We all are animals anyway

The sun was setting, Zid was asked to find a safe place to camp and to gather dry branches for a bonfire. Zelda helped finding and gathering tinder to easily ignite it. Link and Robert headed out to hunt something to dine on.

[Link taped on Li's shoulder "You come with me and help me hunt, but let's not use your gun this time, I have no hunting license" Robert laughs "Fair, I don't mind getting my hands dirty you know?" Robert says as he cracks his knuckles]

ZELDA POV

I am sure they will bring something, even if small. But how am I going to cook it? I have nowhere to boil it and even if I did have some type of casserole… it's not a good idea to waste our water on that.

"I should have gone with them too you know" Zid says grumbling.

The Princess gasps "And leave me here all alone and unprotected?" Zelda smiles and starts sobbing, obviously faking her despair.

Zid rolls his eyes "TSK, we both know you don't really need me; the area is secure enough and you are not defenseless. But my bros… not that they are weak or anything, but it's already late, there is not enough daylight for them to easily spot tracks for a hunt, or notice an incoming animal attack… I should have gone with them, to help you know"

O my… he cares. He can be a little rough at some of his edges but… what is there not to love about Zid?

Zelda grins "Don't worry about them, they will manage, in the mean time you cou-" Zelda stops mid-sentence, eyes open wide in fear and worry. Zid turned to look behind his back triggered by the face he saw on the Princess. The figure standing in front of them was Link, and he was drenched in blood. Zelda was about to rush to him, check if he had any bleeding injury. Link raised his palm at the Princess to stop her and winked, that action alone put Zelda at ease immediately. Zid gasped and slapped his forehead with his palm.

"Things didn't go according to plan" Link informed them with half a smile.

"WE HAD A PLAN LEGION?" Robert states in anger as he approaches them, he was disheveled and covered in mud and something else.

Link frowned angered by the nickname, but looking at Robert's sorry state erased the anger and brought a smile to his face. He simply could not get angry at Rob at the moment "Not really… but I thought we could improvise" he answers mockingly.

Li answers exasperated "Don't get me wrong, you and Zelda are EXELENT at that shit, but this time you involved ME… why the fuck would you think that I will be fine with this? I got dirt everywhere, even inside my boxers" he says shaking some of the dry mud from his hair and pants.

"Must I remind you that you what you said about getting your hands dirty? or are you backing off on your word like a little pussy?" Link challenges.

"NEVER, I said what I said and I stand by it… I jumped on the fucking boar, didn't I? you just stayed back smirking and clapping" Li refutes.

Link walks away laughing "Yeah… sorry about that, I could not take my eyes off of you wrestling a feral pig. But you DID get back at me when you pushed me into the pool of blood and innards"

So that is why he is drenched like that... wait, they left the innards behind? Why?

"We are not eating the innards?" Zelda asks a little worried, no innards meant less food for the group.

Hearing her, Link realized what her concern was and chuckles "No innards this time, we can't boil them and roasting innards is a hassle, we just eat the meat this time. It's still enough meat so don't worry"

Sighting "That sounds good, but where is the meat?" Zelda asks.

Link stops and opens his eyes wide turning to scream at Li.

"MOTHERFUCKER, you forgot the meat back there on purpose, didn't you?" Link yelled as he opens his backpack drawing big chunks of meat out, he was smiling at his own theatrics.

Li Rolls his eyes "You asked me to help you hunt, not to help you carry meat around DUMB ASS" Li yells as he also draws a big piece of meat from his backpack, and places it next to Link's. The brunette looks down at all the meat and smiles satisfied, he then raises his fist asking for a fist bump. Link quickly clean his hand from the dried blood to answer Robert's bro fist.

What is going on? Why are they fighting? Are they fighting at all?

Zelda turns to Zid puzzled, who is finding it hard to keep his laughter at bay, Noticing the Princess's confusion he says "They are just professing brotherly love to each other… isn't that right Ziel?" Zid taunts.

"FUCK YOU" Link answers and sighs "just be quiet and come help me set the fire" Ziel half orders and half ask.

