Link smiled softly as Oro leaned against him on the horse, their backs to each other. Beyond the soft sounds of the wildlife of Hyrule, Link focused on the light plucking of Oro's harp as he sang softly. Oro glanced over at Link as the hero focused on guiding the horse on the road.

"Oh, Hero of Hyrule, so blond and fair. Wouldn't you think we make a great pair?" He sang, making Link laugh. Oro chuckled and adjusted, stretching as he turned, resting his chin on Link's shoulder. "We're still quite a ways away. You alright?" Link sighed softly at that, causing Oro to nod. "That's fair. But, you shouldn't stress."

Link gave Oro a pointed look and the bard rolled his eyes. "Yeah. Freeing the Divine Beasts. That's a lot to deal with. That's why you should take these moments to enjoy the calm. If you don't, I'll make sure you relax," He cooed, gripping Link hip. Link rolled his eyes this time as he reached down and pinched the back of the bard's hand, making Oro squeak in pain. "Ow, ow! C'mon. I'd never do anything without permission or pressure you! I'm just making jokes, Link," he whined, rubbing the reddening spot. "So mean to me."

Link just stuck his tongue out at him as they approached the wetlands. He tugged the reins, stopping the horse. Oro blinked, seeing the strange glowing orange structure ahead. He frowned, seeing it surrounded by Lizalfos. "We should go around." Link shook his head, pointing directly at the structure. Oro blinked. "You need to go there, don't you?" Link nodded. Oro sighed. "Alright. What's the plan then?"

The monster trilled softly as its eyes scanned the area. They narrowed and zigzagged all over the place at every sound before zeroing in on a dragonfly that had landed on a nearby flower. It clacked its jaw and got onto all fours, creeping slowly on the insect.

Its instinct became its demise quickly as it had drowned out the outside world, unaware its pack was being picked off one by one. The tongue unfurled and flicked out, grabbing the insect. The dragonfly was eaten by the Lizalfo, the soft purrs of pleasure from a snack rumbling from its throat when a sword suddenly drove through its chest.

Link pulled it out and flicked the blade of the monster blood as he looked around. Oro training his shot at a retreating monster and managed to hit it. He chuckled and approached the bard, nodding proudly to him.

"Thanks," Oro said, smiling. He hummed, studying the structure as he and Link approached it. "So, what is this thing, anyway?"

"A shrine," Link had signed for him. Oro blinked, watching Link as he explained. "I'm supposed to go in them and complete the trials. Whenever I do, I gain some power from it."

Oro hummed. "Like a sacred power?" He asked. Link shrugged. "Gotcha. So, let us get to it."

Link nodded and approached the pedestal, sliding the Sheikah Slate over it. The orange faded into a blue as the doorway opened, making Oro frown. Link smiled and gestured for him to follow. Oro nodded and made to step in behind him, grunting when he bumped into an unseen force. Link blinked, watching Oro knock on the invisible wall. He stepped back and forth to show there was nothing.

"Link, I really can't get it. Wait...got an idea." Link blinked, watching Oro walk to the edge of the grass before charging and jumping. Just as he thought the bard would pass, he was stopped midair and slammed into the ground, groaning in pain. Link quickly came to his side as Oro gripped his leg. He glared at him. "I know, I know. It was worth a shot though." He looked up at the shrine. "Guess it's one of those 'chosen one' kinda things. I'll stay with the horse then. Just let me know what all happens when we make camp for the night, alright?"

Link hesitated, watching him worriedly. Oro smiled and playfully gripped his chin, leaning close. "Go on, Hero. You gotta get strong enough to handle me."

Link scoffed and gently moved his hand away as the horse nudged Oro's shoulder. He watched Oro get up with the help of the reigns and get situated with his harp. With a sigh, Link entered the shrine.

Oro plucked at the strings absently as he waited, looking to the stallion. "We should probably name you at some point," He muttered. The horse huffed, nudging at Oro's pack. He smiled and pulled out the apple for the creature, offering it to him. "Here you are." He sighed, pulled out his journal. He sighed as he flipped through the pages of songs he'd written, finally finding the one he'd written long ago.

Link stepped out of the shrine, rolling his shoulders back with a satisfying pop to his back when he heard Oro singing softly.

"Heed that moon which glows a brightened red, for all under shall rise from the dead. Sing this song as a warning to all, remember to go after your mother's first call." Link blinked, watching the back of the bard as he sang the song, trying to hear the story. "Do not forget to bar your doors, for even the evil will shrink your courage. Remember always that good does live, remember always, but do not forget..."

Oro's hands stopped as he sighed, laying down his harp. Link stepped forward, making the bard jump. He sighed and smiled, grabbing his things. "Done already?"

Link nodded, watching him before signing, "Are you alright?"

Oro hesitated before smiling. "You haven't been awake long, right?" Link nodded. "Do you know about the Blood Moon?" Link frowned and shook his head. Oro nodded. "Since the Calamity, the full moon just...doesn't exist. So once a month, the evil of Ganon will overwhelm even the skies. It gives the moon a blood-red hue. What's worse is that...any monsters that'd been killed that month will rise again. It's best to be locked in your home when it happens," He finished, looking down as his voice quivered.

