.Chapter 6.

New Predator

Drip…

Drip...

Drip…

The steady sound of water falling was calming to Link's clouded mind and at first it made him almost drift back off into blissful slumber. He felt tired, very tired, and his head hurt. Yes staying asleep sounded very nice indeed. However just as Link was about to drift back into his dreams a sudden image would push into his thoughts and startle him back to awareness. Ilia's terrified face and the dim echo of her scream in his memory had him jolting upright; his heart racing as an inhuman growl of discomfort left him. The sound was familiar and, at the same time, unwelcomed. He wasn't a wolf anymore as he had been during his prior travels and he shouldn't be able to make that noise right now.

Grunting, he'd ease the rest of the way to his feet, turning towards where the water beat out its hypnotic rhythm. There were various small pools of clear water, some every now and again disrupted by a single droplet from above. Leaning over one of the calm pools, Link could now see himself for the first time. His eyes were that crimson hue, the blue now replaced with a ring of bloody red to surround both pupils. The whites of his eyes were no longer as pronounced as they had been; now appearing a touch more bloodshot to suit his new optic coloration. With a narrowed gaze, he'd move on, taking in the dark ashen color of his flesh and the rather off-white hue of his hair. And, when urged to lift his lip, he'd note that his teeth were different. Fangs on both the upper and lower rows were present and every other tooth also appeared sharper, yet the canines were certainly most eye-catching.

Turning away, Link was a bit surprised at himself for not feeling a little bit more frazzled at the moment. Surely he should be somewhat afraid, sad, or possibly even angry right now. But he felt nothing more than a strange acceptance of this new task thrust upon him. How odd, wasn't it? Rather than despair, Link began to feel a sense of purpose rising in him in a way that only the prospect of adventure could. To be blunt he felt stronger than he ever had before; human or wolf. He had wronged his village, and that he could not help but feel a sharp pang of regret for, but now that he was tainted and all was said and done he wasn't nearly as worried anymore. Matter of fact, though diseased, he didn't feel much different at all. No violent impulses to kill anyone, no urges to drink blood or anything willingly run amok. Though different by looks he felt entirely normal on the inside. Perhaps humans were not as easily turned as feral beasts?

Slowly he'd flex his limbs to limber up a moment before he'd slink off through cave's depths, surveying as he went. Odd. Everything looked so clear even though he was sure it was pitch black in here. Where he'd normally of needed a lantern he could see as perfectly as if he was in full sunlight. To top it off it was certain his sense of smell was superb again; both senses heightened beyond any form he'd ever been in previously.

Onward he'd venture, slowly coming closer to the entrance of the tunnels he'd spent the last few hours in. However as the tunnels got brighter and brighter he couldn't help but slow down and squint against the harshness of the light. It was passed sunrise outside for sure but, naturally, he couldn't help but feel annoyed with this new bit of information. He could not see in the sunlight? Promptly the memory of Ril explaining to him that the infected seemed to only come out at night surfaced and was justified. Indeed now that he was very close to the opening his eyes actually began to hurt. Grunting, Link'd retreat far enough back that he was merely staring with a narrowed gaze, but the majority of the discomfort had left him. The sun's rays were blinding and Link could not look upon the outside world at all. Having had enough Link would huff and withdraw entirely.

Once he was back in the velvet of the shadows he'd sit down, only glancing towards the scattered assortment of pools once before settling down the rest of the way. He may as well rest until he could go out. It could be hours from now but he had a far more urgent matter to attend to in Ordon. He'd be sure to keep out of sight and to go in the dead of night when he was less likely to encounter anyone. Why? His reasoning was simple: to make sure Ilia was not infected herself. He wasn't sure if he could ever forgive himself if he'd brought this strange fate upon her. Thus, with the comforting thought that he'd know about her health soon enough, Link resumed sleep to wait for the nighttime hours.

Above, the stars shown with all the vibrancy they could muster, leaving a distant yet settled feeling over Ordon Village. The moon had just barely risen an hour or so ago, no where near full and in the process of waning away entirely. In the calm of this night the sleeping people had no idea that a potential killer was stalking through the shadows just outside their doors. Link would emerge near Ilia's house at long last and he'd take a moment to survey his surroundings before glancing to the house in question. Standing silent, he'd stare up towards where her room was located, head mildly tilted as his sights settled upon the window there. With care, he'd make his way onto the roof and edge around, peering through one of the small holes of her mesh covered window to the dark room inside.

Ilia was there in her bed, sound asleep and looking no worse for the wear. He'd squint, trying to see if there was any sign of a bandage anywhere on her. Nothing that he could see and he'd have to resist the urge to sigh his relief. She didn't appear tainted and it eased the ache in his chest as he slowly turned his attention back to the star-strewn sky. Even the stars looked different to him now; many of the dimmer, less noticed stars were now bright and vivid to rival the brightest in the sky.

