Three weeks had passed, and now, from the top of a low mountain - barely a foothill, really - Ruuya beheld a vast green country. Hyrule, the green land she had only read of in books, and heard of in songs sitting around a fire on starry nights. The land of their forebears. A light rain fell from the heavens, and relief filled her lungs as she took a breath of fresh, green air.
"This is our new home, Jamila," she said, "odd as that is."
The horse whinnied in reply, a strange sad whimper. A part of her missed the desert sands too, even after all that had happened.
She shook her head and nudged her mare onward, seeking the woods below. The trees here seemed so tall compared to the short desert shrubs, but she had seen larger trees in Calatia. Nevertheless, they provided some shelter from the rain, though it was even more chilly under their thick branches.
Gods. How could they stand it? She shivered, glad Minia had thought to pack a thick cloak in her saddlebag. Even still, covered as she was, she felt a slight chill on this mild spring day. Deeper into the woods she pushed her mare, however, keeping her at a slow walk. Bits of bright color sprouted from groundcover, vine, and, even, tree. Flowers, she presumed. Animals chirped and tweeted in the branches and underbrush. A hare skidded across their path, nearly startling Jamila. She held her reins taut, patted her neck, and urged her to keep moving.
She had never seen so much life in one place. Soon, they came to a shallow stream, cool water rushing past, weeds growing by the bank. Strange, green things croaked in the shallows. At the riverbank they came to a stop and Ruuya dug into the saddlebag, sighing as she felt inside for provisions. She pulled out the sack which had been full of dried meat, nuts, and travel bread.
Ruuya shook the bag. They were running low on human food. She only had a few days left of foodstuffs. Jamila had a mouthful of grass already. At least in these green lands she would never have to worry for her horse's well-being.
"Maybe the...slimy green things are good to eat," she muttered, sitting on a log near the bank. Ruuya took a bite of leever jerky. She had yet to see a Hylian, or a round-eared human in her three week trek. Nor had she met one from the old tribe that had exiled her sisters. Former sisters. For all she knew, no one lived in these lands. "What do you think, Jamila?"
The horse ate a flower. Typical. Jamila was such a great conversationalist. She finished her last bite of jerky, wishing she had more left.
Pitifully, her stomach growled. Ruuya sighed.
"I like the frogs."
Jamila started at those words, kicking the earth with her hoof. Ruuya reached for her scimitar, hand resting on its hilt. On the far bank, a wizard clothed in ragged red robes crept out of the woodwork. It had a large hooked beak, multi-colored eyes, and it held a small, ornate wand in its hand.
Make that wizzrobe. She'd only read about these things or heard about them in stories Minia and Rhiun had told her as a child. Her grip on the scimitar's hilt tightened. She withdrew the blade an inch.
"Get back," she warned.
"Won't hurt," it said, lifting its wand. "Promise."
Like she'd believe - a small blast of magic, red in color, shot from its wand. Ruuya ducked and closed her eyes, expecting the attack to be aimed towards her.
It didn't even nick her.
Instead, the largest of the slimy green things fell over, dead, taken by the wizzrobe's blast.
"I like the frogs."
"To eat?" she asked, her hand falling to her side as her panic subsided. It didn't seem like this particular wizzrobe was a threat. Still, Minia's lessons from childhood returned, a flash of insight: never trust a wizzrobe, especially one which seems kind...
The creature nodded. Then blasted the other frogs as well.
...or harmless.
"I can cook, too."
"And I want to eat frogs?"
"Boss is hungry."
Her stomach growled in agreement.
"Very hungry."
"I'm...not your boss…" she said, squinting at the wizzrobe as it hovered across the stream, a flurry of rags. She frowned. "What's wrong with you?"
"Something wrong?" it asked, and gathered up its prized dead frogs in its arms. The wizzrobe ate a frog, tossing its head back to swallow its meal. Then it held out a frog for her to take. "Frog?"
"I don't want frogs!" she said, backing up on her log, slightly.
"But…are hungry?" it said, tilting its head like a particularly confused parrot. Did it not understand...?
She backed up further, running into something soft. Cloth, her mind supplied. Her eyes widened. Her legs grew stiff. Her mouth, dry.
"Boss?" said a voice from behind her.
