[Izuna POV]
Izuna pocketed the purple rupee she found in the snowy grass and stretched, sighing when her back gave three satisfying pops. She'd just crossed the Great Tabantha bridge before being beset by strong winds that sapped her body of precious heat and heavy snowfall that covered the area in a chill even her warmer Sheikah clothing couldn't protect from. Thankfully, her suffering would be short-lived as she was set to give her offering to Kaysa that night. Then she'd be out of the cold and on her way to the blessed heat of the desert.
Another sparkle in a nearby bush caught her eye and Izuna exclaimed in delight. Wildberries! Dropping to a crouch, she gathered the ones in the front, setting them down carefully and reached for the others further in. Fresh food on the road was always a treat, better than exhausting her dried rations, and far more flavorful too. There was an explosion behind her, and Izuna jerked back, crying out as her hair loops snagged in the bramble.
"What... are you doing, Izuna?" came Sooga's familiar deep timbre.
"Picking berries," she grumbled, gesturing vaguely in the direction of her stash. Carefully, she untangled her hair from the prickly bush, wincing when a stray thorn cut her face. That one berry would live to fight another day, it seemed. Now free, she turned to greet him, only to flinch as he kneeled beside her, plucking the berry with ease and placing it beside the others. She mumbled her gratitude, cheeks red from the cold, and certainly not a hint of embarrassment. Scooping up her berries, she wrapped them in a cloth and carried them to where she'd made camp under an outcropping of rock. Perhaps she'd stew them with a little sugar to keep herself warm. She chose the spot because it was shielded from the worst of the wind so she could try building a fire. Sooga followed silently.
"What brings you here? Has something happened?" she asked while gathering twigs and wood to start a fire.
He grabbed some larger logs, placing them over her kindling. "My scouts informed me that there's another Sheikah lurking around the vicinity. Male, lean build-"
"Koro..." Her heart lurched. He'd caught up to her at last.
"I take it you know this person?"
"He's my guard," she muttered glumly. Her would-be jailor too, but Sooga didn't need to know that.
"Impressive that he's managed to follow you all this way."
"He's the best tracker in the village." No doubt, if Koro was this close, it was only a matter of time before he caught up to her. The freedom she so desperately chased was a fleeting, transient wish. A mere dream, and reality would soon catch up to her. "You should call your people off; I don't want any violence."
"If that is your wish."
Now he cared about her wishes? Izuna almost scoffed but busied her hands with starting the fire instead. Anything to ignore the lump in her throat and the dread of seeing Koro again and what that meant for her future. She struck the flint with her trusty dagger, but the sparks did not catch; the kindling remained stubbornly unlit. She glared at it, striking the flint once again. Still nothing. Izuna let out a curse. "You don't have a flame sword or something, do you?"
"I'm afraid not."
She made several more attempts, fighting against her shivers and number fingers, though they too ended in failure. Blinking away frustrated tears, Izuna threw the flint into the snow and put her head in her hands. Why couldn't she do this one simple-?
Sooga reached for the flint and some of the leaves she'd gathered and pulled something out of a small pouch at his waist. "Hold some of the leaves on the flint," he instructed, crouching beside her and showing her how ts thumb pressed some kindling to the rock. "The spark won't burn out as quickly if it can catch onto something close." Crack. Small sparks caught the leaves, singing them. "Blow." Izuna breathed onto the leaves, causing them to glow. Sooga placed them among the other kindling, and she fed them air until a gentle flame latched onto the larger sticks and logs.
They kneeled side by side at the fire and she couldn't tell whether the warmth in her cheeks was his doing, the flames, or her own embarrassment. The fire crackled and snapped. He made it look so easy. Like child's play. "You must think I'm stupid for coming out here alone."
"No," he shook his head, "but I think you're putting yourself through needless hardship."
"I have my reasons." Izuna busied herself by gathering her berries and a small pot, placing it over the fire. Ripping the stems from her wildberries, she tossed them into the pot one by one.
"Mm. Do you also have reasons for your choice in weapon?"
Izuna looked down at the dagger, then back to him. "Eh? What do you mean?"
