A/N: Hi everyone! Sorry it took forever to update, I've just been reeeeeeal busy with school, plus that I've been working on my other stories too. Anyhow, here's the second chappie, enjoy!

PS, I do not own Twilight Princess or any of its characters. Save for Imana, she's all mine. And the plot. Mohahah!

Howls of Faith

Meetings in the Dusk

"Hold 'im steady there, Link," Fado said, the sweat starting to show on his forehead. The heat from the afternoon sun was the cause. He wiped the sweat from his forehead and held up a knife.

Link did not reply, mostly because he was struggling to restrain a terrified goat in his arms. It had already stepped on his foot twice and kicked him rather painfully in the shin.

In a manner that was way too slow for Link, Fado leaned down with the knife and started to whack away some of the goat's thick fur.

Trimming season for the goats. Goddess knew how Link hated it. The sweat was practically streaming down his forehead, as he struggled against the panicking goat. The sun was beating down hard since it was another one of those beautiful summer days. It seemed like it would never rain again.

"Hold 'im still, Link!" Fado urged, and Link resisted the urge to snap at the man.

But it was then the ground suddenly gave a violent lurch, and they all stumbled back. The goat saw its chance and quickly escaped from Link's grip, who was busy trying to remain on his feet.

Then the ground grew calm again.

"What was that?" Fado asked with a baffled expression from the ground, since he had not been able to keep his balance in the violent tremble.

"An earthquake?" Link asked, but somehow he already knew he was wrong.

"I dunno…" Fado started, but his voice quickly trailed away and his facial expression turned into one of wondering fright. His jaw fell slightly open and his eyes widened into round orbs, as he saw something just above Link's left shoulder.

The Hero frowned. "Fado? What…?"

But then he turned around, and saw what Fado saw. Further away, probably in Faron Woods, there was some kind of gathering of black smoke. But Link recognized the smoke far too well, even though it had almost been a year ago since he had set eyes upon it. Twilight.

"What is that?" Fado asked in fear.

But his voice seemed distant to Link, who's mind was running a mile a minute. He had so many questions. How was this possible? The way to the Twilight Realm had been sealed off, so how could its magic find its way here, into the light world? Had the Twili… had Midna returned?

Giving in to the urge, Link abandoned Fado in the grass as he suddenly broke into a run. He ran out of the ranch, through the village, past a very surprised-looking Rusl and his son Colin who said something along the lines of "Where are you going, Link?"

But Link didn't reply. Instead he kept on running, out of the village, past his own house, past Epona who whinnied after him, until he left Ordon…

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"I don't understand, why do I have to go?" Imana complained, her soft voice lined with a whining tone.

"Because," Zelda started, who was walking further ahead, leading her bodyguard through the corridors of the castle, "you and I are two of the very few who can exist in Twilight. If Twilight falls upon the castle, I may be the only one who can defend it, and I will not abandon my people."

Imana ran a few steps to catch up with the striding Princess. "You're right," she said, in an understanding tone. "Besides, it will probably be dangerous," she then added, with a hint of taunt to her voice, as if suggesting that the Princess was too afraid for the journey.

But the Princess merely shot her an impatient look, as if saying This is no time for games. "I have arranged for your horse to be brought to the gates. Travel to Faron Woods, and beyond there you shall find the Hero."

"Faron?" Imana repeated. "That's where we saw the Twilight…"

Zelda shot her a look. "More the reason for you to hurry."

They reached the front doors to the castle and emerged into the courtyard. It was now late afternoon, and twilight would soon fall, ironically enough. The two women located a guard standing in front of the gates that lead to the castle town. Beside him he had a horse, a slim built one, looking like it was capable of great speed. Its silky coat was in the darkest of black, but all four hocks were white, from the knee all the way down to the hoof. The stallion's eyes were wise and friendly, but at the moment he was looking rather bored. To amuse himself he nipped playfully at the guard who barked "Hey!" in a surprised way. But the black stallion tossed his head innocently, making his long silky mane fly.

