Chapter 16.
Clarity

It was an early rise for some of the Kokiri that day. Link didn't want Mido to get the chance at ruining the plans he had.

"You really know where to find peaches?" The little ones asked as Link led them to the river.

"Yes I do. Once you're all done with bath time, I'll take you to see." Link kept his sword at his back, not wanting anyone to try and take it from his room again.
Navi floated by his head as he escorted the eager little ones to the river.

"wow…" Navi shot off. The river had become much shallower than it had been the day before. "Link!"

Link ran over, accompanied by the little ones.

"Link what did you do?" Navi scolded.

"Me? How could this be my fault?"

"I dunno, apparently everything's your fault around here." Navi crossed her arms, glancing at the little ones' wide expressions. "I'm joking, by the way. And if I had to guess, beavers are responsible."

"Beavers?"

"They do stuff like this all the time, but this is the first time I've seen it happen around here." Navi imagined it must be happening so far upstream that the Deku Tree's influence can't prevent it from causing trouble.

"Does, that mean we don't need to take a bath?"

Link ignored the little one for a moment as he walked into the river. At its deepest, it went between his knees and hips. Deep enough for the little ones to get in, but as a rare exception to the daily routine, he really wanted to go find the source of the issue.

"Navi, want to deal with the beavers?" He asked, drawing his sword and readying himself for battle.

"Do you know what a beaver is?"

"No… What is it?"

"It's a…" She took a moment to think. "It's a brown rabbit that has a flat tail. They build walls in rivers to stop the water."

"oh…" Putting his sword away, Link came out of the water. "So they're not monsters?"

"The Deku Tree doesn't like them. I can only imagine the dam they could make with his body." Navi tilted her head, trying to picture the Deku tree on its side. "oh my gosh, without the river, then he might dry up."

Looking at the little ones, Link felt bad about having to break his promise.
"I'll take you to the peach tree soon, but first, I need to go." Quickening his pace with Navi at his side, he called over his shoulder. "Don't drown while I'm not here!"

Navi whizzed back to the little ones.
"No, don't drown at all! Okay?"

"Yes Navi…" The kids said together.

"Good!~" She flew off to catch up with Link.

Link charged on with Navi trailing behind. She found the best way to avoid invisible spider webs was to follow his path exactly and just keep under his head height. Skultullas really were the only threat to her.
Link, on the other hand, was more worried about getting lost.
There were a few times when he'd pass a place he'd swear he just had a moment earlier. But Navi insisted he was going the right way.

"If the river is on your right side, you've not turned around." She reached out her arms as she stretched in mid-air. "Oh, wait a minute…"

Link slowed, coming to a stop as he watched Navi puzzle something over.

"I think, Rose must be awake. She and the Deku tree aren't in the same place anymore." Closing her eyes, she tried to narrow her sister's location. "Hmm, she's gonna freak out when she sees the river."

Ignoring Navi, Link was more distracted by something he'd never seen in the woods before.
"Hey, Navi… What's that over there?"

Flying up to his head, Navi spotted a stone structure just barely visible behind the trees.
"Oh, just the ruins."

Link stared at them. Everyone got lost in the woods searching for that building, and all anyone had to do was follow the river upstream for a few miles.
It was beyond infuriating.
"Can we go see them?"

"If you like. The river isn't going anywhere. But there's really nothing all that special about them. Hyrule Castle is much nicer."

"Well the Deku tree is waiting! Let's be quick!"

"yeah... wait, Watch it!"

"Oof!-"
As Link weived around a wide tree in his way, he ran right into someone. Their bodies collided with a smash that burst the one he hit into leaves, scattering into the wind.
In a frightful panic, Link scrambled to his feet and backed away.

"hahaha~ Are we playing tag?" Asked a mischievous voice that seemed to come from everywhere.

They looked around, everywhere.

Navi knew Strawkids aren't maleficent by nature, but their pranks can be annoying.
"Show yourself, right now!" Often, they may listen to someone of higher authority. Navi hoped he'd respect her as a guardian fairy.

Behind the scared boy clutching his shaking sword, the leaves were picking themselves up, forming the shape of a child.

"Watch out!" Navi yelled and without hesitation, Link swung at whatever was behind him.