"May I?" he asked, holding out his hand. She handed him the small blade and resumed her task while he examined it. By the time he handed it back to her, the fire had thawed her hands and feet and the berries were simmering. He cleared his throat. "Where did you get this?"
Izuna rubbed her chin. "I found it a couple years ago. Don't remember where though."
"It doesn't matter where," he waved a dismissive hand. "It's Hylian garbage. I'm surprised it hasn't broken yet," Sooga scoffed with a shake of his head.
She rolled her eyes at him. "Not all of us can wield impressive swords, Sooga. Besides, good weapons are expensive, and I don't have rupees to spare."
He stared pointedly at the sack full of rupees beside her pack. "You're clearly suffering hard times..."
She snorted and poured a small amount of sugar in the pot, stirring until it dissolved. "Ha-ha, but that's not for me. It's my offering to the great fairy."
He hummed. "Speaking of, why have you made camp already? There are many hours of daylight left."
"It's not far now. I'm going to present my offering at nightfall, when the moon is highest."
"The weather is only going to worsen between now and then," he warned.
She shrugged. "Tradition. Each of the fairies prefers to receive their offering at different times. Kaysa wants it during the deepest night, Tera when the sun reaches its peak, Mija when the sun sets, and Cotera when the sun rises." Were it not so cold, she would've waited another whole day, if only to put it off a little longer. She tasted a spoonful of the berries, smiling at the balance of sweetness and tang. "Would you like some?" When he hesitated, she added, "I can turn around while you eat."
He dipped his chin in thanks. "Very well."
She spooned the stewed berries into a cup and a bowl, offering him the bowl and a spare spoon before turning around. The cup warmed her hands while she savored the treat. "Wildberries are my favorite. Merchants rarely carry them to Kakariko so I pick them wherever I can."
"They're good." They ate their snack in silence until Sooga asked, "A while ago, you said rupees are everywhere, if one knows where to look. What did you mean by that?"
She sipped more of her simmered fruit. "It's said the heroes of old used to harvest rupees from the ground. Er... maybe it was the grass." She rubbed her chin. "Doesn't matter - the great fairies just told me that I should look low to find them."
"And yet, you don't have enough to spare for a quality weapon? You can turn around – I've finished."
"I only visit the other three fairies once a year, so I try to make sure they receive an ample offering," she explained, facing him once more. He merely nodded in response. Izuna ran a hand through her hair, wincing as her fingers caught the tangles. The berry bush sure did a number on it. Pulling the ties from her hair loops, she set to fixing the tangled mess.
"Has someone close to you passed away?" he asked quietly.
Her face took on a pinched quality. "Not recently. This is the result of an experiment gone wrong," she grumbled sourly, shuddering. The stench of burning hair was not one she cared to relive. "My friend's sister has a mind for ancient technology and often tinkers with it now that the Hylians have-" she scowled fiercely, "-allowed us to rediscover our heritage. I don't remember what she was trying to do, but it exploded and a few of us suffered burns. My hair was a casualty as well. Only these," she pointed to the longer strands in the front, "were spared. The rest had to be cut off and, well... you can see how it looks."
"It isn't so bad," he said kindly. "Do your healing arts not allow you to grow it back?"
She shook her head. "I tried, but nothing happened." She tied her hair back into the traditional loops, glancing at his ponytail. "I'm curious though – how come none of the Yiga have white hair?"
Sooga warmed his hands by the fire. "Some of us have naturally black hair, but others dye it."
"Why?" She moved to his side to inspect his dark strands. "Do you dye your hair?" He cleared his throat, and she froze, heat creeping up the back of her neck to her face. "F-forgive me, that was rude-"
He waved her off. "I do. Dye my hair, that is."
"Ah." Izuna retreated to her seat, heated flush still in place, wishing the snow would swallow her whole. Sooga sat with her for a short time longer before excusing himself to check on his warriors in the area, but Izuna couldn't help but think she'd upset him. Izuna laid out her bedroll, resolving to try sleeping a little, but rest eluded her as the mortification coupled with her dread of seeing Koro again warred for dominance in her mind.