"Nadim," Imana scolded, though a smile was on her lips as her horse's prank had amused her.

By the sound of his name, the stallion's ears pricked forward and he raised his head.

"Hey boy," Imana cooed as she reached her horse, who buffed at her affectionately. She let her soft palm stroke the white stripe by the horse's forehead. He gave a satisfied snort and pricked his ears forward again.

"Imana," Zelda said, who was standing on the other side of Nadim's head, and her voice caught the woman's attention. "Be careful."

Imana offered a crooked smile, though not much of her face was actually visible. Due to her somewhat dangerous appearance, with piercing red eyes and all, she preferred to comb her white hair in such fashion that the bangs covered her eyes, whenever she was in public. She was still dressed in the short bone-white trousers and crimson shirt, but in addition to that she had a sort of poncho, that also served as a scarf and covered part of her face. The material of the poncho was of a beautiful brown and silver.

With a nod to Zelda she took the reins to Nadim, placed her foot in the stirrup and swung herself up in one swift movement. She adjusted herself in Nadim's saddle, and then fastened her piercing gaze at Zelda.

"See you in a bit," she smirked. Then, without even shortening the reins she drove Nadim forward, who seemed to arch his neck gracefully by himself. He trotted around in a circle and fell into canter by Imana's command, and then they were off, through the gates to the castle and swiftly maneuvered through the bustling castle town to then exit through the south gates.

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Link skidded to a halt, by the water spring just before the bridge to Faron Woods. He was breathing heavy after his run from the ranch, but he had other things on his mind right now. Like the light spirits.

He jogged into the small glade, still panting, but didn't stop until his sandals met the crystal clear water. He wasn't really sure how to progress now. What if the light spirit wasn't even here?

"Um… Ordana?" he asked tentatively, carefully continuing into the water. Almost immediately, a shining orb of light appeared in front of him. There was a sudden bright light and Link found himself face to face with the light spirit Ordona.

Link found himself at loss of words. What was he going to say?

"Um…hi," he started awkwardly, but fortunately, Ordona took over.

"Young Hero… something has happened in the Faron Woods."

"Do you know what happened?" Link asked.

The light spirit lifted its head, as if listening and the glade fell silent for a while. Then Ordona moved its gigantic head to look at Link again.

"The darkness that took over our lands not long ago… this is the same magic."

"Twilight," Link filed in, furrowing his brow together in confusion.

"It is in Faron Woods, near the light spirit. I do not yet know the purpose the darkness has to be here." The light spirit seemed to be talking to someone else and not Link, but then he refocused his gaze on Link again. "Young Hero…"

Link stood up a little straighter, looking as honorable as he could in his ragged Ordonian clothes.

"You must protect the other light spirits from this darkness," Ordona continued. "With sword in hand and spirit with courage… fight it…"

With those last words, the light spirit faded to then become an orb of light, slowly dipping into the water and disappearing.

Left was Link, who still felt rather confused by it all. The glade was now silent; the only sound heard was the purl of the water and the tweet of the birds, but Link was too lost in thought to hear it. He was not surprised over the fact that he was not afraid, it was something he'd had since he was a child: few things actually scared him. But what did surprise him was the fact that he felt relieved. He knew he had missed his adventure, but to actually feel relieved when Hyrule was in danger again? Link wasn't sure whether to feel disgusted with himself or not.

With sword in hand…

Slowly, the light spirit's words came to Link, and he snapped back. He had to get going! He quickly spun around and ran out of the glade. But instead of turning right to the bridge that led to Faron Woods, he turned left, back to his house.

Once again he sped past Epona, who clipped her ears in curiosity at his urgency. But just as fast as her master had entered the glade where his house lay he disappeared, but this time into the house.

"Sword, sword, sword…" Link kept repeating to himself, darting through his house. Of course, he knew exactly where his weapons where, having secretly taken them out and tried them at least once a day. So he grabbed his lantern from the kitchen table and leapt down his basement, not even bothering to take the ladder. Holding out the lantern in front of him, he lit up his shadowy basement, and almost immediately located the large chest.

