CHAPTER 28: FOLLOW THE REEKFISH
(unrevised)
_"But you said the portal leading to this realm was broken," injected Shad.
"Taking notes were you?" Ashei finally broke in, sarcasm dripping from her words.
Auru looked toward them both. Shaking his head, he returned his concentration to the youth before him, still a boy in his eyes—yet so knowledgeable and obviously skilled. "Shad is correct, however," he said, directing the statement toward Ashei more than anyone. "How do you plan to invade the other realm if the only way is—?"
"That is why I need your help," he said to the Group, cutting through his question cleanly.
"But, Link, how could we possibly—?" Rusl started.
Again Link sliced through the questions he had known they would ask. "The fragments have been scattered, hidden across Hyrule," he said, taking a sip from his mug before he finished. "I need your help in locating them."
Silence overtook their corner of the tavern, all the members discussing this news by only the reflective gazes that they sent toward each other. Telma watched as her acquaintances exchanged these looks, and frustration shot into her. When it seemed that none of them could give Link a clear answer, her voice flared. "You can't tell me you're considering not helping him?"
Auru met her stare first, "Telma, these pieces could be anywhere. I want to help, but" —he turned to Link— "I just don't know if I can stand by and let you do this. These are dangerous times, and you nearly died out there in the desert wastes!"
"He is more than capable, Auru," Telma shot back. "He's not a boy. There are no innocents in Hyrule anymore."
Link leaned back in his chair after having bitten off another strip of cheese. He folded his arms upon his chest, taking in the conversation that enveloped him. Why did they waste time arguing about his involvement? He had faced more challenges during this chaotic period—and survived—than he supposed any of them had. But Link would never mark them lower than himself. They were all mortals; they could each die at fate's stroke. And he needed their skills now.
After he vaguely heard Auru say something about not letting him risk his life again, Link put an end to their senseless argument. "If you are going to continue debating about it, then I'll just leave in search of them myself. I'd like to get started before it gets too dark."
Though Auru did not seem pleased—especially by Link's casual remark—he nodded after a moment. He looked round the table, and all inclined their heads in agreement. They all believed that they were finally on the cornerstone of vanquishing the evil times to live only within the pages of history once more.
"Then where do were begin our search?" asked the bespectacled Shad. Telma and Ashei tossed mildly astonished expressions at him. It was obvious by his appearance that he was not a skilled warrior, but for him to have been the first to offer his knowledge was significant enough for them all to set aside any doubts.
Link turned to Ashei, settling comfortable within his chair once more. "You said earlier that you had been investigating Snowpeak."
The dark-haired soldier leaned back, one arm resting over the back of her seat and the other tapping the wood table. "Yes, I have. I just returned from the mountains this morning actually." Then she dove straight into her findings, pleased that at last Auru had to sit through an explanation as to why she had so obsessively been exploring the situation. "The mountains have become colder than normal ever since Zora's Domain was covered in ice. I asked around the Zoras to see if they had any clues as to the cause. And a few of the Zoras told me a rather weird story." She shifted closer to the table, intent on pressing the importance of what she had heard. "Apparently, there is a beast that lives somewhere on this mountain, and it has been seen frequently in Zora's Domain. I was curious, so I took to one of the cliffs where the beast was said to have been sighted, and I waited. Some hours later a giant appeared!"
Ashei dug something from within her armor and pulled out a sheet of folded parchment. "It looked like this." She handed it to Rusl first, who then gave it to Link. In the picture that she had quickly roughed out, there was a tall, white and fluffy beast-man; in one hand, it held something red. Link passed the sketch along to the others—Shad looking excitedly at it before handing it over to Auru.
"This thing's been stealing red fish from the village. I wanted to investigate further, but snow began falling heavily and soon became a blizzard. I couldn't travel in weather like that, so I've come back for now."
"Then I shall continue—"
"If you go into that blizzard without a plan, you'll get lost," she shot back bluntly. "And that'll only lead to disaster, trust me. You can return with me tomorrow morning."
Her tone sounded much like that of what a commanding older sister would have been. Link did not much prefer having to wait any longer than he had already from his injuries, but logic overruled him—as did each face of the Group. Link nodded, accepting her invitation for the morrow.
"Well, that's settled then, isn't it?" smiled Telma. "Besides, Link, I expect to see that plate cleaned so that I can pile second helpings on it." After a wink she waddled back behind the bar, saying her farewells to an obviously drunken man as he opened the door to leave. Ashei and Auru dispersed from their meeting as well. Rusl drank the last of his mead, and Shad had already gone back to his texts.
