[Izuna POV]

They landed with a splash in a deep pond atop a cliff overlooking the Gerudo Desert. Izuna held her breath while he pulled them up, gasping when they surfaced. Arms and legs still wrapped around him as he treaded water, she stared at Sooga wide-eyed and breathlessly whispered, "You saved us..."

Izuna let out a whoop of joy and pressed a kiss to the mask where his cheek would be. Sooga made a noise of surprise, but she paid it no mind, caught up in the exhilaration of being alive. Not even the chill of the wind whipping at her hair, or the cold water dampened her spirits. She had lived to see the dawn.

[Sooga POV]

Sooga blinked, mouth opening in shock. Her exuberant laughter echoed around them, giving their position away to potential enemies nearby; and yet, he couldn't find it within himself to hush her. That had been a close call – too close. What if Mito had found him a few minutes later? He didn't want to consider the outcome. He waded to the shore, ignoring the sensation of her legs around his waist. Climbing out of the water, he set her on her feet, pointedly looking out toward the desert.

"Sooga?" Izuna moved into his sight, concern shining in her slate irises. "Are you hurt?"

Only his pride and trust in his warriors. He clenched his fist. "I owe you an apology."

"What for?"

Naturally, she was ignorant of their failure. The others had undoubtedly stayed out of sight, allowing Izuna to move directly into danger's path. He bowed low at the waist. "My soldiers were honor-bound to protect you, yet they deserted you when you needed them. Your life was put at risk because of their cowardice. There is no excuse for such disgraceful-"

Fingertips delicately pulled his head up to meet her understanding gaze. "Mito tried, and you..." she said softly, "You came for me."

"Yes," he murmured. "He alerted me to the danger you were in." But it was Akari who had led the team – it would have been by her order that the others abandoned their posts. Only Mito's insubordination had saved her life.

"That was kind of him. I wish I could've set his leg properly." She slumped. "I'll need to see him soon to ensure it heals right."

Sooga straightened to his full height. "He is resting at the hideout. It would be in his best interest for you to go there to treat him," he remarked, keeping his tone light. He could easily summon Mito, but would Izuna be willing to see to his people in their own territory?

She bit her lip, drawing his gaze downward to the plump flesh. "I guess I could do that..."

Sooga looked away, clearing his throat. "I can escort you there."

"Are you sure you're not too busy? I still need to give an offering to the great fairy in the desert."

"I assure you; I can make the time."

"Alright..." A breeze rolled in, and a shiver wracked her frame. "Though, I need to let my clothes dry before I get sick," she mumbled, cheeks coloring a charming rosy hue. "Can you turn around?"

He inclined his head, granting her the privacy she desired, and took a seat at the edge of the cliff to look out onto the desert. Depending on how far she needed to go, he could be away for mere hours or days. Sooga attempted to prioritize the tasks he would need to accomplish upon his return to the hideout, but with every swish of fabric, his mind returned to the woman behind him. Her waist in his hands. The swell of her breasts pressed against him. Her damnable fidgeting. Had it been so long since he'd lain with a woman that such simple things could drive him to distraction?

A splash behind him had Sooga whipping around and scanning the area for threats. No Hylians or Gerudo. No monsters. Her clothes drying atop rocks nearby in the sun, but no Izuna. Several seconds passed with no sign of her surfacing and his stomach dropped like a stone and he untied his swords –

Izuna surfaced with a splash, pumping her fist in the air. "Yes!" she cheered, wearing a resplendent smile, though it faltered when her gaze landed on him. "What are you doing?"

He scowled. "I thought you were drowning."

"Oh. No, I'm okay..." Finding her elation once again, she beamed at him. "There are tons of rupees down here!"

A sigh escaped his lips. What a handful. Izuna swam to the bank, pulling herself out of the water. She wore a blue backless tunic in similar fashion to other Sheikah, and her undergarments. He swallowed. Droplets slid down creamy legs as she stood, moving toward her pack and tucking the money away. She glanced at him, face and neck turning as red as a spicy pepper. "Turn around!"

With more difficulty than he was proud to admit, he returned to his perch facing the desert. Her legs were strong and toned. They would feel delectable, wrapped around his – he groaned, dropping his head in his hands. That was it. Once he had a moment to himself, he would find a willing partner to relieve his lust. Until then, meditation would have to do.

Sooga took deep breaths through his nose, letting them out through his mouth. In addition to the added benefit of clearing his mind, meditation was the surest, fastest way to gather energy. Though whether it would be enough remained to be seen. He had never performed another sidelong transportation after such a short resting period, but all the better to push the limits of his ability. He never would have gotten to where he was if he didn't push himself. There was another splash, but this time, he did not turn around, focusing instead on gathering his energy. With any luck, he would be able to take her where she needed to go.

The sun moved higher in the sky, bringing with it a hint of the heat boiling the desert below. Light footsteps approached. A hand on his shoulder. "Sooga?" He turned; Izuna was dressed in her now-dry clothes. Her jacket, similar in style to other Sheikah was instead a deep navy, accented by beige, and bound with a red obi. "I'm going to head down the cliffs to look for more rupees."

"What happened to what you had a few days ago?" He hadn't forgotten the incredible wealth she was lugging around; that sack had been brimming with money.

"That was only one offering. I usually don't carry that many around, but it's harder to find the more valuable ones around Kakariko."

He sighed and pulled out his wallet. "How much more do you need?" It would be worth the loss of pay if it meant they could get going. He didn't fancy standing around while she scrounged about.

Izuna raised a brow, eyeing him skeptically. "Really, there's no need-"

"How much?" he pressed.

"A thousand."

"Hah?" was the unbecoming sound that escaped his lips; had he heard her correctly? A thousand rupees? Short of robbing travelers on the road, there was no way they'd manage to find such a large sum in a day. "You're joking." There wasn't a hint of humor in her countenance.

Izuna sat next to him, bringing the scent of herbs and lemon. It was pleasant, not too sweet nor too earthy. Relaxing. "Not at all. But I couldn't accept your money, even if you had that much on hand. They're not so difficult to find and I'd rather not owe you. I'll just look around some more if you can wait a little longer."

