Ocarina of Time Chapter 3




 Chapter 3

Gohma's Lair

Mido's screams faded into the distance, and the spider sprang towards Link with frightening speed.

"Move, Link!" Navi yelled.

Her shout brought him back to reality, and then the spider was on top of him. With a paralyzing crunch, it rammed him into the dirt, knocking the wind out of him. Pinning him with its two front legs, it raised its fangs to strike. Moments earlier, the Great Deku Tree had called him courageous, but staring at the arachnid, Link could not help thinking the ancient guardian was wrong. He screamed in terror, flailing against the limbs that held him down as a dozen eyes met his own.

"Navi!" he cried out. "Navi, help!"

He had barely made it twenty feet into the Great Deku Tree and he was going to die.

"Hang on!" A small blue ball of light went flying into one of the arachnid's eyes. The spider froze, its dripping fangs hovering just above Link's abdomen.

"Use your sword!" Navi yelled, belting the many-eyed monstrosity, desperate to protect her charge.

Link regained his senses, tugging his sword free of its sheath. He lunged the blade into the spider's face and was rewarded with a horrible screech. The spider sprang back, hissing madly. Link scrambled away, swinging his sword wildly as though this might deter the spider from eating him.

He nearly struck Navi.

"Hey! Swing that thing properly!" she shouted, darting out of the way.

Biting back a retort, Link focused on the spider. It was all very well for Navi to point out the obvious, but remembering his training while not becoming arachnid-lunch was far from easy. The creature skittered forward. Link rolled out of its way, only to find himself pinned against the tunnel wall, vines writhing beneath him, snatching at him.

Following Mido's lead and running back out of the tunnel seemed a tempting idea. Instead, Link sliced his sword into one of the spider's legs, severing it.

The arachnid hissed in pain.

Oh no, I think that just made it mad.

Both Navi and Mori tried to distract the spider by flying into its face. This only got the creature's attention for a second, but it was just long enough for Link to jump on its back and drive his sword into its carapace.

Well... That was Link's plan. Instead, his sword skittered against the spider's thick armor without leaving a scratch. Stunned by the unexpected resistance, Link lost his grip on his blade, leaving it to slip and topple into the gloom. A sudden and wild motion from the spider sent Link sprawling to the earth, landing amid the vines.

He rolled, scrambling onto all fours and fumbling blindly about the soil for his blade. A vine tried to coil itself around his boot, another his torso.

Link shook them off, thrashing like a snared animal as he broke free of their grip and continued looking for his sword.

Where is it?

"Navi, my sword!" Link yelled. His cry caught not only her attention but the spider's as well.

Oops.

Fortunately, still dazed from the dancing light of the two faeries, the spider took a moment to orient itself. In that brief interval, Navi flew to Link's side, and he caught a faint gleam of metal out of the corner of his eye.

The vines shied away from Navi, and Link scrambled towards his sword, just as the spider sprang towards him with a gleeful screech.

"Behind you!" Navi screamed.

Realizing he wouldn't reach his sword in time, Link rolled onto his back, snatching his shield and grasping its rim tightly in both hands. The spider loomed large, fangs reaching for him, and in an act of utter desperation, Link slammed his shield into the spider's wounded head. With a hiss, the monster retreated a few steps, giving Link time to grab his sword. As he did, the enraged arachnid leapt for him again. Link spun in a graceful arc, slashing his sword across the creature's face. With a screech of agony, it backed away, oozing a trail of goo. Sensing his chance, Link ran forward and thrust his sword into the arachnid's side. With a final, almost inaudible screech, the hideous arachnid collapsed. Link frantically plunged his sword into the creature's head, stabbing again and again.

"I think it's dead," Navi said in a hushed voice after Link struck the spider one last time.

Link panted, trying to catch his breath. "I think... I think so too."

The fact that the spider had even attacked him in the first place was odd. Normally, the Great Deku Tree could control the animals within his domain, but just like the creatures in the meadow, and the critter he'd seen the previous night, something had stopped him.

