Legend of Zelda: Book of Mobius

~The Ruins of Dolstrol~

“We need to patrol the area.” A husky voice began, the scrawny teen’s kneeling body formless beneath the heavy canvas mantle. The right shoulder was visible along the opening, tubes and wires stuck in the tan flesh.

“Yesss…” A high, feminine voice hissed. Long fingers preened the black feathers between the short auburn locks in restless manner. Scarlet eyes watched the thin figure standing on the balcony. The girl had a thin cotton shift over thin shoulders, the hem barely brushing mid-thigh. It wasn’t vanity; Kessler just couldn’t abide much in the way of clothing since the Shift. “Be careful…they are gathering.”

Gold eyes flashed from behind the pair, still on his feet and leaning against the wall. Moonlight barely touched the dull buckles and clasps that held the leather on his still developing body. “Ya kin see ‘em marching across tha plains. We should welcome them.”

“We may not be able to return.” The fourth figure in the sparsely decorated room spoke up from beside the fireplace. The firelight played across the silvery fur, the canine shaped face watching the tall, fidgeting girl with absolute trust. “Their numbers are gathering fast.”

“Will you do this…for me?” The girl turned from the view of the ruined city, the single colorless eye focusing on the warm brown ones of Striker, the last speaker. Hask stood in a slow, graceful movement and focused on the same person.

Hask was a little sad to see the devotion that shone in the crouching Striker’s eyes. Reaper turned watched Hask with the same level of loyalty in the wild eyes. There was no question where his trusts lie and it made the white-haired teen nervous.

“I’ll get Razer and we’ll head out.” Hask rasped, feeling tired and dismayed at the uncertain future. There was so much to worry about, to eat away at a person’s confidence. The steam gunner often wondered at how wise they were to allow Kessler to lead them. She basked in the obedience of others, seeking to rise herself in their eyes instead of looking out f or the best interests.

Kessler was unfit to lead them. She had the breeding, her parents being fine village elders. Sadly, she had not inherited the brains.

It was Hask’s fault for allowing her to rise to such power to begin with.

Hask didn’t want that kind of responsibility, but had it nonetheless. The steam gunner always quietly changed orders and led the younger girl in her actions. The other children followed the Shifted girl because Hask did.

We die because of her foolishness and my cowardice. Please, God. I need help. We all need help. If I openly defy her, we’ll divide and perish. Send us salvation.
-----------=

It was strange to have something so large and heavy resting on his skull. He didn’t like the feel, just as confining as headgear in the teen’s opinion. His hair wouldn’t fair well from it either. Link stared at the castle through the whirling, clicking lens. The tool vaguely reminded the teen of the one resting over Houlihan’s right eye.

Except this one is for both eyes and it’s not fused to my head. The thief thought, adjusting his view by twisting the lens. The scene had altered drastically since his hitched ride on the train to the Yards. Beebe shifted a little, the teen making a shushing noise thoughtlessly.

“What do ya shee?” Reno asked, crouched on the teen’s shoulder.

“There’re five watch towers, one at each corner of the battlements. The river’s dried up…the drawbridge is broken in half. The guardhouses are on either side of the drawbridge and a metal gate—“

“Portcullis.” Viscen supplied from his side. Link spared the man a glance, still surprised at the man’s behavior. Ever since they’d been on the road together, the watchman had reverted to his usual easy-going manner. It was strange,

Just as touchy as ever, though. “Hands off my thigh, Viscen. Thanks all tha same, but I’d rather ya kept yer hands to yerself.” The thief growled without turning his attention from the land. He ignored the fox’s snicker and the guardsman’s disappointed sigh. “The town looks empty. There’s another set of portcullises on the inner battlements leading to the castle.” Link paused, letting the lens roam over the structure. “Tha castle itself has five towers…tha stone’s strange…can’t really tell tha color. It keeps changen’.”

“That’s tha effect of tha barrier.” Viscen replied, sounding a little bewildered and hinting that he was just parroting what Houlihan or Monk had told him. “Do ya see where tha crests go, then?”

“Yeah. Tha fountain in tha town area.”

“That’s called a ‘bailey,’ Mikau.” The older man replied, sounding pleased. “Tha barrier is only around the castle. The town is open. When we get tha crests, we’ll play in tha ruins more. Let’s set up camp away from here.”

Link raised the head set from his eyes, arching a gold brow at the man. They were two miles away already. How much further did they have to go? It was really hard for the blonde to perceive the castle as a threat. There wasn’t any movement from it, no other sign of life. The barrier was the creepiest thing, but Link assumed that it kept everything in as well as out.

The kit’s four tails beat against his shield lazily and the lanky teen gave a one-shoulder shrug of defeat, turning Beebe to follow the taller man. He threw a glance over his shoulder, the castle even less of a threat without the aid of the lens. The land Ganon’s Castle was settled on had long been proclaimed cursed ground. Nothing had ever grown there, no animals crossed it and humans in general had avoided it. Link never questioned the phenomenon before; never felt any inclination to test the rumors. He hadn’t even cared enough to look in its general direction on the train.

“I’d like ta know how a two-foot ladder would help me there.” Link grumbled, remembering the parting scene with Houlihan.

a—“It will be useful, apprentice!” Chris insisted, pressing the three-rung ladder into the teen’s hands. The pair were getting ready to depart, Chris and Errol coming to see them off. Link had a sneaking suspicion the Mayor only came to see his reaction to the new item.

“How?” The teen demanded, arms crossed over his chest as he stared down the taller man.

“My boy, ladders are endlessly valuable! This one’s size makes it convenient to carry and light!” The madman insisted, lens focused on the blonde. Link could feel his twitch returning in full force as he stared. The honest earnest that the older man presented the near useless tool (in Link’s eyes), made the situation hilarious.

“I can step that high!” The thief spat, backing away as Chris pressed it to his chest. “Wind and rain! It’ll probably break under me!”—

“Ya never know.” Viscen called back, hearing the grumble. He turned back, black eyes shining with mirth. “Yer still pretty short.”

Link gave a scowl while Reno snickered on his shoulder. “What, pray tell, would you use it fer?”

“Lay it across a trench…across a river…dunno. I wouldn’ cast it aside as you had.” The watchman pointed out. The blue eyes rolled to heavens, as if to ask for patience.

“I’d need a raft to get across a river, not a ladder. What’s tha point of having a trench two feet wide? I can jump that!” The teen scoffed, rubbing a hand over the wedge head to still the panting laughter. “Next ya’d say ya kin use a bug net to yer gain, too.”

“Hmmm…A bug net?” The auburn-haired man was silent for a moment. He threw an amused grin over his shoulder. “I’d catch bees, trap them in a jar, an’ then set them agains’ Unknowns.”

The twitch erupted and Link gave the man a disbelieving stare. Reno chirped, body shuddering at his friend’s reaction. “That’s the most crack-brained idea I’ve ever heard. I tell ya what, though: if Houlihan gives me one, I’ll just pass it on.”

The guardsman laughed, waving his hand in agreement. The thief finally realized he was being teased and grumbled, deciding it was best to keep quiet.

Viscen led them a few more miles from Ganon’s Castle. Amber light from the failing sun streaking across the sky, lengthening their shadows across the abandoned field they rode through. The ransacked villages of the Nocturne Plains of farmers dotted the grounds about them. Viscen had told Link that they were all empty, that he’d checked for survivors not long after the Shift.

I wonder what happened to the farmers that lived here? They can’t have all Shifted. There were at least a million, if not more, people settled across the plains. It isn’t possible for them all to have turned into Unknowns. Link scratched under the kit’s jaw lightly in thought, his azure eyes flicking over the darkening landscape. The stillness distressed the teen, putting him on edge. Does Viscen feel the same? He’s probably used to it, from Narein.

Despite his thoughts, it wasn’t exactly true. There was life in the mountain village. Link hadn’t noticed it before, but he’d felt it last time. It thrummed in every grain of sand. It was a quiet with the potential to become restful and lazy over time. The atmosphere here was strained, an emptiness cradled in the wispy breezes that brushed against him. It was their second day out and the quiet of the air was already eating at his nerves.

There had been some Unknowns loitering around Kakariko’s parameter. Their numbers weren’t overwhelming, pretty usual according to the watchman. The population had dwindled as they’d traveled further from the city and Link considered the possibility of a trap. Eyes, suspicious and wary, watched them from trees and ground. Animals or Unknown, the teen didn’t know since they never attacked.

It was unnatural and it had the teen’s hackles up. It bothered him that the watchman didn’t seem to share the same fear. They took turns standing watch through the night, but he seemed too relaxed.

Viscen picked a little cottage that hadn’t been burned out, deeming it suitable for their needs and dismounting. They pulled off the saddlebags, dragging them onto the dirty floor. Link cared for the horses while the watchman built a fire in the fireplace, dragging out the thick mattresses from the rooms to lie before the warmth.

They chewed on the hard, thick pieces of cheese and journey bread in silence. Sounds from the night crept into the small hut, as if rejoicing in the return of life.

Crickets chirping softly, the deep, steady breathes from the steeds. The air was perfumed with scents of crops gone wild. Creatures of the night snuffed about the edges of their camp, their curiosity palpable. The feeling of dusk a fading whisper against his senses.

The sapphire eyes flicked open, the teen hadn’t even been aware they’d closed. Viscen was cleaning his sword, humming quietly. Link flicked the buckles loose that held his own weapon his back. Not borrowed, but his very own sword. Houlihan had given it to him before he’d left.

—Houlihan was uncharacteristically quiet after handing over of the sheathed sword. There was a strange sense of possessiveness that welled inside when he’d first touched the unusual sword. He’d seen the Triforce on his hand glow in answer, as if trying to communicate to the teen. There was knowledge that this blade had a specific mission and it was he who would fulfill it, but he didn’t know where the information had spawned.

In spite of the sudden flare of purpose, the sword had felt intriguingly quiet in his grasp, as if it were sleeping. He’d never had any fanciful notions of giving weapons or possessions genders and feelings like most men. The few possessions and tools he’d had as a child had remained just that. There’d been no room for such foolishness in his way of life. To have the sudden urge was strange, but undeniable.

