#Metal Saria

[fanelectricboogieloo]

Decided to color this Ivo Robotlink doodle and toss in a Gan doodle as bonus.

[turbofanatic]

Redrawing the current blorbo for some experimentation with various brushes and textures. This is Tiny's "Someone says there's something screaming in the field at night so I'm going to have a look" outfit. Normally he would not be carrying the Great Fairy's sword around casually.

Worldbuilding nonsense under the cut.

The great fairy sword is so sharp it would shred a scabbard after a few quick draws and is awkwardly large so it (like historical montantes and other large swords) does not have a scabbard. It either goes in a magical storage bag or is held up and over the shoulder. When at home it's wrapped up in cloth and placed on a high shelf. Being made of magically reinforced obsidian, it needs very little maintenance. In contrast, the more traditional metal sword Tiny sometimes uses has a scabbard based on the design of the Master Sword's scabbard, affixed to a belt, but that's not shown here.

The smaller side weapon is the gilded sword, forged from the Kokiri sword, which really was just a large dagger with exceptionally good protective runes taken by the lost children from dead poachers. The Kokiri don't know how to forge or care for iron (and the trees despise iron), but they can work with copper, and a few other metals (mostly obtained by looting corpses slain by the woods). The scabbard for the gilded sword was originally the scabbard for the Kokiri sword, with an extension built into the top to accommodate the longer length. The scabbard is made from bone, capped with copper. The scabbard and Saria's ocarina are all that remain of Tiny's life with the forest children and he clings to them.

Kokiri craftsmanship is rather unique in being both overwrought and simple. Imagine a ten year old with decades to spare crafting something and you're on the right track. The have fine barkcloth but no weaving. Decent pottery but no throwing wheels. A common Kokiri household object is a stone bowl carved over the course of years when bored.

The belt buckle and embroidery are from Malon, the tunic is made from goat hair (I don't remember sheep in Hyrule but I could be wrong), the pants and undershirt are linen. The boots are leather, cinched above the ankle and calf with small belts.

[gubbles-owo]

Asbestos tail vs Ho'oleyak tail comes down to whether you want to choke on a thick, fat, wet tail or on a thick, fat, scaly tail. It's hard to choose. How about Saria's long, spiny tail though?

SO TRUE. Different tastes, different textures, different mouthfeels. Really just depends on your preference in the moment, y'know? Alright so Saria's tail is METAL AS FUCK

Her operator portraits (and various outfits) all seem to go light on the details, but looks like Lone Trail here gives us more to go off of. And look at these fucking SPIKES holy shit.

On god it ends in THAT?? That is sharp goddamn... Mouthfeel? Awful. Excruciatingly painful. Swallowing a gallon of thumbtacks would be considerably less agonizing. But it also wouldn't be nearly as hot. If you're into having your guts ripped to shreds then yeah, this is the fuckin' tail for u. I, however, am a coward Spicy thoughts aside though this thing is sick, probably one of the coolest tails in arknights design/aesthetics-wise. Layered spiky scales with a slick black/red gradient is, for lack of my brain coming up with a better word, fucking sick. Sizeable length, fairly thick at the base, and hard as a rock. This thing's gotta be strong as hell too. Effectively a mace when whipped at high speeds, but I'm sure there's spots on it that wouldn't immediately break skin if you lightly touched them. Saria tail rating: the goth girl im too afraid to be

[asumofwords]

Smoke, Fire and Ash

Warnings: This fic includes noncon, dubcon, manipulation, violence and inc3st. Tags will be added as the fic goes on.

This is a dark!fic. 18+ only. Read at your own discretion. Please read the warnings before continuing.

Summary: You are the eldest daughter of Rhaenyra and Daemon Targaryen. You are forced to navigate the difficult surroundings of your upbringing and the eventual disintegration between your family and the Hightower's relationship. What will happen when your older and estranged uncle suddenly takes a more sinister interest in you? (Dark!Aemond x Reader)

Characters: Aemond Targaryen X Reader, HOTD characters.

Note: This is my first time ever writing fanfic. I have been reading fanfic on this godforsaken app since I was 12, and have been encouraged blindly by my best friend to post this. I hope you enjoy!

Chapter 2: Steam

The walk back to your chambers was a quick journey. The hair on your arms stood up, as the ever present feeling of being watched surrounded you. The soft sound of your footfall echoed in the mostly empty wing of the Red Keep where your chambers resided.

The art on the walls of the Keep had been changed to Queen Alicent’s tastes. Bland colours and entirely not Targaryen, replaced the once brightly decorated halls and walls of your old home. You followed the torches until you reached the heavy oak of your doors, having them opened by a Knight of the Kings Guard; his white cloak standing stark against the dark corners of the corridor. 

As he pushed open your door you asked him to summon your maids. 

“Could you please fetch Aella and Saria for me? Have them prepare some water for a bath.” 

He bowed his head, “Yes, my Lady”, pulling your doors shut.

Your chambers were the same as the ones you had as a child, most of the furnishing and decor had not changed, though some things had. The room, however you could tell, had been unused since your departure many years before.

The windows looked out towards the sea, the moon softly reflecting on the water, flickering with the waves. A shadow could be seen above, a great beast flapping its wings to push itself and its rider higher into the sky. Its looming shadow slipped between the clouds rolling in, and you prayed a storm would blow in from the sea and knock Aemond off of Vhagar and into the ocean below him. 

Vhagar was the largest dragon in the world, fitting for your uncle as he had the largest ego in the world. You often joked to your brothers that he was most likely compensating for his manhood. Unlike his brother, you had not heard of his conquests with any women, or men. He was entirely elusive, a man with little or nothing to say, that many knew naught about except for his anger. 

Lost in your thoughts, Aella and Saria knocked on your chambers and you bid them to enter. Aella was young, no older than two-and-twenty. She had bright curly red hair that was always tightly pulled away from her face in braids that formed a low bun at the nape of her neck. Her eyes were a deep brown and she had a dusting of freckles upon her nose and cheeks.

Saria was the opposite. A few years older than you, her hair was as black as night, and silky smooth, worn in a similar style to Aella, but with flowing bangs that framed her face. Her eyes were a bright blue and her skin was a deep olive.

Aella and Saria came with you from Dragonstone and had served you for many years. Both were kind and trustworthy, and you would sometimes dare to call them your friends. 

The girls carried two large metal buckets each; steam rising high out of them. The two maids walked across the stone floors and placed them against the far wall. More maids walked in, carrying more steaming buckets of water and a large metal tub, placing it next to the burning fireplace, and began to fill it.

“Will you be joining the King for dinner, My Lady?” Aella asked, lifting one of the buckets letting the water carefully fall in as to not splash upon her or the ground.

“I will,” You replied, “I have not seen my Grandsire the King for many years. I’ve missed him,” You paused and thought, “and Prince Aemond extended a very warm invitation for me to join.” You looked up to see Aella and Saria give you a knowing look.

They had both witnessed the one-eyed Prince torment you since your recent arrival, and have listened to your younger selves stories of his sudden random bullying before the loss of his eye. Such a sudden shift in him which had surprised you both. 

Some days it was as though he had forgotten that he hated you then, talking to you excitedly about something he had learnt in the library, before realising his mistake and scowling, stalking off away from you. 

You had never truly understood the shift, but it was only ever in the open, before the eyes of court that he did it. If you were tucked away in private, he would speak to you kindly as he always had. You had shrugged it off as a child, but as you had gotten older, you realised that perhaps Alicent had been the reason for it.

“I wish to look my best this evening. It has been a long time since I have been in the presence of my family, and I want to make sure they know of how I have grown.” 

Saria came behind you and began to unlace your dress, pulling it softly over your head. 

Your slip was loosened by a tie at the front and it dropped down, pooling at your feet. The large copper tub had steam rising over the top, the light from the fire reflecting off of its side created a beautiful light that danced upon the wall.

Lifting your foot you stepped over and into the water, letting the stress and anxiety of the day melt away as you sank deeper into the tub. Leaning up against the high lip of the back, Aella lifted your braids from your neck and over the top, slowly untangling your hair and brushing out the strands.

Saria walked across the room and over to a large wooden wardrobe, which sat beside the bed. Dancing dragons were carved into the doors, with the faint remnants of paint covering them, with soft gold leaf detailing lining the trim of the wardrobe.

It was one of the last things left in this room that was yours, making you think that perhaps Queen Alicent did have a heart after all. Opening the two doors, Saria reached in and began pulling out gowns to present to you. 

“What about this dress Princess?” She held a deep red gown with a high neck. The shoulders pointed upwards and held the sleeves of the gown together with gold chains. The long sleeves were inwardly lined with a golden silk and there were black embroidered Godswood branches reaching along the hem and bust of the gown.

“Beautiful but no, I am wanting black for this evening.” 

Aella continued to braid your hair back, whilst you rested in the tub. 

Saria went back to the wardrobe and brought forth another dress. This time it was a black, short sleeved one. Gold embroidered flames licked at the bottom of the gown, which split at the front up towards the fitted corset of the waist. A golden skirt peeked through the split, which shimmered like the fireplace.

The neckline was modest and although it was one of your favourites to wear back home in Dragonstone, you felt that the dress was more of a summer gown, and the coolness of the night that nipped at you made you think this dress would be too thin.

“I think I want something more mature. They haven't seen me since I was young, I am older now and wish to show it.” 

You closed your eyes sinking further into the water to think for a moment, Aella pouring oils into the bath to soak your skin.

“Are any of the new dresses from Dorne?” You inquired, opening one eye to look at Saria.

The dark haired girl paused in thought, then hurriedly walked back to the wardrobe. 

The next time she stood before you, she held a new gown you had not worn nor seen before. 

“This is new from Marba, the tailor in Dorne.”

It was a dark black, sweeping gown. Its neckline plunged sharply into a deep V, dark black leather wrapped tightly around the waist and was embroidered with black vines that looked like dragons tails. The sleeves were long and open, that hung off by the shoulders that were lined with drooping gold chains. The inner lining was a deep blood red.

It was unlike any gown you had seen before.

Slowly you stood, Aella holding out her hand for you to take to help you out of the tub. Steam slowly rising off of your body as she pressed a warm towel to dry you, softly pushing your undergarment over your head to wear. You walked towards Saria, who held out the dress for you to inspect.

Up close, the black embroidery shimmered like threads made of Onyx, and the leather was finely stitched together to pull the waist into a tighter shape. The chains on the sleeves were thin and wound together like long chainmail braids, so delicate it draped softly and weightlessly as to not misshape the gown.

The plunging neckline was like most dresses witnessed in Dorne, but not nearly as often in King's Landing.

“It is beautiful, thank you Saria.” You smiled, “Help dress me, I’m sure they are expecting me soon.” 

Saria held the gown and helped you into it, lifting it over your head and pulling it down. The inner lining was soft on your skin and the leathered waist was a new but not unwelcome weight against you. Slipping your arms through the sleeves you heard the soft jingling of the chain detailing, they looked similar to a warriors chainmail, and you thought for a second that you looked as if you were dressed to go to war. 

Though this thought was not entirely unsubstantiated. Queen Alicent, your two uncles and aunt all still to this day wore green, were referred to as the Greens and were still waging a silent war against your mother and you all.

You thought of how your uncle Aemond would react to seeing you in a dress like this, but that thought was short lived as Saria began to tighten your gown, pulling in your waist which then lifted your breasts. You giggled at the prospect of irritating the prudish Queen Alicent, as Aella began to fuss with the finishings of your hair. 

The dress fit you perfectly, and your hair was swept back in small intricate braids which were held together by golden charms, the rest of your hair sat softly down your back. 

“You look beautiful Princess,” Aella spoke breaking the silence, “they are sure to see how you have matured with your years away from the Keep.”

 She and Saria smiled softly and dabbed small drops of perfumed oils behind your ears and upon your wrists.

Ensuring that you were ready, Saria and Aella began to clean your chambers as you walked to your door, having the Knight open them for you.

Taking a deep breath you stepped out and began to walk behind the Knight. His white cape swayed behind him as you walked down the corridor to feast with your family again after many years apart. 

[laguzmage]

Kind of unfortunate that so many fan works reduce Saria to "sad divorcee that cant handle her feelings" when her constantly doing the Chirico Cuvie I am a war criminal bit inbetween taking down black sites like a metal gear protagonist is so much cooler

[friendlyneighborhoodamara]

What Your Favorite Zelda Ship Says About You (for the games I’m familiar with)

General:

Link x Zelda (ZeLink): You are a firm believer in the inherent beauty of two souls coming together, again and again, through reincarnation after reincarnation.

Hylia x Hero: …see above. Also, you read the Skyward Sword manga.

Ocarina of Time:

Link x Zelda (ZeLink): You think classic Disney Princess movies are more feminist than given credit, and that Cinderella is more badass than she’s given credit.

Link x Sheik: You were absolutely fucking pissed to learn that you can only play as Sheik in Super Smash Bros. Also you are almost definitely some flavor of trans.

Link x Dark Link: Looking back on your childhood, you can pinpoint Ocarina of Time as the beginning of your crippling addiction to “Enemies to Lovers”.

(Child) Link x Saria: You really like Disney Channel movies where the popular kid’s girlfriend is nice to the loser protagonist.

Link x Malon: You just want good things for Link. And really, who wouldn’t? Also, you’re a horse girl.

(Adult) Link x Nabooru: Your favorite Champion is Urbosa.

Link x Ruto: You love the scene in Dragon Ball where Goku accidentally proposes to Chi-Chi but holds up to that promise when they’re adults.

Twilight Princess:

Link x Midna (MidLink): You are a firm believer in the inherent eroticism of getting dunked on. 

Link x Zelda (ZeLink): You are a firm believer in keeping things canon and keeping things wholesome. 

Link x Ilia (IliaLink): You believe that the Hero of Time settled down with Malon.

Midna x Zelda (Midzel): You hypothetically want a girlfriend who can kick your ass but realistically you just want to be bridle carried. Also, you read the manga.

Midna x Zelda x Link (Midzelink): Your solution to a love triangle is ALWAYS polyamory.

Midna x Zant (MidZant): Your AO3 history is about 50% Reylo fanfiction.

Zant x Ganondorf (Zandorf): You definitely got your start in the Star Wars fandom by writing Kylo x Hux slash fic.

Skyward Sword:

Link x Zelda (ZeLink): You have gotten into at least five heated Internet arguments about Skyward Sword being underrated. Also you cried at that ZeLink shot in the Tears of the Kingdom trailer.

Hylia x (Original) Link (Hylink): You cried at that other shot in the Tears of the Kingdom trailer of maybe Link’s metal arm holding maybe Hylia’s arm. Also you read the manga.

Link x Ghirahim (GhiraLink): You are still pissed Ghirahim wasn’t in Smash.

Link x Groose (GroosLink): Your mom told you that that mean boy on the playground pulled your hair because he likes you and you never let go of that.

Zelda x Groose (Zeloose): You are painfully heterosexual. Alternatively, you are Groose.

Breath of the Wild:

Link x Zelda (ZeLink): You are a firm believer in the inherent romanticism of shared trauma and Knight x Princess dynamics.

Link x Mipha (MiphLink): Your ideal relationship dynamic is one-sided, tragic pining. Press F to pay respects.

Link x Paya (PayLink): You just want good things for Paya. And really, who wouldn’t?

Link x Sidon (SidLink): You’re always a slut for beautiful cinnamon rolls, too good for this world, too pure.

Link x Revali (RevaLink): You love the Tumblr meme that’s like “You want to fuck me so bad, it makes you look stupid.” Also, you think people are too mean to Revali.

Zelda x Revali (ZeReval (?)): You are heterosexual.

Urbosa x Zelda’s Mom: You are a strong supporter of two women who are sick of a man’s bullshit.

King Rhoam x Literally Anyone: You think Endeavor deserves a redemption arc.

EDIT: the sequel

[she-wolf09231982]

Chapter 1-Rosaria Marie Leone

Summary: Chicago native, Rosaria Leone (leh-OHN), was stationed in Aldourne, England awaiting further instructions to her next duty location. She finally received orders to Bastogne after the 326th Medical team was captured on their way to the town by German soldiers.

The church in the town was converted into an aid station to lodge wounded soldiers that came in from the front lines, but with medical supplies running low and shortage of medical personnel, the Americans were in desperate need of more medics and nurses to keep up with the workload. To her surprise, she finds a few silver linings by befriending a local nurse, Renée Lemaire, and Easy Company’s medic, Eugene ‘Doc’ Roe. 

A/N: OC Introduction/Rosaria Marie Leone (leh-OHN), EugeneRoeX!FemMedic, WW2, Character introduction, Post D-Day, She/Her Pronouns, Military Terminology, Band of Brothers References, Mentions of Weaponry, Smoking, Mentions of death, Blood, Medical Terminology, Italian and French with English translations

Story takes place during Episode 6-Bastogne

*These stories may not fall entirely in accordance with the TV series timeline. I do not know the real soldiers the actors portray in this series, so please understand I show no disrespect. Some or most of historical events and character interactions in my fanfics are fabricated purely for the sake of the enjoyment of fiction*

~~~~~~~ 

Bastogne September 1944 

“Rosaria Marie Le-Leeee-on-” the charge nurse, Agatha Hannigan began with difficulty, as she looked over her spectacles at the orders given to her by the young woman standing before her. 

“Leone.” The young lady articulated. She was used to people mispronouncing her last name. 

The older lady’s lips pursed into a thin line, clearly displeased with being corrected by a replacement. She scribbled a few things on the orders. The charge nurse looked back at the young woman, scanning her from head to toe with every ounce of disdain behind her eyes. 

“Why are you wearing soldier’s fatigues? Where is your ward dress uniform? And your apron and head scarf?” Hannigan snapped. 

“This is all I ever worn, ma’am. I’m a field medic, so this is my initial issued uniform.” she explained. 

Hannigan sniffed at her, then wrote a few more notes on the orders. 

“Alright, Rosaria Leone-” 

“It’s just Saria-” 

 “-you and Renée report to me and I report to LT Doc Ryan.” she explained paying no mind to Saria’s statement. 

Saria sighed, “Yes, ma’am.” 

As she followed Hannigan, they approached a young nurse stirring a large metal pot hanging over a pit in the fireplace. The smell of the steam proved it wasn’t any kind of food she had been mixing but used bandages that were being laundered. 

“Renée-” Hannigan bellowed. 

The girl turned upon hearing her name. She met the charge nurse and Saria halfway as she dried her hands on her apron. 

“-this is our new nurse, Rosaria Lenonni, just in from Aldourne.” Hannigan introduced. 

Saria rolled her eyes but remained silent, not bothering to correct her again. 

Renée extended her hand, “Bonjour! (Hello!)” she greeted in French. 

“Buongiorno. (Good morning.)” Saria returned in Italian with a warm smile shaking Renée's hand. 

“You speak Italian?” Hannigan asked. 

“Yes, ma’am.” 

“Hm, a lot of good that’ll do you here. You do know you're in Belgium, right? Renée, you got her from here.” Hannigan snipped, waving her hand as she walked away. 

“Oui. (Yes).” Renée replied turning back to Saria, “-Don’t mind her. You’ll get used to her.” she whispered with a grin. 

“I’m sure.” Saria responded. 

“Viens avec moi (Come with me), I’ll show you around.” Renée gestured to Saria to follow her. 

~~~~~~~ 

December 1944 

The months flew by and before Saria could blink, a layer of snow covered the grounds in and around Bastogne. She quickly befriended Renée and the other Congolese nurse, Anna. Together, they worked side by side tending to the wounded, and endured the aftermath of what happened outside of the Church/aid station when soldiers were brought to them. The horrors of blood and gore came in overwhelming waves, but Saria, Anna and Renée worked through the carnage as a team to do what they needed to do to save the men that were brought to them.  

More often than not, soldiers have succumbed to their injuries because medical supplies were becoming scarcer. There was very little of everything they needed, and it seemed more and more men were being brought to them daily. They were unable to evacuate the wounded or receive medical supplies due to heavy German advances. Not only did the Germans prevent escape for the injured, but they also captured the 326th Medical team and integrated them into their own medical team to tend to their wounded soldiers.  

“Lost another one today.” Renée said to Saria as she sat next to her on a pew against the wall. 

Saria shook her head, “Seems to be happening more often, doesn’t it?” she acknowledged. 

“Peut-être (Perhaps).” Renée replied as she reached into her apron pocket pulling out a half-wrapped bar of chocolate. 

She removed the paper and broke off a piece, handing it to Saria. 

“Chocolat?” she asked. 

Saria looked at the candy in Renée's hand and smiled weakly as she took it from her. 

“Merci.” Saria thanked. 

“Prego.” Renée returned in Italian, “Your French is getting better!” she added. 

Saria laughed, “You don’t have to be nice about it, Renée, I know it needs work.”  

“No, I insist! Your practicing is paying off, mon ami (my friend).” Renée encouraged. 

“Well thanks to you.” Saria pointed out. 

As they sat there enjoying the sweet treat, a handful of soldiers came in with an injured man on a stretcher, as a medic walked in after them. 

Renée and Saria rushed to the men with the injured soldier. 

“No, no. Here. Put him here.” Renee instructed. 

“Yes, ma’am.” the head soldier carrying the stretcher obliged as they lifted him onto a bed. 

“Is he bad?” Saria asked the medic. 

“No, lower-leg wound. No morphine.” he replied in a deep calm voice. 

Renée took a quick look at the right leg then nodded. 

“I’ll get more bandages.” Renée relayed to Saria. 

Before Renée could leave the medic was following her, “Nurse, have you got plasma I can--?” 

“Wait. Please.” Renée urged before disappearing into another room. 

The medic furrowed his eyebrows, discouraged by Renée's response. Saria felt a wave of guilt for him.  

She looked back at the soldier on the bed that they just brought in, “What’s your name, soldier?”  

“They call me Skinny.” he responded with labored breathing. 

“I’m Saria. We’ll get you squared away, ok?” She reassured him with a warm smile. 

He nodded with a forced grin since he was obviously in pain. She covered him with a blanket and turned to the same medic standing alone in a doorway watching Anna pack a thigh wound of another soldier while Renée assisted. 

The medic turned to Saria, “Hey, what’s going on here? Why aren't these men being evacuated?” 

Saria was a little taken back by his dismayed tone. 

“We can’t evacuate. We’re cut off, this is far as it goes.” she replied as she side stepped him to get to Renée and Anna. 

~~~~~~~ 

Renée and Saria had returned to Skinny with a bottle of liquor and a glass, pouring him a hefty amount to drink as a pain remedy. 

Skinny looked up at the two nurses then looked at the medic, “I think I’m in heaven, Doc.”  

The medic smirked briefly. 

As Renée and Saria began walking away, the medic called after them, “Nurse-” 

“This way.” Renée said, as she motioned him to follow. 

The medic walked along side Saria while they followed Renée to the rear of the church where all the supplies were being stored at an extravagant altar. 

“I need Morphine. I need bandages. Whatever you got. We’re down to nothin’.” the medic explained. 

“Ok, I can give you a little, but not a lot.” Renée replied gravely. 

Saria picked up a small wooden crate filled with IV bottles, syringes, and a few syrette cases. 

“You can have this today. Do you want that?” Saria asked him. 

“Oui. You got plasma?” he questioned urgently. 

“A little. Are you a surgeon?” Renée queried. 

“No. We don’t got no surgeon.” he replied with a bit of sting behind his voice. 

Saria placed a handful of torn cloth into his crate, “What’s this?” he asked, holding up the bulk of cloth. 

“From the beds.” Saria replied. 

“What, sheets?” he clarified. 

“Yes, for bandages.” 

A look of shock appeared on the medic’s face as he stared at her. 

“It does the job.” Saria said with a soft smile and a shrug. 

He nodded, placing the bandages back in the crate. 

He stood tall before Renée and Saria when they were done packing the crate with supplies,  

“Merci.” he thanked in a low honeyed southern accent. 

“Prego.” Saria responded. 

The medic shot her a look of confusion, tilting his head studying her like a puzzle. 

“Comment vous appelez-vous? (What do you call yourself?)” the man asked Saria and Renée. 

Renée looked at him, then looked at Saria expectantly waiting for her to reply. 

“Go on, this is a perfect time to practice, mon ami. (my friend).” Renée encouraged Saria. 

Saria’s eyes flitted between Renée and the medic,  

“Uh-” was all Saria could manage until she heard Renée again. 

“Tu peux le faire, mon ami (You can do it, friend).”  

Saria took a deep breath, “Je m'appelle Rosaria Leone (My name is Rosaria Leone).”  

A smile tugged at the corners of the medic’s mouth. 

“My name is Renée.”  

“I’m Gene. Eugene Roe.” 

“Where are you from?” Renée asked Eugene. 

“Louisiana. Half-Cajun. Et toi? (And you?)” he returned. 

“Bastogne.” Renée answered. 

Eugene looked at Saria. 

“Chicago.” 

His eyes widened like a deer in the headlights. 

“Oh, I thought maybe you-” 

“No, I’m American. My parents were born in Tuscany, Italy.” Saria explained. 

“I see.” he discerned. 

There was a brief silence before he nodded at Saria then turned to follow Renée to the exit. 

“Arrivederci, Eugenio. (Goodbye, Eugene).” Saria called after him in Italian. 

Eugene turned while still walking away displaying a coy smile. 

After some time, Renée returned from showing Eugene out. Her cheeks were rosy, and she wore a subtle smile as she mindlessly stirred the boiling pot of bandages.

“Renée?” 

No response. 

“Renée?” Saria said again a little louder. 

Renée looked at her startled, “Oui?”  

Saria laughed, “You were gone for a good couple of minutes. Où étiez-vous? (Where were you?)” Saria stated. 

Renée smiled, “I caught up with our new friend to give him some chocolat.” 

“That was nice of you, Renée.” 

“You can see in his eyes he’s seen some awful things. He needed to be shown some kindness.” Renée explained. 

~~~~~~~ 

It wasn’t the last time Renée and Saria saw Eugene Roe. The second time he had visited, Renée and Saria were frantically trying to stop a soldier from bleeding out from his mid-section. As Saria tried to pack the wound where the source of the bleeding was while Gene had been wiping the blood away so she could see where the artery was. The soldier expired leaving Renée, Gene, and Saria disheartened and lost in their own thoughts.  

Saria sauntered towards the spiral staircase to the main entrance so she could go outside to get some air. Eventually, Renée and Eugene joined her. Saria sat by a pile of broken furniture in front of the church, with her face buried in her hands. Renée sat next to Saria draping an arm across her shoulders pulling her in for a side hug. 

“Ça va mon ami? (Are you alright, my friend?)” Renée asked. 

Saria only nodded; not even sure she really was ok. 

Eugene observed each of their hands. Saria’s hands, bruised with remanence of the soldier’s blood after failing to wash all of it off her knuckles and nails and Renée's hands bearing the same appearances. Renée pulled a new bar of chocolate from her apron pocket and began tearing away the paper.  

She broke off a section, nudging Saria, “Tiens, belle amie (Here, beautiful friend).” 

Saria accepted the chocolate, “Vous êtes trop gentil. (You’re too kind).” 

Renée offered Eugene the candy, but as he took it from her, he smiled. 

“What?” Renée asked. 

“Your hands.” Eugene gestured to her and Saria. Saria slowly looked up at him. 

“Our hands?” Renée reiterated. 

He nodded, “You’re good nurses.” he complimented. 

Renée looked at her hands, “No. I never want to treat another wounded man again. I’d rather work in a butcher’s shop.” 

Eugene’s eyebrows drew inward hearing her statement. 

“But your touch calms people.” he defended, “That’s a gift from God.” he added. 

Renée shook her head, “No, it’s not a gift,” she flipped her hands over to look at the back of them, “God would never give such a painful thing.” she proclaimed. 

“Renée, you don’t mean that.” Saria insisted. 

“Oh, mais je le fais, mon ami. (Oh, but I do, my friend).” Renee said with a weak smile. 

