Back to the Forest
Link's little boots clicked along the stony ground as he entered the dark passageway. Soon, footfall softened, the boy walking across grass. The opening, flanked by two pillars, revealed a place he had not visited in quite a while.
Lost Woods
What came first was the music.
Link's ears twitched as the colors and sounds of his homeland appeared around him, even if cramped within segments of space. To his left stood a pale boulder. The paths ahead and to his sides were each pierced with a huge, hollow log. The music and airborne fae abounded the forest, always whimsical, always moving, always glowing...
Link smiled, breathing in the coniferous air, contrasting the dryness of Death Mountain.
Already revitalized, Link rushed forth but then stopped and looked up.
"Hey, over here!" called a voice. Perched above the hollow log to the left was the big owl, head upright. "Hoo hoo! Link...Good to see you again! Listen to this! Hoot hoot..." he cocked his head. "After going through the Lost Woods, you will come upon the Sacred Forest Meadow. That is a sacred place where few people have ever walked." His stared attentively.
"Shhh...What's that? I can hear a mysterious tune... You should listen to that tune, too... Hoo hoo ho!"
The owl's head went upside-down. "Do you want to hear what I said again?"
Link answered, "No." Never ever again, actually...
"If you are courageous, you will make it through the forest just fine... Just follow your ears and listen to the sounds coming from the forest!
Hoot hoot!"
Wings flapping heavily, feathers fluttering, the big bird flew beyond the canopy.
Since he was up there on the left, I'll go left...
Link walked through the hollow log, afterwards a longer area, far side dipped with a pool by a stone ledge.
Link scratched his head. "Hm. Let's try this way..." What sounds do I have to listen to?
After a series of walking through the darkness within hollow logs, Link wasn't sure where he was, or if he went the right way. The trees atop the cliffs seemed to be staring him down, as if they did not want him to succeed. Yet he stomped on, eager to outsmart the Lost Woods!
He ran forth through the hollow logs, going here and there, transitions of darkness and light going on and on...
...and he did not seem to get anywhere different.
Link looked around. "Umm... Where do I go?"
Navi hovered closed. "You don't remember what to do?"
"Uhh..." Link sweatdropped.
Navi shrugged. "You need to pay attention, Link."
Ears low, Link frowned. Nevertheless, he scurried onwards...
...and ended up overlooking...
Kokiri Forest
Link needed a few seconds. The sights of home struck his soul with contrasting emotions.
Happiness. Despair. Friendship. Loss...
He blushed. Am I not supposed to be here?
Link turned his head, a nearby sign having:
The Lost Woods
The outcast hesitated. I should go back, but I can't find the way...
Carefully, nervously, Link climbed down the vines. "Do you think everyone still hates me?"
"No, Link," Navi comforted. "They never did, not even Mido."
Once Link reached the bottom tier, he soon came across a blondie.
The girl said curiously, "Saria wanted to see you... Did she find you already?"
"Not yet."
Link shook his head, moving on.
The next Kokiri he met noticed him. "Oh, you're OK? You didn't leave the forest after all, did you?"
Link wasn't sure how to reveal this issue. "I did. I'm back."
The guard seemed unsettled, unsure of what to say.
Link looked up, noticing he had walked to the village exit. Oops, wrong way...again...
He explored the village, wondering if anyone could help him. He spoke with various Kokiri throughout the village...
"You have a cool Slingshot, huh? You know what's cool about it? You can aim and shoot! How cool! If you have the Slingshot ready, you can use Z Targeting to shoot while moving... Did you know that?"
Yes, I did know that...
"Did you know that if you go forward when you jump off a cliff, you'll roll when you land. This will absorb the shock of your landing. If you fall too far, though, you'll still get hurt..."
A Deku Scrub already told me that.
"Jumping is going out of style now. I'm crazy about doing backflips! Can you do one?"