With trembling hands, Link wrenched his blade free from the spider. His legs were jelly, and his heart was racing faster than the wings of a hummingbird. He collapsed against the wall of the tunnel, not caring that the vines spasmed beneath his touch, wriggling like a tangle of thick worms. None of them tried to grab him, apparently repelled by Navi and Mori's glow.

"I've never... I've nevet seen a skulltula that big," Link managed, still breathless, heart still hammering in frantic terror. He was shaking terribly now, biting his lip in effort not to completely lose it.

"It might have been created by the curse," Navi offered. "You did really well, Link."

Link could only nod, unable to reply, and not really sure he had actually done that well. Trusting his feet to support his weight, he wiped his sword on the spider, the slew of gunk almost enough to make him retch . He didn't notice Mori fly over to them, looking far more shaken than Navi.

"Is... is it dead?" Mori asked, nearly making Link jump.

"I think so," Link replied, sheathing his still grimy sword.

"Link?"

A voice called down the tunnel. Link looked up towards the light and sanctuary of the glen. He could just make out Saria's silhouetted figure standing by the entrance of the hole.

"Are you alright?" she asked. "Mido screamed something about giant spiders. I tried to get him to come back..."

"We're fine," Link hollered up the tunnel, despite feeling anything but. "Where did Mido go?"

Link could already guess where. Mido, the self-proclaimed bravest and toughest Kokiri of them all, had bolted at the first sign of trouble.

"The Great Deku Tree sent him back to the village. Do you want me to get someone to come with you?" Saria asked. "I'd ask Brynn, but the Great Deku Tree wants him to help look for any creatures like the one you saw."

Link thought getting help might be a good idea, but Navi objected, "We don't know where he is," she butted in. "If we wait, there is every chance that more of the creatures inside the Great Deku Tree might escape."

And they might hurt someone. Or worse.

As much as he hated to admit it, Navi was right. He'd have to go on alone. Link swallowed, aware of his still trembling hands.

"If I'm not back soon, get Forenz to come and find me!" Link called.

"Be careful, okay?" Saria called back to him.

"Don't worry. I'll make sure he stays out of trouble." Navi called up reassuringly. Link distinctly heard her murmur, "I hope."

Saria bid them good luck and then disappeared. Link felt crestfallen, his heart aching now that he was alone with a fairy he barely knew.

I wish Saria could have come, he thought, not sure he liked being alone with just Navi for company. She seemed far too bossy and bad-tempered. She did seem to notice he was still trying to catch his breath, for which he was grateful.

It took Link a moment to realize Mori was still staring at the spider with wide, vacant eyes. Navi noticed too.

"It's alright, Mori," she said. "The spider can't hurt you now."

This didn't reassure Mori. Navi's brow creased in concern, and she flew closer to the other sprite. "Why don't you go check on Mido? know why in Hyrule you let him follow us."

She sounded more bewildered than annoyed, and perhaps it was a slip of the tongue. However she meant it, Mori didn't appreciate the comment.

"I didn't," she protested, snapping out of her trance. "I tried to talk him out of it, but then he heard the Great Deku Tree was cursed. He was determined to follow you, and you heard the Great Deku Tree.." Mori sounded upset, her voice cracking, and Link couldn't help feeling a little sorry for her, "Mido did wanted to help... He did. At least until that spider showed up." Mori paused, her voice becoming pained. "Navi why didn't you tell me about the curse?"

Navi sighed and took some time to consider her response. Finally, she replied, "The Great Deku Tree didn't want the other Kokiri to know. I'm sorry."

Mori glowered, her wings buzzing in agitation. "You could have told me!" she exclaimed. "I wouldn't have told anyone, even Mido. You know that-" Navi opened her mouth to get a word in, but Mori continued, "Everyone knows something's wrong. Why did the Great Deku Tree want to keep it a secret, and why did he only tell you?"

Link wondered if he should intervene. He eyed the two fairies, considering the idea.

Navi drew a breath and let it out before replying, "I was there when he was cursed."

Mori went mute with shock.

"What happened?" Link asked, seizing on the abrupt silence.

