Axccel: Thanks for your kind words! The Italics are supposed to represent Yharnam and the Hunter's Memories. Stuff like that will pop up time from time, around once per chapter. So I'll try to make it better. Hopefully.
Neema Amiry: Why thank you *Say's like Winnie the Pooh. I saw the new movie last night I CRIED!*
AAAAaaaand that's it for reviews. Let's move on shall we?
One of my favorite aspects of most RPG's is character creation. Not just the designing of your character, but rather the backstory you make in your head. This can be most prominently shown in the Elder Scrolls, DnD (Which is the BEEEEEEST go play it!) Fallout New Vegas, Baldur's Gate, and of course, Soulsborne. With character creation, you can imagine nearly anything about your characters past and it'll be true because that's what you make of it. Think your character has a tragic past and wishes to redeem themselves? Do that. Have a character that maybe normal looking but inside their minds is a monster? Go do that. That's part of the reason why I love RPG's. Which means that for our lovable Good Hunter, they're could be any form of backstory depending on what who you made and how you portrayed them. The beauty of this concept is that I can have my good hunter, and you can have yours. That's something I find very hard to do in any writing form, and is extremely important for these types of stories.
With that out of the way, let's get to the story shall we?
Own nothing. Not Bloodborne, praise our lord and everlasting sun Hidetaka Miyazaki (and Marty O'Donnell, but that's the wrong franchise) and definitely not Zelda. Miyamoto
*EDIT* I'm editing all the previous chapters in order for this story to be...well, good. As far as I'm concerned, I've improved my writing skills since I made this, so going back and looking at this makes me want to kill myself more than I already do. So yeah, this getting edited.
Have you got a screw loose? Or is it your...animal intuition.
You hunters have got more blood on your hands.
Hunters are killers, nothing less!
You call ME a beast? A Beast? What would you know? I didn't ask for this!
Rancid beasts, every last one of us...
Princess Zelda was tired. The lack of a good's night sleep was starting to get to her. Of course, it wasn't only her that suffered, all the Champions hadn't been sleeping well ever since they started the 'vacation.' Her father, the king, had given them this command after the defeat of Calamity Ganon to travel the kingdoms and take comfort in each champions respective kingdoms. A little time off if you will, but Zelda saw it for what it was. It was an inspection, to make sure the neighbors were alive and kicking. She also wouldn't put it pass her father to think that they were also remaining obedient, but that's neither here nor there.
Zelda never knew what was going on insider her fathers head. King Rhoam Bosphoramus Hyrule was not a simple man. It was a well known fact that one of the reasons he was crowned king was because of the power vacuum left behind by his father King Daphnes Nohansen Hyrule. After his death by Rhoam's older brother, one who's name was lost to the annals of history, there was a coup by Rhoam to remove the soon-to-be tyrant from the throne. Her uncle's name was not known, as dictated by the king, but she did know that he was some sort of mad philosopher, and was declared heretical by the church. In his madness he executed ever single member of the church in his madness and attempted to throw everything the kingdom had into his insane plans.
The revolution lasted a week, with Rhoam being successful and exiling his brother out of the kingdom, as killing him would lay upon him the title of Kinslayer. After that fiasco, the newly crowned king married a noblewoman and had Zelda, but soon after his wife died of mysterious circumstances. Her last words where recorded as "I see...the moonlight..." The king then threw himself into his work, doing his best to prepare Hyrule for any and all invasions by his exiled brother and other possible enemies. It wasn't until the discovery of the threat posed by Calamity Ganon did Rhoam begin to speak to Zelda like a father would, as closely to a father he could be. Zelda was raised by the wet-nurse and hand-maiden Impa, who was the Shiekah leader of Kakariko village. When the guardians began to be discovered, Zelda and her father split on interests and plans however, as it was expected from such a distant relationship. As the reincarnation of the Goddess Hylia, the princess was expected by her father to unlock her powers and to help defeat Ganon. Zelda took this poorly, and instead desired to become a scholar of the newly found guardians and Divine Beasts.
