Impa stared at Link with narrowed eyes.
Link stared back with his typical emotionless gaze.
"They're so… intense," Penn whispered to the side as though her sensitive ears wouldn't pick up his voice. She ignored him though as she continued staring Link down, watching for even the most subtle indication of intent.
Even though the hero was normally good at hiding his thoughts behind an expressionless mask, she knew him well enough to get an idea of what was going through his head.
"Don't do it," she said warningly.
He continued staring her down in a fashion that was almost unnerving. "... Call."
Impa sighed dramatically as she fanned her hand out, being careful to leave the single card that could lose her the game carefully concealed beneath another. Since childhood, she'd practiced sleight of hand, and now, it was about to pay off. "Draw fo-"
Link reached over and pinched the two cards and slid them apart. "Call," he repeated.
Maybe she was a bit out of practice.
"Fine, fine" she grumbled as she drew four new cards herself. "I don't see why you can't let the poor old lady win."
"You're not old anymore." He was eyeing his cards now.
"What does that mean?" Penn asked quietly.
"I think it would be wise to not speculate on a lady's age," Kass murmured from the sidelines.
"Kass is right," Impa said as she watched Link with a death glare. "You shouldn't comment on a lady's age."
"Sorry!" Penn stammered. "I didn't mean anything by it."
Link played a regular card.
She leaned forward, narrowing her eyes even further.
His expression didn't change.
"What do you have?"
"What?" He asked.
"What do you have?" She repeated as she played her own card.
Link tilted his head, looking up thoughtfully. "Skip."
"That's not a-"
"Skip." He placed his card on top of the pile, making sure she saw it before eyeing his hand again.
"Oh very fu-"
"Draw four."
"..."
"..."
"Call!" She snapped as she noticed the slightest twitch.
Link shrugged, holding out his hand for her to see. There were no cards matching in symbol or color. He was about to pull his hand back when she noticed the edge of a card just barely poking out from behind another. Lunging forward, she grabbed his wrist with one hand while the other snatched the card, revealing a matching symbol.
"Call," she repeated, a smug smile growing on her face.
Link frowned slightly as he drew four cards. Looking over his new cards, he shot her a dirty look before setting his hand down and leaning over to check on the meal that was cooking slowly.
"Please, for the love of Din, Nayru, and Farore, tell me it's ready." While Impa was grateful to have her youth back, she couldn't help but wish that some qualities hadn't returned with it.
Link tasted it, tilting his head as he squinted thoughtfully. He shook his head. "Almost."
"Let me try it."
"It's not ready."
"Let me try it."
Link shrugged, holding the ladle out to her.
She took it, dipping it into Link's favorite cooking pot and brought out a spoonful of rice and poultry. Taking a moment to appreciate the fragrance of the spices he used, Impa took a bite, barely taking the time to allow it to cool. He was right. The poultry was nice and tender, but the rice still had the barest hint of crunch in it. "I think it's good."
"No. Rice isn't done."
"Link, how many times do I have to tell you that perfection prevents progress?"
"You also tell me I need to be more patient," he replied pointedly.
"Listen to grandma Impa. I've had over a hundred years to amass my wisdom."
"I'm over a hundred as well."
"Most of that was sent in stasis underground," she sniffed. "We are not the same."
"How many years did you spend sitting on that pillow?"
"Not as long as you did getting beauty sleep. It didn't help, by the way."
Link rolled his eyes as they both picked their cards back up. "How did you know I was lying?" he asked as he eyed his hand.
"Edge of the card was just poking out. You hid it better than I thought. You?"
"Card count didn't match. Easy enough to see once I knew to look."
"Well spotted," she said.
They resumed playing.
"What… just happened?" Penn asked from off to the side.
"I believe it's what they call friendly banter," Kass remarked dryly.
Impa exchanged a glance with Link. The corners of his mouth twitched upwards just slightly, and she responded in kind.
They only had time for a few more cards each before Link mercifully decided that their meal was ready. In a rare display of wisdom, Link filled her bowl first and handed it to her.
"Thank you." It was a true test of discipline to get the words out before digging into her stew. Maybe it was because she hadn't eaten that day. Perhaps it was a side effect of the rune she had used on herself. Or it could have been that it had been far too long since she'd last had Link's cooking. Whatever the case, she was starving and wanted nothing more than scarf down the contents of her bowl as quickly as possible.
