Even though the day was winding to an end, Colin and Kari couldn't believe how busy the main market was. Located in the very heart of the city, all major roads converged into this central square of commerce. Determined vendors advocated merchandise of all sorts from tents of differing colors, filling the square with loud advertisements of quality products and low prices. Potential customers hovered from stall to stall, haggling with the vendors in a classic showdown between buyer and seller. A few beggars clothed in rags wandered from person to person, their small bags jingling with the sound of rupees from a day's hunt. A few amateur musicians played a joyful tune in a corner of the square, hoping that passersby might toss a rupee or two in appreciation. A strong odor of fish reeked in the air from a nearby stall that had kept its wears too long.
"That should be everything we need," Colin said as he proudly held a sack of supplies. It had taken a few hours but the young man thought they'd obtained all of their necessities for their journey. Kari had been indispensable, advising him to buy long-lasting items such as bread and salted meat. They bought other things like extra blankets, a lantern, a hunting knife, and a few other odd items.
"Why do we need playing cards?" The Sheikah tried to project his voice above the background noise of the marketplace. "Do you intend to gamble?"
Colin shrugged his shoulders. "I thought it'd give us somethin' to do. After all, we can't be adventuring all the time, can we?"
"And where did you get all that money?"
The swordsman jingled the sack that contained their last few rupees. "Zelda gave it to me. I don't know where she got all that money, but she must've been rich."
Kari folded his arms. "Well, she is royalty."
Colin's mouth dropped. "You mean, she's THAT Zelda!"
"Didn't Link tell you?"
The youth's cheeks reddened. "Well, no. I just assumed they shared the same name."
The Sheikah nodded his head. "Then she probably does not wish her identity to be known. It would be best not to draw attention to it."
Colin laughed nervously. "To think, I've been traveling with the Queen all this time." Suddenly, his eyes turned sharply to his right. Something at one of the stalls caught his attention. "Hey Kari! Come take a look!" He made a beeline for the vendor, the sack of rupees jingling in his hand.
The Sheikah quickly followed. He found the youth turning a small leather book in his hand when he arrived. Colin undid the leather strap, opened past the tan cover, and flipped through the small pages.
"What is it?" Kari asked.
"It's a notebook," came the reply. The Ordonian looked to the shopkeeper, a large muscular man with a thick brown beard that smelled of too much garlic. "How much for this?"
"I give it fifty rupees," came his broken Hylian.
Colin remembered what Talo had told him about the city. You had to whittle down the price.
"Twenty."
"I give forty-five."
"Thirty."
"Forty."
"Thirty-five."
"I take thirty-five," The shopkeeper said in broken Hylian. Colin placed the currency in the shopkeeper's hands. He counted it carefully and nodded. "Good day."
As they walked away, Kari looked at the strange notebook. "Why did you buy that?"
Colin opened to a random page and felt the papery material. It was coarse and thick beneath his fingertip. "So I can draw."
The Sheikah raised an eyebrow. "Drawing?" He looked again to the book. "How long have you been doing that?"
The swordsman smiled sheepishly, pushing his blond hair out of his eyes with his free hand. "Not very long. I started when Talo and them left Ordon. Without them around, there's really not much to do around the ranch. I needed something to pass the time." He looked around. "I would've brought my notebook, but it's all filled. Plus, we left in a hurry so I didn't have time to pack it."
Kari nodded. "It is good to have something that you enjoy."
Colin closed the notebook and put it in the sack hanging over his shoulder. He looked to the Sheikah as they left the main square. "What do you do for fun?"
Kari was puzzled. "For fun?"
The youth scratched his head. "Yeah. For fun. Like what do you enjoy doing?"
The Sheikah looked up blankly. "What do I enjoy doing?" He paused as he thought. "Well, I suppose when I had to rest from training, I enjoyed studying the old legends. Eventually, I committed them all to memory." He paused again. "I also enjoy history, even that of other tribes beyond my own."
Colin laughed. "We could write a history book. You write all the history, and them I illustrate all the maps and stuff."
Kari's eyes brightened. "Really?"
Colin smiled and shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know. I was just kidding."
The Sheikah's face dimmed. "Oh. More of this sarcasm I suppose."
As the two discussed the idea further, they quickly lost track of where they were walking and made a wrong turn. They found themselves in a side alley with several shanty houses crammed next to one another with collapsing shutters and moss growing on the stonework. The street was scantily lit and stank of excrement from the local residents.
"I don't think this is the right road." Colin said. His eyes shifted nervously to each of the open windows. His hand instinctively reached for the hilt of his weapon.
