Disclaimer: I do not own the Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, the Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask, or characters of these games including Link, the Kokiri, keatons, wolfos, Hyrule, Termina, et cetera. This story has been written for the fun of it, not for the sake of money.
Identities and personas of the characters such as Trey, Shadow, White Foot, Twiggy, Blaze, et cetera are all figments of my imagination.

Author's Notes: Ahem. Greetings once again. As you might have noticed, I have been gone for the past, let's see, ten months or so? Yes, that sounds accurate. Well, I'm here to apologize again for the major delay. As I state so many times before, writing is just a side-hobby of mine, one that I cannot always do whenever I wish. I have priorites that come before pleasure, so I have to take care of such matters before going back to the recreational stuff. The past ten months have been especially hectic, as you can clearly see from the lack of updates in the story.

But moving on, I'm going to really try to squeeze in as much writing as I can manage, and hopefully another elongated pause like this will never occur again. In this chapter, I just want to make it clear that Malon's cat I added in a while ago—Lady—is fictional as well, but I will not be doing anything with her in later chapters, unlike what I had planned before. She is merely here now to evoke some sort of concern (from Malon), and to remind Link of times long ago.

-oOoOo-

Wolfos in Sheep's Clothing
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Chapter Ten: Long Lost but Now Found

-oOoOo-

Night grew onwards that day when Trey ran from the woods; its arrival steady and silent. Link stood by the entrance to the Lost Woods, watching the sky with quivering blue eyes. Hues of purples and deep navy blues streaked the darkening sky, colouring the land underneath it in tints of deep violets. The Kokiri boy turned his attention back to the log though, fiddling with his hands nervously as he did so. The rush and spontaneous panic that Hazel had shown yesterday had worried the ten-year-old, and he shifted nervously that previous night in his sleep, frazzled by the ignorance of the keaton's whereabouts lingering, like an annoying insect, in his mind. The expression of horror written across Hazel's features was also pictured vividly in his thoughts, which made Link concerned even more. Why did his friend drag him away from the forest so readily? Those wolfos…Were they connected to it? Did Hazel want him to be safe, or was there some other reason…?

"Hazel?" Link called out into the tunnel for the umpteenth time in the past hour or two. He had been off playing with one of his newer Kokiri friends, Heidi, when his keen ears picked up a scrambling, rustling noise coming from the Lost Woods. Hopeful, he instantly thought of the keaton bounding out with his tails wagging, as if to tell him that everything was okay and fine. When he went to investigate though, there was not a trace that a keaton, or any animal, had been there. Still, he called for his friend, his stomach twisting in perplexing knots of anxiety. "Hazel? Hazel! Hazel!" He wanted to go into the Lost Woods so badly at the moment, but Saria had advised him to stay away from the woods at night, as ferocious nocturnal creatures often liked to come out from their dens.

Link's face fell upsettingly, his shoulders drooped a little, and although he felt like there was no hope, he kept on calling out into the tunnel. However, as he was going to yell his friend's name again, a soft, gentle hand came down on one of his shoulders. Link turned his head, slightly startled at being awakened from his dazed state. Saria's large, compassionate, emerald eyes stared at her friend with overflowing sympathy. "Link, it's time to come home," She started, gently, "It's getting dark, and we all need to go to bed soon. I'm sure Hazel will be alright."

Link darted his azure pupils from Saria to the tunnel, then back at her. "I'm just…worried," He mumbled out honestly, "Worried that something bad has happened to him."

Saria wanted to say something, but anything her mind came up with didn't sound right in the context of Link's anxious words. Finally, she smiled faintly with a, "We'll look for him in the morning. I promise."

Link couldn't help but smile slightly at Saria's reassuring words. "Okay." He said simply, watching as his green-haired friend turned slowly around, ready to leave for home. Link took one last long, thoughtful look at the tunnel, then heaving a heavy sigh, followed Saria back to the Village. He fidgeted absently with his hands again, thinking ahead of the next morning and how he and Saria would find Hazel in the woods, safe and unharmed.

There was a slight flaw in his plan that came to him that very next morning, however:

Her name was Navi.

-oOoOo-

The harsh, metallic clang from the closing wrought iron gates echoed throughout the ranch, and Malon, who stood behind the barred gates, gasped in horror as Ingo did this.

