Mipha stared down at Revali as she moved her hands over him. She had awoken, surprised to find that she felt well rested for the first time in days. She was, however, not at all surprised to find her hand in Link's. He had always been thoughtful and was likely determined to make sure she slept well no matter how uncomfortable the position he had to take.

It had taken some time, but she had managed to wriggle her hand out of Link's and slip away without waking him.

It had been cold and dark when she left the inn, causing her to shiver as she made her way to Medli's home. Entering the young woman's house had been a trial all its own as she stepped over the mess that was Medli's room.

She had reached the Rito Champion and had forced herself to remain calm as she began healing him, or her best attempt at healing him.

If her normal power was a soothing river, then all she could manage now was a trickle. Even so, she was determined to make a trickle work.

She lost track of time as she used her energy to weave Revali's broken body back together. Had she had access to her full power, it would have taken her a little more than an hour. Now though, the sun was already well above the horizon before she had fixed the fractures in his chest. At the rate she was going, it would take her the rest of the day before Revali was fully healed.

The Zora Princess sighed as she realized in her haste to begin healing, she had neglected to eat anything. She was regretting that decision as her stomach protested her negligence. She would need to eat something soon if she was going to continue.

She was pulling her hand away from his chest when a platter of fish appeared next to her.

"Thought you might need this," Link said from behind her.

"How did you –"

"You forget to eat when someone needs help. How are you feeling?" he asked as he settled next to her.

"I feel okay," she replied as she picked up one of the fish. "Thank you… for everything."

Link nodded before his gaze shifted to Revali. "Are you able to heal again?"

"Yes, but not… quite the same as before." Admitting it was humiliating. She had been in full control of her power for years, and now it was like she was just discovering it all over again.

Not only was it embarrassing, but it was something that secretly worried her as well. She had always felt more comfortable with Link's reckless nature because she knew she could fix whatever harm befell him. Now, she was struggling to heal injuries that would have taken her minutes before. In emergencies, even a second could be the difference between life and death. With her power locked away as it was, she wasn't sure she could protect him the way she used to.

He said nothing, allowing her to concentrate on eating as he inspected the Rito Champion. "I'm going to leave the Village for a bit," he said quietly.

"What?" She struggled to keep her breathing in check as Link dug through his pouch and removed a few healing potions.

"A guy named Teba wants to train me to use a bow."

"Teba wants to train you?! Oh, sorry!" Medli exclaimed as Mipha did her best to choke in a ladylike fashion. She had nearly jumped out of her scales when Medli had spoken. Unfortunately for the Zora Princess, she had also taken a rather large bite of fish.

"It's… all right," she gasped out as Link patted her firmly on the back a few times.

"Yeah. He said to meet him on one of the landing pads this morning."

"I wonder if he's going to take you to the Flight Range," Medli said as she cocked her head to the side.

"The Flight Range?" Mipha asked as she wiped her watering eyes.

"Oh yes. Master Revali, the Rito Champion, though I'm sure you already knew about him if you were traveling with Kass, anyway, he had it built as his reward for winning the archery contest that we hold every fifty years. According to what the people who were there said, he was one of the few that didn't touch the ground at all, and he was the only one who hit every target. Oh, right! The Flight Range! So, Master Revali had it built as his reward and used it as a place to further hone his skills. Apparently, that was even the place he –"

Mipha exchanged a glance with Link as Medli continued prattling on about the Rito Champion. The Zora Princess wasn't sure what aspect she found most striking, Medli's plentiful knowledge of Revali and his accomplishments, the way she spoke of the Rito Champion as though he weren't the one laying injured in her own hammock, or the fact that Link could apparently shrug with just his eyes.

"- Oh! And Kass told me about this one time when –"

"I should get going," Link whispered as Medli showed no signs of stopping.

"Just promise me you will not do anything stupid."

Link nodded before standing.

"I'm sorry," Medli said quickly, "people tell me I talk too much."

"You are fine," Mipha replied quietly as Link left her with Medli, Revali, and a platter of fish. She had a feeling that she was going to learn a lot more about what the Rito girl thought she knew about Revali before the day was through.

