#and link will be in his lap facing revali hugging him head on revali's shoulder munching on his neck

[amiharana]

i've mentioned my headcanons on revalink's love languages before, but last night i was thinking about link who really likes giving revali kisses for any and every occasion because he just can't keep himself off of his bird bf 😄 kisses all over revali's beak, on his red cheek feathers (so he can pretend it's a lipstick mark or that revali is blushing), in between revali's eyes, or on his forehead. link often falls asleep wrapped around revali's body, his lips on revali's neck.

and revali will gripe and complain about how touchy-feely link is, but he secretly loves it. and he'll never, ever admit it out loud, but there's a part of him that wishes just for a moment that he was a hylian so he could return all of link's kisses. their biologies tragically aren't compatible for such intimacy, and even though link says it's okay, revali can't help but feel he's not providing enough for his mate. what sort of mate is he, to not be able to reciprocate the affection his mate always gives him?

so revali hopes, with every tight hug and every press of their foreheads, that link can feel every ounce of love that revali as for him. he hopes that in this lifetime, it can be enough.

[flockrest]

unprompted / always accepting / @gloryseized ( Link )

     So it's a pretty slow-going night for collecting star fragments, as it turns out.

     Which is totally fine! Really! They can't all be winners — and it gives Tulin all the more time to get Link caught up on everything that's happened to the flock while he was away!

     But. Well.

     Even in knowing this, the disappointment that ruffles his feathers is a hard thing to ignore. It's been too long since they'd last hung out like this, both ( mostly Link ) too busy with their own dedications and responsibilities ( mostly Link ) to find the chance to have fun just for the sake of having fun, and now the fun's not even gonna have the decency to start when they're all prepped for it to?

     Go figure.

     He chatters on some more 'bout the ( thankfully harmless but very hilarious all the same ) explosion Molli accidentally ignited on Master Revali's Landing the other day, continuing to try pacing his restlessness out along the deck of the Stormwind Ark near where Link's seated himself, before eventually flumping down beside him with a sigh he can't quite keep locked behind his beak. He lolls back 'til his head's on the hero's shoulder, semiplumes squished up 'gainst Link's ear and cheek.

     "Sorry it's so boring up here," he says, feeling ridiculous for it a second later 'cause it's not like Tulin has any sorta control over when and where stars fall. It still feels like it's kinda his fault for how things are going, though — they were s'pposed to be in Necluda's skies tonight ( they were s'pposed to be there two moon phasings ago, actually, but who's counting ) as per their routine, but his brother had arrived at their peaks real tired and Tulin hadn't wanted to push him into being, like, dead-tired. Even if Link insisted otherwise.

     The shoulder beneath his head rises and dips in what he's fairly sure is probably a snicker. Tulin turns then, playfully offended squawk already building up in his chest, 'cept Link isn't actually laughing at him.

<< I'm glad you're here. >>

     Oh.

     Feathers puffing with a delighted, tickling warmth, Tulin feels the joy that always sweeps over him when Link's being real nice like this all the way down to the tips of his talons. To all the tiniest spaces between his bones! They're flock and nest, 'course, so this isn't the first time he's been told something along these lines, but the love that radiates from that quiet smile and those assured signs just seems— heavier. Fuller. Link's-talking-'bout-more-than-right-here-and-now-er. It's seriously hard to resist bowling him over with a hug in the face of it.

     Tulin's getting better at not immediately ruining a peaceful moment when he sees one though, and that tends to require a more delicate touch. ( Or, uh, as delicate a touch as he can manage. )

     "That makes two of us!" he laughs, beaming with barely contained giddiness and nudging at Link with a wing. Then, y'know what, he gives the night sky around them one last look, scoots closer, and plops the back of his head right down onto his brother's lap. If the stars remained still for whatever time they have left before they gotta go, Tulin decides he wouldn't mind it if it meant being together like this just a while longer. "I'm glad you're here, too!"

[pastelsandpining]

Baby It’s Cold Outside (Snowed In)

The first prompt in 12 Days of Christmas by @zelink-prompts​ 

Prompt List

Cover Art: @neezlebums​ be sure to show some love to the original here!