Grinning despite their refusal to let him leave, Link returned to his meal, taking a rather healthy bite of buttery bread.
===============
Ashei and Link had prepared for the journey to Snowpeak an hour before sunrise the next day, and by the time they had set off, daybreak had come. Link had lifted his veil once out of the city, and he had jumped when Ashei had spoken to him. He had been afraid that the faint mark on his forehead had caught her trained eye; however, her attempt at idle conversation had simply pointed out her observation that he himself did not like to be observed by the people. After she had turned back to the path familiar to her legs, Link had messed his bangs so that tendrils were strung across his forehead and in front of his eyes in as innocent a fashion as he could arrange. He was sure that the shadows the sun created from his hair would block any pair of eyes from defining shadow from mark.
The road ahead of them was been a long one, longer than Link had remembered coming upon Zora's Domain. His first time there had been partially taken by air, the other by the speed of his lupine bones. Now, though, they had to walk the distance, there path laying across the eastern bridge out of Castle Town and turning upon the northern roads. Link did not know the paths north of the town; therefore, he had no idea how far the Domain was from their beginning steps ... and with Ashei there would be no rests.
Luckily for Link he had become accustomed to little rest and much traveling, and the silence between them offered Link much time to mull through his thoughts.
To think that Zant—so cruel a being, so murderous a person—could only be a pawn in the true design of evil's web…. It was unnerving to know that some other man was capable of so much more, capable of those wicked deeds of ages long ago. The world he had grown up knowing—his peaceful life in Ordon—had all been torn to ribbons by a man named Ganondorf, a wretched King of Evil.
More powerful than even the sages.... Blessed by the goddesses.... Lusting to take hold of Hyrule forever....
Link could not let that happen. He had to find these mirror pieces to recreate the road into the other realm. He had to stop both Zant and his god before the terrors brought upon Hyrule became irreversible. Even if he would come to stand alone before such usurpers, he could not back down, could not step aside to watch as Hyrule became a wasteland of their cruel tyrannies.
As Link's thoughts grew deeper and more disturbed, the blaring orb above also began its descent into the world without his notice.
"Link," a voice called sharply, and he looked toward Ashei. They had come to a tunnel carved through a massive mountainside. Looking south, he could still see the Castle's spires. Ashei waved him into the conduit. "This will lead us straight into the waterfall basin. Call it a shortcut, or a backdoor, if you like."
Nodding, Link took up a pace alongside her through the passage. Although it traveled directly through the mountain, there was surprisingly a great deal of light. The surrounding rocks glistened a faint blue, their hue brightening and becoming ever more reflective the deeper they moved. After some time the pair emerged onto a balcony, and the rush of the waterfall spilled into Link's ears at once. Pillars of solid stone rose in zigzagging directions from the ground of the outcropping, connecting with the roof. Below them lay the Zoran people.
"This is where I hid myself waiting for the beast," Ashei informed. "And down there" —she pointed to where two large rocks speared out of the water, one taller than the other— "is where he stole from their supply of red fish." She turned away from Link then and followed the balcony toward the Domain as she called back, "I'm going to the Domain. You ask around for more information down below."
Link worked his way around the balcony to the other side of the waterfall basin where the rocks turned into seeded dirt. He interviewed every Zora that inhabited the area around the fall.
"The beast never came into our village before, but now he had been taking our fish," one responded.
Another replied to him in question, "I don't understand this change in the beast's behavior, do you?"
After repeatedly asking each of the Zoras what they knew of the beast-man and receiving little in the way of true intelligence in return, he nearly gave up the effort to trudge directly into the snowy wasteland by way of the tunnel that connected it to the Zoran village. However, one helmeted individual had offered him knowledge which sparked an idea in him, a clear and foolproof way of tracking the beast. "Yes, the reekfish. They have a distinctive smell. Over there by the Mother-and-Child Rocks. That's where they keep to; although, they're rather difficult for most to catch."
