For those of you who don't know. I updated on the appointed update day before. Check last chapter to get updated.

Wow, I feel like I'm going nowhere. That's how boring this chapter is. On the bright side, I do believe my block is over. So there should be no more convoluted updates.

If there was one thing the three travelers could agree on, it was that they all decided that bluesnap roots were the most vile tasting things on the face of the earth. It was from that point in the followings days that Link appointed himself the official hunter of the group. It was a bit difficult, as the only weapon he had, a sword, really wasn't suited for hunting from long distances… In fact, a sword really wasn't a hunting weapon.

Despite the fact that Link was the "official" hunter, Zelda and Vega were really doing all the work since they required no weaponry. However, the star had a little too much power behind his own magic leaving anything he flamed more charcoal than cooked meat.

So really, Zelda was doing all the work.

And it was frustrating. They couldn't travel as fast now that they had to spend a good portion of their time hunting rather than gathering food as they went. From what maker had shown them, the only edible plant in the forest were bluesnap roots. Anything else was poisonous or just as foul tasting as the bluesnaps. They still ate them, for lack of other edible things, but having some meat sometimes drowned out the foul flavor of the fetid plants of the forest.

As she squatted behind a bush with some nasty needles, waiting for some kind of animal to pass by, the witch couldn't help but think of one thing that was truly bothering her:

Magic.

Zelda had always fancied herself a pretty decent magician. Syrup and Maple had always told her she was one of the best, but here Vega was telling her that her magic was… crude. And since he was a star, a being composed mostly of magic, it had to be true. And she realized just how true it was as he charred a passing deer.

She sighed as she remembered it. They had each been hiding behind a tree. Makar, getting over the initial shock that they ate meat, had told them of an incoming herd of deer. Link signaled them when the animals were in sight. Zelda peered around the tree to see a couple of does and a stag. She looked to the stag and pursed her lips as she prepared the spell in her mind. Before her lips could even mutter the first syllable, the deer all perked up and began to bound off. She scowled as she saw Vega had just stepped out into the field, calm as she had ever seen him and felt him. But before the stag could disappear from sight, she felt something within the star. It wasn't something she could quite describe well, except that she felt something grow from within the silvertop. But it was strange… it grew from within him but it seemed like he was also feeling around himself. He extended an arm and the power that had grown within him was released in a glittering, golden flame. Even more amazing, it wasn't a normal firebolt of uncontrolled flames, it was like a lance… A shimmering lance…

She had never heard of any human mage casting a magic like that… And it discouraged Zelda. However, maybe Vega would be kind enough to-

No.

The thought pierced her mind quite firmly. The witch wasn't quite sure where the star was, but distance didn't seem to matter too much in the thought sharing. She pouted. At least most of her thoughts were to herself…

Still, the pout left as she cheered up a bit, realizing something. Sharing thoughts with Vega, whether he realized it or not, actually was making his attitude towards her lighter.

Out of the darkness of the trees, bringing her back to reality, a lone doe walked into her live of view. The doe, as all deer were, was looking around cautiously. Zelda found herself holding her breath as she watched the animal. She tried not to think of how cute she thought it was… about its slender and graceful form that showed her that the goddesses had created beautiful creatures…

She inwardly scowled and kept her eyes focused on where she would strike. The head showed her the eyes of the gentle beast, and she couldn't bring herself to kill something while she was looking it in the eye. The legs would give the creature a torturous death, and that sickened her. The heart was the best option, she felt, and probably the first that most people would go for. Zelda then tried to mimic Vega.

She closed her eyes and tried to feel the magic in the air. How did he do it, she wondered. She knew he felt the magic around him… and he somehow sucked it in and made it grow inside of him… But how did one manage something like that? She bit her lip and struggled with the very concept of it. Zelda reopened her eyes and saw that the deer was grazing quietly, still seeming ever alert. She slowly raised up a hand and tried to summon the magic around her. She tried to push the magic out of her hand but a spark flared and died just as quickly as it came. The witch was dismayed, but even more so when the deer saw the spark, then her, then jumped off and away.

"That's too bad. She looked like she had some good meat on her."

Zelda jumped at Link's comment. She hadn't realized that the page was behind her. She did not respond to him.

"Why did you not just flame it?" He asked, "You're good at that, but all you managed was a tiny little flare."

The witch gave the page a dirty look, but did answer him truthfully, "I was trying something different."

"You should stick to whatever you were doing before. Copying Vega may not be such a good idea."

She stood up and brushed herself off. "Well, I'll never know until I try."

"Actually, I was saying you shouldn't try because he's a man. He obviously casts magic better than you do." Whether Link's words were serious or not, Zelda still became utterly infuriated at them.

"Is that so?" She snapped, "Maybe my crude magic needs to teach you another lesson!" With an angry flick of her wrist, Link already knee what was coming.

