Lazy Hunter

As dawn broke, Rift awoke. A long, dreamless night had passed after a long day of hunting. Not much actual hunting had occured the day before, though. Rift set out with the intent of bringing back some meat to the village, but had gotten distracted by the good weather and spent most of the day wondering and enjoying the day. He sat up and stretched. He needed to get some real hunting in today. No more slacking, or I will go hungry again. He swung his legs over the side of the bed, and stood up. Getting dressed took moments, as did gathering his weapons and supplies for the day. He left his house, and looked at the rising sun. It will be a long day. He started off to the north, to the mountains.

At the foothills, Rift slowed his pace. He pulled the bow out of his quiver and strung it, before slinging it over his left shoulder for ease of access. He gripped his spear, and began to pay close attention to his surroundings. Tektites didn't always come this far from the mountain, but it is better to pay attention that get killed. Rift tensed, and crouched. He set the spear down, and grabbed his bow. An arrow notched, he looked ahead. Movement. Barely audible noise. Doesn't sound like a Tektite...

Rift tied off the rope attached to his spear, and slung it point down over his shoulders. He stood up, and moved forward quietly. Through the trees, at a natural spring, a Hylian girl was kneeling. Rift watched for a moment, until suddenly two wolves lept from the trees and ran at the girl.

"Watch yourself!"

Rift stood up and ran forward. He didn't want to see this girl be eaten, but he did not want to get into a fight with a pack of wolves. I hope I can scare them off...

It had been the usual trip up the mountain side, as Freeja and her two companions Ebony and Ivory made their way towards the natural spring where they usually got their water. As the three made their way to the spring, Freeja smiled to the pair and told them to go have fun and see if they can't catch anything tasty. While the wolves dashed off into the surrounding area to look for some yummy critters, Freeja started to fill a vase with water. Once she had filled the vase, she took the time to run some water across her neck, letting the water drop down her back and she also washed her face off.

As she relaxed, she turned as her friends came running back, Ebony with a small, brown rabbit clenched in his maw. Smiling, Freeja was about to congradulate him on his great catch, when she heard shouting. Turning to see a Zora approaching, armed with a spear and bow. Ebony quickly dropped the rabbit to the ground as both he and Ivory turned towards the stranger, taking a defensive stance infront of their friend Freeja. Deep growls escaped their throats as they slowly moved forward.

"What do you want?" Freeja asked curiously, her two friends stopping their advance so Freeja could get her answer.

Rift lowered his bow, and slowed down. The wolves were defending the girl?

"Hello... Are these wolves... friends of yours?"

The confusion was obvious in his voice. Either the wolves were protecting her, or didn't want to share their meal.

"Oh yes, these are my friends, Ebony and Ivory," Freeja smiled, "and my name is Freeja, a pleasure to meet you." The wolves turned their heads to look at Freeja, who smiled at them so that they would lower their gaurd. Content with her decision, Ebony went back to the rabbit he had dropped and picked it back up, sitting down comfortably.

"So, what brings you up here into the mountains?"

Still rather confused, Rift put the arrow back in his quiver and moved forward towards the girl slowly.

"I am Rift. I came up from Mido to hunt tektites."

Rift got to the spring and squatted down, several feet from the girl. He cupped his hands and placed them in the water, lifting a drink to his mouth. The water was cool, and tasted better than that in the Bay, so he took another drink. Rift pulled his bag of dried berries from his pouch, and emptied some onto his hand. He held his open hand, palm up, towards the girl... and offering of friendship in his mind.

"Do you like berries? I always carry some, for a treat on the hunt."

While waiting for the girls reaction, he looked around at the small clearing, and the wolves.

"What brings you here? These mountains can be dangerous."

"Oh really, someone from Mido, I live outside of Mido, nice to meet you Rift," Freeja smiled, taking a few berries from the man's hand. "Thank you," she smiled as she popped the berries into her mouth. Watching the man's eyes as he glanced around the area, and she watched as her two friends started to nibble at the rabbit Ebony had caught. "Hey you two, why not go catch something bigger, I want to eat to," she laughed, sticking her tongue out at them as they scrambled off to search for more rabbits.

"We come here for water and game," Freeja said, answering the man's other question. "As for the dangers of these mountains," she pointed out the wolves as they pounced off around the larger rocks, "with those two at my sides, I can more then deal with the dangers around here."

With the sun still rising, a small black shadow swooped down deftly from the morning light. It sped quickly between the pair of adventurers, before zooming off as quickly as it came--so quick it might have been missed in the blink of an eye. Perhaps it was just that eager to not be struck down?

In its stead, a pair of small postcards floated from mid-air to the ground... carried on the slight breeze towards both Rift and Freeja. Should one care to glance at the note, it reads in fanciful blank ink:

"Greetings adventurer,

You likely do not know me, but I bear the proposition of a game--a lottery. Countless individuals across the land of Hyrule send in ten rupees each to my gambling service for a chance to win the entire pot and become rich overnight. Hundreds of rupees could be yours for such a low cost and little effort, and all you need to acquire them is a bit of luck.

If winning the Grimm Lottery interests you, please send a letter to the return address of this postcard, including ten (10) rupees, your birthname, and an acceptable address. When you are victorious, the reward will promptly be sent through Hyrule's prestigious postal system. Please do not worry, benevolent patron, your rupees are protected well under the regulations of the Business Scrub Association and will be refunded in full if something terrible should happen to them. A new drawing is taken place on the 10th, 20th, and 30th of every month. If you're interested in participating, make sure you have at least one new entry sent every before the next drawing date.

Should you ever pass through Castle-Town, you are more than welcome to see where Grimm Lottery is taken place: the glorious Grimm Emporium in the merchant district outside the castle. Our other services include the buying and selling of goods of all sorts at fair prices, and handing out loans at reasonable rates.

Thank you for you time and consideration," signed, "Gustav Grimm, Business Scrub Association." A small Deku insignia has been stamped adjacent the signature, in red ink.


(If you're not interested, feel free to completely ignore this.)

Rift opened his mouth to reply to Freeja when something caught his eye. He picked up the scrap of paper that had appeared seemingly out of nowhere in the air before his face. He looked at the face, which was covered in clean writing. Where in the world did this come from? He took a moment to read the note.

"Grimm Lottery? I have never heard of such a thing." Rift wasn't hard up for money, but he had a bad feeling about gambling away 10 rupees. "Castle-Town, huh. Sounds like a good excuse to take a trip west."

He stood up and stretched. Rift knew he should get to hunting, but his mind was now on other things. While suspicious of the lottery, it interigued him. Winning such a thing, providing the note was accurate, would insure he would never have to hunt to make a living again. With that on his mind, he turned to Freeja, but could not tell if she had read the note as well.

"I think it is time to call it a day. Would... you care to join me for a meal back in Mido? Your... friends are welcome as well, providing they don't eat me." Rift did not usually entertain guests, and usually prefered it that way, but something compelled him to invite this girl home. Maybe he actually missed having company? Maybe he was tired of being hidden within his four walls of solitude. Rift didn't know, but hoped silently that this small Hylian would accept his invitation.

Freeja was already reading through the strange note, shaking her head as she kneeled down and stuffed the note into her bandana. Standing back up, she looked at Rift as he finished reading his letter. He seemed to take more time thinking about the note, but then he turned his attention back to her.

"They wouldn't eat you, your probably don't taste that good anyways," Freeja grinned, then laughed. "But yes, I would be honored to join you for a meal." Usually Freeja only went to Mido to buy anything she couldn't find in the wild, but spending a nice relaxing day in town might be a nice change.

"Can we just stop by my place first, so I can get something?"

Rift shook his head and laughed.

"I'm glad that I am unappetizing. I'll live longer that way." He unstrung his bow and placed it back in his quiver. Untying his spear, Rift took a step back in the direction of Mido then stopped, and turned around.

"Maybe you should lead. I don't know where you live." He laughed again and shook his head. Some guide I am... having to follow this girl around.

Freeja nodded as she called out to her friends, calling them to come back as they were heading home. "Hey, where did that rabbit go?" She asked curiously as the two came back, not a rabbit between them. They gave her an innocent look, to which she laughed. "You sneaky buggers, your lucky we're going to Mido, then we won't starve. But first, we're going back to the house."

Turning back the way they had gone earlier, Freeja started out back the way she would go, the vase of water balanced on Ebony's back as her friends walked on either side. Back down the mountain slope, they were heading in the direction they took all the time, and when they arrived at the small shack, Freeja took the water inside and grabbed the pouch of rupees she keeps buried in the dirt, slipping the note from earlier inside then tightly securing it to the top of her staff before going back outside.

"Ok, ready to go, your turn to lead!" Freeja grinned as she and her two wolves took up pace behind Rift.

Rift followed Freeja, carefully noting the route. Never know when I'll need to go this way... It was not a long walk back to her house, and Rift recognized it once she went inside. He had been past this house several times in the past, but had never known anyone lived there. He watched the Hylian go inside, and return, then started off west to Mido.

"My home is on the southern edge of the village. Do you want to go anywhere in town before we head back?" Rift generally walked around the towns edge to avoid contact with the people living there. Many were friendly, but none could be called friends. Rift was a self professed loner. A weird trait for a guide, but work was work, and traveling had always appealed to him.

"Hmm, oh, nope," Freeja smiled, "There isn't anything I need in town." Freeja couldn't think of a single thing she really needed in town, since they would be eating at the Zora's place she assumed, and she could always pick anything else up she might need when she went back home. "Besides, I usually get looks when I go shopping with these two following me," she giggled, Ebony and Ivory giving her a look.

It was only a short walk around the town to Rift house. When it came into view, Rift stopped. There was a person standing outside his door.

"What the..." His voice trailed off as he looked back at Freeja, then started forward once again. When he reached the house the person, who appeared to be a Hylian man, had their back turned. Rift walked up and stopped a few feet away.

