Izuna POV

Twenty-three-year-old Izuna stared down at Juba in furious disbelief. "I refuse." Her fingernails dug into her palms. "You go too far – no one else is pressured like this-"

"Because they are not the healer, we've been over this Izuna." Juba rubbed his temples as if she was the unreasonable one. He seemed to age with every conversation they had; with any luck, he'd turn to dust soon. "We have indulged you long enough. If Koro hadn't suggested you take more time to acclimate to your role, you would be married already. It is your responsibility to produce an heir but you have failed to make any strides toward that end – in fact, you deliberately refuse to do your duty! This situation is of your own making."

She recoiled as if slapped. "Refuse my duty? Tending to the sick and dying is my duty, not this. I will not marry him!"

"I see no reason why you should not. You are the last-"

"I don't need you to remind me my family is dead!" she snapped. "And I don't care what you think about this – it's my decision!"

"Don't be ungrateful. He cares for you, Izuna. It could be a lot worse."

A cold feeling settling in the pit of her stomach. "And you think that's reason enough to force me to marry him?" He could be madly in love with her, and it wouldn't change a thing. It was little consolation from being stripped of her right to choose. "I'm not livestock to be bred-"

"Silence!" Juba's face turned purple in fury. "You can either accept your duty or do things the hard way, but the fact remains that you will marry Koro when you return from your pilgrimage. No more delays. That's final!"

She fled, slamming the door shut; but of course, a carefree Koro stood at the bottom of the stairs chatting with other guards as if summoned to be her own personal demon. Izuna stomped toward him, pulling him away from the others mid-sentence.

"Izuna! What's gotten into you?" he sputtered, stumbling behind her.

"Hah! Watch out Koro – you're in trouble now!" One called after them, laughing.

She pulled him behind one of the large willow trees and glared up at him. "Juba plans on forcing us to marry after we come back! You need to fix this," she hissed. It irked her that she'd have to ask for his help but if Koro voiced his dissent – or better yet, called off the whole thing, Juba would have to listen.

"Would you be so unhappy?" he asked quietly, breaking her from her thoughts.

She rolled her eyes. "Need I remind you that I never wanted this? In fact-"

"Give it a rest, Izuna. We've been through this a thousand times." He ran a hand through his hair. It was down for once, rather than in the usual topknot. "What is it about me that repulses you so much?"

She wrapped her shawl tighter around herself. "Have you considered that this isn't about you? I don't want to marry out of duty or obligation. That's not..." what her family would have wanted for her. She crossed her arms, staring at the ground with a grimace. "It's not right."

"You could try opening your heart to me..." he stepped closer, tilting her chin up. "If you allowed me to romance you, you may find that I could make you happy," he murmured, dark eyes meeting hers. "I'd do everything in my power to-"

Izuna wrenched out of his grasp, clenching her fists until her knuckles turned white. "Just stop. If you won't help me get out of this, I'll figure something out on my own." She turned on her heel and stormed back to her family home, throwing angry looks over her shoulder every so often. He did not follow her.

Wrenching open the door to her house, she grabbed her bow and arrows off the wall before stalking outside once more and following the familiar path out of the village. She turned left at the fork, heading through the west gate and into the clearing overlooking the wetlands. By her will or no, Juba was determined to have her married. Why did her consent matter so little, when other Sheikah enjoyed the right to decide their own paths? Izuna loosed an arrow at an apple tree, hitting one of the succulent red fruits dead center. In the eyes of the village, her wishes would always come last when weighed against the many. A second apple met the same fate. Never mind that she held their lives in her hands, brought their children into the world, and sat with the dying until they left it. Nearly everything she did was for the good of the village, but that wasn't good enough. Angry tears welled in her eyes and three more apples hit the ground. She'd had enough. Izuna took aim. If the elders thought she was going to comply, they had another thing coming-

An explosion of smoke startled Izuna, causing her to loose the arrow. It seemed to travel in slow motion toward the blademaster emerging from the smoke. "Watch out!" she screamed. But it was unnecessary; the blademaster deftly caught the arrow and tossed it to the ground like it was nothing. If she wasn't so busy internally berating herself, Izuna might have been impressed by the feat of dexterity.

"Are you hurt?" she asked, scanning his form for injuries, careful not to allow her eyes to linger anywhere too long. While all the Yiga she'd treated were fit, he was a towering wall of pure muscle. But the differences didn't end there. Instead of the standard mask and cowl the others wore, his mask was horned, bearing a crack at the top, and his hair was pulled into a ponytail. Whereas other blademasters carried a single blade, he equipped two on either side of his hips. Curious.

