So, hi there! Blazey here! How's life? Well, it's late , so let's get this thing started.

DISCLAIMER: I no own Warriors. Or LoZ. Why? 'Cuz I'm not Miyamoto or Erin Hunter, that's why!

WARNING: THIS CHAPTER IS NOT IN LINK'S POINT OF VIEW!

Legends of the Warriors: Winds of Change

Chapter 3

Away From Home, Away From Heart

(Joan)

Even after the feather materialiazed behind his ear, bound there by his promise, he stood with his paws mere mouse-lengths from the edge of the cliff, eyes staring forward at where he'd last seen the bird. He didn't move at all. If the ocean breeze wasn't pulling at his fur, and his occasional blink, one would suspect he was a statue.

"Link," I started, sitting beside him. I sat as close to him as possible, so my short fur would brush against his. He turned to look at me, and it took all of my mental fortitude not to suck in my breath. His emerald-green eyes, usually bright and sparkling like the gem itself, were dull with sorrow and rage, and glistened with tears.

I haven't seen him like this since his mother Farore died.

"It'll be okay," I reassured him, trying my best to keep my voice steady and even, though I felt tears prick the corners of my own eyes. Aryll may not be related to me, but she was so close to me, she oughta be. But I had to be strong, for Link. "You'll get her back. I know you will." His eyes brightened, and a smile, though slightly sad, slowly spread across his face. I felt myself smile, and looking right at him, I felt something flutter inside my chest.

"Thanks, Joan," He murmured.

"Let's go report this - and that she-cat - to Tiren," I suggested.

"Yeah."

We raced down the hill and toward Orca, who was already escorting the she-cat to camp. I was careful to keep my fur against Link's. When Farore had died, he never wanted to leave Aryll's, Maria's, and my side. But then again, that was two moons ago, when he was four moons old. Now he's six moons old, and an apprentice. I'm not sure if he would act the same as last time.

As we walked into camp, Orca turned to me. "Can you to guard this one while I go get Tiren?"

"I don't need to be watched!" The she-cat snapped. "I'm not a kit!"

I decided to ignore her. "Sure, not a problem." Orca nodded in gratitude and sped off, leaving the she-cat to glare at me. "Got a problem?" I asked, annoyed. "Or do you just have to glare at everyone you meet?"

"I don't glare at everyone!"

"Then shuddup..." Link muttered softly. I could barely hear it, and the she-cat didn't seem to hear it. I snickered quietly. Link wasn't usually mean like that, but he gets snappy when he's depressed.

"What'd you say, green-kit? I couldn't hear you," The she-cat hissed.

"You know what?" Link growled, returning the she-cat's glare and multiplying its intensity. "You should get your hearing checked. It's obviously not up to par. And while you're at it, maybe you can cut the immature insults. After all, I thought you said you weren't a kit."

Holy StarClan, he insulted both her hearing and her maturity! Her pride's gonna be hurting for days!

And from the indignified look on her face, I can guess she had a lot of pride. Pride that Link just burned. Man, remind me to avoid his bad side when he's depressed. I don't want my pride hurt like that. But I have to admit, the results of Link's depression can be kinda funny.

"You little-!" The she-cat couldn't bring herself to finish her sentence. And I was finding it increasingly difficult to stifle my laughter. Good thing Orca came first.

"You three!" He shouted. "Come with me, the pirates are requesting we return their captain to them!"

"Captain?" I asked, casting a surprised glance at the she-cat beside me. She couldn't have been more than six moons old, same age as Link.

"Yeah, got a problem with that?" She snapped.

"No, just surprised is all," I responded calmly. I let my voice betray a bit of my newfound respect. I hated pirates, honestly. They were always attacking us for our land so they could turn it into a fortress. And not just one group either, but a whole lot of them. But for an apprentice to become leader of a pirates? That's impressive. "So, what's your name?"

The she-cat obviously heard the respectful tone, because her eyes shone with surprise. "T-Tetra," She replied. "You?"

