Chapter 4: Setting Out
Ralph was up early the next morning, even though it killed him to be. "Good morning." Ralph said to Malon who was already awake. "Mornin'." She said back with a smile. "So listen, do you know any places I could stay? I sort of over stayed my welcome here and I've gotta find some way to get back to Tenno County." Ralph explained. "Over stayed your welcome? If you pick up a little work you can stay at the ranch as long as you like, Dad's always wanted a son." Malon said trying to convince Ralph to stay, she had really been enjoying his company and didn't want him to leave so soon. "Thanks but farm work doesn't suit lazy people like me, besides I have to go home or I'll lose my house." Malon didn't quite understand. "Well I heard there are inns in Kakariko." She said to him. "Kakariko? How do I get there?" He asked. "It's just east of castle town, When I'm done with my chores I'll take you." Malon said.
They began on their travel to Kakariko at noon, and by the time they reached the Castle Town gate, the sun was shining a perfect beam of light on the road to the village, almost as if guiding them. If Ralph had any sense of romance maybe he would've held Malon's hand. They soon reached Kakariko, "Okay Ralph, here's some money for your stay. It should be good for about three nights at the inn." Malon said handing him a leather pouch. "Thank you, I appreciate it." Ralph started to walk away from Malon towards the gate to the village, she felt a bubbling inside her stomach that worsened the further he walked away. "…Wait!" She called and began running towards him. "Did I forget something?" He asked. She hesitated for a moment out of nervousness but then rushed into him arms wide and closed him in a vice-like hug. "Yeah you did forget something." She said softly. Ralph hugged her back . "Okay… well… see ya around I guess." Malon said as she started to retreat back down the slope. "Yeah… see ya." He whispered back with a wave.
Kakariko was a pleasant little village, the trees surrounding it cast an almost perfect shade. Ralph walked by a little pen that held some chickens inside, and saw a tall red haired woman looking over it. "Excuse me ma'am but do you know where I could find an inn?" "Why yes I do. Right up that slope there, its ten rupees a night. How about I make you an offer though?" Ralph listened. "If you can bring me back three of my cucco who have escaped, I'll get you the first two nights at the inn free. Sound like a deal?" She asked. "Cucco? You mean these weird chickens? Yeah okay I'll bring back the lost birds for you." And with that Ralph was off, he began searching for chickens high and low. The first one he found wandering the grave yard. "There's the first one." He thought. He grabbed it by the body and walked back to the pen. The bird struggled and kicked in his hands, causing a flurry of feathers to get blown in Ralph's face. He got to the pen and aggressively threw the bird in the fence. The bird lightly fluttered down to its feet. "Try grabbing them by the talons, it works better." The red haired lady said. Ralph found the next cucco in the middle of the village. He crept up on it and grabbed its body, then quickly readjusted his grip so he was holding it by the feet. "Well I guess that does work." He thought to himself before returning the bird to its pen. "Okay, one more bird and you have two free nights!" The lady said cheerfully. "Why can't you get them yourself exactly? That seems pretty lazy of you as the caretaker of these birds or whatever." Ralph said in an annoyed tone. "Well you see, I'm actually allergic to cuccos. If I touch them I break out into a terrible rash." She replied. Ralph walked away to find the last cucco. "If she's allergic than why the hell is she looking out for those birds?" He thought to himself. His thoughts were cut off when he heard what sounded like a chicken coming from the top of a slope. He climbed up the dusty brown slope which was relatively steeper than all the other slopes in the village. There he found the last cucco. He approached it slowly as not to startle it and then pounced. He lifted it by the talons and was about to walk away when he noticed something. A large gate guarded by a lone soldier. Behind the soldier was a trail leading up to a mountain surrounded by a large black ring-like cloud. Ralph's sense of curiosity kicked in. "Excuse me sir, but where does this trail lead to, and why are you guarding it?" The soldier gave him a funny glance. "It leads to Death Mountain kid. I'm guarding it because under royal decree it is the sacred home of the Gorons and cannot be accessed by humans. Also there are a lot of dangerous things up there." Ralph was so confused. "What kind of dangerous things?" He asked. "Tektites, rock slides, and I even heard of a dragon." The soldier replied. "Well what's a Goron?" Ralph asked with an almost childish curiosity. The guard was starting to get annoyed. "What the hell kid! Are you stupid!?" The guard sighed before explaining. "Okay listen, Goron are a race of people who live in Death Mountain. They are really big and are as strong as almost any beast. After the Goron/Hylian civil war, a decree was issued that no human cross the gate to the mountain. Understand!?" Ralph nodded. "But wait, Why was there a war between Gorons and Hylians?" The guard got annoyed and charged Ralph with his spear. Ralph ran as fast as he could and leaped off the slope, cucco in hand and to his surprise he was gliding. The cucco was flapping as Ralph held onto it as he glided down the large slope. "This is amazing!" He shouted as he descended down to the middle of the village.
Night had begun to fall as Ralph returned the last bird. "Thanks for your help, I'll walk you to the inn." The woman said. The two walked to the inn, as they stepped inside they were greeted by a husky woman standing behind a counter. "Hey there Anju! How goes everything?" The woman asked. "Fine thanks to this young man." Anju replied. "Give this boy two nights on the house for me will you?" The woman behind the counter looked puzzled. "Two free nights!? I'll give him the first night on the house, that other night is coming out of your pocket though." The woman said. "Fair enough." Anju replied with a sigh. The woman moved from behind the counter to escort Ralph to his room. There was already a freshly made bed, Ralph took off his shoes and crawled into the bed, his long blonde hair frayed out onto the pillow as he drifted to sleep.
-Hey guys! Sorry I took so long with this chapter, I haven't really had the time and I only really write when I'm depressed to be honest. But here it is, I'll try to get the next chapter out much quicker.