He ignored her question. "Are you the healer?" There wasn't a trace of emotion in his deep, velvety voice. When she nodded, he looked her up and down, remarking, "You are not what I expected."

It didn't occur to Izuna to give much thought to what they might say of her in the Yiga clan - if they spoke of her at all - but how outlandish was it if she fell short of expectations? Then again, who was to say she fell short? Certainly not this giant man she'd never met before. Izuna squared her shoulders and narrowed her eyes. "If you don't need healing, what are you doing here?"

The inverted eye stared down at her and he crossed his arms. "Gauging your intentions toward my clan. Why would a Sheikah healer tend to my soldiers? I see only two options: either you are luring my warriors into a false sense of security, or you're benefitting from this arrangement in another way."

"Are those the only options?" she asked coolly. She followed the movement of his hand as it rested on the pommel of the blade, deceptively relaxed. No doubt he could cut her down faster than she could counter. She'd been lucky thus far in her encounters with the clan, but the Yiga were reputed assassins. Merciless, or so she had heard. Deep down, she ought to have known something like this was coming. "Are you going to kill me for performing my duty, blademaster?"

His grip tightened. "You have no duty to the Yiga clan."

"Maybe not," she conceded. "But as a healer, my duty is to the living." And if it happened to be a small act of rebellion against the elders and Hylians, so be it. She could save lives and defy them, if only in a small way.

A hint of annoyance leaked into his voice. "You cannot expect me to believe you're healing my warriors and asking nothing in return."

"Believe what you want. I've told you the truth."

"Then you are a naïve fool. Healer or not, my warriors would cut you down without question if I ordered it."

Izuna grimaced; of that she had no doubt. "Does that mean you're Master Kohga?" It made sense given his unique mask and imposing demeanor. Was he the leader of the Yiga clan?

He chuckled lowly. "I am honored to be compared to Master Kohga, but I am not he."

"Oh," she muttered, abashed. "Who are you then?"

"Sooga." The name sounded familiar, but Izuna couldn't place where she'd heard it before.

"I'd say it's nice to meet you, but..." she trailed off, clearing her throat awkwardly. They regarded one another in silence until thunder sounded in the distance. A droplet hit her cheek, then another. Hyrule's weather changed quickly; despite the bright sun earlier, rain was falling in torrential sheets within moments. While her clothing protected her from the worst of it, she would soon be drenched if she didn't get to shelter. And Koro was bound to come looking. "So... unless you're going to put me out of my misery, I'm going back..."

"Are you so eager to die?"

She shook her head. "No, but if you're not going to kill me, I'm not waiting around for them to catch me out here-"

"Tell me, healer, how long until this goodwill of yours runs out? A month? Why shouldn't I kill you now and save my people the trouble?"

Izuna crossed her arms. "A month, seriously?" She laughed then, shaking her head in disbelief. "I've been doing this longer than that."

Sooga stilled. "Is that so?"

"Yes - in fact, I just saved the leg of one of your blademasters a few days ago. Ask him."

"Very well." He inclined his head. "But if you prove to be a liar, you will reap the consequences."

"And when I prove truthful, what then?"

"We shall see."

She turned away with a scoff, setting a fast pace back to the village, ignoring the water seeping into her shoes and the rain running down her face. No good deed ever went unpunished. Whoever he was, he took his position in the clan seriously; how long would it take him to verify her claim? She threw a look over her shoulder in case he was still there, but Sooga had gone. Those soldiers had better tell the truth, or she was dead.

Sooga POV

Sooga shut the door to his workroom, letting out a heavy exhale. The last few days spent interviewing his soldiers for any information they had on the healer was taking its toll. In the past year, she had treated nearly half of his blademasters and several of the footsoldiers for some malady or another. He had assumed their reduction in casualties was due to improved training regimens and stronger fighters. Such arrogance. Instead, the credit fell into the tiny hands of a single healer. She had direct access to his most elite warriors while he was none the wiser. She could have poisoned them or sabotaged their health through slower-acting means, but she chose to save lives instead. The question, though, remained why she would put herself at risk for them. A sympathizer, perhaps? Sooga slumped in his chair, rubbing his neck. He couldn't deny the benefit of such an arrangement, but her placement in Kakariko was inconvenient. Going forward, it was imperative that he ensured the healer's continued compliance. How could he sway her further to their cause?

There was a brief knock at the door before it swung open, revealing the lanky form of the seer. Sooga narrowed his eyes, though it went unseen behind the mask. "What do you want?" he asked evenly.

Astor stepped into the room, thin lips stretching into a smirk. Despite the desert sun, his skin was as pallid as when he had first arrived some weeks ago promising the return of Calamity Ganon and the destruction of their enemies. He shut the door behind him. "I have a proposition for you."

