Chapter Three: A Wolf at the Door

"The tide rises, the tide falls,

The twilight darkens, the curlew calls;

Along the sea-sands damp and brown

The traveller hastens toward the town,

And the tide rises, the tide falls.

Darkness settles on roofs and walls..."

—Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Pain! It filled his lupine senses, blinded him, and darkened his vision. He felt as if he were imploding and exploding at the same time. Every nerve hummed with tension. The pain filled his mind until he could bear it no longer, his internal consciousness heading towards a bright light. The giant wolf opened his eyes hazily, and found himself curled in a small grotto with his nose warm underneath his paw. He stretched painfully and made to move.

His legs were shaking and twitching as he struggled vainly to rise to his feet. He faltered several times, but after a few more tries, he gripped the ground with effort, dug his claws in, and pushed to a shaky stand. He tried to walk a few steps, paused for a moment, and gave himself a good shake. He furrowed his brows and pulled back his upper lip.

He smelled the unfamiliar air, unused to the stronger odor it held around him. It smelled strange. There were many distinct scents, some of which he had never smelled before. However, one familiar scent seemed to be missing. The smoky huskiness tingled the edge of his nose faintly. It went along with the feeling that his back should have been carrying more weight. That was impossible! His bruised body was already pounding from paw to pelt. Why would he want more weight?

He silently padded further through the forest, contemplating what to do next. Nothing doing except to keep moving forward. His body had a sense of newness to it: it felt alien, as if it did not belong to him. It had to belong to him, did it not? He tried thinking about it, pausing in his contemplation, using his utmost concentration to try to evoke the memories.

Flashes came to him then, of a group of man-beasts, of the color green, of a vestigial temple in the forest, of the smell of goat-prey, hoof-food. He recalled verdant monsters, monstrous giants with horns, and a hand, grasping at his throat. He remembered the fear, the panic, a frantic dash towards some unobtainable goal. Worst of all, he remembered the pain. He remembered the feeling of bones breaking, shaping, twisting in unnatural directions. He felt violently ill at the thought of an injury great enough to do that to him, a natural predator. He recalled a hole, a violent gaping abyss that seemed to swallow up everything around him. He remembered flashes of black and blue, of orange, of an unfamiliar language. He could not recollect his name, but the shackle around his paw and the broken chain links gave him an idea. Link. A wolf.

He could not remember anything else. He could not remember arriving here. The last thing he could recall clearly, the one thing that was not a blur, was this strange place, this forest: he had never been in a forest so closed off, so green. Vines were thick, making their way up trees like miniature paths. The air smelled wild and was mostly still, giving the place a sacred and holy feel, but it also had an eerie quality to it, haunting, melodic, and the very wind itself, whistling through the leaves and hollows of the gigantic trees, seemed to be playing some unknown tune. Faint impish sounds of laughter echoed around him. Every now and then, he would see a flash of color out of the corner of his eye. The trees grew thick outside the path. A few beams of sunlight made it through, giving the forest an ethereal glow. Time seemed of no consequence. It seemed this forest had been here for eternity and yet, never at all, springing into existence a few seconds before his entrance, his act of waking up. In the back of his mind, there was a dull thudding sound, almost a throbbing, that seemed to count down. Tick, Tock, Tick, Tock…what it was counting to or from he did not know. He felt as if he were a prisoner just waiting to for execution to end the trepidation, the anxiousness, the fear of suffocating inside his own prison cell. The thought that perhaps he seemed a little too intelligent, a little too knowledgeable of human institutions never crossed his mind.

The forest around him was most beautiful. In the patches of sunlight, some grass grew, and the felled trees added more garnish rather than taking away from the vibrant splendor around him. There was a stream happily gurgling through the trees, talking in a low susurrus in some places, laughing and giggling loudly in others.

He paused for a drink.

There were large flowers everywhere, some of the ground, some on old stumps, and even one by a small spring of water that did not look to be very deep. He traveled deeper inside, following the natural trail. He had been following this trail for hours, and was getting annoyed at how the trail seemed to be circling around in places.

A flash of light caught his eye. Three triangles sat in front of him, distorted from their natural alignment. He snorted. Natural alignment? How would I know? He paused at the sight, and stared hard, trying to will the stray thought back into place. He even sniffed at it, wondering if there was something wrong with the smell. Something about it was not right. They should be in order. Three triangles forming a fourth, larger triangle. He shook his head. As amusing as it was to contemplate this, the pathway before him beckoned. He felt a pull on his senses, urging him ahead. Though his muscles ached, he would not stop yet. He would carry on until he reached his destination, whatever that was.

