Contest Entries

An Obligatory Stealth Section: Write to Rank 2023 Round 3 [Round Winner]

Pain pulsed behind Link's left eye as he pulled himself out of the icy water. The scattered remains of the shattered barrel surrounded him on his little island, and sharp shards bobbed in the water around him like lightweight knives. Why he'd ever thought trusting a pirate was a good idea, he didn't know, let alone one like Tetra, whose idea of stealth included launching people by catapult – it certainly took the idea of barrelling into the Forsaken Fortress to a whole new level.

He squelched his way backwards, towards the sheer rock walls and the steps hewn into them. Up above, huge pairs of searchlights like trumpet horns swung through the air, golden light tracking along the ring of cliffs and trailing over the central spire. More lights twinkled up there like a glittering bird's nest. He craned his neck back to try and spy past the dazzling lights, sodden hair plastered to his cheeks, but the brightness left smears on his vision. An impossible task.

He breathed a short sigh. His drenched clothes clung uncomfortably to his skin, water dribbling down his neck. His sister was here somewhere – trapped, scared.

Alone.

His fingers curled into fists, and he turned to take the steps at a run.

Golden light swashed over the stairs ahead of him in waves, and he ducked, arms over his head as he rushed up them, dodging left and right to stay in the shadows. His heart thudded away, breath coming in pants as he reached the top and ducked under an alcove. The fresh sea breeze brought a tang of salt with it. Ahead, there was a path to a searchlight, but there were no shadows to hide in, and large silhouettes strolled backwards and forwards. He'd be seen. He peered around the corner, praying for more options, for another route.

There was a barrel! It'd have to do. Link glanced around, saw nothing advancing in the darkness behind him, and he lifted the lip of the barrel and rolled underneath it. Bands of illumination from the gleaming searchlights inched in through the joins and the loops, letting him glimpse the ground as he inched forward a couple of steps. He grinned – perfect.

He crept ahead, around the corner. Now he was closer, he saw slices of the patrolling figures. Their heavy, noisy breathing filled the air, and they balanced spears on their shoulders, the blades wickedly sharp. He edged forwards, the bright light beaming in through the joins. He glimpsed a snout, a beady eye.

Something yanked the barrel from his grip. The light dazzled him for a brief moment before he could grab at the shield secured to his back, and then something slammed into him. Everything went black.

It felt like seconds later when he opened his eyes. The pain was back, pulsing across his head like something had cleaved it open. Beneath him, the ground was hard and unforgiving on his aching body – when he ran his fingers over it, it was smooth to the touch like slate, dust clinging to his sweaty skin. Soft firelight washed over him in bars, casting harsh shadows that his grandmother's hearth never managed.

He found himself creasing his forehead into a frown as his memories resurfaced. Aryll, snatched away by a monstrous bird. He'd followed her on a pirate ship to the Forsaken Fortress, which must be here...

Sitting up, one hand wiping his still-damp hair from his face, he caught sight of the source of those shadows. Heavy prison bars, twisted like malformed trees in the forest back home. More of those humanoid monsters with the elongated pig-like snouts snuffled around outside.

He sat bolt upright, heart pounding in his chest. Was he trapped here? What was going to happen to Aryll?

Or him, for that matter?

Oi, Link!

Tetra's barking voice in his ear. He jumped, grabbing his chest as if it'd stop his heart bursting out of it, and he heard her chuckle. I slipped one of my communication gems in your pocket before you left. He patted his pockets down – there was something hard there, and he prised free a smooth, glowing gem, bound simply with twine. Another giggle. I saw all of that. Smooth.

He scowled, an answer on his lips, but she was talking again, rapid-fire like her cannon.

I'd get yourself out of there sharpish if I were you. Unless you want to stay there all day, of course. What's your poor sister going to do without you? So, get up and get moving.

Abruptly, there was silence.

Link clamped his fist around the gem and pushed himself to his feet. His sister needed him.

He would find a way. 

Word count: 782

Scene inspired by events in The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker