Precipitory

A short story for Zelink Week 2022's 'Rainy Days' prompt (see end for notes).

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Zelda’s grumbling stomach takes a sudden and unexpected backseat to a newfound sense of mischief.  “Oh, Link?”

“Yeah?” he asks, clearly suspecting nothing.

“…Race you!”

Zelda kicks off the damp ground, bounding like a mountain doe, an irresistible grin splitting her face wide at the sound of his surprised "AH!"  She hears his feet scramble to accelerate on the wet grass and wills her legs to fly her forward faster than she’s ever run.

Sirenity

A short story for Zelink Week 2022's 'Age' prompt (see end for notes).

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The head cook has just described Zelda’s appointed knight as ‘a might pale.’

It’s a vast understatement.

Link stands as ready to follow Zelda from the kitchen to the mess as little Prince Sidon would be to swim up the lavafalls of Death Mountain and dive into its caldera.  She can see he’s been sweating despite the chill of late fall, but any trace of heat has dissipated.  Even his hands are pale, and while he remains motionless for the most part, his eyes flicker with nauseating speed across the wide opening between the castle kitchen and the cavernous room in which he had once eaten his meals (before the melee).