Jogging over to it, he dropped to his knees and opened it. Almost immediately he felt his face lit up in a sort of satisfied smile. It was all there: his clawshots, the Hero's bow, the Gale Boomerang, his iron boots, the spinner, bombs, the ball and chain…

Taking out everything he thought he would need, he managed to dig his way through the chest until he came to his most precious belongings. The blue and silver Hylian Shield and… carefully Link lifted out a sword, which was wrapped in a ragged brown cloth. Placing it on the wooden floor he began unwrapping it, layer by layer, until…

Link sat back as the Master Sword's blade gleamed at him, despite the dim lightning in the murky room. Everyone had thought Lin returned his sword to the Sacred Grove, and Link let them believe it. Was it selfish of him to keep it? But no matter how hard he tried, he could not part from it.

Moving quickly Link then packed all his items into the cloth and carried them – with some difficulty- to the ladder and climbed up.

Once he was up he almost collapsed in exhaustion. He did not remember his items to be this heavy! Or to be so many and so big… Just how had he managed to carry them all throughout his last adventure…?

Link's thoughts trailed away as he slowly raised his eyes to look at his closet. Was it possible that the clothing he had worn had more qualities to it than Link had first suspected? Scrambling to his feet, he quickly made his way over to the furniture and threw its doors open. Hanging inside, looking clean as ever, was his green tunic, the undershirt, leggings and chain mail. He took them out, eyeing them with a raised eyebrow. Whether or not this clothing was magical, he needed it. If not because he felt more comfortable in it, then for the sake of the chain mail.

He ripped of his own peasant clothes and slid into the Hero's clothes, amazed over how well it all seemed to fit. Then he grabbed all his items, storing them into his pockets and was amazed to find out that his tunic had been magical all the time, being able to hold all those items. Funny he hadn't noticed this before…

Finally, Link strapped the shield to his back and as he sheathed the Master Sword it felt like he had transported back in time a year. He almost… - he smiled in fond memory- He almost expected Midna to jump out and tell him what to do.

But now it was different. Midna was gone; she had made sure of that herself. Pulling the green hat over his messy hair, Link's face expression turned grim. He was ready.

He quickly made his way out of his house again, down the ladder and ran through the garden. He decided against taking Epona: he didn't want her to be caught in twilight, if there was any.

"Link!"

The Hero jumped in start as he heard Colin's voice. Coming to a halt he turned around, seeing the small boy jogging towards him.

"Link, what's going on? Where are you…"

His voice trailed away as he noticed Link's clothes and the sword on his back, and his blue eyes widened.

"Link…" he started, his childish face immediately taking on a mixture of confusion and curiosity. Immediately Link felt a wave of guilt wash over him. Was he just going to leave Ordon like last time?

Slowly he crossed the distance between them and kneeled to the ground, his eyes in level with Colin's innocent blue ones.

"I have to go," he said, a faint sad smile trailing along his lips.

"It's that darkness, isn't it?" Colin asked, looking sad. "I thought I had only imagined it… "

Link put his hand on Colin's small shoulder, smiling reassuringly. "I will take care of it. Look after the village for while I'm gone, will you?"

Colin's face changed from sadness to determination, and Link knew there was not a single person in Hyrule that would take this task more serious than Colin. Then Link got to his feet, and with a last smile at the boy, turned and ran off.

"I won't be gone long!" Link called over his shoulder as he exited the glade and disappeared into the forest.

Colin stood left, looking very small in the big glade. There was a high-pitched noise, which came from Epona, who whinnied after her master. A beat passed, but he did not come back. The mare tugged worriedly on the rope to her bridle, and pranced a little on the spot.

"Easy, Epona," Colin said, trying to reassure her, standing on his toes just to reach up and pat her muzzle.

