K'ger: Ok, not much to say here, except that I don't own the lyrics to the song that is featured in this chapter. All credit goes to WindWaveProductions on YouTube.

And a gigantic shout out to Link'sLily! She made the amazing cover art for this story! I absolutely adore this picture, and thank you so, so, so, so SOOOOOO much for drawing this AND letting me use it as the cover art! I love it so much! You're the best!

Hope Has Died, Be My Guide

They had lost the strange creature's trail. For an entire night, they had ridden hard, relentlessly following the glowing patches of grass. But as dawn had started to break, the trail had begun to weaken with the coming sunlight. And as the sun crested the mountainous eastern region, the trail suddenly vanished.

Malon pulled Epona up as the glowing patches of grass disappeared altogether, vanishing into nothingness. The big red mare pranced beneath her, muscles tight with nerves. When she reached a hand down to stroke her neck, the mare's skin twitched, as if her touch wasn't welcome.

She looked up, scanning the place they had come to. It was a low flatland, with thick, straw-like grasses that grew in wide, yellow clumps, and thick trees with moss and mushrooms growing on their trunks. The thick bows of the trees shaded the little hollow, and the sunlight that broke the leaves dappled the ground with gentle yellow and orange hues.

But Epona didn't like the place. Beneath Malon, she pawed at the ground with her massive hooves, kicking up clumps of the grass and dirt and pinning her ears flat against the back of her neck. She arched her neck, giving an aggressive tilt to her head, a breathy snort escaping her lips as she stared intently at the far edge of glen.

There was a rustling sound, like dry autumn leaves blowing in the wind, and the head of an animal popped into sight from beyond the crest of a rolling hill in the distance. Epona threw back her head, coming dangerously close to knocking Malon, Kara and Rinku off. Shouting, Malon shielded the two young children in front of her, and groaned when the back of the mare's head whacked her painfully in the shoulder.

"Epona!" she yelled, scolding the mare. "Settle down or you'll kill us all!"

At the sound of her master's voice, the mare did calm slightly, letting her head droop forward slightly, ears dropping to either side in slight shame of her behavior. The filly that was still tied to her saddle whinnied in a shrill tone, and backed up until the rope grew tight.

Beside them, Cerus nickered unsurely beneath Jack and McKenna, looking between the creature in the distance and Epona.

"What is that thing and why are the horses acting up?" Jack questioned, holding tight to McKenna.

"I don't know." Malon answered simply, slipping from Epona's back while the mare did remain grounded and pulling Kara and Rinku down with her. Epona threatened to bolt as soon as Kara and Rinku were on the ground, but Malon stopped her with a simple tug on the horse's thick white mane.

The animal moved a bit toward them, revealing more of its body structure. It was a bull. A huge bull, with massive, humped shoulders and cream colored horns that curved outward and upward, ending in darkened, deadly sharp points. Its coat was short, and colored an off-white, with small splotches of darker hairs spotting its thick body. As it walked toward them, its hooves came into view as well. They were gargantuan, thick and heavy, and could easily crush someone's foot with a single step.

The early morning sun silhouetted the giant beast as it came astride the rolling hill. It stopped as its small, emotionless black eyes came to rest on their small group. Bubbling, frothing saliva came from its mouth as a deep, frenzied roar rumbled out from deep in its throat.

Epona reared up, frightening the filly that was still tied to her, and Cerus backed up a few paces as the bull pawed at the ground, then surged forward. The bull's hooves dug deep into the ground, leaving grooves in his wake.

Kara and Rinku screamed as the bull drew near, and in the last seconds, Malon grabbed them both and bolted out of the beast's path. The bull lowered its head, horns brandished, and skidded around on its hooves, turning to chase the three of them.

The bull roared again when Cerus crashed suddenly into his side, knocking him away from Kara, Rinku and Malon, and sending the beast sliding across the ground with a mighty thud. The bull groaned, and rose to its feet again, this time throwing an evil look to Jack, McKenna and Cerus. Epona and the filly followed behind Malon, Kara and Rinku, creating a shield of sorts, walking between them and the bull.

Glancing over her shoulder, Malon looked over at the bull, which was now pawing at the ground, undecided on whether to charge them or Jack and McKenna, and noticed a strange mark on its shoulder. The mark was a brand, a circle surrounding the insignia of a thorn-covered rose.