Link propelled himself toward the stone formations and, crouching down on the edge of the grassy floor, he leaned in close to the water. There, beneath the surface, he glimpsed the blurred figures of the red fish that Ashei had spoken of back in Telma's bar. He could understand why the beast—or any person—would want to catch them. Perhaps it was simply their flesh-colored scales that made them appear appetizing. Whatever the case, Link needed to locate the beast-man, needed to pick up his trail before Ashei returned from the Domain. This was something he needed to do alone. At the moment another partner would only slow him down. He knew that Midna was still uncomfortable with showing herself to others; thus, the woman warrior's presence would strangle their chances to discuss the future situations. Plus—even though he would try everything not to need to—if he had to transform into his own bestial identity, he could not have Ashei watching over the process and likely spread word of his condition to the others of the Group.
He would not necessarily have to catch one of these red fish to accomplish what he required. There were enough of them gathered in the vicinity for him to pick up their distinct odor. He whiffed in the scent several times and allowed his nostrils to swallow it as he might chew over a food slowly to savor its taste. Once he had mastered its smell, the lupine half of him storing it in is sense memory, Link shot away from the water, garments whirling behind as he made for the tunnel that reached north into Snowpeak.
Link glanced above. Still no sign of Ashei.
He worked his way through the Zora villagers and plunged past the guard stationed at the entrance to the snowy terrain. Immediately, he felt the harsh cold beyond.
===============
He entered into a cavern, ice consuming it more and more the further Link passed through. Icicles shimmered above and threatened to shatter onto his body. Link took his steps slowly to both avoid the dangers of the frozen stalactites and to refrain from slipping on the increasing amount of white upon the ground. He soon came upon the tunnel's exit and continued out into the open air.
Link stood upon the heights of an overhang which looked out over the base of this section of the snowy mountains. The many mountains that dotted the vast region soared far up into the sky, the now lightly falling specks of snow circling through the wind as they tumbled down, as if they were participating in some peaceful dance of the mountains. Separating the nearest peaks from Link's location were two icy rivers that were both mostly covered in a thick sheet of ice. He could spot several pockets where the water that had not yet been solidified. Crossing the twin waterways would be treacherous. One misstep would be the end of his journey, for traveling through this climate burdened by the sting of icy wet flesh would mean a painfully cold end to his life.
Link memorized where the unstable sections were, skidded down the white slope, and approached the smooth surface of the river. From here he took his steps slowly, placing his feet as far apart as he could without losing his ability to react swiftly. Dispersing his weight like this was his only method to defeating the obstacle and being able to cross it without falling through a shallow spot.
"You know, as a wolf—"
At the mere mention of the word, Link barked back a sharp negative reply.
He continued along and soon bypassed the first of the rivers, breathing easier once he had reached snow again. Yet, he could not remember the details of the second stream; therefore, it was up to his eyes to process his next steps quickly and without imprecision. Time to reassess the accuracy of my reflexes, I suppose, he said to himself, trying to alleviate some of the tension welling within him.
With that, he began, feet moving fast while eyes judged the stability of every inch at once as he moved forward. Halfway across the river, he could hear an echo from behind him. Upon reflex, he looked back. Ashei stood upon the summit of the incline where he had emerged from the connecting tunnel. She had called to him. A frustrated voice, he could tell.
However, another noise drew his attention, signaling a more immediate threat than the angry spouts he would receive from Ashei when they were again within arms length of each other. Cracks webbed out from beneath one of his feet, and soon, the same effect weighed upon the ice below his other.
"You've got to run for it!" Midna called.
Propelled into action again, Link sailed forward from his location, desperately racing against the breaking ice. Some spots he reached did not undergo the same fracturing; however, without time to evaluate each individual section now without skidding to a stop on a potentially lethal bit of ice, Link zoomed across the length of the entire surface. His breath came in sharp gasps, the cold air attacking his throat with each inhale. The last spot that he sprinted across was splintering faster than he could move.
Without any other option, coming as near to the safe land as he could, he leapt. He landed flat-faced in the snow. He peeled himself away from the frost and looked back. Sheets of the icy blanket were sinking away from the surface of the river, pulled down beneath into the depths. Fissures continued to emerge down the entirety of the waterway in both directions. At least five to six feet of the ice had fallen away.
He would have to find another way back.
He gazed back at Ashei's figure, but she was already on the approach. Standing at the edge of the first river, she shouted at him. "What are you doing? Why did you go on without me? Now look what you've done! It's a wonder you're still alive!"
Link disregarded her irritation at him, though. It was better that this had happened. Ashei was too cautious an individual to cross even the first waterway. It was only then that he thanked the gods that he had caused the series of fractures that had led to the impassible state of the route.
"I'm going ahead," Link called back.