[Sooga POV]
"Master Sooga, the monster units have been assaulting Rito Village for some days now. They've managed to hold them off but have suffered casualties."
Strong winds nearly blew the kneeling blademaster's words away, but Sooga could understand the gist of it. This assault was costing them. Killing the prospective Rito champion would deal a serious blow to their adversaries, but they were losing incredible numbers to the skilled archers, even if they were only monsters. For this to be worth it, they needed to bag another target. "Keep pressing forward. What about the princess? Has she reached Tabantha yet?"
"Yes. She and her retinue should be nearing the village-"
A footsoldier appeared in a puff of smoke, offering a swift bow before exclaiming, "The Rito and the Hylians are engaged in battle!"
"What?" The Rito and Hylians were allies; why would they be fighting against each other? Especially at a time when unity was critical?
"The Hylians were crossing the Tabantha snowfield when the Rito just started firing on them!"
"In the middle of a blizzard?" the blademaster asked in disbelief.
Sooga's brows rose. That was suicide – the very reason he'd held his forces back from attacking. If the Rito didn't pick them off, then they would surely die from exposure. Astor's plan had involved them engaging with the princess's retinue directly, but if the Rito did their work for them...
"Call back all units. We'll conserve our strength while they weaken each other," he ordered. Astor wouldn't be happy about it – he hated it when they deviated from his plans in any way – but their lives were more important than a flawlessly executed operation. There was little point in serving the calamity if they were all dead before they could reap the fruits of their labors.
Izuna couldn't be around all the time to help them – at least, not until he convinced her to join them. There had to be some way to sway her to their side, but what? She'd looked troubled when he told her of the other Sheikah – Koro, she'd named him. Was she afraid of the consequences of leaving him behind or was there something more?
[Izuna POV]
The high altitude coupled with the low temperature made the steep path to Kaysa's fountain bloom difficult to traverse. Every year, Izuna considered it a miracle she made it at all, because by the time she reached the top, she was wheezing, and her hands and feet were numb. Even so, she couldn't help but sigh in relief this time; Koro was nowhere to be found. Could her luck be turning around? Taking one last look and confirming the area deserted, Izuna steeled herself and stripped out of her clothing, folding it neatly on the ground.
Bare as the day she was born and shivering, she grabbed her sack of rupees, kneeling atop the mushrooms in front of the glowing fountain. It was a blessed night; the full moon's light reflected in the center of the pool, framed by the glow of the fountain's magic. The snow had stopped falling as well, giving her a much-needed respite. Izuna poured every single rupee into the water, reciting the words she'd committed to memory ever since she came of age. "In the name of Goddess Hylia, I humbly make this offering to nourish the land and empower the greatest of fairies."
A booming voice emanating from the fountain responded in kind, "Your devotion shall be rewarded, child of the Sheikah. Enter this spring and accept my blessing."
Izuna set the empty bag aside and stepped into the fountain, trembling from the sharp frigidity. The water burned her skin as she sunk lower, but that only meant she was dangerously cold. She took a deep breath and slipped below the surface, submerging herself fully. Ever since the first time she'd done this, Izuna feared that it would be cold enough one day to freeze, trapping her within the icy depths. Her grandmother had always been there to pull her out if she couldn't do it herself, and Koro had been an unwelcome presence but still available if she needed help. However, she was alone now, and her isolation was never more apparent.
Her lungs were burning by the time a glow encapsulated the fountain, sending a tingling sensation travelling from her hands through the rest of her body. Kaysa's voice emanated from within, her only comfort in the icy depths. "I grant you my renewed blessing in the name of the Goddess Hylia. Rise from my waters."
Izuna broke the surface, gasping for breath. The wind whipped through her hair, freezing the wet strands instantly. Violent tremors wracked her body and her eyes drooped but she forced herself to keep them open while she struggled to climb out. Numb fingers clumsily grasped for purchase on the velvety petals, and she slipped more than once. Finally, Izuna managed to pull herself out, falling into the snow, her back burning against the icy ground. Stiff limbs pushed her upright, shaking as she pulled on her clothes. Once dressed, she huddled atop the petals of the bloom, awaiting the great fairy.
