They take a back route just west of the entrance to Gerudo Valley, avoiding the female guards there that surely would not let them pass. The sun is unfiltered here, heat beating down on the two travelers as they maintain a slow but steady pace atop their horses. The landscape begins to change quickly, from lush greens to reddish rocks; a canyon of sorts, beckoning them into the westlands.

A swift breeze builds every now and then, lifting sand in spirals across the ground and upwards, making it difficult to see, as such makes keeping ones eyes open an unenjoyable task. Link covers his mouth with his right forearm, his bangs drifting into his eyes; another nuisance caused by the tumultuous air. Sheik however rides somewhat more comfortably, his cowl protecting his lungs from the sandy debris.

They ride in silence, none saying a word since last night; the only sounds being the horses' hooves on the solid ground beneath and the wind whistling through the canyon peaks. Sheik leads the way, a few paces in front, while Link stays behind, solemn.

They continue on like this, until the gorge opens and reveals a horizon of golden sand. The hills of this wasteland continue on for as far as the eyes can see, no footsteps present on the many dunes; a landscape untouched stretching into the unknown. Sheik pulls on the reigns, his horse stopping. Link follows suit.

"We walk from here," Sheik says loudly amidst the howling of the winds. He dismounts, patting the horse, motioning for it to pursue its trek back through the canyon. He doesn't look at Link, instead focusing his eyes forward across the desert.

Link dismounts then as well, saying farewell to his horse, and walks, battling the current of air and sand, making his way to stand beside the Sheikah, still covering his mouth. Sheik looks at him, expressionless, and begins unwinding the fabric from one of his wrists. He walks cautiously to the hero, takes the fabric, and starts winding it from the back of Link's head forward, creating a cowl. They are close again now and it is something they have been avoiding since their situation at the camp. Link stares now, mouth covered, his eyes even more so penetrating than before. Intense blue, squinting and narrowing, reading and wondering. Sheik finishes, and hesitates a moment before removing his hands from his task. They remain there, until the Sheikah breaks eye contact, pulling his hands from the back of Link's head, to his neck, and then down his torso. His palms lay on the hero's chest. It is a fleeting moment. Sheik removes them then as if they were magnetic to the other's skin, and turns, walking again towards the expansive horizon, diminishing the action if it were nothing at all.

Link stands still, a hint of an uncontrolled and relieved smile apparent in the slight squint of his eyes. He relishes this for a moment or two, then almost begrudgingly begins his jog towards the Sheikah already in the distance, understanding full well what awaits them in the never-ending dunes of the Haunted Wasteland.

The Sheikah caravan comes to a halt just southeast of the Gerudo Valley. Tents are unpacked and assembled inside the discreet camp, and the Sheikah warriors busy themselves with tasks in preparation for one of many fights that may or may not come. For now they have mostly eluded the other races, only scuffles from wayfarers too nondescript to even mention. They take what provisions, weapons, and armor from the defeated bodies; nothing special but a small attribute at least.

Zant sits by himself near his own tent, sharpening the dark, curved blade he prefers. He has two of these, which he can wield dually, if he so chooses. Midna is nearby, and she walks beside him, placing a hand on his shoulder, signalling her presence.

"Their tracks disappeared back near the castle.." she trails.

Zant says nothing, sharpening still, the slick sound of every pass like a countdown of things to come.

Finally, he says, "How is that possible?"

Midna internally braces herself. "We sent our best tracker out ahead, he informed me that -"

"How can he be the 'best' if he has failed us?" Zant interrupts, calmly.

"Lord, Sheik is adept, he is wise and learned. If he has betrayed us then he would do his utmost to conceal -"

Zant sharpens with one final sweep, one so loud and screeching that Midna backs up, fearful.

"Inform the tracker that he will leave camp now, and continue his search for the missing Sheik and the Hero of Time," Zant begins. "Tell him, that he cannot return until he has found them."

Midna nods officially. "Yes -"

Zant continues, "Tell him, that if he does not find them, he will die."

