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linksthoughtbrambles · 2 years

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Hands

Part 10 of Adventure Log+ (Sequel to Link’s Thought Brambles. I highly recommend reading in order! Edited 9/30/23 to tighten language.) WARNING: This chapter is rated mature for disturbing imagery and violence.

“Link—house!”

“I see it!”

“Light!”

“Yes!” Normal light, not purple. Please, please, please, please-

“OY!”

WOAH, Rionee!

“WHO GOES THERE? WATCH WHERE YOU’RE RIDING! IF YOU TRAMPLE MY CABBAGES, I’LL TRAMPLE YOU!”

“Oh!”

YEEEEESSSS!!! OH, THANK YOU! “Hello, there! We’ll slow down!”

“YOU’D BETTER!”

“Shh, Rionee, you’re good… slow down… good girl.”

“Easy, Tass. Hello! May we speak with you?”

“You already are!”

“She has a point.”

“Uph- hehe, Link-“

“Sorry.” Just relieved, SO relieved, thank Hylia! Zelda is, too. Her voice bright.

There’s the woman—was tough to see her in the dark! She’s out of breath. Probably ran toward us to stop us running over her stuff. Without the Moon, I can’t even see where those cabbages might be. Maybe if the house light hit them at the right angle, but-

“What brings you riding at speed at this hour?! You scared me half to death with all that pounding!”

Ohh, s@#$. How much do we-

“Forgive us, madam- ah, is that what we ought to call you?”

“I’m Laysha, but you owe me an answer. I have to check those fields behind you in the morning to see what you might’ve wrecked. There’s paths for a reason, you know!”

Oops. Wheat farm. Um…

“O- oh. I apologize, Laysha. We—my knight and I’d worried you might have come to harm.”

To be fair, they could’ve put a fence up…

“Your- I beg your pardon- knight? And how could you be worried about me? We just met!”

“We came from the farm west of here. It had been attacked.”

Uh oh. That’s a pause, right there.

“Attacked, you say?”

“Yes.”

“By who? Bandits?”

“I’m afraid not.”

OH no, she’s reaching for something- “Wait!” Her hand, dagger hilt! “We don’t mean you harm, we really don’t. It was monsters. I swear, it-“ She can’t see you clearly, Link. Too dark. Can’t see the tunic, can’t see-

Better help her see, Link.

Be slow, do NOT be threatening while you dismount, Link. Hands way up in the air. “Um. I- I bet you can’t see too well, but-“

“You bet right. Keep those hands up.”

Yes, ma’am…

Her satchel- ?

Luminous stone! Smart if you’re working outside at night.

“Well, you don’t look like a bandit. Then again, who does?”

Fair point.

…She’s looking at my tunic.

…And my face.

…And my tunic again.

…Aaaand I guess she’ll be doing that for a bit…

“What’s your name?”

“Link.”

“Pff. Ha! Is it?”

“Yeaaah.”

“Your knight, huh? That make you the Princess?”

“It does indeed.”

“Ph. Princess Zelda and the Chid, riding through my field all alone in the dead of night?”

…The what?

Zelda doesn’t seem to know what to make of it, either, but she’s also dismounting with her hands up.

“I- I’m afraid I quite understand how unbelievable it must be.”

She’s stepping into the light.

Laysha’s eyeing the crown of braids. Zelda’s famous for that. But… it’s not like someone else couldn’t braid her hair that way. It’s not enough. Her new tunic does have that altered royal crest on it… and it sure looks fancy. The material’s extremely high-quality, which hopefully she can tell?

Zelda’s turning. Showing her the royal bow. That… sure made Laysha bat her eyelids-

The sword, dumbass. Turn around, Link! Keep an eye out over your shoulder just in case, though.

Her jaw dropped.

“Y- you… draw that sword, but DON’T YOU DARE hold it by its hilt. Nice and slow. Hold it choked… under the hilt.”

That’s fair.

Never tried to hold you like this, Fi… hope I don’t cut myself…

You won’t, master. I am incapable of harming you.

Really? Cool...

Please, be convinced? Please? Nothing, nothing, looks like this sword. Even in the pale luminous stone-light it gleams bright white in a way it shouldn’t. You’d think the reflection would be green…

“Huh. I’ll be a pig in s@#$.”

“Does that mean you believe us?”

“It means I’m closer to believing you than I was a minute ago. If you’re not here to mess with my farm, what are you doing? And why would you be doing it and not a bunch of knights?”

“I’m a knight.”

“Shush.”

Wow.

…She doesn’t believe us. She wouldn’t talk to the Princess that way if she did.

Would she?!

“The real Princess and her knight ought to be holed up in the castle ‘til the Calamity comes after what they’re saying happened at that festival.”

“We’re not.”

