I would like to thank Guest who reviewed my story. I am very grateful to you for telling me that you like this. It motivates me to continue. (I know I'm acting calm but when I read the review I had a minor heart attack of joy.)

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The next few days were really great. I pretty much mastered swimming now but I'm still not the best at swimming on the surface. It turns out that Vikktorri, isn't a cheating jerk but that she was 'testing me' to see if I would cheat as well. Since I didn't she saw me as honest, yet clever. And she liked that. We'd had a couple more friendly races. A winner was always difficult to determine. But I think they might've been going slow for me. And sadly, no matter how hard we tried, my voice wouldn't come back. I'm mad about it. But not a day went by when Tabari didn't cross my mind. And sometimes it affected my mood. But whenever either of the sisters asked me what was wrong, I just plastered a fake smile on my face and shook my head. They dropped the subject every time.
I wish I had known what was going to happen the next a few days from now otherwise I never would've left the lake to go to Castle Town for the upcoming festival.
Vikktorri gave me human boots that she had 'Zora-fied'. She pretty much just covered it in Zora scales. Vivian had given me provisions for the one-day travel. Then with quick good-byes, I set out.

I wish I had a horse. I thought as I tromped across Hyrule Field. My stomach growled hungrily after three hours. I sighed and ignored it. I didn't want to eat anything unless absolutely necessary. Half an hour later I swear my stomach was having convulsions. So I reached for my little bag that Vivian had stuffed with fruits. I pulled out an apple and took a huge bite out of it. I savored the taste as some of the juice dribbled down my chin. I wiped it off with my sleeve and swallowed. I sighed contently and ate the rest. I stopped when I got down to the core. I glanced around and saw a rabbit off to the side of the path. I tossed the apple core to it. The rabbit jumped away but slowly came forward, sniffing at it. Then the rabbit picked up the core in its mouth and ran off with it. I chuckled silently and continued walking. My feet were getting very sore as well as my legs. I forged ahead but eventually exhaustion overtook me and I collapsed under a large tree. I reached into my sack and felt around for my father's piccolo. My hand closed around the object and I withdrew it. It was a cylinder shaped instrument with an assortment of holes in it. It was cold and metal but a nickel color that glinted beautifully in the sunlight. I brought the instrument to my lips and played the notes that my father taught me. He always said to play it to keep my storm riding. Then he'd wink. I'd never really understood what he meant but the song always stuck. I never forgot it.
I played and let my eyes slide shut. The song was filling up my ears and the space around me. I thought I heard a sound off in the distance but I couldn't care less. I kept playing. Then the sound came again. This time I definitely heard something. I lowered the piccolo and looked around. A horse was galloping straight towards. I stood up and began backing away. As the horse got closer I saw that it had no rider. What?
The horse didn't stop. When it was only a few feet away I dove aside, clutching the piccolo to my chest. I turned over onto my stomach and stood, coming face-to-face, or I guess it would be face-to-muzzle, with the sleek, black, stallion. His coat was completely black but his mane and tail were a dazzling white.

Tempest? I mouthed wanting desperately to say his name but unable to. Memories of my horse came rushing back to me.

"What do you want me to see?" I giggled as a little seven year old. My father's huge hand was covering my eyes. He chuckled.
"It's a surprise, Aini."
I kept quiet after that and let him guide me. Suddenly it smelled like animals and it got really warm. My father took his hand away from my eyes. I gasped as he revealed that we were in the doorway of a stable full of horses
"W-what?" I turned to my father in joyous confusion. He was grinning broadly.
"You've been wanting a horse for some time now, right?" he said.
I stared, my mouth agape.
"Your mother and I think you're old enough to handle one."
"B-but... what about our money? Could we afford one?" I asked anxiously.
My father laughed. He ruffled my hair.
"Oh Aini, you're too young to be thinking of these things," Father told me, brushing my hair behind my ears. "But... we have enough," he faltered. "Just go pick out a horse!" he spun me around and gave me a playful shove forward.