"Hello. Can I help you?" The person turned around upon hearing the question. It was a Hylian man with dark hair an high class clothing.

"Ah, hello. Would you be the guide I heard talk of in town? Rift Tiburian?" Rift nodded, now listening carefully. The man smiled and said, "Good. I was hoping I had the right house. I am in need of your skills, friend. If you are willing, I require someone to guide, and guard, me along the road to Lon Lon Ranch. I assume you know of it?" Rift nodded once again. "Good. I would pay you 40 rupees to leave tomorrow at sun up. I can meet you on the western edge of the village." Just then, he noticed the Hylian girl standing beside Rift. "Ah, and who are you, miss? Another guide? I am sure we could use the help on this long road, should you be willing. I would throw in another 10 rupees each, on top of the original 40, should you wish to assist."

Rift looked the man over. He looked good for the rupees.

"Do you mind if I asked what your business is at the Ranch?" The man laughed and shook his head.

"No, friend. My business is my own. Will you take the job, or should I take my rupees elsewhere?" Rift thought for a moment, then nodded.

"I will take your job." He turned to Freeja. "Will you be coming along as well? I'm sure your wolves will be invaluable..."

Freeja listened to the man, use to people looking for guides around the area, but she was racking her brain trying to remember where Lon Lon Ranch was. North, past the swamps and the forests, in the hills is the Ranch, that's right, and just beyond that is Castle-Town. When Rift asked her if she would want to come along, she smiled, "sounds like a vacation, I'm in."

The reward wasn't a concern for her, she didn't really need rupees weighing her pockets down, but the chance to go explore the world around her was too great of an urge to resist.

When Freeja accepted Rift was relieved, and smiled despite himself. This hope that someone else would join him in this mission surprised him. The man looked excited, and laughed out loud, eyes sparkling in the sun.

"Good! Good! I will not be late to our meeting point, and I'd suggest the same for you." He winked and waved farewell, before sauntering off into the town. Rift was set aback by this Hylians excitement, but shook it off and turned once again to Freeja.

"Well, we still have time for a meal. I have meat, and some game for your friends." Rift opened the door and gestured the girl inside with exaggerated elegance. "Welcome to my home."

Freeja found the Hylian man very interesting, and he seemed too excited that her and Rift had agreed to escort him to Lon Lon Ranch. With the man heading further into town, she shook thoughts of him aside when she heard the words meal, meat and game. Following Rift into his home, it was much bigger then her own hut, but she wasn't jealous or anything, but it was just something that came to mind. Looking around, her wolves came trotting into the house behind her, not even thinking anything of it.

"Hey you two," Freeja shook her head, "where are you manners? We don't know if he likes animals in his home." Ivory gave her a deadpan glare, obviously not impressed with being referred to as a simple animal. "Don't give me that look, techniqually you are, so don't pout." Ebony barked happily, obviously finding the exchange funny, but neither wolf actually made any effort to leave the house.

Rift laughed as he watched the exchange between the Hylian and her wolf friend. He looked at Freeja, then down at the barking wolf. As awkward as it was speaking to something that was nothing more than an animal to his eyes, Rift decided to be nice. He is very against being eaten in his sleep.

"You are more than welcome here. Just stay off my bed." He laughed again and moved over to the left side of his house, where the food chest was sitting. He opened it and pulled out a brace of young rabbits, and some greens for a stew. He set them down and filled his only pot with water from the tub. He set the pot on the stove and began attempting to light it. Attempting. The flint wasn't sparking against his dagger.

"Ah, come on." He swore quietly under his breath, attempting to spark the flint one more time. "I hope you like your meat raw. This damn flint..." His voice trailed off as he set the flint down and began to rethink the meal.

"You two are lucky, you better behave yourselves then," Freeja wagged her finger at the two wolves, who nodded their heads before going off to sniff around the house. Freeja shook her head as she chuckled at their antics. Turning her attention to Rift, he was currently trying to light the stove.

"I don't mind raw meat, and they surely don't care in the slightest," Freeja laughed, walking over beside Rift. She pulled the pouch containing her rupees and set it on the table as she walked past, and stuck the blunt end of her staff into the wood. A few seconds later, the wood suddenly caught ablaze as she pulled the staff out, the end on fire until she shook the staff and the flames disappeared.

"There ya go," she smiled to Rift, "now we can enjoy a nice hot meal."

Rift looked at the girl in disbelief at what she had just done. Magic was nothing new to him, but it surprised him coming from this Hylian. He shook his head and thanked her, then took the brace of rabbits to the table. He pulled his knife out once more, this time to cut the meat instead of strike the flint. Due to his skill with the blade, it was only moments before all but 2 of the rabbits were cleaned and cut up, ready for the stew. The remaining meat he left on the table.

"That is for your friends. I assume they prefer their rabbit raw to cooked." He put the meat and some other ingredients into the pot. The stew would not be the best tasting meal ever, but it was easy to make with the ingredients at hand. He placed a stab of hardened wood over the top of the metal pot, and turned back to his guests.

"While this is cooking... So, what brought you to Mido, Freenja?"