Though sitting with Mipha seemed at first to have done Revali a world of good, by the next morning he had fallen back into a temper, snapping if anyone so much as dared to look at him wrong. It was a relief to everyone, even Daruk, when he took off into the air after lunch.

Urbosa watched him go, torn. On the one hand, she knew that whatever had happened between him and the other Rito had been more than some childish prank. Revali was hurt, perhaps not physically, but the pain was real all the same. She wanted to help, and though she had no idea how, she knew full well there was no way she could do so when he wasn't around.

On the other hand, he had nearly made Zelda cry, though the Gerudo was certain that it had been an accident; his mind had obviously been elsewhere, and Urbosa was, perhaps, the only person in their group that could have known she would react the way she did. To make matters worse, he had at the same time managed to anger both Impa and Link enough for them to reach for their weapons. Urbosa had been certain a fight would break out, but at the last moment the two had reconsidered.

Mipha had simply watched the incident thoughtfully. If someone had been injured she most certainly would have gotten involved. Otherwise, she seemed content to let the scene sort itself out this time.

When they finally stopped for dinner the Zora went straight to her pack, examining and caring for her trident.

Urbosa was aware that the princess had brought along her own collection of weaponry, primarily tridents, with a couple of spears that seemed to focus more on function than style, whereas her own trident had clearly be designed with both in mind. The collection was appropriate for a warrior, though not quite as complete or impressive as a certain Rito Champion's weapons collection.

Nor did it need to be. So far, Mipha had proven herself capable of doing plenty of damage with her preferred trident.

Revali landed without warning, for once keeping his distance from the others as he did so. Urbosa would not have thought it possible to miss his annoying tendency to touch down close enough to another person to reach out and touch them, but watching him glare at Daruk, who had been unfortunate enough to make eye contact with the Rito as he landed, she reconsidered.

Daruk watched Revali, unfazed by his apparent wrath, which only served to upset him all the more. He took a step closer and opened his mouth. Urbosa was certain she did not want to hear what he had to say.

Mipha ruined the moment by shoving a battered spear into his hands. "You know how to use one of these, right? They did at least teach you the basics?"

Revali stared at her. "Everyone learns the basics," he retorted, stepping back and spinning the spear. He fumbled and nearly dropped it, scowling as he recovered.

"I'll assume it's been a while." Mipha's voice was drier than Urbosa had ever heard it. Moving into position, she brandished her own weapon-not her usual trident, but the other spear in her arsenal. "We'll start slowly then. Let's see what you can do."

It would have been comical how uncomfortable the Rito obviously was with the spear, had the Gerudo not been expecting some sort of blow up as Mipha disarmed him again, and again, and again.

Finally the Rito threw the weapon down in disgust and turned to leave.

"Pick it up," Mipha barked at him. Revali stopped cold in his tracks. "We're not finished. Pick it up, and defend yourself."

When he did not immediately obey, she lunged at him. He dodged out of the way just in time, scrambling to keep his footing. Without pausing the Zora lunged again, and again Revali barely managed to get out of her way in time. The third time she attacked he rolled out of the way, grabbing the spear as he came back up and bringing it up just in time to block a fourth attempted blow.

"Now," Mipha said, bowing to the Rito as if she had not just effectively bullied him into picking up the other spear and facing her. "Basic drills. You know as well as I that if the foundation is weak, the rest will crumble."

Urbosa watched with interest as the Zora proceeded to lead him through increasingly complicated drills. As his body remembered each set of moves and he became more comfortable, she quickly moved on, never really giving him time to stop and think or argue or do anything other than follow her into the next drill if he wanted to keep from being struck by a rapidly moving spear.

The Gerudo was impressed, though she knew that the Rito, like their Zora cousins, had an affinity for spears. She had seen what she assumed were some sort of Rito guard practicing when they had been at the village, and they had seemed every bit as proficient with the spear as any Zora warrior.

Urbosa became abruptly aware that they had moved from drills into sparring, with Mipha dancing wickedly around the Rito as if taunting him and Revali grimly turning aside every attempted attack made, though the woman suspected that the princess was holding back still-this was her primary weapon, after all, not Revali's. It was clear that Mipha was not interested in a simple victory, though what she was after, none of their companions could have guessed.

