The Kikwi Elder was far larger than little Machi, even laying down on the ground. I don't think he was trying to hide as such, it was far too clear exactly what he was. Maybe it was just more relaxing for him, or maybe it was natural for all I know.

He also didn't appear to be aware of my presence until I tapped what I assumed was his shoulder introducing myself as I did so. I didn't bother to tell him I wasn't a monster – likely he'd tell that for himself.

As he got up it was clear that aside from his size, the only thing that marked him differently was the long trailing moustache that looked like it needed the dirt brushed out of it. Laying on his front did that.

"Knuckles, you say?" he yawned. "Would that we had met in better circumstances. I am Bucha, the Kikwi Elder. Quite remarkable that you spotted me through my ingenious camouflage. Clearly a master woodsman, no?"

OK, so maybe I'd been wrong about the hiding. I didn't want to offend him though, so I answered, "Something along those lines. I'm looking for someone Elder, and I'm told you saw them last – a human girl named Zelda?"

"Zelda?" he mused thoughtfully. "Ah yes, the girl creature with the blonde hair. Yes, she was with me. But this is hardly the time for such talk, Knuckles. The woods are full of monsters, and I am worried for my missing tribe."

I may have been a fairly new Hero, but I'm not a stranger to the way this goes.

"Ran across a little Kikwi named Machi not so long ago. He's up by that tree over there," I pointed it out. "I'll find the others if it'll help."

"You are most generous, friend Knuckles. I would help you myself, but alas, the monsters – I dare not leave this spot. There are three more of my tribe that are yet unaccounted for, the rest are safe. Your expert eye spotted me so easily, so I have little doubt you will find them just so easily."

I'll spare you the search through the woods. It familiarized me with the woodland area and between Fi and my own hunting capability – usually used for other things, but just as effective here – we soon had the three of them found.

The first was Lopsa, who was stuck up in a tree, again being harassed by Bokoblins. While he was happy to see I was on his side after clearing them up – which was good sword practice, if nothing else – he was also afraid of heights, and therefore couldn't get down.

That was solved simply by helping him uncurl a vine that had twisted around the branch so he could climb down, while I kept watch to ensure he was safe. I led him back to the Elder, who had been joined by Machi, then headed back off to find the second.

Second was Erla, who was hiding in a clump of bushes up on a high ledge, and had it not been for Fi I'd have missed him entirely. I had to push through the bushes to find him, and even then he tried hiding between others until, quietly to avoid alerting the Bokoblins below, I assured him I was there for the Kikwi Elder.

Naturally, he too refused to go anywhere until I exterminated yet more Bokoblins, and even a few crow-like birds Fi identified as Guays. Who, apparently, have acidic dung. No, really. Believe me or not, I actually let one get close enough to almost catch me before I hit it, just so I could watch what it did to the ground. I'm not stupid enough to let them get me.

Once I'd escorted Erla back to the Elder I went back on my search again, in the course of which I found an interesting curiosity – a large heart-shaped crystal held in a band of gold, at the centre of the crystal a similarly heart-shaped red core. Maybe it would be useful, maybe not, I wasn't sure, so it was stored in the pouch – and, despite there being room, it instantly vanished, taken to the bank. I'd find out for sure next time I stopped by Skyloft.

The last Kikwi was concealed in a peaceful grove, accessible through a series of interconnecting tunnels that were far too large for any Bokoblin to get to. Naturally, this didn't stop them lying in wait, so I simply cut them down while they were distracted. Have I mentioned Bokoblins are stupid already?

Oolo, as he was named, at first mistook me for a monster, then assumed I wanted to eat him, and then at long last once I assured him I was looking for him for the Elder and would walk him back did he finally, if still warily, accept that I wasn't trying to get him. Unlike the others, he simply told me to assure the Elder that he was safe, and would remain here. After drastically reducing the local Bokoblin population, I doubted they'd have so much trouble.

Bucha's mood each time I'd seen him had improved every time, dipping only when he saw I'd returned without Oolo – but becoming almost ecstatic when told where Oolo was, overcome with relief.

"You have a real talent for finding the hidden, friend Knuckles," he boomed heartily. "I don't know where you came from or what you are, but you have my thanks!"

"I'm flattered, Elder," I replied. "But if you wouldn't mind..."

"Ah, yes – Zelda, wasn't it? I recall clearly now, she said she had to go to the temple deeper into the woods. I tried to warn her how dangerous it is there, but she just ran off all the same! Ah, I hope she is safe too!"

"Don't worry about her – that's my responsibility. Where do I find this temple, behind the gate just up there?" I asked, referring to the one I'd seen on my first journey to Bucha.

"No, not there – see through those trees?" Bucha turned ponderously to look. I didn't see anything, so climbed a nearby tree to get to his level. There were more ruins that had once formed a round, white structure – but what it had been, there was too little left to tell. "Those ruins there? That is the way she headed – but take care, Knuckles! Many more monsters reside there!"

"I can take care of myself," I told him. "I've got my sword and my fists. They're the ones who need to watch out, not me."

"Such confidence! But take care it is not your downfall. Perhaps..." he considered something for a time, then said, "Yes, as a sign of our gratitude... Erla, bring me the precious belonging that other human left us."

Erla headed further up the tree I was in, rooting about in leaves that seemed to have been arranged as a container that obscured the contents. I didn't bother to ask who the other human was – Link was here.

I was given one of the traditional to-be tools of the trade, the Slingshot – and a pouch that went on my belt and even came stocked with little Deku Seeds. Rocks would work in a pinch, of course.

The assembled Kikwis wished me luck and gave me directions just in case I didn't find my own way, which I followed until I was out of their sight so I didn't bother them at all.

The ruins were arranged on three levels, with stairs curling up around the edges of each of them, terminating at the top with another bird statue. Another Skyward Strike activated it for future use, though I doubted I'd find many uses for all of them. They'd be useful as markers and safe landing sites, but with several in an area it'd only really be useful if one was closer to where I needed to be.

Opposite the bird statue was a pathway carved out of the rocks to an opening that was clearly artificial, though weathered by time. As I passed through I caught that annoying feeling that someone was watching me, someone behind me who didn't have friendly intentions. I looked, only just in time to see diamond-shaped particles vanishing from just before the bird statue. Someone or something had been there, and it hadn't been Link. The feeling was gone now however, and nowhere did I see anything that hadn't been there before, that didn't fit.

But I definitely had unwelcome company somewhere.

"Out of curiosity Link," Knuckles said. "That place. Isn't that what became the entrance to Kokiri Woods?"

"Close," Link replied. "The place on the other side is what later became the Lost Woods. Geography in that region changed considerably over the course of the years, which is why things looked so different of course, but the place where you were going looking for the Kikwis is part of the area where the Kokiri lived. And of course I moved a few things. The altar you got the Goddess Sword from, the Temple of Time..."

"The entire temple? I guess that explains how I found it there, but still..." Tails trailed off.

"Yeah, we don't move things often. It's a sign of poor planning. But part way through Knuckles' adventure, as I was coming to grips with what I could now do, I started to realize that I could pass off almost anything as necessary if I told the others it was for one of you guys. It annoys them from time to time, and once in a while they insist on extorting favours out of me, but hey – you gotta do things right, right?"