Wild Secrets

No Where

Four's POV

They were shipwrecked.

That was all Green had to say on the matter.

He sulked a few feet away from the others, but still within earshot, his back pressed against a tree.

Wind and Tetra don't know how it happened, but suddenly, they were taking on water.

So we docked at the nearest island we could find. One that went unnamed by the ones native to this Hyrule.

It didn't take long to clear the small island of black-blooded monsters.

But yet, the sun was already starting to set when we had finished. So Time decided that it was best if we set up camp for the night, we could face the problem of the giant hole in the ship in the morning.

A fire was already blazing down on the beach, and the Links were currently deciding on who should make dinner.

They had found out early that the crew and Tetra couldn't make toast if their lives depended on it.

(Hyrule burns water.)

Vio gently took control of the body and stepped forward.

"I'll cook." He said with a sigh, his hand in the air.

Time nodded. He then sent the others off for chores.

They varied from collecting more firewood or game to keeping watch out for their absent friends.

Vio ended up making slightly charred herring and a simple salad made of flora deigned safe by the crew for the Captain, who was a vegetarian.

Watch was divided out among Time (who'd taken watch almost every night since the others didn't come through the portal), Hyrule, and Tetra, in that order.

Red sat on a log, staring into the dying embers of the fire as the campsite's sounds quieted until all you could hear was the gentle breaths of the sleeping.

The night seemed unnaturally quiet without Twi's usual snoring.

When the last man had fallen asleep, Red turned to Time, wanting to talk with him.

But the old man had already retreated into the small neighboring forest.

Red slumped.

We can wait— .....until he gets back. Green said, obviously trying to hide the yawn.

Red got up and walked over to his bedroll.

He then all but fell onto the relatively soft surface, pulling the blanket over his head.

Red's eyes fluttered closed as the world fell down around him, giving way to gentle darkness.

——————

Everything was dark.

There was no up, no down, no sideways, no direction, no nothing. Just here.

He didn't know what was happening.

He didn't know who he was.

He felt his feet thump down kindly on a solid surface, but when he looked down, he couldn't even see his feet.

He raised his eyes back up.

The darkness seemed to be moving. Swirling and shifting and changing and breathing.

A pair of red eyes glared out for the darkness.

Its body still trying its best to create a corporeal form.

I've felt a strong sense of fear jolt through his body.

He should know it. He knows he should be doing something about it. But he was still sorting through his own combined courage and fear.

He attempted to think back, to grasp any memory of before.

But it was as blank as the darkness consuming his being. As fuzzy and untrustworthy.

A hand wrapped itself around his neck, squeezing.

Now where did that come from? He thought lazily.

The ground dropped away from his feet.

He wanted to fight back, he knew he had to fight back, or else he would die. But he couldn't move.

His limbs hung down uselessly.

His back felt lighter than before. He didn't know what was missing, but he didn't think it was a good thing.

The floating red eyes bored holes into his own.

When the creature spoke, instead of cutting through the deafening silence, it filled his mind.

Your amusing little quest is in vain, hero. It's voice was raspy and it phrased the last word in a way that was obviously meant to insult me.

I hold the cards. He said. You can swing those pathetic little swords of yours all you want. You can't outsmart me. Or the plan I have in store.

Sweet dreams...

It dropped him and he fell into the penetrating darkness but not before he got a look at its face.

One that looked suspiciously like his own.

——————

Green bolted upright.

He didn't try to be quiet as he rushed across camp to where Time slept.

"Really Four?" Wind asked, barely awake. "Again?"

But Green wasn't listening.

He shook the old man awake, desperately clinging on to what was left of his rapidly fading dream.

"What's wrong Four?" Time said, snapping to attention when he saw Green's desperation.

But when Green opened his mouth, ready to tell Time about his dream, nothing came out.

He furrowed his eyebrows. He knew his dream had been important.

But what had it even been about?

"Four?" Time said, getting worried. "What's wrong?"

Time's hands were planted firmly on Green's shoulders.

Vio took control with a: I can't watch this train wreck anymore. And a few complaints from Blue.

"I had a dream." Vio said. "I know it was important... but I can't remember it."

Time's eye searched Vio's.

But he finally released him and looked out across the horizon.

The sun was already beginning to rise.

"Well, we might as well have breakfast now." Time looked back to Vio. "You sure you can't remember?"

Vio shook his head sullenly. He wish he could.

The others complained about being woken up early but gave Red no grief.

Tetra returned shortly thereafter with some berries she's found. Time took charge and began to cook.

Red ignored the concerned looks from the others and stared into the fire.

As he was handed his food, a single line echoed through his mind before leaving, just as quickly.

There's no where to hide.