The trip to Mount Hylia was a simple one, but also draining.

Airi and Link had exchanged names, and she had offered to accompany him. After all, wherever the Slate was, the Hylian Champion was bound to be close by. But of course, the process was not a smooth one.

Airi had to fall back every now and then. The youth who followed her seemed so clueless, so dim. He stopped to look at everything around him...the trees, the remains of old huts, broken wheelbarrows, even flowers. It was really no wonder that he had no idea of the significance of the Sheikah Slate; he did not seem to have any idea of anything up here on the Great Plateau. But she did not want to waste time asking about his life story. Things had gone astray already.

But at least she felt she was in better condition. Her leg was still stiff, but she had no trouble walking with it. Her head was clear, and she felt the strength in her arms. Her only regret was that teleportation was not an option. She had packed a Yiga Orb into her pocket before she went for the Great Plateau, but it must have fallen out when the Bokoblins had shot her.

Finally, they managed to reach the River of the Dead. At their side was a long-abandoned rowboat. Next to it was an oar, and the dusty white bones of a skeleton. At the sight of the latter, Link had fallen to his knees and let loose a spate of vomit. Airi sighed and kept her eyes closed until Link had recovered from his episode.

At length, she took a seat in the rowboat and motioned at Link. His face apprehensive, he picked up the oar and joined her. His motions were slow, but he had managed to get the two of them to the other side.

The paths ahead were steep, and shuffling through the snow was a hassle. Moreover, Airi's mood was not pleased by her companion's lingering discomfort. Even with the doublet, he was still shivering and hugging the Sheikah Slate to himself. Airi did not feel the cold. After being submerged in the freezing water of the Yiga temple's subterran tunnels every day for years, nothing after that could compare.

It astounded the young woman even now that she owed her life to someone like this. She, Airi, had trained and proved her mettle ten, no, a hundred times over again. And one moment of indecision almost laid her low before such weak opponents? She knew Link was struggling now, but she hoped he would not get too cocky. She would not make a fool of herself in front of him again.

The awkward trip continued until they both spotted something jutting out from behind one of the hills; a tall, dilaptitaded pole made of wood. There was a platform on top of it. Growing more cautious, Airi took the lead once more while Link followed. They took a turn, moved through a pass, and found themselves at the edge of a large open clearing.

It was a Bokoblin encampment.

More specifically, there were three Bokoblins sitting outside a makeshift tent. Next to them was a Moblin. It was a larger beast, taller than most humans, with large muscles rippling beneath the red skin. A single horn protruded from its forehead, and it had what looked like a horse whistle hung around its neck on a cord.

Airi narrowed her eyes. Yes...aha! Just barely visible at the top of the wooden platform was another Bokoblin. A scout, probably armed with a bow and a bullhorn.

"Um..." Link spoke up hesitantly. "Maybe we should go around..."

"Shut up." Airi took another look at the encampment. The monsters were sitting next to a fire, with the half-eaten carcass of a boar skewered above it. There was a barrel of dynamite next to the tent. Behind the tent was a large lump of snow. Airi paid it no mind.

Each of the Bokoblins wore leather hides to protect themselves from the cold. The hides would provide some protection from Airi's weapons, but not too much. Each had a short sword at his side. They would not be a problem for her.

The Moblin wore a steel breastplate over a woolen vest and loincloth. It had a large, sheathed claymore strapped to its back. The weapon was at least six feet long, with a blade that Airi knew would be wide and sharp enough to slash through any human. That weapon could pose a problem for her, but if things went as she planned, the threat would be neutralized like the rest.

Airi noticed that Link still looked uncertain. She grimaced, and unclasped the cloak around her neck before letting it fall to the ground. She had nearly been felled by two Bokoblin peons. She would not embarrass herself again.

She took up her bow, picking two arrows out of her quiver with her free hand. She fired both projectiles in quick succession towards the distant Bokoblin on the platform. There was a flicker of movement, and a dark shape flew downwards. One down.

None of the Bokoblin scout's compatriots saw what happened behind them. Airi took the chance to take up another arrow, this time firing it at one of the dynamite barrels. The result was a sudden, ear-splitting explosion that swamped the two Bokoblins closest to it in a flash of light. They went flying off into the distance, their bodies lit aflame. Both were assuredly dead. Airi dropped her bow and went running.

The Moblin and the remaining Bokoblin stood up, covered in soot. The former was just strong enough to withstand the blast, and the latter was lucky. But not for much longer.