A jeep pulled up with yet another wounded soldier, “Nurse! Nurse! We need some help over here!” 

Renée looked over her shoulder, “Stay and rest awhile longer, mon ami. I’ll take care of this.” She said to Saria as she gave her an encouraging hug before she stood up and ran off. 

A moment of silence passed before Eugene spoke again. 

“Is that how you feel, too?” he asked her. 

Saria sighed, “No. I don’t.” she replied confidently shaking her head before meeting his gaze. 

“Glad to hear it.” he affirmed with a slight smile as he looked back down at the candy bar in his hand. 

Saria folded her hands in her lap. 

“Comment se porte ton français? (How’s your French coming along?)” Eugene quizzed her with a mischievous grin. 

Saria looked at him alarmed, and slightly embarrassed. She rubbed the back of her neck and began to blush. 

“Oh, uh-” she began, “-tellement, tellement (so, so.)” she replied. 

Eugene chuckled, “I've heard you do better than that.” he declared, “Tell me something new you’ve learned. Peut-être que je peux aider. (Maybe I can help.)” he offered. 

Saria felt heat rise from her collar. 

“Ce serait généreux de votre part, Eugène (That would be generous of you, Eugene),” she managed to say, “-merci.” 

“Prego.” Eugene answered modestly in Italian with a welcoming smile. 

Saria laughed aloud at his playful response. 

“Guess I could return the favor and teach you some Italian.” she suggested. 

“Sure.” Gene allotted. “Guess I’ll be heading back to the line then. See ya around, mon ami.” He stood and ran towards the jeep to hitch a ride. 

Saria watched the jeep speed off with Eugene in the front seat, saying a silent prayer to herself for him to be safe when he makes it to the front lines. 

~~~~~~~ 

Christmas Eve 1944 

The third run in with Eugene, he brought in an Easy Company soldier, with an IV already applied. As they carried him in setting him down onto a cot, the receiving medic, Jones, began hounding Gene for the man’s information. 

“Where’s his tag?” Jones looked all over the man’s person, then looked at Gene again, “Where’s his tag?” 

Eugene stared at his buddy lying on the cot unable to move. 

“What’s wrong with him?” Jones pushed. 

Eugene looked at him calmly, “Paralyzed.” he responded simply. 

“What?” Jones asked. 

Eugene sighed, “He’s paralyzed. Can’t feel a thing.” he clarified. 

Renée saw him from across the room, “Eugene?” 

Gene looked at her, his spirits lifted the moment he saw her smile. 

“Eugene.” Renée greeted him. 

“Renée-” he replied with frail delight in his voice. 

“Are you-” Renee started to ask before she was interrupted. 

“-Renée, I need some help over here!” Jones called from the back. 

“Are you all right?” Renée continued as she walked towards Eugene. 

“Renée! We need you!” Jones called again. 

She looked towards the rear of the church where Jones was then huffed in frustration. She met Gene’s disappointed expression, gave him an apologetic smile then scampered off. 

“Bonjour, Eugène.” Saria greeted. 

“Bonjour, Rosaria, mon ami. (Hello, Rosaria, my friend),” he returned with a fleeting smile. 

Saria looked Gene over, “You ok?”  

He met her concerned guise with soft tired eyes, “Oui.” he responded plainly. 

Saria gave his shoulder a reassuring squeeze, “Je suis toujours là, mon ami. (I’m always here, friend.)” Saria reassured him. 

He looked at her and nodded, “Merci, mon ami.” he replied managing a genuine smile. 

Saria returned a smile then proceeded past him. 

“Oh, and Eugene-” she called back to him. 

He turned to her. 

“Joyeux noël. (Merry Christmas.)” she projected somewhat cheerfully to him, sending him a wink before he could reply. 

Eugene smiled to himself, feeling that bit of warmth in his heart that he hadn’t felt in a long time. 

~~~~~~~ 

Eugene returned to the line, only to have to go back to Bastogne to bring LT Welsh to the aid station that night. Upon entering the town, everyone was in a panic, running to find cover from an imminent German air raid heading towards the town.  

Upon hearing the siren alerting the town of the attack, Renée and Saria began assisting the wounded who tolerated the ability to move to evacuate the church.  

On the other side of the town, Eugene could see the enemy aircraft approaching. He started to race towards the church to see if Renée, Saria, and Anna had been able to reach safety. As he sprinted towards the aid station, the bombers passed overhead releasing shells on every building in their wake until one hit the church, releasing a mushrooming blast from the steeple. Another bomber deploying a bigger explosive, shattered the foundation of the stone building, sending it to shambles to the ground below. 

Eugene stopped in his tracks, shielding his eyes from the piercing light from the blast. Frozen from shock and disbelief, his mind began piecing together the possibility that Renée, Saria, and Anna were still in the church during the bombing. To this thought, he began running again, pushing through the crowds to reach his friends. 

~~~~~~~ 

Eugene searched relentlessly for the three nurses. As dawn approached, he began to lose hope. He had asked everyone he bumped into if they had seen Renée, Saria, or Anna. Everyone he asked either hadn’t known the whereabouts of any medical personnel or had conflicting stories of who made it out or not.

Just when Eugene was ready to give up, he saw a familiar figure sitting on a pile of stones that had collapsed from the church. As he cautiously approached, he recognized the face of this young woman seated before him. 

“Rosaria?” He addressed the woman with strain behind his voice. 

Saria turned slowly; her bloodshot eyes met his hopeful face while tears trailed through the dirt on her cheeks. When she saw it was Eugene, her tear flow increased beyond her ability to see. 

“Eugene.” she gasped as she tried to stand to meet him. As she did, she lost her footing on the gravel. 

Eugene snaked his arms around her, pulling her into him so she wouldn’t fall forward. 

“Hey, now! Je t'ai eu (I got you).” he exclaimed. 

He helped her stand up right, pulling her square to him so he could talk to her. 

“Are you ok!?” he asked. 

“I-I’m alive.” Saria stuttered. 

Eugene kneaded her shoulders with his hands. 

“Et Renée? (And Renée?) Anna?” he dared to ask holding Saria steady by the shoulders. 

Saria looked away from Eugene and began to sniffle. Eugene waited. 

She reached into her pocket, pulling out a blue head scarf and handed it to him. He took it from her, realizing it was the same one that Renée had worn. 

He stared at the blue cloth in his hand as everything began to sink in. 

“We-” Saria tried to explain but her overwhelming anguish had her struggling to speak, “-we were evacuating as many men as we could. Renée had----gone back inside to find Anna right before the first shell dropped on the church-”  

Eugene redirected his eyes onto Saria. He swallowed hard, biting back the tears he felt building up. 

“When the first bomb hit, I tried to go in to get her...then the second one hit blocking the entrance to the church. I couldn’t get to them, Eugene.” Saria whispered, staring over his shoulder reliving the horrific scene as if it was replaying in front of her on a movie screen. 

She started to shake her head, “If I had only gotten there sooner-” 

“No,” Gene placed a hand on each side of her face bringing her attention to him, “what happened to Renée and Anna is not your fault. You hear me?”  

Saria’s tears spilled over like waterfalls.  

He pulled her into his chest, allowing her to sob into his jacket as he stroked her hair. 

“Ssshhh,” Gene soothed, “Je suis là, belle amie. Je suis là (I’m right here, beautiful friend. I’m here.)” 

~~~~~~~

[burstfoot]

OPENS DOOR VIOLENTLY

Fandom: Arknights Number: 9 ("Which characters I think should have interacted more in canon")

Ship: Ptilopsis/Silence Number: 12 ("About three of the scenes that make me have feelings and (if available) find the gifs (well screenshots here lol) that underline my point.")

Character: Dorothy Number: 10 ("If I liked them immediately or if it took a while before I warmed up to their character. Alternatively, if I disliked them immediately or if they lost my trust as their story progressed.")

Thank you for the ask!!! And also thank you for including the questions with the numbers LOL I immediately forgot every single question as soon as i looked away from the ask game post Fandom: 9. Okay well first off I would be doing a disservice if I didn't mention Fiammetta and Exusiai who have tiptoed around interacting for 4 years despite being in an event together and being both directly tied to Lemuen and Mostima, their dynamic could be REALLY interesting and I would love to see them both talk about how Laterano treated them. Why is Exu in Fia's skin btw. Who at HG put that apple pie there. Adding this on to the end because I dont want this question to be the Fiammetta show but she also should've interacted more with Mostima in Guide Ahead, their dynamic is the most interesting part of that event to me & I feel like it gets suprisingly little screen time compared to the angel boys I need Mayer to show up in the Rhine plotline to interact with Silence again and maybe Ifrit or Ptilopsis, I loved her interactions with Silence in Mansfield and it feels like she's sort of fallen to the wayside with all the new plot points and characters. As a whole a Mansfield follow up for the non Rhine Family characters would be greatly appreciated, I wanna see Robin and Kafka interact more too I also want Aosta, Broca and Chiave to interact with Vigil or Penance in whatever follows up on Siracusano, I really need to see the dynamic between those three goofballs that got kicked out of Siracusa and daddy's boy Leon and law-obsessed Lavinia And for one final crackship mention I think Honeyberry and Cantabile should get some screentime together.... I think Honeyberry helping Cantabile get over her trauma response to the metal crabs and All That which happens in her backstory would be really cute... Ship: 12: Well I would be remiss not to mention THE cutest moment in the manwha that everyone's seen

But also the moment of the two of them holding hands after the RL staff start insulting Joyce and Olivia for being infected & Saria steps in to defendd them

All of the moments of them being physically affectionate in the manwha are really precious to me and its really sad that we don't see either of them be that affectionate in the present timeline chapters... the Crisis really hurt them... Even before the Manwha I really like their interactions in Silence's operator record where we see how she met and started taking care of Joyce when she joined RL, this moment in particular

Also this section from DV literally makes me cry every single time I read it wehhh ;-;

Character: 10 I think I already had a predisposition to liking Dorothy because I started playing when Dorothy's Vision was in event limbo and everyone was posting about waiting for her and making jokes about her being CN-exclusive , so I was really excited for her event and saved to pull for her (I still don't have her D:) As I was going through DV though and the truth about her experiments was slowly revealed I started to lose trust in her and definetely started to dislike her for her actions a little bit but by the time it's revealed what her motivations are and her backstory of being from a pioneer family it really didn't take me that long to forgive her and go right back to loving her again (Her design is also really great thank you jackknife <3)

[fanelectricboogieloo]

“who needs the master sword when you got the master plan?” doodle of Egg-link and Metal Saria.

[arainmorn-art]

I'm in a mood to talk about my art As I still have this artist ask .

1. Show your most recent wip

2. 5 favourites of your own work?

Hmmmmmmmmmm. That's a tough question. I guess we should exclude Deciphering x)

This spread page from Facade. It was cathartic to draw.

Steelhooves sketch portrait from 2015, Fallout Equestria fanart. I still don't know how I made this undead ghoul eye so cool only with white marker and felt pens x)

My old OCs, Bates and Luvi. The longest project of my own, about 10 years in the making - aaaaaaaaaaand if I'll return to it, there should be tons and tons of revisions.

Another OC, a chubby android girl Genivieve

Centaur deer 3. Least favourite things to draw?

Legs, ugh. I try to draw them as quick as possible and stop thinking about them.

4. Favourite things to draw? Answered it twice already: bing and bang

5. Anything you haven’t drawn yet but want to?

Actually it would be nice to draw a classic medieval fantasy. I also like an idea about drawing Slavic folklore.

6. Which artists inspire you right now? Oh gosh, Riccardo Federici. This man, oh, he is a master of academic classic drawing and painting in dark fantasy comic book. Just take a look at his Saria series.

7. Favourite works of all time excluding your own?

Ooooooooh man, this question is even worse. I love so many artists... okay, let's try to find out. ...And I think I know what I should show you. Art is not only pictures, isn't it? - Arcanum OST

Words can not describe how much I love this OST. I love the game too, of course, but gosh, this music. This somber feeling of a slow dying. Echoes of a long gone past. Faces, feelings, thoughts lost in time. It takes your heart, fills it with a fading magic and crumbles it in its old metal hand.

- The Longest Journey I love this game to death. I played it when I was 15 for the first time - and since then I replay it almost every year. It's magical. I don't care how old it is, I don't like sequels, I hate what creators made with my beloved April - this game is so deep in my heart it will never go away. I love it with a burning passion.

8. What do you like most about your own work?

Answered it here

9. What are you currently trying to improve?

I really should improve my anatomy, but it's soooooooo boring to me. What I'm currently improving is background painting. I work as concept artist right now, so I need it.

10. What’s that one thing that inspired you to make drawing your consistant hobby?

That one thing... Creating a feeling in my art - and sharing this feeling with others. There also is a storytelling, but, I guess, feeling comes first.

Other 13 questions will be next time.

[wouldntyou-liketoknow]

Day 5: Drain

(Disclaimer: none of the characters here belong to me. Celine and Damien belong to the Markiplier Cinematic Universe. The star of this story, Fenwyn, is an oc of the awesome @saria-the-phoenix. I learned about Fenwyn during an RP game that Saria and I used to play; unfortunately, life happened, new ideas took over my brain, and that RP was never really concluded. I wrote this fic as an apology for that.)

(Trigger Warnings: blood, gore, bones, animal death, knives/blades, descriptions of ritual, implied tampering. Please let me know if I missed anything.)

Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 6 Day 7 Day 8 Day 9 Day 10 Day 11 Day 12 Day 13

Fenwyn felt air rushing through her fur, felt her heart and lungs threatening to bash their way through her ribcage, felt the speed of the world under her feet. 

Up ahead, the elk was a blur as it galloped, its breath coming out in frantic, wheezing huffs. 

She wasn’t sure how much time had passed since she’d found the elk in the first palace, since she’d begun to stalk it, since it’d eventually noticed her and started running. It felt like she’d been in pursuit of her prey for an hour or two.

It wasn’t that she’d been dragging this out. Sure, she loved hunting as much as any other lycan, but that didn’t mean she was a sadist. The elk was simply terrified and stubborn; survival instinct was just as strong in animals as it was in humans, if not more so. The elk couldn’t exactly be blamed for not wanting to die. 

