Silver Freedom
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Your POV

You and Nyx ride past Woodland Stable in the early afternoon, your mind still spinning with the events with Revali. The image of his bruised and bloodied forehead burns itself into your long term memory, forever to be remembered.

Nyx notices your anxious silence, and gently whinnies in your direction. The noise only just reaches your ears from over the sound of her hooves on the pavement and the birds singing in the background. When you hear her whinny, you delicately caress her mane, muttering sweet nothings into her ear, assuring her there was nothing to worry about.

As you ride, you reach behind yourself, grabbing your knapsack. It's full to the brim with ruby red apples–collected prior to the Revali incident–which you took one to eat. You dug around a little to find your tanned leather waterskin, and you prayed it had enough water. You grab it, feeling for its weight–it was about half full. You bring the opening of the waterskin to your lips, tilting it up to pour the cool clear liquid into your mouth. It gently hit your throat, the cooling sensation of the water washing through your mouth.

Screwing the lid back on, you shove the waterskin into your bag, although when you do so, your fingers brush against a piece of small card. You pull it out, noticing it was a torn piece of brown paper with scratchy writing on it. You tilt your head in confusion as you unfold the note.

You stare at the note with clear confusion in your eyes. The writing was scratchy and jarred, yet easily legible. You didn't know if it were a threat or a compliment, so you pocket the paper. As much as you tried to focus on the road ahead, your mind couldn't help but wonder who wrote it–and why.

You kick Nyx's side gently, making her ride at a leisurely canter across the road of Trilby Plains. It wouldn't be long until you reached Foothill Stable, your next landmark. Yes, you'd have to go back on the path, but it would put you in a position considerably closer to Akkala than what you're currently in.

After a while, you find the crossroad between Akkala and the Tabahl Woods–which had a path running through it to get to Zora's Domain. You follow where the Akkala sign points, riding along the left road, through a small thicket of trees. There weren't too many, it was just nice enough to give you some shade.

Your mind remains keenly aware of the note in your pocket, which eventually leads to you giving in and taking it back out of your pocket. Flipping the note over in your hands, your eyes come across a letter on the back of the note, in the same, scratchy handwriting as before.

It was a singular letter, R, which you were mildly confused on. It could've meant anything, from 'Read' to the first letter of someone's name. The cogs slowly turn in your head as you think of possible names, ones that belong to someone who'd know your–questionable–Yiga status. Your mind skims over Revali. He was one who knew of your status, and he'd have every right to question it, as you hadn't really demonstrated much ability that a footsoldier would be capable of, such as teleportation. You assume he'd find it weird you couldn't teleport, even if your three other companions could. The only thing was, is that not every footsoldier knew how to teleport, so it was normal you couldn't. Only the travelers could, as they could get back to the Clan base quickly. Maybe when you see that pesky Rito again, you'll ask him. As long as his injuries haven't resulted in memory loss. That'd be a funny tale to tell.

As you rode on, your mind awash with thoughts on both him and the note, you didn't hear a couple of sets of horse hooves behind you, rapidly closing in. You were lucky enough that Nyx did, as her pace increased, her hooves pounding heavily on the dirt path. She knew that the pace of the horses behind her were too quick for a simple wild horse.

When Nyx lets out a worried whinny, it jolts you out of whatever thought you had been clinging onto. You turn around in the saddle, your eyes widening as you spot both Urbosa and Mipha perched upon two horses which were galloping quickly towards you. Daruk was following behind them in a rolled-up formation, maintaining the horses' speed easily. You swiftly noticed that Revali was nowhere to be seen, and Link and Zelda weren't there–after all, she was a princess, she'd have duties back in the castle.

