By the fluttering of locusts wings by day and the songs of the majestic whippoorwill by night, Link and I have been steadily traveling north from Hateno Village. The air grows cooler each day, and we find the sun being hidden by distant rain clouds. While this is hardly uncommon, it strikes us both as peculiar, as these rain clouds appear to not be moving anywhere. They are resistant, even to the wind, with a stubbornness matched only by a mule whose hooves have grown weary or whose stomach has become hungry. How very strange. And yet, Link seems determined to go toward them. I take in as much of the dry, delightfully crunchy grass as I can when we are at rest, as I can only assume the grass underneath the rain clouds is chewy or worse, mushy, like an apple that has laid on the ground for a few days too long. The thought of it disgusts me.

As we round the base of an elevated and wooded area, my back muscles begin to twitch as the pitter patter of raindrops tickle them. Before long, the rain is falling on the nearby rocks and trees, composing a percussive song for us to journey along to. I quite like it... until one of my hooves nearly slips out from beneath me. Why, the ground had turned from grass and dirt to mud and... well... more mud! I take my steps more carefully so as to not reveal to Link that I am being challenged by the slick and slimy terrain. The cedar trees on the hills to our right and to our left reach far higher than the trees I am used to seeing. Their dark, rugged trunks are sturdy, and rather than leaves, their pines smell beautifully sweet, filling my nostrils with delight. Somehow it makes me long for the crisp evenings when the Hylians gather by the fires to tell stories. The smoke would wisp by, at times stinging the eyes. The crackles of the fire could be heard from the field, and the orange glow contrasted beautifully against the dark night sky. I yearn for such a delightful and peaceful evening.

And yet, we continue trudging through the muddy woods. We happen upon a bridge like none I have ever seen. It is not made with gray stone or wood planks or logs. No, this bridge is nearly as blue as my own fur coat. A blanket of rainwater glistens over it. Its surface is quite hard on my hooves. How wonderfully different. We make it halfway across before a loud voice startles us.

"Hello there!"

My tail flicks back and forth as Link and I both look for the source of the voice. Alas, I see no animals or Hylians nearby, neither ahead of us nor behind us.

"Down here!"

Link tugs the reins to take me to the edge of the bridge and together we peer down. We see a red figure bobbing in the river. It has piercing eyes and a snout that comes to a point. It smiles, mouth lined with sharp teeth as white as an untouched snowfall. It looks as though a fierce, crimson fish has sunk its teeth into the its head, but as I continue to gaze, I realize that it is not a fish biting him at all. Why, he is the fish. My heart flutters with delight at the thought of telling my herd back home about this dazzlingly strange being. I am so overcome with excitement that I hardly hear his discussion with Link, but enough to know that he wants us to progress forward, urgently. The sky darkens and the rain pounds harder as we navigate through a difficult path of bridges and mud nestled between walls of rock and trees. We happen upon the fish once more and he encourages us to press on, yet this time with a warning of enemies ahead, just as I was starting to grow a bit bored.

We reach a decline; a small hill which leads to a dark, narrow stone tunnel that I certainly won't fit through with Link on my back. He senses this too and leaps off, but then he signals for me to remain still before he turns and scampers into the tunnel, soon to be out of sight. The rudeness of Hylians sometimes. Alas, I try not to let it get to me and instead observe the area further. Ripples dance across the dozens of puddles scattered all over. I see imprints in the mud, likely left by frogs who I'm certain are in paradise in these wet conditions. I hear and feel what is almost like a distant lightning strike, then another, and yet another. Perhaps the rain is about to transition into a storm. Link returns shortly after, takes the reins, and leads me through the tunnel, with my head-ducked down to avoid scraping the roof. Once on the other side, my nostrils are tickled by the smell of smoke, reminding me of when the Hylians at the stable would roast meat. However, I see nothing cooking or burning. Odd.