The Strawkid backflipped out of the way, his black golden eyes staring into Link's soul.
"Let's play a game!" it giggled, pulling out a trumpet.

"No!" Link didn't know what the Strawkid planned, but kept his guard up all the same.

With a hard blow of the trumpet, Link found the wind blowing leaves into his face.
As the whirlwind of leaves and grass encased Link, he lost sight of Navi.

"Link!" Her tiny voice rang out.

"Navi!?" Link jumped as a white fog crept over his feet. Sword in hand, he tried to slice his way out of the cage forming around him.

It broke so easily at his first attempt, but that was not the problem anymore.
The forest looked completely different. It was darker and thicker with foliage and dead trees.

"Navi!" He called out, hearing his voice return many times before dying out.

"hahah~"

Turning to find the laughing Strawkid sitting atop the small stump of a deceased Deku Tree, Link kept his sword up.
"Why did you bring me here?"

The Strawkid leaned forward, falling from his stump and smashing into the ground.
Taking just a step forward to try and figure out what was going on, Link was blind-sighted by the sudden re-emergence of the Strawkid behind him.

"Tag!" Shoving Link onto his hands and knees, the Strawkid backflipped away. "you're it!"

Link got to his feet just in time to see the Strawkid vanish again, but the sound of jingling wooden rattles echoed throughout.

Gritting his teeth and putting his sword away, Link looked around.
While he and Navi were following the stream, the sun's rays were coming in from his left shoulder as the shallow river flowed on his right side.
Now dots of sunlight breaking through the trees were casting light on his chest.
Turning to his right, he guessed he was facing the same direction that he was heading before getting distracted by the ruins.
But knowing whereabout in the woods he was, was a different issue altogether.

His best guess was finding a river. If it was deep, he planned to go downstream, hoping to find the dam, after freeing the water he would just need to continue following the stream until finding himself at the bathing spot near the Deku Tree.
If the water is shallow, then going upstream would be the smarter idea.
On the subject of finding Navi, he simply needed to ask another fairy to guide him to her.

He just had to hope the first river he found was The river he needed. But on his day-long march to leave the woods, he never encountered a second one, so he had to hope and assume.

As he started running, the white mist over the forest floor thickened, and the wooden jingle noises seemed to soften.

'Tag, you're it.' Was the last thing the Strawkid said before vanishing.
Stopping in his tracks, Link considered if he should be looking for the Strawkid instead.

He so badly wished Navi was with him. With her intuitive sense of direction, getting home would be as simple as following her lead.

But this far into unknown grounds, and with trickster spirits deliberately trying to make things harder, perhaps playing the Strawkid's game is the only move.
After all, nothing is stopping it from just sending Link further into the woods a second time even if he does make it home.

Turning on the spot, Link followed the sounds and wandered into the thickening fog, where the hollow rattles got louder.

Dancing and skipping atop of a tall stump, Link saw the Strawkid playing his little trumpet.

"Hey!" Link called.

"Ohohoh~!" The Strawkid frayed apart, his leaves blowing in the wind. But the music didn't stop, it did however seem to be coming from another direction and further away.

"darnit…" Link jogged off, wondering where this sudden sense of courage was coming from.
The last time he encountered a Strawkid, it was as petrifying as the first time when he was little.
Unsure if it was due to this encounter being in broad daylight, or if he just felt braver since his adventure beyond the forest, Link liked that he wasn't as scared anymore.
It was a small step up from before. But the fear was still there.
Honestly, he just felt annoyed. Navi could be in trouble and he felt useless playing these stupid games.

At least feeling frustrated meant he had the confidence and motivation to deal with the situation instead of being too terrified to move a muscle.

As Link ran through the woods, he suddenly found himself surrounded.
Wooden figures with skinny bodies, hanging heads and toothy grins started hobbling toward him.

"Stay back…" He warned, "What do you want?" They said nothing, their bodies shook and moved frighteningly and unnatural in the way they seemed to drag their feet over the ground as they approached.

"I'm warning you!" Link reached for his sword.
Closing his eyes, he sliced hard. His blade met the dry twigs, snapping in half and they collapsed to the ground.

