-Tasks-
After that day I had a different outlook on the Zoras. Sure they were uptight, hierarchical jerks on most occasions but now they would do more than bow their head respectfully when passing each other. Now they would say hello and stop to chat. I woke up everyday and taught new games to the younger group of Zoras, and even though they were fish people, they didn't know that many water games. I taught them one game called Marco Polo even though I had no idea who the hell Marco Polo was.
Cay and the three of us got to be really good friends and I liked him the best out of all the younger ones. He was much more on our level of thinking. One thing I loved watching was the daily debates between Ruto and Dmitri. There was a new winner everyday and the fact that they would argue about such things as the patterns on the Zoras skin was just entertaining. Half the time Dmitri would pull facts out of the air and pass them off as true but Ruto never noticed.
I'd have to say I really enjoyed life in Zora's Domain. We were taking our time there because we had thousands of years to live and plenty of time to see everything. Plus the very fact that I could swim any time I want was enough to keep me there. But most of all, I absolutely, positively, no doubt in the world loved learning about the ways of life of the other races. They were so different yet so similar.
One morning we were all rudely awaken around midday by trumpets playing a fast rhythm. Link thudded to the ground and Dmitri scrambled up getting himself tangled in the sheets. I had been between them and was fine but all the commotion had woken me up too. I hopped out of bed and got dressed behind a curtain while they were groaning and pushing themselves up.
The trumpets hadn't registered right away so when we heard them again we quickly sprinted up the stairs to the throne room. Almost all the Zoras were gathered in there. We pushed our way through where Cay was standing just in front of the platform but not on it.
"What's going on?" I asked
"The young Cay is going through the tasks" A close Zora answered
"Tasks?"
I remembered Cay telling me that to be considered a mature Zora you had to complete tasks of some sort and that was also the reason for the party, but I hadn't asked what they were.
"The tasks are the Zora way of saying you are of age and worthy to be called a Zora. They test courage, wisdom and power. Most complete at least the first task at age ten but young Cay hasn't. Captain Myer hopes his son will pass this time"
"How many times has he tried?" I inquired
"This will be the fourth time"
"Is there any way to stop this?"
"No. And since he has tried so many times, Princess Ruto says he must complete the three tasks today. She has set the challenges and Cay must step up on the platform after she is done speaking to start. Once you step up though, there is no going back."
"What if someone else steps up?" Link broke in
"Then they must do the tasks for they have contracted"
The Zora began listening to Ruto's speech again and Link looked gravely at me.
"Cay isn't ready," I said quietly. "And if you're thinking what I'm thinking we have until Ruto stops talking"
"Okay, somebody's got to go for him. How do I get up there?" Link asked
"What? No way Link" Dmitri said, "If anybody should go it should be Saira"
"What? Why me?" I retorted.
"Because you're just as good as any Zora"
I knew he was right. We pushed forward and I saw that Ruto was almost done. I bolted through the crowd and walked up on the platform while Ruto was talking and no one expected this so no one stopped me. But one thing stopped. Ruto got wide eyed and her mouth hung open. It was actually a little funny. Several Zoras gasped and I looked around for a moment pretending I didn't know I'd done anything wrong.
"Ruto, I need to ask you something," I said causally
"Saira, do you know what you've just done?"
"What?" I said "What?!"
"You've agreed to go through the Zora tasks"
"What?" I tried to step down but a crowd of shocked faces wouldn't let me by.
"By sacred law you are bound to complete them"
"I don't suppose there's any way to get out of this"
Ruto shook her head
"Now what?" Dmitri chimed in
"Saira must complete the tasks," Ruto said
"I don't have to do anything," I said
"You have no choice"
"Why not?"
"Any Zora who agrees to complete the challenges and backs out is considered a disgrace to the family they are part of and asked to leave the water city until they prove their worth another way but no Zora has ever backed out. If you fail the tasks, it's different"
"Okay, except I'm not a Zora and I'm pretty sure Link won't care if I back out and he's the only family I got"
"But the tasks were set for Cay so technically you represent them" Ruto said
"Okay, okay. I'll do it if Captain Myer agrees to let his son complete the tasks when he's ready and not before"
All eyes fell on Myer
"Agreed"
His attitude seemed to have changed in those few moments where I took on such responsibilities. I'm also pretty sure he knew I took Cay's spot purposely.
