#herring writes

There where times that Wind very much did not like being on the shorter end of the spectrum. Not as short as Four thank the goddesses, but still compared to most he was in fact short. 

And no amount of telling himself that he just hadn't finished growing helped with the here and now. 

That being kidnapped.

Because he was singled out as the youngest. 

People really where scumbags sometimes huh? He glumly thought to himself as he was very uncomfortably carried over the rocky terrain. 

Why did these weirdos have teleportation powers! That was so cheating in every sense of the word! 

From the skin tight red bodysuits Wind had a fair guess at the identity of his captors. He was fairly certain Wild had called people like this "The Yay-ga" 

He had also said they where kind of incompetent. 

So either these aren't the same weirdos or they got substantially more competent than the last time Wild had seen them. Cause the fact Wind was still somehow tied up after a good few hours was frankly a feat that deserved a bard's tale. 

Wind felt a little begrudgingly impressed. He was definitely still stabbing these guys the second he had a decently sharp object but he could admit they had gotten farther than he expected. 

The burly weirdo carrying him hopped across yet another boulder and Wind once more thumped painfully against his back. Seriously it was like a stone wall. What where they feeding this guy and could he have some? 

"You guys are going to so regret your life choices." He grumbled. 

"Silence." Said the talking brick wall of a person. 

"I'm going to stab you first." Wind hissed, though he didn't make any attempt to change his position. 

That apparently did not warrant a response. 

Except it aparently did just one second later when he was unceremoniously dropped to the earth and a random rag was tied around his mouth. So there WAS a limit to the jabs these people where willing to take. 

Without a word Wind was retrieved and slung across someone's shoulders once more to continue onward. 

The sound of muffled insults from Wind where the only attempts at conversation. A pity really. The sailor had come up with some real memorable phrases this time. Tetra would be so proud.

It was yet another hour before the small group made it to the place Wind assumed they where headed. It was a cave. 

Not a particularly interesting cave itself, it was rock. Kind of brownish grey. The interesting part was the cages upon cages of creatures. 

It was everything from frogs to pigs! Most strangely colored. Like very strangely colored… since when could a pig be green…?

They all shifted to the backs of their cages. Fear shining clearly in all the animalistic eyes. The way some of the beasts looked at him made Wind feel uncomfortable. It was too… intelligent? 

Sorry? Regretfull? Maybe even a bit of pity. 

"We have another one for you." Mr brick wall spoke. Wind didn't know who he was talking too until a figure seemed to slink out from behind a stack of empty cages. The sailor wasn't sure how someone could walk and still make it look like they where sliding around like a slug. 

She had a red robe with a mask similar enough to the rest of these fanatics. So same group. 

"Another child?" The robed figure asked. Even her voice sounded slimy. Ew. And he wasn't just some child!

"Last I checked you don't have a say in your options. They all do the same thing right?" Brick spoke. Wind wanted to shove him into a cyclone. In fact he would do that, right after planting a sword between his eyes. 

Slimy, as that's what Wind decided to call her, sighed. "I just had hoped to have one that would be more interesting." 

Hey! Wind was VERY interesting! did boring people get the title of Windwaker? Or hero of winds? No! And Wind had BOTH. 

Ergo NOT boring. 

He attempted to voice his argument but the tag still tied around his mouth was making things significantly harder. 

"He's more lively than usual at least." Brick growled, dropping Wind once more to the stony ground. The impact managed to leave the sailor breathless for several moments. 

"You can count that more "interesting" than the terrified wimpering." 

Slimy crouched down in front of Wind with a vaugely intrigued humm. Tugging off the improvised gag. A gloved hand forced his head up and to the side as if being inspected. Like a particularly promising PIG being inspected for a festival feast. 

Fury simmered beneath his skin. jerking away he snapped at the hand, teeth sinking into the thin fabric of the glove. Let this creepy lady act all casual with a missing finger and two more broken to go with it! 

Slimy didn't even react. 

And that was worse. No curses or yanking to try and dislodge the limb. Wind wondered for a moment if time had somehow stopped. 

Confused he looked up. Why wasn't-

A sharp blow to the side of his head sent him reeling before that thought could finish. His head hit the stone with a crack as everything spun. 

Eyes blinking as he processed. His cheek stung and throbbed in time with his pulse. 

"Your right." Slimy's chilling voice sounded barely inconvenienced. "It is a little more interesting. And now I'm impatient and bleeding." She sighed. "Grab me a bandage and I'll get the artifact." 

"I am not-" Brick bristled. 

"I do not care. Bandage." Slimy hissed. Brick shut up very quickly the sound of his footsteps moveing away. 

"So disrespectful. Now as for you." She turned back to Wind. "You won't cause me any more problems will you." It wasn't phrased like a question. 

Wind glared through his newly forming headache. "Go keelhaul yerself." He spat. She had just cemented the sailor's determination to make his existence a really big problem. 

He liked to think the silent cold shoulder Slimy gave him as she turned was frustration. Good. He was about to cause a lot more of it. 

Unfortunately Slimy deemed it acceptable to inflict her presence on Wind a few moments later as she returned. Tongs gripped in her uninjured hand. 

Sitting between the tongs was an ebony shard of wrongness. Wind didn't know how he knew but that thing was just bad and he wanted as far away from it as possible. 

He tried to squirm away from the thing but the solid presence of Brick, who had also returned, kept him in place. 

Crap. 

"No- I'm not touching it!" He hissed. 

A hand grabbed his hair and forcefully shoved him forwards. The stupid empty gaze of the wooden mask filled his vision.

"I'm going to enjoy this." Slimy whispered in his ear. 

A sharp pain sliced into his forehead and for a moment Wind thought that was somehow the extent of the effects. 

Pain hit the sailor like a pounding wave. Surge after surge of agony digging it's claws into muscle and bone. his body felt wrong, too restricting, too small. Stretched far too thin trying to contain him.

He thought he felt himself split apart like clothes too small for him. Too small? Too big? What was happening-

Was he going to die?

A million tiny needles pushed through his skin. It felt like bugs scrambling over his skin with sharp legs. 

He was going to die wasn't he? 

No no no-

SNAP. 

Any cohesive thought banished by terror. 

Crack. 

He couldn't take this. 

He couldn't-

The sound of strangled cried barely made it through the ringing in Wind's ears. What happened? he felt so heavy. 

Soreness jabbed at his joints as he shifted. He was lying on the ground. Cold stone felt muffled somehow though. Like being felt through some sort of cloth. He tried to push himself up with his hands. 

But the limbs felt so wrong. A layer of SOMETHING again was muffling the feel of what should be stone beneath his fingers.

The digits wouldn't separate. Where they bound by something? 

Fine his feet then- oh that wasn't right. That was not right at all. Legs wheren't supposed to bend that way. Panic was sinking into his stomach. His body felt so wrong- what did they do to him? 

He needed to move, to find something familiar.

A fearful noise escaped his throat but it was quickly cut off. Whatever sound he might have made was downed out by a pained screech.

That sound. His heart started pounding harder. 

The creakiness of it- the pitch and cadence. No- he had killed that thing! That a cursed bird was DEAD. Skull smashed to peices by his own hammer! 

Another one then?

How-

What about the crazy cult?? 

He needed to figure out what was going on! Prying his eyes open Wind pushed himself up. Every moment acutely aware of how his legs kept screaming at him that something was WRONG. Legs didn't bend like that they did not bend like that-

The cave was still there. But hadn't it been bigger? 

Or was the ground always that far? His head was only a short distance from the ceiling! Wind staggered a slightly as he looked downwards. 

Vertigo threatened to make him throw up. Too far! His mind screeched. But his FEET where ON the ground! He mentally argued back. 

It couldn't be that far!

A talon scraped the stone below. Wind froze, starring at the scale dotted limb. Then the feathers that connected too it and dotted the floor. Several flecked with red. Red dripped down and spattered the stone. 

The talons were dipped in it. Red cloth stock to the tip.

No. 