Had she really been like this in her youth?
She caught Link smirking as he filled another bowl for Penn.
"Hey thanks! I bet there aren't many people who can say they've had the Hero of Hyrule himself make them a meal."
Impa snorted, nearly choking on a mouthful of rice. She caught Kass's eye and they exchanged an amused glance.
"You alright?" Penn asked worriedly as he approached her and set a wing on her back.
"Yeah, yeah," she said, clearing her throat. "That was just funny."
"What? Calling him the Hero of Hyrule?"
"No, suggesting that he wouldn't cook for a stranger at the drop of a hat."
"It's true," Kass said, smiling for the first time since he had found them in the sanctum. It was possible that it was because he was reliving some fond memories of his travels with Link. But Impa thought it was more likely because he was currently being served a bowl of stew. Not that Link was bad company by any means. It was just really hard to not be excited by good food after a hard day's work. And considering that Kass had to carry not only Link and his equipment, but Midna as well. He hadn't complained once, but she could tell he was exhausted. "I didn't travel with him for long, but there were a few times where strangers were invited to share a meal with us. And whenever he stays in the village, the inn becomes much more popular."
"Huh, guess you really get around, don'tcha?"
Link shrugged, focused more on his bowl of stew than the conversation.
"Well, I guess it doesn't… matter- oh Hylia." Penn nearly dropped his food as a look of realization followed by horror crossed his face. "I've been talking to the Hero - the hero - and haven't been taking notes." He hurriedly set his bowl down, nearly sending its contents across the ground. Penn almost shoved his head into his backpack as he started digging around.
"Penn," Impa called sweetly.
The Rito froze, going rigid before slowly turning to face her.
"I seem to remember us having a conversation about this before. Am I misremembering that?"
"N-no," Penn replied with a nervous laugh. "I-I was of course only going to take notes for an article after this is all over." There was the barest pause for an awkward silence, then he said, "after you were to read over it yourself, of course."
"Very good," Impa replied, still feigning sweetness. "I would hate to have to pay Traysi another visit because she got ahold of some information she should not have." She held her bowl out to Link, who served her more stew as she continued staring at Penn.
The Rito laughed nervously for a second before allowing the sound to die off awkwardly. Silence fell over the camp for a few minutes as everyone focused on eating. Impa continued watching Penn as he looked everywhere but at her. Maybe it was a bit overkill, but the last thing she and Purah needed was Traysi disseminating more secrets and speculating on certain events and relationships. She understood and could even respect Traysi's work at times. Her work could bring smiles and hope to the various peoples of Hyrule during hard times. However, the woman didn't seem to understand that information could also bring harm.
And Penn, well meaning as he was, didn't always think before he brought whatever he could to the editor's attention.
As frustrating as it was, she tried to remind herself that he was young. And, even though he sometimes caused her and her associates numerous headaches, he was passionate about trying to make the world better. There was something admirable about it. In time, he would certainly be something special.
She just needed to have patience and keep a sharp eye on him.
Kass cleared his throat after a few minutes. "I know I've already asked you for a great deal, Link, but could I ask for one more, personal favor?"
Link nodded.
"Since your last visit, my daughter, Genli, has developed an interest in learning to cook. I think she's been hoping to steal some of your time during your next visit so she can learn more from you."
Link nodded thoughtfully, sending his cooking pot a thoughtful glance.
"I know you'll be busy, but if you do find some time, would you be willing to teach her a little?"
"Yeah."
"Thank you, my friend," Kass said, bowing his head slightly to Link.
Link nodded with a smile, then climbed to his feet and stretched his legs out. He moved to collect everyone's dishes; however, Impa stopped him. "Let me handle that. Lay down and get some rest."
He frowned and opened his mouth to argue, but she cut him off.
"You're still recovering," she said firmly. "And you'll do no one any good if your body fails when you need it most. Lay. Down." She turned to the two Rito sitting nearby. "Both of you as well. Those elixirs I gave you will help you recover, but they're no substitute for real rest."
Link grimaced and didn't move, but she didn't relent. They stood where they were, staring at each other as they had been not an hour prior. But this time, there was no undertone of friendly competition.
