The Gerudo gave Knil a brief moment to regain his movement, and he set off toward the forest, a horde of girls following close behind. The crunching of the forest floor was the only sound any of them heard as he closed in on the cave, until Samira stepped up her pace to walk next to him. "You better be leading us right."

"Just shut up, and walk."

"You can't speak to me like-"

"Look." Knil rounded on her. "I'm not your underling, and I'm sure as hell not your ally. So just, keep your mouth shut and follow me." He spun back, marching off at a faster pace. A little ways from the cave, Knil stopped, holding out an arm. "Hold it."

"What is it?"

"They might be in there. Let me go first, and scope out the area."

Samira seemed as though she was going to retaliate, but she waved a hand back to her group. "Stand down, girls." Her eyes narrowed on Knil. "You better be back in five minutes."

"Yea, sure." Knil waved a dismissive hand back to her, drawing his sword as he headed in. So many thoughts washed through his mind, trying to pinpoint one that seemed logical. Suddenly a scream tore through his mind, drawing out all his breath with it. Dazed and confused, Knil dropped a hand on the wall, to try and steady himself. As instantly as that pain had come, it was gone. Knil glanced around, still panting for breath. He didn't see anything, but it didn't take a genius to figure out what had happened. Link was running out of time. Why the hell where those damn fountain faeries not there yet?

After a moment more to catch his breath, Knil started further into the cave. There was a faint glow off in the distance, which was sharply covered up, as he approached.

"Who's there!" Cole cried, stepping forward, as if he were going to do something. Luith put a hand down to stop him, and moved forward on his own. "It is good to see you have made it, my friend. But what of the Gerudo?"

Slowly, Knil approached him. He didn't care if Luith was reading his mind, in fact he was counting on it. He wasn't allowing his thoughts to go to anything he didn't want him to know. In a flash, Knil's fist had sailed out and collided with Luith's face, sending him straight back into the wall where he fell limp. Oops – guess he forgot to tell him that part.

Instantly, Cole started for Knil, screaming something about him being a two-timing bastard, he really didn't care. In return, the loud brat was met with a sharp kick to the teeth. He fell close to his father, but was still moving. Knil casually stepped forward and dropped a foot on Cole's chest so that he couldn't move.

"ALL CLEAR." He called, waving a hand down to the waiting Gerudo. Slowly. The narrow cave began to fill with lamp-light. "We searched in here." One of them protested.

"Well, evidently, you didn't search well enough." Samira retorted, taking the words right from Knil's mouth. "Where?" She addressed him this time.

Knil pointed to the, once again, freshly dug mound of dirt. "It's in there."

"Dig it up." She commanded her underlings.

"NO!" Cole cried, trying to push his way out from under Knil's boot. "No, you can't -"

"Shut up." Knil cut him off, kicking the child right square under the jaw, possibly dislodging a few teeth.

"Yes." He turned back to Samira's exclamation, as a silvery light filled the small cave. She was on her knees, lifting the stone into her hands. "Finally, I have my diamond. It's mine, and there's no one left to stop me."

"Pssht." Knil scoffed, leaning over her shoulder to get a better look. "What's so important about a shiny rock?"

Not even bothering to take her eyes from the stone, Samira laughed at his ignorance. "I wouldn't expect someone like you to understand the importance of something of this magnitude. The lost heirloom of my people. The only connection to our forgotten past."

"I wouldn't understand?" Knil's eyes fell in consideration. "You're wrong. I understand more about lost past than you think. That being said, I don't see the significance in needing something so frivolous to bring back that past."

Samira stood, clutching the stone in her arms. "Then I stand behind my previous statement." She pushed past him, commanding her other Gerudo to proceed her. "You understand nothing."

Knil stayed put, a few steps, glancing back at Luith, sword clenched in his hand. "Yea, maybe I don't."

There was a sharp flash, followed by a few seconds where no one knew what had happened. The Gerudo looked down in panic to see their leaders head roll under their feet. They spun around and saw Knil standing over Samira's body, blood dripping from the sword slung over his shoulder, and the gleaming stone in his hand. "Then again, I don't truly care."

The remaining Gerudo looked as if they wanted to retaliate. Knil placed the stone on the ground and stepped forward, holding his sword at the ready. "Anyone else care to challenge me?"