And if it was being chased by normal wolves, then it might’ve had a chance to get away.

But that wouldn’t be happening. 

Fenwyn was a lot of things, but a normal wolf wasn’t one of them. Aside from that, she had an arrangement to hold up her side of.

She let her jaw drop open as she forced herself to run even faster than before. The elk didn’t glance over its shoulder at her, but a voice in her head swore that it was aware of how the gap between them was shrinking. 

Seconds passed, and Fenwyn was close enough to risk getting a swift kick to the nose. Even if the elk had been consciously trying to strike her, it wouldn’t have mattered. Fenwyn leapt forward, her forepaws—which, while looking very much like any other wolf’s, were adorned by opposable thumbs—outstretched to pull the elk’s hindlegs out from under it. 

Despite how large normal wolves could be, it would’ve taken a huge amount of effort for them to kill something like an elk. It would’ve taken an entire pack biting and clawing and tearing as one in order to make a hunt successful. 

For lycans, however, hunting was a bit easier. They still naturally worked together in groups, but they also tended to grow to the same size as horses, if not larger. So, that certainly had its advantages.

The elk let out a keening shriek as it came toppling to the ground, immediately trying to get back up as its pursuer came to loom over it. Its cries were cut short as Fenwyn, in one swift, fluid movement, drove her claws deep into the center of its chest. For good measure, she sank her teeth into one of its shoulders. Blood gushed out, trickling along her tongue and down her greedy throat. More oozed between her digits, slick and warm.

Though muscles in its back and legs twitched, the elk was dead before its head came to rest on the forest floor. Out of instinct, Fenwyn shook her head, forcing the fresh corpse to lightly shudder side to side

Her eyes almost fluttered shut in response to the salty, metallic flavor of fresh meat. It’d been too damn long since she’d gotten to catch a meal like this.

. . .Of course, this elk wasn’t supposed to be a meal for her. Not all of it, at least. 

With that in mind, Fenwyn unlatched her jaws from the elk’s shoulder. She eased her grip around its chest before lowering herself onto the grass, shoulders squared, neck craned. She ducked her head, hefting the corpse onto her back, its limp legs dangling over her shoulders. She caught one of the antlers in her maw; she could’ve snapped it like a celery stalk, but she applied just enough pressure to hold the elk steady. 

Fenwyn started trotting back the way she came, the dull weight now piled up on her back not slowing her down at all. Her pulse was still struggling to calm down.

Crickets, cicadas, nocturnal birds. . .they’d all gone silent when she’d made the killing blow. But now, as the elk’s dying call had officially stopped echoing, the animalistic chorus was slowly but surely starting up again. 

Fenwyn knew which scent to follow, so she was able to gaze up as she ambled along.  Small shapes flitted through the air above—bats soaring after mosquitos and other insects to fill their little bellies. 

There were varying amounts of space between the trees here, so this forest lacked a canopy. This allowed soft light to stream down, to cast long shadows here and there. The stars resembled diamonds that had been painstakingly sewn into a black velvet tapestry. 

But that had almost nothing on the moon. It was full tonight, so it glowed like a pearl against oil. As Fenwyn stared up, up, up at it, its silvery craters almost seemed to be moving in place, like it was a liquid being stirred. 

It was so, so, so beautiful. 

She wanted to wrap her claws around the moon and coax it out of the sky and. . .Well, if she was honest, then she wasn’t quite sure what she would do with the moon in her grasp. One part of her would probably want to swallow it up, and another part would beg her to just curl around it and bathe in its glow forever. . .

“There’s something you don’t see every day,” a familiar voice called. “Prey getting piggyback from predator.” 

Fenwyn flinched, blinking as her meditation promptly fell apart. She tore her eyes away from the night sky, now focusing on the voice’s direction. She’d just barely returned to the center of Whitacre Woods. A Pierce-Arrow Model 66 was parked on the opposite edge of this clearing.

About ten feet away, sticks had been piled up in a makeshift firepit; the same one she’d helped to dig out earlier. Flames licked up at the cast-iron pot that hung from a sturdy tripod. Celine was pacing around it, carefully prodding the kindling with a long metal poker. The way the fire reflected against her eyes made them look even more piercing than usual. 

Fittingly enough, the shawl draped around her shoulders was a deep shade of red. 

“This is more efficient than just dragging,” Fenwyn replied as she wandered closer. She released the elk’s antler and rolled her shoulders, letting the elk hit the ground with a dull thud.

It’d been a few months since Celine had discovered Fenwyn’s secret, since she’d revealed her own inhuman nature to Fenwyn, since the two of them had made a fateful deal. 

Celine had continued to study the supernatural entities that always seemed to be popping up on campus grounds for whatever reason—now with Fenwyn’s assistance. 

It wasn’t always a perfect arrangement, of course. 

On one hand, Fenwyn couldn’t deny how amazing it’d been to see some of the things Celine had shown her. 

A couple wisps here, the odd wraith there. The ghosts of animals and humans alike (some had been intelligent; talkative, even, polite as they were ominous. Others had been silent, staring with pale, lifeless eyes almost as curious as those of a newborn infant). She and Celine had even discovered that one of their classmates was a revenant (who, through some trial and error, they’d helped to fully move on and rest).

On the other hand, however. . .

Well, Fenwyn could’ve gone her whole life without seeing a faerie turn himself inside-out just to prove that he could. And she certainly hadn’t appreciated having to tiptoe around everything in her dorm room after the furniture in the Student Lounge had been possessed by a few foulmouthed yokai. 

And that was just the start of all the ungodly nonsense she’d gotten mixed up in.

But that didn’t change how Celine hadn’t gone back on her word at all.

She’d refrained from summoning anything to the university herself. 

She’d kept Fenwyn’s secrets closely-guarded.

Hell, she’d been the one to tell Fenwyn about Whitacre Woods being a mere twenty minute drive from the university (furthermore, she’d  helped Fenwyn find a more secluded route to the forest so she could shift in peace). 

That wasn’t exactly something Fenwyn could afford to ignore. . .

Celine hummed in response, setting the poker aside as she examined the elk. She squinted at the fur of the elk’s chest, which was now very much saturated with blood. 

“It’s already bled out a bit,” she murmured. 

“Is that a problem?” Fenwyn inquired as she stretched. The burning ache in her arms and legs was a good kind of ache, but she’d be sore tomorrow if she just left the tension stay in her muscles.

“No, not really. Anyone who hires a lycan to hunt and doesn’t expect the haul to be bloody is some kind of idiot,” Celine reassured. “There’ll still be enough for me to work with.” 

The bag she typically carried around campus lay just a few feet away from the firepit. As Celine knelt down to rummage through it, she pronounced, “The carcass needs to be drained. Can you hold it over the pot, please?” 

Fenwyn nodded, then reared up to stand in a more bipedal position, the joints in her legs popping and clicking.

She took hold of the elk’s hind legs, dragging it closer to the firepit before raising it up. She had to maneuver it carefully; she might have been towering (now the same height as a grizzly bear), but the elk was still quite a large animal. Its head hung limply, the tips of its antlers touching the ground. 

Celine came to stand opposite of Fenwyn, now handling a large knife. It caught the firelight, making the odd symbols that had been carved into its wicked blade gleam. She reached across, one hand coming to rest on the back of the elk’s neck while the other pushed her knife forward. 

A chill ran down Fenwyn’s spine. She peered down at Celine, and although her eyes stung as the smoke met them, she couldn’t blink. For whatever reason, she felt the need to hold her breath. 

Slowly, calculatingly, Celine drew the blade across the elk’s throat. 

A soft, slick, fleshy sigh was almost drowned out by the crackling of the fire. 

Even with the light, the blood almost looked black. Fenwyn almost expected it to come spraying out, but considering the elk’s heart was no longer pumping it, the blood simply oozed down the elk’s chin, sizzling as soon as it flowed into the pot.

“Remind me why you needed a dead elk, again?” Fenwyn asked, trying to ignore how her ears flattened, how her nostrils flared. The scent of blood was rich for a second or two. . .but then it mixed with the stench of smoke. Which did not make a pleasant bouquet.

“Well, every part of the specimen can have multiple uses. Blood can be the easiest part to remove, so, it comes first,” Celine explained, not taking her eyes off of the viscous, slow-moving fluid as she reached back into her bookbag to produce a handful of bleeding-heart flowers. She quickly tore the blooms to pieces, which she then sprinkled into the pot. “This will just be part of a larger brew.” 

“For. . ?” Fenwyn clicked her tongue and rolled her eyes, but still chose not to directly announce that her question hadn’t been answered. 

“For one of the Humanities professors,” Celine continued, picking the poker back up and using its blunt end to stir the blood and shredded petals. “Because, aside from being generally incompetent, he hasn’t been treating Damien fairly at all.” 

Fenwyn’s movement was sharp as she tilted her head to the side, her wide eyes filled with a combination of fear and frustration. She knew which teacher Celine was talking about, and she considered herself very lucky for not having to attend his course. She also knew that Damien hadn’t had that same luck. 

An ember of sadness manifested in her heart at the memory of Damien venting to her about being mocked in the middle of class one day. She remembered the confusion and anger in his eyes, the disbelief in his voice as he theorized about the awful reasons as to why that particular professor had singled him out for thinly-veiled insults and outrageous marks on his assignments. 

However, protectiveness over friends didn’t necessarily mean condoning potential torture. 

Celine definitely felt Fenwyn’s glare, because she huffed a sigh and glanced up at her, raising an eyebrow. “Oh, relax. This isn’t going to kill him. It’ll just make him violently sick for a week or two, that’s all.” She glanced at the wide, wet smile in the elk’s throat—no longer draining, merely dripping now—and added, “That’s about as much blood as I’m going to get, by the way.”

“You realize how risky using a potion can be,” Fenwyn mentioned as she set the elk’s carcass down and dropped back onto all fours. 

“Obviously, since I’m working on more than one right now.” Celine nodded, moving around the firepit to get down on her knees beside the elk, dragging her bookbag with her. “I haven’t been caught yet, have I?”

Although Fenwyn stayed silent, she couldn’t stop a slight snarl from etching its way across her muzzle. She paced around the elk, giving Celine a bit of a wide berth. 

Celine shifted the knife in her hand, then began dragging it about the elk’s side. The incisions left in her wake soon created a rather complex pattern. She chewed her lip as she worked, peering over at Fenwyn. 

“. . .Even if they could link my projects back to me,” Celine said softly, “it wouldn’t put you in any danger. I always take care of any evidence that might lead to you.” 

Fenwyn slowed her movements, pawing at the ground in thought. Celine had respected her terms, so Fenwyn needed to keep respecting hers. It was only right. 

In spite of all the things she’d gotten mixed up in that were solidly on the more horrific side of the spectrum, she couldn’t deny how good of a choice it was to work with Celine. If that one run-in had never happened, if Fenwyn were still trying to stay under the radar all on her own. . .

There was a chance that she’d still be safe, if not stressed and exhausted more than half the time. But there was also a chance that she could’ve been discovered by someone a lot less reasonable than Celine.

With that in mind, Fenwyn sighed in the way only beasts could, finally curling up on the ground a few feet away from the witch. “You really have no idea how much I appreciate that.”

A small smile graced Celine’s lips. “I might someday. We’ll just have to find out.”

Fenwyn hummed, resting her head on her forelegs. . .

Only to jolt in place at the sound of Celine hissing out a few words set in a language that was very much not English. In response, the elk’s carcass twitched once, twice. Then, the pattern she’d sliced in its hide took on an oily glow. Right before both the witch and the lycan’s eyes, with a very odd, rubbery, stretching noise, the elk’s skin effectively crawled off of its body. The elk’s clammy, red-stained muscles and fat were left exposed to open air, glistening against the firelight. 

While her voice was deeper and raspier than the voice she spoke with in her more human form, it still felt embarrassingly high-pitched when Fenwyn whispered, “. . .why. . ?”

“Oh, bone marrow can work wonders for migraine or insomnia remedies.” Celine shrugged, looking supremely unbothered by what she’d just done. “Skinning a carcass can typically take an hour or two. This method is much faster, don’t you think?”

“Couldn’t you have just taken the marrow from the antlers?” Fenwyn asked, unable to stop staring at the ribbons of flesh now lying on the grass. 

“I guess I could’ve,” Celine agreed, not pausing as she started cleaving layers of flesh from the elk’s chest, slowly but surely getting closer and closer to its ribcage. 

Fenwyn subconsciously clawed at the ground, trying to suppress a shudder as Celine explained how and why bones that were usually encased in flesh tended to make more effective materials. . .

@saria-the-phoenix @sammys-magical-au

[lykieu]

Saria takes the long way across the plains, heated dunes melting into the horizon. Orange streak above the clouds. Open air and endless sky. Truly feels like freedom.

Music crackles through speakers filled with dust, bass trembling against their knees within the metal cage of an old van. Muelsyse hums along anyway. Insists it brings the mood up, though she thinks she just likes the way Saria's ears train to her voice, instinctively searching. She won't lie about this: she enjoys the attention. Plays for it. Teases for it. But when the veil is lifted and the sun is setting across sweat-stained skin that's marked and scarred yet younger than they've ever known... It's not quite the same.

She's reaching out, braver every day, tracing a delicate line down Saria's temple, right by her ear. Calloused hands clench against the steering wheel, surprise deftly hidden. The faintest flinch. Oh, Muelsyse enjoys it a lot.

Her eyes on Saria.

Saria's eyes ahead.

They speak of home and work and responsibilities but... Here, just maybe, this could be something. This could be okay. Open air and endless sky. Saria leans in imperceptibly, murmuring under her breath. Something easy and everything soft. Something so new and very frightening. Muelsyse brushes her thumb through silver hair. It sinks smoothly, like water trickling, water skimming across the parched earth of Saria's walls. If she doesn't think too much at all, she knows she could make it through the fissures, swimming for as long as it takes.

If she doesn't think at all, she could almost imagine being happy.