Kaysa rose from the waters with a splash, resplendent and sparkling in the moonlight. "My dear! I haven't seen you for so long – oh my! Your hair! What has happened sweetling?" she exclaimed.
"A-accid-dent..."
"My-my, you're trembling like a leaf. I suppose it is a little chilly out here." Whispering a spell over her, heat gradually warmed Izuna's body from the inside out. She nearly cried from the relief, warm for the first time in several days. "Tell me, my dear, how have you fared since I last saw you?"
She shrugged, moving to sit cross-legged on a large mushroom to avoid the water dripping off the great fairy. "Fine, I guess."
"Oh come now! Tell me of the young man seeking your hand! Why isn't he here?"
"Why should he be?" she said sourly. "I have no intention of marrying him, so there's no need for his presence."
Kaysa cast a mournful gaze down on her. "You know your own heart best, my dear, but be mindful of the perils lying in wait. The world is too dangerous for you to be out on your own without protection; even this pilgrimage is riskier than ever. Were it not vital, I'd advise you to stay where you'd be safe."
"I'm not helpless..." Izuna muttered. "But if it eases your mind, I'm not alone out there. Someone is looking out for me." Even if it was for a self-serving reason, Sooga was watching her back. Or at least, the squad he assigned to stalk her was.
Kaysa smirked. "Does this 'someone' have a name?"
"You wouldn't know him," Izuna replied evasively.
Kaysa let out a booming laugh. "A man? My-my Izuna! You must tell me more!" She leaned in close enough for Izuna to smell the tangy fragrance clinging to the fairy's skin. "Is he the reason your other suitor is not here?" She winked.
Izuna's cheeks flamed scarlet. "It's not like that!" Never mind that Sooga was incredibly built and capable – she hadn't even seen his face! Not to mention, he was only safeguarding his clan's interests. It had nothing to do with her as a person. "We have an arrangement. As thanks for healing his people, he has me protected while I'm on the road. That's all," she added, when Kaysa opened her mouth to speak.
She rested her chin in her hand with a heavy sigh. "How boring." Kaysa stilled, furrowing her brow. "When you say healing them, are you using the gift?"
"...Not always," Izuna mumbled. "I have though..."
"Be careful, sweetling," she said softly, resting a finger on Izuna's shoulder. "The beast lumbers ever nearer to this hallowed land... Listen closely and you'll hear its thundering footsteps bringing our doom. You will need your strength more than ever when it emerges."
A chill that had nothing to do with the snow swept through her and her heart pounded against her ribs. While she couldn't hear the footsteps the fairy spoke of, the attack on Deya Village was proof enough that the forces at work in the world were shifting. "I will."
Izuna retraced her path down from the fountain as dawn peeked over the horizon, only to freeze in tense shock when her eyes fell on the figure blocking her path. Koro stared her down from the road, motionless. Even at that distance, the dark smudges hanging below his bloodshot eyes were evident.
"Izuna..." he breathed, crossing the distance between them and pulling her into a cold embrace, his arms like shackles. She stood with her arms at her sides, unreciprocating. "Thank the goddess you're alright. I searched for you but..." he swallowed, unable to continue.
"I'm fine," she said, stepping out of his arms, ignoring the twinge of guilt over abandoning him. "How did you find me?"
"That's the thing, I didn't. Your trail went cold. I thought you were..." His lips pulled into a troubled frown, and he shook his head. "If you were still alive, I knew you'd be heading here, so I did too."
Sooga mentioned that she'd gone missing for several days... but what how was that possible? "You should have gone home, Koro."
"Even if we weren't getting married, I wouldn't have abandoned you, Izuna. You're too important." Her jaw ticked. "Now," he offered a strained smile, "we need to get going if we're going to make it home before the year's out."
"No."
His smile faded to confusion. "What do you mean 'no?' Don't you need to go to the other-"
"I mean," she cut in firmly, "that you're not coming with me."
"Don't be ridiculous! I was tasked with protecting you – even if you don't want me to."
He took his role far too seriously. "If you were only a guard, I'd accept it because the calamity is coming," she snapped. "But I haven't forgotten what Juba has planned. I'd rather fend for myself in the wilds than be dragged back to Kakariko as your unwilling bride!"
His expression twisted into one of frustration. "You have a duty to the village, Izuna! We all have a role to play, but you put your own selfish desires above the needs of our people – even after all the secrecy to protect you!"
Izuna clenched her fists. How dare he call her selfish after what she lost and what they still expected her to sacrifice. "That was the elders' decision to lie – I was only twelve years old! I shouldn't have to pay for a choice I didn't make!"
He rolled his eyes. "You've benefitted from that decision, Izuna, and are free because of it. That freedom has a cost and now we are calling on you to do your part, as we all must," he explained slowly, as if to a child.
"Gods damn you Koro, why can't you understand that I'm not free?! That I've only exchanged a Hylian master for a Sheikah one!" Her voice cracked as she added, "You're asking too much of me..."
"Too much of you?" Koro scoffed, gaping at her in incredulity. "Have you ever thought about what's being asked of me? Do you think I want to marry a woman who hates me?!"
"You have the power to say no – something I haven't been afforded!" she countered hotly. "I don't want to marry a man I don't love, that I didn't choose!"
"You didn't even give me a chance!" He threw his hands up in exasperation. "And you haven't chosen anyone else either, Izuna! The elders wouldn't care as long as you have children to pass on your family's healing abilities, but you don't think anyone in Kakariko is good enough for you."
"I've had enough of this," she spat, turning on her heel, but Koro grabbed her wrist in a vice grip. The shackles ready to snap shut. "Let go of me!" Before she knew what was happening, her fist connected solidly against his jaw with a loud crack and Koro crumpled in the snow. Izuna cried out and cradled her hand as a wave of throbbing pain overcame her knuckles. Biting her lip hard enough to bleed, she took deep breaths, and focused her energy in the injured hand. The blue glow flickered every so often when the pain became too much, but the break and fractures slowly knitted together until eventually it was good as new.
She let out a sob, gaze drifting down to Koro slumped in the snow. If she left him there, there was a good chance he'd die from exposure. It would serve him right, but Izuna couldn't stomach the idea of shouldering the responsibility for his death. Instead, she hurriedly wrapped him in a blanket from his pack and scurried away. She didn't look back.
Izuna followed the road as fast as she could until she reached the Manhala bridge a couple days later. There would be a stable ahead if she continued along the road, but she couldn't afford to stop. Koro was likely hot on her trail, and he'd be furious if he caught up to her. Instead of continuing straight along the beaten path, she veered off to the right, taking cover in a cluster of trees. They would hide her movement from curious eyes, and if she was lucky, hold rupees for her to harvest as well. She needed to replenish her supply before she reached Tera.
Kneeling low to the ground, Izuna ran her hands over the dirt, pocketing a red rupee that'd been hiding beneath a fern. A groan pulled her from her task, and she found a Yiga footsoldier slumped against a gnarled tree, unmoving. Pocketing her handful of rupees, Izuna ran toward them, falling to her knees at their side and ripping the bindings from their arm to take a pulse. It was steady. With glowing blue hands, she took stock of their injuries. A broken leg, three cracked ribs, and a burn... from electricity? The ribs would need to be dealt with first; if they broke and punctured something internal, they would be done for. Sweat beaded at her brow as she began the painstaking work of knitting together flesh and bone.
"Healer..." a familiar voice groaned, grabbing her wrist tightly. "You need to get out of here-"
Her brows rose. "Mito, is that you? What happened?" she asked, gently prying his fingers off with shaking hands. Relying on the ancient arts had taken too much out of her and she hadn't set his leg yet. They would have to make do with a splint and allow it to heal naturally.
"Yes but there's no time – there's a lynel!" Mito hissed, glancing around furtively. "I was trying to head it off, but-"
"Where are your comrades? Is anyone else hurt?" If a lynel was roaming about, they would be safest in greater numbers. The fearsome beasts were notorious for hunting and brutally murdering their prey, oftentimes for sport rather than necessity.
Mito clenched his fists, looking down. "They... They're fine," he muttered bitterly.
