Ilia had only been to their house a few times, now that she thought about it.
Rusl was a swordfighter, something which wasn't in her particular interest.
Uli, on the other hand, liked to weave and craft things, something more up her alley.
But today, she was going for a much different reason.
Her curiosity remained uninitiated, even after learning more about Link. The boy's mysterious nature remained just that, and she was only more determined to learn more about him.
The couple's house, where he was staying, was only across the creek from her house. Leaving early in the morning, she immedietely headed over there.
As she stepped up onto the porch, the front door opened and Rusl stepped out, sword on his back. His beared face parted into a smile as she came into his view.
"Good Morning, Ilia." He greeted, propping the door open. "How're you today?"
"Good Morning." She bowed her head. "I'm well, I came by to see Link."
"Ah, well..." Rusl's smile turned lopsided as he looked back into his home. "We caught him trying to sneak off into the forest last night, he's got some new scrapes and bruises on him and doesn't seem to be in the mood for talking."
"New?" She frowned, curiosity only increasing.
"Yeah, he's rather..." Rusl looked up thoughtfully. "Imprudent."
"He's rash..." She thought. "Noted."
"Well, I'm off to patrol a bit." He stepped out of the way, letting her pass. "You have fun, but go easy on him, okay?"
Ilia giggled. "Alright."
Stepping into the home, the door shutting behind her, she immediately noticed the delicious smell of food in the air. Most likely from Uli, who was cooking just across the room.
Link was just a few feet away from the door. He was laying down on one of the couches, his mask that he oh-so loved wearing was sitting on a table just next to him.
But the most noticeable, and in Ilia's opinion, the cutest thing, was the little toddler asleep next him, with Link's arm draped over him protectively.
Uli turned her head upon hearing the tiny laugh from Ilia, she herself smiling upon looking back at the scene.
"Colin's the only person he ever seems to care about." Uli remarked, turning back to her cooking. "He got angry after Rusl found him in the woods, so he sat there and Colin just walked over to him and fell asleep right in his lap. Link watched him the whole time and fell asleep too." She laughed. "I had to get Rusl to put them up on the couch or else they'd both just sleep on the floor all night."
Ilia smiled faintly at the story, head cocked to side as she studied his face. It was serene and relaxed, the many times she'd seen him it was cold and guarded, far from now.
There was some abrasions on his cheek and a nasty bruise under his right eye, obviously from his excursions last night. He still wore his armless black top, more injuries crossed his arms and shoulders.
Her gaze turned to the Wolf Mask he loved to wear. It seemed to be well taken care of, not a hint of wear on the surface or paint. Taking a step forward for a closer look, she froze when she noticed his sapphire eyes glaring at her, now wide awake.
The stare wasn't even menacing, it was just...cold. If looks could kill, she'd be on her way to the grave.
Uli brushed past her, kneeling down to eye-level with him, breaking his line of sight, her hand placed gently on his shoulder.
"Link, I have breakfast ready, it's time to get up." She said in her motherly tone, his face noticeably softening in her presence.
Perhaps it isn't just Colin who he cared about.
She pulled back his arm and picked up the now awake Colin, who looked around with tired eyes and yawned. Link sat up, swinging his feet around off the couch and hopping onto the wood, just a foot away from her.
Now that she was this close, Ilia noticed that he was about half a head taller than her, his eyes looked down on her before darting around the room, that bruise scarring his face made him look more grown up then he could possibly be.
He held his head high, he had done the same thing the third time she'd seen him, down the trail to the spring.
He looked quite prideful...
Maybe like a Wolf?
He stepped passed her, walking over to the table and sitting in one of the chairs. He propped himself on his elbow and scratched at stared at the weathered wood with his finger.
"Ilia, would you like to join us for breakfast?" Uli asked, setting Colin into a chair. "Unless you've already eaten, of course."
"No, only dad was awake when I left." She shook her head and laughed. "He's not any good at it, the mayor's duties don't include cooking. I didn't want to wake mom up though."
Link looked at her briefly, his cold expression now one of intrigue, probably at her mention of her father being mayor of the town he'd found himself in.
"Well, we have pumpkin soup, bread, and goat butter." Uli set bowls and plates on the table. "Help yourself."
"Did Rusl not eat?" Ilia inquired sitting down across from Uli, with Link to her left and Colin to her right.
"He has, but he prefers to keep it light during the morning." Uli stirred the soup and dipped a ladle into it. "He eats the majority during Lunch."
She poured the soup into Colin's bowl, then Link's, then Ilia's, setting the big pot in the middle of the table next to the butter and bread.
She hadn't picked up her spoon before Link took the bowl and tipped it back, downing the soup in one gulp. She blinked in surprise, he hadn't even reacted to the fact it was hot.
He blew out a breath of relief, wiping his mouth with the bandages on his arm. Then, he sat up to grab the ladle and fill up his bowl again, grabbing some bread and a stick of butter.