Still, she couldn't really complain. Medli struck her as both sincere and well-meaning, traits that she admired greatly in others. Besides, there was a chance that she would learn something along the way.

Teba wondered if he was in the right state of mind to train anyone as he flew Link to the Flight Range. He had been ready to put an arrow through what must have been the Hylian Champion after what he had assumed was a bad joke, only to find his Master was indeed lying in Medli's home.

He hadn't been sure what to think as he stared down at the Rito who had trained him. His anger had certainly welled up. He had felt betrayed as one of the few people who had believed in him had sent him away time and time again just before the Great Calamity.

It had hurt far more than he cared to admit as his friend and mentor drifted further and further away. He had desperately needed the stability that the Rito Champion had provided. Even though Revali was more an oddity than anything else, he provided a strict regimen that had given his days a structure that his home life had lacked. His mother had loved him, but she was… eccentric to say the least.

There were some days where she allowed him some independence. She let him wander around and would save food for him as opposed to calling him back for meals. There were other days where she would barely let him out of her sight. The constant shift between independence and dependence caused him a great deal of anxiety as a child.

Once Revali had taken him under his wing, Teba's days became routine. He woke up at the same time each day, had scheduled exercises, and was held to the same standards each day. It was a relief to wake up, knowing what to expect and what was expected of him. It gave him a sense of what it was like to be an ordinary child.

At the same time, he couldn't deny the immense relief he felt when he saw that his Master was still alive, even if far from well. Truth be told, he was a little unnerved to see his childhood hero so battered and broken. He supposed that he had always made Revali invincible in his mind, but the reality was, he was no more invincible than any other Rito.

And, to make it as complicated as the various techniques Revali had taught him years ago, there was still the boyish voice that expressed his shock and amazement that his Master had not only survived but would likely take up the fight again. The child in him was still convinced that Revali was the greatest hero that had ever been and would ever be.

He set down outside the Flight Range and led Link inside. He glanced at the Hylian briefly as he retrieved extra arrows and a spare bow. The Hylian had barely said a word that morning. He would answer questions with as few words as possible, cutting out anything that was unimportant. It was a trait that Teba was currently appreciating to the fullest.

He wasn't much one for idle chatter; however, he understood that it was something that made people comfortable, so he would indulge them when they made small talk. Link didn't seem to want to make small talk, choosing instead to remain silent and wait for Teba to take the lead.

The Rito handed Link a bow and a quiver of arrows before leading him out onto the gusty platform.

"I know that you will likely struggle to hit anything more than those three," Teba stated as he gestured to the three closest targets to the platform. Even though they were relatively close to the platform, the constant, uneven updrafts from the hot springs below would make them difficult for the Hylian to hit unless he was adequately proficient with a bow. Considering the display that he had seen last night, he was sure that Link would pick up quickly even if he had never held a bow before.

Teba watched Link's first attempts, giving a few pointers and helping the Hylian adjust his grip and positioning as needed, but he quickly spaced out, thinking back to the times when he and Revali would spend hours on end there, developing and refining new techniques even as they practiced their tried and tested methods.

Even though he was not often given to nostalgia, the Flight Range was one of the few places that could pull something like sentimentality from him.

He brought himself out of his reverie long enough to find that Link was no longer on the platform. He looked around for the Hylian, trying to find where he had gone off to. His eyes widened as he saw the Hylian using a strange device that allowed him to catch the updrafts and float up. He then collapsed the device and pulled his bow, his normally stoic face bearing a determined glare.

Teba watched as the Hylian fired an arrow faster than his eyes could follow. The Hylian guided his gliding device back to the platform and stumbled back onto it, panting as he set his hands on his knees.

"How did you do that?" Teba asked as Link finally straightened, still short of breath.

"I don't know," Link muttered as he looked down at the bow. "Is this enchanted?" he asked as he held up the swallow bow.

"No."

The Hylian frowned before turning back towards the targets.

"Do you need to rest?"

"I can keep going. I'll need practice, so I can help Revali with Medoh."

"You two are intending to fight Vah Medoh?"

