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Chapter Text

Echoes of the Sky: Teaser

For the first time in her life, she understood what it meant to see your life flash before your eyes. Every tear, every laugh, every pain, every joy-- everything. But strangely, she felt null. There was nothing. Nothing to fight for. Nothing to hold onto. Nothing to keep her alive. She was completely and utterly void.

Revali's body lay half-buried in the snow, his deep indigo feathers a stark contrast to the endless sea of white. A bright blue fabric tangled around his neck, torn and frayed and damaged: tragic remnants of a battle long lost. Y/n thought he was dead.
But his chest moved. Barely, just a whisper of breath against the freezing air, but it was there. Amongst the frigid, never ending cold, was a spark, a flame, a hope of life. The wind stirred at the tips of his feathers, as if daring him to rise.
"Please don't die," she frantically half whispered, half pleaded to the fading soul in front of her, salty tears trickling down her own cold face.
She didn't know who he was. She didn't know if he was a friend or foe, if saving him would really mean anything in the end.
But he was breathing, and that was enough.

Coming Summer 2025.

Chapter Text

“I found you almost dead near Tabantha Hills. I brought you here, and I've been tending to your wounds to the best of my abilities. It's been two full days now where you've been asleep.”
She paused, nervously playing with her hair, awaiting a response. Once she'd deduced that he was waiting on her, she continued.
“There's not any else to tell you. Honestly, we've all been waiting for you to wake up so you could explain. Who are you, where are you from, and how did you end up like… uhm—this.” She motioned to his left wing, which was wrapped in many bandages and had a splint attached to it. He stared blankly back, and after deducing that he didn't have an answer for her, she softly added, “Or at least, your name?”
He scoffed, “Really? None of you know who I am?”
The three Hylians stared back at him awaiting his response. It was awkward, it was strange, and it was uncomfortable, to say the least. It had been a long time since he had needed to introduce himself.
“Erm-- I guess not,” he was taken aback, rolling his eyes and lifting his chin as he continued, “I am Revali, Champion of the Rito, master of the skies, and--”
His words faltered.
And what? Pilot if the very divine beast that had thrown him into the snow 3 days previous? Vah Medoh was lost; he was defeated.
“The greatest archer in all of Hyrule,” he finished smoothly, masking the brief hesitation with confidence.
“Champion, huh?” One of the stable regulars inquired. His tone wasn’t skeptical, more surprised, “Didn’t think we’d ever have someone so important here at Snowfield.”
Revali clicked his tongue. “Formerly, important, it would seem,” he muttered.
At that, Y/n spoke. “You’re alive,” her voice came quietly yet firm, “that still means something, doesn’t it?”
He wanted to argue, wanted to tell her how wrong she was, wanted to tell her that just survival wasn’t anywhere near enough. A champion who had failed to protect his people wasn’t a champion at all.
But he didn’t say any of that.
Instead, he exhaled sharply and looked her in the eyes.
“...Yes, I suppose it does.”

Coming Summer 2025

Chapter Text

Light. Blinding bolts of white light.

Fire. Blue flames of fire and violet malice swallowing the ground.

Screaming. Ear-piercing, blood-curdling, heart-wrenching screams.

“Mama!” Y/n cried, turning her head to and fro trying desperately to find her family.

Blood. The smell of warm, fresh blood clashing with the crisp snow.

“No, no, no… mama, no, don’t leave me…”

Y/n gasped, jolting awake in her own bed. At home. Was it really all just a bad dream? Was she truly back home? But all the same, something felt off. She stood up and walked towards the fireplace.

A fireplace? Since when was there a fireplace in my bedroom?

She moved her hands closer to it, but she felt no warmth. In fact, she felt rather cold. The icy wind nipped at her skin as she wrapped her arms around herself, suddenly wishing she put on a jacket before coming outside.

Outside? When did I come outside?

She looked around at the violet snow. Violet, strange and rather unusual. Except, it wasn’t snow. It was malice. Grotesque, gloomy, glowing malice.

No, it can’t be. No, no, no…

Light. Glaring, gruesome streaks of flashing light.

Fire. Engulfing flames swallowing her faint surroundings in their wake.

Screaming. Undeniable, unignorable, unimpeachable, hateful, hurtful screams.

She was back where she began, the same scene replaying over, and over, and over, and over.

I can’t run, not again.

“Mama! Please, don’t die!”

She turned around, and there it was. Her worst nightmare, the very metal that traumatized the deepest pits of her mind, the strange mechanical creature that stole her whole world from her.

“Please, take me instead!” she pleaded, “Please, don’t kill them all.”

Hot tears streamed down her face mixing with the malice surrounding her to form a strange brackish scent.

And finally, a single thought managed to break through the chaos…

Run.

《{♡}》

Her eyes opened immediately, desperately searching for anything to prove that she was still alive. Her hand instinctively moved to her wrist where she felt her own pulse, letting out a sigh of relief as she felt the distinct cadence of a heartbeat. It had been a nightmare–a terrible, dreadful, abominable nightmare.