She stopped short, turning to face the bull. The bull snorted as their eyes met, and took a few steps toward her.

"Epona, protect these two." She murmured, running a hand over the mare's neck as she passed.

She and the bull stood directly across from each other, and a calm, confident smile slowly worked across Malon's lips as she stared it down. Never once did she blink as the bull made a few more moves toward her, every step sending a shuddering wave through the beast's extensive muscles. The bull shook its head, a splatter of froth escaping its maw as it approached her.

"Malon! What the hell do you think you're doing?!" Jack cried, ramming the backs of his heels down onto Cerus' sides. The stallion leapt forward, starting toward her and the bull.

She raised a hand, jutting her palm toward them.

"Stop. Don't." She said, keeping her tone flat, never breaking eye contact with the bull. Cerus pulled up to a stop, and Jack and McKenna exchanged nervous looks.

Malon stood completely still, eyes never breaking from the bull's. The bull continued in its approach, eyes holding a strange look, almost like a sickness. Its breath was hot and acrid on her face as it drew near, and smelled of fermenting grass and hay. She slowly raised her hand again, this time reaching it forward toward the beast. Her fingers brushed against the bull's forehead, and she flattened her palm as the creature came to a stop.

"Calm your fury," she whispered in a low, calming voice. "There is nothing to fear here."

The bull's eyes flickered, almost as if for a moment, his eye color changed from lifeless black to brown. They returned to the black color seconds later, and he let loose another fearsome roar, pushing his head forward and down, so that his horns came inches from jabbing into her.

Malon stayed still, keeping her arm loose, so that his movements merely moved her with him. The bull pulled away, looking at her with peculiar glint in its eyes, like confusion.

"You don't have to worry. I'm not going to hurt you," she continued, taking a gentle step forward and putting her hand on the bull's forehead again. He shuddered underneath her touch, but this time remained still.

"Its ok. Calm down, everything's alright."

The bull's eyes flickered color again, and a frightening sound like shattering glass filled everyone's ears. The bull staggered away from Malon, backing away, head swinging side to side as if shaking an unwanted bug. When it looked up again, eyes meeting hers, she found that they now remained the milky brown color that had flickered through his irises occasionally.

A thud came from the bull, and everyone turned their heads toward him to see that the gargantuan creature had slumped back, sitting awkwardly on its haunches.

Malon stared at the bull for a few moments more before Cerus drew her attention, trotting quickly to bring his master over to her side. Jack slipped easily from the stallion's back, and gave her a wide-eyed look, mouth hanging slightly agape out of shock.

"How did you-? When did you-?" He stammered, looking quickly between her and the bull. Malon laughed softly, and knelt down when Kara and Rinku came bounding toward her, a jumble of excited cries and nervous mutterings preceding them.

"Momma, that was amazing!" Kara enthused, both small hands balled into fists and clutched over her chest. The little girl bounced on her feet, looking at her mother with a glow of admiration in her huge blue eyes. Rinku stayed a few feet away, eyes glued to the bull.

"It's ok Rinky, your Momma's got this all under control." Jack said, rough voice containing a twinge of excitement. He leaned over and picked the little boy up, ignoring the meek, soft-spoken protest that he gave, and settling him on his shoulders. It was a well-known fact to both his parents that Rinku did not care for the nickname his "Uncle Jack" had given him. But, Jack being Jack, ignored this, and proceeded to call him by the distasteful name whenever given the chance.

The bull slowly rose to its feet yet again, much more gently than the previous times, and came over to Malon, skin twitching ever so slightly out of nerves. Malon put out a hand, and smiled when the animal gingerly pressed its muzzle into the palm of her hand.

"That's a good boy." She cooed, stroking the bull's muzzle before walking away, over to where Epona and the filly were standing, away from the ruckus. She opened the saddlebags hanging off of the mare's haunches, and produced a coil of thick, sturdy rope.

Slowly, calmingly, she rubbed a hand over the bull's neck, distracting him as she tied a knot in the rope she had swung over his neck, tying him so that he could be led along.