You curse under your breath, urging Nyx faster, yet she only whinnied sadly as she slowed down–she had run out of energy. Feeling subtly for your weapon, you pull on Nyx's reins, pulling her to a complete stop. You breathe slowly, trying to calm your rapidly beating heart. Your brain was set on figuring out how to play this to your exact advantage. You knew attacking with the result of bloodshed would be useless, as Mipha has perfect healing abilities. Even if Revali was out of the picture, you assume Urbosa's lightning could strike far enough away if you ever tried to gallop away. You also believed that Daruk's shield would strike any damage inflicted back onto the attacker, so it would be a no go to attack up front. You'd heard tales of the immense swings of his Boulder Breaker. He was not a foe to go against. With all these odds against you, you knew you had to play your cards carefully.

Urbosa urges her tan-brown horse to a stop, her steady gaze landing squarely on you. "Yiga," she greets, nodding her head towards you. Her expression was unreadable as she continued, "you're still set on this legend? Even when it may not be proven correct?" Her words shock you, as it wasn't the topic you thought would be brought up. Nevertheless, you respond.

"Yes," you keep your head high, your voice strong. You left no room for vulnerability.

"Is there more to your journey than meets the eye?" She questions, clearly seeing past tiny cracks of your put-up walls. You ponder your next move; either telling Urbosa the truth or coming up with some ingenious lie. Your silence on the matter tells Urbosa all that's needed, as she adds; "I'd like the truth, thanks." You huff slightly at her words and begrudgingly nod.

"I don't care if the legend ain't true. I'm not here for some cool sword, okay? The only reason I didn't go back to the Clan is because of the freedom." You finally admit, feeling a weight lifted off your shoulders. Mipha gives you a kind look as they both dismount. Daruk stood next to them, and the absence of the last champion would no doubt be because of his wounds. When your mind drifts back to him, you start to wonder if he was doing better.

"So, you left the Clan to experience real freedom?" Daruk asks, bringing your mind back to reality. You inwardly roll your eyes at his question. Although you had to realise that they didn't know your story–and you intended to keep it that way. You assume Urbosa would've filled Daruk and Mipha in with all that had happened–as you've never met those two Champions.

"Not quite," you reply briskly, keeping your voice curt. Urbosa tilted her head to the side in confusion.

"Care to elaborate?" She asks, standing in a calm and composed deportment.

"When my friends and I originally set out on our journey, it was quite different to what I'm used to. Walking around in Hylian clothes, keeping my identity a secret, it was all different. It must be what real freedom was. So, when my friends upped and left when the lot of you came, I didn't want to go back. I wanted to stay." You say, feeling more vulnerable by the minute. Mipha nods empathetically, giving you a soft smile–yet it felt more like pity.

"Would you want to go back to your Clan? When your adventure is completed, I mean." Mipha asks with her satin soft voice. You think for a second, other than Nate, you didn't mind the people there–Sooga was your favourite–but it was a little too stressful and repetitive at times.

"Not particularly, but they'll send people out to find me at some point, if I don't return." You were doubtful of your own words–would they really care about your disappearance? It would be as important as a lost needle in a haystack. Just a simple footsoldier, wandering the plains of Hyrule.

"Would you count yourself as a Yiga?" Urbosa inquires, bringing your gaze back to the Gerudo. The question brought your mind back to Revali's note.

"I would. I remain faithful to Calamity Ganon." This was perhaps not your best choice of words, as the moment you had spoken his fateful name, the Champion's composure all changed–from calm and maintained, to quick and alert. Your own hand hovers to the hilt of your blade, mimicking Urbosa's movements. "You forget what the Yiga are about?" You ask, curious if they had simply forgotten what it meant to be part of the Yiga Clan.

"We know of the fact that you Yiga scum betrayed the Sheikah. It's also apparent of your alliance with Calamity Ganon," Urbosa's sharp voice cuts through the air, her tone well-guarded, as guarded as yours was. "You'd better watch what you say around us, Yiga." She subtly squints her eyes at you, the action failing to intimidate you.

"I have a name, you know." You remark, trying to keep the conversation as passive as possible.

"Care to share it, then?" She questions, raising an eyebrow. "After all, I believe you know all of our names." The statement was true, yet you found it stupid. Everyone surely knew their names, they're the famous Champions of Hyrule.