"No, wait for me to find another way around—" she retorted in a commanding tone much like that of a superior officer ordering a recruit.
"I know which way I need to go now," he assured without explanation. "I'll find my way back when I've found the mirror piece."
It's better this way, he assured them both within his mind. Just, please, don't try to follow me....
He could see further argument with Ashei's fidgeting body, but he disregarded her fury and turned away. He could waste no more time.
He could still smell the reekfish, and it was as if their scent painted the path ahead of him with a hazed scarlet line. He knew his way, knew which direction to head. Boots sinking deep into the snow with each progressing step, Link trudged on, wrapping his cloak tightly about his body. Like his wolf counterpart had done when he had smelled Ilia upon the roads of Hyrule's lush fields, he followed his nose.
The abilities of the lupine beast within him still frightened him upon occasion, and though he often times wished that he could discard any familiarity to such instincts, his wolfish tendencies had their uses. This was definitely one of them.
He scaled the mountainsides and the trenches between them with much difficulty, but instinctively knowing that he was upon the correct path—that he was still going the right way to find the beast-man fish thief—it was all the reassurance he needed to convince him not to surrender his courage to the harsh environment of the North.
It seemed like an entirely different world altogether. He had never known these white specks to cover the land of Ordon where he had spent his entire boyhood. The snow was such a wonder to Link. Or perhaps he was just trying to convince himself of that. Thinking of the snow as an obstacle would only enhance its treachery to his feet. Truly, though, the climate here was remarkable, an awesome spectacle.
A blast of wind pelted against his body, and Link thought for a moment that he had heard a voice upon it as well. A howl.
Stopping would have made future movement more difficult; therefore, he merely stepped slower as he cast his gaze about. He could not be sure, but it seemed as if piles of the snow moved. As if they had taken on the shape of animals, beasts. Though, convinced that the wind and the cold were playing tricks on his mind, he continued his trek up the mountains, disallowing himself any incentive to halt.
Before long, after circling about the inclines of several connecting mountains, he reached a height where the side of one of the gigantic formations dove inward, creating a sort of safe haven from the bitter winds that had escalated in speed the further he had risen. The snow had not collected here as densely as it had in other places. A think sheet of snow covered the leveled ground, swallowing his boots up to his ankles; though, its depth compared nothing to the snow that had reached his knees when he had traversed through a trench some time ago.
Resting there a moment, Link took the time to wrap his cloak tighter and to warm the exposed tips of his fingers with warm breaths. His cheeks were sure to have been wind burnt by now, not to mention the fact that his muscles had begun to chatter as much as his teeth.
Yet, peering ahead, something in the side of the mountain caught his eyes. An indentation of sorts, it seemed. Sniffing the air as he approached the area, he found the odor of fish the strongest he had yet. A fresh scent. He was close.
The excitement of having come nearer to the most recent trail of the beast-man, Link raced the remaining distance to the odd groove in the rock. He dug away the mounds of snow to find that the niche tunneled into the mountain. He fell to his hands and knees, and—pulling away bits of snow as he went—he crawled through the path.
By the time he reached the opposite end, he had come into a cavern, decorated naturally just as the tunnel leading into Snowpeak. Bluish hues reflected off the masses of ice, and there were shards of ice hanging above from the ceiling of the cave. The hollow contained a frigid air that chilled his bones more drastically than the outside climate. The ice confined within was sure to be the cause, the source of his discomfort.
Link saw a sharp inclination that led up to an opening, but the rough surface of it had been crusted over by years of ice accumulation. Negotiating its perilous and jagged nature would be no easy task. In fact, Link doubted very much that such a surface could be climbed. He had not come all this way to give up, however.
Rising to the challenge, Link crossed to its base and unsheathed both his daggers. His only sensible option would be to ascend it in much the same way he had climbed the mighty Stallord. Link rammed one blade into the wall against it and the other into its icy surface. In using both the wall and the slope to ascend it, he had reached the top of the cavern in no time—though, not without having overcome a few times when his daggers had either slipped or chipped away entire pieces of ice without having taken hold of the rock.
Glad to be rid of the obstacle until his descent, Link emerged from the cave. He looked down to return his dirks, and he again started on his way, following the smell of the reekfish.
However—he nearly tumbled directly into the giant white figure standing before him.
"Taking notes were you?" Ashei finally broke in, sarcasm dripping from her words.