[digitalsatyr23]

Ocarina of Time Fanfic (Ch6)

Saria, Hero of the Forest Chapter 6: Sharpening Our Blades Characters: Saria, Impa, Sheik, Malon, Talon…

Saria began her training under Impa alongside the mysterious boy, Sheik. While Poppy watched from afar, Saria performed a number of strenuous tasks to help increase her strength, endurance, and agility – all without the help of the Goron’s Bracelet. When questioned, Impa explained that it was important to be able to take care of yourself and not rely on your gear (the bracelet multiplied one’s strength anyway so it would still prove beneficial later on). Saria had to walk tightropes with a basket of rocks on her back, hold her breath for longer and longer periods while completely submerged in the pond, as well as play “games” of stealth where she was struck with a rod anytime she was detected. There were normal exercises too, such as running laps around the village, push-ups, pull-ups, and hanging sit-ups. Of course, even ordinary exercises were pushed to their extreme.

So that’s why she’s so muscular, thought Saria. Impa must have done this all the time in her youth.

Every once and a while, Impa would take things up a notch and make Saria and Sheik run an obstacle course. This course ran all throughout the village, with such things as swinging metal balls, spiked fences that could be raised higher and higher with a turn-crank, trap doors disguised as normal ground that could open up at any time, and many other dangerous devices. Injury from the obstacles was punishment for failure. Impa didn’t get involved if someone was injured during the obstacle course, either, at least not until both Saria and Sheik had either made it across the finish line or were unable to continue.

Despite the harsh nature of Impa’s training, she was not completely heartless. She had a large supply of healing medicine on hand to treat any injuries sustained during training. Even so, Impa did everything she could to push Saria to her breaking point. Saria had to become faster, stronger, more agile, and more cunning every day or learn a new lesson in pain. The training was grueling and left her body aching every day, but Saria refused to give up. There was too much at stake.

“Two minutes, fifteen seconds. You shaved off a few seconds, Saria. Good work,” said Impa. The Kokiri, struggling to catch her breath, merely nodded her head. Impa continued, saying, “That will be all for today. Get some rest, you two.”

Then Impa disappeared. When training concluded for the day, Saria and Sheik had the village all to themselves, since Impa had to attend to other duties. Typically Saria would bathe and rest, or sometimes step outside and hang out in Kakariko Village, but she decided to check on Sheik first.

“What was your time?” asked Saria. “You’re always ahead of me, so it’s hard to tell.”

Sheik, who was sitting on the edge of a small cliff above a dirt path, said, “One minute and thirty-eight seconds,” solemnly.

“Wow, that’s fast!” said Poppy, joining the two. Sheik shook his head at this.

“It may be fast compared to your time, but I haven’t improved for a while. I’ve plateaued, as they say. I’m not sure I have what it takes to become a Sheikah. That’s what Impa says, anyway…”

“Oh, what does she know! I bet it’s been years since she’s run this course!”

“Did she keep record of her times from her youth?” asked Saria as she sat next to Sheik.

“One minute and twenty-five seconds.”

Thirteen seconds. It seemed like a small number at a glance, but Saria had seen Sheik traverse the obstacle course again and again throughout the week she had been training beside him. The way he slipped through barriers, hopped fences, and ran without making a sound was incredible. Each run through the course was nothing short of perfection, and yet there was still such a wide gap between mentor and student…

“It’s okay. You’ll make it there someday,” said Saria. “You may even surpass Impa.”

“How can you be so sure?” asked Sheik.

With a smile, Saria said, “Maybe it’s just intuition, but you’re already this capable at such a young age. I’m certain you’ll go far.”

Sheik gripped his knees with his bandaged hands. “I… I do not understand.”

“You don’t have to,” said Poppy. “Just have a little faith in yourself!”

“Faith, is it?”

Sheik looked out across the village. It was midday, though there were enough clouds in the sky to cover the village in shade. A soft, chilling wind blew through the air, making the sweat clinging to Saria feel cold. She took a drink from a waterskin then held it towards Sheik.

“Thirsty?”

The red-eyed boy looked at the waterskin for a moment before accepting the offer, pulling down the cloth covering most of his face to drink. He was a handsome boy. Saria suspected he’d be very popular back in her village.

After Sheik gave Saria her waterskin back, Saria asked, “Have you always been training under Impa, or is this something new?”

“I’ve been training with Impa since I was physically able to,” said Sheik. “It’s been six, no, seven years I think.”

“Since you were that young? But why?” asked Poppy.

“I’m to be Impa’s replacement. I must be ready to defend the Royal Family with my life as other Sheikah have in the past.” Sheik paused for a moment, looking in the direction of the village entrance. “You’ve probably wondered why Impa and I are the only ones left. I was told that before I was born, there was a great war that threatened to consume all of Hyrule. The Sheikah before me died protecting the Royal Family – including my parents. Their bodies are buried in the graveyard of Kakariko. Surely you understand why I worry so. If I can’t live up to the Sheikah name after Impa retires, the clan will disappear. All their sacrifices, all their history… It’ll be nothing but a memory.”

Hearing this, Saria said, “Sheik… I understand why it’s important to you, but if you put too much pressure on yourself to succeed, the stress will wear you out faster than the training. You’ve got to relax and clear your head.”

“Do we even have time to relax? Just because Impa believes we have a month doesn’t make it true. Ganondorf could show up any day now with his warriors and monsters, and if he takes the castle, then what? Do I give my life to protect the Royal Family, or do I…?”

“What? What’s wrong?”

Sheik stood up. “I’ve been thinking. Have the Sheikah always served a specific family, or is it merely the family who holds power in Hyrule? Will a day come when I have to serve Ganondorf?”

Saria stood up as well, taking Sheik by their hands. “That will never happen. Not as long as I’m around. And even if Ganondorf takes over, you don’t have to follow tradition. Your life is your own.”

Sheik pulled his hands away, stepping back and turning around. “Is it, though?”

After that, Sheik walked away – likely to wash up, as they tended to after training. Saria would have to wait her turn to use the bath.

Saria collapsed onto her back, finding it difficult to stand. Poppy fluttered over in a panic, but Saria waved her away.

“I’ll be fine. I just wish I could help them. They must feel so trapped.”

Poppy laid on her back next to the Kokiri and said, “I can’t say I blame him. Pressure like that would drive me crazy!” Poppy then turned onto her side, resting her head in her hand. “Do you think he has any friends? I’ve never seen him leave this place before.”

“If he does, he likely uses a disguise of some kind. I get the feeling Impa wants the truth of her successor to be kept secret.” Saria looked over to Poppy. “And that means we can’t tell anyone about him as well.”

“W-whaaaa, why are you looking at me that way? I wasn’t going to say anything… Probably… Plus there aren’t many kids in Kakariko anyway, except for the boy who hangs out in the graveyard all day.”

Saria chuckled at Poppy’s reaction before falling silent and staring up at the sky. Grey clouds moved overhead with the promise of rain. If Impa’s prediction was correct, they still had lots of time to prepare. But if Impa was wrong…

“I’ll be his friend.”

“What?” asked Poppy.

“If he doesn’t have any, I’ll be his friend. Carrying such a burden alone must be exhausting… But if we shared it together, maybe it wouldn’t be so bad.”

“I’m not sure I understand, but far be it from me to tell you what to do. It’s not like you’ve listened to me since we left the forest.”

Somehow, Saria couldn’t help but burst out laughing. She grabbed Poppy and hugged her to her chest.

“H-hey! What’s the big idea!”

“I’m sorry, Poppy. Even if it seems like I don’t listen, I always consider your words carefully. And I’m here for you as well if you need me. We’re in this together, right?”

Poppy stopped struggling and relented, like a helpless kitten in an affectionate baby’s arms. “Geez… Of course we’re in this together. You’re all I have.”

Saria smiled warmly at this. “You as well, my friend. I’m glad I met you.”

The pair shared a tender moment together while waiting for their turn with the bath. Once Sheik was finished and its waters were drained, Saria filled it back up, put more wood in the fire beneath it, then soaked the pain away. In times like these, moments of respite were worth their weight in rupees.

---

Training continued into the next week. One day, Impa took Saria aside to speak with her.

“What is it, Impa? Am I doing something wrong?” asked Saria.

“Not exactly. Your training has been going well, I think. You’ve been improving steadily each day. No, this is about something that happened in Castle Town.”

Saria froze stiff, her eyes slowly meeting with Impa’s. “Heard about that, did you?”

“Is there a reason you think I wouldn’t?”

“So much time passed since then, I had hoped so…”

Impa shook her head. “Just to be sure, why don’t you tell me what happened. You’ve proven to be level-headed thus far, so even I was surprised when I heard about it.”

Saria explained herself, telling Impa about how she and her friend were cornered and threatened, their initial escape, the discovery of the trapped fairies, and how the merchant used the guards to make things difficult for them. In the end, Saria and her friend had had enough and dealt with things in their own way. After Saria was done, Impa had a subtle scowl on her face, like the way one’s face scrunches up after hearing a bad joke.

“I had heard rumors of that merchant, but I didn’t realize he was so crooked. I suppose when you have to focus on the politics of the kingdom, little things slip past you every now and then.”

“So you’re not mad?”

“Of course I’m mad. It was a foolish thing to do, especially given the tense climate we’re in. You attacked guards.” Saria tensed up, unsure what would happen next. Impa then said, “Still, it’s not like I blame you for your actions. My knowledge of fairies and what they were like was scant indeed before you came around. I suspect few others saw fairies as people.”

“So what now?”

“Well you’ve racked up quite the fine after everything you did, and I intend you pay it back in full.”

“What! But you said you didn’t blame Saria for what she did!” shouted Poppy.

“It would be troublesome if Saria couldn’t go back to Castle Town if I needed her to. Besides, I may not be a member of the guards, but I can’t have you flagrantly ignoring laws and doing as you please in a town we should be protecting.”

Saria hung her head low. “All right… What would you have me do?”

“I got a job for you on Lon Lon Ranch. When you’re not training, you’ll be helping the ranchers.” Impa smiled at the Kokiri. “That’s not a problem, right?”

Saria’s eyes lit up and she shook her head. “Not at all!”

“I’ve also done some thinking. With that merchant’s behavior, I can’t allow him to keep doing business in town. There’s no telling what trouble he’d get up to in the future. So if you earn enough rupees, maybe we can set up a new shop. Maybe even a Kokiri-run shop?”

“You really mean it?” Impa nodded, and Saria hugged the Sheikah. There was an awkward silence as Saria realized what she had done, and she let go, backing away slowly. “Ha ha… Sorry.”

The Sheikah sighed. “You Kokiri really are something. Alive for so many years, and you still act like children.” Impa looked across the village at Sheik, who was still hard at work training. “Maybe we could learn a thing or two from you.”

“So when do I start?” asked Saria.

“Today after training. That’s not a problem, is it?”

“Not at all.”

“Good. Then let’s make the most of today.”

Saria returned to training, feeling a sense of relief. While she suspected she’d be even more tired than usual in the coming days, knowing she’d be beside a friend gave her great comfort. But then it occurred to her that Sheik would be by himself on those days. Saria decided to broach the question at the end of training.

“You want Sheik to join you? Why?” asked Impa.

“I thought it could be a good opportunity for… Training. After all, working on a ranch is physically taxing, isn’t it?”

“And you don’t want an advantage over me. Is that it?” asked Sheik.

Impa – who likely saw through Saria – shook her head. “We’re training in secret for a reason. It’s one thing if you go out to work on the ranch, but it’s another thing entirely for Sheik to leave. However… If you were to assume a new identity when outside of this village, the work could prove beneficial for your training.”

“Then Sheik can join me?” asked Saria.

“Only if Sheik wants to.”

The young boy crossed his arms and closed his eyes in thought. After a few seconds, he nodded. “I’m curious what this ranch is like, as I’ve never been. I’ll join you.”

Saria jumped in excitement, hugging Sheik tight. Even behind his face covering, Sheik could be seen blushing.

“H-hey! Who said you could do that?”

“Ah, sorry. Bad habit I picked up on,” said Saria.

“I hope hugs aren’t a problem,” said Poppy, “because there’ll be a lot more of that on the ranch.”

“Really? Why?”

“Oh you’ll find out once you meet her…”

Sheik gulped, but then said, “That shouldn’t be a problem. It will be a good opportunity to practice defending against grab attacks.”

Saria imagined a scenario where Malon hugged Sheik from behind, only for him to throw the girl over his shoulder and slam her into the ground.

“Ha ha… Try not to take things too seriously, okay?”

After that, Saria and Sheik washed up. By the time they were done, Impa had prepared new clothes for them. They were overalls with undershirts and sturdy boots – dark and light green for Saria, blue and white for Sheik. Sheik was also given a straw hat. After thanking Impa, the pair slipped out of the hidden village and graveyard, through the shadowy outskirts of Kakariko Village, then across the fields to Lon Lon Ranch. After passing through the initial entrance, the pair found themselves between a pair of buildings just next to a fenced-in field and racetrack. Instead of Talon or Malon, the first person Saria saw was a total stranger. She suspected he was one of the ranch hands. He was tall, and outside a bit of stomach pudge, he was pretty scrawny. He had hairy arms, thick eyebrows, a mustache, wore pink and green, and had a harsh look in his eyes.

“Um… Excuse me…” said Saria, approaching the man.

“I can’t believe it,” the man grumbled to himself while working. “I, the great Ingo, am stuck on this dump of a ranch doing all the work myself! Talon said there would be another worker here today, but I haven’t seen them! What a joke. I, the hard-working Ingo, should be in charge, not that lazy bum, Talon!” It was then that the man turned towards Saria and Sheik, nearly jumping out of his skin. “Aah! How long have you two been there?!”

“Not too long, thankfully…” Saria sighed. “If you’re finished, we’re actually here to help. I was hoping to talk to Talon. Have you seen him?”

“He’s in his house over there,” Ingo pointed. “You shouldn’t have trouble finding him. He hardly moves all day…”

“Let’s get this over with, then,” said Sheik, walking past everyone. Saria was quick to join him, but as she walked away, Ingo spoke up.

“Say… Are you two really going to help out around here?”

“As long as you’re okay with it,” said Saria.

