The Silence Between Them | ✔

6) Zora

⚔ In which Link visits old friends ⚔

Link

About three years later

"Link! What took you so long?" Linebeck asked.

I roll my eyes. "Mother needed some help with the chickens after school. I came as fast as I could."

Linebeck sighed. "I'll let it slide," he said, smirking. I grin. "Avery! Klaus! He's here!"

I see two heads pop up out of the long grass. Avery immediately scurries to her feet and runs over to meet us, her sword and bow on her back. Her parents own and work the inn. Her clothes are already dirty, and her brown hair is in two braids, tied at the end with pink ribbons that matched the dress she wore to school this morning. Klaus is slower to stand and stride over. His parents live on the biggest bit of property in Hateno, on a cattle farm up the hill. His trousers are cleaner, but his bow and sword are strapped to his back. He smiled at me but had no other greeting to offer. Linebeck grinned. He was the stoutest of the four of us, but that was to be expected when his parents owned the grocery store. He was the leader of our little group, for sure. His clothes were clean, no doubt keeping watch for me. His brown hair was messy, like he had forgotten to brush it this morning. But at school this morning, it looked combed and neat. I have no idea what happened between now and then, but I guess he roughed it up at the earliest opportunity.

Since the King and princess left me here with my mother, I'd made friends recuperate from pulling the Master Sword. The four saw me early on, practicing my sword in the front yard. They were more enthralled by the fact I was wielding the Master Sword than what I was doing with it, but they still came up and talked to me. It started as a one-sided conversation, them trying to ask me questions, and when they didn't get their answers, they pestered me at school or at home. My mother caught on and urged me to talk to them. It only took a few weeks for me to open up with them and answer their questions. I started to teach them to sword fight after school, which turned into bow lessons, and then we explored and practiced together every day after school and on the weekends when our parents allowed.

"Where are we going today, Link?" Avery asks.

I look up to Mount Lanayru and smirk. "Lake Sumac?" I ask.

Klaus shakes his head. "We went there the other day."

Linebeck thinks and looks a little further to the north. "How about Nirvata Lake?"

Avery looks at him. "Isn't that too far?"

"Not if we start heading there now. We can inspect for danger, go for a swim, and be back by dinner," I say.

"Then let's get going!" Linebeck says.

The four of us pull out our shields and surf down the wet grass, picking up speed until we get to flat land. We walk the rest of the way, all the way to the base of Mount Lanayru.

The lake in question is perfect for a bunch of rowdy teenagers looking for fun. There's a small waterfall, just high enough to jump from, and a rock right on the edge of the lake, perfect for jumping off.

After a quick inspection of the cluster of trees nearby, around the lake, and at the top of the waterfall, we ditched our clothes down to our underwear and jumped in.

We spend the rest of the afternoon in that cold water, splashing around and jumping and swimming until Avery reminds us we don't have any more time, and if we stay any longer, our parents will start to worry.