Chapter Text

Coming July 30th, 2025.

Echoes of the Sky: Teaser #4

“A duel!?” Y/n repeated, shocked by the peculiarity of the proposition, “Revali, have you lost your mind?”

“No weapons, just feathers versus fist,” he smirked in her direction, enjoying the look of confusion on her face, “C'mon, it'll be fun. Unless… you're scared?”

The night air was crisp that evening, and a light breeze sent shivers down both their spine. They sat on a smooth, cold stone just beneath the fabled Dueling Peaks. Y/n never would have agreed to resting here if she knew he would challenge her like this…but all the same, the idea thrilled her.

“In your dreams,” she laughed, standing up. 

“Perfect,” he cooed, beginning to walk in a circle around her, watching her like a hawk. 

I'll go easy on her, he thought to himself, let her almost win, maybe.

He took his time, debating whether he ought to make the first move or if he should wait for her. 

Then, she swung. She was faster than anticipated, but still predictable. He dodged her easily, yawning through rolled eyes as he taunted her aloud, “Too slow.”

He sidestepped, tapping her shoulder while laughing, a small smile forming on Y/n's face. Quickly, she pivoted, aiming towards his shoulder. He prepared to dodge with infuriating ease.

“Is that really the best you can do?” he sighed, “Honestly, I expected--”

In a single, fluid motion, she ducked beneath his wing, came up behind him, and grabbed one of his wrists. She had faked him out. 

Oh. 

His smirk faltered, but only for a moment.

Oh, so she's good?

He managed to escape her grasp, and their playful dance continued on, the two quite evenly matched. He was surprised by her, she had made much progress since they first met. She was no longer the weak little girl who couldn't even hold a sword; she had turned into a warrior. 

“No need to go easy on me,” Y/n laughed, dodging a kick from Revali as she moved behind him.

“Easy?” he asked with a raised eyebrow, as he turned around to face her, dodging a punch aimed at his face, “I simply didn't want to hurt your feelings when you lose. You Hylians can be quite sensitive, after all.”

“Is that so?” She tilted her head in amusement, packing more swift jabs that he barely dodged, slowly backing him into the wall of the peak, “Well, you Rito are sore losers.”

He laughed at this remark, loud and hearty, smiling ear to ear as their quasi-duel continued. 

How peculiar, he thought to himself, She was so timid when we first met, afraid to say a single word wrong. Her every breath was carefully calculated, and she took not a single step in an unknown direction. 

He watched as the wind moved her hair, Y/n's locks flowing freely in the crisp, midnight air. Her eyes darted back and forth, not in fear, but rather, in excitement. 

And now? Revali's thoughts continued, She teases me, and she causes me to laugh. 

He watched her carefully, enjoying the banter between them. He hadn't taken note of it before, but dare he say she was rather…

…pretty. She's pretty. 

As their duel continued, Revali stepped backwards once more, just to find he had only wall behind him. 

Y/n smirked, quickly swinging another punch towards his side. He gasped, not having expected her to be successful, groaning as he felt her fist make contact with his body. 

“Hah, I got you! Bet you didn't expect tha—”

Taking advantage of her celebration break, Revali swiftly moved around to the other side of her, effectively swapping their places in relation to the wall.

She realized all too late what he was doing. “Wait, what are you—”

He pushed her with one wing so her back was now to the wall, and placed either arm on the wall beside her body, successfully pinning her body to the stony cave. 

For a moment, neither of them moved, their breath ragged from the previous excitement. He looked down at her, his eyes meeting Y/n's in a sort of strange staring contest. As their heart rates slowed, so did their thoughts. 

When did we get this close? Revali wondered, as his face slowly crept even closer to hers still. 

And then…

Chapter Text

Hey guys, this chapter is just sort of things to expect from this fanfiction so that way nobody is caught too off guard or reading out of their comfort zone <3

Things that will NOT be in my writing:
-sexual content
-excessive profanity
-incest
-rape/non consent

Things you CAN/might see in my writing:
-mild profanity
-fluff
-graphic/mild violence
-character deaths
-references to depression/suicide
-blood/gore

AO3 is a community where any type of creative work can be shared; however, I ask that in my comment section people are respectful of my boundaries and things I am not comfortable with.

If a chapter contains graphic violence, blood/gore, death, or references to depression/suicide, I will leave a note at the beginning of the chapter stating that the chapter may not be suitable to all readers. Most chapters will likely contain one of the above, though.

Notes about my writing style:
When I write character x readers, I treat the reader role as an OC (original character). Not every reader will necessarily be able to relate to the reader role.
Additionallly, my writing style is meant to be poetic and contains a lot of repetition and imagery. Not everyone enjoys this writing style, and that's okay. If you aren't into this style, please simply don't read my writing rather than leaving hateful comments.