Midna nods again hesitantly, in her eyes an expression of surprise. She moves backwards slowly, contemplating, before turning around completely, walking aimlessly into the camp.

The sand beats down seemingly from all directions, gusts so powerful that Link is sure he may be picked up and thrown somewhere far off in the endless dunes.

Tired.. so very tired, his energy waning.

At one point he kneels down to secure his footing and balance, hand reaching into the sand, grabbing onto nothing as it slips through his fingers. He shields his eyes, the wind ravaging through his hair and his clothes, tugging at them, his hat blowing fiercely. He holds tightly to it for he fears he may lose it entirely, which causes him to become unbalanced, and he lands, collapsing into the sand on his side. His eyes flicker shut. Darkness.

Sheik, a few paces ahead, looks behind him, turning quickly. He raises a hand above his eyes, removing the glare from the piercing rays of the relentless sun. For a moment he sees his partner no where in sight.

"Link!" he yells.

He squints his eyes and gaining no visual on the hero, he begins walking back the way he came, ever so slowly as the sand is thick and deep and it surrounds his feet, unwilling to let him venture forward.

He removes his cowl for a second, hoping his voice can project louder without any hindrances. "Link!" he yells again.

No response. He puts his cowl back in place, and trudges onward. He shakes his head as a thought rushes into his mind: 'I shouldn't have acted angry with him.. it was no more his fault than mine. Damnit! I should have stayed close to him. Petty argument, and for what? To hide from him?' He curses loudly in a variety of ancient Sheikah ways and continues his search, until finally he spots a green form on the dunes, the sands beginning to cover it like a blanket, trying to bury it into nonexistence.

No..

Sheik stands a moment in horror, and tries to run, the sand unforgiving as it wraps itself around his feet, pulling him down every so often. But it is for naught, and the Sheikah lifts himself up every time, making his way to the fallen hero.

At last he nears him, and he kneels down, grabbing Link by the shoulder, rolling him over on his back. Link's eyes are shut and he appears to be unconscious of sorts. Sheik shakes him, leaning close, urging him to awaken. Link's face is peaceful, and for a minute it makes Sheik feel guilty, trying to pull him back into the chaos that awaits him in reality. Link's hair, matted with sand, sticks to his face. His skin, smooth and soft even with the tiny granules of sand coating his cheek and cowl. Sheik stares longingly in a lapse of time, a moment where his heart reaches up and out into his mind, ensuing a battle inside of him that every Sheikah learns since birth to avoid without question. The pain that he feels then is crippling, he reaches to his chest and leans over, his head resting on Link's chest. He realizes then, that he and the memories from his future self - he cannot deny them, for they exist. Tears are unknown to the Sheikah, and during this internal struggle and epiphany, Sheik begins to know what it must feel like to cry, for he started to.

And in between this strange break in demeanor, he realizes something, as he wishes for the Goddesses to awaken the hero that lay unmoving in the sand.

'Water'.. he thinks internally. He frantically reaches to his side grabbing a leather canteen, which he opens quickly and places close to Link's mouth. He tilts it and feels relief, which is mistaken, for nothing comes out of the spout. He shakes it angrily before throwing it down beside him, lifting his head up to the sky which cannot be seen, and he pleads to the Three who reside there. And when he is done, he lifts the hero up and over his shoulder, and begins walking again through the storm, hoping that the Goddesses will answer his prayers.

Nighttime creeps up on the wandering Sheikah, who continues to trudge on as his keen senses elude him in the darkness that begins to settle on the wasteland. It is starting to become very cold, the once sweltering sun now replaced with icy moonlight. The wind has died down, the whistling of the torrent now quiet, a low howling echoing throughout the dunes. Sheik carries on, every once in a while losing footing, leaning heavily, struggling to keep his hold on the hero who remains slumped over his shoulder.