"My name is Joan. My friend here's Link." Link's ear twitched in response. As we stood to follow Orca, Link decided to speak up.

"Sorry for insulting you..." He murmured. "...Just depressed is all..."

"That was your sister wasn't it?" She asked.

"Yeah..."

"Well, if it makes you feel any better, that was amazing," Tetra said. "I've never seen a cat move so fast, or jump that high."

"I'm BreezeClan," Link replied, his signature smirk crossing his face. "It's in the blood." I smirked, and ran ahead, just to show her what Link meant. Link easily caught up to me, and could've easily surpassed me if he wanted to, but he didn't. He'd always been an exceptional runner and jumper, even for BreezeClan. Tetra was fox-lengths behind, though I could tell she was trying her hardest.

I suddenly skidded to a stop at the beach, eyes widening with surprise. I felt Link freeze beside me There was a line of warriors, led by Tiren, who stood a few fox-lengths from a group of tomcats, all of them poised to attack. Taking a wild guess, but I think those are the pirates.

A bit of sarcasm there, if you couldn't tell.

"They're here!" Sue-Belle shouted. All attention turned to the three of us.

"Miss Tetra!" The largest pirate, a brown tom with green paws and black ear-tips, cried. The pirates whooped and cheered their captain's return as Tiren approached us.

"Link, I heard about Aryll. Don't worry, I'm sure you'll get her back."

"Who will come with me?" My friend asked.

"Joan, if she wants. That's all." My eyes widened. Just us? After that bird? It had tossed Link aside with a single flick! He was just an apprentice! I'd go too, of course, but did that honestly make a big difference? I don't think so! Why aren't any warriors coming with us? "I know you're shocked, but you're the ones to go. Link, don't start thinking I can't see that feather is stuck to you. You swore to bring Aryll back, and so I'll let you. I'll announce this to the warriors here."

We nodded in understanding. I looked at Link, and I could see anticipation in his eyes. He was ready. It looked as if he'd been born ready. I felt that flutter in my chest again.

Tiren approached the line of warriors. The line had Leon, Reeah, Sue-Belle, Mesa, Starling, Qwiru, and Orca. "Warriors of BreezeClan!" Tiren roared, quickly gaiing the attention of all of his warriors. "Orca has told me that the bird that flew over our island has kitnapped Aryll." Tiren let the warriors gasp before continuing. "However, we aren't going to sit idly and do nothing. We're going to get Aryll back, and I've already decided who should go. Link and Joan."

"But they're only apprentices!" Leon protested. Leon...I hate him. Who wouldn't? He and his friends Onyx, Starling, and Reeah do nothing but tease Link, Aryll and I. It's no surprise he's against this. He wants to go save Aryll and be a hero. Well, too bad, sucker!

"But they were Aryll's closest, right beside Maria. They have the dertermination to fight to get her back. That's what we need in the end." Despite Tiren's words, I knew he had another reason. A reason he wasn't going to reveal. Leon could sense it as well.

"But Tiren-!"

"ENOUGH!" He snapped. "The word of the Clan Leader is law. I say that these two are ready to tackle this challenge, and that's the end of it!"

"Tiren of BreezeClan..." The crisp voice of Quill said from behind us.

"Ahh, Quill," Tiren greeted. "Nice to see you. How's the prey running in FlameClan?"

"Not fast enough," Quill joked. "I swear, even the kits can catch them." The two laughed.

"So, what brings you to BreezeClan, Quill?"

"I came to give you a message from Emberstar, but I believe I can give you information on that bird as well."

Tiren's copper eyes sparked with interest. "Continue."

"RainClan has reported sightings of that bird in the Forsaken Fortress, stealing she-cats between three and nine moons with blue eyes." Through the corner of my eye, I saw Link unsheath his claws and dig them into the sandy ground.

