CLANG!

Sparks flew like fireflies as Colin's blade clashed with Link's in a duel of steel. The ranch boy hesitated for only a second before circling the weapon his father had given him around for another attempt to break Link's guard. The hero parried the attack with a quick flick of his wrist and spotted an opening in Colin's defense.

"Stop swinging like Talo." The hero commented with a smirk. His mouth curled into a solemn frown as he kicked the air only inches from Colin's chest. The ranch boy inhaled sharply and braced for the impact but was surprised to find none. "Your arc is too wide. You leave yourself wide open." Link continued.

Colin relaxed a bit when he realized Link was only trying to teach him a lesson. He leaned on his knees while he regained his breath. Tears of sweat fell like raindrops as the exhausted youth gazed at his tan legs standing in the tall grass. It had only been a few days since they left Hyrule for Holodrum and his skin was already darkening nicely. At least it served as a consolation for his earlier burns.

"I'm never going to get this," the youth said wearily.

The hero shrugged his shoulders and tightened his grip on the sword. "Cheer up, Colin. It takes a while to become proficient with a weapon."

Colin shook his head somberly. "I'm not amazing like you are, Link. You just pick up on it and make it look so easy. How do you do it?"

Link tapped his boots gently against the grassy ground and sidestepped the question. "Pay attention, Colin. In battle, you only have a split second to make decisions." He made a few practice jabs at nothing in particular. "Every second counts. You can't afford to make wasted movements."

Colin nodded slowly as he stood at full height again. He held his sword in front with both hands and bent his knees slightly. "I'm not quite sure I understand."

Link nodded affirmatively and took another fighting stance. "Perhaps it's easier if I show you. Come at me with everything you've got."

Colin's eyes diverted to the side. "But what if I hurt you?"

Link smirked while his eyes glinted with quiet mischief. "Don't worry about me. Just do it."

"If you say so. I hope you know what you're doing."

After some slight hesitation, Colin brought his sword above his head for a vertical slash. With a calculating glance, Link twisted his sword to deflect the blow to his left. Before Colin could sweep around, the hero had already spun around and was now within the ranch boy's guard. The hero hammered the Master Sword a few inches from the hilt of Colin's blade, causing the very nervous youth to drop his weapon from the resulting force.

Link looked from the weapon lying in the grass to the shaking figure of Colin. The young man's hands shook like pebbles during an earthquake while his cheeks were redder than a tomato. Written on his face was a mixture of awe and shock.

"I think that's enough for today, Colin. Let's sit down and rest a while." Link suggested as he sheathed his weapon. "There's a river not too far from here."

"But I can keep going," the youth insisted as he picked his weapon off the ground.

Link cast a quick glance over his shoulder. "Resting is just as important as training. If you spend all your time practicing, you'll be too tired for the actual fight."

"I suppose you're right," Colin relented as he sheathed his weapon. His feet trudged slowly through the grass as he followed Link to the river just within sight.

The pair could hear the quiet rushing of the water as they approached the river. Most of it was surrounded by a steep bank, but a small hill with a path led to a sandy shore right by the stream. The water sparkled with the glow of the afternoon sun as it jumped playfully over the various rocks. Tifa splashed ecstatically in the stream, scattering droplets everywhere as she chased after crabs where the current wasn't as strong. Ilia stood on the shore, watching the joyful Kokiri girl with the eyes of a mother hen. Tatl hovered close by, shouting warnings whenever the newly awakened Forest Sage went too far.

Link and Colin sat down on the steep bank a few feet from the path leading down to the shore. Their feet dangled loosely several feet above the water's surface as they let their sore muscles relax for the moment. Link gave Ilia a friendly wave when her eyes turned in their direction. The young woman giggled and waved back before returning her attention back to Tifa.

"Those two sure get along," Link commented as he watched Tifa dive after a crab. It was only inches from her grasp before it jumped out of the way and scampered behind a slimy rock. "You'd think Ilia adopted her as a sister the way they behave."

Colin was silent.

Link turned to look at Colin. The youth's eyes were solemn and pensive as he gazed at nothing across the river. The wind toyed gently with a few strands of the Ordonian's blonde hair, but he didn't seem to notice.

"Wouldn't you say so, Colin?" Link attempted.

