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linksthoughtbrambles · 1 day ago

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A Man on its Back

Part 17 of Adventure Log+ (sequel to Link's Thought Brambles - best to read in order, also on ao3). Warning for strong language, violence, and suggestion of character death. Trigger warning for intense fire. Disclaimer: The content of this chapter is fiction only, and is not intended to contain advice or instructions for surviving hazardous conditions involving fire.

Oh no, her eyes- I must look awful. Even more awful? Pretty sure I’ve looked like rot melting on toast since the first ReDead.

“Kh.”

Spin-no no no no, Link. No spinning. Not allowed.

You are not yet fully oxygenated, master.

I figured.

Her hands-

No, no no no you don’t have to do that- you don’t have topain- quiet, Link, I’m fine I’m fine, no really, let’s move even though I love your hands relief they feel like relief- looking everyone else over, too, okay, but we’re fine enough, painnot great, which is kind of the point, let’s move, even though Varniro’s even more burnt than I am, still have to get out of here- we can sweep the rest of the north for survivors though realistically probably none, there’s no one is there, they all at least tried to leave- huh? What’s that hard look for?

I just- don’t feel up topain whatever that is. Did I do something wrong again? I thought she was relieved to see me.

Bite it back bite it backpain, more important things than your stupid heart right now, your stupid chest tightening up-

Breathe, master.

Yeah, trying, I’m trying, I really am-

“Link.”

Voice good. Face bad- oh? Holding my hand?

Pain. Back. Don’t- don’t think. Hot.

She waspain about to say something. Why didn’t she? Just some side-eye for the others?

Oh. I get a little smile. An eyeless one though.

There’s another hotlook. It’s not paintears. But-

“Khh- hhhh- khh- hh.”

Terial?

“Sit, man- yeah. Rest it.”

“Khhh- hh. Ahhm. Yeah.”

“Sir Terial?”

“Sorry P- prihhncesskhh. Was- t-hhhrying not tohoo.”

S$%^. S$%^, I shouldn’t’ve taken him in with us. “Water.”

“Indeehkhd. Link, come regardless- the well.”

“We- already-“ hot

“Something else. Kh. Khh.”

Hot hotter BLAZING now we’re in the through-street holy s$%& we made itpain even worse. The lynel. More heat, more flame and spreading SPREADING- “Z- Princess, we- have to move, and fast.”

“In- indeed.”

It’s howling, absolutely howling, and I’m shakinghot already, physical limits, hotlimitspain

“Khhh- hhahh. Phh.”

I only have one body and it’s limited no matter how much I want it not to bepain and it needs a hotbreak- dehydrated, way too hot- burnt, wonder how bad it looks from the hotback and how much worse it’ll hurt when I peel what’s left of these clothes off and how infected it’s going to get and I’m so glad she didn’tpain go there with us.

Maybe the heat will’ve bought me some time?

Master-

“We found Huiru down here. See?”

Down there? See what?

Oh?pain “Mushrooms?”

“Heh- hehe khhhh kh hh- hhhkhhkhh-“

“Z-? Zelda?!” I’ve got you I’ve got you

“Khhhhhh- gh-“

Lookhot around Link

“HH. Hhhh. Hhh.”

eyes peeled, everyone else’s are too at least except Terial, he’s just trying to painbreathe normal and Huiru’s inching this way not sure what he thinks he can do to help with a hotcoughing fit but ”We have to finish up and leave.”

“Agreed, but- Link- not the mushrooms. What they’re lighting. Mpkeh.”

That’s somepain look exchanged with Huiru, what’d he see down there?

Hard to see.

Water… duh. It’s a well.

“KhhHHHH- HHH- khhhHHHHhh.”

We really have to get Terial out of hothere- oh- oh!

“Yes. You see? It’s a stream-“

“They’re connected.”

“Yes.”

Duh, Link, ultra duh, if there’s a stream it’s flowing both to and from somewhere

“HHhhh-khhh. Mgheh.”

not that the somewhere has to be somewhere a person could pass through, it could just bepain a dead end air-wise and the water flows just totally against stone but the people living here probably had at least some idea where it led to. “They went down.”

”HhhHHHHhhhhkhhhkhhkhh-hhh- khhh.”

Terial, man, breathe.

“Quite khh- likely. Huiru- relayed having seen some dead.”

“I also felt wind.”

That tracks. Alright then, it’d be cooler and a lot safer down there then, right? “Are we going down?”

MASTER

“What?” Zelda blinkies sorry did I not get it-?!

Under no circumstances should you venture below!

“Why not?” Oh good she’s lookingpain-

What you think of as air has layers. The fire is producing large amounts of suffocating gas, master. This gas is heavier than the air you breathe. It may build up and kill you below.

Oh no.

“Khh-hh.”

Oh no, but Fi, all those people-

Your Sheikah companion found bodies below.

We don’t know how they died, though-

Plunging into a death trap behind them is futile, regardless of how they perished. They are lost already, Master. If some were fortunate, there was sufficient fresh airflow from elsewhere to sustain them- or they were able to exit quickly. Moving in that direction is not worth the risk—it will not change the outcome.

What if monsters followed them? If the air’s alright, the monsters couldpain breathe too.

“Listen.”

“Zelda?”

“For sounds from the well.”

…That’s a pointhotter. Fighting down there anywhere nearby? Screaming? We’d hotterhear it echoing. “Yeah. Yeah, I don’t hear any, but still, I...” Look at her looking at you, Link, she knows you want to go anyway, how could I not want- WOAH!!

“HOLy!” “Whhfft?” “Sir!” “Princess!”

EXPLODING HOUSES

“Indeed, we go!! Northwhahh- west! Now!!”

DEFINITELY NOW YES but not down apparently

“Northwest?! What of those who went below, Princess?!”

Zelda agrees with Fi and I- am really, really supposed to follow her orders

“T-hhoo follow directly would be most- khh- unwise, Huiru.”

Goddess- Goddess forgive me-

“But we can’t-!”

And oh no you DON'T! “Obey the Princess! Isn’t that supposed to be your thing?!” If I have to, you do too and oooh- temper lost, lost, Link, and he looks PISSED but everyone’s moving- moving away

...Speed. Speed, speed, we go as fast as we can.

“KHHHHhhh-hhh!”

We- can still sweep for anyone still alive

“Come on man, come on-“

and then we f^*#ing RUN, Link

“KhhhHHHHh- co- cohhming.“

by all that’s good and holy in this world fire does not have any mercy in it to show oh and look at that, embers above you high up it’s going to light the treeline, just a question of how long “SPEED!”

“Yes SIR!” “YES SIR!”

Her hand- holding me back?

“Kh- hh.”

She wants me here with her. Streets narrow anyway. Daile can take front.

“Khh-hh- SHOUT FOR SURVIVORS!”

“YES PRINCESS!”

“TO US!”

She’s right

“TO US!”

monsters’ll hear us

“TO US!”

too buthot we can’t stop to hotcheck houses

“TO UUUS!”

“Hhh- hh-“

there’spain no time, they have to come to us

“SURVIVORS-”

and RUN if they’re hereWH-?!

“TO US QUICKLY!” “Holy HYLIA!” “Goddess have mercy!”

Another explosion, south, doesn’t seem that far just keep running

“S- survivors- here, HERE!”

HOTit's not about you, Link. It's about Zelda-

“MOVE, TERIAL!”

-and Terial

“I AM!”

It is also about you, master. Oxygenation level 94%.

That doesn't seem so badpain.

It is quite low for you.

At least I'm not spinning.

“ANYONE?”

And it's about them, too- anyone left has more chance than they did when the lynel could hear them

“ANYONE-”

toohot or us

“TO US!” “Khh- kh-hh.”

at least a better chance

“AH!”

“Margil?!”

of not being murderedpain

“I’m fine, go!”

but dying in a wildfire? That chance just went up even moreSH!!!

“TO US!” “What the hell’s blowing up?”

“Don’t KNOW!” We- couldn’t leave that lynel there

“ANYONE!”

but we’d’ve beenhotHOT safer if we’d snuck away

“RR-GH!”

Moblin, knew THAT would happen “TAKE IT OUT-” ARROW to an eye already

“HAH!” “AAAAHH!”

and there’s about five swords heading for its throat

“KhHHHHhhh hhhh khhh.”

wow we surprised the s$%& out of it, it’s the painvolume, it’s loud, the wind and fire howling it’s down already only a red did the others run did the smart ones run whenhot we did or even before or are thereANOTHER BOOM

“Hhh- hh!” “Hell hell hell-“

a whole lot of them waiting for us

“Hell hell HELL.”

in the treeline like we thought there’d be?

That scenario is quite likely, master.

Glad we agree. Not glad what we agree ABOUT, but at least we’re ready.

“T-TO US!”

hottoohot

“T- To- US!”

hotterHOTTER

“MO-oah- khh-hh… Move NORTH!”

Yes next street away away definitely, the “Khh-“ smoke damn. Damn the smoke, the cloth’s helping less it’s like- like acid-

“To- UHHHS!” “KhhHHHHHH-hh.”

“NORTH! WE’RE MOVING NORTH!”

Cohl’s got a pair of lungs on him

“FOLLOW! FOLLOW!” “Khh-hh-hah. Khhh”

Cool down please please less smoke Terial and Zelda need-

“GRKH- RR!”

ANOTHERpainMOBLIN

“Hmph- huh!”

Daile, man- good duck and ANOTHERBOOM MY GODDESS I FELT THAT ONE SEAR THE AIR “ZELDA?!”

“Khhhahlrighthh-hh!”

