"According to legend," Revali said, flinching at yet another crash of thunder sounding way to close, "those who would wield the power of lightning need only make their way to the top of Cuho Mountain."

His voice was tight, rougher than usual; the Rito's normally sharp tone tended to give way to a calmer, more measured delivery when he shifted into storyteller mode. He was just as much unsettled by the storm raging outside their shelter as Zelda, Mipha, and Impa, and had so far not bothered to deny it.

Urbosa relaxed into a more comfortable position as Zelda looked at her with interest. "Is that where you got your ability to harness lightning?"

Unwilling to interrupt, the Gerudo simply smiled and shook her head. When Zelda would have persisted, she said, "Hush. I want to know why, if it's as simple as reaching the top of a mountain, Revali hasn't flown there himself."

The Rito in question barely managed to hold back a laugh. All around the cave, their companions were settling in for the story.

"Cuho mountain can be found in the Tabantha Frontier, south of Rito Village," Revali explained. "Surrounded by Gisa Crater, Passer Hill, and Strock Lake, it rises, barren and rocky, with little capable of growing on its steep sides. It boasts three peaks, and it is said that the ability to harness the power of lightning is granted to one who finds their way to the center of those peaks.

"Ancient ruins rest at the northernmost base of the mountain, where it is said that death lies in wait, eager to take the unwary traveler foolish enough to enter the remains. Lightning itself, it is told, has been seen on the mountain itself in the bright of day under clear blue skies.

"As to your question," Revali's tone changed only slightly as he turned toward Urbosa, "When I was a young fledgling, just beginning to stretch my wings skyward, a bold, brash young Rito declared that he would fly to the peaks of Cuho Mountain and return with the power to wield lightning.

"The elders tried to dissuade him, advising him to choose a more reasonable goal for his first flight. Some insisted the story was simply that: a story. Others insisted that something on that mountain had the ability to wield lightning, and that it was far to dangerous to go looking for it. He refused to listen. The following morning he set out."

Revali paused to resettle; Zelda especially waited with baited breath. Urbosa noted with interest that it was perhaps the first time he had told them anything even remotely close to personal.

"The trip should have taken at most two days for a new flier," he said at last, his voice low. "Two days came and went, and he did not return. Three days passed, then four. After a week they stopped waiting for him to come home."

Something heavy settled in Urbosa's chest.

"Didn't they send someone to look for him?" Zelda asked, worried for the lost or injured Rito, though the story itself had to have happened over a decade ago.

Urbosa found herself briefly distracted. How old was Revali? An adult, certainly, but still quite young. Young enough not to have a family, or to be interested in having one, though he generally got along with children better than he did with adults.

Revali tilted his head to one side, studying Zelda as if he had never seen the girl before. After a long moment he answered her question, though the answer was hardly satisfying.

"No."

Zelda frowned, her brows furrowing in confusion. "But if he ran into trouble-" Revali shook his head sharply at the suggestion, and the princess fell silent. Urbosa wondered what, exactly, they were missing.

The Rito did not explain.

"He finally returned two weeks later, trudging into the village on tired, sore legs. When he had rested and recovered somewhat, he said that he had reached the mountain. Seeing flashes of light, he had flown in closer to investigate. As he drew nearer, lightning flashed, and he fell. He had to walk the long distance back home, and it was a long time before he was able to fly again.

"He claimed he saw something before he was hit. Something white, perhaps some sort of creature that could throw lightning."

Revali shifted. "We Rito generally know better than to go around fooling with lightning," he added dryly, the story clearly over. "It's a good way to get your wings clipped."

"I thought you said you didn't get much rain in the Tabantha Frontier." Urbosa challenged, stretching out her back and rolling her shoulders.

"You don't have to watch a nestling fall to know what will happen if it hits the ground," Revali retorted. His response sounded suspiciously like some sort of proverb to the Gerudo.

The storm, temporarily forgotten during Revali's story, seemed to rage even harder as he fell silent. Thunder rolled almost deafeningly overhead, and Zelda jumped.

Revali rolled his shoulders and sighed. "One more," he told the Hylian, as if she had spoken. Nobody bothered to correct him.

"At the far northern in of Tanagar Canyon," he began, his voice shifting once more into storytelling mode, "lies hidden an ancient temple."


Disclaimer: The Legend of Zelda and its people do not belong to me.