Somewhere I Belong

Chapter Four
“Trouble in the Desert.”
~*~
I was tight to Epona’s neck, my hands twined under her neck collar so that I could hold most of my weight on my knees. It made it easier for her to run. She needed all the speed she could get. This was like one huge, fast paced game of cat and mouse. That coyote could run faster than the desert winds. We were winding in and out and of rock formations, through canyons and up and down sand dunes. I gave up trying to follow where we had been and just focused on the blur of white fur. We were fast approaching another mountain range. The funny thing was that instead of going straight, the Coyote suddenly veered away from a patch of cactus growing straight in the path. It wouldn’t be a problem to weave through them, and I could catch up faster if I did. So I didn’t think about it. In hindsight, I realize my mistake.
I wove through the first two without a hitch, It was halfway through the patch when I heard the coyote bark. Sharp, high, a warning. It was sadly, far too late. I felt a blur of motion to my right, turned my head and there was a moment of scalding pain in my shoulder, then I was hanging midair, Epona neighing in distress, until finally I smashed into the dirt, the weight of something significant behind the blow.
I opened my eyes a second later to find that one of the cactuses was pinning me into the dirt with four wickedly curved talons. It had bent to one side, and was using its bulk to press me into the sand. Two of the talons were sunk, one deep into my shoulder, the other into my arm. I had a sudden flash of insight that if, perhaps, I didn’t move and played dead, the thing would let go. The problem was, I wasn’t that lucky. It began to worm with its talons, trying to work me towards the snapping mouthparts in the center. I then did what any sensible individual would do. I screamed like a little girl.
Fortunately, my horse is apparently braver than me, because moments later, dodging the other hungry plants, she charged back into the fray and began to strike and kick the beast attacking me. One talon tore loose of my arm. Taking the opportunity, I rolled into the plant, and used my momentum to draw my blade. It was a long shot, I certainly didn’t know how to use the sword, but moments later, it was not even an issue.
/Red hot anger roaring through me, parry, strike, dodge. Another Re-dead fell to the grounheikheik beside me, his dagger drawn, a veritable whirlwind of death. I snarled and drew the blade loose, feeling movement behind me. Impale, whirl, parry, strike, dodge. It was one familiar haze. My blade sang through the air, decapitating, disemboweling. It was all second nature, it was reflex. I was so angry. One of them had wounded me, I could feel the blood loss weakening me. If Sheik had not shown up, if he had not taken out over a dozen Re-dead on his own, I would be dead. It had taken me that long to stagger back to my feet. Pain lanced through me, fear and shame a close second. I took it out on as many hapless Re-dead as I could before the darkness of unconsciousness claimed me./
I was standing, panting, all of the plants in the patch bisected or dissected, purple ooze made the ground slippery, the stench was incredible. Had I just…? I looked around. Epona was snorting angrily, still stomping on a puddle of goo that I would imagine had been her claim out of the kills. I felt woozy.
I barely had time to admire the blade, its straight perfection, glinting death in my hands. It was perfect. For a two handed blade, it was surprisingly well balanced, and not too heavy. All right. How the hell did I know that. It wasn’t like I had owned any swords before, unless…
/a weapons shop, trying the swords, comfortable, but too heavy, light, but not well balanced. “Boy.” A Goron interrupted me. “How would you like something better? I will take you to meet the blade master, Biggeron has been expecting you…”/
Now. This was getting creepy. So I knew something about swords. All right. I can handle that. A yip in the distance disturbed my thoughts. The coyote was still waiting for me, its eyes looked almost worried.
“I’m all right.” I said aloud, more to reassure myself. Yes, I was bleeding, but no, I was not dead. And we had places to go. I would tend to the wounds later. I cleaned my blade on the edge of my already stained tunic and sheathed it. Crawling back onto Epona required some work too, but she was patient.

~*~
The coyote was becoming extra blurry an hour or so later. The sun would be up soon, and Epona was a sweat soaked and frothing mess below me. I worried she might drop dead underneath me. It was not a pleasant thought. Hell, I might drop dead as awful as I feel. (It occurred to me later that I should have guessed that something stationary and predatory might have a poisonous bite.) As the sun rose, we entered a valley, and to my surprise, the coyote simply disappeared in front of me. I was shaking pretty hard at that point, feeling feverish and sweaty and more than a little nauseous. I peered around dully, there was a waterfall, and areas of tall green grass interspersed by rock formations. There were small tents everywhere, and a few fires still smoldering weakly.
“Halt! Who goes there?”
I turned my head to see a tall and dark haired man wearing the mark of the Sheikah advancing on me, an arrow notched and a very suspicious look on his face.
“Its really very pretty here.” I stated just before I fainted.

~*~

There was something cold and wet over my eyes, but I could hear. Everything seemed so tinny and echoing. It must be from being so hot.
“His fever has come down significantly”
“The soak did him some good then?”
“Yes. His breathing is easier too from the herbs. He got that antidote just in the nick of time…you know it was funny, I wasn’t even going to pick any up and carry it with me this morning. But I had a strange dream… a white coyote was standing at my door, holding the bag of antidote in its mouth…anyways, I figured, how can you ignore brother coyote, right?”
“Id.” d.”
“Coyote?” I slurred aloud drunkenly. “Sheik goes to so much trouble…”
“Hey, he’s awake.”
I was suddenly resting across someone’s broad chest, the washcloth was removed. It was that dark haired Sheikah from before. I could not see the one that was holding me, but he was the one who had been telling the story of his dream.
“Welcome to the valley of the Sheikah’s, but mind telling me how you found your way here?” His eyes were still suspicious.
“I followed the coyote.” I slurred.
He blinked.
“Not you too.”
“Yeah, me too,” I laughed weakly. “Also, I am supposed to tell you. Impa sent me. She said the collar she put on my horse would be proof enough.”
“Impa?!” The dark haired one gasped. “How is she?!” His eyes suddenly worried.
“She’s fine.” I said reassuringly.
“Oh good.”
“Now.” I said gently. “I really hate to have to call you ‘hey you’, so…my name is Link, what is yours?”
“You are Link!?”
I blinked. Hell. I hope my coming isn’t some omen of impending doom in one of their religious books.
“Yes?” I answerecertcertainly.
The dark haired one sighed. “I am Luka.” And the man propping you up is Garen.
I turned lightly in his grasp to find him to be red haired, green eyed, and definitely the toughest looking Hylian I had ever seen. I must have looked pretty intimidated because he simply smiled and stated:
“My bark is worse than my bite Link.”
“So you are Link. The Link. The one that Sheik is mooning over.” Luka nearly interrupted. “Well, I can see why.”
“Luka!” Garen corrected. “You’re freaking the guy out. He’s barely out of the woods and your discussing his love life?”
Luka sighed and then looked at me apologetically.
“I am sorry… Garen is right. You basically rode into our camp and proceeded to die. You have been bitten by one of the most poisonous creatures in the desert.”
“Those man eating cactus creatures?!”
“They are called Leever’s.” Luka said.
“Yeah, you get bit and your buddies _leaver_ you behind to die.” Garen smirked.
“I overheard you saying that you gave me an antidote?!”
“Yes. Only the Sheikah know if it.”
“Then I am exceedingly lucky?”
“If a coyote showed you the way here, then I doubt luck has much to do with it.” Garen said as he paused, lifting my left hand.
“You have the mark of-” Luka was abruptly cut off by Garen.
“Not now Luka…”
Mental check now, If Luka knew I had the mark of the Triforce, and I was wearing my gloves…and my hair was wet…that left one slightly interesting possibility that was already beginning to make me blush scarlet.
“Does that mean someone bathed me?” I asked, a tinge of anxiety to my voice. Luka smirked.
“Garen had some other things to attend to, so while he took care of it, I took you to soak in the pool, it helped to bring your fever down.”
I had to fight the urge to groan in embarrassment.
“You have nothing to be ashamed of!” Luka smiled gently. “You are beautiful, I can see why Sheik might…Oof!”
Garen elbowed Luka in the stomach, effectively cutting him off. They wanted so much to see me with Sheik…wanted me to find him…he had spoken of me? I tried not to be confused or too blush any more scarlet than I already was.
“I am sorry…I do not have my memories back yet…I do…and do not remember anything about Sheik…though I wish I did…” My voice sounded pathetic. Lovely. Well, I guess I felt pathetic…doesn’t everyone have a right sometimes?
Luka and Garen both immediately fell silent, sharing sad looks over my head that they did not think that I could see.
“Can you stand?” Garen asked, gently changing the subject. I was unsure, but standing was better than lying on the floor moping and blushing. He only really helped me to my knees, still blushing, I struggled awkwardly to my feet on my own, Garen supporting some of my weight by holding my elbows. This time I was a fine hue of red because here I was, in the middle of a tribe of the most powerful fighters on earth, and I couldn’t even stand up on my own decently. Humiliating was not the word.
“Sheik said you were shy, but I had no idea just how shy.” Luka laughed. “You’re STILL blushing.”
“Luka!” Garen's voice was a warning.
Yeah. I silently added. Fear Garen. It wasn’t like I was in any position to correct, or to want to correct, the real reason for my humiliation.
“Since all you seem capable of doing Luka, is running your mouth, why don’t you take Link here to see Tolten and prove to me otherwise?”
Luka made, what appeared to be a rude hand gesture, but then gently offered me his shoulder to lean on.
“Come on, Garen can be cranky after he heals someone. You think you can walk?”
I shifted from foot to foot experimentally.
“Yes, if I can lean on you.”
“Consider it done.”

I had a few moments before I made it out of the tent, and in those moments I had time to wonder. Weren’t Sheikah supposed to be focused and taciturn? These two had simply been gabbling like old women. They had seemed frighteningly, deeply interested in me as well, while general lore had it that the Sheikah stuck to their own kind and had little interest in others, other than the royal family. Well, I suppose, if they could change their opinions of me, why could I not change my opinions of them? I had no more time to think however, when Luka helped me stagger outside into the murderous evil of sunshine on headache.