Auru looked toward them both. Shaking his head, he returned his concentration to the youth before him, still a boy in his eyes—yet so knowledgeable and obviously skilled. "Shad is correct, however," he said, directing the statement toward Ashei more than anyone. "How do you plan to invade the other realm if the only way is—?"
"That is why I need your help," he said to the Group, cutting through his question cleanly.
"But, Link, how could we possibly—?" Rusl started.
Again Link sliced through the questions he had known they would ask. "The fragments have been scattered, hidden across Hyrule," he said, taking a sip from his mug before he finished. "I need your help in locating them."
Silence overtook their corner of the tavern, all the members discussing this news by only the reflective gazes that they sent toward each other. Telma watched as her acquaintances exchanged these looks, and frustration shot into her. When it seemed that none of them could give Link a clear answer, her voice flared. "You can't tell me you're considering not helping him?"
Auru met her stare first, "Telma, these pieces could be anywhere. I want to help, but" —he turned to Link— "I just don't know if I can stand by and let you do this. These are dangerous times, and you nearly died out there in the desert wastes!"
"He is more than capable, Auru," Telma shot back. "He's not a boy. There are no innocents in Hyrule anymore."
Link leaned back in his chair after having bitten off another strip of cheese. He folded his arms upon his chest, taking in the conversation that enveloped him. Why did they waste time arguing about his involvement? He had faced more challenges during this chaotic period—and survived—than he supposed any of them had. But Link would never mark them lower than himself. They were all mortals; they could each die at fate's stroke. And he needed their skills now.
After he vaguely heard Auru say something about not letting him risk his life again, Link put an end to their senseless argument. "If you are going to continue debating about it, then I'll just leave in search of them myself. I'd like to get started before it gets too dark."
Though Auru did not seem pleased—especially by Link's casual remark—he nodded after a moment. He looked round the table, and all inclined their heads in agreement. They all believed that they were finally on the cornerstone of vanquishing the evil times to live only within the pages of history once more.
"Then where do were begin our search?" asked the bespectacled Shad. Telma and Ashei tossed mildly astonished expressions at him. It was obvious by his appearance that he was not a skilled warrior, but for him to have been the first to offer his knowledge was significant enough for them all to set aside any doubts.
Link turned to Ashei, settling comfortable within his chair once more. "You said earlier that you had been investigating Snowpeak."
The dark-haired soldier leaned back, one arm resting over the back of her seat and the other tapping the wood table. "Yes, I have. I just returned from the mountains this morning actually." Then she dove straight into her findings, pleased that at last Auru had to sit through an explanation as to why she had so obsessively been exploring the situation. "The mountains have become colder than normal ever since Zora's Domain was covered in ice. I asked around the Zoras to see if they had any clues as to the cause. And a few of the Zoras told me a rather weird story." She shifted closer to the table, intent on pressing the importance of what she had heard. "Apparently, there is a beast that lives somewhere on this mountain, and it has been seen frequently in Zora's Domain. I was curious, so I took to one of the cliffs where the beast was said to have been sighted, and I waited. Some hours later a giant appeared!"
Ashei dug something from within her armor and pulled out a sheet of folded parchment. "It looked like this." She handed it to Rusl first, who then gave it to Link. In the picture that she had quickly roughed out, there was a tall, white and fluffy beast-man; in one hand, it held something red. Link passed the sketch along to the others—Shad looking excitedly at it before handing it over to Auru.
"This thing's been stealing red fish from the village. I wanted to investigate further, but snow began falling heavily and soon became a blizzard. I couldn't travel in weather like that, so I've come back for now."
"Then I shall continue—"
"If you go into that blizzard without a plan, you'll get lost," she shot back bluntly. "And that'll only lead to disaster, trust me. You can return with me tomorrow morning."
Her tone sounded much like that of what a commanding older sister would have been. Link did not much prefer having to wait any longer than he had already from his injuries, but logic overruled him—as did each face of the Group. Link nodded, accepting her invitation for the morrow.
"Well, that's settled then, isn't it?" smiled Telma. "Besides, Link, I expect to see that plate cleaned so that I can pile second helpings on it." After a wink she waddled back behind the bar, saying her farewells to an obviously drunken man as he opened the door to leave. Ashei and Auru dispersed from their meeting as well. Rusl drank the last of his mead, and Shad had already gone back to his texts.
Grinning despite their refusal to let him leave, Link returned to his meal, taking a rather healthy bite of buttery bread.
