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I squeezed my eyes shut, my shoulders shaking, though I just saw the fire, the Lynel, Ma and Pa screaming, the blood... Hylia, the blood. They didn't wake up. I had screamed, cried, begged, pleaded that they wake up. And they didn't. I cried until their clothes, and mine, were soaked in blood. I cried until they were no longer warm. I had to run when Bokolins came nearby. I curled up even tighter, sobbing.
I was hungry. I couldn't reach any apples, and I couldn't find any food. I just wanted to sleep.
I eventually started to crawl out of the bush I was hiding in... when I saw red, and not the red on my clothes. Yiga red. I immediately crawled back onto the bush, covering my mouth.
They were going to sacrifice me to Calamity Ganon if they found me. Ma said it every day to me. Never trust the Yiga. Never, ever, ever.
"We heard crying in the area, Lord Sooga. We believe it's a child." A Yiga Footsolder said to the large Blademaster. Sooga. Right Hand of the Inverted Eye, and the scariest man EVER.
"A child?" Sooga said, "What would a child be doing out here, all alone?"
"We believe the child was the child of the two Sheikah we found dead, sir." the Footsoldier answered. Dead. I didn't like that word. It sounded too permanent. They were just sleeping. Ma and Pa were just sleeping. They couldn't be dead. They wouldn't leave me to fend for myself. There was silence for a moment, and then... Sooga turned, his mask, with that red, inverted Sheikah eye, looking straight at me.
"Leave. I'll handle finding the child." He whispered. The Footsoldiers disappeared, and Sooga started walking towards the bush. I squeezed my eyes shut, trying not to cry. I was a big boy, and big boys don't cry.
There was the quiet sound of leaves crunching, then, he spoke.
"Come out of the bush, boy." His voice was soft. It was a trick. He was probably trying to lure me out.
"N-No!" I yelled, opening my eyes and shaking my head.
"Y-you're a monster! M-ma said so! I-i bet you don't even have a face underneath that mask!" I shouted, sobbing. Sooga stayed quiet for a moment... then quietly reached up, removing his mask.
"Do I look like a monster?" He whispered. I stared at the face. He was pale. Really pale. His eyes were light brown, and he had a nasty scar going from his eyebrow to the corner of his mouth. He looked... human. Less scary.
"N-no." I quietly answered, wiping my eyes. My stomach growled, and I wince. Stupid stomach. Sooga quietly pulled out a banana, offering it to me.
"When's the last time you ate?" He asked. I stayed silent for a moment. The last time I ate... it was steamed meat, and it was... seven sunrises ago.
"S-seven sunrises ago." I whispered, snatching the banana from him. I quickly peeled it, taking a big bite. It was sweet. Really sweet. And mushy. I never had a banana before.
"First time trying one of those?" he asked, smiling. I nodded.
"I-It tastes really good." I said, taking another bite. Maybe they weren't so bad...
"Do you have a name, little Sheikah?" He asked, sitting down on the ground.
"Hiro." I said, polishing off the banana with a final bite.
"Hiro. It is a good name. Do you... have any relatives, Hiro?" He asked. I looked down at the ground.
"I-it's just me now." I whispered, tears welling up again.
"I... am sorry for your loss, Hiro." he said. He offered a hand to me.
"Would you... like to join a Clan where you'll be taught to defend yourself?" he asked, quietly. I thought for a moment. The Yiga were evil. Ma and Pa always said so. But Sooga... he didn't seem evil.
"...do I get more bananas?" I asked. he huffed, though it sounded like a laugh.
"Yes." He answered. I took his hand.
"Can you carry me? I'm really tired." I said. He sighed, and picked me up. He then slid his mask back on.
"To the Hideout." he whispered, making a signal using his hands, and we disappeared in a flash of red paper charms.