Link pulled the blade free, impressed by the mere whisper of sound it emitted. It was an odd weapon, to say the least. It looked like an average sword, but it seemed far too long and light for a one-handed sword at forty inches. It was a doubled edged blade, the dark gray cross-section hexagonal with no fuller and a curious six-inch section between an engraving of the Triforce and cross guard narrowed and edgeless. A black jewel was fixed where the blade met the cross guard.

“Strange…” Viscen remarked, looking over the teen’s shoulder. Link slammed it back home, not wanting to share the treasure with the guardsman. If they thought they were going to take it back once they’d given it to him, they were sadly mistaken. “:Kin I have a gander?”

“No.” The blonde snapped, just as shocked by the biting response as the taller man. Chris gave a small smile at the teen’s back, green eye and lens locked on the boy’s reaction. “It’s mine.”—

If it weren’t for the persisting notion that the sword was his, Link would have avoided it all together. It brought up more questions that were beginning to crowd the teen’s mind.

He’d accepted it, but he was unsure he wanted to know what it truly represented. At least it hadn’t needed sharpening.

“We’ll part paths tomorrow.” Viscen informed the boy, sheathing the blade with a raspy whisper. The teen’s eyes jerked up; surprised he’d completely forgotten where he was. “I’m heading up ta Zora’s Domain.”

“What’s a Zora?” the blonde asked, brows drawn together in confusion at the new word.

“Remember tha fountain at Stalfos T and T?” The watchman asked. Link nodded affirmative and the dark haired man gave a satisfied smile. “Those are Zoras.”

“I just thought someone sucked wit’ a hammer and chisel.” The teen admitted, frowning at the memory at the strangely molded mermaids. It disturbed him a little to realize that they were real creatures.

“They did that.” The watchman conceded, glancing into the fire. “Think ya’ll be ok by yerself?”

“Cut yer apron strings, I’ll be fine. I have Reno, which is more than you.” The blonde grumbled, not like being fretted over. The older man grinned, black eyes reflecting the flames.

“True, that.”
------------=

“What’s tha matter?” Link asked, frowning as the fox shook his head. Viscen and him had parted company at dawn, turning north as Link continued east. Link was armed to the teeth, his pack empty under his shield. There was no telling when their luck would turn, as Reno had pointed out earlier that morning.

The fox had been dozing on his shoulder through the morning and afternoon, preparing to take the first watch when Link set up camp. The sun was preparing to set over the western horizon, throwing their shadows along the hill they were climbing.

“Dunno. There’z Unknownsh…” He shook the wedge head again, as if trying to rid his ears of the sound. It was a jumbled roar in his head, indistinct and harsh. It made him uneasy. “It’sh like hearin’ tha market, but from a wayz away.”

Link crested the hill, wondering over the fox’s words. Beebe reared, her neigh harsh and barely equestrian as it tore from the long throat. Link cursed, grabbing the reins to try to still the prancing beast. Reno shifted nervously on the thin shoulder, hind claws clutching onto the shield’s edge to keep steady. Jumping crossed the fox’s mind, but he didn’t want to be separated from the teen if the horse took off.

“What’s this nag’s problem!” Link snapped, wondering if he should just abandon the troublesome beast. As the thought flitted through the teen’s mind, the horse bolted, thundering down the rise at a gallop.

Link leaned back, bracing his feet in the stirrups to have more leverage on the reins. The mare’s head pulled a little, but she shook her head roughly for relief. The azure eyes widened in shock, realizing that she had the bit in her teeth. The thief cursed again, clutching with his knees and hunching close, resting his cheek against the sweaty neck to avoid the lashing mane. His feet weren’t in the stirrups any longer, but tucked under the cantle, griping his seat in panic.

The rocky, grass littered ground blurred beneath the flashing hooves, allowing any thought of vaulting off to be torn in the frantic horse’s wake. Eyes slit against the screaming wind, the teen focused forward—and immediately wished he hadn’t.

Since the beast had panicked as soon as they’d topped the rise, Link’s attention had been absorbed in trying to control Beebe and not on the landscape. What lay before him was the remains of Dolstrol.

Most of the north side of the city was covered in hardened lava. The fires, melting whatever couldn’t be incinerated, had ravished the south end of Dolstrol. What were left were warped skeletons giving little hint to the original splendor of the once bustling city.

Curiously untouched in middle of the twisted remains of the mass funeral pyre was a mansion much like the Mayor’s. A tall wall and sweeping yard segregated it from the rest of the city, which obviously led to its survival.

Milling about the sanctuary were thousands of thousands of clockwork Unknowns, moblins, bokoblins, butablins and bulbins. They were like mangy dogs, disorganized but just as feral. It was clear they were laying siege on the decimated city, but the thief couldn’t wrap his mind around why.

There was a knot of action near the edge of the magma’s edge, the excited chirps and cries of the moblins reaching him on the streaming wind. In order to identify the source of the Unknown’s excitement would involve diving into the fray and fighting his way towards it. The teen had no intentions on entering it, but the maddening beast wasn’t giving him much choice in the matter.

Malons were known for their endurance and speed. Deep chests and lean, long bodies; their strong, fine legs ate ground up mercilessly, the angled hips and lean muscles giving them good stamina. They did possess obstinate personalities and had a low tolerance for poor riders, which made Link one of the worst candidates to mount up.