And when he feels as if he can go no further - that's when he sees it, a light in the sky, blue and glowing, like a meteor traveling through the expanse. He watches it, as it sparks and falls quickly, leaving a trail behind it as it shoots through the night sky. He feels invigorated, feels a strong inclination to follow it. So he musters his remaining strength, and pushes onward, steadily trekking through the sand. The light shoots north and cascades downward slightly left, falling from the sky and landing in the distance, light emanating up; a beacon.

It seems so far, but Sheik is determined. At last, when he does not doubt his limits and feels that he may die of exhaustion at that very moment, he comes upon the beacon, glowing like hope effervescence. And here it is, between two facing rocks, solitary in the wasteland - an oasis. He does not think twice about such a thing being false, for if it was, it will be the death of them both. So he rushes over to the pool of water, removes Link gently from his shoulder, fills the canteen quickly, and lowers the makeshift cowl. He then positions it between Link's parched lips and pours, water trickling down the hero's lips, removing the sand that had settled there from their long journey. He brings Link forward, holding him tightly to his chest, rocking back and forth, waiting.

That is when he hears it, a voice.

Nayru loves you.. Sheikah..

The Goddess, Nayru?

"Nayru," Sheik cries, "I fear all is lost!"

And Nayru does not appear before him, but reassures him nevertheless with her voice.

Lend yourself to the goddesses, young Sheikah, and continue on your quest.

Sheik understands her request, and it is now on this particular night, that he makes the oath to Nayru in return for his soul, that grants him the blessings and watchful eye of the Goddess, and in exchange he swears to protect the Hero of Time, till his life is forfeit. It is also with this exchange, that Sheik is given a gift; a power both terrible and necessary.

Nayru speaks then, "And for the Hero of Time," and a blue orb floats towards the unconscious hero and enters into him, disappearing through his chest. Link awakens, coughing amidst spasms, inhaling air as if it were his first breath ever taken. Sheik waits for him to recover, and ever so gently he pulls Link close again, holding him tightly, his face pressed against the hero's blonde locks, muffling any sort of emotion that wished to present itself. Link deliriously reciprocates by wrapping his arms loosely around Sheik's waist as they sit, letting his weight fall completely, relaxing as much as one can after such circumstances. Link allows his forehead to rest on the Sheikah's shoulder, then takes a hand and grasps onto the other man's hair, fingers combing through and staying there, holding.

"I'm sorry," Link whispers. "I was so tired."

Sheik chokes up, a sound something between a sob and a laugh rushing forth from his lips. "I cannot lose you again," he says seriously, lifting Link's head up to his own.

Link peers into the other's eyes. "Lose me again..?" he asks, curiously.

And Sheik pauses, thinking deeply, assessing all the memories that linger there. He opens his mouth to confess, but stops himself.

"Nothing," he says. "Now is not the time."

The Sheikah tracker waits a distance away from the two rocks that Sheik and the Hero of Time took shelter between until dawn's first light begins to clear the path in front of him. He proceeds quickly and quietly, making his way eventually to one of the rocks, hiding behind it before peering out and around to the pool of water.

He comes out slowly, stealthily creeping, and in the meantime brandishes a small dagger from its sheath around his thigh. He raises it, readying his stance, and stops before Sheik who remains sleeping on the sand in front of him. He crouches down, grabs the back of Sheik's outfit and pulls him up, arm encircling him, placing the dagger at his throat.

Sheik awakens suddenly without a word, eyes wide, hand gripping the other Sheikah's arm which holds the dagger firmly. Sheik kicks to gain footing, but the sand is slick and he cannot maintain traction. He manages to glance up, catching the other man's eyes.

"Sati," Sheik says in surprise. "Why?"

"Go on," the Sheikah named Sati taunts, "yell for your hero."

Sheik contemplates for a moment about getting Link involved, and feels angry at himself for allowing this situation to unfold without his awareness. He also is surprised to see someone he thought was a confidant, now holding his fate in his hands. He tries to think of a way out, but knows there is no other option. "Link," Sheik says calmly, but in his deep thought prior, he hadn't noticed that Link was in fact, nowhere to be seen.

"Link," Sati jests, "So that is his name?"

"It is of no use to you," Sheik defends, maneuvering.

