Live Your Own Story in Hyrule

Fred whispers in a tone that suggests discretion. “Mipha… and the others…” he points below deck. “But Kala is there… injured.”

Irina understands and moves just enough to look at Kala, her expression very concerned. “Is everybody else… okay?” She speaks in a whisper, matching Fred's tone—although she couldn't speak louder even if she wanted to.

The scent of wolf's blood begins to permeate the lower deck.

Fred says in his hushed tone, “Link… he is injured badly. But he transformed into some sort of… dog creature.”

Irina lifts her head when Fred explains, trying to push herself up to even a seat but unable to do so, in pain. “Link… where…?” She whispers and looks around, “What is the danger…?”

Fred points below. “Mipha attacked everyone… Link and Mipha below.”

Mipha looks down one side of the corridor and then the other. Siding with the left, she walks down and her foot bumps against something on the ground. She looks to see what it is. A cup? She turns her head towards an opening and moves inside. The cup made more sense seeing the condition of the quaters here. No crew were present in it, but that didn't stop her from searching. Perhaps something of significance might be here?

Nothing has caught her eye yet, but her nose was a different story. It crinkled just a bit and her eyes dilated at the scent of the blood. She couldn't narrow it down, but it was very much present in the air. She stepped back out of the crew quarters with a newfound purpose. She needed to know who this scent was coming from.

Irina's expression changes immediately when she hears the news. “Badly…?” She tries once more to push herself upright, but a sharp pain beneath her ribs forces her back down.

She closes her eyes for a moment, frustrated with her own body, then looks toward the opening below deck. “Mipha would never attack us,” she whispers, more certain of that than anything else. “Something happened to her. We can't let her hurt anyone... but we shouldn't hurt her unless there is no other choice. Where are Red and Revali?”

Irina looks toward the lower deck, clearly fighting the urge to try to move again. “Link transformed for a reason. He knows what he is doing…” The words sound almost like she is trying to convince herself but she speaks to Fred. “You know this ship better than any of us,” she whispers. “Is there anything we can do from here? Anything that could help him… or slow her down?”

Her eyes move over the damaged deck and the broken structure around them. “And is this ship still safe? If more of it gives way, everyone below could be trapped.”

Red nods in understanding. Yep, him and Blue together. Finding potions, avoiding murder princesses. He's already having second thoughts about coming down here, but since he's committed, he intends to stay the course. Easier said than done, though.

So, he follows Blue out of the room and into the corridor. "Do you know where you're going?"

Blue shakes his head, "No, but I've got a hunch... We score going lower."

Red was a bit confused, but then it all came together once he gave it some thought. The lower decks were probably in better shape and protected. Also meant a greater chance of being cornered. "Alright..." He didn't like it, but it was a reasonable guess.

The two come to an intersection with stairs leading to a lower deck nearby. They each take to a wall and sidle along to confirm the area was clear.

Mipha still couldn't pin down that scent. It was present, but diffused everywhere. She maintained her presence in the shadows, although her desire to determine where that blood was coming from slowly pulled her from lurking discreetly into pursuing openly.

It's safe or maybe unsafe to assume the area is clear. It is occupied and the footfalls are distant from the bird duo, but growing closer.

A single cucco feather falls on top of Mipha

The feather is just enough to break Mipha's momentum and slow her down and observe it. She grabs the feather and holds it up to examine it. She flips it from one side to the other then draws it closer to her face. Holding it beneath her nose, she sniffs at it to determine if the blood might belong to an animal that was on board. It's possible the exposion could have maimed something here.

Revali could hear those steps drawing closer and he quickly searched for any area that could serve as an exit. The closest were the stairs and they could go back the way they came, but if they were found, their goose was as good as cooked.

Once the steps stopped, he peeked out just enough to see if someone was at the end of the corridor, but he saw nothing. This wasn't good news, but it wasn't bad news either. Mipha could still be close by. He takes a look at the stairs once again and resolves that he's going to hop out and take the risk.

He motions to Red that he's going down there. Without waiting for a response, he kept himself low and crept over to the stairs as quickly as he could to start heading below, fully expecting his partner to follow.

Red felt like he could lose his lunch at any moment, but he hasn't had anything to eat to lose anything over. That might be for the best. Nothing to digest means nothing that can come out and serve as a way to be found. For that, he's thankful. He just wished his body wasn't going through all the motions right now.

Blue's plan, as it developed, was simple and maybe even stupid. Not stupid because it wouldn't work, but stupid because Red was absolutely worried that it wouldn't. Their goal had always been to go down there, but with Mipha being practically anywhere at this point, he's sick at the idea of heading out and risking being found.

