The pile of the revision stirred. After so long the multi-coloured sheets finally fluttered. As if a faint breeze had wafted by, but none blew. Link and Silver looked up, their ears pricked forward. For almost a month they had waited, waited for the return of their author. Their ears strained, listening for the faintest sound. A single sheet suddenly came loose, floating down like an autumn leaf. Silver stood up, eyes searching. Could it be? After so long. Another sheet fell down. The forest was silent, as if it held its breath in anticipation. A shudder ran through the mountain of revision notes. A folder slid down, followed a by an avalanche of sheets. Link and Silver leapt back, startled. By now, the other residents of the forests had been alerted to the development. Epona trotted up, her ears flicked forward. Another shudder sent reals of paper sliding the mountain. A frightened crow took flight, cawing angrily, as if someone would even dare to disturb its slumber. A gust of wind blew around the fallen mountain, bringing a scent to the animals that they had not smelt in far too long. A third shudder rocked the remains of the mountain and it collapsed in on itself as if it had simply lost the will to live. A hand, clutching the stump of a pencil broke through the rubble. It groped around, looking for a hold. Then another broke the surface. Slowly, a head emerged from the pile of the revision notes. Heavy bags hung under her eyes like sad smiles. Her eyes were rimmed red from crying and exhaustion. Her eyes were dull, the pupils retreating to pinpricks as the light of the forest flooded their vision. As the girl pulled herself from rubble, like a butterfly emerging from its cocoon, the onlookers finally saw the true extent the mocks had taken on her. She didn't put weight on her bad knee and she held her right hand to her chest. Her hair was a matted mess, looking like it had been dragged through a hedge backwards. It wasn't that far from the truth. Having pulled herself clear, she looked around, dazed. Silver took a step forward, her tail flicking with anticipation. The movement caught her eye and she looked at the wolfos. A spark sprung to life in her eyes, and her mouth curved into a smile. That was sign enough for the wolfos. With an elated howl, Silver sprang forward, running towards her author. She sprung up the remains of the mountain and leapt at the girl, nuzzling her. The author laughed, her voice hoarse from lack of use. She hugged the wolfos tight. The others grinned and ran forward. Clarky had returned.
Its true guys! I'm back! I probably completely failed those mocks but I don't care. They are over! I now have three months to piece my sanity back together before the next batch. Aw, the joys of life. Anyways, cause I'm back, I'll be back to my usual schedule. Which means every Friday, unless Legodude is betaring my work, ten it'll be Mondays. So ya! All is well in the kingdom of Hyrule. AND OMG! THE NEW ZELDA GAMES! EXCTIE EXCITE EXCITE! So now that's out of my system, I'll shut up and write.
Link and Silver were waiting in Ralis' office. Silver looked well rested, she held her head a little higher and her tail twitched with pent up energy. Likewise, the heavy bags under Link's eyes were fainter and his face appeared less weathered and more like a teenager's. Link leant against the wall, polishing his clawshots with a rag. Silver sat next to him, whispering.
Lana entered, shooting a glance at Link and Silver before walking to the other side of the room and crossing her arms. She had a battle helmet slung from a belt strap across her chest likewise a dark blue curved spear made of coral was strapped across her back, from a belt round her waist hung coral knives. Silence stretched between them, to the point where the tension was almost tangible.
When Ralis entered the room a few moments later, he paused, looking at Lana then the pair. The little lights on his head-tail, flashed warning signals.
"You ready?" Silver asked.
"Yeah, just about."
Ralis opened his mouth to say something.
"Let's get this over and done with." Lana growled.
Link glared at Lana, as she brushed past the prince and walked out into the corridor.
"What's bitten her tail?" Ralis asked.
"She doesn't like us much." Silver replied.
"Whatever for?"
"Apparently, being mute is a crime." Silver said, not even bothering to keep the venom out of her voice.
Ralis looked at Link. He had put away his clawshot and stood at Silver's side silently, watching with those fathomless eyes of his. The prince had heard rumours of Link's inability to talk. But the unspoken rule was that it was a no go area. You never brought it up and you never held it against him. Link had done too much for Hyrule to deserve such trivial discrimination.
Silver padded out of the door with Link on her heels. Ralis watched them leave, contemplating whether his mother had been right in ordering Lana to accompany them.
