Aftermath of the Calamity - Zelda's Adventures

Chapter 11 - A Turn in Events

Hello! Before we start, I'd like to announce something:
I'm going to try to speed up the progress of this book!! I know, unbelievable. I'm incredibly lazy. Well, let me explain...I'll keep it as brief as possible.[8/19/23 edit: it is indeed unbelievable. I meant during the school year.]

[removed 8/19/23 as I just don't want ppl to know this lol]
More on topic, I'm going to see if I can update monthly (except for the month of June 2023), and narrow it down to a better schedule for myself. This May, (this month lol) I'm planning to write much more and catch up to what is deserved for you all. (Two chapters at least is my goal.)

Thank you for reading this story, it means so much to me. As I'm soon reaching 250 reads, I'll really do my best to keep up with this story. Again, thanks so much, and go on, read!!

******

Link

After traveling by foot all morning, we decided to stop. Zelda was seeming to be much more energetic after visiting Goron City. We're about halfway to Rito Village. I'm obviously not too excited for this, because it is one of my least favorite places...well, I'm not being fair now. 

I dislike Rito Village for its memories. All I remember is Revali's hatred for me. I never really did anything wrong; I know that. But it still hurts that we never got along...and now he's gone. Forever. He seemed like a cool guy. I really think we could've gotten along. 

But right now, I  need to properly get all the food I could get. Zelda was talking with the other people at the stable, and I was out getting food. Spotting a wild boar, my mouth watered. With my instincts taking control, I quietly crouched. Fitting an arrow into my bow, I carefully aimed and shot. The boar grunted and then squealed, flopping to the ground. When I got to it, there was fresh meat.

Absentmindedly searching now,  my mind wandered to Zelda. Her eyes, her smile, her hair, flowing in the wind...I shook my head. That was all a fantasy, a dream that would never come true. I've let my emotions  take over, and now look at me. Zelda told me I could be open after the defeat of Ganon, but as I did I felt a tug toward her. 

There was no way that she would feel the same, let alone would I have the ability to rule alongside her. Even if I'm with her now, I could never be with her. It was a thought that put me down at night, and even if I avoided it...the more I avoid it, the more the desire grows. I felt my heart flutter and my cheeks grow warm. 

I shook my head again. The natural deadpan face took over, and I let silence consume me. Silently I walked, taking bokoblin goods, stealing fish from the river, cutting down trees and collecting wood. I was making my way back to the stable when I realized a presence of the yiga. I tiresomely unsheathed my sword, and stood silently, not daring to make a noise. The wind whistled. The bushes rustled. Everything was silently until I heard something pop. Oh, great. One of the blademasters...and the one I defeated months ago. That's why his knee popped. 

I back-flipped just as he swung his sword, attempting to come at me from behind. I landed behind him, keeping my shield up and knees bent. My feet landed softly as I swung my sword out to the right, and making sure not to straighten my arm completely. I then dug the pommel into the back of his torso.

Now, the fight would be graphic if I described it here, but I was struggling. He had some new techniques with his fighting, and kept switching things up.

They have brains now, I thought bitterly. With a final blow to its head, they ran away. But only a second before I blacked out.

Zelda P.O.V.

It's almost two, and no sign of Link. I sent out soldiers to find him in the surrounding areas. My stomach felt twisted inside out with worry. Even if Link was quieter, and showed little to no emotion still, I still cared about him. He saved me from Ganon, twice, and is still accompanying me in this journey. I know it's his job. But there was friendship to it as well. I can't leave without him, and he said he'd be back "in fifteen or so minutes."

I felt bad for the soldiers, sending them out like that. But I wasn't leaving without him.  Just as group four went out again, I heard a voice softly call out my name. It sounded like Link, but I couldn't be sure. I stood up, and listened for it again.

"Zel...da...." I ran toward it, and looked around as I smelled blood. Now frantically searching, I was hoping I wasn't too late. "Zelda..." I found him hidden in thick thrush.

It seemed as though he fell, but he seemed to have a wound; he was bleeding badly. I slumped down. No, no, not again!

"Link? Link, can you hear me?" There was a deep blood stain in his tunic. I yelled for soldiers that could've been around, but I couldn't hear anything. It was cold, too, so Link must be weaker than usual. I took off my shawl and wrapped it around his shoulders. I took my scarf and tightly wrapped it around his wound. When he winced, I realized his senses were coming back. I gently helped him to his feet. "Link, can you stand? Do you think you can walk?" He gave a small nod, and we slowly made our way to the stable. Several times, he tried to give me back my shawl. I was cold, but he'd been out here for who knows how long.

I got him to the heat lamp, setting him in the bed. I watched him drift off to sleep, and called for a medic. "Um, medic? Is there a medic here? Link is..um. Wounded."

I left the doctors with Link, and the stable had some curtains around the area. I should've brought my coat. For now, though, tea will do.  I started brainstorming a list of things to do for the week. Well, let Link rest, obviously. I think I can do some investigating of Vah Medoh on my own. I don't know how deep the wound is, or how bad it is, even whether or not he'll be okay. That made me look down at my feet. My boots were splattered with mud and snow. They felt a bit small. They felt warm near the fire, but cold at the same time.

I heard my name being called from the stable, and abandoned my tea.

984 words! Slowly coming back. I've got a lot on my plate at the moment, especially with finals starting next week. I'll write asap!!

Posted May 15th, 2023

~Bamboo