CHAPTER 12

As Link moved to return Ruto to her bottle for the night, she leaped onto his shoulder and nuzzled his neck. "Link, why must you put me inside a bottle?" she protested. "Surely, I could simply ride on your shoulder or inside your hat?"

"Won't you suffocate out here, without water?"

"Oh, heavens, no! Every Zora can survive on land – not only the adults."

That was news to Link, for Dr. Mizumi had been thoroughly convinced that Zora hatchlings could not, in fact, survive on land. Perhaps this was only true in Termina?

"Well. . . . . . . . .as long as you're well," he granted, closing the bottle. (Though, erring on the side of caution, he decided not to dump the water out.)

She carefully coiled up around his neck as he sought a tethering-point for Epona's reins. He found one in a large apple-tree with moss-covered roots, tying the reins to a lower-hanging branch. Moving Ruto over to his chest (lest he should inadvertently squash her while they slept), he rested against the moss with one hand beneath his head. Ruto, as though on cue, wriggled beneath his collar – onto his bare chest – and immediately fell asleep.

Link lay awake for a while, stroking Ruto's head with his thumb and watching the stars. He found her texture supple and smooth – not at all slimy or scaly, as her tadpole-like appearance might suggest. He couldn't help but smile as she nuzzled deeper into his chest.

"Don't worry, Ruto," he whispered. "You'll be back to your proper age before you know it."

With these final words of encouragement, he gradually drifted off to sleep himself.

He found himself crossing yet another forest – a familiar one, TOO familiar, with the sounds of child-like song and laughter echoing throughout.

Before him, leading the way, soared a blue fairy that he'd recognize anywhere.

"Navi!" he called. "Wait for me!"

He followed her through the trees for some time, overjoyed to be reunited with his long-time friend. Eventually, they reached a familiar village – the very village in which he'd grown up – but as he wandered from home to home, one question put down roots in his mind and heart and refused to leave, no matter how desperately he tried to shake it away:

Where was everybody?

The village was otherwise in perfect order, as though nothing had ever happened – but there wasn't a single Kokiri to be seen. No Saria with her ocarina. No Mido with his bossy ways. No Fado, though she was probably exploring the Lost Woods.

Before he could ask Navi about this, however, she quickly skittered beneath his hat – despite the relative safety and plentiful cover of the trees.

"Navi?" he asked, his voice shaking. "What's wrong?"

As these words escaped his mouth, he noticed the exceedingly-dark fog creeping through the trees. With an apprehensive gasp, he slowly turned to face an exceedingly-large, spectral figure with glowing golden eyes and a menacing laugh. . . . . . . . .

Link forced himself awake before the dream could become a nightmare.

He somehow managed not to awaken Ruto, who snored melodiously on. In fact, he barely moved, changing only the position of his right arm.

Cautiously, he closed his eyes again – this time, thankfully, entering a dreamless sleep.