Kari looked around them carefully. "That is not what worries me. For a while now, I have had the strange sensation that someone has been watching and following us."
A nervous chill went down Colin's spine. "Let's get out of here."
The two companions quickly double-backed and found their way to the main road. From there, they followed it back to the main square and located the road they had entered, recognizable by the shoddy inn they had stayed at the night prior. As they watched the sun lower in the sky, they quickened their pace so as not to keep their companions waiting.
Eventually, they reached the outskirts of the city and arrived at the designated location well before the meeting time. The sun was still peaking over the horizon; their companions would still be a little whilethey sat down in the grass to wait. A strong wind began to sweep through the field, originating from ominous storm clouds that had approached from the south. The thunderheads loomed over them, large billows with silver-lined heads from the sun and dark bellies bloated with rain. Based on the intensity of the wind, Kari estimated their arrival to be within the hour.
Not one to be intimated by some lousy weather, Colin eagerly took out his notebook and a writing utensil he had bought. Armed with his newly acquired tools, he began to draw. The paper was a little rougher than he would've liked, but he would manage. Kari looked over his shoulder curiously as the youth sketched random lines.
"What are you drawing?" he asked, trying to make sense of the jumbled picture.
Colin tapped the charcoal instrument against his chin. "I haven't decided yet."
As they discussed possible ideas, they heard a rustling in some nearby bushes. The Sheikah jumped to his feet and waited, but nothing emerged. Curious but cautious, he leapt over to it and peeked over the leaves. The look on his face gave Colin a momentary comfort.
"What is it? A monster?" he called out.
Kari shook his head and walked casually into the brush. "It is nothing to be afraid of. It's just a lone wolf," he called back.
"Just a lone wolf?" The Ordonian quickly placed his notebook and utensil down on the ground. He had a bad feeling about this.
"I know how it sounds. But compared to monsters, this is a relief," the Sheikah said. The leaves rustled as he strolled casually out of the brush, tucking the Wind Waker back into his sleeve. A few seconds later, there was more rustling and a wolf emerged after him. Its amber eyes looked at Colin intensely as it shook the branches from its silver fur. The Ordonian's heart skipped a beat and his mouth hardened into a scowl. "It can't be."
Kari walked towards him. "I normally do not say this, but you should relax Colin. Let it alone and it will not harm us."
Colin shook his head. His voice dripped with venom. "Trust me! That's no wolf! He reached for his sword."But how did she find us?"
Kari tossed a glance back to the wolf, who was now sitting calmly on the ground with its tail wrapped around its legs. He folded his arms and looked again at Colin. "Just relax. See, it's just sitting there." However, Colin gave him a dirty look and nodded in the direction behind him. Reluctantly, he turned around one more time.
Just as the Ordonian predicted, the wolf had transformed into a woman encased in armor with hair black as midnight. She grabbed the red dragon scale hanging from her neck and tucked it beneath her chest armor. Long claws like those of a cat extended from her fingers. She clicked them casually against one another as she stared her two challengers down.
"So Colin, we meet again." Atrayu's amber eyesnarrowed. "Tell me, have you seen Link? I know he's around here."
The Ordonian's grip tightened so hard on his weapon that his knuckles turned white. He could feel the adrenaline pumping through his system, adrenaline fueled by hatred mixed with raw fear. That dark skin, those wild eyes, the strange red markings; that face would never leave his mind as long as he lived.
"How did you find us?" The Ordonian demanded.
The shifter tapped her boots on the ground and stretched her arms. "Let's just say I'm good at tracking prey. It's in my blood."
Colin's head pounded so hard he thought it might explode. His heart raced. His lungs hyperventilated. Every muscle tensed. The moment he had anticipated had arrived. But had it come too soon?
Without forethought, without saying a word, Colin sprinted towards her. If only he could take her by surprise.
"Colin!" Kari cried out, but it was too late.
The steel of his blade gleamed with the setting sun as it sliced through the air towards its target. Atrayu stepped casually to the side as the attack flew by and slid her body to avoid Colin's second strike. The swordsman was shocked, but he refused to give up. He watched her carefully and attempted another series of slashes, anything to land a solid hit.
"I asked you a simple question," Atrayu taunted as she effortlessly parried his slashes with her claws. Colin refused to listen.
Slightly irritated, Atrayu dodged another slash and landed a firm punch to the youth's stomach. As he doubled over, she grabbed his arms and twisted them behind his back, causing his sword to collapse to the ground. She pushed his face into the dirt and held it there with her knee while she kept his hands locked.
"Perhaps, now you will talk." Her voice contained more than a hint of irritation. "Would being polite make you more compliant?" She paused as she thought of how respect was shown in the human culture. A sour look appeared on her face as she mouthed the words. "Will you tell me where Link is, pretty please?"