"I need a bath" Robert blurts out helpless.

Zelda stares at him distressed, she wants to help him, but how can she? Zid grins remembering something.

"SIS, remember we just passed a Banksia tree? The one with the odd yellow flowers? There was a burble sound around the area. Take Robert there to find the water, I will take Link after we set the fire"

YES, I remember… such a beautiful flower, that was like 3 minutes ago. There was a burble sound? I really need to pay more attention; hope Li can find the water source fast.

The Princess takes hold of Robert's hand and starts pulling him away, Li barely manages to grab his backpack. Meanwhile Zid started making a small circle with stones, to mark the area where the fire will be.

ZID POV

"Do I just throw everything in there?" Zid asks.

"Of course not, have you never made a camp fire before?" Link mocks him as he grabs the meat to cut it in smaller pieces.

Zid rolls his eyes "Obviously not, you think I am stupid? Why would I signal the locals where I am with light and smoke?"

Link stops cutting the meat, slowly realizing the stupidity of his comment, and what Zid must have gone through to survive. He could not help but admire the Pirate for his resilience.

"Then how did you c- " shakes his head "forget it… just pay attention"

Link says as he begins to clear the area of grass, leaving only dirt inside the ring of stones Zid made. Ziel then grabbed some of the tinder Zelda managed to collect, placing it on the center of the stone ring and building a teepee on top of it with Zid's twigs. Link then pulled out his Swiss army knife, and opened it to pull a miniature ferro rod that was placed where the toothpick should have been. Then he drew forward the knife pressing on the rod with it, generating a couple of sparks.

Zid smiles amazed "That easy? I saw tourist do it using 2 stones"

"Surely made from the same material used for my convenient toothpick. Start the fire" Link says as he hands over the ferro rod and the army knife.

Zid stares back doubtful "But… I have never"

"You are smart, and you saw how I obtained the sparks didn't you?" Link challenges.

Zid squints his eyes at him, and starts his first attempt, though he got the spark to kind of start igniting the tinder, the flame didn't grow enough to ignite the twigs.

Fuck, it's good that Zelda found plenty of tinder, maybe if I blow on the small flame, yeah… I should try that. Why do I feel like I am being put to the test here? Link is just staring at what I do, stoic as ever. Kind of what he must have done when Li mounted the boar now that I think about it…

HE IS TESTING US ISN'T HE? WHY? Worse thing is that I feel like I need… like I WANT to impress him. Why the fuck would I want to impress him? who the fuck is he to me? I met the guy 2 days ago. 

Zid managed to produce another spark that ignited the tinder, he lightly blew on it making it grow into a full fire. Link started clapping.

"Perfect" Link says as he starts adding bigger pieces of wood to the fire "Lets stick the meat in some sturdy twigs and place them close to the fire, the heat should cook them"

As they start doing that, Link asks the question that was bouncing on his mind "So… you really never cooked anything you caught?"

"Nope, I eat it raw, or dried by the sun. I try to avoid drying it though, most of it gets stolen by birds, doesn't taste bad but it's too dry, I could choke on it since I don't carry water"

Link nods with understanding "Speaking of, take me to the water source Zid, I can hear that the Princess and Rob are already coming back"

"Will do, you desperately need it… you reek" Zid mocks him.

Raziel feigns being hurt by the comment. They both stand up; Link grabs his backpack and right at that moment Zelda arrives with Robert. Link tells them to watch over the roasting meat, and to put some more when the current pieces are done. Li nods and informs them where the water stream is located.

The Hero and the Pirate walked in silence following Li's direction. Once they arrived, they noticed it was a very small stream that could be easily crossed since it was not deep at all. But it was flowing water, Link was not going to complain. Zid kneeled next to it washing his hands, arms and face, once he was done, he gawked at the sight of Link shirt less.

WTF, when? how? It looks awesome in a way, not gonna lie. 4 gashes crossing his chest and belly diagonally, I would love to have a tattoo like that. But damn, gotta respect the real deal. Those scars seem to have been really deep, how did he survive? WHAT THE F… HIS BACK IS DAMAGED TOO!!!

