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One will find surprisingly few pre-war records of Inali Summerborn’s tenure as Third Warrior, despite the controversy of her taking the position. That is not to say that there are none, and those that do exist report widespread controversy, but it is interesting nonetheless. One explanation is simply the brief length of her time as Third Warrior before the war started; like Second Warrior Revali Autumnborn, Inali only took on her position within a few years of the outbreak of open hostility. Another is, of course, some attempt at deliberate obfuscation of her history in the later years of the war. – From A Womens’ History of Hyrule by Medli Summerborn, page 52. Although some major new discoveries of primary sources have been made since Senator Medli published A Womens’ History of Hyrule, the thrust of her argument still applies. From my own research, I broadly agree with Medli’s reasoning, particularly on the second part. Several of the documents that I have discovered are fragmentary and partially burned, likely as a deliberate attempt to destroy Inali’s role in history.
Inali had noticed the storm clouds on the horizon before they had even left for the Flight Range. She had warned Karranis and Revali of them, had said that conditions could change quickly in the Hebra Mountains. Perhaps she was simply more experienced with the weather there, having grown up in Tabantha Village instead of Rito Village, but they had disregarded her concerns. Revali she at least had expected; he could be confident to a fault from her time knowing him and had practically turned the Flight Range into a second roost ever since it had been built for him. Karranis normally at least took her considerations into account, however. Still, it had been rare for all three of them to be in the same place at the same time, and they did need to visit; Revali wished to point out a potential maintenance issue, whilst Karranis wished to discuss something which would “perhaps require more discretion” from her and Revali; he had given her no further details.
Inali had been unsurprised when the snow had begun to fall around them. She had warned them once again that they might be snowed in and forced to remain for longer than they would like, but Revali had dismissed her concerns again. Karranis had sided with Revali once again, and Inali had been powerless to do anything but sit there and nod quietly. In theory, she could certainly fly off alone, but she knew how Karranis felt about insubordination. What example would she be setting for her fellow warriors? That it was acceptable to refuse a direct order? Although Karranis and Revali were making what was objectively a cucco-brained decision, her using her discretion to refuse it would open the door to commands being open to the decision of every Rito Warrior. There was a reason that military matters depended on a chain of command instead of individual decision-making; what could she expect in battle? And so she sat there and watched as the snowflakes swirled in the natural air currents and piled up in front of the entrance. Karranis had grown concerned first, when about six inches of snow had accumulated, but Revali had dismissed his concerns. By the time Karranis raised the issue again, they had been well and truly snowed in; even Revali had to admit that he had made a mistake.
“We are well and trapped,” Karranis began. “I know you often prepare meals and spend the night here, Revali. I would advise you to see to it that we are prepared for such an eventuality.”
“And how, exactly, do you expect me to do that?” Revali spat. “Do you think I just store food here, hm? And I only keep the one hammock for myself.”
“Remind me again who wanted to stay here when it started snowing,” Inali muttered under her breath. Even if she liked them, Revali and Karranis could be insufferable to be around at times.
“What was that, Third Warrior?” Karranis asked.
“And, for the record, I will at most share that hammock with Inali. Your fat ass is sleeping on the floor. I’m amazed your hammock can even hold the weight,” Revali continued.
“You just say that because you want a better view of said fat ass,” Karranis retorted.
“Hylia above, would the both of you just shut your beaks for once in your lives?” Inali said, exasperated. “We’re stuck here. We need a plan that does not involve insulting people or the same sort of thing Kheel says to me when he’s drunk. Revali, you’ve got that Gale you’re working on. Why don’t you put that to good use, either get some help or at least get us something to eat.”
“In this weather?” Revali challenged. “Step out there yourself, you won’t even be able to see the end of your beak.”
“Do you have a better idea, then?” Inali replied.
“We do need to eat,” Karranis confirmed. “Find something. Inali will figure out a more acceptable sleeping arrangement. I will see to it that we at least remain warm.”
Revali sighed. “Inali, if they find my body frozen in the snow, do tell King Rhoam that it was Karranis’ fault.”
Inali nodded as Revali walked off, disappearing into the white of the falling snow just a few seconds after leaving. A few moments later, there was a loud whoosh and some snow was blown into the Flight Range itself. Inali would not have dared fly in this weather, but Revali was always braver than she was when it came to that sort of thing. She wiped a bit of snow out of her left eye. Inali looked up at the one hammock that had been strung up and judged that it would likely be able to hold both her and Revali’s weight if necessary. Given that he had already offered to share a hammock with her, she would only need to find a place for Karranis to sleep.
There were a few cabinets in the back of the Flight Range, older things that Revali had brought over from his roost. The beech wood was chipped in a few places, but they were sturdy enough that transporting them had not been an issue from what he had told her. Opening the first one, she found a few loosely stored bomb arrows; she made a mental note to reprimand him for that afterwards, preferably not in front of Karranis. They were both dangerous—she had seen multiple warriors singe some of the feathers using some—and expensive. Still, Karranis would likely be too harsh on him. The next drawer contained some personal items, including a few beads for his braids, his old scarf, and a book entitled The Diary of Revali, Rito Champion. Inali shut the drawer almost immediately without removing anything; there was no reason to be poking around in Revali’s things. The third drawer contained a large pile of tangled-up rope; removing it, Inali was pleasantly surprised when she realized it was in fact a less-than-neatly–folded-up hammock.
She spent the next few minutes stringing it up while she watched Karranis try and fail to start a fire. Although he generated spark after spark with his flint and steel, the logs had been rendered wet by the snow. Inali had one idea, at least. She walked up to him and unceremoniously plucked a few feathers from his good wing. Not flight feathers, merely coverts, though it was not as if he particularly needed his flight feathers on that wing anyway. Karranis looked up and glared at her for a few seconds before realizing the idea she had. A few tries later, the feathers had caught, igniting the kindling and then the rest of the firewood.
Revali returned, his feathers half-white with snow. As soon as he approached the fire, he immediately started dripping with snowmelt. His beak chattering, he pulled out a few fire arrows from his quiver before setting down a few rabbits. Karranis merely nodded slightly, while Inali approached to attempt to ensure that the Second Warrior was okay. He was certainly a bit cold, his feathers roused, but it was nothing particularly serious. She was more worried that as the snow melted that it would cause problems for his down, but as long as he remained near the fire, Inali doubted that he would have any serious issues.
“The next time you have such a brilliant idea as to go hunting in a blizzard,” Revali began, “perhaps you should go yourself, hm? Maybe the First Warrior actually does something for once besides order people around?”
“You have returned successfully, have you not?” Karranis asked. “That is what is important.”
Inali held her tongue.
“Regardless, let Inali start cooking. It seems as if I’ll have to share a hammock with her tonight,” Revali dismissed.
“Don’t think you can get out of that responsibility that easily,” Inali said. “The two of you are going to be helping.”
Both Karranis and Revali seemed somewhat upset at that—Revali more understandably so—but neither of them complained verbally, thankfully. Half an hour later, they had something resembling herbs and steamed rabbit. Perhaps she had been more exposed to proper cooking knowledge as the bakers’ child back in Tabantha Village, but both Revali and Karranis were abysmal cooks. Silently, she regretted making them participate; it probably would have come out better if she had just done things herself. They ate silently, Revali and Karranis giving each other dirty looks the whole time.