With a serpent-like sneer spreading on his thin lips, Ingo crossed his arms and narrowed his beady eyes at a teenaged boy clothed in green. He chuckled sarcastically under his breath for a moment, his eyes never leaving the blonde boy. "Heh. So, you think you can beat me, eh? Well, we'll just see about that. Looks like you'll have to spend the rest of your days here—trapped!" He laughed, delighted in his actions and the sinister thoughts of confining this boy in the corral for the rest of his life.

Malon dashed to the gate and clutched the bars desperately, as if she were trying to break into the corral. "No! Ingo, no! How can you? How can you do such a terrible thing! Let him go!" She begged, hands grasping at the bars tighter.

Ingo paid no heed to her as he watched the young man before him shrug off his pack and fling it to the side of the barn. His blue eyes were narrowed too, locking in with Ingo's pupils. A small, sly smirk grew on his features as he hopped on a huge mare, one that he had raced Ingo with, easily, as if he had been riding horses for years. He murmured something under his breath and the horse trotted backwards slowly. Ingo watched with a growing sense of dread at this; that kid looked serious, and by the way he was handling the horse, he seemed to know what he was doing. Brown leather boots kicked at the chestnut sides of the mare, and away the two sped forwards, the horse rapidly gaining speed as it went forth.

The red-haired girl behind the gate almost covered her eyes in sheer anxiety and fear as the rider and his horse galloped to the tall gates. However, she looked on with huge azure eyes, which widened in complete and utter amazement as the duo landed perfectly on the other side of the fence, as if this stunt were nothing new. Ingo had a similar expression of his own; his eyes were round and wild in disbelief and if it were possible, his jaw would have dropped to the ground. His hands shook violently as he clasped them together in rage, and his face turned tomato red as he screamed in pure fury.

"How is this possible?" He cried, spitting his words out in wholesome anger. "That—that isn't possible! It can't be true! It's—It's—"

"—A miracle!" exclaimed an overjoyed Malon. She ran from the gate to her saviour, who sat almost proudly on his new horse. Ingo snapped open the gates and stormed up to where the three of them stood, growling deep in his throat, and his thick, caterpillar eyebrows arched and furrowed.

However, when he saw the competent expressions of bravery and confidence on the teens' faces, Ingo backed down, now feeling outnumbered. He was not the harsh bully that many had seen when he was alone with another person, while in the presence of a group of people. With this boy, who had seemingly come out of nowhere, and his sharp ingenuity, Ingo could not help but be frightened all the more; even Malon's aurora had suddenly become more intimidating when in the company of this mysterious young man.

"So, whaddya want then?" Spat Ingo, who still tried to keep his menacing front against the allied group before him. "As a prize fer winnin', I mean. An' I'm not talkin' 'bout th' horse; keep th' damn animal, see if I care."

The rider paused for a moment, pondering over what he should request. Finally, he smiled and looked down at the corrupted ranch hand with a simple declaration: "The Lon Lon Ranch." Malon couldn't help but utter a small gasp of excitement at this statement as she watched Ingo with wary eyes. "You will hand over the Lon Lon Ranch to the rightful owner—Malon."

Ingo grew instantly angry at this demand, his stubborn, greedy attitude challenging the young man in Lincoln green. The ranch was given to him by Lord Ganondorf many years back, when the throne of Hyrule was seized from Princess Zelda; Ingo wasn't entirely willing to give up his valuable piece of land because some boy told him to. He was about to shoot back a retort when his eyes drifted to the sword strapped across the teen's back, something that he had not spotted before, and unconsciously touched his throat while gulping. If the boy on Epona was an expert at horse-riding, his expertise with a sword like that must be unmatched. The moustached man grunted softly in defeat after still trying—and failing—to put up the feeling of superiority and strength. "Fine." He growled deeply, "She can take back th' farm; it wasn't that great anyway."

The red-haired girl immediately took this opportunity and ordered Ingo to get to work, like he had done before in the past. She turned to the boy, who was dismounting his mare, when Ingo had grudgingly made his way to the barn, sulking and muttering something about how Lord Ganondorf would have his hide. "Link," She murmured, looking up at his smiling face. "I know 'thank you' isn't sufficient for all the help you've given me, but it is all I have to offer you." She smiled softly. "It's been so long…I missed you."

Link flashed a lopsided, sheepish grin at his old friend. "Seven years, to be exact." He chuckled nervously, knowing that his absence had been far too long.

Malon's eyes widened. "Seven years? Has it really been that long?" Link's embarrassed smile grew, and he shifted awkwardly, averting his eyes away from Malon briefly. "What—What on earth were you doing for seven years?"