Eventually, Link grunted and did as he was told. Impa watched as he pulled his sleeping bag and rolled it out. Only when he had crawled inside it and Midna had settled down next to him did she begin cleaning up. She did have to shoot Kass a glare, telling him silently that she had not been making a request when she'd told him to lay down.
Knowing Link as she did, she gathered up the utensils they had used, but she remained in the camp, waiting to hear his breathing slow and deepen. And when her watch began, she finally relaxed.
The arena, like all Sheikah structures, was filled with an unnatural soft-blue light. Unlike most of the shrines he'd been in, though, this one was trying to simulate reality. There were a few small trees, small patches of grass, rocks, pieces of guardians, remnants of carts, and numerous other items. But, at the edges, the normal black walls with blue etchings could be seen.
He had no memory of how he'd gotten there, or why he would have sought it out in the first place. But, knowing what he knew of the ancient Sheikah, it was just as likely that he had somehow been dragged into the simulated environment by someone else.
Which meant…
"To you who have entered this place…"
Link's ears perked up as he looked around for the source of the voice. He'd never been fond of the trials within the shrines, but they had always provided useful training. Whatever this test would entail, he imagined it would prove useful somehow.
"The artifact you wear was created as a failsafe for the hero. But it was intended to be more than an arm."
Link looked down at the Sheikah arm that had replaced his own. For once, staring at it didn't induce nausea or a headache. As he looked, he flexed his fingers, appreciating the smooth motion of the fingers as they clenched and unclenched. Turning his hand over, he noticed gems placed within the knuckles of each of his fingers, save his thumb. Eyeing them over, he couldn't help but notice that each of them looked familiar, save the one on his middle finger.
After a moment, he was able to place them. They looked similar to the runes the Sheikah Slate used.
"If you are to bring peace to Hyrule, you must master the tools at your disposal."
Link looked over the runes before finally settling on bombs. Focusing on the blue gem inlaid in his pinky, he tried to summon a bomb.
Nothing happened.
Frowning, he considered what Purah or Robbie might have suggested, but quickly cast the line of thinking aside. They probably would have suggested he think explosive thoughts. It usually didn't work in their favor. Or maybe it worked a little too well.
Link reconsidered the device. Each finger contained a gem except the thumb. Perhaps…
He tried tapping his thumb against his pinky, but again, nothing happened. Link was undeterred though. He wasn't an expert on ancient Sheikah technology, but he had used it enough to know that sometimes one had to be a bit creative. He tried again, this time brushing his thumb across the length of his finger.
The gem lit up, and the hand straightened of its own accord as a bomb appeared in his grip.
"The remote bombs work just as they did with the slate. Toss it and tap your finger to detonate it."
He did so, smiling in spite of himself as it detonated. It had been far too long since he'd been able to make use of bombs.
However, he refocused quickly. He wasn't here to play.
He brushed his thumb along his ring finger.
"Stasis," the disembodied voice intoned as the palm of his hand glowed with a soft yellow light.
Link toyed around with the rune, experimenting with the timing and applying forces to affected objects. Again, he found himself grinning as he sent random objects flying across the arena and smashing into the walls or back into the ground with forces that would normally be impossible. Combining it with bombs was especially entertaining.
When was the last time he'd done something fun?
But, as much as he wanted to continue playing around, there was work to do.
He studied the last two gems. The one that was a light blue was completely foreign to him, but the red reminded him vaguely of magnesis. Figuring he may as well refamiliarize himself with a rune he had experience with, he brushed his index finger.
"Koshia's grasp. Reach out and attempt to lift an object. Unlike magnesis, you are not limited to objects made of metal."
Link tilted his head in interest. Looking around, he spied a nearby stone. Reaching out, he made as though to grab the stone. To his surprise, as his hand attempted to close, it met with resistance. Lifting his arm up, he was pleased to see the stone follow suit. He turned his hand, watching as the stone rotated along with his palm. Already, the grasp was easier and more satisfying than trying to utilize magnesis with the slate.
He released his grasp on the stone, letting it fall with a thud.
And then, he brushed the remaining finger.
"Fusion. Using this rune, you are able to fuse many objects together to create makeshift tools. You are limited only by what is around you and your ingenuity."