Slowly, Ruuya turned her head. Another wizzrobe sat on the log. She screamed, and in her haste to stand and flee, she tripped over the log and landed in the stream instead, splattering water everywhere.
"Boss want help?" said yet another one. She looked up. There, dressed in ragged blue robes… She crawled backed up against the log.
"No!" she cried. "Get away from me!"
The wizzrobe stared. It tilted its head. "Away?"
"We were sent to find you," another said. It had managed to climb onto Jamila's back. The horse bucked, tossing it off. Instead of flying off and ramming into a tree, like she expected, it floated off gracefully, landing beside the one in blue. The mare fled. Ruuya couldn't blame her. "Why doth Master fear us so?"
"I...I don't…" she said, feeling ill. Dizzy. Sick to her stomach. "I don't understand!"
"Boss!?" several cheerful voices rang throughout the woods, a host of chirping wizzrobes.
Dear goddesses. Eyes. She saw bright yellow eyes in the woods, under tree and over branch, in the shadows. Suddenly several more came out from the woods, all dressed in rags, all with bird-like heads, all with wands in hand. They surrounded her. At once, the creatures tilted their bird-like heads.
"Why boss lost?"
"Boss. Boss. Boss!"
"Please…" she whimpered.
"I like the frog."
"Boss look dazz."
"Boss hate us?"
"Boss?" the others echoed that question.
"Stop!" she said, covering her face with her arms, tears blurring her vision.
"Silence, friends, let Master speak!" said the leader, waving its wand majestically at the others. It wore purple rags instead of blue or red. The other wizzrobes finally fell silent.
"Why are you here?" she asked, peeking over her forearms at the wizzrobe.
"We sought you," it answered.
She shook her head. "But I swear I'm not…"
"Hmmm," it said, beak bowed. "Perhaps...perhaps Master does not recall us…"
"Master forgot me!"
"And me?"
"Forgot like frog?"
"All of us?"
Dozens more complaints chimed forth before their leader raised both hands.
"Yes, friends," it said. The chorus fell silent. "Master has forgotten…"
"Oh no," said Ruuya, lifting her hands. "That's not-"
"We must remind Master."
In unison, the other wizzrobes gave a solemn nod.
"Remind me...how?" she asked. Ruuya wished she had bit her tongue.
The wizzrobes raised their wands. "We must send you back," said the wizzrobe, his eyes somehow sad, regretful. "So you may recall… Go to the palace. Seek the truth. Find thy memories."
"My...my…mem...," she stopped, words falling flat as black magic spilled forth from the creatures' wands, summoning a reflective pool beneath her. Ruuya screamed, but before she could move, before she could run -
"Won't hurt."
The pool sucked her in. Air rushed passed her ears, the world twisting around her until it dissipated and turned black. Uselessly, she closed her eyes.
"Promise."
Falling from the sky, she slammed against the ground.
It did hurt, frog-robe.
She blinked a few times. At least this time she hadn't fallen unconscious. Staring up at a strange green sky filled with dark clouds and red air, she took a deep breath, sputtered, then coughed.
The air in this place tastes dead. Poisonous. Where am I?
Slowly, she lifted herself onto her elbows. Strange, she felt...short. Shorter, even, than Veil. That didn't make sense! What kind of magic made -
Ruuya looked up, her breath caught. The forest around her had become strange. Here, the trees had faces, most staring at her with empty eyes. Their leaves looked dead, though they were still green, and their bark, snarled. Worse of all, there were no flowers on tree, vine, or among the wilted grass.
This world was dead. Twisted. Maybe if she closed her eyes, she'd find out it was all a weird dream. She'd wake up in her bedroll, Veil holding her in her arms, a kiss on her cheek to chase away her recurring nightmares.
No, Ruuya thought. This is real… I've gotta keep going. That's what Veil-
Something brushed against her ankles. She turned, then stared at the fuzzy thing. It was a tail.
She had a tail. No, three. All yellow with white tips.
She was dead. She was hallucinating. This couldn't be real; this couldn't possibly be real!
Ruuya grasped one of the tails, and tugged experimentally. She bit back a yelp, letting go.
So, not a dream. What had those crazed wizzrobes done to her? Where even was she?