Link watched Oro and stepped forward. He lifted his chin, seeing Oro's eyes watering. He blinked and removed his hand, signing, "Who was it?"

Oro laughed a bit and sniffled. "My sister...She was only five. Still young, you know? Kids. They think...think they're invincible." He rubbed his eyes. "C'mon. We should keep moving. The longer we wait, the less time we have against Ganon, right?"

Link watched Oro carefully and hugged him gently. Oro sighed and hugged back tight. Once Link was sure Oro was calmed enough, he signed, "If you ever need to talk about it, I'm all ears."

Oro nodded. "I'll keep that in mind. Thank you." He wrapped an arm around him and squeezed him into a side hug. Link smiled and squeezed back before they began to walk. Oro stretched his legs as they moved. Link hummed softly, eying the wetlands curiously. He blinked when he saw something moving in the distance. He tried to squint before grabbing the Sheikah Slate in an attempt to use its camera to see further when Oro gripped his arm.

Link stopped, looking to the frozen bard before he saw what he was looking at. He flinched and gulped, seeing the giant monster. It snored lazily as it scratched its belly, sound asleep. "That's a Hinox," Oro whispered, gulping before looking up. "The sun is setting too..."

The hero clenched his jaw then nodded, gripping his sword. Oro looked to him in shock as he watched Link approach the monster. "Link," he hissed softly, making sure not to wake the monster. "Link, get back here! Idiot, if that thing wakes, we're fucked."

Link just smirked to him and took a deep breath. he'd only just realized that the monster could probably swallow him whole when he stabbed right into its giant neck. The monster choked and rolled over. Link shouted in surprise, his sword still stuck in its fat as it stood. It grumbled and made to scratch at it as if Link were nothing more than a bug when an arrow pierced into its lip. It whined and looked over and Link blinked, seeing Oro holding his bow.

Oro shook as the Hinox licked its lips and came for him, Link swinging from its neck. He pulled another arrow, firing it between its eyes before running around the small island. Link grinned and kicked at the monster's nose, pulling himself free and rolling out of the way of its stomping feet.

"You're insane!" Oro shouted as Link laughed, plunging into the fight. "Why are you laughing? Hylia dammit! I wish you could speak so you could at least tell me!" He squealed, running away. "Why'd you have to go and wake it! We could've made it past and made it to the shoreline, but no! You have to be the freaking Hero of Hyrule and fight every evil monster! This one was just sleeping!"

Link wheezed as he laughed, slashing at the Hinox's heel. It cried out as the tendon was slice cleanly, It dropped down to its knees and gripped back at the wound before swiping at Oro. The bard dodged and fired an arrow into its throat, making it roar in pain as its free hand gripped the front of its throat. The hero hurried around and stabbed straight into its eye. It stopped and slumped to the ground.

The Hylians panted as they watched the Hinox let out a final breath, silence settling over them. Link smiled proudly and sheathed his sword when his jaw burned from an impact. He cupped the afflicted skin as Oro clenched his fist tighter. "Idiot! You could've gotten killed!" Oro shouted. Link blinked then smiled. "Don't you go grinning at me like that! You have a lot of responsibility since you overslept! You've gotta pick and choose your battles. If you die, so does Hyrule." Link just grinned and giggled. Oro watched the hero as he slowly began to laugh harder. Oro scoffed as he smiled and laughed with him. "Holy-We killed a Hinox!" He laughed before hugging Link.

Link hugged him tightly and spun him around easily, making the bard squeak as he was lifted off the ground. As Link set him down, he couldn't stop smiling. The adrenaline was coursing through him as his body trembled from the excitement. He smiled and looked to Oro when a shadow cast over them. Link froze as a robot loomed over them, the laser charging.

Oro paled and gripped Link's hand. "We gotta go." The laser zeroed in on Link, having recognized the hero. "Run!" Oro screamed, shoving him. They hurried, a blast knocking them off their feet. Oro quickly tugged Link to his feet as he pulled him into a run.

Link now felt his body shaking as his eyes welled up with tears. He could hear a woman's scream in the back of his mind, vaguely remembering a robot like the one chasing them. He winced as his head throbbed and the body tried to freeze. He kept moving, following Oro as they hurried to the horse. However, the laser fired and blasted through the horse's middle.

Oro gripped his hand and hurried Link over the wooden walkway, blinking as he saw a Zora swimming. "Hey! Hey! Run!" He called out to the Zora. "Get to cover! Now!"

The blue Zora blinked. "Wait, Hylians! Hey, Hylians! I-Ah!" He paled, seeing the Guardian in hot pursuit of them. "Oh, goddesses!" He shouted in shock before diving into the water.

The Zora swam below and hurried through the underwater tunnel, finding himself in a different body of water altogether as he resurfaced near Inogo Bridge. "Your highness! I found two Hylians! A Guardian is chasing them!"

The Zora Prince paled and clenched his jaw. "Have the guards ready! We can't allow it to reach our home!"

"Yes, Your Majesty!" He shouted back before hastily making up the river on the prince's command.

The prince dove down into the water and made his way through the same tunnel to resurface in the wetlands. He saw the Guardian chasing the two Hylians, seeing the smaller one's leg bleeding as the taller looked to be having a panic attack. "Sister, please watch over me," He prayed before leaping out of the water and striking a spear into the Guardian's eye.