“Oh, of course, of course. It’s no trouble at all. If you have any questions, be sure to come to me first.”

The Kokiri smiled and said, “All right. Thank you, Ingo.”

Saria joined Sheik inside the ranch home. She was immediately greeted by the sight of over a dozen cuccos running around the house. There was even a cucco on Sheik’s head, flapping its wings and cawing. Despite this, Sheik remained ever the bastion of calm, their arms crossed and gaze intense. Resting on the ground with his back against a table, Talon was snoozing the day away. Saria tried to wake him, but she couldn’t, so Sheik flicked the man’s forehead.

“What the! Oh, Saria? Is that you? I didn’t expect you by so soon! And who’s this lad?”

Saria turned to Sheik who said, “My name is… Marth.”

“Marth? That’s an interesting name. Where are you from, Marth?”

“Kakariko Village.”

“I see! When I was told I could get a new ranch hand, I didn’t expect to get two for the price of one!” The man laughed out loud before saying, “I’m kidding, of course. As long as you two put in the work, you’ll both be getting paid.” Talon then stood up, dusted himself off, then made his way to the front door. “Let me introduce you to the others and show you what you’ll be doing.”

Outside, Talon gathered everyone together. Standing across from Saria and Sheik was Malon and Ingo.

“All right you two, listen up! This here is Saria – who I’m sure you already know, Malon. And this here is uh… Marth?” Sheik nodded at this, then Talon continued. “They’ll be our new helpers from now on, so feel free to boss ‘em around. Same duties as always, but now you can split the work however you like. And as for you two, this is my daughter, Malon. We’ve met a few times already, Saria, but Marth, this girl is the world to me. You be sure to treat her right.”

“Of course, sir.”

“Good. As for this fellow, his name is Ingo.”

“We’ve already met,” said Saria.

“What?! Then what was the point of all this! Ah well… As long as you all know each other, things should be fine. Today we need to clean the stables, refresh the hay supplies in there, and get the cart ready for a delivery tomorrow. The demand for our milk has gone up recently, so we’ll be sure to meet that demand. If nobody’s got any questions, I’ll show Saria and Marth around a bit.”

“That’s fine by me,” said Ingo.

“No questions!” said Malon.

“Good! Now Saria, Marth, come with me. I’ll show you to the stables.”

Saria and Sheik followed the man. As they walked, Malon joined in as well, getting close to Sheik. Avoiding eye contact, Sheik asked, “Is something wrong?”

“Nope! I just wanted to get a better look at you,” Malon smiled.

Sheik tensed up and walked past Saria. Malon giggled at this and went about her business. After that, Talon took the time to explain work duties to Saria and Sheik, what they’d be doing day in, day out, and how to best go about them. Talon also mentioned that he keeps a checklist of daily tasks inside the house that they can look at if they’re ever unsure of what to do.

“This all seems easy enough,” said Sheik. “Is there anything we should avoid doing?”

“Well let’s see… Don’t break my stuff? I figure anything worth worrying about is common sense. Anything you break will come out of your pay. That and try to be careful with the animals. It’ll take time for them to trust you, but once they get used to ya it’ll be fine.”

After that, the pair helped out with the remaining tasks of the day. They cleaned the stables, refreshed the hay for the cows and horses, and after washing up, they helped load crate after crate of milk into Talon’s cart so it was ready for delivery the next day. By the time Saria and Sheik were done, it was now evening time. They were paid a small sum of rupees and invited to eat dinner on the ranch. Since food in the hidden village was mostly nutritious gruel, they happily accepted the offer.

Upstairs around the dinner table sat Talon, Malon, Saria, and Sheik. The food for the evening was roast cucco, mashed potatoes, gravy, and sliced bread with butter. Ingo wasn’t much for socializing with the family and ate elsewhere.

“Soooo, Marth, was it? How was your first day of ranch work?” asked Talon.

“It was fine,” said Sheik. “I thought it would be harder.”

“Huh! It really wasn’t that bad? You must have a talent for this kind of thing! What about you, Saria? Was this your first time doing stuff like this, or did you work at all in your village?”

“Life in Kokiri Village is pretty carefree most days,” said Saria. “But I’m one of the oldest there, so I looked after the others.”

“Then you were like everyone’s big sis!” said Malon. “You must be friends with eeeeveryone there. How many Kokiri are in your village? Are there a ton? Can I come to your village sometime?”

“Calm down, child,” said Talon. “It’s been a long day for them. One question at a time.”

“It’s fine,” said Saria. “You’re right. Everyone knows me in the village. It’s a pretty small place. I would say no more than a dozen or so live there. As far as visiting, well… Maybe someday. If you did visit though, I’d probably escort you to keep you safe. We live near a large forest called the Lost Woods. There’s a kind of magic in that place. An old magic. If anyone besides a Kokiri wanders around in that place, they become lost forever.”

Malon ate nervously. “So don’t do what I normally do when I visit. Got it.”

“Is it truly so dangerous?” asked Sheik. “I had heard of people wandering in and coming out before.”

“Only after I guided them out,” Saria said. “Honestly, I may need to start putting up signs one of these days. Then again, they’d probably just ignore them and walk right in anyway.”

“It’s almost like they can’t help themselves,” said Poppy, sitting on the table and eating buttered bread.

“I think we Hylians are curious by nature,” said Talon. “It’s why we spread out so far and tried learning so many new things. I know it’s troublesome, but please forgive my countrymen.”

“What about you, Marth? You said you’re from Kakariko, right?” asked Malon. “I’ve been through the village a few times, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen you before.” With a mischievous smile on her face, she said, “Don’t tell me you’re that shy.”

“I prefer to live in the shade. My eyes are sensitive to sunlight,” said Sheik.

“Hm. I was wondering why you were still wearing your hat indoors,” said Talon. “Could you pass the butter, please?”

“Of course.”

As Sheik passed the butter over to Talon, the boy paused, as if listening to something. Saria heard it to. A tapping, or perhaps pecking on the rooftop.

“Huh? Is something wrong?” asked Talon.

The tapping and pecking continued increasing in intensity, to the point where even Talon and Malon could hear it. Before they could react, the windows shattered as a swarm of purple-feathered birds burst in.

“Malon, get down!” shouted Talon as he picked up his chair and swung at one of the birds. Saria pulled out her slingshot and Sheik readied throwing needles. The birds had small black eyes ringed with red and sharp orange beaks. Poppy ran across the table, using her bread as cover before flying towards Saria.

“What are so many guay doing here?!” the fairy shouted.

“I don’t know, but I doubt this is ordinary,” said Saria. She dodged a few of the birds that came swooping in, their beaks getting stuck in the walls like throwing knives. Malon joined in on the action, pulling out her club from before (which was hidden under her pillow) and swinging at the hostile birds. As the guay were thinned out, the sound of shouting could be heard from outside.

“That must be Ingo,” said Sheik.

“I’ll take care of it,” said Saria. “You watch over the others.”

Sheik nodded at this, then Saria dove out the broken window, rolling as she hit the ground below. Just as she thought, a swarm of guay were chasing after Ingo. While he had a pitchfork, he was too scared to attack and kept on the run. Dark storm clouds rumbled up above, and it almost seemed like the guay were coming from the clouds themselves. Saria tossed a deku nut to scatter the swarm then fired with her slingshot to thin them out.

“Get to the stables!” she shouted. “You’ll be safe there!”

“Okay! Thanks!”

Ingo ran past the Kokiri and shut the stable doors behind him. The sound of frightened neighs came from the field ahead, and Saria realized that there may still be horses grazing outside. She ran out to the fields, finding that even more guay were flying overhead, chasing and pecking the horses. She cut down the guay within reach and shot down the others that were two high up, doing what she could to lead the horses back to the stables as the wind picked up. With one pony left, Saria tried to calm it down and lead it away, but it proved too stubborn and wild, nearly knocking Saria down with its hooves.

“Hey, calm down! I’m trying to help you!”

The horse continued running around and making things difficult for Saria. Soon after, wind speeds reached new heights, and from the storm clouds came a giant guay, trumping even the largest horses on the ranch in size. It locked onto the wild pony and swooped down. Not wanting to let it have its way, Saria slashed the bird in its side with her scimitar, wounding it. The giant guay crashed to the ground, flailing about while snapping at the Kokiri with its oversized beak. Saria backed away, dodging the monster’s attacks. It didn’t let up, though, eventually cornering the girl. She shoved a deku stick into its beak to lodge it open, striking the bird again and again with her weapons while it was distracted. Finally, it stopped moving. Just as with the rest of the guay, it disappeared into flame. With the last of the monsters defeated, the storm clouds disappeared. Much to Saria’s surprise, the large guay left behind a small pile of rupees.

“What are these doing here?” she asked, picking them up.

“Maybe it liked to eat shiny things?” said Poppy.

“Saria!!” shouted Malon as she came running. “Are you okay?!”

Talon and Sheik came running as well. Even Ingo poked his head out once he realized the danger was over.

As Saria and Malon hugged, Saria said, “I’m okay. I would have taken cover sooner, but this pony proved pretty stubborn.” It was then that Saria realized that the pony was next to her, calmly nudging her leg with its head. “What the?”

“Epona?” questioned Malon, who pet the pony’s mane. “Geez, you can’t be doing that. You could have gotten hurt!”

“It’s okay,” said Ingo. “She was probably just-”

Epona headbutted the poor ranch hand when he got too close, knocking him over. Malon was quick to wrap her arms around the pony’s neck and hold her back.

“Epona! No!”

Talon helped Ingo up while Sheik approached Saria.

“What happened out here? Did you find out where they were coming from?”

“It looked like they were coming out of a storm cloud. When the wind picked up enough, a giant one came out. Once I slew it, the clouds dispersed.”

“Strange…” The boy looked up at the sky, which was now clear and full of stars. “Is this a taste of what’s to come?”

Talon had some spare windowpanes in case of storms, so after a bit of cleaning, the windows were fixed. From that day forward, whenever Saria and Sheik were at the ranch, they always kept an eye out for monsters.

---

Time continued to pass. Days of harsh training at the Sheikah Village and honest work at Lon Lon Ranch. Though the days were long, Saria treasured those few moments of peace and quiet she shared with her friends. She soon learned that Sheik was a master at conversational evasion, dodging every important question Malon had to throw at him. The questions he didn’t dodge were answered with lies, or at least what Saria assumed were lies. Sheik’s new persona steadily developed a false history, and Malon was none the wiser. When Malon wasn’t talking up a storm, she was usually helping Saria and Sheik with chores, eating lunch with them, or teaching the pair new skills. Malon was excellent with animals, and any time either Saria or Sheik had trouble with them, she was there to help calm things down.

At the Sheikah Village, Impa kept intensifying the training little by little. Beyond the typical exercises and obstacles, she also introduced training dummies that moved as you struck them, which helped Saria practice her form. This later advanced to Impa teaching new fighting techniques, both with weapons and hand-to-hand (in case Saria or Sheik were disarmed). At the end of each lesson, Impa had Saria and Sheik spar to help practice their new techniques. Sheik was much faster than Saria, as well as more flexible (both literally and in terms of adaptability). He proved a difficult target to strike. Saria’s experience with fighting and strategizing proved a boon here, as she would often have to bait out an opening in Sheik’s defenses in order to land a hit. As the two sparred, their strengths helped even out their respective weaknesses, and even Impa was impressed with their progress.

“Well done,” Impa clapped. “Keep that up and even the best of the Gerudo will be no match for you. That will be all for today. You’re both dismissed.”

As Impa went to leave, Saria called out to her.

“Wait, hold on.”

“Yes? What is it, Saria?”

“Have you seen a giant owl flying through the sky as of late?”

“Can’t say that I have. Why do you ask?”

Saria explained the nature of the owl and how she had met him several times throughout her journey. After she said her piece, Impa muttered to herself, “Wait… Could he be…?”

“Is something wrong?”

“It’s nothing. I do find this strange, though. Why would he be gone for so long searching for the third stone? I thought it was common knowledge that it belonged to the Zora.”

“What’s a Zora?”

“You were saying?” said Sheik.

“Quiet, you,” said Impa. She then looked to Saria and said, “The Zora are a race of people who live in the water. They control every major body of water in Hyrule, including the river, which is named after them. As for the stone, it’s in good hands. Ever since they caught wind of Ganondorf attacking other settlements for their sacred stones, they’re doing everything they can to keep their domain defended. Even I can’t visit them anymore, let alone outsiders.”

“Then there’s nothing to be done about it?”

“It may be for the best. We have other things to worry about right now. Besides, as long as Ganondorf is missing even one of the sacred stones, he won’t be able to reach the Triforce.” Before Impa finally left for the day, she ended with, “I’ll ask around and see if anyone has seen Gaebora. If I learn anything at all, I’ll let you know.”

Saria felt a chill as Impa disappeared. She wanted to leave right away to look for the old owl, but Saria knew Impa was better suited to the search than she was. She decided to put it out of her mind for the moment and relax. There wasn’t any work to be done on the ranch that day, so both Saria and Sheik stayed in the village. As usual, they took turns bathing, then ate their gruel in relative silence. Later that evening, Saria found Sheik up on one of the building’s rooftops, staring out across the village.

“Is everything all right?” asked Saria.

“Hm… I was just thinking about the future. When this is all over and I’ve taken Impa’s place, I’ll be spending a lot of time with the Royal Family. The king, his court, and even the princess.”

“Do you not want to serve the Royal Family?”

“It’s not that, but… Will that really be my whole life? To be nothing more than another’s shadow? I don’t normally get to interact with others my age. Impa always tells me that the less others know about me, the better. But these days I’ve spent training alongside you or working on the ranch with Malon… It’s been nice. I’ve never really had friends before.” Sheik turned to look Saria in the eye. “We are friends, are we not?”

Saria smiled warmly. “Of course we are. And I’m sure Malon would say the same thing.”

Sheik smiled. “I’m glad. Do you think when I’m older, I may negotiate time to myself on the occasion?”

“I don’t see why not. Then again, people are always curious about the princess, so watching over her might keep you busy. Especially when she’s older.”

“Why do you say that?”

