[Complete] The Work Continues

[Sav'saaba]

Lucke

The opponent had loomed over her, a challenge posed in no uncertain terms. She had scoffed at it, a defiant smirk plastered on her face -she could likely name more than a few who would have gladly volunteered in wiping it off her mug in one way or another-, her shoulders tense with pugnacity.

It was a formidable one, the Sheikah swordswoman judged as her eyes wandered up and down the length of her adversary, a raised hand shielding from a mean sun, the other firmly planted in her side. Standing stout and unmoving, though not without a certain sleek elegance, there was a sight to behold before her, one that would strike trepidation into the hearts of those who found themselves dwarfed by this one's long shadow.

Ha!

With three quick strides culminating into a long jump she threw herself at the challenger in an aggressive first strike, clawing fingers finding their hold, the created momentum slamming her body into a flank. She acted with practiced swiftness, grabbing firm hold of whatever fabric she could get her hands on and pulled it taut, never to let go unless she chose to.

"Hey! HEY! Are you crazy?! Get down from there, that's dangerous!"

Looking down over her shoulder to where the cry had originated, she met the bewhiskered face of a guard angled up at her, eyes so wide that they might as well have rolled out of the confines of their sockets.

Lucke shot him a toothy grin and a wink in reply. If only she still had a tongue, then she would have poked it out in innocent mischief at the poor sod who was unfortunate enough to be on duty this morning, at this post.

The guard lunged forward in a stumble as his spear clattered from his hold, frantic hands pawing to grab onto a foot or a leg and yank the idiot with an apparent death wish back down, but he had been too slow -agile like a forest monkey, Lucke was already out of his reach, deftly swinging herself up along the netting on the outer lower part of Lookout Landing's Skyview Tower.

It was only a little while before the round corners of the world moved out farther and farther, the surface and what was bound to it growing pathetically small and insignificant, falling away as she persevered in the senseless but delightful endeavor. She felt positively buzzed by the adrenaline coursing through her system, and thankfully it dulled the ache that was building up in her souring muscles.

Just a bit more! This was the final stretch! Gritting her teeth against the fatigue and sheer will spurring her to continue moving her burning limbs, until her slick and trembling hands found reliable purchase on the edge of the tower's top and she hoisted herself up, one last time, to scramble her exhausted body onto the deck. Once, twice, she teetered on unsteady legs, but then burst out and crowed victory,  the vastness of Hyrule sprawling out indefinitely, with her at its very center.

What a rush!

Accompanied by peals of her own laughter, the Sheikah finally allowed herself to collapse back against the smooth materials of the tower's tip, greedily drawing breaths in between as her heart pounded so hard she could swear it would break away from her ribcage, and she rubbed at her flushed face, sweat and tears of delight mingling and coating her skin in a salty sheen.

In all the wide world, Lucke doubted there was a better feeling than this!

Up here the breeze was stronger, and it tousled her already disastrous and slightly damp coif while she fingered the ancient tech she was sprawled upon, vexation at the lambent symbol embedded in its center bubbling up in her.
These people. Proud enough to even stick a little flag bearing their mark into a shit they had taken. 

Shrugging off that train of thought, Lucke ventured to peer down into the abyss.

There was the observatory with its enormous telescope, the ramparts where here and there a smattering of indistinct, tiny people had gathered, and the round pockmark in the earth's crust that was the entrance to the shelter. Activity was high elsewhere around the Lookout, with colourful specks vaguely recognizable as fellow Hyruleans milling about like a colony of ants -and just as tiny!

The crest of the royal family on the observatory's deck glinted obstinately, and as if in reflex her gaze panned over to the suspended castle. She tried to imagine what it must have looked like before the Upheaval had happened, or even before the Calamity, but soon her attention was magnetically drawn to the left of the sleek spires of Hyrule Castle, towards the northwest, and the to her so familiar jagged silhouette of the mountain ridge there on the horizon, half a world away but no less ominous, before she twisted herself around and it was at her back, out of sight.

When her pulse and breathing had steadied in cadence, she rolled over onto her belly and reached into a wide sleeve for the soggy crêpe and a Mighty Banana she had stowed away in a hidden pocket.

She was not worried about the tower's lid opening, as she was situated so that she would  slide right off and onto the deck were that the case, and besides, she figured it would take a special type of person to come up here at all. Rito excluded, for obvious reasons.

Seriously, anyone who had been insane enough to have followed her, she would instantly have to befriend for life, she decided and nodded as she rid the banana of its peel.

Should she drop it over the ledge?

Nah, nah, she had been enough of a nuisance to the general public for today already, and Lucke wouldn't want anyone to slip and fall. Someone could break an arm that way.

With bananas and broken arms as the current intrusive thoughts, her mind naturally landed on the Sheikah blacksmith fellow from the other day: that suspicious look on his face had just been so funny! Stifling an amused snort, she bit down into the fruit.

[Windwright]

Riva bit down into a fruit. It was, or rather had once been, the least fresh apple in his inventory, and had become his lunch today. He'd thought he'd heard someone in the Inn earlier, but hadn't seen anyone when he poked his head out from the pantry. A true innkeeper would never be so uncouth as to shout for a potential guest.

But with his apple finished, Riva rinsed his hands and prepared his backpack for a shopping trip. His rupees, his shopping list, a spare cloak in case it started raining, his concertina, and his receipt book all placed in their appropriate pockets or attached to his belt. He shouldered the bag, set up his 'Out for Supplies' sign, and stepped out of his front door. Straight into someone's back.

[Chaosome]

Huh! Not a handshake guy. Malon would have to commit that to memory. Was it a Zora thing or a this guy thing though? Or a this guy's kind of Zora thing? What were the differences in Zora? Because even to Malon it was clear that there was something odd about this guy. Not odd good or odd bad. Just. Odd. And Malon of all birds knew odd. He was him! "Aww, well still I appreciate it! You could've just as easily kept em all for yourself, so it was real nice of you either way friend." he'd say with a little nod, idly putting his hands on his hips as he tilted his head slightly. Bespectacled one?

"Oh! You probably mean Purah right?" Malon mimed the woman's mannerisms near perfectly and even adjusted the imaginary glasses she wore before nodding his head again. "She's good people... if a bit of a taskmaster sometimes." the bird glanced around a little as if looking out to make sure he didn't get a bonk on the noggin from the Sheikah's flute. Which meant he only jumped a little when Gao gave a pat to his shoulder and announced his potential departure.

"Aww, we just got here. I was gonna buy us a little second breakfast and everything! You sure you don't want to hang out just a little longer?" Malon asked the man with... The Eyes. The hopeful sparkly eyes that no one could resist!... Okay most everyone could resist but maybe it would work THIS time! He'd glance over to Sin, sans begging eyes, and grin. "You're welcome to join too! Can consider it me repaying the food you gave me!" Malon would add before turning back to Gao and turning those eyes back on.

Malon's 'masterful' stare was interrupted though by what sounded like a sheet of paper hitting Gao's back. With a little curious chirp, Malon leaned to the side and spotted the proprietor who had just face planted into the man. Now he was wondering if this was a common occurrence...

[El]

What started as a grimace soon crumbled into a breathy laugh. It hadn't been a wince of pain from the unexpected collision, but rather a visceral reaction to feeling the jaws of a trap cinch him neatly between its teeth. As if physically bumping into the innkeep himself hadn't been heart-jolting enough - after all that built-up, internal trepidation - he'd been boxed in from the front too by a pair of wide, vibrant eyes glistening with expectation. ...How exactly was someone supposed to escape from a situation like that? Whatever it took, they weren't traits this Sheikah owned.

"Alright, alright." Gao grumbled, raising his hands in resignation while a grin sat slanted on his lips. "Don't go giving me that look: if you want to open your wallet for me that bad, I'm not gonna argue it any further. Only a fool would turn down some free food."

His head cocked then towards the burly Zora, peeking around Malon to throw him a cheek-pinched laugh. "I advise you escape now if you don't want our company." He warned playfully. "If there's one thing I've learned about this forever-peppy Rito, it's that his sunrays get their way ...at least with me." Thankfully it looked like Sin had already managed to quaff down a healthy helping of food, Gao thought to himself, eyes flicking over what remained of the devoured pile on his plate. An unwelcome interruption was still an unwelcome interruption, but the Zora wouldn't starve at least if he did decide to heed his warning and scurry off.

...Well, 'scurry' was probably a bad word for it. Honestly, that was actually quite terrifying to envision.