Twitching one eye open, he found the lifeless husk below, but his attention was soon drawn to the cackling Strawkids among the branches way above.
The remaining wooden puppets under their control swayed and rocked with their uncoordinated laughter.
They were clearly toying with him and loving every minute of it.

Sliding his sword behind his back once more, Link walked to the nearest tree trunk and leaned against it.
If the Strawkids weren't going to vanish, then he didn't want to give them a reason to disappear again.
Let them laugh, then demand answers.

It took far less time than Link was willing to wait for the Strawkids to get bored of their last prank, and so needed a new way to irritate Link.
One jumped to the forest floor and observed the Kokiri boy up close while the second one stayed up in the trees.

"Don't you wanna play?" The lower one asked.

Keeping his eyes shifting between the two, Link held his chin up.
"Why should I?"

The Strawkid tilted his head before looking up at the one above.
"I want to play hide and seek!" Called down the one from up top. "Let's play!" Agreed the lower one.

Link kept his face free from his thoughts, but it was strange.
These things haunted his nightmares for years, yet there they stand, seemingly as desperate for attention as any of the little ones back home.

"You're playing too!" They pulled their trumpets, and with a hard blow, the wind pulled in a blindly white fog that engulfed everything.

Link felt panic come back, just for a moment, but he could feel the tree behind him still. He just couldn't see his hand in front of his face.
"Are you lost~?" Giggled a young voice.
"Come find us, and we'll bring you home~!"

Link closed his eyes. The air tasted thicker and it got so cold all of a sudden, but he could hear the bells with every step the Strawkid took.
With some sense of direction and nothing but their word, he looked forward at the white wall of mist and took careful steps towards the sounds.

When before he could run through the woods, now he was stumbling over every step, tripping over rocks and roots.
Without warning, a tree would appear right before his eyes if he was lucky, if not so lucky, he'd meet a thorny bush, followed by laughter.
He was clearly being watched every step of the way.

Sometimes, the beady yellow eyes would cut through the fog just for a second before the sound of leaves brushing in the wind would turn his gaze somewhere else.

Literally, all he had to go on was the wind at his back and the endless rattling of wood, the occasional blow of a trumpet, and the playful melody of an ocarina.

Link suddenly turned to the new sound. The song of the forest.

"Follow us!" Giggled a close voice. "We'll take you home if you can catch us!"

Link searched through the fog, trying to pinpoint where the melody was playing.
"Saria…" He took a step forward, marching blindly back the way he came.

"You'll be lost forever and ever and ever~"

A hard blow of a trumpet cut a clear tunnel through the fog on Link's right side. On the other side was a Strawkid dancing, clearly trying to entice Link to give chase.
But Link knew that the fog would close in again the moment he goes off course.
Focused, he charged on ahead.

"Link!" Called a familiar voice.

Spinning on the spot, Link saw the blue eyes and red hair of his little friend.
"Maron?"

The lost girl ran up to him, arms out as she desperately tried to reach the boy she had a secret crush on.
"I tried to find you! Help me!"

Link caught the girl in his arms, hugging her close.
"How did you get here?" He asked, his hand instantly reaching to feel her soft red hair. Only, it was dryer, like straw.

"I got lost," She said, pulling back slightly to reveal her dark face and tiny gold eyes. "You're lost too! You're Lost too!"

Link pushed the Strawkid back and started running, slamming into a tree but not letting it slow him down.

"You're lost too! You're lost too! You're lost too!~"

Like a thumping hammer in his chest, Link's heart raced as he ran as fast as he could.
With every step he ran, his legs felt heavier. Every exhausted breath pulled from the air burned in his throat.
"I have to keep running!" He told himself as the wind carried dried rustling leaves as the laughter and heckling continued to close in behind.
If he can't escape the fog, he'll never get home.

Then it happened. He caught a root and his body hit the ground hard.
It's exactly like before. The night that ruined his life when he was so very little.
The years of ridicule from everyone who doubted him.
The night terrors.
Feeling like a worthless waste of space.
It all started on that one night all those years ago.
He Never wanted to feel that again.
Never Again.

"Are you lost, little one?" A pair of straw-filled boots appeared before his face. "It's time you came with me~"

Link wiped the blood from his upper lip and rose to his feet.
He and the Strawkid met the other's gaze.