Airi whipped her kodachi out from the scabbard. The short, curved sword gleamed as she rushed at the Bokoblin first. The smaller monster barely had time to groan as Airi slashed through the neck. She shoved the body aside as she engaged the Moblin.

The brute's eyes narrowed as it reached for the claymore on its back, but it was no use. The long blade was a devastating weapon, but only when wielded. And it was too slow on the draw.

Airi ducked and swung wide with her right arm.. The Moblin roared as she slashed at the left leg, and it dropped to its knee. Airi sidestepped, flipping her kodachi so that she was holding it in reverse. Putting the palm of her left hand to the pommel, she put all of her strength into a two-handed thrust aimed right between the Moblin's shoulder blades. She twisted the blade, then yanked it out. The Moblin fell face-down.

As Airi stepped away, Link walked into the clearing. He stared at her, his face consumed with mortification and awe. She permitted herself a smirk.

"What do you think?"

"Urghhh..."

Airi whirled around. The Moblin was not dead yet. It clutched at the horse whistle, put it in its mouth, and blew on it. A loud, piercing warble was produced, and the Moblin collapsed once more.

Airi winced. What was...

"Sorry...do you know what that is?" The young woman followed the direction of Link's extended finger. The lump of snow...was it moving?

Airi's grip tightened on her kodachi. No...

The lump vibrated, shaking off the layer of snow that had coated it. Beneath it was a smooth blue surface, and the mass untangled itself.

A misshapen body, stubby legs, and two long, distorted arms.

A Frost Talus!? Here!?

But there was no time to wait. The monster was starting to lumber towards them. Airi looked to the side. To her surprise, Link was not running or wetting himself in terror. He stood his ground, staring straight towards the enemy despite the shock on his face. Clutching the Sheikah Slate, he stared past the monster and at the tent.

Airi had no time for the boy's bravado. She sheathed her kodachi, not bothering to wipe off the blood, and rushed over to the dead Moblin. She felt her hands wrap around the hilt of the sheathed claymore, and she yanked it free. The blade was as long and unbalanced as she thought, but she put up with it and looked back towards where Link had been.

He was not there.

Airi's eyes nearly popped out of her head out as she saw the young man running straight towards the Talus. The monster swung an arm straight down, and Link barely swerved out of the way. He kept running until he reached the tent. And then, out of all the possible things he could have down, he began jumping up and down and waving his arms.

"Come on! Come here!"

Airi stood, mouth agape, as the Talus rounded on Link and pulled its right arm back for a punch. Just as the attack began, Link immediately sprang into action and began running again. Airi's mind registered that the Talus was not able to rescind the attack. The knob at the end of the arm was hurtling straight towards where the other barrel of dynamite would be.

The explosion tore the arm straight off, reducing the appendage to a spray of pebbles and dust. As Airi regained her senses and rushed towards the fight, ignoring the pain in her leg, Link made his next move. He jabbed his finger at the Sheikah Slate, and a ball of shimmering blue light appeared. It was the exact same kind of object that he had used to save her from the Bokoblins earlier. He tossed it at the Talus's feet, then touched the Slate again.

The explosion from the blue ball was smaller, but it blew off the Talus' leg. It fell, and Airi pressed her advantage.

Aha.

There was a large black gemstone protruding from the Talus's back. The one fatal weakness of such a monster, and it was exposed. Airi leapt on the Talus back and thrust forward with the claymore, spearing it clean through the softer surface and out the back.

She had intended to pull it out again, but the Talus regained its senses and began to shake its body to dislodge its attacker.

"Ugh...ah!" Airi could not help it. She fell flat on her back, grunting. She tried to get back up, but she could only hiss. Her bandaged leg was smarting again.

"Stop!"

Link found himself half-scurrying, half-climbing up the side of the Talus. He nearly slipped, but he managed to reach the gemstone. Grabbing the hilt of the claymore with both hands, he wrenched it with all his might. The gemstone split in two.

The Talus made a final desperate shake, forcing Link off, before falling down again.

This time, for good.

Airi picked herself off the ground. She looked at Link, who had stumbled to his own feet. He looked confused, afraid, and proud all at once.

"Are you okay?"

Airi opened her mouth, shrugged, and finally got the words she needed out.

"I'm fine. Just a bit impressed, that's all."

Here's to my first fight scene for Airi and Link. I'm hoping to expand on the 'sword and sorcery' dynamic between the two of them later on.