"As you wish." Sooga returned to his meditation, but it was a difficult task. Every sound she made continually pulled his attention back to her. Emotions played clearly across her face, from frustration as she jumped to grab a rupee wedged in the cliffside, to triumph when she snagged it at last. His lips quirked. Hers would be an amusing presence to have around the hideout, if only he could convince her to stay.

Izuna made one last cursory scan around the area and shouldered her pack, wandering over and plopping herself down beside him with a sigh. "I think that's everything. We should get going."

"Where are we headed?"

"The Gerudo Great Skeleton. We'll need to hurry so Koro doesn't catch up."

"If he's still alive." Her face paled. He'd been left to the mercy of the lynel; though wounded, it would still prove a challenge to escape from.

"He's determined and resourceful," she insisted. "I'm sure he got away..."

"Even if he did, there's no way for him to follow a trail that does not exist."

Izuna wrapped her arms around herself, gripping the fabric of her shawl tightly. "He doesn't need to track me to know where I'm headed. I can't..." she swallowed, "I can't afford to let him find me."

Sooga frowned. "If he's supposed to be your guard, why are you so determined to run from him?"

"Let's just say things won't look so good for me if he catches up with us."

"Because I'm Yiga?"

"That too," she shrugged. "It's complicated."

He waited for her to elaborate, but she didn't. Running from her guard was suspicious enough, but her reticence to explain why was more so. "Then we have no time to lose." he said at last. She visibly relaxed. Whatever she was hiding, he would get to the bottom of it in time. "As it happens, I've been to the skeleton you speak of; I will transport you there." He had visited it once, briefly, though there was nothing there that even remotely resembled a fountain.

He stood and held his hand out to her, pulling her to her feet. Sooga formed a hand sign and smoke exploded around them. When it cleared, they were standing below the skeleton of what was once a creature of immense size. Black spots invaded his vision and a sudden light-headedness washed over him. The dunes shifted below his feet with every breath, and he leaned against one of the bones to steady himself, clutching her hand. Though they were shaded from the sun, the heat at the peak of day made the air stifling and thick.

"Uh, Sooga? Where-?" Izuna looked up to him, only for concern to overshadow her befuddlement. "What's wrong?"

His tongue was heavy in his mouth and his ears rang. He slid to the ground with a grunt, taking her with him, and slumped against the bones. Izuna stumbled, landing between his knees with a thump. Sooga released her hand. "A-apologies."

She ran glowing blue fingertips over his chest then up to his temples, leaving a cooling sensation wherever they trailed. Sooga let out a shuddering sigh. Compared to the unforgiving heat, the sensation was sublime. But like all good things, it was gone too soon as the light flickered out. Izuna cursed.

"I don't understand... There's nothing physically wrong-"

Sooga shook his head, though his vision swam with the motion. He closed his eyes, inhaling and exhaling slowly. "I need to rest," he mumbled. Apparently, it was not a matter of simply meditating to accumulate energy for a second transport. He'd have to recover while she made her offering, but after that, they would need to travel on foot until he was certain he could transport her again safely.

"I hope that's all." She looked around them, wearing a pensive frown. "At any rate, you'll have plenty of time to relax. We can't move until it gets cooler."

"Move?" His brows furrowed. "You said your fountain was-"

"At the Gerudo Great Skeleton, yes. This skeleton, while massive," she remarked dryly, "is not it."

His stomach churned. The wrong one? How many enormous skeletons were there in this gods-forsaken desert? "Where is it, then?" he demanded.

She turned, peering around the area. "That looks like Gerudo Town there... that means we need to continue southwest from here."

Sooga wanted to hit something. "What a blunder," he grumbled.

Izuna smiled at him. "It's okay. This gives me more time to search for rupees while you rest anyway." A shadow of worry washed over her features, and she gripped his hand. "Are you sure you'll be alright?"

He softened. Her concern was touching, and he gave her hand a gentle squeeze. "I'll be fine, Izuna." Her eyes crinkled as her smile returned and his breath hitched. Sooga cleared his throat and released her hand. "You should start searching. I'm not going anywhere."

Finding rest was a struggle; the heat was nearly unbearable, even in the shade, so he took to watching her instead. Other than staying out of the sun, she seemed unaffected by the high temperatures as she flitted about. He swallowed; his throat was dry. Thanks to his miscalculation, he had no food or water for the journey and no way to return to get any until he'd recovered. What a blunder indeed. Eventually his eyes slipped shut, lulled into drowsiness. He prayed to the gods the fountain was not far.

As a matter of fact, Sooga would come to find out that the Gerudo Great Skeleton was incredibly far away from their initial position. By the time he awoke, the sun had descended low in the sky, barely peeking over the cliffs surrounding the desert. The ringing in his ears had died down, as had his unsteady vision. His thirst, however, had only increased but he couldn't bring himself to ask her for water. He would endure the consequences of his mistake in silence. The embroidered eye on the back of her shawl bored into him as if in judgement, but that could've been the dehydration talking.

Izuna lead the way over the dunes, following a path only she seemed to know. Not for the first time, he marveled at this small Sheikah woman. She veered off in different directions, finding treasure chests and rupees in the unlikeliest places, as if in possession of a sense that granted her knowledge of such things. No matter how off-course she led them, she did not waver and managed to return them due southwest.

Only when the moon had reached its zenith did she break the silence. "I was wondering... What's the deal with mighty bananas? You guys picked a lot of them in Faron."

"It's food, Izuna," he replied, half teasing, voice raspy from disuse and dehydration. "They're an excellent source of nutrition and we have many mouths to feed."

"Judging by the number you picked, you eat them in excess." She halted her movement to look back at him with wide eyes. "Wait, don't tell me that's why you're all so big?"

He chuckled. "They do aid in growth and muscle development." There was more to it than that, of course. To use any of the esoteric arts, even the simpler ones his footsoldiers performed, they needed foods with exceptional nutritional value. Mighty bananas happened to be the most delicious of the acceptable foods. Sooga furrowed his brow; shouldn't she know that, given her frequent use of ancient healing techniques?

