Ok. Here's Chapter Two. :3 I'm so sorry it took so long. Life is a pain in the butt! D: I'll continue working as hard as I can to get this done. Thanks alot for reading and, as always, critiques of all kinds are welcome. :3

Chapter Two:
“Hey Bo, what do you need to tell me about?” I said, calmly walking up to him.
Suddenly, he bent over at the waist and began to heave through every breath he took. I guess running that short distance was too much for him. “The trip… to Hyrule… is tomorrow… Just thought I’d… tell you.” He sputtered between rasping breaths.
I laughed and patted his back, since he was still bent over at the waist, struggling to catch his breath. “All that running just to tell me that? You could’ve told Russell to tell me the news. It would’ve saved you the heart attack.” I added with another short laugh.
He barely gave a response. He nodded faintly, almost too faintly for me to notice. “Ok… just go on then… I’ll be fine.”
“Ummm… ok.” After giving him one more look, I confirmed he’s going to be ok and walked off, heading back to my house where Talo, Malo, and Beth were bickering amongst themselves over something. I didn’t mean to eavesdrop, but I heard them talking about my birthday present and I ended up listening in.
“… C’mon Beth! I have to get that slingshot for Link! I just know that he’ll love it!” I heard Talo yelling at the top of his lungs.
Beth shook her head. “No! If you want it so bad, why don’t you just buy it at my parents’ shop?”
Talo instantly groaned. “Awww… C’mon! Do you see any rupees in my hand? I can’t afford that thing. Can’t you just loan it to us for a while?”
“You know I’ll get in trouble for that! Just save up your allowances or something. I can’t just give it to you.”
Now it was Malo’s turn to moan. “But… our allowances are terrible. I wish I was born into a family with a slingshot instead of one with a water wheel…”
I walked away unnoticed up to my house. Why are they going through so much trouble to get me a slingshot? It’s not like I really need it. Plus, it’s my 18th birthday… I think that’s starting to get a little too old for getting presents.
I sighed and looked to my left where Colin was leading Epona to her post. He tried a couple times to tie her reins, but failed each time. I laughed a little and walked over, tying her reins securely to her post. “Hey, Colin. Where’s your dad? I didn’t see him anywhere.”
He looked up at me shyly, just as his usual shy self. “Mom said he went out to go get you a birthday present or something.” He looked back over where Talo and the others were bickering and laughed a little. “I don’t think they’ll get their way this time.”
I laughed, knowing exactly what he meant. Talo has always been a smooth talking kid who managed to have his way no matter what. And Malo, despite his age and size, he’s pretty smart. The two of them get on everyone’s nerves in the village, but it works out for the best for them when they end up getting what they want. As for Beth and how sure her voice seemed, I don’t think they’ll get away with this either.
But maybe I could just get the slingshot myself and show them that I got it already. Then they’ll stop their bickering and work on some other way to get me a present. At least that way they don’t have to kill themselves over it.
“Colin?” I said, turning to him. When he looked back up at me, I smiled and got down on my knees. “I’m going to get the slingshot myself, so you watch for your dad and let me know when he comes, ok?”
He nodded. “Ok. I’ll watch Epona while I’m at it.” He smiled cheerfully as I stood up and ruffled his hair.
“Thanks bud.” I said, heading back down into the village. After travelling a little ways downward, I came to Sera’s shop and walked up to the door. I opened it and walked inside, shutting it behind me.
Her shop is pretty small since she made it hastily out of the remaining room in her house, but it still stands for itself. To the left, there was a counter with Sera standing behind it. “Good morning Link. Here for a glass of milk?” She said, smiling.
Actually… I could use a glass right now. “Sure. But can you give me a bottle of it? I use the bottles for other things after I’m done with them.”
She nodded and fumbled around below her counter to grab a bottle of milk. Then she sat back up and handed it to me. “I’m glad you reuse the bottles m’dear. The children here just throw them away like the world is disposable. It’s almost criminal!”