"You're going to pay for this." Another girl stepped up, raising her sword to him. "Girls, get him." With her leading the charge, the remaining Gerudo filed in on him. Knil stepped back, spinning his sword, to take out their new leader, along with a few others who realized too late their bottle necked situation. He almost started to wonder how many second in commands they had.

The Gerudo seemed at a brief loss of what to do, before, what he believed to be, the third leader decided to step up. She held her twin swords, squaring up Knil with her gaze. "Girls." She addressed the warriors, raising her sword. "Retreat."

To Knil's surprise, the group of women turned and bolted towards the entrance of the cave.

"JUMP!" Knil heard someone cry, forcing him to spin around before he even had a chance to decide whether or not he should give chase. Luith was awake again, his glowing hands held aloft. Not even bothering to question it, Knil jumped as hard as he could, just in time to have Luith slam his hands into the ground. From the impact of his fists, a wave of blue energy flooded the floor, racing towards the Gerudo. The energy seemed to stick their retreating feet to the ground.

Knil hit the ground again to see the whole mob collapse atop each other. "Grab the Stone and run." Luith rushed by him, Cole slung over his shoulder. Knil scooped up the glowing stone, by his feet, and chased after Luith. They sprang over the Gerudo and on out the cave. Knil continued to run for a bit, until he realized Luith had fallen behind.

Knil spun around to see he had placed his son on the ground, hands held up to the entrance. An earthquake started to fill the area, until finally, he jerked his hands back, and the entire cave collapsed in on the trapped Gerudo.

Briefly, dumbstruck, Knil made his way back over towards Luith. "You just killed them all."

"Surprising that you would object to such methods." He grinned viciously to Knil. "After all, you assisted." His expression softened, an arm going around Knil's shoulder. "Samira was an admirable leader. You are very bright to be able to deceive her the way you had."

Knil snorted. "Yea, sure."

Without warning, Luith punched Knil in the gut, dropping him to his knees. Knil coughed, holding his abdomen. "What the hell was that for?"

"Hmmph." Luith sauntered around him, picking up the stone. "I understand your desire to attack me, after what I'd done." He knelt next to Cole, holding the stone against his broken jaw. "However, I had to pay you back for hurting my son."

Knil coughed, trying to get to his feet. "Fair enough, but it's not my fault that kids a pain in the ass."

Luith smiled. "Some could say the same for you."

"YOU CAN'T DO THAT!" Cole screamed, immediately starting to rise. Luith threw an arm around his son. "It's alright. Everything is fine now. Knil is our friend. Right, kid?" He turned to face Knil, his expression fading. The dull ache, from the punch, had intensified into a sharp piercing pain. Luith rushed to his side. "What is wrong? I didn't think I had struck you that hard."

The pain felt as if Luith's fist had been a knife, making his face burn, and tears squeeze from his eyes. Knil heard a scream echo around him, unsure of whether or not it was his own. He glanced around until he found the glowing stone laying nearby. Mustering up his strength, Knil shoved Luith out of the way, grabbed the stone and ran.

"Hold on!" Cole started after him, but Luith held him back. "It's ok." He glanced up towards Knil's retreating back. "He needs it for something rather important. It'll return, one way or another."

xXx

Knil ran as fast as he could, holding the Spiritual Stone to his aching stomach. This stupid thing was supposed to heal wounds, so why wasn't it healing his? On top of that, why now was he finally starting to realize how exhausted he was?

Knil?

His legs started to burn, from the pursuit of his destination. He had to hurry. Who knows if those stupid faeries actually decided to come, or even if they came in time. His head started to swim, unable to truly place why. Pain he was used to, as well as the exhaustion that typically coupled it. He'd even known fear, but this pain was something else. Never before had he felt this kind of terror. This fear of loss.

The pain increased, mulling all thought he had left. Just leaving that burning passion. That undying desire that kept telling him he had to make it. No matter how much it hurt, he had to keep running.

The edges of his vision started to turn red. His mind hazed over, until finally, everything went black.

##

AN: THE END

ok, not really. can you imagine how many of you would want to kill me, if that was where i left it. lol, i wouldn't make it to the next chapter. but yea, I'm almost done, so close. then i get to start the ... never mind, pretend you didn't read that.

AN: