The Legend of Zelda: Mark of a Hero | Part 1 - Hyrule

Overworld Chapter 35 - Fire Before the Mountain

...with little to report. Link handed off his post with only a distant sighting of monsters, nothing that bothered seeking them out in their corner of woods. Neither Saddiqah nor Ambrose woke him during their turns, and dawn came lazily to push back the chill.

Link woke knowing very well what his eye must look like. As they broke camp, Saddiqah didn't hesitate to let him know either. "Oh, look at the rise and shiner."

"Ha ha, very funny," Link replied as he moved to collect Epona's saddle and harness from the log he'd rest it on to sleep.

Saddiqah barred her hand in front of him before shaking her head and patting her sternum. "No, no, from the chest. Deeper body than that. Ha ha!" When Link scowled, her head rocked back as she laughed, before shaking him on the shoulder and heading off to tack up Ajan.

Link shook his head before turning back around to continue with his task. He was stopped short when he found Zelda in his path. There was a beat where he couldn't find the words, before he managed simply and safely, "Good morning, princess."

Zelda was looking at him disapprovingly, and it took Link a minute to realize it wasn't him so much as the black eye she'd given him. He laughed weakly, shifting his weight to move passed her. "Don't worry about it."

"You've made it abundantly clear that I should not," Zelda replied, following after him as he whistled for Epona. The mare responded quickly, climbing up from where she'd been grazing and stopping in front of Link as he set down the saddle. Zelda made herself clear in his periphery. "Let me help."

"She's my horse, I can take care of her," Link replied, pulling out a small comb from a saddle bag as he started grooming Epona.

"And she's carrying me too," Zelda insisted, not backing away. When Link didn't extend the comb, she went on, "Let me help with something."

"Go break down your tent, princess," Link suggested.

"I already did."

Link turned back to look and saw no signs of the lean-to they'd gotten for the princess. His focus fell on Zelda, who had her arms crossed as she waited in front of him. He sighed. "You're really pressing this."

"I will not be a burden on you three. This escort is only a guise for us to reach our destination," Zelda answered as Blip poked out onto her shoulder again, back in his mouse form. On closer inspection, Blip wasn't just a field mouse. The glow and the blue would have given that away, but his features were distinctly off. There were no pupils in his white eyes, and the ends of his ears had the tiniest gold feathering to them.

"What are you looking at?" Zelda asked.

Link pointed at Blip. "What is he?"

"He's my familiar," Zelda answered quickly, a little defensive.

"That's what Marela said, but he's...not..." Link stopped as the look in Zelda's eyes grew more dangerous.

"Not what?" Zelda inquired, her tone dangerous.

"A regular mouse," Link said cautiously as he gauged her reaction.

"He's not a mouse, he's a spirit," Zelda replied as Blip curled around to the other side of her neck before standing up on her shoulder to look at Link.

Link blanched a little. "Like a Poe?" He immediately took back a step, before spreading out his arms to protect Epona as Zelda glared at him so fiercely, he thought she'd start a fire. Knowing Zelda, it wasn't entirely off the table either.