The bull started for a moment when she gave a soft tug to the rope, and the rope pulled on his neck. But meeting her eyes again, Malon coerced the bull to follow her over to Epona. The mare reached forward as the bull came closer, and gently touched her nose to his, breathing in its scent. The bull stayed still, and moved along, following, after Malon swung onto the mare's back, kicking her forward.

"Rinku, would you like to ride with me? Or Uncle Jack?" She asked, pulling Epona over to Cerus' side. Kara scrabbled up to sit in front of her on Epona and, with a gentle hand, scratched the bull's neck.

"Um…Uncle Jack I guess." He murmured in reply, his eyes squeezing shut as Jack's hands tightened around his middle and he was swung down to sit in front of McKenna.

Malon, after making sure her grip was firm on the bull's rope, and that Kara was settled in front of her, kicked Epona forward, urging the mare toward the west. She led the small group silently, following a path that was burned permanently into her memory. She had visited her sister many times before, but as she had started her own family with Link and had helped take over the ranch, her visits had all but died off.

A deep seated guilt rose up from the pit of her stomach, a painful lump forming in her throat as she followed the path that Epona had carried her over many a time, striding under an abnormally arched tree and entering a narrow valley passage.

She hadn't visited her sister since before Rinku had been born. That was over four years ago. That had been the last time she would see her sister alive.

"Momma? Is somethin' wrong?" Kara asked in a small, concerned voice. She looked down at her young daughter, donning a fake smile.

"No, of course not! Why do you ask?"

Kara looked up at her suspiciously.

"Momma, you're crying."

In an instant, one hand flew up to her cheek, meeting directly with a fresh stream of hot tears. She had been crying without even realizing it. She wiped her cheeks dry, rubbing her eyes and nose.

Epona whinnied quietly, snapping them both to attention. She looked forward, and found that they had rounded a bend, and about a hundred feet away, an arch stood over the path, providing access beyond the fences that ran in either direction from them.

On the arch, the words "Romani Ranch" were painted in thick white paint, arching over the insignia of a thorn-covered rose.

The three horses were urged into bouncy trots, their riders steering them along the dirt path that snaked between the green rolling hills. At the tallest crest, a humble farmhouse stood alongside a tall barn. As they rode, they passed a few large cattle that were grazing in the field nearby. These cattle looked just like the bull, other than a few physical differences.

As they approached the farmhouse, Malon pulled Epona up, looking out over the hills. Cerus pulled up beside her, and Jack, McKenna and Rinku looked in the same direction of she.

"Is something wrong, Mal?" McKenna asked in a hushed tone. Malon put one hand to her ear, cupping around it to hear more clearly.

"Do you hear that?" She asked, gripping the bull's rope tighter.

"Hear what?"

"Singing."

They all listened intently, and exactly as Malon had said, someone was singing. The voice was a girl's, light and airy, like the coo of a dove.

"Heal my soul,

Make it whole,

For I've lost my way,"

Epona followed Malon's urging, veering from the path and moving to trod upon the grass. The others followed, listening as the song grew louder.

"Search my mind

Help me find,

What has gone astray,"

Epona stopped again. Sitting on the stump of what must have once been a huge oak tree was a young girl. She was probably just entering her teenage years, thirteen or fourteen years old at most, with long red hair that hung around her shoulder blades. She wore a simple white dress, with blue patterns adorning the edges, and a yellow scarf was wrapped loosely about her shoulders.

"Wait in vain,

Still there's pain,

Where did I go wrong?"

"Momma, who's that?" Kara asked quietly, looking at the girl. Malon stroked the little girl's hair softly, smiling a gentle, but melancholic smile.

"That's your cousin, Romani." She whispered in reply, leaning low so that her words did not disrupt the girl.

"Hope has died,

Be my guide-"

One of the horses whinnied, loud and piercing, smothering the sound of the young girl's voice. She stopped short, and her head whipped around to see. A look of confusion played across her face for a moment as she looked the small group over, and then a wide smile tugged at the corners of her lips as realization came to her.

"Aunt Malon!" She cried, jumping from her seat and dashing over to the horses. Malon leaned over and carefully threaded the rope over the bull's horns, releasing him and slipping from Epona's back as he walked contentedly away into the grass, toward another small group of cows.

Almost immediately, Romani tackled her. The young girl wrapped her arms around her waist, giving a soft laugh.