"Fine. Saira, your first task is to overcome fear and find courage. You must dive off the Zora waterfall and retrieve all the rupees placed on the bottom," Ruto said.
A slight smirk crossed my face that I'm pretty sure only Dmitri could have caught.
"Okay" I said brightly
"Follow Myer to the end of the tunnel to your left"
I jumped down went down the tunnel.
"Why'd you do it?" Myer asked as we walked away from prying ears.
"Cay isn't ready. He'd got fins and still can't beat me from one side to the other. And...he's my friend"
"But you are only ten and not a Zora. It would be different if you were a Zora. If you come out of these I'll be shocked."
"Why?"
"Because no Hyrulean, Gerudo, Sheikah, or Goron has ever been able to finish all three. Even on such a simple task as this, all others have trouble."
"You don't have much confidence"
"Like I said, you're young and not a Zora. And we are not able to rescue you until the time is up."
"How about this, if I have to be saved, I'll give back all the rupees I collect, and if not, I keep them?"
"We are not permitted to gamble"
"I won't tell if you won't"
He smiled for the first time and I took that as an agreement between us.
"Alright, even though I'm not supposed to, I'm going to give you a tip. There is no doubt in my mind you have the courage to jump off, but when you're about to hit the water stretch your fingers back. It will keep you from going straight down. It will angle your dive so that you don't go to deep in one trip and give you more control. Ready?"
"Yep"
"Go"
I walked to the edge and as I jumped I heard Link yell my name. I went faster and faster until I dove into the deep water. I did what Myer said and it also slowed me down enough to get better control. I opened my eyes and saw the sparkle of rupees in several places resting on the bottom. I swam with ease and stayed under until I was sure I'd gotten them all.
All together there must have been 50 rupees worth. I went to the surface and then swam to the shore. I trudged back up the steps and everyone seemed shocked to see me but I didn't think the challenge was all that hard. Ruto sent me back down the hall where I met Myer again. I started wringing out my hair when Link and Dmitri ran up hugging me.
"Even with time to spare" Myer said proudly. "Take this as proof"
He handed me a bronze-ish triangle about the size of my palm.
"Now then, the second task will test your speed and wisdom. There are torches from here to a secret area with the second piece of what you hold now. The challenge is to keep all the torches lit and find the area for the piece is locked away and only unlocked when all torches are lit. Time is also limited"
"Psst. Saira" Link said
"One sec" I said walking over a little ways.
"Saira, I think I know where the secret area is," he whispered
"What? How?"
"I don't know but I'm pretty sure it's behind the waterfall"
I smiled and nodded. He hugged me one more time then I went back over to Myer. "I'm ready." I said. I ran and jumped off the waterfall again to Link's extreme disapproval. He hated that Dmitri's character had rubbed off on me enough to get me to jump off a large waterfall. Course I'm pretty sure that one day I'll be too smart to do this. Hmm, I'm pretty smart now. Oh well, I'm already hurtling down so it's a little late to be rethinking this.
When I came up from the water I made sure I did behind the pressure of the fall. And just like Link thought, there was a small hollowed out cave area in the rock with a chest in the middle. I pushed myself out of the water starting to feel a little tired. After a moment I tried to open the chest but it was locked well and none of my magic would open it.
Finally I held my hand out palm up. Light started swirling around above my palm until there were several glowing balls. Then they lit up with fire.
"Burn fast. Make it quick" I said to them. Each quickly flew out of my hand. I waited and within moments I heard a click behind me. The chest popped open and a bright light emitted from it.
I stood up and leaned over. The light was blinding but it started fading until I saw a small silver triangle also the size of my palm. I grabbed it and it made me smile since there was this huge chest and a tiny little treasure
"Over compensating much," I said before I dove back in the water. I drug myself back up the stairs again seeing the torches lit as I went. The Zoras were looking apprehensive when I entered the room again. I noticed though that King Zora had moved. Myer was waiting in the throne room this time and I just waited.
"Come" He led me around the side ramp up to where Ruto and King Zora were. "The final task is through here" Myer said "There are creatures in there: Tektites, Skutullas, and Octoroks. Part of your test will be to kill all of them"
"And the other part?" I asked
"Zora's Lake is deeper than any body of water in all of Hyrule. At the bottom are many treasures including the last piece you seek."
"I don't even know what it is"
"You'll find out when the tasks are over."