"Yes, I can!" The boys took turns doing backflips, accomplishing just that. "Can you help me find Saria?"
"But I'm doing backflips!"
"Ughh... Fine..."
"Saria said she's waiting at the usual spot."
"That's what I'm trying to find... Can you help me find her?"
"Oh, um... But the Lost Woods are scary!"
"If you want to go to the Lost Woods, you'd better equip the right gear! Hee hee!"
"I will restock supplies from the store. Can you help me find Saria?"
"Hee hee!"
"Well?"
"Hee hee!"
"Wow, thanks a lot..."
"Mido might know something about Saria's whereabouts. I think Mido is sulking in one of the houses around here."
Link's body temperature rose.
The exile headed to the Great Mido's house, unsure how he would react. He really didn't want to see him, of all people. Link held his breath. But I gotta. He exhaled.
Once inside, Link walked across the carpet flanked by emptied chests. Mido stood atop the stump at the end, always trying to be bigger than everyone even when alone.
The boss wasn't happy, staring down Link. "Hey! What are you doing in my house?!"
Link innocently looked up at his former boss, even expecting to fight him, but Mido seemed more composed than usual. "I'm looking for Saria."
"If you're looking for Saria, she's in the Lost Woods, as usual. Don't tell me you don't know where that is! The entrance is up on the cliff overlooking the village! I know you'll get lost! Don't worry, you'll just end up back at the entrance! Harumph!"
Link frowned. Everyone just tells me things I already know! They never tell me exactly what I need to do... Though, Link was a bit surprised by Mido's lack of rage this time. He didn't even make a big deal about the money Link had stolen, perhaps not even realizing it?
Link swallowed hard, almost choking on pride. "Can you...take me to Saria?"
Mido's fairy facepalmed. "Even after all this time, you still can't manage to go from one place to the next?!"
The Boss of the Kokiri swung his arms up then crossed them, looking away, foot tapping against the stump. "Good grief!"
Link never imagined himself agreeing with Mido, and felt quite stupid. "So...you know where the Sacred Forest Meadow is, right?"
"Of course I do! I probably should go to the last part of the Lost Woods now, and then block you from going to the Sacred Forest Meadow! But...I already rejected you as one of us. You're not my problem."
Link waved him off. "I don't need you anyways." Chin up, Link confidently left. "I'll find Saria by myself."
Lost Woods
Once again, Link explored the strange place, soon unsure of where he was, let alone where he was going. The feeling of being lost...brought back bad memories from when... When...
Saria's happy face popped in his head. Next, he imagined her sitting in a small, barred alcove, hugging her knees, looking so sad.
What if Saria is also lost? What if I can't find her? What if something happened? What if...
Questions raced through the boy's mind, his heart thumping with painful heaviness.
Link whispered, "I have to find her."
When the darkness of the next path cleared up, Link found something new. He approached a section of the Lost Woods with a small fence bordering a drop-off. Beyond the fence was a barren tree, sawed off just above a large branch stretching off to the right. A suspended stump hung from the branch, cut side facing the beholder.
Link scurried to the fence, overlooking the strange distraction that only boosted his curiosity. Slingshot in hand, he started shooting.
FWIP-PLONK FWIP-PLONK FWIP-PLONK
FWIP-PLONK
FWIP-PLONK
FWIP-PLONK
After launching a bunch of Deku Seeds, the crown of leaves atop the sawed-off trunk rustled—a Deku Scrub emerged. Turning to the right, the leafy fellow jumped along the branch, legs sticking out with every hop. Once he reached the rope, he faced Link and jumped up one last time. He stood while shaking his head and tapping his left foot against the branch.
"Cool!
You're great! You scored three perfect bull's-eyes! I have to give a neat present to such a wonderful person!
Please take it!"
Right foot briefly raised, the Deku Scrub shot out a pouch; Link caught it in his hands while the Deku Scrub bounced back towards his treetop burrow. "Your Deku Seeds Bullet Bag has become bigger! Now you can carry more bullets! This bag can hold 40 bullets!"
