Alright, I'm thinking the first chapter may have been a bit too long, so I'll try to cut it down. That's easier for me anyway. Enjoy chapter 2 and again please review!

Chapter 2: Stranger's in the Night

Patches of pale light flitted over Links body who leaned close to Epona as she thundered down the forest trail. The chilling autumn air whistled in his ears, drowning out the peaceful forest sounds that normally soothed him to sleep. Tonight, however, there would be no sleep for him, as the events of that day continued to cascade through his mind.

I know I've seen those green eyes before, but where?

He squinted against the bitter wind that whipped against his face, a tear streaming down his cheek from his watering eyes. Epona jumped a log and Link winced upon landing. His entire body still ached from his fight against that black knight. There are few people who could have even known about Saria's being a sage.

After Zelda turned back time for the final time, no one remembered the chain of events that Ganondorf had set in motion to take over Hyrule, his reign, or even the fact that he ever existed except for the Sages who had been awakened, Zelda and myself. When I left three years ago, Saria was using her powers to protect the Kokori children while the Deku Tree Sprout grew. Without that medallion the entire Kokori village is completely vulnerable to attack and who knows what that man did to Saria to get it from her!

A feral growl rumbled from deep within his chest as he considered the thought of anyone laying a hand on Saria. He spurred Epona on with a shout.

…………………………….

Two hours had had gone by and Link sat hunched over Epona's neck. She walked along at a light canter, after all, despite her immense natural strength she did have her limits, and couldn't sprint all night. However, it was Link who felt more exhausted. Judging by the position of the moon as he looked up through a hole in the canopy, he guessed it was around 2 o'clock in the morning. He had been traveling for 5 hours without break now, and the toll of fighting all day was beginning to wear on him.

"We can't stop now Epona," he mumbled more for his own comfort than the powerful horse beneath him. "We've had much worse than this right old girl?" He patted her neck as she cheerfully whinnied in response.

He stared at the ground for a bit as he contemplated his course of action for when he reached Hyrule.

Who knows what the situation is in Kokari village. Of course I'll have to go there first, but I'll need to be cautious, it could be a trap. If everything is normal though, then I can ask the children to see if they know what happened.

Of course they were aware of Saria's powers as the sage of the forest. She couldn't have hidden that from them even if she'd wanted to considering their innate ability to sense magical aura's.

As Link considered this, his eyes leisurely followed a series of small depressions in the soft dirt beside the trail.

A deer must have been walking this way no less than 15 minutes ago.

A soft wind blew through Links hair and he thought about the days when he was just a boy, playing in the Kokari forest, the sounds of crickets chirping and birds singing in the green afternoon haze. He used to love sitting by the stream and listening to the sounds of nearby animals as they walked by. He'd always been good at identifying what they were, probably due to his big Hylian ears.

That's odd, I don't hear anything moving around here.

He looked around the forest, it was remarkably still and there was no sign of life anywhere. He furrowed his brow in thought: this is really strange, there are always some predators out hunting at this time, I don't even hear the crickets.

Link looked down at the tracks again and noticed that they veered off into the woods about ten feet ahead.

Wait a second, those are human tracks.

His blue eyes widened as he suddenly sat up fully alert. Epona let out a tremendous neigh as she reared, throwing the stunned Link to the ground just as an arrow went whistling through the air where he had been.

Smart girl, she saved my life. He clenched his teeth as he struggled to stand. I just wish she could have done it more gently though.

Link had no more chances to think as two more arrows sang through the air. He dove to the side, pulling out his own bow, knocked an arrow and aimed into the jet-black darkness.

This makes no, sense, how can it be this dark, the moon is so bright tonight. It's only that section of the woods.

"Stop hiding and show yourself you coward!" he shouted into the inky darkness. "I'm getting tired of these surprises." He mumbled to himself.

Ducking behind a tree, Link dodged another barrage of arrows.

If I can't see him from here, then I'll have to go pay him a visit.

Link slung his bow back over his shoulder as he ran full speed at the tree opposite him. He ran up its trunk and leapt back to the tree he'd been hiding behind. Grabbing onto a limb he swung himself up and with a flip, landed on a branch. Running and jumping from limb to limb, Link evaded various arrow assaults and vaulted into the pitch black.

He pressed his body to the trunk of a tree, waiting for his eyes to adjust.

This isn't right, I can't see a thing. He slowly slunk down hoping his mystery attacker couldn't see him in the dark. The boy's eyes scanned the blackness frantically. He heard an arrow whistle by his ear and sink into the bark beside his head with a loud thunk. Guess he can see me.

With little idea of his surroundings, Link leapt toward what he hoped was another branch. He grasped desperately in the air only to be caught in the stomach by his intended target. Link couldn't even shout if he wanted to due to the loss of air in his lungs from the impact. He had no choice but to let himself slide from the branch to the ground, as he was a blatant target, hanging from that prone position.

Wind howled in his ears as he fell. He had begun to wonder just how high he had been when he stuck the ground and pain pierced through the darkness as he turned his ankle on a root. He groand as he fell to the ground, hearing another arrow soar just over him.

This is getting bad and I don't have time for this!

Putting his fingers to his mouth, Link let out a piercing whistle and he heard Epona charging through the darkness. Jumping up with the last of his strength, Link grabbed her neck and clung to her with his whole body, trusting her to guide them through the darkness.

Just as the blackness began to recede, Link felt something bite deep into his upper left arm. He screamed out in pain as he reached around and snapped the arrow's shaft at the base of the wound.

As Link desperately hung on to Epona, he closed his eyes against the pains that racked his body.

Someone really doesn't want me to get home. He clutched his fists, and that's all the more reason for me to get there.

…………………………..

Alright, there's chapter 2, hope you liked it. Sorry I'm beating up Link so much, he can take it though. Please review and if you do then who knows maybe I'll keep writing. Oh yea, and I promise that not every chapter will have this much action, I'll be toning it down a bit, but not too much, because how can you not love a good fight?