He forcibly fell upon all of his limbs and grunted as his shape began to change and fur jutted from his skin. Colors left him once again, but his other senses increasing making up for it. He gnashed his fangs that had once been normal teeth and shook his head in rejection of the wolf form. Snorting and barking, flailing with himself wildly, Link came to the conclusion that he needed to learn how to keep his mouth shut.

Zelda glared down at him. "Well, you're a wolf now. I guess you can do the hunting." Link returned her glare with a growl. Smiling sweetly, she then left back to their camp site.

With a wolfish grunt, he went on to follow the deer that Zelda had lost. He was very surprised how he didn't even snap once at Zelda… Really, the whole wolf thing should have angered him more, and when he actually thought about it he was pretty angry at her! So why hadn't he told her so - not that it would sway that crazy girl's mind.

He paused and sat so his hind leg could scratch the itch forming underneath the collar that was forced on him.

Link came to a complete stop when he remembered the collar. A horrible thought came across his mind as he really thought about the collar. He had known that it tied him to Zelda. He figured all it could do was turn him into a wolf and back whenever she was angry enough to change his form or otherwise calm enough to restore him. But what if the collar was making him more subservient to her?

Nah. He said, pushing the thought to the back of his head. No woman's going to be controlling me.

And with that, the wolf-page figured he may as well do what the witch had asked. The faster she calmed down, the faster he could go back to being bipedal.

Anya sat in the room given to her for her stay at the castle. Being the only female of the council had its benefits. She was sure she had the most spacious room, as well as the only one with a private washroom. The soft colors and delicate designs on the furniture also told her that the room was definitely made for a woman. As she sat the small but pretty desk set aside by the window, she couldn't help but wonder if this room had once belonged to someone. The province holder couldn't hazard any guess as to what kind of woman had lived there, if any. She had not known of any woman besides herself that was allowed a private room in the castle.

With a sigh, she threw that thought away and glanced out the window, laying her had to rest against her hand. She really wished she could so something but Quinn was adamant on her laying low.

"I don't want to hear from you until Dragmire makes his move. We can't have him suspect that we are up to something."

Those were the young wizard's exact words, and she didn't like them very much. The Eldin native was left bored, what with the deliberations for the next king – or queen, she was hoping – weren't going to be continued for the next two days. The last meeting was far from successful in determining anything, so things were in a standstill. And since progress needed to be made, she felt the need to mingle… but Quinn didn't want her mingling.

The woman rolled her eyes, wondering why Quinn was the only man who she ever listened to.

Her chain of thought was interrupted when there was a knock on her door. "Excuse me, honored Anya, but Lord Dragmire would like to meet with you." Came a voice from behind the door.

It's about time. She thought to herself. "Thank you, please give me a moment." She said sweetly.

Anya stood and straightened out her dress, but stepped in front of the mirror to make sure she looked presentable. She flipped her hair over shoulders and then nodded in satisfaction. The province holder then opened the door and said to the messenger, "Lead the way."

The messenger, a young man barely old enough to be called so, inclined his head and then went on ahead. She followed, making sure she looked as graceful as a noble lady should. It wasn't long before the messenger stopped and knocked on the door to Ganondorf's study. "Lord Dragmire, the honored Anya to see you, as you requested."

"Let her in." He said from behind the door.

The messenger opened the door and gestured for Anya to enter first. She nodded politely to the messenger as she entered. As soon as she entered, she could see how the tastes of Quinn and Ganondorf differed. What really gave it away was the fact that the curtains were open and that everything was much more organized and… normal. Something that she had to admit was unexpected.

Sitting behind his desk, the Gerudo man dismissed the messenger, who went and closed the door. He then refocused his attention on Anya. "Please, sit." He said.

Smiling, she nodded in appreciation and sat at the chair before the desk. "Thank you, Lord Dragmire." She said, making sure to turn on her charm, "What may I ask do you wish to speak to me about?"

The dark gave a pleasant, but meaningless, smile. "I'll be direct, dear Anya, how much do you know exactly?" He asked.

Honestly, the woman had not expected him to be that direct, so she wasn't quite sure how to answer. But she figured she may as well be direct, in a womanly fashion, of course. "You're a politician - a high ranking politician, at that – and the king is dying. What else would you be after?"

Ganondorf laughed, and it was a true laugh of amusement, but it only lasted a moment. Still keeping his fake smile he continued, "You're mostly right. Of course, if you say that then I believe I have a good idea of what you want as well."

Anya made sure to smile back just as pleasantly and falsely. "We politicians are no better than mosquitoes." She commented.

"Very true… But I'm considering your words from our last meeting. Perhaps we can come to a compromise?"

"But of course, Lord Dragmire." She said. Well, Quinn… It looks like you were right.

AWHAW. Wolf Link is baaaack.

I'll try to see if I can get in another early chapter, but no promises. I'm in my final weeks of school, and that makes it the craziest time ever. Update schedules will be followed, however.