Wind lifted a foot and the talons also raised. He dropped it once more as the alien limb followed the command as well. But- how? 

He attempted to speak. The cry of a helmroc king filled the air.

———————————————————————

welp now Wind’s a giant bird. This surely won’t be bad for his mental health and not at all be related to his trauma. (I say like a liar)

———————————————————————

Link now named Legend glided along the riverbank. Just close enough to the surface to keep an eye on the group he'd been following for the past… well honestly he wasn't sure. portals through time made it a bit harder to answer questions like that. 

It had been a almost two weeks and a whole portal since the scarred hero, Wild apparently, had offered him that first plate of food. Every night since then he'd left some bit of food out and talked to him. 

So far Legend had spoken to the cook most nights since then, even let himself be seen several times over.

Wild seemed genuine enough anyways. And Legend did end up eating whatever food was offered when nobody was around. And taking a few of the utensils… or plates. 

Sue him those things where actually annoyingly hard to get when you live underwater. They also… didn't have a ton of use down here.

… eh he could probably use them as weapons in a pinch. If he was ever without his collection of actual weapons. 

His very very expansive collection. Or his claws or teeth for that matter. Or voice… so maybe they weren't THAT useful...

Least he had the good sense to pay a REASONABLE PRICE (looking at you Ravio) for them. Most of the time. It didn't seem a good idea to anger the one person in the group who knew about his existence. And gave him food. So he stuck around as best he could. 

The lengths one goes to when they spent a over a year without a properly cooked meal. 

Last thing he'd eaten that counted as such before the meals offered by wild was when he'd had dinner with Marin and her father. 

A familiar cold sat heavy in his chest. He wished he was back there… His gaze slid too the pink slender mer tail he wore. he'd told Marin about it that very night. Was the first time he'd actually wanted to show the transformation to anyone. 

Life really liked those painful ironies huh. 

… why was it so quiet all of a sudden? Link carefully peered above the water. 

With a start he realized he'd drifted behind the group. Dang it they'd passed a bend in the river he couldn't see them. He speed ahead, glancing the makings of some sort of rudimentary structure poking out from behind a hill. at the edge of the river, actually it looked like half ruins of something and half patchwork camp. 

Before he could swim closer to get a better look something slammed into his side. He felt something in his tail snap and he let out a loud involuntary shriek. 

It took only moments to spin and face whatever had hit him. Was that a whole skeletal fish? Goopy black substance leaking from the joints. Fantastic, great. the skeletons had infiltrated the water. 

He thought these things where supposed to STAY IN THE DARK WORLD!

turns out there was multiple too. He was able to quickly glance another one diving for him and dodge it. 

Legend Hissed, fin's flaring out making him look larger than he was. It didn't seem to phase the unnatural fish. Legend wasn't even sure how these things managed to swim so fast when their bodies and fins would be catching little to no water. 

The small group swarmed around him, darting In one at a time to try and nip at his fins. Legend spun and snapped, slashing at the stupid things. 

He managed to wound a few of them. They where sturdier than Legend first thought and it was getting annoying. Okay let's change tactics, he thought to himself.

Legend dove down and around the skeletal fish, trying to gain some distance at least. He could practically feel the things nipping at his tail.

Spying a log pokeing out of the bottom of the river Legend veered toward it. Gripping the thing with one talon end hand he snapped around. 

He almost felt bad for the much smaller and more delicate aquatic monsters as they connected with the powerful swing of his tail.

Several snapping noises echoed through the water. Legend ignored the stinging in his tail as he faced the few stragglers. Dazed by the surge of water legend had just caused.

Not one to waste the opportunity the Veteran hero surged forward, cracking the skull of the first one between his teeth and snapping the spine of a second in his talons. The sharp bones cut into the webbing on his hand but the monsters where finally dealt with.

He breathed a metaphorical sigh of relief. He had hoped he had left any encounters with the weird starfish things in the dark world.

Did this mean whatever was making the portals could get there and bring it's monsters here?

That wasn't good…

He twisted up towards the surface and away from the cloud of murk he had stired up in his fight. 

Immediately regretted his decision.

Legend hissed as the wounds on his tail burned. Now he remembers why smacking something with his tail was used as a secondary measure. Especially sharp POINTY little monsters like that- 

He bit back a snarl as he picked out a quickly dissolving bone from where it has stabbed itself between his scales and sunk into the flesh beneath. One of several. A bit of his own red blood mixing in the water.

He wouldn't be able to follow the others like this, even if he'd eventually heal on his own, It could take days.

… unless. No… He barely left the water for long and trying to wander around with what would be wounded legs once the injuries where transferred? He wasn't sure he could do it. 

But then again He NEEDED to keep up with the others. Just to make sure he could get back to his own time if nothing else. He just needed to wait till nightfall, and hope the other heroes don't decide to camp too far from the river. 

Thankfully the heroes seemed to have decided to settle down right outside the now destroyed monster camp. When legend was finally able to wriggle up toward the edge of the river and check.

Probably didn't want to camp directly on top of whatever crap the monsters had sitting around. It generally wasn't the most sanitary. 

Legend didn't talk to Wild that night. It took all his effort not to let out an involuntary cry of pain whenever something touched his wounds. Wild eventually left. Thank goodness, but he did feel a bit guilty about how disappointed the cook seemed. he could make up for it another night… 

He'd seen the cook picking up some of his smaller scales that rubbed off whenever he wiggled onto land. Maybe showing him the larger shed scales he'd held onto would make wild feel better…

Yea that sounds like a good idea. Legend drifted closer to the shore. Double checking no one was going to wander back down here. 

He hissed as his tail brushed the muddy bottom. Oh boy this was going fun. 

Not. 

Wounds where weird when it came too transformations. It was like the injuries were just transferred to where they WOULD have been. As if he'd been in the other form when he got them. 

It was stupid and made an already painful change miserable. He bit into a random stick he'd found so he wouldn't make too loud of a noise by accident.

Taking a deep breath he wrenched himself onto the grassy bank. The change was agony. It seemed the longer he spent in this form the harder changing back was. it was like drowning all over again, it didn't used to feel like that. 

It was probably something he should be more worried about.

Water was forced out of his lungs as the gills on his sides sealed shut. He dropped the stick he'd tried to use to keep from making noise, coughing and sputtering. 

He thrashed and curled in on himself over and over, trying to crawl out of his traitorous form. This did not help the wounds. 

He wasn't sure how long the shift took. Could have been a few minutes, an hour, or maybe just a few seconds. He just sort of curled up in the grass for awhile trying to get used to breathing normally again. 

He shivered, man it was cold… he wished he had his tunic right now. Even just a cloak would be appreciated. 

Clothing did not last long in the ocean. the water and lifestyle degraded his already damaged green tunic faster than Legend could keep up with fixing it. Not to mention it clogged his gills. 

fortunately a skirt of scales covered his lower body and made things significantly less awkward.

Unfortunately Everything else besides his main items where still back at his house he'd all but abandoned. Including extra clothes. 

A part of him suddenly wondered if Ravio would take the chance to take over the cottage. Heh. 

… he better not be selling all his stuff. 

That didn't matter right now though, he reminded himself. Just get to the camp find a potion, get out. If only his legs would stop shaking- 

The cuts hurt and the trickles of blood itched. He wanted to go back into the water. It would help. it always helped. Smothering worries in a cold thick blanket of lullabies. He wanted it-

Legend hissed and pressed his hand to his forehead. No- crap. Stupid- 

Focus! 

He needed a potion. 

Legend staggered to his unsteady feet. Pebbles and small sticks dug into his soles. He wanted to get this done quickly. 

Every step sent waves of stinging pain through his body. He could smell the sharp tang of his own blood in the air. The cold air made him shiver. 

He hated being out of water. Hated it so much. But also hated how much he needed it. 

The light of a dim campfire shone through the small stand of trees. It loooked warm and welcoming. He wondered for a moment what would happen if he just stayed and sat by that fire. 