When the champions were brought together, and a new hero was found and named, Zelda took it as a blow against her. How could she not? Did her father not trust her? But over time, she began to befriend the champions, and was able to from bonds with all of them. Urbosa became the mother she never had and always wanted. Her birth mother was always something of an obsessive mystery to Zelda, someone she supposedly looked like, yet could never meet. Urbosa provided a sense of comfort and acceptance no one else could, yet could lash out at those who threatened her safety. Thus, Urbosa became the blade of the Champions, quick to temper and protective of others.
Daruk was an older brother to Zelda, and to all of the champions as well. He always kept a smile on his face no matter what circumstance they were in and would help any and all problems. Therefore, he was the soul of the team, what kept them together.
Mipha was the healer, and the quiet one. She would alway's heal her friends no matter what, and personified the phrase "Speak softly and carry a big spear", quite literally in fact. She was the heart of the team.
Revalli was...difficult, as he would alway's boast about his abilities and would look down on others, but would pull through when he was needed. He was named the eye of the team, with his sight being that of his most gifted attributes.
Zelda brought with her leadership and intelligence, and was pronounced the mind of the team.
Finally, there was Link. To be honest, Zelda hated him at first. He acted like a guard dog, never let her be alone and would never speak. But spending time with each other gave Zelda new perspective. Link always carried with him great stress. His father died in a training accident and his mother abandoned them for another man. His only friend before the champions was Mipha, who he had grown up with. But with all that expectations placed upon him, to take his father's place as a knight and to be the new Hero to defeat Calamity Ganon, he never cracked. He would always stand tall in the face of danger, and he was given the moniker of the Spirit of the team.
Yet none of that currently mattered, as they were stuck doing busy work for the current moment.
"I tell ya brother, this walk is killing me! I can't wait to get home though and have some of pop's famous rock steaks! Those always hit the spot." Daruk laughed as he and Link walked side by side in front, being the lookout for the company. The silent knight nodded, a bit weary on eating rocks for dinner however. This sentiment seemed to be shared by everyone else as well, but Revali was the only one to say this aloud.
"We're not going to be eating rocks you dimwitted barbarian! Only you could enjoy such idiotic tastes. Me and the Rito on the other hand make the most excellent dishes in the land."
"I'm only just saying I was hungry Revali, no need to get your feathers all twisted."
"My feathers twisted?! How dare you, you brute! I am the master archer Revali! I am the one who-
"The one who fired a laser at Ganon with the rest of us while Link and the Princess killed it, yadaa yadaa yadaa." Soon the Rito and the Goron began to argue even further, making the ever-silent Link look down in embarrassment. He didn't want to be a part of this.
Zelda giggled at her friends shouting at each other, and turned to Urbosa. "I swear they never stop."
"It has been around 15 minutes since they're last argument, so your right on a technicality." The Gerudo chieftain replied. She walked next to the princess and Mipha, who kept her eyes on Link. The reason they had no guards with them was due to the lack of a current military after Ganon. Most, if not all, of the militia in Hyrule was weakened and there were plenty of casualties during the battle against the calamity. Urbosa noticed the Zora princess's fixation on the champion, and smirked. "Changing the subject, when are you going to confess?"
"I-Uh-I-How did you-I..." She stammered and muttered, her cheeks turning red much to the enjoyment of the others. "DON'T YOU DARE TELL HIM!" She then shouted in embarrassment, causing everyone, even the boy's up ahead, to look at her in confusion. With everyone's eyes on her, she blushed even harder and laughed it off quickly. The boy's then turned away in confusion, with Link looking at her for an extra second before looking ahead. "Ooooooh goddesses..." She muttered.
"Urbosa is right you know. I'm sure he feels the same way."
"But I can't ever find the right time and I'm sure he's busy and I know that I'm busy and we're all on this tour and I just don't know!" As she continued to bemoan her situation, up ahead the 3 boy's finally came up with an agreement. They all decided that while everyone's culture has their own form of delicacy, Link's cooking was acceptable and liked by everyone. Even Revali admitted that while it was a skill unfitting of his magnificence, Link was a very good cook.
"I'm serious though! I't would be fascinating if your people came from ancient Zora's! I mean, from water to air, am I right?"
"Don't be preposterous. What I'd find bizarre is if our dear friend Link here would just transform into a mangy mutt and skitter off somewhere."