"I guess." The ranch boy replied half-heartedly. He glanced quickly at the two by the water but then continued to stare across the river.

"You look like a lot's on your mind," the hero said nonchalantly. "You want to talk about it?"

Colin looked slowly at Link and then stared at the ground. "Do you think I'm gonna' be strong enough?" His feet banged gently against the shoreline.

Link ran a few fingers through his hair. He winced as the thick sweat from sparring clung to his fingertips. He shouldn't have done that. "Of course you'll be strong enough, Colin. We'll find the other sages and have things back to normal in no time."

The youth shook his head firmly. "That's not it. That's not what I'm worried about."

Link tilted his head to the side as he put his sweaty cap back on. "Then what are you so worried about?"

Colin turned to look at the Kokiri girl continuing her hunt in the stream. Should he tell Link? For his entire life, he had never withheld anything from the person who had always been like an older brother to him. Yet, something gnawed at him from the inside. If Link knew what he was thinking, he might try and stop him.

"I just want to be strong enough to avenge Pa."

The words took Link by surprise like a lightning bolt on a clear day. He spoke his next words slowly and carefully. "Avenge?"

Colin cringed. He could hear the suspicion in Link's voice. Dare he elaborate? It would only make matters worse. Yet, how could he stop now? He was never any good at hiding things from Link. The indecisiveness tore at the young man as he decided on his response.

"Colin. You know you can tell me."

At last, the youth succumbed. "The wolf woman who killed Pa. I'm going to kill her too—no matter what I have to do."

A red flag went off in Link's mind. He hadn't heard anything about this. "Wolf woman? Like Zant?"

Colin looked at Link as if he had two heads. "No. I think she worked for him."

"What did she look like?"

Colin's eyes filled with hatred. "I'll never forget her or that evil smile when she killed Papa." His fist clenched tight enough to turn his knuckles white. "Long black hair, dark skin, and strange red markings. And she kept mentioning a 'Nevkah'."

Link's heart sank as he listened to the description. His mind constructed a mental image that matched the only other shape shifter he had ever encountered: Atrayu.

"No wonder." The hero whispered beneath his breath. "Rusl didn't stand a chance."

Link thought back to his first encounter with the shifter only a year or two ago. In his journey across distant lands, he had first encountered her one day within the thick forests of Nevkah. He had just passed through Termina and had lost his way in the woods between the two countries. As he attempted to find his direction as a wolf, he accidentally stumbled upon her in a strange grove playing an upbeat melody on an odd set of pipes. Though absorbed in the spirit of the music, she had sensed his presence immediately. As she turned around, she had uttered only one warning:

'Leave now or fight to the death. You are not welcome, outsider.'

She had shown surprise to find her opponent a wolf, but even more when that wolf transformed into a man. With a sly grin, her demeanor changed to one of amusement instead of hostility. She had issued Link a challenge and the two fought for hours. In the end, the duel resulted in a draw. Both were weak, bloody messes covered in scrapes and bruises. Overcome with respect for his unexpected strength, Atrayu had let him pass without further interference. After giving him a few days to recover as well as nurse her own wounds, she had sent him on his way. He had never heard from her since.

At least until now.

Link wanted to direct his hatred towards the shifter but found it difficult. Questions clouded his mind more than anything else. How could the proud warrior that had fought him so valiantly now be reduced to Zant's common minion? What propelled her from her homeland to live life as an assassin?

"You've been all sorts of places, Link. Why would someone do that? Papa never hurt anybody." Colin asked, breaking the hero's train of thought. The youth reached for a nearby pebble. He looked it over and tossed it disinterestedly into the moving water below. The ripples it created quickly faded with the current.

The hero swallowed hard before responding. "Well, I believe that is their culture." He hesitated slightly, watching Colin's face for a reaction. The Ordonian's face remained impassive. "With them, it's either kill or be killed."

Colin picked up another pebble and rolled it between his fingers. "Are they all like that?"

Link nodded his head slowly. "I think so."

The youth furrowed his eyebrows. "Then I have no choice but to kill them too." He clenched his fist tightly again and hurled the rock to the far side of the river. "I won't let another one of them hurt the people I care about."

Link let out a sigh. "Colin."