"I have nothing to say to murderers. Just finish me and be done with it." Colin spat back.
The corner of her mouth twitched in irritation. "I see having manners is useless." The shifter shoved him harder with her knee. "Unfortunately for the both of us, I can't finish you. Besides, it would only waste my time. Just tell me where to find Link and I will be on my way."
Colin never got a chance to answer. He grunted as a violent gust of air thrust Atrayu off of him and into a patch of high grass. Kari ran over with the Wind Waker in one hand, his red eyes watching vigilantly for the shifter's quick recovery.
"Are you okay?" He asked as he helped the Ordonian to his feet. He gave Colin back his sword.
The swordsman gratefully took the weapon and nodded. His breath came in short spurts. "Surprisingly," he managed quickly.
It didn't take long for the shifter to reemerge from her landing spot. The veins around her forehead were beginning to bulge from her irritation. She looked at Kari and an amused smirk replaced her impatience. "So you're the wind tamer Mudora is looking for." She grunted. "Not too impressive to look at, are you?"
Colin immediately resumed a fighting stance. "What do you want with Link?"
The mercenary casually pushed the hair back that had flown in her face from the impact. "We have unfinished business. Things only shifters would understand."
"Shifters?" Kari asked.
"Yes, shifters. Link and I. Do I have a lisp or are you just hard of hearing? She shook her head. "None too bright either." Her gaze locked on Colin again. "So where is Link?"
THWICK!
An arrow flew through the air and landed solidly in a tree trunk behind the shifter, the tail oscillating back and forth like a diving board as it adjusted to its new resting place. A few black strands of hair floated gently to the ground from the shifter's head.
"That was a warning shot. Next time I won't miss." Link emerged from the woods with his bow in hand. Another arrow was already notched and ready to be fired. His eyes glared at Atrayu with a wild fury. "If it's me you want, then leave Colin and the others out of this." He kept the point aimed at Atrayu while he approached the youth. "Are you okay?"
Colin's blood was still boiling. "I'm fine! Would everyone stop asking?"
Link pulled back but said nothing. He looked to Kari and gave him a nod of gratitude. The hero felt a firm tug on his shirt. It was Colin.
The Ordonian stared at him with hard blue eyes. His blade was ready in his hand but pointed at no one in particular. "Link, no more lies. I want the truth." He looked to Atrayu. "Why does she keep calling you a shifter?"
Though the temperature was fair for dusk, Link could still feel the sweat dripping down his back. His eyes darted nervously to Atrayu and back to Colin. The Ordonian was staring him down intensely. Colin's sword moved restlessly in his hands, rotating in small circles as he moved his wrist.
What could he say? If Colin knew the truth…well, he'd rather not think about it.
Link swallowed and hardened his resolve. He'd have to improvise.
"She calls me a shifter because I fight like a beast." He managed. "She doesn't know if I'm human or something else." The hero prayed inwardly that the youth would buy it.
Colin exhaled deeply as he looked from Atrayu to Link. "That's good. For a second, I thought you were one of them." He raised his sword and placed his wooden shield in front of him. "She's too strong for just me, but together I know we can beat her."
Atrayu scowled. "I have no interest in fighting you, boy. You're not the challenge your father was." She shook her head. "I only seek Link."
The hero placed the arrow he had notched in its quiver and pushed Colin's sword arm down. "Not this time, Colin. This is my fight."
The youth pushed Link's hand away. "I'm not letting you do it alone."
The hero looked at the Ordonian with fierce eyes. "I know how you feel, Colin. Trust me, I feel it too. More than you know." He drew his own sword and shield. "I never knew my real parents well. Rusl was my father growing up too." He stared at Atrayu. "And that's why I intend on finishing this once and for all."
"Stop holding me back!" Colin shouted. "I can do this! Just let me try!"
The hero remained unmoved by the youth's demands. "No, Colin. You can't. You need to train more." His face winced. It had hurt him to say those harsh words. He looked to the wind tamer beside him. "Kari."
The Sheikah nodded in understanding.
"I am sorry, Colin." The Sheikah said as he jabbed the swordsman quickly and decisively.
A look of disbelief flashed in Colin's eyes before he closed them and collapsed. He landed gently in Kari's arms.
"Thank you, Kari." Link said. A momentary relief crossed his face.
"Do not worry. I did not hurt him," he assured. He placed Colin gently on the ground and looked up. "Would you like my assistance against her?"
