Perfect

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Chapter 4

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The Kokiri were asleep, huddled into their beds during the cold winter months of January, their fairies sleeping idly by, the glow of their small bodies reduced to a pinpoint in their unconscious state. Rain now lashed out at the rooftops, pounding against shafts and windows, daring to enter into the small confines of every dweller. But they resisted, plainly and easily, knowing that winter would soon pass, and spring would lazily reappear from its hiding place. And Saria knew this all too well, for she had lived there her entire life, as long as she could remember. No one would be out this late, sitting on roofs, prancing around, playing jokes. She wondered how none of them ever grew tired of it. She wondered if they would ever want to step outside, see the real world? For her, it was different. Yes, she loved the forest, but she could hardly see the beautiful blue sky anymore, with all of the trees and greenery that gagged it to death.

More than once had she stolen a glance outside, to see what lie ahead, beyond the thick foliage of morning winter bliss, where rain would turn to snow and fall like mini, wingless pixies. Her tactics were the same, wearing the same dark clothes to camouflage her into the black cloak of night. With one last wrap of the scarf around her head and mouth, she crawled out her window. The rain sent a chill up her spine, pounding her head and shoulders with ferocity, as if telling her to go back into the safe confines of her little house. She resisted, and continued trailing along the forest edges behind the village.

She sidled past Link's house, realizing the lights were still on, a candle still glowing. Fighting the urge to go up there and blow the flame out, she circled past and climbed up the vines that would lead her into the Lost Woods. The dangers inside were precarious; if she got lost, she would turn into a skull kid, and she doubted she wanted to be a rupee-stealing thief anymore than she wanted to be a Kokiri any longer.

The meadow was unusually quiet that night, other than the pitter-patter of large raindrops amongst the leaves and the muddy ground. But she didn't plan on indulging herself, playing her ocarina this time. She wore her special boots, and she brought along her mini hook shot, the one she had fashioned herself out of wood and rope and a large hook with three tips that she had asked Link to get her from the fishing lake.

The branch she looked for on the large, oak tree was harder to find than last time, with the rain blurring her vision, and clouding the forest with mist. She shot the hook high anyway, aiming for anything that could possibly support her weight. But the hook tossed back to the ground, as a short, resounding yelp reaching her ears. A small figure tumbled out from the trees like a fallen bird. They were close to the hitting the ground, if it weren't for that small branch jutting out from a nearby oak tree. It cracked, and the body flung to the ground, residing another painful yelp.

Saria ran up to the person, all the while pushing the cloth that wrapped around her face below her chin. A mass of dark hair popped up, and the person sprang to life in front of her. She jumped back in surprise, realizing she would probably get it if she didn't apologize soon.

"Oww," the voice whined, but the face was still blurry. Saria stepped closer, enough to kneel in front of the person.

"Oh…" she sighed, realizing then and there who it was that had yet again bothered her, "It's just you…"

The boy narrowed his eyes at her, pouting, "What in Ganon's locker was that?"

Saria laughed nervously, trying to avoid staring at his scrunched pug nose. "Sorry, I didn't know you were up there."

"Yeah," Ayden exclaimed, "Look before you throw large rocks, okay?"

"That wasn't a rock," she huffed, finally drawing in her hook shot to show him, "It's this."

His eyes widened, "That is so cool-looking. What is it?"

She smiled, feeling a little proud of herself, "It's a hook shot. I made it myself."

"Wow," he beamed, leaning forward, forgetting his pounding headache, "That looks exactly like Link's."

Saria handed it to him, forgetting as well as her own nuisance of being angry with him, "You can look at it."

"Cool!" he took the hook shot from her, eyeing it carefully, the way she had carved the wood, the way the rope intertwined around the old hook. "Hey, this is pretty awesome. You've got a talent."

She blushed, sitting on the ground next to him, ignoring the dampness that seeped up her clothes. "I have a lot of time on my hands."

Ayden frowned suddenly, his eyes clouded over as he gazed at her; "Sorry that I was so rude to you today."

Saria's smile dropped as well, replaced with more of an apologetic expression than his, "It was my fault for yelling at you. I was being mean. I'm not always like that, you know? I'm actually nice, it's just…"

"You don't like me?" he finished, his puppy-dog eyes watching her sadly.

Then she shook her head furiously. "No, no. I didn't say that. It's not like that at all."

"Oh, okay…" he shifted around nervously, and Saria widened her eyes.

"Ewww," she jumped up, wiping the back of her pants with a disgusted expression on her face.