“YOU’RE not.”

Zelda please think of a way to prove this, please-

“Oh!”

“What?”

“The device on my hip. It’s called a Sheikah Slate.”

Oh no.

“So what?”

“It- it contains pictures. Memories of places we’ve been.”

Ohhhh!

“Would you allow me to show you?”

Please say yes. Please say yes.

“…Move slow. Hands away from that bow.”

As if she’d have time to draw it and nock an arrow before you could swipe her with that dagger.

…Well, Zelda might, actually, because she’s weird like me, but anyone else? No.

“I’m taking it off my hip. You see, here’s the screen—the part which shows the pictures.”

…I think I’m allowed to turn around slowly, now…

Zelda’s swiping past the screens. It must look like magic to Laysha. A magic book. A magic writing slate. A magic picture-frame? Something.

There are the pictures… And wow, she’s actually letting this woman hold it?

“You simply touch it and move your finger left or right. Yes!”

“Wh- what-? This is the castle, isn’t it?”

“Yes. Sir Link and I are in many of the pictures. Our friend Purah held the slate for much of the day of the festival, taking these.”

That day I’d been miffed thinking the pictures didn’t prove useful. Now, Link? Good thing she took those! It’s obvious. Isn’t it? There we are in all those shots, surrounded by guards. There’s Mipha with us. No one could mistake it. Could they?

Too- too bad. The slate was on my hip the whole time we were dancing. It… would have been nice to have a picture of that.

Aww. Myrri… sleeping on Chee.

Right before

Before

No- no- no, don’t do that, Link. You can’t be touching your arrow-spot right now. Laysha’ll think you’re going for a weapon.

Resist.

Damn.

It’s almost like an itch.

Ohhhh she’s looking at my face, now. Squinting real hard.

“You’re actually Sir Link?”

“Yeah.”

“… And… and Princess Zelda?”

“Yes.”

I can’t tell in the green light but I bet she’s going allllll pale.

OH and there she goes down on a knee!

“Please, forgive me, Princess! I thought-“

“No need! Truly, Laysha, please be at ease. I entirely understand your reaction.”

“I- I- Sir Link, please forgive me for what I said- I- I- I-“

“Is… this about that chid thing?”

“Y- yes!”

“Yeah, so… uh… what does that even mean?”

“Before you answer, please, Laysha, stand. You’ve nothing to fear from us.”

She’s… shaking. “Here. Take my hand. It’s really fine.”

Aw. Like a leaf.

“It- um. It means… chosen kid.”

“Huh. That’s not as bad as I was expecting.” It’s not even all that far off. I’m only 18… Doesn’t seem like something you’d call someone you had confidence in, though…

“Laysha… I am sorry to say your neighbors directly to the west were attacked.”

“B- by monsters?”

“Yes. We… know for certain there were at least seven bokoblins, each apparently riding a stolen horse-“

“That can’t be right, Princess.”

“Oh?”

“Marc and Challa only had three horses.”

S@#$.

It’s what we already thought, though.

That eyebrow-crease on Zelda. A slightly pushed-up lower lip. She feels bad.

“I… am sorry to tell you, your neighbors… four people were dead. Three adults, perhaps. One… child.”

Tears.

And shock.

“A- all of them?”

And that confirms it. The number’s right.

Those things… those were them. The people who lived there.

…They were once, master. They were dead when we arrived.

It still feels like murder.

I am… sorry, master. You merely laid soulless bodies to rest.

Zelda must've nodded. I- wasn't seeing properly. Tears on Laysha’s face reflecting green.

“Do you know which way the bokoblins went? P- princess?”

“Sirs Link and Daile dispatched them.”

“O-oh! But- then why-“

“We think there was someone or something else with them.” Wish I could tell her what. “Something… that made these… odd, glowing patches of something that looks like mud. It lays on top of the ground. It’s called malice.”

“I haven’t seen anything like that.”

Oh good.

“I- I have to…“

The house. There must be others. “Of course. Can we go with you? We’ll check around, make sure things are okay.”

“Yes- please do, Sir Link. Princess. Ah- i-if you don’t mind, please… doesn’t seem so important now, but...”

“Watch for the cabbages?”

“Eh- yes, S-sir Link.”

“Certainly, Laysha.”

Would be helpful to have moonlight. Zelda's looking, too. We’d see malice if it was around... it makes its own light. I just wish it was easier to see anything else prowling around out here in the dark. No black outlines against the stars except normal-looking things. Some trees. A pretty large copse at the rear of the house. Baby trees. Some not too far—maybe still in the wheat field? They should probably cut those soon. Lots of baby trees we passed, which is fine, you just don’t want them right in the middle of your crop. I see the well-pump to the south of the house, too. And another copse southeast of that.