===============
Ashei and Link had prepared for the journey to Snowpeak an hour before sunrise the next day, and by the time they had set off, daybreak had come. Link had lifted his veil once out of the city, and he had jumped when Ashei had spoken to him. He had been afraid that the faint mark on his forehead had caught her trained eye; however, her attempt at idle conversation had simply pointed out her observation that he himself did not like to be observed by the people. After she had turned back to the path familiar to her legs, Link had messed his bangs so that tendrils were strung across his forehead and in front of his eyes in as innocent a fashion as he could arrange. He was sure that the shadows the sun created from his hair would block any pair of eyes from defining shadow from mark.
The road ahead of them was been a long one, longer than Link had remembered coming upon Zora's Domain. His first time there had been partially taken by air, the other by the speed of his lupine bones. Now, though, they had to walk the distance, there path laying across the eastern bridge out of Castle Town and turning upon the northern roads. Link did not know the paths north of the town; therefore, he had no idea how far the Domain was from their beginning steps ... and with Ashei there would be no rests.
Luckily for Link he had become accustomed to little rest and much traveling, and the silence between them offered Link much time to mull through his thoughts.
To think that Zant—so cruel a being, so murderous a person—could only be a pawn in the true design of evil's web…. It was unnerving to know that some other man was capable of so much more, capable of those wicked deeds of ages long ago. The world he had grown up knowing—his peaceful life in Ordon—had all been torn to ribbons by a man named Ganondorf, a wretched King of Evil.
More powerful than even the sages.... Blessed by the goddesses.... Lusting to take hold of Hyrule forever....
Link could not let that happen. He had to find these mirror pieces to recreate the road into the other realm. He had to stop both Zant and his god before the terrors brought upon Hyrule became irreversible. Even if he would come to stand alone before such usurpers, he could not back down, could not step aside to watch as Hyrule became a wasteland of their cruel tyrannies.
As Link's thoughts grew deeper and more disturbed, the blaring orb above also began its descent into the world without his notice.
"Link," a voice called sharply, and he looked toward Ashei. They had come to a tunnel carved through a massive mountainside. Looking south, he could still see the Castle's spires. Ashei waved him into the conduit. "This will lead us straight into the waterfall basin. Call it a shortcut, or a backdoor, if you like."
Nodding, Link took up a pace alongside her through the passage. Although it traveled directly through the mountain, there was surprisingly a great deal of light. The surrounding rocks glistened a faint blue, their hue brightening and becoming ever more reflective the deeper they moved. After some time the pair emerged onto a balcony, and the rush of the waterfall spilled into Link's ears at once. Pillars of solid stone rose in zigzagging directions from the ground of the outcropping, connecting with the roof. Below them lay the Zoran people.
"This is where I hid myself waiting for the beast," Ashei informed. "And down there" —she pointed to where two large rocks speared out of the water, one taller than the other— "is where he stole from their supply of red fish." She turned away from Link then and followed the balcony toward the Domain as she called back, "I'm going to the Domain. You ask around for more information down below."
Link worked his way around the balcony to the other side of the waterfall basin where the rocks turned into seeded dirt. He interviewed every Zora that inhabited the area around the fall.
"The beast never came into our village before, but now he had been taking our fish," one responded.
Another replied to him in question, "I don't understand this change in the beast's behavior, do you?"
After repeatedly asking each of the Zoras what they knew of the beast-man and receiving little in the way of true intelligence in return, he nearly gave up the effort to trudge directly into the snowy wasteland by way of the tunnel that connected it to the Zoran village. However, one helmeted individual had offered him knowledge which sparked an idea in him, a clear and foolproof way of tracking the beast. "Yes, the reekfish. They have a distinctive smell. Over there by the Mother-and-Child Rocks. That's where they keep to; although, they're rather difficult for most to catch."
Link propelled himself toward the stone formations and, crouching down on the edge of the grassy floor, he leaned in close to the water. There, beneath the surface, he glimpsed the blurred figures of the red fish that Ashei had spoken of back in Telma's bar. He could understand why the beast—or any person—would want to catch them. Perhaps it was simply their flesh-colored scales that made them appear appetizing. Whatever the case, Link needed to locate the beast-man, needed to pick up his trail before Ashei returned from the Domain. This was something he needed to do alone. At the moment another partner would only slow him down. He knew that Midna was still uncomfortable with showing herself to others; thus, the woman warrior's presence would strangle their chances to discuss the future situations. Plus—even though he would try everything not to need to—if he had to transform into his own bestial identity, he could not have Ashei watching over the process and likely spread word of his condition to the others of the Group.
