CHAPTER 5
Having finished the brushing of Epona's tail, he returned the horse-brush to his saddle-bag and, in its place, took out another cloth-wrapped parcel. Inside this cloth rested three glistening sapphire stones in a polished gold setting – the Zora's Sapphire, the Spiritual Stone of Water, which Ruto had refused to take back. He'd returned the Kokiri's Emerald and the Goron's Ruby to their respective tribes, but he dared not question Ruto's insistence that he keep the Sapphire as a symbol of their love – however doomed that love had proven to be. Even now, he gently stroked each of the Sapphire's gems, longing to see her lovely face just once again. . . . . . . . .
But, alas – he'd have to make do with the mere imagining of her face, echoed within each facet of the Sapphire's unblemished gems. To do otherwise would only exacerbate the anguish of her pre-ordained ascension, both for him and for her – and the last thing that he'd ever want was to cause such a gentle soul any further pain than he absolutely must.
The rain had passed. Finally. Silent, he refilled his water-skin while waiting for his Kokiri tunic to dry. He simply must find Navi now. If anyone could guide him in such puzzling grown-up matters as love, then surely, it was the fairy that had faithfully guided him through the battle for a whole kingdom – to say nothing of the Triforce, whose lower right-hand triangle still faintly glowed within his left hand? Granted, she would probably mock his affections to no end – given the (very) obvious physical differences between himself and Ruto – but, really, would a Hylian brother or sister respond any differently?
"Mido most certainly wouldn't," he recalled, rolling his eyes and smiling slightly. Nayru's love, if the Mido to be found now was anything like the Mido that he'd grown up with, then his derision would be even worse than Navi's.
Once his Kokiri tunic was dry enough to be worn semi-comfortably, he changed back into it. With his Zora tunic carefully folded and safely stored in his saddle-bag, he mounted Epona and pressed on, into the dense and shadowy forest, humming to himself as Epona clopped steadily along. . . . . . . . .
Nearby, a small spherical body wiggled about helplessly, with only the pleated fins upon its tail to propel it forward. Several pools of rain-water had formed (thanks to the Song of Storms) and the wretched creature – its body being clearly designed for aquatic habitats – poured its remaining strength into seeking out the very largest of these pools.
Finding a pool about four feet deep and ten feet in diameter, the creature plunged into the water. It took little, if any delight in being re-immersed, however – despite the subtle splash that greeted it. Its only immediate response, in fact, was to swim toward the deepest part of this pool – keeping itself fairly steady by wagging its fins and tail – and allow itself to sink straight to the bottom, wrapping its tail around itself and clenching its eyes tightly shut. Its entire body trembled violently.
Toward evening, a melodious whimper breached the surface of the water. . . . . . . . .