I stumbled into the stable. I looked around at ever horse. Some were just standing there blinking, others were stomping their hooves impatient or eager to get outside into the open air.
I glanced into a stall on my left and saw two smaller horses in this one. They looked like opposites. One was black with a white mane and the other was white with a black mane. I reached over the stall door to see if either of them would notice me. The white one snorted and backed away from me. I frowned and turned to the black one. It made no sign of having any interest in me. I felt my heart sink. I turned away with my hand still on the stall door. I felt something warm nudge my hand. I turned and found myself staring into the eyes of the black horse. I reached up and cautiously touched it's nose. It didn't even flinch or try to back away or show any sign of fear. I smiled. I scratched it behind its ear and it friendly pushed its head into my arm. I laughed.
"Father!" I called out.
He was by my side in a flash. "Yes?"
I didn't look at him. "I want this one."
"Nice. What are you going to name it?"
"Him," I corrected. I thought for a moment. Then I grinned. "Tempest."

I sighed and threw my arms around the horse's neck. I ran my fingers through his mane. He licked my ear. I backed away laughing silently. I rubbed my ear with my sleeve. I sighed again and went around Tempest's side. I was a little shocked when I saw that he had reins on him but I didn't think too hard about it.
Without hesitation I mounted him. He reared back in shock a little and I gripped his mane. Realizing that it was still me he calmed down a little.
Alright. Let's see if you still remember how we trained you. I thought. I neglected the reins, having never used them before and instead threaded my fingers through him mane and closed them into tight fists. I gave him a little kick with my heels and he took off. I gripped his sides with my knees to hold on. I held my right heel against his side and he turned sharply in that direction. I released the pressure then pressed his side with my left heel so we were on the path again. I then kicked his sides with both feet simultaneously and he shot down the path at breakneck speed.
If I could've yelped I would've. I squeezed harder with my knees to hold on and lowered my torso down level with his neck. I closed my eyes, dizzy already. Now how do I stop? I wondered.
I eventually figured out two things. One; I pull on the reins or his mane to stop him. Two; horses eat. A lot. After only an hour my provision were three quarters of the way through. Tempest had slowed to a trot.
We really need to restock, Tempest. I thought even though I knew he couldn't hear me. I would've packed much more if I knew I would meet up with you! I grinned, patting Tempest's neck.
I swallowed and my throat pinched slightly. I dug around my pack but sighed in frustration when I came to the realization that I was out of water.
Dang it. I muttered in my head. We really need to find a clean source of water. I could tell Tempest was getting thirsty too. I pulled him to a stop and dismounted. I tugged on the reins and pulled him off to the side, under the shelter of a tree. I tied his reins to a low branch and sat with my back against the trunk. I sighed and wiped the perspiration from my brow. The melting heat of the summer sun was not helping at all. I closed my eyes. Just a few minutes...

A girl was screaming. My eyes snapped open. I shot to my feet and my head struck the branch above me. I fell back down, seeing stars. When I became fully conscious I realized I had slept for way too long. It was already dusk.
Shoot! I thought, gritting my teeth. The scream came again.
"Help!" Get away! Help! OW!"
Yep. Definitely a girl.
I peered around wildly searching for the source of the voice. I quickly spotted a wagon tumbling along the path with a worn-looking horse prancing along in front of it, pulling it. A large was sitting on the seat at the front of the wagon, egging the horse on looking panic-stricken. It passed by me and I saw a small girl, around my age, with fiery red hair firing desperately with a bow at a skeleton. Okay, a lot of skeletons. Or maybe more like an army of small skeletons.
Their eyes glowed eerily and they had long, sharp, red fingernail. Or claws. I couldn't really tell. They all had a tattered kilt-thing stretched around their bony waist. There was a horde of them chasing after the wagon. Every once in a while, they slashed out with their claws. One had managed to slice open the girl's leg and tears of pain were flowing down her face. She was desperately trying to protect huge jugs of... milk? Okay. Why not?
