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Wild was acting off, after every fight he would leave the group and wander off, no matter how injured he was or how exhausted he was, he would leave the chain and not let hyrule heal him. Sure, there could be reasons why wild didnt want to be healed, some people thought it was unnatural and healing should be done naturally. But knowing wild, he doubted that was the case.
Now, hyrule would have written it off and not paid attention to it if he was perfectly fine after, maybe he had his own form of healing, maybe he had magic healing like hyrule and didn't want to attract attention. Maybe wild was just like the rest of them, stupid and stubborn. Hyrule had seen to many times the chain insisting they were ‘fine’ and later finding them passed out with a large gash on them, or a broken bone, or sometimes even just them getting sick or having a cut get infected. No matter what timeline, hyrule knew all the links were selfless liars when it came to health.
His worst suspicions came when they first arrived in the new hyrule, wilds usual ‘lets go explore’ nature and invites were gone, wild simply trudged down the path with a slight limp, he stayed to the end of the group so no one would notice, but Hyrule did. When asked about it, wild fell quiet before getting very defensive about it, claiming he was fine and Hyrule should back off. Hyrule and wild had been the closest throughout their adventure thus far, both traveling off path together, never had they gotten on a fight, yet today wild had snapped at him. Wild fell quiet afterwards, realizing his mistake. He had apologized quickly after, claiming to be tired and left it at that. The problem was, he still was limping.
Wild had disappeared when they set up camp once again, leaving to ‘find water’ in his own words, despite the fact that they already had quite a bit of water. No one questioned him, assuming he wished to wash up before cooking. It wouldn't be uncommon at this point for wild to disappear, whether to find new items for flora, to wash up before cooking, or just to clean off blood after battle. Hyrule had not followed him, no one followed him in fact. No one else had noticed wilds slight limp that he held while he walked alongside them. But Hyrule did.
No one noticed how wilds form couldn’t remain standing for long, how he struggled to stand quite often despite being one of the most agile and nimble of the group. But Hyrule did, Hyrule noticed a lot about wild. Unlike himself, wild tended to be very complicated with how he did things, fancy sword moves that were far too excessive in hyrules opinion, his outfits that he would show off were never just a simple one color tunic, his normal outfit having four different shades of blue at least, his armor was complicated beyond belief, Hyrule couldn’t make sense of half of the buckles on the thing. With warriors and times, he could make some semblance of sense, whilst wilds? not a clue.
Wild also had very fancy meals, while Hyrule was used to eating bread and whatever else he had, wild cooked up masterful meals that took over an hour more often than not. He made drinks that Hyrule would imagine costing thousands of rupees to buy, wild even confirmed once that a drink he had made Hyrule would have gotten around two thousand rupees for him if he sold it in his era, Hyrule didn’t feel so good about drinking it so quickly afterward.
Hyrule was simple, wild was not. Wild was secretive, and Hyrule was nosy. So of course Hyrule followed him, he was curious, he was an adventurer, and most importantly, he was worried about wild. Wild had a very difficult time adjusting to the chain, claiming he never worked in groups before, only one person maximum helping him at a time. Now that eight others were with him, fighting with him, wild had obviously started to try and change his fighting style from when they first met him. He had nearly snapped the other day, raising his fingers before Hyrule asked what he was doing. Wild quickly returned to fighting as per normal, ignoring hyrules confused looks.
He heard wild crashing though the bushes in front of him, bringing him back to reality, wild was leaning against a tree heavily, looking around before taking off once more, limping along the rough path he took. Hyrule inched forward, slowly going from tree to tree as to follow him without being seen, wild had been known to run away when one of them came too close to him, bolting at the sight of ‘danger’ in his eyes. He heard the rushing water before he saw it, hiding in the closest tree that he could to the water that wild was crouched over.
“Shit.” Wild cursed loudly, glancing around to make sure no one had followed him before taking off his shoes. “Alright, let’s see, do we have bandages? no we do not. Mipha anything?” He looked up in front of him, nothing there but the calm river ahead. “No, I don’t have anything for health potions but thank you Daruk.” Wild placed his slate on the ground, scrolling through as he clicked on something, his pants disappearing, being replaced with a pair of shorts, the same with his shirt, except no shirt reappears. That’s when Hyrule finally saw why wild was limping, his ankle was swollen, a stick tied to it as a makeshift splint of a sort. A large gash that was most definitely infected ran down his leg, dried blood around the pus that sat on the infected cut.
“I know it’s infected, I’m not dumb.” Wild spoke again, prying the dried blood soaked bandages off his leg. “No I can’t go to him, Hyrule already has enough on his plate. I cant add anything more.” He threw the bandages off to the side, pulling out a cane from his slate. “Thank the goddesses that I have this. Maybe my death did come in handy.” Wilds ears lowered almost instantly, glancing around suspiciously.