It took him a little while, but eventually he figured out that he could channel the rune's power through whatever object he was carrying. By then tapping that object against another, he could potentially bind them together. The makeshift items would have a limited use, and it seemed like stressing the object could cause the bond to break. But, so long as a rock and branch could hold together long enough for him to slam the weapon into a monster, it would suffice.
"Are you comfortable with each of the runes?"
Link nodded as he looked around, the hairs on the back of his neck standing on end.
"Then in the name of the Goddess, Hylia, I offer you this trial."
He caught a shadow leaping toward him out of the corner of his eye. Link dove to the side, tucking in his shoulder and rolling as he felt something crash into the ground where he had just been. Looking behind him, he froze as he saw a familiar skeleton wearing a soldier's armor. The stalkin straightened and turned toward him, leveling its sword and shield at him.
Link reached over his shoulder, only for his hand to close on empty air.
"Survive."
The stalkin's eyes flashed. "Do not hold back, boy. The king of evil will show you no mercy, so neither will I." The skeletal figure began advancing. If his stance and footwork were any indication, not only was he a skilled swordsman, but he considered Link a serious threat. There was little chance there was overconfidence to exploit.
Which left Link with two options. He could either try to whittle down his opponent's defenses from a distance, or he could try to overwhelm him up close.
But acting like a sitting duck as the stalkin bore down on him wasn't going to help.
Acting quickly, he summoned a bomb and threw it at the skeleton. As it moved to knock the projectile away, Link leapt back and detonated it. The stalkin was sent stumbling back. Before he could regain his balance, Link froze him in place with stasis.
He only had a few brief moments, and he needed to make them count.
Having taken note of what was around him earlier, Link dove to the ground and grabbed the sturdiest branch he could reach and activated fusion. He could hear his opponent bearing down on him again as he fused the nearest rock. He swung the poorly wrought weapon around just as the stalkin came in range.
An old, slightly rusted shield intercepted the blow and snapped the branch in half. Maintaining his momentum, Link hit the ground again. Rolling to his feet, he reactivated stasis and reached for the skeleton's sword, freezing it in place. The stalkin strained for only a second before lashing out with a foot, sending Link flying back.
The Hylian slammed into the ground painfully, but there wasn't time to think about it. Now was his chance to try something.
Pushing himself up, he brushed his index and reached out toward the stalkin's shield. He could feel the rune find purchase on the shield and he pulled. The skeleton, who was still fighting with his weapon, cast him a glance before pulling back against his grasp. Link ripped his arm back with what strength was left to him.
There was a popping sound, followed by the shield racing toward him. Reaching out, he caught it. Normally, he might have been mildly put off by the skeletal arm that was still attached to it; however, he didn't have time. He ripped it out and replaced it with his own hand as the stalkin, who had since reclaimed his blade, raced toward him.
Link crouched down bracing himself.
The larger warrior closed the remaining distance, his blade slamming into the shield with the force of his weight and speed behind him.
Link grunted, every muscle in his body shaking. Gritting his teeth, he angled the shield, sending the blade to the side and unbalancing the stalkin. Seeing his opening, the Hylian launched forward, slamming the shield into the skeleton's leg.
The stalkin fell to one knee.
Link leaped to his feet, raising the shield and driving the edge of it into the stalkin's shoulder, driving it back down as it tried to rise.
He raised the shield again.
"Enough."
Link froze.
"You have proven your resourcefulness with the tools at your disposal. Do not forget what you have learned here, and may you use your newfound abilities to bring peace to Hyrule."
Mist began to descend on the arena, slowly obscuring everything from view until all that was left were the two warriors.
Looking at the stalkin, Link found himself feeling guilty about how he had taken the shield. And how far he had been willing to go. He understood that their match was meant to be more than idle sparring, but he couldn't help but think that maybe he had gone too far. He was sure that the old warrior was unable to die, at least for now, but that didn't excuse removing his arm and casting it aside like that.
He'd have to be more careful in the future. He opened his mouth to apologize.
"They always like that?"
"..." Link tilted his head thoughtfully. "Yeah." Only one or two had ever had a real conversation with him. And even those had been brief.
"Heh. And I thought I was bad at small talk." The stalkin stood as his body began to glow with a soft, golden light. Link's eyes widened as the arm he had discarded flew back and reattached itself. The glow faded, leaving the skeleton whole once again. He turned to face the Hylian. "You did well, boy. But ingenuity and courage will not be enough to save you and those you care about. You must reclaim the strength you lost."