That didn't sound good. "You sound upset. Did you guys have a fight?" she asked, searching the brush for a straight-enough stick to use as a splint. The bindings on his arms would have to suffice to secure it to his leg.
"You could say that," he mumbled. "But you don't need to worry about them-gah!" he cried out when she tightened the first set of bindings around his calf.
"Give me the wrappings from your other arm," she ordered. He handed them to her, wincing while she finished her work. The second splint took longer as the trembling in her hands had worsened, and her head had started pounding. That's what she got for overdoing it but there no time to rest. Rising on unsteady legs, Izuna covertly leaned against the tree. "If there's a lynel in the area, I need to get to high ground to see where it's gone. And you," she looked into his mask pointedly, "need to go home."
"But-!"
"Your leg is broken; the best you'd be able to do is get killed."
He gulped. "If I must sacrifice myself-"
"Then that would be a waste of your life," Izuna said gently. "Go home at once. I won't have you die for me."
He hesitated and she feared he wouldn't listen. She sighed with great relief when when he finally formed the hand sign to transport himself. Time to get moving.
[Sooga POV]
Sooga blocked Toki's jab and grabbed his arm, swinging the shorter blademaster over his shoulder and slamming him into the ground. Just as Izuna promised, his subordinate had recovered and regained his health thanks to the great fairy tears. However, his affliction had left him weakened in body; he would not be able to return to the active mission roster until he had regained peak fitness.
"You left yourself open again; you know better than to give the enemy an opportunity to strike."
Toki let out a wheezing laugh. "I doubt anyone, but you could toss me like that, Master Sooga."
That was probably true, but a smaller, more agile opponent could exploit that weakness in his defense and deal a mortal blow from which there would be no saving him. And after the Rito and Hylians joined forces, their enemies had only grown stronger. They could not afford to leave their survival to chance. "On your feet. We will run through it again until-"
He was interrupted by a soldier collapsing in a heap in the practice circle. "M-master Sooga! You need to hurry!"
"What happened, Mito?" he demanded, looking over the footsoldier with a critical eye. His leg was wrapped in a crude splint and part of his uniform had burned away, though no wound remained.
"A lynel – I was drawing it away from the healer, but I wasn't fast enough. She's still in danger-!"
"What of the others? Are they with her now?" If they were still alive, that would buy them some time-
Mito shook his head, voice shaking with anger. "They abandoned her."
Toki jumped to his feet. "They what?!"
Sooga clenched his teeth, forcing deep, slow breaths. He hadn't expected such cowardice – not from Akari's unit. What was she thinking, disobeying a direct order? Izuna wouldn't stand a chance – impressive technique aside. Lynels were tricky beasts to deal with, even for his strongest warriors. "Where is she?" he growled, voice dangerously low. Every second wasted was one in which Izuna's life hung in the balance.
[Izuna POV]
Izuna found herself at the apex of the hill amidst a settlement. If anyone had heard anything about a lynel, a village at this vantage point would be her best bet. But when she arrived, it was abandoned... She knocked on a few doors and peered into windows, but no one was home. Skirting around the buildings, she came across a door hanging ajar. It wasn't her way to enter another's home without permission, but she reasoned that doing so might give her clues as to where they'd all gone. Besides, if there was a lynel in the area, someone might need her help.
It was dark in the dwelling, and she hugged the walls, stepping lightly, her footsteps and soft breaths the only sounds in the house. Izuna suspected no one was here either. "Hello?" she called out softly. No response. Her foot nudged something solid. She kneeled, reaching out and squinting to get a better look at the object. She gasped when her hand touched flesh. "Are you alright?" she whispered, shaking their shoulder. No answer. Their skin was warm to the touch when she pressed her fingers against their neck. No pulse. They had died recently, and she had a sinking suspicion that whatever killed them was still nearby.
Hoofbeats clacked against the cobbles outside, freezing Izuna in place. The silhouette of a monster she'd only encountered in books darkened the window, peering inside. She held her breath. Lynels were endowed with keen senses, not least of which their hearing and sense of smell, but could they see in the dark? It moved away from the window. A shuddering sigh escaped her lips.
