A/N: Just to let you all know, some details from last chapter are NOT absolute. Not all is as it seems. There's a bit of a mystery in this short tale, so think long and hard before you conclude anything. Enjoy, and remember to review!
Colin poked a stick in the dirt, listening vaguely to the grumbling of Talo and Malo.
"Man, this is so boring…why did we come here anyway?" Talo gestured to the creek they were sitting by, at the dock behind Jaggle and Pergie's house. He and Malo sat on the edge of the dock with their feet swimming in the water while Colin stood a few feet away.
"Because, Mum told us if we catch some fish, then she'll shorten our punishment," Malo told him. "But I can't find our fishing poles anywhere in the house. Hey Colin, let us use yours."
Colin shook his head. "Sorry, mine's broken. Why don't you ask to borrow Link's?"
"No way." Talo averted his gaze to the ground, his voice low. "I don't think he likes playing with us anymore."
"I'll bet he'd say yes if you asked nicely," said Colin. "Or, I guess I could ask him for you."
Talo shrugged and crossed his arms. "Fine, whatever. Just hurry up, 'cause the sun's going down."
Taking that as a yes, Colin turned away and headed up the village road, toward Link's house. The sky was a pumpkin orange and the clouds were tinged pink as twilight was descending upon Ordon. Mostly everyone had retreated to their homes, likely to eat their supper. Except for Talo and Malo by the creek, Colin was the only one outside.
Link's tree house soon came into view. Epona stood grazing quietly in the little alcove beside the tree, her long white mane rustled by the breeze.
"Hello, girl," Colin said pleasantly, and stroked the mare on her velvety soft muzzle. Epona nickered in greeting, and then returned to her dinner.
"Hey Link! You up there?" called Colin.
He waited for a few seconds, and he was somewhat surprised when he heard no answer. "Link?" he tried again. Still nothing. He climbed up the short ladder that led him to the door, and he knocked several times. "Link?" There still was no reply.
He must not be home. Maybe, I could just go in and take it. I'm sure he won't mind, thought Colin, bemused. Though he was of shorter height than Talo, he was able to reach the doorknob and let himself inside the house.
This place looks different. The house was in a bit of disarray. A wooden trunk was capsized in the corner, its varied contents spilling out on the floor, a few wall hangings from before had gone missing, including Link's bow. Colin studied the room for a moment, wondering where Link would keep his fishing rod, until his eyes rested on something peculiar.
It was some kind of square box, covered with a tattered old quilt. It lay against the left wall on the table, and it looked very conspicuous compared to the rest of Link's possessions. His curiosity getting the better of him, Colin approached the object and gently lifted up the quilt. What he saw inside astounded him.
It was a gemstone, black and glossy like obsidian, and lined along the edges by an orange, glowing fluid. Stranger still, it levitated on its own inside of a glass box, with no strings attached to it.
"Wow," Colin breathed. "Link's never shown us this before." He immediately felt guilty about looking at something hidden like this, but he was so captivated by this magical gem that he ignored his misgivings. With as much care as possible, he laid his hands on the outside of the glass and lifted it up gingerly, then placed it on the ground. A small wave of heat radiated from the freely floating object.
I could get in big trouble. Somehow Colin ignored his conscience and reached out with his index finger to touch the gemstone.
Out of nowhere, something grasped his wrist and wrenched it away, followed by an angry shout, "Colin!" The frightened boy turned to face Link, who pulled him farther across the room, his face twisted with fury. His voice was hoarse and growling. "Don't touch it! Why are you in here?! Do you realize what would have happened if you touched that gem? Do you?!"
"No! I'm sorry!" Colin was scared by Link's severe reaction.
He winced as Link's grip on his wrist tightened. "Don't you know anything?! You must never handle a magical object you're not familiar with! Never!"
Link let go of his wrist and pushed him away; he then turned sharply and threw the tattered old quilt over the levitating gemstone, hiding it from view. "Never touch it, never look at it, I don't even what you thinking about it, understand?" His eyes were wide, alive, and gleaming with angry turmoil. He was an entirely different person.
"Yes!" Colin was hysterical. He stumbled as he made a beeline for the door, but he hesitated as Link abruptly spoke again, in a calmer voice.