Daile’s sword’s through it already Reida just slicing it on her way past and she just keeps going wow

“Khh- hh.” “HH- KH.”

Varniro, Genenko and Cohl, too it’s down Zelda-? Good, I’ll just LEAPpain and SWIPE for good measure, that would be its neck it’s not getting up not getting up, deadhot or soon will be just keep checking keep checking “Khh.”

“Khhhhkh.”

I think Margil’s

“KhKHHH-kh.”

Started to have a hard time “YOU OKAY?”

“ALRIGHT SIR!”

Alright is relativesweat relative

“Khh-HHHHHHH-KH-“

TERIAL “WooOAH!”

“Sokhhrry, sohrry, Sir, go, justKHH- just-“

“NO WAY NO SLOWING NO STOPPING”check! clearbehindpain “YOU’RE WITH US COME ON! COME ON!” Gesturing isn’t enough “KH-hh-“ his arm then Link, pull him pull him with you “PRINCESS-“

“COHKHNTINUE NORTH!”

No more northwest, no morehot, if there’s anyone there we’ll miss them- ! “LIFF KHCAN YOU STILL HOLD THAT SHIELD?”

“YEHHS SIR!”

Is he sure he didn’t try it yet oh there he goes-

“AH! Fff-“

“WOAH WOAH” it must be so hot “LET IT KHH GO!”

“I’VE GOHHT IT!”

Wow “BANG IT THEN!” please don’t sear your painskin off

Check behind!

“Khhh-hh. Hhh. Haaah.”

Clear ”kh“ clear

“KhHHH-HH-hhh hhhkhh.”

Liff’s getting burntpain isn’t he?

All we can “Kh-hh“ do, make noise

“HH- kh.”

maybe if there’s anyone they’ll follow it but at thishot point I don’t think there is, not at all

“Kh-hh.” “Kh- khh.”

they’re either gonepain or deadTHATWASCLOSERSOHOT sohot somethingwrong seemswrong

“Mmm-hh-hhhehhh-hh.”

Beraya?

“Khhhhhh-hh-gh-hem.”

And Margil

Margil’s wavering but “khh- hh-“ it’s the smoke

Beraya, though, her facepain, I can’t tell

“Khah- khhh.”

if she’s sweating or crying I’m so sorry Beraya, I’m so sorry, your family

“Khh-“ “Kh-khh-khh-kh-khhh.”

And with that racket Liff’s making painnow we have more reach but the monsters will absolutely

“Khh-hh-hhh! Khhhh-hh.”

one hundred percent know we’retoohot coming. Toward the trees. “Khh-kh.” Which are close now. “READY!”

Link.

“KHhh.”

As if they weren’tpain ready alreadyBLAST!

“S-sir!”

“KEEP RUNNING!” Aree’s scared she’s scared I can’t say I blame her you can’t fight a fire there’s nothing to kill and not a soul- not a single soul joined us here. No one. And we didn't follow below, didn't send-

Master, to do so-

Would be stupid, YES, I get it, doesn't mean it won't eat me alive paininside for the rest of my life and Goddess forgive me, I don’t have time to mourn it now, not now, save your air for running, LinkCoOOHL-

“GH!”

Fire chuchu- no, DEAD fire chuchu, wide berth

“KHH.”

give it a WIDE berth wide and YANK Terial, his head’s not great is it he’s woozy not good not good AH! HOTBLAST back there HOT no more ENOUGH HEAT

“KhHHHhh-!”

as if we needed morehot fireISEEIT. The tops of the trees. “Princess?”

“I-hh- ahm ready.”

She is. Bow out.

“KhhhhhHHHHHH- hhhhHHhhhh.”

But those two do NOT need to drop back like that-

“Huiru, Reida, ahKHHs stealth and speed are your advantages, I direct you to f-KHh- flank the front. Cihhrcle around any monsters we approach and strike quickly.”

That’s some look they’re giving-

“We are sworn to protect the royal family.”

“We all are! Obey the Princess!” I had to say it AGAIN?!

“We would leave our Princess vulnerable!”

Is Reida HISSING at me? “MargilKHH-, Beraya, flank the Princess!”

“Yehs-“ “Khhess, sir!”

“That IS an improvement.”

Wh-?!

There she goes, rushingpain to Daile’s left, but she practically spat that at me. What the hell is her problem? An improvement? Over what? Huiru, too, to the front right like he should now. “…Terial, man, I’m gonnahhkh let your arm go but you STAY WITH US, got it?”

“YKhHHHHhh- Yehs- sir.” “Khh-hh-khhhh.”

Cooler it is getting cooler north better “Stay with the Princess.”

He’s nodding but look at Aree so she knows, she knows she has to drag him along if he stops. “Aree, you too. Genenko, bring up the rear.”

“Yes, sir.” “Khhhhhhh. Hhh.”

Sorry, man. “Khh-kh.” I know I’m being kind of a jerk, but your bad arm means the front isn’t the greatest spot for you.

“Khh-hh-hh-hh.”

To the front with me instead. Right in the damn middle. Spearhead.

It’s getting dark-er…

No. No, there’s less fire, but the sky’s lighter? I think I see it through tiny gaps in the leaves… smoke messing up the view. So BE READY, Link. That treeline? It’spain right on top of you.

You know what?

If there was anyone alive here, they know we’re here by now. “ENOUGH, LIFF!”

“Yehs SIR!”

He sounds pleased about that.

The air got a little better

“Khh.” “Hh.”

but there’s stillpain no one moving to join us. No one-

No one moving.

Don’t look too hard, Link.

That’s a body, isn’t it? Crumpled right in front of the trees. “Varniro.” Point, just- he sees.

“Kh- Oh.”

And he’s speeding up speeding, sliding, checking. Checking.

Hand up, slow, just a moment Link, wait for it.

“Khh-hh-hh-hhhhHhhh.”

He’s shaking his head.

“KhhhHHhhh- hh.”

Dead.

We go – come on!

Hylia, please – please, let those people have made it out. Thepain well system.

“KH-HH-hh-HH-KhHHh.”

Where does it let out?

“KH-hh. Terial?”

Where does the water come from?

“OhhhHH-kay KH- P- rincehhss.”

It’s got to be Salari Hill or Lindor’s Brow, right, or both?

“KHHHHhhhh.”

The plain’s so flat, anywhere the water goes has to be further off

“Khh-khh-hh.” “KHH-hh.”

into the distance or it painjust stays beneath- or- the canyon? But the canyon’s dry.

“HhhHH. Uch.”

The kids.

“Kh-HHY- yeahHh.”

Just waiting on the plain to the east.

Don’t, Link. There’s nothing you can do yet, and they, unlike you, currently have horses and that’s another body, Link, you checkpain this time

“Kh- hh, another…”

more in your path-

Dead. Very.

Unclench your muscles, Link, your empathy can stuff itself into yourpain nightmares instead.

Did I hear Cohl pause, too-?

“Kh-hh- better- better here.”

I did. And getting back up, another bodypain rubbing ignoreit

“A- KHHhhH- little, Princess.”

Must be must be monsters near, quick look-

“Khh-hh.”

Everyone’s still there. Keep moving.

Grip.

Front.

Search.

No shield, kind of idioticpain in this position, thanks for breaking it ridiculous yellow bokoblin I could’ve used-

“KRRGGH!”

“MOBLIN TEN O’CLOCK!” NO TIME TO THINK ABOUT IT veer and you know what Link you might as well SWITCH HANDS and slide and let this bastard have it in the gut UNDERITSGUARD THROUGH kick upPAINPAINSTUPID THROW IT BACK couldbedeadalready butcouldn’tseecolor flip upPAIN, back and no need Beraya’s sword in its throat already-

“RR-“ “KKROOGHH!” “KWEYKEWEE-R-“ “GHAKKHR!” “RRRRHHGR.”

Wewereright they’rewaiting foranyonerunning

“KGR-“ “HAAAAH!”

That was Liff

“Kh- there, fire!”

and that’saBLACKMOBLIN

“Khhh- kh- khhhh-hh-” “KRFHHGHHH!” “Kh- there!”

WITHONEARROWINITSEYEALREADY ITSREELING swing your sword like a club, Link

“Mmm- Gah!” “Support, Aree!”

you might get lucky and SLICE

“I have it, Princess!”

WOW cleavedhalfwaythroughribcage stillstanding?!

“We-ekhll- done- there!”

Stronger-? DODGE!missedmeniceclubbutSTRIKESTRIKESTRIKESTRIKESTRIKESTRIKE

“I- I’ll hit Cohl!”

my sword’s nicer and it’s STILL NOT DOWN tough tough skin I hear the clangingothers clangingoccupied and this one’s recoup-NO!CATCHITLINKCATCHTHESPEAR HOLYS$!^

“Princess!!” “Ah-Khh!”

OFFCOURSE I KNOCKED ITOFFCOURSE

“Fire!”

DOWNPAIN!! leavestwigs SHARPsplintersPAIN BaARK”Ah-hh-“

“L- hink!”

Hervoicesoundsoff Idon’tlikeitpain butatleastshedoesn’thaveaspearinherchest but THROWSPEAR themoblinwill

“KHHH!khh-“

does

“hhhhhh”

more arrows, good, finishitoffpain

It’sdead wherewho-?Cohl!

“Khh-hhkhh-“ “P-rincess-“

HelpCohlSPRINT

“I- am well- khh-“

strugglingGOGOGO hisownsword athisthroat

“-enough, Margil.”

