LEGEND OF ZELDA
BOOK VI OF THE HYRULE TERMINUS SAGA
THUNDER PLAINS
CHAPTER III
THE NOT SO LIFELESS PLAINS
As the trio moved deeper into the plains in search of their separated companion, a strange sound caught their attention. Shadow yelled, “Everyone DOWN!!” The group ducked as a large bird like creature swooped down, almost hitting Saria and Sheik. Shadow, who had cried the warning, was a little too slow as the creature grabbed him in it's mighty beak and carried him into the air. The beak cut deep into his stomach and the shooting pain burned his body, blinding him. He started hitting it with his fist in a desperate attempt to free himself. When that failed, he drew his sword and the mighty bird started thrashing, causing the already weakened warrior to drop the weapon. As it fell to the ground, he knew that he had reached the end of the road.
The creature arrived at a cliff and placed him in a nest high off the ground. He lay there weakly as he saw the eggs. If the bird brought food, then that meant that they would hatch soon. When that happened, he would face a death that even the cruelest creature should never face. He would be killed as the hatch-lings tore him limb from limb.
* * * * *
Back at the plains, Sheik and Saria looked at each other, trying to figure out what to do. Sheik said, “This isn't good. We have to go after Link, but we can't leave Shadow behind either.” Saria nodded. “I'll go after Chain. You find Link.” Sheik looked at her confused. “Did you just call him...” She nodded. “Yeah, I did. You can see better than I can in this light. You'll be able to find Link without trouble. It makes sense that you go after him. Chain can help me catch up when I get him back.” Sheik nodded and handed her the bag from his back. “There's milk, bandages, some supplies and a bunch of potions in here. He's going to need them all. Be careful, okay, sis?”
Saria nodded and replied, “You too. If you die here, I'll kill you.” The two of them let out a chuckle and parted ways. The female ran as fast as her legs could carry her. However, she didn't see where the bird took him. “Sprit! Where are you!” A feint green glow headed towards her, and Sprit's voice yelled, “Over here! Hurry!” Saria ran to the light and saw Sprit flying over a severely weakened Flint. Picking up the fairy, she said, “Flint! What's wrong?” The purple fairy said weakly, “My master... He's... Hut. Badly...” Saria said softly, “Just hold on, Flint. I'll save him.”
Looking at the ground she saw Shadow's sword a few feet away, the scabbard another couple meters further. Shield after that. They weren't damaged, so they should have stayed on the dark elf. Sprit said, “He left a trail. The bird went that way.” Saria put the sword , scabbard and shield on her back and said, “Hold on, Chain. I'm on my way.
* * * * *
Sheik ran at a high rate of speed with his iron boots and gloves on, heading towards Skull Mountain. He knew this was the way his companion went. He could sense it. He made a sudden leap to the side as lightning struck and continued without so much as a twitch. He started picking up speed as he said, “He's close. Very close... But why does his presence feel so different? Evil?” He dodged another jolt of lightning, then another. At that moment, a large surge of electrical energy soared at him. He leaped high into the air, somersaulted and landed. Sliding to a stop, he yelled, “What the Hell? Lightning doesn't travel like that!”
An evil voice said, “Perhaps. But your demise will come from the one who fired it at you.” Sheik yelled, “The Demon!” An evil laugh echoed through the air and a figure stepped out of the darkness. He looked exactly like Link, wearing blood red garments and glowing crimson eyes. Sheik prepared to crush the enemy with one blow when he noticed something. The demon had pure white hair... this creature had blond... a very distinct blond. Sheik said in shock, “Link! It can't be! You've been trapped by a mask?!”
* * * * *
Saria continued across the plains to find the Bird that had taken her companion. She couldn't help worrying about Sheik. There was no doubt that out of the four of them, he was best capable of taking care of himself, but something felt wrong. Something happened. She wanted to run after the warrior she thought of as a brother, but knew that Shadow was in grave danger. If she didn't catch up to him, he was as good as dead. The group needed everyone. If one died, the mission they had undertaken together would be for nothing. If one fell now, the rest would soon follow.
She reached a boggy area and started trudging through the knee deep sludge. It was a very unpleasant experience, but to save her friend, not even the fires of Hell could slow her down. Suddenly, she stumbled and fell into the sludge. Lifting herself up, she forced her tired legs to continue. The sludge got deeper and and she was forced to use her arms to aid her in traversing further. Stumbling again, she became submerged. Lifting her head out of the mess, she yelled at the top of her lungs, “CHAIN! I'M COMING AND NOT EVEN THE FIRES OF HELL ARE GOING TO STOP ME! JUST HOLD ON!!”
In the nest just a half mile away, in the heart of the deafening storm and surrounded by the bog, Shadow's eyes widened in shock. Despite the incredible odds of Saria's voice reaching his ears, he looked with great pain at the sludgy terrain and said, “Saria. What are you doing? Leave me and continue with the mission. One life isn't going to make a difference.” As he closed his eyes, he could swear that he heard Saria yell, “It makes a difference to me! I'm not leaving you behind! We all started this together, and we'll finish it that way! All or none! No exceptions.”
Back where Saria trudged onward, she could almost make out Shadow's voice a second time, replying to her cry, “Fine. I know better that to argue. You'll just pelt me with that damned slingshot.” Letting out a tearful smile, the female Kokiri increased her effort and speed with renewed spirits. He was alive. She knew it. He could still be saved. All she had to do was get there before anything happened. And she knew that time was running short.
