Aloy and Link emerge from the Akh Va'quot Shrine with their spirit orbs. The puzzle was straightforward yet difficult as they had to line up the fans so that all the wingnut switches would twirl. When they finally did that, they could go and get their spirit orb from a monk who wore a face veil and had both hands raised as if he was about to shout at them.
They return outside and continue along to find whoever is in charge. They do not have far to go as they come to a dead end with a house next to them with a large Rito male sitting inside with a small yellow Rito chick near him. The large Rito male looks like an owl and has a long braid underneath his chin along with two smaller braids on either side. He is asleep.
"Is he in charge around here?" Aloy asked the Rito chick. She finds him or her to be so cute with its enlarged head and small solid black eyes.
"Yes, he's the elder," the Rito chick answered. "His name is Kaneli."
The elder named Kaneli stirs and opens his eyes to regard them.
"Ah, visitors," the elder said in a deep tone that hinted at wisdom. "Welcome to," only to stop and sit forward as his eyes widen. "Oh. Oh. That object on your hip, sir . . . Could it be," then collects his wits about himself. "Forgive me. Where are my manners? I am Kaneli, elder of Rito Village. Now then . . . is that not a Sheikah Slate dangling from your hip, sir?"
Link tells him it is so.
"Oh my!" Kaneli said in a restrained tone of awe. "So it is true! That means you must be a Champion like Master Revali-one of the few able to board Divine Beast Vah Medoh!" Only to mutter. "No . . What am I thinking? The Champions have all been dead for one hundred years. This boy must be a mere descendant . . . an inheritor of the Sheikah Slate."
Kaneli recollects his wits about himself. "Ah. Forgive me . . . Champion descendant, and his companion . . . If you would listen to this old man's request, you would have my eternal gratitude."
"We'll listen," Aloy said.
"Thank you. Truly." Then laughs for a moment. "Now that I know you sir have the blood of a Champion, there is something I must ask of you and your companion. How shall I put this . . . I would like you to deal with Divine Beast Vah Medoh. The giant beast circling above us. Only a chosen one, a Champion, can stop a Divine Beast. You must enter the beast and bend it to your will. I tried explaining this to the more headstrong Rito warriors, but they wouldn't listen to reason. Teba and Harth tried to confront Medoh, but it did not go well. They escaped unscathed, but I fear they now plan to face Medoh alone. As a descendant of the Champions, perhaps you and your companion can help us. Please. Find Teba and Harth. If you work together, you may be able to stop Divine Beast Vah Medoh."
Aloy and Link look to each other.
"That's what we're here for," Aloy said. "But we'll need a little more info for this."
"If you mean to help us," Kaneli said, "then allow me to fill you in on the particulars.
Link asks who Teba is.
"Teba is a warrior of Rito Village. He lives right next door to my humble abode."
The duo glance over to their right and see just such a building, this one with a female with light purple plummage and her head crest of feathers flowing back and down to be double curled at the ends. There is also a chick there with white plummage.
"He's the one who decided to confront Divine Beast Vah Medoh. He set off alongside another villager named Harth. Unfortunately, they were overwhelmed and had to retreat before they both got shot down. This defeat only made Teba and Harth more determined. I fear they have set out to face Medoh again. As you can see, Medoh is still flying above us there. I hope Teba and Harth are okay. Teba's wife Saki may be able to tell you more about their whereabouts. Is there something else you wish to know?"
"Who's Harth?" Aloy asked.
"Harth is Teba's friend and fellow warrior. Tebe's right wing so to speak. Harth is much like Teba. Is there something else you wish to know?"
Link asks who Master Revali is.
"Master Revali was a fierce warrior from Rito Village who died one hundred years ago. According to the stories, he flew like the wind itself and wielded a bow twice his own size with ease. His skill was recognized by King Rhoam and he was entrusted to control Divine Beast Vah Medoh. Master Revali lost his life while piloting the Divine Beast during the great battle with Calamity Ganon. What could have happened inside Divine Beast Vah Medoh one hundred years ago to kill such a celebrated warrior? Is there something else you wish to know?"
"What can you tell us about Medoh?" Aloy asked.
"Did you perchance see that giant bird up there? Soaring high above our village?" Kaneli asked while pointing upward briefly.
"A person would have to be blind not to see it," Aloy said. "And then there was that shriek it made!"
"That is," Kaneli continued, "Divine Beast Vah Medoh. The Divine Beasts." As his tone turns bitter. "Our misbegotten inheritance from the ancient Sheikah. Created eons ago to defeat Ganon. In an ironic turn of events, the Divine Beasts were taken over by the same evil force they were created to defeat." Then more casually. "But that was one hundred years ago. To think the Divine Beasts would suddenly reappear and begin attacking innocent people . . . Could this foretell the return of Ganon? Is there something else you wish to know?"
Link and Aloy glance at each other, and Link answers no.
"You," Kaneli said to Link, "descendant of the Champions, and you, his friend." As he regards Aloy. "Please stop Medoh . . . and help Teba and Harth."