"Anyway," Gao restarted, clearing his throat and squashing all those intrusive thoughts along with it. He turned then towards the innkeep, taking him in properly this time, now that the opportunity had presented itself and the darkness of last night wasn't obstructing his curiosity. He was quite the dapper Rito: smartly dressed with an admittedly beautiful shimmer to his plumage. Evidently he took as much care of himself and his presentation as he did with his work. Admirable. It couldn't be easy to juggle all of that.

"First things first, you alright bud? Sorry for blocking your way like that - I didn't make you drop anything, did I?" The Sheikah's eyes swept across the floor just in case, scanning for any precious debris. He couldn't hold back the grimace when he caught sight of the sign he'd presumably only just erected nearby though. Shit, what timing. ...Or- what great timing...? ...Admittedly in that short span of a few seconds Gao had gotten rather excited about a free meal, even if he'd been wrangled into it. "Ah. Er-... is breakfast all sold out?"

[Emily]

Image modified from original by Prema-Ja on Tumblr

Of all the things that were stranger or less convenient about the south, one thing Reverie found marvellous was how trees looked here. Where she'd grown up, deep within Hebra, trees were either withered and dead, or evergreens dotting the lowland tundra. Here, however, trees spread wide, their wide leaves soaking up the plentiful sunlight. The light danced between the leaves, dotting the forest floors in constantly-shifting patterns, almost hypnotic in their gentle sway.

She stood at the edge of one of those forests now. She found these different natural formations almost mystifying; how did someone born and raised nearby approach this space? Did they notice the sound of the wind passing through the branches, a lullaby of whispered rustling? Did they know that, half a world away, the wind screamed from the mountaintops, cutting through barriers and keeping children awake with its howl? Did they even see this place for what it was?

The thought was unfair; Reverie knew the story of what had happened here. Central Hyrule had been destroyed during the Calamity. Nobody currently living had been born nearby, save some chance Sheikah or Zora. It was a marvel that the queen, her knight, and the sages had so changed the world's fate that in so few years, what had once been a place of walking nightmares now seemed so peaceful. Hebra, harsh land though it might be, had been relatively untouched by the Calamity. Guardians had a difficult time surviving in the cold, and in their weakened state could be ambushed and killed by her clan. Everywhere had been affected by the Upheaval, of course, but they'd survived the endless blizzard as well.

A nearby crack brought Reverie's hand to her sword hilt. Her head jolted to the left, toward the sound, only to see a deer peeking through the bushes at her. Her grip loosened on the sword. She had signed up for guard duty today- rather, Buliara had recommended her to the guard captain, who had approached her during breakfast and asked for help. Being on guard duty seemed fitting; she was, after all, most experienced in exactly this line of work. The exterior walls of Castle Town were still incomplete, albeit further along than the day prior, and the guards were needed to keep watch over the volunteers. Some were inside the walls, but most were out here, like Reverie, keeping watch for any agent of malice that might be watching.

[LuckyBlackCat]

Naturally, the rebuilding of Hyrule Castle Town was something Hudson's Construction had gotten right in on.

Rewarding as it was that the fruits of the tireless sawing, hammering and tiling had begun to take shape, to say it was hungry work would be an understatement. After a gruelling day's toil yesterday, Alyson had been thrilled to discover not just a simple rest stop near the camp outside the walls, but a full-blown inn. Complete with warm feather beds, a fully furnished dining area providing delicious food, and the innkeeper playing concertina music that reminded her of her visits to Rito Village, it was everything a busy labourer could possibly want. Of course, she didn't know whether to be mildly worried - such mind-blowingly skilled construction may very well mean Hudson's could have a rival later down the line. Then again, if anyone involved happened to have a name ending in "son", the company could gain a major boon. Who knew?

Seated at a breakfast table, Alyson couldn't help but scarf down a second serving of mushroom omelette. The juicy Stamella Shrooms were fried to perfection, and combined with the protein of the eggs, they were exactly what workers needed to keep their energy up. She'd probably have indigestion later, but it would be more than worth it. After all, quality meals like this had been difficult to come by while on the move growing up...

No. She wouldn't think about that. It was better to look towards the future than dwell on the past. And building a brighter future was exactly the purpose for which everyone here was gathered.

As she stood and set her empty plate aside, the copious tools and pouches at her belt clanking and jangling, a slight commotion caught her notice. Just outside the door, the stylish Rito innkeeper had collided with a big burly guy. Thankfully neither seemed hurt, but the behemoth of a man asked whether breakfast was sold out. That was when Alyson spotted the "out for supplies" sign. Oh. Maybe she shouldn't have taken seconds after all.

