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Portals were strange things.
Wild knew that they were all working on the assumption that they were sent by Hylia, Sky assured them that Sun, his Zelda, had recognised them as having divine origin. Still, Wild couldn’t help but wonder if Sun needed her eyes tested. If it really was Hylia sending them between eras, then she had terrible aim. The Chain always seemed to land in the most unlikely of places: that had landed halfway up mountains, on the roofs of barns, and once (or so he was told; it was before Wild joined them) in the middle of the sea.
The Chain also told him stories about being separated in the middle of portals, the group split up despite stepping through at the same time and spat out miles apart. Wild had yet to go through that particular nightmare yet, and every time he stepped through a portal and found himself still with his brothers he was grateful for it.
Fate, being tempted, decided to intervene.
One minute Wild was in Four’s era, teasing Twilight as he stepped forward and into the swirling portal. The next, he was falling through the air and landing headfirst in a huge pile of mud.
Ow.
Well, that was his tunic needing a good scrub out. And after Uli had gone to so much trouble, too! He had known that it was a mistake to wear such light coloured fabric while hiking through portals, but had he let that stop him?
This was going to take forever to wash out.
Grumbling he scrambled to try and sit up, but his grip wasn’t terribly good in the thick mud and he slipped again.
Great. Fantastic. Phenomenal.
He finally managed to sit up and pushed his hair out of his face, blinking. Of all the days to turn down Wind’s offer to braid his hair, it had to be today! Now he was an absolute mess. He frowned and looked around, trying to get his bearings.
Oh. Oh dear.
Well this wasn’t good.
He appeared to be in the middle of a paddock, where clearly it had been recently raining, given the thick mud in all directions. There was a cluster of ranch buildings nearby, a house and a number of barns and outbuildings.
And there, marching into the paddock with a scythe in her hand, was a very angry looking woman.
Oh shit.
Goodbye, cruel world.
Wild whimpered and scooted back, ear flattening against his head as he shrunk in on himself. Only a few paces away, the woman stopped and frowned.
“You’re not a bokoblin.” she remarked, putting her hands on her hips and tilting her head, red hair falling over her shoulder. “You okay, there, hon? I’m sorry if I startled you. I saw you tumbling into the paddock and panicked.”
She carefully set the scythe down and walked carefully over, holding her hands up in a sign of peace. Wild watched her warily as she crouched down in front of him, trying to make himself as small as possible and not give her any reason to reach for her weapon again.
“You’re one of Link’s boys, aren’t you?” she asked, and Wild started. Wait, what? How- what?
The woman laughed, standing and holding out a hand to help him up. “I’m Malon, Time’s wife. Looks like you’ve gotten yourself a little lost, haven’t you?”
Wild tentatively accepted her help up, hissing in embarrassment as he got mud all over her hand. She didn’t seem to mind, and her grip was strong as she pulled him upright. He rumbled as he stood, tail curiously weaving out towards her, although he quickly jerked it back before he could get mud all over her skirts. Malon laughed cheerfully when he tried to rumble in apology, guiding him out of the paddock.
“Come on, hon, let’s get you washed up and into something clean. Believe it or not, this isn’t the first time one of those darned portals dropped a hero into my paddock. I think Hylia finds it funny.” she rolled her eyes, shaking her head. “The others won’t be too far away, I dare say they’ll be here in time for dinner.” she assured him.
Wild just nodded. He knew he should probably try to sign something, to thank her or ask how she’d known who he was, but honestly? He was too stunned by this turn of events to do anything other than follow her lead. She led him into a little washhouse just to the side of the main building and passed him a towel from a shelf.
“There now! Get yourself cleaned up, I’ll make a pot of tea to help you heat. Do you have a change of clothes?If not, I’m sure I can find something of Link’s to fit you-”
Wild finally found his voice and cut her off with a friendly rumble and a wave of his hands, tapping his slate. She didn’t look terribly convinced, which was fair, but shrugged and smiled anyway, patting him once more on the shoulder before leaving him in peace to clean off.
This was… unexpected. But not even slightly unwelcome. This might have been the nicest portal he’d ever gone through, initial panic aside. Wild sighed happily as he pulled off his filthy tunic and scrubbed the mud out of his fur and hair. When he was finally approaching somethin resembling ‘clean’, he began to root around for something else to wear. He settled on his archaic toga, loose enough not to cling to his damp fur, pulling its green shawl close about his shoulders against the morning chill.