"Don't try and stop me, Link." The blond closed his eyes and shook his head resolutely. "Do you remember when King Bulbin kidnapped me in Kakariko? And you had to come to our rescue?"

"Of course I do."

Colin shivered. "I felt so useless as he grabbed me and tied me to that pole. After you rescued me, I promised myself I would never be that helpless again." He paused as he sniffled a few times. "But when Pa lost to that monster, I felt the same way. There was nothing I could'a done."

"Colin, I'm so sorry," Link said, placing a hand on the youth's shoulder. The Ordonian pulled away and brushed the gesture off.

"I'm fine now, Link. I'm not a kid anymore." His eyes narrowed and filled with a vengeful fire that alarmed the hero. "I hate them all. If she or any of her kind come 'round here…"

"And what if I was one of them, Colin?" Link raised his voice, stopping the Ordonian mid-sentence. Colin looked at him with wide blue eyes, the fire temporarily extinguished. The hero hadn't realized what he had said until now. Had he really been that close to exposing his secret? He softened his tone. "What if I was a shifter just like Atrayu? Would you hurt me too?"

Colin opened his mouth to say something but quickly closed it. The question had clearly taken him by surprise. He looked away, unable to meet Link's piercing gaze. This was exactly the sort of question Link would ask. But how could he remain so calm? Surely he too felt the loss of Rusl's death.

"Link, I'm just glad I don't have to worry about that." Colin let out a huge sigh. "If you were—I feel like things wouldn't end well for either of us."

The hero remained silent as a knot formed in his stomach, almost making him sick. His right hand instinctively reached for the back of his left where the power of the Goddesses dwelt within him. At that moment, he felt his identity split in half: the face of the hero that everyone saw, and the divine beast that lay just beneath the surface.

It was here that the hero decided no one could ever learn the truth about his other life—no matter what happened. Except for Zelda and Midna, he would guard the secret of the wolf inside and bear the burden as the Hero chosen by the Goddesses.

"Link! Colin! Get down here right away!" Ilia shouted from down by the bank.

The pair broke out of their conversation and jumped to their feet.

"What's wrong?" Colin shouted as they ran down the small hill to her location. The young woman's hands were drawn to her face, masking her mouth. Her eyes, wide as marbles, darted to the various rocks in fear.

"Tifa's gone." Ilia said quickly, her voice starting to crack.

Link laid a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Just tell us what happened."

Ilia turned her head away and pointed towards the rock. "Tifa and the crabs. She jumped on one of the rocks and slipped into the water. She ain't come up since."

"Which rock?" Link asked as he began to unbutton his tunic.

"Over there by Tatl," Ilia pointed to a rock covered in slime near the main part of the river. Colin began heading towards that direction, stepping carefully over rocks hidden beneath the water so he wouldn't lose his footing.

Link soon joined him and the two looked meticulously as they approached the slimy rock. Tatl continued to hover over the rock, looking desperately for anything. They all called out Tifa's name repeatedly, but there was no response. The sense of dread increased in both Colin and Link as their muscles tightened in anticipation of what they might find. They had to be careful to keep their footing lest they slip on the rocks below. Slowly but carefully, they finally reached the place Ilia had showed them.

"Took you long enough to get here," Tatl said with a mischevious grin.

"Surprise!" Tifa yelled with a giggle as she stood up from her hiding place in the water. Before Link or Colin could do anything, she splashed them senseless with wave after wave of water. After a few seconds, the two swordsmen stood helplessly wet, their hair and clothes dripping with water and their faces drenched in confusion.

"You fell for it!" Tatl barreled over with laughter.

"But Tifa..." Link stuttered. He looked back to Ilia. "But she said…"

It was then that Ilia uncovered her face to reveal the huge smile she had been hiding. The ranch girl burst out into laughter as she slapped her knee.

Colin let an awkward smile cross his lips. "I don't understand." He winced as another slap of ice cold water hit his skin. Tired of being on the receiving end, he began to splash the Kokiri girl back.

Tifa let out another giggle as the water hit her and sent another dose of cold water towards Link. "You two looked so serious talking up there. We thought you needed some fun to cool you down."

"So we thought what better way than with some ice cold river water," Tatl added as she avoided a stray splash.