“Well, I’m still learning about Hylian culture, but my understanding is the princess will have to marry, eventually. And whoever marries her will be the next king, right?”

“I… See what you mean. I hope he is kind, like you.”

Saria wasn’t sure why, but hearing those words made her blush. Poppy, who had been quietly listening this whole time, grew a big grin across her face.

“Interesting…” she muttered to herself.

“Have you ever met the princess?” asked Saria.

“Only once. It was before I started my training with Impa. I was waiting inside a hidden corridor in the castle while Impa was discussing things with the king. There are all sorts of places like that throughout the castle. Hidden doors behind bookshelves, under carpets… They were built with the Sheikah in mind so we could always watch over everyone without being seen. By chance, I saw the princess after she had just been scolded for making a mess in the kitchen. She was crying back then. I wanted to say something, but I knew I couldn’t.”

“Were you not allowed?”

“In a sense, yes.”

“I’m sorry. I can’t imagine what that must have felt like.”

“It’s fine. I wonder if she’ll accept me when the time comes.”

“Of course she will. You’re strong, smart, and dependable. I’m sure she’d be more than happy to have you by her side.”

“And hey, maybe if you play your cards right, you can marry her and become king,” said Poppy.

Sheik narrowed his eyes at the fairy. “That will never happen.”

Sheik hopped down and disappeared into their quarters. Saria said, “Geez, Poppy! Why’d you have to go and say that!”

“What? I think it would be romantic! Just think, the tall, strong, stoic type that knew the princess since she was young finally confessing his feelings for her. Just thinking about it makes me swoon.”

“He’s clearly going through a lot right now, so can you try and be a bit more sensitive?”

Saria hopped down from the roof as well to check on Sheik. Poppy just crossed her arms and grumbled. “I gotta find some way to have fun around here. Those fireflies aren’t much for conversation, you know!”

---

The next day after training, Sheik didn’t go with Saria to Lon Lon Ranch. Given what they had talked about recently, she decided it would be best to give the boy some space. Work that day was easy enough. Cleaning the stables, fixing some fences, milking the cows… The work wasn’t hard at all. Yet with the worry for Gaebora and Sheik on her mind, Saria found it difficult to concentrate.

When night came, Saria and Malon sat out in the field looking up at the stars. Malon was pointing out all sorts of constellations in the sky while Saria sat in silence.

“What’s wrong, Saria?” asked Malon. “You’ve hardly said a word. You don’t have to sit out here with me if you don’t want to.”

“It’s not that. I just have a lot on my mind right now,” said Saria.

“Hmm… I don’t know if it’ll help you, but whenever I feel down, I like to sing!”

Malon stood up, clasped her hands together, and sang. The girl’s beautiful voice echoed throughout the open field and soothed Saria, making her worries melt away. She pulled out her ocarina and played along, doing her best to memorize the notes. The two girls shared a moment of peace together, and then… The song was over.

Saria put her ocarina away. The small pony from before, Epona, was nudging Saria with her head. Petting Epona’s mane, Saria smiled softly.

“Hee hee. She’s really taken a liking to you!” said Malon.

“You think so? I’m glad. She was such a rowdy horse before. I guess saving her from monsters left a good impression.” As Saria continued to pet Epona, she said, “The animals around here really love that song of yours. Where did you learn it?”

“From my mother! I don’t remember her face, but I remember her voice. She had a way of making me feel safe no matter what was going on, and when I cried, she’d sing for me to calm me down. Since she didn’t leave any keepsakes behind, that song is all I have to remember her by.”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to-”

“It’s okay. I don’t mind telling you about it.” Malon put her hands to her chest and closed her eyes. “Every time I sing, I like to think my mother can still hear me. Maybe that’s why I do it so much. She sang for me whenever I was sad, so as long as I keep singing, she’ll never be sad either.”

Saria stood up and ruffled Malon’s hair. “I’ll bet she smiles every day because of you.”

Malon held back her tears. “I hope so too.”

Soon after, Talon opened the door to his house and said, “Hey kids, supper is ready! Come and get it before it gets cold!”

“Coming!” shouted Malon. The girl ran towards the house, but then she stopped and looked back. “Saria?”

“I’ll just be a minute. Don’t wait up on me.”

The farm girl nodded and left the field behind. Now Saria was alone… Or so it seemed. The Kokiri felt a presence nearby. As the presence grew closer, Poppy said, “Wait… Sheik?”

The young Sheikah stepped forward, hand on his hip. He was wearing his normal training uniform. “I knew I’d find you out here. This is good.”

“Good? What’s going on, Sheik? Why aren’t you in your farm clothes?”

“Because I’m not here to farm. I’m here to fight.”

“What? But why?”

“I’ve been doing some thinking. When we sparred in the past, we always fought to learn, to grow, but never to win. If I’m to be a true Sheikah, I have to truly test myself.” Sheik drew a blade. “And that’s why I’m here. Draw your weapon.”

Saria unsheathed her dagger. As soon as she did, Sheik charged her. Their blades clashed and slid off of each other as the pair exchanged places. Dagger at the ready, Saria watched Sheik as he circled around her.

“This is crazy, Sheik. What if you get hurt?”

“That’s awfully confident of you. Shouldn’t you be more worried about yourself?”

Sheik charged once more. Saria did her best to defend as Sheik attacked again and again. A slash here, a kick there; the warriors moved swiftly and gracefully across the field, their every move calculated. Yet even as Saria did her best to defend herself, Sheik found opening after opening. As the boy backflipped away and landed on his feet, Sheik held up his weapon. Blood dripped from the tip of his blade.

“You should start taking things seriously,” said Sheik. “Otherwise you won’t walk away from this.”

“Will you stop it!” shouted Poppy. “What’s the point in all this? Aren’t we your friends?!”

“Friends mean little to the Sheikah. We only keep around those who are useful to us. I’m treated the same way. If my blade ever dulls, I’ll become useless to the Royal Family and be discarded.”

Another exchange of blows. Another wound. Sparks flew as Sheik and Saria’s blades clashed. The boy stared Saria down as he pushed her back further and further.

“Is this all you can muster? How do you expect to defeat Ganondorf if you can’t even beat me? You’ll never get your revenge at this rate.”

A biting anger took hold as Saria forced Sheik back. Rather than strike with her dagger, she punched Sheik in the face. The boy went flying, skidding across the dirt and grass. In a moment of clarity, Saria realized she was wearing her Goron’s Bracelet. She rushed to Sheik’s side to see if he was okay, only to have a blade pointed at her. A bloodstain had formed on Sheik’s face mask where their nose would be.

“We’re not done yet. Don’t you dare take pity on me.”

Sheik spun around, getting back on their feet before charging Saria. The Kokiri went back on the defensive, even more hesitant than before. Sheik continued slashing with his blade, pushing Saria further and further back.

“Enough already! If you don’t fight with everything you have, I’ll kill you. Is that what you want? What about your people? Your friends? What about Hyrule? Don’t you care?”

Saria shoved Sheik away. “Of course I care,” she said, dropping her weapon. “And it’s because I care that I can’t continue.” The Kokiri spread her arms wide and looked Sheik in the eye. “I don’t know what madness has taken hold of you, but this ends now.”

Sheik narrowed his eyes. Springing towards Saria, he shouted, “I told you not to take pity on me!”

Saria had learned many hand-to-hand techniques while training under Impa. Typically they were meant for offense, as they were all about striking the opponent before they had a chance to react. Speed, agility, and cunning. These were the things Impa was trying to instill in her students. However, among the many techniques Impa had taught, only one was meant for defense. As Sheik charged the Kokiri once more, Saria kept perfectly still until the last moment. Then her body sprung to life, catching Sheik’s weapon with both hands. In an instant, Saria yanked the weapon (and wielder) to the side, throwing them to the ground. Tossing Sheik’s weapon away, Saria jumped on Sheik, fighting with the boy as they rolled across the field. In the end, Saria had Sheik pinned.

“Do you yield?” asked Saria.

With a bitter tone in their voice, Sheik said, “I do.”

The Kokiri got up, holding out her hand to help the Sheikah boy. He ignored this and got up on his own.

“I didn’t realize there was such a large gap between us. I’ve learned much this day.”

Just then, Malon burst out of her home.

“Saria, what’s all that noise?!”

While Saria was distracted by the farm girl, the Sheikah boy slipped away, disappearing into the night. Saria picked up the boy’s weapon and hid it in her overalls.

That boy… What was he thinking?

When Malon got closer, she gasped at the state Saria was in. “What happened? Was it another monster attack?”

“Yes,” Saria nodded. “More guay. I got careless this time, but at least they’re gone.”

Poppy gave Saria a knowing, worried look, saying, “It’s okay, Malon. I can heal her.” The fairy floated gently around the Kokiri and put her small hands on Saria’s wounds, healing them. Unfortunately this magic did not extend to the state of her damaged, bloody clothes.

“Thank you, Poppy. I’m not sure I’ll be good company at the dinner table in this state, though,” said Saria.

“It’s okay. You can borrow some of my clothes for the evening while we get yours all fixed up,” Malon smiled. “Now let’s get going. Talon is getting worried.”

The rest of the evening passed without incident. Saria spent the night with Malon, washing and fixing her clothes so she could be ready to return to the village in the morning.

When she dreamed, she dreamed of blonde-haired boys, and her failure to help them when they needed it the most…

---

Time passed. Training and work continued, though Sheik made himself scarce whenever Impa was gone. Saria tried to reach out to the boy several times, but he had closed himself off to her, even after she returned his blade. Saddened by this, Saria focused on other things. She finished paying off her debt to Castle Town, she checked in on her fellow Kokiri to see how their training went, she helped coordinate the construction of the new shop (of which a certain plump-faced Kokiri was happy to manage), and Saria even paid back the Happy Mask Salesman for the mask she borrowed.

“Finally decided to show your face, I see,” said the Salesman.

“Sorry about the wait,” said Saria. “There were some… Complications.”

The Salesman shrugged. “These things do happen. I’m just glad to see you at all. I’ve not seen your friend since you last visited.”

Saria tensed up. “Don’t worry. I’ll be sure to remind her the next time we meet.”

The Salesman grinned, showing his teeth. “Be sure that you do.” He then gestured to his shelves. “By the way, since you finally completed your first sale, I have more masks available for you to borrow.”

Saria looked over to the shelf, realizing a strange skull-like mask had appeared. “Wait, when did you-”

“Don’t worry about it,” the man grinned. “Would you like to borrow this mask? I hear its fearsome visage keeps certain monsters at bay. Probably because of how tough and scary it makes you look.”

Saria pondered this and then nodded. “I think I have a customer in mind for that one. I’ll take it.”

“Good,” the man said, handing her the mask. “Here you go. Next time, I would appreciate it if you returned as soon as you make the sale.”

“Of course.” Saria held up the mask. It was like the front of a misshapen horned skull, with four blunt teeth and round eye sockets. She pocketed the mask, said her goodbyes, then went on her way.

When the chance presented itself, Saria made her way to the Lost Woods. She found Taru sitting on his stump like usual, playing his flute. The boy sat up in excitement upon seeing Saria and hopped down, approaching her.

“Saria, Saria!”

The Kokiri bowed her head and smiled. “It’s good to see you, Taru. How are you getting along with the other skull children?”

“Not so good… I’ve been trying to practice the flute so I could play with them in their band, but they still won’t accept me. It’s why I prefer hanging out here instead of near where the rest of them are.”

“Well that’s no fair! I’ll be sure to give them a stern talking to next time I see them. In the meantime, I have a present for you.”

“Really? What is it?”

Saria pulled out the skull mask, handing it over to Taru. He looked it over thoroughly, his eyes lighting up.

“Quite an unusual mask you’ve brought me! Hee hee! I like it! I bet it’ll make me look real tough!” Taru reached into his pocket and gave Saria ten rupees. “Here you go. Thank you for this!”

“Wait, but this is a gift. You don’t have to pay me.”

“No, no. I insist!”

Taru put the mask on and flipped through the air, landing nimbly on his tall tree stump. His eyes glowed brightly through the mask’s eyeholes as he said, “So? How do I look?”

Saria clapped her hands. “You look wonderful, Taru!” At this, the skull kid lowered his head.

“Aaah… I thought I would look scary.”

“You look pretty scary to me,” said Poppy. “If I saw you at night, there’s no way I’d get close to you.”

“You really mean it?” Poppy nodded, to which Taru pumped his fist. “Yes! Thanks, you two!”

Saria said her goodbyes and returned to the Happy Mask Shop, only to learn that Taru had underpaid for the mask’s value.

“Oh… Is that how it is…” said the Kokiri.

Saria paid the rest of the mask’s price back out of pocket. She wasn’t exactly upset, though, since she had planned to give the mask away for free. After that, she was able to borrow another mask from the Salesman. It was a frightening thing that reminded her of the masks Redeads wore.

“Where did you get this?” Saria asked.

“Where? Why, from a priest of course. I had learned that Hylians are buried with special funerary masks, so of course I had to get some for my collection!”

Poppy said, “Well that explains things…”

“Hm? Is something wrong?” asked the Salesman.

“Don’t worry about it,” said Saria. “Do you have any advice for who I could sell this to? I can’t think of anyone off the top of my head.”

“Not sure! It’s not a very popular mask in town.”

“I can’t imagine why…”

After tapping his fingers on his counter a few times, the Salesman said, “You know, I bet this would be pretty popular with pranksters. People who like to trick and scare others for laughs.”

“Doesn’t that boy who hangs out in the graveyard like scary things?” asked Poppy.

“Good point. All right, I’ll see if I can sell this thing. See you later!”

As Saria and Poppy made their way from Castle Town to Kakariko Village, Poppy said, “So why are we doing this again?”

“Do you want the short answer or the long answer?” asked Saria.

“Both?”

“The short answer is I need a distraction.”

“Fair enough.”

“And the long answer is there’s something off about that merchant. He may know more than he’s letting on. He could even be a spy for all we know. So I figure if I keep doing jobs for him and gain his trust, I can finally get some answers. Best case scenario, he’s unrelated to everything going on and I can put my mind at ease.”