Which is why I can’t control the curst nag now! Damnit! The teen pulled his blade free with his left hand, holding it aloft at an angle as he’d been taught. He couldn’t control the animal, couldn’t stop it. He’d no choice but to go along for the ride.

The nag’s blowing breathes rose over the steady cries of the Unknowns, who were too stupid to turn and see the thief bearing down on them. Link spared a passing thought of relief that he’d thought ahead for once in equipping his weapons. He’d be in worse trouble if all his gear were in the saddlebags. If he needed to abandon the sodden creature, there was too good of a chance Beebe would fall to the enemy, everything attached would be lost.

He could feel Reno clutching onto his shoulders through the mail. The teen hoped he didn’t lose the kit when the nag finally leapt over the front line. They soared over the bald, scaly heads, the teen glancing down to stare down at the uncomprehending black eyes of his foes. Link’s teeth clicked together at the jarring landing. Squeals of protests and pain rose as Beebe’s sharp hooves cracked a couple of skulls in the process. The muscles beneath his body coiled together, power trembling through the powerful haunches as the mare leapt forward into a mad canter despite the bodies she brushed aside.

They crashed through the throng with a frantic trumpet from Beebe. The sword swung down automatically, the blade ripping through the first few clueless Unknowns and leaving a wake of ashes. Link dropped the reins, not seeing much point in trying to steer the stupid creature and concentrated on staying in the saddle. His knees rose to squeeze against the pommel, wanting to keep his legs from being caught in the stirrups or injured. It was against everything that Viscen had drilled into the filcher’s head, but so was thundering into a hopeless situation.

The Unknowns finally were aware of the pair and turned their snarling attentions to the horse that ploughed through their ranks. Chaos erupted as the thief ashed their comrades in quick succession. Beebe, no longer in an uncontrolled rush, was now crushing through the wave of Unknowns with a single-mindedness that was unusual.

Link’s sword made steady sweeps, eyes flicking about his surroundings systematically. The horse squealed and snapped at the Unknowns pressing against her sides. Forward movement was no longer an option, pinned in by the moblins and their ilk. She whirled and reared, striking out with sharp hooves.

The blonde winced, hooking his right around the pommel to stay in his seat as he drove the blade into the skull of a bulbin with a raised axe. It was too risky to stay with the horse and he was mostly reluctant to part because she was an effective means of transportation than any love.

The fox surveyed the battle around them with wide violet eyes, trying to make sense of the madness and warn Link of any immediate threats. He needed to find them an opening, anything so they could escape the fray. Survival was priority as far as the fox was concerned.

Beebe squealed in pain, her red blood spraying as a moblin found its mark with the spear. The scent of her blood blossomed in the air, sending the Unknowns into frenzy to demand more. Sweat broke out over Link’s flesh, freezing and burning at the same time as panic threatened to overwhelm him. Something held it at bay, but it was like a flood…inevitable and just as deadly.

“That fight! Get there! There’sh a group of fighterz there!” Reno barked, struggling to keep hold on the jostling body.

“Get over there first! Cripes! You’ve better chance of maken’ it first!” Link growled, waiting for the fox to catapult off his shoulder and threw his body from the struggling mare. As he left, Beebe collapsed under the fray, roaring in pain and fear as they began to feast on her still living body until they crushed her delicate skull.

A bokoblin raised its heavy bone club, cawing in victory at the sight of the flying blonde. Link grabbed onto his sword in a two handed grip, the blade head over his head. The teen’s teeth bared in frustration at the fact that nothing seemed to go as planned. The sword arched down to crack through the bone and crushing the foolish bokoblin’s skull.

The dust exploded around him, masking his form. The moblins and bokoblins that were clustered around stared in shock, unsure of the next move. Link burst from the cloud, sweeping the blade up in a two handed grip, taking out five before they could grasp their situation.

The thief blocked a hasty swing, brushing the machete aside to behead the bulbin and dance through the skirmish. He didn’t think, didn’t bother to try. There wasn’t much to the hack and slash fighting style he’d adapted to. The Unknowns couldn’t coordinate fast or well enough to even touch the lightning fast teen. He whirled and roared, creating a path in the increasingly unpredictable fray.

Worry resided in the back of his mind, concerned with how long his luck would actually last. A breath-stealing blow on his shield jarred the blonde from the battle-lust, reminding him that he needed to get to safe ground.

“THISH WAY!”

Reno’s cry cut through the frantic noises of the Unknown and Link started to battle his way to the fox. He twisted under a wild swing, driving the blade through a bulbin’s chest. The ash settled, leaving a small party visible, though only the boy immediately in front of the teen widened scarlet eyes in startled acknowledgment. There were two others, ivory and ebony colored hair, respectively. A brunette lay on the ground in the middle, obviously injured but Link couldn’t tell how badly.

A bulbous-bodied clockwork Unknown jumped from the crowd, aiming for the distracted boy’s side. Link moved thoughtlessly, gliding over the space between and neatly severing the bladed arm the jointed shoulder. Gears grinded and the thief jammed his weight against the struggling Unknown to knock it back. A hissing snap registered to the long ears a moment before a hot stream of air whooshed passed his face, the object leading the way tearing through the Unknown’s metal skull and left ashes.