“Gr-Rgh!” STRONGanotherblackboko rare theseuesdtoberare baaaackPUNCHYOURFACE yes MORE STOMPchest down DOWNSWORDTHROUGH THROUGHAGAIN

Dead

One came up behind Huiru but he has it, Cohl’s sword back, good, quieter, dead Moblins or dead us?

“AaaAAH!”

Varniro!agonized FIRE firechuchu BIGone NODON’TKILLITYET”HOLD! HOLD!!!!” F&@# REIDA ARE YOU SOME KIND OF F&@#INGMORON?! SAVEHIMSAVEHIMLINK REACHHIM HE’SBURNING INCAPACITATEDCONFUSED “VARNIRO NOW!” HISARMPULLPULL “NOOOW!”

“SIR-”

DOWN!!!!

“SIR!” “NO!” “LIH-NK!”

PAIN!! OHSWEETHYLIABURNING

“Princess, stay back!”

THEBOOTSTHELEGS VARNIRO TOO BOTHROLLING GOOD OUTfine butpain

“Oh- Ohkhhh- khh-“

dealdeal painfine he’sgettinguptoo hearhim painpanting?

“Mmm- hmm-“

That’s a bit of a whimper toopain and flames more hotsohotflames as if we needed thatpain and I see more lights in the dark they’re lighting the brush the leaves and the fire behind us it’ll catch up-!

There are more of themhot, aren’t there, up there, unlit “ARCHERS!” point yespain they get it shoot them before they land and lightpain MOVELINK chuchu rain FOUL and WHERE DID SHE GO- “REIDA- FF!“ technically she did what she was told butFIRE! MOVE!- keepmoving “EVERYONE NORTH!”…but holypain HELL slashing it like crazy with Varniro still there for it to blow up in his face, and those big ones blastpain FAR, that’s just stupid, stupid stupid

…Stupid.

Ohhh.

Oh, Link

Oh f^$#

F^$#pain

No, Link. YOU are stupidpain.

Painpain playitcoolwhereisReida? There- “HEY!” …She’s looking. “BE MORE CAREFUL!”

…Just a bitpain. Just a bit stupid, Link, but you’re a little smarterpain than you were a few days ago.

Play it cool, play it cool and painwatch them WATCH THEM while we keep running don’t let them get behind you not behind, Zelda’s dark look right before the well, hotsticky the well system connected, is that where Huiru had disappeared to? Then he just happenshot to painpop up right where they were? Cracklingcracklingaboveus was she trying to tell me he waspain following them? Staying hidden- MORE “BOKO, MOBLIN!”

“QUEKWEYEEE!” “KRRRGH-GHR-GHR.”

Good, GOOD you quite-possibly-yiga-asshole, glad you’re on the left to get monster-smacked, keep you busy whilethecanopysmolders, Daile’s going to help her though, of course he is, and embers and-!

“QWEAHEHRE!”

BOKO NO FALLING DOWN BACKF$&%INGHURTSGODDESSHURTS “RrrrrRR!” GETOFFME KICKKICKOFF“Ah!” YES! Cohl-

“HAH!”

good stabbing but Huiru’s RIGHT BEHIND HIM FLIP UPPAIN LINK nevermind how muchpain it hurts

“P-rincess?”

just make sure Huiru sees you looking

“Yes, Aree!”

and try not to give away you werepain wondering

“M-my bowstring!”

whether he was going to stab the boko or Cohl

“I know- kh-“

that’s right Huiru back off return to position, keep moving

“The heat!”

Hot hotother monsters?

“Tahkhe care! Use it only when necekhh-ssary!”

Dead already arrows in them, Reida back in position am I overreacting, being paranoid?

“KhhhHHHHHhhh- hh- hh- hh hoh.”

Move move move back to running.

Zelda didn’t dopain what Huiru wanted. Didn’t go down the well, Then she sent them embersaway from her, sent them as far to the front as they could get.

“Khh-hh. Kh.”

They botched just about everything they could on the plain. Messing with the Princess’ line of firehotEMBERpain, the other archers, too. They practically herded those bokos toward Zelda.

“KhhhHHHhhh. Khhhh.”

They didn’t help us prepare for the fire.

“Fff- s ss-“

Varniro- he’s hurting. That was a pain-hiss.

Was Reida trying to keep us inpain the smoke longer? Pretty s$(^^y plan if so. She was in it too.

And that- arrow earlier- nearly hit me, would’ve if I hadn’t noticed and it could’ve hit Zelda, too. Thought it was that boko but what if it was Huiru? He could’ve picked upembers a monster’s bow.

If it IS them… then this must be what Yiga do. They wait

“Khh-“

hiding in plain sight

“Khh-hh.”

until a chance to strikeEMBERpain unseen. Carok guy neverhot intended for us to see him fire. I turned because I figured it out… just in time. Vayden thought he’d get away with killing me ‘by accident’ in the melee.

Fi???

I detect nothing, master, but that means little.

No repression fields.

None I know of.

But you couldn’t tell with not-Erl, either.

Precisely. I recommend extreme caution.

Extreme. Strong wordembers.

Keep eyeing them, Link. Eyeing…

S$%#pain, I don’t really know Varniro, Terial, Aree, Liff, or Cohl, either. At least I’d seen them before, but Vayden- it’s not like I hadn’t known him, too, at least a little...

Their actions thus far appear unsuspicious. Why have you excluded your associate Daile from this list? He, too, is not well-known to you.

He- no wayembersEMBERpain. Not with how we fought together. If he wanted me dead, he had many chances, and he instead helped every single time. He kicked ASS. And he had Jeralt’s full confidence.

Then I suggest you apply this reasoning to the others.

Embers we need to hurry I don’t know what Jeralt thinks of them.

“KhhhHHHHHHhhhh-hh.”

I advise taking the first possible opportunity to find out.

Goddess knows when hotthat’ll be and if I’m too paranoid I’ll be a horrendous commander- I should’ve takenpain the time to grill Purah on these two. Did she know them well? Were they new? Did they volunteer to go or were they assigned?

You don’t… REALLY know for sure. But it’s off. WAY off.

Carok Bridge.

Not at all far from the lab.

Coincidence?

Embers thicker, behind- orange-

They’re still both at the periphery. Right where she told them to be.

Another way to see it, though, is that they’re flanking us.

That line of monsters wasn’t as bad as I was expecting. We’re making good time. So is the fire. But we’repain ahead. The heat’s making plenty of wind, but eastward earlier, right? The prevailing wind?

“CHHH- CHHF.”

What- what was that-

“D- ah-fffff- did you hear?”

“Yeah, Varniro.” Daile? I see him running, but it’s still too dark and there’s too many hottrees, can’t see his face. To see if he also thought ‘lynel.’

I didn’t want Zelda anywhere NEARembers a lynel.

And if that’s what it was, it has most definitely heard usFIREFIRE!!!!! “RUUUUUUN!!” IN A COLUMN IT’SACOLUMN COMINGTHISWAY “GOGOGOGOGOGOOO!”

“Rightward RIGHTWARD!”

“Princess!!!” “N-OO!” “AHH!” “FF-KHH-FFrrR!”

DODGEDLink but my Goddess the wall of fire behind you, and the ‘no’ what was the no for?! SEPARATED! “BERAYA, AREE! GENENKO!”

“HERE!” “HEERE!” “WE’LL CIRCLE!!”

It’s how they turned they turned the others still with us “FAST EVERYONE MOVE, MOVE- ANOTHER!”

“Ah-hh- ahh- fff-“

It’s west it’s west no southwest the angle the way the FIREBALL’sGOING ZELDA? STILL WITHUS STILL FIREBALLPASSED- MYGODDESS “TERIAL!!”

“KHH- ca-n’t- GO HHHHkhhh-“

NO ZELDA DON’T STOP DON’T HELP-

GOOD GOOD GOOD MAN MARGIL BUT

ANOTHER ONE AND MARGIL YANKINGHIM TOOSLOW NO NO ZELDA NO ONE NO ONE FLANKING DROP BACK DROP BACK, LINK, OHS$#^ “COHL! VARNIRO! TO US!”

“YES SIRRR!”

“L- Link-“

Oh s$%^ did I give the game away

“Hhh-hh-“

I didn’t call Huiru-

“hhh-hh- kh-h-“

play it play it Link “HUIRU, ON POINT!”

Not Liff not Daile want them to see his back see it, Reida, where is she? Look- Margil he has Terial they’re coming they’re coming slow though slow “COME OOONN!”

NO! “ANOTHER, ANOTHER!” She’s slowing, Link!! Help her, help, bicep- why is she?!

“Khh- HH- Hhhh!”

She’s not getting full AIR THEFIREBALL right behind us, missed usDAMMIT MARGIL TERIAL- “CIRCLE!!!”

“YES SIR!!”

Not good not good dividing dividing usEMBERS

“Hh- Ff- f- ff-“

and Varniro he’s slowing down he’s so next, it’s the burns, he’s painhurting, running, friction- “COME ON MAN STAY WITH US!”

“J- UST GO!”

My Goddess withEMBERSpain Zelda slowing too and it must hurt, the embers, her too, she's not crying out, but air, air, her and Terial can’t get enough

“Hh-tsss- sss- rr-”

Hylia SERIOUSLY?! You make your champion super strong but with fragile painlungs?! Are you fricking KIDDING me?! WHO DO I COMPLAIN TO ABOUT THIS?!

IF THE ANSWER IS THAT S$&^^Y GLOWER-PRIESTESS AND HER COPPER-INFUSED POOL TORTUREembersPAIN I WILL BE SO PISSED OFF BECAUSE I COUD EASILY IMAGINE MAYBE COPPERY STUFF BURNING IN THAT FIRE AND SCREWING HER UP I DON’T KNOW IS THAT A THING??!!