Navi hesitated, then drawing a deep breath, she recounted her chilling tale. She spoke of a crisp autumn night when a man cloaked in black armour entered the Kokiri's sacred abode and placed a curse upon the forest guardian. The man, Link realized, sounded disturbingly familiar.

"Did the man have red hair and dark skin?" Link asked slowly.

Navi shot him a quizzical look. "He did... but-"

"I think I've seen him before," Link said grimly. At the confused look the fairies gave him, he added, "It was a dream."

Recalling the sight of the small, blackened body lying beside his boot, its light forever extinguished, he suppressed a shiver.

"That still does not explain why you did not tell me," Mori said, glaring at Navi.

"The Great Deku Tree thought he could fight the curse. He said it had manifested itself as a monster that dwelled inside of him. When he could not stop it, and Saria told him about the creature in the woods, he asked me to get Link. I would have told you, Mori, but the Great Deku Tree was sure he could rid himself of the curse, and it would not be necessary to tell anyone."

"Do you think he is going to be ok?" Mori asked anxiously.

Navi trembled slightly, not answering. Link did not like her hesitation at all.

"I really don't know," she finally murmured.

"He'll be fine," Link said, trying to offer himself and his companions some comfort. "We just need to find this curse, that monster thing and stop it. Right, Navi?"

Navi nodded in silent agreement. He noticed her bite her lip as she turned her attention back to Mori. "Go and make sure Mido keeps quiet."

Mori nodded. "Ok. Just... stay safe, won't you?"

"We will," Navi replied.

With that, Mori flew off, leaving Navi and Link alone.

Gazing at the spider, Link felt dismayed. This was the third creature that had almost managed to kill him. The knowledge that none of these menaces were responsible for the Great Deku Tree's illness was less than reassuring.

Doubt crept into Link's mind. How was he going to stop this thing?

No, I have to do this, Link thought. The Great Deku Tree is counting on me.

"How about I lead the way?" Navi suggested. Without further ado, she zipped in front of Link, pausing only briefly to wait for him. Link shook himself out of a daze, sensing the urgency in her flight, and trudged after her.

They walked further into the gloom, and soon the darkness closed in around them, the last vestiges of light from the outside world fading into nothing. It was only Navi's light that guided his passage now, her glow revealing the remains of more thick roots that crawled along the cave walls. Most of them were torn, and an emerald liquid oozed from the wounds like green blood.

"It's been eating the Great Deku Tree from the inside out," Navi murmured.

"Can trees feel pain?" Link wondered, thinking that if they could, the Great Deku Tree must be in a great deal of agony.

"Not like we do," Navi said. She sounded disturbed, her tone echoing Link's own concern. This spurred his determination; he had to stop whatever was hurting the Great Deku Tree.

Navi led the way deeper into the cavernous tunnel, the vines Link had seen before growing thicker and more numerous. Thick, white spider webs soon threaded their way along the passage, clinging to any space not occupied by the flesh-like tendrils creeping along the walls. Small spiders fled from Navi's light, scattering into the darkest recesses of the tunnel. Link moved more cautiously, listening for any sounds that might belong to a skulltula or something worse.

Something snagged his boot.

Link cried out in alarm, trying to tug his foot free of whatever had grabbed him. He envisaged some ravenous plant or beast emerging from the darkness and attacking him, or the vines tearing loose from the wall and seizing him like hungry pythons. Coiling. Crushing.

Terrified, Link hacked wildly at the darkness, striking vines and more.

"It's just spider webs," Navi reassured him upon closer inspection.

Spider webs. Link blinked and realized she was right. His boot had become entangled in a mesh of thick, white webbing.

Great. Now Navi probably thought he was stupid. He cut the webbing, thrashing his sword about as though it were a wand.

"I'll be jumping at a mouse before long," he muttered.

"I don't think you're going to find too many mice down here," Navi assured him. "Not with Hairy Legs back there."

Link smiled weakly, glancing at her as he tried to reassess his first impressions of the sprite. I guess she's kind of funny.

Another few steps and the tunnel came to an abrupt end. Link only realised this as he went to put his foot down on what he expected to be solid ground.

Only it wasn't.

It was thin air.