"I promised Impa I wouldn't get my clothes all dirty over here!" he glanced at his muddy and drenched clothes.

Saria giggled, finding it hard to suppress it any longer whence she saw that face of his.

He furrowed his eyebrows at her, his bottom lip protruding slightly as he tried to wipe the mud off. "That's not funny. I hate her punishments."

The Kokiri cleared her throat, her smile still broadening, "Sorry, sorry. It's just that- your face, it was hilarious."

Ayden grumbled, his face flushing. "What were you doing out so late anyway, Saria?"

She stopped and stared at him, scrutinizing him, wondering if she should tell him. Then she shrugged, "I like the rain, and I wanted to come up here."

"Oh," then he grinned, "Me too. It's always peaceful."

Saria sighed with relief before changing the subject; "I guess we should head back, or you'll catch a cold."

He nodded forlornly, a small, crooked smile on his lips. "Yeah, I better wash my clothes before we head back tomorrow afternoon."

"What?" Saria's heart fell, "Why so early?"

He shrugged, "I don't know. I think it's Zelda's birthday next week and they want us to be at the castle to 'prepare'." His nose scrunched again in distaste, but Saria was too distracted by his words.

"Oh…" her shoulders drooped.

"But we can always come back," he reached his hand out in an inviting gesture before glancing at his occupied hand, the one holding the wooden hook shot. "Oh, here you go."

She waved her hands in front of her, palms facing him, "You can keep it."

"Really?" he replied, bewildered, his gaze switching from her to the weapon.

"Yeah, I hardly use it," she lied, nodding. But either way, she wanted him to have it. Seeing that look on his face, only made her want him to smile even more.

"Thank you so much!" he beamed, then tackled her in a tight hug.

"Ah!" she yelped, as he embraced her. But the warmth was welcoming, and she patted his wet head of hair. "No problem."

He let go of her after a little while, realizing that his face was once again warm. "Guess we should go, huh?"

She shrugged, hiding her embarrassment, "Yeah, I guess…"

They walked out of the woods, side by side, letting the rain wash them over, make them shiver every now and then. Saria glanced at him, watching his eyes rove over the foliage, over the entire scenery. She felt pride well up in her chest. He liked the forest, she hoped.

"It must be so amazing to live here." He said, and Saria strained to hear him, "It's so calm and peaceful, away from everyone else."

She didn't get angry with him this time. She couldn't seem to imagine for what reason. "Yeah, but it gets dull after a while, with visitors so little."

He turned to her, dark eyes gleaming, "I'll come by, Saria. Every week if I can, and I'll bring you something new every time. Clothes, jewelry, candy! Candy is the best."

She laughed, "You don't have to, Ayden. That would be too much trouble."

His gaze fell below her neck and she narrowed her eyes, and then turned to glance at where his eyes had fallen. Link's mini spiritual stone necklace hung around her neck, glowing against the backdrop of her black outfit. "But you liked the gift Link gave you."

"It was my birthday last week," she said, picking up the pendant with her index finger and thumb, "It's my stone."

"Your birth stone?" he asked confusedly.

She shook her head, "My birthstone is garnet. Emerald is May, you know?"

He nodded, "I know. Zelda's is amethyst. Right after January."

"No wonder she loves pink and purple…" Saria muttered.

Ayden laughed, "Her room is covered in those colors!"

"What if we bought her something that wasn't pink?" Saria drawled, a mischievous smirk crossing her child-like features.

The Sheikah's eyes widened, "She'll throw it in her closet with all the non-pinks and purples."

"Heh," Saria shrugged, "Oh well. I won't be there anyway."

"Too bad," Ayden sighed, "You would have a load of fun there."

Saria looked away, her mind rattling along with questions, "Maybe, one day."

Ayden glanced at her, eyes wide and questioning, "But I thought you couldn't leave the forest?"

The Kokiri ignored him. The rain fell more intensely, as did Saria's frustration. She hated hearing that, but she hated even more the fact that it was so very true. "I gotta go, Ayden. I forgot something." She ran back into the woods, leaving Ayden standing alone on the edges of the Kokiri Forest. He could see Link's lights still on. There was movement and he knew Zelda was probably there, playing truth or dare or playing some other game they always ended up excluding him out of, just for fun, just because they liked to mess with him they always said.

He grumbled in annoyance, and then ran back into the woods after Saria.

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Thanks for all the reviews everyone! I'm so sorry I don't exactly have time to answer everyone's reviews. If you all want to check more about my stories or art just head to my deviantart account. The link is in my profile if any of you are interested.