"Eheheh..." She rubbed the back of her neck as she approached. "If so, that may be partly my fault."

[Sav'saaba]

Yaku

The earth opened up before him, a maw yawning bare its innards as it swallowed him, the air fusty as a sealed tomb's. Beyond, the Royal Hidden Passage sprawled out, leading all the way up and into the castle, once enabling the royal family and members of court to travel between the castle and its namesake town inconspicuously. Before Calamity had struck it was an open secret to the townsfolk that the Princess would make eager use of the network of tunnels to mingle with her people.

Chimes resounded through the subterranean passage that looked as bleak as the shadow of a withered leaf cast upon a block of gray granite. There was something sinister about how small and thin the sound of his bells bounced off the walls, the mirthful jingling smothered by an unimpressed silence.

The shaman was urged and drawn forth, on and on, his senses lured as if by siren's song, a low resonance humming from some secret place deep within his very being, intangible but coaxing his steps further into the underworld, until he found the hunched effigy squatted in the half-dark.

"I wondered where you had gone this time." Yaku started quietly, and crossed his arms over his chest as he leant a shoulder against the grotto's wall, the marks embedded in his skin pulsing with soft luminescence.

Awakened, the shadows billowed in like fog from the darkest reaches and juddered alive, the inky tendrils grabbing like gaunt fingers and twisting up his legs.

"Well then, isn't this a proper mausoleum for you to moulder in?," he said, and whistled in mock awe as he took in the den of the demon. "Good for you, though I liked it better when you were still at the bottom of that pond."


"Fa ha ha..."

Clear as the streams of Lanayru, the Horned Statue answered then.

"Spare me your tired bluster. Was it not you who came to me of your own volition? A life for a life, was that not what you bargained? I upheld my end of our pact, as you should yours."

As if the shaman needed reminding of that which had condemned him to an endless existence in servitude of a fallen god.

Did he regret it? Not for one breath, had he still need to draw it, nor for one heartbeat, had he still a pulse.
Oh, he would readily consign himself to perdition over and over, if that was what it would take.

"I'm here, am I not?" he bit back.

"I expected you sooner."

"Why, got places to be? A hot date with a Hylian Bass? School kids to terrorize?" he cracked, because what else could he do. The demon cackled in response, a sound not born from humor or gaiety, but contempt and scorn for this Hylian attempting to shield himself from the eldritch entity with sass.

"And who cleaned the bird shit off you? I have half a mind to give them an earful." the shaman added as he unhooked the spirit vessel from its usual place at his hip to present  to the statue, fists clenching hard.

To the uninitiated, the spirit vessel looked like a white flower that -when one squinted- vaguely echoed the shapes of a Silent Princess, with a long, sleek stem from which sprouted numerous opalescent marbles, their colours prettily shifting even in the murk of the cavern.
It cradled the lost souls that he had collected, the spirits of those who had forgotten who they were, clinging only to that they were, once. Souls that had not passed on on their own, and for which the aid of a psychopomp to usher them along from this world had not come.
Poes. A poe was not like Dobson from the day before, who had still retained who he had been in life.

"Souls of the fallen for the fallen Granter of Boons." Yaku muttered, his head turned down and gaze away, so as to not be witness to the colours draining from the vessel as the Horned Statue took its promised dues.

"Coward," the demon mocked, "Craven, tender-hearted fool. I tire of you. Begone."

"After more than 130 years of this? Believe you me, that sentiment is very much mutual. See you soon."

[LuckyBlackCat]

Why absolutely everyone here was expected to be up at this ridiculous hour, Claria didn't know.

Then again, to her, any time before noon was a ridiculous hour. With bleary eyes, she surveyed the wooded landscape, over which dawn cast its rays. Quiet and still, save for the occasional flitting and gratingly cheerful chirping of birds, in contrast to the hustle and bustle behind her. If she had her way, she'd stick to night duties, but no, the guard captain had wanted people up "bright and early".

It wasn't like she'd have been able to fall back asleep even if she'd been allowed to, anyway. Accustomed as she'd grown by now to living mostly on land, the start of each day made her keenly miss sleeping in pools. Waking up with her skin itching all over, and her fins feeling like parchment, was not fun. Going for a much-needed swim in the pond by the west gate first thing had helped, and had dispelled some of the drowsiness, but it still stood that mornings were made of pure unadulterated evil.