Words: 3439

**If I don’t have explicit warnings, read with caution. It simply means there’s nothing I could think of that could be potentially triggering, but I could’ve just missed something. In that case, please let me know and I’ll be more than happy to put a warning!**

Summary: The trip to Hebra didn’t go quite as expected when Zelda and Link are forced to take cover from a snow storm.

Pre-BotW, HWAOC centered, but it’s a little mix of both

Zelink-mas 2020  l  Masterlist

Zelda absolutely could not believe her luck. Well, she could, but she would rather pretend that she couldn’t so she could keep a cap on the bottle of anger that threatened to burst. Everything was beginning to catch up with her now that the sun was setting, and she didn’t have the safety of her bedroom and pillows. What she had instead was a headache, and she was very cold despite her winter coat, and she was hungry, and she was exhausted.

Hebra was a beautiful region, but the snowstorms and blizzards were anything but. They were biting and vicious, and never ending it seemed. She’d come here for one reason only--to try and prompt Revali to give her an answer. He thought it would be just fitting to make her wait, and she didn’t want to seem pushy, especially when her own powers were still dormant, but they certainly didn’t have forever. She didn’t want to be annoyed with the Rito, but Calamity Ganon was not going to wait for an answer, even if he was the most skilled warrior among his people. She also didn’t want to seem spoiled, but she couldn’t help finding it rather offensive that he wanted so badly to make her wait. What did he want her to do, get on her knees and beg? 

But then they were interrupted by one of the storms, a blizzard that came from nowhere. Of course he had gone off to do whatever it was, and she was left behind with Impa. Which wasn’t bad--she loved Impa. She simply found it infuriating to be left in the dark. So, just as any other sensible, curious, responsible person would do, she traversed into the blizzard anyway. And what did she find at the end of the tunnel but her knight and the potential Rito champion trying to kill each other?

Needless to say, it had been a long day. She got her answer at last, but really, at what cost? 

And now the blizzard kicked up again with twice the force as before, and she had to keep a hold on Link’s hand so they didn’t get separated. She didn’t speak and if he did, she couldn’t hear him. She held her other arm over her eyes for protection, but it did nothing to stop the stinging of her ears and cheeks. She couldn’t tell if it was the wind howling or something else. 

She was just about to suggest that they turn back. They should’ve stayed in the inn in Rito Village, but she’d wanted so desperately to get back to her room and she knew Link wouldn’t argue, but now she wished he had, because the last thing she wanted was to catch hypothermia and freeze to death in Hebra.

But Link gave her arm a tug, and their direction was changed. She was beginning to think there wasn’t anything Hylian about him except his appearance, because she couldn’t see within a foot in front of them. Yet she could see with every step they took a clearer picture—a cabin flanked by bare, snowy trees. There was no smoke rising from it, so she assumed it was empty. Or at least, she hoped it was empty. It was some form of protection and her body gave a violent shudder just thinking about it. 

She didn’t know how old it was, but it wasn’t falling apart at the very least. It was empty and looked to be deserted. There was nothing that indicated the presence of another person. The door had a lock too, and her fingers that had frozen through the gloves fumbled with it until it slid into place. Cold still seeped through the walls, but there was no more wind and snow. 

A burst of light suddenly came to life, and Zelda looked up from the Sheikah Slate she’d been trying to pull out her coat. 

“Where..?” she began, looking between Link and the fire in the hearth. 

“There were a few pieces already in there,” he replied with a gesture to the warmth. “I don’t know how old they are and I don’t know how long they’ll last, but it’s better than nothing.”

It was the most she’d heard him speak.

Zelda nodded once in response and then shuffled forwards to take a seat in front of the fire. She shivered again, leaving the Slate besides her so she could turn her hands to the flames. Her lips parted with the instinct to thank him, but he snatched up the Slate from the floor and she settled for silence. 