"He said he'll be back soon…"

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"You will know the Hero when you see him. His name is Link, and you are the same age."

"Really? Is he any handsome then?"

Zelda was strangely silent for a moment, before she continued. "I have only met him a few times, but you will know him by his eyes; fierce blue, filled with kindness and burning courage. Like me, he has been granted the power of the Goddesses. Therefore, if by chance twilight has covered the land, he shall meet you as a beast…"

Nadim's strong leaps had a soothing effect on Imana, whose mind had drifted far away, back to one of her conversations with Zelda, just before she left. True, she was curios about the Hero, and as Zelda had mentioned that the Hero took the form of a beast in twilight she seemed to burst of curiosity. Was it possible that he-

Nadim leapt to his side to avoid a large rock in his path, causing an unsuspecting Imana to jerk back from her thoughts. She looked up, and found to her surprise that they were almost outside Faron Woods, having already crossed a major part of Hyrule Field.

She shortened the reins to Nadim and drove down her heels a little in the stirrups to steady herself as she stood up a little in the saddle, urging Nadim forward. He responded by lengthening his canter into a full gallop as they thundered up the slope.

They reached the brim of woods and the end of the field. As the shadows of the trees loomed over the two, Imana sat back and tugged lightly on the reins. Nadim struggled a little but slowed down to a pace and eventually a halt.

"Well, Nadim," the woman started, "this is as far as you go… I don't want to take you into twilight, if there is any…"

She slid off her horse, who gave a sort of squeal and buffed at her arm.

"Be a good boy and stay here," she cooed, tying his reins to a tree's branch. He snorted disgruntled, yet did as she asked.

With that, Imana made sure her scarf was on straight over her face, and then set off along the path, further into the woods.

It was strangely silent as she entered. No birds, no wind, no… nothing. Unsheathing her thin sword, Imana slowed from a run to a halt. She found herself outside some kind of house, but there was no one there. Shrugging mentally she continued past the house and into a tunnel. It wasn't until now that she finally heard noises. Like a sort of humming. Frowning, Imana finally exited the cave and was met by a strange sight.

She found herself standing by a water spring, over which a full-out light spirit was hovering. Well, Imana had never seen a light spirit in her life, but she assumed this was one. It had to be. It was a in the shape of a monkey, very big and… so bright. Imana was just about to raise her hand to cover her eyes from the light, when she noticed something else. There was a rather small object lying in the grass before the spring, surrounded by a black mass of darkness. Imana recognized it immediately. Twilight magic.

This must have been the darkness she and Zelda had seen. Somehow this object had transported here from the Twilight Realm, though how Imana had no idea. But it didn't seem to be that threatening. It was just lying in the grass, humming opposite the light spirit, who was watching the object.

But it was then it happened. It was like some kind of explosion of darkness, and Imana found herself caught up in it. She raised her arms to cover herself, clutching her eyes shut tightly. Everything turned dark around her for a moment – drenched in twilight - but then everything returned to light again.

When she opened her eyes again she half-expected the land to be covered in twilight by the object, but found to her surprise that the land was still in light. She looked up and saw that the light spirit was giving of a light that fought against the darkness. The air around Imana seemed to be a mixture of light and twilight, none of them having the upper hand.

She got to her feet, only to find out to her shock that she wasn't standing on her feet. Looking down, she saw that she was standing on paws. White paws. Sucking in a lungful of air, she jerked her head down to look at her body. She couldn't believe it. That darkness… that explosion, it had turned her into something else. Something she thought she would never be again.

True, last time twilight had covered the land, Imana had not turned into a spirit like everyone else. She had assumed the form of a wolf, a white wolf, with her red piercing eyes. Like now.

So then it was really true. Twilight had returned to Hyrule.

"Young beast…" a strange voice said, and Imana jerked in surprise. She looked around, till she realized that it was the light spirit that had spoken. To her.