Ah well, she couldn't complain. It was Queen Zelda's knight who'd helped deal with the sludge situation in Zora's Domain, and saved her people. It was here in Lookout Landing that she'd taken shelter during that time, reluctant as she'd been to acknowledge she'd needed it. This was her way of repaying the favour.

And at least the other guard at this gate was quiet, calm, respectful. It could have been worse - Claria could have been stuck with the more rowdy and boisterous types. The blue-haired Hylian beside her simply gazed out over the forest as if deep in her thoughts. She and the other guards hadn't tried striking up conversation yet, a welcome relief at this hour. Still, Claria gave the occasional surreptitious tug at the shell collar on her scale mail, making sure the brutal scars over her neck remained well-hidden, as always around people.

Rustling in the bushes, the crack of a twig, jarred her into full alertness. A monster? A spy? She took her battle stance at once, her feet placed apart, her sword halfway out of its sheath as she glared. "Show yourself."

Out of the shrubbery emerged - A deer. A startled little deer, looking out with big wary eyes before trotting away. Re-sheathing her sword, Claria suppressed a cringe. She'd get such a ribbing after that. It was easy to forget that large land animals were far more common here than they were in Lanayru. With a flustered glance around, however, she noticed the other nearby guard had reacted more or less the same way, her hand on her own sword hilt.

Claria put up her usual defensive air nonetheless. "Heh... Can't be too careful."

It was too early in the morning for this.

[Windwright]

Riva dusted himself off with an indignant squawk of embarrassment. "No, no. It was my fault, I wasn't paying attention." he said, standing again. A quick double-check showed that nothing was missing or broken that he could spot.

"Oh, dear. Erm...Well the food is really for my patrons, and not for sale, per se, but...I also do need more supplies. Which," he added, turning to one of the guests in question, "is not your fault either, it's mine. I had not anticipated the number of guests I'd have well enough, and donated some of my supplies to dinner last night. I'm going out now to resupply, and I'm terribly sorry for the inconvenience."

He fidgeted with his pince-bec and bowed low in apology to both Hylians and the other Rito for good measure.

[El]

'Not for sale'... A grimace of awkward discomfort contorted Gao's lips. Ha. For all his over-thinking of almost every social situation ever, how come he hadn't factored in THAT possibility? Plus, the innkeep himself appeared to be a charmingly harmless Rito: a good businessman for sure - the bustling and comfortable environment around them was proof of that - but not the slimy, incessant villain his imagination had made him out to be.

The burly Sheikah deflated with warm laughter, shoulders released of their tension but a tinge of disappointment still stinging the pits of his stomach. "Ah well, it is what it is. No harm done and all that." Not every opportunity came to fruition - that was just a fact of life.

His eyes cast then back towards the young woman who'd felt compelled to 'confess her sins'. The guilt she openly wore was endearing, eliciting a lopsided smile from Gao as he recognised a faint shadow of himself in her. "Never feel guilty for eating your fill, lass." He gently chided, doubling-down on Riva's assertion that she wasn't at fault.

"And if I'm not wrong you look like one of Hudson's soldiers?" His attention slid over her belt of cumbersome tools, the telltale scars of a physical labourer - or inventor! - and their hardened physique. "Or at least a like-minded individual." The scholar checked himself, just in case his assumption was a leap too far. "Either way, folks like yourself more than deserve the fuel! A good day's work only comes from a good day's meal to start it with.

"And speaking of-" He cocked his head towards Malon, giving a curt nod paired with a wry smile. "I'll cash in on that free meal of yours another time when the stars align better, mate: maybe even tonight? I'm getting under people's feet here - 'tis time I headed out proper. Gotta make good use of the daylight and all that."

With that, Gao turned to leave for certain this time, one hand raised in a wave of departure as he passed out of the inn.

The cool kiss of morning air was a welcome respite from the crowded heat of inside. As much as the scholar enjoyed basking in the company of others - an unfortunately rare indulgence - navigating social situations so early in the day had worn on him. In truth, being amongst civilised people and vast multitudes of strangers for so long during this project had eroded his battery in general, wearing thinner by the day his patience and wit. The anxiety and restlessness came far too easily now. ...Perhaps today would be his last day on the job. He was only a volunteer anyway, he had no official burdens which tied him to this place, and in all honesty he felt he could be allowed some pride in how much he'd contributed. He'd been getting in one colossal workout too.