"It's why you're helping me train, right?"

"Right," Teba replied. He and Harth had recently tried to drive the Divine Beast away. While he and his friend had technically been successful, it had come at the cost of putting Harth out of commission for the time being, and Medoh had been drawing dangerously close again.

While Teba had faith in his abilities, he was not so confident as to attack the Divine Beast alone. Even from afar, the small sentries that guarded it appeared too powerful for even the most accomplished of the Rito Tribe to handle alone. His Master's current state was proof enough of that. He would need whatever help he could get to drive Medoh back.

Teba watched much closer as Link pulled out his bow in the air. He wasn't sure what was causing the Hylian to speed up, but even Teba, who had trained his eyes to see even the smallest and swiftest of movements, was unable to track the Link's movements as he shot the arrow again. He could see movement, but the exact motions were lost to him. It all registered as a blur in the air.

Link was visibly winded again, but he didn't land this time. He glided for a time before he pulled out his bow and took another shot. Teba could almost make out the exact motions that Link was making.

The Hylian nearly collapsed upon landing before he reached into the pouch at his hip and pulled out a green potion. He downed it before turning back again.

"You're moving too fast for me to give you pointers, but it looks- " he continued as he eyed the arrows placement in the targets "- like your only problem is that you aren't compensating enough for the updrafts. Aim a bit lower and you should be right on target."

Link's practice continued as hours flew by. Teba helped to correct his form and technique as best he could, but the Hylian's movements were too quick for him to keep track of. All he could do was analyze an arrow's placement and make a guess as to what the underlying issue was.

As Link progressed, he not only increased the number of shots between each break but the number of shots he could fire before pulling his paraglider back out. For someone who hadn't been much of an archer earlier that day, it was an impressive display. He still had many improvements to make, but their odds against Medoh were looking much more promising.

With their training finished, the duo packed up, but not before Teba gifted Link with a Falcon bow. It had the same draw speed as a Swallow bow, but required more strength, making it a more powerful weapon.

The trip back to the Village started as silently as the trip to the Flight Range; however, the silence was broken at the end by Link.

"Can you land there?" the Hylian asked curtly as he pointed towards a small, red Zora who was making her way through the Village hurriedly.

Teba angled downwards, causing the Zora to flinch as he landed in front of her. Link was off his back as soon as they had touched down.

"What's wrong?"

"Revali's disappeared!"

Revali had slipped away as soon as he had the chance. He had woken up in the Village to find a beautiful Rito girl watching over him. He was sure that it was some kind of head trauma and not the fact that he found Medli unnervingly gorgeous, that had caused him to say his name was Feathers when she had asked. After that, he had wanted nothing more than to disappear.

And so, he did disappear as soon as Medli had gone to find Mipha, praying that no one would see him.

He had made his way through the Village, his anxiety spiking far beyond healthy limits each time someone passed, but nobody took any notice of him at all. Their eyes would pass over him as though he were not there.

He wasn't sure where he was going or why, only that he needed to move, as though he could outrun the thoughts and memories that were plaguing him.

His loss to Dinraal was still fresh in mind, and now he could add another loss to the growing list. It burned at him relentlessly, causing a lump to grow in his throat and his eyes to burn. The loss to the dragon had burned enough, even though he had done all he could do, but his loss to Medoh had shattered any remaining confidence he'd had.

Medoh was his responsibility, the only reason that he had even become a Champion in the first place and now, he couldn't even handle his own Divine Beast. He wondered vaguely when the others would inform him that he would be staying in the Village after they left.

As he continued his wanderings, his thoughts drifted back to Teba. He wondered how his student was fairing. He wondered if he had cared for the Flight Range, whether or not he hated Revali, or if he even remembered him. He had always thought of Teba as a friend and had tried to be… kinder to him and Kaneli; however, he was all too aware that his treatment, later on, had been a point of tension between them. Thinking back on what he had said to Link and Mipha, he was beginning to see just how easy it was to hurt the people around him.

He swallowed, forcing his head forward in a futile attempt to help him complete the action. Even though it would change nothing, he would have to apologize for that.