Her eyes roved over his form in horrified appreciation; her blatant appraisal sending a twinge to his groin. "Uh-huh," Izuna muttered distractedly. "You must've eaten a lot of them."

He snorted but did not dignify her comment with a response.

[Izuna POV]

Although Izuna's legs burned from the effort of walking on the sand for so long, the satisfaction of closing the distance between herself and her destination was a good feeling. Even so, her eyes drooped as the morning sun peaked over the horizon. Between searching for rupees and keeping an eye on Sooga, she hadn't slept in more than a day and a half. Seeing the stoic Yiga general so out of sorts had shaken her. It didn't look like heat stroke, but she could've missed something given her exhaustion. Luckily, the rest did him good and he was back to his usual unflappable self.

She slowed her pace when the ruins of Dragons Exile came into view. Despite her meandering, they had made excellent time. Izuna set her pack against one of the stone pillars and pulled out her waterskin, drinking deeply. She glanced at Sooga who'd taken a seat in the shade of the tallest pillar. Unless he had done so covertly, he had neither eaten nor drunk anything since rescuing her from the lynel. He was bound to be dehydrated. Given his lack of supplies, he probably didn't have any water of his own. Why hadn't he said anything?

"Here," she said, pushing the waterskin into his hands before turning around to rummage through her pack for something to eat. "Are you hungry?" There were a few strips of dried meat from a deer she'd hunted, dried fruit and nuts, and a fresh hydromelon she'd picked amid the dunes. The waterskin moved back into her field of vision.

"I won't deplete your supplies-"

Izuna scowled at him. "Dehydration kills, no matter how strong you are."

"I am aware. You need this more than I-"

"Sooga. I insist," she said firmly. Izuna turned to give him privacy, grateful when she heard him open the waterskin. He could be so stubborn. What was wrong with accepting what was freely given? She ignored the niggling sense of hypocrisy. Accepting water to save one's life was different than accepting protection when it was unnecessary.

"Thank you..." He cleared his throat. "How much further is the skeleton?"

"Not far. You'll be able to see it at the top of that dune." She took a bite of her melon slice and gestured ahead of them. The light flavor was refreshing, and true to its name, it was full of water. They watched the sunrise in comfortable silence, moving every so often to follow the shade around the pillar. She slipped in and out of consciousness, lulled to sleep by the heat and her exhaustion.

Izuna awoke late afternoon, surrounded by the scent of spice and musk. Unwilling to open her eyes, she snuggled into the firm pillow at her side, nuzzling her cheek against it. Just a little longer.

"You're going to get a sunburn if we don't move."

Her eyes flashed open, finding the inverted eye staring down at her. Izuna sprang away from his side, spewing apology after apology and blushing in mortification. He only chuckled and they shuffled into the shade once more. The shadows were much longer now. Had she truly slept the day away?

Sooga cleared his throat. "I'd like to ask you a personal question, if you'll permit me." She nodded. "You say you have your reasons for healing my clansmen, but what of the Hylians? The Sheikah are sworn to serve, yet you speak of them in anger. I need to know where your loyalties lie before I risk trusting you with knowledge of our hideout."

It hadn't occurred to Izuna that tending to Mito directly meant she would be setting foot in a place even the most skilled Sheikah spies had been unable to uncover. It was a huge leap in trust beyond simply seeking her out for medical treatment. This was their home. "I'll be honest, I don't support your cause to revive the demon. It's a mistake that'll cost lives, including yours. But," she bit her lip, "I hold no love for the royal family."

Sooga tilted his head to the side. "Why?"

"Isn't their obvious mistreatment of our people reason enough?" she grumbled.

"Considering the majority of Sheikah still support them, I'd have to say no."

Fair enough. How easily they forgave and forgot the crimes committed against them. Even Impa groveled at their feet, hoping one day to improve their people's lives through acts of service to the oppressor holding their face in the mud. Though, perhaps it behooved her to do so for when the time came for her to don the chief's hat. Izuna, however, could not bring herself to do it. She could never forgive no matter how much time passed. "My family died because of them."

He shifted uncomfortably. "What happened?"

Izuna couldn't suppress the memories of unseeing glassy eyes and the choking stench of death. The burning in her own lungs as she waited to die with the rest of her family. "Plague was ravaging the capitol and the king thought it prudent to send emissaries to our home with summons for my grandmother to tend the royal household," she said with no small measure of disdain. "She left at once. Within days, my parents fell ill. Then me. Then my sister, Azumi." She let out a shuddering sigh. "Even after word was sent that we were afflicted and other Sheikah families sickened, the king would not allow her to return to us until he was satisfied the danger had passed. But by then, the illness had progressed to such severity that we'd been confined to our home." To die was left unsaid.

Warning: Description of illness, death

[Flashback]

Izuna moaned, clutching her blanket tightly around her, shivering despite the balmy night. Sweat soaked her back as she fought the nausea roiling in her belly. Beside her, Azumi coughed into a cloth, deep red droplets staining the light fabric. Izuna cracked her eyes open to check on their parents, but she could see very little in their shadowy home. The twelve-year old had not heard them shift about or even cough for hours. "Azumi?" she mumbled weakly, grabbing her sister's hand.

"Wha-what?" the older girl wheezed before coughing violently into the cloth again.

Izuna struggled into a sitting position, rubbing her eyes to dispel the blurriness. Her sister was pale and gaunt, having lost much of her weight in a short time. Her long snowy hair hung limp down her back and her bright ruby eyes had lost their luster. Izuna bit her lip, tears welling in her eyes. "I'm gonna check on ma and pa..."

Azumi shook her head. "Grandmother... told us to," she coughed, "to wait for her... return."

"But she's taking too long..." Izuna swallowed, glancing at the door, begging her grandmother would walk through bearing the blessed medicine they needed. It was too risky for anyone other than the village's blessed healer to set foot in a plague house, as the villagers had taken to calling them. The only reason Izuna knew of any of the gossip was because Impa would trek up the hill where their house stood and shared what she'd heard. Evidently, several other families had taken sick as well, even her father, the chief. Some claimed it was divine punishment, though for what she couldn't guess. Others speculated it was a portent of evil's return. Izuna knew better though. The Hylians had shared their misery with them, plain and simple. All she could hope for was that Azumi would be alright. She would give anything, even her own medicine.

