A/N: I know that last chapter went a little off topic, but I thought it was important to stress the characteristic changes Link has gone through since he returned, along with the fact that in the eyes of the young kids, he's no longer one of their peers to take advantage of. Anyway, on with the story.

Link turned his head when he heard a knock at his door. "Come in," he said, returning to the pot of water that was now steaming over the fire.

"Hey, Link." Ilia appeared at the doorway and let herself in. "How did today go with the boys?"

With a forced laugh, Link replied, "Don't ask." He left the pot to visit with his best friend while he waited for the water to boil. "Talo and Malo went meandering around when I told them to wait, and...well, you can figure out the rest."

"I see," Ilia was solemn. "I was wondering because I haven't seen either one of them anywhere all day."

"That's probably because their parents have punished them until the end of the age." He bent down and lifted the lid of a trunk he used to store food. While he talked he rummaged through in search of what he was going to make dinner with.

"What are you making, anyway?" asked Ilia.

"Soup," said Link, though he was hard to hear from inside the trunk. "It's an old kind that's my favorite. Don't have all the ingredients though...unfortunately, there aren't any Reekfish in our ponds."

"Reekfish?" Ilia tried not to laugh. "Never heard of those before."

"Yeah, they can only be found swimming in Zora's Domain," he paused as Ilia cocked her head curiously at him. "...From what I've heard. They smell terrible, but they taste like heaven. I have the other ingredients for this; pumpkin, goat cheese, and I'm just looking for some meat to replace the fish...where is it?"

He had torn apart the entire contents of his trunk with growing frustration. "I could have sworn there was some venison in here somewhere."

"Didn't you talk about lost meat the other day?" Ilia queried. "You couldn't find what you had caught the night before."

"That's right," Link said. "Goddesses, who knows where it is? Well, if I can't find it here, then I may have to go hunting again."

"This late? Are you sure?"

"No problem, I'll just go find something small and easy, like a rabbit." Link picked up his bow that hung from the wall, along with his quiver of arrows.

"Well, in that case, I think I'll be headed home," Ilia got up to leave. "I would rather not be here to witness you bringing in a dead, bloody animal."

"Good night, then," said Link.

"Good night."

Just as Ilia closed the door behind her, Link let the quiver he carried in one hand slowly slide to the ground. He furtively hung his bow back on the wall like before, and he approached the cloth covered glass case that had just eluded his friend's awareness. Hunting as a wolf will certainly be easier, he thought. Lifting up the glass, he extended a bare finger and gently touched the gemstone surface.

The transformation took place instantly as before, only his legs were bent and molded to the shape of a wolf's hind legs, his clothes receded and were replaced by gray fur, and his face elongated into a long snout. His perspective of the world changed; the colors disappeared and became countless shades of black, gray, and white. A plethora of scents came to his attention. The husky, fresh smell of pine that erected his house, a brambish smell that came from the firewood buring in the stove, and even the dusty, wool-like smell that came from Epona, who was tethered outside. And, there was another recognizable smell, one that resembled topsoil, warm fur, and the trees of the forest. A herd of deer draw near...

The wolf padded across the room to the door, which he found had been closed. He scratched at the wood repeatedly, whining as a dog might when he wished to be let outside, until he was able to push it open and slip outside into the night.

It was eerily dark in the forest this late at night, but the wolf knew his way. He followed the smell of deer, which had made its place on the forest floor, the trunks of trees, and inside thickets. There was a single deer, he believed, that was stained with blood. His acute eyes depicted tiny red drops of it in a trail in the thicket. A buck, because of the musky scent, and it was injured. Prey...

The small herd was settled in a clearing, drinking from the spirit's spring. The injured buck limped along on three wobbly legs, bleating with discomfort. He lifted his right hind hoof, the one that was bleeding, and licked it quietly. His companions, two does and a young fawn, had begun nesting in the bushes for the night.

The wolf crept stealthily into the thicket from behind, having escaped notice from the herd. His paws made no sound as they stepped through leaves and twigs, and even his heavy panting ceased for the moment. From what his senses could gather, the does were strong and healthy, though one was worn from the labor of birthing its fawn the day before. Finally he discovered the buck, who loped back to his companions to lie down. The smell of blood was overwhelming to the wolf; he was aroused.

Within seconds, the deer were aware of the wolf's presence. They leapt from their places and cantered away, the mother doe nudging her fawn along with haste. The buck struggled after them, but his leg was giving way and he stumbled.

Now! The wolf lauched himself into the air from his haunches and onto the deer's back, snarling with crazed hunger. His teeth sunk into the neck, crushing its vertebrae beneath his jaws. The buck had collapsed, braying with agony, and was kicking out with his hooves while rolling on the ground. The wolf held fast, refusing to release his deadly embrace. After a moment of intense struggling, the deer was still, and dead.

