[EDITING] The Legend of Zelda: Goddess of Secrecy

Overworld Chapter 14 - In the White Rapids

...and began paddling downstream after Faru. As the Twin Falls pushed him on down, Link quickly learned how to handle his boat. It was fortunate that this stretch of the water was clean and smooth, but Link remembered from his ride up that the waters would soon become tangled with rocks and rapids. He hoped the basics would hold up.

Shortly after he thought that, Faru swam up beside his boat. She said, "Stay behind me. We have to go through a few rapids before we'll coast and then climb down Earth Falls. That fall is too powerful for these boats with riders in them."

She let go, and hurried back ahead of Link. Sure enough, as they came around the bend, the water began to roll up over rocks and create white, foaming rapids. Link tightened his grip on his paddle as the current pulled at his boat, ready to react to the rough waters.

Ahead of him, Faru navigated the waters perfectly. She found the best route for Link to follow, moving where the water was the smoothest. That was still a far cry from easy, but he was grateful for the direction. He was putting most of his attention into not capsizing himself as he raced through the rapids though, and he lost sight of Faru more than a few times before she'd bob back to the surface.

The current pulled even harder after a while. Faru began to swim towards the shore. Link looked ahead and saw the water as it tumbled over into Earth Falls. Not wanting to get pulled into that massive fall, Link hurried to shore behind Faru.

Faru sat on the shore as Link pulled his boat up to shore. She asked, "You learned the basics yet?" Link nodded even if he wasn't so sure about that fact. "Good," she went on, smiling. "Because the next leg is the hardest."

Standing up, Faru pointed down the river as she continued, "Earth Falls creates the worst rapids. The water is fast and doesn't really have any smooth stretches until right before Hylia's Fall at the entrance to Lake Hylia. But we'll have to get out of the water for now." She began to try to lift the front of the boat.

Grabbing the boat closer to the middle, Link lifted small watercraft up. It wasn't heavy, but with Faru's stature, Link had to do most of the carrying as they returned back down Earth Falls. There was a hollow noise as they went under the fall, by the dark black stone.

Link paused and looked at the rock wall. Faru dangled a little bit as Link didn't continue down on the slope. She dropped and looked back. "What's wrong with you? We're not down yet."

"This rock..." Link muttered. "It's...I don't know how to describe it, but it's..."

Faru said, "They say it's from the core of the earth. It has a dark feel, doesn't it? I always hated this part of the trail. It's too eerie for me."

Yore flew in overhead. The hawk landed on the boat, tilting its head as it looked at Link.

"This is a secret place, Link. Leave it."

Link frowned, still curious about the dark rock. Faru was amazed by the talking hawk, leaving Link to look at the wall. The light was poor near the wall, so he started to pull his lantern out.

"LEAVE IT, Link!"

The force in Endeavor's voice caused Link to almost drop the boat. Faru yelped in fright as Link scrambled to recollect his grip. Yore watched, the unimpressed gaze of his owner passing through.

"You need to reach Nayru's Temple. The Dark Lord is not going to stop because you are curious about a wall."

Faru said, "The hawk sounds a lot like that cranky person that fought with Impa all through last night."