The beast gave a mighty roar, and in a scant few seconds, had bludgeoned the side of the house, sending splinters and wood chips ricocheting all around. She covered her head, crying out when a few lodged in her arms.
"Izuna run!"
She gasped, whipping around to find Koro at the entrance of the village. The monster roared again, its wrathful gaze alternating between the two Sheikah. Stumbling to her feet, Izuna ducked under one of the house's fallen supports, hopping through a broken window. She broke into a sprint, the movement ripping one of the larger wood pieces from her arm, but she paid it no mind. Her breaths came out in uneven pants as she weaved between the houses, throwing fearful glances behind. Koro had drawn his bow, training it on the lynel chasing close behind her. Tears burned her eyes. Those arrows would not be enough to bring the beast down. Sooner or later, it would catch her. A stitch tore at her side and she tripped over a tree root, crashing painfully into the dirt at the edge of a steep drop. There was nowhere left to run. The lynel slowed its pace to a trot, halting in front of her and releasing a triumphant roar. It drew its enormous metal club. Izuna squeezed her eyes shut. It was over-
There was an explosion and a clash of metal on metal. Her eyes flashed open to the sight of Sooga parrying its blow, both swords drawn. Koro ran up behind the beast, using the distraction to his advantage, hopping onto its back and driving his sword deep into its gut. Sooga raised his blades in a defensive posture, retreating to her side. The lynel stumbled back. "Are you harmed-"
"Get away from her!" Koro bellowed. The wounded lynel reached back and yanked the Sheikah warrior by his pack, throwing him to the ground and returning its hateful gaze to whom it deemed the bigger threat.
Izuna opened her mouth to reply, but the monster reared back, fire building in its maw. "Look out!"
Sooga's head whipped around, wasting no time in wrapping an arm around her waist, jerking her against him and leaping away. Fire jettisoned where they'd been seconds earlier. Koro wasn't as quick and his pack ignited. He threw it off, sprinting toward them. "Izuna!"
In one swift motion, Sooga threw her over his shoulder, setting off down the steep hill at a run. With every step, her ribs collided against his shoulder, sending painful jolts through her midsection and knocking the air from her lungs. At the top of the hill, the lynel drew its bow, nocking three yellow-tipped arrows. Her heart lurched.
"Shock arrows!" she gasped, smacking his shoulder. "Sooga!"
The arrows descended as if in slow motion; despite his speed, there was no way he could outrun them. They weren't going to make it! At the last second, Sooga dropped low, sliding down the hillside. The arrows sailed safely above them, too high up to be a threat. With his free hand, he drew one of his swords, digging it into the earth to slow their descent, grunting from the strain. Then they were airborne. Izuna's stomach dropped, and she slid back, struggling to find purchase. His grip tightened around her waist; she wrapped her legs around him and clung tightly. He landed on his feet with a heavy thud, sheathing his sword and setting off at a run toward a shallow cave beneath an outcropping of rock. Some shrubbery nearby provided additional cover. Koro was nowhere to be seen.
Ducking below the overhang, Sooga wedged himself, Izuna in tow, into the hiding spot, chest heaving rapidly. There was hardly enough room for them both and she ended up sandwiched between him and the rock behind her, straddling his lap. Sagging against his chest, she let out a breathless sob. She'd be dead were it not for him, that much was certain.
With the adrenaline of the chase wearing off, her wounds made themselves known, stinging and throbbing. Izuna pulled her arms back and removed the remaining pieces of wood from her flesh with a wince and dropped them onto the ground. Healing Mito had taken too much of her energy, leaving her unable to use the healing arts on herself. Any attempt at this level of exhaustion was asking for trouble. First aid would have to suffice. Gingerly, she reached into her pack, pulling out alcohol and a roll of bandages.