Then I realized how much of a predicament they were in. Their poor horse was slowing quickly, and the skeletons were closing the gap.
I turned to Tempest and fumbled to untie his reins. The branch it was tied to snapped off in the process. I clutched it and jumped onto Tempest. I kicked his sides swiftly and he took off. My left hand was gripping Tempest's mane, my right, the stick. I caught up to the skeletons quickly.
I whistled loudly getting their attention. They turned towards me and I quickly dispatched them with my stick and Tempest trampled many others. Every time I struck them hard enough, or ran them over with Tempest, they burst apart and were engulfed by green smoke.
I circled around the wagon and came at them again still whistling. A particularly large one lashed out at me and it's sharp bones surprisingly cut through my shoes and into my skin. I gasped in pain as tears sprang into my eyes. Another skeleton on the other side slashed Tempest's leg. He whinnied in pain and bucked, sending me flying. I was vaulted over his head and I landed on the ground, rolling some way, and eventually stopping in a tangled heap.
My stick had fallen somewhere but I couldn't see where it was. My shoulder ached from slamming it against a rock during my fall and my ankle stung from being open to the harsh air.
I opened my eyes and lifted my head. I blinked and tried to make out the blurry figures coming slowly towards me. My eyes came in and out of focus. Just as the first skeleton reached me, the one behind it exploded. The first one turned to see what had just happened and it met the same fate. Before I knew what was happening the group of skeletons were all blown to pieces one by one. An arrow lodged in the ground beside my foot. I looked up to see the red-haired girl standing in the wagon with a little bow. Her blue eyes were wild, her chest rising and falling rapidly. She lowered her bow when she saw that all of the skeletons were gone. She looked down at me and called out.
"Are you okay?"
I nodded. I tried to sit up. A wave of nausea swept over me and I fell back, my head thunking heavily against the hard ground.
"Daddy! Come here! Quick!" I heard the girl cry.
I heard thumping as the girl and man came running over to where I lay. I felt strong hands grip my shoulders and sit me up. My head rolled to the side and I kept my eyes shut.
"Are you alive?" a deep voice boomed into my ears.
My eyes shot open and the hands released my shoulders in surprise. Unprepared for that, I fell back again, hitting my head. Again.
Ow. I thought.
The man above me chuckled. "Oops. Sorry about that, lass," he pulled me up again. "Are you alright?"
I examined his face. He was a large man with dark hair pulled into a ponytail at the center back of his head. He had thick sideburns that grew on his upper lip into a mustache. His eyes were bright blue like the girl's and he had muscular, hairy arms.
I gave him a thumbs-up in response to his question.
"Can you talk?" the girl piped up.
"Malon..." the man hissed through his teeth.
"What?" the girl asked innocently. "I'm just asking."
I shook my head.
Malon, I'm guessing that's her name, gasped and placed her hands over her mouth.
"So can we ask you yes or no questions?" the man inquired, seemingly unfazed by my muteness.
I nodded.
"Are you a traveler?"
I nodded.
"Are you lost?"
I shook my head.
"Is that your horse?" he gestured to Tempest.
I nodded.
"Did you steal it?"
Frowning, I shook my head.
"Are you a Hylian?"
I nodded.
"Are you going to Hyrule?"
I nodded.
"Are you from Hyrule?"
I tilted my hand.
"Are you from Kakariko Village?"
I shook my head.
"Kokiri Forest?"
I shook my head.
"Gerudo Valley?"
I rolled my eyes and indicated my pointed ears and small nose.
"Guess not... this is a long-shot but Lake Hylia?"
I thought about it then nodded.
The man's and Malon's eyebrows shot up. They exchanged shocked glances then looked back at me.
"How come you're wearing a scarf?" Malon pointed to my neck.
I looked down at the faded blue cloth loosely wrapped around my neck to hide the metal slates. That I wasn't showing. I shook my head.
"Are you sick?" the man asked.
I shrugged. From how sick I was feeling I really couldn't tell.