"Link…"

Flinching, Link would whirl around as he heard his name break the silence in Ilia's room and he'd nervously seek her out again She must have just murmured his name because she still appeared to be sleeping. Relaxing a little he decided it was better not to linger here in case she did wake but, before he could start climbing down, the door to the house would open abruptly. Lantern light flooded the grass as Mayor Bo came out accompanied with Fado, and instantly Link drew back as far as he could away into the shadows on the rooftop.

"Are you sure it's dead?" That was Bo's gruff voice as he followed Fado up towards the ranch.

"Yeah, I'd just come back from checkin' the field when I found 'er. Dead as they come."

Link's brow would furrow as he watched them move out of sight with his eyes narrowed. One of the goats was dead? Was it an attack; one of the infected beasts again maybe? He was about to follow when a gasp drew him from his thoughts and he'd turn on instinct to face Ilia's room again. Only this time, she stared back, her eyes livened by surprise and every hint of drowsiness was fading quickly. They both sat in silence but her eyes were becoming fearful with each second to tick by. Frowning, Link would try to look as non-threatening as possible and he dropped his tone to a softer one.

"Ilia…don't worry. I'm not here to cause any trouble."

But Ilia would flinch back and her obvious fright only became more intense. Link could already feel that strange impulse of anger starting to stir in him and, gritting his teeth, he did his best to keep the faceless monster pacified and assure his friend of his intentions here. But this time it was her voice to break the silence; timid and small.

"D-don't. What do you want here?"

"I wanted to make sure you were okay, Ilia. I am so sorry for before. I swear I would never live it down if I'd-"

"Go away! Please just leave me alone."

Baffled at her sudden outburst he'd let his sentence fall short and he'd tilt his head a little. Why wasn't she listening to him at all? Even if he was infected, no matter what had happened last night she was no coward at heart and it almost broke his heart as much as it infuriated him to see that terror in her eyes as she beheld him. He would try again, allowing some of his grief to show in his tone in hopes that she'd come to her senses and talk to him properly.

"Ilia? I'm trying to tell you that I'm sorry. I won't hurt you, I pr-"

"Go away!"

The shrill words were enough to make him tense and he felt a sudden rise in his anger. He would bare his teeth but, luckily, he was able to bite back the growl that had wanted to come with it. This wasn't working. He could smell the fear coming off of her, see it in her eyes, hear it in her voice. It was pushing him to his limits of self control and, as much as he hated to admit defeat, he knew it was best to leave now before something dire happened. Thus Link would quickly comply with her wishes without another word and retreated off the roof. It took a lot of willpower, an astounding amount, but he managed to fight off that bloodlust and make it to the ground without incident.

Link was just about to head back to the forest, his head still muddled from what had just happened, but the sound of men's voices again had him turning again. That's right, the goat. He'd slink into the shadows and crouch, staying motionless as the mayor and Fado came into view. And, towed behind them, was the goat in question. There was no visible wound on the animal yet he could smell blood and there was something else as well. Somehow, before he even saw it, he knew why this goat was dead. Birthing problems. The infant goat's carcass was also being pulled along; likely stillborn due to its small size.

Link suddenly found himself nearly drooling at the sight and his stomach even gave a light rumble as his hunger awakened. It was a bit ghastly but since he'd been a wolf before the thought of eating so primitively did not hinder his appetite and he was strangely looking forward to the idea of bloody meat. Yet as he was about to trail after them the door to Bo's house suddenly opened and Ilia was the cause of complication all over again. She'd ignore the dead animals as she rushed to her father and Link winced at her words.

"Link's back! I just saw him outside our house."

Instantly, both Bo and Fado looked alarmed and began scanning their surroundings. While they searched the wrong places, Link hurriedly made his escape off to the trees, glancing back for only a moment as he thought he heard Bo replying.

"Are you sure? You might have just been dreaming…"

Relieved, Link would keep moving, intent on letting things settle a little before he went back to scavenge the opportunity he'd just seen. He never did let the fact that eating things raw was barbaric and surely unheard of for humans. After all, he'd been a predator before, just this time he was a far cry from the wolf body he'd been in at the time.

Perhaps this illness, though certainly deadly for all the non-tainted and animal, was livable after all. There had to be a cure out there and, even more importantly, the origin of this taint. It was time for him to get to work on this new quest of his and fast. Where better to start than the area he'd encountered the first infected beast and the nearby woods? It would seem that Ordon was not going to be as off limits as he'd originally anticipated and, with that happy thought, he would find himself smiling as he waited for the village to become as sleepy as it had been upon his arrival.