HEY WOLF PACK!
I know it's been longer than normal, but I had a REALLY good idea for the story and I was busy plotting out how I'm going to incorporate it into the story.
ANYWAYS…
THANKS SO MUCH FOR THE REVIEWS AND ATTENTION!
ROFLCOPTER- HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY! I'm glad I unknowingly posted on your birthday :) Also don't feel bad about your cliffhanger comment, it wasn't offensive at all! In fact I was happy to get your review and I look forward to reading more of them!
Esparia- I hope your heart gets fixed! ;) The book you talked about sounds interesting, I'll look into it!
Lokitty2- Any review is a review no matter the length. I'm just thankful for you reading my story!
Arison Nakaru- Thanks for the follow! I hope to please you with the story!
However another thanks goes out to all who read the story so far!
Don't hesitate to review!
Many thanks,
WolvesoftheBlueMist
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"Ever has it been that love knows not its own depth until the hour of separation."
-Kahlil Gibran
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CHAPTER 3: Alone and Lost
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Zelda shot out of bed the next morning and promptly did a happy dance.
"Yes, Yes, YES!" she cheered, only slightly embarrassed at her childish attitude. She swept back her curtains and flung open the doors to her balcony and ran out onto it.
The balcony ran the entire length of that wall. Everyone who had a room along that wing had access to their own section of the veranda, and each residents section was separated by a white marbled railing, enabling people to talk to one another. However, only one other person aside from Zelda had a room along that wall with access to the terrace.
He was currently outside when Zelda bounded out.
"Hello Cassius," she greeted, to which the man turned and smiled.
Cassius was young, only about 22, but he was exceptionally skilled with the sword. He was the youngest of the four Captains of the castle guard, and despite this great honor, he was pretty laid back. Cassius had a strong build, one which a lot of other soldiers envied. He had wispy black hair that wasn't cropped short, but wasn't too long. Deep green eyes gazed at the world, analyzing it. In all honesty, Zelda would be lying if she said she didn't have a crush on him.
Cassius' father had died before the knight was born, and his mother, had died giving birth. All alone, the boy was raised by his aunt and uncle, but they had left on a trip with their son to the castle when he was five, and were killed. (Sound familiar?) He was then taken in by a kind family that his parents knew. Cassius never told Zelda about his past, but she had her suspicions that he'd lost family.
"Zelda?" he asked, his voice pulling her gently out of her daze. Blushing she looked at him. Generally, soldiers had to call her 'Princess' or 'Young Highness", but Zelda told as many people as possible to just call her by her name. Only a handful of them actually listened, and Cassius was one of them.
"Sorry!" she squeaked, and mentally scolded herself for losing her composure.
Laughing, Cassius shook his head. "You're going out of the grounds today right?"
"Yeah, Father's taking me since it's my sixteenth birthday." She walked up to the dividing rail and leaned against it. Cassius turned to her completely and stepped away from the back railing, bringing him closer to Zelda, who could feel her ears burning.
"What about you; what are you doing today Cassius?"
He blinked at her. "Didn't you hear?" he asked. "I'm supposed to get a troop of ten soldiers and accompany you."
Delight filled Zelda as she realized that her crush would be coming along, only to freeze at the other half of his statement.
"You mean, others are coming as well?"
"Yeah." He frowned. "Is something wrong, are you ok?"
Sighing Zelda nodded. She had hoped to have a quiet and peaceful ride, not one with a bunch of soldiers tromping around. I suppose it can't be that bad. She thought. Some of the guards do deserve a break, even if 'break' means leaving the castle on another job. Turning back to a concerned Cassius, Zelda spoke. "Make sure you bring those who have worked hard and diligently; those whom you believe deserve a break from these constricting walls."
He nodded and smiled. "Well, we'd better hurry up and get ready. Otherwise, your father might leave you behind." Glancing down he added: "You also probably don't want to be going around in that."
Zelda looked down, and immediately her face flushed a bright red. She had forgotten to get dressed and was still in her nightgown. Yelping in embarrassment, she turned and fled back to her room to change, leaving a chuckling Cassius behind.
XXX
Lunar Eclipse's sides heaved and sorrow had become her heart's blanket. She was stumbling forward, following the river in the direction her companions had disappeared. She'd been traveling all night, and as the morning light had stretched across the sky, Eclipse finally dropped in sheer exhaustion.