The area was disjointed, small plateaus of land sticking up with an abyss at the bottom. It would be a fair jump. However, his animal athleticism made up for the distance. Though his legs were stiff, his muscles were well developed, and he was able to make the leap with ease. Hop. Hop. Hop. He felt like a meal, like one of those juicy rabbits from the warren he discovered a few miles back. Finally, he appeared at some sort of being that smelled...alive. Alive, yet not alive. The body was twisted and crying, and looked as if it was in some sort of stasis. He felt a chill run down his spine. The feeling made his hackles rise. Foreboding pervaded his senses. He bared his teeth, prepared to fight anything that came his way with fang and claw. He had not survived this long by being passive, and his instincts were top notch.

He nosed the door up, peering into the corridor. The corridor moved in a corkscrew fashion. He sauntered in slowly, moving into a lope, and then started fully sprinting, the world twisting and wobbling as he did so. Reality blurred around the edges as the corridor twirled and moved all around him, faster and faster, quicker and quicker, dizzier and dizzier until the sound of stone doors closing was the last thing he heard as darkness fell in front of his eyes.

Clock Town

The full moon rose slowly, low, large and bright, its soft light shining on the town below it. The townspeople were running about, going back and forth like worker bees in a particularly busy hive. The eve of the Carnival had once again arrived, and the preparations had yet to be complete for the Masquerade Ceremony. Kafei knew human error tended to add up. The more people involved in a situation, the more chances it had of going wrong due to lack of control. His job was to make sure that didn't happen. Nothing had happened that would seriously hurt the Carnival. The Goddess of Time was a benevolent mistress, but even She became angry if the people did not pay Her proper respects.

Kafei was trying. Part of his duty as the mayor was to make sure everything was going smoothly. This year he was finally a man. Again. Today marked his twenty-fifth year, although his body looked not yet eighteen. Hard pressed to keep up with the rest of his hive, the day had worn him out. It was his first time directing the Carnival after his father Dotour stepped down, and he was determined to make it a success. Although he was tired, he had the countenance of a man pleased with his work. He paused for a moment to survey his town.

The festival was in full swing, people buying goods and souvenirs everywhere he looked. Live bands were playing. The Indigo-Gos, a popular staple of the Carnival, were back again this year. He noted the increasing popularity of the new lead guitarist. Not a bad job, although Mikau played far better. Maybe that was his nostalgia showing, as his mother talked the same away about the band manager. Kafei just couldn't see him as a bassist. He shook his head.

The Deku princess and her escorts were there, haggling with a Zora merchant over some seashell jewelry. The Goron Elder was trying to stop two young ones from racing in the crowded area, but thankfully, the town guard had also stepped in to diffuse the situation. A few stragglers were by the woodworking and crafts' stalls, putting finishing touches on their masks. The carpenters had once again finished the viewing platform for those that would not sojourn to the top of the clock tower. Kafei had spoken to the Tower manager and Zubora, who had reported that there was nothing wrong with the mechanism for the lowering of the platform. Everything was ready for the Masquerade Ceremony. This year promised to be an especially good one—If only he could find a certain best friend of his.

Kafei needed to speak to Link about the festival's security. Ever since the demon mask incident, the townspeople had needed to be reassured that nothing like what happened seven years ago would happen again. Link was the Master of Revels this year, the position that was closest to the Goddess. Link would call the Gods this year with the blessed song. It seemed fitting, considering what had happened seven years ago. He was also the Captain of the Guard, and as he could not do the dual functions of Master and Captain, Kafei needed to assign a proxy security captain. Of course, in six years, nothing had happened, but it was always better to err on the side of caution. He just wished he could find him! A jolt of green flashed in the corner of his eye and he turned rapidly to look, only to be disappointed. Two women were haggling down the price of a bolt of vibrant green cloth. Kafei's eye twitched.

Link grinned in glee as he viewed Kafei's annoyance from behind the fabric stand. Oh, too perfect! Poor Kafei was too busy to have fun, what with all the work of the Carnival on his shoulders. It was also the perfect time to get away and spoil his daughter. Link had never really been around small children before, but now he knew why people called children the blessings of the Gods. He looked at the child on his hip. Kona (1) was cute as a button, curious, vivacious, and fearless at the tender age of three. She was a precocious child and resembled her "Unca 'Ink" far more in personality than her parents, often treating him like a third parent. She did what she could to imitate him in every way. He had been secretly teaching her basic sword stances, using a Deku stick in place of a sword. Kona enjoyed those lessons, learning them with an unusual vigor. He marveled at the way she had the deep red eyes of her father. If not for her hair, she would look like a younger version of him. Her hair leaned towards a rosy violet rather than the deep indigo of Kafei. At the moment, her creamy skin was flushed with exercise, almost matching her hair. Her Deku Scrub mask clenched tightly in her fist matched the brown-green hues of her outfit. She giggled, pleased with the idea of tricking her dad.