"You should come back to the ranch with us!" he suggested. Malon was immediately all over the idea. I opened my mouth to protest but remembered that I couldn't so I just closed it again.
"It's the least we can do," the man continued. "After all, you saved our precious milk." He pulled Malon close. "And not to forget my daughter's life."
I blushed and then my ankle stung sharply. I remembered Tempest's injury. I stood up abruptly and stumbled over to him. I crouched, more like collapsed, next to his injured leg and examined it. It wasn't very deep thankfully and Tempest didn't appear to be in any serious pain. I tore off a strip of my shirt from the sleeve and began to use it to soak up teh blood from his injury. He winced some but otherwise didn't move.
I heard Malon and her father coming up behind me.
"So this is your horse?" the man asked.
I nodded without turning away from Tempest.
"She's beautiful," Malon breathed walking towards Tempest as if in a trance. Tempest snorted and shook his mane. I pointed to Malon and shook my head. Then I pointed to her father.
"Oh, your horse is a boy...?" Malon said thoughtfully. I nodded.
"Now if your horse was in better condition I'd ask if it could pull the wagon but..." Malon's father glanced down at Tempest's ankle. I nodded.
"We can tie him to the wagon and he can walk beside it," Malon's father suggested. I nodded again.
"Come on into the wagon!" Malon pattered excitedly, skipping away to the wagon She jumped into the back and sat down. She wave me over and patted the floor of the wagon beside her.
I stood up but a sharp pain zinged through my leg, forcing me down again.
"Here, let me help you," Malon's father reached down and lifted me up. He slung my arm around the back of his neck and told me to lean on him. I did so.
"My name's Talon. And that girl is my daughter Malon," he told me.
I bobbed my head.
"What's your name?"
I jutted my jaw out in annoyance.
"Oh, sorry, lass," Talon quickly apologized.
I shook my head. It's fine.
"Since you're sitting in the back with Malon, you can let her give you a name," Talon chuckled. "Oh, she'll have fun with that..." when we arrived at the wagon he lifted me up and set me down on the lip of the floor of the wagon, in front of the jugs of milk. He spoke to Malon.
"Can you tend to her ankle? You can practice your medic skills and since she can't speak," he winked. "why don't you give her a name?"
Talon went back around to the front of the wagon. Malon's eyes were shining with excitement.
"Hey, lass!" Talon called out to me. "Could you summon your horse?"
I clicked my tongue a few times. Tempest trotted over, favoring his injured leg. Talon led him around the side of the wagon and tied him to it. Then he clambered up onto teh ledge, took his own horse's reins in hand and flicked them, clicking his tongue. The horse began walking and the wagon jerked ahead.
It was pretty bumpy but I got used to it over time. Malon carefully pulled off my boot and rolled up my pant leg. I winced sharply and sucked in my breath and the material scraped against the wound.
Malon cringed. "Sorry!" she whined. She reached over the milk jugs and pulled out a little box.
She was wearing a long dress with fairly puffy sleeves. It as a creamy white and yellow color. She had on brown boots like mine and her hair was shockingly long, almost at her knees.
She opened the box and emptied it of its contents. It contained a few bottles of a red liquid, some rolls of gauze, a few safety pins were thrown in there as well. There was also a bottle of water and a smooth cloth. There was also an eyedropper.
She turned my leg so that the wound was facing upwards and I almost gagged. It was a few inches deep and some pus was oozing out of it. Blood had gushed from it but it seemed to have stopped now. Malon took a deep breath.
"This may sting a little," she warned, the eyedropper in her hand hovering over my injury. I noticed that it was filled with the red liquid.
I nodded and looked away. I felt something drip into my cut and at first nothing happened. Then I felt like my leg was on fire. I gasped and gritted my teeth. Tears sprang into my eyes and I screwed them shut. Then the sensation went away. I sighed and opened my eyes. I looked back at my ankle and my eyes widened. New skin was already stretching over the wound. The pus and dirt was being flushed out in a new stream of blood but it was leaning the wound. When the last layer of skin was pulled over the injury, all that was left was a faint scar. Malon began dabbing at the now healed injury with a damp cloth and it felt really soothing. I sighed contently. Thank you. I mouthed to Malon when she looked up.

