Chapter Text
“No, no. You’re supposed to do it like this!” Wind grabs the ropes and shows Sky how to tie a proper knot. Sky tries to follow along, but the waves keep knocking him off balance. Wind gladly goes back over it a few more times until Sky has seen it all and is able to clumsily duplicate the knot. Wind beams at him and looks back over at the helm. “How are you doing up there, War?”
“I was never particularly good at sailing...but I think it’s fine?” War’s voice is uncertain though his face is determined. Wind turns his attention up the main mast to where Wild has precariously perched himself to keep look out.
“Do you see anything yet, Wild?” Wind calls up.
“Nothing yet! Though I’m pretty sure there may be something waaaaaaaaaay over that way,” he calls back down, lowering Aryll’s spyglass to gesture slightly off to the west of their current bearing.
“War! Adjust a little to the west. We should be getting near an island that we can stop at for a break!” War dutifully adjusts their heading as Wind takes stock of the others who decided to remain on deck. Sky has sat down in the bow of the ship and is practicing his knots while Legend just watches him, an expression of boredom on his face. Four and Hyrule are each hanging off the railing of the boat trying to spot fish since Wind had told them there are fish that can talk and will tell secrets to passing voyagers in exchange for food. Twilight is emerging unsteadily from below deck, not having gotten his sea-legs yet, and Time is standing close by lest Twilight fall overboard again. Wind can’t help but grin brightly at the sight of them all on this little ship of theirs. They still weren’t exactly sure how they got the ship. When the portal shift happened, they had just found themselves on it and there was no other crew around. They had been extremely skeptical at first, but there wasn’t much of a choice since they were in the middle of the Great Sea and would need a ship large enough for 9 people anyway.
“Land ho!” Wild calls out from above, pointing straight ahead of the bow. The Links below collectively turn to look and can barely make out an island on the horizon. Wind lets out a whoop and runs to the bow, jumping up on the railing and squinting as hard as he can.
“It should be Outset if I have our position right!” he calls out to no one in particular.
“Outset? That’s your home, right?” Twilight asks. Wind turns and smiles at him.
“Yeah! You can meet my sister! And my grandma! And there are these pigs! I think you’ll like the pigs,” he responds. Twi frowns at him slightly and Wind stumbles quickly over his words. “You know because of the goats and stuff on your farm at home? I thought the pigs would be like the same but not really?” Twi lets the corner of his mouth turn back into a grin and Wind beams at him.
“Yeah I guess pigs aren’t so bad,” Twi finally replies, gripping the rail tightly as a wave buffets the ship. Wind turns back and watches Outset grow on the horizon. His anticipation builds until he feels as though he could jump into the water and get to the island faster than the ship.
“Hey Wind?” Warriors calls after some time.
“Yeah?” Wind shouts back.
“How am I supposed to stop this thing?”
“Oh crap!” Wind scurries back to the helm and starts frantically calling out instructions. Wild and Hyrule spring into action, jumping all over the place to get the position of the sails and ropes just right while Warriors tracks the path to the docks. They manage to get the ship to make a mostly smooth landing and Wind throws himself onto the docks, hurriedly tying the ship to it as Warriors and Twilight lower the anchor. Without waiting for the others, Wind takes off for his grandmother’s house. He bursts through the door and dashes forward, just barely stopping himself before he could slam into the kitchen table.
“Link?” Wind turns and sees his grandmother standing by the cooking pot over the fire.
“Grandma!” Wind rushes over to her and hugs her tightly. “I missed you so much! How are you? Where’s Aryll? Has Tetra been by lately?” Wind’s grandmother laughs as she pushes Link slightly back from her.
“Everything has been fine. Tetra will be by in about a week. She promised Aryll she’d show her how to use a sword,” his grandmother puts a hand gently on his cheek and smiles lovingly at him. “But you must tell me, how did you get back here? I thought--” A knock at the door cuts her off. Wind goes over and pulls the door open to see the other Links all standing there.
“Fancy seeing you here,” Legend says.
“There they are,” Wind’s grandmother says as she peers around Wind’s shoulder. “Well come in, all of you. I’m nearly done with dinner. I hope you’ll find it filling!” She ushers all the Links inside and they all take places at random spots throughout the room. They hardly finish settling themselves in when the door bursts open yet again.
“BIG BROTHER!” Aryll cries out.
“Aryll!” Wind shouts back. They throw themselves at each other, hugging fiercely. Wind picks Aryll up off her feet and shakes her gently, making her laugh and kick her feet.
“Put me down!” Wind complies and beams at her as she straightens her dress out and looks around at the other Links. “Is everyone here for dinner?”
“Only if that’s alright with you of course,” Time replies. Aryll beams at him.
“Yes! I want to hear everything that you and Big Brother have been doing!” She dashes over to the table and settles into a chair, turning her attention expectantly to the room at large. Time laughs.
“Well, Wind. Why don’t you start it off?” he suggests.
“Okay!” Wind settles into the seat across from Aryll and takes a dramatic breath.
“So there I was. In a strange forest with these guys.” Wind gestures towards the others and Aryll’s eyes widen as she edges closer to him. Warriors can’t help but smirk while Wind tells the tale of his first adventure with the group as Aryll hangs onto every word. The tale somehow manages to stretch over dinner and finally ends a little after dark. None of the other Links say anything, though, and simply applaud the retelling along with Aryll and Wind’s grandmother. Wind yawns and his grandmother comes over and pats him on the back.
“Well now. Why don’t we all head off to bed.” She turns and looks at the 8 others. “We don’t have terribly much room inside here, but you are welcome to stay. I have extra blankets and pillows that we can use to make some beds.”
“Please, don’t let us trouble you. We have our own accommodations,” Time replies politely before turning to Wind. “We’ll see you in the morning then.” He smiles down at the boy before following the others outside to where they had dropped off their gear.
“Hey Time?” Four asks as they start setting up for the night. “Do we still have to keep watches? There’s nothing on this island that would be a threat to us from what Wind’s told us about it.” Time straightens up and looks around a bit as he thinks this over.
“Are you saying that because it’s your turn and you don’t want to take it?’ Hyrule asks with a grin. Four scowls at him.
“I suppose we can forgo the watches. At least for the time we’re here,” Time says before Four can retort. Four smiles at him and throws himself down on his bedroll, curling up immediately. Hyrule shakes his head lightly before lying down as well. Time can’t help but chuckle, then watches as the other Links also settle in for the night before lying down himself.