He would not necessarily have to catch one of these red fish to accomplish what he required. There were enough of them gathered in the vicinity for him to pick up their distinct odor. He whiffed in the scent several times and allowed his nostrils to swallow it as he might chew over a food slowly to savor its taste. Once he had mastered its smell, the lupine half of him storing it in is sense memory, Link shot away from the water, garments whirling behind as he made for the tunnel that reached north into Snowpeak.
Link glanced above. Still no sign of Ashei.
He worked his way through the Zora villagers and plunged past the guard stationed at the entrance to the snowy terrain. Immediately, he felt the harsh cold beyond.
===============
He entered into a cavern, ice consuming it more and more the further Link passed through. Icicles shimmered above and threatened to shatter onto his body. Link took his steps slowly to both avoid the dangers of the frozen stalactites and to refrain from slipping on the increasing amount of white upon the ground. He soon came upon the tunnel's exit and continued out into the open air.
Link stood upon the heights of an overhang which looked out over the base of this section of the snowy mountains. The many mountains that dotted the vast region soared far up into the sky, the now lightly falling specks of snow circling through the wind as they tumbled down, as if they were participating in some peaceful dance of the mountains. Separating the nearest peaks from Link's location were two icy rivers that were both mostly covered in a thick sheet of ice. He could spot several pockets where the water that had not yet been solidified. Crossing the twin waterways would be treacherous. One misstep would be the end of his journey, for traveling through this climate burdened by the sting of icy wet flesh would mean a painfully cold end to his life.
Link memorized where the unstable sections were, skidded down the white slope, and approached the smooth surface of the river. From here he took his steps slowly, placing his feet as far apart as he could without losing his ability to react swiftly. Dispersing his weight like this was his only method to defeating the obstacle and being able to cross it without falling through a shallow spot.
"You know, as a wolf—"
At the mere mention of the word, Link barked back a sharp negative reply.
He continued along and soon bypassed the first of the rivers, breathing easier once he had reached snow again. Yet, he could not remember the details of the second stream; therefore, it was up to his eyes to process his next steps quickly and without imprecision. Time to reassess the accuracy of my reflexes, I suppose, he said to himself, trying to alleviate some of the tension welling within him.
With that, he began, feet moving fast while eyes judged the stability of every inch at once as he moved forward. Halfway across the river, he could hear an echo from behind him. Upon reflex, he looked back. Ashei stood upon the summit of the incline where he had emerged from the connecting tunnel. She had called to him. A frustrated voice, he could tell.
However, another noise drew his attention, signaling a more immediate threat than the angry spouts he would receive from Ashei when they were again within arms length of each other. Cracks webbed out from beneath one of his feet, and soon, the same effect weighed upon the ice below his other.
"You've got to run for it!" Midna called.
Propelled into action again, Link sailed forward from his location, desperately racing against the breaking ice. Some spots he reached did not undergo the same fracturing; however, without time to evaluate each individual section now without skidding to a stop on a potentially lethal bit of ice, Link zoomed across the length of the entire surface. His breath came in sharp gasps, the cold air attacking his throat with each inhale. The last spot that he sprinted across was splintering faster than he could move.
Without any other option, coming as near to the safe land as he could, he leapt. He landed flat-faced in the snow. He peeled himself away from the frost and looked back. Sheets of the icy blanket were sinking away from the surface of the river, pulled down beneath into the depths. Fissures continued to emerge down the entirety of the waterway in both directions. At least five to six feet of the ice had fallen away.
He would have to find another way back.
He gazed back at Ashei's figure, but she was already on the approach. Standing at the edge of the first river, she shouted at him. "What are you doing? Why did you go on without me? Now look what you've done! It's a wonder you're still alive!"
Link disregarded her irritation at him, though. It was better that this had happened. Ashei was too cautious an individual to cross even the first waterway. It was only then that he thanked the gods that he had caused the series of fractures that had led to the impassible state of the route.
"I'm going ahead," Link called back.
"No, wait for me to find another way around—" she retorted in a commanding tone much like that of a superior officer ordering a recruit.
"I know which way I need to go now," he assured without explanation. "I'll find my way back when I've found the mirror piece."
It's better this way, he assured them both within his mind. Just, please, don't try to follow me....
He could see further argument with Ashei's fidgeting body, but he disregarded her fury and turned away. He could waste no more time.