“No i don't see anyone why say that?” he leaned on the cane, limping towards the water. “No one besides us are here.” he stepped into the water, hissing at the cold water hitting his ankle. Wild sat down on the edge of the water, relying on the cane a little to much for hyrules liking. He set the cane down next to him, taking a handful of the water and splashing it on his leg, a pained whimper escaped him.
“Mipha any advice?'' Wild asked, there it was again, that name, ‘ mipha’ along with that other name Daruk, he couldn't tell who or what wild was talking to. “Leaves for bandages?” he questioned, looking to his right. “I tried it before but it didn't work well.” well that's concerning. Hyrule thought to himself, watching wilds weak display of cleaning his injuries. “I could grab some more sticks to form another splint… maybe tear up some old clothes or blankets to keep it in place? Hylia what do i do? ” wild splashed his face, scrubbing at his scars miserably.
“I don't know how much longer I can last like this.” wild mumbled in misery, “no matter how little i want to bother Hyrule on this, I cant keep doing this.” blood tinted the water around his leg, wild paid little notice to it, instead staring at his hands. “Maybe I can use my scars as an excuse to use this?” he motioned to his cane haphazardly. “They don't know my story! Why wouldn't they believe it? Besides i do use it for them sometimes.” Hyrule raised an eyebrow at him, oh he's definitely insane. Talking to himself as if he's surrounded by people?
“Yeah yeah, I understand Urbosa. Im taking care of myself best I can.” Wild pulled his leg out of the cold water, taking some fabric and whipping off any excess water from his leg. He turned to look behind him, looking at the ground for any sticks, or at least thats what he assumed. “I think i have some sticks left…” wild turned back to the water, pulling out his beloved slate and clicking a couple buttons, two sticks dropped out onto his lap, one longer than the other. He winced, placing both either side of his injured ankle. Oh how hyrule wanted to intervene.
Yet he refused to intervene, No matter how much he wanted to prove wild wrong, that he didn’t mind, that it was no bother to him. Yet he knew that wilds pride couldn’t handle it, that his stupid trait that all the chain had just couldn’t handle that blow. His trust most definitely would never recover if he found out Hyrule was spying on him, yet the back of his mind begged him to step in, stop him before it was too late.
A loud tearing sound came from wilds side, wild slowly tore up some extra fabric he had, slowly wrapping the pieces around his legs, forming a weak splint. Wilds loose pants and thin sticks would allow it to be easy to hide, with its now more reinforced form rather then the old one stick that hyrule had seen. Wild wound the fabric around his leg with a practiced hand, hissing in pain with how tight he had to pull the fabric around his leg.
“I hate this just as much as you do.” Wild said quietly, not looking up from his leg, “But you're all dead, and cant help with this. So what can i do?”
“No. I'm not asking for help. They all are to busy to help anyways.” He laughed helplessly, “besides, why would they care about this? They have their own things to worry about.” Hyrule felt his heart sink, oh wild… “I don't want to bother them, Daruk. If I bother them, they're going to get mad at me. I don't want them to dislike me.”
Hyrule whispered, unable to hold back, thankfully it was only loud enough for himself to hear, “ We wouldn’t hate you… let me help you.”
—
Wild over the next couple days had devolved into using his cane, just like he had mentioned that day at the riverside. His limp got worse, to the point where multiple others noticed it, only for wild to claim it was his old injuries. They believed him, of course they did. They didn’t see what hyrule had seen at the lake that one day. They hadn’t seen how wild had spoken to the dead as he so proclaimed, talking to seemingly nothing for nearly half an hour.
His cane usage had gotten to the point where he wouldn’t move anywhere without it, claiming it to be a flare up, which in all honesty, probably was happening. With all the stress on his scarred leg, no doubt it had caused a flare up. Poor guy can barely walk yet still wont come to us for help. Hyrule thought pitifully, giving a sad glance in wilds direction. Wild happened to notice this, confusion glazing his face as he watched hyrules expression change through a multitude of emotions. Wild limped over to him, offering a kind smile.
“What’s up rulie?” He questioned, “your looking at me weird.”
“Hmm?” He startled, “oh, I was just wondering, do you think I could try and fix your injuries? Your leg really seems to be bothering you—“
“Oh no! It’s all good. Don’t want to be a bother.” Wild waved his hands in front of him, his face holding an apologetic look. “It can’t be fixed anyways, it’s from years ago.”
“I could still try?”