Whimpering, she thought of how just yesterday she'd been happy, but now… Eclipse's thoughts were interrupted as something rustled in the tall grass. Even though she was downwind of whatever it was, the black wolf couldn't catch a scent.
Without warning another wolf stepped out. It wasn't normal however, Eclipse knew that much. It was big, VERY big; even to her. It glowed a brilliant gold, brighter than the rising sun. Beautiful crimson eyes gazed at Eclipse, pinning her. It gave a faint snarl, and leapt.
XXX
Cassius watched, amused, as Zelda endlessly chatted Ayleth's ears off.
Ayleth was the daughter of Lord Barda, whose family was another resident of the castle. Ayleth was almost a year older than Zelda, her seventeenth birthday was in about 3 months. She was the only other girl around Zelda's age that lived in the castle, and so the two became friends almost immediately.
Ayleth was around six when her father started to teach her the sword and bow. She was quite good, though Cassius knew there had been better in the past. However, her eyesight was almost unmatchable and gave her an advantage.
She had natural dark blue hair (kinda like Lucina's hair from Fire Emblem), which was pulled back into a ponytail. Wispy side bangs fell loose, a few strands lay across her eyes (not rendering them hidden, however). Royal sapphire eyes watched the world with a gentleness that could easily harden into hard rocks if angered. She had her sword strapped across her back alongside her bow and quiver, unlike most, who kept their sword at their side.
Almost the opposite Zelda, who was regal and composed, Ayleth was a bit of a wild child. She spent hours with animals instead of training, and sometimes brought critters into the castle. She'd then get a good scolding after the creature was caught and released back where it had come from, always unharmed.
Cassius chuckled to himself, remembering the time she'd brought a raccoon home. And a squirrel. And a hawk. AND, to the maids' terror, a coyote, although it was a bit mad at her for disturbing it sleep. How'd she even manage that?
Ayleth had come along on the ride one: because Cassius had caught her trying to go into Hyrule Field instead of train (again) and two: Zelda had begged him to not send her back, and to instead allow the bluenette to come with them.
So now, the swordswoman was on her horse, Suntaria, listening to Zelda rant on about all the fun she'd have.
"Where would you like to go first: Upper or lower Hyrule Field?" King Gaepora asked.
Taking a break from talking to Ayleth, who visibly relaxed, Zelda cocked her head and thought for a moment. "Well, let's start with the upper Field and make our way down to the lower part. That way we can stop by the river and let the horses have a drink. We could probably sit and relax there, maybe even go for a swim since it's so close to the south entrance of Castle Town."
Ayleth rolled her eyes at her friend. "What you suggest makes sense, but we'd have to stop a bit farther downstream if you want to swim. The current is too strong in some places. You could easily get swept away."
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Epona felt despair. Utter and complete despair. She'd woken up a little past sunrise on the bank of the river. Struggling to her hooves, the filly frantically looked around for Lone Sky, but he was nowhere in sight.
Limping to the riverside, for her wounded flank was aching, Epona gazed at her reflection. A pang of sadness touched her when she saw the large feather of a Golden Eagle woven into her mane. Sky had tied it to her hair when she was younger.
"There!" Sky exclaimed finishing the braid around the feather. "Now if I ever lose you, I can find you, and not mistake another horse for you."
"Sky, there's no way you'll lose me; I'm never going to leave your side!"
"I know. But, it gives me comfort."
Epona nickered gently in memory.
"Oh Sky, I'm here, I'm lost. Can you find me? I've got the feather, I'm wearing it. You'll know who I am…Please? Find me?"
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Ayleth smiled as she watched Zelda play in the river. It was late in the afternoon, though not sundown and the group had finally arrived at a safe place for the princess to swim. It was close to the town walls, though hidden by trees. King Gaepora and the ten soldiers were upstream, a little bit away from the river, but still in earshot should anything go wrong. They were taking a much needed break, from what Ayleth could understand, the soldiers had their work going in overdrive.
Turning her attention back to her friend, Ayleth watched in amusement as Zelda tried to get Banner into the water. "C'mon boy! It's just water! It'll help you cool off…Look I know you don't like water normally, but it'll be fun!"
