(I lied. There's no Kings in here. Sorry not sorry. In the meantime have more angst *cackles in 'why do I write this way'*)
Time turned to make a head count.
Legend and Hyrule in the back; a tired-looking Wind clinging to Sky, who was blinking against the sun; Four right next to Time himself; and Warriors just stepping out of the portalâ
âWhereâs Twilight?â The captain asked. âWasnât he right in front of me?â
âNo telling,â Time answered gravely. He attempted to punch the nausea back down to his stomach where it belonged, to no avail. Where was his pup? Whereâ
He was in wolf form, standing with legs splayed like he was trying to keep his balance. The portal closed behind him as he wheeled around, and he howled softly in the back of his throat, clawing at the ground. Anguished, clearly.
âTwi, whatâsa matter?â Wind asked. His eyebrows furrowed sleepily. âWerenât you Hylian âafore the portal?â
The wolf froze. A quick, guarded glance around must have shown him something he didnât expect, because in the next second he was bounding onto Time. He had gotten bigger, Time realized as paws pounded over his pauldrons.
A shadowy vibration revealed the Hylian behind the wolf. He looked even more distraught in this formâ hair wild, clothes tighter than normal, hands awkward like he had been wearing gloves his entire life and didnât know what to do with bare fingers.
âT-Time,â the younger man sobbed. âI have to go back. I canâtâ left himâ three years and I canât even finish out the jobâ damn portalââ the words were interspersed with panting and head shaking, like he was trying to rememberâ something. Words?
âPup, slow down,â Time said. Panic filled his mind but no, he was the leader here. He had to be calm. âYouâve lost us. What happened to you?â
âForced toâ wolf for two, three yearsâ metâŠâ His eyes calmed for a millisecond, taking on something protective and proud. âHim. My packâ my pup.â
Pup? Where on earth had Twilight met someone he thought of so highly, without anyone from their Chain knowing? And being gone for two or three yearsâ No, being a wolf for two or three yearsâ
âIâm changing back,â Timeâs pup warned, hands dropping to his sides. âHave to⊠find Him. Noseâs better for it.â
Quick as an arrow the wolf was standing in Twilightâs place. He snuffled for a few seconds, then bolted off towardsâ
Was that the old shelter?