He could still smell the reekfish, and it was as if their scent painted the path ahead of him with a hazed scarlet line. He knew his way, knew which direction to head. Boots sinking deep into the snow with each progressing step, Link trudged on, wrapping his cloak tightly about his body. Like his wolf counterpart had done when he had smelled Ilia upon the roads of Hyrule's lush fields, he followed his nose.
The abilities of the lupine beast within him still frightened him upon occasion, and though he often times wished that he could discard any familiarity to such instincts, his wolfish tendencies had their uses. This was definitely one of them.
He scaled the mountainsides and the trenches between them with much difficulty, but instinctively knowing that he was upon the correct path—that he was still going the right way to find the beast-man fish thief—it was all the reassurance he needed to convince him not to surrender his courage to the harsh environment of the North.
It seemed like an entirely different world altogether. He had never known these white specks to cover the land of Ordon where he had spent his entire boyhood. The snow was such a wonder to Link. Or perhaps he was just trying to convince himself of that. Thinking of the snow as an obstacle would only enhance its treachery to his feet. Truly, though, the climate here was remarkable, an awesome spectacle.
A blast of wind pelted against his body, and Link thought for a moment that he had heard a voice upon it as well. A howl.
Stopping would have made future movement more difficult; therefore, he merely stepped slower as he cast his gaze about. He could not be sure, but it seemed as if piles of the snow moved. As if they had taken on the shape of animals, beasts. Though, convinced that the wind and the cold were playing tricks on his mind, he continued his trek up the mountains, disallowing himself any incentive to halt.
Before long, after circling about the inclines of several connecting mountains, he reached a height where the side of one of the gigantic formations dove inward, creating a sort of safe haven from the bitter winds that had escalated in speed the further he had risen. The snow had not collected here as densely as it had in other places. A think sheet of snow covered the leveled ground, swallowing his boots up to his ankles; though, its depth compared nothing to the snow that had reached his knees when he had traversed through a trench some time ago.
Resting there a moment, Link took the time to wrap his cloak tighter and to warm the exposed tips of his fingers with warm breaths. His cheeks were sure to have been wind burnt by now, not to mention the fact that his muscles had begun to chatter as much as his teeth.
Yet, peering ahead, something in the side of the mountain caught his eyes. An indentation of sorts, it seemed. Sniffing the air as he approached the area, he found the odor of fish the strongest he had yet. A fresh scent. He was close.
The excitement of having come nearer to the most recent trail of the beast-man, Link raced the remaining distance to the odd groove in the rock. He dug away the mounds of snow to find that the niche tunneled into the mountain. He fell to his hands and knees, and—pulling away bits of snow as he went—he crawled through the path.
By the time he reached the opposite end, he had come into a cavern, decorated naturally just as the tunnel leading into Snowpeak. Bluish hues reflected off the masses of ice, and there were shards of ice hanging above from the ceiling of the cave. The hollow contained a frigid air that chilled his bones more drastically than the outside climate. The ice confined within was sure to be the cause, the source of his discomfort.
Link saw a sharp inclination that led up to an opening, but the rough surface of it had been crusted over by years of ice accumulation. Negotiating its perilous and jagged nature would be no easy task. In fact, Link doubted very much that such a surface could be climbed. He had not come all this way to give up, however.
Rising to the challenge, Link crossed to its base and unsheathed both his daggers. His only sensible option would be to ascend it in much the same way he had climbed the mighty Stallord. Link rammed one blade into the wall against it and the other into its icy surface. In using both the wall and the slope to ascend it, he had reached the top of the cavern in no time—though, not without having overcome a few times when his daggers had either slipped or chipped away entire pieces of ice without having taken hold of the rock.
Glad to be rid of the obstacle until his descent, Link emerged from the cave. He looked down to return his dirks, and he again started on his way, following the smell of the reekfish.
However—he nearly tumbled directly into the giant white figure standing before him.
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REVIEWS FOR THIS CHAPTER:
~the-art-of-addi Nov 21, 2011 urgh, your writing wants me want to replay this game for the third time *w* i like the thought that link doesn`t want to change into a wolf. when i'm playing, i always want to be in wolf form xP me and my cousin have always remarked how good of a book that game would make and you sure bring it out. man, i have wanted to write lately, and this sure puts me in gear. i might try a couple cracks at a zelda fanfic. great writing! seriously, I love this. the thought and effort you`ve put into it is amazing.