Quite pleased, Link pocketed his slingshot and bullet bag, hearing the Deku Scrub enter his home. "Hey, Mr. Deku Scrub?" he called. The wooden creature poked his head out the foliage. "Do you know where Saria is?"
The Deku Scrub squeaked, thinking heavily. "Hmm... You mean that cool girl with green hair?"
Link happily nodded.
"I don't see her very often, but sometimes she plays music with the Skull Kids. There's two of them down below, in fact! I bet you're great enough to get some wonderful information from them!"
Link turned his head. The railings of a ladder were poking up from behind the ledge by the wall. He scampered to the ladder, climbing down.
The area below was partly encircled with dense grass at the end, where a stump squatted before a larger stump with a thick branch, the thick branch cut short and resembling a stump in the air. All three cut-offs had sunny spotlights.
Link scratched his head. "I don't see anyone here."
The boy approached the stumps, soon climbing atop the first one.
Two Skull Kids wearing yellow-orange outfits appeared on the forked stump. They stood idle, holding their flutes as if ready to play.
Link got an idea. If Saria is friends with Skull Kids... He held his woodwind to his mouth.
A Skull Kid said, "Follow along with our song on your Ocarina. We'll lead you into it." They took turns playing a tune, moving their legs high and wide as they did so. A drumbeat and tambourine sounded somewhere in the background, though the players were not visible.
Link played along, the two flutes and Fairy Ocarina producing a steady tone.
Once they finished, a Skull Kid said, "That was quite a nice session. As a token of our friendship, please take this."
"You got a Green Rupee!
That's one Rupee!"
"Do you want to play some more?"
A second session.
"You got a Blue Rupee!
That's five Rupees!"
Another session echoed up the Lost Woods—PNNNGH!
Link's eyebrows rose. "Oops, wrong note..."
"Too bad...Heh heh! Do you want to play some more?"
One more session resounded the area. The Deku Scrub atop the previous tree stuck his head out, listening to the music.
Soon, the session reached the final notes.
"You got a Piece of Heart! So far, you've collected two pieces. With two more pieces, you will gain more life energy!"
Having finished all sessions, the Skull Kids backflipped, fading away.
"Wait!" Link cried, reaching out. "I wanted to ask...how to..." He sighed.
Navi flew up. "Excuse me, Skull Kids, Link would like to ask you something."
Two other Skull Kids appeared, their heads poking up from behind the cliffs, one holding a drum, the other a musical triangle. They must have played the background sounds during the sessions.
Link's eyes brightened up. "Oh! Skull Kids, I am looking for the Sacred Forest Meadow, where my friend, Saria, is. Can you help?"
The Skull Kid chimed his tambourine. "You must listen carefully."
Link waited attentively.
...
The drummer chuckled, tapping her drum. "Use your ears! Aren't they long enough?" At that, the two Skull Kids faded away, Navi flying back down to Link.
Link stood silently, rather annoyed. "Why can't people just tell me what I have to do?" He hopped off the stump, scurried to the ladder, and ascended. Looking to and fro, he explored the Lost Woods...
The boy soon came upon a different area. It was quite large, having half a tree trunk nearby a stump, both illuminated by spotlights. Atop the trunk was another Skull Kid, wearing mostly orange attire. He played his flute while kicking his legs out as Skull Kids danced.
Link frowned in thought. Don't I remember him from somewhere? Hm, he seems taller than when I last met him.
"Skull Kid
Is this what happens to kids who get lost in the forest? He might be our friend if we do something..."
Link hopped atop the stump and, thinking about the previous Skull Kids, held his Fairy Ocarina, and...
And...
...Played the only song he knew, Zelda's Lullaby.
The Skull Kid danced away then stopped. "That's not quite Saria's Song..."
