Chapter 2
The pirate ship's anchors have dropped. A few burly men swim to shore and argue with the postman. I climb down the lookout tower and hesitantly walk over. I've chatted with the postman a few times as he delivered mail, but I've never talked to a pirate. I've only seen their ships from a distance; Outset was too poor to be of any interest to pirates.
The burly men are shouting. Clamors of a Miss Tetra and Danger and Helmaroc King burble from their mouth along with phlegm and expectoration. Suddenly, one of the men storm off towards the forest. I rush over automatically. People aren't supposed to go to the Fairy Forest.
"Wait! The forest is forbidden! Monsters live in there." The men take notice of me. The one heading towards the forest scoffs.
"Little Hylian girls and their monsters. I'll be fine, you brat. I'm a man." He storms off, and I notice that he's flexing his arms as he goes. I have no idea what a Hylian is, but I have a feeling that it's not something to be proud of.
The burly man stalks toward the mountain, and I get the feeling that he's not the brightest of fellows. He trips and falls quite a few times before making it up the summit path. I decide to follow him.
The mailman watches me with aquiline eyes as I go. He doesn't say anything, but merely watches.
I've only ever been up the path a few times; children are only supposed to go with an adult. Link has taken me to try to find the mountain fairy once; we couldn't find her. Link also took me up to find a lost pig; we did find it. The last time I was up here, Link and I broke a plank off of the rickety wooden bridge. Whoops. This is my first time climbing alone, though, so I take precaution sidestepping the steep slope. As I approach the cave entrance of the mountain, I see Link with the big burly pirate and a petite blond girl. The girl sort of looks like me, but tanner and tougher.
I shout a greeting and begin to walk across the bridge. I'm extra careful to keep my feet in front of me; the bridge sways dangerously even in the slightest breeze. Suddenly, Link's smiles turns to horror, something tugs at my shoulders, and the ground is being ripped from under me. Am I falling… up? A cackle erupts from above me. I don't understand what's going on!
A demonic screech comes from above my head, and suddenly I understand. The bird came back. I am trapped in its claws.
"BROTHER!" I scream. I try to wriggle, but the steel claws only grip tighter, cutting into my limbs. I see the flicker of green, and I know that my big brother will keep me safe. I reach out a hand, and I see the pirate girl catch him as he carelessly falls from the cliff face. Link will never be able to reach me from here.
I stop struggling and watch in horror as my island, my only home, fades from view, growing smaller and smaller, until it morphs into the mist. My only company is a soft flapping of wings and the swinging of the beast's claws as I fly away.
Funny, how I always dreamed of flying with the gulls. I bought massive amounts of Hyoi Pears from Beetle, to experience the feeling of flight. But it never felt like this. Flying like a gull never seared my heart with fear. My eyes start to sting, and little drops of ocean flow over my cheeks and into the waves below.