Gao let out a quiet groan of comfort, rolling his shoulder while idle fingers massaged out the knots. The sun tasted sweet and the freshly trodden grass felt soft below his feet. He walked while he thought, drawing in a deep breath to clear his mind and chest, and headed back towards the labourer's HQ to see where best he'd be of help.

[Sav'saaba]

Lucke

Lucke's little expedition to the top of the Skyview Tower turned out to hold consequences, but she had expected nothing less. Punishment was a concept that she was intimately acquainted with in her earlier life, starting out with the elders not taking kindly to her going missing from the village every now and then.
Often, she would spend her time away from expectation shield surfing the Tabantha tundra while tethered to a moose, her whooped encouragements to egg the great beast on as it crashed through snowdrifts louder than the frigid winds lashing at her face. It was one of the few things about Hebra that she still kept close to her heart.

Thankfully, another of those was here, with her.

Ewww. She was never going to feel clean again, was she? Her nose wrinkled with her scowl as she scrubbed her hands with a bar of swift violet soap in a stream nearby camp until her knuckles bloomed an angry red all over again.

When her feet touched solid ground again, the captain of the guard stood waiting at the base of the tower and presented her with a bucket. Latrine duty was one of the ways to make up for trespassing, he'd told her, and she had snatched it from his hands, too impatient to wait for him suggest the other options. She was so going to show them all that, like the latrines, she was nothing to sniff at.

Just because you're a delinquent, does not mean that you don't know how to work.

Pail after pail had she hauled to the cesspit, all the while battling a violent urge to retch that would easily win whenever she emptied the container out. The first few times, she had closed her eyes during that part, but boy did that turn out to be a mistake. She was going to have to ritually burn that article of clothing, most definitely, at first opportunity.

Hylia be praised the revolting chore was over with; absolved, she was allowed to retreat to the campsite she shared with Reverie to try and freshen up with a session of aggressive sponge-bathing and a clean change of clothing.

---

Beneath the lustrous boughs of the small patch of forest she was traversing on her way back to the Landing, she froze. Dappled in emerald by the sunlight filtering through the foliage, a doe stared back at her, one of its ears swiveling non-stop to catch hints of a lurking threat. Lucke had never been so close to one before, and she held her breath, so as to not spook the creature and prematurely end the wondrous encounter if she could help it. Soon the doe lifted one of its cloven hoofs, and turned, breaking into a light trot to disappear again into the thicket. As Lucke listened to the crows and a quarrel of squirrels over her head, she heaved a deep sigh.

Secretly wishing to catch another glimpse of the deer, she moved as quietly as she could as she continued on, taking great care to not disturb any branches or snap twigs underfoot, but it had not led to finding the animal again. Not that it mattered. A far more elusive creature was now on her radar.

It had been a while, hadn't it?

Lucke slid the mask from her robes and donned it, then took Skulltula Bite in hand, its glowing blade activating as she brandished it. Despite her hang-ups about her kinsmen, she could not deny that Ancient Tech was amazing.

Swift and silent, the masked woman shot out from the thicket, as the opening move to the dance they had shared many times before. With the first ring of steel, her hands would tremble.

[Emily]

Image modified from original by Prema-Ja on Tumblr

Reverie glanced over to the Zora with whom she had been paired. It was a good practice- a pair were much less likely to be caught off guard or wiped out without word making it back to the main camp- and they had seemed to be more or less alike in temperament. The early morning had gone by without any conversation between them; dew lifting off like a mist with the dawn, the cool humidity making way for warm sunlight. It was this moment that finally showed a separation, though experience was one of the easiest hindrances to overcome.

She eased, hoping the lack of tension would effectively transmit. When it came, her voice was probably gentler than Claria would have expected. "No shame in being alert." That being said, it would probably be helpful to disarm the Zora's tension. After all, there was a fine line between being alert and being stressed. "What's your name? I'm-"

Suddenly, a flash from the underbrush. Reverie only barely noticed it, her peripheral vision saving her in this moment. Fortunately, her reflexes allowed her to draw the sword just in time to catch the glowing Sheikah blade mid-swing. For the first time in days, a light appeared in Reverie's eyes, like she was waking up for the first time since arriving here. A large smile brightened her features as she looked at her attacker. "Your hands are shaking."

