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shipwreck-letters · 1 year ago

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Reaping Hook Chapter Five

Sooga is tasked with a daunting mission; Investigating the investigation of the Yiga Clan in Hyrule Castle. However, his new duties as Blademaster lead him somewhere…Dangerous.

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A/N: I just figured out how to do gradients! I also made a cover for this story! Nothing too fancy, but I'm in love with the colors anyway. Anyway, for this chapter I'm really excited to keep writing Sooga and the Yiga Clan/Village, and next chapter we'll see how it's going with Kiso (hint: not great at all!)

Credit: Cover made on Canva, reblog banner made by @cafekitsune

Chapter Five: Rain

Sooga

Master Kohga was not a cryptid of the Yiga Clan; Not someone only murmured in history, slithering in shadows as a feared leader. It was quite the opposite, and yet Sooga could still not shake the anxiety wrapping around him so tightly.

He wasn't the leader of the Yiga Clan by looks alone, after all.

He had seen Kohga around the Clan, especially during special ceremonies (read: parties) where all of the warriors came together to mingle, sing, dance, and fight for glory and a plentiful serving of bananas and banana related recipes.

Those interactions were normal, encouraged, yet still incredibly respectful. Being called to meet with him was something uncommon, and made the chills run through Sooga’s body.

Sooga straightened his back as he neared the end of the hall, fists by his side, head straight.

Whatever would happen, Sooga would meet the challenge with bravery and fearlessness. No matter the request.

His gaze lingered on the inverted eye painted on the linen curtain sheet, until he finally summoned the last of his spirit and quietly parted through.

"Master Kohga."

A grumble of loud irritation followed clattering of steel, papers swept and flew across the room. Sooga snatched one from the air as it raced by, careful not to crinkle the material as he set it aside, peeking at the scribbled writing.

Something about malice and monsters, scientific journaling bleeding across the paper. Sooga's eyes ran through the page, finally pausing at a certain phrase: The body is not immune. The infection can be used in various advantages towards self-preservation and otherworldly insights.

"Sooga! Right on time!"

Sooga quickly discarded the paper (respectfully setting it aside). His spirit sprung into action; He dropped to one knee, bowing his head low in honor.

Under Sooga’s own mask, it felt very warm, and not in a pleasant way. Sooga inhaled deeply. "I would not keep you waiting, Master Kohga."

Across the room, he heard a huff. Then a heave. A thin shadow passed over Sooga in the candlelight, and went still.

“You’re a Blademaster now, Sooga. Come on, rise up.” Master Kohga said quite casually, but time froze for Sooga.

When his eyes lifted, they fell onto a black blade wrapped in calm white fur, plucked and brushed and fitted to the sheath. Crimson ribbons bound around the hilt, and a silver emblem of the Yiga eye gleamed in the warm light of the room.

Sooga swallowed thickly, and accepted it with a bowed head. “Master Kohga-”

“No take-backs, alright? No treachery, no mutiny, no serving that goody-two-shoes-whats-her-face-and-her-back-stabbing-family….” Kohga counted his fingers, and paused. His voice dropped to a murmur. “...But you know that already, don’t you?”

His dark hair braided back, elaborate curls twisted and dangled over his golden-red robe and smooth brown shoulders. Sooga froze, his thoughts and words turning to smoke, before his body jolted to save grace.

If Sooga bowed any lower, his head would have smacked the floor. “Of course, Master Kohga. I would--I will devote my life to this sword. My duty is with you.”

Kohga chuckled and beckoned for Sooga to stand. “It better be. Now take that sword and skedaddle! You’ve got a whole rank to command, now.”

Sooga froze in the middle of his step. “A whole rank??” He repeated. “M-Master Kohga. You can’t be serious. You must be mistaken.”

“Nonsense! I’ve never made a mistake in my life. Mistakes? Don’t know her. But I do know that we’ve got a Calamity on the rise, and more Footsoldiers and Yigalings than we have competent Blademasters. So go! Get to training. Working. Whatever!”

Kohga shooed Sooga out of his chambers, back into the hallway with a final shove. Sooga gripped his longblade tightly, hearing crashes and hollers of a normal Yiga evening far off along the corridor.

In a moment of peace, Sooga’s eyes turned down to his weapon. No longer forged from sticks and stones, Moblin clubs and Lizalfos spines. No, this blade had weight. Power. Nothing that any other ranked soldier in the Yiga Clan had; It was handmade for Sooga.

This was a once in a lifetime, a seldom gained weapon. Sooga steadied the blade at his side,wrapped his fingers around the hilt and glanced around.