The horses seem okay. They… need a rest and some water.

Damn, I need water, too. Canteen. “Gmpg-gmpg-gmpg-gmpg-gmpg-ghhh. Water, Z- Princess?”

“I still have some of my own. Thank you, though.”

Guess she’s not that thirsty.

…Speaking of thirsty, “Have you been having any trouble with your drinking water lately?”

“No, not at all. Why do you ask, Sir?”

“Good. Just… making sure. That malice muck was practically on top of the other farm’s water.”

“Indeed. It may be wise for you to pump some and store it in traveling containers just in case.”

“O-oh. Oh. You think… you think something’s coming this way?”

“We don’t know. We chose a direction to investigate.”

“I see, Princess. Reeb? REEB!”

“YEAH?”

“WE HAVE… IMPORTANT VISITORS!”

“YEAH I HEARD YOU YELLING ABOUT YOUR CABBAGES! WHO IS IT? IT’S NOT FRIPP, IS IT?”

“OF COURSE NOT, DIDN’T I JUST SAY THEY WERE IMPORTANT?”

“WELL, HOW DO I KNOW?!”

“YOU SHOULD KNOW I DON’T MEAN FRIPP!”

“I DON’T KNOW, YOU’VE BEEN COMPLAINING ABOUT THOSE DAMN LOOPER MOTHS, MAYBE THAT’S WHY YOU WERE YELLING ABOUT CABBAGES!”

“WOULD FRIPP REALLY BE DRIVING HIS HORSE RIGHT THROUGH MY CABBAGES IF HE CAME TO NIX THE RUDDY CATTERPILLARS?!”

“HE’S DULL ENOUGH FOR IT!”

“I’m sorry, Princess, he does like to argue with me.”

Yeah, well…

“It’s no matter, Laysha.”

…you weren’t exactly discouraging him.

“THEY HAVE BAD BEWS!”

“MORE BAD NEWS?”

“Ruddy… he’ll be thinking I’m on about the harvests again.”

“We’d heard some of that at the castle. Has it affected your farm?”

Oooh, Zelda, this is NOT the best time for-

“It was…um… unseasonably cold in spring, Princess—more than I ever remember, at least.”

Never mind. Seems like a welcome distraction…

“So, we, Reeb and I… we waited to plant like many others did, though it wasn’t so bad here.”

Makes sense. Southernmost edge of wheat country.

“Those who didn’t plant late had a good deal of their crops ruined.”

“Frost?”

“Frost. I hear they’re biting their nails up near Tabantha village. Their wheat may not harden in time.”

That’s not a comfortable silence.

I hear her breath shaking a little.

Small cabin. Probably just Laysha and Reeb. He’s crossing his arms at us. He’s… short like me.

What- oh. A dog. Walking funny- heh. Old dog. Stretching doggie-arthritis legs. Boris used to do that. He only lasted about a year and a half after that started. Dogs don’t live long enough.

“Who’re you?”

“Reeb, for Hylia’s sake, don’t be rude! These’re Princess Zelda and Sir Link!”

“…You’re having me on.”

“I’m not.”

“Yes, you are.”

“I’m NOT, Reeb, just look at them! Look at- Princess, would you mind showing him?”

“Not at all.”

Slate again.

I’ll do a 360 while he looks.

“H-hot damn, how does this work!?”

“Heh. We’re not entirely sure. I understand light passes through this lens and falls onto a flat plane. I do not yet understand how the light is kept.”

“Damn. DAMN.”

Still nothing unusual-looking.

The horses are a little shuffly.

They’re thirsty. I’ll ask about drinking water for them before we go.

“Wow…”

Crickets are real loud. It’s almost too cold for them. Last hurrah of the fall, I guess. It feels like it’ll frost any night now.

“Alright- Princess- what can we do for you?”

“You need do nothing for us, sir. We’re here to check on your well-being. Have you seen anything unusual tonight, or earlier today perhaps?”

“No, Princess. It’s been a day like any other.”

“I see. Well, then- Sir Link and I would like to circle your farm once to ensure nothing seems amiss, then head northwest to check your neighbors in that direction. Perhaps—now I think on it, perhaps you could tell us about them?”

“Eh- sure, Princess. Northwest you’ll find Erl and Mizral. They farm wheat like most of us do around here, some vegetables… and then east of them and a little east of here there’s a big family, Cawlin, Gorsdadd—they’re brothers—and Rana and Hallen, and all their kids.”

“How many?”

“Eh- nine, Princess.”

Nine kids…

“And there’s Geenra, too, she’s getting mighty old at this point—still kicking, though.”

“Princess, Reeb!”

“Oh! Yes, Princess, so sorry about that-“

“It’s alright, truly.”

Oh- heh! Hi there, boy.

“Princess?”