She watched the flames dance, throwing the room into shades of yellow and orange. It was mesmerizing, but it pulled her into a realm of thoughts. What right minded individual would leave a sanctuary (if you disregard Revali and Link’s mutual distaste for one another) that was so far from home at such a late hour? Zelda closed her eyes and told herself it was the result of a long day and high strung emotions. That was it. Any other day, in any other circumstance, she would’ve stayed the night in the village. 

A weight on her shoulders made her flinch and open her eyes, but it was nothing more than a blanket. It escaped her mind that she’d put one in the Slate before they left, but she didn’t think it would be much use. She looked over at her knight with furrowed eyebrows, but he was busy making skewers of some sort. She was very thankful for the beeping of the little guardian, which hid the growling of her stomach as it padded on over.

It settled itself right between the two of them as if it was cold too. Zelda shook her head, pulling her hands back to her lap. Maybe it was just her, but the air felt awkward with no noise other than the crackling fire and sound of wind. Her eyes drifted to the guardian again as she bit her lip.

“Have you come up with a name for it yet?” she asked. Link looked over immediately with confusion written over his features, so she gestured to the guardian in an attempt to ignore his reddened cheeks and nose. She could imagine she looked very similar. 

“I.. it belongs to you, Princess. I couldn’t-“

“You were the one who found it,” she replied as she worked the gloves off of her fingers. “Besides, I.. could use some ideas.” 

“Well.. uh, I have one,” said Link. The little guardian beeped as if it were prompting him to continue. “Eggbert.”

Zelda’s head snapped in his direction. 

“This is a valuable, near intact piece of ancient, advanced Sheikah technology created with the purpose of defeating the Calamity, and you wish to name it ‘Eggbert’?” 

Link scratched the back of his head with a sheepish shrug.

“It’s white and.. vaguely egg shaped,” he pointed out. 

“Fair enough,” Zelda said, turning her face away so he wouldn’t see her lips cracking into a smile. She cursed him for nearly making her laugh, and Eggbert giving a furious beep didn’t help. She was pleasantly surprised however, because she didn’t know he had a personality, much less a sense of humor. “Eggbert it is.”

The guardian stood from its perch and beeped again, pointing a leg up to a bewildered Link before it scampered off into a corner. For a piece of ancient technology, it could be very expressive. 

Zelda’s stomach growled again when the smell of meat and mushrooms hit her, and she hugged her stomach to try and quiet it. She hoped her cheeks, which were now defrosted and warm, were still red enough to hide the embarrassment if he looked her way. But she had bigger worries, she supposed, when her body reminded her of the pounding ache in her head—just behind her eyebrows. She pressed her fingers to her forehead, rubbing small circles like it would have any sort of effect. She was better off making an elixir, but the Slate still hadn’t been returned to her side, so she didn’t bother.

“Princess..”

She lifted her head and looked over to the knight, who was holding out one of the skewers. 

“It’s hot,” he warned, but she took it gingerly and bit into it anyway. 

“Have you always known how to cook?” she asked, though it wasn’t like it was anything impressive. Anyone could stick some meat and mushrooms on a stick and hold it over a fire, right? But she wanted to make some sort of conversation. He nodded and took a bite, so she threw in a “it’s good” and then let silence fall.

It was a few minutes later that Link said “thank you”, and Zelda nodded. He held another skewer out towards her, but even with her own picked clean, she shook her head.

“You can have it,” she assured, offering a faint smile. She’d seen him eat a literal rock back on Death Mountain, so she was certain the boy would eat anything and had a far bigger appetite than her. 

He looked hesitant, but he took a bite anyway. With less hunger and more warmth surrounding her, Zelda decided to succumb to her exhaustion. They wouldn’t be going anywhere for a while, likely not until morning, so she curled up in front of the fireplace. 

She was almost asleep, but the sound of the lock on the door sliding out of place got her to sit up and turn around.

“Where are you going?” she asked, fighting to keep her eyes open.

“We need more firewood,” Link replied with a gesture to the dying embers. Zelda rubbed her eyes.

“You’re not going out there,” she said and shook her head.

“It’ll get cold-“

“We could hardly see anything when the sun was still up. You are not going out there in the pitch dark, Link. I don’t care how strong or brave you think you are.”