Zid walks up to Link from behind and grabs him by his shoulders. Link sighs realizing what must have caught Zid's attention. He also had plenty of scratches, gashes and bruises on his back, but most of them where already healed and barely noticeable, not as ghastly as what he had on his abdomen. Zid turned him but not to look at his abdomen, he stared right at Link eyes.

"What happen? Short version, pears and apples please"

Link smiles "Was attacked by Hyrule's wild fauna, a monster that was supposed to have been eradicated from the area"

"How did you survive this" Zid points at the gashes on his torso.

"I didn't, they had to resuscitate me, your sister helped with that." Link grins sheepishly.

You telling me I almost didn't get to meet you? ANY of you for that matter. Cuz, I understand it was you who set out to find Robert and me… you and Zelda, why is she tagging along by the way?

"How did my sister got involved in all of this?" Zid asks.

"I was protecting her; the beasts did a number on me but I killed them and Zelda was unscratched" Link says.

Zid lifts both his eyebrows in amusement "NICE, but not what I was asking… I wanted to know why is she here helping find us, and not in her kingdom doing princess stuff?" he asks curious about Zelda's involvement in all this.

"That is due to a promise I made to her, my way of showing gratitude for what she did for me. If SWORD's mission does not pose a danger to her, she tags along." Link says as he changes his jeans.

Zid gives a step back laughing, then invites Link to follow him as he starts walking back. Link quickly puts on a clean t-shirt and follows.

"So, I am to believe that you always keep your promises, right?" Zid asks in a mocking tone.

Link stops dead on his tracks, Zid turns to look at him, Link's face showed disgruntlement at what Zid implied with his comment.

"There is something you need to know about me. I don't lie, if I say I am going to do something you better consider it done. I hate weakness, lying is not only a direct aggression, is an act of weakness. Is the coward's way out of conflict and responsibility. I am no coward and neither are you. Do not EVER lie to me."

DAMN!!! This motherfucker keeps making me want his approval badly. I wonder if Robert feels the same way. The worst part is… I now KNOW that I would rather die than fail him, because somehow that would be like failing myself, WHY do I feel like that?

"I promise to continue to be a pain in the ass, but I will never lie to you, I am no coward" Zid declares.

Link nods with a smile and hints for Zid reassume their walking. As they approached the camp, they could hear Zelda screaming at Li for not waiting for the boys before starting to eat. Link enters the area chuckling.

"Girl don't yell so loudly; the whole jungle doesn't need to know how much of a shitty brother Robert is" 

Li lifts and eyebrow "Ziel… I don't mind animals knowing about my shitty ways, if screaming it out makes her feel better about it, let her. I will continue to feast on this porcine leg" Robert bites on it joyfully.

Link rolls his eyes "I am making you immune to my teasing am I not?" he utters.

"Oh, you were teasing? I thought we were stating facts here" Robert says, chin tucked in and emerald eyes staring up at Link with an evil smile "I AM a shitty person, but you already knew that didn't you?" he chuckles "It's kind of fucked up that you do not mind that flaw… or do you?" Robert asks defiantly.

"Haha, you are flawed, but trust worthy and highly capable. That is my favorite type of person, of course I don't mind" Link answers bluntly disarming Robert immediately.

Link may have known but I didn't. I thought Robert was just a very reserved guy… but he is reading us far beyond our own understanding, and he is physically strong from what I remember of our fight. I was only paying attention to Link, but I should be wary of Li too. Just in case.

Link and Zid lower themselves to sit on the old blanket Zelda extended on the ground.

"I told her we could sit on the ground, that she should have used the blanket to cover herself during the night" Zid exclaims to everyone present.

Zelda exhales exasperated "And I told you, WE need an area to sleep on. I don't need it to warm myself, I WON'T be cold" she winks at him.

"None of us will be" Li adds between mouthfuls "Unless you are a lone wolf and decide to sleep far away from the group… don't recommend it though, it's not safe. I CALL DIBS ON LINK'S LEGS"

Zelda and Zid's eyes go wide open, Link hides his face between his hands. Zelda raises her hand yelling.