And why is Liff turning left, why? Daile- Daile, too- are they thinking to engage?! “LIFF! DAILE! DON’T ENGAGE!”

“Ah-“ “Yes, sir!”

Good- goodpain- Huiru- turned more that way too-

And they’re still veering that wasn’t what they were thinking “HARD NORTH!”

“It’skhhh- Reida.“

Justpain loud enough for me to hear I’m not wrong, she’s thinking the same thing just nod, nod, Link-

“I can seehhh her- pulling west.”

They’re following her. Because they don’t knowembers not to trust her and they can’t TELLpain exactly which way is north can they and it’s RESHAPING OUR FORMATION “VEER RIGHT!”

YES, now theyFIREBALL!!!!! CLOSERCLOSER RUN RUN RUN RUN ZELDA FASTERHOTHOTTTTTT

“AHHhhHH! KH- HHH- hh!”

TOOCLOSE “You’re alright, you’re alright, I have you!” HAIR singed, Link, her hair- just- a little- and WE’RE OUT OF THE TREES lighter sky lighter sky hope but we lost Varniro didn’t we? He was slowing slowing he’spain behind it somewhere dammit dammit dammit dammit where the hell is the fire coming from?

Oh my Goddess-

They’vecutthemoff DaileandLiff they’renotontheplain muststillbeintrees it’sjustusandCohlandtheSheikah pain becausewewerefaster andthewaytheyturned tacticalerrorLink youcould’veyankedherback behindthenextone’spath butnononono youcouldn’t- the FIRE incredibledangerfromthefireitself cuttingusoff playitcoolplayitcool canstillseethem stillseethem bladeright straight out everythingintotheblade theydon’tknow theydon’tknowwhatIcando do they? Andthey’renotlooking

“Sir?!”

COHL“SH-”NOW! HE ALMOST GAVE IT AWAY BUT HUIRU’S painBLOWN FORWARD AND HE KNOWS WE KNOW HE KNOWS LET GO OF ZELDA SO SHE CAN-

“Kh- hhh- hh! Hh- ah!”

“AaAAAHH! FF-“

Knee shot

“G- GGr!”

wait, did she mean to do th-

Cohl veering way off! I think I scared him sorry man I’ll explain later but REIDA’STURN doitagainpain doitagain makesureit’shertoo everythingintothesw- FIREBALL!!! DON’T YELL JUST PULL JUST GRAB HER FORWARD FORWARD OTHERWISEWE’RETRAPPED FIRE ANDWHATISTHAT HE’STHROWING GLINTINGGLINTING DODGE!

“AHH!”

Daggermissedmeasshole oh no I yankedherhardpain issheokay?

“PRINCESS!”

GuessCohlsaw, almostthere do I do this do I kill Huiru- redSMOKE!!

“LINK!”

PUSHHER, BACKFLIP, REIDA JUST LIKE VAYDEN JUST LIKE HIM YIGA THEY’RE YIGA HERSWORD’SSTUCKINTHEDIRT WHEREIJUSTWAS ZELDA’SPRONE DOITLINK GODDESSDON’THESITATE CAN I DO THIS CAN I

FIREBALL “ZELDA!!!”

“HH- hh!”

SCRAMBLING I HAVE HER “GO GO GO GO GO!”

“NOOO- AAAHH! HHH- EEHHHH!” “AAAAAAAAHHHHHH! AAAAAAAAAHAHAHAAAAAAAAAAA!”

Don’t listen don’t LISTEN don’t feel bad for them what's this face you're making, Link? They’re here to kill you both

“Khh-HH! KHH.”

they deserve itpain and MORE FIRE- “ZELDA!”

“Ye- hs!”

Whereisit mustbeanotherlynel wasintrees? I have to engage it FLAMEsohot neartoonear she made it I have to killit it’ll drive us to the canyon

West- I go west! Let her go and SPRINT!

“NO, Link! We- khh- stay together!”

“I have to kill it!”

“WE shall kh- khill it!”

“You’re not well!”

“Dead- is worse!”

“EXACTLY!”

“We are mohre lhikely to KH-hh- prevail together!”

Goddess I hope that’s true because I see it coming out of painthe trees way far off its range must be incredible the fire!

It doesn’t look right what what what whatpain what white but not right doesn’t look right where’s its mane FIREBALL “BOTH RIGHT!”

“YES!”

We can’t split it’ll split us up if weHOT let it but she’s not as fast as usual I have to slow down again, don’t leave her- or- or- “To my right!”

“I- Uhhkh-nderstand!”

We slow we slow a little, it aims, we both speed, keep it easier, a little easier, but how smart are these things, will it catch on, and what’s that is something on its back?

Its-

“Link- Link, it’s- it’s-“

That eyebrow crease

I can hear it in her voice

What the hell, it’s a skeleton isn’t it, like the stalnox, the white is bone, it’s alreadypain dead how do you kill a Lynel that’s dead already?

Oh my- is it the same ONE?

Why is it-

Why would it be back?!

This creature is unknown to me, master.

FIREBALL“Move!”

“Ye- hs!”

It’s fine, it’s fine, we’re well past it, the way we were moving, but we’re getting paincloser on purpose and “I have no idea how to kill it! Fi, do I go for its head?!”

Severing it would be a prudent start, but the Princess is not-

“Link?”

“Yes!”

“There’skhhh- a man- on its back!”

"A man?"

Master—run!

---

Part 18 coming soon (I hope).

Follow this link to return to the chapter list.

Follow this link for my masterlist.

#botw #fanfiction #adventure log+#adventure log+ AU #three guesses who the man is #legend of zelda

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linksthoughtbrambles · 9 months ago

Text

Serenne

Part 16 of Adventure Log+ (sequel to Link's Thought Brambles - much better to read in order, both also on ao3). Warning for strong language and violence. Trigger warning for intense fire. Disclaimer: The content of this chapter is fiction only, and is not intended to contain advice or instructions for surviving hazardous conditions involving fire.

Master-

Yes, yes-

“Off, off, off, off-”

“I got it, I got it-“ Fi?

I look upon your plan with trepidation.

"Hehehe" What else is new?

"What's funny?!"

"Sorry, Beraya, it's the sword." The last thing I need is Beraya thinking I find her shoulders funny, and yeah, Fi, I know-

The moisture is a double-edged sword.

"Kh- shh, Tass."

Zelda already made us swear not to run into the flames. It'll give us some extra time in the heat, act like sweat, and some of it will be gone from the wind before we even get there.

Unless something surprises you, master. Fire is unpredictable, and the heat capacity of water can be deceptive.

Look, Zelda thinks it's better this way. I'm going with it.

If steam becomes trapped against your skin-

It'll scald. YEAH. I know. There!

“Bloody mail- I needed a refit anyway.”

“You got it, Beraya—soon as we’re back.” Faster, Link, faster for $*#@’s sake!

“Shh, sh sh sh- Tass! Link- perhaps we- kh- oughtn’t ride any further.”

“It’s up to you-“ thereFINALLY- “arms through-“

“Kh.”

“-arms through.“

“Yes sir, I have the rest, I have it!”

“The horses should come back here when we dismount.” I hope.

“They may bolt with us still riding.”

Hope not hope not “They might.”

“NEXT BUCKET!”

“Huiru, Reida.” They better- good they’re listening not that I’d expect them to ride into fire without at least something, something SOMETHING to help, dear Hylia, and at least they already have face cloths, just have to douse them-

“P- princess! We- shouldn’t use these-“

-but it won’t last long-

“Sir Margil, I appreciate the sentiment-“

-not in all that heat.

“-but there are more important things than Link and I’s spare clothing.”

“It feels- like sacrilege.”

“Indeed not. Hylia would much prefer her symbol to keep you safe than for you to perish in the smoke. Think of it...“

To the well, Link, help Cohl, water water water “I got it-“

“...Think of it as a ward protecting you.”

“…Yes, Princess.”

“I got that, Margil.”

“Thanks, Aree.”

“I can’t believe I’m wearing something you sewed with your own hands, Princess.”

“I admit kh- when I fashioned Link’s tunics, I had no expectation of their being used as facemasks. Ah- but please, don’t fret, Sir Liff khm-khm.”

Zelda’s susceptible. She coughed a lot at Miss Morsels’ too. Not that I think that stench was as nasty as smoke. “Princess- I again recommend-“

“That I remain with Sirs Bennent and Lahs, and I again decline, Link.”

Amazing she can smile at me in all this, I don’t think I have it in me. “I figured.” Nope- smile failure. “I had to ask. Beraya, your turn!”

“Yes, sir.”

Sitting, good, she’s taller than me.

“Ah!”

“More, Cohl.”

“Coming, Sir Link!” “I’m done, I can help.”

“Thanks, Daile.”

“Get the horses, too.”

“D- damn. Yeah.”

It feels like hours but it’s been minutes, only minutes, how many people are dying while we do this?

Lucky there’s no malice here, unlucky no surface water, only a deep well but the people ran and that’s good, good, stalls empty, no horses, no walking corpses, no corpses at all, no-

“Link?”

“All good.” Stop brooding, Link, you’re not helping anyone, more water- “You’re next, Princess.”

“Khh.”

“I’m done!”

Varniro “Good, help with the horses.”

“Yes sir!”

Here I go dunking my last tunic in water it’s for her for her I don’t know why I feel this matters but I do. “Okay, Z- hold this- get ready.”

"Not the socks."

"Heh. No, not the socks." I don't want to know what boiling water feels like in my boots, either.

