Hyrule: Journey of the Gerudo
Chapter 1 : Reunion and Departure
The dawn was setting over the Gerudo Desert. The black sky slowly losing itself to vivid colours. With it, a warm wind was chasing away the harsh cold that would grasp the desert at night.
At a distance from the Gerudo fortified city, an oasis was standing in the center of a collection of small building. It was the Kara Kara Bazaar, a place of commerce. This midpoint between the closed-off city of the desert dwellers and the outside world. While it was a place bursting with life under the bright sun, nothing was happening yet. Nothing except a single building throwing light by it's open door.
''I would never expected you to be one chasing for a Voe.'' Said the rasp voice of an elderly woman standing in her house. The countless deep wrinkles covering her face brought her the nickname Dune.
Standing in the doorway was a fresh and young Gerudo Woman. While she was not blood related to the elderly one, they shared this house. For the old woman took her as an apprentice and showed her the way of bazaar trade. The young woman was Khaalin Komara and she was busy positioning feathers in her cloth headband. She was already wearing her blue with yellow highlight attire. On top of her traditional Gerudo clothing, she had an Hylian style white vest. After covering her long copper hue hair, she turned towards her mentor. ''Why wait? I am of age and the world is vast. What truly surprise me is that my sister insisted to join me. Well, she does worry so much. When mother told her of my plan, she must have felt the need to assure my safety.''
Dune straightened her crooked back bent by age to give a good look at Komara. ''The two of you have not spoke in a long time. Do not doubt a sister's need to watch over their treasured younger sibling. It will be a wonderful journey. Do cherish it.''
A bit touched by those kind words, Komara walked to the old woman and bent to kiss her forehead. '' Sav'orq. I will now go wait outside. Thank you again so much for everything. I promise to turn a good profit with the products you entrusted to me.'' With this, she grabbed her bulky backpack and left the house.
Komara knew that she would not have to wait long. After all, her sister was the definition of serious. When a soldier says at dawn break, they mean it. So it was no surprise that after she took a few steps outside that she saw a cloud of dust closing in on the bazaar. Komara stopped in her track and waited. Soon, the grey sand seals that was gliding through the sand was visible. In it's tow, a Gerudo woman that appear tall even among the impressive physique of the Gerudo. Their dark red garb was accentuating the soldier musculature. You could see the glow of her headpiece that held her hair up before making any other details about her.
You could hear a sharp ''Hush!'' before the sand seal slowed down and have their carriage drift into the bazaar. Soon it joined the lone woman standing among the sleeping oasis. The carriage was a long box and with it's passenger also was a bag of impressive size. Really, their journey was suppose to be long but such an excessively large bag spoke of how much the eldest sister would take preparation to another level. With a pull she brought her mount to a stop. Standing next to each other, you could have some doubt these two were related. However, their skin shared the same hue, a very dark coloration even among the desert tribe. When their eyes meet, you could compare the exact same tint of green.
They looked at each other for some time, then Komara walked towards the back of the carriage and dropped her own large but not that large backpack. ''Sav'otta. Good to see you Ushara.'' She stepped inside and took hold of a railing so she could keep her balance. ''Do you know how it is suppose to go?'' She added after spreading her leg to assure her stability.
Ushara looked back at the front before giving the command to her mount. Once they were back to moving, she answered while still looking at the road. '' We now head for the canyon. I have spoken with mother yesterday and she showed me the letter you sent that iterate your plan for travel. We are to meet with a caravan of merchants. This group while be travelling Hyrule to their cities and villages. It will give us a good chance to find a suitable Voe. I am impressed by your insight little sister.''
At the mention of Voe, an hylian male, Komara squeezed her lips but gave a simple humming of approval. They were now outside of the bazaar and taking the road to exit the desert. It was the perfect time to be moving across the sands before the harsh sun raised high in the sky. The sand seal gracefully moved, dancing among the golden glow of the early day. The sisters stayed in silence, not knowing if it was comfortable or tense. Occasional whispers of winds would be the only thing to accompany them.
Then after some time, Komara went and tried to break the silence. ''It has been a long time that we have not travelled together. Thank you for being there Ushara.''
The eldest nodded, her eyes still scanning the horizon.'' Indeed, little sister. I have missed those moments. During my military service I could sometime come home to mother. But you preferred to stay away from the fortress. You had her worried. Still, you wrote often and passionately. She could not be mad for long.''
Komara chuckled, took the time to scan the moving dunes before adding. '' I could not stay inside the city forever. There is so much out there in the world. I heard so much from the Hylian merchants. I had to prove myself and live this journey. Old lady Dune helped me earn some good Rupees, I had nothing to hold me back.''
Ushara expression softened while she took a glance back at her sister. '' You have grown into such a capable Vai, Komara. I always believed in your choice, even if we did not use to see eye to eye.''
Komara smiled back, taking time to exchange look. '' Thank you Ushara. I am sorry for all these time that we argued and how I made things difficult for you. I was a handful while a was a little Vehvi.''
Ushara smiled back, a hint of nostalgia in her voice. '' That is what sisters do, isn't it? Argue, annoy each other... Yet, their bond still there with time. You are my most precious treasure. Always.'' She then focused back on making their carriage travel to destination.
After a few hours of this, they could see the mountain walls that enclosed the desert. The sun was now beating down on them. Ushara asked for a stop to make their mount rest. She undid the large cloth that was ensnaring her huge backpack. She then planted a few rods and spread the cloth to create shade. Komara took an hydromelon from her provision and split it among the three of them. She enjoyed seeing the cheerful animal roll on it's back and shake their cute flippers after eating the fruit. They then nod and took a short nap, waiting for the harshest part of the day to go by. After some time, large clouds gathered to cover the sun and they knew it was their chance to keep going.
They returned to the road and the sand seal pulled the carriage gleefully. They could make up the canyon entrance, that large scar among the rocky walls. It was a beautiful sight that brought the sisters excitement. It was starting to feel tangible. They were now leaving the desert they always knew for a vast land filled with wonders. Almost too soon, they hit the foot of the canyon. They saw a signpost that indicated the entry of the road. While it would usually tell travellers how to reach Kara Kara's oasis, it was the opposite for the sisters. That would now signify that they take a first true step out of the land of the Gerudo.
They made a stop and starred back at their homeland. Instinctively, Komara took the hand of her eldest sibling. She turned shy, but kept the gesture going. After calming herself down, she told Ushara. ''The road will turn rocky from this point on. A sand seal could not travel further.''
The biggest sister nod, broke the handhold and walked towards their valiant mount. "They are trained to drop soldiers where they need to be then return to the city. This big fella will be fine.'' She took the time to scratch their whiskers, give a piece of fruit before telling the code word to free them of their duty. The sand seal clapped it's flippers with joy and left while dragging away the carriage from which the sisters took away their bags.
Komara slipped the handles of her backpack and adjusted the heavy load until it was comfortable. She then took a look at Ushara that was positioning her comically large bag. The thing was much wider than her and stood way above her head. To her sister inquisitive look she answered. ''It's not heavy... Well, most of it is pretty light.''
The youngest sister had her doubt but did not say a thing while taking the head for the part they needed to walk. Further on was a stable and that is where she was to rendez-vous with the merchant caravan. With some nervousness in her voice, she said. '' I can't wait, Ushara. Let's make this journey unforgettable!'
I have not written Fanfiction for almost a decade. Tears of the kingdom left a big enough impression to try my hand at it again.
Thank you for taking a look at this wholesome story of sisterly love.
I will try to publish something every week. I will keep my chapter short