New Home - BotW Link x Reader (Undergoing Revisions)

Chapter 17 - Basic Training

Whatever storm I had been anticipating had been incomparable to what actually came. In my head, I was picturing something like the mountainous, tumultuous waves that crashed upon the sands of Hateno's beaches during summer storms, or the powerful gusts of wind that felt like they could tear my house from its very foundations, or the unbearable weight of so much snow piled up just outside my door the morning after a blizzard...

But what happened was nothing like any of those.

Rather, it was the far-off sight of storm clouds over the ocean, it was the whisper of clouds arcing through the air far above our heads that were carried by the wind only to build up and rain somewhere else, and more than all of that, it was the distant but distinct rumbling of thunder so many leagues away.

Link's anger was quiet. His disapproval was silent. His fear was undetectable.

But through it all, that was its downfall, because they were all the more obvious because of it.

When we found a spot to set up camp, which as a matter of fact had not been terribly long of a ride from where we had just fought those monsters, Link was quiet and had wordlessly dismounted Epona, hitched her, and then clambered up onto a flat bed of rock. I followed suit, and Link had actually reached out for me as I started to climb up after him. I had taken his hand gratefully, letting him help pull me up with such easy strength it was hard to imagine having it myself.

When we managed to scrounge up enough loose wood and kindling to start a fire, Link was quiet and had tended to the flames wordlessly as I prepared a simple meal. That uneasy quiet continued long after he went out to feed and water the horses, and even once he returned and settled across the fire from me once more. When the food was ready, the silence lingered.

All the while, as I took the food off the heat and prepared to portion the meal, Link's eyes were furrowed. They'd been that way for a while and admittedly, I didn't know how to start the conversation to see if he was alright.

I feared he might snap, for we'd had this discussion already. He didn't want me fighting. He didn't want me getting hurt. Would asking if he was alright just lead to the rehashing of the same points he'd made before? If so, I'd make the same points, too. I wanted to fight. I wanted to know how to defend myself. Actually, I needed to, because I didn't plan on just staying put in Hateno for the rest of my life.

No, assuredly not. Whether with him or without, I would travel. I would see Hyrule as it was meant to be seen. I would adventure, I would explore, I would make this life my own. I would make myself proud. I would live a life to be proud of. I would.

So, as I gathered up the nerve to speak to him, I set the food into their respective dishes and, once it was ready, stole a glance at Link. He was looking not at me, nor at the food, but at the fire, and that first tipped me off that something was really, truly wrong. Link loved food. Link loved to eat. To not be excited for the meal... to not be looking at me, anticipating the distribution of the food...

It was strange.

So something was wrong.

He certainly looked to be deep in thought as I set my food down then got to my feet, his bowl in my hand. I stepped around the fire then crouched down beside him once more, the scuff of my boot against the rock an almost invasive sound against those of nature, those that seemed to be all we could hear.

To not chat during our meal or the prep for it was strange. This way, I had little more to listen to than all the ones around me; the birds, the bats, the echoes against the canyon walls of sounds far-off. I was on-edge, simply because I did not have the comfort of his gentle strength and experience to rely on.