That's all I've got! If you have any questions, let me know. First chapter is this coming Wednesday. Thank you all so much for all the support I've already gotten on this fanfiction, and I can't wait to share it with all of you <3
🫶🫶🫶

Chapter Text

Note: This chapter contains references to suicide/depression and may not be suitable for all readers.

Chapter 1: A Bitter Beginning

Revali’s heart pounded against his ribs. He couldn't see a single thing. Blinding flashes of light pierced the darkness, the wind howled in his ears, and rain poured against his feathers. His wings grew heavier with each drop, his breath sharp and ragged.

I can't lose this, he told himself, for the sake of Hyrule.

He shot arrow after arrow, his aim wavering as he fired blindly at the blight’s shifting silhouette.

A crackling bolt of energy slashed across his chest, cutting deep into his flesh. He staggered back as his vision blurred, talons curling into the damp metal of the Divine Beast beneath him.

"Just a scratch," he rasped, forcing himself upright despite the agony clawing at his lungs. His pride refused to let him fall.

Then, the world was swallowed by light.

A second too late, he realized his mistake: too close, too slow to react. The malice consumed him, and before he could escape, he was caught in the beast’s grasp. He struggled, his wings thrashing, but the corruption held fast.

Windblight Ganon’s voice slithered through the storm, “And in case you weren't dead yet…”

In a single swipe, the monster threw the Rito warrior off the ship and into the far distance, presumably never to be seen again.

Air rushed past him as the world spun out of control. His body twisted in freefall, the raging sky above growing distant. The rain turned to needles against his skin. He tried to spread his wings—tried to stop himself—but the storm swallowed him whole.

And then, nothing.

He would've been dead: gone to the malice of Ganon's eternal hatred, engulfed by the crude winds that carried him to the valley in which he lay, utterly banished by evil itself, but instead he was found by the unlikeliest of all…

A Hylian girl, Y/n, who had no interest in the sake of Hyrule. She came from a small dwelling, just outside the Kopeeki Drifts.

The village had about three families, and while quaint, they were happy. The snowy valley that they called home was isolated and stranded in the depths of Hebra's rigid cold. To most Hylians, it was quite possibly the most unappealing place you could ever have the misfortune of living in, but to Y/n and her family, it was home.

She was barely seventeen: too young to be alone. And yet, now she was.

She hadn't seen it coming. None of them had.

Light. Blinding bolts of white light.

Fire. Blue flames of fire and violet malice swallowing the ground.

Screaming. Ear-piercing, blood-curdling, heart-wrenching screams.

Run.

Only one thought broke through the terror.

Run.

When the guardians attacked, there was no preamble, no warning sign to evacuate, no reason for anyone to suspect that their lives would be changed forever. But now, Y/n was alone and lost and wandering in the frigid wilderness of Hebra. It had only been an hour since she lost her home, her friends, her family, her everything… but her mind was made up. There was no reason to continue like this—to keep hope in such an utterly hopeless situation. Who would miss her? Nobody knew that she still lived, and certainly nobody ought to care.

She climbed to the top of the Tabantha Hills, her mind set on the task ahead. She looked down upon the Kopeeki Drifts, down upon the devastating ruins of a world she once held dear, a place she once called home, a life she once lived with her whole heart, body, and self. For the first time in her life, she understood what it meant to see your life flash before your eyes. Every tear, every laugh, every pain, every joy—everything. But strangely, she felt null.

Why them? Why not me?

Y/n searched within her heart, within her soul, within her mind—desperate for any flicker of emotion, any trace of love, any sign of motivation. But there was nothing. Nothing to fight for. Nothing to hold onto. Nothing to keep her alive. She was completely and utterly void.

Boom. A loud, sudden, deafening boom.

A body had fallen to the earth, striking the ground with finality, surely to be dead.

Very few could've survived a fall like that; it would take an individual of such gumption, such will, such devotion to overcome a plummet so great. Only one with an outstanding and unmatched desire to live, one who simply didn't have the privilege, the luxury of quietus, could have survived.

Someone who defied death itself.

Y/n's head snapped in the direction of the sound. A small cloud of snow and smoke erupted around the fallen entity.

Something—someone—had crashed.

Hesitantly—oh, so very hesitantly—she left her position by the cliff side to investigate the adventitious intrusion.

The body lay half-buried in the snow, his deep indigo feathers a stark contrast to the endless sea of white. His wings sprawled lifelessly at his sides, feathers torn and matted with ice. A bright blue fabric tangled around his neck, torn and frayed and damaged: tragic remnants of a battle long lost. A gaping gash tore through his chest as fresh, warm blood stained the frost beneath him, and for a moment, Y/n thought he was dead.

And yet—his chest moved. Barely, just a whisper of breath against the freezing air, but it was there. Amongst the frigid, never ending cold, was a spark, a flame, a hope of life. The wind stirred at the tips of his feathers, as if daring him to rise. Against all odds, he was alive.