"The Forsaken Fortress?" Tetra asked, breaking the pirates' celebration. Her ocean-blue eyes were wide with shock, and a bit of guilt. Oh, I get it. She blames herself for Aryll's kitnapping. "Well, what are we waiting for? Link, Joan, come with us. Boys, get on the ship! We're going to the Forsaken Fortress!"

"But Miss Tetra, they're kits!" The large brown tom argued.

"Yeah!" Another pirate, a light blue one with a white streak down his back and a white muzzle, agreed.

"Well, you Mako, are six moons old. Zuko, Niko and I are six moons old. The youngest one is six moons old. So basically, if he's a kit, you're a kit!" Tetra spat. "And last time I checked, none of us are kits!"

I wasn't going to let this guy - Mako, was it? - run his mouth and call me a kit without saying anything. "I'm nine moons old!" I added. "I'm three moons older than you! I've been training every day for the past three moons of my life, so don't come to me and call me kit!" I hissed. Mako visibly flinched away. Coward...and he has the audacity to call me a kit...Even Aryll could look me in the eye when I start yelling at her, and she's an actual kit!

"Just get onboard!" Tetra commanded. The pirates scrambled to do her bidding.

"Link!" Our attention snapped to Maria, who was approaching with a ring of blue fabric clenched in her teeth.

"Grandma?" Link murmured, his eyes mirroring the sadness that was in Maria's. She had been Link's parental figure ever since Farore died. And no one knew where Link's father was. I was five moons old when he disappeared, along with Link's uncle. I tried not to remember those times. They were the darkest BreezeClan's ever seen.

"Here," Maria murmured, pulling the strap over Link's head. It was meant to be big, and hung loosely around his neck. It thick around the back of his neck, and as it went around, it grew thinner and thinner, so it was a mere point over Link's chest. A small pouch hung from the point. "This was Farore's. She wanted me to give this to you when you became an apprentice. She said it could hold any amount of items without using up space at all."

"T-thanks..." Link murmured.

"Don't thank me, thank your mother."

"Alright...I'll make you proud. You and Mother."

"You already have, Link, you already have."

I suddenly dashed off, running up to my father Qwiru and rubbing my head against his chest. "Goodbye, Father. Take care of Mother, Meadow and Siret while I'm gone," I whispered, thinking of my younger siblings. They were twins.

"You'll do fine out there, Joan," He replied, licking my forehead. "Remember everything Tiren taught you, and you and Link teach that bird a lesson it'll never forget!"

"I will," I promised.

"Hey, you guys coming or what?" Tetra called.

"We'll be there in a second!" Link replied.

"Then why aren't you here?" I laughed at Tetra's remark. That she-cat had a sense of humor. I always appreciate a sense of humor.

"Coming!" I shouted. Link and I dashed up the plank and onboard the ship.

The large brown tom - I think Tetra called him Gonzo - reared up and slammed his paws into a large gong. The crash resounded and battered my ears. The warriors of BreezeClan gathered on the shores of the island, shouting their 'goodbyes' and 'good lucks'. Link and I - standing on what the pirates call the 'prow' - could only watch, feeling pride and sadness swell up inside of us. We, a couple of apprentices, have been chosen by Tiren to save Aryll, but we were leaving the only place we'd ever known. It continued for a few moments as Outset Island began to shrink into the horizon.

"Wow..." Tetra murmured, breaking the silence between the three of us. "That was the most sentimentality I've ever seen in my life..."

"Oh well," Link snapped. "It's too late to turn back. Not like I want to, anyways." He absently ducked his head down and rubbed the area where the stalk of the feather connected to the skin beneath his short fur. "I'm going to find Aryll, and no one's gonna stop me."

I felt that flutter in my chest again.

So, what you think? An entire chapter in another cat's point of view. Are you beginning to understand the importance of Joan's character?

No?

Well, too bad!

So, you know how this goes, what do you think, the whole nine yards. It's like 11:30 at night.

Next time: The Forsaken Fortress!

Wait, didn't I say that last time?