"Oh, you know Saria? Do you know how to find her?"
Skull Kid flourished his flute. "You must listen to the music."
"What do you mean?"
Skull Kid just played his flute while dancing.
Link asked again, though Skull Kid kept dancing away.
Link growled, but moved onto the next pathway, arriving on a high point overlooking sawed-off branchless trees and the bridge exiting Kokiri Forest. He peered at the bridge, wondering if maybe Saria was still there, though did not see her fairy. He climbed down the tall ladder to the right, finding this area curious.
After passing the sawed trees, the area slanted upwards, a raised section to his left. Foliage rustled, a Deku Nut flying into the cliff. Link soon spotted a larger than usual Deku Scrub spitting a at him.
"Business Scrub
If you get close to it, it will hide in the grass..."
A nut shattered against Link's forehead. "Uh-hih!"
Running along the wall and realigning himself, Link crouched behind his shield, the next Deku Nuts bouncing off his shield and hitting the shooter. The woody creature squeaked, twirling out his burrow, revealing he had arms and legs. He swayed, his arms bent and loose, defeated and submitting.
"I surrender! To make your quest easier, I can enable you to pick up more Deku Sticks! But it'll cost you 40 Rupees!
Let's make a deal!"
"OK." Link raised his hands, happily staring at his new gift.
"Thank you very much! Now you can pick up many Deku Sticks! You can carry up to 20 of them!"
"Before you go," Link said, "do you know how to get to the Sacred Forest Meadow? I'm looking for my friend, Saria."
The Business Scrub scratched his leafy head. "Saria... The girl with green hair, right? She doesn't really buy Deku Sticks, so I don't know how to help."
Link's fists and teeth clenched. "Why can't anyone be helpful?! I'm so mad, I just wanna smack someone!" He began wielding Deku Sticks and breaking them into the wall.
"YIKES! !
I'm going home then!" The wooden businessman twirled back into his burrow.
Link just stood there, kinda dumb.
Navi flew by his ear. "I don't think I've ever seen you that angry since you wrestled Mido."
Link shrugged at her. "I'll be more careful with what I say." He considered just that as he climbed up the ladder. "Hmm..."
The boy scurried about the Lost Woods, soon returning to where he met the previous Deku Scrub. Gripping his slingshot, he hit the bull's-eye a few times to get the Scrub's attention.
The wooden creature hopped out his burrow.
Link spoke, "Hey! I forgot to thank you for the bullet bag you gave me. That was rather rude of me, so sorry about that."
The Deku Scrub jumped, kicking his legs out mid-air. "No problem, don't mention it! I'm always happy to help wonderful people."
Link smiled. "You're a pretty wonderful person, too! Anyways, I'm looking for my friend, Saria, who's at the Sacred Forest Meadow. But I keep going the wrong way..."
"She's the girl with green hair, right?"
Link nodded.
"Hm, I've never actually been to the Sacred Forest Meadow, but... I think you just take the left paths. Or was it left, left, right, left? Or maybe that's the Woods of Mystery out in the east... If you ever get confused, just listen to the music. If you can hear music coming from inside the hollow logs, that's the right way. You can also shoot a seed and listen to when it lands."
Link grinned. "Wow, thanks so much! Now I can find my friend!"
The Deku Scrub squeaked. "You're welcome! I hope you find her, have a good one!"
The boy eagerly scurried off to find his friend...
Link's long ears guided him along the music, sometimes seeing a boulder. "This is so easy now!" He arrived at the shortcut to Goron City, where he had met the giant owl. Next was the deep fountain.
After a while, sometimes passing a boulder, he came upon another rather larger area, becoming wider and rounded towards the end, having two tiers of cliffs rimming the vicinity. Dense grass grew along the bottom of the cliffs, more growing at the back where a dead tree stood to the right. A few butterflies fluttered around at the left.