Jamila! Her heart skipped a beat. "Jamila!" she yelled. "Jamila!" Ruuya's gaze darted all around her. The trees were where she recalled seeing them in Hyrule, and there was a murky green river to her side where the mountain stream had been, flowing slowly. But no sign of her horse.
"Jamila!" she called again, voice straining from panic. Nothing. She took a deep breath, and broke into a coughing fit. She tried again, slowly, then whistled. The notes echoed loudly through the gnarled trees. Still, there was no answer, no telltale sign of hooves, no whinny in response.
Her last friend in the world was missing. Gone.
The magic hadn't reached her, then. The horse had run far enough to safety.
It dawned on her, then, that this really wasn't Hyrule. It was brown and decaying. A world of death. Had she passed on, perhaps? Was this the All-Waste, where those whom betrayed the sisters in life were said to abide after death?
She should have run from the first wizzrobe when she had the chance. Minia was right.
"Hey hey!" said a voice, that of a young woman. Ruuya turned around, and frowned. The young woman was inhuman: a two-legged white goat wearing a blue dress. How strange...was she a demon? "What are you 'posed to be, a fox?"
Considering that I'm a three-tailed fox...we're both demons.
"A Gerudo," she answered, reaching for a weapon that wasn't there. Curses. Where had it gone?
"Well, whatever, Miss Gerudo," she said, waving her off. She had hands covered in white fur. So odd. At least she didn't have hooves for hands as well as feet. "I saw ya fall from up there," she pointed towards the poisonous sky. "Came through a portal."
"Well," Ruuya said, looking up as well, "it's not there now…"
"So you're from the World of Light, right?"
Ruuya turned back and gasped, unable to hide her surprise. "Yes…" She took a step back.
The goat-girl nodded. "I'm not gonna hurt ya. There's no use staying here. Better to go to the village," she said, walking off. Ruuya stayed put, but the goat-girl looked back and frowned at her. "Most of us villagers aren't gonna attack. Simply can't."
"I see." She sighed. Well, there was nothing better to do. They crossed the shallow stream of slush.
"Some of these trees will," she said. Ruuya looked back and forth at the snarled trees, shivering slightly. "See that one with red eyes?"
Ruuya nodded. They were bright, reflecting the strange light of this realm like twin rubies.
"Never take his apples," she warned, lifting a finger. "Less you want to get shot at."
Ruuya nodded again, spotting the purplish apples hanging from the trees branches. "Aren't they poisonous?"
"What? Is every violet thing poisonous in the Light World?" asked the goat-girl, staring at her incredulously. "Of course not. A few of the faster villagers snatch some of them when they turn ripe."
"What color are the ripe ones?" she asked, her stomach growling. She was a fox-like creature, so perhaps she would be quick enough to pick one and -
"Bright green."
"What," she said in disbelief.
The goat-girl bahed. Maybe that was supposed to be laughter? Ruuya didn't know. "I've seen Light World apples before," she said. "Grannies or whatever they're called. They're green."
"I'm from the desert," she said, staring at the fruit once more, wishing she could have just one. "We really don't have apples. I've seen red ones before, but...they weren't exactly common."
"Oh," said the goat-girl. "I've only read about deserts -"
"You read?" Ruuya tried not to smile. Not too many people liked to read back home. Besides Ruuya, only Minia had really enjoyed it.
"Just because I look like a goat, doesn't mean I am a goat," she said, spitting on a rock - no, that was a skull of some large monster on the ground. Maybe a moblin, though it only had one eye socket. Dear gods, did they just leave skulls lying around this place like boulders and stones? "Don't they teach Light-Dwellers manners?"
"Umm."
"Anyway, I'm Nan," she said, pausing at a strange statue. She placed a hand on the stone pedestal. It was a broken stone statue of a man in a flowing robe bearing an ornate staff. His head was broken off and had rolled away, perhaps into the woods or...the abyss behind it. The pair had come to a bridge, a seemingly bottomless chasm running underneath it like a river of shadow. Ruuya shivered; despite her fur, clothes, and cloak it was still chilly in this place. "Might wanna tell me yours so I don't just introduce ya as "Fallin' Fox" and then the name sticks like glue, and everyone calls you that forever and ever until the Great Vaati returns to reign again and returns the Dark World to prosperity."