His eyes burned even more as he thought back to his parents. He wasn't sure when he had convinced himself that they were dead, or even why he had so, but to fully remember the day they had abandoned him tore at him like Midna did her prey. He had tried so hard, and so long, even going so far as to pretend that he didn't exist, and still it hadn't been enough.

He wiped at his eyes as his eyes burned even more.

"Ooh! Ooh! Another story!"

"Genli, be polite!"

"You want another story? Very well, I suppose I shall tell you one more." Revali stopped when he heard the feminine voice. He knew it from somewhere. The Rito Champion cocked his head, trying to see through the hammocks and blankets that hung in the children's bedroom. On the other side, he saw a small group of children gathered around a golden-feathered Rito.

Revali knew that she was not their mother. He recognized the woman in an instant, she was the same one that had brought him back to the Village the day he had been left behind. Revali cocked his head to listen as she began her story.

"Once there was a child born to unloving parents. One day, they took the child to a forest, where they set him on a rock with a promise to return after they had attended to some business. They then left him behind, never to see him again."

"That's so sad," one of the children murmured.

"Shh. She hasn't finished yet."

"Luckily," the woman continued as though not hearing the interruption, "the Goddess found the child before any harm could befall him and brought the child into a new home. There the child was allowed to grow in safety; however, the child grew bitter. Not only had his parents abandoned him, but the other children looked down on him as well."

"The child continued growing in bitterness as the days passed. One day the Goddess returned to find him crying as he lay his head down to sleep."

"'Little one, why do you weep?' she asked as she came to him?"

"'I do not have a family to love me. The man you left me with is kind, but he doesn't love me as a mother and father or a brother and sister would."

"The Goddess heard the child's plea and, taking pity on him, set to work creating a family just for him."

"From the sands and lightning of the desert, she crafted a mother. From the stone and clay of the mountain, she molded a father. She bent the soothing waters of the river into the shape of a sister. And finally, in the fields, she sowed the seeds of a brother."

"When the child laid eyes on the family the Goddess had made, he grew even more bitter, for he detested the family that she had made him."

"'Why have you made these?' he asked angrily as She presented them to him."

"'These are the ones I have made for you.'"

"'Take them away!' the child replied."

"'What have they done to deserve your ire?' the Goddess asked the child."

"'I asked you for a family, yet you have given me those with whom I do not belong'"

"'Do you think me so foolish as to create a family into which you do not belong?' the Goddess questioned harshly. 'For though you have spurned her, your mother cares for you as surely as her other children. Though he has seen the worst of you, your father still has faith in you. The sister which I have given you has eased your aches and pains, though you refuse to do the same. What's more, it was on your brother's back that you were carried when you stood before the gates of Death. Tell me little one, what would you ask that I have not already given?'"

"The child did not answer, for, in his heart, he knew that what he desired was wrong."

"'You seek the love of the two that left you behind, do you not? That I cannot give you, and even if I could give this to you, I would not. These that I have made for you were made to replace what the two that left you would not give. Why then would you run from it?'"

"'I am scared,' the child replied."

"'You need not be,' the Goddess admonished gently as she embraced the child, 'for I am always at your side. It is through your mother that I show my love and your father that I teach you. When you are burdened, it is through your sister that I rest and restore you, and when you think you have reached your limits, it is through your brother that I remind you that you still have so much left to do. So, you see, little one, you need not fear what lies ahead, for your family and I will always be with you…'"

"When the child returned home, he embraced his family and made known his sorrow for his bitterness towards them. The child's family welcomed him back and from that day on, he faced each new day with a renewed vigor, as he had finally found his home."

With that, the woman quieted down as Kass and a green Rito woman began picking the children up.

"Thank you, miss Fi," Kass murmured quietly as the golden Rito stood.

"You are quite welcome," she replied graciously before she exited their home.

"Fi" met Revali's gaze for a second before she began making her way along the pathways leading to the top of the Village. Revali followed after her, maintaining a short distance between himself and Hylia. Eventually, she stopped as she turned to stare at the Village below.