Link nodded, his mind already forming a plan. He had already had to regain lost strength before. Hopefully, the dragons would be willing to help him a second time.
"I see that you already have a plan. Good. Then I will see you soon."
Before Link could say or do anything else, the stalkin faded away, leaving him alone in the endless mists. Link looked around, searching for a way out.
Then he heard a sound. A voice.
"Wake up."
He whirled around, looking for the source. But there was nothing save for the fog that surrounded him on all sides.
"Link. Wake. Up."
Link was greeted by early morning light as his eyes snapped open.
Tulin set up his target excitedly and impatiently. He had been waiting for his chance to try out his new bow ever since his parents had given it to him the night prior. His mother had clearly been conflicted about giving it to him. If his father had second thoughts about it, he had hid it far better. But no matter how they felt, he was determined to start practicing with his new bow at the first opportunity. He had kept his word and helped with chores as he had promised.
But the moment he had finished, he was out the door with bow in hand.
If Tulin had it his way, he would have left the spire of rock that Rito Village was wrapped around entirely. He didn't want anyone stumbling across his attempts to get familiar with a new weapon. But, his father had made it clear that if Tulin pushed his mother's boundaries too far, the bow would be taken back until he proved he was mature enough to use it. So, Tulin grit his beak and chose a spot on the path to the village.
Once the target was set to his liking, he flapped a short distance away. As eager as he was to see what his new tool was capable of, his father had trained him to start with a range he was familiar with. Then, slowly increased the range until he found his new limits.
So, he nocked an arrow and took aim. As he drew, he was immediately surprised by the draw strength required. Even drawing a short distance strained him in a way that his previous bow didn't. His arm began to shake as he tried to pull further, only for his grip to falter and the string to slip with a snap and the arrow to go wide.
Despite how embarrassing the display could have been, Tulin couldn't help but smile in excitement. Sure, it was going to be a lot harder to use, but his new bow was a lot more powerful than his previous one. He couldn't help but imagine what he could do once he mastered it.
Eager to try again, he nocked another arrow and drew. Once again, he loosed prematurely and his arrow went wide.
"You're not going to be able to draw that with just your wing strength."
Tulin flinched, nearly dropping his bow as spun around.
His father was standing a short distance away, his wings folded as he watched the fledgling impassively.
Tulin felt himself shrink a little in embarrassment. He had wanted to master the bow before training with his father so that he could prove he was ready for real challenges. And yet, here his father was, having snuck up on him and seen him at his weakest in quite some time.
He said nothing as his father approached and knelt next to him. "Are you giving up?"
"No!" His feathers bristled at the thought.
"Good, then try again."
His flash of anger gone, Tulin turned back to his target and raised his bow. The fledgling took another arrow and nocked it, but before he could draw, his father's wing wrapped around him. He placed two fingers against the inside of the wrist Tulin would be using to draw. "Remember," he said, "through here." His father drew his fingers along the fledgling's arm to his chest.
Taking a deep breath and pushing down his embarrassment at forgetting such a basic lesson, Tulin drew. It wasn't perfect, but the motion was far smoother than the previous two.
He pulled back as far as he could, just before his wing began to shake. After one last second to adjust his aim, he released.
The arrow whipped through the air and planted itself near the edge of the target.
Even though it wasn't near the center, Tulin still grinned and looked to his father.
"Good," his father said with a smile of approval. "Again."
Tulin nocked another arrow and loosed. Again, he struck the target very near where he had previously.
And then he did it again.
"Very good," his father murmured. "Now draw and hold."
Tulin did as he was told. As he held, his father made a few adjustments. Once his father had finished adjusting his stance and his aim, he had the fledgling hold it a moment longer.
"Loose."
Tulin did so, and this time, his arrow landed closer to the center of the target. He bounced and let out a little chirp, only realizing how much he'd let his excitement show through after the fact. His embarrassment at his display wasn't enough to dampen his enthusiasm though.
"Do you remember how that felt?"
"Yeah!"
"Good," his father said as he stood and took a few steps back. "Show me."
The fledgling nodded and turned back to the target. Repeating what his father had just shown him to the best of his ability, he landed another shot on the target. It wasn't quite as close to the center, but it was closer than his first few.
