Heh
Chapter 20
Warning Lights
Link reined in Epona, looking around. It was if the world was held in suspended animation, frozen in time. Rain hung in the air, each individual droplet of water refracting the world into a kaleidoscope of colours. Even the wind had been stopped, trapped in time. A fork of lightning could be seen, a brilliant white root snaking down to earth. The flames that were just beginning to blossom at the point where the lightning met the tree, were eternally immortalised in this pocket of time.
"What in Farore-?" The mare muttered, prancing nervously.
Link looked across for Rusl. But he and Aaron were too frozen, in mid-stride, stretched out in canter.
"Who pressed pause?" Silver asked, catching up.
Link looked around, turning back in the saddle to get a better view. The time lapse stretched back as far as the eye could see.
The hilt of his sword flashed blue, and Fi leapt into existence beside him.
"Master, my scans report that there is another being approaching."
Link's hand immediately went to the hilt of his sword, his gloved hands grasping the slick leather grip.
"There is no need for such action." A voice said.
Epona turned sharply, ears flattened.
"Do you not recognise me?" The question seemed more directed to the horse.
Recognition dawned on Epona's face.
"Phaira." Epona said, bowing her head.
Link looked at her, brow creased as he tried to unearth some long-forgotten memory.
She appeared as a girl of his own age. She was tall and slender like a young larch tree. Her long glowing hair cascaded down her back, reaching the small of her back. Around her head was a leather band with a small golden seed in the centre. From her crown, two small antlers protruded between which floated a small ball of light and a pair of small almond-shaped ears grew. Her eyes were round and dark, like the rich earthen soils of the forest. Her dress was made of furs, with buckskin leggings and a short fur skirt. Her tunic was made of a patch of small furs sewn together with leather chords.
"I never properly introduced myself, Link." The spirit said. "My name is Phaira, a Light Spirit though I suppose a more apt name would be a Grey Spirit."
Link still looked confused.
"Of course." There was a shimmer and a stag, no, a hind stood in the girl's place. "Maybe now you might recognise me."
Link nodded.
"This little reunion is lovely and all, but what the Din happened?" Silver growled.
"Ah, so this is the halfling. I had heard you've quite the mouth."
"Didn't know I had a fan club? Now what's going on?"
"She's quite a feisty one isn't she?" Phaira commented. "You really have quite the pack Link."
"Do excuse her Phaira, we're hoping she'll grow out of it." Epona said, shooting a warning look at the wolfos.
Returning to her human form, Phaira's face grew grave.
"But I am afraid that I did not come here to chat. A great evil is approaching."
"Are they the ones causing the storm?" Epona asked.
Phaira shook her head.
"That is the doing of the light spirits. While it may appear to be a simple albeit fierce storm to the regular creature, the wind is able to race along and locate any being with evil in its heart. The rain burns the creature like acid, keeping it within the reach of the storm, the lightning tries to destroy it or at the very least weaken it, and finally the thunder acts as a beacon to the light spirits so that might destroy it completely."
"But why go to all this trouble, would it not be easier to simply send us to the source? It worked before." Silver asked.
Phaira once again shook her head, sending ripples of light dancing across the frozen rain.
"You are the very reason for sending this storm. We cannot allow you or your mission to be compromised."
"It was Zelda's idea wasn't it?" Silver said, remembering the princess' words.
"Yes, she believed it paramount that the three of you be protected."
Overhead, the piercing cry of an eagle sounded.
"I must leave you." She reached into a leather pouch at her belt. "Take this, it will guide you if you become lost."
Phaira offered a small gem. It was no bigger than an eyeball, enclosed within wooden twigs. Inside, it swirled with a shimmering grey mist. Link nodded his thanks and slipped the gem into his own pouch.
Phaira resumed the form of a hind.
"I fear the evil has already reached Ordona's Province. May the goddesses be with you."
And with that the hind leapt into the air, running as if on some invisible path.
The storm returned in full and the time once more began tick.
"Oh Din, the village."
"Why have you stopped?" Rusl called, catching up.
Link quickly signed something, his frenzied hands almost a blur.
"The village? This is bad."
Epona half-reared, prancing impatiently, eager to be gone.
"Let's go."
Before Dal could even catch his breath, the horses were off again, Silver bounding effortlessly alongside them. Dal let out a groan, racing to catch up.
Bo paced the clearing in front of Link's house. The search parties had not yet returned, neither had the carrier pigeon he had sent to Rusl. It had been a fortnight already and still nothing. The rain beat down hard on his hood, the ground at his feet was more like a bog already. However, the village had escaped the worst of the storm, for it seemed to be concentrated in Hyrule field. All for the better, as had it been unleashed on the forest, there wouldn't be any trees left standing. Even now, the fierce wind that clawed at his cloak had torn branches from the trees, causing intensive damage to homes and blocking passes. There was no safe place away from the hazard caused by the trees. The storm that had blown up so suddenly, as if…as if summoned...
Epona galloped through the gates, her hooves sending mud flying in all directions. Coro, luckily for him, was sheltering from the storm in his house. His pale face could be seen peering from the dusty windows of the house, watching the group thunder past, and only wonder at what might have brought them back with such urgency.
The bridge was slippery, the rain having made the wood slick and smooth. Forced to a trot, the horses picked there way across the slats. Even the wolves had slowed their progress, their claws digging into the wood for fear of falling. Silver especially, ket her eyes fixed firmly ahead of her, not daring to look down into the abyss below.
Now off the bridge, the horses picked up a canter and sped down the narrow slippery pass. The unrelenting storm had turned the pass into a small river, the mud and rain already a few inches high off the ground, drowning the grass. Animals which had made their burrows there could be seen on the roots of the higher trees, looking helpless and stranded. But there was no time to stop and help.
Rounding the last bend, Link spotted a familiar figure pacing back and forth in the rain. Yanking hard on the reins, Epona skidded to a stop, spraying the mayor with mud. She reared, and pranced on the stop once more. Behind her Aaron also fidgeted.
"Link? Rusl? What in Farore's name is going on here?" Bo's deep voice called through the storm. Link could see the mayor's eyes from where he sat. There was fear in them.
"What's happened? Why are you out here?" Rusl asked.
Bo dropped his head. But Link already knew, the warning came too late.
"Ilia's missing."
The evil had reached the village before they could.
Short chapter, but here's a good place to end it. Now, you'll all remember that little scene from long long ago won't you. All will be revealed…