Link jerked around, shocked to see a long barreled steam gun pointed in his direction. Wisps of steam floated around the boy’s arm from where it was braced against his shoulder, the round, pale face set in hard lines. Link smirked and turned, pitching back into the advancing battle.

The Unknowns were too easy, falling beneath his new blade to settle back to the earth. He cut through the organics, the steam gunner taking down the clockworks without any hesitation. He left the shield on his back, since he wasn’t sure he could help from being overwhelmed in the melee and needed the extra protection.

“We need ta get inside the walls!” A high, strained voice cut through the frantic thrills and cries of the fleshy Unknowns. Link didn’t know who spoke, dispensing of a pig-faced moblin before answering.

“Any ideas?” The teen threw over his shoulder.

“Over the flow!” A curiously husky voice shouted at his back.

“Kessler said—“ The first began, a canine-like whine touching along the edges of the young voice. A harsh bark cut it off.

“HA! Rot Kessler!” The new voice was high and carefree in a deceptively childish way. “Let yer balls drop, Striker! Kessler’s not tenden’ tha wolves!”

“Razer—!” Striker began. The filcher turned sharply, seeing the ivory-headed boy speaking. He had to be a couple of heads shorter than Link, half-Shifted with a dog. The nose protruded only enough to be noticeable, a slight dusting of black frosted fur over his cheeks. The soft triangles on either side of his head were set a little higher, flat along the creamy hair in distaste. A staff whirled in his hand, knocking back a bokoblin that got too close to the girl on the ground. “We cain’ leave her!”

“Then nab her! Yer leaving yer back open, ya great empty-headed dog!” The wild voice snapped, making Striker stiffen and bare his long teeth in reply. Link winced at a glancing blow across his shielded back, turning back to the fight at hand.

“Grab Razer, head over the flow! Reaper, you and—“ The steam gunner began and the long-eared blonde threw a look over his shoulder to see the blood colored eyes zeroed in on him.

“Shep!” He supplied, jerking his face away from the burst of ash.

“—clear a path! I’ll cover our backs!” The boy finished, beheading a bulbin with the blade fixed under the gun.

“Rex!” Link yelled over the chaos, not liking how the Unknowns were beginning to thin out, despite the healthy number still surrounding them. The fox probably had a better idea on why the sudden decline. He caught a flash of ginger through the churning legs of retreating Unknowns.

“Tha clockworksh, bulbinz, bokoblinz, moblinz are fallen’ back an’ shwampen’ tha wallsh!” Reno’s disembodied voice cried back. “A wave of butablinz iz shweepin’ in! Tha leader’z here, Shhep! He’sh regroupin’ them!”

Link dispatched another bulbin and turned, able to easily surmise Reaper’s identity. The shaggy ebony haired boy with gold eyes had a feral grin that showed long canines. A heavy, tall scythe was in the metal backed hands, metal claws standing out over the knuckles. The five foot curved blade had teeth rotating along its edges, the grinding whine Link had been hearing coming from the base of the blade where steam spewed. Black leather was buckled tight over the slim torso and legs; leaving white arms marked with delicate swirls of black metal embedded in flesh. The feet were bare, the tops protected in the same fashion as the metal coated hands.

The azure eyes blinked when they met the gold, the orbs seeming to swirl with innocent lust. He turned from the confusing contradiction, finding the steam gunner watching him. He cleared his throat. “Whatever we’re doin’, better do it now.” He pointed out needlessly.

Striker had already thrown Razer’s body over his shoulder, the lull in the fighting giving them precious moments to form up. Link took place just behind Reaper, out of reach of the weapon. Their eyes met for a brief moment and the blonde felt another uncomfortable chill race up his spine.

“Lead tha way, Reaper.”

“Best stay outta my way, mudlark!”

Reaper started the charge, his scythe sweeping in wide arcs, clearing them an ash lined path with effortless strokes. The grinding teeth ate through the clockworks and flesh alike with ease, the thin lips never twitching. Though the boy’s fighting style was effective, it left him open with each strike. Viscen had been drilling the teen too long for Link to not pick at the imperfections and disdain for having to pick up the slack.

The Unknowns that had been retreating didn’t hesitate to turn and fight back, trying to take advantage of the vulnerabilities.

“Cripes! Yer more open then a Lower Level whore!” Link growled, swinging the blade up to crush the throat of a quick-footed bulbin.

“This comin’ from a jock—“ he blocked a machete swipe with the long handle, twisted the weapon away and arched the scythe down to rend the bokoblin in half. There was a playful taunt in the high voice, though strain played along the edges as he continued to swing unhindered. “—who wears a green dress!”

“It’sa tunic, ya leather-tussed cracknob!” The teen snapped back, a smile just as crazed stretching his lips. The green blood from the Unknowns decorated the pair’s clothing and skin, the owners bursting to ashes beneath the their strikes. The thief found it impossible to not be caught up in the fever of the fight.

Link had his hands full taking care of those pressing into the cleared paths. He kept the sword in a two handed grip, eyes roaming for the next target before the last had finished ashing. The hissing snap of the gun set up the rhythm, Reaper’s cry of triumph announcing their arrival to the flow.

