HOLY CRAP!

First off: Thank you guys for being so patient with me, it means so stinking much. I know that this chapter isn't as long as I said it'd be, but it would've too long otherwise.

Second: Thanks to these people for the follow, it's greatly appreciated and I hope you enjoy the story!

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Please, please, please review. I don't know if you guys are enjoying the chapters or not, and it makes me unsure whether or not I'm going about it the right way.

Many thanks,

WolvesoftheBlueMist

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"If you are not willing to learn, no one can help you. If you are determined to learn, no one can stop you."

-Anonymous

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CHAPTER TEN: Water Under the Bridge (pt. 1)

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"That strange boy is a murderer and he must be killed NOW!"

"E-Excuse me?" Zelda blinked. The woman turned and looked at her with distain.

"No offence," she sneered, addressing the head council member, Ulric. "But I didn't know that children would be attending this important meeting."

"Oh give it a rest Margaret," said man retorted. "Zelda has to learn the ropes sometime. And, we all know that you had a fancy thing for Jahim."

After flushing red in embarrassment, or was it anger? Margaret hissed, "and that demon spawn killed him!"

"He was trying to protect his wolf," Zelda muttered as she took a seat as far as possible from the hostile lady.

"Even more proof that this child doesn't belong in this meeting!" Margaret screeched to the entire room, taking full advantage of the King's late coming. "She believes that that mangy over grown mutt, is a WOLF!"

"It might be possible," whispered Falbard, trying to avoid the seething council member. It didn't work.

"Possible? POSSIBLE?! All of you know as well as I do that wolves are EXTINCT! They disappeared a very long time ago!"

"Just because they disappeared, doesn't mean they're extinct!" Zelda hotly retorted. She honestly couldn't even remember why they were arguing about the species of the black canine, but the princess had a gut feeling that it was important. To what? She didn't know.

"Let me get this straight fair princess. You're trying to defend that wretched boy for MURDER!?" Margaret spat.

"There's a law that says if it's out of self-defense then it's okay," Falbard weakly put out.

"I refuse to believe this!" screamed the crazed Margaret. "I want justice for Jahim!"

"As I seem to recall," the deep voice of the king purred. "Jahim got exactly the justice he deserved. Out of everyone here, you should know the most of what that particular soldier was caught up in." Margaret gulped. "I seem to remember hearing Captain Roran talking about how one of his men was entangled in criminal activity, but was given a second chance instead of that crime's punishment, which, as you would know, is death."

Slowly, the pale-faced woman sat down. Zelda couldn't help smirking. Her father always knew his subjects and what to say in order to win an argument. Now they could finally get this meeting going. Or at least, change it to be a bit more civil.

XXX

"So, uh. Crap."

Cassius stared at Link. He was off duty at the moment, but instead of getting a bit of shut eye after the hectic past few days, he was sitting in the castle library with some simple grammar books, trying to teach the blond seventeen-year-old how to read and speak. THAT, by the way, is extremely difficult.

I need Ayleth he groaned inwardly. However, the swordswoman had made herself scarce as of late. It was not like her, but at least she was more focused on her duties. That was a major plus.

Yet, at that moment, Cassius wished the teen was there with him, blurting out stupid, but normally helpful ideas.

Speak of the demon and he, er, she shall appear.

Ayleth walked in next to Tristan, both smiling, probably at something she said.

Cassius was slightly surprised to see Zelda's twin there instead of at the meeting. Ignoring that fact, he waved to get their attention. When they both spotted him and Link, they froze.

Ayleth bit her lip and looked as if she wanted to run to the nearest exit, while Tristan narrowed his eyes and seemed to focus on Link. Cassius rolled his eyes. "Come here guys, I need your help with something."

Ayleth frowned as she hesitantly stepped closer. "With what?"

"Teaching him to speak," Tristan answered for Cassius, who blinked in surprise on how he knew that.

"Oh. Well, I just remembered, I've got some stuff to do. See you guys later!" Ayleth turned and tried to leave, but Cassius reached out and snagged her hand.

"What's wrong?" he asked, but received no reply.

Tristan watched them for a short moment, before taking a seat across from Link. The black wolf, who was resting quietly on a sunny patch of the window seat, lifted her head and sniffed the air. She got up and positioned herself so the she could focus on the stranger.

"You two go talk," Tristan continued, glancing at the canine. "I'll see if I can break this kid's thick skull."

"He's older than you and me," Ayleth muttered.

Cassius almost missed the smile that tugged at the corners of Tristan's mouth as he walked away, Ayleth following dejectedly. He DID, however, miss the teen murmur: "You'd be surprised."

XXX

"Why is he just sitting there?" Sky asked Eclipse. She didn't answer, in fact, she seemed to be talking to someone else. "Eclipse?"

Still not answering, his pup mate gave a snort and stood up. "I'm going to talk to Epona. He wants to speak with you alone."

"How?"

"How am I supposed to make it outside? I'm not incompetent."

"No, how'd you speak with-"

Ignoring him, Eclipse shoved her shoulder against the movable tree and pushed it open. Carefully she slipped out.

Sky stared after her. He had two major questions dancing in head his head. Scratch that. Make it three. One: how in the forest's name was he supposed to communicate with the other person. Two: How was Eclipse able to talk with him. And three: what on earth had transpired with his sister and the Golden Alpha.

He bet that if anyone had been watching his story from an outside point of view, then they'd be, without a doubt, completely confused.

He was too. As soon as Lunar Eclipse had told him who she'd met, she shut her mouth and refused to say anymore; instead she continued about how it wasn't safe yet. How they were still in danger.

He'd never knew her to be so bipolar. One second an angry, over-protective little sister, then next a bubbly happy puppy, and a second later, a philosophical old coot. It was annoying.

"You think too much."

Sky jerked upright and whipped his around in alarm. Where had that come from? It certainly wasn't Epona or Eclipse, their conscience had a different aura. This one was felt open and free, like the wind. Like and eagle.

"And you hardly pay attention to surroundings," the conscience sniffed. After another short moment of Sky glancing around the voice reached his head again. "Oh please. You honestly don't know who I am? Great goddesses you're so dull- I'M RIGHT ACROSS FROM YOU!"

Sky flinched at the irritated tone, and looked to where the voice had directed. He was met with a rich amber gaze poking out from brilliant crimson locks.

It was the new person who had replaced the other creature. Whom I still must name, Sky absently thought. Shaking himself, he proceeded to question the stranger.

"So, how is it that you can reach out to me? What do you want and why? When can I leave? What did you say to my si- friend? Are you actually a-"

"For Hylia's sake, you're more annoying than a Remlit!"

Sky blinked. "A what?"

"A Remlit. You know, irritating feline's that somehow can fly by flapping their ears. Terrible anatomy if you ask me. Don't pull my win- er- leg. I know you've seen one."

"Uh, I haven't."

An amber eye narrowed. "Huh. Can't believe I forgot that you weren't him."

"Weren't who?"

The stranger waved his paw. "Forget about it. It's obviously too early to have the important conversation- so ask your questions away. It's painfully clear that you're about explode with them."

Sky want to delve deeper into what the red-head had said, but sensing that he wouldn't get an answer, or at least a straight one, he decided to ask away.

"Who are you?"

"My human name is Tristan. I'm Zelda's brother. Well I'm not actually her brother, but that's what the people think. Her father took me in a long time ago; never told anyone. Guess he figured that's what was best. That's also why we don't look anything alike."

Sky frowned. "Zelda? Your human name?"

Tristan heaved a sigh. "Zelda is that pretty blonde haired girl you've been following ever since that 'incident'. She's the princess. As for 'human name', I found it necessary to say that because you obviously don't respond to your human name, which gives me the implication that you have another one. What is it by the way?"

Although the guy was cooperating, Sky was hesitant to just say his pack name. But he knew that it might open doors to more answers, so he complied. "My name's Lone Sky, or Sky for short. What's my human name, as you call it?"

"Link."

"That's weird."

"I didn't pick it."

"So how'd they come up with it?" asked Sky. "My human name."

"They didn't," answered Tristan. "Your parents did."

"Running Wind and Great Storm knew about humans?!" Sky was astonished. Mother and Father never told me about THAT!