Reverie's grip tightened on the longsword hilt, and she pushed Skulltula Bite back, readying for Lucke's next attack. Her gaze jumped to Claria, only for a split second, having momentarily forgotten the Zora's presence. She dearly hoped there wouldn't be a misunderstanding here, even if there was little time to explain.


The snows had been harsh the night before, and it was Reverie's first solo trip to Rito Village. The community needed some supplies, and she had volunteered to make the three-day trek, excited to prove herself. She trudged through what felt like the normal path, though it was always hard to tell the morning after a blizzard. Worse yet, the clouds hadn't dissipated, so all she had to go by was hazy light. She was well-trained, however, and only a little nervous.

Or maybe she wasn't nervous. Maybe she was sensing someone out there watching her, and that was something entirely separate from nerves. Reverie clutched the heavy cloak tighter around her. Metal armour was the absolute worst for cold weather; it took all the cold that was outside of it and pushed it inward. If it weren't for the-

A flash from behind a nearby drift. Reverie's sword was immediately out. "Show yourself!" she shouted into the wind. The words had barely left her before the sneak attack. The first of many, a dance that would eventually come to symbolise their friendship.

[LuckyBlackCat]

Now the innkeeper was taking the blame on himself, giving a bow and a profuse apology. "All good!" Alyson called to him. "Hope it helps to know it was well appreciated!"

Thankfully, the guy who'd asked about breakfast didn't seem too disappointed, as evidenced by his laugh, his friendly smile, and his assertion that there was nothing wrong with enjoying a good breakfast or two. After all, as his question about her job proved, he recognised why she needed it - apparently the fact that she worked for Hudson's was just that obvious.

Grinning, Alyson pumped a fist in the air and launched into the company's jingle. "Yep! Quick and quality, blink and we're done! That's why everyson chooses Hudson Constructioooon!" She cast a glance out of the window at the building sites. "And as you can imagine, we're having quite the busy time of it right now. Working son up to son down, you might say." She gave a little chuckle at the cheesy joke.

As the guy took his leave, Alyson waved to him and the innkeeper. "See ya! I'd better make a move too." With that, she headed out into the cool morning breeze of the camp, towards the bustling soon-to-be town that steadily took on structure. What would she be assigned to work on today, she wondered, her gaze flicking this way and that as she looked out for Hudson and the others. The smithy? The general store? The... Hyli-inn? Despite the penchant she'd just displayed for cringey puns, she couldn't help but snort with laughter. Oh, Tulin.

Not that she'd mind either way - progress was progress. She could just imagine what Castle Town would be like once fully restored to its former glory.


The Hylian spoke up, her tone soft, reassuring, and free of judgement, putting Claria's nerves at ease. Some of the tension left her shoulders - briefly. The next moment, a blur of red hair and an arcing luminous blade set her battle reflexes kicking in once more. Alertness really was of utmost importance. Sword in hand, she whirled round to face the attacker, a robed figure with an ornate Bokoblin mask, steel ringing against steel as the other guard blocked her strike.

To Claria's surprise, the armoured Hylian's eyes sparkled with joy as she teased her assailant, the kind of smile reserved for good friends spreading across her face. Was this not an ambush, but some kind of game? Nonetheless, with a swift step forward, Claria brought her sword down on top of the attacker's blade to block her next move. With the glowing sword pinned between her own weapon and that of her fellow guard, she towered over the masked figure, scowling down at her. "By Naydra's blizzards, what do you think you're doing?!"

Pulsing her lights to emphasise her words, she huffed in a mix of relief and annoyance. Whatever was going on here, it wasn't funny. What if she hadn't noticed the look on the other girl's face, and seriously hurt the newcomer? What if a real attack or infiltration happened while they were distracted? For all the good cheer going on behind the walls, some things needed taking seriously.

[Rex Draco]

Sin | Castle Town | Arc I
____________________

The Zora ate like it was going out of style. His tower of food, though quickly diminishing, was needed to fuel a body such as his. Tugging himself around on land couldn't have been easy. Surviving on what the monastery allowed was difficult,  but it did build a resilience that allowed him to thrive on land.  He shoved another bit of sausage into his mouth, eyeing Malon with his deep, sky colored eyes. The black sclera made the crystalline marbles stand out all the more, his sharp gaze focused on the twittering avian.