"NOT FAIR, whatever, he is hugging me… or I am hugging him. Isn't that right Ziel?" Zelda stares at Link daring him to disagree.

What? Dibs on Link? [Zid walks up to Link from behind and grabs him by his shoulders] So… I didn't imagine it back there; he HAS a thermic imbalance. And these fuckers are taking advantage of it… maybe I should too.

"I have an idea" the Pirate exclaims "Li can make use of the legs as a pillow or whatever, but Link lays on his side, he spoons you sis, and I spoon him, that ok?"

LINK POV

I always knew that at some point a mob was going to be fighting for me… I was kind of hoping it would be composed of sexy females, not of highly skilled men-boys and my ward.

Link sighs "You have not even asked me; we are out in the open in the middle of a jungle. I am staying on patrol all night" he looks at Li and Zid "no need to take turns for guarding, I will take care of it"

"NO, WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU WILL TAKE CARE OF IT?" Li barks "YOU are part of the defense program here; we need you rested"

"We don't know how close we are to the fugitives we are chasing, and not all wild life in this particular area is friendly. I won't be able to shut my eyes, better make use of my anxiety don't you think? Besides… is not the first time I take an all-nighter, I will be fine, you all go to sleep. I will be leaning on that tree" Link points to an acacia tree nearby.

"Hug each other if you need to, I swear that what happens in Australia stays in Australia" Link says wiggling his eyebrows.

And with that they forget about me and start fighting each other in… 3, 2, 1.

Zid and Rob start growling at each other, the Princess rolls her eyes and puts herself between them.

"I know, I know… EW. How about this, Robert hugs me and I hug Zid, that way you don't have to touch each other" the Princess suggests.

Link rolls his eyes Damn this bitch, she won't let me have my fun.

Link grabs a small piece of meat, eats it and heads to the acacia tree, leaving the rest to negotiate who hugs who. After a while no more sound is heard from the group. Ziel chooses to slide down the trunk of the tree to sit on the ground, he bends his knees to rest his arms on them, and hangs his head between his legs closing his eyes.

3 days, that is our time limit, and we don't even know if the assailants are still around. The aboriginals gave up trying to seek help from the government, that was 3 months ago. They could have already moved to other areas of Australia. We should not be far from a barley plantation if I remember correctly. And it's supposed to be close to other 2, a wheat field and an apple orchard. Maybe we should try to locate an area between the three, to allows us to respond fast to any of them if anything were to happen.

Movement is heard, Link doesn't open his eyes suspecting who it may be. Zelda managed to find her way out of Robert´s hold. As she walks out of the blanket Zelda notices Li pulling Zid into a hug. She smiles but continues walking towards Link. Stops in front of him and crouches trying to look at his face, to cheek if he is sleep, or anything.

"What do you need?" Link suddenly blurts out without opening his eyes, the Princess yelps in surprise.

"I… wanted to check on you, see if you were fine"

"I am, go to sleep"

"Ok" Zelda sits next to him and tries to hug him from the side.

Link immediately moves away from her "What the fuck are you doing? Get back to the blanket between my brothers" he tells her.

"That is no longer an option" Zelda giggles.

Link raises his head to look at what the problem is, he notices the compromising position his brothers were in and smiles.

I should take a picture of that

*You said that what happens in Australia STAYS in Australia, are you going to betray them?*

DAMN… I will behave

Link sighs and lowers his legs, he then starts to dust off his pants with his hands. The Princess smiling gets between his legs and lays her head on his right thigh, then hugs said leg with her arms, but not before reaching for his left leg and placing it on top of herself.

Oh, wow… ok I guess, if she is comfortable. Better than her sitting on me

*COME ON, you wanted her to sit on your lap, didn't you?*

No, I didn't. When I saw her getting between my legs I started to panic. I still HATE her, yet I don't want to cause her any harm. And if for some reason her actions where not demure, I would feel compelled to slap the shit out of her.

*And I would have paid to see you do that*