"Hold these for me," she whispered, handing him the roll. She poured a generous amount of the alcohol, hissing at the burn, and replaced it in her pack. Unwrapping the bandages, she bound the wounds, tying them off with a secure knot. She did the same with the other arm and tucked the remainder in her pack. Her legs ached from running and clinging to him, and Izuna shifted, stretching to alleviate the discomfort. Sooga made a noise of discomfort and heat creeped up her neck. She bit her lip and tried to put space between them. If Koro found her in his lap, there would be trouble-
"Be still," he rasped, gripping her waist to hold her in place. She gasped softly, lips parting, and his fingers tightened. Coupled with the fear of the lynel finding them, the sensation was dizzying.
"Sorry," she breathed, trying to get ahold of herself. "H-how did you know where find me?"
"Mito."
Obviously. Izuna could have smacked herself. Who else could have told him she was in peril? "His leg needs to be-"
He shushed her. "A problem for another time. What I want to know is how you managed to wander into a lynel's territory."
She scowled. "I didn't do it on purpose. I've never seen a lynel attack a settlement. I was only trying to get to higher ground so I could avoid it."
Sooga let out a frustrated sigh. "Isn't your guard a tracker? He should have seen the signs."
"He might've if I hadn't knocked him out." Izuna averted her eyes, busying her hands straightening her shawl.
"You knocked-" He shook his head. "Never mind. Now's not the time."
"Is it still looking for us?" she breathed.
"Assuredly."
"Won't it sniff us out?" Her hands gripped the belts on his chest. "We can't stay here, Sooga-"
"Calm yourself. I am gathering energy to transport us, but I can't do that if we're running for our lives."
"But that's impossible – I've never heard of anyone able to transport two people-"
Sooga pried her hands off the belts and squeezed them firmly. "Trust me."
She glanced at their joined hands and her stomach fluttered. He was claiming the impossible and if he was wrong, or if he failed, they would die. And yet, he hadn't given her a reason not to trust his abilities, not that she had much of a choice at this point. It wasn't like she could outrun a lynel if it set its sights on her. Neither could he. "Why is the it attacking you? Aren't you on the same side?"
"Lynels live for the hunt and will attack anything given the opportunity."
Izuna gulped. "So, if you're not safe from Calamity Ganon's monsters, what was the Yiga clan promised in exchange for their loyalty?"
"Lord Ganon seeks the destruction of our enemies," he muttered shortly.
"The enemy of your enemy is your friend?"
"To put it simply."
"But what about after? What if you succeed?
"That's up to Master Kohga," he replied absently, "but I assume we will serve Lord Ganon in any way we're required. Why?"
Izuna was unable to imagine the violent beast requiring the Yiga for anything more than a light snack. If there were any left, that is. "You think you'll be able to survive?"
He tensed. "Of course. The Yiga are strong-"
"I know that," she interrupted, "but what about the damage done to the land? It's said that every time Ganon returns, the land suffers the most. Infestations of monsters, poisoned water, soil like salt. Where will you find food? Nothing can thrive in that kind of devastation..."
"We're taking measures to ensure our survival."
The best measure would be ensuring that such measures weren't necessary in the first place, but she wasn't about to tell him that. "I hope it's enough. Famine and starvation would be a bitter 'reward' for your service."
"And what of your reward?" he groused. "What have the Hylians promised the Sheikah this time? Letting you play with the relics of the past?"
"No clue and I don't care," she snapped. "To the royal family, we're nothing more than tools to mistreat, then toss away like trash when they no longer need us." The king never considered that he ought to compensate them for their servitude and their sacrifices – certainly not her family, who'd died thanks to his selfishness.
Heavy hoofbeats and a rumbling growl close by yanked Izuna from her bitter thoughts, and her breath hitched. The lynel had followed them down the hill. Where was Koro? Had he...? No, she had to believe that he made the smart decision and escaped. She glanced fearfully at Sooga as the stomping grew louder. The beast was almost upon them, and there was nowhere to run. Her lip trembled. "What do we do?" she mouthed. The lynel gave a deafening roar just outside their hiding place, turning her blood to ice.
"I can get us out of here," Sooga said, his voice barely a whisper. "Hold on tight." Izuna snaked her arms around his neck and his wrapped around her waist, hands forming the transportation seal. She clenched her eyes shut, burying her face into his shoulder. The low roar of flames cut through the foliage, but the heat was only intense for a second before smoke and tags erupted around them.