Face crinkled, I always like that face on her. “Look up- yeah.” Hair wet, get every fricking inch of her clothing, careful, just barely wet the bandage outside only outside only. Wet bandages bad news…

“You good, Cohl?”

“I got some slopped on me pulling it up so fast. Top’s not there yet.”

“I got you.”

Liff and Cohl look out for each other. Good.

“I believe that’s sufficient, Link.”

“I want you soaked.” …Oh s$&%, Link.

Keep pouring the water, keep pouring it, clearly no one gives a crap or possibly even noticed your ridiculous slip.

…Except Zelda. A single-eyebrow raise. She’ll tease me later. I hope. Later. Hope for that.

“I’m good!”

“Me too, Sir.”

“Alright, almost there- get the horses as best you can. Manes and tails especially, but we won’t take them all the way in. They’ll run after that. Lahs- Bennent- I’m serious. You see something headed your way that’s not us, you retreat immediately and at full speed. Make for the logging village if you can- get word to the castle faster. If something cuts you off, head to the Royal Lab. Got it?

“Got it, sir.” “Yes, sir.”

Link. Look them in the eye. “If not…“

“We’ll bring his body back, sir.”

“…Yes. Thanks. Oereb’s family will thank you, too.”

Zelda’s face. Wish I could hold her now.

Oh. My turn. Just nod, let Margil get you.

“Kh-kh.”

Feels good. Not clean exactly. But maybe a little less disgusting than I was.

“Your bandage, Sir.”

“Yeah.” Hand over it should be good enough. Pat some water… just on the outside.

“Alright…”

Less good now with the water in my pants. That’s going to chafe. Priorities priorities priorities.

Good to have my eyes closed. Just for… a minute.

“Eh- hey, Reida, could you help me with this?”

“Ah- ah. Yes, alright.”

…Snobbish.

“… Uh. Thanks.”

That’s how they seem to me, but maybe I’m biased, they answer to other Sheikah, not to me, Zelda, too, ideally, but they seem not to take her orders seriously in combat like they think they know better and maybe they’re right but I don’t think so, I think they f$(#ed up with those riders, Zelda, Zelda was right, they should’ve broken off, let her fire.

Maybe I’ll talk to herOH more pants water- later. About them. See if she agrees. “Think I’m good. Thanks, Margil.”

“You’re welcome, Sir.”

Pretty sure Zuho would’ve jumped to help us prep, not stood around being watchful with his nose up in the air, he’s not like them. She’s surrounded by us, this is not the time to stand still, this is the time for speed, speed, oh. Facecloth. “Thanks again.”

And the buckets have stopped. “Ready?”

“Yes Sir!” “Yes.” “Ready.” “Ready, Sir!”

Nods, nods. “Princess?”

“…Mount. We ride-“

Horse horse

“-as close as the horses will allow.”

Good boy- sorry.

“We go the rest of the way on foot- at a run.”

About your rider.

“We enter Serenne if at all possible.”

So, so sorry.

“We slay any monsters.”

I wonder... if you understand.

“If our kh- enemy is the fire itself, we shall help them fight it.”

It hasn’t hit me yet.

“If the blaze is too fierce, we shall evacuate all we can instead.”

But when it does-

“We remain together unless Link or I order otherwise-"

-it’ll be like always.

“-and we avoid extreme heat, smoke, and flame. Onward!”

I’ll have another hole inside. “Everyone ride astride each other. Hup, boy!”

“Go, Tass!” “Hyah!” “Hyup-“ “Hhh.”

A hole where the first person died under my command.

Zelda. Beside me.

I don’t want her back exposed even to our own soldiers.

And there’s a shudder. Our own soldiers. Vayden and Carok guy.

I want to know someone really Goddess-damned well before I let them have a clear shot at Zelda’s back. Or mine, for that matter, but at least if it’s me I’ll react fast. Not that she isn’t fast…

But I’ve never seen her do the Thing. Better to assume she can’t.

-----

My Goddess. The south's all but an inferno, what happened here?

“So much!”

I’ve never, never heard Beraya like that before-

“TASS!”

NONONO

“Easy!”

OFFLinkoff

“Easy, easy, good boy-“

gethisreins!

“Good, good Tass!”

“Hey hey hey hey shh- Tass-“ got him

“Kh- khh-“

got him “shh- shhhhh” soothe him Link “shh-“ just enough give her a few seconds “shh, shh, easy- easy-“ he is so done, rolling eyes- “dismount, everyone- now- yes- gooood boy, good, easy-“ she’s off let go lethimgo-

Good they’re all off “On FOOT! We GO!”

She’s alright she’s so fast like me running beside me and Dear Goddess it's warm even here! In there the plate mail would’ve baked half of us alive and even the water won’t last us long-

“Khh.”

-amazing the horses got us so close to the treeline they’re not lit here not yet outer edge dark silhouettes monsters? Trees bushes rocks maybe or crouching things could be could be do I see horns

“AAAAAAAH!”

“Link!”

“Yes!” Screaming where where nothing nothing nothing nothing

“SPEED!”

“Yes, Princess!” “Ahhh!” “Gh.” “Mkh.” “Kh- kh kh- khh“

Coughing more, please, please don’t let her drop-

“AAAH! AAAAHHHH!” “KHHHHGH.”

“THAT WAY!”

Does she see them does she I SEE “THERE!” MoblinmoblinmoblinnoFASTERLINK NO YEHHHHHS ZELDA GO DOWN GO DOWN

“IT YET LIVES!”

It does but an arrow through its eye gave that kid seconds he needed and now Terial, Aree, great shots, it must be a red, it’s on its knees already and LIFF, yes, he’s fast too and- there goes its throat.

“You hurt?!”

Kid’s shocked he’s shocked answer Liff come on

“I- I- I h- ad to come back!”

Crying.

“We are here to kh- help- what happened?”

Zelda- he may not be able to

“Here- I got you.“

Kid’s filthy and shaking but seems sturdy enough now Liff pulled him up.

“They- they told us to run, but I had to come back! Something’s wrong- at the next farm, too, everyone’s just waiting in the wheat-“

Everyone.

“-and there’s not enough water and we could see the fire got worse!”

The other kids. “How did this start?”

“Monsters. They just- came. Out of nowhere-“

“KKRRGGHRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR.”

…What was that?

“Oh, F$*%.”

“Daile?”

“Sir- Princess- that sounds like a lynel.”

“Your dad-“

“Yes, sir.”

“Princess?”

“We go. In.”

And fast, my Goddess-

“Kid, go back. The others have horses?”

“Yeah.”

“Okay. Don’t lose those.”

Liff’s sharper

“The horses want to bolt,”

than I gave him credit for.

“you’re better off on them than not, alright?”

Nod, Link, he has spooked-face

“Y- yeah.”

like he thinks he might’ve overstepped.

“Just- go and don’t come back here- ah-“

I really, really don't mind, people can't be constantly asking me about everything.

“-unless someone you trust fetches you. And-“

Unless he tells the kid to do something stupid.

“-if you see anything off, just run. Uh…”

And Liff’s looking at me.

“Khhh.”

Because which way? Which way is safe? “…Head south by southeast so you’d just barely scrape the farm at the foot of Salari hill in that direction. Then… make for the royal lab.” They can defend themselves better than the logging village, so… safer… maybe.

“O- okay.”

Didn’t have to tell him twice. He’s scared to s#$&… wait, shuffling chuchu LEAP Linkwhathe- “Rkh!”

“Ah!” “Move, kid!” “Move!” “Gkh!”

GONNA POP BACKBACKBACK LINK, BACK OFF

“Eh-“ “Ff-“ “Blasted-“ “Move, move!” “Fire-”

Fire chuchus here?! “In- in, everyone, the town! Go, kid!”

Watch him go watch him go, DAMN the wood’s dry pine needles like flammable fricking carpet, back up "Back up, back up!" watch the kid they’ll pull ahead but I’ll catch up almost almost almost trees he’s out all you can do Link you can’t escort him all the way back and if there’s anyone left alive in the town they’re in just as much danger and more

“There!”

Her eyes so good there it is a boko-

“QUEHEKYUEEE!”

Varniro Genenko careful bad shield arm

“GRK!” “QYEEHEEEE! K-“

GOOD.

Red. DownMORE

“KGGGH.” “KHG.”

They always sound so disgustingly happy

“Gh- ah!”

Happy to maim- Margil

“Ghg!”

Good skewered blue not dead-

“Akk!”

-now it is.

Happy to kill, too.

Not like Margil.

His face is not happy right now. Bokos smile when they kill.

“They are kh- here awaiting those who flee.”

“…Yeah.” I hope there are people left to run.

There’s more I see them waiting on the road at the edge of the houses some behind moblins those are moblins three red blue blue, at least two bokoblins, horns, little horns sticking up show them-

Yes. Shh- there they are. One two three- four five. Eyes out. Look. All of you scan. Zelda?

They- are- looking- inward. We quiet, we surprise them. Yes. Good.

Spread out.

No- Zelda. Stay with me.

Liff and Cohl again. Good. Huiru creeping crouched, Terial with Margil- Aree with Beraya, Daile with Genenko, Varniro with Reida, a pair, okay. Huiru’s alone but he clearly has a method.

Six pairs. Five monsters. So far.

We’ve got THAT one.

Sh sh sh… she knows. She knows. Quiet. The fire’s loud, but- doesn’t mean it couldn’t hear us at all, a snapping branch, a cough-

…please don’t cough.

Hot. Even here. Hot. Smoke. Careful. Pay attention to your skin, Link-

I will endeavor to notify you of any sudden changes in your skin, master, but I have no method by which to measure your surroundings.

Thank you.