I laughed. “I guess so.” Then I remembered why I came here in the first place. “Hey Sera. Do you have a slingshot in your shop? Talo wanted to buy it for me, but I don’t think he has the rupees for it.”
She gave me a mischievous look before fumbling around under her counter. “Why are you going around buying a slingshot, m’dear? Isn’t it a child’s toy? Plus, I’m beginning to think that you’re getting too old for presents.”
I laughed. “You know what? I was thinking that myself. But Talo is frantically arguing with Beth right now since she refuses to loan it to him. I figured I might as well save him the troubles.”
“Alright, no worries I suppose.” She smiled and turned around, reaching for the slingshot. “It’s 30 rupees hon.”
I nodded. “Ok.” I reached into the satchel tied around my waist to grab my wallet. “Luckily I actually have some spare cash with me.” I said, chuckling as I handed her a red and yellow rupee.
She laughed as I handed her the money. “I suppose so.” After making sure I gave her the right amount, she handed me the slingshot with a little bag tied to it. “The sack right here holds 50 pellets for it. After you run out, you can use pumpkin seeds or some other seed-like ammo for it.”
I nodded and took it from her, putting it in my satchel. “Ok. Thanks and good luck with your shop.”
She nodded and smiled. “No no. Thank you for your patronage, Link.”
I turned around and walked back out of the shop, heading back to my house to show Talo that I had gotten it already. But then I saw Russell heading my way and I ran up to him. “Hey, Russell. Did you make all the preparations necessary?” I asked when I reached him.
He nodded. “Yep. And I also dropped something off in your house for your birthday. I’m sure you’ll love it, and I’m sure your brother would love to see you with it.”
There was a pang in my heart when he mentioned my brother, but I managed to keep myself in a good mood. There’s no way I’m giving up this day to horrible memories… “Ok. I’ll check it out right now. Thanks.”
He nodded. “No problem, Link.” You have a good one.”
“You too.”
And then we split ways. I went through my head over and over again, thinking over what he could’ve possibly gotten me when the kids snapped me out of it. I was just heading up my ladder when the kids spotted me and brought me right back down to earth.
“Hey! Link has a slingshot already!”
“Awwww, man! Can you show us how to use one, Link?”
“C’mon, Link!”
I suppressed a groan and turned back to them, stepping away from the ladder and smiling, shaking my head. “Alright, alright, fine. I’ll show you how to use one.” I guess Russell’s surprise will have to wait.
“We have everything set up.” Talo said, sweeping his arm in the general direction of a couple red targets and two scare crows. Wow… they were about to give me the whole deal, not just the slingshot. “Let’s see how strong the slingshot is.”
I laughed. “Alright, alright.” I took the slingshot out of my satchel along with the little pouch of ammo, taking a stone out of the pouch. I sighted it, took aim from where I was, pulled the string back as far as I could, and fired.
Even from the distance I was at, which was about 10 feet from the scarecrows head, the impact of the stone was so great that it completely smashed the pumpkin that served as its head. Shocked, it tore my widened eyes to the kids, whose expressions matched mine perfectly.
Talo snapped out of it first. “That was awesome, Link!”
“Yeah, you really know how to use a slingshot!” Malo chimed in.
Beth rolled her eyes at them then turned to me. “By the way, did you expect Russell to drop something by? ‘Cause he did.”
“Yeah!” Talo shouted. “What was that?”
“I command you to tell us.” Malo said, staring at me with one of the worst attempts at a dead serious expression.
I laughed, putting away the slingshot and the pouch it came with. “I don’t know yet. I was just going to go see when you bombed me with all this.”
They hastily muttered apologies then went right back to bombing me with a thousand questions. I shook my head. “I’ll go see what it is, then I’ll show you guys. I promise.”
“Ok.”
“You better show us!”
“You promised!”
I turned around to head into my house, forcing myself not to roll my eyes. Children, they can’t get enough of the “big kid.” But I’ll never hate them for admiring me so much. And I won’t say that to be conceited either.