Y/n leaned down beside him; she took her own scarf off, and without hesitation wrapped it around his wound. She secured the impromptu bandage, tightening it as best she could. She took his own royal blue scarf off his neck, and wrapped it around a smaller (but still quite large) cut on his wing.

“Please don't die,” she frantically half whispered, half pleaded to the fading soul in front of her, salty tears trickling down her own cold face.

She didn't know who he was. She didn't know if he was a friend or foe, if saving him would really mean anything in the end. But he was breathing, and in the moment, that was enough.

She dragged his bleeding corpse through the snow to the only place she could possibly think of, the only place that mattered, the only place where he still had a chance of survival. Snowfield Stable, just southwest of where she had initially found him.

《{♡}》

Revali.

Wake up, Revali.

Please, I need you!

…

I'm sorry, friend. Take your time.

We need you alive in this.

For the sake of Hyrule.

Y/n watched him as he twitched in his sleep, mumbling broken words that she couldn't quite make out, remnants of the life he lived before this. At first, his movement had bothered her; watching him twist and turn in agony had brought her discomfort, but now she was used to it.

It had been two days since she'd found him out in the frozen desert. Two days, yet it felt like two lifetimes.

With what little strength she had, which truly wasn't much, she had managed to drag his warm, breathing body down to the Snowfield Stable, her second home. Naturally, all the regulars were beyond shocked to see her alive after the attack on her home, and even more surprised when they found her hauling a seemingly lifeless Rito, about twice her size, in the bitter tundra.

And now, here she was: sitting at a table next to the bed where her strange new acquaintance lay, trembling and mumbling in distress.

“He's so sad looking,” muttered an almost equally sad looking man sitting at the table beside her, “Almost makes me feel bad.”

The two Hylian men sitting with her were older than Y/n but still young. The first of the two, Cedric, was about nineteen years in age. He stared curiously at the lump of indigo feathers in front of them.

“Why do you say almost?” Rhoam, the other man, inquired of him.

Cedric paused a second to think of his response, before quietly responding, looking away from the depressing scene before him.

“I don’t know, I suppose.”

Silence fell again, a state that had become quite normal as of late.

Everything was quite somber, nothing like the regular atmosphere of the stable. The usual hustle and bustle had been replaced by an air of silent mourning. Little was said anymore, and when it was, it was never quite the right thing. Y/n found herself often lost in thoughts of… nothing. There was nothing to think about, and that was what scared her. Shouldn't she cry, shouldn't she feel, shouldn't she care? But yet, nothing. Nothing mattered anymore. She felt hollow, completely void of grief—or any other emotion, for that matter. Perhaps that was her way of coping, by simply not. All the same, she wished she could feel something, anything. Love, hurt, pain, something. But instead, nothing. And when her mind did manage to think of something, it always returned to the painful vision of the guardians… but that's too painful. I'd rather never feel again than remember that night.

Soon enough, another figure approached the table—Varke, the owner of the stable. Varke had always been steady, well-collected, the kind of man you could rely on. At nineteen, he had built Snowfield Stable from the ground up, and now, at twenty-seven, it was clear he loved it—not just the place, but the people who passed through. He was always the first to greet a new traveler, catch up with a regular, and bring life to a gathering. But as of late, that warmth had dulled. The Calamity had struck only two days ago, yet it had already left its mark on him. His usual lightness had been replaced with a heavier aura—his steps slower, his smile forced, his shoulders drawn with a weight that didn’t belong to him. The Varke they knew was still there, but his walls were cracking. Yet all the same, he stood tall and approached the group with a wave of his hand and a smile on his lips— albeit, a weak smile, but a smile nonetheless.

“Cedric, a letter came in for you,” he handed him a small parchment, his smile turning over into a saddened frown, “Remember, if you need anything—and I mean, anything—Juannelle and I are always here.”

And with that, Varke turned and headed back for the front of the stable, the pep in his step diminished to a solemn trod.

Upon opening and reading the letter, Cedric's face went white as the flurries outside the stable walls.

“You're lucky, Cedric,” Rhoam spoke, shaking his head slowly, “I still have no word of how my uncle is doing. He's on the royal guard, you know? Front of the line forces.”

“Rhoam, he's dead. I don't know why you won’t just acknowledge it, but your uncle is dead.”

Rhoam stayed calm, and replied with conviction and hope, “Cedric , how can you say that when we have proof of miracles right in front of us? Look at Y/n! She's alive against all odds!”

Rhoam looked at Y/n intently, the attention made her feel awkward, and she wished so desperately in that moment that she could melt into the ground and be gone.

“You give me hope, Y/n. If you can survive, then so can my dear uncle.”

Y/n forced a weak smile, then looked down at her hands.

“If your uncle is alive, then he's a coward,” Cedric muttered, just loud enough for Rhoam and Y/n to hear.

“How dare you,” Rhoam seethed, standing up out of his seat, “My uncle is a good man.”

Cedric snickered, “You mean, he was a good man,” he, too, stood up, facing Rhoam directly.