For a second of total clarity, a voice in his head cursed him for the stupid mistake. Link screamed as he fell, and the unseen slope rushed up to meet him.

CRASH!

Pain flared through his body as he bounced once, then twice, and a third time. The vines cushioned his fall, but not by much. He rolled to a stop amidst the slimy tendrils, the wind knocked out of him. The impact muted his senses, and for an instant, he could see only darkness. Dimly, Link was aware of the wriggling vines snaking across his tunic, grabbing his arms, his legs, even creeping onto his face in search of purchase. Link tried to pull free, kicking, grunting and thrashing. He tried in vain to reach his sword, but the slithering tentacles held his arms firm. The one wrapped around his chest tightened its grip, and Link tried in desperation to draw a breath. The strain on his ribs was becoming agony. He kicked and clawed, aware of a faint buzzing in his head that grew louder with each heartbeat. He tried to scream, but no sound came out. He couldn't breathe. He couldn't-

"Link!" Navi reached him, and the vines went suddenly limp, uncoiling and retreating beyond her light. Link gasped, rolling over.

"Are you okay?!" Navi asked again.

Stunned by injury and the speed with which the vines had nearly crushed him. Seized by a spasm of coughs, his bruised ribs aching with each drawn breath, he couldn't respond. When it finally subsided, and he could take a deep breath, Link pushed himself up into a sitting position. He nearly threw up, groaning he tried not to puke...

"Link..." Navi sounded frightened, though she tried to hide it judging by her brief pause, "Did they hurt you? Just breathe. It's okay."

She inspected him closer.

"I'm... I'm okay," Link wheezed, finally trusting his voice to work. Staring at the vines beyond Navi's light, he was unable to suppress his fear. "Navi, what are those things?" Reluctantly, and not really wanting Navi to know how afraid he was, Link added quietly, "I thought..." he swallowed, feeling strangely ashamed. "I thought they were going to kill me."

He swallowed, looking Navi in the eyes. He could feel his eyes watering and not from discomfort. Biting his lip, he blinked and looked away, swallowing hard. He hadn't felt quite so helpless with the deku babas and the skultulla. He'd been able to fight those, despite how dangerous they were,  and despite how close they'd come to killing him, but this...

"You're okay now. I won't let them hurt you," Navi said softly, almost bumping his cheek. "As long as we stick together, they'll leave us alone. Deal?"

"What..." Link's voice still sounded thin as he wiped a wiped a grubby hand across his eyes and looked at the vines. They were still lingering at the edge of Navi's light. "What were they?"

"Deal," Link repeated with a nod. Just then, he became aware of something jabbing into his back, and for an instant, he thought it was one of those tendrils. He almost jumped, snatching at it, and realised it was just his bow, its wooden frame snapped cleanly in half. He must have landed on it.

"Oh," he exclaimed mournfully.

"It's okay," Navi reassured him, flying closer to get a better look. "You can always get a new one."

"But Saria gave it to me," Link pointed out, dismayed.

"I'm sure she won't mind. Besides, Saria's probably going to be more upset about that pot you broke... and tried to hide."

A faint and playful smile tugged Navi's lips and Link almost laughed.

"Do you need to rest?" she asked more seriously. "We can probably stay here for a moment if you need it." Navi surveyed their immediate surroundings, which were now devoid of slithering tentacles. The vines hadn't gone far, and Link could still make out their faint outline beyond Navi's glow, a pulsating mass of snakes waiting for the chance to strike.

Suppressing a shiver, Link shook his head. "No. I don't like it down here... not with those things, and besides, we're supposed to be helping the Great Deku Tree."

Unslinging his quiver from around his shoulder, Link dropped it and discarded his bow.

"Which way do we go?" he asked at last.

"This way!" Navi chimed, taking the lead.

Link followed, feeling an imposing dread as the cave walls narrowed again. Navi's light eventually touched something up ahead. Realising it was a skulltula, Link tensed and crept closer, his sword held out at the ready. It only took a few tense moments to realise something was wrong; the spider was motionless, its eight legs suspended in the air.

Link sighed in relief, realising the spider was dead. Something had pierced its armour, flipping the monster on its back and devouring the mess of goo that had once been the creature's belly.