"I will let Zant decide that for himself when he has the hero bowing before his feet," Sati describes, laughing.

A voice then, from behind them. "That's only if you make it back alive." And from the corner of Sheik's eye, he sees the Master Sword, pointing directly at Sati's throat.

Sheik uses the distraction to his advantage and throws a deku nut to the ground, creating a cloud of smoke. He rushes to Link who waits as the smoke clears, revealing the hero standing strong with the glistening sword of legend. Sheik has a moment then, one that makes him feel very flustered, terribly hot, and antsy between his legs, and he swears at himself for thinking about such things during quite an inopportune time.

"You all right?" Link asks.

"Mm-hmm.."

Then Sati comes out of nowhere, running with full momentum towards Link, dagger poised in front as a shield. Link notices and pushes Sheik out of the way, bringing his sword up, clashing with the dagger mere inches from his face. He strafes to the side, rolling and dodging behind the Sheikah tracker, kicking him in the back. Sati falls forward, losing his footing. Sheik runs forward then, bringing his left leg out, swiftly side-kicking Sati's jaw which sends him tumbling backwards. As he spirals back the other way, Link uses the hilt of his sword to smash him on the side of the face, sending Sati reeling to the ground.

Sati brings a hand to his forehead, wiping the perspiration from it, scowling. He stands and brings out needles, similar to the ones Sheik had used, and throws one Link's way quickly, forcefully. Link's eyes open wide in surprise and he ducks, the needle just missing the top of his head. It continues forward, nicking Sheik in the shoulder as he came up from behind.

Anger. "You.." Sheik growls as blood forms around the sliced skin.

"Sheik!" Link yells. "Another one coming your way!"

Sheik looks up in surprise as Sati throws another in his direction. Link runs toward Sheik, bringing out his shield, blocking the needle as Sheik rolls from behind, out of the way. Link, also dodging now, backflips in the opposite direction, and after landing yells, "What is our plan?"

Sheik, ducking from the onslaught of the needles, manages to answer, "Grab him if you can!"

Link nods in affirmation, and runs toward Sati full speed. Once he gets quite close, he drops to the ground, sliding into Sati's legs, which causes the man to fall back. Link gets up quite quickly, grabbing the Sheikah tracker by the neck, incapacitating him. Link glances toward Sheik, holding Sati's throat in the bend between his forearm and bicep. "How's this?" He smiles, the kind that melts your heart. He catches Sheik staring at him oddly back, intensely, and between their glances something non-verbal is exchanged. A somewhat mutual understanding of their previously unbeknownst magnetism. Link's large grins slowly fades into a tiny smirk, as his eyes become very serious, his lids heavy. He waits patiently and steady with Sati in his strong grasp, his gaze unflinching.

Sheik takes a deep breath and folds his arms across his chest, leaning heavily on one foot. He silently begs Nayru for more self-control.

"Son-of-a-bitch!" Sati yells, struggling to break free from Link's grasp.

Sheik walks slowly to the incapacitated man, stopping just before him, his eyes radiating a graveness that Sati seems to understand.

"No, Sheik! Do not dishonor yourself by taking my life! I was wrong.. I -" Sati stutters, desperately.

"Sati.. I don't plan on killing you." And with that, Sheik calls upon the new power bestowed to him by the goddess, and he opens up a portal in the ground; a dark abyss with depths unfathomable. The blackness swirls outward from the space, threads weaving their way around Sati's ankles, crawling up his legs and chest, around his arms. It begins pulling him. Link, in shock, releases his hold on the man. He looks to Sheik for some sort of answer, yet Sheik only stares at the opening before him. If Sati were to try and scream he would not be able to, for the inky weaves wrapped themselves around his mouth. And as he is covered, he begins to dematerialize into bits of twilight, until finally he is dispersed into the portal, becoming the first Sheikah and being, of the Twilight Realm.

Thank you for your continued readership, and also many thanks to those who were kind enough to leave feedback. Knowing that some are enjoying this story so far makes having written it all the more worthwhile.