Restoration

Chapter Nine: Strangers

Zelda's POV: 

We trudged on towards Zora's Domain, making our way past the Dueling Peaks mountains, Link remains on guard. Looking out for any monsters hiding in the shadows. As much as I'd like to enjoy the scenery, I must stay on guard as well, after all, who's looking after Link? There are many more monsters since the influence of the Calamity, it will take time to rid Hyrule of these many pests that have taken up space here. There seems to be many small groups of bokoblins that have made a camp for themselves by the nearby river. Link quickly takes note of them and looks back to me, 

"Wait here," he holds out his hand attempting to stop me, I roll my eyes at him, here we go again. 

"Link, I can help," 

"Not this time, I don't want to risk it," he says quietly, 

I scoff, I nearly saved his skin the other day, before I begin to protest he points at something sitting nearby the bokoblins, looks like a red barrel. He pulls out a different looking arrow, it's got a red flame looking tip than a normal arrow. A low heat radiates off it and he draws the arrow back so gracefully, as if it's completely natural for him. 

Taking a moment to aim, a small breeze comes blowing, he quietly exhales and releases the arrow and a flame bursts as he shoots. 

The flame travels in the air unwavered and lands directly in the red barrel, immediately followed is a blinding explosion. 

Link immediately places himself between me and any fallout that could come our way. I see the bokoblins engulfed in fire as they jump around, trying to extinguish the flames on themselves to no avail, their swine-like screeches in agony briefly bring me back to my imprisonment...Calamity Ganon's ear piercing screech still haunts me after his death. 

I hold my hands against my ears, trying to block out their voices. Link remains close by, patiently waiting for them to make their next move, until one by one they go silent and fall over limp, the flames leaving their charred bodies behind. Link walks towards the camp to make sure there are no others hiding, and glances over the corpses ensuring their demise. He picks up some remaining monster parts and searches in nearby crates for any other loot. I carefully tug on the edge of his Hylian tunic in slight shock. 

Feeling slightly troubled by those haunting screeches, when I look down at one of the bokoblins, seeing its lifeless eyes looking back to me. I can't help but shiver,

"What a horrid sight..." clutching onto Link's tunic. 

I hate that such simple monsters can bring me such fear...how long will the Calamity haunt me? Link looks back to me in concern. 

"Is everything alright?" he places a hand on my shoulder, his touch brings me back to reality. I shake my head and let go of Link, 

"Y-Yes, just remembering something...unpleasant, " looking back at the bokoblin. Link takes note of my uneasiness, and has a guilty look on his face.

"Sorry, I'll give you a warning next time," 

"N-No! It's fine, really, I need to learn to get used to things, I-I'm just overreacting..." he scratches his head nervously, it's quite a charming quirk of his that brings me such peace. 

"I don't think you are..." He looks back and continues to search around for any remaining loot nearby.

"Monster hunting is unpredictable, you never know what can happen, getting ambushed is always a high possibility," he warned, while picking up remaining produce that sat around. 

"If you ever want to turn back just say the word," he says sincerely, staring back at me with his ocean eyes. 

"Thank you Link, but...as long as you're out here, then I'm not going anywhere,"