"It has been a while, has it not, little one?"

"Why are you here?" Revali asked carefully as he joined her.

"If you were to hear a child crying out for help, would you not find the child to help?"

"Yes…"

"And what makes you believe I would do any different?"

They both stood in silence for a long time before Revali spoke again. "You could have made them come back for me. You… could have made them love me…"

"And would you have me make a four-sided triangle?" Hylia replied with a raised brow.

"What?"

"Since we are speaking of feats that are beyond me, I thought I would offer another." He could see that She knew what his next question would be. "Yes, I could have made them return for you, but I could not make them love you."

"And why is that?" the Rito Champion asked tightly.

"Love is an act of will, one that must be taken unconditionally. To coerce your parents to give of themselves would have been to warp the act beyond what could be called love."

"So, there's nothing you can do?" he asked bitterly.

"You really are a poor listener," the Goddess sighed as she turned her gaze back down to the Village. "I may not be able to make your parents love you, but that does not mean I have not done anything to help you. Have I not given you a family?"

"Some family they are…"

Hylia turned back to him before stretching out a feathered hand. "Take my hand. There is something I wish to show you."

The Rito Champion hesitantly took her hand. At once, the world shifted, taking him from the heights of the Rito Village to what appeared to be the insides of a house. "Where are we?"

"A land far from Hyrule," Hylia replied as she pointed towards one of the house's inhabitants. "Look."

Revali's stomach dropped as he recognized the pristine pink of his mother's feathers. Some part of him had always hoped to see her again, but now, when faced with the opportunity, he was no longer certain he could.

"Look, for they are unaware of our presence," Hylia commanded, prompting the reluctant Rito to look at his long-lost mother. He still thought her feathers were beautiful, even after so many years. He felt a small smile that died quickly as he continued watching her. As the woman who had laid his egg bustled around the cooking fire, he noticed a smile on her face.

"Why is she –"

He was cut off as his father entered before he could finish the question. The black-feathered Rito chirped a jovial greeting as he sat down at the table.

The Rito Champion's chest ached as he watched the two sit down at the table and begin talking niceties with large smiles on their faces. He had always wanted to see that expression on their faces, and now, years after they had left him for dead, he finally got to see it. He wasn't sure if it was happiness or bitterness welling up in him.

"You still do not see," Hylia commented, sounding far away. "Look closer."

Revali looked closer, but still only saw the smiling faces of his parents.

"Look past the surface. Look into their eyes. Listen to their voices."

Dreading what he was about to see, the Rito looked into his mother's eyes first. His stomach dropped further as he saw his green eyes reflected back at him. As he continued to look, he finally began to see what Hylia was trying to show him. The green of his mother's eyes was devoid of any spark to give them life. They were dead orbs that stared blankly before her. He shifted around to his father, seeing the same condition reflected in the dark blue irises.

Revali felt a chill as he backed away from the two; however, distance couldn't mask what he had seen. As he retreated, he could finally see how their smiles didn't reach their eyes. They stopped halfway in the middle, contorting their faces as they remained frozen in that same expression.

The Rito Champion couldn't stop himself from listening as he reached the wall. It was then that he heard them repeating themselves time and time again. He listened as they spoke of how happy they were, how grand their life was. The same words used over and over again I what sounded like a vain attempt to convince themselves that their feelings did indeed match their words.

He couldn't stand to look at the lifeless husks any longer. "What's wrong with them?" he asked weakly.

"They have convinced themselves that they are experiencing life to the fullest. To them, true joy is found where there is no pain or hardship, so they run from it."

"Is that a bad thing?"

"I would think you would have the answer by now," Hylia murmured as she watched the two Ritos sadly. "They take what they believe makes them happy and discard any responsibility, any discomfort in an attempt to maintain the illusion they live in."

"Can't you do anything?"

"I tried," Hylia murmured, stepping towards the two as they continued eating, completely oblivious to their visitors. "I gave them a gift that would have set them on the path to finding that happiness that they so desperately seek, but they rejected you too."

"So, what can we do?" he asked. He wasn't sure where the desperation was coming from, or why he cared so much for them.

