Note: When I started this, I had gone through a week without power and a semi-flooded basement, but it's nothing compared to the damage done in Asheville and other areas. A month has passed since then, yet it's still not exactly pleasant for those still recovering.

Prayers please for those still in trouble and without resources.

Death Mountain Trail

The sudden absence of lush greenery and the imposing rock walls that rose like ancient sentinels around him signaled Link's entry into uncharted territory—vast landscapes he had only glimpsed in the tales shared by The Great Deku Tree.

He recalled Impa's words about the second of the three sacred stones hidden in this very place. It was guarded by the creatures that inhabited these rugged cliffs. What were they called again? Rock people?

"Close, but that's a broad description," Navi chimed in, her tiny glow illuminating the space as she fluttered beside him. "They are known as the Gorons."

Link tilted his head, the word's syllables rolling around in his mind, but he held back from uttering it just yet. His curiosity hung heavy in the air as he pondered what these beings truly were. The fragmented details he had heard from Gris and Malon echoed in his thoughts—vague notions that the Gorons were somehow people made of stone.

"No, I don't think that's exactly right," Navi clarified, observing Link's innocent but mistaken conclusions with a hint of amusement. "While this harsh terrain might lead to creatures developing thick, rock-like skins, I don't believe the Gorons are actually made of stone."

Really? If that were true, Link mused, then surely they would need to eat and drink just like everyone else. After his recent journey from his home in the lush Kokiri Forest to the austere Kakariko Village, he had found at least those two vital resources readily available in their bountiful surroundings. Yet here, all he could see were grim reminders of a lifeless land, with parched roots and cracked earth stretching endlessly, yearning for rain that had eluded it for ages.

"According to the tales I've heard, which are mere fragments from the Great Deku Tree himself," the fairy continued, her voice growing slightly more serious, "the Gorons sustain themselves in ways unlike you, or those from the forest or Hyrule, because they derive nourishment directly from the land itself."

Link's head tilted in confusion, the concept swirling around in his mind like a stubborn wind.

"Well… truth be told, I'm not entirely sure how it works either," Navi confessed, her voice tinged with uncertainty. "But that just means we should begin our search for them. The sooner we can convey our need for their Spiritual Stone, the better it will be for us."

While her words rang true, Link felt an undeniable pull to explore this barren expanse. It was a strange and mesmerizing land—a stark contrast to the vibrant life that thrived in The Great Deku Tree's realm.

Here, not a single tree or green sprout dared to push through the rocky ground beneath his boots; the terrain was a hardened crust of jagged rocks and dry soil, seemingly incapable of supporting any form of life accustomed to its unforgiving conditions. Where did the inhabitants of Kakariko source their food, he wondered? Without fruitful trees and rich forests, did they have to depend on what others supplied, just like Talon had when peddling his goods? Or perhaps similar to the bustling markets he had glimpsed in Castle Town?

It struck him as an unnecessarily convoluted process simply to acquire food, Link reflected, a sense of bewilderment settling over him. The more he absorbed about these Hylians, the more he found himself struggling to comprehend their way of life. From the enchanting stories spun by The Great Deku Tree, he had always envisioned the people beyond the forest as noble and stalwart—valiant souls, courageous protectors who cared for one another and safeguarded the vulnerable. Yet the reality he had encountered painted a different image, one where many seemed preoccupied with their own needs.

True, some figures he had met emanated kindness and generosity, yet even they appeared engulfed in the natural ebb and flow of life beyond the familiar confines of the Lost Woods.

But what utterly perplexed Link was the strong aversion, bordering on outright hatred, that people in this land had toward red hair. He found the color itself quite appealing; after all, he had seen vibrant shades of red adorning the clothing of various individuals—men, women, and children alike. However, when it came to hair, even the faintest hint of red seemed to trigger suspicion, disdain, or, as Link had sadly observed, a toxic mixture of both.

Link's thoughts wandered to Malon, the spirited girl from the ranch who had graciously welcomed him into her home and offered him refuge the night before. He vividly recalled the cruel, hissing remarks that had been directed at her when they first crossed paths and the hurtful treatment she had endured afterward. The term "Gerudo spawn" echoed in his mind, although he had initially been clueless about its meaning, let alone who—or what—a Gerudo was. However, that ignorance faded with the explanations provided by Malon and Gris, complemented by the Princess revealing the striking characteristics of the desert tribe firsthand.

Despite their evident caution toward those they deemed unfamiliar, Link found himself struggling to comprehend the depth of their prejudice.

One of his biggest confusions lay in the fact that the negative attitudes toward the Gerudo were unjustly directed at every member of the tribe, rather than being confined to their infamous leader. It seemed illogical to Link since, to his knowledge, Ganondorf was the only Gerudo implicated in the tragic demise of the Great Deku Tree, though his own careless actions certainly played a role.

