CHAPTER THTHRE
Orange hews of the sun's long rays stretched up and across the horizon. Feeling calm and at ease, he found himself almost comfortable within his own skin, like a weight had been lifted from his chest. It felt good. He could feel the tension in his muscles evaporating and disappearing into the ether.
His face was that of contentment as he ran his hand across Epona's nose and muzzle. She stayed close to him. Gazing out over the canyon the world finally felt that little bit brighter. It was the small things, the fractions of beauty he now focussed on; the purple hews of the swift violet growing from the stark cliff face, the long shadows now cast across the majestic canyon rocks. The sunsets here were glorious, he had to concede, although none matched those to be found in the Gerudo Desert. Pulling out his Sheikah Slate, he selected some firewood and prepared to settle down for the evening.
Just then Epona raised her head sharply and turned her face toward the east. Her nostrils rippled and flared. With ears pricked forward, she listened intensely. Her breathing became loud and intense.
Link frowned and twisted round, quickly getting to his feet. A knot of tension started growing in his gut. He could sense the unease in his trusty steed, and his eyes scanned the horizon for any signs of danger
Epona snorted began circling her haunches, her front feet rearing up stamping firmly on the ground. She snorted loudly again. Link could see the muscles in her legs tensing as she lifted her head and threw it back, a warning call to any potential threat.
The blaring of bobokin horn suddenly blasted through the canyon. It bounced off the cliffs behind and sent shivers down Link's spine. The sound was all too familiar. Adrenaline instantly pumped through his muscles and veins, priming his body for what was to come. He knew the danger Epona had sensed and it was rapidly heading toward them.
With growing impatience, Epona grunted and began pushing forward, her nodding head held skyward and nostrils flaring in anticipation of battle. She snorted loudly, pulling Link along side her as she broke from a trot into a canter.
Link instinctively ran with her and vaulted into the saddle, his grip on the reins tight as Epona launched into a fierce gallop. The ground shook beneath them as Epona's hooves slammed across the sandstone rocks, her foothold never faltering and sending a hailstorm of dust and stones into the air behind. The wind whipped past them, the scent of danger heavy in the air.
Link teemed with fresh anger as he gripped and settled into the saddle, his right foot fumbling to find the stirrup. It was an ambush. How long they had been watching him he did not know. He could see six riders already, but more were appearing from the trees They were all blue and black bobokins. As survivors of The Calamity, these were the ones that were strong, cunning and intelligent. This was a planned and co-ordinated attack, launched under the cover of twilight. Fighting them would be no simple task. And with steep cliffs to the right of him and the Canyon to he left, he and Epona had no escape.
The muscles in Link's face tightened as the riders began to form rank and cut off his exit. But he felt no fear, instead planning his first attack. 'So, that's how you want to play it,' he snarled, gritting his teeth and reaching for the Lynel Bow. Taking quick stock of the situation, he now counted at least eight raiders thundering toward him, their battle cries echoing through the rocky terrain. It was a perilous situation, but he had faced similar threats before. His eyes narrowed as he counted at least eight riders channelling into the narrow strip of land beneath the cliff. 'Fine.'