"Young beast," it said again, and Imana dared to walk a little closer to it, without nearing the twilight object. "You must aid me…I will not be able to fight this darkness any longer… You must find the Hero… his blade will ban the shadow…"

The dark object suddenly gave a violent tremble, struggling to take over. "Go now!" the light spirit urged her.

Imana stole one glance at the dark object, and then at the light spirit and then took off. She dashed through an open glade, galloping over the grass, until she saw the entrance to the woods. Her mind told her to run faster, but instead she slowed down, until she came to a stop. She sensed something ahead. She pricked her cream-colored ears forward, eyes widening slightly in surprise as a person came running into the glade.

Link stumbled to a halt as he entered Faron Woods. It looked the same as ever, with lush green trees. But there was something in the air… The usual small faeries that used to float through the air, giving the woods its mystical glow with their shining bodies… they were gone.

Hesitating, he took another step into the woods, but stopped dead when his blue eyes spotted something on the path, just ahead of him.

It was a wolf, its coat the purest of white, with a strange black tattoo twisting itself from her stomach to the base of her neck. And her eyes… a fierce shade of red. Immediately, Link felt like he had transported back to his dream that night. It was the very same wolf he had met then!

The boy in front of Imana was looking at her in mild shock, which she guessed had something to do with her appearance. But for all she tried she could not wrench her gaze away from the boy's fierce blue eyes that she recognized so well. Was it possible that this young man, tall and handsome with his sharp features and unruly blond hair, was the same wolf she had encountered almost a year ago? After all, she would never forget meeting that wolf and… Midna.

But then the ground gave another tremble and Imana was acutely reminded of the light spirit and his struggle. Taking no chances, she assumed this was the Hero. She barked once to get his attention, though she already had it, and turned around and started to run back to the light spirit, hoping the Hero would follow.

Link jerked back from the thoughts of his dream and watched as the wolf barked at him, gesturing him to follow. Somehow she was in a great hurry. As the Hero looked up, past the wolf he spotted the Faron spring. Something was going on: there was a great commotion. But as soon as he took a few steps after the wolf, he felt a strange sensation. But not that unfamiliar. It was suddenly hard to breathe; his insides seemed to squirm and his body started to jerk. He was acutely aware of the twilight mixed with the air; it was causing his current state.

Imana heard the Hero grunting in pain and came to a halt, turning around. Link had fallen to his knees and was sweating badly. Was he ill?

But then there was a burst of twilight, and Link disappeared. At least his human form.

Because in front of Imana now stood a wolf. The very same wolf she had met before. He was bigger than her, his coat dark but white on his belly and legs. The only thing that hadn't changed was his eyes. Fierce blue eyes, like a violent river.

Then he really is the Hero…

With a nod of her head Imana gestured for Link to follow her and she ran off again. With only a few leaps Link caught up with her. By now he could see what happened by the spring; the light spirit and the twilight object were still struggling to take control of the light. The atmosphere around the two wolves seemed to be completely electrified with twilight and light and the air seemed to crackle.

"Young Hero…" the light spirit's voice suddenly rang out, and Link lifted his confused gaze from the twilight object up to the light spirit. Imana, however, backed a few steps, standing closer to the rocky wall behind her. Somehow she could feel like something was about to happen…

"Young Hero," the light spirit, Faron, repeated, "I shall return you to your human form… I need your help to destroy the darkness. Take sword in hand…"

Link nodded in comprehension and stood up a little straighter. Imana was then forced to close her eyes as Faron gave off a bright light. As she opened them again she could see that the Hero, Link, had regained his human form.

Without wasting any time, Link unsheathed the Master Sword. He gave a nod to the light spirit – a sort of silent agreement – and then drove down his sword with force into the twilight object. At the same time the light spirit shot out a bright light at the object. It was then Imana felt the air around her fizz with electricity and then it happened. The attack on the twilight object caused a great explosion of light, and Imana felt herself get hit by the shockwave, felt herself get knocked backwards, flying through the air…

...Then it all went black.

Okay, so please drop a review before you go! Smell you later