Time's Moving Faster Than I Can Count

It's Time to Talk

Link took a few slow, deep breaths to calm himself down. He couldn't lose his temper here, it wasn't about him. It was about Time. For once, he would not lose the spotlight. Shad looked between the group, slightly uneasy at the sudden change in mood. The atmosphere was heavy and thick. Once Link leaned back in his chair, he spoke again.

"He always had some wisdom to offer. He never shied away from being truthful when he needed to be. Sure, sometimes he'd dodge questions, or he'd lead us in circles, but he'd never lie. When we needed it, he'd give us the harsh truth we needed."

---

Wild sat looking out across Lake Kolomo, tears in his eyes. They were in his era, and memories hit him like a brick. As he looked across the water, he remembered the Champions. He remembered bringing Mipha out there to relax, away from other people. Urbosa had joined them later, followed by Zelda, Revali, Purah, Daruk, and Impa. The grief never died, no matter how much he did, and the tears fell like rain. He barely made a sound, so used to crying silently.

Someone came and sat by him, their presence was warm compared to the grief. They didn't touch him, or make a sound, they just let him cry. When he wiped his eyes and looked over, he saw Time sat with him, looking over at Dueling Peaks. Wordlessly, he scooched over and placed himself under the older man's left arm. Immediately, it encased him, and he couldn't stop the tears from falling again. Time adjusted him to let him cry on his shoulder, and offered silent comfort. Eventually, he sat up and leaned against Time.

"Does grief ever get easier?" He asked quietly, afraid of the answer.
"No, I'm afraid it doesn't." Time held him closer upon hearing the choked sob. "But, you do. You get stronger and learn to live with the pain. Let yourself grieve, Champion. You're not weak for crying, it makes you human. We've all done it. There's no shame in it."
"But I was always told-"
"Ignore what you were told. Crying is natural and grief is a part of life. Tears don't hurt you, holding them in does. You've lost a lot, Link. You have every right to cry."

Wild clung to Time at that, and cried until he was too tired to do it anymore. Twilight found them later, when Wild was already asleep. He sat by them and joined the small hug.

"Tired out, huh?"
"Memories. He felt ashamed of crying." Time explained.
"Why did this have to happen?" He moved to sit down and kicked the dirt.
"If I said I understood the gods, I'd be the world's biggest liar. If it was up to me, he wouldn't have been forced to endure this. None of you would. Stick with him for a while, Pup. He's gonna need all the comfort he can get right now."

---

"We all got teary-eyed when he went back to his own time." Link wiped his eyes. "He was the first to go. It was hard. He told each of us that he was proud of us, told us that it'd be okay 'cause we were just goin' home, told us he'd miss us. We struggled to regulate without him. Legend got snappy again, Wind acted out more 'cause he was upset. We all felt the piece of us that was missin'."
"Oh, Link. I'm so sorry, hun." Telma whispered.
"I dunno if any of the others had this feelin', but I just felt like he wasn't goin' home. Not in the way he shoulda been." He put his head in his hands. "A part of me wants them to have noticed, but another part of me wants them to be unaware, so they don't have to suffer the pain. Ordona knows Cub has enough ghosts following." He sniffled.
"Which one was Cub, again?" Shad asked.
"Wild. Wild was - is - Cub."

The bar door creaked open, and Telma sighed in annoyance. Did people forget how to read? She huffed as the door creaked shut, the sound of rain vanishing behind the thick wood. Small, polished footsteps could be heard walking inside properly, and Telma stood to face whoever it was.

"Bar's closed, sign says so." She called, not wanting to deal with drunkards. Then, she walked to where the door was, and stopped in her tracks. Her face held shock as she saw who was stood there, patiently waiting.

"My apologies. Should I come back another time?"