Then, also, for the third time that day, Saria realized, she couldn't go home, not now, who was to say if ever? Link may have visited once or twice before he got too old for the Kokkiri to recognize him but he didn't return. Of course that couldn't happen with her, she was a Kokkiri herself, she never 'aged'. It wasn't like all her friends were going to magically forget about her or suddenly not recognize her.

But could she go back? Really? When she was in Kokkiri Forest, all she had felt was strife deep in her chest. Now, she was here, in this vast endless overly bright outer world, the new thing that was eating at her was uncertainty, it didn't dominate her, but it was there, whispering her to go back regardless of Link or the emotion she didn't understand that were all linked (no pun intended) right at him.

But there was also the need, the need to leave, the need to find him, the need to be with him. Saria wondered, had Link felt this need too? Before he had left on Zelda's quest? An indefinable need to see the world? For a time, the Deku Tree had been her god, the forest, her universe, all of that was changing, so fast, too fast. At times it had made Saria's head spin with confusion. What was happening to her?

The forest child needed something to take her mind off things. She looked to her one companion, and her sole guide in this world.

"Navi." Saria breathed. "Tell me about these dead that appear after dark, do they just fade into existence like that . . . that Poe monster, or something else?"

The fairy's light blinked for a few seconds before answering. "They claw themselves out of the ground. No, more than that, it would be as if the ground was a liquid less resistant than water and they simply rise from it as the tide retreats."

Saria blinked. "Tide?"

Navi gave a very frustrated sigh. "That does it! First chance we're getting, I'm having Link find some book for you to read! There's too much stuff that you do know that people are going to laugh at you for or think your brain is two sizes too small. When someone talks about something you don't know about, keep your mouth until you're in private. As for what the tide is, don't ask me how, because I don't know, but the moon's presence can cause the water to rise or fall somewhat if there's enough of it, and by that I mean more you've ever seen in your life time Saria."

"You mean, like the 'ocean' he talked about when he told me about his adventure against the demon disguised as mask called Majora."

"Exactly . . . personally I was glade Link opened up about that after he came back, he kinda withdrew into himself after he returned from the futur- I mean from his adventure looking for the spirit stones." Navi patted herself on the back for the quick save, Saria was as ignorant as everyone (save Link, Zelda, and herself Navi) that Link had been sent back before Ganondorf returned with the Triforce Artifact of Power after defeating him seven years in the future. For a while, Link had been terrified that he was going to get sent back AGAIN when he defeated Ganondorf Dragmire once more for the first time, but thank all three Goddess' that was not what happened. Life and time had continued on this instance around and Link had been there to help rebuild the world.

Saria looked at the sprite in realization. "Wait a minute! Link got sucked into that mad quest looking for you! How did you find out about it?!"

The fairy was silent for a minute. At long last she confessed. "I was there, always, from a distance, I'll understand if you'll hate me. But I could be with him. I just couldn't work as his partner feeling the way I did, not when so many others already felt the same, I didn't need to add to his dilemma."

Saria was confused. "What dilemma?"

Navi's voice was meek and even for her, small. "Saria, I'm begging you, please, don't ask me to go into what I mean further. You'll find out soon enough what I mean, and for now you have enough racing in your skull. Just remember how you feel for Link, and go from there."

Saria opened her mouth, but then closed it. If Navi's light could indeed convey emotions, none were so clear as regret and shame.

The sage of forest decided to go back the topic of the walking dead, an easily much less painful topic. "Do you think we have enough time? To get to the rocky hill-"

"Lon Lon Ranch."

"Lon Lon Ranch before sunset?"

"You should, as long as you don't break your leg or something. After the sun goes down you'll have a few seconds before they rise up, I think it takes them a second or two for them to get their bones together. After that, they won't get tired, they won't stop, not until they rip the flesh from you and you're bones show as clearly as theirs. They fall apart into helpless pieces if they enter running water. But considering where we're going isn't exactly near the river, that won't help you much today, but it doesn't hurt for you to know."

"Thank you."

"No problem."

Her goal, Lon Lon Ranch, no matter how many steps she took, it didn't seem to get any closer. Maybe she was going mad. It would certainly explain a lot. No sane Kokkiri would have done half the things she had done already. Link had, but as it turned out he was no Kokkiri, what did that say about her?

She shook it off. She had to remember her goal. Find Link. She had already sacrificed up too much, gone too far to turn back now. And yet she kept looking back down the road she had traveled, was this how Link felt? Leaving everything you knew and cared about to seek something greater?

She had to make it a point to ask him. The sun was already half way en route to its goal of the horizon. Lon Lon Ranch still so far away. She looked behind, and saw Kokkiri forest, so impossibility far behind.

"I can't take it anymore." She said, before Navi had a chance to ask what she meant, the forest child broke into a mad race towards her goal, shutting out the universe around her, only the not so beaten path and her pumping legs remained, it was all Navi could do to keep up.

Flames, comments, corrections, suggestion on what should happen next (I'm dry here), reactions good or bad, rants, insults, compliments, and occasional constructive criticism all welcome.

Oh yea, please, don't just say 'MORE!' those reviews just leave me kinda empty.