“Don't speak that way. My uncle is a good man.”

Cedric stepped closer to Rhoam, voice low and sharp, “If your uncle is on the front lines like you say, then he is dead. If he is alive, then it's because he's a coward who ran—just like someone else we know.”

He smirked, watching their faces tighten in both anger and regret.

“In either case, he is no longer a good man. He was.”

Y/n stared down at the floor, fresh tears threatening to spill.

“What is wrong with you, Cedric?” Rhoam breathed, placing a hand on Y/n's shoulder while clenching the other hand into a tight fist.

“Whatever,” Cedric walked away to the front of the Stable where Varke helped him take out his horse for a ride.

Juannelle, a young Hylian woman and Varke's wife, approached the table.

Similar to her husband, she was the reliable sort, one who you could trust with your deepest secrets. Jaunelle always seemed to know the right thing to say. The woman was younger than her husband, having just recently turned twenty-one, but regardless of this fact the two got along like peanut butter and jelly— perfect in each other’s company. Unlike her husband, however, it always seemed—to Y/n, at least—that Jaunelle was holding herself in, like she had many silent troubles that she didn’t know how to bear. But despite this, Jaunelle consistently was always first to be by someone's side when they were in need of someone to talk to, or even just someone to listen. Her presence brought easy comfort to anyone with the fortune of being in it.

She walked with an unspoken grace, ginger hair neatly tucked into a bun atop her head. Despite the current atmosphere of the stable, her form was unshaken, and her expression did not falter.

“Just so you two know,” she quietly spoke upon reaching the table, “That letter… It told him that his sister and her family didn't evacuate Castle Town in time. None of them made it.”

Y/n looked up to meet Juannelle's eyes, pupils held still as if in a battle of their own.

“Allow him a portion of grace,” she apprised of them, “Please.”

“Nothing justifies what he said about my uncle, or about Y/n,” Rhoam hissed, gritting his teeth together.

“You're right,” she replied, “Understanding isn't the same as excusing. But I hope you can understand. Not just for his sake—but also for yourself.”

She quietly walked away to speak with her husband. Y/n watched Varke wrap his arms around Jaunelle as she buried her head in his chest. It was a doleful sight.

Y/n couldn’t think straight, her head spinning at the smallest glimpse of thought. No matter what she did, all her mind could do was race back to the night where she lost everything…

“I'm going to head to bed now,”she told Rhoam.

He turned to look at her, his face dropping its aggravated expression to something of softness, or perhaps rather pity.

“Okay, goodnight.”

《{♡}》

Revali.

Revali, please wake up.

You're my last hope, Revali.

Please.

For the sake of Hyrule.

Cold sweat clung to his feathers. Revali lurched upright, gasping. Darkness swallowed him—thick, suffocating, merciless darkness. He attempted to move from where he was, but the pain pierced through his body like a blade, impaled his heart like a spear, and poured on his mind like a raging storm. He audibly gasped at the sting, clutching his stomach with his good wing.

A small yelp—a cry, a startled gasp—came from beside him, where Y/n sat in her chair.

“Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God…” she blurted, her eyes growing large, her breath hitched, “Y- You're awake. I can't believe… Oh my God, you're actually awake.”

“Who are you? Where am I?” he demanded, again trying to move, but immediately cowering away at the pure torment of his aching chest.

“Stop, stop!” she panicked, “You'll stress your wounds!”

Much to his own embarrassment, a single tear fell from his face as his body throbbed in turmoil. Everything hurt.

“Where am I?” he desperately whispered, still not able to clearly see her in the darkness.

“This is Snowfield Stable. I– I found you alone and almost dead near the Tabantha Hills, so I brought you here,” she took a deep breath, trying her hardest to remain calm, “Honestly, I wasn't sure if you would make it… You've been out cold for the past two days.”

“Two days??” he gasped. Had it really been so long? How could he have let this happen? He had a duty to his people, to the Rito, to Hyrule—and he had failed?

“Shhhh,” Y/n whispered quickly, “People are sleeping right now, and honestly you should be doing the same.”

He blinked in shock, staring into the darkness as his chest tightened. This couldn't be; had he really been reduced to this?

Y/n offered him a smile, though he couldn't see it, “We can talk tomorrow about who you are and where you need to go, but just so you know, you're doing really well. Your wounds were—well, are—quite frightening. The fact that you're even breathing is a feat.”

Revali's heart pounded in his chest. He wanted to argue, to tell her how wrong she was, but he couldn't. Just thinking was painful. He laid back down as best he could, though even the smallest of movements hurt, and stared into the darkness that surrounded him.

“Goodnight,” she offered him.

No reply. She held her breath, not quite sure what to say. Then, softly, “My name is Y/n, by the way. Please don't die.”

She thought for a moment more, before a final word left her mouth: “Goodnight.”

《{♡}》

Revali.

Revali.

Revali!

I am traveling to The Great Deku Tree in The Hyrule Great Forest.

Please, for the sake of Hyrule, make haste!