"Okay, so I kill the creatures and get the piece. Anything else?"
"You only have one hour."
"How will I know if I've killed everything?"
"You'll only be able to get the last piece if you have. Ready?"
"No!" Link and Dmitri both said. They pulled me back out of earshot.
"Saira, do you even know how to kill any of those creatures?" Link asked
"Nah, but I'll figure it out"
He rolled his eyes. Then Link reached back and pulled out a small sword. I recognized it immediately as the Kokiri Sword. He handed it to me.
"Where did you get this?"
"On your little 'I'm a good girl' trip when you stopped hanging with us as much" Dmitri said.
"Tektites eyes are their weak spot" Link said disregarding Dmitri. "Two hits should render them helpless. For the Skutullas, use this" Link said pulling out his Faery slingshot.
"I know you suck at this but Skutullas are highly poisonous and I'd feel better if you kept your distance," he added
"What about the octoroks, Link?" Dmitri asked "They'll go underwater before she gets close enough to get them with the sword and they shoot too many rocks before she could do squat with the slingshot"
"Well, how do you get rid of a Deku Scrub" he said smartly "Take my shield. Just use your brain to knock it right" he said putting it on me.
"We're wasting time," A Zora shouted
"SHUT UP!!!" we said angrily
"Oh, I should mention that you can't use the Gilia plant to get to the bottom" Myer said sadly
"Great...now what?" I said
"Saira, he said plant...so just drink the juice" Dmitri said slyly
"And that's why I love you" I said walking back up to Myer. "Okay, I'm ready"
"Through there. Time starts when you reach Lord Jabu-Jabu."
"Here goes," I said splashing through the foot deep water. As I walked I suddenly started feeling very nervous.
Goddess I was getting tired. I finally entered an enormous area with very few spots of land otherwise it was all water. Broken temple ruins lie before a huge, fat, extremely ugly, whale-like creature.
"Well, let's get this over with" I said to myself while going around the snoring fish. Hmm, fish do snore.
Behind him was a deep lake except for spits of land towards the far edges and that's where the Tektites were. They were ugly, bright colored creatures of yellow and blue. They looked like spiders and reptiles mated and this is what happened; a four legged, one-eyed hideous beast.
They were so still and never blinked; it was creepy. I was wasting time just staring at them. I got in the water and swam stealthily in their direction but I moved a little too quickly and the waves washed on shore. I heard a clicking noise and all of the tektites came jumping at me.
I took a breath and went under. One jumped right over me and I thrust m sword up and stabbed it clear through. After several muffled shrieks it stopped and I could come up for air.
I reached a small bit of land and the other tektites came jumping again. I reached in my pocket and hoped for something useful. Yes! Thank Din I nicked those Deku Nuts from Dmitri last night. I threw one down and all the tektites froze in their tracks. Like an assembly line I ran each one through and they were all dead before they could move again.
Okay, I'm doing well. Ouch! I turned around swiftly and three octoroks were hurtling rocks at me. Agh! Annoying little, ah! They continued to barrage me. What to do? Oh, I know. I muttered a quick levitation spell and the shield held in place. Careful not to be noticed I slipped back into the water and went deep enough so that they wouldn't see me. I waved my hand so that the shield went closer to one of the octoroks. It dove beneath the water and I stabbed it as it reached my level. I repeated this process for all of the other octoroks until there weren't anymore left. The hardest part was finding a way to get air.
Now if I remember correctly they said there were Skutullas too. Where in a place full of water am I going to find Skutullas? I peered around and the only place I saw was the several trunks of wood from fallen trees. I swam over listening hard. I know I'm not doing what Link told me to but I think my ways are a little more effective.
I climbed onto the wood but it resonated. It's not supposed to do that if it's solid. Stupidly I started jumping up and down. Oops: Big mistake as I land with a thud onto a pile of webbing and animal skeletons. Now the last time I got stuck in a Skutulla pit, Link bailed me out and saved me but Link wasn't here now.
Uh oh. I heard clicking and hissing noises drawing closer. What am I doing? I don't fight. I use magic. I summoned several of my light beads and in that moment I wish I hadn't because there were too many Skutullas to count inching towards me. I made my little beads spark with fire. The dreadful arachnids hissed as a fire quickly spread about the webbing. Oh crap, how am I going to get out? Boy it's getting hot. Goddess Saira, you are so stupid. Get out first, and then light the fire. At least the fire is keeping the Skulltulas away. Yeah, that's it think of the positive before you burn to death.