Dear goddesses, this goat-girl could blab. She didn't know who this Vaati fellow was, but she wasn't sure she wanted anyone considered "Great" in this place to come back and reclaim it. Still, Nan seemed relatively nice. Even friendly, though a bit naive.
Certainly this goat-girl must've read something about her people's reputation.
She really wished her scimitars hadn't disappeared. Better to be safe than sorry. On the upside, Nan was much better company than those wizzrobes. While she didn't trust the girl, she could at least be polite.
"It's Ruuya," she said. Two of her tails brushed against the back of her leg. She tried not to think about them too much. "And I have so many questions. Like, what is this place? Why is everything so different? What happened to my scimitars? Why in Din's name am I a fox?!" Ruuya broke out into a coughing fit, again. When it subsided, she breathed in and out, catching her breath while Nan placed a fuzzy hand on Ruuya's shoulder.
"Try not to yell," said Nan. "The air takes some gettin' used to."
Ruuya swallowed. Her lungs burned.
"Now, you had some questions," the girl said, her hand falling to her side as though she realized that the furry appendage had distressed Ruuya. Why would the goat-girl care? "You're in the Dark World, now. It's kind of like a mirror to the light one, but not really? I hear some things aren't exactly right." Nan motioned to the abyss. "Like that. There's 'posed to be something there, but no one really knows anymore.
"I dunno what scimitars are, but if they're weapons, they're long gone. Daddy's old hunting knife disappeared when my parents and I got here when I was a babe. Same for maa's old sewin' needles." She pretended to hold something, closed her hand, then opened it again and whispered: "Poof. Gone."
"I get it," said Ruuya, rolling her eyes at the goat-girl's antics. "No need for drama."
Ignoring her, Nan went back to her spew. "My dad told me a long time ago that whatever we look like is who we really are on the inside. Kind of? Like, my daa likes to eat paper, candy, and things when he thinks people aren't looking, so he's a goat. And my maa's really smart so she's an owl! Since you're a fox, I bet you're clever, too!"
Nan had bleated maa and daa. Ruuya shook her head. All of this information was so overwhelming.
"And beyond this bridge? That statue?" Ruuya asked.
"Our village." They began to cross the bridge. Ruuya tried not to look down. Thankfully, they had placed rails on the sides. She would've froze up otherwise. "It's not all that big, only about a hundred houses, shops, and stuff."
Ruuya thought her heart stopped. "That...that's small?" she asked quietly.
"Yeah." The goat shrugged. "My maa says that Calatia's capital is a grand city; got's thousands of buildings."
Ruuya nodded. She had only ever been to a small fishing village on the edge of the ocean. It had barely had more than fifty. She had thought it a city at the time. Well, part of her had.
How could so many people live in one place? How could they stand each other? She could barely imagine a hundred buildings, let alone thousands…
Dear gods...
They came to a stop at the edge of a cliff. In the valley below, a large river ran through a cluster of buildings made of brick and wood. She had secretly believed that any civilization in the Dark World would be shacks at most, probably mostly half-built hovels. This...this…
"You really haven't seen a town before, huh?" Nan asked.
Ruuya shook her head. Heading down into the village, they walked along the dirt road, Nan waving to other polymorphs as they passed. Somehow Nan avoided chatting to any of them, something Ruuya felt must've been an impressive feat for the goat-girl. After passing over the river, they stopped in front of a large building made of red bricks. It had two floors, shuttered windows, and vines growing up the walls.
Ruuya gawked, mouth hanging slightly open. This must have be one of the manor houses she'd read about in books back in the desert. Apparently, there were flowers that grew in the Dark World, too, just black and purple ones.
"Keatons really are weird…" Nan muttered. Then covered her mouth once she realized she'd said it aloud.
Ruuya sent her a glare in response.
"Sorry," the goat bowed her head as though ashamed. "Goddesses, maa always says I gotta put a clamp on my mouth, ya know. I talk too much. Anyway. This is home."
Still mum and somewhat awestruck by the size of said house, Ruuya followed the goat inside.