What would it be like to feel dry again? 

No not thinking about that right now- Legend focused on the hylian currently sitting guard by the campfire. He had a mess of fluffy brown hair and a green tunic, absentmindedly tossing sticks into the fire. 

Something about him felt… sparkly. Yeah that's the best Legend could come up with. The guy was just sparkly feeling. Sparkle guy. 

Now to get sparkle guy to be not a problem to the veteran's current mission. Good thing the solution was simple. 

Taking a shaky breath and steeling himself so his voice wouldn't warble or break Legend sang. 

"Your eyes are feeling heavy, the moonsong beakons sweet.

Pleasant dreams so merry, rest now and feel complete. 

This song a secret lullaby, sung by hidden friend

Please know your kin is sleep safely, no danger to defend."

It was a simple song with a simple melody. One Legend had prepared after it became evident it was quite useful. 

Sparkle guy turned in his direction, Sam suprised searching expression on his face. Legend had to remind himself that the mer song would make the memory feel like a distant dream. 

Soon Sparkly sunk too the ground. Peacefully curled up in the grass and snorting softly. 

Well that was easy enough. Legend pushed himself away from the tree his had been half hidden behind. Swaying as he stood, pain digging into his legs and felling like it was trying to dig tiny needles into the flesh. 

He really wanted that stupid potion now. 

He stumbled over to the closest bag. Sitting next to a man Legend had spied several times from the water. It was probably the stupidly giant scarf cape he apparently insisted on wearing everywhere.

Something about the man's face made legend want to stick a fish in his bed. 

With a snort legend felt his hand finally close around a glass bottle. Sighing in relief when the familiar red color of a healing potion sloshed inside. 

Yanking out the cork Legend downed the thing like a parched man man in a desert. Praying for the relief it would bring. 

Slowly, slowly the tingling sensation climbed up his limbs and sealed the numerous gashes closed. It itches, and burned, but the feeling also sent waves of relief through legend. 

Mission accomplished! He could retreat back to the beckoning safety of the water now.

Go back…

Legend stared around at the scattered lumps of steadily breathing blanket piles situated around the fire. Warm and dry and together.

The longing was soon washed away by though. Hushed by the memory of a song and shattered dreams. 

And with that ocean claimed hero returned to the water. 

Warriors scowled as he inspected his bag. There was no denying it. Someone had been snooping. Someone who had apparently been injured judging by some blood smeared on the empty bottle . Which meant someone was or had been hiding an injury. 

"Okay who's sneaking medical supplies?" He huffed. Eyeing Hyrule especially, the traveler had a history of the crime as well as being on first watch last night.

Hyrule had gotten 24/7 access to any of the supplies after telling them about the blood curse. Hiding injuries though was still frowned upon, possibly even more than before. 

No one came forward. Each Hero looking at one another trying to figure out who it had been.  "You sure some of yours are missing?" Time asked. 

"Yes, Unless you can explain the blood and empty bottle." Warriors held up said bottle for them all to see. Smudges of red dried on the glass. 

"Everyone got checked out after taking down the monster camp right?" Sky asked. 

A round of confirmation from everyone filled the campsite. Well that was going to make things a little more difficult. 

"The blood's not just on the bottle either captain." Twilight called out from the outskirts of the small clearing. He was inspecting a small patch of ground. Warriors went over too see what the rancher had found. Along with most everyone else. 

Splotches of crimson dotted the grass and ground. 

"I'm not sure whoever did that could have been hiding it from everyone." Four pointed out. Warriors had to agree, they had become pretty good at catching anyone trying to hide injuries. It got easier the more attuned they got to each other's mannerisms and when they where out of place. 

"Yea I would have seen If anyone was bleeding THAT much." Wind exclaimed as he saw the blood splatter. "Besides we all have potions and stuff in our own bags from the last restock, Why would we steal from you?" He regarded the captain. 

"Yes. That's what I'M wondering." Warriors frowned. This did not add up, no one had needed or had reason to steal his stuff. Uneasiness began to stir in his gut. "Did anyone see anything weird or out of place last night?" 

Hyrule's eyebrows scrunched together. "I'm pretty sure I dreamed there was a pretty guy in the woods at some point."

"Okay… was he real?" Wars asked.

"I'm not sure? I think there might be fae people in here. "

"Fae? Why'd you say that?" Four asked

"He was really freaking pretty!" Hyrule exclaimed. 

"Okay so possible pretty dream people in the woods. Anything else?" The Captian asked. 

Everyone shook their heads, except Wild who seemed to be just as uneasy.

"Wild did you see anything?" Warriors asked. 

"What? Oh- No. No I didn't see anything." Wild answered, now scanning the edge of the camp. "Do you mind if I go take care of something real quick though?" 

The Cook was already running through the trees. 

"… so he definitely knows something right?" Wind remarked.

"Oh absolutely." Warriors huffed. 

"LEGEND!" Wild called out, scanning the surface of the water a little frantically. Please be okay please be okay. 

Sure he didn't exactly have solid proof legend had been the one to somehow steal a health potion from the captain. While bleeding out he might add! 

But the possibility was eating at him. He didn't know if there were any monsters in these rivers! 

They'd faced off against some semi aquatic ones yesterday why wouldn't they have also been in the water! Where legend would have had to face them alone!

Also he hadn't shown up last night-

A familiar face popped out of the waves and Wild defelated in relief. Legend was in fact Not dead. 

The relief lasted all about two seconds before Wild got a good look at the merman. Legend looked more tired than usual. Dark eyebags hung under his eyes and the way he moved was a little stiff. 

"What do you want." He snapped, scowling.

"You- Look kinda like crap not gonna lie. You wouldn't happen to have been injured at some point in the last 24 hours?" Wild asked. 

"I- What? no!" Legend stammered. "I just had a bad night is all, didn't sleep very well..." His ear fin things wriggled as if trying to shake off an annoying fly. 

Wild squinted at him. Suspicion rising. "So you know nothing about the empty bottle with blood on it that doesn't belong to anyone else?" 

Legend's ears flicked back "I have no legs. How would i even get up to the camp." 

"How do you go through the portals?" Wild countered. 

Legend leveled a glare at Wild. Lips pulled back slightly to show the points of needle like teeth as he sank a bit in the water. "… That has… nothing to do with this."

Wild raised an eyebrow. Legend just glared harder somehow. Ear fins ever so slightly twitching under the scrutiny. 

Wild sighed. "Seriously just tell me if you got hurt or not, I could've gotten you some stuff instead of you somehow managing to steal from the Captain's bag." 

"Captain?" Legend asked "As in knight or something?" 

The cook jabbed a finger at The merman. "Stop trying to change the subject… but yes, he's a captain of the royal army in his time."

Legend seemed to ignore the first part of wild's statement. "Dang I should have stolen some rupees too."

"AH HA!" Wild crowed triumphant. "You admit it!" 

"I- DIN DANG IT-" Legend hissed, realizing his mistake. Wild cackled. The mer buried his head in his webbed hands. "Shut up you overgrown tektite, I've got a headache." 

Wild's laughter did subside, The worry from earlier was back though. "Seriously though, Are you alright?" 

"I'm fine now." Legend scowled. "The potion was enough if not a little watered down to be honest. I would say I hope "Captian" didn't get ripped off but that would be a lie."

"You sure? You looked a little stiff?" Wild pointed out. Ignoring the last part of the merman's statement. 

"That's for a different reason…" legend huffed.

"Something to do with somehow getting up to camp?" Wild prodded again.

Legend squinted, "Maybe. Maybe not." 

"Your not gonna tell me how you do it are you."

Wind had never been one to avoid talking about his past. He answered pretty much any questions regarding it. It wasn't like he felt any need to hide it. He talked about his sister, Aryll, his home, His grandma, And even told dramatic retelling of stories from his adventures. 

But there was one thing no one seemed to ask him about. His parents. Maybe it was because It was so common for a hero to apparently not have their parents. It was just. No one ever ever asked. 