"Colin, wait."
Trembling, the boy met eye contact with Link, whose face had softened.
Link was full of sorrow. "I apologize…I reacted badly," he said. "I don't know what came over me."
Colin did not speak. He looked down at the floor and nodded meekly. After an awkward few seconds, he said, "What is that thing, anyway?"
He waited patiently for him to respond. Link's gaze rested on the quilt smothering the gemstone underneath. He closed his eyes, heaving a deep sigh. Suddenly, he looked and sounded far older than he was.
"Was it something from your journey?" Colin daringly asked. "What would've happened if I had touched it?"
"Colin, I don't think it would be best to answer your questions. Some things… some things are better left unsaid. Do you know what I'm saying?"
"…Yes," Colin lied.
Link nodded resolutely. "Very well, then." His eyes drifted over the vibrating gemstone beneath the quilt. "If you don't mind, Colin, I think I could use some solitude."
"Sure." The boy did not need to be told twice. He pulled open the door and left Link inside to stew in his own troubles.
Colin took the walk back to the creek slowly, pondering everything that had just occurred. Why does Link want to keep secrets from us? He's never been this way, ever. I wonder if he's even talked to my dad. And the look in his eyes when he grabbed me…I've never seen him that angry before. Not even yesterday in the woods. When he approached Talo and Malo by the dock, he was instantly drawn from his thoughts.
Malo glanced in his direction and said, "Where's the fishing pole?"
Groaning, Colin said. "Oh. I forgot to get it."
"Then what were you doing, watching the flowers grow? Hurry up, it's practically dark!"
"Okay, okay," said Colin, grumpy. He turned away and retreated along the same path he walked before. Though now, for the first time in his life, he was nervous about seeing Link again. I won't sneak in there this time. If he doesn't answer, then I'm out of there.
The sun had just dipped behind the hills, and the sky was a dark indigo as night fell. It was a little scary being outside in the dark at times, but the chirping of birds and the sounds of the waterwheel were comforting and familiar. When Colin climbed the ladder to the tree house yet one more time, he pushed the door open calmly. "Sorry to bother you again, Link, but I wanted to ask-"
He stopped. Link was not there, or anywhere else in the house. Instead, he saw a silhouette of a huge, furred creature shadowed along the wall. He found the caster of the shadow with its head inside the turned over trunk and growling incessantly.
It was a wolf, the biggest and most powerful of canines Colin had ever seen, and it stood almost as tall as he did on four stilt-like legs. Its fur was dark gray, nearly black, though its belly and part of its face were covered in lighter gray. It had enormous paws, bearing long but worn claws that scratched noisily against the wood floor while it moved. The front of its face, though hard to see from where his nose was pushed inside the trunk, bore a strange tribal marking of some kind, framing his eyes almost like a mask.
Colin froze, terrified. Did Link just leave his house with the door open? he thought wildly. He made no movement, thus the wolf for now took no notice of his presence. It nosed through the trunk, making hungry noises in his throat, possibly rooting for whatever food it could find. All of a sudden, its ears craned upward and the wolf looked up.
The beast scrutinized him for a moment, bright eyes reflecting some kind of inhuman intelligence. As Colin looked the wolf in the eye, a strange feeling overwhelmed him, as if it were reading his mind somehow…
He jumped back, startled, as the wolf bared its teeth and snarled. Long, ivory white fangs glistened from its jaws, and a deep, fuming growl resonated in his chest. The wolf abandoned the trunk and sidestepped anxiously, the fur bristling on the back of its neck. As hard as Colin tried not to make any sudden moves, he faltered over the left table's leg and careened to the floor in a heap.
The wolf gave was sounded like a gurgling roar and lunged toward him, mouth open and defensive. The boy scrambled to his feet and leapt out the door, and as an afterthought braced it shut behind him. He yelped as the door lurched with the force of the beast hitting it, barking and growling violently. "Grrrr, Ruff! Grrrr…ruff ruff!"
"Help!" Colin cried, his fear taking over, and completely forgetting the ladder dove to the ground. He landed painfully on his knees, but he jumped back up and ran as fast as he could toward Ordon.
His instinct carried him back to his house, to his father Rusl and his mother Uli, both of whom were inside the home.