"Again."
He did so. This time, the arrow landed a little closer.
"Again."
And so the process continued. Once Tulin was consistently landing shots again, he was told to try and make his own adjustment.
And then the fledgling felt a little disheartened as his shot struck near the opposite end of the target.
"Little adjustments," his father said, sounding undeterred.
So Tulin tried again, his wings aching as he made a tiny adjustment. He made no complaint though as he loosed the arrow, landing closer to his previous shots. Without waiting to be told, he tried again.
And again.
And again.
He went until his quiver was empty. Then he gathered all of his arrows and got back to work.
He kept going until he could no longer draw in one smooth motion.
"That's enough," his father said before Tulin could nock his next arrow. "Come take a break."
Finally, the fledgling relaxed as he joined his father, who had set a mat on the ground and had pulled out a snack.
"You did well," his father said as Tulin sat down next to him. He said nothing more as they ate. The fledgling continued sending him brief glances, trying to gauge what was going through the older Rito's mind. He knew something was on his father's mind, but what that thing was was beyond him. Finally, his sighed as he looked up at the giant mass of clouds off to the North. He said nothing for a long time. Then, he closed his eyes and bowed his head. "... Your mother and I have been talking."
Tulin's stomach flipped. He tried to keep his nerves and excitement in check.
His father opened his eyes and tilted his head to look at him. "We've decided that it's time for you to start helping the adults hunt and scavenge for food."
Tulin started, opening his beak before he even knew what he wanted to say.
"Listen," his father said with a hint of austerity, "this is a responsibility. You are getting a chance to prove yourself, but don't forget what you're trying to prove."
"I know, I know. I need to prove that I can help the flock," Tulin said quickly, refraining from rolling his eyes.
He felt a small twinge of worry as his father frowned, clearly dissatisfied with something he had heard in the fledgling's response. While his parents generally followed through on what they said, there had been times where something he had said or done caused them to reconsider some of the freedoms they had allowed him.
"Make sure you stay focused."
"... I will."
"Good."
Despite what had just been said, a thought occurred to Tulin and he couldn't help but voice it. "Are we going to be helping Link?"
The older Rito looked at him long and hard before closing his eyes and covering his beak with a wing. "Maybe. But, as far as we know, he's still missing."
"He'll come. I know it."
His father eyed him, something in his gaze softening. "I hope so too."
Even in a blizzard, the Flight Range felt the same as Teba had always remembered it. His late master had constructed his hut within the confines of a few stone outcroppings, protecting it from the majority of the elements. The piercing winds struggled to disturb the peace of the place that had once been a refuge for him.
These days, the hut was more barren than it had been under Revali's care. Teba still visited the hut often as a temporary escape from the stresses of trying to lead a village and raise a fledgling. And during his visits, he would often clean and perform minor repairs, finding such actions helped calm him further. However, when the furniture or few decorations started to deteriorate, he removed them, but didn't replace them. He hadn't stayed at the range in a very long time, and the village considered it his property as Revali's protege.
So, while it hadn't fallen into disrepair, it couldn't be considered a home anymore.
At least, that was before he had lit a fire and spread a couple of mats on the floor. It was still sparse, and far from what he had been hoping.
But it would have to do.
He and Saki lit down on the landing just outside and exchanged a glance before entering. Teba hadn't explained himself when he requested that she come with him. There hadn't been any doubt that she would join him, but he wanted the little excursion to be as much of a surprise as he could muster. Subtlety had never been his strong suit, but he managed to surprise both his wife and himself every once in a while.
Hopefully this would be one such time.
Saki stopped in the doorway, surveying the scene with surprise. Once the surprise passed, she tilted her head and inspected the simple set up. "When did you have time for all of this?"
He looked away with a frown. Either he was doing something wrong or things were more dire in her mind then he had realized. Either that or she was trying to pretend for his sake. "I know it's not much…"
"It's more than I thought I'd be getting for a while," she said. "Thank you."
He gave her a small smile.
"So, how did things go with Tulin?" The slight hesitation in her voice didn't escape him.
"About as well as I expected," he said as he led her over to the simple stew of mushroom and game. He settled down on the floor and motioned for her to join him as he grabbed the bowls he had already set aside. "He's excited about the chance to go out and do more for the flock, but he isn't thinking about what that really means."