"Do you know what would be even weirder?" Daruk paused. "If on the night of Ganon's assault, he actually succeeded in taking over the divine beasts and guardians and killed us all! I bet only the little guy and the Princess would survive and have to go on some sort of slumber to heal!"
"Your being ridiculous. There's no possible way anyone could fathom Me losing!"
Link shrugged it off as the two continued to bicker. In all honesty, he wasn't paying attention. Rather he looked at the road ahead, making sure for any sign's of ambush. The Yiga Clan and the local monsters had become more frantic ever since Ganon's defeat, as if they were lashing out. When Ganon began to take shape they were more unified, acted with tactics, as a unit. The day's after the calamities defeat they scattered again, as was expected. But recently there had been reports of them being once again unified. As if they once again had a leader. But that wasn't the end of it, for only yesterday did he receive the new's that a scout platoon had found a bokoblin camp nearby Hyrule castle! The only saving grace was that it was already massacred before the scouts could do anything about it.
Unification between Yiga and monsters. That was a scary idea a few months ago, and it still was now.
By this point the party had now arrived at a small town. The Crossroads it was called. A small village, a few huts, a town hall, 2 stores and a bar. As they entered the gates, a young girl then rushed up to them. "Your-your the princess! And the champions!"
"That's right kiddo! Any monster's need slayin?" Daruk asked, alway's the friendly giant. Instead of answering, the girl sank to her knees and began to cry. Mipha rushed to her and began to comfort her, asking what was wrong.
"Please...my brother...he needs your help."
XXX
They were lead to a small hut, and which Zelda gasped at the sight. Three young men were in bed, one with a bandaged hand and two in what seemed to be a catatonic state. Their skin was pale, clammy and gaunt. Both of their wounded legs were heavily wrapped in blood soaked bandages. Mipha then began to look them over, seeing as how she was the healer of the team.
"How did this happen?" Zelda asked a man, the mayor, as Mipha began to heal the two catatonic men, both of them had deep cuts into their femoral artery's. Grevious wounds that the local physician was not skilled enough to treat.
The mayor seemed scared as he recounted what he had seen. Last night there was a celebration going on in the town at the inn. During the middle of the feast, a stranger had walked in and sat down. When he was approached by the local gang of teenagers, he reacted violently. He stabbed the leader in the hand and cut the other's in the leg. He was about to impale them with his weapon when people began to scream and he fled into the night. As the mothers tended to their children, the mayor led a search party to hunt down this man. They never found him. Instead, they found the mutilated and destroyed bodies of several wolves, bokoblins, moblins and chu-chu's.
They then wisely turned back, and went to their homes.
Zelda then turned to the champions. "Daruk and Link, I need you to secure the perimeter and make sure nothing comes through. Urbosa, you and Revalli go through the town and ask people for more information."
The Rito was about to argue, but the death stare sent by the princess then shut him up. As the 4 champions set out to do their tasks, Zelda walked next to Mipha. "Tell me how to help."
"Both of them are wounded badly. They've lost too much blood to attempt to use my power's right now." She then turned to the princess. "I need you to get your hand's dirty." The princess's face turned white quickly, but she steeled herself quickly. "I'm going to remove the bandage on this one right here. What I need you to do is to take these cloths right here," She gave the princess new wrappings, "And start applying immediate pressure. As soon as you do that I'll start healing the cut. If I do it too fast he might break more tissue and cause another problem, to slowly and he'll be drained of all his blood. You need to keep pressure on for as long as you can. Only stop when I tell you to stop."
Zelda stared at her, face slowly turning green with horrific disgust, but she steeled herself, and nodded her agreement.
"1, 2...3!" Mipha then took of the bloody wrappings, which resulted in a blood spray being sent out. Zelda rushed forward with the rag, applying as much pressure as she could. Blood still squirted out, on her face and clothing and Mipha as well. Her willpower was barely enough to suppress her gag-reflex. The patient, although near death, could feel every bit of pain possible as he screamed in agony, being held down by 4 other men on Mipha's orders. She worked as fast as she could, regenerating the broken tissue and snapped bone. Whatever made the cut did it cleanly and violently, as if it was meant to cut through flesh and bone like butter. But finally it was done. Mipha ended her power stream as the wound closed and the bloody leg ended it's stream. Zelda removed the rag quickly and turned away, gagging and emptying her stomach of earlier today's lunch.