As Kafei neared, Link ducked farther behind the stall in order to hide from Kafei's sight, making Kona giggle again. He shushed her, putting a finger to his lips and winking. Link was tall, his shoulders wide, his body muscled, his posture warrior-like, and his movement fluid as a cat. The ceremonial robe of the Master of Revels adorned his shoulders. It was a brighter green than his tunic, though not by much. The silken fabric seemed to shimmer and ripple every time Link moved. Golden embroidery trailed both sides of the robe's seams, edging the bottom of the sleeves and the hem. These trimmings matched his mask crafted for him by the Great Fairy. A large, ceremonial staff attached to his back finished his outfit. The base was made of a dark, indeterminable wood. The top was a golden circle, with four smaller golden circles linked together inside, edging the larger one. An even smaller circle, connecting and overlapping the four interlinked circles, finished the staff. Strange geometric designs with detailing of the Four Giants edged the circles. It made it difficult to hide, but he managed, honed with years of experience. Link knew he made a sight, the priestly robes of the Master's costume giving him an intimidating figure. However, his current position, crouching behind the stall as if he were a frog with Kona attached to his hip like a wart, took away from his commanding presence.

Link quietly crept around the stall, furtively glancing behind him at Kafei. The young man still had not seen him yet, so he continued past the next few stalls, making his way to the stall where Kona was pointing.

Ah, he thought. Honey and Darling have outdone themselves this year. The portable arrow targets and spinning platform made for a fun, challenging game. It took effort for him to get the large yellow wolf plush that Kona had her eye on all afternoon, but seeing the smile on her face as he handed it to her was worth it.

"Imma call it 'Ink," Kona said, staring strangely at the toy now that she had it close. After a second, she held it close, looping her arms around its neck.

Link scratched the back of his head and grinned sheepishly.

"Wow, after me? Thanks, sweetheart," he said, kissing her on the top of the head.

"Mmm," Kona stuck her thumb in her mouth and started nibbling.

She was cute, that was for sure. She reached out both her arms in the universal gesture of 'pick me up.' Link obliged, putting the rosy little lady on his shoulders, strolling to the front of the Clock Tower where Kafei was talking to a group of townsmen with a harried expression on his face. He dismissed the men with a gesture as he caught sight of them.

"There you are! I've been looking for you both everywhere!" Kafei crossed his arms and then glanced sternly at Kona. "Does your mother know where you are?"

"No," Kona said petulantly, sticking her bottom lip out. She liked being contrary.

"Yes," Link stifled a laugh behind his sleeve. Anju did indeed know where she was, but Kona was in her terrible threes and loved teasing her father. She, Anju, and Link were the only three that could get away with it.

Kafei sighed. "All right, I'll let you get away with it this once, because I don't want to ruin your night at the Carnival. But!" he gestured to her dirty knees and smudged face, "You are filthy! Now run along to your mother and get yourself cleaned up."

"'Kay." Kafei smiled softly at the muttered word. He couldn't be angry with her. She was just too cute. That was bad for a parent.

The Mayor turned to Link with a look of exasperation on his face. "How does she always get so dirty? She's worse than I was at her age. I thought boys were supposed to be the hellions!"

"You should have seen the village where I grew up," Link said with a nostalgic smile. "The girls were the worst of the lot," He continued, thinking of the time Saria started a mud battle with him. Everyone eventually got involved, even Mido. It took four hours in the stream to scrub their tunics clean and even then, they didn't get all the mud out.

"Oh?" Kafei was curious. Link hardly every mentioned anything before entering Clock Town. Even after seven years of poking and prodding, he hadn't been able to find out anything but trivial information.

"Yeah. My friend Saria once put mud down my shirt. Started this huge battle with all the kids. Everyone got so dirty." Smiling sadly, and noticeably uncomfortable, the blond quickly changed the subject. "I asked Viscen to take over tonight."

"Yes. Good idea." Kafei was exasperated internally. It was as if he were a cat and Link was dangling a string in front of him. Every now and then, he'd let him grab hold of it before yanking it back, out of his reach. Nothing. "That was what I needed to talk you about. How are the preparations for the Ceremony?"

"Everything's ready for midnight. Viscen's got the soldiers and the defenses ready, just in case. Even the other Revelers are ready to start. Hiro was having a problem with his sword clasp catching his tunic, but that has been fixed now, thank the Gods."

"That's good. Everything always seems to go wrong right before the Masquerade, but we seem to be having a good year. Everything will be fine. Trust me."