Chapter Text

“He seemed… in disbelief.” Y/n told Rhoam and Varke, “I didn't want to stress him, so I tried to get him to sleep more.”

Juannelle was now at the front of the stable dealing with business while Varke, Rhoam, and Y/n sat in the corner, watching the Rito intently, awaiting his second wakening.

“I don't blame him,” Varke chuckled, a glimmer of sadness in his eyes, “Poor lad, I'd be scared stiff. He doesn't know who we are or how he got here.”

“Well… I did tell him my name,” Y/n continued quietly, “though it was so late, I doubt he remembers it…”

“Y/n,” came a silken voice from beside the group.

Y/n screamed.

Using his right wing to push himself up, the Rito sat upright in the bed, trying best he could not to wince at the pain.

“Don't be so alarmed,” his voice appeared once more, his expression almost offended, “Yes, I have an excellent memory. Unfortunately, despite this fact, I have no memory of how I came to be here.”

The three Hylians stared at him in shock; it was like hearing a dead man speak.

He rolled his eyes at them, tsking in annoyance, “This would be the part where you explain what is happening.”

Varke and Rhoam looked at each other nervously as Y/n fidgeted with her hair.

“Go on, Y/n,” Varke coaxed, offering her a smile as Rhoam placed a hand on her shoulder.

“Yeah,” Rhoam picked up, “Tell him how you saved him.”

Y/n took a deep breath, “You said you have good memory, yes?”—he nodded slowly, eyes narrowing— “So you recall that I said I found you almost dead near Tabantha Hills. Well I brought you here, and I've been tending to your wounds to the best of my abilities. It's been two full days now where you've been asleep.”

She paused, nervously playing with her hair, awaiting a response. Once she'd realized that he was waiting on her, she continued.

“There's not any else to tell you. Honestly, we've all been waiting for you to wake up so you could explain. Who are you, where are you from, and how did you end up like… uhm—this.” She motioned to his left wing, which was wrapped in many bandages and had a splint attached to it. He stared blankly back, and after deducing that he didn't have an answer for her, she softly added, “Or at least, your name?”

He scoffed, “Really? None of you know who I am?”

The three Hylians stared back at him awaiting his response. It was awkward, it was strange, and it was uncomfortable, to say the least. It had been a long time since he had needed to introduce himself.

“Erm— I guess not,” he was taken aback, rolling his eyes and lifting his chin as he continued, “I am Revali, Champion of the Rito, master of the skies, and—”

His words faltered.

And what? Pilot of the very divine beast that had thrown him into the snow 3 days previous? Vah Medoh was lost; he was defeated.

“...the greatest archer in all of Hyrule,” he finished smoothly, masking the brief hesitation with confidence.

Rhoam practically jumped out of his seat at this.

“You’re Revali?” he exclaimed with excitement, “As in the champion Revali?”

Revali smiled, glad at least someone knew who he was, “What other Revali is there?”

Varke let out a quiet chuckle. “Champion, huh?” His tone wasn’t skeptical, more surprised, “Didn’t think we’d ever have someone so important here at Snowfield.”

Revali clicked his tongue. “Formerly, important, it would seem,” he muttered.

At that, Y/n spoke. “You’re alive,” her voice came quietly yet firm, “that still means something, doesn’t it?”

He wanted to argue, wanted to tell her how wrong she was, wanted to tell her that just survival wasn’t anywhere near enough. A champion who had failed to protect his people wasn’t a champion at all.

But he didn’t say any of that.

Instead, he exhaled sharply and looked her in the eyes.

“...Yes, I suppose it does.”

An uneasy silence filled the stable. Rhoam looked like he wanted to ask more questions, but before he could, Varke stood with a sigh, stretching his arms.

“Well, this has been quite the morning,” he said, patting his knees. “I should get back to work before Juannelle gives me an earful.”

He turned to Revali. “You should rest while you can, lad. If you’re feeling up to it later, we can see about getting you some real food.”

With a small wave, he walked off toward the front of the stable, leaving Rhoam, Y/n, and Revali behind.

“So…” Rhoam inquired, leaning forward in his seat to face Revali more directly, “Please, tell me what it’s like being a champion. You know, my uncle is a part of the royal guard. I truly believe everyone plays a part in fighting the calamity, but–wow! You’re an actual champion!”

“Everyone plays a part? Is that so?” Revali sneered, rolling his eyes as he did so.

“Yes,” Rhoam nodded his head enthusiastically, “Everyone. We all have—”

“Then what’s your part?” Revali interjected, “I don’t see you out there fighting.”

Rhoam opened his mouth to say something in response, but no words came out.

“Being a champion means sacrificing everything. Your time, your comfort…your life.” He turned away from Rhoam and Y/n, before muttering, “By my own standards, I am no champion.”

They sat quietly in an awkward silence, not sure what to say. Revali’s chest burned with anger. He needed to get out of here, to find Zelda. He was sure he had heard her voice while he was sleeping; she needed him. And yet, he had no way to get to her.

