CHAPTER 19

He spent the next twenty minutes – perhaps more – explaining Termina's nature to his companion and, frankly, trying to make sense of it himself. To say that this account puzzled Ruto would be a marginal understatement. (How did she think that he felt?)

"Another world. . . . . . . . ." Ruto mused, her inky eyes glinting with astonishment. "But how did I come to be there? I don't remember seeing any such. . . . . . . . ."

"Portals?"

". . . . . . . . .portals. . . . . . . . .anywhere in Zora's Domain."

"I – I don't know," Link realized, wracking his brain in search of an answer that at least pretended to make sense. "You mentioned before that tinkering with your soul could have unexpected consequences. Perhaps that had something to do with it?"

Or. . . . . . . . .

Link pondered the question further in silence. Ruto's current form, she'd also said, was the part of her consciousness that loved him – the very same part that she'd cast away from her adult self. Could it be that she'd crossed the infinite expanse of existence, simply to be with him again?

Before he could suggest such a thing aloud, a deafening howl from Ruto's stomach interrupted his thoughts, startling both of them. Either she'd broken wind, or she was hungry. "We'd better find you some fish, before you starve," he said. "Luckily, I know just the place."

"Not Zora's Domain, I hope?"

"Heavens, no. Never mind there being two of you now. The last thing that I need is a Zora mother mistaking you for one of her hatchlings."

Again, he had a point. "Where to, then?" Ruto asked. "Somewhere in the Lost Woods?"

"I don't remember seeing any freshwater ponds in the Lost Woods," Link conceded, retrieving the Ocarina of Time. "But I've got something better in mind."

"Oh, really? What?"

He glanced toward her with a knowing smile. "You'll see."