~*~
I blinked as we walked out into the sunlight. I buried my face in Luka’s long hair reflexively. My head hurt so much that breathing echoed loudly inside of my skull. The light was painful beyond compare and my shoulder was throbbing.
“We will stand here until you are ready to move.” He said kindly.
“Thank you.” I breathed.
“Don’t mention it.”
“Hey!” I whispered, the thought suddenly occurring to me. “Where is my sword and cloak?”
“Where we are going. You need to talk to Tolten, and you need your things back.”
“My horse?”
“Resting, she was sponged down and turned out with our horses to forage. Her collar and blanket have been washed too.”
I thought about that for a minute, Epona and I had been covered in goo…I looked down. Everything I was wearing was clean, and my undershirt was laced upside down. Hmm.
“Did you clean my clothes as well?”
“What do you think?” Luka asked gently as he squeezed my hand.
“Oh!” I gasped while blushing again.
Luka just finally gave up and laughed.
“Sheik said you were shy, and coming from Sheik, that should have said something to me.”
“You know Sheik, really?”
“Yes, he was the one that hooked Impa and I up.”
“You and Impa?” I know I had to have begun to sound retarded, but I couldn’t help it.
“Now come on, lets get you to see Tolten, he is our shaman.”
With effort, I slowly unburied my face, blinking into the sunlight.
The valley was more beautiful than I remember it being. Now children were playing games by the waterfall, and the Sheikah were out and about, doing laundry or cooking or just talking. A few paused to ogle me. Sheesh.
On the far side of the valley, it appeared to be that magic and sparring lessons were going on. And somewhere, someone was playing an ocarina. It made me turn my head for a moment, and hesitate.
“What’s the matter Link?” Luka asked as he paused mid step.
“That song is familiar, that is all.”
“Hm.” Luka smiled knowingly. “Imagine that.”
“Imagine what?” I asked.
“We had a certain harpist who wrote that song…used to play it all the time as a matter of fact. Oh well, we are here, lets go in.”

~*~
I bent down to enter the camel hide tent, trying not to hiss through my teeth as the movement set my shoulder on fire. It was cool inside. As my eyes adjusted they went to the bones, skulls, hides, claws and other various and sundry parts hanging from the tent walls and poles. Parts that had once been animals. There were several candles lit nst nst the back wall, and the effect was eerie to say the least. There was a young Hylian man in the middle of the tent, sitting in the lotus position.
When they had said shaman, I pictured someone ancient and wrinkled. This shaman was young. Handsome even. How interesting.
“Kneel.” Luka said as he pulled up a blanket from the corner.
We both knelt and waited.
“Master Tolten?”
A pair of brown eyes slowly opened, golden hair falling and framing his youthful face.
“Ahh, Luka. This is master Link?”
“Indeed.”
I was blinkingsomesome confusion.
“He has recovered well, I see?”
“Yes, healer Garon did an excellent job.”
“Good to hear, he was in a terrible state.”
“Excuse me?” I interjected politely. I don’t like it when people talk about me like I am not in the room.
“Master Link, a pleasure to meet you.”
“He doesn’t have all his memories yet.” Luka blurted.
“Oh he doesn’t? That is fine. I imagine he will have them very soon.”
I was tempted to start pouting. This was not even funny.
“Luka, will you leave us for a moment?”
“Of course.”

~*~

There was silence between us, and I was suddenly very intimidated by this shaman.
“Do not fear Link, I will not hurt you.”
“Well, if you had wanted to, you could have just left me for dead.”
“Very true. The actions are more self evident than words.”
Another silence passed, one that was gentler.
The shaman reached for something behind him, then handed me my cloak and sword.
“I believe these are yours.”
“Thank you.”
“The Biggeron blade, I have not seen that in a very long time. Draw it Link.”
I did, listening to the distinctive ring the blade made as it left the scabbard.
I held it in front of me, pointed up. My injured arm trembled.
“I want you to do something.”
I blinked at him.
“All right.”
“Look into the blade. What do you see?”
I looked hard.
“My reflection.” I said simply.
“True. Now hand me the blade.”
I did as I was bidden.
He turned sideways then, and turned the blade to face him.
“What do you see when I hold the blade Link? Where is my reflection?”
I stared in disbelief.
“You don’t have one.”
Tolten laughed then softly.
“I am no vampire, and I surely have a reflection.”
“Then why do you not show in the blade’s surface?”
“What if I told you that the blade recognizes you, as its true master. No one else will ever show in it, unless…well. You will understand in time.”
“What do you mean, I have had just about enough of all this mystical crap!” I snapped, surprising even myself, and the look of surprise must have shown on my face because Tolten laughed reassuringly.
“At dusk, tonight, I want you to follow the cave behind the waterfall. There is a cliff on the other side. Go meditate there before the moon has risen. Stay till dawn. Then you will have no more need for this “mystical crap.” You might even find yourself believing in some of it. So far, after all, it has gotten you where you need to be, right when you needed to be there. How about that?”
I blinked. As much as I hated to admit it, the guy had a point.
“What will I find?”
“A cliff.”
“And?”
“Something you have been missing for a long time.”