Silence.
It was the only thing that greeted Link as the sunlight peeked through his eyelids, intruding on his peace.
Letting out a groan, Link shuffled into a sitting position. The light was still a tad too bright, and it was all he could do not to rub his eyes.
"Link?" Link looked up, letting out a short yawn. Midna drifted out of Link's shadow, and Link wondered if he saw a grimance in her eyes.
"You look horrible." Link supressed a laugh. He gave a short nod, rubbing the back of his neck. For a second Link thought he had forgotten something important.
It at came back to him in a rush, and he found himself on his feet. Snatching his hat off the ground and slamming it onto his head(even though it was sopping wet) he only paused a moment to run his fingers through his soaked hair.
"What? Link, what's wrong?" Midna's eyes widened, looking him up and down for an awnser.
Link felt a small lump rise in his throat, and his eyes water. Guilt ran its way up Link's spine, and he stopped. Rubbing his face with open hands, he debated asking Midna for advice. Zant had done unspeakable things to her people, but Link didn't know anything else about him.
For all he knew, Zant was a champion juggler. Link smirked, Zant, a juggler. He could just imagine Zant, helmet and all, balancing on one foot whilst throwing knives in the air.
"Link? You in there?" Link looked up, and realised Midna had gotten quite close. All the soothing thoughts faded from his mind, and he found he was hugging himself.
"We should find Zant." Midna nodded, and dissapeared within his shadow. Link enjoyed the feeling of having someone watching his back. Sometimes Midna would warn him that somebody was getting close, and it gave him a sense of security.
Taking a deep breath of the fresh air, Link enjoyed the refreshing silence, before hurrying and opening the door.
Renado smiled upon noticing Link, and mouthed a quick 'Close the door.' Link pushed the door shut, cringing as it let out a thud.
Link took a few steps toward the Twili, and froze. Ice water poured into his tomach, and he nearly vomited.
The Twili's face was void of emotion, which didn't seem to suit the madness that twinkled in his eyes. His hair was ruffled, wrapped in a badage. Dry blood was caked to the side of his face, and Link briefly wondered if it would stain, sealing in what he did forever.
He had various cuts, but it didn't look too bad. They looked clean, curtosy of Renado. A bruise had blossomed on Zant's face, just under his eye. It looked like it was still swelling.
Zant's Twili robes had been put aside, replaced with a red tunic. It seemed a few sizes too big, and was crumpled and pulled to one side.
One of his hands was burned, the blue-ish skin a tad purple. A few of his nails had cracked, one completely ripped off.
But all of it was nothing compared to the bandages wrapped all up the Twili's neck, purplish bruises peeking through the cracks. Every breath was a wheeze, and it sounded agonizing. Link would rather be dead.
Link's vision swam, and he stumbled. Renado barely caught him, holding Link up to eye level. Concern was etched into Renado's face, dark circles framing the bloodshot eyes.
"Look, Link. I don't know what happened to your... Friend. But he isn't one of us. I'm fine with him, he couldn't do anything if he tried, but the others don't know that. I won't say a word, but we need a safer place for him." Link nodded, letting the details settle in.
"Can he stay for today? Just... Just today." Renado gave a nod of approval, eyes drifting over the Twili.
"He should be fine, but with the look of it, he won't wake up for a few days. His head looks... He'll be fine, anyway." Renado shot Link a reassuring smile, eyes twinkling with knowledge.
Renado stooped for a moment, picking up a wooden bowl. He passed it to Link.
"Do you mind getting some water? We can't risk him getting an infection." There was a dark undertone to those words, sugercoated with a smile.
Link sat cross-legged on the floor, next to Zant. The cool of night had draped the sky, sending a chill across Link's spine.
Dabbing a cloth on the Twili's cuts, Link pondered what he would do when he woke up. Would he have to break his legs? Link shuddered at the thought.
"Uh, Link? You alright?" Link looked up at Midna's call, double checking to make sure Renado was still asleep before giving a quick nod.
"Link, that bowl has been empty for a while now." Link blinked, tipping the bowl. She was telling the truth, the bowl was empty. Bone dry, at that.
"Midna?"
"Wolf boy?"
"What do we do when he wakes up?" Midna blinked, mouth agape for a moment.
"I...I don't know."
Link fell silent at that, shuffling his boots on the dusty floor.
"Link?" Link looked up.
"Get some sleep, okay? I'll watch him."
Link nodded, closing his eyes. Maybe it would all end well.