“No no, it’s all good. Others have tried and it didn’t work. Thank you for the offer though!” He bowed his head in gratitude, turning and heading back over to his spot near the fire, probably to get lunch started. Hyrule thought, he sighed inwardly, of course Wild refused to let hyrule heal him, he had already stated he didn’t want to be a bother, but how didn’t he see that him not letting Hyrule heal him was what was truly the bother? At this point, Hyrule had half the mind to just heal Wild without his permission, but held back only for the sake of wilds trust.
What was he gonna do with these dumbasses?
—
“I’m well aware it’s infected Mipha. You said that last time.” Wild muttered to the Zora princess in front of him, she gazed upon him with tired eyes, the other champions stood around him, each had already yelled at him for his lack of care for his own well-being. But seeing Mipha of all people yell at him? That was another level he never wanted to cross.
“Then ask Hyrule to heal you.” She said indignantly, she spread her hands with exasperation. “He already said he was willing, so take him up on it!”
“You said that last time Mipha. I got it already.” Wild poured a small bit of a health potion on a bandage he had picked up from the last town, it wasn’t nearly enough but it could last a day or two. He had already rinsed out the would thoroughly, deeming it safe enough for him to continue with his almost ritualistic actions.
“She’s right, you know.” Urbosa cut in, an air of static following her around as she crouched next to wild, her ghostly hand grazed over wilds leg, sending sparks up his spine. “This isn’t healthy Link.” Wild rolled his eyes.
“ Nothing I did in my adventure was good for my health. You know how many times I had to try and make my way through malice because I couldn’t hit the eyes?”
“Point taken, but you can still change that. At Least let him look at it.” Urbosa chidded.
“Or let the captain look! He has medical experience right?” Daruk offered from his spot next to the water, he had been splashing around in the water while wild attempted to deal with his injury. Wild shrugged, wrapping the bandage around his leg and the sticks. “That’s not gonna hold little buddy.” Wild sighed.
“I’m well aware of that Daruk. Thank you very much.” Daruk waved him off, ignoring his annoyed expression. “It’s only temporary, this mission can’t last that much longer right?”
“Yours lasted over a year, Hylia wouldn’t be so kind to you now.” Mipha spoke up, her kind expression gazing down at him. “She’s never been kind to us.”
“And she never will be.” Revali emerged from the trees behind them, his sharp eyes scanning the scene around them. “Areas clear as far as I could tell. I thought I saw someone but it might have been just a wolf, or possibly a large bunny.” He offered. Wilds eyes widened.
“ A wolf is around here?” He hissed, “it’s not wolfie is it?” Revali looked behind him once more, shrugging as well as a Rito could. “And a rabbit? Are you sure?”
“It was pink so no? Could have been anything at that point.” Revali readied his wings for flight, obviously tired of being around them already. “ I for one am going to do something useful and see if there’s a town nearby.” He launched into the air, flapping his wings to steady himself before flying off, the group watching him before turning their attention over to wild once more.
“Pink rabbit? Aren’t they a brown color? Or rather… any neutral color?” Wild questioned, tying off the bandages tightly. “He must be seeing things in his old age.” Urbosa huffed, Mipha hiding a smile behind her hand.
“He’s not much older then you Link.” Urbosa mentioned, her face betrayed her exasperated tone, displaying an amused look. “You are also one hundred and eighteen, remember that.” Wild waved her off, ignoring the protest his legs gave as he lifted himself off the ground, his cane planted firmly in the ground.
“Really goin with that old man look huh?” a voice said mockingly behind him, wild spun to face them quickly, his eyes widening as he saw three of his friends, all standing on the edge of the forest, twilights disappointed look watched him with sharp hawk like eyes. Legend stood in the middle of the three, his pink hair now fully back to its vibrancy. His face held a smug look, his arms crossed in annoyance as he stared down wild. Hyrule stood next to him sheepishly, digging his boots into the ground beneath him. He refused to look wild in the eye, staring at the oh so interesting rocks beneath him.
“How long-“ wild startled, glancing at the champions next to him, who just stared blankly at the fellow chain members in front of them. “You- what?”
“So this is what you do when you sneak off from the group? gotta say, not what I expected.” Legend spoke, breaking the large gap in front of the group and him, walking slowly forward, resting a hand on wilds shoulder as he looked past him, “pretty place you found here.”
“You followed me.” Wild stated, dumbfounded at the sight of the three of them. “ Why did you follow me?” his grip on the cane in his hand tightened, twilight's face twisted into one of disappointment.
“Cub. You should have told us. ” Twilight pinched the bridge of his nose. “I don’t know what evil spirit your talking to but I assure you if their telling you not to tell us about injuries their wrong. ” Wild nearly laughed if he wasn’t so panicked about the situation.
“Their not evil.”