I looked around frantically then tried jumping up to reach a stray branch but the more I jumped the weaker the foundation beneath my feet got and I ended up falling through the bottom into the cool water. The wood started creaking meaning it was about to fall so I swam away as fast as I could. But it didn't fall and the hiss of Skutullas filled the air. I don't think they could swim and there was no place to go.
I really need to go thank the Deku Tree though. That simple little spell has helped me more than I ever thought it would.
Hmm, I wonder how much time I have left. I pulled out a pouch of Gilia and squeezed the disgusting liquid into my mouth. Goddess I felt like spitting it right back out. The burning in my lungs began again and I dove into the water swallowing several gulps of it.
Then I kicked my tired legs and went straight to the bottom. It was getting darker but I could still see well enough because of the Gilia and the pressure was nowhere near as bad as it should have been. Bubbles escaped form my mouth as I saw the vast amount of rupees that had gathered at the bottom. There was a fortune. If I had all that I'd never have to work a day in my life.
But in respect of time I didn't take any and searched for the little triangle. I finally found it and I apparently killed everything because I took it with ease. Ugh, I'm not feeling too good.
I kicked again and swam hard for the surface but I noticed I had to hold my breath. The Gilia had barely lasted as long as it had before. I broke surface and my face was lit up by the Skutulla bonfire I'd created.
I just know I'm cutting this close and the fact that I'm starting to get really dizzy isn't helping. I avoided the blaze and ran around the ugly, whale thing. I jogged toward the entryway I'd originally come through.
Ruto and the others seemed absolutely shocked that I was...well, alive. But at that moment where I was filled with happiness and smiled I fell off the ledge and landed with a splash in the water. Link and Dmitri ran over to me but their faces were blurred. Goddess my stomach was burning and I felt like my skin was trying to jump off of me. I wrapped my arms around me and recoiled as if trying to prevent that.
"Goddess, she's burning up" I barely heard Link say. Ruto and Myer joined my side but my memory fails me after that because everything has gone black.
After that day I had a different outlook on the Zoras. Sure they were uptight, hierarchical jerks on most occasions but now they would do more than bow their head respectfully when passing each other. Now they would say hello and stop to chat. I woke up everyday and taught new games to the younger group of Zoras, and even though they were fish people, they didn't know that many water games. I taught them one game called Marco Polo even though I had no idea who the hell Marco Polo was.
Cay and the three of us got to be really good friends and I liked him the best out of all the younger ones. He was much more on our level of thinking. One thing I loved watching was the daily debates between Ruto and Dmitri. There was a new winner everyday and the fact that they would argue about such things as the patterns on the Zoras skin was just entertaining. Half the time Dmitri would pull facts out of the air and pass them off as true but Ruto never noticed.
I'd have to say I really enjoyed life in Zora's Domain. We were taking our time there because we had thousands of years to live and plenty of time to see everything. Plus the very fact that I could swim any time I want was enough to keep me there. But most of all, I absolutely, positively, no doubt in the world loved learning about the ways of life of the other races. They were so different yet so similar.
One morning we were all rudely awaken around midday by trumpets playing a fast rhythm. Link thudded to the ground and Dmitri scrambled up getting himself tangled in the sheets. I had been between them and was fine but all the commotion had woken me up too. I hopped out of bed and got dressed behind a curtain while they were groaning and pushing themselves up.
The trumpets hadn't registered right away so when we heard them again we quickly sprinted up the stairs to the throne room. Almost all the Zoras were gathered in there. We pushed our way through where Cay was standing just in front of the platform but not on it.
"What's going on?" I asked
"The young Cay is going through the tasks" A close Zora answered
"Tasks?"
I remembered Cay telling me that to be considered a mature Zora you had to complete tasks of some sort and that was also the reason for the party, but I hadn't asked what they were.
"The tasks are the Zora way of saying you are of age and worthy to be called a Zora. They test courage, wisdom and power. Most complete at least the first task at age ten but young Cay hasn't. Captain Myer hopes his son will pass this time"
"How many times has he tried?" I inquired
"This will be the fourth time"
"Is there any way to stop this?"