That is until someone did. Sort of. 

"I'm just saying!" Wild nearly shouted. "Why exactly are all the goddess chosen heroes Hylian? I mean why not something else? " 

a smile grew across Wind's face. This was his moment. 

"I wasn't born Hylian." 

Everyone turned to Look at the Young sailor. Suprise clear on their faces at the statement. 

"really?" Wild asked, studying Wind with a questioning expression. Most likely trying to guess what he was supposed to be born as.

"yep." Wind Grinned. "Imma shark." 

No one really knew how to respond to that for a moment. Mostly due to how absurd the statement was. More than half of them looked like they where trying to figure out the joke. 

"Your a what now?" legend asked incredulously. 

"A shark.' Wind repeated. Like it was the most normal thing in the world. 

"You mean you can… transform into a shark or something?" Wars asked. 

A forlorn look crossed the Sailor's face. "No I'm under a spell." 

"uh very funny Wind… I guess." Legend said. Looking confused. 

Four looked over to Wind. "Is this an inside Joke or something I don't get?" He asked.

Wind sighed a long and weary sigh and flopped backwards into the grass."Should have figured you'd say that. No one ever believes me after all. I thought I'd found people understanding enough this time though." The disappointment on his face looked so real that Everyone began questioning if this was somehow not a joke. 

"Hold up." Twilight spoke. " Maybe we'd understand better if you explained." 

"I was born a shark obviously." Wind huffed. 

"But your not a shark now." Legend deadpanned. 

"No my parents turned me into a land dweller to avoid the shark civil war." There was no hint of a joke in Wind's expression. Just somber seriousness.

"The shark… Civil- what the heck are you talking about wind?" Warriors finally asked looking like Wind had grown a second head. 

"My parents made a deal with the Witch Shark in order to give me a land dweller body. I haven't been able to return since." Wind despaired. "I don't even know if they survived the Shark war." 

"Did you help cook dinner by any chance?" Four asked Hyrule. The Traveler Let out an offended noise. 

"Na Your totally pulling our legs." Legend Jabbed. "And I'm too tired to deal with it so I'm going to bed." 

"You can try to deny the truth Ledge but the shark war comes for us all." Wind replied from where he was still laying in the grass. 

"Maybe we should all head to bed." Warriors said. It seemed pretty much everyone agreed. Except for Hyrule who had been mostly silent this entire time. Looking at The sailor strangely. 

He sat down next to Wind while everyone else was settling into bedrolls. He had Been assigned first watch anyways. He leaned over and spoke in a whisper. 

"You weren't lying." He simply stated. 

"Nope." Wind said, emphasizing the last part of the word. He turned and Grinned at the Traveler who was met with the sight of a set of Triangular serrated teeth glinting white in the firelight. 

What in the name of Oshus and all the lesser gods was wind even staring at right now? 

This was a question the young sailor had found himself asking a lot the last few days. This place was just so weird. 

But this time it was a good weird! Or at least Wind was fairly certian it was good. It LOOKED fun! 

He stared in Fascination through the glass of a shop window window as the multitude of little automations moved. 

A wheel thing was spinning with tiny miniature people in seats along its rim. A snake looking thing chugged along a track as steam puffed though a chimney on its front. Several recreations of animals where looking very happy on their various perches. 

There where several other things he didn't even know what too think of but they looked… well, fun! Lights flickered and he could hear sounds from behind the glass. Even a small version of one of those "car" things. 

Hehe. He bet they where small enough a mini Four would have a blast with it. 

"Hey Four…" Wind turned to his brothers, planning on showing off his discovery. Except he was missing one thing…

His brothers. 

Uh oh. 

Wind spun around trying to get a glimpse of light bouncing off armor or a bright blue scarf, or just any hint of his fellow heroes wereabouts. 

But there was nothing. Where could they have gone- 

They had been RIGHT THERE a moment ago! How could they just vanish!!

Surely they realized he was gone right? 

Wind felt anxiety begin to twist in his stomach. Getting lost in one of their own hyrule's was one thing- Wind could handle that! But this place- 

Everything was so strange here! It was fun to explore and figure it out with his brothers but alone? 

Eghhhhhhh…. 

Wind shook himself, just ask around. Someone had to have seen where the group of differently dressed links had gone off too. 

"Hey!" Wind called out and tried to get someone's attention. 

A woman blinked up at him from the whee she had previously been staring very intently at the ground In front of her. 

Wind bounded up to her, "Have you seen a group of Hyli- er people dressed kinda differently walk through here?" He asked 

"I'm not sure…" the woman frowned a bit and looked about. 

"They all got pointy ears like me!" Wind added as he pointed at his own ears. 

"No im afraid not." She seemed genuinely sorry for not being able to help at least. "You lost them?" 

"Yea- I mean her I was just looking away for a second and bam!" He exclaimed, throwing his arms into the air. "Vanished! I don't even know how they got away so quickly!" 

"You have their phone number? I can call them." The woman offered, pulling out one of those things that reminded Wind of Wild's slate. 

"Uh… no I do not." Wind finally replied. He wasn't sure exactly what a phone number was but he was fairly certain he didn't know any. 

"You sure you don't have a way to call them?" She asked . A worried look spreading across her face. 

"I… no?" Wind didn't have anything like- oh wait! Oh how could he have forgotten!

"Hold on I might-" he exclaimed and started rooting through his bag. Triumphantly pulling out his pirate charm. 

"Da nanana!" Wind shouted

The woman just looked confused now."Is that a rock on a string?" 

"Yeah but it's special." The sailor huffed and shook the thing as if to emphasize his point.

Now hopefully Wild would notice him trying to talk through it. Concentrating on the stone Wind shouted through it.

"WILD!!! YOU BUNCH OF BOKO BRAINS LEFT ME BEHIND!" 

Hopefully that got the message through. 

A moment later Wild's staticky voice eminated from the stone as well as a small veiw of his face. 

"Wind?? Where- we've been trying to find you for the past five minutes where'd you go!" 

"I was literally looking at something for a second and you guys disappeared!" Wind scowled. 

The veiw through the charm suddenly changed as someone else's face swiftly popped into veiw.that someone being the very stressed but relieved face of The Captain.

"We're standing next to a big statue of a knight can you see it?" He asked.

"Ummm… " Wind looked around. And saw no such thing. "No I do not." 

The Captian cursed and let out a heavy sigh. "Why can't we go an hour without something going wrong- alright just sit tight we'll figure something out." 

"Are you talking about the statue with a fountain around it and with the knight holding a snake?" The woman piped up from behind Wind, reminding him of her existence. 

War's looked behind him at what wind presumed was the statue. "Yes that seems right- Hyrule get out of- hold on a moment- "

the slate got jostled around again and Wild's face came back into veiw. " So wind and Random lady, you know where this is?" he asked.

"My name's Tiffiney and yes. I walk past it every day when I go to work." She answered. 

"You think you could show Wind the way here? I'm not sure if we can pay you per say…"wild muttered something under his breath Wind couldn't make out. Something about stupid economics maybe? "but we could give you some cool rocks?" Wild offered. "Or food, I'm good at food." 

"Uh.. no need I was headed that way anyways." Tiffany replied. 

"Great!" Wind grinned. "Lead the way Tiffany! Knower of the random statue! See you I know a minute Wild." He cut the connection and put the charm back in his bag. 

Tiffany gave a small laugh and gestured I the direction she was previously walking. Wind joined happily 

"So Wind? Interesting name." 

"It's a nickname." Wind shrugged "Short for… Windwaker but my real name's Link. I'm going by Wind right now though." 

Tiffiney considered the this. "Link… like as a part of a chain?"

Wind barked out a laugh. "Hah- you could say that." 

"Okay…" She blinked. "So where'd you get the ears? They look so realistic! I'm trying to find something similar for a costume I'm making but nothing looks right." 

"There not fake." Wind stated. Making a point of Wriggling his ears. 