I climbed up my ladder, opening the trapdoor and crawling inside. After shutting the door, I looked on my kitchen table to see something wrapped in thick homemade paper. After walking closer to it, I saw that it was a very long and thin present and at the back of my head, I could already tell what it was. My heart squeezed as I tore the paper off to reveal a wooden sword. It had engravings of intricate designs wrapping the “blade” part of it, smoothed out and filled with paint of assorted green, red, and blue colors. Wrapping my fingers around the handle, I felt that it was smooth, in perfect shape and with a good amount of weight to do some damage. Even the “blade” had a sharp edge to it.
… It almost looked like my brothers first wooden sword.
I felt the sting of tears as I let myself mend to the blade. I only had it for a few seconds and it already felt right in my hands. It felt like I was meant to wield a blade all my life. And, as far as my childhood has gone… maybe I always was.
I took my eyes from the sword long enough to gaze at my brothers wooden sword, which was where I had left it ever since I built this house; hanging on the wall with the leather strap to hold it on his back. I walked over to it, taking the strap off of it and tying it firmly around my sword. Then I put the strap on myself, having the strap cross my torso. It felt so right having the weight of the blade on my back. And the strap didn’t need any adjusting. It fit me perfectly, as if the day I turned 18 was also the day I stepped into my brothers shoes.
… I’m becoming just like him.
Feeling the sting of tears again, I quickly blinked them away, looking at my brother’s sword, now bare of the strap it once had. “I’ll always carry a piece of you with me, in my blood and in my soul…”
Absently, I touched the strap that now crossed my torso, feeling sensitive to its weight. “I’m never going to feel the same again…” Heading for my trapdoor, I opened it and began climbing down; too numb to feel my feet against every step I took.
“Whoa! Link has a sword!” Beth shouted.
“That’s so cool! Can I see it for a second?” Talo chimed in.
“No! That’s Link’s! He just got it as a birthday present from Colin’s dad!” Malo shouted.
Before I turned to them, I took a quick cleansing breath to settle myself down. Once I turned to them, I forced myself to smile so they wouldn’t worry about me. But it felt wrong, like my face was suddenly mad of plaster and if I smiled too much, it’d break into a million pieces.
Talo groaned. “Ok, Ok! Fine!” He turned to me. “Can you at least show us a couple moves?”
The thought of trying out my new sword suddenly released me and I could breathe easier. I could smile a whole lot easier and I felt great having a sword in my possession. The paralysis that set in the moment I saw my new sword dissipated. “Yeah. I can show you a few moves.” I said, walking over to the scarecrow that still had a head. “But I just got it so I’m probably not that good.”
They muttered responses, obviously too focused on me to do much more.
The handle of my sword jutted from my left shoulder, so I could draw it with my strongest hand. For some reason, I’ve always been left handed. But it never bothered me. I started off with a simple slash that hit the scarecrow from one “shoulder” to its “hip.”
… And that was all it took. Suddenly, I felt so connected to my blade that it felt like nothing but a deadly extension of me. Being careful of the kids that were watching me, I slashed and spun on my feet, landing blow after blow like I had been skilled with the blade for centuries, copying moves that my brother used on me when we were kids, practicing like I was training for battle. Finally, I finished off with a jumping strike, chopping the pumpkin cleanly in half.
I was breathless. I could hardly retain myself after I put my sword in its place on my back. But I felt great. I felt like I was reliving a memory. I felt like I was taking my brothers place as a swordsman in Ordon Village. And it was an honor… an honor as much as a responsibility.
I was staring at the demolished scarecrow, focusing on catching my breath when Talo shattered the silence.
“Wow… You’re awesome, Link!” He shouted.
“Yeah! I don’t even think Russell is as good as you!”
“But that might be because he’s getting too old!”
Ok, that was mean, I admit it. But even I started laughing as Talo and Beth rounded on Malo, either agreeing with him or saying he was just being awful.
