Remember When...(Link x Reader)

|| Chapter 9 || A Bit of a Shocker

The one who circles the meadow is extremely tall and muscular all around, marching about with heavy steps that make the earth slightly shake beneath its hooves - that's right: hooves. It looks something like a horse from a nightmare with curly horns sticking out of its head and a long red mane framing its feline-like face. Its legs alone are taller than the average Hylian and that doesn't even account for half the beast's height!

"I found a shock arrow," Link whispers to you proudly while holding up his prize.

You glance at it then at him, "Good job, but that isn't enough. We need more...Look."

He follows the nod you give towards the clearing. Originally, he isn't too sure what he's supposed to be looking for, however upon closer inspection, he notices the area is littered with shock arrows. In more trees, pierced into the ground, and laid out upon the tops of stones. They'd be easy pickings if not for their owner who's guarding the area like a hawk does a mice field. Now, Link's not going to ask, although he's sure Mr. Lynel would have some objections if he catches either of you sneaking around his land.

"We'll be in and out before he notices. Just follow my lead and stay as quiet as possible," you order, keeping low to the ground as you move alongside the boulder then into the open towards another. Link gulps while putting away his shock arrow and watching you closely.

Every step you take increases the pressure he bites down onto his lower lip with. His heart races when the beast suddenly spins around, letting out a puff. Luckily, you've made it behind the next boulder in time, your back pressed against it as you close your eyes and hold your own breath. When your eyes open to meet Link's, you send him a reassuring smile, although it doesn't do much to calm his nerves.

He waits until the lynel trots away to copy your route and once he's successful, you reward him with another shock arrow you had grabbed along the way. He stuffs it into his pouch, giving you a nod before continuing onwards.

As quietly as possible, the two of you sneak towards the mountain's highest point which is a short hill above the lynel's meadow. You wait until it's not looking to move behind new cover and freeze in place whenever it seems to be too close. This task only gets more difficult when forced to trek up a steep slope next.

It's actually more of a waterslide than a path, flowing with a few centimeters of water on top of the mud that seems to love tripping one of you up whenever it can, yet despite nearly losing your footing, you must always regain your balance quickly and silently, shallowing any gasps while trying not to fling your arms about too much...Needless to say, you're both going to need baths once returning to the Domain...

"Jackpot," you celebrate, hurrying towards the lone tree at the top of the peak where you find a total of five arrows stuck in the bark. Pressing your muddy boot against the trunk, you struggle a bit to get some of these arrows loose, but manage in the end, "How many do you have?"

Link has to count, "...Four."

"So, nine in total. We should be good then," you hand him the other five, "I can't wait to get back to the inn and wash off. This mud is driving me insane."

He chuckles, beginning to walk down the path with you by his side, however he quickly learns that safely making the trip downhill on a muddy slope is far harder to accomplish than going uphill. The lack of traction makes itself obvious and no matter how careful he tried to be with his next step, when Link's foot hit the ground, it slid.

The other foot he puts in front of himself as a desperate attempt of becoming stable only makes matters worse, throwing him forward instead of backwards. In the corner of his eyes, he saw you reach out for him, but you could ultimately do nothing as he went tumbling down the hill.

On instinct, Link squeezes his eyes shut and curls into a ball, hoping to shield himself from any sharp rocks until reaching the bottom. Once stopped, he lifts his head slowly and tries to wipe the layer of thick mud off his face. Blinking open his eyes, he glances upwards yet can't quite make out his surroundings due to his blurred vision. Rubbing his eyes, he's able to see a bit better, getting a better look at what's around him including the lynel that stares him down from across the meadow.

In all the commotion, the beast had turned and huffed at the sight of a traveler rolling down the hill into its territory. With its green eyes narrowed, it growls like thunder while charging over with both its sword and shield held in a stone grip.

Just before it reaches him, Link's face is shoved back into the muddy ground forcefully, a new weight on top of his back holding him down. A distressed roar then fills the air and the weight removes itself soon afterwards, a hand beginning to tug at his shoulder.

Dazed by the quick events which seemed to only occur over the span of a short second, Link looks up to the lynel first. It's furiously rubbing its green eyes, stumbling backwards as if suddenly blinded while its sword and shield have been abandoned at its hooves.

Link looks behind himself next, his attention on you as you grab his hand and start pulling at him. You're certainly distraught and in a rush which is understandable. You're shouting at him to get up and it's then that his shock finally wears off.

Leaping onto his feet, he races after you across the meadow and down the trail, hands intertwined in tight grasps that refuse to let go. The lynel's roars soon begin chasing your shadows, although neither of you dare look back to confirm how much of a head start you've been given until reaching the waterfall.

It's a dead-end. Gazing downwards, you realize it must be at least a hundred foot drop. Can you survive such a distance? Is it worth testing or are you better off facing the lynel who currently rounds the corner in a full sprint?

"HOLD ON!" Without hesitation, Link, still holding your hand, leaps off the ledge, taking you right down with him.

You scream, your arms instantly wrapping around his shoulders and holding on for dear life as you both fall towards the water below. Closing your eyes to block out the image of a fast approaching earth, you prepare yourself for the impact that doesn't come as quickly as you had thought it would.

More than half way down, Link pulls out his paraglider, trusting you to keep holding onto him in the meantime as the object collects air underneath its cloth and uses it to immediately slow your fall to a gentle drift right into the water.

It's freezing, but not as painful as it would've been if not for the paraglider. Coming to the surface with a gasp for air, you look above to see the lynel watching you both. It draws its bow, pointing it down at you both before seeming to reconsider. With a huff, it puts away its weapon, stomps its hoof, then turns around, leaving you be.

"Are you okay - OW!" Link swims closer to you, however he regrets the action when you immediately whack him upside the head.

"Are you crazy?! I thought we were going to die!"

"But we didn't -" He whines, holding his arm above his head to save himself from your attack.

"- I thought we were going to! ...Now what even is that thing?" Despite your harsh tone, you sound genuinely curious, not that Link's taking any chances. He keeps his arm above his head just in case.

"My paraglider. The King gave it to me - the King of Hyrule."

You narrow your eyes suspiciously at him then sigh while starting to swim your way to shore, "...From now on, there's a new rule for our journey: you need to tell me about all the weird weapons and tools you own before you use them. I don't want any more surprises like that...I mean what I said, too! Between almost getting yourself sliced by a lynel then throwing me off a cliff - you about gave me a heartache doing both!"

"Oh, come on! Do you honestly think I'm stupid enough to just go leaping off cliffs without any plan?" He rolls his eyes, yet shrinks under the silent glare you send him.

"You're just lucky we don't need baths anymore - Oh, and you've reached your stupid stun count for today, too. You're cut off!"

"...Until when?"