Sooga crossed his arms. "In that case, Master Kohga should be present to hear it."

"No need." His lips curled in distaste. "What I have to say concerns your role in Calamity Ganon's return."

Astor had spoken at great length of the Yiga clan's role in the future to come, painting a picture of glory and valor rewarded by Calamity Ganon. Of justice done against Hylian oppression. He'd spoken of prosperity and of conquest - seizing the seat of power in the land and living freely without constraint. It was a saccharine dream – the culmination of everything their clan strove to achieve. But there was always a cost to such things, and the seer had either overlooked or omitted it. Sooga was inclined to believe the latter.

"Speak, then seer."

The shorter man smirked beneath his hood. "Very well. Resurrecting Calamity Ganon will take great sacrifice and bloodshed – the rivers will run red, as if the very land itself bleeds. Our enemies are strong, however, more so now that they've unearthed the divine beasts; taking them over while minimizing casualties will take finesse."

"I am aware that the task ahead is difficult," Sooga growled, crossing his arms. "Get to the point."

There was a tick in the prophet's cheek. Through his few encounters with the shorter man, he'd learned that he enjoyed the sound of his own voice and hated being interrupted.

He took a deep breath, resuming a calm expression. "Of course. As I was saying, achieving our goal will take cunning and a certain level of competence. Certain things have become clear in the time I've spent among your clan and... Master Kohga," he pursed his lips as if the words were bitter, "is not up to the task. I have determined that you are singularly the most effective warrior and leader in your clan, and therefore the worthiest choice to lead us to victory-"

Sooga stood, knocking the chair back with a clatter. Astor's eyes widened fractionally, and a trace of fear flashed through them. The fool was lucky to be under the protection of Calamity Ganon, or he would have cut him down then and there. "You dare suggest-"

"That the bumbling fool is unworthy?" The seer took a step back. "How could I not?"

The door slammed open. "Is someone talking about me?" came Kohga's goofy voice as he pushed past Astor to sit atop Sooga's desk, creasing the neat piles of paper, sending some to the floor.

The seer glared darkly at the leader of the Yiga clan. "No. We're done here." He stormed from the room, slamming the door shut behind him.

"Sorry about the mess," Kohga joked, gesturing at the papers that had fallen.

"Does that mean you'll help clean it up?" Kohga snorted as if Sooga just told a funny joke. "I thought not." He removed his mask, revealing his wry grin, and set it atop the desk.

Kohga did the same, though is smile slipped, revealing his grave countenance. "What did he want?"

Sooga picked up the chair he'd knocked over. "For me to usurp you." For a seer, Astor knew surprisingly little of how the Yiga clan operated; he was deluded if he thought Sooga would ever betray his closest friend and mentor.

"Typical Hylian, knowing nothing of loyalty." Kohga's tawny, deceptively boyish face twisted in displeasure. "Then again, coming from him, it's not surprising. He's a slimy little bastard – delivering the prophecy to the king then slinking over to our side immediately afterward."

"If only he'd had the foresight to get rid of the child before he left. Then there would be no one of the goddess's blood to stand in the way."

"Good point. I'll bring that up later - maybe he'll get mad again." A mischievous grin stretched across his friend's face. "Anyway, what did you find out about the healer?"

Sooga pinched the bridge of his nose, thumbing the scar tissue. "She was telling the truth."

"Then why do you look so bothered?" Kohga asked, crossing his arms. "This is good news-"

"Not if her motivations remain secret." The single spy that'd managed to infiltrate the village observed very little of her. Originally, their task was to spy on the elders and warriors for intel on the royal family's plans. A nobody healer would not have drawn much attention, and they had little to say about her. "She collected no payment from the soldiers she healed – not rupees, nor favors, nor information. And we don't even know her name."

Kohga waved him away. "You're getting too worked up about it. Just go talk to her and try getting her to join us." He paused, furrowing his brow. "And while you're at it, fetch me some bananas! My stock- I mean, the clan's stock is getting low! I almost ate a rotten one!"

"Of course, Master Kohga," Sooga chuckled. "Try not to overindulge until I've returned."

"I never-!" he spluttered. "Don't make me challenge you to a spar!"

His eyes gleamed – perhaps a good fight was what he needed. "No need; I challenge you."

"You're on!"

Izuna POV

Izuna waved goodbye to the shopkeeper and gathered her items; this purchase marked the last of the supplies she needed for her journey. She'd stocked up on dried food, new arrows, extra bow strings, and a sturdy knapsack – her old one had been on its last legs during her previous pilgrimage, and it wouldn't survive another one. The sun glared overhead, blinding her temporarily as she stepped outside.