“Princess-“

“You will not go out that door. That’s an order.”

She hated playing that card, she really did. It felt no better when Link nodded silently and his fingers slid the lock back into place. Before she could stop herself, she grabbed one end of the blanket and opened it up as a gesture for him to join. 

“If you’re cold, then there are other ways to keep warm. It’s.. safer,” she mumbled, gripping the blanket tighter. “I mean, it’s still snowing and the wind is.. I don’t particularly want to tell my father that my knight attendant got lost and froze to death overnight..”

Despite how hesitant he must’ve been, he spared her the embarrassment and took a slow seat besides her, taking the blanket from her hand. It left very little space between them and went against so many codes, but the fire was dying and they couldn’t go back out, so they simply had to make do. The survival and health of the crown princess of Hyrule was more important than some code of honor, right?

“Thank you,” Zelda said quietly, keeping her eyes on the embers and small, flickering flames. 

“Go back to sleep, Princess,” he replied, but Zelda pulled her knees to her chest and held the blanket tighter.

“You must promise me that you won’t try to sneak out if I do.”

“..of course.”

She turned to look at him and furrowed her eyebrows, then stuck out a pinky.

“Promise me,” she demanded. Link looked between her hand and her eyes, but he wrapped his pinky around hers and nodded once.

“I promise.”

Satisfied, Zelda curled back up in front of the fire, making herself as small as possible so that she didn’t pull the blanket off of Link. It took her seconds to fall asleep and despite the day she had, it wasn’t as restless as she thought it’d be. 

———

Zelda woke to sunlight dripping in through the window. She was much warmer than she expected to be, but perhaps that was from the shared blanket—with Link pressed to her back. She flushed at the thought of it and suddenly, she didn’t need the blanket anymore. She peeled it off and carefully sat up. The fire was out, Eggbert was still asleep in the corner, and apparently already awake, Link turned onto his back to look up at her.

“Good morning,” she choked out and scooted a little backwards. 

“Are you cold?” he asked, propping himself up on his elbows. Zelda shook her head.

“No, I-.. are you?”

“No.”

“Okay.”

Link eyed her for a second. It looked as if he were about to ask something, so she grabbed the Sheikah Slate and activated it. Within seconds, Eggbert had come pattering over.

“We should start heading back,” he said. “Before they start to worry.” 

Zelda nodded and scrambled to her feet, pulling her hat back on. Link was looking at her again, so she ducked her head and headed for the door, sliding the lock out of place. What she wouldn’t have given last night to be alone, but now she felt a nervousness she couldn’t explain and didn’t want to think about. 

“Princess.”

“Yes?” she asked, glancing over her shoulder. Link held up her discarded gloves. “Oh.”

“May I?” 

Zelda hesitated, eyeing his upturned hand. Just what exactly was he trying to do? She gave no verbal answer, but she eventually held out her own. He approached slowly, giving her the chance to pull away should she wish, but she didn’t. His touch was gentle and his hands were warm as he slid the gloves over hers. It took her a moment to look away from him once he was finished, but she pulled the door open and welcomed the icy air on her flushed cheeks.

There was approximately a foot of snow on the ground, and some of it fell into the doorway and over her boots. She kicked it aside and stepped out of the safety of the cabin, fishing the Slate out of her pocket.

Link took the lead and she followed, with Eggbert scuttling along between them. It was quiet and Zelda didn’t try to make conversation. Perhaps it was unlike her, but so was sleeping against a knight and letting that same knight put her gloves on. She’d been off all morning though, and she hated the feeling. It’d been so nice escaping her responsibilities for a little while, even if it was only due to a sudden snow storm. She wished she could do it more often, but what would her father say if he knew how she was thinking? 

“Princess?”

Zelda glanced over at Link, and the little guardian beeped its own concern. 

“It’s nothing,” she assured and looked for something, anything to change the subject. “Is your coat warm enough? You look cold.” 

His cheeks and nose were cherry red again. She tried not to think about it too much.

“I’m alright,” he replied, so she nodded and let silence fall again. Hunger was beginning to set in, as was a soreness from sleeping on the hardwood floor, but she would not complain. 