Right. Time to go ins- wait. He glanced down at his feet, still liberally caked in mud. Unlike the others he couldn’t just take off a pair of boots to leave the mud outside, and he wasn’t going to be responsible for ruining this nice lady’s rugs. Wild perched for a moment longer and made sure that yes, his feet and the end of his tail were pristinely clean before heading to the house.
The back door of the cottage led directly into a warm, cosy kitchen, the scent of cooking and fresh baked bread immediately greeting him as he entered. He stood in the doorway for a moment, uncertainly shifting from one foot to the other, his tail pulled tight against his body. Malon was standing at a vast iron range, stirring a cooking pot, and turned as he entered. Her face split into a wide smile.
“There you are!” She greeted, holding open her arms and offering him a mug. “Have some tea, hon, warm yourself up, and I’ll put your dirty clothes in the wash.”
Wild felt something warm bloom on his chest as he passed over his tunic. It wasn’t necessary; he could easily have stored it in his slate until he found somewhere to clean it himself, but Malon seemed so earnest that he didn’t dare try to argue. He purred softly in thanks, tail flicking softly.
Malon smiled, running her hand over the muddy embroidery. “That’s how I knew who you were.” she said. “Got little triforces on your shirt. Also, you Links all have the same look about you. I’d recognise one of you hero types anywhere. Got a name, hon?” She asked.
Wild rumbled to get her attention and signed his name.
“Nice to meet you, Wild. Have you eaten yet today?”
He had eaten. In fact, he’d made everyone big cheesy omelets for breakfast that he was fairly certain Four and Hyrule would be throwing up wherever they were. He was pretty full, but Malon was already pulling out a platter of cold meats and cheese and pickles from the ice box. And well. it would be rude to refuse.
Wild purred in thanks, flushing slightly under his fur as he did so and pulling his tail back from where it threatened to brush against her legs.
“I help?” He asked, gesturing to the tray of food she was trying to pick up. She beamed at him.
“You’re a sweetheart. Come on, I thought we could eat out on the porch swing, so you can see when your brothers are coming.”
Wild rumbled in agreement and followed her through the house and out the front door. It was a cool enough day, for all that the sun was shining, but the porch swing was piled with blankets and pillows and looked extremely cosy. Malon pulled a table over in front of them for him to set down the tray and relaxed back into the seat with a huff.
“There now!” She said, encouraging Wild to pull a blanket around himself as he sipped his tea. “How long have you been travelling with my boys? It can’t have been very long?”
Wild grumbled lightly, setting his tea down. He’d been with the Chain for two months now, but he didn’t know the sign for ‘month’. “Eight week.” he signed. “Sorry. Sign bad. Learning.”
Malon’s smile was gentle as she parsed through his shaky sign. “That’s okay, hon, everyone starts somewhere.” she nudged the plate of pork pies and pickles towards him. “So around two months, then? How are you settling in? Has Sky fallen asleep on you yet?”
Wild chuffed in laughter and picked up a pie that was lavishly topped with what looked like caramelised onion. He was starting to really like Malon.
-
The sun had set by the time the rest of the Chain reached them, exhausted and covered in monster guts from a day spent fighting their way across Hyrule field.
Malon and Wild, not wanting to eat their evening meal without everyone else, instead stuck to a selection of breads and meats. Wild produced a freshly made focaccia from his slate, stuffed with rosemary and tomato and onion, and still warm from the oven. In response, Malon produced several rounds of her own home churned butter mixed with different herbs, jars of tapanade, and a big pot of hummus.
Because it would be rude to have dinner without the Chain, but no one said anything about nibbles.
As the sun began to lower in the sky, Malon lit a nearby brazier and pulled out a bottle of wine, offering a glass which Wild eagerly accepted.
“Wait-” she asked suddenly. “How old are you?”
Wild could have burst out laughing. All of these weeks with the Chain, Hylia knew how many evening drinks shared with Twilight, and no one had yet asked hum how old he was. He raised his hands to sign.
“One hundred and twenty three.” he told he gleefully.