Once they were done arguing, Talo turned to me. “So, do you think that you can use that sword to kill monsters?”
“Yeah, there are probably monsters in the woods. Dad says it’s so dangerous, so that has to be the reason.” Malo chimed.
“Don’t be ridiculous, there’s no such thing as monsters. You both are being the same stupid little boys you are.” Beth said, with a smirk.
Talo instantly got on the defensive, turning to her. “There are too monsters! Why do you think Colin is scared of the dark? Colin isn’t THAT stupid.”
“Yeah!” Malo chimed.
“Hey, hey…” I muttered. “Let’s calm down. There aren’t any monsters. I’ve been in there a lot of times with Colin’s dad and we haven’t seen anything like one.”
Talo, enraged, stomped his foot and turned on his heel, heading straight into the entrance to Faron Woods. “I’ll show you! I’ll show you there are monsters!” He shouted over his shoulder.
Naturally, the rest of the kids chased right after him.
… That’s bad. Without another thought, I ran after them. They can’t go in those woods. There aren’t any monsters, I’m sure of that. But they could definitely get lost…

…
I ran deeper and deeper into the woods, following the same dirt path Russell and I always took. The sun was shining bright, so it shone through the leaves of the trees, making the forest look deep and mysterious. The green of the leaves appeared greener and full of life. But I didn’t have any time to admire it. I had to get to those kids before they get deeper in the forest than they should be.
Before long, I came to Beth. She looked completely drained, leaning against one of the trees and breathing hard. I walked up to her, getting my breathing under control to talk to her. “Where are Talo and Malo?” I asked.
“They went… running deeper… into the forest…”She sputtered between gasps of air. “I can’t… keep up with those two…”
“Alright. I’m going after them. You head back and stay back there until I’m back. If I’m not back by nightfall, tell your parents what happened.”
She nodded, barely enough for me to see it. Then I took off once again. I passed a little clearing of trees where the dirt was too compact for trees to grow, heading deeper into the woods. The trees were changing from being 5 or ten feet apart to being much closer together and shrubbery nearly robbed every other grounding space available besides the dirt pathway. Before I came to the bridge connecting Ordona Province to Faron Woods, I found Malo. He was sitting by the posts that held the bridge in place, looking across the bridge to the distant woods ahead.
I walked up to him, calming my breathing once again and not even bothering to hide the irritation in my voice. “Malo, where’s Talo?”
He jumped and looked at me, his face was a pale white color that shocked me and nearly scared me to my core. “He ran up ahead into the woods. I stopped ‘cause Dad tells us not to go over the bridge… I… I…”
I sighed, putting my hand on his shoulder. “I’ll go get him, don’t worry about it. Just head back and try to settle down, ok?”
He nodded and tried to stand up, but the shaking of his legs failed him. I helped him to his feet and watched him walk off, heading back to the village. After his figure disappeared from my sight, I turned around, facing the bridge.
I sighed, shaking my head. “Talo… what have you gotten yourself into this time?” I muttered. With finality, I steeled myself and ran across the bridge. There was a little clearing just ahead where a few huge trees scattered across the land that was bared. Then, a little ways ahead was Faron Spring, where Russell and I always relaxed after a hard night’s work of gathering firewood. Normally, if I ever came this way alone, I’d always stop here and relax. I had never gone any farther into the woods before.
But this isn’t any normal situation. I couldn’t find Talo anywhere nearby, so I headed right of the Spring, heading into a small, and tunnel-like structure. I didn’t move nearly as fast because I didn’t know where I was going. All I knew was that I was following the dirt path before me and not knowing where it was going to take me.
Soon, I came to a clearing with not so many trees in it, but there were definitely trees surrounding it. There was a little house off to my right with this man sitting in front of it. The man looked like he was wearing some strange hat and there was a campfire set in front of him. Above it, there was a pot, so obviously he was trying to cook something.