"Oh, I'm cooled down alright," Link said with a mischevious smirk. He motioned for them to stop splashing for a moment as he pulled out his Gale Boomerang. "I think it's time for Ilia to join the fun."

He hid the boomerang with his body while he turned his head to aim. With a quick flick of his wrist, the boomerang sprang to life and created a sprinkler of water that scattered droplets in all directions as it traveled along the river's surface. Ilia saw the cyclone of water coming and shot Link a nasty glare before being doused by the water from the boomerang's unpredictable winds. As the boomerang landed gently back in Link's arms, the hero had to laugh at his drenched childhood friend.

"Very funny, Link," she said with a mock pout.

Link shrugged his shoulders and smirked. "What goes around comes around, Ilia."

Colin chuckled softly. "You're all crazy." He paused shortly and spoke to himself. "Thanks, Tifa. I needed this."

"Hey, Colin. Don't look now." Tifa giggled in delight. Before the youth could react, the Kokiri girl splashed him with another wave of water, sending chills shivering down his entire body.

"Is this how you train, Link?" Kari's voice caught everyone's attention and the splashing came to a halt. The Sheikah stood over the steep bank with a smug grin on his face. "What does splashing around in the water like a child teach?"

Link raised an eyebrow. "How to have fun. You should try it sometime."

Tifa looked at the wind tamer expectantly. "Would you like to join us, Mister?"

The Sheikah's grin quickly disappeared. "I have better ways of using my time." He looked directly at Colin and Link. "If this is how you two train, then the enemy will tear you apart."

Link looked to the rest of his soaked companions and back to the Sheikah. "And how do you train?"

Kari cracked his knuckles. "It would be too difficult for you."

The hero began wading towards the bank. "Is that a challenge?"

The Sheikah didn't move. "It is a statement of fact."

At this point, Link was already out of the river and quickly approaching the Sheikah. "Well, let's find out right now. Show me this training style of yours."

Kari folded his arms to his chest and grunted. "If you insist. When your body is bruised and bleeding, just remember you were warned."

As the two walked off into the woods, Colin, Tifa, Tatl, and Ilia merely stared at each other.

"What are they doing?" Tifa asked curiously, her big brown eyes diverting to Ilia. "Why are they acting so strangely?"

"They're men. If there is something to be proven, they'll prove it." Ilia said as she rolled her eyes in disgust.

"They'd kiss a tree if you told them they couldn't." Tatl said. "Men are so predictable."

Colin looked nervously in the direction they had walked. "We should probably go check on them. Whatever they're doing, it sounds dangerous."

Ilia nodded her head in agreement. The companions waded out of the river, soaking the ground with their dripping clothes as they trudged up the hill and through the forest.

"I wish I wasn't so wet," Ilia complained as she wrapped her arms around her. "With all this water, the wind feels worse than it was before ."

"That's a funny sentence," Tifa giggled. "Is this a new game? How do you play?"

"What are you talking about, Tifa?" Tatl reprimanded.

"In the forest, we call it a vine twister. It's when you say something that's hard to say. I just wanted to know if you played that too." Tifa replied innocently.

Colin placed his cloak over Ilia's shoulders. "Here, Ilia, I hope that helps. I took it off before I went into the water so it should be dry."

A hint of red painted Ilia's cheeks. "Thanks, Colin."

The companions continued to converse casually, unsure of where Link and Kari had run off too. After a few minutes of fruitless searching, they decided to head back to camp. As they walked, they heard the strange but comforting sound of music. With each step, their ears basked in the continuous notes of the accordion, the steady rhythm of a drum, and the melodious plucks of a guitar. The upbeat tune filled them with energy and vigor and drove them to reach camp all the quicker.

When they finally arrived, the group was greeted by the presence of a musical troupe. A large bearded man played the accordion jovially, a tall skinny fellow with too many piercings tapped the drum, while an older gentleman strummed away on a guitar. Zelda and Midna sat on a rough log, with the former engrossed in the music and the latter slightly amused. Link and Kari were there too, though both were looking on more in curiosity then enjoyment. At the center of everyone's attention was a gorgeous dancer moving gracefully in the center.