"I've been looking everywhere for you!" a familiar voice exclaimed. "I was worried you left already, Izuna!"

She whipped around, blinking in shock as she laid eyes on her closest friend. "Impa!" The two women embraced, as best they could laden as she was with purchases. "What are you doing here – aren't you supposed to be at the castle?"

Impa planted her hands on her hips. "I couldn't miss your departure, could I?"

"You're too good." She grinned, adjusting her grip on the items. Impa always made a point to see her off – ever since the first time she journeyed with her grandmother. "Walk to the house with me?" Impa nodded and grabbed a few bags. As they meandered through the village, she asked, "If you're here, who's looking after things back at the castle?"

Plastering a smile on her face, Impa replied, "Purah."

Izuna snorted. "Is that wise? Don't you remember what happened the last time she was left to her own devices?"

"Yes, but she's learned her lesson. And I'm really sorry about your hair, but-"

"It was only a couple months ago!"

"It's growing back – short hair suits you anyway!" Izuna eyed her in disbelief. She used to pull her once long white hair into a traditional Sheikah bun but all that remained were the hair loops on either side of her face that brushed her shoulders. The rest of her hair on the back of her head barely reached below her ears thanks to an experiment gone wrong. Impa's eyebrow twitched, but her smile remained firmly in place. "If the castle is still standing when I return, that's a victory."

Izuna begged to differ; if they were lucky, the castle would suffer the same fate as her hair: burned to a crisp. "Uh-huh."

"Izuna! Oh – Impa, you've returned!" Koro waved from across the market, squeezing past other shoppers to get to them. His white hair was pulled back into a messy bun and he'd foregone the beige jacket most Sheikah guards favored, opting to wear only the tight navy undershirt. His tanned skin was covered in lean corded muscle and a thin sheen of sweat – more than likely, he'd recently finished training. Izuna scowled at the sight of him; they hadn't spoken since their argument a few days prior, and she was not eager to break that silence. "How are you ladies today?" he asked with a charming smile, though it was strained when he looked at his wife-to-be.

Izuna stared through him. Impa raised a brow, glancing between them. "Fine... but we should get back soon. I'm sure Izuna's going to try roping me into helping her close up the house."

"Right... I could help with-"

"No thank you," Izuna said stiffly. "Impa and I can manage without your help."

"Of course," he murmured, troubled. "I'll leave you to it then..." Koro hesitated briefly, as if waiting for her to say more, but turned and left when she did not.

The two Sheikah resumed their walk, reaching the house after a few minutes. Once inside, they placed her purchases on the wooden table, and Impa turned toward her, raising an inquisitive brow. "Mind explaining what that was all about? I know you're not happy about him, but that was cold. Did something happen?"

Izuna ran a hand through her short hair. "It's not so much him, but what Juba has done."

"Tell me. I want to help you any way I can." Impa pulled her to a chair, taking a seat beside her.

The earnest sincerity in her friend's honey eyes warmed her, reminding her she wasn't truly alone. Dropping her head in her hands, Izuna let out a shaky sigh and explained the elder's plans for her once she returned from her pilgrimage. "I don't know what to do. I don't want to marry him; why is that so hard to understand?"

"It's not, but you know the elders aren't concerned with what you want," Impa pointed out bluntly.

"I know. I feel like the only way to get out of marrying Koro is to marry someone else or..." she bit her lip, "leave Kakariko."

Impa's face took on a pinched quality. "But where would you go? Most Hylian towns are suspicious of our people at best, or downright hostile at worst. You wouldn't be safe..."

"No one is safe if the prophecy is true. And if it is, all the more reason to take my life into my own hands and make my own choices. Life is too short not to." And her life shorter still.

Impa steeled herself, putting on a brave face though her lip trembled. "Right. If you're sure, then I'll help you." Her friend's determination brought a smile to her lips. Nothing could stand in Impa's way when she made up her mind about something. "What are you going to do about Koro, though? He's a good tracker – he'll find you."

If he caught up to her, it was game over. She drummed her fingers on the aged wood of the table. "I'll need a head start. Maybe even tonight."

Impa nodded. "Then we have no time to lose. Let's get you packed."

In the early hours of the morning, far past the time everyone had gone to bed, but far earlier than any dared to wake, Izuna and Impa stole out of her house into the darkness. As they crept toward the south exit, Izuna glanced around the village, committing it to memory.

For a moment, her heart was overcome with indecision; this was her home. Every single memory of Azumi and her family was here – how could she possibly abandon it? She rubbed away the moisture accumulating in her eyes. She could not allow any room for doubt. She would not come crawling back.

When they reached the southern gate, they slowed their pace, sticking to the shadows. A guard stood watch – someone she vaguely recognized, but whose name eluded her. He leaned against the cliffside, head bobbing forward every so often.