"Just... wait, Izuna."

Their parents had been too quiet, and Izuna could wait no longer to check on them. The coughing had kept all of them from resting, and her sister hadn't taken a deep breath in days. Every wheeze broke her heart. Izuna had a cough of her own, but it hadn't progressed to the same severity the rest of her family's had. Yet. It was only a matter of time, but if her parents were finally sleeping well, their luck might be turning around.

Gingerly placing her bare feet on the polished wood floor, Izuna leaned against the wall, bracing herself as her legs shook. The nausea returned with a vengeance, and she vomited the meager bread she had eaten earlier.

"Izuna... are you alright?" Azumi rasped, moaning as she tried pushing herself up, only to fall back onto her pillow. Relentless hacking coughs erupted from her throat, and tears streamed down her sister's once-beautiful face.

"I'll be right back... just rest, okay?" Izuna mumbled, wiping her mouth on her sleeve, uncaring of the vomit soiling her clothes. Weeks ago, she would have been disgusted, but she could no longer muster even a sliver of vanity in her weakened state. Step by step, Izuna inched closer to her parent's bedside, each laborious movement making a mockery of her previous health.

At last, she reached them and squinted through the dimness, stifling a sob with her hand. Her mother stared at the ceiling through milky eyes, cheeks and lips sunken in the beginnings of decomposition. Her father was much the same, but his eyes, bless the goddess, were closed. In that moment, Izuna could find little gratitude in her heart that her illness kept her from smelling the decay that surely polluted the room. All she could muster was grief. Then rage. What had they done to deserve this? Why did the emissary come to them if he was sick? Did he not know? How could the Hylians they were bound to serve do this to them?

"H-how are... they?"

Izuna stiffened, scrubbing her tears away. She couldn't tell her the truth; Azumi had been holding onto the hope they would all get through this. She was convinced, and there was no way Izuna could crush her with the truth that they were orphaned... it would be cruel to burden her prematurely. The truth would reveal itself when their grandmother returned. "Th-they... look better. They're sleeping."

Azumi let out a shallow sigh, taking a shaky breath. "That's a relief... Come back... to bed."

Taking a deep breath, interrupted only by a small cough, Izuna shuffled back to her sister, unable to process that her parents were beyond reach. At least they still had each other. As her eyes closed beside Azumi, she prayed to the goddess that her grandmother would come for them.

Violent coughs awoke Izuna the next morning, leaving her breathless and dizzy. Curling up beside her sister again, she reached for Azumi's hand only to find it cold and limp. Her eyes snapped open, and she peered at her sister in the morning light. Azumi's eyes were shut as if in sleep, but her chest had ceased its struggle for breath.

"No... no no no no," Izuna sobbed, the words leaving her lips in desperate breathy wheezes. Her throat closed as the panic and fear set in. This couldn't be happening. "Azumi... no-please-"

The door to their home creaked open, darkened by her grandmother's silhouette. The old woman took in the scene, her heartbreak visible only for a moment before she plastered her "healer" face on and strode to her only remaining relative's bedside, clutching medicine in her weathered hands. "Oh Izuna," she murmured softly. Izuna's breaths came out in short sputtering gasps.

Izuna shook her head, tangled white hair falling limply around her face. "No... Azumi – she-she's-!"

Her grandmother cupped her cheek, peering mournfully into her eyes. "No child, nothing more can be done for Azumi. The great fairy Cotera has blessed this medicine and now you must drink." Hot tears spilled over her cheeks anew, but Izuna gulped down the pungent medicine, gasping at the cooling sensation. For the first time in over a week, she inhaled deeply with nary a cough or wheeze. "Forgive me child... I was too late..."

[/End Flashback]

"The blessed medicine made me well enough for my grandmother to get me to the fairy's spring. Otherwise, I likely still would have died, same as the rest of my family," Izuna explained dully. And she would have wanted to. For the longest time, she'd harbored resentment against her grandmother for leaving them behind, for being too late to save Azumi with the gift. But at her age, there was no guarantee she'd have had enough life essence to accomplish such a feat anyway.

"There is little comfort for such a loss, but I am sorry you suffered," he murmured.

"It would be one thing if this was a simple matter of the bitter fruit we all must endure," she said quietly. "Life isn't fair. But the king summoned my grandmother out of paranoia. As if the royals would ever commune with the common people and risk getting sick." Izuna glared into the sand. "The Hylians see us as expendable. As far as I'm concerned, the king murdered my sister and parents."

"Have they summoned you in that manner?"

"No, and they never will."

"How can you be sure?"

Izuna averted her eyes. "I know your people think we're the Hylians' lapdogs, but many Sheikah, including the chief, died because the king took my grandmother away when we needed her most, and the rest of my family was too sick to help. Because of that..." she took a deep breath, clutching her shawl to stop the shaking in her hands. Was it wise to tell him? It was unlikely that he – or any Yiga for that matter – would have occasion to betray her secret, but she had been living with it for so long that telling it was nigh unthinkable.

"You can trust me, Izuna." Sooga placed his hand over hers and squeezed.

Her cheeks warmed and it had nothing to do with the sun. She nodded and took another deep breath. "My people told the king the rest of my family had died, including me. With only my grandmother left and no apparent heir to our gift, there would be no one to swear fealty."

"And if you're ever discovered?"

She let out a bitter laugh. "I doubt they'd put me to death, but it won't be good. The king didn't take kindly to the news that our line was wiped out; he'll probably do something drastic if he learns my people lied to him."

"If your situation is so dire, why run from your guard at every turn?"

Izuna pulled her knees to her chest. "Because I'd rather be caught by the Hylians than be dragged back to Kakariko for what's in store for me. The elders intend for me to marry Koro when I return home."

Sooga's grip tightened. "An arranged marriage? You're of age, are you not?"

"I am, but the elders are of the mind that it's my duty to the village. That I owe it to them," she snarled, recalling what Koro said in Tabantha.