"Aunt Malon! You came!" Romani enthused, hugging her even more tightly. Kara and Rinku scrambled from Epona and Cerus' backs and came to stand behind Romani.

The older girl pulled away from Malon, and turned to greet the younger children. Malon picked Rinku up quickly when he started to look uneasy, and smiled at Kara when she danced around both of their feet.

"Oh, they're both just so cute! Do you remember me, Kara?" Romani asked, putting both hands on her knees and leaning over to look level into Kara's eyes. The little girl shook her head, and moved over to stand beside her mother's legs, one hand coming to grip the skirt of her dress.

"Romani? Where is your father? Is he here?" Malon asked, looking around the field. Romani nodded and pointed toward the farmhouse.

"Yeah, he's in the house, doing some sort of tax thingy or other." The young girl responded, moving back over to the stump and sitting down with a soft sigh.

"It's a lot to ask, but, could you watch these two for a moment while I talk to your father?" She asked, indicating Kara and Rinku. Romani didn't answer, except for a nod of her head, and silently, she ushered both children over to their cousin. Then started for the farmhouse, with Jack and McKenna following on foot behind her.

The farmhouse was well made, with oaken floors and sturdy furniture. In the far corner, a man, probably a little older than Link, was sitting at a table, masses of parchment strewn across the surface and empty inkbottles lying at his feet.

"Cyrus." Malon said, drawing his attention. The man looked up from the table, a glare momentarily meeting her, as if he had been expecting someone else, someone less welcome.

"Oh…Malon. You actually made it." He said, dropping the quill pen he had been gripping tightly and slumping back in his chair, a heavy sigh escaping his lips.

Malon walked over to him, and put a hand on his shoulder.

"How are you doing?"

He looked at her, deep black circles underneath his pale green eyes.

"I don't know what we're going to do," he whispered, standing up from his chair and walking over to a window that overlooked the sprawling pastures. "First Cremia dies, and now, the crops are wilting, the cows have stopped producing milk, both our cart horses have gone lame and to make matters worse, our only bull has vanished without a trace! Sometimes I think the goddesses are laughing at us…" His voice died off, and he turned his toward the window again, covering his eyes with a hand, frustration and despair gripping him.

Jack's head tipped back slightly, a rude laugh escaping his lips. McKenna slapped his arm, and as he looked down at her, a questioning look on his face, he was met with a fierce scowl.

"Knock it off, Jack!" she hissed. "Mind your manners! What? Were you raised in a barn?"

Jack rolled his eyes, and leaned over, his being a foot or so taller than her, until he was face to face with her. And before she could scold further, captured her lips with his own, silencing her. Malon groaned at her two companions, and before they could "explore" each other any further, she brought her hand down on the back of Jack's neck in a hard whack.

He yelped, and pulled away from McKenna, an irritated expression pulling at his features. Crossly, he mouthed, 'What's wrong with you?'

"Well, you don't have to worry about that bull of yours anymore, Madame slap-happy here caught it and brought it back."

The man jerked his head toward him, and a slight look of relief crossed his face. He nodded his thanks to their group and strode over to the table again, slumping into the chair and hunching over a piece of parchment, grabbing his quill again and setting to work.

After a few minutes of silence, a thought came to Malon's mind.

"Cyrus, does your kingdom worship any Gods or Goddesses specifically?" She asked, an image of the strange creature she had met earlier coming to mind.

He looked at her for a moment, unsure of her question. After a moment, he pointed his quill toward one of the walls, indicating a framed painting.

"Most Terminians worship a goddess named Termia. It is said that she inhabits the northern mountains."

Malon walked toward the painting, looking at it with scrutinizing eyes. It depicted a large beast, with the body of a stag, the head of a wolf, and a human's eyes. It was leaping over a ravine, with glowing patches of grass in its wake. She motioned to Jack and McKenna, bidding them to come over and look at the painting.

"Doesn't this look like-?"

"The creature we followed?" Jack cut her off. Malon nodded softly, and exchanged glances between her two companions.

"Malon, I think you've been touched by the Goddess Termia…"

K'ger: Ok, I kind of felt like this chapter was a filler. Is that bad? I just felt like we needed a small breather. Trust me, next chapter is gonna be REALLY intense. Next chapter we get meet a creature named Goht!

Sorry if this wasn't as exciting.