"You wouldn't believe me if I told you." The blonde answered truthfully, returning his gaze back to Malon. "And besides, it's a long tale, and I doubt you'd have time to hear it all."

The ranch girl stood akimbo, her small smile gradually growing. After a moment of pause, she said, "Well, I'm interested in your story, and I have time, now that Ingo's back to normal." She thrust a thumb behind her, indicating towards the barn where Ingo had gone into. "Come on, I'll get some tea brewing and you can talk to me all about you're adventures."

-oOoOo-

The inside of the farmhouse was nice and cosy, the first time in seven years. It was almost as if the Lon Lon Ranch's liberation from the tyrannical reign of Ingo had brightened up everything. Even though it was late summer, a small crackling fire in the fireplace roared, the orange-red light from the flames flickering on the floors and walls rhythmically. It added some atmosphere to the home, and invited warm, pleasant feelings instead of the cold, icy impression Ingo had left during his control of the ranch. Outside, the sun was slowly beginning to set, and the air became crisper and cooler, so the fire was well-appreciated. Rustic wooden furniture was seated around the room, accordingly so that the fireplace would be the ultimate centrepiece when one would want to sit and chat.

Link and Malon had been talking since that afternoon, conversing about everything they had missed since their elongated time apart. Malon had been listening intently to Link's tale about his adventures; everything from the parasite in the Deku Tree to the Forest Temple, which he had just recently completed. It was risky to talk about such topics, especially when things were not as safe in Hyrule anymore, but Link felt that his childhood friend be informed of what was happening.

As they talked, a soft, almost inaudible, padding of paws against the wooden floors were heard, and Malon inclined her head to the side, wanting to see who it was. A small cat was making her way to the two Hylians, tail erect in the air as she walked. Her fur was glossy and beautiful, a strikingly radiant silver colour. Her underbelly bulged out, and it was clear that she was going to have a litter of kittens soon. Link noticed this creature too and searched his mind for some distant memory relating to the animal. With a meow from the cat, Malon picked her up and put the pet in her lap.

As Link watched Malon stroke the cat behind the ears, he asked, "Who's that? She looks familiar." It was an absent, passive question in the midst of his earlier conversation, but he couldn't help but wonder who this was. He was discouraged by the fact that he had missed out on seven years in Hyrule, and wanted to regain all the information he lost during his sleep.

"This is Lady, my cat, remember? She was only a kitten when we were younger; we used to play with her by the barn."

Remembrance hit Link and he smiled, reaching out his hand to pet the now-familiar cat. "Oh yes," He grinned, the memories of playing with Malon and the ranch animals now becoming less hazy. That was also the time when he saw Malon for the last time—the time where he had learned Epona's Song. "She certainly has changed a lot since I last saw her."

Malon smiled proudly at her cat. And when Link knew she was going to say no more about this topic, changed the subject. "Has everything been alright on the ranch? Besides Ingo being in control and your father kicked out..." he trailed off.

Malon thought, racking her brain for any problems that had occurred. There was something, she just couldn't put her finger on it. Her mind suddenly clicked, and she realized with slight fear at what had been troubling her for the past years. "Yes," She murmured, worry tainting her tone as she looked up at Link with concerned blue eyes. "There's something." She took in a breath and released it slowly, sorting out her thoughts before speaking. "For the past few years, there's a strange animal lurking around the ranch. I don't rightly know what it is, though. I've never actually seen it, but I do know it's hungry. Countless of times I've been missing my cuccos, and once I even saw a cow with bite marks and claw marks—thankfully alive. I haven't been putting out Lady in fear that she might get attacked as well." Lady meowed pitifully, snuggling into Malon's lap, as if fearing this mystery creature herself. "I don't even want to put the horses out anymore. It's really frightening to think that such an animal is around these parts."

Link shifted in his seat. "What do you think it is?"

"If I had to guess, I'd say wolfos, most likely. I heard that Ganondorf doesn't feed them, so they're always hungry and bloodthirsty."

"What about a fox? Foxes are well known for eating cuccos."

Malon shook her head. "That would be a possibility, except I doubt that a fox would attempt to attack a cow. It's got to be bigger and fiercer than a fox, I reckon."

"I'll look into it, Malon. I'll see what I can do." The blonde knew that Lady and the rest of the animals on the Lon Lon ranch were important to his friend, and he smiled, so that Malon was calmed slightly at these reassuring words. Hopefully Link would find the culprit of the cucco deaths. Even though she hated the thought of another creature being killed, the fact that her livestock's lives were at stake, not to mention the stability of the ranch's business.