He should've known better, believing a simple seed could grant a wish.

"Don't let yourself think that way," Navi chided gently, her voice slicing through his troubled thoughts and the persistent guilt that tugged at his heart. "He didn't blame you then, and he wouldn't blame you now," she assured him. "Remember, he entrusted you with this mission and the precious Stone he died to protect. If the Guardian of the Forest has put his faith in you, then so do I."

Link endeavored to absorb and accept Navi's comforting words, striving to internalize them as truth, but they only served as a light balm for the deep wound that continued to fester within him.

Seeking to divert his troubled mind from the patterns of prejudice that enveloped him, he turned his focus back to the baffling disdain directed at those with red hair. Why was it so loathed? The Great Deku Tree, whom he revered, had produced offspring with fiery locks: The Twins, Karya, and Phoebe, along with the Know-It-All Brothers—Birch, Cypress, and Elm—all proudly displayed that same vivid color atop their heads. And yes, even Mido sported the same striking hue. Link had to admit that the boy played a crucial role in rescuing Saria, yet he couldn't muster any fondness for him. Still, his feelings toward Mido had nothing to do with the color of his hair; so, why was Malon subjected to scorn and disdain wherever she went, simply for her fiery tresses?

"Hey!" Navi exclaimed, her voice slicing through Link's reverie and pulling him back to reality. "Stay alert," she insisted, fluttering closer. "I can feel a presence nearby."

Responding to the fairy's urgent call, the young warrior unsheathed his sword and raised his shield, his blue eyes wide and vigilant as they searched the surroundings for any sign of danger, determined not to let the foe gain the advantage. The pressing question lingered: what kind of creatures lurked along this lonely path that bore no hint of plant life or any means to support such a form of existence? Without grass, fruit, or even the rustling leaves to nibble on, they needed to find sustenance elsewhere. But where from? Or what?

At that moment, Link's keen ears caught an intriguing noise: the unmistakable sound of crunching and chewing.

"Look!" Navi whispered urgently, pulling Link's gaze toward the distance. His eyes landed on an odd, jagged silhouette hidden behind a large boulder.

With careful steps, Link moved closer, navigating around the massive stone to peek around its edge. He was eager to uncover what had sparked Navi's concern and to catch a glimpse of the potential threat that lay ahead.

Glancing about, the boy clad in green felt a surge of dread, almost certain that one of the grotesque, spider-like Gohmas had somehow tracked him down to this very spot. However, that fleeting wave of fear quickly shifted into curiosity as he recognized that this creature was not the same as those he had battled deep within The Great Deku Tree.

The creature, a monstrous variant of a spider, had limbs that echoed the arachnid form but sported only four instead of the usual eight. It boasted a single, piercing eye, a vivid red that stood out starkly against its body. According to the Know-It-All Brothers, some spiders could have as many as twelve eyes, but this one was singularly striking. Its skin, or exoskeleton as Saria had referred to it, was a deep reddish-brown, speckled with hints of bluish-green. The legs were formidable, equipped with sharp spikes and menacing claws at their tips. The creature's central body was bulbous and rounded, while its limbs were impressively muscular, hinting at the strength of this bizarre being.

"Tektite," Navi murmured softly into his ear. "That's what it's called."

Link turned his gaze toward his fairy companion. "Tek…tite?"

Navi affirmed with a nod. "It's not quite the same type of creature as a Gohma, but I wouldn't be shocked if there was some connection between them."

No kidding, Link mused, keeping his eyes fixed on the creature as he recognized that the gnawing noise was coming from it, along with the headless insect it was currently devouring.

Link's gaze fell upon a massive boulder nestled against the rugged cliffside, its sheer size making him feel as insignificant as a bug caught in a predator's grasp. As he examined the stone more closely, he noticed something odd about its presence. Although the rock obscured his view of what lay beyond, he couldn't shake the feeling that its positioning was far too deliberate for something so enormous. It sparked a curiosity within him—had it been placed there on purpose?

The lingering question was, what could the reason be?

Then, the creature stopped, the prey it had previously decapitated dropping from its feelers, fluids still fresh on its appendages as it scrambled to collect and savor the juices. While it hadn't set its sights on Link yet, the boy senses that there would be no other reason for it to stop eating than to acknowledge him. Perhaps even decide that he would make a better source of sustenance than the beetle it had been munching on. Spreading its armored, segmented limbs out, guiding its body to where it was now facing the lad in green, the Red Tektite was able to fully see the youth, as well as register the fact that this stranger had just waltzed into its territory.

