Hero by Heart

Chapter 52

It was still dark outside, but the horizon was already starting to get lighter when Link and his companions came to a halt.
They had gone out the Eastern Gate and went straight through the grass from where the road split.
Now they stood underneath a group of trees near Hylia River while trying to see any movement on the opposite bank.
'You're sure they are here?' Link asked Sidon.
The prince nodded. 'We went ashore on that little beach just past Orsedd Bridge, and that was where they attacked.' He pointed towards the bridge on their right, and then dragged his finger over the shoreline. 'I followed them over the banks to that large rockformation over there.' He now pointed to somewhere on their left. 'It's not just regular rock, but one of those skull-like cutouts that they use as their homes.'
Link nodded thoughtfully, studying the rock itself and the surrounding landscape, but the hills were still covered in shadows. There was not a single monster to be seen.
He then carefully made his way down to the water's edge and looked at the fast-flowing river. It wasn't too wide, but with this current he was glad he had put on his Zora Armour.
Their group consisted of twenty Zora, and Link himself. Bazz was with them, but Rivan had to stay behind to oversee the training and preparation of the rest of the Zora.
Still, looking at their group of warriors, they made a spectacular view.
All Zora's carried at least one spear, some of them even two, like Sidon. In the faint morning light their armour and scales seemed to glimmer, making them look rather impressive.

'Well,' Link eventually said, 'let's go.'
He dove headfirst into the cold water and instantly felt the current pull at him, but with his special armour it took little effort to reach the opposite bank. Nonetheless, everyone else already stood waiting when he got out, dripping wet and smirking at him.
Link grinned back, unbothered by it, and unsheathed his sword.
The entire group carefully made their way over the bank, the only sound to be heard the dripping of water from their bodies.
     When they approached the rockformation Sidon had spoken of, Link could hear the faint murmur of voices and the clinking of metal. Somewhere up ahead he also saw the reflection of firelight on rocks, confirming that there were indeed creatures nearby.
     Without making a sound Link gestured for the others to circle around and wait for his signal, before he quickly climbed on top of the rock.
     He tiptoed to the front, where he slid down on top of a protrusion over the entrance.
     There were Zora scrambling over the rocks on his left, and more coming up the path on his right. Satisfied that they were all in place, he turned around and peered through the nose of the skull.
Two separate fires were lit, with at least a dozen Bokoblins gathered around them. Besides those there were about four or five Moblins and a few Lizalfos, making the cave seem rather small.
Suddenly some rumour broke out behind him, and when he turned he saw two Zora struggling to fight off a large Moblin.
Before Link could even react, Sidon broke free of the group and jammed his spear upward, right through the throat of the monster.
In a black puff of smoke the Moblin vanished, and Sidon held up a thumb to Link, indicating that all was clear.
Link quickly glanced back inside, but the other monsters didn't seem to have noticed anything.
Some were sleeping, while others sat chatting to each other in their weird way of communication, and some were quietly eating some dubious looking food.
Link tightened his grip on his sword and raised his other hand, while he chose the best place to start.
He then dropped his hand and yelled loudly as he jumped through the nose and right in the midst of the camp.

Complete chaos broke out as the Bokoblins, Moblins and Lizalfos scrambled for their weapons and looked for the source of the panic.
Before any of them had come to the realization, Link already dealt with four monsters in quick succession, filling the damp cave with black smoke and piercing screeches.
The monsters that tried to flee the close confines quickly ran into the group of Zora, making their way inside.
A few more minutes of total chaos, panicking monsters and loud noises followed, until the final three Bokoblins were transformed into dust.
'Well done!' Sidon beamed, slapping Link on the shoulder and smiling at his men. 'They never knew what hit them.'
Link smiled back, but he felt a little uneasy, as if it wasn't over yet.
     While the Zora cheered, he walked back outside, looking up at the Crenel Hills.
     The sun was up now, and the world had become full of colour again. Still he only saw rocks and grass, and the hollow tree trunks that lay over the path.
     Maybe he was wrong.
     Sidon now came to stand next to him, following his gaze up the hill. 'Everything alright there, Link?'
     He nodded slowly. 'I'm not really sure. Something feels... off.'
     Sidon frowned and looked behind them, to where the Zora were now pouring out of the stone skull.
     'Do you think there are more monsters?' He asked, turning his gaze forward again.
     'I don't know,' Link admitted. 'But I would like to investigate.'
     Sidon nodded, then gestured for his men to be quiet. 'We're going to explore some more of the hills, so be on your guard and don't make a sound!'
     The other Zora quickly turned serious now, as they nodded solemnly and wiped their spears on the grass.