The front door slammed open jerkily and unexpectedly, making the two friends, and Lady, jump in their skin. They turned to see Ingo, rich clothes soiled by the dirt and grime in the barn, storm into the house, brow furrowed and jaw clenched tightly. "Cleaned up th' barn." He grunted concisely, heading up the stairs to wash up.

"Did you put away the cuccos, Ingo?" Malon called, the thought of her precious cuccos being eaten lingering in her mind.

Ingo snorted, rolling his eyes. "Tch. No. Not my problem."

At this, Malon pulled Lady off her lap, handed her to Link, and sat up, racing towards the door. A bewildered Link sat Lady down on the floor, and hurried after Malon, who was now slipping on her boots. Link did the same, calling after her. "What's wrong?"

"I'm worried about the cuccos." She yelled back, jogging towards the feathered animals. Link stood a ways off, running a hand through his bangs, nervously watching the cuccos with wary eyes. They never seemed to like him, and he didn't want to take any chances around the high-strung fowl. As he watched Malon run around, collecting and shooing the cuccos away into the barn, Link remembered that he had left his rucksack by the barn earlier that day. Hurriedly strapping his quiver, which Link had left by the door that afternoon, over his shoulder, he headed out into the night; one could never be too precautious in the dark, especially when a fowl thief lurked in the shadows of the ranch.

He squinted through the dark atmosphere, wishing now with a groan that he had brought a torch or a lantern to light the way. He should've known that night was approaching speedily, but he had been too worried about Malon and her cuccos to think about such things. He felt his way along the wall of the barn, knowing that his pack was thrown off into a corner. He stopped short though when a looming silhouette crossed in front of him. He drew in his breath, trying to remain quiet. The creature bounded off in the direction he was heading, and he silently followed it, wondering what it was, or what it was doing.

Something, cloth-like and loose, rustled ahead of him, and Link had lost the shadow he had been pursuing. But now this strange sound had captured his interest, and it too seemed to be in the direction of his pack. His neck became hot in anxiety as he continued his trek along the side of the barn. As he crept closer to the sound, he drew his bow and notched an arrow in it, just for safety precautions. Silently, he kept stalking along the walls; the only sounds audible to him at the time were the rustlings and his soft footsteps on the grass. A dim light appeared around the corner of the barn, where he had came from, and he turned swiftly around, seeing Malon scurry towards him, lantern dangling ahead of her. When she caught up with Link, she was about to talk to him when he signalled for her to be quiet and still. "There's some creature here," He whispered, trying not to disturb the stillness of the night. "It might be the wolfos that's been eating your livestock." Malon nodded slowly, watching as Link turned around and continued to head towards the rustling.

The mystery silhouette was in the corner of the barn, back to Link, and he again held his breath, gripping to the bow harder, preparing himself to defend himself if attacked. Faintly, he could see his limp pack lying on the ground, but the contour of the animal was in front of it, moving its head around inside the bag. Link gritted his teeth, advancing on it slowly.

He pulled back on the string of the bow, ready to shoot, when the outlined creature stopped scavenging through his bag and poised its head upright, long ears erect and alert. It turned around slowly, and Link drew the string back even farther, closing one eye for aim. However, as this animal turned around, the shadow of the animal's tails could be seen waving about, making Link's heart just about stop.

There were three tails.

"What...?" He asked no one in particular, his brow furrowing. Malon heard him speak and came trotting over behind him slowly, silently, lantern still glowing, giving the blonde some light to see. The orange-red glow of the candle in the lantern gave just enough light to see the figure, and Link instantly lowered his weapon at the sight of him.

This three-tailed creature before the Hylians was a skinny, lean, and unkempt tangle of grimy gold fur. He growled in the presence of the two unwanted Hylians, his off-white teeth glowing slightly in the faint light. Bones protruded through his skin, allowing all to see his fine rows of ribs, and it was clear that he had been scantily fed for the longest of times. His hunches were in the air, and even though he did not look like a tough competitor, he certainly had an undying spirit that could never be quenched. As Link set the bow down on the ground and began to cautiously approach the animal, Malon gasped in worry, taking a step back.

"L-Link…I don't think you should get near it," she stuttered, warily trying to avoid the tense animal.

"No, it's alright; I know this keaton."