Rearing back, the quadrupedal arachnid leaped forward, forelegs raised with its sharpened ends extended outward, the intention clear that, meal or not, this long-eared stranger was going to pay for being so intrusive. Bringing his Deku Shield up, Link blocked the Tektite's airborne attack, the claw at the end of its front forelimbs scratching at the wooden surface, tearing off some bark to get at the softer being behind.

"Don't waste your time with this guy!" Navi alerted her charge. "It's only going to impede our progress! We have to get to the home of the Gorons as soon as possible!"

Yes, that was all and good, Link thought. The only problem was that this spider-thing kept thrusting its weight onto the boy, giving him little room to push back. Seeing that the next blow would probably result in the boy being forced down on his backside, instead of keeping his shield up for defense, he made a run to the side when the Tektite lunged again, missing its target by mere inches as the figure in green raced past.

However, this temporary relief didn't last long as a resounding "Watch out!" from Navi alerted Link of yet another Red Tektite that had made itself known, standing in the middle of the road and blocking the way forward up the mountain. With a swift sidestep, Link sprinted past the four-legged beast, charging up the rugged mountain trail. Suddenly, a crimson figure sprang down from a cliff overhead, blocking his path forward. Glancing back, Link noticed the other two Tektites steadily closing in on him from behind.

Gazing ahead and behind, the boy quickly understood that escape was impossible; his sword appeared to be his sole defense. That was, until a massive rock tumbled from above, hurtling toward him with alarming speed. But it wasn't just a rock. It was something far more menacing, breathed and moved with its own will. As it touched the earth, the "rock" appeared to rise, as though it had been crouched in a specific stance to facilitate movement. Now, the ruse was shed, revealing a bipedal creature with robust limbs and a stout body standing before Link. The figure gradually pivoted, locking eyes with the boy, who was now assessing this possible adversary.

A lively boulder had come to life, its skin rugged and stone-like, painted in a dusty yellow-brown hue. The back was nearly entirely grey and rough as if a piece of the mountain had taken root there. Its hands and feet resembled those of a Hylian or perhaps even a Kokiri, though they were larger. Instead of a mane of hair, the creature sported a nearly bald crown that tapered to a small point, mirroring the very peaks of the mountains. Despite its powerful limbs and imposing stature, Link was taken aback when the creature turned its attention to him; instead of the fierce gaze of a beast, he was met with large, expressive eyes that shimmered in a deep blue, revealing a surprising depth of emotion.

In an instant, the fleeting bond between them shattered as one of the Tekities sprang into action, its razor-sharp claws and muscular legs targeting the stony beast. Yet, the claws merely grazed the tough exterior of the colossal creature, which effortlessly raised its arms to deflect the arachnid's onslaught. As the monster recoiled and prepared to strike once more, the rock-being surged ahead, delivering a mighty punch that crashed into the Tektite's midsection, propelling it several feet backward.

Wait a moment, Link thought, glancing over to Navi as if to see if she reached the same conclusion he had. Rock-being…rock people…were these the…?

"Hey, kid! Head's up!"

The Tektite, lurking in the shadows, sprang into action, intent on ambushing Link from behind and pinning him to the earth, ready to commence its gruesome task of decapitating him, the standard method of incapacitating and consuming its prey. In a split second, the boy clad in green sidestepped, narrowly evading the creature as it soared past him, colliding with the powerful fist of his unexpected savior. As Link stood there, on the brink of asking what had just transpired and whether this mysterious figure was truly who he suspected, a fresh wave of "rocks" tumbled down from the towering cliffs and the serpentine trail he had been following. The deceptive boulders around him shed their disguises, unveiling their true nature and blocking any chance of escape. Considering that the far larger Tektites didn't fare too well against them, Link considered going on the defensive for the time being, drawing up his shield for protection, yet keeping his sword visible just in case.

"At ease, buddy," one of the "rocks" spoke, voice low and deep, yet not malevolent. Rather, it was just rugged and a little husky. "We're not here to hurt ya."

Link kept up his stance, yet the assurance brought some sense of ease, although he would perhaps feel better if he knew exactly just what these guys were called.

"We actually saw you coming up from down below," another one of the stout beings explained. "At first, we couldn't believe it, some random kid climbing up Death Mountain all on his own," they mentioned as if the fact the boy was even here was still difficult to believe.

"Guess Big Brother made the right call in telling us to check you out," a member of the group continued for their comrade. "Although, that still leaves the question of where the Royal Family's messenger is."

"Wait a moment," Navi spoke, fluttering out from underneath Link's hat, where she had hidden herself during the previous fray. "Royal Family?"

"Whoa!" immediately, the rock people eyed the winged glowing orb, fascinated yet also somewhat cautious. "What kind of weird firefly is that, kid?" one of them inquired, giving Navi a small poke.