Eggbert scuttled a little ahead and Zelda picked up her pace to match. Perhaps the little guardian was seeing what she was seeing—a stable just ahead, with the shape of a horse peeking out above the trees. That very stable had their horses, and thinking about a more filling meal cooked in a pot gave her hope that they would make it out of Hebra after all. Snow was beginning to fall again, but it was softer and there was no storm to carry it, so she hardly minded. She liked it enough to tilt her head back and stick her tongue out to catch a snowflake. 

Link was watching her, and her cheeks flushed.

“What?” she asked, crossing her arms defensively over her chest. He only shook his head and turned his attention back to the stable, but she wasn’t satisfied with that answer. “I’m convinced you don’t know how to have fun.”

“Having fun is not in my job description, Princess.” 

“Job description? What are you going to protect me from this far from civilization? The snow? Oh, watch out, it’s falling from the sky and it burns!” Zelda raised her hands over her head in a dramatic show of protecting herself, but it got nothing more out of Link than an eyebrow raised in her direction.

“There’s a lot hiding in plain sight,” he replied. Obviously, she knew that. But she was too stubborn to let go of this. She would make her point one way or another. 

“A sense of humor, perhaps?”

But they’d arrived at the stable at last, and Zelda left her knight’s side (and handed the Slate over) to approach the stable hand.

“Good morning,” she greeted with a soft smile.

“Princess,” he replied with a low bow, but he knocked his head against the booth and Zelda bit her cheek to stop a laugh.

“Goodness, are you alright?” she asked instead, reaching a hand out to him.

“I’m quite alright,” he assured. “Thank you. I do hope your trip has been treating you kindly.”

“It has, but we were caught in the storm last night. I’m happy to see the stable held up.”

“Don’t you worry about a thing. She’s real sturdy.”

“That’s delightful to hear. You’ve put a lot of work into these stables. That’s why we’re more than happy to support them.”

“We appreciate that very much, but uh..” He looked nervous. Zelda stole a glance in the direction of Link, who was crouched by the cooking pot. “We do have other, unlucky news. Something got into the stable last night and bit your knight’s horse. She’ll be okay, I assure you! But her leg is swollen and she’ll need a few days rest. No charge at all, of course!”

“That’s quite alright,” Zelda assured, though the news made her anxious. She didn’t know how Link was going to take it, but she pushed a few rupees over to the stable owner anyway for his troubles and smiled. “I insist. We trust you to take the utmost care of her.”

She made sure to walk away before he could argue. Whatever Link was cooking smelled really good and it made her wonder where he’d learned to do this, but she didn’t quite know how to ask. Instead, she sat on the ground next to him and held her hands out towards the warmth of the fire.

“Your horse,” she said softly, sparing him a glance. “She, um, got hurt last night. Nothing serious, but they say she needs rest.”

“Okay,” Link replied. It was hard to tell what he was thinking, so she gave up trying to and rested her head against her knees. 

“What are you making?” she asked. 

“A cream of mushroom soup,” he answered, glancing over to her. “It’s not.. breakfast, but it’s warm.”

“You could add a spicy pepper,” she suggested and looked away. “I’m not sure about taste, but spicy peppers are often used in cold resistance elixirs. I imagine it would work similarly with food.”

Zelda didn’t know why she felt surprised to see him follow her suggestion without complaint. She knew what she was doing of course, but there were occasions where other people, men in particular, didn’t think so. It made her all the more satisfied when she was proven correct.

Ten minutes later, they were full and warm and ready to really head back. 

Well, almost ready.

“Link, you don’t need to walk,” she said, gripping the reins of her horse tighter. Link looked up at her and said nothing, so she huffed to make a point. “It will be far more quick and efficient if we both ride.”

“Princess..”

“I insist. Our arrival is overdue and.. and I don’t mind.” She definitely minded. “Please don’t be stubborn.”

Defeated, Link joined her at last and Zelda was no longer sure if it was the effects of the spicy pepper that warmed her up, or his arms entrapping her waist so he could hold the reins. 