The thief almost stumbled with the sudden absence of enemies. His azure eyes jerked up, scanning the black, desolate ground warily, his mind unable to accept the lack of targets. The path was clear, the Unknowns had yet to occupy the lava that had hardened into a rippling, sloping casing over the ground. The thief found this curious, but decided to dwell more on why later. The four made good time, angling towards the battlements. Link didn’t hide his surprise when the shorter Striker pulled ahead, despite his burden.

“Avalanche! Drop the ladder!” The steam gunner roared when they were a few hundred yards from the wall. A scruffy head peered over, turning to yell something unintelligible that started pandemonium along the ramparts. The scarlet eyes flicked to Link and Reaper, thin lips pressed tight. “We’ll hold off tha rest so Striker can get Razer up.”

Link felt his face harden at the thought of being stuck in the middle of battle longer than expected. He wanted to be where it was safe; not holding off an attack for children he barely knew. The steam gunner watched him, face unreadable as he took in the teen’s reaction. The long jaw clenched, but he pulled his shield from his back in response.

What’s tha point of goin’ from one fight to another? Cripes! I’d turn tha whole bastion agains’ me. Not that I think much of adults senden’ babes ta do their job. The blonde thought in mild agitation, misgivings touching the back of his mind. Risking his neck for strangers seemed to be a recurring theme as of late. He turned his gaze back towards the advancing horde. They were all moblins, all at least a foot taller and pink with grayish-green flesh and boorish features, tusks protruding from thick lips and small black eyes. His hand tightened on the new sword, seeking comfort in the unyielding metal. At least this fight will be more of what I’m used to…

Reaper and the other boy fanned out, giving Striker enough cover to start climbing the rope ladder that was unfurled. The bitter unfairness of being stuck on the ground and the fear of the approaching battle became steadily muted, though the teen couldn’t pinpoint the exact reason why. There was no pressing need to discover, either. The worries and fears felt almost petty, so he allowed them to fade.

Reno streaked across the uneven ground, a ginger and silver blur. He noticed the white haired boy move to aim his gun towards the approaching fox, but motioned for him to halt. The steam gunner complied, crimson orbs questioning until the kit clamored up the teen’s arm to settle on the shoulder.

“They’re shwamping za wallz!” He gasped into the long ear, trying to regain his breath and update him at the same time. “They’ll top ‘em shoon! It’ll be a bloodbafh!”

“When it rains…” The blue-eyed teen muttered with a wince.

“It pourz!” Reno finished, leaping off Link’s shoulder so he wouldn’t hinder the thief’s movements.

Link’s jaw tightened, setting into the stance that Viscen had drilled into him: shield up and sword back, ready to swing in an upwards slice, vertical cut, horizontal sweep, or a sharp stab. He twirled the blade thoughtlessly, a nervous gesture that he hadn’t known he’d possessed. He was eager for action with the long, well crafted and strangely familiar blade in his hand. The moblins had pole arms, longer reach but it left them open much the same way Reaper’s scythe did. They also lacked any type of armor, their privates barely concealed and ridiculously large skull lavalieres about their necks.

They didn’t have a wall set up so, their defense would be weak and ineffective against the charging Unknowns. They were so overwhelmed in means of physical strength and numbers that the long-eared teen wanted to laugh hysterically.

“Get up that wall, dog-boy!” Link roared, his boots grinding against the flows as he braced his body for the shock. The dieing light bathed them all in a ruddy orange glow, glittering off sharp, tempered metal and setting the humans in stark relief. The steam gunner was already popping off shots, Reaper twirling his scythe as he prepared to charge the line.

Link jammed his shield into the ground before him, grabbing the boomerang from the small of his back. A long distance weapon like a steam gun or a bow would be nice. Sadly, he only had a slingshot and boomerang. His clawshot wouldn’t be much…

Wait! I’m such an idiot! The blonde ground his teeth together, not believing how long it took him to remember the clawshots. He holstered the boomerang, sheathed his sword and hooked the shield on his back, earning curious looks from the two boys.

“HASK! REAPER! GET YER TAILS UP HERE!” A new female screech cut through the approaching thunder of hundreds of feet pounding against the hardened flow. Reaper and Hask turned, heading towards the rope ladder.

“Get up there, Hask!” Reaper yelled, slamming the scythe onto the holder on his back. They were still a hundred yards from the wall, but closing quickly.

The white haired boy hissed, teeth bared as he shook his head sharply. “Ya muscle-head! Ya know I cain’ move up that thing fast one handed!”

That’s when the thief noticed, with a bit of astonishment, that the steam gun was attached just under the boy’s right elbow, tubes running from the bicep and shoulder into the appendage. Thin lips pursed and he angled to the boy, grabbing his extra clawshot as he jammed his left hand into his other.

“Catch!” He ordered, tossing it to Hask. The crimson eyes widened but did out of reflex, staring down at the clawshot in a bewildered way. “Put it on yer hand! Aim and then push all the buttons! It’ll yank ya straight up!”

