Her attention both focused and yet not on the foe in front of her and on the small clearing that made their current battleground, Rajaala noted at the edge of hearing that something behind her was moving. Likely the remaining wolves, but they held their distance for now, yelping and running to and fro. At least, that was what she presumed they were doing. She daren't turn to look.<br/><br/>A few tense moments passed, the large manifestation of evil circling her with intent to kill. It's eyes flicked past her to something unseen, only for a moment, but it was enough. With a wordless shout, Rajaala dashed forward, blade raised to strike. The Night Wolf reacted on instinct and leapt to seize her by the throat, a lethal action had she not foreseen it's occurrence. Dropping to one knee, she swung her sword forward and met the creature in it's soft underbelly, drawing a wash of blood and viscera as it's own momentum killed it. Turning to face the remainder of her foes, slathered in the gore of her last, Rajaala was surprised to see... nothing. The others had run, it seemed. Not the most reassuring thing in the world.<br/><br/><span style="color: #00BF00">Bi watched from the shadows the Zora covered in the Night Wolf's blood. Her eyes narrowing on the creature. Silence filled the dead wood, as Bi walked from the shadows of the forest. "Welcome Zora. You presence has been requested by the Great Deku tree." She said her features tight her gaze scanning the small field of dead grass. <br/><br/>"And I find it best that we move quicker, less you lose another weapon". Bi motioned to the edge of the field, a hand motioning to the Zora to follow. With that Bi moved on quick feet, but slow enough for the Zora to follow closely.</span><br/><br/>Rajaala whirled at the new presence... And was stopped dead by her own amazement. A child it seemed, but her eyes did not deceive her in locating the signs of the Kokiri. But something seemed off, like this one wasn't as young seeming as she should be. Her size was jarring, at least half a foot of height where there should not be height, at least not for one such as her. A few moments followed as her stunned silence continued, the small being rattling off a line about the Great Deku and then following that with a comment about lost weapons. That snapped her clear.<br/><br/>"Lost weapons? It's not lost..." But the Kokiri had already hurried off into the woods, only half visible between the trunks of dying flora.<br/><br/>"...It's just stuck in it's ribs." She muttered to herself. Sheathing her sword she strode to the wolf that had trapped her halberd's blade, grabbed the shaft and heaved, tearing the weapon out the beast's chest with a meaty crack. Turning, the Zora loped her way after the Kokiri, catching her quickly.<br/><br/>"You said something of the Great Deku, madam. Why does that old thing want to speak with me again? It has been some time since my last venture here and we did not part on the best of terms."<br/><br/><span style="color: #00BF00">Bi turned to the Zora, as her eyes began to take in the creature again. Her pale eyes narrowing, "I'm not entirely sure, but you are not the only guest". Bi let out a frustrated sigh "Somethings happening. But I have no answers for you". Her pale gaze moving back to the brush before her. The edge of the village would be further up ahead. <br/><br/>"What was your last visit about? I don't recall your face?" Bi's words filled with obvious curiosity. As the faintest hints of greenery laid under her feet.</span><br/><br/>Yet again, she was confronted by a lack of information. Not even the one sent to find her knew why the Deku had asked for her presence. The only thing she did know for certain now, was that she was not the only one called. Coincidence? Where the Great Deku was involved, she thought not.<br/><br/>As the unlikely pair moved further onwards, the impending greenery stirred memories of times past, when things were better. Unlike now. The childling's question was nearly lost in the haze of regret.<br/><br/>"My last visit? What is everyone talking of these days? Ganondorf. I spent the majority of my time arguing with the Deku. Eventually I lost patience, I said some harsh things and I have not returned since." Because I left to find someone, but only lost myself. Maybe the Deku was right? The morbid turn of her thoughts was unconcealed, clearly evident on her face.<br/><br/>"Might I ask your name, madam? It would be rude of me not to, I seem to recall."