I woke up feeling more tired than usual. I sat up and looked outside my window to see that it was still pitch dark. It couldn't have been later than 3:00 in the morning.

Lying back down, I closed my eyes and tried to go back to sleep. All I could see was Link's face.

A noise downstairs jolted my eyes back open. It sounded like footsteps, but they were quick and purposed; like they wanted me to hear them and follow them.

Obeying their beckoning, I got up from my bed and crept across my wood floor to my door.

Wincing now and then from the occasional creak in the floors at the fear of being heard, I made my way down the stairs.

Peaking around the corner into the living room, I tried to spot the mysterious person that was making the noise.

Suddenly, I was grabbed from behind and thrown to the ground.

I turned over to see a strange creature with little red eyes staring at me through the darkness.

I looked on in horror when the thing held up a piece of cloth and tied it around my mouth. I tried to kick at it, but it grabbed my hands and legs and tied them together also.

Completely helpless, the thing dragged me out the door and into the cold darkness.

. . . .

After a while of being dragged along the ground, choking on dust, the thing stopped in the center of the village and let out a cry that sounded similar to a dog's bark.

Suddenly, a whole army of the things came out of the darkness and crowded around me. I recognized them this time.

They were bulbins.

The one that was holding me let out another bark and gestured for the others to follow it.

They all let out little distinct barks of their own and headed for the other houses in the village.

They must be going after the other's, I thought, but… why?

First on the list were Talo and Malo. Four of them went into their house for the capture.

A few minutes later, Malo and Talo were brought out of the house in the same fashion I had been. They were kicking and screaming through the cloth and rope that bound their bodies. I watched helplessly, almost crying that I couldn't do anything to get them out of this situation.

Colin was next. Two went in this time, and a few minutes later, Colin was drug out of the house, crying.

Beth was brought out by only one, just as I had. She struggled slightly, but soon gave up, knowing there was no way out.

When they all seemed content with their findings, the leader let out another bark and began to head in the direction of the forest. The others began to follow him, letting out satisfied barks occasionally.

Again, dust threatened to choke me and sticks and rocks scratched and bruised my face along with the rest of my body. The chill in the night air was almost unbearable.

Suddenly, I felt freezing cold water completely cover my body. I looked up to see a familiar place.

It was Ordon spring.

The lead bulbin stopped and looked around. It then pulled out a horn in the shape of a crescent and put the unique instrument to its lips.

A terrible noise emitted from it; not music, for sure.

With great relief to my ears, it didn't last long before the bulbin stopped and turned toward the entrance of the spring, looking as if it anticipated the arrival of something.

A few moments passed before I heard increasingly loud hoof beats coming in the direction of the spring.

My already high-level terror skyrocketed when an enormous blue boar with a hideous giant bulbin riding on top tromped into the spring with a triumphant, snaggle-toothed smile played upon his lips.

It looked at all of our horror-stricken faces and his smile grew wider.

He pulled out an even bigger horn and blew the same, hideous tune that the smaller-scale bulbin had played before.

Smiling once more, he looked up into the sky. My eyes followed his up into the air to see a dark portal begin to open directly above the spring.

He gave all of us one last glance before riding out of the spring. Several of the bulbins began to chase after him.

The bulbin that was holding me smiled and also started to follow along behind the big boar.

Being drug along the ground really began to take its toll on my fragile body.

When I had finally taken too much damage to bear… I blacked out.

. . . . . .

When I opened my eyes, a bright light threatened to blind me, making me squint.

Ignoring the light for now, I bolted upright and looked around. Proving to be too rash of a move after just waking up, I held my pounding head. I felt like I had just got hit with a thousand pound hammer.

"So, you're awake?" a female voice asked.

I turned to the voice to see a large woman standing in the doorway. Her hair was in braids tied up in the back and she wore a slightly revealing outfit. She smiled an inviting smile at me and started heading towards the bed I was in.

"I bet you're wondering what you're doing here. Some of my friends found you passed out in Hyrule field next to a bulbin camp. They destroyed the camp and brought you here. Good thing, too. You were mighty bruised and had several injuries, but we gotcha bandaged up and on the road to recovery!" the woman said.

I just stared at her, trying to take in all that she had just told me. My head was still throbbing and I didn't really want to think about anything else at the moment.

"Oh, pardon me. Where are my manners? My name is Telma. May I ask what your name is?" she said in a sweet tone.

I suddenly realized that my throat was on fire. I didn't want to talk. I didn't even really want to breathe, but I also didn't want to be rude seeing as her friends had saved my life and then taken care of me.

"My n-name is Ilia. Thank you for saving me," I choked, some-what finding my voice.

"What a lovely name, darlin'! Are you hungry? I could get you some food if you like," she said, wearing her ever-present sweet smile.

Food was the last thing I wanted. I felt sick to my stomach, but I was dangerously thirsty.

"I wouldn't mind some water," I said meekly.

"Sure thing! I'll be right back, honey. Just relax and make yourself at home," Telma said as she hopped up and left the room.

Home.

Where was home?

Where was I?

Where were Malo, Talo, Colin, and Beth?

These questions bombed my throbbing head until I thought I was going to pass out.

Lying back down in the bed I was in, I closed my eyes to try and calm the awful pain in my head.