"No, Sky, your REAL parents. Not your…other ones," Tristan corrected.

Sky hesitated before continuing. "My human parents."

"Yup."

"…Oh."

The other male cocked his head. "You took that remarkably well," he noted.

Sky shrugged. He didn't look like the wolves from the pack. It was kinda obvious he wasn't one, which meant his parents weren't either. Focusing back to the topic at hand, Sky continued the conversation.

"What's a princess?"

Tristan paused and seemed to think of the best way of explaining it. "A sort of leader."

"So an Alpha?" asked Sky.

"Like and Alpha's kid. I mean pup," confirmed Tristan.

As Sky continued to ask about the way of humans, and what certain words meant, he began to forget about the questions that concerned him, Epona and Eclipse. As the time wore on, Tristan began to teach Sky how his human name sounded out loud, so that he could know if someone was trying to get his attention.

When at last Sky had gotten a hold of responding to his real name out loud, the two went out in search of Night Eyes and the other man, whose names Sky learned were Ayleth and Cassius.

Sky was overjoyed to hear Night Eyes real name. Tristan had told him that the girl hadn't known about the incident that had happened in the courtyard a few days ago, and Sky was eager to make things up to Ayleth for ignoring her all that while.

He was oblivious to the fact that he'd forgotten to ask Tristan how they could communicate with each other, when Sky was unable to do it with the other humans whenever he tried.

XXX

Ayleth followed Cassius away from the library and through the castle halls and out to the garden. They stopped near Link's wolf and horse, who lifted their heads to watch them.

"Ok. SPILL," demanded Cassius. He had a slight frown on his face.

"Spill what?" asked Ayleth. She didn't want to have the conversation she knew was coming.

"Don't play dumb, Ayleth," growled Cassius. "Lately you've focusing on you duties- WHICH-" he added quickly when the bluenette opened her mouth- "I would normally be fine with, but you've also been avoiding Zelda, Link, and I. Especially Link. How come? Did he do something wrong?"

"He's fine," Ayleth muttered bitterly.

"Uh-huh." Sarcasm dripped from his voice.

Ayleth couldn't answer. She was thinking once again, remembering a few days ago, in the courtyard…

}~{

The massive black wolf and horse were frantically nudging Link, their concern emanating. Ayleth felt sick to her stomach. She couldn't stop replaying what she'd just witnessed seconds before: Link ripping the soldier's flesh with a rock…

Snapping her eyes back to the person of her thoughts as he groaned, Ayleth met his eyes.

They were filled with emotion: Pain, sadness, hurt, but most of all: BETRAYAL. His haunted eyes seared themselves into Ayleth's mind.

And the worst thing was? They were right. She'd betrayed him. She'd stood by and done nothing when it was painfully obvious that the horse and wolf meant something to Link. She'd just stood by and watched. She became a traitor.

Traitor. She was a traitor.

Traitor. Traitor. Traitor…

}~{

"…th? …leth? AYLETH!"

Struggling out of her daze, Ayleth focused on Cassius.

"Wha-what?" she asked.

"Are you ok?"

She nodded. "Yeah, I'm fine."

Cassius shook his head. "No, you're not. What's eating you?"

"Do you promise not to tell anyone without my permission?"

He hesitated, but eventually nodded.

"I'm a traitor, Cassius," Ayleth whispered. "I didn't do anything, but he needed my help and I didn't-"

"Hold up," he said. "Is this about a few days ago?"

Ayleth bit her lip and nodded. "He was so hurt Cassius," she choked. "When he woke up, he ignored me; He's mad at me and it's all my fault."

"Oh please. Don't give yourself that much credit."

Ayleth gaped at him. "WHAT?"

Cassius shrugged. "It's not your fault. He probably just misunderstood, and you were dumb enough to try to shoulder the blame. Trust me, if Link is anything like me, then he'll forget about it eventually or he'll forgive you. There's no reason to get so worked up; Water under the bridge, right?"

"I guess."

Cassius narrowed his eyes playfully. "RIGHT?" he said as he poked Ayleth in the side.

"Okay, okay!" she snorted, trying not to laugh as he prodded her ticklish spot. "Water under the bridge."

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Many thanks,

WolvesoftheBlueMist