"No. And since he has tried so many times, Princess Ruto says he must complete the three tasks today. She has set the challenges and Cay must step up on the platform after she is done speaking to start. Once you step up though, there is no going back."
"What if someone else steps up?" Link broke in
"Then they must do the tasks for they have contracted"
The Zora began listening to Ruto's speech again and Link looked gravely at me.
"Cay isn't ready," I said quietly. "And if you're thinking what I'm thinking we have until Ruto stops talking"
"Okay, somebody's got to go for him. How do I get up there?" Link asked
"What? No way Link" Dmitri said, "If anybody should go it should be Saira"
"What? Why me?" I retorted.
"Because you're just as good as any Zora"
I knew he was right. We pushed forward and I saw that Ruto was almost done. I bolted through the crowd and walked up on the platform while Ruto was talking and no one expected this so no one stopped me. But one thing stopped. Ruto got wide eyed and her mouth hung open. It was actually a little funny. Several Zoras gasped and I looked around for a moment pretending I didn't know I'd done anything wrong.
"Ruto, I need to ask you something," I said causally
"Saira, do you know what you've just done?"
"What?" I said "What?!"
"You've agreed to go through the Zora tasks"
"What?" I tried to step down but a crowd of shocked faces wouldn't let me by.
"By sacred law you are bound to complete them"
"I don't suppose there's any way to get out of this"
Ruto shook her head
"Now what?" Dmitri chimed in
"Saira must complete the tasks," Ruto said
"I don't have to do anything," I said
"You have no choice"
"Why not?"
"Any Zora who agrees to complete the challenges and backs out is considered a disgrace to the family they are part of and asked to leave the water city until they prove their worth another way but no Zora has ever backed out. If you fail the tasks, it's different"
"Okay, except I'm not a Zora and I'm pretty sure Link won't care if I back out and he's the only family I got"
"But the tasks were set for Cay so technically you represent them" Ruto said
"Okay, okay. I'll do it if Captain Myer agrees to let his son complete the tasks when he's ready and not before"
All eyes fell on Myer
"Agreed"
His attitude seemed to have changed in those few moments where I took on such responsibilities. I'm also pretty sure he knew I took Cay's spot purposely.
"Fine. Saira, your first task is to overcome fear and find courage. You must dive off the Zora waterfall and retrieve all the rupees placed on the bottom," Ruto said.
A slight smirk crossed my face that I'm pretty sure only Dmitri could have caught.
"Okay" I said brightly
"Follow Myer to the end of the tunnel to your left"
I jumped down went down the tunnel.
"Why'd you do it?" Myer asked as we walked away from prying ears.
"Cay isn't ready. He'd got fins and still can't beat me from one side to the other. And...he's my friend"
"But you are only ten and not a Zora. It would be different if you were a Zora. If you come out of these I'll be shocked."
"Why?"
"Because no Hyrulean, Gerudo, Sheikah, or Goron has ever been able to finish all three. Even on such a simple task as this, all others have trouble."
"You don't have much confidence"
"Like I said, you're young and not a Zora. And we are not able to rescue you until the time is up."
"How about this, if I have to be saved, I'll give back all the rupees I collect, and if not, I keep them?"
"We are not permitted to gamble"
"I won't tell if you won't"
He smiled for the first time and I took that as an agreement between us.
"Alright, even though I'm not supposed to, I'm going to give you a tip. There is no doubt in my mind you have the courage to jump off, but when you're about to hit the water stretch your fingers back. It will keep you from going straight down. It will angle your dive so that you don't go to deep in one trip and give you more control. Ready?"
"Yep"
"Go"
I walked to the edge and as I jumped I heard Link yell my name. I went faster and faster until I dove into the deep water. I did what Myer said and it also slowed me down enough to get better control. I opened my eyes and saw the sparkle of rupees in several places resting on the bottom. I swam with ease and stayed under until I was sure I'd gotten them all.
All together there must have been 50 rupees worth. I went to the surface and then swam to the shore. I trudged back up the steps and everyone seemed shocked to see me but I didn't think the challenge was all that hard. Ruto sent me back down the hall where I met Myer again. I started wringing out my hair when Link and Dmitri ran up hugging me.
"Even with time to spare" Myer said proudly. "Take this as proof"
He handed me a bronze-ish triangle about the size of my palm.