“Are you comfortable?” he asked, though it sounded far too close to her ear for her liking.

“I’m fine,” she replied and wrapped an arm around Eggbert, who was settled in front of her and beeped once. 

The return to Hyrule Castle was quick enough, but she was hyper aware of every time he touched her ever since last night and oh, she hated him for that. 

Of all people to have gotten snowed in with… 

final art piece by me! Zelda’s a little wonky but I can apparently only draw her when the stars align, so, sorry sis. PLEASE DO NOT REPOST EITHER PIECE OF ART or you’ll lose all kneecap privileges  

[song-of-storms162]

One of us

The one hundred year sleep may have healed Wild, but for the price of his memories and unless he’s careful, his sanity.

I came home with heaviness in me, and wanting to forget the way i felt, went into the Linked Universe discord server, took one look at the weekly prompt and told myself; ”I’m tackling this prompt.”

For the linked universe discord weekly prompt: Loss/Taken

The one hundred year sleep had healed him mostly. When he told the others about it first, it was easy. Of course he didn’t mention the countless nightmares and dreams he had in the span of a century.

He had been in the brink of death, he swore he could see the banks of a river. It was a cold river, near freezing and he could feel his strength sap away. He didn’t feel like moving, no he didn’t want to move and his eyes Hylia were they heavy.

Tired, that was what he was, he could care less about where he was but sleep sounded really good now.

And so the hero slept, not knowing what river bank he slept on nor seeing the four spirits take him in.

He woke on different periods.

Once was on grass, soft and ticklish, the dirt below was a comfort in itself. He was....was he being held by someone?

But he couldn’t move, he couldn’t twist his body to face the person whose lap he slept on. He saw a hand, covered in beautiful red scales, resting on his cheek and he felt warmth there. His cheek felt light, soothing, the numbness in his face fading.

He felt wistful for some reason and in his mind he saw images. A trident beautiful in silver, a beast of metal and gears with large round ears and a long awkward nose. But as soon as they came they left.

He found his consciousness chasing after them before stopping.

What had he been chasing after?

He fell back into blackness.

He woke up on a raft this time.

He didn’t know how he could tell, his legs were still submerged in water, he wanted to move them as they were cold after all. But as he shifted his legs, he heard a sigh from someone.

He wanted to turn in their direction but a faceful of wind made him return to his original position.

“Don’t move,” he hears a voice say. “Master of air I might be, master of luck you are not.”

He hears a slight jab in those words and then another sigh. “You’ll have to keep your legs there, there’s barely enough space for two of us on this raft. Any false movement and you’ll capsize us.”

He hears a nother gust of wind puff by and he sees images again. A bow, large and great, on someone’s back, someone unfamiliar. The blue of the sash he wears was strangely haunting.

“May your luck hold out Link.”

And he falls into blackness once more.

He hears two voices this time. Male and female by the sound of it.

“Keep that shield steady Daruk. We might be spirits but this one’s not ready to cross the river just yet.”

A cool female voice and-is that lightning he hears? But the sounds fade and he hears the yell of agony from a monster. “Hah!” A booming male exclaims and Wild feels like he hears something breaking and then humming. “Little guy looks healed up enough, Mipha and that shrine thing are doing their work.”

Mipha? Who was that?

Wild hears another crack of lightning and then another cry from a monster, a lizalfos maybe?

“These monsters are as troublesome as their living counterparts. We can’t depend on Mipha alone, this is our part to play in ensuring Link returns to the living.”

A sigh from the female and he hears the swish and clink of metal, were they armed?

“Revali’s doing his part but still I was surprised when that lady came to us and gave us this task. What did she say her name was again, Urbosa?”

Urbosa?

“She didn’t say, Daruk. But...I have an inkling to who she may be.”

Daruk?

“Don’tcha think she kind of looked like the princess though?”

A pause and the cool female voice answers again.

“Not just the princess, but she bore a resemblance to my old friend, the queen of Hyrule and the queen before her.”

Who are these people? Wild can feel himself fight to keep concious but something is dragging him down. Down to that dark slumber.

“But they weren’t her.”

