Legend of Zelda: Wolf Princess

Chapter Five: Beginning

Link/Zelda

Link crept toward the barn slowly. His wolf eyes took in everything at once; the building was free of humans. Epona should be inside, alone, as well. So, he continued to creep forward. After a moment's thought, he turned to the beautiful white she-wolf behind him. "Zelda, I want you to hide on the other side of this barn."

Zelda, the she-wolf, paused and asked, "Why don't you want me coming with?"

"If Ilia or someone else from Ordon comes here, you can't hide in the barn nor change into a human. I can change if someone shows up."

After a moment, Zelda nodded and walked away. Link slinked towards the barn, treading on the ground softly. Once he had bumped the door open with his nose, he trotted up to Epona. He spoke first.

"Epona, I need your help." The horse whinnied in return. Link continued. He explained the situation of Zelda first, then informed Epona of her need in the 'adventure'.

He didn't get to explain before she stated clearly, "You need me to help carry supplies."

"I plan to ride you as well. While Zelda and I can run in human form, it will be easier if I ride you." No one knew of his weakness as a wolf. While he had the form of a wolf, his running abilities were about the same as when he was a human since he was technically half wolf/half human. It was different than Zelda, who only shared the side of a wolf with human memories and feelings.

Link informed Epona of this flaw. Of course, Epona agreed anyways. Link thanked her and tried to open the gate. Once Epona was free, the two walked out of the barn. Link couldn't see Zelda, but he caught scent of the she-wolf. Link signalled Epona with his head and started towards Zelda. When they reached the forest, Link continued. Epona stayed behind because of how thick the forest was.

She wasn't far into the forest, crouched in some brush. Link paused and spotted a squirrel on the ground, nibbling away at a nut. She crept forward slowly, her eyes trained on the small animal, and paused again. The squirrel looked up, its ears twitching back and forth as it listened for a sound. After a moment, he went back to nibbling. Zelda hesitated a second; then she pounced, flew through the air like a bird gliding, hit the poor squirrel, and proceeded to rip out his throat.

"Zelda!" The terrified squirrel only blinked, looking at Link and then Zelda. Zelda looked back at Link, then noticed exactly what she was doing. Her eyes widened and she backed away, horrified. The squirrel stayed on the ground, dazed. Link walked forward, his flank brushing against Zelda's as he passed. When Link arrived at the squirrel, he crouched down next to it. "I'm sorry about my companion," he apologized as he nudged the squirrel with his black nose. The squirrel blinked and sat up slowly. He looked up at Link, then at Zelda again.

Zelda bowed her head. "I'm terribly sorry," she apologized, "I don't know what came over me."

The squirrel nodded and surprised both Zelda and Link when he spoke. "It happens regularly with wolves that have just recently changed."

"Changed?" both Zelda and Link asked. They met each other's confused gaze, then turned back to the squirrel.

"You don't know?" The squirrel frowned and explained, "Part of the wolf population in all forests is humans transformed from evil magick."

Zelda frowned. "You mean like the power from the Triforce?"

"No, it's magick. It's nothing like the Triforce powers," the squirrel said.

"Who controls this magick?" Link asked.

"We, the forest creatures, don't know who controls this magick. There have been rumors it's a shadow, that inhabits hosts and destroys every race." The squirrel paused. "He's even changed our races."

"Is that what happened to you?" Zelda asked, sitting down.

The squirrel nodded. "Yes."

"What were you?" Link questioned.

The squirrel seemed to smile. "I shall see you later, Link of Ordon and Princess Zelda." Then he disappeared up a tree. Zelda and Link sat there for a moment, and then he began to trot off. Zelda followed after him.

Link was completely silent until they left the forest. Then he turned to Zelda.

"Zelda, you have to fight the urge to hunt down animals."

Zelda frowned. "I can understand it would be… inhuman to eat animals raw like that, but…"

"I don't know if it's true for you as well, but… one night, I had transformed into a wolf and I had seen an animal dash across the yard. My wolf half took over and I hunted the animal down. I ate it, but afterwards was the worst part."