Link went forth, another Business Scrub popping his head out and shooting a seed. Link stomped the incoming projectile to the ground, then threw it in the Scrub's face. The Scrub squeaked, twirling out and submissively wobbling.
"I surrender! In return, I will sell you Deku Nuts!
5 Pieces 20 Rupees they are! Let's make a deal!"
"OK."
"Thank you very much!"
Link didn't take even two steps before a second Business Scrub appeared nearby. Link deflected the nut back at him.
Once punished, the Scrub haplessly emerged. "All right! You win! In return, I will sell you Deku Sticks!
1 Piece 15 Rupees they are!
Let's make a deal!"
Navi chortled. "Business Scrubs have unusual business practices..."
Link bought it anyways.
"Thank you very much!" The Scrub spun back into the ground.
Navi shrugged. "...but it works for them."
Link gripped his brand new, expensive Deku Stick—smashed it into the wall, looking very pleased, fragments scattering as he broke several more Deku Sticks just for fun.
Navi couldn't understand her kid.
Link moved on, following his ears. Yet, one area felt odd. "Hm... Here, no matter where I go, I'll end up back in Kokiri Forest. Umm..." He approached one pathway, hesitated, then walked to another. He looked around. "The music isn't changing anymore. I hope I don't pick the wrong way."
Eventually, Link went his initial choice...
Sacred Forest Meadow
Since the music didn't change, Link knew he arrived at the secret place. "Yes! I had a feeling that was the right way!"
The area was quite unlike a meadow, featuring cliffs flanking a gate where some dense grass grew. Much taller cliffs towered from the sides.
Link frowned. "What's a gate doing here? It's blocking the way!"
Upset and puzzled, he walked over—a shrieky howl cut the music.
Gasping, Link rolled two and fro, wondering what the hell just happened.
To the left, a lupine creature had appeared, already running about on all fours, eyes glowing yellow, tongue hungrily hanging.
"Wolfos
Draw it close to you and watch its movement carefully! Attack it when it drops its guard!"
The Wolfos released more howls as he stood on his hind legs, paws thudding into Link's shield. Growling, the Wolfos hooked his claws around Link's shield and pulled it aside, lunging his snapping jaws. Link punched his crossguard into the beast's nose; the Wolfos backflipped, snorting.
Link realigned his shield, feet always stepping as he Z Targeted the monster. Shoulders low, the Wolfos circled around Link, looking for a weak spot.
Link gripped his blade. "Hih! Hah! Hyahh!"
The Wolfos ducked, covering himself with his arms, Kokiri Sword clanging against the beast's defense. After several sparking strikes, the Wolfos jumped over Link's attacks, landing behind and swinging his claws around.
Link grunted, staggering. He spun around, swinging away, the Wolfos backflipping. Both fighters made eye contact, the space between them soon filled with attacks. Kokiri Sword flurried against lupine claws, the exchange causing bloodloss for both faces.
Deku Shield raised, Link blocked claws then punched the rim into the Wolfos' chin.
The Wolfos staggered. "Awwoo?!" He scurried sideways, a little dazed.
Link rushed, swinging away. The Wolfos covered himself, blade clanging against his forearms. Impatient, Link threw a few Deku Nuts, though the Wolfos withstood them. Link swung rapidly, blade striking the beast's tough hide to no avail.
Link panted; the Wolfos knocked his sword away then headbutted Link's chest, knocking the air out.
"Ihnh!" Link fell on his butt, lungs briefly airless.
Navi flew forth to distract the Wolfos, though the beast didn't seem to care and tackled Link so hard he dropped his shield. The boys rolled around, snarling and wrestling. Link felt the Wolfos' claws digging into his tunic, the Wolfos ending up atop Link. The boy pulled the beast's jawbone down, wrenching it side to side, feeling the wet warmth from the tongue and lips, the beast huffing bad breath.