"Nothing," the Goddess replied sadly as she cupped his mother's cheek in her hand. "This is what they have chosen for themselves, and they refuse to change."

Revali opened his mouth to retort but couldn't find the words to say. He closed his beak, looking back at his parents and regretting it the instant he did.

"This is what you have asked of me," Hylia stated as she stepped in front of him. "Now, let me show you what I would offer you."

Revali took her outstretched hand as they were taken out of the house and away from the lifeless cadavers that had been his parents. Suddenly, they were in the midst of a field blanketed by snow; however, he had no time to look around.

"Hey… Urbosa… let me know… if ya need a break."

"I think I'm… keeping it together… better than you."

He turned around to see Daruk and Urbosa jogging towards him. Both looked disheveled, which didn't surprise him coming from Daruk. The Goron Champion did his best to remain what he considered to be presentable, but his hair and beard were often a tangled mess. Urbosa on the other hand, went to great lengths to care for her long, fiery red hair. She washed and brushed it at every opportunity to make sure that it kept its healthy sheen. Now though, it lacked its usual luster in favor of a stringy, wispy mess.

"Tha… that's a load of…"

"Less talking," Urbosa panted as they continued their long, quick strides.

Without any prompting from Hylia, Revali looked into the eyes of the two winded Champions. Instead of seeing lifeless orbs, their eyes were filled with a fire he had never noticed. The spark he saw filled their eyes, giving them a vitality that was pushing them through their current exhaustion.

"When I get ahold of those two…" Urbosa growled.

"Thought you said… less talking…"

"That only… applies to you!"

Revali almost chuckled. Urbosa was so winded that her exclamation lacked its usual bark and instead came out as a gasp.

"They are rather humorous, aren't they?" Hylia asked as she smiled fondly at the two as they finally passed their audience.

Revali turned to watch their backs for a moment before Hylia spoke again.

"That is not all," Hylia said, "I have one more thing I wish to show you."

Revali took her hand as the scenery shifted once again.

"I'm going to wring his neck!"

Revali shuddered as he watched an angry Zora Princess storm through the Village followed by Link.

"I think you should take it easy on him," Link replied calmly as Mipha continued her search. All around them, the villagers were eyeing them warily before disappearing.

"No, I'll wring his neck Link. I haven't even started on the mangled mess we are calling a wing."

"Mipha –"

"By the time I am through with him, he'll need his good wing repaired as well."

Link chose to remain silent this time; however, they were quickly joined by Medli as she landed unsteadily next to them.

"I still haven't… found… Master Feathers," she panted as she straightened herself.

"His name isn't…"

"I've flown through the Village several times and haven't found him," Teba called as he landed with them.

"Oh! Teba, are you helping us look?"

"Why wouldn't I be helping?" Teba asked.

"I just didn't think you had time to help us search for Master Feathers."

Revali was grateful that they couldn't see him as he felt an uncomfortable heat creeping up his neck and into his cheeks.

"Who?"

"She means Revali," Mipha replied as she began moving towards the top of the Village.

"Right," Teba replied, clearly confused by the pseudonym that Revali had unintentionally used.

"Revali…? But he told me- wait! He's named after the Rito Champion?"

"Hardly," Teba scoffed, "he is the Rito Champion."

"What- but -he- I- "

Revali was impressed at how many words Medli could string together incoherently as Mipha became more and more impatient.

"I do not mean to be rude, but we have to find him quickly," the Zora Princess stated diplomatically, hiding the immense anger she had been expressing to Link just a few minutes prior.

"I think we can leave them now," Hylia murmured as Medli and Teba took off again while Link and Mipha continued their search on the ground. The scene faded, bringing them back to railing they had been standing at.

"So- "

"Master Fea – Revali!" His head snapped around at the sound of Medli's voice. "Thank goodness I found you!" she gasped out as she nearly crashed into him. He helped steady her, grimacing as he forgot about his injured wing. "Have you been here this entire time?!"