"Very well done princess. Ready for the next one?" Mipha asked the vomiting Zelda. Looking at her straight in the eye, She panicked for a second.
The boy was shivering. His sickly appearance was no match for the feeling of sheer terror he was feeling. Those people, with their large cleavers and swords and torches and whatever they carried. They seemed almost feral in both appearance and actions. He twitched as he moved backwards, holding his weapons closely. Why did he come here in the first place even? To get some sort of cure? He shouldn't have come, they needed him, he shouldn't have come...why did he come here?
"...Hello?" A voice from the dark. The boy screamed out, swinging his weapon wildly, desperate to kill whatever might kill him! But nothing, no one was there. "Over here..." The voice again. The boy turned around, at a lit window. "Terribly sorry for scaring you like that. You must be a Hunter, and not one from around here either."
"Y-Yes." The boy answered, voice shaking.
"I'm Gilbert, a fellow outsider like you. Must've come for that special Yharnam blood right? 'Cure's every ailment you'll ever have' you heard?"
"Yes. I did." He responded, his voice already calmer. He'd finally met someone who didn't seem to want to kill him, that was a positive right there. "Why did those people attack me when I didn't even know them?"
"Oh yes the locals...Well let's just say that Yarnham has a special way of treating guests. *coughs*." Gilbert hacked and wheezed from beyond his window, drawing concern from the young man.
"Are you alright?"
"Me? No, I'm not. I don't think I can stand if I wanted to, but I'm willing to help, if there's anything that can be done *coughs*." He then paused for a bit, before continuing. "This town is cursed. Whatever your reasons might be you should plan a swift exit. Whatever can be gained from this place, it will do more harm than good."
The boy sighed before leaning on a wall and sliding down. Gilbert was probably right. He shouldn't be here. He had to go back home. His family needed him. His sister couldn't be the only source of income with her "occupation" and his uncle certainly couldn't hold a job long with his habits of wasting everything they earned on a round of ale for himself and...himself.
The young man continued his despair until he remembered something. A single note back from the clinic he had awoken from after the transfusion with the old man. This was before he saw that...monster and was died to it. That feeling of death, the pain he felt as his throat was ripped out of his neck...he never wanted to feel it again. Thankfully he didn't end up in some pit of hell for leaving behind his family. Instead he ended up at some place, a hut on a hill of flowers. He was alive, as human and breathing as ever. But he disregarded his recent experiences as he remembered that note.
Seek Paleblood to transcend the Hunt
"Have you...ever heard of Paleblood?"
"Paleblood, you say? Hmm... Never heard of it. But if it's blood you're interested in, you should try the Healing Church. The church controls all knowledge on blood ministration, and all varieties of blood." Well, that was a start.
"Where can I find the church?"
" Across the valley to the East of Yharnam lies the town of the Healing Church, known as the Cathedral Ward. And deep within the Cathedral Ward is the old grand cathedral. ...the birthplace of the Healing Church's special blood, or so they say. *coughs*" The young Hunter thanked his newfound friend and began to walk away. "One last thing..." The Hunter turned back. "Yharnamites don't share much with outsiders. Normally, they wouldn't let you near this place, but... The hunt is on tonight. This might be your only chance..." The Hunter was silent as a stone, then turned away and began his journey through the city of Yharnam.
The Good Hunter had decided something. He did not like those slime creatures. It wasn't because they were difficult by any means, but they were so numerous it was hard for him to not be swarmed. Numbers were a large factor in any form of combat, and he did not like facing large numbers of any creature.
The area he was in was very humid, unnaturally so. This land was nothing like Yharnam or any of the lands he had been living in before. But back before his hunt, he had heard that there were warmer places to live in than his cold mountain village.