It was still dark outside as they swam out of the tunnels and into the Lake. Everything was silent, each noise magnified by the water. The only light was the faint orange glow from the camp fires of the Goriya and the glows of luminescent fish.
They swam across the lake to the little wound up the side of the cliff to the camp. Despite all their efforts to keep silent, the sounds of their swim still echoed loudly through the lake. Glowing eyes watched from the shadows, tracking their movements. A spotted eel darted for cover as they passed, illuminating the lake bed for a millisecond as the bright red lights running the length of its body flashed warning signals. Somewhere in the night, a kelpie screeched, signalling a successful hunt.
I don't like it. Came Silver's voice in Link's head.
He tried to comfort her as best he could. If it were the two of them alone, they wouldn't need to worry but with Lana and Ralis here, it could jeopardise the mission.
Link looked at Silver as they waited beneath the surface. The wolfos dipped her head and slowly lifted her head above the water. Her ears swivelled back and forth while her eyes scanned the light above them, looking for the tell-tale shadows of watchmen. With a flick of her tail, she called up the others.
The wolfos pulled herself up onto the small bank. While the others climbed out, she rolled in the mud by the edge of the lake. It masked her scent and stained her coat dark. Despite the accumulated grime that was in her fur, turning her fur dull silver, it still shone in the darkness.
Link pulled himself and pulled off his armour, revealing his regular green garb underneath. Sword and shield buckled on, he helped Silver smear mud on any remaining white fur.
"Ready?" Lana asked.
The others nodded.
Like shadows, they crept up the beaten cliff path. Several times, they were forced to press themselves against the cliff face as a watchman passed overhead. Yet despite the frequent need to hide, they managed to climb up without raising the alarm. Crouched as they were behind a ridge, they waited for a watchman to pass and darted across behind a boulder. Silver peeked her head round the boulder, watching as the Goriya's ears swivelled back. The watchman turned, his gaze passing over the wolfos. He didn't see her and he turned back, carrying on his patrol. Silver turned to Link and he nodded. She slunk away, using the shadows to hide her form. Unfortunately, Link couldn't employ his barge in and hope for the best technique here. If Ralis was killed in his custody the repercussions would be terrible.
"Where's she going?" Lana muttered darkly.
"To scout ahead." Ralis replied.
Lana narrowed her eyes, and followed the wolfos' progress until she was lost to the gloom. Having nothing better to do, she scanned the compound. They waited and waited. Link crouched like a statue, the only movement were his eyes, scanning ahead. Ralis knelt behind him, watching and learning. Lana glared at them, silently envying their calm. The adrenaline that shot through her, made it agonising to sit still. She was bored and she was tired and she needed to hit someone.
Link turned to her, calmly gazing past her. Ralis followed his gaze and had to stifle a giggle. Lana turned to see Silver peering over her shoulder, a grin peeling back her lips and revealing the sharp teeth behind. Despite herself, the zora jumped and dodged aside.
"Very mature." Lana whispered harshly as Silver began giggling, even Link was chuckling silently.
"It's not as big as the moblins, but the towers are higher, too high to snipe without careful aim. The leader is in the centre. There are more patrols as well, and archers everywhere. They're walking along the walls. We get spotted and the whole camp will be on us."
"Any ideas?" Ralis asked.
Link looked out over the camp. Ralis quickly whispered Silver's report as he thought. Lana could almost see the gears in his head turning as he formulated a plan.
"Ok, I'll take the zora and you take Ralis." Silver said.
Link watched her.
"Don't worry, if she tried anything, I'll bite her fin off."
Link smiled and dipped his head.
Silver nodded and turned to Ralis.
"Ok, me and Miss Sunshine are going to circle round and come in from the north. You and Link will stay here and snipe. Let them think we're working our way in. We'll try get in as deep as we can, let them think their under attack. We'll act as decoys, get them chasing their tails to leave the way clear for you two to go for the leader."
"That doesn't sound like much of a plan."
"Our plans never work, but it's good for the nerves."
"Knowing that your plan is going to fail?"
"No, that just adds excitement."
"Wow…just wow."