Her fiery red hair swung wildly through the air, held together in a loose ponytail. Gold-colored bangles circled around her small graceful hands as she twirled her body. The magenta in her outfit complimented her wild red eyes and allowed her the flexibility to twist in positions that only Kari could imitate. Her legs and arms flew through the air in wild spins as she set the camp ablaze in an atmosphere of awe.

Link walked up to Midna and jabbed her playfully with his elbow. "Sure you don't want to join them, Midna?"

The Twilight Princess stayed in her seat and looked at Link in amusement. "You are far more of a ham. You should join her."

As if in response to her words, the mysterious dancer grabbed the unsuspecting hero and brought him into the act. Taken completely off guard, Link tried his best to prevent stumbling over his two left feet. The dancer took his hand and led him in a dizzying combination of dips, spins, and promenades. Much to everyone's amusement, the hero barely escaped each step without falling or stepping on the dancer's feet. Even so, the woman continued her dance as if nothing was wrong.

When the music stopped and the mysterious dancer finally finished her performance, the campground rattled with a soft appreciative applause. Link stumbled to the ground, dizzy from the boggling amount of moves he had been forced to learn. As Zelda looked around at everyone's puzzled but appreciative faces, it was evident only she knew what was going on.

"Thank you. You're all too kind." The mysterious dancer bowed in appreciation.

Kari looked irritably from his companions to these interlopers. Tired of the distractions, he stepped boldly up to the woman. As he leaned forward, he showed no restraint in getting in her face. "Who are you and what do you want? You and your noisemakers have no purpose being here."

As the dancer backed away, the other musicians rose from their places and began to approach Kari. Zelda quickly stood up and jumped between Kari and the rest before an unnecessary scuffle broke out.

"Din, I know who you are, but it might be a good idea to introduce yourself to everyone else." The monarch said quickly.

Din bowed slightly and nodded. "But of course, Your Majesty." She turned around and bowed again. "I am Din, traveling dancer extraordinaire." She motioned to her compatriots. "Over on the drums is Boyd, the accordion is Rolf, and Oscar over there plays a mean accordion."

All of the musicians nodded and gave a friendly wave before scowling again at Kari. Apparently, they did not take too lightly to anyone harassing their favorite dancer.

Zelda introduced each of her companions one at a time. "He is Kari—you'll have to excuse his manners. Over here is Midna. Then we have Tifa, Colin, Ilia, and Tatl the fairy. And finally, the one you danced with is Link."

Din let out a small laugh. "Ah, and what a marvelous dancer he was." She reached a hand and helped the still dizzy hero back to his feet. "We shall have to do it again sometime."

The hero stumbled around on his feet a bit but regained his composure. "The pleasure was all mine."

Zelda unconsciously bit her lip as she watched the two interact. She felt something uncomfortable inside her stir, but couldn't quite place what it was. She pushed the feeling aside and tried to focus on the task at hand. She resumed her place on the log and folded her hands on her lap in the dignified manner she had been taught.

"So what brings you all the way out here, Din?"

The dancer gave a hearty laugh and a playful twirl. "We were just on our way to Horon Village when we ran into you, Your Majesty. Though surprised to find you in a place like this, there was no way we could resist giving a performance for the ruler of Hyrule."

Colin looked around at the strange troupe. "So you just happened to stumble upon our camp?"

Boyd broke in. "Well, you all are on the main road to Horon. So it's not that much of a coincidence."

"Enough of this foolishness!" Kari broke in, stamping his foot in assertive authority "How is this prattle going to help us find the Rod of Seasons?"

The entire camp was quiet as everyone stared at the brazen Sheikah. A few blue jays chirped in some trees nearby, providing one of the few sources of sound save for the rushing water in the background.

"Oh, you're here to see the Rod of Seasons!" Din exclaimed, breaking the silence. "Why didn't you say so?" She looked around. "It's a national landmark. I can take you there if you'd like."

Colin's stomach gurgled and growled. "Actually, it would be nice if you could take us to get some food first. I'm starving."

Din looked at the youth and smiled. "Okay, well why don't we all head to Horon Village together? It's not too much further. Afterward, I can take you to the Temple of Seasons if you'd like."

Kari sighed disgustedly. "How are we going to stay on task? You all are hopeless." He stormed off into the woods in frustration.