It is nearly midday (I think... it is painfully difficult to tell now that the sun is hidden) when we reach a long, mighty, glowing bridge with a massive lake, the largest I've ever seen, below it. The space opens up before us. The wildness in my veins wants nothing more than to whinny as loudly as I can to hear its echo ring out time and time again, yet somehow I keep myself contained. I settle for listening to the satisfying clopping of my hooves on the cold, wet bridge beneath us as we make our way toward what I can only describe as a sanctuary. Its roads circle around a gargantuan fish. Why, if it were living, surely it would be among the most revered creatures in all of Hyrule. More fish people walk about on two legs as the Hylians do. How marvelous indeed. The fish person from before stands taller than the rest and meets us in the center of the sanctuary. He introduces himself as Sidon, a Zora.

This reminds me that I have yet to be given a name. It would be dishonest of me if I said this didn't make me ever so slightly jealous.

Sidon takes Link into a higher chamber and I am left to continue gazing in awe at the Zora. Their young ones appear just as impressed by me as they giggle and inch forward to touch my soaked and shimmering blue coat. Speaking of blue, by the time I am reunited with Link, he too is wearing a new, deep blue covering that almost makes him look like one of the Zora. I lower my snout to him to smell this new covering, but alas, I am not pleased by its pungent odor. Sensing my displeasure, Link pushes my snout away and resumes his discussion with Sidon, while I continue befriending the Zora younglings.

Link is too preoccupied speaking with Sidon and one much older Zora who is very... unpleasant... to care when my hooves lead me to wander around. What else is a curious horse to do in such an amazing place as this? I vow in my mind to not wander far or for too long, though I must admit, time does get away from me. I am able to observe a distant mountain that looks more like a great wall of shadow due to the rain and clouds. Alas, even from such a great distance, its magnificence refuses to be shrouded by the gloom around us. This thought reminds me that the ever-present rain was the topic of discussion between Link, Sidon, and the curmudgeon. Remembering my vow to myself, I make my way back to where I last saw Link and... to my surprise, he is gone, which allows me to do more wandering. Or at least that was my plan, until a sudden pull on my tail catches my attention.

I have never had my tail or my mane trimmed by Hylians, yet I have heard from horses who have, that it can be unpleasant if the Hylian is not careful. The pinch I feel reminds me of such stories from my fellow horses. I stifle a whinny and flick my tail. Alas, the pulling persists. I raise my tail and turn my neck. My eyes are met with a peculiar sight. A small creature, seemingly made of pure silver, hangs from my tail hairs by a sharp claw. Its eyes are elevated above its body, reminding me of a bug, yet it seems to be a creature of the water. I huff in frustration at him.

"Pray tell," I say with a stomp of my front hoof, "what is the meaning of this? My tail is not for climbing or for hanging."

"Forgive the disrespect, Good Steed," it replies, its voice small and garbled.

"What are you?" I inquire, "And why are you still hanging from my tail? I do not appreciate it."

"I am a Bright-Eyed Crab, Good Steed."

While I have never heard of a crab, its title appears apt. The small creature continues.

"Lower me back down to the ground and I will explain myself."

With a small snort, I lower my tail, and the crab makes good on his word and releases its hold. I lower my snout to carry on our conversation, much more comfortably.

"You arrived earlier today with the Hylian, did you not?" he asks.

"Observant, you are." I reply.

"I could not help but to listen to his discussion with Prince Sidon," the crab says.

Prince Sidon? My, my... I wish I had known this before, as I would have bowed my mane to him earlier.

"You see," the bright-eyed crab continues, "as much as my kin and the Zoras thrive on water, the non-stop rain has threatened this domain that we all call home, so we crabs try to keep up with the Zoras as they discuss how to stop it."

"Can they stop it?"

"Nay, I don't believe they can on their own."

"Pity. Please accept my sympathies for your plight."

"Very well," he says kindly, inching forward with his many legs. "However, it is your plight, or rather, the plight of your Hylian, that you should now be worried about."