"Will do," Aloy said, then leaves with Link. "Let's go check out what this Teba's wife has to say."
Aloy and Link go over to the house next over where Teba's wife and chick are.
"Were you hearing that conversation over there?" Aloy asked.
"Forgive my intrusion, but I overheard you speaking with the elder," Saki answered. "It sounds like you intend to help my husband, Teba and his friend, Harth, in the fight against Medoh. But to tell the truth, there is not much I can do for you right now beyond telling you where my husband and his friend went."
Link asks where they went.
"Well," Saki began, "My husband headed to a place called the Flight Range. It's in Dronoc's Pass at the base of the Hebra Mountains. It's a place where Rito warriors prepare for aerial combat . . . I imagine he and Harth are gone there to gather weapons for another run at Medoh. As it happens, they made their way to the Flight Range on foot this time." Saki turns around and points out a platform just below them. "If you take off from Revali's Landing, it's a straight shot down to the Flight Range. Revali's Landing is a memorial for the Rito Champion, Revali . . . So named in the hope that none might forget the events of that horrible day."
That is when Aloy notices that Link has that glazed over look once again.
He must be remembering something about that place down there. Aloy pondered.
"Descendant!" Saki exclaimed. "Descendant! Are you all right?"
"He's fine," Aloy assured her. "He's just remembering something about that place, right?" As she looks to Link, and Link nods.
"My apologizes," Saki said. "I fear I have said far too much . . . If there is anything you do not understand, please do not hesitate to ask."
"You'll tell us what you know?" Aloy asked.
"If the elder trusts you, I will tell you what I can," Saki answered.
"Where did Teba and Harth go again?" Aloy asked.
"My husband, Teba, and his friend, Harth headed to a place called the Flight Range," Saki repeated. "It's in Dronoc's Pass at the base of the Hebra Mountains. I imagine they're gone there to gather weapons for another run at Medoh. As it happens, they made their way there on foot this time."
"On foot?!" Aloy mused.
"They did not want to risk flying too high just yet and getting shot at by Medoh's cannons. If you take off from Revali's Landing, it's a straight shot down to the Flight Range. Is there something else you wanted to ask?"
Link asks about Teba.
"My husband is very . . . impulsive," Saki answered with an embarrassed tone. "Once he gets an idea in his head, there's no reasoning with him, especially when his friend, Harth, is involved. We tried to stop them from going off to fight Medoh on their own, but they refused to listen. Though I cannot feign surprise. I did marry a Rito warrior after all. Is there something else you want to ask?"
"What about his friend, Harth?" Aloy asked.
"Harth is a lot like my husband, they tend to encourage each other. Typical Rito warriors."
"So are all the males around here like that?" Aloy mused.
"Too many of them are. They're proud of their heritage and try to emulate Revali."
"This Revali must have been a great leader of the Rito," Aloy surmised.
"Revali is the legendary Rito warrior," Saki confirmed. "All the warriors here idolize him. My husband is no exception-he is always talking about turning our son, Tulin, into a warrior just like Revali. When they go and 'play' together, he is really training him at the Flight Range. I have never wanted my sweet Tulin to become a warrior, myself."
"What about you, Tulin?" Aloy said as she walks over to the white plummaged chick and kneels down to be eye-level with him. "Do you want to be a great warrior?"
"Well," he begins shyly, "my dad said that in order for a male Rito to be respected, he must try and be like the great Revali."
"You don't sound convinced," Aloy said.
Tulin sighs as he looks down. "It's . . . It's hard . . . I try to hover over the updrafts with a bow and arrow to aim at the targets, but I can't seem to hold up for long before I have to spread my wings once again . . . It makes dad upset . . . I guess I'm just useless."
"I know a guy like that," Aloy said. "He didn't turn out to be a warrior, but he makes a fine stitcher. Try and find out what you're good at and go with it." As she reaches out and scruffs his feather crests. "Who knows, it may turn out to be important to the village."
And she stands once again.
"Is there something else you wanted to ask?" Saki asked.
"I think we're good," Aloy said. "What about you, Link?"
Link agrees.
"Please . . . help my husband, Teba, and his friend, Harth," Saki said softly.
"Will do," Aloy said, and Link echoes her sentiment.
The duo go down to Revali's Landing and get their bearings. Link takes out the Sheikah Slate and checks the map. He finds the dot where Teba and Harth are located and their own direction they are facing.
"So they're that way then," Aloy said as she points to the leftside of the landing pad. "You think we can glide to over there now, since we each got an extra boost of stamina?"
Link gazes at the direction and believes so. Then states that they should get something warm first.
"That store down below was suppose to be selling warm clothing," Aloy said. "Let's go down there and check it out."
The duo go down the stairs and arrive at the shop selling clothing. Inside, there is a tunic, trousers, and a headdress upon a body stand. They are told that they are made of snowquills, feathers that help seal in the heat. Unfortunately, there are the only set of the clothing and come to a total of two thousand one hundred and fifty rupees. On their way to Rito Village, Aloy and Link had managed to collect a large number of rupees. Pooling what they had, they came up with two thousand one hundred and sixty rupees. Given that it is designed for someone like Link, he buys them.
"You can also make heat potions to keep you warm or make warm food as well," the clerk added.
"Really," Aloy mused.
Link next tells Aloy to come as he also tells her that he is going to find a cooking pot that to cook up some cold resisting food. When they find just such a pot over a fire, he sets about cooking up food full of spicy peppers and gives them to Aloy.
"Now that we have this settled," Aloy said. "Let's get going to this Flight Range."
They return to the flight pad near Teba's house. There, Link changes into the snowquill outfit and Aloy eats one of the foods that will keep her warm once they are over where the Flight Range is. Link runs toward the takeoff point and jumps, whipping out his paraglider. Aloy is close behind.
The duo glide across the lake to the distant cliff that is their point of destination. As they get closer they can see that it is a snowy region. They land on the other side into the snowy wilderness as snow flakes fall around them. Coniferous trees and bare birch trees are around the place.
"Wow, who could have thought the temperature difference could be so profound," Aloy mused. "Then again, there are places back in my world like that as well. Just not this extreme. So where are they located again?"
Link takes out the Sheikah Slate and they study the map and their direction. Once they get their bearings, they start walking. They do not have far to go before they are confronted by an ice-breath Lizalfos as it spits ice at them, but is also armed with a dragonbone Moblin club. The duo manage to corner it, then hack and stab it to death. Link collects its parts and even its club. A pair of ice Keese come at them, but the duo easily kill them and Link collects their parts.
That is when they spot two horses in the distance, one of which has a black Bokoblin mounted upon it. There is another black Bokoblin nearby as well, and both are armed with dragonbone Moblin spears. The Bokoblins have yet to notice Aloy and Link's presence as they are hiding low and behind a birch tree.
"If that one is riding a horse, then that other one will get on his horse as well," Aloy whispered. "It looks like we'll have to hit them hard."
They each take out their bows and an arrow, take aim at their respective targets, then release, hitting them both in their heads. The mounted Bokoblin falls and the horse flees. The duo run up to their respective targets with their melee weapons out and stab them both, killing them. Afterwards, they go and check out that fire. They even take notice of a cabin further back.
Upon arrival, they encounter a man sitting by the fire. His face is strong and pleasant.
"I have to say," the man said pleasantly, "you visage looks just as troubled as ever. Perhaps a glimpse of your future will ease your worries? What do you think? Shall I tell you your fortune?"
"Don't see why not," Aloy said whimsically as she looks at Link, who also agrees.
The man stands and begins smoothly though spacy tone.
"Ahh, very good. Now let me see . . . I see . . . black. So much blackness . . . A deep, dark abyss, drawing the both of you in."
Aloy feels something in her gut and the spacy pleasant tone that man is using is not helping. Moreover, there is something about that man's eyes. Something . . . grim.
"Ah!" The man said as if only just discovered something. "It's the void you're both about to inhabit. For Master Kohga!" Shouting that part as he takes a battle stance with a murderous glare.
The man reveals himself to be a Yiga and the duo are quick to go into action as he disappears in that puff of smoke and flurry of red notes. Aloy and Link are quick to roll out of the way and the Yiga lands where Link had stood. That is when he is frozen courtesy of Link using Stasis on him. Link shouts for Aloy to finish off the Yiga and she spins swiftly with her spear, slashing the Yiga across the throat so that she can feel the tip of her spear scraping over his vertebrae. The Stasis unfreezes and the Yiga goes flying backward like a ragdoll as blood gushes from that wound Aloy had delivered. The Yiga lands and does not get back up as he disappears into red smoke with a flurry of red notes.
"So much for that," Aloy sighed. "Damn, I can't believe how determined these Yiga are in avenging their goofy leader!" She starts giggling over how hilarious his death had been. The giggling increases and she doubles over. "Sorry, sorry . . . Not only was he so absurd, but his death was as well! It's amazing how someone can be both ridiculous and dangerous at the same time."
Link tells her that the most dangerous of people are often those who don't seem as such.
"You got a point there," Aloy mused. "Anyway, let's go and check out that cabin."
They enter the cabin to find a large stone brick fireplace in the back with a fire in it and a cook pot over it. There are barrels on one side and a chest on the other. Along with a bed and a table with a lamp and bottles of wine on it, along with a journal. Link opens the chest and finds a meteor rod. It is a simple rod with a handle, but the rest upward has a red orange shape of a fireball twirling up the handle to end in a fireburst that is the head.
"That could come in handy for me," Aloy said.
Before leaving, they check out the journel. It is about someone named Selmie writing about the dangers of Hebra Mountain, about the joy of shield surfing, and of someone else adding to the journal that praises Selmie.
They leave, this time with Aloy letting the meteor rod hang from her back to supplement in keeping her warm.
"Look. A shrine," Aloy noted as she points to the telltale orange glowing markings on it off in the distance.
Note:
In this fanfiction, I decided to have Harth uninjured for a reason that will become clear in the next chapter.