The hero shook his head firmly. "No. Take care of Colin and wait for the others. This is between the two of us." He smirked. "You could say we have some unfinished business." He took a few steps forward, staring at Atrayu with the same ferocity that Midna had commented on earlier. " I don't want anyone else involved. Let's go somewhere else."
Atrayu kicked the dirt with her sturdy boot. She thought the proposal over. "Very well. Follow me if you can." She transformed into a falcon and flapped her mighty wings to lift off the ground. She took off over the grassy plain, hovering just a few feet off the ground. Link sheathed his sword and raced after her. Soon, Kari and Colin shrunk behind him as he put more distance between him and the city. Squinting ahead of him, the other shifter was nowhere to be found. Only looming thunderheads overhead greeted his gaze.
She's forcing me to become a wolf. The thought floated through the hero's mind like a bubble.
He felt the pulse of his Triforce as he transformed. Suddenly, like mist materializing in thin air, he could sense the path she had taken through his keen sense of smell. He raced after the trail, trampling grass as he sprinted on all fours.
Wouldn't want to disappoint her.
The trail led him to a small clearing where the grass was shorter. The river he had seen earlier snaked through the plants. The current seemed swift and merciless; perhaps from the heavy rain they had received a few days ago. The sun was well below the horizon now. The storm clouds overwhelmed the sky like a thick blanket. Their ominous presence lingered overhead, threatening to rain something fierce. A low thunder rumbled in the distance as the wind picked up.
Atrayu sat on a small log in her human form. The decay was evident from the decomposing wood, but it held her weight nonetheless. She had her legs crossed and looked at him expectantly as if they were having a benevolent fireside chat.
"Glad to see you haven't lost your inner wolf," she said casually. "I was worried you wouldn't find me."
Link reverted to his human state. His feral eyes still retained the ferocity of an animal. "What are you doing? Did Zant tell you to find me?"
Atrayu laughed aloud. "He did, but that's not why I'm here." She pointed to a nearby stump. "Have a seat."
Link looked quickly at where she was pointing. "I'll pass." He cracked his knuckles. "So why are you here?"
Atrayu could sense the aggression building in her opponent. Excellent! She could feel her own blood starting to boil in anticipation of the coming fight. "For a number of reasons actually…all of them personal." She rose from her seat. "You see, you and I are different from everyone here. We have a special…gift."
Link didn't like where this was going.
The mercenary continued. "You and I are quite similar, you know? Our appetite whets at the prospect of combat. Our body tingles at the chance to fight and kill."
The hero's low voice bordered on a growl. "I'm nothing like you."
Atrayu almost burst out laughing, but she contained herself. "Are you sure?" She looked intently at him with her amber eyes. "I can see your bloodlust even now." She smiled knowingly, her voice becoming almost seductive. "Every fiber in your being wants to rip me apart limb from gory limb."
Link froze and his eyes widened. She was right! His whole body trembled. His heart palpitated against his chest. Even as he inhaled, he could feel the aggression entering his lungs and spreading through his arms and legs. His inner wolf, the one he fought so hard to keep locked in the darkest recesses of his mind, growled and scratched with an intensity he had never remembered. It begged, nay demanded, to be released.
The satisfaction that came from watching Link realize with horror that she was right was almost unparalleled. Atrayu licked her lips and continued. "I want to offer you a choice. I would like you to join me as an equal in the pursuit of my endeavors."
"That depends. What are you offering? And what's the other choice?" Link said through panted breathing. His hairs were standing on end. As much as it shamed him, he could feel the adrenaline pumping through him. It felt invigorating!
"I'll explain what my endeavors are if you agree to help me. Otherwise, we fight," Atrayu said casually. "Just as they do in my homeland. We partake in single combat until only one of us is left standing as the victor."
"So we'll finally finish our fight from a year ago," Link said. He laughed as the idea appealed to him. He was thankful no one could see him like this.
A picture of Rusl's face flashed through his mind, suddenly sobering the wolf man. His face suddenly turned serious as he remembered his reason for fighting. "You killed someone very dear to me. Now I will take your life just as you took his."
Atrayu cracked her neck and scraped her claws together. "You mean Rusl, don't you? Rest assured, he was a worthy opponent and I enjoyed killing him—just as I will enjoy finishing our duel." For the first time since their confrontation, her evil grin disappeared. For a moment, her solemn frown almost made her look human. "You are not the only one who lost something the day we fought. Because of you, my honor is forever tarnished and I will never step foot in my country again." She tightened the straps on her boots and adjusted her armor. "If you will not join me, then you will suffer for taking everything from me."
Link's humanity came back for a second. "You were exiled?" However, his inner wolf soon commanded him once again. His eyes narrowed in aggression. "We will see who has suffered the greater loss."
