Unity Commanded ( #JustWriteIt #Wattys2015 )

Chapter Five

Hot liquid dripped into his mouth, leaving a trail of tingling warmth as it rolled down his throat. At first, swallowing was difficult. However, after several mouthfuls of the liquid, he became more aware of his body. Link did not know where he was. The world was still out of focus and swaying violently, so he kept his eyes shut. A familiar voice spoke in hushed tones.

"I think it's working," Zoe whispered.

A short gruff growl sounded in response to her statement.

The fluid being spooned into his mouth smelled awful, but it was making him feel better. Carefully, he sat up, placing a hand on the cold rock floor for balance. Opening his eyes slowly, the dizzying sway subsided, however everything still appeared blurry.

"Link, oh thank God. I thought you were dead for sure," Zoe exclaimed.

"Me too," Link croaked, his voice hoarse and his throat achy, "Where are we?"

Zoe hesitated, "You'll never believe me."

Swallowing another spoonful of the foul smelling liquid, he mumbled, "Try me."

The gruff voice from before replied, "You're in my home Surprised those wisp shrooms didn't kill ya. Lucky I had the antidote, but as soon as you can walk, you're heading out. Brought enough trouble with your stupidity as it is. Don't need no Unity Guards sniffing around here."

Shaking his head, Link said, "I don't understand."

The voice growled again in response.

Link blinked hard and wiped his eyes. The cloudiness was clearing from his vision and he could make out Zoe's face. She sat next to him, her expression calm and collected, with just a hint of worry around her eyes. Across from him, an old man sat leaning on a carved cane propped between his legs. His scruffy grey beard grew out instead of down, and an oversized and tattered Pittsburg Steelers hat sat crookedly over his scraggly hair. The man's familiar eyes bore angrily into him.

"Coconut Joe?" Link asked shocked.

"Whatcha looking at? You don't look so darn great yourself," Coconut Joe spat.

"But how? I saw your body," Link replied.

Huffing Joe responded, "No you saw A body. Wasn't mine."

Link questioned his motives, "Why would you fake your death? If it wasn't you, who did we find?"

"Never you mind all that. Why don't you tell me what you are doing traipsing all over and leading guards to my house," Joe said angrily.

Link suddenly remembered his surroundings. They were in a cave, he was certain of it, but Joe had outfitted it with furnishings found in their cabins. A bed rested against the far wall, a table and two chairs sat a few feet from it. Several dressers and chests sat against the other walls, and he had even built himself a small fireplace with slide in rack for cooking. Link couldn't be sure, but he guessed Joe had drilled some sort of exhaust or vent for the smoke. It was incredible.

"The guards attacked our village. They killed..." Link stopped. It was the first moment he had to think about the atrocity that had occurred.

Picking up where he left off, Zoe finished, "They killed all the men and disabled," she shot a sad glance at Link and then continued, "Then took the women and children. We barely escaped."

Joe grunted.

Swallowing hard, he forced down the lump in his throat and pushed away the image of his terrified mother and grief stricken sister. Davey's face lingered longer than the others did, and Link struggled with his emotions.