Alright, I admit, I couldn't help adding my favourite OC to the mix. But, she's a helpful girl.


Over the course of that day, the Storm Hawks were introduced to everyone in the village: Bo was an older -- and rounder -- man with a weird moustache. He was the leader of Ordon Village. There was Uli, the young, and quite pregnant, woman who'd arranged a sleeping place for the Storm Hawks. Fado was man who owned the ranch; he was tall-ish and quite skinny with darker hair. Jaggle was husband to Fergie and wood-worker, though he was also a part-time farmer. Sera was round and almost tired looking, though her blond hair was almost always perfectly done. Hanch was Sera's wife and had red spots all over his face, as if he were recovering from some sort of insect attack. The last person that the Storm Hawks met was Rusl, the only warrior in the village and Uli's husband. He seemed to have a fatherly relationship with Link, and the boy looked up at him with respect.

For the rest of the day, the Storm Hawks were told general knowledge of Hyrule, as well as a little bit of history and Link's extensive part in it. It was nearly sunset when anything really interesting happened.

The sun was minutes from touching the horizon when something like a huge black bird flew impossibly fast around the sky and suddenly changed direction to land with tonnes of force in front of the wooden ranch gate. By the time the 'bird' had recovered from its landing, Link and Aerrow had led the charge to the landing site, the other Storm Hawks following and the villagers beyond them.

The dust finally cleared and a tall, broad, blond man wearing black clothing, including a huge cape, appeared clutching the wrist of a girl who looked only a bit younger than Aerrow, Finn, and Piper. Her long auburn chocolate brown hair, while loose and despite her struggles, remained shiny and relatively knot-free. She wore a loose, thick top with a hood and a thick metal zipper, as well as dark blue bottoms.

"Let me go!" she cried and within her struggles, she caught a hold of the zipper and ripped the top open, revealing a light blue, tightly-fitted top. The man, who'd been holding her clothed wrist, lost his grip on the girl. She fell backward and quickly scrambled beside Link. The man started to advance on her, but both older boys closed in front of her.

"Fine," he growled, "But you know you won't be getting back without coming with me."

"And of course I'd do that," she retorted sarcastically. The man seemed to relent and almost turn to go, but the girl could read the look in his eyes. She went to push Aerrow away from the man's cruel grasp, but she was too slow and almost closed her hand around Aerrow's ankle. She jumped up and got to a position just behind Link as the rest of Aerrow's squadron came forward to defend their leader.

Junko banged his fists together, but seemed surprised when nothing happened. Finn held up his steely crossbow, but watched in near shock as the crystal tips faded. Piper moaned.

"I forgot to tell you guys. Crystals don't work here," she said. The girl was still slightly behind Link when the man in black said,

"It's either you or him, but you know how much more valuable you are to me. Come now and no one will get hurt." He had one arm across Aerrow's chest, and what with his size, it was futile to struggle. With his free arm, he pulled a silver dagger from his belt, "Except you of course." He aimed the comment towards the girl. She looked down at her feet.

********

Right now would be the wrong time to give away my plan, which I was working up in milliseconds. With my peripheral vision, I looked for anything that would help. I could imagine the fear in the red-haired guy's eyes, and sweat on his forehead. My head was still bent, so the Shadow, the man who'd brought me here, couldn't see where my eyes were.

"I need your sword," I breathed to the guy in green. "Distract him with an arrow once I have it." I could practically feel the distrust emanating from him, but he understood the situation. The Shadow wouldn't hesitate to take a life. The guy in green reached a hand behind his back and started to twist the sword in its leather sheath until it was released. He let it carefully slide down the back of his leg, keeping it hidden, until I walked forward, feigning consent. As I walked by, I nonchalantly took the sword and hid it as I walked. When I was near enough to strike, I hear the guy in green, lightening fast, draw his bow and shoot an arrow just an inch from the Shadow's ear.

"Missed!" the Shadow exclaimed, lifting the dagger. I stabbed at his side, away from the red-haired guy, and hit my target, enough to make him bleed, but what he'd said was true: There was no way I could get out of this place without him. After all, he'd been the one to take over my dream.

He cried out, grasping his side and letting go of the red-haired guy. He also dropped the dagger, which fell onto the dirt road with a dull clang. I whipped the sword around to hold it at his neck.

"Go now," I growled.

"And you still know you can't leave yourself without me?" he said, narrowing his eyes.

"Yes. Now—"

"I know, I know. I'm going now," he snapped, becoming like a cross between a group of bats, and a huge, black bird once again, fleeing somewhere to lick his wounds. When I was sure he was gone, I turned to the motley group behind me, first handing the sword, hilt-first, back to the guy in green, then said,

"I'm Tina," to everyone. At that point, I collapsed, though whether from weakness or simply the strain of long dream-travel, I don't really know.