A large question of the Good Hunter's mind was where he was. He had not seen any humans as of yet. He saw near human beings, yes. Those people night before were very similar to the human species, but several differences made it painfully obvious that they did not share blood or relations in any form or way. He had managed to acquire a loose set of information however, and information was information. To list off the things he knew, he knew that he was in a land called Hyrule. Humans did not live here. There were other species other than these 'Hylians', but he had yet to see any of these creatures. Finally, there was some form of disaster recently that had weakened the local military, and monsters were running rampant. On one hand, this pleased the Good Hunter. An opportunity for hunting it would seem. But alas, these vermin were not true beasts worthy of a hunt. They were pitiful at best, comparable to Yharnamites at the beginning of his journey through the city of Yharnam and it's numerous terrors.
But his thoughts were swiftly dashed away by the reality that it was terribly hot. Even the storm clouds beginning to cover the sky couldn't help this blistering heat! The Hunter began to feel rain drops fall onto the rim of his hat, and soon a downpour commenced. Inwardly, he groaned. He did not want to deal with this right now! Grumbling to himself and letting curses spew out, he trudged along the road he had found, desperate for any source of shelter. Thankfully, after several minutes of wandering, he did. The cave mouth was large, most likely a cavern. But shelter was shelter, no matter what it seemed to be. The Good Hunter stepped inside the cave and lit up his lantern. Hanging it to his belt, he wandered the cavern to the very end, which did not last very long. There was a blessing in this cave! A large bounty food, primed for cooking and eating.
Of course there was a slight problem. A large beast slumbered there. It was very much like those beasts earlier with red skin and stubby legs, except it was larger and fatter. It wore a loincloth and i's legs were lumpy and hard. On it's neck was a large rope with weapons hanging off of it. But the Hunter cared little for those weapons, rather his attention was on the pile of dead and devoured bodies nearby. Seems that this beast was just like all the others, vile and cruel. Needing to be put down.
"*Psst.* Over here!" Whispers. The Hunter turned. A cage, of course. Why have a dumb beast when you can have an intelligent one? But what was inside this cage was what truly shocked the hunter. 3...things. They were humanoid, yet looked very much like a fish. Fins, gills and all. The Hunter immediately thought of the accursed villagers in the fishing hamlet, and the terrors that were unleashed there. Of course, there was also the Shark Giants, shamans, snail women, Winter Lanterns, and the Orphan of Kos itself. The dozens upon dozens of deaths he experienced from that...thing haunted him to this day.
The hunter quickly got over his shock when he noticed he was drawing his Rakuyo. Letting it go once he saw the scared faces of two of the beings, a mother and child it seemed, he approached the third one who was most likely the father. "Listen, they'res a Key on it's necklace. Grab it quietly and let us out of here! I'll give you anything you want?"
"...How did you get trapped?" The Hunter asked. The fish-man paused, puzzled by the mans question, but answered. "Me and my wife were teaching our little girl here how to swim, she's just hatched ya'see? We were on the banks of the river when that Hinox grabbed us and took us to this cave. It locked us up here and began to sleep. We've been trapped for several day's sir...we're starving!"
"...Stay quiet. Stay low." The Hunter then turned and drew his weapon off his back. "What are you doing?" The man asked.
"I'm going to kill it."
"Are you insane! It'll turn you into a bloody mush!" The Hunter paid no attention to his words, his harsh tone meaning little to this killer.
"Cover your child's eyes and ears. This will not be pleasant for you." With that, he slowly walked towards the beast. He noted that it was moving it's hand and arm up and down. It's hand was on the ground one moment, on the side of it's belly the next to scratch it. The Hunter devised a strategy, one that seemed to most likely kill it quickly. The Hunter moved silently, being careful to make nay a sound. He then stepped on the palm of the beast right before it went to scratch its twisted flesh. The plan was seemingly effective, as it provided him an easy lift up onto it's stomach. Being ever so cautious, he crept up towards it face and stood before it's closed eyelid. He then held Rakuyo high, and with all of his might, plunged it straight into it's eye.