Revali.

His eyes widened. Slowly–oh, so slowly–he turned his head, seeing if anyone else had heard her voice too.

Revali, my friend.

Zelda. He knew it was her. It had to be.

Revali, I am waiting for you in the Hyrule Great Forest. I will meet you in Korok Village.

Please, you must find me.

For the sake of Hyrule.

He waited desperately for more, but nothing else came. Zelda was waiting for him; she was counting on him. He couldn’t fail this time, not again. He needed to get to her, no matter the cost.

《{♡}》

It was late afternoon before anything else was said in the stable. By now, Rhoam had gone outside to work on who knows what, and Varke was still working up front. Y/n stayed by Revali’s side, occasionally sneaking a glance in his direction, to which he glared in return.

The whole day, to Y/n, at least, had seemed to go by in a blur. Nothing she thought about could seem to make the current situation better, not that there were many thoughts she attempted to rationalize with. She found it nearly impossible to think as of late, and whenever she did, her mind inevitably wandered to that terrible night with the guardians. The terrible blinding light, the raging blue fire, and the suffocating screams. Her mind obsessed over it, replaying the treacherous event over, and over, and over, and over… It was far easier to simply not think at all. The more she thought, the more numb she felt. It was all surreal, a blur.

Y/n heard footsteps approaching the entrance to the stable. She turned her head, and in the doorway Jaunelle appeared. Jaunelle dusted off her hands and smiled at Y/n.

“Mind giving me a hand out back?” she asked.

Y/n hesitated, glancing at Revali. He seemed to notice and gave an exaggerated roll of his eyes.

“I think I can manage to sit here without perishing in your absence,” he said dryly.

Y/n looked away from him, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment, before standing up to follow Jaunelle.

The two stepped outside, the cold biting at Y/n’s skin. Jaunelle led her around to the back of the stable, passing by Rhoam who appeared to be practicing his sword skills.

“He’s been out here all morning,” Jaunelle told Y/n at the girl’s bewildered expression, “He keeps muttering something about ‘playing his part.’”

Jaunelle laughed softly, then hollered in his direction, “Afternoon, Rhoam. Planning on heading in any time soon?”

“Just a little longer,” he called back in response.

Jaunelle sighed, tuning back to Y/n. “He’s been saying that all day. ‘Just a little longer,’ or ‘I’m almost done.’ I don’t reckon he’ll be heading inside any time soon.”

Y/n didn’t respond. She hardly spoke to anyone lately. It was difficult for her to find the right words, even in seemingly simple conversations.

“Sorry to drag you out here,” Jaunelle said, offering Y/n an apologetic smile, “It’s just getting more difficult to do work on my own as this bump on my belly keeps growing.”

She smiled, patting her stomach.

“Oh!” Y/n finally spoke, “Are you…?”

Jaunelle rubbed the small bulge, nodding happily. “I’m hoping for a girl, but I’ll love this sweet child even if a bokoblin pops out.”

Y/n attempted to force a laugh, but she knew Jaunelle could see past it.

“Have you thought about names yet?” Y/n asked, attempting to keep the conversation joyful.

“Yeah, actually, Varke’s family has a tradition for the first boy and the first girl,” Jaunelle explained, “They always name the baby after the parents, so if we have a boy his name will be Varke, and if we have a girl her name will be Jaunelle.”

As they finally approached the back of the stable, Y/n spotted Cedric brushing down his own horse. He didn’t look up right away, his expression unusually pensive. His usual sharp gaze was downcast, half-hidden beneath the tousled strands of his dark brown hair, which had fallen over his stormy gray eyes. The tension in his jaw remained, as if he were trying to hold onto his usual arrogance, but the way his fingers trembled betrayed him, letting on that something wasn’t quite right. His broad shoulders, formally squared with confidence, slumped just a little, though he’d never admit it.

But even now, with his posture softened and his focus elsewhere, there was still an air of defiance about him, like he was daring the universe to question him.

Jaunelle greeted him casually, but Y/n caught the subtle concern in her voice. “Hey, Cedric. I brought Y/n back here to help me out feeding the horses. I see you’ve already taken care of your Lizzy?”

Cedric finally looked up, nodding in response. After a moment of hesitation, his eyes flickered between the two of them, eventually settling on Y/n. His jaw tensed even more, as if he was working up the nerve to speak.

“Y/n… I, uh…” He hesitated, rubbing the back of his neck. He seemed different, unusually vulnerable. “I just wanted to say… I mean, about before—” He sighed, shaking his head. “Look, I shouldn’t have been so harsh. I was… I was a bit of an ass.”

Y/n blinked, a little surprised. She hadn’t expected Cedric to address his attitude so directly, especially since he wasn’t one to admit fault easily.