"Y/n," you respond curtly. Urbosa lets a small flicker of a smile shine through her guarded expression.

"Not bad," she nods. Her response made you scoff, eliciting a stifled chuckle from both Daruk and Mipha. "Do you promise not to be a threat to the Royal Family?" Urbosa inquires sternly. You felt that they were letting you off, even after your bombastic statement.

"I promise. Like I said before, I care only about my freedom." You reinstate, speaking solemnly.

"We'll let you go, this time. Although we'll keep an eye on you, that's for sure." She states, turning back around and mounting her horse–Mipha did the same. She gives you a small smile before urging her horse to a gallop, riding quickly away from you.

You stand there silently for a few seconds, before turning back to Nyx. "Well, I assume this is a blessing in disguise," you murmur, "a small one, but a blessing nonetheless." You then mount her, letting her run at her own pace along the path. You wonder when Revali would be okay to travel with them again. Then, about a dozen thoughts empower your mind, with three particularly standing out. Was he all alone, if the Champions were with you? Wouldn't Mipha have healed him? Yet the scariest one; have they not found him? You didn't know why, but at the last thought, it made your heart break. As you thought more about it, you became acutely aware of the growing distance between yourself at the Champions.

"Ugh." You huff, grabbing Nyx's reins and pulling on them, bringing her to a stop. You turn her 180° and kick her sides, urging her on quickly. You pray you'd run into them soon...

~~🌹~~

Urbosa's POV

"Do you hear that?" Mipha asks the tall Gerudo. The Zora had picked up on a nearby sound that was growing steadily louder by the second. Urbosa was sitting down by a burnt-out campfire, sharpening her scimitar on a grey stone.

Urbosa's head perks up at Mipha's words. "I do indeed. Is that...?" Her voice trails off as her gaze is brought to the east of their small, makeshift camp. Mipha follows Urbosa's gaze and lets out a soft gasp. There was a figure riding a pure black horse, and they knew only one that owned a horse that black.

"What's Y/n doin'?" Daruk asks, standing next to both girls. Urbosa shrugs as Y/n approaches them.

"Hey!" She calls, dismounting her horse and running up to them. Urbosa took note of the fact that she looked around their camp, presumably searching for something–or someone.

She stops in front of the Champions, bending over slightly to regain the air lost from running. "What is it?" Mipha asks first, stepping forward.

"Revali," she says, as if everything made sense from that one word spoken. Urbosa raises an eyebrow, curious to hear what she had to say. After all, Revali hadn't returned for a while.

"What about him?" Daruk asks, frowning heavily.

"You mean you lot haven't found him?" She asks, looking around the camp once more with an even more worried expression writ across her face. Her sentence sparks fear within Urbosa, and she quickly speaks up.

"We have not. Do you know of his whereabouts?" She demands, suddenly worried for her companion. Urbosa knew that this Yiga knew something they did not, and in the Gerudo's opinion, that was not a good thing.

"He's unconscious in a forest. I stumbled across him... yet he seemed to be already tended to," she says, although Urbosa narrowed her eyes at their slightly different demeanour. As if she wasn't telling the whole story.

"Which forest?" Mipha questions.

"The one east of Crenel Hills," she takes out a map from the knapsack attached to her horse and unravels it, holding it out for the Champions to see. "Here," she points to a particular isolated island with a road running through it, a few green trees dotting the land. Urbosa nods once.

"Right. Mipha, secure our horses," she says, the Zora immediately nodding and walking off to the three horses–Revali's included. Daruk then glances over in Y/n's direction.

"Should they come?" He asks in his usual gruff voice.

"Yes. I have a feeling they're hiding something..." She mutters for only Daruk to hear, which went successful as Y/n was unable to hear anything.

Daruk nods and waits until the three were all mounted, and then followed off behind them as their horses galloped quickly back across the Trilby Plains. Urbosa kept Revali's horse riding close enough to hers, as they'd need a means of transporting him.

"It won't be long now, and he'll be safe." Urbosa murmurs under her breath, glancing once at Y/n.

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2483 words.