Zonai Descendant : A Zelda BotW Story

Chapter Three

"So, you live here all by yourself?" I was sitting in a small cave near Dracozu Lake, staring into a flickering fire in front of me. The light illuminated the tiny cavern, as well as the Hylian and I, sitting on the floor and drying off.

"Yes," I replied to the Hylian's question. "I have for all my life." I knew it was wrong to lie, but I still wasn't completely sure about the Hylian yet, and I didn't want to put my race in danger.

"Here." The Hylian took my wounded hand in his and wrapped a long, white cloth around the gash. "This'll stop the bleeding. I'll give you an elixir to help with the cold." He reached into a bag and pulled out a strange looking, clear bottle with a red-orange liquid in it.

"Oh, no thanks, I'm alright." I refused skeptically. I had never seen anything like that before, and I didn't completely trust the Hylian yet.

"You were in cold water," The Hylian opened the bottle, pushing it toward me. "You could easily get sick."

"No, thank you." I quickly changed the subject. "So, what's your name?"

"It's Will." He replied, then changed the subject again. "So, you live here all alone, no family or anything?"

"Yeah," I lied. "My parents died when I was young. I've lived here ever since."

"Really?" Will looked skeptical. "There are lots of monsters around here. I fought about 15 Lizalfos on my way in here."

"Ha," I scoffed. "I eat Lizalfos for breakfast."

Will laughed. "Anyway, you should probably get some rest. It's almost midnight, and you're hurt and cold."

Worry gnawed at my stomach. My family would wonder where I was. What if they came looking and found me with him? I would surely be banished from the tribe. So, I came up with a plan. I would pretend to be asleep until Will was sleeping, then I would go back to my home.

"You're right," I replied. Will reached into his bag and pulled out a thin, folded up cloth.

"Here's a blanket." Will handed the cloth to me, and I wrapped it around my shoulders.

"Don't you need anything?" I asked.

"No," Will shook his head. "I'm fine. I once slept in the snow in the Hebra Mountains with no fire or blanket."

"Sure you did," I laughed, curling up in the blanket. I had never really seen snow before, but my uncle Rocco had seen it when he visited the Gerudo Highlands to look for the old Zonai ruins. He thought we might have been able to live there, but he determined it was much too cold.

"Okay, maybe I didn't," Will smirked. "But I've slept in harsh climates. You can keep the blanket."

I leaned against the wall of the cave, the blanket on my shoulders and the heat from the fire warming me. Slowly, I drifted off into a peaceful sleep.

〜

I awoke to the peaceful sounds of the forest coming from around me, and bright rays of sunlight spilling in through the entrance of the cave. I sat up, anxiously looking around.

It's already morning?

"Good, you're up." Will was sitting next to me with a bowl of steaming buttered apples in front of him. "I made some breakfast."

"Oh, that's very kind of you," I stood up, hitting my head on the top of the cave. "But I really have to go."

"So soon?" Will looked disappointed. "Do you not like buttered apples?"

"I've never tried them." I confessed. "But I really have to -"

"You're missing out," Will said. "They're really good."

"I'm sorry," I headed for the exit. "I have to get back to my family. They're probably worried."

Will looked at me, confused. "Family? I thought you lived here alone."

I put my hand over my mouth. Stupid, stupid, stupid! "I... I'm sorry. I lied. I do have a family."

Will looked down at the ground and sighed. "I... lied too. My name's not Will... It's Link. The royal guard."

I stared at him, puzzled. "Royal Guard?"

He looked shocked. "You don't know who I am?"

I shook my head.

"You've never left this forest, have you?"

"No."

"I'm the one chosen by the Master Sword, and I was appointed by King Rhoam to guard Princess Zelda at Hyrule Castle and to defeat the Calamity." Link explained, looking somewhat upset.

"The King of Hyrule?" I sat with my jaw dropped.

Link nodded, taking a bite of a buttered apple.

"I'm confused." I looked at him, shocked. "Why didn't you just tell me before?"

Link shrugged. "I don't know," He looked at the ground. "It felt nice to have someone who treats you like a normal person for once."

I smiled. "Link." I grabbed a buttered apple from the bowl and took a bite. "I like that name."

"So," Link smiled back at me. "Wanna stay for awhile?"

"Why not?"