As Ralis once more relayed the plan to Lana, Link pulled out the Hawkeye and secured it to his face. Lana put her mask on, the material immediately shimmering as the scales absorbed the surrounding light, the scales on the zora's body immediately shimmered and darkened. A rare genetically inherited defence mechanism from the time when zoras were the prey of kelpies, almost eradicated since the truce introduced millennia ago.
"Nice." Silver said, watching as Lana's scales assumed the dark colour of the night.
"Let's go!" Lana muttered.
Ralis put a small hand on Lana's arm.
"Wait, you're going to need this."
He took off the zora sapphire and handed it to Lana.
"You need to be able to understand Silver."
Link cocked his head, surprised at the prince's intellect.
"I can't-"
The prince smiled.
"I understand his sign language vaguely. Beth taught me back when I was staying with them."
Lana smiled behind her helmet and ruffled his head. Taking the sapphire, she wrapped it round her arm.
"Thanks."
Ralis smiled, then gestured to the darkness.
"See you later."
Lana glared at Link.
"I swear, if you-"
Link smiled and nodded. For a moment, Lana found herself believing him. Looking at him, a boy younger than herself, risking life and limb. She almost felt guilty. Then the moment passed and he was once again the liability.
Silver whined her goodbye and led the zora into the darkness. Soon they were gone, swallowed up by the shadows.
Link knelt behind the boulder and took his bow. The hawkeye enhanced his vision. The feathers tickled his skin, and he could feel the magic in the mask. Taking an arrow, he drew the bow and began following the girls' progress. As they neared a tower, Link zoomed on the figures on the tower. Slowing his breathing, he took aim. There were two figures on the tower. He waited until they were in line and then he fired. THe arrow whistled through the air, like an angry wasp. It tore through the first Goriya's chest and hit the second, burying itself in the creature's heart. Both fell with no more than a gurgle. They didn't fall off the tower, instead slumping against the fence. No cries of alarm, no running Goriya. So far so good.
Once he lost sight of the pair, he had to judge their progress. He wasn't doing very well.
Lana and Silver crouched behind a fence. A Goriya came round the corner, an arrow whistled overhead and thudded into the Goriya's head. It dropped.
"Nice shot." She heard Silver mutter.
They crept passed, dragging the body into the shadows before pressing on. By the time they reached the northern edge, they had taken out a good twenty or so Goriya, Link's arrows included and managed so far, to remain unseen.
"Now to cause some chaos." Silver said, a hint of glee in her voice.
"Are you actually enjoying this?"
"It is exciting."
"You're sick." Lana spat.
Silver recoiled, a growl in her throat.
"You take joy from murder. You actually relish in killing and battling. What even is this Nubia of yours? Does she even exist? Or is it just an excuse for you and Link to kill? Do you miss the good old days of wading through corpses? Is this your way of compensating for that bloodlust inside you?" She turned on Silver. "I knew there was something off about you two, but to think you were addicted to killing. And now you're dragging a prince, a young child into your bloody world. You're heart is black, black as rot."
Silver snarled.
"Well what would you know? Do you know the fear that we lived in? The knowledge that if we died the whole world would follow. Do you think we like this? This killing? Do you not think we'd rather be at home in a nice warm bed, herding goats and living peace? Tell me, zora, do you know? Do you know the agony of being slowly crushed to death, of your blood seeping into the ground, but knowing that you can't die? Do you know how many times I've watched Link die, how many times he's done the same. You know nothing. Nothing!"
Lana growled back.
Link looked up over the boulder. He could sense Silver's emotions through the triforce. She was angry. He silently cursed himself for putting the two together. Drawing his bow he fired.
An arrow thudded into the wood between the two girls. They looked at it, quivering, embedded in the wood. Silver growled.
"Link's right, we have a job to do. If you have a problem with us, wait until we're not surrounded by bloodthirsty monsters."
Lana glared but said nothing. Instead turning round and storming off. Silver mentally thanked Link, envying his patience.
Link sighed. One catastrophe avoided. But this couldn't keep up.
"Something's wrong isn't it?" Ralis said.
Link nodded.
"Lana means well. She's just a little…" Link looked at him. "rude…"
Ok, I will try post another chapter tomorrow. This one's a little short because my brain is still a little traumatised by my mocks. Do review, I love them. And thanks for those of you who did! You were awesome! And yeah…its gone 11 which for me and my half six starts is very late.
I'M BACK!
