Hey, its EbonyShroud. Here is the follow-up to The Deranged Zora and the third story in the Unwanted Love Trilogy, The Wild Hunt. Please enjoy!
Outside of the Spirit Temple, the hot desert breeze swept across the sand. The sand shifted in the insistent breeze, dancing across the small dunes and settling again until another breeze disturbed their rest. The stars twinkled down on the desert; the moon was a silver crescent that shone majestically among the twinkling stars. The desert temple stood proud in the desert, sheltering many Gerudos that had come to worship.
"Another sandstorm is coming from the east," A young Gerudo whispered as she glanced behind her and scanned the horizon, she and her fellow Gerudos were kneeling in the shadow of their sacred temple. They wore ceremonial shawls made with weathered fabric and long skirts that were stained with sand from walking through the desert to reach their temple. They had been kneeling for several hours, ignoring the sun when it had been in the sky and the harsh winds that swept past them.
"Hush, Versa. We must wait until Nabooru has finished her offerings and prayers to Our Lady before we depart. Sandstorms are nothing compared to the anger of the Lady should we abandon her in fear of a sandstorm," The eldest gerudo hissed from the front line of kneeling Gerudos. The other older Gerudos glared back at the girl, annoyed with her disruption, before staring back towards the temple. Versa ducked her head and prayed a short apology to the goddess, her face turning red in embarrassment.
Nabooru placed a golden chalice on the offering stone table and looked up at the large statue of the Lady of the Sun. The giant statue was illuminated by the rich golden candle light, giving the statue a beautiful golden appearance. Nabooru was dressed in the traditional shaman robe; although it was far too big for her. However, since there was no King to appease the goddess, she had to take his abandoned position and lead the gerudos. She could not wear the traditional headdress, since the headdress was shaped from the skull of an ancient dragon and could not be adjusted to fit her head. However, her hair was tightly braided and blessed feathers were woven into her thick red hair.
"Goddess of the land, creator of your loving people, the days of the Wild Hunt are at hand and we ask for your guidance," Nabooru chanted, taking out her spear and laying it on the altar. On either side of her, her two most loyal Gerudos came with the Gerudo Clan's many spears, placing them on the table.
"May She Who Brings Light watch over us as we prepare for the coming days," The two girls answered, stepping back from the altar. Nabooru placed her hands on the altar, her eyes staring at the chalice she had placed on the table only moments before.
"Lady of the Sun, grant us the vision to those blessed with your favor!" She yelled, lifting her head to the face of the goddess. The spears on the altar smoked, the metal crumpling to white ash and a sharp acrid smell rising with the smoke.
Then all the Gerudos fell, not one of the Gerudos stayed upright as they were blessed with a vision from their goddess. Once the vision passed, the Gerudos regained their senses and returned to their kneeling position again. Some of them cried with joy, some were silent as they contemplated the vision sent to them. Nabooru, however, giggled like a young Gerudo when she received her first scimitar. Her goddess had blessed her richly; she could barely contain the love she had for her Goddess for the wondeful blessing. Even though her vision was hazy, something she wondered about and soon forgot in her eagerness, she recognised her prey instantly. She, and only she, was granted the boon to have Link as her prey and soon-to-be-lover.
Link frantically began packing once he reached Lon Lon Ranch. He was not going to wait until the Wild Hunt started to get away. He already had to survive Ruto's desperate attempts at marriage, he tried not to imagine what would happen if Nabooru managed to find him. The Gerudo were not known for being angelic women who assist weary travelers, they were theives and skilled warriors. If anything, he would have a much harder time escaping them if he happened to be caught off-guard.
"Will you really be all right? You don't think anyone will go there searching for you?" Malon asked as she hurried in, giving him two loaves of bread wrapped in rough cloth and a bottle of Lon Lon ranch's specialty milk. All the drawers had been ripped open, clothes were scattered around as Link figured out he could fit into his pack. Malon frowned at the mess, she always tried to keep the house she shared with her father, Link, and Ingo clean. However, she knew it was not the right time to scold him about making messes. He had to leave as soon as possible, in order to reach his destination and hide before the gerudos left their fortress home in search of men.
"I'll be fine, they shouldn't come since it's very easy to get lost in Lost Woods. There is the added fact that no men are out there to find, just the Kokiri children. I will hide out in the woods for a week and then come back once it is safe. It should be safe for me there," Link said hastily as he put the loaves and bottle into the bag also. Checking twice to make sure he had all he needed, he swung it over his shoulder and hurried out the door. Malon rushed after him.
"Be safe, all right!" She shouted as he jumped onto Epona. The horse snorted as if in irritation, but her eyes sparkled happily when she saw her master again.
"I will, just make sure you dad stays away from them until this whole mess is over!" Link shouted back, and then Epona tore out of the ranch.
"He is gone again," Malon whispered unhappily and then hurried inside to wake her father and Ingo and alert them about the 'surprise' that would be arriving in three days.