Blood gushed out like a fountain and the beast roared in agony! Removing the blade quickly, he made another stab and twisted farther in, but was forced to recede and leap off when it attempted to swipe whatever was on it's face. Rolling away, the Hunter turned his weapon into trick form, wielding the blade and dagger with extreme efficiency. The creature, now off of it's arse, screeched and roared aloud. It swung with it's mighty arms and pummeled and pounded the ground, desperate to kill whatever took it's eye! The hunter rolled and side-stepped these blows with dexterity and speed, he was experienced in dodging faster and more vicious beasts than this! Running towards it, he spun in an arc and cut through both legs, more blood from his lower region added to it's bloody face and it was forced to kneel. The hunter dashed around, leapt onto it's head and with nay a noise made, plunged the blades into it's skull. As more blood gushed out of it's head, it bellowed and hollered one last time with all of it's pain before slumping down and exploding in a purple light leaving behind it's treasures. The hunter, having sheathed his weapons, tilted his head in confusion. Most large creatures he had slain would not explode like this. Sure, most did combust in a bloody mess and some did fade into light and cloud, but it was nothing like this. But no matter, death was death. Grabbing the key from the ground, he made his way towards the cage.
"How...how did you do all that!? You were so fast..."
The Hunter chuckled at this. A cold, unhumoured laugh. "There are many reasons why. Come." With that, he unlocked the door and let the family out. The mother and father went out slowly, their nerves high. But the little girl was not so cautious, and threw herself at the hunter's legs in a great might hug.
"Thankyouthankyouthankyou!"
"Ruto! Don't be so rude!" The mother berated the daughter, but the Hunter held up his hand.
"It is alright, I do not mind."
"You showed that ugly Hinox what was what I'll tell you that! Your amazing and awesome! Are you a professional monster hunter? Are you a hero? Did you help Princess Mipha, Zelda and the Champions fight big bad Ganon?"
"Ruto! Don't ask him so many questions! I'm sorry sir, she's very young and doesn't know how to control her mouth!" The mother apologized as she took the young girl into her arms. The Hunter smiled underneath his mask.
"It is alright to ask questions. Yes child, I am a monster hunter of sort. But no, I am no hero and I did not help Princess Mipha and the Champions fight Ganon alongside Zelda. I am simply a...wanderer." He then turned to the fire and took out his pocket watch. All people in Yharnam, hunter's included, had a pocket watch. He found his with him when he had first woken up. He always felt some type of connection to this pocket watch, though he did not remember why. All he knew was that it was his before Yharnam ever happened. "Night is still upon us. We should eat from this creatures bounty." He pointed to the pile of food in the corner, to which the family agreed.
They then set to work, him and the father began to divide up and cut the food. The wife made a fire prepared it and the daughter warmed herself by the heat. It seemed that whatever these beings were, they shared the same necessities of humanity, the need of fire. For fire was a sort of motherly figure for all creatures, large or small. Fire warmed and provided, would help cook and would provide light, but had a burn to it that could tear down cities. They sat in silence as they divided up the food and feasted. The family devoured their portions eagerly, for they seemed malnourished at best. The hunter did not eat, rather he made periodic checks to the mouth of the cavern. It was still storming at this time, and the Hunter was weary.
"My friend, you should eat. Empty stomachs make empty minds after all!" The fishman laughed at his little joke, and his wife and daughter smiled. The hunter resigned to what seemed to be his fate and nodded. As he took his food in hand, venison and a type of fruit, the father said "Why do you not take off your mask? It'll be difficult to eat with that on, yes?"
"...Very well." The hunter set down his meal and set to work removing his wrappings around his mouth. As he did so, the families eyes widened when they saw his full face. He was young, around his early twenties. But his eyes...they were contradictory to say the least. They bounced and shimmered with the energy of youth, but were dim and tired like an old man. His face was marked by several scars, especially one on his lip. His throat was also heavily wounded in the past it seemed, as a large three fingered cut lay on the front of it. His ears were not like a Hylians ears, rather they were round and small. This man was not a native of these lands by any means.
"I...I did not know you weren't a Hylian. I just assumed that you were so I..." The father failed to find the next words to say before his daughter interrupted.
"You look weird!" As she was scolded by her mother, the Hunter chuckled again.
"I suppose I am weird. Though truth be told, I am a traveler from another land. I know not on how I came to these lands, but now I wander them."
"Well...you certainly came to the right place! As the first to properly meet one your people, I welcome you to Hyrule. I am Okin, this is my wife Nala, and you already know little Ruto."
