CHAPTER FIVE

NOTES: This chapter has updated on December 4, 2007! I hope you weren't disappointed in this entry.

Ashei had taken the reigns from Zephyr, while Shad clung to her belt. Zephyr was slower then Epona, but fast enough to send cold sweat down Shad's neck. He felt as though he would fall off, but his heels were pressed firmly in Zephyr's side.

The two horses galloped across the Hyrulian plains, faster and faster, until they finally reached Kakariko village.

Ashei led Zephyr to the spirit oasis near Renado's house, and dismounted there. Shad got off next, shaking and nervous. The setting sun cast a shimmery glow in the bright, flowing water of the oasis.

He looked to his left, and saw that Rusl was already there, petting Epona. "Now, drink now, good girl." Rusl whispered to the horse, then turned to face the others.

"Well, what should we do first?"

"We'll tell Renado what we're doing here." Shad breathed in a quivering voice, rubbing the back of his neck. His muscles were tight, from having ridden for so long. "Maybe he knows where to find the Lizalfos's nest.

"Sounds like a plan." Ashei said, and knocked on Renado's door.

There was a light tap of shoes behind the door, then it opened.

"Shad?" Renado recongnized him first. "Rusl... hello. Who is this young woman?" "Its Ashei." She said.

"And what brings you back here?" Renado faced Shad, squinting. The setting sun sprayed beams of light across the mountains, which stung his eyes.

"There's... a problem in Hyrule, Renado." Shad said, giving a slight nod-like bow. "Can we come in?"

"Sure! Come on, make yourselves comfortable."

The three of them entered, and found a seat on a warm rug. Renado sat with them. "So, please explain. I feel this matter will concern me."

"It will, if you've seen anything." Shad said. "Okay... I'll try to explain." He said quietly. He thought for a moment on what he was going to say, then looked up. "The Lizalfos... have mutated. Someone or something has given them insane power. We need to capture the queen of each Lizalfos tribe and transport her to the City in the Sky. In doing so, the morale of all the other Lizalfos will break, and they will not pose a threat to us."

"How do you know this?" Renado asked, his hands pressed together and his chin resting upon them.

"I found the City in the Sky. And, I met the Oocca. They told me that the Lizalfos was their creation, and they got out of hand. They don't want us to kill all the Lizalfos, but preserve their queens. Apparently there's more then one tribe of Lizalfos, and we located one of them- in Death Mountain. We need to somehow subdue the queen, and bring her with us to the City in the Sky."

Renado snapped his fingers. "I think I know where this tribe is... and I have the means to get the queen."

He stood up, then went to a dresser. On the top of the dresser was a mortar and pestle, Shad assumed that he was some kind of alchemist. "Ah, here we are." Renado said, pulling two vials out of a drawer. "I have recently discovered these potions, in fact, just a few days ago have I perfected these methods. This potion here..." he held one up, "will place the drinker in a hypnotic state. You can order that person to follow you to the City in the Sky, if you so wish."

"Thank you." Shad said, then asked, "but how are we possibly going to get through their nest to this queen, in the heart of their own base? I know that we have to destroy the weed at the root, but must it be that hard to get there?"

"That's where this vial comes in." Renado showed them the other. "This vial blocks perception. It is a near concoction to invisibility, but I haven't perfected that yet. Drinking this, will render you practically invisible. Those looking at you, will not notice you are there, unless if you speak, or move too quickly. I only have six of these potions, however, so I'll need to make more, if there are more nests for you to discover."

"And how long do they last?" Ashei asked?

"Until they are somehow extracted from the body," Renado said with a slight chuckle, "and I'm sure all of you know one method."

He handed the three of them each a vial. He then gave Shad the mind-control potion. "Be extremely careful. I know where the nest is- they have taken up residence near the Goron mines. The Gorons might be able to tell you more. I'm sure the Lizalfos haven't killed them there."

"Thank you very much." Shad said as he pocketed the vial. "Wish us luck."