Chapter Text
“We’re going scouting,” Sky announced.
Time glanced up, surprised at the determination in the younger hero. Wild was next to Sky, looking just as stubborn about it. The storm cleared into a cool evening, water still dripping from the mouth of the cave. The birds returned in an evening lilt, the sky a hazy yellow behind the cloud cover.
Time only nodded. “Well alright,” he agreed. “You know the rules.”
Wild just as quickly herded Sky out of the cave. Time only gave up a crooked smile. They were not as good at hiding their intentions as they thought, but Time was hardly of the mind to stop them.
Near the front of the cave, Legend worked quietly at Twilight’s tunic, performing miracle work on the thing to get it back in proper fighting shape. Hyrule was busy mashing up fire jelly and herbs to make a salve for the veteran and Time. Four kept Wars busy by inviting the guilt-ridden captain to help with maintenance–it was something that always seemed to soothe the man. As Wars sharpened swords, Four did his best with the smashed chainmail and Wars’ dented armor.
Glancing towards the back of the cave, Time watched Twilight and Wind make fishing lures together. The sailor was being remarkably quiet for a change, and the craft gave Twilight something to focus on, to ground himself with, and to work his hands.
Sometimes Time forgot Wind was an older brother himself.
The eldest hero stood, stretching with a soft groan. He and Legend were alike in that rain always brought out their aches and pains. A stiff twitchy back, Time pressed his hands into it just above his hips and bent backwards before he shuffled over to Wind and Twilight and found himself sitting at his pup’s side.
Twilight glanced over, offering a faint smile. It was the liveliest he’d looked since that morning, though there was still a miserable gravity in his features. He’d slept through the afternoon which seemed to alleviate some of his growing temper and they’d managed to get him to eat a bit of bread and butter after he slept through lunch.
“Why wasn’t I invited to this party?” Time teased, keeping his voice low.
Wind shrugged, thread between his teeth. “Figured your knuckles would be all achy or somethin’.”
Time rolled his eyes. “I’m not arthritic,” he sighed. “That’s Legend.”
The veteran sneezed at the other end of the cave. Time snickered.
Wind pointed to a scattering of supplies on the ground. “There’s plenty,” the sailor offered.
Time nodded, picking out a piece of cork and a few small feathers. Curiously, he lifted the feathers up to the light. Blue and yellow–ones he’d never seen on the two heroes’ lures before.
“Twi picked those up this afternoon,” Wind explained. “Pretty great, huh?”
“Indeed,” Time agreed. “Good eye, pup.”
Twilight shrugged mildly, engrossed in his work. He was twitchier than usual, Time noted.
“I’m sorry we couldn’t properly search for your cord,” Time offered.
Twilight’s work slowed. “S’only string,” he murmured. The same thing he’d been telling himself all day. It made him guilty, reducing all those years to nothing but string .
“Even so, I know you’re upset–”
“M’not,” Twilight lied in a huff.
Time only sighed, giving up a nod. He patted Twilight’s shoulder. The rancher calmed a little, sinking in on himself. He focused his efforts on the lure again.
Outside, the Master Blade thrummed with holy light, tugging Sky and Wild through the trees. The two heroes slipped under roots and over rocks, trekking down the mountainside through the refreshed forest. The smell of rain and pine hung thick in the air and water rushed down natural courses and dripped from the trees.
Wild pushed his hood back, staring up at a rainbow spanning the sky over the canopy. Sky stood in awe of it for a long moment.
“Are we close?” Wild asked.
Sky was drawn from his thoughts. He focused on the sword again, the tug much stronger than it had been at the cave.
“Not far,” he said encouragingly. “But this is nowhere near where we camped…”
“Maybe the wind took it and it got swept downstream,” Wild offered.
More walking–after an hour of trekking downhill through the woods, Sky stopped short.
“Here,” the chosen hero said.
The two looked around the trees but saw nothing.
“Are you…you’re sure?” Wild asked, snooping through the bushes. “I don’t see anything here.”
Sky nodded. “I’m sure–it’s screaming at me that it’s…ah…”
Wild glanced up curiously. Sky was staring upwards. Wild followed his gaze to a slender pine tree. Far, far up was a bird’s nest and from that nest, a stripe of bright orange.
“Ah. Hm.” Wild said, staring up at it.
Sky let out a tired sigh. “All yours, champ,” the chosen offered.
Wild nodded, donning his climbing gear. The wet bark was slick, he found himself slipping down. He frowned, scowling at the tree as if he had some personal vendetta against it. He had half a mind to simply cut the tree down.
“Here,” Sky said, offering his sailcloth.
Wild took it, eyes widening. “You’re sure?”
“For Twilight,” Sky confirmed.
Wild smiled. “For Twi.”
Slinging the sailcloth around the tree, wrapping either end around gloved hands, Wild began the steady climb up the tree. Without a branch to hold onto at the bird’s nest, the champion grabbed the cord between his teeth and yanked . Half the nest fell apart, but the cord came loose. Wild flung it down to Sky with a toss of his head.
Sky pattered around on the ground, diving to catch it as if it would break. He came up with his recovery proudly, thrusting the cord up in a fist. Wild grinned and with the sailcloth, made an easy landing.
The two heroes bumped either forearm and swapped a high-five but then…
“Um Sky,” Wild asked, “can you dowse us back to the cave?”
One uphill climb later, Twilight drew both the heroes into a crushing hug. Wild squeaked and Sky let out a wheeze against the rancher’s crushing embrace. And Twilight was very unashamedly crying.
Wars looked relieved, Time folded his arms with a smile. Legend pretended not to look moved and Hyrule gave the veteran a knowing elbow to the ribs.
Profuse gratitudes spilled out of the rancher in an unintelligible drawl. Wild and Sky simply patted the man on the back, unable to get words out trapped in Twilight’s bear hug. The sentiment was clear all the same– what’s important to you is important to us .