"I thank you Okin. I go by..." The Hunter paused. He seemed lost in thought for a moment before answering. "...I go by Hunter."
"Hunter...that's a strange name."
"So I have been told." They sat in a comfortable silence, all feasting on their meal and giving thanks for their lives. Several minutes passed as they finished their meals and prepared for a restful sleep. The Hunter decided to keep watch for the night.
Before he turned in, Okin asked the man a question. "When you first saw us, your eyes widened as if you had never seen a Zora before, why is that?"
Zora. So that's what they were called, good to know. "Before today, I have never laid eyes on a being quite like you or your family." A lie, but close enough to the truth to make it true
. "Well then, that's a shocker. Though from what I see, your very similar to a Hylian but differences are so small yet obvious...what are your people called?"
"We are called Humans. On our lands, we are the only thinking life we have." Again, a lie, but still honest enough to warrant it to be true.
"Really? Well, you look so much like a Hylian! I wonder if Humans and Hylians are connected somehow?"
"Hmm...I wonder."
XXX
Soon dawn broke over the land. The sun rose up like a magnificent father, grossly incandescent. "Are you sure you don't want to come with us?" Nala asked the Hunter, who had a new bag of food taken from half of what remained of the food pile slung over his shoulder.
"No. Your path leads you home to your city. Mine leads elsewhere."
"You could still come, I'm sure the king would honor you for rescuing us."
"Again, I thank you for your kind words. But I must decline. Farewell, may the good blood guide your way." With that the Hunter turned and began to walk away. But before he could leave, Ruto called out. "Wait, Mr. Hunter!" He turned to her, and knelt down. "Yes, Little Ruto?"
"I know you didn't call yourself a hero, but you saved us for no reward! That makes you a hero, no matter what!" She then reached for something in her pocket and handed it to him. A white ribbon, fresh and clean. "It was given to me by my nanny before she died. She told me to always be true to myself no matter what. I think you should have it though." She handed it to him, but was puzzled when she saw that he seemed to be frozen. "Mr Hunter?"
"Who... are you? I don't know your voice, but I know that smell... Are you a hunter? Then, please, will you look for my mum? Daddy never came back from the hunt, and she went to find him, but now she's gone, too... I'm all alone... and scared..."
" "Really? Oh, thank you! My m-mum wears a red jeweled brooch. It's so big and... and beautiful. You won't miss it. Oh, I mustn't forget. If you find my mum, give her this music box... It plays one of daddy's favorite songs. And when daddy forgets us we play it for him so he remembers. Mum's so silly, running off without it!"
"My mum wears a red jeweled brooch. It's so big and beautiful. You won't miss it. Oh, and if you find her, give her this music box. Please, I know you can do it."
"Miss Hunter... was it really her?...Mummy...mummy... Don't leave me alone..."
He felt tears drip down the cloth mask as he looked upon her mutilated corpse.
"Oh, you haven't by chance... seen my little sister, have you? I told her to look after the house, but she's run off somewhere. She's still quite small, and wears a big white ribbon. Have you seen her out there anywhere?"
"Oh, how did this happen... Why would she ever go outside? At least... I'll have something to remember her by...
He sighed as he saw her mangled and broken body.
Why did he come to this cursed city?
Why?
Why?
Why?
Why?
"Mr. Hunter? Mr. Hunter?" The Good Hunter snapped out of it as he returned his attention to little Ruto. He took the ribbon gently, as if afraid to break it. "Thank you, little Ruto. I have...something for you as well." With that, he opened his bag and took out a gold pendant. He had received this after slaying the beast that was once known as Vicar Amelia. But she didn't need to know that. "This pendant came from the city I hail from. It may look small and unimportant to you, but it is rare and valuable where I come from. It one day may guide into making a hard choice."
"Really?"
"Really." The little Zora girl hugged the Hunter one last time and returned to her parents. They began to walk down the road back to their home, but Little Ruto turned around and with a grin, waved goodbye. The Hunter gave a soft smile underneath his hat. Perhaps innocence was still a good thing after all. He then walked the opposite way, down the lonely road.
*EDIT* The old end notes were cringe. I was mega cringe. No more cringe