#except for pryze because his is kinda a joke name

[sunset-peril]

The Wolfbred Chronicles - The "Lost" Tribe - Part Two - To Zora's Domain

“What do you mean, ‘Link can’t speak Hylian?’” 

“Well, if the Gerudo were cut off from Hyrule for ten thousand years, we wouldn’t speak Hylian either.”

“Then what does he speak?”

“That… I don’t know. I thought they were extinct until the moon revealed Link’s markings. If anyone would know, I’d assume it’d be the Zora royal family since most of the Wolfbred in the King’s service were relocated there.”

“Well then, I must make a trip to the Domain then, with Link in tow.” 

“Would you like me to accompany you?”

“I thank you for your offer, Urbosa, but I feel Link and I should travel alone. Besides, you have your people to tend to, and the journey should give me a chance to review Link in a new light.”

~~~

“Yes, that is correct. The Wolfbred have a language all their own.” Mipha smiled fondly at Link as she affirmed Zelda's words. “I'm surprised that you did not know.”

“Ah, well, the knights are not particularly chatty when in my presence.”

“Oh, I did not mean that, Zelda. I meant that I am surprised your father did not tell you.”

“Father gave me… virtually no information regarding Link. He told me that Link is descended from my mother’s best bodyguard, and that he would be assigning Link as my bodyguard. That was it.”

“Oh, dear… probably just didn't want anyone to find out what Link is.”

“What language does Link speak? It would be irresponsible to have such a barrier between me and him, considering he has given his oath to serve me until death.”

“My apologies, but I don't know what it's called. Goponga in the wetlands has become a very Wolfbred heavy settlement since the guards were sent here, but I'm not sure if we currently have any guards in the Domain itself who can speak in both. It is a… guttural language, I will say, only high-ranking Wolfbred soldiers typically learn both. Your mother's personal bodyguard, Link’s father as you said, was one, for example. He knew Hylian. Most Wolfbred don't really want to learn it unless they have to… they don't want to know what the Hylians are saying to them. Did your father tell you anything of Link’s father?” 

“Not exactly but I… vaguely remember Mother's bodyguard. Or rather, he was her favorite bodyguard. She had quite a few guards, but he was typically the one who followed her around like Link does with me. Of course, he wasn't on duty when Mother…” Zelda shooed away Mipha's offer of comfort when it was offered. “Maybe things would have been different if he'd been on duty that evening… I can see why they prefer to know only their native tongue, Hyrule blames them primarily for her death.” 

“They are not seers. For Hyrule to have expected such foresight from them, it is a frustration that many of the Wolfbred stationed here have expressed. They were denied agency to do anything but follow orders, so even if they had been given such foresight, they likely could have done nothing but watch.” 

“I do remember Mother continually scolding Father on the matter, that he could not order them to be dogs and expect them to act Hylian. I must have faith that some of her wisdom reached him… there is nothing I can do if Father disregards her.” 

“Perhaps my father knows if any Hylian-speaking Wolfbred are in the Domain. We should go and ask.”

Zelda tentatively turned towards Link. She may not necessarily be fond of having a strange, werewolf guard follow her every moment for the rest of her life, but that didn't mean he was unworthy of basic communication with her. Father had mentioned that he was about her age, just thirteen. He deserved for her to try.

Perhaps the Goddess heard this unspoken prayer, unlike all the others, because she heard footprints and a resounding bark.

“Ah, Sir Pryze! Good morning.” The red Zora waved out towards a Hylian-looking guard who approached them. 

“Morning, Princess.” The knight bowed to Mipha. When he saw Link, Zelda noticed Link's eyes lighting up. The knight had a surprising amount of splatter-like markings on his face and arms. Perhaps an accident? 

Mipha helped him tuck a lock of his red hair back into his helmet. “Perfect timing, Sir Pryze, we were just talking about our need of a Wolfbred. Link does, unfortunately, not speak enough Hylian for a smooth transition into a bodyguard.” 

Zelda could feel the fluttering in her chest rise. “Sir Pryze is a Hylian-speaking Wolfbred?” 

“Small.” Pryze pinched his fingers before casting a quick glance over her figure. “Bigger, Princess.”

“Yes, Sir Pryze. Princess Zelda has grown quite a bit since you've been to Castle Town.” 

Link looked towards Zelda for approval, then bowed to Pryze once she nodded. Pryze bowed in response to him, then a few sounds varying from woof-like to more of a chuff came from him. Link nodded. 

Pryze simply turned towards Mipha after his exchange with Link. “King know more Hylian.” 

“Yes, I'd figured the same, Sir Pryze. We should meet with my father.”

~~~

“Hmm, you wish to know more of the Wolfbred people? Yes, I believe I may be able to oblige.”

“A full recount is unnecessary, King Dorephan. If you would, just briefly, provide enough information for Link and I to transition into these new roles without being overly transparent of their history. I would wish for Link to provide whatever history he considers sacred by his own will.”

“But of course. How open your heart must be to him and his people. Very well. The Wolfbred have a communal society much like that of the Zora. To see a solitary one such as Sir Link here is unusual. Traditionally, they prefer to remain in groups with other Wolfbred and like an assigned duty. Many of them, if they lived outside their homeland, served as foot soldiers in the Hyrulean army for these two reasons. I supposed it was how they were made.”

Zelda looked over at Link and Pryze. While Link had never been more than a few paces away from her since they left Central Hyrule, Pryze had also drawn ever closer to Link. It did make sense, she too would prefer a familiar face if the lands of Hyrule were unfamiliar to her like they were to the Wolfbred, but the way Dorephan implied that they grouped together by design raised a million questions to her scientific mind. She cleared her throat, stepping forward so that the Zora king might allow her a question. “‘Made’, Your Majesty?” 

“Ah. That is a history that I… am not sure I am at liberty to explain. But there are records from long ago that suggest… They might be proof of the claim that the Sheikah rivaled the power of the Goddess. Of course, any definitive records were lost when the Sheikah and Wolfbred were chased out of Hyrule, and I dare not threaten our relationship as the Wolfbred’s sole ally for mere speculation.” Almost instantly, another Wolfbred who carried a large bag of fish in her mouth trotted into the throne room, bowing on all fours as she offered the large catch to Dorephan. “Ah, thank you for your generosity, Kokiri.”

Zelda’s eyes widened as she glanced towards the fish-bearing woman. Her shoulders were open as she looked up at the Zora king, something she’d never seen Link do naturally. She’s seen him do it hundreds of times, of course, a knight must appear strong and confident on duty. However, it was always a forced stance.

Pryze finally stepped away from Link’s side, helping two armored Zora carry the catch to wherever they needed.

Dorephan resumed his conversation with Zelda once Kokiri, Pryze and the Zora guards had gone off to their other matters. “I will say to you, there is a painful curse that has bound Wolfbred for hundreds of generations. A chain that only Link can break. He would never ask for such, but for the sake of our dear allies, help him, please.” 

“A… curse?”

“Yes, a very painful one. Link is the first of his kind to even have a chance to break it, and I fear it may take an act of the Goddess herself for him to be able to do so. Surely, you will learn of the curse in its entirety as you and him age.” 

“I… see. Thank you, Your Majesty.”

“But of course. Anything for Hyrule’s princess.”

~~~~

Hyrule's Final Stand Masterlist