Impa turned to her and nodded silently, barely visible in the firelight. She went first, crouching low in the grass to stay out of sight. After a few tense moments, she was outside the gate. It was Izuna's turn. Tightening her pack, she copied Impa's movements, staying low, though she moved slower to prevent her supplies from making noise. The guard gave a loud snort, freezing her in place. Her heart hammered against her chest, and she stared wide-eyed from her hiding spot, hardly daring to breathe as the guard yawned and rubbed his eyes. Every second that ticked by was one in which she imagined being dragged back to the village, kicking and screaming. She couldn't let him wake up.

Creeping toward him, her hand glowed blue when she drew close. He twitched when the dim glow neared his face, and she pressed her fingers to his temples. With a gentle push of energy, he slumped further against the cliff walls, breathing deeply. He wouldn't wake until well after she was gone. Rising to her full height, Izuna hastened toward Impa. Once safely outside the village, they spoke in hushed tones.

"What did you do to him?"

"Just put him to sleep."

"He will wake up, right?"

Izuna clicked her tongue, affronted. "Of course he will! This'll probably be the best sleep of his life."

Impa held her hands up in surrender. "Alright - alright! I believe you!" They soon came to a halt at the Kakariko Bridge. The large stone bridge withstood the test of time, offering safe passage across the river for generations. Izuna always said a prayer for a safe journey when she crossed it. Her friend cleared her throat. "This is where we must part. I'll try keeping him off your trail as long as I can, but the rest is up to you."

Izuna sniffled, suddenly overcome with emotion. "Thank you for everything, Impa."

Impa pulled her into a hug. "Enough of that! I'm going to miss you badly enough as it is without you blubbing." Her voice warbled at the end. "Wherever you go, you must write to me at the castle – if only so I know you're alive," she whispered.

"I promise." Izuna pulled away first, wiping her eyes and offered a smile to her friend. "I'd best be off. Try not to get into too much trouble."

"I should be saying that to you," she scoffed. "You have easy access to a weapon, right?" Izuna patted the old Hylian knife sheathed at her hip. "And remember, pick monsters off at a distance as much as you can. I know you're a good shot-"

She rolled her eyes. "Yes general. Anything else?"

"One last thing," Impa sobered. "Be wary of travelers on the road. The Yiga are masters at disguising themselves."

The Yiga were the last thing on her list of worries, but she nodded regardless. "I'll be careful."

By sunset, Izuna had left the Dueling Peaks region and according to her map, there was supposed to be a settlement nearby she could take shelter in. Following the road, she turned left, hiking up the hill, passing between the trees. The setting sun cast a golden-orange glow through the leaves, lending the walk an air of mysticism. A sparkle caught her eye, and she reached down to pluck a red rupee from beneath a shrub. The world was full of bounty if only one knew where to look. The great fairies had opened her eyes to so much of what the world had to offer.

As she exited the thicket, a basin opened up before her, revealing the village within. A few villagers milled about, others walked with purpose, all of them Hylian. She hesitated. It could be dangerous... Then again, so would sleeping out in the wilderness.

Izuna marched down the path leading into the settlement, trying to make herself as unthreatening as possible. A man stood at the gate, watching her warily, clutching his spear with a white-knuckled grip.

"Oi, state your business!" His scruffy face twisted in blatant suspicion.

Already off to a great start. Izuna's grip on her pack tightened. "I seek shelter for the night in exchange for work - I'm a healer-"

"Yeah right, and I'm the king of Hyrule – we don't want whatever you're selling. Knowing your kind, it would sooner be monster spit than real medicine."

Two angry blotches appeared on her cheeks. "Excuse me?"

Another man walked up, sandy-haired and bearded, clapping the guard on the back. "Trouble, Rolly?" He gave her a cursory glance. "Strange, what's one of you doing out here on your own?"

"Probably up to no good!" Rolly glared at her, unblinking. "You know they're the ones who caused the sickness some years back – remember-?"

Her hands shook, itching to strike him. Leave it to a Hylian to shift blame. "We did not!" Izuna snapped. Were their memories so short that they forgot the origins of the plague that devastated both her village and their cities? What lies had they fabricated about her people?

"Of course not," the other man said kindly. "He's just prejudiced. But, if I may, what business do you have in Deya village?"

This was turning out to be more trouble than it was worth. Sleeping on the ground would not be the worst thing to happen to her. "I'm a healer and I was hoping to exchange treatment and medicine for food and lodgings. But I can see I'm not welcome. I'll take my leave," she said stiffly.