Hand licks.

“Yes, Laysha?”

Always nice. You like behind-ear-scratches?

“After what you told me… why don’t I make you a quick map?”

Yesss, of course you do.

“I can… write the names down, too.”

Classic dog.

“What they… told?”

You don’t seem bothered by anything, do you?

“Thank you, Laysha.”

Nothing but wind in the grass out here.

“Eh- wait, what happened to your neck Sir- Sir Link?”

“Hm?” Oh! How… do I explain this? “…Monster-bite.”

“MONSTER-bite?”

“Yeah.”

“Deep?”

“Kind of.”

“Well… if Laysha’s writing something out for you, I can take a look at that.”

Zelda’s nodding. She cleaned it but…

She’s so smart, but I guess she doesn’t really have much experience with wound care. It just seems like she does because she’s been there whenever I was hurt this month. Might be a good idea. “Sure—thanks. I’d appreciate that.”

“Come on in – sit in that seat—hehe—that’s Laysh’s got-hurt seat.”

Guess Laysha hurts herself a lot.

“That’s not true.”

Maybe she tries to fight off all those cabbage moths.

“Sure is, hehehe.”

Hehehe with that dagger. “Phh.”

“Reeb, come on, this isn’t the time!”

…Wow, she’s right. What’s wrong with you, Link?

“Alright, I’ll unbind it. If it looks fine I can at least get you a clean bandage.”

“Thanks.”

“I shall stand watch.”

“Z- but-“

“No buts, Link. I’ll be right here in the doorway. I shan’t be out of sight.”

“…Alright, here we…”

…It must look real bad.

…Real… bad?

He went so quiet. Wh- why is he looking at me like that?

“…Laysha?”

“Mm hm.”

“Stop.”

“What do you-“

“That’s no monster bite, Sir Link.”

Oh. Oh-F@#$-

I just heard her dagger come out.

“Reeb?!”

“NO, Laysha, just run!”

“REEB?!”

“Wh- there’s no need- we won’t hurt you!” Link you IDIOT-

“Then explain your damn self!”

Yes, I should’ve done that FIRST-

“A person did that, not some bokoblin! You think we’re idiots?!”

“NO, of course-“

“Please!”

Z- Zelda-

“Please—Link told you the truth!”

“Like hell he did, LOOK at that! It’s obvious what did it-“

“I understand, but- please. Please, look at this last picture.”

Last- last-? Right… she’d been taking pictures of the malice. She must have gotten the… ReDead. In the last one.

I hear her moving. Circling slowly behind me. Be careful- careful- if Laysha’s really scared-

Reeb doesn’t want to take his eyes off me.

He thinks I killed them.

…Well. I did.

Two of them, anyway.

“Please, look.”

He is. Over me.

And he’s losing absolutely all the blood in his face.

“What… what in Hylia’s green hills is that?”

…Laysha’s moving, too. To see, right? Not to… stab me… or her. Right?

Stop shaking, Link. You- you won’t have to fight them. You won’t. You won’t. Won’t have to- to put a sword a sword through anyone’s

Neck

Windpipe

F@#$.

F#@$, Link get a hold of yourself.

Even if they did attack, you wouldn’t have to-

“Reeb? Reeb, that’s Marc.”

…I wish she hadn’t said that.

“Skies, Laysha, I can see that. I can… what… what happened?”

I know his name, now.

“…You can, perhaps, see why we made such haste.”

…Laysha… won’t stab me…

“I- you- you think this’ll happen here?”

Can move- scrub my face.

“We don’t know. We feared so.”

Scrub it clean, I guess. Something.

“This is the first farm we saw.”

“Reeb, sew him up.”

“Huh?”

“Sew Sir Link up while I finish the damn map! It’s obvious why they need it, isn’t it?!”

“Y- yeah. Right. Right. Damn. Uh. Yeah, so… that’s… awful torn. Stitches. Hang on.”

Stitches.

Never needed those.

Always was good at not getting hurt.

Your weakness, Link?

Hesitation.

You can’t hesitate.

Why the hell didn’t I listen to Fi?

Do not blame yourself, master.

Who should I blame, then?

I have never known… any of my wielders not to hesitate where people’s lives were concerned.

I guess, at least, I’m no weaker than them, then.

No more hesitating, Link.

Threat?

Take it out.

And… oh! “They can shock you still.”

“What?”

“These things. They- if they look at you, they can shock you still.”

“I can see why they would.”

“No, I mean with magic. They paralyze you. That’s how this one got close enough to bite me.”

Guess I shocked him still, too.

Oh? The dog. Licking my hand again. Thanks, boy. You’re so old, aren’t you? Your snout’s gone all grey. Even around your cute little doggie eyeballs.

Needle and thread. Soaking in alcohol.

