Malon didn't need the red-clad Gerudo to tell her that Link was gone. They had stayed together at the table, talking of happier things until sleep pulled at her eyes and made her head dip. She cursed herself for it. She knew as long as she was awake he would stay. But her body fought her and eventually Link told her to got to sleep. He followed her to her room, embraced her at the entrance, and promised not to leave the Gerudo camp until she saw him off. She didn't believe him, nor did she begrudge the lie. She had begun taking his promises to mean something else, and in that she would have to be content.

The woman seemed surprised at how well Malon took the news of Link's late night flight into the desert. Malon had simply smiled at her and nodded.

"He has a duty to perform." She said with a forced smile.

"He does." The woman raised an eyebrow at Malon. "You are wise to not be jealous of it."

"I am jealous of it." Malon said simply, "But there is nothing to be done. He will go, I will stay." Malon ran her fingers through her unruly red locks, shaking out the tangles and sighing. The Gerudo woman looked at her thoughtfully and Malon shifted under her studious gaze.

"The other women have taken a liking to you. The story you told of your mother must have been convincing."

"You do not believe it?"

"I did not hear it," she said, crossing her arms. "But I would like to. Do you mind?"

"There really isn't much of a story," Malon admitted, sitting back on her bed. "I was very young when she died, a baby really, so all I know I was told by my father."

"Who was your father?"

"He was a rancher named Talon." Malon said, eyes searching the ground as if she would see her father's face. "He said my mother came to him as a teenager to seek refuge. They fell in love and she died soon after giving birth to me."

"Where is she buried?"

"At the lake." Malon said. "Lake Hylia, on an island. She lies with my father now."

"Your father has passed too?"

"He has. Quite recently."

"And how come you to us?" she asked, stepping into the room and standing before Malon. "How came you to travel with the Forest Warrior?"

"Link… Link has been my friend for many years. After the death of my father I was facing a future of bleak uncertainty. He came and-"

"Swept you away?" She asked, eyebrow raised. Malon flushed and bowed her shoulders. The woman sighed and uncrossed her arms, placing one hand on a hip. "Do you have any proof of your parentage?"

"What do you mean?"

"A keepsake from your parents? Some precious thing to both of them?"

Malon nodded but made no motion.

"Well?"

"Please… do not take them." Malon said, "They are… they're all I have."

"I do not want your small treasures." The woman rolled her eyes. "Let me see them."

Malon turned to the leather saddlebag. She took a breath before pulling it up and reaching inside, retrieving Talon's dragon-face brooch and her mother's pearl-studded wedding slippers.

The woman's expression dropped, as did her bold stance, when she saw the slippers. She bit her lip, eyes darting between Malon's face and the shoes, before she said. "Can I see them?"

Malon held out the slippers and the woman took them in her own hands, fingers gliding gently over the old while silk. She touched the pearls delicately, as if they would crumble at a harsh breath.

"It's true then." She said.

"Excuse me?"

"Your story is true." The woman sighed gently, closing her eyes and pressing the slippers to her chest. "These are Avomo's slippers."

"Avomo?"

"That was your mother's name." she said, "I think Talon called her Amy, so I didn't expect you to know that."

"Did you know my mother?" Malon asked, her heart beating with sudden excitement.

"Yes. I knew your mother," The woman said, a small, sad smile pressing at her mouth. "She was my sister."

~o~

The woman's name was Ferala and Link hadn't been far off in his figuring of their hierarchy. Though not actually related to Nabooru by blood, Ferala had performed a blood pact with her to assume ruling duties of the Gerudo in case of a dire emergency. It was for this reason that Avomo, Malon's mother, left her Gerudo sisters. In the case of Nabooru and Ferala's demise, it would fall to her to assume second place rule with Ganondorf, a role she never desired. She escaped in the dead of night. By the time her Gerudo sisters had found her, she was already married to Talon and content to live outside the desert.

"My heart always told me that she would return to us." Ferala said, finishing her story as the women trekked up the path to the horse track. "And I suppose that, in a way, she has."

She cast a critical eye on Malon. The girl was dressed in Gerudo garb, her ranch clothes having been deemed too ratty to save. A rich blue had been chosen for her and it contrasted well against the girl's pale skin. Malon was uncomfortable with the amount of exposure this outfit provided, but Ferala had assured her that she would get used to it in due time.

"My father used to tell me that I was like her, but I have no way to judge that for myself."

"In spirit, you are very similar. From what I can tell." Ferala sighed, "I simply cannot see a Gerudo-blooded woman being raised by men. How could you bear such a thing?"

Malon laughed and tried to silence herself at Ferala's fierce glare. "Talon did his best for me. We were all each other had."

"That's not entirely true."

"What do you mean?"

"Your Forest Warrior." Ferala said, gesturing widely at the rolling desert behind them. "You had him, did you not?"

"In a way." Malon conceded. "But… he's never been completely devoted to me. He never could be. I… I have to share him with all of Hyrule." she chuckled sadly. "That's a lot of competition."

"The Gerudo have a saying, 'only fools follow the heart.' It is easy to do the things that make only ourselves happy. Both of you have forsaken your own happiness for the good of all. That is a very noble thing. His is a soul that is deeper than our own...a boy who has lived many lives, so selflessness is a trait deep within him. You, however, get your strength from the Gerudo. The blood of the eternal sisterhood flows through you."

Before Malon could answer there was a call. Ferala looked up and smiled broadly, holding up a hand in greeting. A woman walked up to them. Her clothes were more plain and her red hair was cut short around her head, but her face was heavily painted in the Gerudo fashion.

"Malon, this is Gugeru. She looks after our horses and is skilled in the way of horseback archery."

"Ma-lon." Gugeru said, wrapping her thick accent around Malon's name. "Happy to meet."

"You will work alongside Gugeru." Ferala said. "She welcomes an apprentice. I thought this is the place you would feel most comfortable here."

There was a familiar whinny behind Gugeru and Malon leaned to look.

"Epona?"

"Horses cannot cross sands." Gugeru said, "I will protect, but this one is fierce."

"Sprited." Malon laughed. "May I?"

"Prove yourself." Gugeru said with an easy smile.

Malon nodded and approached Epona. The horse's eyes were wild and she huffed angrily. Malon held out her hand and began the Ancient Hylian chant. While the horse calmed a bit, she still paced in place and threw her head. Malon considered a moment, then began her mother's song. As the sound of the old tune echoed on the walls of the canyon, the horse settled herself down, blowing softly, and allowed Malon to approach and stroke her snout. Once she was calm, Malon turned around to see both Gugeru and Ferala staring at her.

"What?"

"Daughter of Avomo?" Gugeru asked, eyes wide.

Ferala broke into a wide grin and nodded. "Yes, daughter of Avomo."

"Many more welcomes, child." Gugeru mimicked Ferala's broad smile and approached Malon with her arms wide. She pulled Malon into a hug and shook her in place, releasing her after a long pause. "You will do well here."

"I hope to." Malon said. She looked into the eyes of the two women before her, one her long-lost aunt and stand-in leader of the Gerudo, the other an old friend of her mother's, and realized that she felt like she belonged.