"He won't listen you know."
Ayleth turned and looked at Cassius. He was given the job to keep watch over the girls, and quite frankly Ayleth was offended. I'm perfectly capable of guarding Zelda and myself. Just to prove her point, the swordswoman had refused to get off her black and white pinto, and appointed herself as guard over the other two, much to Cassius' annoyance.
Oh how she loved to get on his nerves.
"Why don't you get in then?" Zelda asked the man.
"What if I don't want to?"
"Why? HA! Are you scared?"
"As if!"
"Oh really?!"
"Yes!"
"Prove it!" Zelda challenged, and splashed him.
Obviously the two forgot about Ayleth as they got into a rather childish water fight. Isn't Cassius like, twenty-two? Ayleth thought. They're acting like love…struck…pupp…ies. Oh. Grinning in mischief, the female knight raised her voice so the two could hear her.
"For goodness sakes you two, just get married already!"
Ayleth got a better reaction than what she had hoped for. Both of the Hylians immediately stopped splashing and their faces turned bright red. Zelda's jaw dropped open and she spluttered in attempt to compose herself. Cassius gaped at his soldier, his eyes wide open. "I-I-I-," he stammered.
Laughing, Ayleth turned Suntaria downstream and began to ride off.
"Never mind!" she called over her shoulder. "I'll let you two finish your lovers quarrel."
If anyone had said that it was impossible for the two to get redder, they would've been proved wrong.
XXX
Still chuckling, Ayleth allowed her pinto stallion to choose his pace as they went farther downstream. Looking up at the sky, Ayleth's wide smile slowly faded as she noticed a rather large gathering of vultures circling an area quite close, though the view of what they were circling was obstructed by plants. Frowning the girl nudged Suntaria to go a little faster. Normally, Ayleth would've let the vultures be, but if there was a rotting corpse too close to the water, it might not be good for the aquatic animals.
Finally brushing past the plants, she froze. She had expected a deer or boar to be lying dead, but instead there was a boy. He was lying half in the water with his back to her and lay still and unmoving.
Covering her mouth in horror, Ayleth slipped off Suntaria and scrambled to the person's side. As she got closer, she noticed deep gash marks across his back, with one close to his neck. Dried blood was crusted all over; obviously it had come from his injuries. Reaching out hesitantly, Ayleth touched his bare shoulder and jerked back in surprise. He was still warm! Swiftly she turned him over and quickly felt bile rise in her throat. He had a cut above his left eye. On his right, just below his collarbone, an arrow protruded from his body. A thin line of blood was dried to his skin, but even that was not the worst of it. No, it was his arm, Goddesses his arm!
It was burned, badly. The entire forearm looked as though someone had purposefully taken a hot iron and drew painful patterns across it. The flesh along the deep burns were a sickly purple, and the other patches of skin were smoking slightly.
Ayleth didn't realize she was crying until she began to scream for help.
XXX
Zelda stared embarrassed at Cassius. Ayleth had just disappeared into the foliage after casting one last remark over her shoulder.
The black haired Captain was looking at her as well, his face still red.
Zelda wasn't sure why, but he looked utterly ridiculous, and adorable, all at the same time. Unable to help herself, she burst out laughing. After a moments pause, he joined her. They laughed and laughed and it was only after a few minutes that they were able to breathe.
"Oh Hylia," Zelda chortled. "Ayleth knows I'm going to kill her later."
"Better get in line," Cassius agreed. "I'm going put her through the worst drills imaginable."
"I'll use my magic to give her nightmares for the rest of the year."
Smiling Zelda flopped onto the grass. Cassius walked over and sat next to her. They watched the clouds go by for a little bit.
Breaking the silence Cassius spoke. "About what she said though, do you-"
He was interrupted as a scream ripped the air. The two shot to their feet as cries rang out.
"ZELDA! CASSIUS! COME QUICK! PLEASE! OH GODDESSES NO!"
Ignoring Cassius warnings, Zelda shot forward, following the sound of Ayleth's panicked shrieks. Racing through the tall plants she burst into a slight clearing by the river. Ayleth was sobbing uncontrollably as she knelt next to something, no someone.
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"I'm slowly losing my mind. I'm pathetic. Alone. Lost. Only breathing, not living. Mentally broken."
-Being Quotes