It still didn't feel real. Monster or not, she had just... hadn't she? She never imagined that it would come to such a thing, she just wanted to keep people safe... Aria wasn't pleased to see such dithering, however. She flashed and blinked in Serina's face until she noticed. The Kokiri shook her head, ignoring the numbness in her limbs. After a few minutes she was mostly back to normal, though still plenty perturbed by the consequences of her actions. "Um, yeah," she muttered. Serina stood up and smoothed down her clothes. As she did so, though, the sound of hard impacts-- were those steps?-- approached. She had never heard a creature that made sounds like that, though... "Ah!" She stepped back as a four-legged thing, strangely majestic in the moonlight, galloped past her. Its amber fur and mane streamed past her. Focusing on a few stirring creatures, she thought she heard sleepy animal mumblings of "horse," but she couldn't be sure. Serina glanced at her fellow Kokiri for a second, then back towards where the thing was heading. It seemed frightened, and she wanted to follow it. Her look was wordless, but it conveyed what she wanted it to. She set out silently after the disturbance.
Keera too was stilled by the appearance of the beast, which she quickly recognised as a horse, not from experience but from reading. if her and Serina hadn't just fought off two Wolfos, she would have been quite excited. "Are you sure? The other Wolfos might come back..." She said, the name of the creature sending a fresh shiver through her as it left her mouth. If it came back, she was certain she wouldn't have the will to resist. Recieving no reply, Keera decided against her better judgement (and the flitting Melda that clearly protested the idea) to follow Serina. She would never forgive herself if something happened.
Aria, who had previously allowed Serina some space to calm down, now voiced vehement disapproval. Bad enough her charge had run off without a word, worse that she was going after something considering their very recent experience. Being forced to double time it and catch up did not improve her humor. "Are you out of your mind, Serr?! We just had a fight for our lives with a Wolfos and then you want to follow another strange creature?!" "I... it's 'cause of that that I can't let it go! Something weird is going on in these woods!" Aria blinked bright red in frustration. There was no reasoning with this girl! Why did she have to be paired with such a stubborn Kokiri?! "Urgh! Fine! Then don't blame me when the Great Deku Tree chews you out!" Serina paid little heed to her fairy, though. What had she been working hard and training for, if not this? Still, she knew that she was quickly losing the trail. The four-legged creature was faster, much faster than her. Luckily, a little further on it looked like it had stopped near a bushy lakeside. It still seemed spooked, but Serina managed to start communicating with it. What are you doing here? The horse seemed hesitant. My master, he fell around here... and... Serina was a little bemused by this. Such a creature, taking orders? She'd never heard of any arrangement like that in the forest... Master? The being snorted. Yes, he's not familiar with this place and he fell off. I wanted to warn him but he insisted on running full speed because of those things chasing us.
When they had lost sight of the horse, Keera was close to re-iterating her wishes to leave. She heard and saw Aria's feelings on the matter, certain that Melda's were probably identical. Soon they located the beast alongside one of the smaller lakes that dotted the forest. It was a rather wide glade, but Keera found herself anxious nonetheless. Her eyes scanned the thick gloom that concealed the woodland beyond the row of trees that surrounded the area. After hearing what the horse was saying, her fears were only heightened. Those Wolfos had been hunting the rider before descending on them. Maybe the other one would return! "Serina, I do believe that outside the forest... Hyrulians are fond of riding these 'horses' as a mode of transport. The master must be a rider..." Where is your master? If he is hurt, I may be able to help. She asked the horse. Keera hoped they could find him soon; she wanted to get back to the relative safety of the village,and her bed, as soon as possible.
The horse threw its head back and turned, evidently a gesture to follow it. So follow it they did, to a more densely wooded area. Once more, countless trunks and branches rose around them. Still, some branches hung low and Serina could see how someone might have the misfortune of running into one. She noted that Aria had stopped protesting so loudly. She could sense that her fairy friend was still angry, but she wasn't a bad person. If someone was hurt, she wanted to help as much as Serina did. It seemed evident the path the horse followed. It had been tromped down pretty hard and its trail had some lots of displaced pine needles and twigs everywhere. Slowly, the sounds of nighttime insects gave way to soft groaning. Following the horse's footsteps, the sounds grew steadily louder. They saw a body, much bigger than any Kokiri, laying in the bushes. Long and slender, he was dressed in a gray shirt and brown pants, and long blonde hair obscured his face. He didn't seem to have any visible injuries, though... Serina knelt and shook him. "Hey. Are you alright?"
Keera tried to still her frantic heart as they ventured off the track once more. She could almost feel those monstrous eyes narrowing at the sight of two weary Kokiri, far from home. If she dwelled on this thought much longer, Keera feared she would panic herself into an outburst. It was fortunate that the horse led them to the fallen rider when it did. He was groaning. In a patient, that was a good sign. The rider, whom Keera noted could be taller than her and Serina combined, did not reply to her fellow's question. Slowly so not to startle the horse, Keera kneeled down beside the rider, her long, curly hair falling down past her shoulders to settle against her chest. Melda did not follow, instead choosing to hover around Serina. Her fairy had said on several occasions that when Keera used magic, it made her tingly. She traced her hands tentatively across his covered chest, feeling no bumps or out of place protrusions. She really hoped he wasn't suffering from any mental afflictions; she couldn't deal with those. "I am just going to use some magic to restore some of your energy," Keera said soothingly. "please remain still." Although it took several moments, a faint glow began radiating from Keera's hands. With a feather-light touch, she placed her fingers on his heart, willing the vibrant magic to seep into the man's body. As waves of healing energy spread through his body, Keera panted softly, feeding magic into him until she could give little more. The forest around her spun as she raised her head. She placed her hands either side of herself to wait out the weariness. Fortunately, the spinning ceased not long after, although Keera remained sitting, not wishing to tempt it.