Atrayu smirked. "Yes. We will see."
Thunder clapped loudly from the clouds above. Like a man pouring a bucket of water, the heavens released a downpour that soaked the two combatants in seconds. Water continued to drip off their faces and clothes as they stared one another down.
Link's eyes narrowed and he reached for his sword and shield. "Then let's dance."
Atrayu's eyes locked on her opponent. With claws extended, she closed the gap between them in seconds. Her razor-like fingernails scratched against his shield, the first strike, causing the air to screech with a chilling horror. The hero redirected his shield instinctively as she spun around and slashed at him with her other hand. Once again, claw scraped against metal in futility. Link's blade sliced through the air as he counterattacked, missing the mercenary's armor by inches as she jumped back. She swiftly rushed back, flipping once through the air as she rained down both her claws in a cross-shaped pattern.
Link back flipped to avoid the attack, his boots sinking slightly in the quickly forming mud. He came back into the fight with a jump attack of his own. Sparks flew as Atrayu caught the sword by crossing her claws. The weapons became entangled, and the two shifters struggled in a contest of strength. Each pushed with all their might, but they were too evenly matched. At last, the weapons became untangled and the two combatants jumped back.
What are those claws made of? How are they still intact after facing the Master Sword? Link thought.
The rain dripped down the hero's face as he panted heavily like a wolf. He could feel the blood pumping to his muscles as he twisted the blade of evil's bane around his wrist. His opponent was also breathing hard, but he knew it was only momentary fatigue. The wind shook their hair violently as the storm gained strength.
As soon as he saw her flinch, Link brought his sword behind him. Inch by inch, he watched her feet very carefully, his shield braced in front of him. The mercenary saw his stance and smirked. As soon as she was in range, she hit the ground and rolled, feeling the air brush by her face as Link's spin slash whirled above her. She managed to slice his leg as she rolled by, cutting the fabric of his thick pants and barely scratching the outer layers of his skin.
Before she could regain her footing, the hero was already rolling around her backside. Just as she jumped to her feet, he did the same. His sword twirled around him like a streamer, a trademark of the back slice he employed so skillfully. The blade slashed clean against her armor, ringing the air loudly and leaving a clear gash where it had traveled. Atrayu jumped back, slightly surprised but all the more invigorated.
The hero held his Hylian shield proudly in front of him and his sword at the ready. As she ran to him, her boots splashing in newly formed puddles, he watched her with feral eyes and calculated her movements. She was fast and nimble; no doubt about that. As he stabbed at her projected position, she jumped atop his blade, her thick boots landing on the flat side of the sword. To the hero's surprise, she leaped off his weapon and scratched him hard on the cheek just below his left eye. She twirled through the air like a gymnast and landed squarely on two feet. Anticipating a counter attack, Link rolled forward before she could land a second strike.
He felt his cheek as he leaped to his feet. A small amount of fresh blood stained his gauntlet but was quickly washed away by the heavy rain. It stung like any cut, but was far from serious. Atrayu also took the chance to recover and examine the scar on her black armor.
Link realized she was too skilled for him to get a solid hit with so much burly equipment. He placed his shield behind him and sheathed his sword.
"Are you giving up already?" Atrayu asked. "That is unlike you."
"I'm only getting started," Link replied. At last, his hand found the ornately decorated Gale Boomerang. It glowed as he raised it above his shoulder, illuminating his stormy blue eyes filled with a lust for battle. He aimed it carefully with one hand while he held onto the hilt of his sword with the other.
Atrayu raised an eyebrow but kept her guard up. As she dashed through the mucky ground towards him, mud sticking to her armored boots, Link unleashed the magical boomerang. Just as expected, a small whirlwind charged towards her, swirling water droplets and pushing the nearby grass violently. Surprised but not caught off guard, she dodged the projectile and felt the winds blow her hair wildly. She watched it pass by her face and quickly focused on her now unarmed prey.
Every muscle in Link's body tensed as she was now only a few feet away. His fingers tightened their grip on the hilt as he narrowed his eyes in anticipation. The dark sky and stormy weather made it difficult to see, making his timing all the more important to nail. The mercenary was only a foot away, her claws aiming for his neck, when his sixth sense told him to strike.
"HIYAAAA!"
A technique known only by those who possess the hero's bloodline, the Mortal Draw was too fast even for Atrayu to anticipate. His sword slashed through the air like butter, slicing clean into the mercenary's shoulder and once again cutting a deep scrape into her armor. The raw speed and ferocity of the attack sent her hurtling onto her back. Her armored body splashed into the pool, where she lay motionless. The gale boomerang came whizzing through the air, returning to the hero's hand like a faithful bird.