Zelda nodded. "Don't mind him." She smiled. "That would be wonderful."

From there, it was agreed that they would all travel together until they reached Horon Village, a deceptively named town that was actually the center of government and commerce for the country of Holodrum. The camp was packed within minutes and soon everyone was on the road. Tifa took a fascination to Din, and it wasn't long before the outgoing dancer was moving to the Kokiri girl's strange songs.

As the group walked, Link nonchalantly pulled Zelda from the group and signaled for her to walk a little slower. Midna's face flashed with jealousy but she said nothing. The rest were too entertained by Din's mesmerizing dances to care.

"What's going on, Link? Is something on your mind?" Zelda asked quietly when she thought they were out of earshot from the rest of the group.

The hero hesitated for a moment. "Actually, a lot more than I can say right now." He looked to the group. "I just need you to promise that you won't tell anybody about the wolf inside of me. Ever."

Zelda was taken back. "I had no intention of doing so. But why the sudden insistence?"

Link let out a deep sigh and looked towards Colin. "Let's just say I don't want certain people to find out."

The Queen followed the hero's gaze and understood. "Don't worry, Link. I promise."

The hero smiled in relief. "Thank you, Zelda." He brushed back a few loose strands of his hair. "Sometimes I wonder whether it's a gift or a curse."

"The divine wolf?"

"Yeah."

Zelda placed a comforting hand on the hero's back. "Link, no one ever said bearing the Triforce of Courage would be easy. You should know that of all people." She looked down at her own wrist. "There have been many times where I have wondered why I was chosen. The discernment it gives to me as a ruler is wonderful," she paused, "but it can also be incredibly lonely." She took his hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. "You and I are probably the only ones who understand this burden. Just remember you are not alone. I'm here for you."

Link placed his other hand on top of hers. "Thanks, Zelda. I needed to hear that." He looked towards everyone ahead and slowly withdrew his hands to his sides. "We should probably catch up to everyone or they'll wonder what we're doing."

Zelda nodded. "Go on ahead. I just need a moment to myself."

The hero nodded in affirmation and ran to catch up with the jovial pack. Midna gave him an odd look and asked what that was all about, but he shrugged his shoulders and continued walking.

As Zelda walked a short distance behind everyone else, her thoughts soon crowded out the jovial noises coming from ahead. There was an odd mixture of emotions running through her head, but she couldn't figure out what they were or what caused them. It had all started in Ordon with a feeling of anxiety. As the days had passed, that anxiety had only grown. To complicate things, sometimes it was accompanied by an odd feeling of joy. Even today, she had experienced some sort of anxiety when she saw Link and Din dancing together. And then there was the warmth when she touched his hand. Why such contradictory emotions? Was it something to do with the Triforce?

Then again, she was never really good at dealing with emotions. She was so used to shouldering the burdens of her kingdom that she seldom had time for her own feelings. Now stripped of her responsibilities, she had all the time in the world to confront the things she had always brushed aside. Even so, she wasn't ecstatic to think about them. With a shrug of her shoulders and a large sigh, she dismissed the thoughts like she had become so adept at doing.

"I'll deal with these thoughts later. There are more important things afoot."

A/N- This chapter was a lot shorter than the last one. Good news for you guys though: I am done with the semester which means I'll have more time to update. Typically, summer means I update every two weeks instead of the usual once per month. So make sure you check back every so often. You never know what you might find.

Courtesy of TheWorldNeedsPeace, we have an illustration of Atrayu in some of her animal forms as well as her human form. I've also posted a link on my profile page to all of the character illustrations done thus far, so feel free to check it out. Enjoy!

animenuthead./art/Atrayu-161434051 (at deviantart)

Finally, congratulations to Surviving Sheikah for winning the contest! Many of you were close, but no one else had all six answers are the answers:

Ocarina of Time = Ocarina of Time (duh, everyone got this)

Rod of Seasons = Oracle of Seasons

Harp of Ages = Oracle of Ages

Spirit Flute/Pipes = Spirit Tracks

Guitar of Waves = Majora's Mask (more people got this than I thought)

Conch Horn = Link's Awakening (this was the hard one...this is one of the 8 Instruments of the Sirens for those who have played the game). Til next chapter!