Shades of Blue

Rito Village

Cloud home in a paradise of air

Once diamond skies and swaying grass

Now clipped wings and burdened stare

Storm clouds and painful past

A shadow of its former self

This town of once astounding health

Vah Medoh shrieked as he came to the first bridge.

It was a terrible sound, as terrible as it had been the first time he heard it, weeks and weeks ago on the Great Plateau, when he could hardly remember anything beyond his own name and the gaping hole in his chest where Revali should have been. Her voice cut through the air in the unnatural way that all disastrous sounds seem to, crying high over the sound of the birds in the trees and the horses in the stable just a few feet behind him. Everyone, from the Hylian stable workers to the Rito guarding the entrance to the Village, tensed and looked skyward, watching the flickering pink light of Medoh's barrier phase in and out, in and out, never settling in either state for very long.

Link watched her circle from the edge of the bridge, his heart pounding so fast he could feel it from his ears all the way to his fingertips. The sword burned briefly at his back, a stark sign if there ever was one of just what was making Medoh cry like that.

But the sound faded away, and Medoh turned, her great wings tilting as she flew back around the Village again, no sign of any incoming attack beyond the continued flickering of her barrier. The whole world seemed to exhale in relief.

Link felt little of that relief. His eyes followed the Divine Beast for several more seconds before he managed to tear his gaze away, a heavy feeling of foreboding building in his chest. Whatever monster lay in wait aboard that Beast, it would not be an easy fight.

He crossed the bridge quickly, his eyes on his boots and occasionally the worn paint of the wood, the Rito insignia the only image which was painted fresh, gleaming in the sunlight. Despite the old paint, the bridge was in good condition, as they all seemed to be from what little he could make out of them from here. He couldn't see much of the Village as a whole, being this close, but he hoped that the lack of damage here was a good sign.

The chimes preceded any other noise of Rito Village. It had always been that way, from what he could remember. There weren't many buildings on the first few rock formations, but those that were there all had the same wooden chimes that dotted all the homes and shops spiraling up the rock. Their gentle sound trailed over the wind, irregular and yet right-sounding, just as natural as the chirping birds and chittering squirrels. It was one of the many sounds that haunted the best of his dreams, in that high place, with music in the air and Revali close by...where he was safe, even if it was only for a brief moment.

But soon enough, as he came to the longest bridge, at the end of which he could see the steps of Rito Village itself, the rest of the musical sounds eased their way in. The chimes grew louder and differentiated, some of different materials making different sounds. There were voices high above him, young voices, singing quite boisterously and without words. Voices carried from the lower levels as well, people talking, someone laughing. The wind blew harder here, whistling through the homes and shops in varying tones, all of it combining to a near hypnotizing tune that was both calming and a bit melancholy.

Perhaps he was reading into his own feelings too deeply. Some of the voices mixed in the mingling song were young, children singing and laughing. Maybe they were playing a game of some kind. Even if they weren't, there was life here, life continuing to be lived even if every moment wasn't completely unrestrained joy.