"You don't need to leave." He scratched his beard thoughtfully. "The gods have favored us with your arrival. You see, my wife is pregnant and we've no midwife to see to her at this late stage."

"But Gareth, that's your wife-!"

"Exactly." Gareth clapped Rolly on the back again. "And because she's my wife, I want to make sure she and our unborn child are alright. Besides," he raised a brow, "you were going to send her away, weren't you? And to think, this could've been your chance to get that nasty fungus of yours looked at. Such bad luck." He shook his head in mock disappointment.

Izuna stifled a snort as the guard's expression changed from one of affront to consternation. "I would be honored to assist your family."

"Then it's settled," he sent a look to Rolly, "she'll be staying with us. Come with me, miss."

Gareth led her along the path to the center of the village; the houses or shops were humble but sturdy and well-kept. All of them stood a few feet above ground on raised platforms and were connected by wooden walkways as well as the dirt path they currently followed. If she stooped, Izuna was certain she could move below the platforms and walkways unseen. Here and there, faces popped out of windows, and children openly pointed at them. An elderly woman pulled a young boy inside, shooting her suspicious glances all the while.

"Don't mind them," he murmured. "They were just as unfriendly when I moved here from Castle Town."

Somehow, Izuna doubted it was the same. "Oh? What made you move out here?" she asked politely. From what she had heard, the city surrounding the castle was a hub of culture and fashion few chose to leave.

"Plague," he said shortly. They stopped outside a modest home near the outskirts of the village. "Well, here we are." Gareth pushed open the door, beckoning for her to follow.

Her host strode into the home, uncaring if he left dirt on the floor, shrugging off his outer layers. A fire below the stove warmed the room. She floundered at the door; there was nowhere to remove her shoes. Was this a test? Wouldn't it be rude if she didn't remove them because it showed a lack of respect for his home? Or was wearing footwear inside a Hylian custom?

Paying her no mind, Gareth called out, "Aya, I'm home! And you'll never guess what I found!"

A heavily pregnant woman waddled through a door on their left, fixing her dark brown gaze on Izuna. Her thin lips twisted into a frown. "Unless my eyes deceive me, you've brought home an exotic mistress."

Her mouth popped open, but Gareth guffawed. "Oh, my dear," he wrapped his arms around her middle, pressing a kiss to her cheek. "You know you're the only woman for me! She's a midwife."

"But she's so young..." A pained grimace overtook her face, and she clutched her belly, leaning heavily against Gareth.

"The pains are back?" She only nodded, pale-faced and wan. Wrapping his arm around her waist, he led her back through the door from which she'd come. "Let's get you back to bed. Please follow me," he called back to Izuna.

Their bedroom contained only a bed, a chest of drawers, and a threadbare rug that had seen better days. Izuna placed her pack in the corner of the room, rolling her shoulders to alleviate some of the tension. Once Aya was settled in bed, Izuna asked, "Have the pains been coming regularly?"

Her brows scrunched together and sweat beaded on her upper lip. "Y-yeah."

Labor, then. Izuna turned to Gareth. "I'm going to examine your wife to make sure nothing is amiss. Please prepare some boiling water and rags." He nodded and left the two women alone. "Please relax, Aya. I'm going to take your pulse first."

Aya closed her eyes and Izuna took a breath, placing her fingers against her neck, counting the beats. Slightly elevated. Placing both hands on the woman's swollen belly, she glanced at her face briefly – Aya's eyes were still closed. Izuna's hands glowed blue. A boy – strong and healthy settled low in her womb. Gentle pulsations reverberated around the baby as her body attempted its labor. Izuna furrowed her brow. The boy had settled into the wrong position for birth... allowing the glow to fade, she moved to her pack, pulling out willow bark and dried hearty fruit.

"What are you doing?"

"Just getting some tea to help with the pain – and a snack to distract you," she explained. "You'll be meeting your baby soon."

Aya's eyes widened and she eyed the Sheikah suspiciously. "This tea... what's in it?"

Izuna held the pouch out to her. "It's just willow bark – see for yourself." Aya examined it, though Izuna doubted she knew what to look for. If she had, she would've noticed the quality of the bark and how it almost sparkled. The great fairies taught her to identify the most potent and effective ingredients. Though dried, even the hearty fruit she held had a sheen of freshness that other market produce lacked. The Hylian woman returned the pouch to her with a nod. "When your husband returns with the water, I'll make you some tea."

"What about that?" She eyed the fruit in Izuna's hand.

"This?" She laughed. "Willow bark tea tastes terrible – this'll add some sweetness to mask it."

Warning: description of breech birth ahead.

Gareth returned with the hot water a while later and Izuna crushed a small amount of the bark and placed it in a linen pouch. The sooner the pain-relieving effects kicked in, the better off Aya would be. A breech birth could be a complicated and painful matter.

