Before Twilight

Chapter 32: Following the Trail

Link's P.O.V

As I stood there calling out Sheik's name I heard cries out in the distance.

"Help!" I heard.

I quickly ran towards the shouting. It sounded like it was close. I struggled to keep my footing as I ran down the steep mountainside. When I came around the corner I reached the opening of Death Mountain once again. 

I slowed down my pace to stop and look at what was going down before me. 

The Goron that I had ran into earlier was currently in combat against two strange men. 

"Get lost Yiga scum!" He shouted as he banged his heavy fists on the ground.

I then came to the realization that these strange men must have been apart of the assault on the village.  

In one quick swift movement the Goron swung his large, boulder like fists at his attackers. I watched in amazement as his one hit sent them flying through the air. 

When they hit the ground they sat there for a moment in a daze. 

"Let's get out of here!" One of them shouted as he helped the other get up.

I watched as they ran off in the other direction. 

"Do you want some of this too?!" the Goron asked me. 

I turned to the large Goron calmly.

"No sir. " I chuckled. 

"You're that kid that was up here earlier." The Goron realized. 

"My name is Link." I corrected. 

The Goron appeared slightly amused at my correction. 

"Did you find your friend?" He asked. 

"No, she is gone." I sighed.

The Goron appeared to realize something. 

"There was a girl here earlier. These guys were bothering her so I had to teach them a lesson." He revealed. 

"Where did she go?" I questioned. 

The Goron appeared uneasy about revealing her location.

"That way." he said as he pointed down the mountainside towards Malon's farm.  

I felt like he knew more than he let on. He gave me vague directions and refused to look me in the eye. 

"Thank you-" I started but was unable too finish because I didn't know his name. 

"Daruk." He added. 

"Thank you Daruk." I corrected.

He nodded his head in acknowledgment as I left in the direction he pointed. 

In the distance dark, spirals of smoke bled in to the sky.  The village was burning and as I got closer to Malon's farm it appeared to be burning as well. 

"Malon!" I shouted. 

The house was engulfed in flames and then crumbled. The intense heat from the fires was too much for me to run inside and check if there was anyone trapped. 

"Sheik!" I called out.

There was no answer except the echo of my own voice. 

Suddenly I heard a cry for help in the distance. 

I looked below into the valley where the village lied.  I spotted Sheik running down the mountain side with Yiga Clan warriors hot on her tail. 

I had to act fast. I had no weapon, no sword at my disposal it was taken from me when we had entered the village. 

Sheik was in danger. There was no time to loose so I followed with nothing to protect myself with.