Shoots

Link gripped the ivy in his hands and jumped from the branch, heading back to the village. When he jumped from the second branch, something caught his attention from the corner of his eye. A shadowy figure was running through the forest. Link kept his grip on his vine as he watched the scene below play out.


An old woman ran through the forest, exerting herself as she did, the undergrowth clawing at her legs and doing what it could to slow her progress. She dragged what appeared to be an injured leg behind her as she progressed. Link noticed an unmistakable look of fear on her face as he observed her from behind.

Following after the woman were yet more figures that made themselves known by exiting the cover of the trees: they were monsters. Thick fur covered their bodies, which was itself covered in armor. Pointed ears stuck out from their heads, and their noses were as unsightly as a pig's. In each of their hands were a spear or a bow. The monsters rattled high-pitched laughs as they gave the old woman chase.

The old woman was tripped up by the undergrowth, giving one of the monsters the perfect chance to strike. She had no method of resistance. It would only be a matter of time until she became their victim.

His body moved before he had a chance to process anything. Link pulled an arrow from his quiver and nocked it in his trusty bow, pulling the string as hard as he could. He got the monster that was prepared to kill Impa in his sights and let the arrow fly. The whistle attached to the arrow sounded as it sliced through the air and found rest deep within the forehead of the monster.

"Gah!" the monster shrieked as it fell into the grass.


The other monsters opened their bloodshot eyes wide and scanned the area. Link was nowhere to be found. They hadn't yet realized that he was hidden amongst the treetops.

***

The Count of Black Shadows, Chapter 1