Well, doesn’t hurt to ask him about Talo. I walked over to him, intending to ask exactly that. But as I drew nearer and nearer to him, I realized that he wasn’t wearing a hat at all. In fact, what I saw was his crazy hairstyle complete with a freakin’ birds nest sitting in it.
I couldn’t help but gawk at his hair when I finally came up to the man. “Hey, sir?”
Apparently he was also asleep because just then, he finally lifted his head and muttered a response. Clearly the guy had been sitting here for a real long time, asleep, and completely motionless. The perfect situation to have a birds nest built in your hair. It all makes sense now.
I mentally shook the tirade out of my head and got back down to business. “Have you seen a child run by here? I’m trying to find him and take him home.”
Suddenly full of energy, the guy perked up. “Hey, it’s an Ordonian! Yeah, I’ve seen a little kid run by here. He was heading up into the cave up ahead when I was falling back asleep.”
“Alright, thanks.” I was about to head off when he called me back.
“Wait guy. That cave gets real dark, even in the middle of the day. Let me give ya something that’ll help out.”
Without waiting for a response from me, he ran inside his house. I raised an eyebrow at the door that slammed shut behind him. “What a strange guy…” I muttered my thoughts aloud.
He came back carrying a lantern. “Here guy, and I filled it to the brim with oil. There’s a gauge on the side that’ll tell you if you need any more. It’s one of my best models.”
He handed it to me and I took it from him. It was a nice, black lantern with a crank on the side to turn it on. Right next to the crank was a gauge in which was filled all the way with the yellow hue of oil. “Thanks.” I said, smiling. “Do you make lanterns or something?”
“Nah, I buy them from Hyrule Marketplace. I sell lantern oil here though, and I’m trying to drum up sales by giving away free lanterns. So far, nobody came calling.”
Almost said that he’d never get customers if he kept falling asleep and left that birds nest in his hair, but I figured I’d be nice. I mean, he did give me a free lantern. “Well, I wish you luck. And to help out with the sales, I’ll buy some lantern oil from you when I run out.”
He smiled. “Alright! Thanks guy.”
“No problem.” And without wasting any more time, I was off again. He was right about one thing. After I headed a little ways back into the forest, I came to a sign posted right next to the mouth of a very dark cave. The sign was pointing to the left of the cave, indicating that it was the direction to Hyrule. I made a mental note of it, remembering it for my trip to Hyrule planned for tomorrow, then I headed into the cave.
After I went a little ways inside, it became so dark that I couldn’t see my hand in front of me. I held the lantern up with my left hand, feeling around the side of it with the other. Once I found the crank, I turned it a few clicks until the lantern erupted with light, illuminating the cave. The walls of the cave were moist and rough, carved from rock and dirt. It smelled earthly and clean inside, but something was telling me that something wasn’t right. Something was dangerous in here.
Keeping myself steeled, I held the lantern high and made my way forward. The tunnel raised upwards a little, then it curved to the right. I kept moving forward when suddenly, everything inside me tightened and my instincts went haywire. There was something else in this cave with me and it was dangerous.
Unfazed, I kept onwards, only startling these bat-like creatures while I was at it. They flew all around me and flapped their wings in front of my face, baring these elongated fangs and breathing this putrid breath all over me. I waved my free arm frantically in front of me, trying to scare them away when one of them suddenly sunk its fangs into my arm.
Startled, I grabbed the creature and tore it off, throwing it into the wall beside me. It landed with a thud and didn’t move again. But the other bat-like things were still swarming around me. I didn’t take any more chances with these things. Switching the lantern to my other hand, I drew my sword and slashed at them, knocking them clean out of the air one by one until there were no more of them surrounding me.
Relieved, my nerves relaxed a bit and I placed my sword in its place again, moving onwards. I continued following the path of the tunnel until it curved to the left. My instincts started screaming at me again and I instantly drew my blade, ready to face more bat creatures.
Nothing came at me, but I wasn’t a fool. I kept moving cautiously forward when suddenly, a gigantic plant rose from the ground. The head of it opened, showing rows and rows of jagged teeth. A putrid smell erupted from its mouth as slime dripped out of it, hissing at me.