Link saw the trumpet ready to be blown.
On that night so many years ago, the exact same words were spoken to him, and with a blow of its trumpet, the Strawkid returned he and Saria home.
But this time…

"I'm leaving!" He turned his back and started walking.

"but you're lost~!" The Strawkid called out. "you'll never find your way by yourself!"

"I said I'm leaving!" Link answered, looking back to see five of the eager Strawkids staring at him. "I'm done being afraid of you, I'm done running, I'm done!"

Walking away from the Strawkids, Link tried to focus on the melody of the forest.
The music lies at the heart of the woods, where the animals, the spirits, and the Kokiri live.
He just had to find his way there without letting his mind be fogged by the fear and self-doubt that had been keeping him down for years.

Walking under a branch, Link reached up and plucked a single ripe pear.
After all that running in the fog, it was nice to have something juicy and sweet to crunch on.

With the remaining core, he tossed it onto the discoloured moss on his way by.
A mosstrap sprouted out and was immediately decapitated by Link's sword.
One less killer plant in the woods for the critters to worry about.
Also on the subject of things not worth worrying about, the Strawkids hid whenever Link looked back to see if they were still following, but they didn't bother him again.

The fog got thinner and thinner until the lush vibrant colours of the forest returned in a blinding display of golds and greens.

"It's good to be home…" He sighed, sliding down a hill that brought him into the clearing near the base of the Deku Tree.

There was a gathering of children and fairies, quite a commotion.

"Oh, there he is!" Called one of the girls.
"I told you he was just hiding somewhere."

"well that didn't last long…" He sighed again.

Navi flew over immediately. For the last three hours, she had to listen to everyone say Link was probably hiding up a tree when all she could do was feel helpless knowing he was out there alone, unsure if he'd find his way back.
"Are you okay? What happened with the Strawkids?"

"They're not so scary anymore." Link told her as he searched the crowd for Saria and Rose.

"Some of us went to go looking for you, word will reach them soon that you're okay." Pointing at the trees, Navi showed the small group of fairies taking off to tell the search parties.
"Is that, your blood?"

Link licked his lip. The taste of iron was still there from when he fell.
"yeah. It's okay though. I know what I need to do."

Navi followed as he ignored not only his bullies but also the little ones still asking about peaches, only telling them to ask Saria about it later.

She landed on his shoulder once he was inside the Deku Tree and climbing up to his room.
"What are you planning?"

Link started packing again. Spare clothes. A few empty bottles and one half-full of Deku sap. The fire kit. His Ocarina.

"Link? What are you planning?"

Bag thrown over his shoulder, Link looked to his fairy.
"You like exploring, don't you?" Even before she answered, Link saw the smile perking on her little blue face.

"But, we shouldn't. It's dangerous to go alone…"

Link raised his blade between himself and her, it made the point quite clear.
"Take this?" He asked, slipping it in behind his bag.

"You're a Kokiri, you belong in the forest. It is known that-," She had to fight herself to say it. "You weren't the first to leave the forest."
It's not talked about. The spirits like to keep the children in a state of naivety for their own sake. But this might be vital.
"Sometimes, we fairies die… And when that happens to a Kokiri, when their fairy dies, I mean. Most times, they just wander off on their own… they become a Strawkid or… if they make it outside the forest, they die too."

"But I did leave." Link objected.

"The Deku tree gave you special permission. He was probably watching over us the whole time. Maybe…" Navi didn't know what to say. She didn't know how or why children die. No one does. Only their fairies would know, and they die first. "Maybe it's the other monsters that get them."

Link waved his sword, remembering his fight with the Bokoblin.
It was big and scary but, it wasn't too hard to scare off. Just one hard kick to the nuts was all it took.

"Link, if you get into a fight. I can't help you, do you understand that?" Navi asked.

"Yes, but I-"

"I don't think you do." Navi flew closer. "Link, if you saw a Skulltula coming to eat me, would you save me?"

"Of course," Link looked hurt she'd even ask.

"What if you couldn't? What if I was too high up and you couldn't reach me? What if you had to stand there and listen to me screaming as I'm killed by those monsters." Navi fought against the shakes. She knew too well what fear would take over if she was ever in that situation again.