"How has one as young as you come to be a midwife?" she asked as Izuna handed her the tea.

"Actually, I'm a healer, not a midwife." Aya paled, but sipped the tea, grimacing at the bitterness. Izuna handed her the hearty fruit.

"Not a midwife? Have you ever delivered a child-?"

"Of course," she soothed. "I've been delivering healthy children for several years in my village – I have plenty of experience to handle this delivery." As the blessed healer, trusting her expertise was a given in Kakariko. It would have been ludicrous to doubt her... but this young mother didn't know her – giving birth was often frightening enough – it wasn't her fault. Nerves were to be expected. "What I want you to do now is to relax and focus on your breathing. I need to reposition your baby."

"Wh-what do you mean?"

"Your child has moved into a more difficult position for birth. Normally, a baby that's about to be born settles lower in your womb, head down. Sometimes, though, a child settles feet first, which is what's happened here," Izuna explained.

Aya wrung her hands. "What does that mean? Is that bad?" Her voice took on a shrill tone.

"It means you don't need to panic." Izuna gripped her hands firmly, staring into her eyes. "All will be well. I promise. Please get on your hands and knees for me. You'll meet your son soon."

"It's a boy?" she breathed. "How do you know?"

Izuna froze. "Um, well, you see," she stammered, "it's just a guess – a Sheikah superstition is all." Clearing her throat, Izuna gave her hands a squeeze. "What matters is that you relax and allow me to do my work. By the end of it, you will have a healthy child." Aya regarded her wordlessly, but after a few moments, positioned herself on her hands and knees.

Despite the regular contractions, it took almost two hours to make any progress, as she had to pause the use of her technique every time Gareth entered the room whether to open a window, light some candles, or refresh the boiled water. Aya groaned, clutching the bedsheets as sweat ran down her back.

Izuna pressed her hand firmly at the top of Aya's belly, holding a rag in her other hand. "Alright, Aya. On the count of three, you need to push with your next contraction, okay?" Gareth stood at his wife's side, rubbing her shoulders, pale-faced. "One, two, three – push."

Aya groaned loudly and abruptly stopped, panting. A few tears streamed down her cheeks. Izuna counted again and she pushed. Her back ached after a while, perched as she was at the foot of the bed. With the sun gone, the passage of time was difficult to determine, but the full candlesticks had burned down more than halfway.

"Again, Aya. Another deep breath and push."

"I-I can't do this... it hurts..." she sobbed, shaking her head.

"Isn't there something you can do?" Gareth pleaded. "Sheikah magic or... or something?"

Certainly, the gift could speed things along, but... she glanced into their desperate eyes. She couldn't do that simply because Aya was feeling overwrought. Plenty of mothers had cried that they couldn't go on, yet they managed to muster the strength to bring their children into the world. What if Gareth and Aya told someone about her when the threat of birthing pains were forgotten? Izuna shook her head. Her eyes drooped and her stomach rumbled. She hadn't eaten much, and she couldn't leave the woman's side at this point. "We will continue."

At last, little feet emerged. "Baby's feet have been born – push with your next contraction." The rest of their son's body quickly followed the feet, and Izuna wrapped his body in the clean rag to keep him warm. "One more big push Aya, and your son will be with us." Aya screamed, pushing with all her might, and at last, it was done. Izuna handed the wailing baby boy off to his mother, explaining how to get him to latch. Once the child was nursing, Izuna cleaned the mess from the birth, disposing of the afterbirth in the hearth, and tidied up.

[/end delivery scene]

Gareth came to her side, gripping her hands tightly. "Bless you. I cannot thank you enough for helping us through-" he cut himself off abruptly, nose curling. "Do you smell that?"

Izuna sniffed, lips pulling down in a frown. Smoke. Whipping around, she squinted through the window behind her. A steadily growing glow illuminated the center of the village accompanied by the faint sound of screams, as well as the squealing cries that could only come from one creature. "Bokoblins." Izuna whipped around, staring wide-eyed at Gareth. "Your village is under attack – we have to get to safety!"

"But what about Aya and the baby? She can't travel like this!"

She bit her lip; he was right. Aya was exhausted and needed rest. There was no other choice. "Pack the things you need. I'll take care of her." Without waiting for his acknowledgement, Izuna rushed toward the sleeping mother and child, holding up a glowing hand to her midsection. Somewhere behind her, Gareth sucked in a gasp. She healed the pains from childbirth and thanked the gods above that he didn't intervene. When she was done, Izuna threw her pack over her shoulders and shook Aya awake.

"Huh?" She blinked slowly, looking around the room. "What's happening?"