Malon cocked an eyebrow. “Uh huh. And about what would be the equivalent be in hylian terms?”
Ah shit she caught him. Well. Sort of. She didn’t figure out that he’d been asleep for a hundred of those years, because that was frankly insane. It seemed fair to assume that whatever species he was were like the Zona and had longer lifespans.
Wild rumbled sheepishly. “Twenty three.” he said. He had wanted to tell her he was six, given that was how many years it had been since awakening in the shrine and was how many years he actually remembered, but something told him it wouldn’t go down well. Oh well, he’d save that one for Legend.
Malon nodded approvingly and poured him a glass of red wine. A large glass
Malon, Wild decided, was the best. Time was a lucky man.
“I refuse to believe.” Malon was saying as she refilled his glass. “That my Link is as sensible and stoic as your brothers make him out to be. I know that man and he’s a disaster. He couldn’t possibly have fooled you all.”
Wild laughed and lifted his hands to sign. Sure, Time was their default leader and the big brother of the group, but if there was one thing that Wild had learned over the past few months, it was that he had a mischievous streak a mile long.
“Love Time. But idiot.” He purred to show he was joking, and Malon burst out laughing. Wild chuffed along with her as he pulled out his slate, flicking through his photos. Finally he found what he was looking for and mewed in delight, turning it around for Malon to see.
Malon squealed with joy, tears of laughter filling her eyes. At Wild’s prompting she took the slate from him in order to get a better view.
It was a picture from a few days previous. The Chain had gotten a few hours of peace in a friendly town and decided to play dress up with some of Wild’s clothes. And by ‘decided to play dress up’, he meant ‘Wind begged and cajoled and pleaded until Wild gave in just to get a bit of quiet’. And of course, everyone else had wanted to join in.
Wind had immediately gone for the full plate armour, and despite it being much too large for him had clanked around in delight. Wars had tried out the Royal Guard’s uniform and looked irritatingly dashing in the knee high white boots and matching cap. Legend called dibs on the frostbite tunic and Cece hat, and refused to take it off for the entire day. Twi had found the Zonite set and immediately put it on, delighted at being ‘twins’ with Wild.
Wild had been approaching Time, about to shyly offer the Champions tunic to him. It was one of the few items that he had held back, along with the Zora armour and a few other pieces. Somehow, though, not having it be worn just felt wrong, and if he trusted anyone to wear it, it was Time.
But, it seemed, the Old Man had other ideas. He had spotted something he liked and zeroed in on it with slightly alarming delight.
It was the barbarian set. Here was Wild about to offer one of his most treasured possessions, and Time had set his freaky tree-man heart on the barbarian set.
Wild despaired.
Time had adored the set. The crop top. The fur-cap sleeves. The skirt and loincloth. The furry boots. He put it on and danced around in delight, prancing and preening and pulling ridiculous poses.
The picture that Wild showed Malon now was of Time on that day, leaning back against the wall and pulling a ridiculous pouty face, his hips jutting out to show off his abs to full effect. It was a ludicrous picture. Time looked ridiculous, completely absurd in the weird, fur and leather outfit.
Malon’s cheeks flushed bright red and she had to set down her wine with how hard she was laughing. Tears were streaming down her cheeks. She had to brace herself and look away for a few moments in order to catch her breath.
Hell yeah. Wild knew it was a good idea to keep that picture. He hoped Time was happy that this is where his abominable taste in fashion got him.
(Wild was conveniently ignoring that it was his outfit to begin with. Details!)
Speaking of Time… was that a lantern in the distance?
Wild mewled and stood, squinting into the distance and his pupils widening to see better in the dark.
Yes! Two pricks of light, the Chain’s lanterns, and something else, something glowing and vaguely blue - the Master Sword? Sky had said once that when they were separated he found them again by dowsing with the sword.
“Is that them?” Malon asked, wiping a tear from her eyes and passing back the slate. “And is there a way of making a copy of that picture?”
Wild laughed and nodded to each, hopping excitedly from foot to foot and sipping at his wine. They had only poured the first glass less than an hour ago, but the bottle was almost empty now. Oops.