Whatever she had been expecting, this certainly wasn't it. The walls and flooring were of carefully placed and inlaid bricks. Chairs and tables were decorated with carved creatures and intricate designs, and on a few of these rested cushions. A great deal of time and care had clearly gone into each piece of wooden furniture. Paintings hung on the walls, depicting landscapes and monsters. One was even of the red-eyed tree, bearing green fruit.
"Nan, there you are!" Ruuya's attention snapped to the white owl-like woman coming out of one of the back rooms. It must've been the kitchen, as she was wearing an apron over her yellow dress. Said apron was covered with blotches of flour and dough. "Where have you been?"
"Maa! Are you trying to...to...cook?"
"...I can cook." She placed her oddly-fingered wings on her hips.
Nan gave Ruuya a pleading look.
"Your father will be late," said Nan's mother, waving her spatula. Something gooey flew off, bouncing off the large stand up...clock? That stood near the staircase. Ruuya supposed that was what it was. It had a face, two hands, and a pendulum keeping time. She'd only read about them in books. "I thought it best to make some dinner…"
"Maa!" the goat-girl bleated. Nan brought a hand to her muzzle and whimpered sadly. The sound reminded Ruuya of Jamila when the mare was stressed.
Her heart twisted. She looked away from the pair of polymorphs.
"Oh," said the owl, glancing at Ruuya with cool, blue eyes. "Who's your friend?"
Ruuya cleared her throat, regaining her composure as best she could. "Hello. My name is Ruuya…" she began, but her tongue seemed too heavy to speak and her mouth too dry.
"Ah, a Light-Dweller…" The owl gave her a pitying look. "And a Gerudo?"
Ruuya blinked. Her hand - paw - drifted to her waist. Right. No sword. Her claws, however, sprung out of her paw.
"I take that as a yes," she said. "Hmmm… Well, make yourself at home."
Most people, Ruuya realized, would've tossed her out. Gerudo had one solid reputation: thievery. And in a rich house like this, there had to be many things she could to steal, like those aged tomes, books, and scrolls filling the bookcases on either side of the fireplace on the back wall of the front room.
The owl gave Nan a stern look, then the two of them went into the kitchen. A few moments later, the mother came out with a large mug filled with some kind of steaming liquid and a plate of something - waybread and sliced cheese. She handed these to Ruuya.
Ruuya stared at the plate.
"They're not poisoned," said the owl.
But Ruuya was doubtful. Scared. This was Dark World food. It certainly smelled fine - better than dried leever, although...
"You take a bite first," Ruuya said.
The owl, unperturbed, did as asked. She didn't faint. She didn't turn green or into a mushroom. Perhaps the poison took later.
No, thought Ruuya, she wouldn't have eaten it if it was poison...would she? Maybe it doesn't affect birds…! Or…?
"I would not feed a guest poison," she said, answering Ruuya's unspoken question. She then sat on the cushioned bench, beckoning - though not necessarily expecting - Ruuya to take a seat. "You are a Gerudo. Desert people often respect hospitality. Food, drink, shelter."
"Why do you care?" asked Ruuya, still standing. She crossed her arms. "No one trusts a Gerudo." It was almost a mantra, one of many she had been taught.
The owl's eyes crinkled. "You didn't hurt Nan."
Ruuya slow shook her head. "But she said…"
"Keatons have claws," said the woman. "Sharp teeth. You could've tricked her. Stolen from her, or tried… My daughter is still young, naive, and...very trusting. Those are good things. But, even stunned as you were…you could've purloined her. Instead, you did not. I return hospitality for hospitality, honor for honor due. It is the tradition of your folk...as well as the tradition of mine, the people of this Dark World."
Ruuya opened her mouth, ready to retort. Then stopped. This woman knew of her culture. Knew of her people. And was still welcoming.
Instead, she said, "Thank you."
"Alysse." The owl's eyes crinkled again.
"Alysse." Ruuya blinked. "It's nice to meet you."
It was a strange sensation, this acceptance. Perhaps, in this world of decay and gloom, she had found some decent people. Or at least people who wouldn't take and hide her belongings. For now though, she would eat, perhaps rest in a guest room if she was allowed, then find a way back and search for Jamila. Despite their hospitality, she still had to make sure her mare, her friend, was safe.
For today, however, she would stay.