"Not exact- "

"Oh, I think Mipha is really upset! She looks cool and composed, but she was a lot nicer earlier when you were lying down, and now she's all impatient and –"

"Little one," a voice whispered in his ear as Medli continued her nervous ramblings, "I offer you this choice: you may run from it all and I will ensure that none can find you, or you may embrace the path I set for you with the knowledge that I am ever at your side. Choose well Little one, for once the choice is made, I will not allow you to take it back."

"- Master Fea – Revali? Are you all right?"

"Yes…" he replied uncertainly as he looked around for Hylia, but just like on Mount Lanayru, she was nowhere to be found.

"We should get you back to my house, so you can get some rest," Medli said firmly.

"…Right."

For some inexplicable reason, all he wanted was to lie down and stop thinking for a while.

"Was there some impulse that commanded you to do the most irresponsible thing you could think of?" Mipha asked as she held the Rito Champions injured wing with a vice-like grip. "What made you think that you should not only attack a Divine Beast on your own but then disappear with an injured wing?"

Link's eyes flicked back and forth between the four other people in the room. Initially, Teba had joined in on the reprimand that was taking place; however, his calmer voice had quickly been overridden by Mipha's tirade. Medli hadn't spoken a word since she had informed them that she had escorted Revali back to her home. The Rito girl looked like she wanted to be anywhere but where she currently was.

He sympathized with the Rito Champion. He could remember a few instances from his childhood when Mipha had caught him in the aftermath of a particularly poor decision. He wondered idly if that was how she had responded when he had supposedly blocked a Guardian's blast with a pot lid.

"Were you even thinking?"

"No…" Revali muttered as he continued staring at the floor. Link was caught off guard by the small, meek response. He had been expecting Revali to escalate the issue like he normally would, but instead, he answered the question without any bite.

"Then what exactly were you doing?" Mipha asked expectantly as she continued to heal his wing.

"I was… talking to our friend," he replied as he looked up and exchanged a glance with Mipha first and then Link. "The one from Mount Lanayru."

Mipha and Link froze. The Hylian Champion had been expecting to hear many things, but a conversation with the Goddess was not one of those things.

"And, how is she?" Mipha asked, her anger momentarily reined in.

"I think she's upset with me."

"As she should be!"

"I think that's enough," Link said quietly before the Zora Princess could say any more. She sent him a defiant glare, but he cut her off before she could retort, "I think Daruk and Urbosa will have their bit."

"You are correct," Mipha sighed. He could see there was more she wanted to say, but she let it go for the time being.

He stepped up to her and leaned down, "I think you should take a break. You've been at it for hours."

"I am okay."

She was a terrible liar.

"Take a break," he repeated firmly. She frowned at him; however, it ended quickly as he held up the Slate.

"Very well," Mipha sighed as she took the proffered item. She retreated to the other side of the room, where she began tapping controls on the Slate's face.

"I didn't realize she was so… fierce," Teba said quietly as he sidled up to Link.

"She hates it when her friends get hurt," Link replied as he kept a close eye on his friend. "She's also been struggling with something the past few days."

"I see." Teba did not pry any further into the matter, something for which the Hylian was grateful.

He felt an odd sort of kinship with the Rito archer. He wasn't prone to small talk and didn't try to poke his beak into private matters. He said or asked only what he believed needed to be shared. It wasn't rude, he just didn't see the need for meaningless pleasantries, something that Link understood well.

"May I ask what you are reading?"

Link looked over to find Medli leaning over Mipha's shoulder, while Teba left his side to speak with Revali quietly.

"Nothing yet. I am still looking," the Zora Princess replied absently as she continued tapping controls.

"Wait! May I see that one?" Medli asked, her voice rising in excitement. Link noticed that Revali was also now paying attention to the two.

"Yes, though I am unable to read it."

"Maybe I can help," Medli replied as Mipha handed the Slate over to her. "Oh, my. This is written in an old Sheikah dialect, older than I'm familiar with."

"You can read old languages?" Revali asked from across the room. Link was surprised that Revali had taken such an interest in the conversation. He had a habit of blocking out topics that didn't involve anything he found noteworthy. He couldn't imagine that a near death experience would change that aspect of his personality.