“I, uh—here. You ever been stitched?”

“No.”

“It hurts and feels funny at the same time. Try not to move.”

“Okay.”

Oh-oh-ohhhh that is strange. Like some unrealistically-skinny fish is swimming through me. Not exactly unbearable considering what it felt like to have my heart muscle burst by an arrowhead.

”Just a few more. It ripped you but… well… people don’t have teeth meant for, uh…”

“Hunting.” Right?

“Uh-huh.”

“I… I shall return to watch. But also… Sir Link and I must leave soon. We don’t know where… whatever caused this went or what it even is.”

HIS breath is trembling too, now.

“It’s just you two living here?”

“Just us, Sir Link.”

“I’d… recommend only one of you sleep at any given time for the moment.”

“Hohhh. Hully here used to be a good watchdog. Afraid she’s not as spry as she used to be.”

Oh. She! Oops. Sorry, girl. Not that I said ‘boy’ out loud, anyway…

One awake isn’t enough if something can shock you totally still and silent. They need… “You have other animals?”

“Yeah, there’s a little barn. Round the trees that way.”

“I’d recommend sleeping in there. Animals, they-“

“Damn fine idea. Yeah, they notice things.”

Good. Good. Can’t protect everyone, but… maybe it’ll help if something heads this way. And… “Um. Arrows don’t… don’t work that well. You have to—well, you don’t have to, but it seems like… severing the head… is… best.” Dear Goddess. I can’t believe I said that.

Seems like no one else can, either.

Dead silence.

Dead.

…

The dog’s ears. Up. Oh no- quiet, quiet, Link- “Do you hear-“

“The crickets!”

He hears it too, STAND, LINK! Quietly quietly quietly shhh- shhh- good, yes, no sound, stay down, you two, stay down-

What shut the crickets up what did it? Doesn’t have to be one of those things, could be a fricking deer, but have to look, have to, and Zelda’s on point automatically because she was already in the door but I’ll take it from her as soon as I get out there even with this stupid thread hanging out of my neck because I’ll be damned if I let her get bitten!

So quiet.

I’m not sure it’s wise for them to stay in the house. If I were something nasty, I’d figure they were in there.

Beckon them out?

…Not quite yet.

Look around first…

Sword… it’s so reflective… It’ll be okay away from the firelight, though. Keep it drawn.

…It’s quieter to the north-northwest.

No, Zelda, stay… stay there… watch me…

That way…

Quietest…

Stay crouched…

Wish the tall wheat was here. I could hide in it. As it is, I’m just low.

Inch forward, Link.

Maybe you’ll just look like one of the cabbages.

No. Don’t laugh, idiot.

Whatever’s wrong with you, get it out later. Maybe you just need a real long half-crazed maniacal laugh, but you can’t have it right now. Wait.

Zelda’s circling quietly behind me. Sounds like she’s trying to stay low, too.

We… haven’t even actually trained her, yet.

She’ strong. Fast. Great shot. Her instincts seem really good. She stopped Vayden taking my head off.

But… that’s the only close-combat she’s ever been in.

Was this the plan? Were they trying to draw us north? Take her out before she gets too good at what she’s supposed to do?

Or is it something else?

I don’t see anything that doesn’t just look like the wind in the grass. In the leaves. Not even many leaves on trees at this point… except the evergreens. Swaying branches.

Like those drawings of creepy forests in mom’s old storybooks. Long, tendrilled branch-ends like way too many spindly fingers.

At least the pine branches don’t look like that.

Eyes adjusting out of the firelight. Good.

Still a very dark night.

Into the copse, or around it?

In. I’ll be hidden better. And if I was a nasty critter trying to hide, that’s where I’d go.

Zelda.

I hear her following.

She’s smart. Do I direct her, or…?

Let’s at least share a plan.

Come here?

Yep.

She’s good at sneaking.

Hi.

Your back to the cabin wall?

Yeah.

Watch me.

No, no no, don’t come in after me if I disappear.

Oh, come on.

She’s not going to listen to me.

I think. We're... talking with our hands. Hard to tell and OH we’re both dumb, slate?

Huh? Why not?

If we use the slate you’ll know what I-

Oh. No, I’M just dumb.

The light.

Pointless sneaking around with that screen blaring out into the darkness, right Link?

Yeah.

Your Princess is smarter than you.

Don’t you dare forget it.

Which means…

She’s probably right about following me if she loses sight of me.

Which… she will. Quickly in so little light.

I really wish there were still three of us.

It’s likely Daile hasn’t even met anyone else, yet. He’s probably still riding south.

And even if he does, they’re supposed to start at the farm two west.

We’re on our own. Just have to do our best.

Trust her.

In I go.

Thick brush. Some evergreens. Hides me.

A few feet. Still.