Now's my chance!
Putting the item away, Link ran forward and jumped through the air, his memory recalling the first hidden skill he had ever learned. The sharp blade gained speed as it came down hard like a nail. The hero put his entire weight into the attack. True to the attack's name, this would end it.
Unfortunately, it did not. Its intended recipient had seen him and rolled out of the way. The blade sealed itself inside the mucky ground, having missed its target. As the hero struggled to wrest his weapon free from its dirty prison, Atrayu leapt to her feet and kicked him hard in the side. Link felt the pressure against his ribs and plunged into a large but shallow puddle. The rain tickled him in the face as he struggled to get up. The heavy Hylian shield on his back made it difficult to recover effectively. By the time he reached his feet, Atrayu already had the Master Sword in her hand.
"Looking for something?" She taunted, looking at the weapon but keeping her opponent in her peripheral. Link scowled but didn't move. "You know," she continued, "I could use this against you in the same way I used your old sword against Rusl."
The hero quickly retrieved the shield from his back. His hand grabbed the handle tightly as he prepared for the mercenary to rush him. "I'd like to see you try."
Atrayu's mouth curled into a half-smile, showcasing her carnivorous teeth. She held the sword in front of her. Then, without warning, she threw the weapon. Link watched the legendary blade spin through the air, as if in slow motion, before it finally came to rest in the nearby river. First the blade sunk, the hilt remaining afloat for only the briefest of moments until the entire weapon became submerged in the river.
"You are far too dangerous. I can't run the risk of you regaining your weapon." She cracked her neck and readied her claws. "Now let's see how you fight without it."
The Hylian smirked. "Like this!"
He hurled the heavy iron shield at her. Not wanting to get hit by the massive item, she had no choice but to jump back. This gave Link the time he needed to reach for his bow and notch an arrow. He was already taking aim by the time the mercenary realized her mistake.
"Take one more step, Atrayu. I dare you!" The string groaned as he brought it back. "At this range, I can't miss."
Defiant amber eyes stared him down. "Go ahead and try," the shifter challenged.
Link instantly released the arrow as she fell forward. By transforming into a falcon, she successfully dodged the attack, the arrow barely missing her tail feathers. As Link reached for another arrow, the mercenary flapped her powerful wings and retreated high into the safety of the storm. Link squinted as he looked for even a glimpse of her, but the rain pounding against his eyes and the dark clouds above made it impossible. The loud crashing of thunder and the tremendous gusts showed the full power of the storm overhead.
Suddenly, his eyes caught sight of the large outline. The hawk dove straight at him from the dark backdrop. Out of his surprise, his fingers instinctively released the arrow. It sailed into Atrayu's left wing, puncturing her body but failing to stop her vicious assault. Her sharp talons ripped into the flesh on his dominant shoulder, tearing away the skin and scratching at his muscles. The hero shrieked in pain as he dropped the bow and grabbed his shoulder. It might as well have been stabbed with a dagger.
Meanwhile, Atrayu bounced against the ground like a kite with no wind. The arrow had punctured deeply, making flight almost impossible. Lightning lit up the sky like a firecracker, further complicating matters for her.
Link touched his shoulder and saw his hand immersed in blood. Unlike his previous injuries, this one had the potential to be serious. He could move his arm, but any pressure sent waves of pain down his arm.
My weapons are useless now. Guess there's just one way left to fight.
The hero succumbed to his instincts and released the wolf at long last. The pain was still sharp in his front left paw, but at least he still had three good ones. As he felt the muddy ground against his fur, he couldn't believe how good it felt to become wild and untamed again. The rain was already mixing with blood and soaking his fur, but he didn't care. As he let out one long howl, he dashed towards his injured prey.
Atrayu had the same idea. With her wing injured and Link finally in his wolf form, she decided to test his mettle. She broke off the arrow and transformed from a hawk into her own lupine body. The thigh of her left paw still stung and bled something fierce, but she couldn't afford to address it now. After all, this was a fight to the death.
The two predators circled one another, both limping from an injured limb. Feral blue eyes stared at wild amber eyes through the black of night. Lightning flashed overhead, illuminating the anger in each combatant's snarls for only a moment before the darkness returned. Their instincts ran crazy with the desire for battle.
Like the loud bang at a horse race, the two lunged for one another at the next crash of thunder. The darkness made it difficult to see, the steady drizzling of rain hard to hear, and the water all around impossible to smell. Nonetheless, they dueled in the elements. Blood soon began to accumulate within the pool of water as the two shifters scratched each other mercilessly and chaotically. Link made a lunge for Atrayu's throat, but the mercenary threw him off. She, in turn, went for his, but her effort was thwarted as well.