She was silent as he ladled stew into her bowl and handed it to her. Teba watched as his wife stirred the contents of her bowl, staring into its depths. "I'm glad he wants to contribute to the flock."
"I am too," Teba said, resisting the urge to raise a brow. He got the feeling she had bit back what she really wanted to say. "He's a good kid. Smart too. He'll learn everything he needs to know quick enough."
"I know he will." She sounded far more confident now, even looking up to smile softly at him.
"What about you?"
"Me?"
"Yes, you. How have you been?"
She blinked a few times, then frowned in confusion. "I don't really know. I haven't taken the time to think about it. I've been so busy keeping an eye on Tulin, helping Amali, and taking care of Kaneli."
"Mmmh."
"I suppose it's not a bad thing though. I don't think it would do anyone any good to think about how hard things are or how miserable I might be…"
Teba studied her for a moment as she finally began eating.
"I'm sorry," he said after a long silence.
"Hmm?"
Teba sighed, closing his eyes as he rubbed the top of his beak. "I was talking to Kaneli a few days ago. I was telling him about how I felt like I was letting everyone down, but couldn't figure out how. And when I was finished, he asked me one question. Do you know what he asked?"
"When was the last time you took some time for yourself?" Saki asked after a moment.
He smiled ruefully. "He asked me how you were. And I stood there like an idiot because I had no idea how to answer that. I couldn't even remember the last time I had asked. That I had thought to ask." He grit his beak, angry and embarrassed that he had forgotten such a simple thing. All it was one question that was easy to ask and then all he had to do was be willing to listen.
And he had failed at even that.
Some of his turbulent thoughts settled as Saki laid a wing on his own. "You know one of my favorite things about you?"
"Hmm?"
"When you make a decision, you give it your all. It's one of the things I'm glad Master Revali taught you," she said with a rueful smile of her own. With a sigh, she continued, "it has been a rough and lonely few weeks. And not just while you were out helping to find food. But," she said before he had a chance to reply, "I can't think of many others who would have gone to the effort to put even something as simple as this together at a time like this."
"Kass is apparently taking his family to the Domain."
"Kass is crazy is what he is," Saki said pointedly, a small laugh breaking through.
"You have a point," Teba chuckled. "Could you imagine trying to take Tulin there?"
They both laughed. And then they fell into a comfortable silence as they ate. Sitting next to his wife, Teba couldn't help but wonder if she could also do with a change of scenery for a little while. Harth would probably be okay with watching over Tulin for a little while, which he couldn't imagine would bother the fledgling. Harth was a lot more lenient than he was, and was usually willing to show Tulin how to perform some of the more dangerous stunts a strong flier and archer was capable of. Normally, he'd object, but Tulin was getting to the age where he needed to start pushing himself a little more.
"You know, Kass was telling me about a strange pond he found during his travels."
"And what pond was this?" She was listening intently now.
"It's a heart-shaped pond down in the Necluda region. He called it the Lover's Pond."
"Sounds romantic."
"If you're into that sort of thing," he said with a roll of his eyes. "... We should go."
Saki snorted, turning her head away as she tried to bite back a laugh. "You know, I think I'm beginning to understand why Kass is the bard."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Teba asked, raising a brow.
"Oh, just that one of you has the ability to weave a beautiful tapestry with words," she said wryly. "And the other is sort of okay at flinging sticks."
"Hey," Teba said sharply. "I'll have you know that Kass will be better than sort of okay at flinging sticks when I'm done with him."
"I'm sure he will be," she said dryly.
She leaned in, resting her head on his shoulder as he wrapped a wing around her.
"Thank you," she murmured. "I needed this."
"I did too," he replied just as quietly.
"And yes. I think we should go visit that pond as well."
Kaneli had been right. He hadn't even realized how much he'd forgotten in the midst of trying to help the village pull through. But, now that he'd taken some steps on the path to making it right, he felt at ease for the first time in a while. There was still so much left to do and no end to their plight in the foreseeable future. But for a moment, he could be at peace.
A/N: Me: They'll be at Rito village by the end of chapter 2, maybe 3 at the worst.
Also me: And Tulin needs a scene, and Teba needs a scene, and of course Impa needs to try and cheat at Rituno, and gotta have Link's ancestor try to kill him.