Again. Be still.

Still.

Nothing.

Keep going.

More.

Nothing.

Hear Zelda. Her feet. Soft.

Further in.

Even darker.

Shapes and shadows.

FF-

RRrrg. Rabbit.

You scared it, Link.

Stay the hell still for a bit.

Wonder if it scared Zelda.

A few more steps.

It got even quieter after the rabbit stopped.

Now I’M what everything’s afraid of.

I screwed it up.

To be fair, I couldn’t see the rabbit.

No avoiding it.

Have to wait.

See what comes back.

Breathe.

Breeze. Getting so cold.

She’s still as a statue behind me, too.

I used to do this hunting bokoblins…

I bet she never has.

She’s patient, though.

Some sounds returning.

Lots, actually.

Louder than before.

…Did it go?

It could’ve just been a deer.

Won’t assume… but could be.

Move, Link.

Just the crickets right near me going quiet.

Whatever it was definitely moved.

I can’t tell which way.

Can’t tell if there’s another quiet patch somewhere.

Just have to keep inching along in the dark.

-----

Nothing.

Zelda?

Yeah. She’s coming up to crouch beside me.

“What do you think it was?”

Supreme quiet, those whispers in my ear.

Causing urges.

Can’t really do urges right now.

Calm down, self. “Deer?”

“Did you hear hoofsteps?”

“No.”

“It was so quiet. You’d think…”

“Yeah.”

The crickets have been back full-force for a while, though. I still can barely see in front of my face, just silhouettes. More so in the direction of the house, but still…

It could be that… “What if we missed it?”

“How?”

“If it stayed still?”

“I’d have thought we would have spooked any hiding animals. It would’ve run off.”

“Yeah… that’s… kind of what I mean.”

“…Not an animal?”

“I don’t know. I-“

What-?

Didn’t mean to grab you so hard, Zelda, sorry, but holy s@#$- holy s@#$-

No! No talking…

Dammit… quiet behind us, behind us again, whatever it is!

Back through the copse?

…No.

Up, Zelda. Up! Whatever it was knew we were there anyway, up, crouched but up, hurry along the copse, on the outside, back toward the house-

Look. Look everywhere, Link, all around you. Did anything change? Is anything moving?

This would be easier with no breeze. Everything’s moving a little. Can’t tell. Just… not enough light.

My Goddess I’d been worried maybe we were wasting time here creeping around in the dark, but not if there really is something nasty slinking around…

Anything?

Any-

Wait.

What?

North-northwest.

Something doesn’t look right. What-

What is it?

Zelda’s tapping me, wondering why I stopped.

Look- something’s different.

She’s probably not sure what I mean. She was looking more south while we walked toward the cabin.

What is it? What is it?

…Baby trees?

Weren’t there more of those?

Dammit, Link, that’s a stupid thing to be different.

I’m just… I must just not be remembering right.

Back to moving. Still weird quiet. Still-

!!!!!!! The horses!

“Link!”

“I know!”

RUN LINK, RUN THE HORSES ARE SCARED I know that sound, Rionee reared, she reared, she’s not so easy to scare, whatever it is it’s bad and S@#$ there she goes she just BOLTED, I’ve never seen her do that ever ever not even once THERE GOES TASS WITH AN ABSOLUTE SCREAM and the dog the dog’s barking barking growling whimpering!

“AAAAAAAAH!”

“LAYSHA?!” MOVE, Link!!!!!!!!!!

“REEB!”

“WHAT IS IT?!”

“WHO CARES, JUST RUN, RUN!”

“AAH- NO, NO NOT THAT WAY! THE HOUSE THE HOUSE-“

What the hell IS it I don’t even SEE anything, I don’t see ANYTHING and neither does Zelda, she’s running, not shooting!

I hear the dog running- WHAT?!

“LINK!”

WHAT?!!

WHAT THE HELL IS IT WHY’D THE DOG STOP?

CLOSER CLOSER CLOSER CLOSER WHAT IS IT WHAT IS IT WHAT- WHAT-

T- tree?

Did it run into one? It’s dark, maybe-

But-

No, there were no trees here- no-

Baby-

Trees?

Straight for it Link straight for it whatever it is the dog’s stuck in just slice it right off the ground just slice it-

There! “Wh- what?!” IT BLEEDS! “ZELDA, THE TREES! SOMETHING’S WRONG!”

“TREES?!”

Poor girl, I’m sorry, we’ll check you out after, more of them, more? Use the house-light, shadows- there’s one! Cut it- “MMPHGHAAAA!”

“LINK!!!”

WHATTHEF@#$ ITHASMYSWORDHAND ITHASMYHEAD TWOTHERESTWO KICK IT KICK IT KICK IT KICK IT COME ON!