Tiffany stared. Eyes wide with suprise. "Oh I'm so sorry- I didn't know people could-"

"It's fine," Wind squinted at her. People here sure had weird reactions to his not fake ears. "Kind of funny actually."

"so is it genetic? Where you born with them?" Tiffeny asked.

"Yep." Wind replied. "My sister has them too. Along with all my uh, brothers" 

"So a family thing, that's pretty cool honestly. Makes you look like an elf or something." 

Wind wasn't sure what an elf was… was that something he should know about? 

"Wind!" 

The sailor gasped as he spotted eight familiar figures. Sure enough hanging around a fountain with a statue of an armored figure.

"Ha! See I knew we weren't going to get rid of the pirate that easy. There was no reason to be so worried." Wind heard Legend snark as he elbowed The Captian.

"Yeah yeah I missed you too." Wind rolled his eyes and jogged over to his brothers. 

"Try and not get lost next time, please." The Captian sighed, looking strangely wet. Wind wondered what he'd missed.

"Oh wow that armor is impressive…"

Wind heard Tiffiney's voice and turned to see her staring wide eyed at Time's full plate armor. 

"Thank you. It needs to be."

"Needs to be for what exactly?" She asked, a bit confused. "… hello? What do you mean it needs to be?" 

"Good armor is worth its price. Thank you for showing our little sailor the way." Time remarked, smiling and patting Tiffiney's shoulder. 

"Oh by the way-" Wind bounded back up and pulled out a joy pendant from his stash. 

"I know you didn't need a reward but here. As a thanks!" He dropped the necklace in his new friend's hand. "Feel free to ask any of us for help if you see us again!"

"Wow… this is really nice- is it hand made?"

Wind shrugged, "I mean how else would it be made…" 

Now it was Tiffiney's turn to shrug as she secured the pendant around her neck. "Thanks… I'll remember that. You guys seem alright."

Wind smiled. As strange as this place was, at least people where still… well.. people. He hoped this wasn't the last person he'd find reason to gift a joy pendant too.

The sun shone through the canopy thick and lazy. Wind watched as it illuminated the slow swarms of bugs hovering over the green water of the swamp.

Lillypads and swampweeds brushed against his scales as he slowly paddled along. Fish bumped against his tail making him twitch.

To any human that saw Wind like this they would think he was a log. He giggled in amusement, kind of like an actual alligator. Even if he really didn't look like a log at all.

Regular people just couldn't see certain things very well. Wind blamed whatever weird thing that turned him into a swamp monster in the first place.

He yawned, yellowish sharp teeth glinting in the sunlight. He could claim the sleepiness on being a cryptid but that would probably be a lie. The sun was just nice.

The sun warmed water seemed to hold him. Surround him. The large presence of something bigger curled around him protectively.

A change in the currents broke some of his drowsy bliss.

Wind blinked and flipped around. What… he squinted across the murky calm water. Only it wasn't all smooth, there where ripples headed in his direction.

Diving under the murky surface wind searched for its source. Something big was moving through the water, he could tell.

That big something suddenly appeared in the murky darkness and barreled directly into Wind's stomach."

He sputtered and ended up swallowing what felt like a gallon of swamp water. Good thing he couldn't drown, he thought exasperated as he breached the surface, hissing.

"What was that for!" He exclaimed and smacked his assailant with his tail. Hard.

A rather apologetic looking Wild popped up a moment later, rubbing a spot on his head. "Sorry, I wasn't focused on where I was going."

Wild's voice had a weird cadence to it. Kind of gargled and bubbly. Probably because he currently had taken on several attributes of an aquatic creature.

Gills where pulsing on his neck and his vibrant blue eyes where looking kinda fishy. His hands where weirdly shaped and webbed, tipped with talons. Wind couldn't currently see any ears. Seemed mostly fish characteristics this time.

"What are you doing down here." Wind asked, relaxing and flipping once more onto his back to float along the surface. "As you can see you just interrupted my nap."

Wild made an amused noise. "I still don't get how you can be so sleepy yet, like the most energetic out of us sometimes."

Wind let out another displeased hiss.

"Sheesh gater." Wild laughed. "There's a swamp cryptid tour thing going on. A whole boat full of people, I wanted to mess with them a little bit."

"Like what?" Wind asked, unconsciously starting to slowly circle Wild. He didn't want Wild to do anything that would make people too eager to start stomping around the swamp. It was kind of entertaining but also, just … so sooo annoying. And dangerous.

Especially if the local teens start getting too excited. Too many kids dare each other to wander in here. It was stupid.

The swamp was HIS place after all. And he didn't want someone stumbling around into his hangout den area whatever.

Or getting lost.

Especially that.

A mischievous grin split Wild's face . "You know just rock the boat a little bit. Make their blood pressure rise. Nothing much I assure you" he defended, lifting his arms in surrender.

"You better. I don't want overeager cryptid hunters making an effort to stick their noses where they don't belong." Wind scowled.

"They'd regret sticking their noses anywhere near you." Wild snorted, "specifically because they would soon be missing a nose."

Wind laughed at the mental image. Oh they're looks would be priceless… well now his mischievous itch woke up."Mind of I come along?" He asked.

"Whaaat- you don't trust me?" Wild exclaimed.

Wind splashed his companion. "No. But also I'm kinda bored anyway. And you woke me up so you gotta deal with me. It's swamp rules"

Wild stuck his tongue out who returned it in kind. "why do you get to make up the swamp rules?" He teased.

"I'm the only resident swamp cryptid so I get to make the rules." Wind countered.

"Maybe I like the water." Wild mused. "the swamp might just become my main stomping grounds."

Wind snorted. "As if! I doubt the forest wants to give you up. And the swamp says I'm an only child-"

"No fair I have to share with everyone else!" Wild laughed splashing Wind in the face.

Wind blew a raspberry at the forest spirit. "I don't make the Cryptids here wild-child. I just exist."

"Nepotism." Wild scowled, head only half out of the water.

"Expanding your vocabulary?"Wind asked with a sharp grin on his face.

Wind got dunked under the water by an irritated fish-man.

It was worth it.

He wondered if this was what it was like being the annoying little brother.

The sound of an approaching moater got both of their attention. A fairly large airboat from the sound of it. Wind could also catch glimpses of it through the trees.

"Come on!" Wild called as he turned to the boat. "Let's give 'em something to tell stories about!"

Wind rolled his eyes but grinned in return. Diving under and quickly winding through the shallow water. Passing by an actual alligator on the way over.

Most animals didn't really bother Cryptids. At least not the wild ones. The more prey oriented or domesticated animals usually ran off.

Wind patted the giant reptile's underbelly as it floated overhead. It never got old being able to do that.

Wild called out, already swimming steadily beneath the boat

Soon the shadow of the boat hovered above his head as it wove it way through the waterlogged trees.

Wind could see Wild beside him, smile sharp as he counted down on his webbed fingers.

3… 2… 1- the two Cryptids both smacked into the bottom of the boat. The airboat rocked alarmingly for a few moments. Causing quite chorus of alarmed shouts from the group of tourists and locals alike topside.

If he had been above water Wind would have been cackling right now. Somehow Wild managed to make the sound underwater regardless. Probably part dolphin or some other weird crap he concluded.

The two popped up out of the water just out of sight. Hearing the voices coming up with several different solutions to the disturbance.

"look like them fishy rascals might have taken an interest in us eh?" The tour guide spoke over some sort of speaker system. There was a few chuckles from the passengers as they picked up on the obvious joke.

Wind snickered.

"Come on let's go again." Wild urged and dove back under. Wind once more followed suite.

Wild made the move to count down again just as the comotion above water started to die down.

THUD!

The alarmed shouts started again. This time a few more panicked than before.

"Alright folks we might have found a submerged log field please hold tight as we turn around and find a different route." The voice over the speaker sounded. A few murmers of disappointment echoed from the passengers.

Wild and Wind here once more just out of sight in the reeds.

"Wanna give 'em a little more than some bumps?" Wild asked, mischievous.

"You just want to try and make someone sell a swamp child t-shirt." Wind studied Wild suspiciously.

"Hey a cryptid's gotta have his hobbies." Wild shrugged. Mine happens to be collecting my weird brother's merch."

"Is it technically merch though…?" Wind asked.

"Just go." Wild chuckled and splashed him. "Make it t- shirt worthy. I'll be watching the show."

Wind swept his way back to the boat. Mentally flipping through the possibilities of what he might do to mess with the people topside. He'd already rocked the boat so to speak.

Hissing right next to them would definitely get some blood pumping. He was quite good at imitating gater sounds. Even if they still sounded a little off.

According to legend it was quote "a little too squeaky to be scary." Which, rude. And also hypocritical coming from the wererabbit. 

He rose further to the surface. Preparing.

This was going to be hilari-

" These waters have claimed lives they have." The tour guide said, sounding like he was telling a secret to all aboard the boat. "Have you ever heard of the disappearance of Link Windwaker?"

… Where they talking about him? 

"A cheerful lad, lived right in the edge of this swamp. But he was dangerous curious and wasn't careful. They say one day he wandered out into the middle of the swamp. Got lost he did, didn't return for supper. "

Why was this being told like some silly ghost story? Besides it wasn't even accurate! what about Aryll? Tetra? Or the KIDNAPPING? That was kind of important-

"The police searched for days. Only ever retrieving an old pocketknife with his initials. They never found him. And let me tell ya'll… I doubt they ever will." 

Wind snapped away from the boat and sped off in the opposite direction. He didn't care to listen to the rest of whatever was being said. The words "never found" echoing through his mind. 

He wanted to go home.

He wanted to see his grandma. 

"Wind?" Wild asked. Drifting behind the young swamp monster.

"I'm goin home." Wind murmured. Slipping away into the reeds.  ———————————————————————

Tetra watched as rain pattered against the glass of the car as it drove down the old run down road. It had been sunny just a short hour ago. She didn't want to do this. Why had she even gotten in the car? 

The humm from the driver beside her made her remember. Yeah right, Aryll had been practically begging she came with her. She couldn't say no to her little sister.

Aryll had wanted to visit her grandmother over spring break. She showed up at Tetra's old apartment in town and practically dragged her into the car. No was not an answer.

That was understandable. It had been a year since Aryll last seen Grandma. Tetra understood that… but..

Even if she still lived in the same tourist trap of a small town. She could never get herself to visit the old lady who'd become like a grandmother to her in her younger years. 

It wasn't like She disliked Gran, the memories where just… Hard.

Her therapist said she was making progress but it didn't really feel like it to her. Tetra avoided the swamp and anything related to it like the plague. 

Like the stupid swamp child legend. Every time she saw a tacky t-shirt or magnet based of the thing it made her gut turn. It didn't make sense to her how people where able to talk about it with so much exitement. 

It probably made a difference Tetra actually knew the tragedy it spawned from all to personally. 

Besides.

Link had been a sweet kid. His spirit or whatever never would have turned into a vengeful swamp thing. 

Tetra didn't know what happened after you died. It didn't feel right you'd just stop existing but the again, what came next? 

She sure didn't know. Just hoped if there was a pleasant afterlife that Link was reaping all its benefits. 

"I heard Grandma's doing better." Aryll spoke from behind the wheel. Sounded like she wanted to try and start a conversation. "She even sounded happy last time I talked to her!"

"That's good." Tetra replied. Inwardly wincing at the lackluster reply. 

"I really hope she hasn't been too lonely with me being gone so much." Aryll continued regardless.

Now Tetra was feeling kind of guilty. She really should at least check in with Gran every few days. She was getting old.

Aryll had spoken her worry about this several times with Tetra in their calls. But every time Aryll offered to her grandma to postpone her work and stay with her the old woman staunchly refused. Always saying she had people who already helped her and she was fine. 

"She's a tougher old lady than you give her credit for." Tetra finally responded. "Besides you know how tight knit the community down here is."

"Yea I know I just can't help but worry you know?" Aryll's eyebrow where scrunched a bit in worry. 

Tetra had to agree with that a little. 

The car slowly tumbled to a stop in front of a small rickety wooden house on stilts. The swamp crept right up to the the backside of the house. It had a slightly green tint like most everything else here. A few bits of clothing where hanging out on the front porch. Though everything was definitely old and worn it was distinctly cared for. 

And just how Tetra would always remembered it. The familiar sight made her heart beat faster for a moment but she pushed the bit of panic back down. She could visit an old lady for pete's sake! 

Tetra pushed open the door and stepped out onto the soggy driveway. The rain was still pattering down on top of her and she pulled up her jacket's hood. 

a slightly crooked screen door suddenly opens and out steps an old woman who looks just as old as the house itself. She's got a beaming smile on her face and her arms spread out wide in greeting.

"GRANDMA!" Aryll exclaimed and wrapped her arms around her Grandmother 

"Aryll! Oh I'm so glad you got here safely. And you brought Tetra with you, how are you doing dearie?" Gran spoke in her warm voice. It brought up a fuzzy feeling of nostalgia mixed with sadness for Tetra. 

"I'm doing fine." She answered. From the look on Grandma's face Tetra was pretty sure she noticed the half truth. 

"Hmph. Fine maybe but you my dear need some good hot food." Gran stated matter of factly. "Come on you two, I already got the table set and a hearty soup on the stove." 

The old woman quickly shuffled them up the stairs onto the porch and into the house. Muttering something about having to deal with wet laundry later. 

The smell hit Tetra like a truck. Well a very very nice and overwhelming comforting truck. Nostalgia was leaving a funny feeling in her chest.

"Is that what I think it is?" Aryll asked excitedly as she hung up her jacket. "Grandma you didn't have too!" 

"Oh nonsense." Nana huffed. "I don't see you often so I have to make your favorites while your here. Besides is more than just your favorite I'll tell you that." 

The old woman bustled about the kitchen as her two guests got their shoes and jackets put away. Taking a large pot from the stove in a frankly impressive show of strength to put on the small table. Shooing Aryll away when she offered to take it over for her. 

When Grandma made soup, she definitely didn't go small. 

The sight was kind of amusing. Comically large pot on a table set for… Tetra quickly recounted the places set.

Four? But there was only…

"Is someone else coming over?" Tetra asked. 

"Oh I keep an extra place set, you know just in case." Grandma replied. Looking out the window. Like she was searching for someone. 

A bit of a hard lump formed in Tetra's throat. It was fine- everyone dealt with stuff in their own way. Stop getting so upset about it! She berated herself. 

It seemed Aryll had come to a similar conclusion. A sad frown tugging at the corner of her lips. 

"Alright, sit down sit down." Nana insisted as all three of them took their seats. 

The Food just as Tetra remembered it, was divine. Like getting a hug from the inside out. Warm and almost too hot but not quite that. A rich broth filled to the brim with vegetables and pork all cooked perfectly. 

It reminded her of early mornings she would steal the small moter boat from her mom's boathouse and make her way here. Just in time to watch cartoons with Link and Aryll.

Days spent exploring swampland in Link's little rowboat with Niko along for the ride. Niko would always try and swing on any vines they came across. Usually failing spectacularly and splashing into the water below. It always made Link laugh. Not a mean laugh like Tetra remembers herself using more than she liked. But kind, as he helped a wet Niko back into the boat. 

And there where the Nights she just couldn't be bothered to go home and instead having impromptu sleepovers with her best friend. Both trying to help each other with overdue homework but ultimately getting nothing done. 

The memories made Tera smile. Life really was simpler back then.

A knock on the door brought her back to the present. She blinked in suprise and looked toward the door, a little confused. Why would someone be here now? It was starting to get dark and looking out the window it seems the rain had decided to go into overdrive. 

To both Tetra and Aryll's suprise Grandma stood up with an amused huff and went to answer the door. 

The veiw of the door was blocked but the sound of Grandma opening the door and greeting whoever it was could be easily heard.