“And he’s right in the middle of town just next to the path leading to the Temple of Time! If he is working for Ganondorf, he couldn’t have picked a better place to set up shop.” Poppy grew a smug grin across her face. “Such a smart girl. I really did raise you right!”

Saria smiled at her friend and rolled her eyes. She then ran up the stairway, through the village, and into the graveyard. Sure enough, the young boy was walking around, swinging his stick to and fro. She asked him if he was interested in masks, and when he said yes, Saria pulled out the spooky mask.

“Gyaah! It’s Dampé the gravekeeper’s face! … Oh wait a minute, that really is just a mask. I get a different fright from that mask than I do from Dampé… Can I have it?”

“Of course. Just try and not cause too much trouble with it,” said Saria.

“Woo! With this mask, I’ll be just like Dampé! Here’s my money!” The boy gave Saria a bag of thirty rupees. He then ran off with his stick held up to the sky. “I’m gonna dig and dig! Just like Dampé!!”

“What a strange boy,” said Saria. “I hope he has fun, at least.”

“Forget strange, where’d a little kid like him get all this money?”

“Not sure. At least we don’t have to cover any of the mask’s cost out of pocket this time.”

Before Saria could leave the graveyard, a familiar voice called out to her. It was Impa.

“Keeping busy, I see.”

“Impa! Back already?”

“Indeed. There’s something I need to talk to you and Sheik about. Come with me.”

Saria looked to Poppy, who nodded in understanding. The Kokiri followed Impa through the illusory wall and joined up with Sheik in the hidden village.

“You called, master?” said Sheik. “What is it?”

“Your training is almost at its end,” said Impa. “I have one final test for you both. It’s a test crafted by the Sheikah of old as a rite of passage. If you complete this test, you’ll be recognized as true Sheikah.”

“Even me?” asked Saria.

“Even you. The Sheikah do not care about bloodlines. Only results.”

Sheik clenched his fists and looked Impa in the eye. “What must we do?”

Impa escorted the pair to the far end of the village. Hidden behind yet another illusory wall was a metal plate on the ground. It looked like it could be opened like a gate.

“Beyond this door is an underground maze meant to push sheiks to their very limits. The maze is filled with dozens of traps, as well as special chambers that house monsters. As time passes, the chambers will open one by one, releasing monsters into the maze. You’ll have a week to find the exit before it locks for good.”

“Wait, you mean you can get trapped down there with monsters?!” asked Poppy. “That’s crazy!”

“It is not a test to be taken lightly. Furthermore, you will have to begin the test without any weapons or gear.”

“Then we must fight the monsters barehanded?” asked Sheik.

“Approach the challenge however you like. Sneak, use the traps to your advantage, or confront the monsters. It doesn’t matter to me,” said Impa. “In addition, I’ll be spreading all your gear throughout the maze in hidden chests. Find the chests and you can use your gear again. And it doesn’t matter who it once belonged to. This is meant to test your skill and adaptability. There is no such thing as fair once you enter this maze.”

“Isn’t this a bit extreme?” said Saria. “One of us could die down there. Are you really okay with that?”

“If we can’t pass this test, we’d fair no better at protecting Hyrule from Ganondorf,” said Sheik. “I accept this challenge.”

“Good,” said Impa. “And what of you, Saria? You are not of the Sheikah clan, so you are not obligated to take this test. You can walk away now if you’re-”

“No. I’ll take the test.”

“Are you sure, Saria?” asked Poppy.

“I’m sure. It’s just as Sheik said. This will prove once and for all if I’m ready to take on Ganondorf and the Gerudo.”

“Then it’s decided,” said Impa. The woman clapped her hands twice, and as if by magic, the gateway began to open. Its age became apparent as the metal creaked and groaned. Once it was fully open, it revealed a long cylindrical tunnel that led far below ground, with water at the very bottom. In many ways, it reminded Saria of the well in Kakariko Village… After Impa took Saria and Sheik’s gear, she disappeared. From there, Saria looked down into the tunnel.

“There’s no ladder to climb,” said Saria. “How are we supposed to get down there?”

“We go for a swim,” said Sheik. The boy then dove head-first into the tunnel, with the sound of a splash following shortly thereafter. Saria looked to Poppy.

“Looks like it’s do or die. Come on!”

The Kokiri jumped into the tunnel, falling for what felt like forever. She hit the water hard, causing a huge splash. When she resurfaced, she was joined by Poppy, and sure enough, the entrance up above sealed shut.

Saria looked around. The walls were moldy tan bricks whereas the floor was slick grey stone. Though no source of light could be seen, the passageway was dimly lit – perhaps through magic. After climbing out of the pool of water, Saria found herself in what looked less like a maze and more like a sewer. Metal chains dangled from the ceiling, their purpose long since forgotten, and wooden support beams bordered the passage up ahead. The final test of the Sheikah was finally underway…

[tmt-bar]

5 Crucial Things To Know About The Best TMT Saria For Construction

One can only imagine constructing world-class structures in modern society by incorporating TMT bars, or Thermo-Mechanically Treated bars. These are made under a particular process which is widely known as Thermo Mechanical Treatment. The best TMT Saria for construction bars, such as dams, bridges, dams, canals and plants, are used for construction.

Steel rebars are widely used since they increase the tensile strength of the concrete structures and the structures' durability. Today’s modern structures require construction materials that are strong, quality and capable of withstanding pressure. If you are a builder, or are associated with the construction industry or planning to build a house then we have put together a list of top TMT bars in India for house construction for your reference. Before that, let’s make you understand the checklist that you have to follow while purchasing new TMT bars.

List of Simple Guidelines for Purchase of TMT Bars for House Construction

1) Manufacturing Process

When selecting a TMT bar, it is important to know that the TMT bar is made of iron and not scrap. Also, make sure that the TMT bars are produced through the process of a Ladle Refining Furnace commonly known as LRF. This will filter off any impurities on it as it is the final step in the process of washing clothes. If these impurities are left in the bar, then it weakens the bar and even makes it brittle.

2) Anti Corrosion

TMT bars like any other metal are vulnerable to corrosion due to moisture and air-borne impurities. This corrosion can then spread to the TMT bars reducing their strength and durability and hence making them vulnerable to damage. Thus, when choosing a TMT bar, make sure that it has anti-corrosive properties along with the TMT bars. This is particularly necessary if you are putting up buildings in regions that receive a lot of rainfall or floods. So while selecting the best TMT for construction, avoid corrosion by going for the best TMT that is protected from corrosion.

3) Certification

That is why, regardless of the choice of the product, you should pay attention to the certificates. The same also applies while purchasing the best TMT Saria for construction. The products should also be marked with BIS and ISO certifications. It is encouraging to note that all the laid-down standards and compliances have been incorporated into the production of the TMT bars. Thus, you need to verify the presence of such certification with the Steel Dealers in Chennai before buying. 

4) Grade of The bar

Sariya available in the Indian market signifies strength, durability as well as ductility of the product. These different grades describe the strength & rigidity factor of the steel bar. The numbers refer to the force level required to change the shape or form of the steel bars for different uses.

Among all the mentioned grades, Fe-415, Fe-500, and Fe-550 are widely used TMT bars in India. These numbers in these grades represent the yield strength of the bar in megapascals (MPa); Fe signifying iron. Fe-415 has a yield strength of 415 Mpa and it is recommended for construction of small and medium constructional structures such as residential houses and small buildings.

Fe-500 has a higher yield strength of 500 Mpa, is more ductile and less susceptible to corrosion when used in large infrastructure projects like tall buildings, bridges, and industrial constructions. Fe-550 is the highest grade of TMT bars produced in India with a yield strength of 550 N/ mm2 and is mainly implemented in structures like dams, bridges, and high-rise buildings. However, TMT bars of Fe-600 and Fe-650 are also used in structural buildings and engineering work that need much more strength and endurance.

5) Consultation with Experts

Although research is very comprehensive, consulting construction practitioners or structural engineers can be very helpful. They can help you make the right decision of choosing the right TMT Bars for your projects depending on the task at hand. Thermo mechanically treated bars are essential in construction and Structural Engineers can assist you in figuring out the amount of TMT Bars required, the positions to reinforce the structure, and other factors that can make a building stronger and safer. Working with professionals will make you have a stress-free construction process.

For any construction project, it is crucial to grasp the fundamental features of TMT Bars before starting the construction process. To achieve the best TMT Saria, the best thing to do is to ensure that the TMT bar company you opt for in India is among the best and standard companies.

Top best TMT Saria for construction

1. SEL Tiger TMT

Popular for its superior features such as yield strength, ductility, durability, immunity to corrosion and earthquake-prone areas SEL Tiger is today the largest TMT bar manufacturer in India that offers reliable, high-end steel bars to builders, engineers, architects and homeowners. Being one of the best corrosion-resistant TMT bar brands in the market, they look forward to quality control measures right from the receipt of raw materials up to the evaluation of the final product makes us the first choice for architects and designers, especially for construction projects that are situated in some of the harsh environments.

2. Tata Tiscon

Tata Tiscon, a subsidiary of Tata Steel is one of the market leaders in the TMT bar market of India. Being famous for its broad sales network and the highest-quality products, they have many fans among all the constructors in the field. Their bars possess high absorption capacity and therefore they are quite capable of bearing high loads and stresses in unfavorable conditions.

3. SAIL

A unique legacy brand, SAIL has been known to have large customers in almost all the regions of the country. Along with higher strength and ductility for safer construction SAIL has always been customer-centric which has enabled them to evolve and sustain and remain amongst the most preferred brands in India.

4. SRMB Steel

The TMT bars of SRMB steel are famous for offering concrete reinforcement for structures of various forms. Intended to bear seismic forces also, they have built-in manufacturing facilities; they are a brand name in Eastern India at least. It can be stated that they can be relied on to enhance the elasticity and the stability of constructions.

5. Jindal Panther

Being a brand of Jindal Steel and Power Limited, Jindal Panther has a wide range of TMT Bar steels and all of them are supported by production units. Fitted with high-performance products, they also perform the important task of constructing some of the world’s most famous buildings.

You may also like: Picking the Right TMT Bar for House­ Construction

Conclusion

The best TMT Saria for construction provide higher tensile strength, and durability and they are not affected by environmental factors hence they are very useful in the development of sound structures. Whether you are building a simple house or a megastructure, the appropriate decision regarding the TMT bars you are going to use will be the key that will serve as the backbone of your structure.

Author Bio

I am a great fan of construction and structural engineering and like to read about new developments in the construction material industry. Thus, when writing, I have had the intention of giving information and valuable tips that would assist people in making the right choices concerning their buildings. 

[rose---child]

I’m over thinking details but

Looking at Saria from ocerina of time, the kikiro village would need to have

Shoemaking, fabric making , metal working, leather working, some crocheting or sweating making, and brushes or comes and fabric dying

Which like it would really be really cool to see a full kikiro village in a game.

Mido also shows they would need linens

[foodandbeverages]

Plasma Powder Market Rising Trends, Huge Demand, Business Strategies, High Growth Rate By 2032

The Plasma Powder market has been witnessing remarkable growth in recent years, driven by its diverse applications in various industries. This fine, high-quality powder is produced through plasma atomization, ensuring consistent particle size and superior purity. Industries like aerospace, automotive, and electronics are major consumers, utilizing plasma powder in additive manufacturing, coatings, and metal injection molding processes.

According to a recent study by FMI, sales of plasma powder are expected to surpass a valuation of US$ 3.0 Bn in 2032, rising at a CAGR of around 5.2% through 2032.

The food sector has been pushed to become more involved in the international promotion of healthy diets. Food producers’ voluntary initiatives to improve the quality of processed meals have augmented the demand for healthy processed foods like plasma powder.

Plasma powders are utilized in food applications as a good protein source, gravy thickening, and binding agent. Increasing demand for healthy processed food products is thus projected to drive the global market.

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Ability of plasma powder to raise protein content, improve product quality, assure uniform desirable texture, and thicken gravy is expected to drive its demand for usage in culinary products. Urgent need for multi-functionality, convenience, and organic food items worldwide is also set to propel the demand for food thickeners.

Rising need for food thickeners for use in soups, sauces, stews, and broths is another vital factor that would aid growth. Increasing consumer preference for high-protein foods, as well as rising demand for ready-to-eat, high-nutrition foods would have a beneficial impact on the plasma powder market.

Key Takeaways: Plasma Powder Market

The U.S. is estimated to account for more than 30% of the North America plasma powder market in 2022.

By application, the swine feed sub-segment is expected to surpass US$ 0.9 Bn by 2032.

Germany is dominating the Europe plasma powder market due to increased demand for plant protein in the powdered form.

Based on source, the porcine segment is set to reach a valuation of US$ 1.5 Bn in 2022.

Application of plasma powder is likely to grow in the pharmaceutical sector with rising demand for personalized medicines.

“Key players are investing in R&D activities to introduce new products and gain a competitive advantage. They are also engaging in collaborations, acquisitions, mergers, and partnerships to expand their consumer base and increase revenues,” says a FMI analyst.

Competitive Landscape: Plasma Powder Market

Key players operating in the global plasma powder market are focusing on attracting a large consumer base by implementing various strategies such as product innovations, marketing & promotional activities, expansion of distribution channels, and sustainable production techniques.

Some of the leading companies offering plasma powder are ACTIPRO, Lican Alimentos S.A., APC Company Inc., Merck KGaA, Rocky Mountain Biologicals LLC, Veos N.V., Darling Ingredients Inc. (Sonac), Acontex GmbH, SARIA Group, and Shenzhen Tier among others.

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More Valuable Insights on the Plasma Powder Market: FMI, in its new offering, provides an unbiased analysis of plasma powder presenting historical demand data (2017-2021) and forecast statistics for the period from 2022-2032.

Plasma Powder Market Outlook by Category

By Source:

Bovine

Porcine

Other

By Application:

Animal Feed

Swine Feed

Poultry Feed

Pet Food

Aquafeed

Ruminant Feed

Others

Food

Pharmaceutical

Others

By Region:

North America

Latin America

Europe

Asia Pacific

MEA

Information Source: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/plasma-powder-market