YES ZELDA ARROW THROUGH- DIDN’T- DIDN’T HELP! PRYPRYPRY-

WHAAAAT- THE F@#$- IS THAT?! “MMM-MGH-RRRRH-AH!” MOVING PILLAR? IT’S WRITHING!

ANOTHER ARROW IT STILL HAS ME- SO STRONG SO STRONG BREAK FREE, COME ON, LINK!

NOT MALICE NO GLOW, WHAT-

ARROWTHREE HOW HOW IT DIDN’T EVEN CHANGE IT’S SO STRONG HOW IS IT SO STRONG?! I CAN’T-

“HH!” Oh- my- “NG!” wh- Hylia’s- Light- “RRRH-“ that- thing- has- a- FACE- couldn’t- see- it was straight up-

Master! I may know-

-toward the stars! IT’S HANDS!

This is a Dead Hand master!! It’s imperative you break free!

THESEAREN’TTREES THEY’REHANDS IT’SHANDS HOLYS@#$ PUUUUUUUUUUSH LINK GET YOUR SWORD FREE!!!!!!

“RRRRAAAAAH!”

NO, ZELDA!

AH! HEADFREENO!!!!!!!!!

“AAAAAH- HHHAH!”

GET OFF HER! MOVE LINK DAMMIT YOU SAID YOU WOULDN'T LET HER GET BITTEN MOVE PULL THIS HAND WITH YOU SCREWTHESWORD-

PUNCHPUNCHPUNCHPUNCHPUNCHPUNCHPUNCH MY GODDESS THE UNHOLY SOUND IT JUST-

WHAT’S THAT S@#$ IT JUST SPRAYED?!?!?!- NONONONONONONONONO ANOTHERHAND

“MPHHHH- NNGNNNGG!!”

“ZELDA!”

“AAAAAAAAGH DEMONSPAAAAAAAAAAAAAWN!”

SHOVEL! YES BOOOOM YES REEB! THEARM’SOFFZELDA IT’S OFF-

“AAC-KH-“

ON REEB!

ZELDA SHOVEL YEESSSS FREE!

ITS HEAD, MASTER!

“AAAAAAAAAAH!” FACE-STAB!

Undead are resilient, master! They live not through biological means but magical animation. You must tear it apart to break the spell!

“AAAAAH!”

“LAYSHA!”

“S@#$!” There must be more hands there must one must have her, can’t see!

Your spin attack master!

I’ll hurt the others!

It will not harm those aligned with you, master! USE IT!

C- concentrate, Link! EVERYTHING you have, everything into the blade into the blade, IN, arm straight right! “AHHHHHHHHHHH!”

“SWEET HYLIA, WHAT WAS THAT?!”

“OH- hh! REEB!”

S@#$, got him AGAIN-

“NO YOU DON’T!”

JOIN LAYSHA, LINK! Slice this fricking thing to RIBBONS! Her dagger might not matter much, but maybe with both of us it’ll be confused-

ZELDA with the shovel. YES. YOU’RE DEAD SOON, WHATEVER YOU ARE!

Damn, that’s a shovel right through its gut or whatever WOULD be its gut if it were alive and slicing this thing is easy as long as the hands don’t have you, the hands are so strong-

More more more hands I see them coming SLICE THIS THING, COME ON, DIE, D-

“OH!”

“BACK OFF, BACK OFF!” I don’t want any more of that foul stuff getting on Zelda, my Goddess, she’s injured- Zelda… Zelda’s injured, what does that stuff do if it gets in a wound?!

“Link…”

“It’s alright. It’s ALRIGHT. Look at it. It’s… it’s… disintegrating. Like the… bokoblins…”

“Not precisely- hhhh-hh… hhhh-hh-“

It’s… more like it’s melting. As it… twitches. Disappearing into the ground… the hands-? Them, too…

“Link-“

“It’s okay-“

“Link, there are MORE.”

“…Wh-?” Where- she sees-?

“There. Just there. Do you see it?”

…Like skinny, leafless trees against the sky. Dear… Holy… “…I see them.”

….How many hands does each one have?

And… why don’t I see any of the face-pillars? …I didn’t before, either. It’s like this one just appeared out of the…

Ground…

The ground.

“Zelda?”

“Hh-yes?”

“Underground?”

“Likely.”

“W- we have to- have to run-“

“No, Reeb. Don’t run. Laysha?”

“Y-yes, S-sir Lin-k?”

“Luminous stones. How many do you have?”

“U-uhm… mmhm…a good few. In a bucket.”

“Inside?”

“Yh-hes.”

“I’ll walk with you, slowly. Let’s get them.”

“A-a- hh- al-r-right.”

She’s brave. Shaking, but her jaw’s set.

They’re both brave.