I reacted fast, chopping it cleanly from its stem and killing it instantly. With a dying screech, what remained of its head and stem shriveled and died.
It took me a few seconds to get my heart and my breathing under control. I didn’t understand. Were these woods always this way? Is Talo even alive with these creatures infesting the cave? He doesn’t have any way of defending himself! I have to save him!
Like that was all my body needed to hear, my feet moved instantly and I started running through the cave. The path turned left, then right, then left again before I could finally see a light. Turning off my lantern and putting in into my satchel, I ran like mad hell towards the light. I never wanted to get out of an area so badly in my life.
Once I was out of the cave, I found myself in yet another clearing. I was standing on what seemed to be a little plateau of land that had a steep cliff leading to the lower ground, where a few scattered trees strangely littered the area. There was some sort of a dock made of rotting planks of wood leading off one side of the plateau, but it didn’t look stable so I didn’t bother using it. I also took note that I was no longer following a dirt path. I was completely on my own in this.
With a sigh, I steeled myself, clutching my still-drawn sword tightly. I headed forward, carefully making my way down the steep cliffside of the plateau until I came to the lower level. Then I headed off, making my own way through the scattered trees.
It was hard to keep myself sane. I’ll admit it, it was hard. I didn’t know where Talo was, I didn’t know where I was going, I didn’t know what I was doing, I was… scared. I was scared for myself and I was scared for Talo.
As if to punctuate my fears, I soon came within sight of a humanoid creature standing far off in the distance. It was so grotesque and deformed that I was caught dead in my tracks. Its body was shriveled in on itself and its head was too large for its neck, yet it kept it upright and alert. It had hardly any muscle build and very short legs, but that didn’t distract me from the spiked mace it had resting on its shoulder.
There’s no way something like that needs to exist.
There was a tree to my right, so, to move onwards, I started to carefully make my way around it…
Snap!
My foot came down squarely on a dry branch, creating a sound that was way too loud in the deathly silence of the forest. Taking my chance, I turned around to see that abomination heading my way, holding its mace above its head and screeching like the death cry of an owl.
My response was immediate. I clutched my sword even tighter and with a battle cry of my own, I ran in its direction. The second it came within range, I brought my blade upwards with all my strength, slicing the creature across its torso. Purple blood spurt from the wound as the screeching stopped and the creature fell to the ground.
Then… I was numb. I stumbled from the creature’s broken body, following the childish side of my instincts, spinning on my heel and running as fast as I could. I could hear the cries of more of those creatures and soon, I heard their footsteps matching my own, but I didn’t care. I ran faster, heading towards yet another small plateau of land with a cliff that wasn’t nearly as steep as the first. Before I started climbing it, I turned around to see those monstrosities heading my way.
Unlike before, I didn’t think, I didn’t turn and run, I was completely in control. I walked a little ways forward, placing my left leg farther ahead of me, extending my left arm so my blood soaked blade was exposed, and I concentrated. I concentrated with all my heart into the blade, into the weapon that so quickly became a part of me I never wanted to lose.
I heard the creatures up ahead of me drawing nearer and nearer. When I was sure they were right in front of me, I instantly stopped concentrating. An unknown force filled me and I saw my sword spark like it was metal. That force spread from me to the sword and I spun with all my strength, hitting every single one of those things to the full extent of my power.
I felt the blood spatter my face, which I instantly wiped away and dragged my hand along the ground to be rid of it. Already, the smell of their rancid blood and broken bodies were beginning to surround me. Before I could get sick, or fall to my knees and scream, I turned and climbed my way up the cliff.
Once I stood on the flat surface of the plateau, I let myself fall to the ground and catch my breath. I just killed monsters, abominations of nature. Talo had been right. But I don’t think he meant to be right. Something felt so wrong about all of this. There’s no way something that grotesque should ever exist. There’s no way that a forest as peaceful as I’ve ever known could have held all this danger. There’s no way any of this should be happening.