Eventually, the two wolves backed away from each other. Covered in blood and water, they panted desperately from enormous fatigue. Their heads remained low to the ground and their gazes fixed on each other. Just like before, they were evenly matched. Neither one could press their advantage enough to inflict a mortal wound.
It was Atrayu who broke the stalemate by returning to her human form. He watched her carefully through feral eyes as she hunched over on her knees and panted for breath.
Her words were labored. "I'm afraid…that this fight will end…like our last one…if one of us does not finish...the other soon." She wiped the blood off her face. "Link…you have been a worthy adversary…but it is time I end this."
The hero returned to his human form. His breathing was as labored as Atrayu. His shoulder felt like it was on fire, and his whole body stung from the many scrapes he had received. "How? You can barely fight."
There was a twinkle in Atrayu's eye. "You have pushed me far…further than anyone ever has…save the leader of my country. That is why…I must use my final transformation."
Her dark skin turned red and scaly. A tail formed behind her. Wings began to sprout from her back. Her body began to grow and change shape. Link watched in horror as the lightning provided snapshots of her terrifying transformation. As her silhouette morphed and shifted, it came to resemble that of a small dragon, one about the same size as Argarok from the city in the sky. He could see her lizard-like face as she exhaled flames from her carnivorous mouth.
"Goddesses! I don't have the strength to fight something like that!" Link cursed. He back flipped as Atrayu launched a fireball in his direction. He felt the heat pass his skin even as the cool rain soaked him.
Link sprinted away as fast as possible, his leg muscles tensing up from the intense fatigue. As the monstrous creature stormed towards him, it launched fireballs at him that he barely avoided. The hero reached his Hylian Shield just in time as another fireball sailed in his direction. He rolled and placed the metal shield between him and the dragon and hoped for the best. The scalding attack hit the shield dead on, sending the weakened hero sprawling across the ground like a tossed pebble. The intense heat singed some of his hairs.
As Link struggled to get up, Atrayu grabbed him with her scaly claw and hurled him into the ground. He grunted as he rolled like a twig through the puddles, the ground scraping against his skin and giving him new bruises. He couldn't tell if he had broken any bones, but he couldn't move very much.
He saw her slowly approaching, almost limping even. However, she didn't launch any fireballs. His eyes lit up as he realized she must be weakening as well. Surely a transformation of that magnitude required large amounts of energy. If only he could hold out a little longer.
"Strength of an eagle; peace of a dove." He muttered. He tried to move, but the most he could muster was his arm.
The ground shook from Atrayu's stomping. She was very close.
Link focused the last energy he could muster. "Grant me protection with Nayru's love!"
A small crystal barrier surrounded the hero as Atrayu grabbed him with her scaly claw. Knowing she had precious little time, she squeezed with all her might. She felt his flesh compress beneath her power but something prevented her from crushing him. Whatever was protecting him, she had to break through it fast. Lightning jumped through the sky and thunder roared its approval as she focused all of her energy on her fingers.
The hero felt the protective casing of Nayru's love start to give beneath her enormous pressure. If it dissipated, he was done. The hero was helpless to move within her vice grip as her claws pinched his skin. He gritted his teeth in determination. His head felt like it might explode from the built up pressure of maintaining the spell. Sweat dripped down his forehead and arms by the drop.
Cracks were already starting to form in the crystal casing. Not good!
Atrayu put the last bit of energy she had into breaking his protective barrier. It was all or nothing! Second by painful second, she felt the barrier slowly bend beneath her powerful fingers. In only a few seconds, she would have him. But did she have that much strength?
She felt the lactic acid accumulating in her muscles, filling them with cramps and making it tougher to concentrate. The tremendous wind and rain continued to pound her mercilessly. Even so, she kept her focus. Maintaining her ungodly amount of pressure for another second, the shield finally shattered into pieces. Now to finish him.
And yet, she didn't have the strength to do it. Her fingers slowly weakened and her grip loosened as the last of her strength left her. She had remained too long in that transformed state and now she was about to pay the price. Her body shrunk back to its normal size as she reverted to her human state. The mercenary tried to move, but alas, it was futile. She had exhausted so much of her strength that all she could do was collapse onto her back motionless.
Link fell from her grasp and landed hard on the ground. His entire body felt on fire. His lungs gasped for air as his heart raced to supply his overexerted muscles. His bones groaned endlessly at even the slightest movement. He shouldn't have been able to move.