The hands ARE moving. They’re so slow. Hard to tell unless you’re paying a lot of attention. They sway, too. Like branches in breeze…

They were already on their way here. We passed them.

Were there more underground behind us?

…Bucket. Good. “Out there. Yeah. Zelda!”

“Yes!”

“Think you can throw as well as you shoot?”

“YES.”

Damned if I don’t love the look on her face.

Damn.

Damn this.

Plenty of tall grass around. This is NOT the time to take advantage of it.

I’ll just have to save it for later.

“Scatter them even, please, so I can see the hands.”

“Wh- that’s all?!”

“Yes.”

“Then what?!”

“Then I’ll slice every single one of their Goddess-damned hands off. Let’s see if that makes them come up for air.”

“But if they catch-“

“They won’t. Not this time.” I know what you are, now. No baby trees, here…

Well. There are, actually, but I know which are which.

There she goes with the stones.

They’re not that bright, but with how dark it is tonight they make a big difference.

Concentrate, Link.

You’re going to do the Thing.

Run.

RUN.

SLIDE

SLICED

Damn things bleed like a hinox headwound. Bleed…. It’s not blood. Green. Unless the stone light’s playing tricks on me.

Next.

Come on.

I’m right here. Just try it-

DODGE STRIKE- good, only takes one good swipe with you, Fi.

I am not your sword, master. I am within your sword.

Details.

You next, hand.

I’m right here.

That’s right…

DODGE STRIKE

YOU NEXT

Just slide for this one, Link, they strike like snakes but they seem to hesitate to start-

SLICE

RUN

SLIDE

SLICE- OOOH YOU ALMOST GOT ME YOU SNEAKY OTHER HAND BUT….

DODGE SLICE

Bye bye.

No more right here, eh? Maybe-

YES, THERE YOU ARE, YOU WON’T LAST LONG NOW, SLICE-

Ohhh you’re going to try and bite me?

Bad idea.

DODGE STRIKESTRIKESTRIKESTRIKESTRIKESTRIKE

“Hylia’s mercy!”

…You dead?

“Yes. Link is… he’s special.”

You dead.

"Bloody magic at that speed..."

Next.

RUN.

SLIDE “HAAAAH!”

Sliced.

NEXT.

Sliced

You-

SLICED

Jerks aren’t-

SLICED

So tough if-

SLICED

We know you’re there.

And I knew you were there, you. My sword? Your face.

Just keep hacking, Link… and moving to the side. This thing’s so slow it can’t even catch you without those hands to help it out.

…Done.

No more. Right?

…I don’t think so.

“YOU SEE MORE?!”

“NOT AT PRESENT, LINK!”

“WE’D BETTER CHECK!”

“YES!”

“Not before we… we see to that wound on you, Princess.”

“Oh. Hh. Yes, it’s… surprising. I’d have thought it would... bother me more… H-here comes Link.”

“Alcohol-“

“No, NO you don’t, Sir Link. We have supplies and we’re not… hunting these things. You’ll accept our hospitality right now or may Hylia strike me dead. We’d BE dead if you hadn’t come.”

W-wow. “…Thanks, Laysha.”

“Thank YOU.”

“I, ah- h- hang on. Hully.”

O- oh, no. Did she-

She didn’t get bitten, right? Just grabbed. Their grip is extremely strong, though.

That was a tiny dog-whine.

Better than dead.

He has her.

“Poor old girl. Had the fright of your life, you did. Did you… see where it got her?”

“Neck.”

“…Must hurt. We’ll get her in.”

“Let’s get you in, too.”

“…We still ought to have a watch-“

“Let us clean your wounds first, Princess. That part won’t take long.”

“I’ll finish up your stitching, Sir, and pardon me for saying this, Princess, but you can’t leave that tunic on after this. It’s befouled.”

“Yes… I do have changes.”

“Damn- the horses-“

“They’ll come back. They will.” Rionee will, and Tass’ll follow her. “We’ll finish here as fast as possible, and we’ll do a circuit around your farm before we go. Can I… trouble you for a few of those luminous stones?”

“Of course. Anything you need.”

We… got here just in time?

Or maybe not. The Sun hadn’t quite gone all the way down by the time we left the first farm. Maybe… maybe darkness is part of the equation, here?

I’ve never known Dead Hands to exist in anywhere but deep in the earth, master. It’s why I didn’t relay them along with my knowledge of the stal-creatures. Darkness may be of importance as it is with stals.

Okay.

If that’s the case…

We really do have to move.

Fast.

Because it’ll be night for another… what, eleven hours or so? Twelve?

A lot can happen in twelve hours.

These things move so slowly. Could they have made it here from that other farm in a day?

“Link?”

“Coming—sorry.”

Hurry, Link.

Then hunt hands in the dark.

-----