Chapter 4: Mask of Scents.
Zak sat on a small wooden box in the barn, hunched over a bucket full of a sticky brown liquid. He dipped a Deku stick into the bucket. After letting it sit for a little while, he pulled it out and let the excess liquid drip off of the stick before turning it around and dipping the other end into the bucket. As he let it sit, he took a drink of spring water out of a bottle nearby and wiped the sweat from his brow. A small knock came from the door, and Romani slipped inside the barn.
"What are you doing in here?" she asked, "And what smells like honey?"
"It's an old Geru, uh, um, a recipe I learned from my father," Zak replied awkwardly, "It's a mixture of mostly beeswax and oil."
She blinked, "Oh, alright. Why are you dipping sticks into it?"
He pulled the Deku stick out of the bucket and let the excess liquid drip off of it, "It hardens the stick so it can take punishment without breaking as easily. It's what spear shafts are made out of where I come from."
Romani set the milking pail in her hands down next to the cows, "Are you planning to make more spears? The one you have looks pretty strong."
Zak pointed to it, "Go ahead and pick it up." She nodded and walked over to it. With both of her hands, she lifted it a few centimeters off of the ground before setting it back down.
"Wow, that's heavy," she remarked, surprised that Zak could use it one-handed.
He nodded, "There are situations where my spear is too unwieldy. Fast opponents, and foes larger than me that I have to climb to harm, for instance. So, if I can make a Deku stick that can withstand strikes without it breaking, it gives me a lighter alternative."
She marveled, "How do you learn such cool stuff? Anyway, enough chit chat. I have to milk the cows, now, so if you could just..." her eyes followed his pointed finger to several pails full of milk.
Zak smiled, "I took care of it. The cows were making a fuss. I hope you don't mind."
"No, that's okay," she grabbed a pail, "Since you're so helpful, mind helping me carry these inside?" Zak placed the stick next to his spear, grabbed the other pail, and followed her to the house.
"So, how does someone know so much about fighting and how to take care of things on a ranch?" Romani asked.
He smirked, "You're jealous, aren't you. Well, my father is a master swordsman, and my mother owns a ranch back home. Lon Lon Ranch. Ours wasn't named after me, unfortunately."
She stuck her tongue out at him as they approached the front door. Romani set her pail down on the table and he set his down next to hers. Cremia grabbed Zak by the hand and pulled him outside.
"Thanks for your help," she remarked, "Listen, I just received word from a friend of mine near the swamp. He runs a bow shooting gallery. Anyway, he's having some trouble with a gigantic pig lounging in his supply of spring water outside of his shop. Sounds like something you can take care of, right? Please say yes."
Zak patted her shoulder, "I'll take care of it. Distract Romani so I can slip out, will you?" Cremia nodded, and Zak ran back to the barn and gathered his weapons. He grabbed the Deku stick and whacked it against the wall. It snapped in half. Cursing, he discarded it, dipped another in the bucket, and headed out towards the swamp.
Half there, he heard the sounds of a horse drawn wagon approaching behind him. He looked over his shoulder to see Romani grinning at him from the driver seat. He sighed and slowed down to let her catch up with him. Zak pulled himself up and rode next to her in silence until they arrived at the shooting gallery.
"Wait here," he ordered, and jumped down off of the wagon. The boar monster turned to face him, grunting with each step it took. The monstrosity stood twice as big as the wagon, but most of its size came from its torso region. Its fat legs barely supported its body. Its pink flesh rippled, and it squealed like crazy.
"Romani!" Zak shouted while pulled out his spear, "Go inside the shooting gallery for this fight."
"No way," she grabbed her bow and aimed an arrow at the monster. Zak grabbed the mask dangling around his neck and shoved it over his face. The boar opened its mouth and spewed out a thick purple goo that splattered along the ground. It's immensely sweet smell quickly overwhelmed Romani, who fell to her knees coughing. Zak rushed the boar and kicked it hard in the jaw. Its belly shrank to a point where it could move, and it thrust its head into his stomach and flung him back a few meters. Zak rolled backwards as he landed, his spear sticking into the ground next to Romani. She yelped in surprise. He jumped up to his feet, readjusted his mask over his face, and charged the beast again, grabbing his spear as he ran by. The boar reared up on its hind legs and spewed the purple liquid up in the air, which rained down on Romani. The scent knocked her out cold fairly quickly. Zak smashed the boar's jaw with his shield. It locked up his arm with its tusks, but he manged to keep it from flinging him away. The beast pushed against him in an attempt to overpower him. Zak shoved back with all of his might, but felt his feet sliding across the ground. The boar vomited out the purple liquid, which collided with the shield and bounced back into its face. The boar reeled blindly, kicking its feet wildly. Zak jumped back and put his shield away. The boar charged off in the direction of Clock Town. Without hesitation, Zak unattached the horse from the wagon, climbed on it, and gave chase. Romani, still dazed from the smell, crawled down to the spring water. She splashed her face.
Zak caught up to the boar. Instead of risking the horse's life by riding beside it, he brought his legs onto the saddle and slowly stood up to a crouched position on the horse. He jumped off, landing onto the boar's back. Quickly he grabbed on to whatever he could manage while it thrashed about. The boar ran headlong into a dead tree, which sent Zak into it as well. He pushed off of the tree and grabbed the hilt of his sword. Hesitating, he then grabbed his spear and pulled it off of his back. With a swift blow, he pierced the boar monster's head. He rolled off as it spewed out purple liquid. As soon as it stopped thrashing about, Zak pulled down his mask and played the song with his blade of grass. The boar's body dissolved, and all that remained was a hideous pink boar mask. He sliced it in half with his spear. The white light floated up out of it before dissipating. Zak returned to Romani, who had mostly recovered from the ordeal. The horse wandered back, as well. Zak lead it to the wagon and hooked it back up, and then looked over the wagon's covering. It was soaked with the purple goo.
Romani laughed when she saw it, "Hey, I have an idea. How about you clean that off for me? I'm going to try my luck at the shooting gallery." Zak shot her a glare, but she skipped off to the shooting gallery, humming the song to herself.