"What will you do?"

"I have to complete my pilgrimage by the winter solstice, but after... I haven't thought that far ahead," she mumbled, pulling her lip between her teeth.

Sooga shifted his weight, glancing at her. "You could stay with us while you decide."

She recalled Akari's violent hatred toward her. "I doubt your people would accept a Sheikah in their midst." If there were others like her, staying with the Yiga for any length of time could prove fatal.

"I would not allow you to be harmed, that I promise you." He squeezed her hand for good measure, and heat creeped up the back of her neck.

"I'll think about it."

Once the sun descended far enough, Izuna and Sooga resumed their journey to the Gerudo Great Skeleton, and she found herself standing before an immense dune blocking their path to the fountain. She dreaded this leg of the journey every year. They couldn't afford to lose the night's reprieve as there was nowhere else to take shelter should the sun rise before they reached the skeleton. However, the dune was steep and treacherous, the loose sands making it easy to lose one's footing. Izuna had lost count of how many times she'd slid or fallen during her previous pilgrimages. With a grim sigh, she put one foot in front of the other, praying that the gods favored her this time.

They did not.

Izuna made it halfway before tripping over a hidden rock and falling to the bottom, sand in her hair and clothes. Just a setback - after all, it didn't matter that Sooga had made it to the top without so much as a misstep; she could do this. Izuna ascended higher on her second attempt, avoiding the areas that had hindered her, but it was all for naught. A scorpion popped out of its burrow, tail raised and poised to attack. Izuna squealed, jumping back and losing her footing, sliding down to the bottom again. Spitting out a mouthful of sand, she whipped around frantically in search of the arachnid. Sooga slid down the dune, coming to a stop a few paces away.

"Did you see where it went?!" she exclaimed, waving her hands around in a fury as she searched for the wretched scorpion.

"Probably back into its nest. Climb on," he ordered, kneeling in front of her.

"What?" She stared at his back in disbelief.

"I will carry you."

She might have argued something about independence and capability, but the fight left her when she looked up at the unassuming yet evil sand dune. She ought to take her own advice; sometimes it was better to accept the help that was freely given. "... Fine." Izuna climbed on his back, crossing her legs around his midsection and wrapping her hands around his neck – loose enough not to choke him, but tight enough she didn't slip backwards. Her heart fluttered in her chest at their proximity. Despite the added weight, he reascended with little difficulty, passing the hazards that had hindered her with ease. Bastard.

[Sooga POV]

Sooga readjusted his hold on her as he marched them over the dune, still preoccupied with what she'd shared earlier. He had firsthand experience of the pain of losing family and the emptiness their absence left behind. No wonder her loyalty to the Hylians had soured. But he couldn't shake his agitation regarding her arranged marriage. His grip on her legs tightened. It was almost like the Sheikah were trying to push her into the Yiga's arms. It would serve them right.

By carrying Izuna on his back, they covered the distance to the great skeleton quickly. Massive didn't even begin to describe it. It was far more intact than the skeleton he'd transported them to near Gerudo Town. What sort of creature, no, leviathan had once walked the land of Hyrule to leave behind bones of this immense size? Moonlight streamed through the ribs onto a small oasis surrounded by safflina and other herbs. The water, surrounded by large white petals speckled with pink, emitted a golden glow. Was this a great fairy fountain? He didn't know what he was expecting, but a giant flower in the middle of the desert was not it.

"Izuna, we've arrived."

She mumbled something incoherent, and he craned his neck to look at her, but her head rested too far back on his shoulder. Had she fallen asleep? Sooga knelt next to the fountain, depositing her on one of the petals; she didn't stir. Long lashes fanned over her cheeks and her full rosy lips were parted slightly as she slept. Heat creeped up his neck. The image of her bright smile sprang to mind, unbidden. The way her hand felt in his; her comfortable weight as he carried her. It would be so easy to lift his mask and... He tore his eyes away, moving to sit against one of the ribs to meditate. Sunrise wasn't far off, and he needed to be ready to transport them, not contemplating her fairer qualities.

His meditation was peaceful as the moon completed its journey across the sky and the sun rose to take its place, until a husky female voice broke the silence. "My goodness, sweet little Izuna traded up. You're a much better catch than the last man she brought here." Sooga jumped to his feet, sliding into a defensive stance, and drew his blades. The voice gave a breathy laugh, echoing around the oasis. "My, what a specimen you are!"

"Show yourself," he growled, looking side to side.

"Ah-ah-ah, I need an offering in exchange for revealing my beauty," she teased. "Surely little Izuna told you that?"

An offering? That meant... "You're a great fairy?"

"That's right," she simpered. "And if you're patient, maybe I can show you a good time afterwards..."

"I didn't know you were such a flirt, Tera," came Izuna's sleepy voice. She shrugged off her pack and it landed in the sand with a thump. She stretched and yawned, rubbing the sleep from her eyes.

"Oh hush, dear. I was only teasing," Tera countered with a laugh.

Sooga sheathed his swords, warily moving toward the fountain to stand beside Izuna. "How long does this offering take?" he muttered, casting a suspicious glance at the oasis. The fairy's overtures were discomfiting; the sooner they moved on, the better.

"It depends," she dug through her pack, pulling out her sack of rupees. "Sometimes it's quick, other times she likes to drag it out. Although," she shaded her eyes from the sun, "it's still a little early."

"That's right, my dear, there's no need to rush. I only see you once a year," Tera pouted. "Besides, you wouldn't want to take the only eye-candy I've had in hundreds of years, would you?"

Izuna twitched, clearly suppressing her laughter. "Of course not, that would be a tragedy, wouldn't it?" Cheeky.

"Precisely!" she exclaimed, undeterred by Izuna's sarcasm. Sooga crossed his arms and rolled his eyes, though it went unseen behind the mask. Or so he thought. "Who are you rolling your eyes at, young man?" He jerked, hands flying to his mask. It remained securely in place, as always.

Izuna's eyes widened. "Wait, you can his face?"

"Of course, I can. That silly little thing is nothing to my power."

