Urbosa found the Rito outside, stretched out underneath a tree, staring at the stars while he absently moved what was left of a slice of cake around on his plate with a fork. Revali had left almost as soon as everyone had been served, slipping out all but unnoticed by the rest of the group. Urbosa had been conflicted; while the end result of his continued presence in pretty much any social activity ended in some sort of confrontation more often than it didn't, they had long passed the point where the group felt complete without him, at least as far as the Gerudo was concerned.

"Isn't it a bit dark out here for you?" she teased, settling down beside him easily in the growing twilight.

Revali shrugged.

"I know you helped more than you let on," Urbosa added, when he did not seem inclined to speak. "Thank you."

The Rito turned his attention toward his plate. "She seems so fragile, sometimes." He frowned, jabbing his fork into the sole, small piece of chocolate cake he had not yet managed to destroy. "But then she says something out of nowhere, and you realize how much she's been through. You realize she's strong, so much stronger than people give her credit for. Yet somehow she doesn't see it, and if you tried to tell her, she'd never believe you."

It took Urbosa a moment to realize who he meant, but when she did it surprised her that he had seen it. She was not at all sure how to reply.

Revali rolled his shoulders, setting his plate aside. "Did you get any presents?" he asked, changing the subject abruptly. "Isn't that a thing? Birthday presents?"

Urbosa shook her head, chuckling slightly. "Zelda gave me a ruby circlet. It's supposed to imbued with magical qualities, and help protect its wearer from the cold. I have no idea where or when she picked it up. Daruk gave me a diamond and apologized that it wasn't anything fancy, just something he had picked up somewhere. Mipha was horrified that she didn't have anything. Apparently not knowing until this evening is no excuse...she insisted that she would make it up to me if I could only forgive her."

Revali snorted. "It was rather short notice," he drawled, reaching briefly into the pouch at his belt. He tossed something in her direction; caught off guard, the Gerudo fumbled, nearly dropping the cloth-wrapped object.

"What is this?" she asked. The Rito did not answer as she unfolded the cloth to reveal a large tooth from some creature hanging from a braided cord. Several tiny blue feathers were attached where leather strip was knotted to hold the tooth, adding a touch of color. "Revali?" She studied it, trying vainly to figure out what animal it had come from and why the Rito had decided to give it to her.

"We make jewelry out of bone, teeth, claws; usually it's considered proof of one's ability as a warrior." Of course Revali chose this moment not to offer a simple answer. Urbosa considered this as she ran her finger across the broad side of the tooth.

"So is this something we've fought?" she asked. The Rito nodded. "What? The hinox? Is this a hinox tooth?" She didn't think hinox teeth looked like this, but honestly, she'd never given it much thought before.

"Hinox teeth are blunt, comparatively." Revali pulled something else out of the pouch and offered it to her. She nearly dropped it when she realized what it was.

Comparing the two, she realized the tooth on the cord he had given her was more similar to that of a giant cat or wolf: long and pointed. "So what kind of tooth is this?" she asked, returning the other.

"Lynel."

She stared at him.

"Lynel?" she repeated. "As in, the Lynel we fought? The gold Lynel?" Revali nodded. "You kept its teeth?"

Revali looked at her. "A few. It's a big deal, taking on a Lynel and living to tell the tale."

"We were lucky."

"We still won."

Urbosa studied the necklace. "So what's the significance? Proof of my prowess in battle?"

Revali nodded. "Proof of your ability as a warrior. I can't speak for other races, but you wear that in Rito Village, they'll treat you like a hero. No one will dare cross you."

Urbosa laughed and instantly regretted it, but her fellow Champion did not take offense. "So do you have one? A necklace?"

He shook his head. "We attach them to our weapons, our armor, our braids..." He reached back and pulled out one of the long braids, finding a similar tooth easily in spite of the coming darkness.

Urbosa caught a glimpse of other teeth and more than a few bones in those braids as well and shivered. One day she might ask about the rest.

Of course, one day she might actually ask how the whole braiding thing actually worked for the feathered race. Maybe.

"You don't have to wear it," Revali said dismissively. "I know it's not really something non-Rito do."

She fastened it to her belt. "Thank you," she said. She was pretty sure that it was more than just a memento. An acknowledgment of her skill as a warrior, she suspected. A reminder that they had fought and defeated a lynel, and a reminder that they had nearly lost, though she doubted he intended that much.

They still had a long way to go before they were ready to face Calamity Ganon.


Disclaimer: The Legend of Zelda Universe, Breath of the Wild in particular, does not belong to me.