With a quiet hiss of silver, the sword gilded around the hall in wide swings. Sharp cuts of air rattled the lit torches and paper banners. Sooga’s heart skipped a beat, and he quickly sheathed the sword with self-restraint.

Epic.

But something weighed on Sooga’s mind, whispering from the back of his head. Something important…

“Evening, Sooga!” A young Yiga waved as they walked by. Sooga nodded in return, and all of his thoughts came rushing in a flood. He gasped, shoulders stiffening, and spun around.

“Master Kohga!” He grabbed the curtains, but paused.

From beyond the curtains, a loud rumbling snore echoed back at Sooga.

-----

“So he’s sleeping. Just wait until tomorrow.” Adriel shrugged, shuffling old cards among the group. He parted and joined the deck, tapped them against the table. “I don’t see why you’re up in arms about it.”

“Time sensitive.” Sooga carefully peeled apart the blood-dried pages, setting them each under a lamp to examine the bloated words. “An investigation has surely taken place. Lord Rowley was not the only participant in these letters.”

Lareina took a deep breath. “Then we hunt down the others. Until there is no more.”

“Great way to ruin things.” Elyse retorted, rubbing her chin. “We must find out more. Who else was a part of this plan, and how far it has gone. The more we know, the better we can plan to protect our village.”

“And then we hunt them down.”

Elyse sighed through her nostrils, and reluctantly agreed.

Sooga frowned. “But we are also needed here, to train the next generation. We cannot leave them without a leader.”

His statement brought silence to the table as everyone thought.

“Spies.” Elyse said. “Yiga spies within Hyrule Castle. Send some in, we get all the information we need.”

“Who’s going to be in charge of that?” Adriel asked, and all eyes glanced and shifted around. Eyes fell on Sooga.

“You’re the one who knows more about the castle than we do.”

Sooga’s eyes flickered to his friends’ hair; They never had to dye their hair to hide the remnants of their lineage, nor rub furiously at the forehead crest that just would not go away.

“It would do you well to learn, then.” Sooga tried to joke, but his tone was sharp and thin. He reached forward towards the coffee table and poured a cup of pungent coffee, while the others remained quiet.

“Does the thought of royalty scare you away?” He continued. “They are not holy, not anymore than you or I.”

“I didn’t freeze my ass off in the tundra and starve in the desert to be reduced to a spy!” Elyse sneered. “Sneaking, snooping, caught in a web of bullshit. I am a Blademaster now. I’m staying here .”

“I don’t really want to…You have to be a good liar.” Lareina whispered. “I cannot lie, Sooga.”

“Adriel?” Sooga frowned.

Adriel glanced between the others before sighing loudly, running a finger along his blade. “Call me when you’re ready to storm the castle. I’m like Lareina. I’m not cut out for the waiting, the playing, the talking, ugh. Sorry, Sooga. This is your mission.”

Sooga drained his cup of tea and slammed it down on the table. “Fine.”

It was most definitely not fine. Sooga’s mind reeled with overflowing ideas, plans, ways to kill or potentially be killed. Code words, stealth magic, training, the risk of being caught -

He was already to his feet, grabbing his sword with a tight fist and swiping his robe on the way out.

“Unbelievable.” He muttered, winding through the tunnels of the hideout, brooding until he pushed a wide stone door aside. The star-filled evening sky welcomed him, and a child pushing a rickety waggon down the street did too.

“Sorry!” He called, fruits and vegetables teetering and wobbling with every uneven bump and hole in the ground.

A pomegranate bounced along the ground to Sooga’s feet; He carried it with him as he entered Yiga Village.

Crimson banners waved in the breeze, and golden lanterns lit the way of the canyon valley. Shops were side-by-side, and it was a breath of fresh air (No sweat or occasional blood unlike the hideout) to see the streets comfortably bustling with family.

Sooga stood in the alley, deep breaths slowly calming his nerves. He gave a polite bow to a few elderly that ambled past; Their cloth masks were decorated in unique ways, with feathers or beads embroidered into the fabric.

“There’s a play going on, right down the street.” The shorter lady gestured with her cane. Sooga remembered her name; Spider. She weaved rugs on a fantastical loom, an intimidating machine in her living room.

“Something the kids put on,” She continued, her cane trembling slightly. She waved her hand, and steadied herself again. “‘S pretty cute. You ought to check it out tonight.”

Sooga glanced down the street, watching the crowd slowly move away from the vendors, and towards the thrum of drums.

“Perhaps later, I will bring flowers for the performers. There are some things I must take care of tonight.”

“Hmmmm…I see.” Spider flexed her wrinkled fingers, peering at the blade on Sooga’s hip. “‘Some things’? Mm…I’ll make sure to stay out of your way, heh. I know what you kids get up to, I’ve had my days.” She tapped her cane and hobbled on.