Still, Blue's effort was so impressively smooth and silent, he wasn't sure he could follow his lead after such an attempt, but well, it was commit or never, so he crept over to get to the stairs and hoped for the best.

Mipha heard nothing of the escape the Rito duo made to the deck below. She'd begun to walk with the feather in hand, twisting it idly with her mind set upon the scent that was still in the air. As she came to the corridor the two exited from, nothing even hinted that they were ever present.

Salvatore drops the pan, his heart still beating wildly as he looks at the Gorman sullen face and runs again as fast as he can
"THANK YOU KANALI!"

Kanali looks back momentarily and grins to Salvatore, then turns and guides him out of the town. He flies though the alleyways and narrow streets to the place he came from. Before long, they are alone in the field outside of the town.

Kanali lands and stands, holding his knees and panting as he catches his breath. He looks up and Salvatore with a fatigued smile. “Are you okay?”

Salvatore collapses to the ground, exhausted. He is too out of breath to speak, his heart still pounding from the rush of emotion.
"Yeah... yeah... I'm okay... and you...?"
Then, he raises a trembling fist to the sky in triumph.

After catching his breath, Salvatore opens his bag to check the contents, pulling out a tapestry and a blue stuffed hippopotamus. He looks at Kanali with a weary smile. "These... these things are very important to me; I know it might seem trivial, but they make me feel close to my family. I always carry them with me. I hope you aren't angry that I risked my neck for such trivial items, but I really thank you."

Kanali kneels down next to Salvatore to see if he is okay and smiles warmly, looking especially at the hippopotamus. “Does he have a name?”

Salvatore smiles, looking a bit embarrassed. "Haha, yeah. Her name is Oppi; I went on thousands of adventures with her when I was little. She was a gift from a distant aunt in Hytopia. I was a bit of a klutz and didn't have any friends, except for her."

"She got worn out over the years, but my mother always had the patience to mend it. Haha, you can still hear the rattle inside." Salvatore holds the toy close to Kanali’s ear so he can hear the faint tinkling sound, muffled by layer upon layer of fabric.

Kanali's beak smiles broadly when he hears the rattle. “It is an honor to meet you, Oppi. You must be very brave to have been on so many adventures. I am glad we were able to share this one.”

"And what a great adventure!"
Salvatore smiles as he packs everything into his bag. "And do you have a story to tell?"

Kanali scratches the back of his neck with his wing. He sits down next to Salvatore and shows his messenger bag. “To be honest, until recently, I hadn't ventured far from the Hebra valley in Hyrule. My uncle got me a job as a mail carrier and now I feel like I am exploring everywhere, including this fascinating place.” He looks around and up at the tree tops. “I never knew I would be a traveler but I quite enjoy seeing mew places and meeting interesting people.”

Salvatore smiles at Kanali. "Wow, you must have traveled a lot and seen wonderful places. I've never been to the Hebra Valley. What's it like?"

Kanali pulls out a map from his bag and opens it. He shows it to Salvatore and points to mountains. “It's very beautiful, but it can be difficult to get around. There are many hidden secrets all around.”

Salvatore looks at the map with interest and fascination, observing the places Kanali is pointing out. "Wow, I've never been this far from Hateno Village."

Then Salvatore looks around. "Before today ha ha" he laughs, resting a hand behind his neck.

Kanali chuckles at the last comment. “This is definitely not a part that is on my map. I have no clue where I am… but speaking of which, shouldn't we be getting back now? I think I can remember more or less how I got here.”

I arrive in the castle town square with no idea where I am.

I slowly wander the desert and I See a Male Gerudo standing next to a Mighty black stallion before I pass out.

*The King of Evil watches a feeble and foolish man collapse in the desert heat. He snorts in amusement and looks away.*

"It's not even that hot. Pathetic."

*Ganondorf's stallion chuffs and meanders over to the downed man and snuffles around his clothes. Seems the smell of treats is lingering. The Gerudo approves of his horse robbing a man.*

I slowly regain consciousness and wake up.

"What happened to me"? I say in a groggy tone.

The Gerudo King gives the poor unfortunate soul a once over.*

"Looks like you wandered where you don't belong, _fool_. Paid the price all must pay when they do not respect the sands,"

*A ball of energy forms over the hand Ganondorf raised while talking, pulsing orange.*

"And now, you're about to pay the price for not respecting her King," *Ganondorf cackles.*

"Sir please don't" I begin begging for my life.

I get to my feet