He had planned on bringing the carcass back to the house, but as the wolf stood up again and looked down at the deer, the smell of fresh meat pungent to his sensitive nose, he decided it was a waste of time. He plunged into the carcass, ripping at the skin and revealing the inner organs. His nose was becoming redder and redder with warm blood as he consumed the flesh inside.

The whole disgusting ordeal lasted for some time, until the wolf had eaten his fill. After he left the carcass he did not go back to the village, but he lumbered deeper into the forest, allowing the darkness to conceal him as he prowled. His footsteps were muted by the fluffy grass he decided to walk through, and none but the insects, the birds, and the occasional squirrel knew he was there.

Suddenly feeling lonely, the wolf sat down, then threw up his head and howled. His hollow, mournful voice resonated beyond the trees, calling to every creature of the wood. As the howl faded away, he pricked his ears and listened for a reply.

None came.

Until, from a very distant place, the wolf heard a soft whine call to him from the south. This sound was high pitched and wailing, and cut through the breeze like a blade. It stopped as soon as it came, and all was quiet again.

The wolf inhaled deeply, trying to smell this new presence. It was too far away, too faint to make out details, but minor rational thought that still transpired in his head told him that the voice's owner was not a canine member. Feeling hungry again, the wolf stood on all fours and trotted away, back to where he felled the deer, and went for seconds.

Lupus velut luna...

Link opened his eyes, groaning as he felt hard wood beneath him. For some reason, he was lying on the floor of his house, spread-eagled on his stomach, and his neck craned painfully to the side. He was vaguely aware that he was human, the biggest clue being the color that filled his vision. Did I pass out on the floor? he wondered. Something long and smooth was in his hand, and he looked to see what it was. He suddenly gasped, mouth open with surprised horror.

It was a bone, yellowed by dirt and stained with flesh, though it seemed to have been licked clean. It was thick, like a femur, and long strips were splintered at the ends. Indented teeth marks were evident in the bone, knawed on ferociously by sharp fangs.

He threw the bone across the room, shaking his hand as if clearing away the filth of gore. Where did that come from?! Link thought incredulously. He rose to his feet, feeling nauseous, then his eyes fell to the floor. Red paw prints were visible in the wood, leading from the front door to the stove, to the table, in a tight circle in a random place, and finally coming to rest in front of the glass case holding the gemstone, where Link stood at this moment.

Strange, I can't remember coming home. He tried recalling the events of the night before, but the last memory he obtained was spotting the herd of deer. The rest was fuzzy, blurry, like a dream. In some kind of trance, he supposed, he must have eventually come home to sleep.

He went to a basin lying on the floor some feet away. It was already filled with water, so he sunk his hands inside to clean off the blood. He looked down at his tunic and realized that it too was torn and stained. He decided he would have to change clothes before going anywhere today.

A booming knock sounded at his door. "Hey, Link, y'there?" Fado's voice was muffled.

"Hold on!" Link scrambled to the trapdoor of his basement and flung himself down there, fearing he would shock someone with his dreadful appearance. "What is it?"

"Meet me up at the ranch, Link," said Fado. "And bring Epona too. I need to show y'all something." It was quiet once again.

Link sighed; he had forgotten his job at the ranch since yesterday, which was his day off. Perhaps a long day of working would take his mind off of his worries.

Epona trotted merrily up the trail toward the ranch, guided by her rider, Link. Together they overtook the hill and entered the spacious corral, where a massive herd of Ordon goats grazed on the sweet pasture grass. A few skittish individuals scampered away as horse and rider approached, causing the earth to vibrate with the force of their quick little hoofbeats. Fado stood in the middle of the congregated animals and waved them over.

"Link, glad y'all could come," he said as Link came near. "There's been some commotions goin' on lately, an' I think you'd better come see."

"What happened?" Link dismounted and looped Epona's reins in his hands.

"Last night, a few goats went missin', and they turned up this mornin'." He suddenly looked grave. "Dead. They was hunted by somethin', some wolf or lion must've gotten 'em."

Link's heart dropped to his stomach. His fingers shook violently as a cold feeling of dread overtook him. No...I couldn't have...could I? With all his effort, he kept his voice the same. "Are you sure?"

Fado nodded grimly. "Positive. I heard some calls last night, too. I just wish I had had the sense to go look fer the source when I had the chance... it's a cryin' shame. These were some of our finest rams, too. I promise ya, Link, I'm gonna keep a closer watch on these fellas tonight. If any skulkin' predators show their faces, I'll tan their hides an' mount 'em on the barn!" He chuckled, looking slightly more cheerful.

"Yeah..." Link was feeling sick to his stomach. "Fado, you think you could leave me the day off again? I...don't feel very well."

"Well sure, Link," Fado sounded concerned. "Y'all okay?"

Link nodded unconvincingly. "Possibly. Thanks a lot, I'll make it up to you." He took Epona and led her by hand back toward the corral gate. From now until the next day, he vowed to take rest and figure out exactly had happened the night before.