Sooga forced himself to take another deep breath, and closed his eyes. The sounds of the crowds, the music and clashing of pots and pans filled his soul.

An investigation was brewing in Hyrule Castle.

The weight of the pomegranate felt heavy in his palm.

The canyon could be flooded out, and filled with the blood of innocents. They were weavers, dancers, potters and teachers. They were Yiga, but that did not warrant a death sentence.

In a rush of sudden wind and biting cold, Sooga pressed his hands together, and disappeared.

His feet fell through the earth, a moment of nausea and uncertainty, before Sooga went crashing down to solid ground again; He stumbled, eyes darting around a golden hill dotted with wildflowers. In the distance behind him--The quiet and cold Gerudo Canyon.

Sooga’s chest fell in a sudden breath, something cold gripped his ribcage and squeezed. His hand tightened around his sword, and he made sure that his mask was aligned on his face as he focused on his surroundings.

The meadow was empty of travelers or campers; But something lurked nearby.

Half-curious, half-cautious, Sooga stalked down the meadow towards the shrouded forest, the ghostly grip on his heart latching its fingers around him.

The forest’s still trees were the last untouched in a scene of splintered wood, broken rocks and blasted dirt. Sooga drew his sword; A miasma filled the air like a cloud before a storm.

No birds rested in the trees that survived; No deer stalked in the crushed foliage, not even the courageous boar.

Sooga stepped over a broken tree limb, his eyes following a trail of dark blood that soaked into the soil and dotted fallen leaves. Breathing that was not his own pierced the silence, the end of the bloody trail.

Sooga stopped. He wasn’t sure what to address first.

A moblin was dead in the murkish pond water, a nailed club discarded in the mud. Its chest broken open, ribcage pried apart to the night sky; A sickening sight.

But a small figure kneeled next to the monster, lurched in the water. Hands were plunged into the water. Their clothes smeared with mud and blood, and something bright red reflected in the rippling water.

Sooga realized he had been standing there, baffled at the sight. The figure did not move, did not speak. But the fog of miasma hung in the air between them, stronger than Sooga had ever felt it before.

He stalked forward, sword aimed, until the tip of the blade was hovered over their head. White hair…

“What do you think you’re doing, Sheikah? You are in the wrong territory. You are far from home.”

They raised their head. Sooga clenched his fist, fighting the bad feeling in the pit of his stomach.

The figure lunged into the water, splitting the pond with a push of their hands, and sending the rest back at Sooga. He all but dodged it, soaked with cold water, and his disguise flickering.

“Gah!”

Sooga opened his eyes and struck air, scanning his surroundings.

The small attacker stood on the other side of the pond, fists clenched, and matted white hair hiding most of their face. Sooga squinted; The blood and dirt hid their features well.

Two could play that game, though. Sooga sheathed his sword and pressed his hands together, and the figure gasped from across the pond. They spun around as Sooga disappeared, and shrieked as he struck them in the face with the hilt of his sword, sending them back flying.

Sooga walked on, drawing his blade as the figure heaved in the water. Red and violet flickered rapidly, disorientingly, making red blood look black on their hand.

“I do not play childish games.” Sooga stuck his sword beneath their chin and lifted; A thick line of blood ran down their chin, as expected, but their hair still covered their face.

A Royal Sheikah Guard, Sooga had assessed. Young, but old enough to brand an eightfold blade. Sooga knelt, and reached out to part that mass of curly hair and see the Eye.

“No!”

Sooga felt something fall onto his shoulders, and he gasped as that pressure latched around his neck with sudden force. He saw the sky flash white, and heard feet scrambling, as he grabbed onto something scaley at his neck. He grabbed and struggled, and dropped his sword.

“Hngh!” It took two hands to grab at his neck and pry; A heavy, long snake fell to the ground with a thud, but slithered off alarmingly fast. Too fast- Sooga rubbed at his eyes, neck, and heaved.

“Fuck!”

All it took was a moment; The Sheikah was gone, and so was Sooga’s sword.

He ground his teeth, wiping at his lip. His disguise fell away, leaving one seething Yiga in the clearing. He took one glance around, and closed his eyes.

There was no returning to the village or hideout without his sword; Lost in a few hours? Pathetic. Sooga hesitated as he raised a hand to his mask, and let the breeze touch his brown skin for the first time in a long time. The scar on his forehead dimly glowed with a red sheen, and blinked to life.

Spirits of the forest lit up around Sooga. He sighed, and followed the trail to his missing sword.

#abzu's writing #fanfiction #breath of the wild #age of calamity #hyrule warriors age of calamity #yiga clan #yiga clan blademaster #master kohga #sooga #aoc sooga

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