Link closed his eyes, but tears escaped. It was too horrible to think about happening to his friend.

"I don't want to feel that helpless with you either," Navi told him. "In the forest, we can be there for each other. I can help show you the way, you can keep me safe."

Link took in her smile. He wanted his fairy safe.
When those Strawkids took him into the fog, she was the first one he thought about.
But what's going to happen if they stay in the woods?
Nothing.

"I've been out, Navi." Link looked from his window. The children below starting to go about their day. The golden treetops above. "Rose used to show me the way… but now I want to try and find my way."

"By yourself…?"

"no," Turning to her, Link cupped his hands under her hanging feet for her to land and sit. "The Deku Tree paired us for a reason. I don't think we'll find it here."

Navi felt embarrassed for him. It's funny, but in a cringy way.
"you're just adorable…" She laughed into her hand. Honestly, she enjoyed her adventure with him too. It's just a little scarier to not have the father's permission first.
But she never had permission any of the times prior, either.

"Ground rules. Don't start any fights with monsters."
"Deal."
"Run-AWAY from danger, not towards."
"Deal!"
"Don't do anything stupid without checking with me first."
"D-"
"In fact, don't do anything stupid at all!"
"D-deal… Can we go now?"
"Yes!" Navi looked around. "just one thing…" She looked shy, touching her fingers together. "I feel exposed when we're outside. Do you have anything I could sleep in? A spider could drag me away in the night."

Link was about to suggest his bag, but there was one thing he rarely wears. It's been lying on his shelf for a while.
"What about this?" He gave it a quick slap to shake the dust off.

"What is it?" Navi studied the strange stitched-together fabric until Link tossed it over his head. "A hat?"

"Yea." Link poked a small hole in the stitching at the front before sticking it on. "Go for it."

There was a moment of connection where no explanation was needed.
Navi flew up to his hat, sucked her wings into her back, and crawled into the hole.
"oh wow!" It was just bright enough inside to see. It was warm, Link's hair made soft bedding, and she had a view of the outside. "I live here now."

Link chuckled as he began walking out of the room.
On his way down the Deku Tree, Navi thought of all the possibilities her new hidey-hole opened up. It was a pointy hat that drooped at the back, so there was storage for soft berries if Link let her. So she wouldn't be so reliant on him to stop and let her eat anymore. No more berries squashed in his bag with all of his food, she could keep them herself.
'Though, he'd still be the one carrying them. Am I being selfish?' She thought about it for a brief moment. "too comfy to care~" She let out a deep sigh as she snuggled into his hair. It was so warm, and although the rocking took some getting used to, once she had the rhythm down it was soothing. And felt a lot safer than his shoulder.

"So, where do you want to go first? Should we stop by Maron's and see how she is?"

Link did enjoy that idea, but if he was going to abandon the Kokiri, he felt his first act should be one of goodwill.
"We'll follow the river. Let's find the beavers and bring back the river!"

"Okay~" Navi relaxed, knowing the first 'foe' will be easy to scare away.

Walking either unnoticed by the other children or simply ignored, Link focused on his task and kept himself feeling positive.
With a quick skip in his step, he followed the same path as before going upstream and same as before, he and Navi were right where he spotted the Ruins.

"What do you think? Check it out before we continue?"

"When will we get another chance?" Navi agreed, crawling out of his hat and deploying her wings to fly at his side. "It gets too cosy in there~ What a good idea!"

Link kept his wits about him, watching for Strawkids or a looming fog.
The wind was picking up, bringing the rustling of leaves and sticks, but as it calmed, a playful melody picked up in its stead.

"Oh…"
"Aww…"

Never mind the monsters. If either of them left without at least saying goodbye, there'd be too very upset young ladies waiting for their return.
"wait, Saria is here?"

Link found himself entering a small meadow of grass in front of the old ruins.
Sitting on a stump, playing a heartfelt tune, Saria accompanied by Rose played on her Ocarina.

Saria felt a small hand tapping her head, letting her know it was time to stop.
"About time… my cheeks were getting sore…" She yawned, letting her breath relax. "I heard you got lost?"

Looking at Navi, Link assumed she was the one who told everyone.
And why not? After watching her boy vanish before her eyes, of course she flew back to tell everyone.

"Did the song of the forest bring you back?"