Yet, as he saw his adversary lying helpless a few feet from him, something stirred inside him. The Triforce glowed brilliantly on his left hand, numbing the pain and providing him with a new strength. The feral desire for bloodlust consumed him. The inner wolf had complete control now.
The wolf man spotted an arrow that had fallen from his quiver during the fight and crawled over to it. His joints were stiff and his muscles ached. Yet, he kept going on sheer adrenaline and the divine power of Courage.
His hand trembled as he grabbed the arrow. He looked nervously at Atrayu; she hadn't moved. He felt a strange exhilaration that made his body tingle. The hero crawled slowly but steadily until he finally reached his prey.
"I win," he growled with finality. His heart pumped a mile a minute.
The mercenary looked at him with amusement. "So you do." Blood streamed down from her forehead and lip, mixing with the mud and water on her face to form a disgusting mixture. He also saw a scar underneath her right eye he hadn't noticed before. Her entire body was covered in scratches while blood pooled out of her left arm where the arrow had hit her. Her wild black hair was a tangled mess.
Link lay on his stomach for support, his good hand holding the arrow above her head. His face was inches from hers. "I hate you for what you've done. I want to kill you right now."
"Finish me already. I am not afraid to die." She smiled genuinely as she gazed at the rain licking her face. A strange tranquility came over her. "If I die in combat, then at least I will have regained my honor."
"As you wish," he replied. His hand tensed as he prepared to give the finishing blow.
The mercenary laughed to herself. "I see you are one of us, after all. I am glad I was not mistaken."
The words froze the hero in place as they echoed in his mind. His breath left him as he stood motionless. The rain dripped from his head onto the ground, and he suddenly felt cold. Lightning flashed in the sky above, illuminating the horror in his wild eyes. Man struggled against beast, hero against murderer. As he looked into her feral eyes, he could see a reflection of the animal he had become. Unkempt hair, blood smeared on his cheeks, and teeth clenched like a hunter. Yet, what chilled him the most was the look of hatred in his eyes. Was that really him?
The arrow dropped silently to the ground as the hero looked away. The divine glow on his left hand receded into the darkness. The hero closed his eyes in shame. "No, Atrayu. I'm not like you."
Nearly an hour had had passed before the storm finally cleared. Zelda and the group had arrived a little late to the meeting place. The mayor had refused to give them the Rod of Seasons. Suffice it to say, when they learned that Link had left on his own to fight Atrayu, their mood did not improve. As soon as Colin came around and everyone was together, they raced across the field, their heavy hearts hoping to find the hero still alive.
They had seen the fireballs in the distance, so pinpointing his location was not difficult. They could have gone sooner but they were forced to seek shelter from the storm's unrelenting wind and rain.
When they arrived at the remains of the battlefield, they were startled to see Link lying on his back in a bloody mess. Charred spots of singed grass dotted the landscape from Atrayu's fiery rampage. The ground was covered with puddles large and small, the water reflecting the moonlight that had only recently emerged. A small trail of blood flowed down to the river, stemming from a much larger pool where Atrayu had once been.
The hero had managed to stop the bleeding of his major wounds with some makeshift bandages, but there was nothing he could do about the countless scrapes, bruises, or fatigue he had endured. Everyone seemed to gather around at once as soon as the hero opened his eyes.
"Goddesses! What did you do, Link?" Ilia asked. "Look at you! It's goin' to take me weeks to fix this one."
The hero chuckled softly. "I fought with a squirrel and lost. Aggressive little fellow, he was."
His remark caught several uneasy chuckles from the group.
"Are you okay?" Zelda asked. She took in the scope of his injuries.
"Well, I don't think I'll be hunting squirrels for a while," he replied.
Midna rolled her eyes. "Yeah, he's fine."
Tifa covered her eyes with her hands. "Can we please leave? I can't stand all this icky red stuff."
Ilia took the Kokiri by the hand. "Here, Tifa, I'll go with you so you don't have to see this."
Everyone watched as the two females walked a good distance from the battlefield. Tatl was not far behind. The two did their best to comfort the shaking girl.
Colin looked around, leaning to the side to look past everyone. "So…is Atrayu…you know?"
Kari looked at the large pool of blood and followed its trail to the river with his eyes. "It does not look like it. There is no body."
The hero coughed violently, grimacing in pain and startling several of the onlookers. He looked guiltily at the swordsman. "No, Colin, she's still alive." He could see an angry flash in the youth's eyes. "Don't worry, I've taken care of it. She will never bother us again, I promise."
"But why did you let such a monster go free?" Colin said bitterly.
There was a glimmer in the hero's eye. "Because in exchange for her life, she told me everything she knows about Zant."
Next chapter…next week. See you then!