Since you came along

Lanayru

The walk to Lake Hylia was quiet and the atmosphere felt tense and concerning. Y/n couldn't stop her mind from forming horrible thoughts and scenarios. 'Get it together!' She flicked her head in a futile attempt to stop her head from worrying her more. Link was trying to think the entire way there. Faron couldn't help him, they were too far from Eldin to seek help there, and Ordona would not be able to offer any advice that he hadn't heard before either. When he first turned into his wolf form and Y/n escaped him, he traveled to seek help from Ordona, who told him he needed to find it within his heart to come back to his human form. Whatever that meant. Ordona, also, mentioned this 'other' factor in his ability to change forms. Lanayru was his best chance.

He didn't immediately head into the cave, he let Y/n try to calm down first. Besides, he needed to see Lanayru alone. "I'm gonna catch us some food, okay?" She had kneeled down in front of him and placed her hand on his head. She scratched behind his ear and he formed a smile that showed his sharp canines. She giggled and then left to fish. 'She seriously needs to pay more attention.' She still had not noticed the blue earrings. While she was distracted, he went into the cave.

Lanayru's light shined brightly and its true form appeared. "Hero...you've returned. I see you're no longer human...why is this?"

"You changed unexpectedly...Hero...you must remember. This form was something you could change back from...magic once bound you to your beastly form...has your memory faded? Do you truly not remember..." Lanayru faded from his sight and he thought back. He made his way out of the cave to see Y/n still fishing. 'Good, she didn't notice me leave.'

"Have fun in there, wolfy?"

'Never mind.'

"Can you talk to them, too? Link could. You have no clue how useful it would be if I could talk to them. If only there was some kind of magic still left out there." Then, it hit him. 'Magic once bound you to your beastly form.'

'The Shadow Crystal. That shouldn't be possible. Midna took it with her, didn't she?' He tried to think back to their farewell. Was there something he missed? If she hadn't taken it back, where was it? "Okay, that should be good." Y/n had caught some fish to cook for herself and gave him the raw ones. He would've liked a cooked one but there was no way to ask for it cooked. "I think I need to take a minute and clear my head. I can't come up with a plan this stressed out..." Link didn't listen to her as he was trying to make up a plan on how to find the crystal. He could only hope it was where they last parted. How he would get there without Y/n freaking out is beyond him. He'd have to travel there that night.

Once she was done eating, Y/n took off her boots, pants, and tunic. A white undershirt and some black tights were left on her. She jumped into the water and Link nearly jumped in himself. 'What the hell is she doing?' She resurfaced and smoothed her hair back away from her face. Running a hand down her face to get the water off, she sighed. "You should get in, Wolfy. You stink." The beast tilted its head and huffed, offended. She laughed and continued on with her swim as Link tried to think of how to sneak off. He'd have to get her to sleep early.

After her swim, she climbed out and changed her clothes in the cave. When she came out, she saw her beast fast asleep. She sat down beside him. Her body was giving into exhaustion, the traveling and worry taking its toll on her. She made herself comfortable, using her folded-up cloak as a pillow.

Once Link was sure she was asleep, he made his way out to the desert. Getting Fyer to shoot him out there was a task in itself that was exhausting. Hopefully, the time getting there would be cut short if he ran as fast as he could. However, he didn't know what to expect. Would it even be there? What if, by some strange force, the crystal was in the Sacred Grove? He couldn't ponder all the possibilities, he needed to get to the Mirror Chamber first.