She scrambled onto the petal, leaning so far over the water he feared she would fall in. "What does he look like?" she hissed.

His cheeks colored in spite of himself. Sooga held his breath, mouthing the word "No."

"That would be telling, little one. But if you must know," she mused, "he has a face much like any other person. Though hiding such handsome features should be a crime, if you ask me."

Izuna slapped the water. "You're no fun."

"And you're nosy," he remarked dryly. "What I look like is of little consequence. Besides-" Sooga stopped abruptly as a familiar tug pulled at his navel. He frowned. Master Kohga was summoning him. That could only mean something was gravely wrong... "Izuna, I must leave at once."

She started. "What? Why? If it's about your mask-"

"No," he cut her off as the tug became more urgent. "I must see to Master Kohga." Forming a hand sign, he summoned Toki. "Toki, escort the healer to the hideout. Her safety is your highest priority, am I clear?"

"Yes, Master Sooga." With a curt nod, he transported himself to Master Kohga's side. There wasn't a moment to lose.

[Izuna POV]

Izuna suppressed the twinge of disappointment from Sooga's abrupt departure. Even though he said he needed to see to Master Kohga, she couldn't help but worry she'd crossed a line. Her shoulders slumped. It'd have been better to say nothing at all. She turned to the blademaster he'd summoned. "Um, Toki, was it?" The blademaster stood to attention, nodding at her. "If you don't mind, can you wait over there and keep watch?"

"Sure thing, healer!"

When he'd reached the northern side of the skeleton, Izuna waited a moment longer to make sure he was facing away, then undressed. Gathering her bag of rupees, Izuna kneeled at the water's edge and dumped them in. "I humbly make this offering in the name of Goddess Hylia to nourish the land and empower the greatest of fairies."

Tera chuckled warmly. "Your devotion shall be rewarded, child of the Sheikah. You never fail to bring good fortune with you. Enter my spring and accept this blessing." Izuna stepped into the cool water without hesitation, letting out a joyous laugh. Tera's fountain was a refreshing respite from the desert's unforgiving heat; so much better than the torture she endured for Kaysa. Izuna dipped below the surface, submerging herself. "In the name of Goddess Hylia, I grant you my renewed blessing," Tera said from somewhere within the bud. "Rise from my waters at your leisure." The fountain glowed, bringing with it the usual tingling sensation.

Rays of sunlight streamed through the water, illuminating the inner bud and the rupees sinking below. How far down did they travel before reaching the bottom? Were her lungs not already protesting, she might have indulged the temptation to try swimming to the bottom but instead, she returned to the surface. Maybe next time. A quick peek over the side of the bud revealed Toki standing at the entrance of the skeleton with his back to her, and Izuna pulled herself from the water. The heat dried her skin quickly, and she donned her last set of fresh clothes unsoiled by sweat or grime.

Tera rose from the fountain with a joyous cackle, though it was punctuated by a cough, ruining the mighty effect. There was a startled yelp from the front of the skeleton but neither woman paid Toki any mind. "Oh my dear, I feel rejuvenated! I'm so glad you've returned."

"As am I. I hope my offering was enough..." Izuna clasped her hands, looking down. "This journey has been a bit more chaotic than others previous."

"I watched it all from my bud, dear one. You've been through a lot in so short a time."

That's right... as the eldest of her sisters, Tera could see the goings on of the world from her fountain. That meant... "Is Koro okay? The lynel didn't get him, did it?" Izuna wrung her hands on her shawl.

"He escaped, little one." Izuna let out a sigh of relief. She may resent him, but that didn't mean she wanted something awful to happen to him, either. "He searches for you – even now, he is waiting at the entrance of the desert for you to pass through."

"Well, he'll be waiting a long time. I'm not going back to Kakariko with him."

Tera nodded and her adornments clinked together, the soft chiming like sweet bells. "No, I'd rather you not if they intend to marry you off like chattel. I much prefer you safe in the arms of that fine man you brought." She fanned herself, as if overheated.

"I-it's not like that!" Izuna spluttered, face flaming scarlet.

There was faint laughter from the front of the skeleton. "If Master Sooga turns you down, I'd gladly keep you safe in my arms, healer!" Toki called out.

Her eyes widened and Izuna opened her mouth to retort, but Tera beat her to it. "Pipe down! That fine piece of man would be lucky to breathe the same air as my sweet girl!"

"I think you're exaggerating..." she mumbled.

"Nonsense, darling! Now, I don't care how hard-to-get this 'Sooga' is, here's how you snare a man..."

To Izuna's mortification, Tera proceeded to describe her methods in explicit detail, leaving nothing to the imagination. Somewhere behind them, Toki put his head in his hands, groaning, "make it stop" over and over. A sentiment she shared, lightheaded and queasy as she was becoming. Izuna adored the eccentric fairies, but this was too much even for her.

She cleared her throat loudly, catching the great fairy's attention. "Well, it's been lovely seeing you, Tera. I am grateful for your uh... wisdom, but we should get moving. I promised to look after one of the Yiga – I would hate to keep him waiting."

Tera sighed. "So soon? What a shame, and here I was just getting to the good part!" Izuna wanted to puke. "Well, if you must go. At least think about what I said." She would do no such thing. She pulled her pack over her shoulders, adjusting her bow and quiver so they were within reach. Tera closed her eyes and furrowed her brow. "Hmm... Blood has been spilled on the sand, leaving many dead. Take care on your travels."

Was that why Sooga had been called away? Her stomach dropped; there was no time to lose. What if he'd gotten hurt? Izuna rushed to pick cool safflina, selecting the ones with the most vibrant blue flowers. Pulling out her waterskin, she crushed the petals and stuffed them inside. It wouldn't be as effective as an elixir, but it would protect them from the worst of the heat. With a quick goodbye to the fairy, Izuna and Toki hastened into the desert. They needed to hurry.

[Sooga POV]

Sooga set Master Kohga on his feet, steeling himself for the explosion that was sure to come. It didn't take long.

"I can't believe those-!" Kohga struggled for words, "-those losers got the best of me!"

"It was four against one," Sooga pointed out, "hardly a fair fight." If he'd arrived a moment later... he shuddered. The Gerudo chief was not known for her mercy when it came to the Yiga. More concerning, however, was why Master Kohga had been locked in combat with the Gerudo chief, royal advisor, the princess, and her royal knight in the first place.

Kohga crossed his arms, a scowl in his voice, "That's true. Filthy cheaters. I thought we'd get the best of them for sure, but our plan failed."

"Plan? What plan?"

"The one I came up with, obviously!" he exclaimed, waving his hands in the air as they walked down the corridors. "While you were off doing who-knows-what, I came up with the perfect plan to eliminate the goddess's incarnation once and for all!"

Apparently, it wasn't perfect enough, since it failed. "Care to elaborate?"

"Well, the Gerudo Chief had left town, so I disguised myself as her and took her place," he murmured slyly. "No one suspected a thing – I am a great actor, after all."

"Indeed." No doubt he was, but why hadn't Kohga summoned him to assist? He could have served as back-up – or better yet, convinced him to rethink such a scheme. It put him too close to the line of fire. "How did you get caught?"

"The real chief returned unexpectedly in the middle of our operation." A few footsoldiers nearby bowed to them when they passed. "And then they chased me across the desert – it was chaos." Sooga opened the door to the meeting room, stepping aside to allow Kohga to enter and take his spot at the head of the table. Astor was already seated at the other end, staring them down in boredom. The harbinger sat on the dais, its red mechanical eye glowing eerily in the candlelight.

"So..." Astor began after Kohga got comfortable, "you turned and fled? Is that it?"

In a calculated display of nonchalance, Kohga hummed and twiddled his fingers the way that never failed to irritate the seer. "Well, if they hadn't interrupted me-"

"It seems that," Astor cut him off, "as low as my expectations of you were, I was overly optimistic."

"What?" Kohga jumped to his feet, fists clenched. Sooga gripped the hilts of his swords; that fool of a prophet was alive only due to his position with Calamity Ganon, but he wouldn't be for long if on more insult slipped from his filthy mouth...

"Well," he stood, carrying his astral device toward the dais, "no matter." Only when Kohga flopped back into his seat did Sooga release the vice grip he had on his blades. "My harbinger... show me the future."

Putrid murky smoke erupted from the little guardian and swirled around the room. Kohga squeaked in surprise; had Lord Ganon's essence been lurking in the machine the entire time? Astor's strange device emitted a glow that expanded until different constellations were floating around the room in a violet haze. Sooga tensed at the image of a boar formed of the same smoke choking the room roaring triumphantly around Hyrule castle.

"The future as it will and must be," the prophet muttered darkly. "I will not allow anyone to alter its course. Do try not to let your incompetence get in the way of our plans." Easy for him to say; he wasn't the one risking his life or his people, though Sooga didn't doubt that Astor would cut down his own mother if it meant achieving his ends.

Kohga stood. His voice was frosty when he said, "Come Sooga."

They stalked through the hideout in silence, passing by the infirmary – well, the room in which the injured tended to congregate. It was full. Sooga's jaw clenched. He should have been there fighting alongside them. Just how badly had the battle gone? Kohga didn't stop until they reached his personal quarters. Shutting the door behind him, Sooga waited for him to speak.

"I know what you're going to say," he began, pulling off his mask and tossing it on the table. Sooga did the same. Kohga's face was twisted into a grimace. A few dark curls fell over his forehead. "That I should've summoned you for this mission-"

"Why didn't you?" He tried keeping his tone even, but it came out more forceful than intended.

Kohga slumped into a chair with a scowl. "You may be my best lackey, but I can't rely on you to take care of everything."

"Since when? As your general, it is my duty to serve you in any capacity. As your friend, I am glad to do so. You know this, so why do you doubt it now?"

"I don't doubt you, Sooga."

He clenched his fists. "Then what is it?"

"The prophecy-man said if I continue pushing my responsibilities onto you – leading our warriors into battle, the administrative tasks, you know..." Kohga paused, rubbing his temples. "He said it would lead to your death, and if I didn't want that to happen, I'd need to step up and do my job."

"And you allowed yourself to be manipulated like that?" Sooga asked dryly. Anyone could see he and Kohga were close and had been for a long time – ever since the other man had saved him from starvation when he was a child.

"I know what he was doing! But he's got a point-"

"The point is that he used your regard for me to put you on the front lines." The leader of the Yiga clan was wily and clever and usually couldn't be convinced to do anything he truly didn't want to do. Sooga needed to keep a closer eye on Astor if he could push Kohga's buttons to the extent that he put himself in such a position. The seer was shaping up to be more of a problem than he had any right to be. "Manipulation aside, there's one thing I don't understand. Even if the chief returned early, that doesn't explain how things ended in so many casualties."

"I don't know what happened... They were supposed to retreat if I was discovered because there was no way we could take out the entire Gerudo army in their own town. Gods, Sooga..." Kohga put his head in his hands. "It's all my fault..."

"It is not-"

"You saw the infirmary! So many wounded... probably even more dead. We'll be lucky if we don't lose half of them in the night... I failed our people, and I don't even know if we retrieved all the bodies-"

"We will send squads to comb the desert," he interrupted firmly. "There's nothing you can do right now and worrying about it won't help anyone." It would be difficult with the Gerudo lurking about, but they owed it to their fallen warriors. They deserved to be honored for their sacrifice, not desecrated by carrion.

"You're right... as usual." Master Kohga let out a sigh, grabbing a banana from the bowl on the table and unpeeled it, taking a large bite. Sooga's shoulders relaxed. Even if it was stress eating, Kohga snacking on bananas was a good sign. "Where were you anyway?" he asked after he finished chewing. "You disappeared for a while."

"I was with Izuna."

Kohga's brows shot to his hairline. "Oh? With her?" He grinned, making an obscene gesture with the banana and wiggling his brows suggestively.

Heat creeped up the back of Sooga's neck and his uniform was suddenly too warm. "Of course not. Akari's unit abandoned her to the mercy of a lynel and I had to rescue her. If Mito hadn't come to me, she would be dead." The thought did not sit well with him. He needed to be able to trust that his soldiers would carry out his instructions. Failure was one thing, but insubordination was another matter entirely. And Izuna was too precious to lose.