"Well don't you look like something the cat dragged in. Get in here and let me find you a towel. Heavens why don't you ever use an umbrella?" 

"Sorry Gran." The voice made Tera freeze. Heartrate rapidly quickening. 

There was a shuffling noise and the creak of the door closing. Gran continued,"Oh hush. Dear me is that algae in your hair? I might just make you take a bath before dinner." 

"But i'm hungryyyyy!" The horribly familiar voice sounded. 

"And I have guests." 

"Really? Who…" The owner of the voice finally stepped into view. Vibrant green Eyes widening. He had messy pale blond locks soaked and sticking to his round freckled face. And most notably, he was like 13. 

It felt like Tetra was starring at an old photograph. 

The boy shifted and looked at Aryll. the break in eye contact finally let Tetra form cognizant thoughts again. 

Stop being weird this wasn't Link- he may look similar but it wasn't some ghost summoned by old memories. In fact Tetra was certain they looked different! … somehow…?

There WAS differences. Eyes- this boy's eyes where a vibrant firefly green while Tera was certain Link's had been grey. He just looked different- 

"Oh dear I just realized you all have never meet!" Grandma exclaimed. "Funny I could've sworn I mentioned it… This is Wind, Wind these are my granddaughters Aryll and Tetra." 

Wind huh. Interesting name. 

"You three feel free to converse while I go find a towel." Grandma huffed "that alright with you?" She quickly asked Wind, he shruggged and Gran seems to take that as a yes. Bustling out if the room. 

Aryll Tetra and the newcomer "Wind" all stared at each other for a few moments. Wind shifted on his feet. 

He waved."Hey, I've seen you round town." 

Tetra's eyebrow raised. Had she seen this boy before? There was a glimmer of recognition… oh! "… Your the kid who likes to listen to linebeck's stories right?" She asked. Hopefully correct. It would be a little awkward if not.

Wind grinned,"He's a fun storyteller." 

Aryll squinted. "Isn't Linebeck that guy you say likes to hang around the bar and tell stories about sea monsters?" 

Tetra snorted."Pfft- yea. Though I doubt any of them have any truth. I think the alcohol consumption gotten to his head." 

"Come on you have to give him some credit!" Wind exclaimed, "If that were true you'd be a bumbling idiot."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Tetra asked incredulously. 

Wind level a throughly unimpressed stare at her. "I'm the one who tells Niko when you pass out in your driveway at one o' clock in the morning." 

Tetra suddenly felt her cheeks grow warm. "I uh- why are you outside my apartment at one o clock in the morning…"

"Why are you?" Wind squinted. 

Tetra relented "…Touché"

The young boy huffed. "Someone has to get your butt inside before it freezes. Idiot. You should really find someone to get you home."

"I'll work on that… " Tetra promised. She didn't know why this strange child was hanging around her house past midnight but she didn't want to make him feel responsible for her screwed up self. 

"You better." Aryll glared. Oh yea… Aryll didn't know about that. Yay… "And I'm not afraid to ask Niko to make sure you keep to that."

"Ohhhhhh!" Wind cackled. Gremlin.

Tetra pointedly focused on the wall and took a sip of her water. 

it was around this time that Grandma returned, wielding a clean towel and vigorously attacked Wind's sodden locks.

Ack- he sputtered. "Do you really gotta do that now?" 

"Oh shush you'll catch a cold standing around soaked like this." The old Lady fretted. "Dear, I don't think this will cut it. What'd you do? Jump in the swamp?" 

Tetra spied Wind trying to hide a smile. Gremlin indeed. 

Grandma muttered more displeasures. "You'll just have to find some dry clothes. You left some of yours last time and I washed them. They should be on my dresser." 

"Thanks Grandma." Wind replied and padded down a short hallway. Towel still wrapped around him. 

Once more it was Just Grandma and her two granddaughters in the room. 

It was Aryll who spoke first. "So… who does he belong to?"

Grandma made a huffing noise as she sat back down. A slightly displeased expression on her face. "You know I have no idea. I think maybe one of the few folks who still live round here in the swamps. No one I've ever met though strangely enough." 

A look of anxiousness crossed Aryll's face. "Shouldn't he be at home right now? It's getting late… you know how dangerous the Swamp is at night. Especially alone." 

Grandma seems a little sad,"I'm not so certain he has any real reason to go home. Reminds me a bit of you Tetra." She added. 

That made Tetra sit up a little bit straighter. Like her? that wasn't really a comparison she liked to hear. 

Then again it would explain why Wind was able to even be out and about town past midnight without causing alarm to any parental figures. 

She still didn't like it. 

"Can I have some food now?" Wind spoke up from right beside Gran. The old lady started in suprise.

Tetra practically jumped out of her skin as well. How was the kid so sneaky-

"Ah yes. Of course dearie." Grandma chuckled to herself. "Your going to give me a heart attack one of these days."

Wind made a face at that. Clearly not fond of the idea. "If that's a possibility I'm going to strap bells to my feet so you'll always know where I am."

This made grandma laugh. "Oh you." She placed a now filled bowl of soup in front of the scrawny teen. He gleefully dug in like someone who was starved. 

The sound of Aryll and Grandma talking faded to background noise.

Tetra's eyes would always wander back to the young visitor that found himself at Gran's table. She was probably being such a weirdo. Stop looking at him! She mentally shouted at herself. He isn't Link just stop it! Stop hanging onto this- You already let it ruin your life so just let go!

A small hand landed on her shoulder and she flinched in surprise. Looking over into firefly green eyes. 

"You okay?" Wind asked. 

"I'm fine." Tetra mumbled. "Just have problems kid."

Wind looked worried but he lifted his hand. Something about it suddenly seemed odd to Tetra. 

Hold on…

Wind must have noticed Tetra's glance. He grinned and spread his fingers wide. "You like em?" He asked. 

"Sure I've never seen webbed hands before. Knew they existed I guess but didn't think I'd see it with my own eyes." Tetra blinked. "Kind of sick." 

"Real good for swimming. You wouldn't believe how fast I am." The kid grinned. Something sharp and mischievous colored the smile. 

"Oh really?" Tetra asked. Suddenly feeling the urge to mess with him a bit. 

"Really really!" Wind exclaimed. 

"Hmmmm…" Tetra thoughtfully hummed. "Im unconvinced." 

"Ohhh is that a challenge." The sharp smile widened. 

"Maybe." She replied.

"Whatever you two are schemeing it will have to wait till tomorrow." Gran spoke up from across the table. "It's rainin cats an dogs out there."

"Well I mean I'd be getting wet anyways.." Wind started. 

"You." Gran cut off, "just got clean." 

"Awe man." The teen sighed.

Tetra snorted, even as she saw a gleam of victory in the gremlin's eyes. Hold on- was all that…

Wind had a Cheshire grin plastered over his face. 

"Sneaky little twerp." She whispered, "you cheered me up."

"Yep. Deal with it."

Tetra smiled despite herself.  ———————————————————————

It was late but still early in the night for Wind. The rain continued to patter down on the old roof of the house, a comforting lullaby of safe, home. A roof over your head and a warm blanket to curl up in. 

Even so it also sounded like an invitation to Wind. Come, play in the water. It gleefully tapped away. Come outside where your wild kindred roam. 

Be a shadow beneath the murky waters. A silent audience to the world you can watch with yellow green eyes. Snap and chase and be a free wild thing. Uncontrolled child of the swamp. 

But Wind ignored the call. He didn't want to be a wild thing right now. He wanted to be Link. The almost fourteen year old boy who lived by the swamp's edge and liked to pretend to be a pirate. Who was Aryll's big brother and Tetra's best friend. Who was a good grandson like Gran always said. 

But Aryll wasn't little anymore, and Tetra could even remember the conversation they'd had the few days before. 

No one remembered. No one ever saw. 

Wind padded across the floorboards. The three normal people asleep. Like normal people should be. 

He peeked into the rooms. They where safe. He found them why couldn't they find him?