Confused as to why he couldn't bite, the Wolfos clawed at Link's forearms, attempting to free himself. Heels set into the ground, Link thrust his hips upwards, lifting the imbalanced Wolfos forwards and faceplant. Link slipped around the beast, wrapping his legs around him and chokeholding.
Eyes crooked, tongue out, the Wolfos stood, trying to breath. The extra weight on his back wasn't much, but was enough to block airflow. The Wolfos turned his head, trying to bite Link, but couldn't reach. The Wolfos bucked and flipped about, Link holding on.
Lungs clawing for air, the Wolfos grew desperate. He got an idea, charging towards the gate and leaping—turning mid-air, the Wolfos flew backwards, slamming Link between himself and the bars. CLANG!
Link and the Wolfos bounced off the gate, the beast gasping for air. Dazed, Link shook his head, retrieving his sword and shield.
The Wolfos rushed forth, fangs and claws glimmering. Up close, the Wolfos swung his paws, once, twice—momentum twirled him around, Link having stepped back. He thrust forth, hitting the beast in the back a few times.
The Wolfos shuddered, head flopping backwards. "Aawwwoh?!" He jumped through the air, avoiding Link's next attacks then circling around once again. Up close, the Wolfos pulled his paw back—
"Hahh!"
A Deku Nut flashed, stunning the Wolfos."Hohh! Hah! Hyaah!"
Link slashed wildly, the beast's fur getting red and wet. Link's vision darkened, the reek of bad dog breath filling hos nostrils—the Wolfos had bit over all of Link's head!
The beast reared, twirling his head around and around, Link's legs flailing through the air before he was spat out.
"AAAAHHHHH—" Link splat into the wall. He soon peeled off the stone and fell. Dizzy, Link wobbled to his feet.
The Wolfos snorted eagerly, charging forth and dropkicking Link, sending him into the wall again.
The back of Link's head smacked into stone, KRRK! He faceplanted the ground, tasting grass. He lifted his head, spitting out grass, seeing the Wolfos charging, paws extending. Link jumped backwards off the earth as the Wolfos leapt; Link kicked off the wall, the Wolfos smashing into the cliff instead.
Link flipped mid-air while slashing into the Wolfos' back, the beast whining. Both landed at the same time, the Wolfos slobbering, eyes twitching. Growling, the Wolfos stood on his hind legs, clenching his paws.
Link raised his shield; the Wolfos slammed his paws with such force Link flew back, the ground cracking where he once was. Link got up, shield up.
The Wolfos bit the shield and reared, pulling it out Link's grasp and spitting it away. "Ahh haaa!"
Link threw the Kokiri Sword, blade ramming hilt-deep into the Wolfos' sternum. The Wolfos convulsed, eyes big, tongue floppy.
Link withdrew a Deku Stick and smashed it over the beast's head, sparks flying out but the beast dazed. The Wolfos nevertheless snapped his jaws, teeth clacking. Link backflipped, withdrawing another Deku Stick mid-air. The Wolfos leapt; Link thrust the Deku Stick into the monster's mouth, who like any dog, began chewing, teeth making sparks.
The Deku Stick burst into flames.
The Wolfos covered his smoking mouth, eyes huge as he jumped straight into the air.
"HYAAAHHHH!" Link Jump Attacked with his flaming Deku Stick, smashing it into the beast as he fell, sparks and embers bursting everywhere.
The monster landed awkwardly. Teeth clenched, Link ran forth and ripped his sword out the Wolfos; blood spattered, beast staggering. "Hahh!" Link backhanded his edge across the monster.
Leaning backwards, arms loose, the Wolfos released a high-pitched howl, blue flames bursting around his disintegrating body.
FSSSHH
As the blue flames withered, a lupine ghost appeared, positioned as if about to land onto his front paws. The ghostly figure faded, as if blown away by the wind. Nothing remained of the Wolfos.
Link looked at the gate; the bars sunk into the ground. Sheathing his sword then picking up his shield, Link walked forth.