Apparently she could lipread because she smiled and said, "Your'e welcome!"
When she finished cleaning my ankle is was blood-free and looked as good as new.
Wow. I thought. That liquid works great.
"That liquid is called Red Potion," Malon explained. "Creative name, right? You can also drink it. It heals numerous injuries over the length of five minutes. Only one swallow. I don't recommend it tough because it tastes something awful." She scrunched up her nose. "And if you drop it straight into the wound it's two or three depending on how bad the injury is."
I nodded. Useful.
I then remembered that Malon had an injury of her own. I pointed to her leg.
"Huh?" she looked down and saw the cut. "Oh," she said softly. "It's fine. I don't need the potion it'll heal quickly on its own."
I frowned and jabbed my finger harder towards her cut for it had turned yellow around the edges. I sign of an infection.
Malon bit her lip. "Look, I really don't think I should-"
I held up a hand, cutting her off. I pointed to myself, nodding.
Malon looked startled. "You do it? But... but..."
I huffed, annoyed. I snatched the eyedropper from her. I nodded at her. You're gonna let me do this.
Malon sighed. She closed her eyes and looked away. "Fine. But make it quick."
I squeezed the end of the eyedropper and one drop slid out of it, splashing in Malon's cut. There was a quick red flash as the potion started to work. Malon had the same reaction as I did only her was more dramatic. It probably had something to do with me having a pretty high pain tolerance compared to some.
Malon clenched her jaw and started breathing quickly. Tears slid down her cheeks and dripped onto her dress, leaving damp marks in the fabric. I watched as the cut began cleaning itself out just as mine did and as new flesh pulled itself over the break in the original flesh. when the process was over Malon opened her eyes carefully. She sighed gratefully.
"I'm glad that's over," she mumbled. Then she suddenly went back to her cheerful self. She clapped her hands excitedly.
"Now for a name!" she squealed.
Oh, boy... I thought. Here we go...
Malon began rattling off names so fast I could barely keep up with her. I listened hard but she never said Aini or Valliri. She knew way more names than Vivian! We spent almost five minutes going over names and we finally settled on the name Maia.
Three names now! Whoopdey-freaking-do. And nobody except my brother... knows... my... real... one...
Tabari.
I blew air out of my mouth as slowly as I could manage. My stomach tied itself into knots. I clutched it and turned away from Malon, letting my legs dangle over the edge of the wagon.
"What?" Malon sidled over next to me. She let her legs dangle as well. She tried to look me in the eye. "What's wrong?"
I didn't meet her gaze.
"Is it your family?"
I raised my head and stared at her. How did you...?
"Where is your family?" Malon asked. "Do you... do you... have one?"
I glared at the ground. Tears threatened to slip past the long unbroken barrier. Images of my siblings and parents flitted through my mind. I slowly shook my head.
"Oh, Maia!" Malon cried. She jumped onto me in a hug. At first I stiffened and leaned away waiting for her to release me. When she didn't I just relaxed and let her embrace me. I was comforted only slightly.
Malon let go. "I can fix your pant leg," she said pointing to the torn fabric.
I nodded. I rolled it back down and crawled back into the wagon. I replaced my boot.
"We can fix your boot as well." Malon said.
I grinned gratefully.
It was almost pitch black outside. Malon adn Talon had both lit lanterns.
"You girls might want to get some shut-eye," Talon called back to us. "It's likely that we won't get back to the ranch before sunrise so sleep while you can."
"Okay!" Malon replied. She turned to me. "Let's sleep, Maia."
With that she tossed me a blanket, grabbed one of her own, bundled herself up in it and fell asleep almost instantly.
I pulled the blanket over myself and curled up. I laid with my hands behind my head, on my back, my knees bent. I sighed and closed my eyes.
This is definitely not what I expected. I thought before exhaustion overtook me and I fell into a long rest.