"Now then, the second task will test your speed and wisdom. There are torches from here to a secret area with the second piece of what you hold now. The challenge is to keep all the torches lit and find the area for the piece is locked away and only unlocked when all torches are lit. Time is also limited"
"Psst. Saira" Link said
"One sec" I said walking over a little ways.
"Saira, I think I know where the secret area is," he whispered
"What? How?"
"I don't know but I'm pretty sure it's behind the waterfall"
I smiled and nodded. He hugged me one more time then I went back over to Myer. "I'm ready." I said. I ran and jumped off the waterfall again to Link's extreme disapproval. He hated that Dmitri's character had rubbed off on me enough to get me to jump off a large waterfall. Course I'm pretty sure that one day I'll be too smart to do this. Hmm, I'm pretty smart now. Oh well, I'm already hurtling down so it's a little late to be rethinking this.
When I came up from the water I made sure I did behind the pressure of the fall. And just like Link thought, there was a small hollowed out cave area in the rock with a chest in the middle. I pushed myself out of the water starting to feel a little tired. After a moment I tried to open the chest but it was locked well and none of my magic would open it.
Finally I held my hand out palm up. Light started swirling around above my palm until there were several glowing balls. Then they lit up with fire.
"Burn fast. Make it quick" I said to them. Each quickly flew out of my hand. I waited and within moments I heard a click behind me. The chest popped open and a bright light emitted from it.
I stood up and leaned over. The light was blinding but it started fading until I saw a small silver triangle also the size of my palm. I grabbed it and it made me smile since there was this huge chest and a tiny little treasure
"Over compensating much," I said before I dove back in the water. I drug myself back up the stairs again seeing the torches lit as I went. The Zoras were looking apprehensive when I entered the room again. I noticed though that King Zora had moved. Myer was waiting in the throne room this time and I just waited.
"Come" He led me around the side ramp up to where Ruto and King Zora were. "The final task is through here" Myer said "There are creatures in there: Tektites, Skutullas, and Octoroks. Part of your test will be to kill all of them"
"And the other part?" I asked
"Zora's Lake is deeper than any body of water in all of Hyrule. At the bottom are many treasures including the last piece you seek."
"I don't even know what it is"
"You'll find out when the tasks are over."
"Okay, so I kill the creatures and get the piece. Anything else?"
"You only have one hour."
"How will I know if I've killed everything?"
"You'll only be able to get the last piece if you have. Ready?"
"No!" Link and Dmitri both said. They pulled me back out of earshot.
"Saira, do you even know how to kill any of those creatures?" Link asked
"Nah, but I'll figure it out"
He rolled his eyes. Then Link reached back and pulled out a small sword. I recognized it immediately as the Kokiri Sword. He handed it to me.
"Where did you get this?"
"On your little 'I'm a good girl' trip when you stopped hanging with us as much" Dmitri said.
"Tektites eyes are their weak spot" Link said disregarding Dmitri. "Two hits should render them helpless. For the Skutullas, use this" Link said pulling out his Faery slingshot.
"I know you suck at this but Skutullas are highly poisonous and I'd feel better if you kept your distance," he added
"What about the octoroks, Link?" Dmitri asked "They'll go underwater before she gets close enough to get them with the sword and they shoot too many rocks before she could do squat with the slingshot"
"Well, how do you get rid of a Deku Scrub" he said smartly "Take my shield. Just use your brain to knock it right" he said putting it on me.
"We're wasting time," A Zora shouted
"SHUT UP!!!" we said angrily
"Oh, I should mention that you can't use the Gilia plant to get to the bottom" Myer said sadly
"Great...now what?" I said
"Saira, he said plant...so just drink the juice" Dmitri said slyly
"And that's why I love you" I said walking back up to Myer. "Okay, I'm ready"
"Through there. Time starts when you reach Lord Jabu-Jabu."
"Here goes," I said splashing through the foot deep water. As I walked I suddenly started feeling very nervous.
Goddess I was getting tired. I finally entered an enormous area with very few spots of land otherwise it was all water. Broken temple ruins lie before a huge, fat, extremely ugly, whale-like creature.
"Well, let's get this over with" I said to myself while going around the snoring fish. Hmm, fish do snore.
Behind him was a deep lake except for spits of land towards the far edges and that's where the Tektites were. They were ugly, bright colored creatures of yellow and blue. They looked like spiders and reptiles mated and this is what happened; a four legged, one-eyed hideous beast.
They were so still and never blinked; it was creepy. I was wasting time just staring at them. I got in the water and swam stealthily in their direction but I moved a little too quickly and the waves washed on shore. I heard a clicking noise and all of the tektites came jumping at me.
I took a breath and went under. One jumped right over me and I thrust m sword up and stabbed it clear through. After several muffled shrieks it stopped and I could come up for air.
I reached a small bit of land and the other tektites came jumping again. I reached in my pocket and hoped for something useful. Yes! Thank Din I nicked those Deku Nuts from Dmitri last night. I threw one down and all the tektites froze in their tracks. Like an assembly line I ran each one through and they were all dead before they could move again.
Okay, I'm doing well. Ouch! I turned around swiftly and three octoroks were hurtling rocks at me. Agh! Annoying little, ah! They continued to barrage me. What to do? Oh, I know. I muttered a quick levitation spell and the shield held in place. Careful not to be noticed I slipped back into the water and went deep enough so that they wouldn't see me. I waved my hand so that the shield went closer to one of the octoroks. It dove beneath the water and I stabbed it as it reached my level. I repeated this process for all of the other octoroks until there weren't anymore left. The hardest part was finding a way to get air.
Now if I remember correctly they said there were Skutullas too. Where in a place full of water am I going to find Skutullas? I peered around and the only place I saw was the several trunks of wood from fallen trees. I swam over listening hard. I know I'm not doing what Link told me to but I think my ways are a little more effective.
I climbed onto the wood but it resonated. It's not supposed to do that if it's solid. Stupidly I started jumping up and down. Oops: Big mistake as I land with a thud onto a pile of webbing and animal skeletons. Now the last time I got stuck in a Skutulla pit, Link bailed me out and saved me but Link wasn't here now.
Uh oh. I heard clicking and hissing noises drawing closer. What am I doing? I don't fight. I use magic. I summoned several of my light beads and in that moment I wish I hadn't because there were too many Skutullas to count inching towards me. I made my little beads spark with fire. The dreadful arachnids hissed as a fire quickly spread about the webbing. Oh crap, how am I going to get out? Boy it's getting hot. Goddess Saira, you are so stupid. Get out first, and then light the fire. At least the fire is keeping the Skulltulas away. Yeah, that's it think of the positive before you burn to death.
I looked around frantically then tried jumping up to reach a stray branch but the more I jumped the weaker the foundation beneath my feet got and I ended up falling through the bottom into the cool water. The wood started creaking meaning it was about to fall so I swam away as fast as I could. But it didn't fall and the hiss of Skutullas filled the air. I don't think they could swim and there was no place to go.
I really need to go thank the Deku Tree though. That simple little spell has helped me more than I ever thought it would.
Hmm, I wonder how much time I have left. I pulled out a pouch of Gilia and squeezed the disgusting liquid into my mouth. Goddess I felt like spitting it right back out. The burning in my lungs began again and I dove into the water swallowing several gulps of it.
Then I kicked my tired legs and went straight to the bottom. It was getting darker but I could still see well enough because of the Gilia and the pressure was nowhere near as bad as it should have been. Bubbles escaped form my mouth as I saw the vast amount of rupees that had gathered at the bottom. There was a fortune. If I had all that I'd never have to work a day in my life.
But in respect of time I didn't take any and searched for the little triangle. I finally found it and I apparently killed everything because I took it with ease. Ugh, I'm not feeling too good.
I kicked again and swam hard for the surface but I noticed I had to hold my breath. The Gilia had barely lasted as long as it had before. I broke surface and my face was lit up by the Skutulla bonfire I'd created.
I just know I'm cutting this close and the fact that I'm starting to get really dizzy isn't helping. I avoided the blaze and ran around the ugly, whale thing. I jogged toward the entryway I'd originally come through.
Ruto and the others seemed absolutely shocked that I was...well, alive. But at that moment where I was filled with happiness and smiled I fell off the ledge and landed with a splash in the water. Link and Dmitri ran over to me but their faces were blurred. Goddess my stomach was burning and I felt like my skin was trying to jump off of me. I wrapped my arms around me and recoiled as if trying to prevent that.
"Goddess, she's burning up" I barely heard Link say. Ruto and Myer joined my side but my memory fails me after that because everything has gone black.