The Lost Hero

Chapter 9

The following weeks offered the same pattern as they had before, with the additional time training with Kaifa and learning to ride. Dahvi concentrated hard, quickly picking up all that she taught him, and before he knew it, they were galloping across Akkala together, racing to see who could reach the stables first. Dahvi felt at home in the saddle, cherishing the wind in his hair as they raced along the cliffs. He could feel Spot's breathing against his legs. He watched as his ears flickered every time Dahvi spoke to the horse, recognizing him as his rider, and at the end of the day, he showered Spot with love in the form of apples and a scratch on his withers.

Kaifa showed Dahvi how to work with the horses when they weren't riding, like how to clean their feet and how to feed them. And after a particularly tough day of training, they unsaddled the horses and walked them down to the beach where they rolled in the sand and splashed in the waves.

Whenever he was granted some free time, he met Mipha at the same lake, and they took to spending their time together exploring the mountains, roaming Akkala, and swimming in the waters around Zora's Domain. Dahvi had taken to playing with Sidon and the other Zora children there, and they cheered and ran to him every time they saw him.

Of course, he was no match to their swimming abilities, and most of their games revolved around who could swim the fastest. As young Zora, they were learning to hone their skills and learning to swim up the waterfalls around Zora's Domain, and more often than not, they left Dahvi to tread water below as they darted up the waterfalls, giggling with joy. It left Dahvi feeling envious of how freely and easily they could move in the water. Not only that, but he craved riding more than ever as it offered him his own kind of freedom.

But eventually, Kaifa had to move on and return home, and his lessons with her and Spot were no more. Dahvi soon found himself exploring Akkala in hopes of coming across one of the herds of wild horses, and he sat on the ground watching them with admiration.

He didn't know a thing about training horses, but the more he watched them, the more he was determined to catch one for himself. He needed to feel the wind in his hair. He needed to ride again. And with a horse, he would be able to explore so much more of Hyrule. That was what Urbosa and Robbie wanted for him after all, wasn't it?

His mind was set; he would catch - or, attempt to catch - one of the wild horses and keep it as his own. Surely that would be easier said than done, but it was a new challenge, and it excited him. And he already knew which horse he wanted; the big reddish-brown mare with the white mane and tail. He had been watching her herd for some time, studying their habits and their movements. He even took the time to craft a simple rope bridle. All he needed to do was to catch her.

Dahvi kept low in an attempt to remain hidden in the tall grass. Catching the mare wouldn't be as easy as walking up to her and throwing the rope around her. Approaching the horses was a challenge all in itself; he knew they would take off at the first sight of him, which meant that he had to sneak up on them. And that meant he had to do so from behind, otherwise he would be in their line of sight, which meant he could not simply throw his lasso around their necks. His only choice was to jump on the horse and cling to dear life.

It was a stupid idea, really. Suicide. One swift kick and it would be over for him. But he saw no other way. And if he couldn't buy a horse, he was determined to get one one way or another.

Dahvi crept slowly through the tall grass, keeping as silent as possible as he neared the heard. A strong breeze came off the ocean, blowing through the plains, and he hoped it would be enough to help mask any scent or sound that would indicate his approach. The horses grazed content, their legs cocked as they relaxed in the warmth of the sun. Dahvi made note of the stallion that stood watch, but he was far enough from the mare he had his eye on.