Studio with all currently available chapters ➡ https://scratch.mit.edu/studios/51334412/ Read part two here! ➡ https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/1276664097/ Hit play for further immersion while reading! [Track used; "Riding Theme - Day"] The story will be split into parts due to Scratch's character limit. Make sure to check both the 'Instructions' and the 'Notes and Credits' for more! Writing and art done by @lnvertedeye [All rights to the music, universe, and all of the characters, races, and species, belong to Nintendo.]
Ariphea started off following the same winding road through the hilly land, though eventually, she had to saunter off the beaten path to get to her desired destination. Through the territory she marched, ultimately landing herself at Telta Lake. Ariphea nearly tripped over a few jagged rocks surrounding the lake, but ended up stumbling to the very edge and stopping there.The traveler from before stood there and watched, amusement dancing in his eyes. Though tinted by a gleam of guilt. He knew what he was doing. This young girl had only dreams and fantasies whirling through her head, and here he was leading her knowingly down a path no one can come back from. But it was better than death–something that was clawing at the walls of this place. The Yiga Clan were the ones doing the clawing. Yet the man followed through. It came from a good place, really. Had he not run across her and grown so fond so fast, he'd have just left her for dead. And maybe that would've been better. Regardless, "You came," he said pointedly, his expression bordering on smug. Those stupid, taunting, fox-like eyes squinted upwards, his head turned to look at Ariphea, though his body faced the water. She hated how cocky he looked, but replied with a simple; "Yes. This isn't an opportunity I'm ever going to come by again, so I feel obligated to join you." The traveler grunted in acknowledgement, and readjusted on the scattered rocks he stood upon to fully face her. "Not as many are as clever as you," he spoke slowly now, mocking her knowledge, or lack thereof. Ariphea didn't catch on, she just assumed his eerily cheerful never dissipated. "So," he began. "Ready to start our journey? We have to cross all the way over to the Gerudo Desert, and then some," he informed. Ariphea's draw dropped. "Gerudo desert?!" she shrieked. "That's—That's across Hyrule!" The man guffawed at her incredulity. Ariphea only grew increasingly more frustrated by his clear mirth. "Well," he whispered, "it is a hideout, after all. What better place than in the middle of nowhere?" "How about the middle of everywhere? For the purpose of blending in? Unless you Yiga-folk already have that covered," Ariphea disputed, nonetheless was a little weirded out by the secrecy of everything. Was he going to kill her? Rob her? Both? The traveler's confident smirk creased into a toothy grin. "I like the way you think. You'll fit in just fine," he declared, nudging her in the arm and beginning to walk off. Ariphea caught on to the gesture. She figured that their departure would be a bit more formal, but here this guy was—just dragging her along like a dog that'd become far too attached to its toy. Without putting up a fight, she followed suit, trying to match his pace and avoid the weird power dynamic that had sparked ever since their second, technically third encounter. On the first day, they took it easy, strolling from Telta Lake to the Riverside Stable. It was a straightforward venture, and there was a direct path from where they were to where they were going. Paired with the gentler rushing water the path was located next to, it was actually rather peaceful. The man staying mostly silent made the journey ever so slightly more bearable, too. He kept strutting along with that wide smile permanently plastered across his face, holding the straps of his bag as it bobbed with the way he walked; it had a purpose. Ariphea, meanwhile, was striding smoothly at his side, without any extra assertiveness. She wondered why he lifted his legs so high and took up so much space when he was meant to be stealthy, like her. Perhaps a cover-up, similar to her previous suggestion of 'blending in with everything'. If no one asked, no one would know his origins. Surprisingly, they encountered very few monsters on their hike. A few Octorok's here and there, nothing she or the traveler she was accompanying couldn't handle on their lonesome. As they neared their first resting point, the number of Hylians that passed them kept increasing. The man went out of his way to hum, "Almost there, if you couldn't tell." "I sort of figured. There are a lot more Hylians out this way," she voiced, peering around, but again ended up staring at where she was walking. The traveler sighed sympathetically, yet his smile didn't fade. "Shame, all these Hylians we're seeing were likely driven from their homes. Granted, some are travelers who prefer the risk, but others I'm sure are shaken from their sudden evictions," he remarked, not bothering to keep his voice down. Ariphea thought it a little rude of him to say such aloud, and so unabashedly. Though she, too, was sad for those who truly were victims of circumstance. Another few steps and they had arrived at the stables. The man took a deep inhale of fresh air and exhaled pride, "Well, Ariphea, we did it. We're officially a quarter of the way there," he stated gaily.