Her fists just balled.

She wants to cough.

Hurry, hurry, the flames, hiding the footsteps, careful but quick careful but quick-

Closercloser right in the back the spine wait for it, for the others.

Zelda- yes. Turn. Face out. Watch my back. I watch yours.

They’re- almost- nowTHROUGH

“RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRHH!”

“RRGHT!” “QUEKEHHH!” “QUORHHIEWHE!” “KGHR?”

Almost all Daile Beraya Liff got theirs where’s Huiru

“KRRRRRRRRRRRRRRH!”

Varniro’s he didn’t surprise it but they’ve got it

“QHWEHHH!”

MORE “MORE!” Main road, there! She’ll follow you Link, go take it out, it's hot but you're okay-

Fighting I hear it on the edges monsters at the next two roads too they have it trust them THIS one- “HhhaaHH!”

“QHEEHKHH!” “Kh-“

“Kh- khmkhm-“

StaybackZelda I’vegotit “Grk- hh!” the armpit slice it can’t raise its shield SLICE- THRUST

Down.

“Kh- hh. The smoke.”

“I know. I know, I’m so sorry- Zelda- it’s your dec-“

“We keep going.”

I thought so but heat smoke “ON RIGHT!”

Sheturned heardboots it’s breathinghard but didn’tgrowl feet loud anyway SLIDE underitsguardLinkSHINSyes

“GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRH!”

Yeahthathurtdidn’tit Zelda YESOH ROLLLINK

Damn she nailed that but it almost fell on me it’s prone proneTHRUST- THRUST

Dead? D-NO THRUST-twist-

“Kh-kh-kh.”

Stay still.

Dead- wh?

Margil and Terial

“Another moblin, down!”

Good Terial’s hand on his mask though he feels it the smoke

Goddess if we hadn’t soaked ourselves I’d’ve been soaked by sweat instead and dehydrating fast. How long til it steams off?

Link? You see steaming with your eyes and you grab Zelda and make everyone back the hell off.

Realistically, she'd probably notice it before me.

There are the others. Around the sides of the houses. Here! Yeah, here- let’s not split up. Don’t see Huiru yet… Cohl- Liff. They’re looking, too.

…They don’t see him.

Yeah Cohl, I don’t know either. Just shake your head, Link. Zelda?

“All- kh- together.”

Alright, she’s pointing that way she’s right she’s right less fire we can’t stay in this long south is an inferno north we can at least last a while- Huiru, he should’ve come out over here somewhere anyway, hurry, hurry, but look look look look lots of movement flickering shadows things flapping in the wind from the fire no other people yet not yet- easing, easing it’s not as bad over here, the fire worst in southwest maybe glow and smoke but it’s quieter this way too careful something could hear

“Kh… KH.”

Zelda, is your cloth still wet?

“Link?”

Quietly “Cloth- wet?”

Nodding, good, good- mine is so hers should be too just checking just checking can’t kill smoke with a sword can’t protect her.

Liff and Cohl fell in naturally checking around each house opposite directions it helps we can move faster.

Less and less and less, still hot but cooler here-

Those houses- not flaming-

Zelda?

That’s a yes, we check, Liff and Cohl check that house, Reida and Varniro, check that one everyone else watch watch watch eyes all directions- watch the fire too, embers, it won’t be long they’ll catch

“Khh. Kh.”

It would be insane for someone to hide in a closet or something with fire in the town it shouldn’t be that, either they’re hiding somewhere they can see out or they’re unconscious or dead or the house is just empty

No one moving all up and down road, far as I can see Zelda shaking her head, too-

Bodies? Bodies no bodies they all run?

And-

Head-shakes. Nothing in that house.

Varniro…?

“Kh.”

No. Not that one either.

“Gg- khhh khhhh.”

And Terial’s coughing too and there’s still no Huiru here, two roads over.

Zelda?

I know that jaw- clench. Like right before she gets in the pool at the Cathedral.

“We go.”

Alright. Just point, Link, the less talking the better, that way everyone, west.

Where the fire’s louder maybe talking fine, here just not, lets us breathe through our noses anyway eyes peeled everyone going going going

Behind us?

Nothing.

Beraya- Liff- keep looking back. Okay?

Okay.

flAMES

“Ah!” “FF-“ “S$&#-“ “Kh-“

WOAH that was some pop- Reida looks a little singed but okay, flames more, hotter, some of these houses completely ablaze lucky lucky the paths aren’t too narrow never seen Serenne before wouldn’t’ve known hotter inward we circle circle around where's-

“KKRRGGHRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR.”

Lynel

Here we all are, hunted deer watching, listening.

It can’t be that close hardly any louder but maybe wrong, never seen a lynel never heard one either if that’s what it is, Daile’s the only one.

Still… listening.

Roaring. Of fire.

I'm dryer already.

More dark houses. Zelda?

That’s a yes and opinion established we check the survivable houses- pairs- Liff, Cohl- Varniro, Reida- Daile, Genenko- Margil, Beraya.

“Sir?”

“Quick, Margil, we’re good- go.”

Can’t say I blame him, I’ve been having them flank Zelda the whole-

“Khh. Kh.”

-time, but speed! Don’t think I should leave the archers out here alone. We stay. We watch. Should I call out? If someone’s hiding they might just come out and if monsters do at least we’re not walking into an ambush, they’d come to usOH no. Oh, Link. Could the lynel hear me if I yell? The fire might drown me out if it’s among it but I just don’t know and we could sure hear it roar- “No shouting?”

“Agreed.”

“Lynel?”

“Yes.”

I concur, master.

You’ve been quiet.

I am endeavoring not to distract you, master.

I… can see why.

I will take this opportunity to notify you your blood oxygenation levels are still within an acceptable range at 99%.

Uh. Good! I bet that would mean more to Zelda, but I can guess…

100% is desirable and indicates excellent breathing. Below 90% is dangerous.

What about Zelda?

I can measure no one’s but yours, master.

Right- right. Let me know if it changes, okay?

I plan to, master.

I bet hers are lower than that.

It is likely everyone’s are lower than yours, master, considering your pristine physical condition. I speculate your associate Terial is suffering most. I recommend removing both him and the Princess from this environment as soon as possible.

Yeah. Me too.

“Kh- kh. Khh.”

A few more houses.

“KHRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRH.”

…I sure couldn’t tell where that came from.

Could be around the corner.

That’s comforting.

“Khhh kh.”

Smoke so thick southward. Even looking down a clear path, hard to see. It… wasn’t that much louder, though.

“Ahm. Ahkhm.”

“Terial, you good?”

“Khhh- akm. Yeah, it- doesn’t agree with me.”

Me either, but it’s getting to him already.

“Kh- kh.”

At least Zelda’s doesn’t seem to be getting worse quick like his.

I think they’re almost done.

A lynel shows up, you don’t let Zelda anywhere near it, Link. You make her run.

Not that I could MAKE her do anything.

But.

“Ahm. Ahehehm.”

Wow. Am I just- falling into old habits or something? She’s right here. “Princess?”

“Yes?”

“Lynel, you leave.”

A long look. Something odd there, something I don’t like. Her eyebrow crease. Can’t see her mouth or nose, but- worried?

“I- understand.”

Wow. Well, good- and Margil and Beraya, also good.

Except also not good-

“Kh.”

-because they’re shaking their heads. “Bodies?”

Oh. No bodies either, so… still good.

Beraya. Squeeze her shoulder, Link.

The others – also coming. Except- no, no, there’s Varniro, too.

Closer. Closer. Okay. “If a lynel surprises us, the Princess is to retreat. Margil and Beraya, you’ll escort her.”

Nods all around.

I’m really amazed she just agreed to it, but-

“Khm. Kh- khm.”

-I’ll take it.

Let’s move. “Cohl- yeah, watch on that edge, Reida on yours.” Corners, corners. “We’ll move a few streets up and start again on the houses. Any of you find bodies?”

“No, sir.” “No.” “No.”

“Two. On- the street that way.”

Don’t let your face fall with your heart, Link. Did you think everyone would escape this hell alive? “…We do this as fast as we can- try to find anyone who’s left.”

“And- kh-kh- discover… where those missing have gone.”

Chuchu- Genenko’s got it, he’s got it aaaand one and two- there it goes already back up back up while it pops-

Chuchus do just spring from the ground. Like the… Dead Hands. Is that what happened here? They just sprang up, lit things? OH- “Back!”

Backupbackupbackup thereyougo manhandlingZelda sorry

HOT- "fffff!"

“Akhhhhh- khhhh ghghm.”

Hot…

Damn. Maybe. Fricking chuchu jelly explodes. Probably wouldn’t see it lying around.

Check behind- clear.

“Khh.”

They’re not too hard to kill but you have to know to run when they start puffing up. A good pop or two with a pitchfork and a sprint the other way would do it but of course you’ve set the nearest house on fire.

“Kh- khh.”

Maybe that’s why so few bodies.

It’s inconsistent.

“Ahhghm- dammit.”

Some houses not lit.

Yet.

Could be why. No chuchu pop-ups there.

But fire ones, here? They’re supposed to live in hot places. Eldin. Never thought to ask father. “Hey dad, do fire chuchus REALLY stick only to the slopes of Death Mountain?”

Has he even been to Death Mountain?

“Ah-hm.”

He must’ve- Oh? Waving waving Cohl?

Stop, everyone.

“Khhh khh.”

Okay- Zelda, with me- we’ll look.

Wow. Wow. Yeah, good eye, back-slap for you come on- come on everyone here- the well.

Buckets. Lots of them. Wet. Recently in use, and no bodies. Right? Am I crazy to be happy about this? Zelda?