The female voice doesn’t reply and all is silent until Wild hears another crack of lightning and another monster’s cry.

“Certainly not. Daruk, i believe we had a run-in with the goddess Hylia herself.”

“I only hope that the little bird and the hero remember each other. Link and Zelda, we’re counting on you.”

He only has time to think ‘Zelda?’ And then he falls.

Wild jolts from his sleep, his head knocking into a familiar wolf’s. The gray beast staggers before shaking its head and looking at him. Three blinks.

Their code for Are you Okay?

Wild blinks once. Yes

The wolf huffs and makes to lay down next to Wild. His eyes already say it all without blinking. Liar

Wild shrugs before getting up and hearing a whine from his furry companion.

“Checking food,” whispers Wild and Twilight blinks at him seven times. I’ll come with you

Wild doesn’t object and makes his way to where they keep food and supplies, both on cat soft feet to not wake the others. Wild rummages around a few packs, finding a soup ladle and a pot lid and starts when he feels a hand on his shoulder.

He whirls around, the soup ladle he found in his hand, ready to whack the living daylights out of an enemy. The pot lid is held as a shield but an unblinking Twilight holds his hands up.

Wild blinks and sets down the ladle. “You gave me a heart attack,” Wild mutters before going back to rummaging around.

“You give me one everyday, it’s time i returned the favor.”

Wild shoots a glare over his shoulder at the older hero’s words. Twilight grins at him before going serious.

“What was the dream this time?”

Wild stops in his search and Twilight goes quiet. Dreams are tricky for them, even nice ones. And Twilight knows better than to press.

So he waits.

Wild finally faces him, his right arm spinning the soup ladle like a baton. “It was more of a memory I s’pose.”

Wild sighs and sits on the ground, trying not to think too hard about the breeze in his face or the grass he’s sitting on.

“I heard the champions. I was on a river and....” Wild trails off, his hand now gripping the soup ladle before tracing its length. “I think it was the first time i felt them after i first lost my memories.”

“I was,” Wild breathes out. “I was dead.”

“You mean asleep?”

Wild shakes his head. “They were transporting me from one side of a river to another. I was on a raft that kept going because of Revali’s winds, i think-I think there were Lizalfos around so Daruk and Urbosa were protecting me in my ‘state’.”

“I was-I was drifiting from the land of the dead to the living.”

Twilight feels his mouth go dry and his voice croaks one last name. “Mipha?”

Wild shakes his head. “She healed me. I heard Daruk say it was the shrine and her.”

A sad smile touches Wild’s face. “She was the first to see me off.”

Twilight nods but Wild continues, “Honestly, i’m afraid of sleeping, of not remembering you all when i wake up. They way i did in that-that memory.”

“Of losing it all not once but twice.”

Twilight wants to hug his protege and knows about the latter’s reaction to it but he does so anyway. Wild’s tears fall when his face is buried in Twilight’s tunic, sobs muffled by the older’s shoulders. Twilight begins rocking him, like one would a child or in this case, cub.

“Rockabye ba-“

Twilight’s lullaby is cut off by a huff. “I’m too old to be considered a baby.”

Twilight laughs and lets go of the Wild hero. “Yet we call you cub.”

Wild playfully glares at him but Twilight laughs louder at his attempt.

“Honestly,” Wild huffs before smiling slightly. Twilight chuckles softly and ruffles the younger’s hair.

“If the time comes,” Twilight begins. “That you lose your memories of us, then we will remind you.”

Wild looks at him, faint surprise written all over his face and Twilight smiles.

“Over and over again, all the embarrassing moments, all the times we, especially you, nearly died and gave us heart attacks-“ a scoff from Wild “We will remind you of our happiest moments, our saddest, our weakest.”

“Because you are one of us, don’t think you’re gonna be forgetting us all that easily.”

Wild hugs him, sudden and tight but Twilight grunts and the younger releases the hold. Sheepishly, Wild rubs his neck and Twilight’s eyes take him in with content.

“You are one of us,” says Twilight softly, a smile present on his face. “When you do forget, we will remember and we will remind you, no matter how many times it takes.”