"Monsters - we need to escape. I'll swaddle the baby; try to stand." Izuna expertly bundled the baby in warm cloths, soothing its cries as best she could.

Aya stood gingerly, gasping in shock. "There's no more pain – what did you...?"

Gareth put his arm around her, giving Izuna a nod of thanks. "No time for that now, we need to go."

Izuna handed the boy to his mother, and they crept outside. The screams were louder and acrid smoke tainted the air. "Cover his face." Drawing her bow, Izuna nocked an arrow, searching for movement in the dark. "What's the best way out of here?" she murmured, eyes darting from side to side.

"...There is a way through the south, but it takes you far away from the road. We should sneak past them to the west." Gareth pulled Aya close, helping her off the platform onto the ground.

"I hate to point this out, but that's where they're coming from," Izuna grumbled. "I think we should-" A twig snapped nearby, and she jerked, training her arrow into the darkness where the sound originated. The light of the fires reflected white hair pulled back into a topknot. The angry dark eyes of her husband-to-be glared back at her. Her stomach dropped. "Koro..."

"Izuna!" he hissed, stalking toward her furiously and grabbing her arm. "Come with me right now!"

"Who're you?" Gareth demanded, standing in front of Aya protectively.

Koro glared at the Hylian man. "Her husband-"

"You are not!" she spat, jerking out of his hold. "How did you find me?"

"Did you forget who you're dealing with? I'm-"

"If she doesn't want to go with you, then she doesn't have to," Gareth cut in sharply. "Come on – Izuna, was it? We need to escape."

She nodded and made to follow them, but two shiny glowing eyes peering at her through the darkness gave her pause. Her breaths came out slowly as she took aim. The monster shifted, the sound of a horn blaring through the night before cutting off abruptly as her arrow embedded itself between the eyes. "Go - run!" she hissed. "There'll be more any minute now!"

Three more bokoblins emerged from the shadows, brandishing clubs, some spiked, others not. The blue one in front – likely the leader – gave a loud cry, rushing toward them and swinging its club madly. Fumbling with another arrow, Izuna had little time to aim before it was upon her. Koro blocked the attack with his sword, allowing her precious seconds to scramble away.

"Go! I'll catch up to you!"

Aya and Gareth were already gone, the cry of their newborn the only thing she could hear in the distance. At least they were getting away. Only one of the bokoblins had gone after them, leaving Koro with the blue and another red one advancing upon her. Izuna turned and fled.

Fire illuminated the walkways well enough to see, but the houses cast long dark shadows. One misstep would send her tumbling into the smoke below. She threw a glance behind. The red bokoblin still pursued her, malicious intent in its eyes. Her breath came out in short pants. One foot in front of the other. Izuna covered her nose and mouth with her shawl and jumped off the platform. Breathe. Thunder sounded in the distance and the wind picked up, but the hills were in sight. If she made it just a little farther-

Something crashed into her side, sending her careening across the dirt. Izuna coughed as the smoke burned her lungs. The frightened eyes of the guard who'd barred her entrance to the village bore into her.

"Y-you!" He whipped his head around wildly, manic and fearful. "This is – you brought this upon us!" He lunged toward her. "Filthy Sheikah bitch!" he spat, wrapping his hands around her throat.

Izuna clawed at his hands – wrists – anything she could reach, but he held fast. Spots danced in her vision and she found herself praying that a monster or even Koro would find them – anything. She was going to die. A Hylian was going to murder her – hadn't they taken enough of her family? Burning hatred bubbled within her as her eyes connected with his. Were her people destined to endure such violence for eternity? No more. Blue light cast long shadows in the lines of his face.

His grip tightened. "I knew it! You've cursed us all-!" He let out a pained scream when she grasped his elbow, severing muscle and sinew until only the outer skin held his arm on. Rolly released her, howling as he clutched his arm. She choked on the smoky air, stumbling away blindly, gagging and nauseous. She had to get away.

Near blind from the tears streaming freely from her burning eyes, Izuna managed to find her way toward an immense fallen tree trunk leading uphill. She ran as quickly as her legs could carry her. Chancing a look behind, she let out a relieved sigh when she realized no one was pursuing. Her gut twinged with guilt; what if Koro was hurt? Slowing to a walk, she leaned heavily against the tree trunk when she reached the top of the hill. He told her he'd find her. She clenched her fists. She needed to get farther away from the village. There'd be no escaping him if he caught up to her.

By the time the sun rose, concealing the stars in the early morning glow, she had crossed over steep hills into dense tropical forest. Izuna rubbed her eyes, disbelieving. She'd gone south and stumbled into Faron when she needed to go northwest! She had to find the road leading back to central Hyrule.