She smiled. “You were a bit of an ass,” Y/n agreed, grateful to reconcile with her friend, “But really, it’s okay—”

“No, it’s not.” He interrupted, “I was mad, but… I wasn’t mad at you, and what I said wasn’t really how I felt. I wasn’t even mad at Rho—well, yeah I am mad at Rhoam, but the point is, you’ve done nothing wrong.”

Y/n opened her mouth, but before she could say anything, Cedric put his hand up to stop her.

“Look, I’m… I’m sorry.” he spoke firmly, “Anyway, I think I’m going to take Lizzy out for a ride.”

Jaunelle frowned, “Cedric, I certainly hope you aren’t thinking of heading to the Taban—”

“I am.” he interrupted, looking away from her.

Her expression immediately hardened.

“Cedric, we talked about this.”

“I know,” he said, still not meeting her eyes.

“You shouldn’t go alone.”

“I’ll be fine.”

Jaunelle exhaled through her nose, pressing her fingers to her temple. “At least take a bow from the stash.”

Cedric frowned, but before he could argue, she cut him off. “I mean it, Cedric.”

For a moment, he looked like he might refuse. But then, with a reluctant sigh, he muttered, “I already grabbed one, Jaunelle. I'm not that careless, you know.”

He offered her a cocky smile, and Jaunelle relaxed slightly, though Y/n could tell she still wasn’t quite satisfied.

Cedric turned back to Y/n. “Anyway… all I really wanted to say was that… I just—” He hesitated, then continued with a smile, “I’m glad you made it.”

Y/n nodded back, forcing a smile in return, though her saddened eyes didn’t fool anyone.

“Stay safe, Cedric,” Jaunelle murmured as he mounted his horse.

He didn’t respond, but instead gave them one last glance before riding off into the cold.

Jaunelle watched him go, her arms crossed tightly. After a moment, she sighed, “That boy is going to be the death of me.”

Y/n didn’t respond. She was too busy watching Cedric’s figure disappear into the snowy horizon, a strange, bitter feeling rising in her chest.

《{♡}》

That evening, Revali lay in the same bed he’d been in for days, waiting for everyone else to fall asleep. He was ready, and he didn’t care how much it hurt. He could hear Zelda, and she needed him. No level of pain, of agony, of struggle, absolutely nothing could cause him to neglect his duty to his people, to the Rito, to Hyrule. He wouldn’t fail this time. Not again, never again—it wasn’t an option.

“Revali?” came a timid voice from in front of him. He looked up to see Y/n standing with a bowl of something orange in her hands. “I brought you some red pepper soup. I thought you might be hungry, since you haven’t eaten in a while...” She placed the bowl of soup on the table near his bed, then walked closer to where he was. “Do you—do you need help getting to the table?”

He scoffed, “Of course I don’t need help. It’s only a few steps.” He sat up where he was, then attempted to put pressure on his right foot, only to immediately groan at the pain.

She raised a concerned eyebrow at him, to which he rolled his eyes.

“I’m fine, thank you. That was merely a fluke. I can still make it to the table.”

Painfully, slowly, and without any form of ease, he managed to stand up. See, I don’t need help, he thought to himself, celebrating in his mind the small triumph. It truly only was a few steps, perhaps five at most, but those were the most frustrating five steps he had ever taken in his life. If he ever thought he had struggled before this, he now realized just how wrong he was.

When he finally managed to sit at the table he smirked in victory. “See? Easy. I’m in no need of assistance.”

Y/n couldn’t help but be put off by his cockiness, but she ignored her annoyance all the same. “Right…” she mumbled, “Well, if you need anything—”

“I won’t.” He intruded, frowning at her in defiance.

She sat down in the seat next to him, her head resting in her hand, watching him with a strange focus. It made him uncomfortable, but he didn’t comment. Instead, he looked at the soup before him, becoming more hungry with each second that passed. He went to pick up his spoon in the feathers of left wing, but once again groaned with pain.

“Oh! I would try to rest that wing as best you can…” Y/n quickly rambled, “It… that’s probably the worst of your injuries. Your left wing is…” She paused a second, before finally delivering the blow, “It’s broken.”

His face dropped. Why his left wing? How was he to do anything?

“Would’ve been nice for you to mention that earlier,” he grumbled, now picking up his spoon with the other wing and forcing soup down his own throat.

“Sorry.”

They sat in relative silence for the remainder of his soup eating endeavor, besides the clacking of his utensil against the bowl and occasional howl of the wind from outside. He found himself able to escape his thoughts for a moment by indulging the meal. The soup was alright, though he’d had better back in Rito Village. Everyone loved him back in the village, they all would bring him their finest, so he got the best of everything. It was… something he had taken for granted. If he could go back—oh, how he wished he could go back—he would thank them. He didn’t know why he never really had. Nobody ever had held him accountable for his manners, perhaps that was why he had grown to be so arrogant… but he didn’t have time to ponder these things. He needed to stay focused; he needed to find Zelda.

《{♡}》

Revali.

He sat up quickly, looking around to see if anyone else was awake.

It was time. He needed to find Zelda.