"You…know him?" Malon whispered, her cautious eyes glancing at the growling, spitting animal with a heavy anxiety.

Link didn't respond, only proceeded to walk towards the keaton, slowly and cautiously, with one palm outwards towards the animal, trying to show it that he was friend, not foe. As the hand inched towards the tensed keaton, the growls deepened and rumbled loudly, trying to warn the Hylian to stand back. However, Link was still trying to coax the creature into remembrance; if, that was, this was the keaton he once knew. With a mighty snap of his jaws, the keaton lashed out against the harmless proposition of peace, missing Link's hand as the Hylian reeled it back.

As Link gazed into the fearsome chocolate eyes of the keaton, he was almost positive that this was the friendly keaton he encountered so long ago in the Lost Woods. "Hazel," He began, gently at first, but put more power behind his words when he saw that the keaton was not responding. "Hazel," he repeated, "Hazel, don't you remember me? Link?"

Malon put a hand gingerly on her friend's shoulder, to try and get him to back down, as the keaton was still growling intensely at the two Hylians, claws raking the dirt before him. Link merely shrugged the hand off, knowing what he was doing. "We met in the Lost Woods. I ran away from the Kokiri Village because Mido was picking on me, and you found and comforted me. Remember?" The snarl started to lessen a little, as if things were starting to slowly fall into place in the keaton's mind. However, his muscles remained tensed and fur flared, opposing the attempts this somewhat…familiar Hylian tried. "And then Mido and his gang came…How you defended me…Saria came…" Link continued on, pressing harder and harder with the memories of his childhood, trying to make the keaton understand. The animal's mind reeled overtime, distant recollections of a past that seemed like a dream colliding all together at a furious pace. What this Hylian was saying…It sounded so familiar, yet so foreign. It was a puzzle, a puzzle that was missing many pieces.

"…But you loved my hat," Link was still talking. "You used to rip it off of my head and run around with it, and it always cheered me up." Smiling, because of all the nostalgic memories that didn't quite feel like they were from so long ago, Link took off his signature green cap and set it down in front of him. He kneeled, so he was eye-to-eye with the keaton, and grinned.

The menacing front the sickly-looking keaton put up slowly died as he took a glance at the hat. It was forest green, long and floppy, and smelt like the woods, but only vaguely. Memories, tangled in the dense cobwebs of the animal's mind, suddenly rushed together, and filled the cracks that were missing in his subconscious. For seven years he had put off these memories, afraid to look back on all the good, and bad, times he had spent in the Lost Woods with his wolfos pack. The hat, a symbol of some of the most joyous times he spent playing with Link, unlocked those stored memories, from the first time he met White Foot, to the tragic exile from the Lost Woods.

Link seemed to notice this sudden reform in the keaton's behaviour, and he grinned wider, then slowly proceeded to pat his newly acquainted friend on the head, like old times. Fur flattening and muscles easing, Trey finally understood who this creature was: Link, the strange "Hylian-cub" he stumbled upon in the woods. Suddenly overjoyed and excited to see his truest friend's return, Trey leapt at Link, licking his face and wagging his tails, just like an energetic pup. Malon, seeing this reunion, smiled softly, although she did not know exactly what was happening.

Link laughed, ecstatic to have one of his first friends back to the normal, cheerful keaton he once knew, instead of the intimidating ghostly creature that haunted the ranch. Pushing Trey away from him, Link rose from the ground and scratched behind the keaton's ears, just like he had done so long ago. It was amazing how much bigger the keaton had grown over seven years, with longer legs and furrier tails, it was almost hard to recognize what was once the compassionate and brave juvenile that he had befriended.

Realizing that Malon was completely clueless to the scene before her, Link turned to her and introduced the old companion. "Malon, I'd like you to meet Hazel—an old friend of mine." From there he explained all that had gone on between the two of them, how they met, what they did, and the crazy adventures they went on. As she listened, the red-haired girl felt her smile growing, marvelling at how touching the story was, and understanding with full knowledge at why it was such a miracle for the two to become reunited again.

-oO T.B.C Oo-

Edit: Thanks to all who point out my minor mistakes in the chapter; I have gone back and corrected such errors. I suppose my impromptu revision caused me lack of judgement, unfortunatly. I should know better than to submit something I haven't thoroughly reread, but the obligation to upload a new chapter was nagging at me, so I rushed at the end of the writing process and submitted this too soon. If there are any other complications you have, now or in the future, no need to hesitate on telling me. You learn from error, after all.