He grunted in response to their words of appreciation, not because he accepted it, but because he found it peculiar. "Strange, why would you appreciate something that is expected?" Wasn't it normal? "I had enough to spare. Seeing as I am a member of this building committee I bound to the covenant until further notice." But even still the man could put away a lot.   

Without a doubt Sin was quite a healthy looking Zora, at least at a glance. His gills were dark with no excess moisture around the edges, which would indicate he wasn't filtering his water correctly. A Zora's gills was often the first display of their health, leaving their scales to be the second. This was perhaps the oddest thing about Sin. At first glance his scales were neither azure nor maroon in hue, which mimicked the deep riverbeds. Instead his bronze scales were like the desert sands and belly rippling with taut muscle built for the harsh waters of the sea as opposed to the gentle waters of the tributaries. Such a copper color was unheard of among the River Zora of lake Hylia.

Standing, Sin stood at around 7½ feet tall and had broad shoulders and a thin waist. He had wide fins and exceptional markings of red littered across his chestnut scales. It wasn't uncommon for males to possess such physique and impressive sizes, but what curious bloodline also had a chance of carrying such magnificent colors?

At the mention of Pura the Zora's hanging tendrils stiffened, the unusually still appendages squirming in an unexpected manner. He grunted.

"Mm, she is strangely strict, as far as Hylians go." He always took them to be a rather lackadaisical people with wishy-washy interests. Even their princess had peculiar interests in forbidden machines and forgotten technology.

As Gao departed he took in what the Sheikah was saying. He has personally determined whatever people Gao took claim to as the kind to be rather obstinate. Sheikah was it? Or something to that degree. It was mentioned in passing somewhere, maybe by Gao himself, but it was not clear by the way he acted nor in the way he looked. After all Sheikah were supposed to be an ancient people that were demure and secluded themselves deep in the woods, or so he's been taught. Gao ended up bumping into another, but that would remind the Zora.

"I should get going after I eat. This one named Purah will search for him otherwise." After cleaning down the tower of food a bit more he moved to stand and looked towards the bird.

Grunting softly the ruddy rockfish made way to depart and return to his responsibilities in the Castle Town.

[Chaosome]

Malon rested his wings upon his hips, smiling as he glanced between Gao, Sin, and the innkeeper. Though that smile slowly faltered even if for a brief moment... 'Not for sale'... Noooooo! Desolation! Betrayal! Why would the world be so cruel as to deny them a second breakfast. Almost in sync with Gao's own, the Rito's shoulders slumped as he leaned forward dejectedly, the pall of doom lingering over him if only for a brief moment before he sigh and stood back straight, throwing a glance and a friendly smile over to Sin.

"Well, it's cus not everyone out there as nice as that. Some people hoard what they don't need, but some people share beyond their means too. All kinds of different people out there, so it's always good running into the people that are kind." the bird nodded, giving a little thumbs up.

The bird's feathers ruffled slightly when Gao caught his attention, pouting a little at his friend's eagerness to depart. But, then again, the man did seem like the kind to want to keep busy. "Aww, alright, I'll hold you to that! Don't work yourself too hard or you won't even be able to lift a fork!" Malon pointed dramatically at the burly Sheikah before gently patting his arm. "Thanks for putting up with me, I'll catch you around!" he would add with a little wave. Another brief frown graced his beak as he watched the man leave. Flighty as Malon could sometimes be it wasn't hard for him to see all the socializing and carousing was wearing on Gao, poor fella needed some recharge time. He knew he was a lot to deal with, that's why he got so many solo jobs, after all.

Turning on a claw he faced Sin again with that signature bright smile of his. "Yeah, Purah can be a lot to handle, but she means well. As far as taskmasters go, there's certainly worse than her." Malon laced his feathers behind his head, leaning back on a claw as he watched the mountain of a Zora rise. Dang he's tall... What did he eat? "Ahhh, headin out too? Well alright, same goes for you too, try not to over do it!" The work was important, but if everyone worked their hands to the bones, who'd be left to finish the work? Stalfos?... Could one actually use stalfos for free labour?... Shaking his head, Malon waved once more as Sin parted ways with him.

Now that second breakfast was off the table, and his conversation partner in Gao had absconded, that left the bird with a literal and proverbial empty plate. "Abandoned and forlorn, what's a bird to do eh?" Malon gave a playfully dramatic shrug and glanced over at Riva.