Desert air and harsh sunlight threatened to bake the stoic figure and his less serious partner in their tight gear. Idri waved her hand in front of her face, fanning herself, but she neglected to take her mask off which made her fanning moot. Sooga stood behind her with a hand resting on one of the swords at his hips. They looked over the desert from atop a mountain with a small oasis behind them. Idri counted her blessings there, if she were staking out with anyone else they wouldn't have gotten such a prime spot.
"Do you see either of them yet?" Idri whined. Sooga was silent, facing the canyon exit across the shifting sands. He shook his head after a moment and scratched his neck.
"Nothing yet." He said. Idri groaned and threw her arms over the side of the cliffs, hanging off with her legs hooked on the nearby tree. Sooga grumbled under his breath, annoyed by her complaining. Idri sat on her knees and looked up at him.
"I know about Link, but who is the other person we're looking for?" She asked. Sooga's shoulders drooped. She hadn't read anything about the mission, had she? He pointed to the canyons, directing her to watch them while he stepped back to pace beside the oasis's shimmering water.
"The second target is a Sheikah weapon's specialist. They are nomadic and thus vulnerable, and they have invented a new kind of weapon that we could find use in. Elimination is allowed, but Master Kohga stresses we attempt to catch them first." Sooga explained.
"They? Do we even know what they look like?" Idri asked.
"We know they dress in the Sheikah Stealth gear, but so does every other Sheikah and even Link himself so… it doesn't help describe them exactly," Sooga said as he drummed his fingers on his sword's hilt.
"How helpful," Idri muttered. She twirled the flayed end of her whip and scanned the desert while Sooga took his short break. She spotted movement at the Bazaar and perked slightly. The Gerudo guards were swapping posts.
"Sooga! They're on the move, we can investigate Kara." She exclaimed, hopping to her feet and pressing her fist to her chest. Sooga saw the guards moving as well and nodded, doing the same. They both stuck their first two fingers up and vanished immediately in a puff of smoke and fluttering paper sigils.
Kara Kara Bazaar had few visitors, most were men shunned from the Gerudo city. The rest were Gerudo merchants taking advantage of the impure men. Idri and Sooga hid behind a nearby boulder and double-checked that no one was watching.
"Alright, we're clear." She whispered.
"Nothing too conspicuous," Sooga said, glancing at her accusingly. The two swiftly make symbols with their hands before another cloud of smoke obscures their view. Now in Hylian disguise, the pair walked up the beaten path to the lake in the middle of the bazaar. They separate once they enter and go to opposite ends, browsing the stands while eyeing every visitor carefully. Nothing of importance could be gathered. No rumors of a Sheikah venturing so far out, no talk of weird travelers. It seemed it was going to be another day with no developments. Idri puffed out her cheeks. Sooga returned to her and handed her a small bag that clattered once it hit her hand.
"Get us some beds at the inn. We can't head back until we have something substantial to report." He said. Idri took a moment to respond. It always took a bit to process seeing her mentor's face. She took the bag of rupees and turned to pinpoint the Inn. It wasn't hard, the Inn had a tall stone statue on top of it. She started that way but paused at the stands carrying several different foods. Idri licked her lips. A bunch of Mighty Bananas sat on display. Recipes danced in her head and she bounced with excitement to try them.
"How much for the bunch?" She asked quickly. The shopkeeper flinched at her excitement and eyed her curiously. Idri barely waited for an answer before buying the bunch anyway and continuing her mission.
A Gerudo woman leans over the shop counter with a heavy sigh. Obviously bored. Her wares were sets of single arrows of all types, nothing she really needed. Idri trotted past her and went to the big, buff Gerudo at the Inn counter. Idri approached but hesitated before reaching the counter. She stared up at her in silence. The Gerudo shifted her gaze in confusion. She snapped her fingers in front of Idri's face.
"Are you here for a bed or just looking?" She asked.
"Oh, ah, sorry! I need two beds please." Idri smiled.
"Alright, 80 rupees." The Gerudo replied, her stern tone sent a shiver up Idri's spine. She quickly whipped out the rupees and handed them over.
"Thank you, we'll be back tonight." She explained, trotting back outside to her mentor. Sooga leaned on a wall outside. His intense eyes watching the bazaar. Idri tapped his arm to get his attention.
"Finished."
"Mhm," he muttered, "I'm going to head up the road and watch for travelers. Just blend in." Idri swiftly nodded and the two went their separate ways. Without a thought, Idri ran to the communal cooking pot and sat on the rock beside it.
"Cooking time!" She cheered to herself. What better way to blend in than by cooking plenty of beautiful banana-based treats all for herself. She set her several overflowing bags of ingredients beside her and started the fire. Someone tapped her shoulder before she could begin. With her lips pursed in annoyance, she glanced at the interruption. A Shiekah woman with silver hair reaching her mid-back smiled nervously at her. She was battered and bruised with leaking wounds all over her. The sight made Idri wince.
"Mind if I join you?"
"Oh… sure. But you cook for yourself." Idri huffed.
"That's fine. This is just the only pot." She explained, sitting across from her. Idri looked her over suspiciously. She'd rather focus on her cooking, but there was the possibility that she was the specialist and Sooga would never let her slide if she didn't follow up on it.
"I'm Pire, by the way." She smiles again, trying to be friendly.
"Nice to meet you," Idri muttered with a flat tone. Pire took the hint and quieted, waiting for her turn.