The Legend of Zelda: Goddess of Secrecy

Overworld Chapter 3 - Into the Forest

...but that gleam was no sun. There was no need to check overhead to see if the hawk was still there. It hadn't left Link's sight for more than a second. It was reassuring to know that it was there, despite having a disturbingly painful peck. With everything happening so fast, the hawk was the one last touch of mundanity that Link needed to keep his head straight.

The forest rolled by as Link continued deeper into the woods. The trees grew taller, and their bark darker red. The ground began to slope down. Link slowed to a stop at the top of a hill the last hill before it sunk to its deepest to look down at the land below. Two massive Deku Trees stood in the middle of the Valley, bridges strung between them. Even from here, Link could see figures moving around the trunks and to the buildings nearby.

This was the Valley of the Forest. The many Forest races lived here: the Kiwiki, the Koroks, the Deku Scrubs. It was peaceful and well protected by the two trees swaying in the breeze.

Following the trail, Link made his way into the village. The forest-folk didn't mind him. Link was dressed like a farmer from Eveningale, save the sword and wooden shield with the Hylian crest on it.

"Mister!"

Link looked up at the owner of the voice as the Korok hovered down on its magic leaf propeller. It rattled when it landed, asking, "Who was that that man on the horse? He nearly trampled half the village with that mad riding."

"Which way did he go?" Link asked in response.

The Korok pointed south of them, further into the Deku Forest. It said, "Towards the Fortress. I hope you catch up with him before he gets there. Bad things have been happening in the deep woods. One of the knights was taken last night." Turning back to Link, the little sprite went on, "The Scrubs left there for a reason, you know. Something's in there, Mister."

"I know."

"You're pretty brave to still going then, Mister," the Korok replied. "Good luck!"

A wind tumbled through the Valley. The Korok extended its propeller again and glided off to deal with whatever matters the Korok dealt with in their sheltered valley. The hawk glided down and rested on Link's shoulder. He jumped, the creature so silent even he hadn't heard it.

"The Demon Lord is already at work then, if the temple is already filled with monsters."

Link looked at the hawk, who just tilted its head. That...wasn't normal. He asked, "Can you talk?"

"It is Endeavor, Link. We do not have time for fooling around. You need to hurry and get through the Temple."

"Why am I going into the Fortress? Other than to save Derek and Bruce, that is. You sound like there's something in there." Even as he asked, Link was starting to move down the path again.

"More than just something, Link. Somethings. There is a shrine to Farore that you must reach. I will help you as much as I can through Yore, but it is dire that you find it. Now hurry!"

Link looked at the path ahead. There was no turning back at this point. Yore took flight as Link started jogging again. He went beneath the branches of the Deku Trees, when he felt the compulsion to stop. Link turned and looked up at the trunks of the tree.

Like all true Deku Trees, these trees were more than just alive. They were considered minor deities by the forest-folk, and as parents. Their presence before Link was unignorable.

The tree on his left moaned and yawned. He looked down at Link. "What are you dressed in, Hero?"

Shaking its branches, the other Deku awoke and answered, "He doesn't have time, Kiwiki." Link guessed that each tree housed one of the forest races, and used the name of that race to go by.