Link held it up, aiming as he ran, breath coming in harsh gasps. He felt Reno clamor up his shoulder to clutch to him desperately. The claw shot from the device, latching onto the wall and yanking the teen off his feet. He slammed into the wall, scrambling over before he released the trigger and Reno jumped onto the stone walk. He heard a metallic clank of Hask following his instructions. Ignoring the startled children scrambling away, Link pivoted and shuffled down the walkway and grabbed onto Hask’s arm.

“Release the thumb trigger!” The blonde ordered, wincing at the sudden shifting of weight. He could feel the intense heat rising from the steam gun, wafting into his face and stinging his eyes. He pulled the boy over the wall and into the battlements, shocked at the sheer weight of steam gunner.

Hask fell onto the Link as he flopped back, tangled together and breathing hard. There was a rasp and thump, announcing Reaper’s arrival. The lanky teen untangled from the steam gunner, eyes flicking about to make sense of the chaos along the wall. No one within sight had even reached puberty. Yet the children were rushing about, yanking up the rope ladder and carrying the wounded Razer away.

A girl with short auburn hair with gold feathers growing among the floating strands stepped towards him; her only visible eye was near colorless and unnerving to look at. She was a head shorter than him, but seemed unconcerned about her disadvantage. She walked in a strange, jerking grace he would expect from a bird. She flowed through the running children, eye not leaving his.

“You are?” She snapped and he identified her as the screamer from the wall. Her voice was high and breathy, as if it took too much effort to form the words with her mouth. The blonde was prepared to answer, he really was, but the air was suddenly thick with panic and pre-mature screams.

“They’re breeching za wallz! Three groupsh along za curtain!” Reno’s voice cried over the pitch, causing the teen to turn thoughtlessly and charge down the walkway. Children in shoddy armor ran past him, Link drawing his boomerang as he watched the first squashed face of a bulbin peeked over the stone rise. He let it loose, fierce pleasure blooming in his chest as the head snapped back and the body crashed down on the stacked Unknowns. He caught the weapon easily, eyes skimming over the edge to make sure they weren’t regrouping.

The unexpected attack seemed to throw the entire group of Unknowns into turmoil. The group tripped over themselves to retreat as the young ones on the wall began to attack with crossbows and steam guns. Their accuracy was shocking, all of the targets bursting into ashes and creating more disorder below.

The thief charged on, ignoring the burning of his parched throat and heaviness of his limbs. He drew his sword as a bokoblin slipped over the walls despite the children’s best efforts to keep them down. A little girl no more than eight went down with an ear-piercing shriek as the bokoblin split her belly, the reek of her bowels clogging the air.

Bile threatened to choke him, but Link set his teeth against the pity for the stranger. He would mourn her later, but remorse would only allow the Unknown more of a chance to send more along her path. He threw the boomerang again, knocking the pinched, ugly face with gold eyes back roughly. He slid as he caught the boomerang with his free hand, sweeping his blade to cut through the exposed neck.

He holstered the weapon, digging into the bomb bag at his waist and pulling out the fist sized explosive. He jerked off the striker with his teeth, lighting the fuse. He dropped it down, watching it roll down the Unknowns clutching on to another in a stepladder fashion. He started running for the last group, hearing the thunderous boom of the explosive letting loose. The wall trembled under the force and the children screamed in shock.

CRIPES! He wasn’ jokin’ when he said those things were powerful! The teen thought in fear tinged awe. He slid to a stop, unable to ignore the impulse to look behind him. A fine cloud of dust was in the faint light, making him wonder just how many died under the blast.

The loud noise and sudden massacre seemed to be too much for the bulbins, bokoblins, and butabins. They all scattered, chirping and shrilling in fear. A cheer rose from the walls, the children still firing despite their belief of the victory. The blonde wanted to join them, but he found that he could barely hold his body upright by pressing his back against the wall regardless of the equipment poking his back.

His head reeled and floated, seemingly no longer on his shoulders as he let it drop limp on his neck. He braced his arms against his knees, memorizing the patterns on the stone while he tried not to black out. It was undignified for someone who just saved a keep to keel over in front of everyone. It was bad enough he was trembling like a leaf in the wind from the aftermath. The lids shuttered the cobalt eyes, giving him brief respite.

—Blood sprayed across the stone, as red as Hask’s eyes. The child’s scream was shrill as it met his ears, wordless and pain filled. The too small hands grasped at the split belly, trying to gather her innards as she fell to her knees. Her body flopped back as he rushed past, violet eyes streaming tears.—

His eyes sprang open and he gritted his teeth as he rose and trotted down the wall, spitting onto the greasy remains of the Unknowns to rid his mouth of the bad taste dwelling there. He made his way to the girl still lying on the ground, breathing in short gasps. He knelt down, careful to keep out of the puddle of blood and vomit that surrounded her. He pulled out the flask of red potion from his belt, pulling off the cork with his teeth. He tilted the small head up, cupping the back of the thin neck.

“Come on, gilly! Drink!” He hissed, pressing the lip against the slowly paling lips. The violet eyes, flicked to Link, looking, but no really seeing. The throat worked as the liquid pooled. Link avoided looking at the tiny, scarred hands clutching her innards. “That’s-a-gilly…”

The small mouth gaped lazily and the violet eyes were half hooded, soft brown locks clinging to the tears and spittle on the pale skin. The eyes dimmed, the blonde feeling helpless as the life continued to slip from the dying flesh. The potion dribbled from the corners of her mouth, splattering on the dirty stone walk. Two young girls clutched on another nearby, sobbing noisily and hiding their faces, as it if would somehow make the scene less real.

Death was nothing new to Link. People died all the time in the Lower Levels. He’d been to executions. The death of the horse he’d been taking care of for weeks. He’d seen the ghosts of the Lower Levels floating over the lake.

This had been different. He was angry. Frustrated that he couldn’t make it in time to save her. That he’d frozen in that small instant that probably cost the girl her young life. What if he’d thrown the boomerang sooner? What if he’d been quicker to get back to her?

What’s wrong with me? I didn’ even know tha gilly…She wasn’t mine to protect. It wasn’t my fault! He reached out and closed the staring eyes, wondering how many others died. He stared at the empty bottle; jaw tightening in aggravation before tucking it back in his belt.

He heard feet approaching and straightened, eyes hard as sapphires as he looked over the bird woman, Hask, Reaper and Striker. A familiar weight settled on his shoulder, warm fur pressing against his neck in an almost comforting manner.

“Yer blade…sheath it.” The girl demanded, her words still strange to his ears. She wore a loose shift over her small, thin frame. A leather belt accenting her small waist and holding a rapier and steam gun on either side of her hips. Her hands looked strange and it took a moment to realize that the fingers had an extra joint, her nails more like talons. Her right eye was covered with dirty bandages that covered most of her forehead and the back of her head.

The teen looked down at the girl, a little frown forming between his brows at the order. That’s almost funny. She thinks she kin tell me what ta do.

“You are?” He rasped her previous question through his raw throat, lips tugged in a grimace. When had he been screaming? He didn’t remember doing it during the fight.

“Yer in my nest.” She hissed, the feathers in her hair actually bristling, making her look a ridiculous enough that he managed to crack a mocking smile. The only visible eye narrowed in a manner that was clearly supposed to be threatening, but managed the opposite.

“This is Shep.” Hask replied before Link could give her a sarcastic answer. His bloody eyes unreadable as he watched the thief. “Shep, this is Kessler. Our leader.”

Reaper rolled his eyes behind the pair, his reaction showing his opinion of that last remark. Striker didn’t have to say anything; Link could sense the growl that dwelled down the thick throat. Where the scythe wielder held no love for the girl, Striker seemed to be loyal to a fault. Hask had an accepting air about him, as if the boy could care less either way.

“Why were yooou in tha field?” Kessler asked, her fingers reaching up and preening the glossy feathers restlessly. Her head tilted forward and to the side, the almost invisible iris peering up at him.

“Rex here…” He angled his head against the fox gently to indicate whom he spoke of. “Saw that they were in trouble. I wuz already surrounded an’ saw no harm in helpin’ out.” That wasn’t the whole truth, but it was more believable than his horse taking off and forcing him into the battle.

“Kessler…” A boy tugged at her shift, dark eyes haunted as he looked back and forth between Link and the bird girl. “We need ta get’er body, beggin’.”

Kessler’s eye softened and she gave a jerky nod before motioning for Link to follow. “We’ll talk…inside. Call in tha next watch.” Kessler told a boy at the wall. Large brown eyes jerked up in surprise, relief clear on the dirty face at the order. Kessler patted the oily hair awkwardly. “Get some rest spread it down the wall?”

Kessler took cues from Hask as she spoke to the children. They trotted down the stairs and into the sprawling lawn. Children ran back and forth between the wounded and dead laid out. Link picked out only a handful of teens. They held the children back from panic by giving clear and concise orders as they repaired those they could save.

The blonde couldn’t help but be impressed by how well everyone worked together. The plague had been his only example of different groups putting aside most of their differences to accomplish something. It made him wonder how much the entire lot had been through to forge such seamless cooperation. Children were children, no matter how one looked at it. They tended to become lost in their play, fall into laziness or acted out for attention.

They walked down the battlements, Hask and Kessler pausing to whisper to the children who trembled beside the walls while others ran back and forth to clean up the dead and wounded. Some eyes were haunted, while others were curiously blank. The teen felt a shiver run up his spine, wondering at what would jade children so young.

This group didn’t seem the norm in the least.
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A/N: Geez, I’m fired. This story has run away and I’m still trying to catch up. The chapters keep getting longer! To avoid another uber-long chapter, I’ve split this one in half.

Kain-Pathos - Thanks for the review! Yes, I'll be finishing it. I have it all planned out...it's just finding the time to write it all down. ^-^;;;

I’ve been writing the chapters while I’m at work. Sadly, this means it’s all in a notebook since I don’t have e-mail available at work. I have to type it when I get home. I am getting more done now. My job has been keeping me pretty drained when I get home. Mass Effect is how I relieve my stress…but it gives me strange dreams. Moving on! I’ll have the rest of the chapter up next week. With any luck, I’ll be finished with the following chapter after that.

All the Unknowns are straight from all the games. You can Wiki them.

Can anyone guess the theme of the names in this chapter? ^-^