"Pray tell, what do you mean?"

My heart sinks as the small crab brings its claws together shyly.

"I overheard Prince Sidon instructing your Hylian to scale Ploymus Mountain."

"That magnificent and glorious peak in the distance?" I inquire excitedly.

"No, no, Good Steed."

With an outstretched claw, he guides my vision to a much nearer peak, not nearly as glorious or impressive as the one I had hoped.

"Ah, to Link that mountain will be naught but another common hill. He will be just fine."

"Hear me, Good Steed, for it is not the mountain that your Hylian needs to fear, it is what lives on it."

"Bokoblin?" I guess.

"Nay, a Red-Maned Lynel."

The blood in my veins turns bitingly cold at the utterance of the monster's name. While I have still never seen a Lynel with my own eyes, every story I hear of them sends chills down my lengthy spine. Why, has Prince Sidon for some reason sent Link to his death? I simply cannot allow it.

"You have my gratitude, my small friend," I say eagerly. "What is the fastest way for me to reach the mountain?"

"I would strongly advise against following him. Why, a Red-Maned Lynel could outrun a thousand horses!"

With a strong stomp of my rear hoof and a loud snort, the crab realizes my sense of urgency.

"Alright, if you insist, you can find the mountain pass just beyond the east bridge!"

His voice is still in the air when I pivot on my hooves and begin a furious race toward the eastern bridge. I think not to apologize to the Zoras who rush out of my way, lest they be crushed by my thunderous gallop. I make my way up the base of the mountain, fighting the slick mud as I go and looking for any signs of Link. With every moment I fail to find him, my heart sinks further and further. He is undoubtedly a well-trained fighter, but against a Lynel, I am afraid his chances of victory would be slim. I make my way around a fallen rock when suddenly the earth beneath me is rocked by a most horrible, blood-curdling roar. Why, it makes the roar of an angered Honeyvore Bear sound like the sweet song of a summer bird. Still, I continue my stormy gallop, until my gaze is caught by none other than Link. He is gliding down from the mountain on his Hylian... wings... albeit, terribly slowly. I catch a glimpse of the Lynel as it reaches the edge of the mountain, its terrible yellow glowing eyes fixed on Link with a hunger to kill like I have never seen.

I call to Link with a loud and desperate whinny.

"Watch out, Link!" I shout, knowing he cannot understand me. "The beast takes aim at you!"

A perplexed Link meets my gaze and, not a moment too soon, he releases his hold on his winged contraption. The Lynel releases its arrows which tear through the air like lightning. Alas, they narrowly miss Link's head as he begins to fall. He slows his descent with his wings once more and begins to glide in my direction.

"That's the way," I encourage him, slowing to a trot to meet him.

With masterful skill, he alights on my back, just as the beast is taking aim once more. Link throws down the reins with a snap and I carry us down the slick path as fast as my legs can possibly carry us. The Lynel unleashes another flurry of arrows. They rain down on us more furiously than the actual rain. With Link's help, we dodge every last one, and the Lynel roars in defeat as we race out of its range. Link pats the side of my face, certainly out of gratitude for saving him. We return to Zora's Domain, still reeling with adrenaline. Alas, Link wastes no time in returning to Prince Sidon, who appears ever so pleased to see him. While I feel a bit of anger towards the Prince for sending Link on such a perilous journey alone, I bow my mane to him. After all, he is royalty.

Prince Sidon tells Link of a plan to confront a Vah Ruta... something I have never heard of, though he seems convinced that it is the key to stopping the life-threatening rain. He says something about Link riding on his back. My ears flick at the sound of this, and I snort to express my disapproval. Still, Link places a hand on my neck and gives me a gentle scratch. I can sense that he means to offer more of his gratitude, as well as an apology, as he seems to like Prince Sidon's plan and understands that I do not. After all, I am his steed, not Prince Sidon.

I'll accept his apology... this time.