Revali lunged, interrupting the Zora's dance. Mipha stepped lightly back, but he attacked again. This time it was the princess deflecting attack after attack, each coming faster and with more force than the last, and though Urbosa had seen first hand the Zora's skill with a spear or trident, she still worried. Revali did not seem entirely in control of himself, and at the rate the two were going, someone could be easily hurt.

She felt someone nudge her arm and forced herself to look away. Link stood beside her with a bowl of stew. He had apparently already attempted to distract Impa and Zelda; the two stood staring with rapidly cooling bowls of their own.

Link raised his eyebrows, and the Gerudo realized the Hylian was not worried in the slightest. Clearly he felt that Mipha was in no danger, though whether he felt the same way about Revali or simply did not care, Urbosa did not know.

Accepting the bowl of stew, she turned her attention back to the two combatants. Revali was starting to tire, she realized. His breath was coming hard and he was slowing down, however minutely.

Mipha looked as fresh as when they had first started. Urbosa reminded herself once again to stay on the Zora Princess's good side.

Something shifted; Revali's spear went flying. In the same movement Mipha knocked his feet out from under him and he went down. Flat on his back, gasping for breath, he stared up at the sharp end of her spear.

"I yield," he rasped.

Mipha smiled and bent down to help him up. "Feel better?" she asked, looking him over. "Did you hurt your shoulder?"

"No," Revali grumbled, rolling the shoulder in question. "You did that."

"You were supposed to block it," she pointed out, reaching forward to heal the injury. Revali did not resist.

"I did."

"Not well enough," the Zora replied sweetly. Revali made a rude gesture in her direction and she laughed. "Now sit and eat with us."

"I'd challenge you to a rematch, with a proper weapon, if I thought you knew how to hold a bow." The Rito followed her over to the cooking pot, where she served up bowls for both of them.

"Now, Revali, you know it's physically impossible for my people to manage bow and arrow," the princess scolded, her eye twinkling as she teased her fellow Champion. "But I'd be more than happy to loan you the use of a spear any time you feel like receiving another thrashing."

Revali sighed as he stared down at his stew. "The Zora Princess is so modest, so humble," he groused. Mipha smiled at him.

"Don't forget meek," she added brightly.

Revali rolled his shoulders and looked away. "I'm going to scout around. I haven't been paying as much attention to our surroundings as I should have." He handed her his untouched bowl and spread his wings.

Mipha watched him go.

"He's only got about ten minutes till sunset." Urbosa noted, coming to stand beside the girl.

"He needs some space," Mipha offered.

"Just like he needed a-what did you call it? A thrashing?" The Gerudo considered the Zora standing beside her with a bowl of stew in each hand.

Mipha shook her head. "He needed an outlet. A focus for his energy. And anger. Preferably without hurting anyone."

Urbosa could easily agree with that. "So now what? I thought whatever you did yesterday helped, but then he was even worse today. Are you going to have spear practice with him every day until he works through this?"

Mipha shrugged. "If I have to."

"He's not your responsibility." The Gerudo pointed out, more to see what the princess would say than because she didn't want Mipha to help Revali.

Mipha shook her head. "You're wrong," she said. "He's mine, and yours. Just like Princess Zelda is yours, and Link's, and Impa's, and his. We have a responsibility to each other. To fight together, to protect each other, and to help each other. I can no sooner turn my back on him than you could turn your back on any one of our companions."

She was right, Urbosa knew. The Gerudo only wondered if the rest of their company felt the same way.


Revali returned just as twilight settled in, landing unsteadily beside Urbosa. Though still within reach, there was more space between them than usual, likely a concession to the Rito's poor vision in the coming darkness.

"Did you sleep at all last night?" she asked. This close, she could see how tired he was. She could also tell he was still very tightly wound.

He turned his head, not quite dismissing her, but not answering either.

"Is there anything I can do?" she asked. Revali sighed.

"I don't know," he admitted.


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