn't that what they called it?

Horrid stuff.

"Can't we please just talk about this?"

"I'm listening." The Rito prince was beaming.

Link felt ill. If he could just get to one of his weapons, he could get free, he was sure..

"Look, Komali.." He grinned broadly, a bead of sweat trickling past his ear.

Hookshot?

No. Would puncture it before it sliced it.

"I really don't think, um.." Very bad look in Komali's eye. Veery bad.

Grappling hook was blunt..telescope would be absolutely worthless, really..skull hammer would probably crush him..

"...that we should go fast about this..." Link cringed inwardly at this, but at least Komali didn't look quite so...possibly homocidal. Which was good.

"Oh, I see." Komali said softly, a kind of crazy grin forming on his face.

His sword was pinned, but maybe he could saw through with an arrow..no. Komali would have noticed by then..but he had no choice now, as he began to slowly work his arm back to the quiver hanging there.

"You're worried what they'll think when they find out we're-"

"K'MLI-KINS!"

A speeding figure barreled, wind whistling through pinion feathers.

"ARRG! GET -OFF- ME, MEDLI!"

"Komali-smoochy-woochy-kuddly-wuddly-luvvy-bunny-wunnykins!" Squealed the Rito girl, who Link had...previously viewed as more mature than Komali. So much for that.

Biting back a fit of laughter at the sight before him, Link sawed determinedly through duct tape with a single plain arrow.

Medli was clinging delightedly to Komali's neck, who was trying in vain to pry her off him. Feathers were swirling around, stirred gently by the breeze.

Link was free.

"Finally.." He breathed, sneaking quietly past the pair of Rito. Medli was trying to give the prince something the bird tribe had dubbed a 'Valoo Hug' for reasons unknown to Link, who was by this time, making smooth, fluid movements in the air with the silver baton known as the Wind Waker.

"Southwest," He murmered, turning his head to watch stray feathers blown into the water. Staring for a moment, the boy hopped into the boat, swiftly set up his sail with the smooth familiarty of long practice.

And he was going.

--

A/N: I am odd, yes I am. 8D!