Colin burst through the front door and found the safety of his mother's arms. He kept crying out, "Monster! There's a monster out there!"
His mother's kind, gentle face looked over him, fraught with worry. "Are you alright?"
Colin nodded his head rapidly. "Yeah, but I saw a… a … huge wolf! It tried to eat me!"
His father Rusl had already taken up his scabbard and strapped it to his chest. "Where is it, son?"
"Inside Link's house!"
"Inside? How did it get in there? Where's Link?"
Colin shook his head, holding his mother tighter. "I don't know, he was there before, I guess he must have gone somewhere. Dad, hurry! It might be loose by now!"
Without any more questions, Rusl hurriedly strode out of the house, drawing his sword and taking his lit lantern along in order to see where he was going.
Within a few agonizing minutes, Rusl had rallied with him the mayor of Ordon, Bo, Fado, and Jaggle, the father of Malo and Talo. The four men all had with them weapons and the occasional shield for protection, and with a single lantern to guide them their trudged up to the tree house. The door had not opened, which meant the beast still lurked inside.
"Where did you say Link was again?" Mayor Bo consulted Rusl. "I figured he of all people would be interested in driving away this thing."
"I don't know where he went," said Rusl, shaking his head wearily. "We can't wait any longer for him though."
Heavy browed Jaggle raised his voice. "Let's gut this foul creature; I'll betcha he was the one who went after my kids!"
"Don't get excited, Jaggle," warned Rusl. "We can avoid bloodshed if we can just scare this thing off."
The normally kind Fado was irate and intolerant. "I'm as sure as anythin' that it's the wolf that's been killing the goats," he said. "We can't be havin' a predator lurkin' in these here parts. It's too dangerous."
Rusl shushed the other men as they stood in front of Link's tree house. Sounds could be heard inside that consisted of yelps, whines, and snarls, along with the faint pounding of paws against the floor. "I'm going in there," he hissed. "I'll lure him outside and you guys come next." Jaggle tightened his grip on his blunted axe as affirmative.
After the quick trip up the ladder, Rusl opened the door, which he noticed was now hanging off of its hinge. He held his sword up as he saw the beast leering at him.
The wolf crouched, his instincts telling him to fear this two-legged predator. He snarled again, giving a threat to this intruder on his territory. The human standing before him advanced, shouting some words in a language he did not understand, and waving a large heavy blade at him. The wolf retreated a step, his tail brushing against the wall. He was cornered. An animal often died when cornered.
Angry and fearful, the wolf attacked the two-legged intruder; he launched himself toward the human's foot and bit down, tearing at the boot leather. A cry came form the human and he retaliated; he twisted around and gave the wolf a swift kick to his body.
Disorientated and in pain, the wolf stumbled, ramming hard against the legs of the table. His teeth bore even more and his ears flattened against his head, showing the human the meanest and most menacing expression he could muster. He was distressed to find that the human showed no fear; he charged at him with his sword held high over his head.
The wolf bounded out of the way just in time, then seeing the open door, fled to the only place left to run.
He was surprised and confused as he fell a good way down from the tree, landing awkwardly on his side with a loud "oomph." The wolf shook his head, dazed, then bounded to its feet in a panic.
At least three other humans were circling him, their fists and weapons raised in an uproar, shouting and cursing at him again in that foreign tongue. The wolf bristled, trying to look bigger than them, but he was failing and becoming intimidated by the humans.
One leapt toward him and swung his weapon. The wolf had nearly dodged it when it ripped a gash in his right hind leg, spilling his blood. He staggered, mouth open and panting, releasing a yelp of pain.
He panicked and flew from the mob, tail between his legs, hind leg lifted just off the ground as he loped away into the forest. He whined as his injury throbbed with every stride, but pure adrenalin kept him going as he surged through the trees without pause for breath. The brash voices of the humans seemed to follow him for a moment; an arrow or two whizzed over his head but missed, and the glow of the lantern they carried lit up his tracks. He never looked back, never slowed, and never hesitated; he continued his manic flight until the wolf was finally alone.
I also wanted to give a shoutout to Bytemite, who recently gave me some valuable knowledge about wolves that helped me out quite a bit. Thank ya!