No, no I’m not crazy because she looks at least a little relieved. Someone was fighting the fire and not that long ago. Lots of someones. That’s- yeah. Cooler here. Less flame.

Slightly less grim faces.

We go- further-careful check each way check, is that a bokoblin tooth? Teeth? A horn? They did fight back and yes that’s another bucket rolling around- another one there… on fire, now…

Back toward the east- anything?

Eyes every way, everyone.

I think I do see a few more monster parts. No people, though.

Alright everyone- yeah- spread on the street again we don’t quite fit I don’t like it Margil, Beraya? Yes, thank you. Princess’ back. This section seems pretty quiet, pretty cleared out, but still…

“Kh- khm. Kh.”

Steam. They doused things. Pump- there. It really can’t’ve been that long ago, can it? Not if we still see it like that.

“Wait.“

“Princess?”

“The pump. We refresh our facecloths while checking the area- quickly!"

“On it!”

Woah “Wait, the handle- hold your hand near it first, Genenko.” He was totally just going to grab it-

“It’s not hot, I’ll try it.”

Oh good.

“Bucket!”

“Thanks, Varniro.”

“Find your pairs.”

“Yes-“ “Yes, Princess-“

Finger to your lips, Link, they’re talking louder… they got the message. Quiet checking of those houses and alleys- oh no. Beraya.

Her face, Link.

Her family’s house- would’ve been southeast. Where the fire was worse.

Zelda?

Beraya.

…Yeah.

She already realized.

Can’t just ignore that, say something, just- quietly- “Beraya?”

Shaking her head. “We couldn’t have.”

“They might’ve got out.”

A strange, small smile.

She thinks they’re probably dead.

And Terial just dunked his whole face in that bucket. Good. He seems to need it more than the rest of- ”SH”$&%! ZELDA CORRALHERCORRALHERSHIELDSHIELD WHERE

Aree! Her arrow through its neck- Terial- Zelda wants to step out and shoot but no, no, that almost hit me and it could hit her, too- damn that thing was quiet. They usually give themselves away with the squealing.

Dead.

“Where the hell did it-”

“The house.”

“KKRRGGHRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRHHHHRRRR.”

I saw her breath catch.

Yes.

Closer, it’s closer, I know. Closer, eyes eyes out Daile?

Daile miming crouch crouch everyone down down LIFF, yes, YOU, DOWN! Zelda I want to just curl up in a ball around her but that won’t help anyone Daile’s looking at me eyes that way eyes that way he says-

There. Far.

But visible. Half turned away from us between houses and the hood on that further well, between smoke.

Okay. My Goddess. That has to be a lynel. Because it’s not a horse. But- it moves almost like one. Bright red mane, way too wide and thick not a horse not one bit.

Move- goodDaileagrees everyonemove STAYDOWN butmove move move move behind the next house holy f#$& don’t turn around now, don’t- face that way face that way face that way Margil Beraya flank Zelda thank you yes- oh. Okay. Daile. Staying crouched behind the well. Looking at me.

Yeah.

He’s right.

We have to take it out.

The mystery of the missing people doesn’t matter much if they can’t come back.

Zelda? I go.

“KKRRRRRGHRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRHRRRR.”

…It’s like the earth’s breath stops when it does that.

I want you completely out of its eyeline or even possible eyeline.

You, Margil, and Beraya… and Liff and Cohl.

Yup.

Shhh!

Glad I saw him about to talk, Holy Hylia this is not the moment to find out how good lynel hearing is.

S&$#. Genenko’s bad arm. He has to stay, too.

You can do this, Link. You can mime.

Genenko- you- Zelda, Margil, Beraya, Liff, and Cohl, you all look for the missing people.

The missing people.

The PEOPLE.

Bucket-people!

Ahhh now you get it.

Okay. Daile. You and me. On point. But- yeah. Agreed. We flank it.

Yeah. You that way. Me this way.

Okay, Link. Your father told you how to fight these. Just- plan. Archers stay at crazy far range if they can and you have to be ready to f$&$ing run. No bunching up. Everyone at different locations.

Terial, my side. Aree, Daile’s side. Varniro, my side. Reida, Daile’s side. Like this. Spread out- Daile, then Reida, then Aree. And for my side, me, then Varniro, then Terial.

I’d tell the archers to take rooftops if there wasn’t fire involved.

There are… more flames by the lynel, too.

And… We can't go into that soaking wet. We'll have water boiling against our skin. Facecloths only, because we have no choice.

And Fi's not arguing with me.

Okay. Everyone- face cloths only.

And of course the pump makes sound. Does the lynel know what a pump sounds like? Does it know that means people?

Hopefully not. I don’t hear anything rushing toward us. Still… keep it down, Genenko.

Terial went already- Aree next.

Fi, anything I should know?

Your oxygenation level is unchanged, master. But the area into which you propose to head is inundated with smoke. Your facecloth cannot protect you from asphyxiation, nor from carbon monoxide, hydrogen sulf-

Wait, from what?

Forgive me, master. Harmful gases. Your facecloth cannot filter them. It will protect you from burns and solid particles only.

We have to go.

Agreed.

O- oh.

Did you believe I would argue?

Yeah, kind of.

No, master. The beast must be felled. If one arrow would be sufficient to do so, I would suggest the Princess simply take aim and fire at first opportunity. But the beast would charge, and I believe you wished to avoid that scenario.

Yeah, yeah I did. She’s- she’s not ready for that.

No. She is not.

I… kind of thought you’d argue with me there, too.

…

Ohhh there you go again with one of your weird silences. Only this time I have no clue at all why. At least I usually know what it is you’re trying not to tell me.

Ah- my turn. Damn, I went turned-in-like. That happens sometimes when I talk to you.

Thus my efforts not to distract you, master.

Thanks. For the moment, though… just trying to creep low across the square and use the water.

I don’t see it anymore. It could easily come closer, though, just down another road. The facecloth wow needed that. The water… isn’t cool like well water really should be. It’s warm. But compared to what’s up here, it’s refreshing.

Okay.

Nothing for it.

You all ready?

Everyone’s smart enough to look scared. Probably more than they otherwise would be since they’re not used to fighting unarmored.

Reida almost looks angry. Maybe that’s how she preps herself for a nasty fight.

Or maybe she’s pissed because I assumed she’s willing to take on a lynel. I’m treating her like our own soldiers. But Zelda’s not stopping me, so I think I’m okay to do so for the moment.

Okay. We go. Now.

Try not to worry about Zelda, Link. Small smile. Hey- I managed one this time. Oh- there’s those balled fists again. She’s- struggling. Struggling not to cough.

Please- be okay.

See you soon.

Around the house. Keep watch. Wh- nasty thing- bokoblin heart. Pretty sure I see a moblin horn way far off, too. Wins for the missing people of Serenne. What-

Wish- wish I hadn’t seen that. Wonder who it was.

Who they were.

If- we run into monsters and we fight them, it’ll hear us. Daile sure didn’t-

“Kh- m.”

-want us making any sound. Though granted, he’s not the one who fought lynels. It was his father. But seeing a fight happen from far off is better than nothing.

Father did say they have amazing hearing. And eyesight. And sense of smell. That there’s almost no hiding from them, not unless you’re real far away.

Must be why. Why the people are gone. They may all have fled into the trees.

And been slaughtered by the monsters waiting there for them.

Of course. Of course. Line the trees with moblins and bokoblins, where it’s darker and harder to see they’re there, especially the bokoblins that just look like boulders in the dark until you get close. Then send in the lynel and those fire chuchus. Let them light the town up. Let the lynel kill everything in its path and claim the place as its territory, forcing people to run because between it and the fire there’s nothing they can do. Then they get slaughtered in the ring of trees. Boko riders pick off the few who escape to the fields-

The fields. My Goddess. They sent kids there.

And we didn’t kill all the riders, we didn’t, one blew right past us!

“Kh- m- m.”

My Goddess, my Goddess, there’s nothing I can do now nothing I have to find them later have to tell Zelda Goddess forgive me!

The sooner we take this lynel out the sooner we can help them.

The boy was alive. He was alive and he came back to help, right?

He did, right?

…Did he say that’s why?

He didn’t but he went back willingly. Yes. Yes, he said they still had the horses. They were… okay when he left.

Wh-

That’s a Moblin hand sticking out from behind that house.

Look.

Okay. It’s too close to our path, we have to take it out.

Your bow, Link, don’t make Terial cross in front. Here we go. Here we go- there’s its head, turned awayOHit’sturning SHOOT- sunk!

Dammit, LOUD moblin-

Varniro bowling it over it’s yelling take it OUT it’s too loud-

“KKRRRRRGGHRRRRRRR.”

The lynel louder did it hear did it hear? It’s not right on top of us not yet- what was that sound? Moblin-? Varniro has it the arrow screwed it up real good go go go ANOTHER, LEAPOVERTHISONELINK head it off, get it before it’s near Varniro- arrow thunked hit wood Terial missed WOAH!missedmemoblin STRIKE STRIKE STRIKE STRIKE STRIKE

Not dead not yet black moblins tough kill it shut it up YES good shot Terial SWIPE-

AH! Ittriedtoheadbuttme?! Good its face is in the dirt- NECK. It’s done. Right? Twist. Spine-OH! REALLY?! Hylia, get its-

Head. Another good shot- crunching?

“Kh.”

Crunching wood smash???

Moblin dead- other one too- there’s no roaring but somehow that’s not comforting they don’t look comforted either what was the crunching? Let’s go but this way, backward, around these houses, I have a feeling I just have a feeling it heard it knows and I could be wrong and if there are more monsters this way it’ll hear that too anyway and there ARE, blue boko right there, back up

F#$&!