I need to save Talo.
With a cleansing breath, I got to my feet, and looked ahead of me. The gate was wide open, leading to top-less crevasse. Resolutely, I walked on, following the path to yet another clearing. This clearing had absolutely no trees in it and it was encased in stone. Up a long way ahead was a gigantic tree. It was so huge that it looked like a temple could be carved out of it. One enlarged, hollowed out root rose from the tree, serving as a bridge across what appeared to be a bottomless pit surrounding the tree.
“Whoa…” I muttered in awe. I ran ahead, heading straight for the rooted bridge and crossing it. The root curved upwards then curved slightly to the right. Once I finally got to the other side, I found Talo held prisoner in a wooden cage guarded by two more of those things I faced before.
I didn’t hesitate. As they ran towards me, maces and clubs held high, I slashed both of them across their weak bodies and left them with no more life. Then, I headed towards Talo’s cage, where he was cowering in fear and shaking violently.
“Don’t worry buddy, I found you. It’s ok…” I kept muttering that, using my sword to cut through the ropes holding the cage together. Once the cage fell apart, Talo instantly shot to his feet and ran to me, burying his face in my tunic.
“I’m so glad you came, Link!” he cried. “They took me prisoner and… and wouldn’t let me go!”
I smiled and laughed a little, trying to ease his nerves as I pulled him off me and fell to one knee, making him look at my face. “I saved you. There’s nothing to be afraid of. I’m right here.”
Tears spilled over his cheeks as he nodded and, with a sob, buried his head into my shoulder. I stayed on my knee for a while, hugging him and patting his back, making sure his was back on his feet before standing up and leading him back home.
On the way back, I made sure that we didn’t stumble upon the carcasses of the monstrosities I slayed and tried to hurry home. We didn’t run into any more of those monsters… and I was sincerely grateful we didn’t. Maybe those were the only abominations that existed in those woods and… maybe I won’t ever have to face them again.
I didn’t want to admit that my instincts argued against me. There was something else going on… and those monsters were the by-product of it…

…
We made it safely home. By the time we came back, it was nearly nightfall and far too late to eat dinner. (Not that my nerves would let me eat anyway.) Talo instantly ran home without saying goodbye to me, which I expected. He nearly died! It’s obvious that all the kid wants is to get home. And since we made it back at the dawn of nighttime, I don’t have to worry about Beth getting the rest of the village involved.
I sighed. “Damn… I’ve had a long day…” I muttered. Suddenly exhausted out of my mind, I turned towards my house, ready to get in my nice warm bed and sleep away all the troubles the day brought on me…
“Link!” I recognized Russell’s voice coming from behind me.
I sighed again, exasperated that I have to stay up another second. “Yeah, what do you need?”
He stopped in front of me, clearly looking worried out of his mind. “Colin told me that Talo disappeared in the woods and didn’t come back, did you find him?”
I nodded. “Yeah, though the kid covered some distance in a short time. I found him well past the Spring in the deeper part of the woods and brought him home.” I shrugged like it wasn’t a big deal, but I let my expression harden when I looked back up at him. “Russell… did you ever notice how dangerous the woods are past the Spring?”
“Actually… I have. And I don’t feel good about how all of it started.” He shook his head. “But disregard that for the moment. I made all the necessary preparations for your trip. Tomorrow, you head off for Hyrule.” He smiled. “I think it’s a good thing I gave this task to you.”
“Yeah, I guess so.” I said. “But, I have to get some sleep for tomorrow and I’m exhausted after such a long day, so I’ll talk with you tomorrow.” I said, yawning to punctuate my words.
He laughed. “Alright, Link. Goodnight, good luck, and return safely.” Then he headed off towards his house.
Without another thought, I turned around and headed inside my house, barely wasting any time taking off my tunic and folding it. I swear I fell into a peaceful, dream-less sleep before my head hit the pillow.