Malon grinned and leapt to her feet, darting inside to poke the fire in her range and begin heating up the dinner she had prepared for the Chain. By the time she returned, the lights were a lot closer. Wild decided to make himself useful and began lighting the various lanterns and candles around the front porch and gates, turning the whole scene from a normal farmyard to something magical, the candles twinkling like stars.
Malon ran down the cobbled path to the front gate, heedless of her bare feet on the stone. The wine might have had something to do with that, but Wild liked to think it was her excitement at being reunited with her husband again. Wild followed behind her at a more sedate pace, his tail waving happily through the air.
“Link!” Malon cried. “Boys!”
Wild called a friendly yowl too, to let them know that he was here, he was safe, and waved. Hopefully with all of his effort to light the space up they would see him. He wondered vaguely if he should have also used some brightblooms. That could be fun.
“Wild!” Wind called as they approached. “You’re okay!” he pushed through the group and sprinted up to him, taking a running leap to hug Wild’s chest. Wild caught him with a huff and balanced him on his hip, nuzzling at his head. “We were worried for a bit! But then Sky dowsed for you and said you were to the west and Time said the Ranch was to the west so we hoped you were okay and you are! Hi, Missus Malon!”
He spoke in one big, fast breath, and not for the first time Wild marvelled at his ability to say so much without running out of steam. It was a real talent.
Malon did not respond as she was no longer standing beside them. She also had taken off at a sprint and taken a running leap into Time’s arms. The Old Man was covered in mud and guts and slime and was clearly exhausted, but he caught his wife with an easy laugh, spinning her around in delight.
“Honey!” he cried.
“Darling!” Malon replied, and they both dissolved into giggles at some private joke.
The rest of the Chain jogged up to meet them, greeting ‘Missus Malon’ cheerfully and expressing their delight at finding Wild safe and well.
“I knew you were safe.” Sky promised him. “Fi was pointing me straight to the Ranch, Hylia must have just decided you deserve a break for once.”
“Did she dump you in the paddock?” Legend asked. “She dumped me in the paddock. Right after a rainstorm, too, there was mud everywhere.”
Wild snorted and nodded while Twi came and gave him a hug. The rancher peered over his shoulder and then widened his eyes at the empty bottle of wine. He gasped, a look of betrayal crossing his face as he signed, deliberately going slow so that WIld could piece together what he said.
“You drink not with me?” he said, shaking his head melodramatically, then butted him in a way that was all wolf. Sad! Sad! Betrayal!
Wild scoffed and laughed back at him, happily drinking down what was left of his glass.
Malon finally hopped down from Time’s arms and joined them back at the swing seat, pulling him along behind her. “It’s good to see all of you boys back here.” she said. “And with your new brother! Wild and I have been having a lovely cosy day in, although something tells me you’ve had a little less comfort.” she ran a finger along Time’s sleeve and grimaced at the blood and gore that came off. “The lot of you, go and wash up. We’ll have dinner ready for you when you’re done - yes, and wine, Link, Twilight, for Hylia’s sake, the two of you are terrible. Don’t forget to take your shoes off before coming in - yes, Wind, I’m looking at you. I’ve only just got the mud out from last time.”
Malon smiled as she spoke, reaching out and idly ruffling Hyrule’s hair as she passed. Rulie blushed but smiled, clearly comfortable with her presence.
Wild rumbled and happily went back into the house with Malon, eager to help her serve out the dinner. Despite all of the snacking he had done throughout the day, he still managed to be hungry and was looking forward to the meal they had been preparing together off and on throughout the day.
Wild pulled ten cobs of bread from his slate, hollowing each out, ready for Malon to fill with a generous helping of goulash. Everything was set out by the time the Chain came into the kitchen, humming and gasping in delight at the scent and sight of the dinner before them.
Wild smiled, opening another bottle of wine and beginning to pour for his brothers - Twilight first of course. Sure, it had been unnerving to be dumped, alone, in a strange place that morning, but it had all turned out right in the end. Better than alright, in fact. His strange family of heroes and their families from across time had just grown to include another person. For once, landing in a new era, he didn’t feel even slightly worried about how he was being perceived.
Wild rumbled happily, raising his glass in a toast Legend was making across the table. He understood why Time spoke of his ranch so lovingly now. He understood where that fond glimmer in his eye came from.
This wasn’t just a ranch. It was a home.
And Wild couldn’t think of anywhere better.