“KKRRAGGHRRRRERRRRRR!”

The lynel different that was different

“You hear that?”

I swear it heard

“Is it starting?”

kill the boko kill it

“Shh…”

slice slice shield bash it bashbashbashbashbash

SLICE SLICE THRUST- THRUST! It’sgoingdown it’sgoing but I hear it hoofbeats it knows it knows send them backward Link!

Varniro, Terial, retreat! Behind me behind me go go go go go go go go go NO NO I stay, you go!

That was chuffing it’s close GO! Yes, good good go, now I back up, back up, straight though, straight, I think it’ll see me but not them at least not at first and they can take up other positions and more wood smashing it’s close what is it doing ANOTHER smash-

“Khm. Khm- kh.”

-that was close ANOTHER what is it doing THAT was a piece of wood flying over my head a beam, a piece of a beam, the houses, it’s smashing the houses, what’s left of them, does it think we might be inside or is it just angry?

My Goddess I feel like I can hear it thinking, its breath is so loud.

Zelda? She’s probably not looking at the slate. She shouldn’t be. She needs to be watchful-

THERE I just saw it whatever it’s using around that bend right there back up so slow Link so soft so it can’t see you not yet not yet no advantage I’m in the wrong spot and Daile’s not here to flank it though he’ll catch on and move, he will-

SPLINTERS WOODHOTHOT PATITOUT S&$^ PATITOUT

SOUND THAT MADE SOUND IT’LL

“KRRRRRGH!!”

HEAR

“S$&#!” “Sounds bad-“

WOOD!FIRE!EYES

“We continue.“

EYES NEEDTHOSE

“Yes-” “Yes, Princess.”

ASHLINK ASH JUSTDODGEANDPRAY DODGEANDPRAY SMASHING SMASHING DEEP BOOM DIRT WHERE I JUST WAS IWASJUSTTHERE AND I HEARDIT

“KRRRRRRRGH!”

Come on eyes comeON HOOFBEATS DODGEANDPRAYHYLIA ITPASSED MYBACKWALL SPLINTERSSHARP SKIDDING

Yes YESLINK It’sheavy it’ssoheavy ittakestime takes time to stop don’t panic clear your eyes you have a moment you HAVE IT and THEREITIS RIGHT THERE SKIDDED TO A STOP JUST LIKE A HORSE

Mount it!!!

YES! ITS HEAD ITS HEAD BASH ITS HEAD BASH BASH BASH BASH BASH BASH

AH! FFF!

“Kh- m- m- kh.”

THROWN

“Prin-?”

FLAMING ROOF my Goddess get off get off ihhhtFALLING!! ShoulderHOT HOTHOTHOTHOTHOTHOT noLink moveyouHAVEto it’llcrushyou theclub HOOFbeats

ROLLROLL NEVERMINDTHEHEAT oh GODdess ff hurts rightwhereIwas whereIwasagain itsaim perfect mountingitworked butcarefulcareful-

“-RRRHH.”

That was different,wh-

RUNLINK

Fathersaid hesaid whenitjuststands burstofflame magic magic they’remagic thefire it’ll burst anysecondKEEPRUNNING

“HH!” “Did you?!” “S$&*#!”

S#%$NO!

“It appears-“

MYBACKMYBACK

“-as though the lynel has been engaged.”

Sh- sh$# singed keep running anyway

get your bearings for a second

it hurts but there’s been way way way worse the heat I think if my back'd been soaked like earlier I'd've lost all the skin all the skin

more FIRE I hear it

It’s pawing the earth-

DAILE!- no, no, hotwe’ll both be on the same side mime mime, I’ll circle around! Hope he saw that, go right Link go go go go go hot that pawing sound again what is it OHNO IT BLEW BY I MOVED IT BLEW BY WHERE I WAS IT’S AFTER DAILE

Please let him have dodged that please, straight back Link we’ll flank it as long as Daile made it PRONE HE’SPRONE

NO YOU DON’T! HEY! HEY LOOK AT ME I’M RIGHT HERE THAT’S RIGHT it has a bunchhot of arrows in it already I didn’t even realize couldn’t see Terial must’ve been going nuts on it from somewhere and CLUBOVERITSHEAD DODGELINK DODGE BACKFLIP BACK AGAIN

Master!

NOT FAR ENOUGH THE VIBRATIONS TOOhot MUCH PRONE PRONE

Your blood oxygenation level is dropping!

YES, Daile! Sword in its flank

Seek to exit the smoke!

DAILE BACKHANDED FLYING HOT HOWISITTHIShotFAST?

“Sirs- kh- hh.”

MOUNT IT AGAIN MOUNT

“The next well-“

BASH BASH BASH BASH

“-this way.”

BASH LEAP EARLY YES

Yes yes Daile- he’s up and it’shot looking at me again and CLUBNO BACKFLIPaaAAAH!

H-head. Good, Link, you’re good, justhot- hit wood, not hotstone

“Kh.”

you’ve had worse way way worseMOVEMOVE!

SMASHINGwood HOTalloverme BURNScrawlout crawlout GODDESS! Shakingground so close how did it miss-

BecauseVarniro!

95% and dropping!

Yesyesyes different hotdirections someoneELSEonitsback Reida it’s ReidaYES SWORD, LINK, RIGHT THERE!!!

Ohhhhitdoesn’tlikethat upitshorse-chestandthrough hotpullout backu- NONO rollunder!

CLUB HolyHylia itstillthrewme and I washot almost behind it, Daile good flank-swipe, arrowsarrows lotsmore Reidawentflying gettingup helpVarniro, itsbelly rightthere hotTHROUGH!

ROLL OUT!

Waveringwavering it’shot whining. Another arrow and another- what-?

PUSH VARNIRO! FIREBALLFIREBALLFIREBALL and HOToh HOTGoddess

MASTER THE FIRE!

IKNOW!!! HOTmy HOTclothes HOTmaskoffoffOFF!

94% AND DROPPING RAPIDLY!

HOTroll ROLL YOU TOO VARNIRO HOT if theHOT houses HOTweren’t here

YOUR BODY IS UNABLE TO REGULATE ITS TEMPERATURE!

HOTwe’d’ve gotHOT hit head-on and YES FI Hyliahelpme IKNOW

“Khh.”

HOTTerialdown? Don’tHOTknow

“Kh.”

crossstreetHOT CROSSLINK RUNRUN FIREBALLHA!missedme HOTHOTHOT CRUNCHING bashingHOT throughtheHOThouse togetme BACKFLIP EARLYLINK be somewhereHOTelse andHOT dotheThing thebowthebowslowitdownslowitall aimaimaimaimaimaimaimaimaimperfectshotbeperfectFIRE

“GRHHHUUUUU!”

Here HOTthey all come

“GR- UUUPH!”

To finish you offHOT

That’s HOTnot a battle cry

Not anymore

Reida

Went forHOT the throat

HOTThe others justHOT- through.

Think- I’llHOT take a breather.

“Kh- khh.”

YES, master, exit the heavy smoke!

It’sHOT down.

Whining.

HOT. Too HOT too hot thingsspinning backoffbackoffcooler

I almosthot feel sorry abouthot this one

Almost

“It’s the same here…”

hotBecause it seems more like an animalspinning

hotAnd less like a monster

It didn’t seem happyhot to kill us

hotNot like bokoblins

But nohot way

“Kh- hh.”

hotNo way

It washot it or us.

Andhot this village

“Oh!”

Or what’s lefthot

“Sir Liff?”

of it and its people.

“Hello down there!”

Too hot what’s she-?

“How fortunate.”

“What- Huiru!”

Yeah. Hot. Yeah- it’s-

“I’ve been following the well system, Princess.”

What?

“We’d thought you lost.”

hotNot now.

“Haha. I was for a time.”

Priorities.

“But now I’ve found you.”

We regroup with the others. They’ll’ve moved.

“Indeed. Huiri-“

We succeed, we returnhot.

“Yes, Princess?”

Not saying it again.

“Is there wind below?”

We’re leaving. Hot.

“Yes.”

You want to stay behind and wait, stay behind. Hot.

hotWow. Get your hotf$&#ing priorities straight.

“Princess?”

Grantedhot the apothecary would pay an ass ton for any lynel part of any kindhot.

“Kh- have you seen anyone down there?”

But I am NOT waiting aroundhot here-

“A few bodies.”

-for it to disintegrate. Hylia help me.

Damn- damn, speaking ofhot priorities- Hey- that well back this way first, everyone.

“Kh. I- see.”

Fresher, cooler water for the cloths, it’s too hot not to-ohhh-spinningagain noo no no- stay up, Link

“Please join us above, Huiru.”

Master- you are at 91%

“Yes, Princess.”

Terial? Terial- Daile!

“Continue to be watchful, everyone.”

Yeah yeahhot help him spinning- out, out everyone OUT north north now!

“It sounds as though the battle has ended.”

You goodhot Aree?

“We kh- shall await the others.”

YOU GOOD?!

“As you say, Princess.”

Come onhot yeah yeah got you gothot

Cooler

Surehot hope now f$&#ing moblins jump us now.

Cooler This way!

The air is better here, Master.

Heh. Yeah. I could tell.

---

Follow this link to read part 17

Follow this link to return to the chapter list.

Follow this link for my masterlist.

#adventure log+#adventure log+ AU #botw #botw fanfic #zelda #loz #zelink #fantasy #adventure #action #suspense #sheikah slate POV #unorthodox POV #zelda fanfic #got some totk references going now

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