<br/><br/><span style="color: #00BF00">Bi's expression changed slightly as she took in the words. Her head nodding gently, her expression only softening for a moment. Another sigh filled the space between them as Bi's head hung low for a brief moment of silence, as she was clearly caught up in her own thoughts. But was clearly keeping it to herself. <br/><br/>The Zora's voice breaking Bi from her silence, an expression of surprise on her pale features. A hint of a smile touched the edges of her lips as her gaze moved back to the path. "So nice to know you have manners. And some sword skill" she replied back her tone clearly teasing. "And it's Bi. My name that is, and what do they call you?" She asked offering a brief smile. The sound of the bustling Kokiri laid just beyond a wall of green trees and bushes.</span><br/><br/>The childling's teasing mien was endearing, to the right person. As it was it only served to draw an irritated frown from the Zora, wrinkling her forehead in exasperation. She had forgotten how banal most creatures of light were when it came to conversation. Or maybe that was simply her war-weary soul talking. Either way it didn't matter. She still had some good manners to display.<br/><br/>"'They' call me the Last Zora." The harsh inflection on the word 'they' left no doubt to whom she was referring, the bastardised minions of Ganondorf.<br/><br/>"I call myself Rajaala." Only now looking at the greenery that surrounded them with any true attention, Rajaala noted the light sounds of conversation and laughter coming from ahead, signs of habitation by supposedly friendly people. The unlikely pair advanced, deeper into the small patch of life that surround their destination.<br/><br/>Finally, she saw it. The Great Deku. Nestled exactly as she remembered it, in a small clearing, casting it's shadow over the greenery it protected. The Zora stopped dead, held in place by memories of a time long past.<br/><br/><span style="color: #00BF00">Bi could hear the undertone in the Zora's words. She had not meant to put salt in a wound, but there it was. "Rajaala it is then" she responded ignoring the tone. All of Hyrule had paid a price for the evil that now infected the land and all its people. The rustling beside her stopped and Bi's eyes followed suit. The Zora had stopped clearly lost in thought.<br/><br/> Bi couldn't help the relief that filled upon seeing Deku tree and her kin. "Well don't get all meek now, go he's expecting you" she said as she moved behind the Zora pushing towards the tree. Just as quickly she moved herself a distance from the Zora beside a tree. "When your done catching up, maybe I'll come say 'hi'. Take care Rajaala"she said before slinking behind a tree and moving on further into her home.</span><br/><br/>The childling had disappeared again, as suddenly as she had arrived, heading off into the depths of her home. To her Zoran eyes, the place seemed a little washed out, a shade of its former glory. Or perhaps that was simply the dust from the road.<br/><br/>The clearing commanded her attention again, the massive sentient tree her main point of focus. In the periphery of her vision she noted a single female, seemingly a Gerudo female, sat in the grass. Rajaala stared, her lip twitching into the ghost of a snarl, reflexes honed in battle urging her to draw steel and kill her. Only by some titanic effort of will or divine intervention was she able to withhold her rage at the mere sight of the bitch.<br/><br/>Putting her out of mind for now she turned back to the tree, the Great Deku itself.<br/><br/>"It seems like you have managed to call me to you again, O Great Deku." Her tone was mocking, tinged with an edge of self-deprecating scolding. An ancient sigh sounded forth in response.<br/><br/><span style="font-family: Triforce;"><span style="font-size: 150%; line-height: 116%;">"Rajaala I am pleased to see you well. Call you? If I had the power in me to do so I'd have done it long ago, nor would I have allowed the ones you've dealt with to remain in my wood. No I am merely providing what might be one last chance."</span></span><br/><br/>"One last chance? How will that make a difference? How will this be any different from all the other 'last chances' we've tried over the years? That means nothing. Why am I here?"<br/><br/><span style="font-family: Triforce;"><span style="font-size: 150%; line-height: 116%;">"I will explain in time, young one. There is still one more in the shadows that must come, and it will be soon, knowing him. Rest for now."</span></span>Still irritated but ready to rest either way, the Zora acquiesced quickly, much faster than expected. Off to the side, her back settled against a lesser tree where she could watch the Gerudo female, she waited for whatever the Deku felt she should. With an appropriate level of sneering to accompany it.<br/><br/><br/><br/>(Edited Great Deku dialogue as per Ura's request)