Two days had passed and Emerald still hadn't found a way to convince the girl to protect her on her journey. Every time she went to the inn with a new offer she refused flat out without even listening to her! She had offered her money, horses, even said that Hylia would be angry with her, which she just laughed at. She walked up the wooden steps of Impa's home, completely out of ideas, and pushed the door open.
"Still haven't gotten her to agree yet, have you?" Emerald was taken aback, she hadn't told Impa yet about the situation.
"This is a small village child, word spreads fast."
"I suppose..." Emerald frowned. "She hasn't listened to a word I've said. I've offered her everything I can and she won't listen! She doesn't even have respect for Hylia!"
"Ah." Impa sat in silence for a moment, thinking. "Emerald have you considered why shes refused?"
"I can tell she's stubborn. She claims to be a lone wolf."
"Yes but she's also injured."
"Yes, I saw her wound but I told her we could wait until she's healed-"
"No, no child. Up here." She pointed to her head. "She doesn't want to travel with you because she likes to be alone, but that isn't as deep as you can go. Look at the way she refuses help from anyone over her wound. She's been hurt. If you can find out why she likes to be alone, you can convince her." Emerald nodded, and left the house without another word to contemplate what she'd just been told. Impa knew Roja had something dark in her head, she'd seen it before just a few days ago in someone else. Link shared a similar cloud above his head.

Emerald sat on her Grandmother's steps, frowning. She hadn't even thought about why the girl wanted to be alone, she simply saw it as an obstacle that she needed to get over. She prayed she hadn't ruined her chances yet from being so pushy with her. She took a deep breath, ready for one last approach. She went straight to the inn and burst in, ready to begin her discussion, only to sense it was empty besides the usual innkeeper. "Sir? Where did that girl go?"
"Hm, Roja? Ah, she left, said she's headed for Hateno village."
"How long ago did she live?"
"Just a few minutes ago, I think. I cant remember to well I was half asleep."
Emerald rushed out and hurried to the village entrance as fast as she could. She knew she was close to the horse, she could hear its trotting and it puffing out air through its nostrils, but then forgot about a rock she had noticed earlier than day in the road and tripped over it and landed flat on her face. Tears burned in her eyes, less from pain and more out of frustration, when she heard laughter.
"Wow you really are a wreck!" Roja hopped off her horse and walked over to her, struggling to contain her laughter.
"Your so mean!"
"Oh cmon it was pretty funny." Emerald felt a hand around her own and she was yanked up from the ground. She let out a squeak of alarm. "There ya go. You live in a town that constantly rains why the Hylia do you all where white? Your covered in dirt." Roja brushed her off for her.
"You're such a dork." She turned and went to get back on her horse.
"Wait!" Emerald rushed to her and grabbed her foot so she couldn't start riding. Roja sighed and turned to look at the white haired girl, and raised an eyebrow.
"I know you might not want to travel with someone else but I promise I won't be a bother. I need to get to Mount Hebra as soon as possible and your the only person I can find that I trust is strong enough." Roja thought for a moment, enjoying the compliment as apposed to the previous attempts demands.
"I was going to Rito village to hunt a lynel anyway. I suppose I'll let you tag along, on one condition."
"Yes, anything at all!"
"You don't sit on your ass, you gotta help when it comes to setting up camp. And I get to take little detours to do fun stuff." Emerald wasn't fond of the second agreement but knew this was the best she was going to get.
"It's a deal." She lifted her hand up to shake on it but when Roja grasped her hand she yanked her up onto her horse behind her and then turned the animal around. "Pack your stuff. Don't bring anything more than you need, and for gods sakes don't wear white."