New Home - BotW Link x Reader (Undergoing Revisions)

Chapter 43 - Pressure

I pulled back an arrow, releasing an exhausted but hopefully steadying breath as I aimed, lining it up at a Bokoblin's head. Link was taking care of the Blue Bokoblins on the ground, and I was providing cover for him - or at least, I was trying to.

I was doing my best despite my exhaustion. We'd found ourselves the unlucky victims of an ambush, and the group of monsters had already been taken care of once before that damned Blood Moon rose, granting life back to their deceased forms immediately, and stronger than they once were with magically improved weapons.

Ugh. What a pain.

I released the arrow, nailing the monster right in the eye. The arrowhead embedded itself into the creature's brain and in one fell swoop it erupted into a puff of evil smog and black smoke.

Simultaneously, Link sliced through the chest of the Bokoblin he was facing, and it died, too. Another Bokoblin came up right behind him, spear raised, but because Link's own weapon had broken, he heaved the club up from the monster he'd just killed and swung it with all his might as he turned, sending that creature flying.

As Link rounded on that creature and started to fight it head-on, I noticed a Moblin, sneaking about in the shadows. "Shit," I hissed, rising from my crouch and to my feet. I needed to rejoin the fray but it wasn't that easy.

This is why I hated fighting monsters at night.

Link loved it, and said it gave him a thrill. But the sky was incredibly cloudy, blocking out all moonlight that might have illuminated our battlefield. All we had to go off of was the campfire and a few nearby lanterns. And that was all.

And I hadn't somehow noticed the archer atop its perch - not until it started firing at me.

"Holy-!"

The word barely escaped my mouth as I dodged the projectile aimed my way. I hurried to grab another arrow, drawing it back quickly - but again, I hadn't noticed the Moblin had grabbed the monster Link had been fighting, right out of the shadows, and threw it at me.

The monster came hurtling at me, screeching its panicked little head off, and I scrambled to get out of the way, but stumbled. The monster landed on me, crushing me and sending me to my back on the ground. The wind was knocked out of me, and I wheezed even as I rolled over, steadying myself in a crouch. Adrenaline guided me along as I drew my sword, slicing the head of the monster clean off.

By then... Link had killed the Moblin. The camp was clear. And I stood on shaky feet, sheathing my sword only to double over, fatigued. I set my hands on my knees and sucked in great lungfuls of air. Link didn't stop for anything as he ran to me, but I could hardly stand or address him.

Dammit, that scared me.

My head was spinning, my limbs aching. That fight had been difficult... very difficult. And it ended in a way I never expected but... but it was over. At long last, it was over.

Link slid to a stop right before me, nearly stumbling in his attempt to stop so suddenly. He grabbed me by the arms, hunching over so he could look at my face. "(Y/n)," he said, sounding almost desperate. "(Y/n), hey. Look at me. Are you alright?"

He set one hand beneath my chin, guiding me to lift my head. He brushed some of my hair away from my sweat-slicked face, and I met his gaze, feeling horrible about being the reason he looked so worried, so panicked.

"Link," I said quietly.

"Hey, it's alright, you don't need to speak," he said. "You're alright, you're ok. Can you stand?"

It was funny. He sounded more like he was trying to convince himself that I was alright instead of convincing me. He helped me to stand, and I set my hands on my hips as I took a step back, swaying slightly.