“Cub-“
“Don’t Cub me! Their not evil!” He insisted, shoving legends hand off his shoulder. “They were the protectors of Hyrule with me. The champions—“
“I thought you were alone on your adventure.” Legend raised an eyebrow at him.
“I was. They were from before I died.” As soon as the words left his mouth he realized his mistake, slapping a hand over his mouth in a frenzy.
“Sorry what?” Legend said, shock filling his face as hyrule finally looked up, looking wild in the eyes, “you died?” Wild mutely nodded, backing up a bit into the river, the running water chilling him to the bone.
“How did you die?” twilight said with a curious yet horrified gaze. “No, not important. How are you alive?” Wild blinked at them, his head spinning from the sudden rush of adrenaline, the want to run despite the pain that radiates through his leg.
“Never mind that, wild sit down for Hylia’s sake. ” Hyrules hands glowed a bright yellow color, and I’ve caused a bother to them, wonderful. He thought bitterly, he couldn’t help but nearly stumble while attempting to get to the floor safely, the pain flare ups in his scarring along with the injured leg was doing nothing for him at that moment.
“Why didn’t you tell us?” Hyrule asked gently.
“Didn’t want to be a bother.” He mumbled, setting his cane down next to him, soft bells chimed in hyrules small hum he made in response, his tired eyes focused on wilds injury. When did he get there? He wondered idly.
“ Didn’t want to be a- wild, hyrule offered like, what. Three times? four times? And you didn’t take him up on his offer?” Legend chidded, he reminds me too much of Revali. Oh if only he could meet him. It would be either the best friendship, or cause mortal enemies. He inwardly sighed, simply answering with a nod. Legend threw him a disappointed look, taking off his shoes and tossing them to the side, sitting on the edge of the water, unlike wild, he faced the shimmering river, taking in its beauty.
“How did you know?” Wild said horsey, his voice failing him as his mind struggled to keep up with what was happening. “Why did you-“
“I had accidentally followed you the other day.” Hyrule stated. “Just before the first time i asked. I was planning on trying to find some berries at first, but then I found you, by a river, trying to use leaves of all things.” Wild scrunched his eyes shut, embarrassment flooding his cheeks.
“Sorry that i was a bother—“ he flinched away as hyrules hand grazed over his injury. “I didn’t-“
“Stop that.” Twilight interrupted.
“What?” He froze, looking twilight in the eye with a nervous feeling settling in his gut.”i just was apologizing for the inconvenience-“
“Again, stop that. No need to apologize.” Twilight again interrupted him, sitting next to him, “listen, we all have done it. But i'll be honest, it's more of a burden when you hide it from him.” Wilds heart sank.
“Sorry hyru-“ he saw twilights glare in his direction, cutting himself off. “Is there anything i could do to help?” He offered, hyrule narrowed his eyes at him, glancing down at the injury he was carefully healing.
“No i'm good thank you. But i do have to ask, why the cane?”
“Oh I wasn’t lying when I said it was a chronic pain flare up. I guess I can explain it better now… since… well…” he trailed off, the others understanding what he was implying, twilight motioned for him to continue. “A hundred years ago-“
“ One hundred? Sorry what?!” Legend coughed, barely containing a smirk. “Seriously wild be honest here i wanna know the story.” Wild looked at him with a deadpan expression, Legends face fell, “oh shit your not kidding.”
“Like i was saying, a hundred years ago, me and the other champions all fell in separate battles, the four of them in their each respective Divine beast, which is a technological battle machine thingy. You can ask Flora about it if you want. Anyways, Gannon corrupted all machines and basically made four monsters to directly go against the champions, making it impossible for them to win, or… survive.” Urbosa looked down at him with soft eyes, Mipha stood behind her, peaking around her arm nervously, the both nodded encouragingly to him. “There are these things… called guardians. I had been fighting to protect Zelda, or rather Flora from the army of monsters and guardians and… five of them attacked at once, i killed most but got hit last second, died in her arms and was resurrected in the shrine of resurrection around one hundred years later. Lost all memories and woke up dealing with these things mid-flare up,” he gestured down his side, making himself awfully aware as to the fact that he had only shorts on at the moment, they didn’t seem to mind thankfully.
“So you died, came back, and had to just instantly go on your quest, and didn’t yell ‘ fuck you’ hylia and not do anything?” Legend huffed, “stronger than me. I usually wake up, yell my daily ‘f you’ to her and then start my day.”
“I can't confirm nor deny how many times I cursed out hylia. Once she actually heard me.’ Legend barked out a laugh, the dull glow from hyrule faded, his partner in crime when it came to exploring sat back in relief, listening to wilds story.
“What did she do?”
“Told me to hush and get back to my quest. She didn’t seem to annoyed though…”
“Well that’s something at least.”