"Some of them. I think I'll only be able to read tidbits of this one though," Medli said as she frowned down at the words in front of her.

"Wish I could do that," Revali grumbled as he lay back in the hammock.

Link tried to exchange a questioning glance with Mipha, but she was too enthralled watching Medli set to work.

"What?" Revali asked defensively. Link turned back to find Teba staring at him with an incredulous look on his face.

"Since when are you interested in anything remotely related to the past?"

"Tastes change," Revali retorted as he closed his eyes and looked away.

"You called it a frivolous waste of time."

"I did not!"

"Yes, you did! Remember when Kaneli was trying to teach me about Rito history when you returned from one of your trips to Hyrule Castle and you two –"

"I said no such thing!"

Link watched as Teba and Revali continued arguing. He hadn't realized that Teba had the capacity to get worked up; however, he had no qualms with snapping back at Revali.

"It's really hard to concentrate with you two arguing," Medli cut in distantly. At once, Revali closed his beak and set to watching her intently.

"You can't be serious," Teba muttered.

Revali shot him a look for a split second and then returned his gaze to the Rito girl.

"Back then, women tried to woo you all the time, and you paid them no mind, and you've known her for a few hours and already you're like an obedient dog."

"I am not!"

"You used to be so cool…"

"I am not a dog!"

"Will you both be quiet!" Medli snapped as both she and Mipha glowered at the two.

Link stared between the men and the women before sighing and motioning for Mipha and Medli to follow him. "Keep him in line," he muttered to Teba before leading the two women outside.

He guided the two women along several walkways before choosing a spot for them to focus on what they were doing. It didn't really matter as the two girls were already back to poring over the Slate as Link turned back towards Medli's house. He could still hear the arguing, but it was greatly subdued.

"Hmm," Medli sighed as she angled the Slate, as though changing the orientation of the writing would help her make sense of it.

"What is it," Mipha asked quietly.

"Well, from what I can make out, it looks like an account of some sort. Apparently, beings called the –" she squinted down at the Slate as she tried to read the name, " – the Chiza… no, the Chozo came through some kind of door. From the looks of it, the Chozo helped the Sheikah construct… weapons of some sort… uh…"

She set the Slate down and motioned towards one of the characters on its face. "In more recent dialects, this means something like 'god-like power.'"

"Like the Divine Beasts?"

"Maybe… and this one right here is referring to some sort of army." Medli's face pinched up as she continued attempting her translation. "Anyway, there isn't much more other than that the Chozo made some sort of promise."

"What kind of promise?" Mipha asked.

"Something about a time of dire need and a Huntress… I don't know, I can't make it out. Sorry," she apologized as she handed the Slate back to Mipha.

"No, no, that was most interesting."

"I wonder how much of it is true," Medli sighed as she looked up, "Kass used to tell me that all legends are based partially on fact, so I can't help but wonder… is any of it true?"

"I don't know," Mipha murmured quietly. "Perhaps we could discuss it more in the morning? It is getting quite late. Would you mind if I stayed with you tonight? I am worried that Revali may try to sneak off again."

"Don't worry!" Medli chirped. "He's rather polite, so I think I can handle him. Have a good night!" she called over her shoulder as she returned to her home.

Link and Mipha exchanged a puzzled glance. That didn't sound like the Rito Champion they knew at all.

"You know…" Mipha trailed off as she Link made their way back down to the inn.

"What?"

"Is it just me or does Revali act differently around Medli?"

"He does," Link agreed.

"You don't think he's developing a crush on her, do you?"

"No," Link replied as they made it back to the inn. Revali was unpredictable at times, but there was a certain predictability to it.

"Yes… I suppose that would be quite out of character for him, wouldn't it?"

A/N: So, I think some of you were expecting some sort of huge emotional breakdown on Revali's part...

I don't see it.

Oh... did anybody catch that super subtle Metroid reference?

Guest Reviews:

Guest (1): One can hope that the author is attentive to character growth.

E.A.T: Oh, the Starfox jokes will abound... there is no escape.

Guest (2): didn't think you'd be waiting this long, didja?