Of course, given their size, "small" in their view served to send her flying back against Link's chest, the boy catching her as she fell. Upon taking a few moments to recover, Navi got her bearings and became airborne yet again. "Well, for one, I am most certainly NOT a firefly. Let alone a bug," she huffed, crossing her arms. "I am a fairy from the Kokiri Forest, assigned to guide this young one here across Hyrule as we collect the Spiritual Stones."

At that moment, the peculiar yet vaguely human-like creatures exchanged curious looks, their voices a gentle hum as they shared thoughts on the newfound information. "Did you mention 'Spiritual Stones'?" one of them asked, prompting a nod from Link. To demonstrate, he rummaged through his sack, only to be met with the eager face of a baby dragon popping out, clutching the coveted item in its mouth. With a playful flick, the dragon released the Kokiri Emerald into Link's waiting hands. The green jewel caught the awe and admiration of his rescuers, one of whom then looked up the winding trail that led further into the heart of the mountain. "Ok, kid," they then said, turning their attention back to Link. "We've got to get you to the city before the sun goes down, lest there be even more than Tektites out here to deal with."

A Short Time Later

"So, you are the Gorons?" Navi questioned, having perched herself atop Link's shoulder as the boy traveled with the band of towering figures up the mountain trail.

"Correct," one of the aforementioned creatures answered, then turned their attention to Link. "Sorry about the abrupt entrance," they said. "But we don't get many visitors up here. Especially from outside of Kakriko, and they're even scarcer."

Link found himself put on the spot as the Goron continued to stare, seemingly expecting an answer. While he wasn't too sure if his tongue would cooperate with him at this time, the boy simply responded with a reassuring nod and a small smile, as if to signify everything was forgiven.

Still, this didn't appear to be enough, the Goron still seemingly awaiting some sort of verbal answer.

"Excuse me, Mister…" Navi spoke up, sensing the boy's growing discomfort and speaking in his place. "Or…Miss?"

"Mister sounds a little old, doesn't it?" the Goron questioned wryly, raising a brow. "But you're right about that on one hand. I am male," he explained. "We all are, isn't that right, brothers?"

"Yep!"

"Sure is!"

"I don't think there's ever been a girl Goron before…"

Huh, really? An entire race without one girl? Weird, Link thought. Then again, sometimes girls were kinda weird in themselves.

"Oh please, boys are just as bizarre as their female counterparts," Navi huffed, not particularly caring for his assessment. "But if I may interject, Mr. Goron,"

"Please, Brother will do fine."

"Brother?"

"Yeah," the Goron responded. "We all were born from the Earth and Din's crafting hand, so every one of us is instinctually linked to each other in both blood and flesh," he then turned back to Link. "What about you? Are Kokiri born from, what, the trees or something?"

"Eh, somewhat," Navi answered, Link adding to her statement with a slight shrug. "Technically, it's just one tree, the Great Deku Tree."

"Great Deku Tree…" the Goron pondered this name, it striking a chord of familiarity within his memory. "I think I've heard something about that before. Although, I'm not too sure on the details exactly," this news appeared to disappoint the boy somewhat, hoping for at least a bit more clarity. "But I'm sure Big Brother will know! He's the one that's got our Spiritual Stone!"

This particular note snagged Link's attention. "R-Really?" he chirped, voice somewhat wavering, but nonetheless understandable.

"Yeah, the Goron Ruby," the yellowish-brown skinned being then presented his right arm, the blonde Kokiri spotting a rather interesting marking, angular in shape, almost too perfect to be a natural blemish on the skin. "Course, I don't know if you're quite ready for a tattoo yet, kid."

Tattoo? What could that possibly mean? Just as Link was about to ask or signal Navi to clarify, his gaze was drawn to a massive cave entrance not far off, a shadowy void that seemed to burrow deep into the mountain. A flicker of fear washed over him, igniting a primal instinct to flee, but he quickly realized that escape wasn't feasible, especially with the imposing figures encircling him. Although the Gorons towered over him, their sheer size and bulk could be daunting, he hadn't yet discovered any reason to consider them a threat. To four-legged spiders, maybe, but not to him.

Truthfully, the Kokiri boy found himself wondering if the Hylians he had been sent to assist were really right about any of their assessments regarding different types of people.

Reaching the cave, Link and his escorts entered, traveling through a darkened tunnel void of any light until, after what felt to be an extended amount of time, a soft glow could be seen at the end. Then, the glow grew more and more powerful, Link realized that the source of light was the multitude of torches lit throughout the hollowed-out space within the mountain.

"Welcome to the Goron City!"

Note: Happy Early Thanksgiving to everyone reading! Thank you for reading, and feel free to share what you think! Thank you!