Link widened his eyes "Saying something like that is just invoking the wrath of the Goddess."

As if confirming his statement, an enormous grey wolfos bounded out of the Clock Tower and crouched down with his fangs bared. It snarled and raised its hackles, shifting back and forth on its paws, ready to pounce. Screams sounded out from the town square as the townspeople backed away from the beast, running into the stalls, trampling one another in the rush to get away. Link and the wolfos stood facing each other, glaring intensely in a show of dominance. The moment seemed to last forever as fierce blue met fierce blue.

Link stood apprehensive, watching the wolfos for any kind of tensing of his muscles, which would give him a clue as to when it would try to pounce on him. His hindquarters twitched, and Link barely had time to grab his staff from his back before the wolfos was upon him.

For a moment, the light was too bright. Triangular ears perked up and hackles rising, Link sniffed the air, catching the intermingled scents of food and people. As his eyes adjusted to the flames of the torches, Link realized that he stood in the center of a great square. Somewhere in the crowd, a woman let out a loud scream. He turned his ears down at the loud noise, snarling at it. Man-beasts were scurrying around in fear, disturbed like an anthill. He growled warningly, confused by the sights and sounds. He caught the eye of a weird looking man-beast in green.

He thought back to the flashes of memory and snarled again as a fierce anger throbbed through him. The human being! The man in green did this to him, caused his pain! He pounced, leaping for the throat only to have his teeth close around the wooden stick the man-beast was holding. He had the man-beast on the ground, paws on either side of his head, as he lunged at the man, furiously, ferociously, only to be driven back time and time again by the stick. He moved his head from side to side like a snake, trying to get the thing out of his mouth. The man only drove it upwards, making his teeth catch and sink into the wood.

Kafei watched in awe from a distance as Link, with a deft twist of his arms, flipped the wolf over on its side and used the momentary lapse in battle to grab the proffered sword from Viscen. The wolfos was up quickly as well, and the two circled each other, probing, feinting for an opening. It was only a matter of who would lapse in concentration. The tension was palpable in the air as the two continued to circle, adrenalin pumping through those that had ceased to run in fear. They formed a wide, loose circle around the pair. Link's back to the crowd, the back of the wolfos to the Clock Tower. It was an awesome sight, Link in his ceremonial garb, intimidating, sure-footed, and filled with grace as lupine as the wolf. He was courageous to attack the wolfos with only a staff. Many people who had doubted his appointment as Captain were certainly losing those doubts now, Kafei thought with a grin.

Anju, who had arrived in the crowd worried about her husband and her friend, had thoughts that were a little different. Why is it only going after Link when there are much easier targets surrounding it? She stood near hidden behind one of the town guard, her arms clenched protectively around Kona. She need not have worried.

With only the staff, Link was a difficult opponent to face. With a sword, however, he was indomitable. The wolf faltered for a second, a claw catching on the rough tile of the plaza, and Link used that to his advantage. He ran towards it, rolled around it, and brought his sword up to slice the side of the wolfos.

The wolfos let out a howl of pain. The howl sounded oddly human, like a man mourning.

Kafei grinned again, waiting for the wolfos to disappear, as monsters were wont to do. When it did not, he frowned.

Link looked at the wolfos lying there on his side, whining, bleeding to death. Something was wrong. Monsters usually disappeared in a poof of smoke when the finishing blow was struck. His eyes widened. Maybe it was a true wolf, he thought with wonder. Termina had not seen true wolves in ages, ever since the Great Ikana War, as far as the legends went. The door…! Looking closer, he noticed the light gray markings on the wolf's face. If it was a true wolf, and not a wolfos, then they needed to save it.

The wolf raised his head slightly as Link got nearer, a half-hearted growl coming out of him, his eyes clouded over in pain. As Link came closer, he suddenly felt something resonate within him. The back of the wolf's left front paw began to light up, the fur becoming a lighter grey. A golden triangle shimmered, with two golden triangles beside it, forming a larger, third triangle. His eyes widened in shock.

The wolf had a piece of the Triforce.

"Help me! Somebody get Cremia or Romani!"

(1) Kona is a Hawaiian coffee. It is "one of the most expensive and sought-after coffees in the world," according to Wikipedia. The fruit of the Kona is referred to as a "cherry" because it "looks like a ripe cherry fruit." D'Anjou is a type of pear, and the origin of Anju's name. Thus, out of the combination of fruit and coffee, the daughter was born. With the last name of Kafei being Dotour, a coffee company (with the obvious puns on "aroma" and "café," I felt the name was apt (and of course, I'm using the old convention of taking the name of the father or the profession.)