"They what? Is she okay?"

"Yes, she's fine now. And she's on her way here."

"That's good – she's-she's coming here?" Kogha exclaimed, nearly losing the piece of banana in his mouth. "That's great! Do you think she'll help our injured?"

"Undoubtedly." She was too kind for her own good. "There is another matter that pertains to her, however. She's being pursued by a Sheikah tracker. I offered to let her stay here, but we need to be careful that he doesn't discover our location in case he picks up her trail somehow."

"Why is she running?"

Sooga shifted his weight, averting his eyes. "She told me the reason in confidence. I'd rather not-"

"Yeah-yeah, don't worry about it. I don't want you in trouble with your woman." Kohga rubbed his chin, a calculating gleam in his eyes. "Still, this is better than I'd hoped. Even if she doesn't want to join us, we could always keep her from leaving-"

"That won't work, and you know it." The thought of imprisoning Izuna left a sour feeling in his stomach. He'd much prefer her joining them willingly.

"What, you think she can best you in a fight if it came down to it? Is she secretly an elite warrior too?"

"No," Sooga replied slowly, "but she can use her healing ability offensively. She crippled my arm with a single touch, then healed it soon after."

"Seriously?" Kohga's eyes widened. "What a woman! Now I really want her on our team!"

Sooga agreed, but that would be easier said than done.

[Izuna POV]

Izuna and Toki had passed the ruins of Dragon's exile hours ago and now that they were closer to the center of the desert, Izuna didn't know where they were headed. The location of the Yiga's base of operations was a well-guarded secret; since they could transport themselves instantly, it could be anywhere. She took a small sip of the safflina water and handed it to Toki, turning away so he could remove his mask. He hadn't so much as looked at her since they left Tera's fountain. She missed the easy conversation she'd enjoyed with Sooga. Hopefully he was alright...

Izuna wrapped her shawl over her head to shade herself from the sun; despite the precautions she'd taken, it was boiling. And though he tried to hide it, Toki was showing signs of fatigue as well. But they couldn't stop – lives depended on their swift journey – theirs included. "Where to next?"

"Karusa Valley."

That was on the other side of the desert! Even if they marched all day and night without stopping, it would take far too long on foot. That was if they didn't die from dehydration or freeze in the night... "Can you transport me?" It was a longshot, but how else could they get there in time to save lives and not die themselves?

"No, that's impossible. Only Master Kohga and Master Sooga have the strength to do that." He scratched the back of his head. "It sure would be convenient, though."

She scowled. "Yeah..." Convenient and necessary.

"So..." Toki began after they'd walked a little longer, "you're not gonna to take that big woman's advice, are you?"

They both shuddered. "Don't be ridiculous. That was obscene."

"That's... yeah."

Izuna shaded her eyes from the glare and squinted into the distance. Several dark blobs lay ahead of them. As they drew closer, they took the shape of Gerudo warriors. Kneeling beside the bodies, she searched for their pulses, not that she held much hope. By the looks of them, they'd been baking in the sun for a while. Izuna frowned; they were incredibly battered, as if they'd been beaten with a blunt instrument... Further off, one lay crumpled in the sand, limbs twisted unnaturally. Nearby, a couple of sand seals napped in the sun, unaware or unconcerned that their riders were dead.

"Healer!" Toki grabbed her by the arm. "We need to leave – now!"

"Huh? What is it-?"

"See that?" He pointed to a dust cloud not far off. "That's a molduga – we need to go!"

Her route never took her through molduga territory, but she'd heard horror stories about what happened to those caught by the massive desert beasts. And even if she hadn't, the evidence was laying dead on the ground at her feet, and the cloud was only getting closer. They needed to get away fast if they didn't want to end up like these poor Gerudo. Izuna glanced at the warriors' gear. Disturbing a dead body, save for burying or burning it was horribly disrespectful, but there was little choice. She unclipped the ornate shield from the nearest warrior's back, hissing when her fingers brushed the burning metal. Shoving the shield at him, she took another from a nearby corpse, and carefully approached the sand seals, making soft cooing sounds to put them at ease. The seal barked at her and nuzzled her hand. Grabbing the reins, she mounted the shield just as the ground started shaking. Her seal turned its head nervously.

"Lead the way, I'll be right behind you!"

"Right!" Then he was off.

Izuna urged her seal forward, bracing herself for the sudden pull. Though the air was hot, the breeze was refreshing to her sweat-soaked skin. However, there was no time to enjoy it. Not far behind, the molduga leapt from the sand with a roar. She glanced back and gasped. It was even more massive up close. Her breaths came out in shallow puffs as she watched it descend. A shockwave reverberated through the ground when it hit the sand, nearly sending Izuna and her seal spiraling out of control. She urged the seal to move faster, throwing fearful looks behind.

They kept up their breakneck speed, covering much of the desert in a matter of hours. The seals were panting and puffing, but they seemed to understand that slowing or stopping would result in becoming something else's lunch. Whether by luck or divine intervention, the sand seals managed to outrun the molduga, and it eventually gave up its chase, leaving Izuna and Toki to finish the last step of their journey in relative peace. There was still the occasional electric lizalfos, but without the threat of the molduga, they were easily dispatched if they were foolish enough to attack.

The highland cliffs loomed high above, touching the sunset. Familiar wooden talismans hung from ropes, clinking above them, pushed by a light breeze. Perhaps the Yiga weren't as removed from the Sheikah as they liked to believe. Toki signaled for her to stop as they approached a gate. Several footsoldiers jumped down, pulling him into deep conversation and gesturing toward her. After a few claps on the shoulder and nods, they opened the gate and waved them through. Izuna followed Toki up the steep incline. Stone frog statues dotted the path, their faces covered in cloths painted with the inverted eye. Soon, they reached the end of the valley and Izuna slowed her seal to a halt. It was a dead end. Toki formed a hand sign, and where there had once been solid rock, a door revealed itself.

"Welcome to the Yiga Hideout, healer."