They where both so big now. 

The faces from his childhood grown older. 

Wind closed both their doors. 

He turned to the one on the other side of the hall. There was a dent near the bottom where Link had accidentally hit it with a toy car. The thing had lost one of its tires in the collision. 

He opened the door. Grandma was asleep. She didn't really look much different than how he remembered. Same kind wrinkled face. Same clothes. She still smelled like spices from the kitchen. 

"Grandma?" He murmured. Gently touching her arm. 

"What's wrong dearie?" 

"Can I stay with you for a bit?"

"Of course. Come here." She smiled, making a space for him. He crawled into the blankets. They smelled the same. They always did, it never changed. A little pocket of familiarity.

Home. 

He wanted to go home. But they never found him. Tears pricked at his eyes, the slow drops turning into a more constant stream. 

A warm hand rubbed circles into his back. Murmuring kind words. "It is alright Wind."

Wind, never Link. The Creature that still played human. The one who wanted to be Link.

But he can't be Link.

Because Link was never found.

———————————————————————

The maddened screams echoed into the night behind them. Aryll was whimpering as she clung to Link's back, she had no shoes to protect her feet as her big brother and Tetra tried their best too work their way through the inky black darkness.

The ground turned to mud every few feet it seems like. Link stumbled and Aryll thought she was going to fall. Grabbing tighter. Tears burned lined down her face. Hunger pangs and thirst echoing pain through her body.

One of her brother's shoes was left behind in the mud. He didn't even turn back to try and retrieve it.

Why did she remember that part so vividly?

They needed to get out of here. Even now She heard the snaps of branches and loud cursing of their persuer.

He was getting closer.

Tetra cursed, stopping once more and wildly whipping her head around in an attempt to figure out where they were.

"Anything?" Link sounded pleading, already knowing the answer.

Tetra growled in frustration. "No!" She snapped. "The boat could be anywhere-"

Another loud snap kicked them back into running. It didn't matter the direction anymore. It was all the same. Just get away-

keep moving until they get out. As far from this nightmare as possible. Back home where grandma was waiting for them with warm hugs and good food. Where everyone was safe.

Where her family was together.

But the monster was after them. He was fast. He couldn't be stopped.

Aryll's gasps turned to sobs. He was coming. He was going to get them!

She wanted to go home she wanted to go home-

Link slowed to a halt. Aryll wanted to scream at him to keep moving don't stop never stop! 

Tetra stumbled to a halt just in front of him. Hissing at him to keep moving. He ignored it. Instead started prying Aryll off his back who panicked and started trying desperately to hold on. Cries growing louder.

No-

Her big brother wasn't going to leave her- he promised he would protect her forever and ever! Don't leave now-

"What are you doing?" Tetra demanded. Her own fear and confusion plain on her face.

"Hold her." Link gasped. "Keep moving. I'll catch up."

"What- NO- No you are not!" Tetra screamed at him.

"Someone has to distract him-"

"We just need to-"

"Please.

"I'll be faster on my own. lead him off then shake im. "

Link paused for one precious moment. Looking back at his sister and best friend. Warm grey eyes that looked at them with steely resolve. Their own fearful eyes staring back.

He mustered a small smile as he turned. "we'll find each other again. Don't worry." Then raced back towards the evil thing that still chased them. 

Aryll woke up, tears running down her face. Cold sweat sticking to her skin. It was a dream. Just a nightmare.

… a real nightmare. But it was passed now. She repeated to herself, passed long long ago. She was safe. 

It was over.

That monster was long dead. But not content to stop his haunting it seemed. Sometimes she wished she could forget it.

it was probably just caused by the long drive here. Aryll wasn't exactly bad with travel but she'd been in the car for hours. 

Picking up her Phone Aryll looked at the time. 

Four o clock in the morning. That would make it… around seven back at the house? 

Maybe she should text the house sitter how Pebbles was doing. That bird was a handful and leaving him in someone else's care was probably worrying her. 

She needed a drink of water. 

Sighing Aryll padded out her old bedroom and towards the kitchen. Careful not to make too much noise as she passed the guest room where Tetra was staying and her grandma's door. 

Grabbing a mug out of the cupboard and filling it with some filtered tap water from the fridge. 

Man water tasted weird here. 

How did she drink this stuff as a kid? 

Finishing the cup and setting it on the counter she stretched. Not exactly feeling like going back to bed… she was usually awake around this time anyways.

No it had nothing to do with the contents of her dream whatsoever! 

… Maybe she could watch some TV quietly in the living room? Or scroll on her phone until Grandma woke up. 

She could start on breakfast in a few hours. But it was still too early for that now. 

Musing over her options Aryll wander he way towards the living room. Suddenly stopping when she saw someone was already perched on the edge of the couch.

Twin dots of glowing green made her heart leap. She bit backs curse (sorry Gran) as she quickly flicked on the light.

The person on the couch yelped at the sudden brightness and fell backwards onto the cushions.

Aryll recognized the voice.

"Wind? What are you doing up." She asked. Still calming her racing pulse. Had he been there when she walked out here? No- she would have definitely seen him!

"I dunno, existing. Until you blinded me." The teen grumbled. Mumbling something else under his breath Aryll couldn't make out.

He looked over at her with a sniff, eyes narrowing. "You have a nightmare?"

how the heck- 

"No." She lied. 

"Liar." Wind frowned. "You wanna talk about it?" 

How did he know that? How was he so sure? "No, not really. Just old memories." She sighed. This kid was weird. 

"Do you normally sit weirdly and creepily on the couch before the butt crack of dawn being weirdly observant?" She questioned, because, what was that?

"Maaaybe… I was actually planning on leaving."

"Why?" Aryll, blinked. Suddenly quite alarmed. This kid was not wandering out side at NIGHT by HIMSELF. 

Wait actually he did do that.

Who where this kid's parents cause Aryll would like some very very strong words with them.

"I felt like it." Wind shrugged. Sitting up and opening a space for Aryll to sit down. "Would of been back before Gran woke up. And preferably you and Tetra too." He pointedly looked at her as if to say 'go back to bed.'

"You really shouldn't do that." Aryll frowned. Ignoring the look.

"Maybe not. I'm always fine though." He huffed. "I like catching fish while the sun rises. It's nice, relaxing. And they taste better if you catch 'em early." 

"You should still not do it alone." Aryll pointed out. 

"Cause I'm a kid?" Wind asked. 

Aryll stared at him. "Yeah! of course! You don't know what could be out there- there could be some weirdo wandering around and waiting to snatch you-" She stoped herself short. 

She was panicking. She needed to calm down.Wind didn't need her fears.

A weight settled into her side. Wind had leaned into her side and wrapped his scrawny freckled arms around her. 

Oh this kid… 

"I'm sorry if I make you remember bad things." Wind shifted on the old couch. Looking awkwardly at the floor. 

Ah. 

"It's not your fault." Aryll sighed. It wasn't, Wind had nothing to apologize for. Even so she could feel his eyes look up at her. Too bright. Too KNOWING.

"Grandma's not trying to forget your big brother. Or replace him… I just want to make sure you knew that." He blinked. Studying Aryll. 

The statement surprised her. She hadn't really expected Wind to really know- but of course he did. Everyone did. Nothing was a secret in this place. 

But still… who had given him that idea? Did someone say that once? Did Wind overhear? 

"No, Gran's not the kind to try and forget someone." Aryll agreed. 

Wind shifted in his seat on the couch and looked out the window. "Sometimes its not someone's choice. To forget someone I mean… It just happens."

"I guess that's true." Ayrll frowned. "How long have you lived here? I feel like I've talked to you before." 

"Been here my whole life." Wind sighed. Looking like he wanted to say more but didn't.

That wasn't right Aryll was certain she would have remembered Wind's face. "Really?"

"I'm easy to forget." Wind almost whispered. There was a sadness that colored his words in a way that made Aryll certain he knew this from experience.

"I find that hard to believe." She tried to sound encouraging.