Link could still hear it. The melody Saria was playing still echoed around the trees.
"It did. I just listened. And I found my way back." He said with a smile to her. "Thank you."

Saria noted the bag at his back. Letting out a deep sigh, she smiled back like she knew this would happen.
"Of all the Kokiri, you're the saddest one I know." She told him. "Not your fault. You've had it hard, Link…" She stepped from her stump and approached, arms behind her back as she smiled at him. "But hearing you talk about your adventure, it's the happiest I've ever seen you. Your eyes were so bright, they were like a fairy's eyes."

Link reached out to her, but she closed the gap and hugged him.
Holding her tight, Link thought he'd ask.
"Want to come with us?"

"I can't…" She slowly let go, her eyes taking in the greenery surrounding them. "This is where I belong. And someday, I…" She choked on her words. This was a secret she was told long ago when she met Rose. But if Link is leaving, he won't tell any other soul in the forest.
"There's something I have to tell you… the Deku Tree-"

"Saria…" Rose looked up at her. She hadn't even told Navi, so Saria can't be spreading this.

"Who's he going to tell?" Saria asked. "besides, I hate lying to him."

"Lying to me?"

Saria nodded, before turning her attention to the ruins behind them.
"When the Deku Tree bonded me with Rose, he told me that he…" She choked again. "That he…"

"is dying?"

Rose and Saria spun to face the boy.
"No, he said he Might die!"
"Did he tell you he's dying?"

"oops…" Navi bit her lip.

Saria and Rose excused themselves, which gave Navi time to scold Link.
"Idiot."
"you thought she was going to say it too."
"Yeah, but I'd have let her finish before opening my trap!"
"Well I, where did she go?"

Rose and Saria were gone. Link and Navi spun around, looking all around.

"If the Deku Tree dies. The fog will never clear up," Hunched over on Saria's stump sat a lone Strawkid as he peered at Link and Navi. "Then all will be lost, forever and ever and ever~"

Navi gulped, but Link was beyond interested in anything a Strawkid said, but one question was permitted.
"Where's Saria?"

"I'm not a tattletale~" Cartwheeling off the stump, the Strawkid came right up to Link's face.

"Don't fight…" Navi urged, insisting that there wasn't any need.

"We're back!" Called out Saria as she ran from the ruins.

Glancing to the entrance of the ruins just for a second, Link turned back to see the Strawkid had vanished.
"Are we hallucinating?"
"I don't even know." Navi sighed.

Arriving with Rose behind, Saria held out her hands, showing off a small green gemstone. She wanted Link to see, but she was careful not to drop it, as though her life may depend on it.
"The Deku Tree never gave me a basket to forage with. He gave me this, he told me that if he should ever die, I was to plant this Emerald after the darkness passes, so life could return to the forest."

"And it was hiding in the ruins this whole time?" Link asked, staring at his many reflections in the cut stone.

"He told me to hide it somewhere no one will find."
"I nearly did."
"Nearly. But the Strawkids stopped you. That is their job, after all. Keep the song alive and keep this place free of danger."

"Link's not a danger!" Navi objected.
"He is carrying a sword." Rose pointed out. "The Deku Tree can read minds, Strawkids can't, but they can summon the fog and mess with your thoughts."

Link hated not knowing all this sooner. But it's not Saria's fault. She was just doing her part, the same as everyone. Even Rose.
"Why are you showing me this, now?"

"Because I want you to know, even if our father dies, we're not completely lost." Saria rubbed her hand on the glossy green gem. "You felt you had to come back to us last time, but I need you to know, we'll be fine. Only come back when you miss us, okay?"

Feeling his children at the temple, the Deku Tree smiled at their concern and their optimism.
The river, once clean and lively had become toxic in recent years.
The Deku Tree had been absorbing the poison through his roots so the Kokiri and other plant life wouldn't suffer.
Only after the poison is all gone would the forest protector allow his life to fade from it. Only then must Saria plant the seed. Else, the seed will wilt and die like its predecessor.

But the river dying up is a problem unforeseen.
The poison is less diluted now and if nothing changes, the Deku Tree will die too soon to prevent catastrophe for his children, and the forest.
Even now, his roots burned and decayed under the surface.