Ilia watched in surprise as he put about half the butter on the bread, then dipped it into his soup, before eating half of it in one bite.
By the time she'd remembered that she decided eat too, he'd gone through four bowls, and even more bread and butter.
Uli and Colin didn't even seem to mind, the latter ravenously eating his own food.
Was this a regular occurence? She'd have to ask Uli or Rusl later.
"Link." Uli said out of nowhere, not even looking at him, who's face was covered in food.
The boy rolled his eyes, reaching over and grabbing a cloth to clean his face off, throwing it back on the table and hopping off his chair.
He walked over to the couch, sitting down and sinking into it.
Ilia watched him curiously, his face turned towards the window in disinterest, he seemed to be watching the clouds go by.
"He never seems to speak, does he?" She asked Uli, noticing his sharp ears perk up. "Is he mute?"
"No, when he arrived last week, he was riding a horse with many wounds on him. He muttered his name then the horse's. Epona."
"Epona?" Ilia repeated, she was quite fond of animals. "What a lovely name, where is she? I don't I've seen her yet."
"Up at the stable, Fado is taking care of her."
Link whipped his head around, staring at them for a moment. Ilia turned back just in time for him to hop down from the couch and grab his wolf mask.
He pulled the band around his head and slide it over his face, concealing everything except his mouth, turning and calmly walking out of the house.
"Hmm..." Uli frowned. "I trust he won't try to leave again, especially with Rusl out. But, can you go keep an eye on him for me, just in case?"
She nodded, quickly finishing her soup and bread, pushing her bowl and plate away before darting out the door.
What was this girl's deal anyway?
Link had only crossed the small creek and gone up the hill before she'd caught up with him. The way she watched him, it freaked him out.
He wore a mask so nobody knew his face, it was a price to pay for his life. Only nine years old and he was already wanted dead by someone. He was lucky to even make it to this province, let alone the village with kind enough people to take care of him.
She, Ilia, walked close behind him, staring off to the side and watching the distant trees and mountains. She occasionally looked at him, studying his back as if it was the most interesting thing in the world.
He gritted his teeth, glad his back was to her, it really irritated him that she watched him so closely.
Maybe if he got Epona, he could actually escape. He could head further south and disappear off the map permantly.
When they got up to the ranch, the first thing he noticed were the many goats...
And the rancher guy attempting to wrangle Epona as she whinnied in protest, obviously uncomfortable with this stranger.
"Fado!" The girl cried in protest.
Link's fists clenched so tight his knuckles went white, long blonde hair bristling with rage as he stomped across the field and up to the man, wrenching the reins from his hands with brute force alone.
He released them after giving Fado a glare behind his mask, letting the Mare run free around the ranch.
"Oh! Uh...Freaky mask, kid." The rancher gulped, unnerved. "She's disturbing the goats, I had to get her back in the stable!"
He glowered at him, incredibly pissed off. The girl ran up to them, watching as Epona ran circles around the field, goats bleating and running out of her path.
"Link, you have to stop her!" She agreed. "We can't have the goats freaking out!"
Link turned his gaze on her, teeth gritted so hard it felt like they'd crack. Why should he care about their damn goats? This guy was hurting his horse, something that he'd kill someone for.
He'd nearly had already.
His mouth formed a line, gaze lowering to the grassy plain they stood on. And the plant they stood by.
He knelt down and picked the grass that grew there, the petals in the shape of a horseshoe.
Both of them watched in curiosity as he put the plant to his lips and began to play it like a flute, creating a lovely tune that'd been ingrained in his mind.
The tune itself seemed to soothe Epona. She whinnied in delight and trotted over to him, bowing her head to have her mane pet.
He smiled for the first time in a while, fully realizing the stares he was getting.
Soon, he felt flustered and angry once more, jumping up into her saddle, tilting his mask up as he glared down at them, taking hold of the reins.
"Do not follow me." His eyes locked with the girl's. "I won't hesitate to run you down."
Snapping the reins and giving a whoop, he and Epona shot off down the hill, heading towards the village exit.
And Ilia began to panic.
Y'know, Twilight!Link turned out for the best if you think about it. :/
I have been jogging for 3 hours everyday for the past 2 weeks, it's just wore me out. But don't worry, I'll get to updating Routine soon. I've got great ideas for it.
I did change the name cause "Imprudence" fits with the simple one-name theme I got going. "Routine" "Imprudence" y'know.
Link HATES it when someone hurts Epona, that little incident where someone did was NOT pretty. He loves to eat, possibly more than BOTW!Link. (That's a lie.) He also as a sibling-like bond with Colin, which continues all the way to his future adventure.
For some context, Colin is 2 years old, while Beth and Talo are 3 years old. I'm going off the theory that they're 10 and 11 years old respectively, since I couldn't find their official age. Malo (Obviously) isn't born yet.
Now, if you're looking into both Routine and Imprudence, keep notes because there will be a lot of connections.