Chapter 2: The Green Sage

Link awoke and through his eyes saw the black creature from before. He jumped back with fright, smashing his head off something behind, he keeled in pain. The creature stepped forward, and by doing so entered the light. There link could see it was not the creature and was in fact just another monkey of the forest. It tilted its head inquisitively. Link was wary first, he didn't know where he was or what had happened. In his opinion just about anything could now unfold. The monkey slapped Links leg eagerly and pointed away. It was then Link noticed that he was in a village, made completely of tree houses. Each house was constructed and fashioned perfectly, they had obviously been made by talented craftsmen. Not a twig or branch out of place. The monkey slapped his leg again and pointed across the rope bridge to the other side. He got to his feet unsteadily and was instantly pulled along by his new friend. He began to notice the other monkeys working away, just like people, swinging and talking and carrying out tasks. Who knew a monkey village existed it the very tallest trees of the forest?

The trek took seconds and it instantly became clear what the destination was. A small dome like temple which was connected to ever bridge like the centre of a spiders web. It was brilliantly crafted and shone in sun as the trees parted way for it. It had been built in the perfect place. He wasn't quite sure what was going to happen, he could be being held hostage by these monkeys, they could be capable of anything. He realised his sword was no longer on his body, nor his shield, he had his fists he thought, that would do for now. Then he remembered, he looked down at his right arm and there it was, tattooed into his skin, the burnt mark of the creature. It had taken a sort of tribal pattern, which obviously had some significant importance which he didn't himself understand.

The dome was open, no door sealed its entrance to the rest of the world. He figured it was a place of worship, and he soon found out he was right. Inside monkeys sat in silence. Even when they moved they didn't make a sound, no footsteps were heard. He was ushered inside and he found himself even thinking in whispers. His heavy boots no longer beat against the wood, his breaths no longer lingered in the air. In the centre of the room someone sat, clad in green like Link himself and facing the other way.

"You were taken by the Marjin Somnio," Said the figure in a young, well-spoken female voice. It was soft but hung in the air, "It has marked you, and you will be forever be haunted"

Link gulped soundlessly. The monkeys around him listened intently to their mistresses words. The figure stood up and turned to face link, her hood covered her eyes.

"Do not be afraid Link, we offer you hospice in this time of need" She stepped down off the alter and approached him casually, "We want to help" When she reached him she drew back the emerald hood and Link looked right into her blue eyes. They were like small oceans. He then noticed her hair, it was cut short and bright green. She was younger then he was, but spoke more wisely.

"My name," She said slowly, "Is Saria" Link thought he recognised the name but then shook away the feeling, "I am the Sage of Nature"

"May I see you arm?" She asked politly, it was hard to refuse. He placed his arm out and let her examine it.

"You have repressed memories" She said softly, "Can you remember anything about your mother?" Link shook his head.

"Or your father?" Link shook his head again.

"Then these are your repressed memories. Your reoccurring nightmares." She smiled, "Your lucky Link, many have received worse then this from the Marjin Somnio. It is a shape shifter, a trickster, and sometimes the unlucky victims can die from its power. It tried to make you absorb it didn't it? You felt it pushing into you? That is what it does, breaking in and taking control of your body, it pushes your conscious into a dream world and lives in reality using your body." She pushed his hair aside and looked into his eyes, she smiled.
"You would not let it happen, I sense your detirmination, I see your spirit and your courage." She hesitated a second and seemed a little off balance. Something had come to her attention. "Courage…" She thought, "Courage is strong in you Link. I can see you will face many challenges but you will overcome most of them"

Link looked at her hopefully, waiting for more.

"I am sorry, I can not predict the future." She smiled at him, "But all will become clear as time passes, as the present fades away and the future approaches. Come Epona is waiting for you"

Link followed her across the bridges leading away from the temple and to a large tree on the outskirts of the tree top village.

"Careful where you tread in here" She knocked on the side of the tree and slowly a passageway opened up. She walked in and Link followed slowly. Inside the tree was huge, he stood on the edge of a staircase that circled around and around, continuing in both directions.

"This is the Great Deku Tree, the source of life in this whole forest, as I said, be careful, we wouldn't wish harm on the Great Deku Tree" They made their way slowly down the stairs the light flickered and cast their shadows across the wall opposite. Here and there he saw a spider creeping across the walls. He wondered to himself how old the tree must be, and how it remained hollow yet still able to live.

Saria suddenly pulled Links arm and dragged him down the stairs.

"We have to move quicker" She said, making her way to the bottom faster, "I did not realise it was so late" Link looked at her inquisitively.

"If we stay longer, it will be feeding time, though the Great Deku Tree is source of all the good life around this forest, it's the source of some evil life too. Some have been corrupted and its that corruption that is eating away at the Great Deku Tree. Its making him ill and there's nothing we can do, there is nothing strong enough to fight him." Link reached backwards cautiously but then remembered his sword wasn't on him.

"Your sword is with Epona, we must make it too the entrance quickly. We left it too late, we should of waited till after" She cursed herself and broke into a run, link trailing behind. Something burst from the side of the wall and Saria jumped, loosing her balance. She managed to catch hold of the side before falling. The large vine started slashing, not quite reaching her, but giving Link no chance to rescue her. He looked around, the long green vine was trying with every swing to get her, and with every swing got closer. He remembered the torches, all along the wall and ran backwards till he found one. It was lit with a magnificent flame and was hot to hold but Link managed. He had recently suffered worse so could suffer this. He swung it at the vine and it caught light almost instantly as the fuel ran on its body. It made one last swipe, and pulled itself back into the wall, charred and burnt. The hole it had made began to recover and wood grew again. Link had no time to watch though, he pulled Saria up and onto her feet. She dusted her robes then looked at him with her shining blue eyes.

"Thankyou Link" She said smiling, "It is dangerous in here at times, especially when we cause such sound running, but thankfully you manage to burn it" (Just to be sure) He heard echo through his head. Then it came again but this time it brought back the pain. Smoke was coming from his arm and he gasped in pain.

"Link!" She exclaimed, but before she could do anything he fell, off the ledge, down to the ground. Down to the bottom of the Great Deku Tree.