Link paused in the story to speak to Epona. They discussed it quickly; they would head over to Link's home first, then Link would transform back to a human, gather up all of the supplies they would need, and then they would head out again.

Zelda grew impatient. "Link, tell me what was so terrible!" Zelda growled, walking after him and Epona.

"When I ate the animal, I didn't want to turn human again; I wanted to stay a wolf." Link looked back at Zelda. "I'm afraid if you eat an animal, you won't be able to be changed back. You have no human half like I had. The whole land would fall into ruins if you disappeared."

"They still have the king," Zelda tried to argue.

Link shook his head. "You make most of our decisions in the land. The king only assists anymore."

"…What happens… if I do…"

"Most likely, you'll stay a wolf for the rest of your life. Eventually, you would die like everything else."

"So, I'd probably be alone…"

"No, I would still be there for you. I'd allow my wolf half to take over."

"Link, you wouldn't need to do that." But Link could tell how happy Zelda was.

She gave Link a wolfish grin and trotted forward. Link followed with his own grin.

They were both silent for only moments before Zelda asked thoughtfully, "Link, would you be able take a message to my father?"

"Why do you need to send him a letter? Wasn't he there with you?"

"I was chased from the palace by a mob. There wasn't time to try to see him."

"We could head towards the palace. I don't know if I'll be able to request a meeting with him…"

"I'm sure my father would understand if you explained it was about me."

"We can try," Link said slowly. They quit talking as they arrived near Link's home. He cocked his head to the side and listened carefully. No one was around yet. Zelda started forward, but then they both heard the sound of the kids in Ordon.

Zelda turned tail and ran back towards the trees. Link cursed himself, told Epona to go after Zelda, and ran towards his home, praying he would get to the sword before the children.

He wasn't so lucky; Malo broke through the clearing first, followed by Colin and Ilia. Link froze. Everyone else froze. Link crouched to the ground, mentally asking for their forgiveness, and pulled back his lips in a snarl. Ilia screamed and ran, followed by Malo, but Colin stayed behind. He hesitated, but followed slowly.

Feeling terribly guilty for what he did, Link sighed and walked towards his home. His sword was resting against his home still, which he proceeded to touch his nose to. With a flash, he was human once more. He stretched for a moment, then climbed the ladder of his home. He collected everything they would need; loaves of bread, some salt-cured meat (still in the salt), flasks of water they could fill up later on, and some extra food for Epona as well.

He slung his old pack over his shoulder, picked up his shield and the Master Sword, and went back outside. Epona was already waiting for him. He spotted Zelda in the shadows and smiled at her as he slung his pack upon Epona. She shook her flank, but adjusted to the light weight easily.

Link took hold of the Shadow Crystal and morphed into a wolf. "I can run with you for only a few hours, Zelda," Link explained as she slinked out of the shadows.

Zelda cocked her head to the side, "What do you mean?"

He explained his weakness to Zelda too. "So, that's why Epona is coming," Link finished.

Zelda nodded her understanding. Suddenly, she stretched out her front legs and let off a huge yawn. Link smiled and began to walk towards the pathway through Ordon forest.

"We can rest after a while. I just want to get us out of the village."

Zelda nodded and trotted after Link. Hopefully, they could be to the palace in a couple of days.

Zant

He fell against the tree, panting from the exertion of his power. He stumbled forward, collapsed to his knees, and crouches forward. Zant closed his eyes and allows his head to rest upon the cool earth. His head pounds with pain and Zant eventually falls upon his side, unconscious.

Upon his left hand, the power of the Triforce pulses and slowly fades into a white mark upon his dark skin.

~Author's Note~

Happy Thanksgiving!

I'm sorry it's so short, but I wanted to give you a gift for the holiday and well... here it is. I hope you enjoyed the chapter!

XxXMorganXxXLEAHXxX