"Ughh!" Link exclaimed. "What do you think did that?"

Images of another monster that he hadn't met yet flashed through Link's mind.

"It was probably another skulltula," Navi reasoned. "Let's hope it was the one you killed."

Link hoped she was right. Either way, he realised it was silly to assume it was something bigger; the unfortunate arachnid could have just been a victim of cannibalism. Swallowing thickly at the thought, he looked for another tunnel and quickly spotted it up ahead.

Navi seemed to sense that they were going the right way, even as they encountered numerous side-tunnels, passages that seemed to lead to dead-ends littered with gnawed bones. Link didn't understand how, but Navi said she could feel the way forward. She made it sound like she could 'smell' the curse and was guiding them towards it. The deeper they delved into the never-ending labyrinth, the more Link feared that he would become lost and nobody would ever find him. Vines choked the tunnel walls, and every time Link stopped to catch his breath, they slithered onto his boots, curling around his ankles, only to recoil when Navi flew closer.

That was when Link found the first nest. It was in a cavernous chamber infested with leathery eggs grouped in large clusters. Judging by the shell fragments scattered across the cavern floor, some of the creatures had hatched. Once or twice, Link saw an egg bulge as whatever was inside them moved. That made him tense.

"What are they?" he whispered, convinced that if he spoke too loudly, the larvae would hear him and hatch. The more likely scenario, however, was that the owner of the nests would show up. There was no sign of the creature, and glancing at Navi, he hoped it wasn't attracted to light. "Are they monsters like the one I saw last night?"

They seemed too large.

"I'm not sure," Navi said. "But I'm betting whatever made this nest is what's eating the Great Deku Tree. Come on, I think we're getting close."

Daunted by the prospect of facing a creature that could lay such big eggs, Link kept moving. There were dozens of the thick egg clusters. They spread out far beyond Navi's faint light, far too numerous to count. Each one stood about two feet high and twice as tall as they were wide. Link wondered what would happen if the creatures in these sacs escaped into the forest? Would they attack more trees?

He soon got his answer. More bones littered the ground near the empty egg sacs, and these were far bigger than anything Link had seen so far. To his horror, two skulls bore a distinct canine shape. They were the wrong size for a wolf or fox.

Brynn's hounds, Link thought, his heart sinking. They'd been eaten alive.

He felt a stab of pity for Brynn, unable to tear his eyes from the morbid remains.

"Let's keep moving," Navi suggested, sounding disturbed.

Link nodded, unable to stop the fear that rose in his stomach. He was breathing unsteadily now, thoughts of meeting a similar end running through his mind.

"Just breathe slowly, okay?" Navi coaxed him, sounding gentle. "We'll be fine. Just breathe. In and out. There, that's it."

Link swallowed, nodding and doing what Navi told him. Breathe in and out. Breathe in and out. It was all very well to think that he was brave, but he wasn't immune to fear. Could any creature truly be immune? It didn't seem particularly wise, Link reflected. If a deer wasn't afraid of being hunted by Kokiri or a wolf, it wouldn't survive.

There was no time to ponder this; they soon came to the last of the egg clusters. Beyond them was a sluggishly moving stream that, like everywhere else, was infested with tentacles. Here, at Navi's suggestion, Link gathered up some pebbles and placed them in his bag. They would make useful ammunition for his slingshot if he needed it. He was just gathering up the last stone when-

"Look out!"

At Navi's cry, Link whirled around.

A single gohma, as big as a large dog, just like the critter he'd seen in the forest, was staring at him with its single bulbous eye. Four more gohma stood behind the one eyeing the young boy, slowly spreading out in a line, glaring menacingly.

The first gohma leapt towards Link, its mandibles opening wide to reveal rows of needle-like teeth. It fell onto Link's sword, heedless of the sharp steel that slid straight through its open maw. The creature gurgled pitifully and fell. Bracing his feet firmly on the ground, Link wrenched his sword out of its mouth and whirled to face his other attackers. The four remaining gohma dashed towards him, apparently undaunted by Link's sword, which was now dripping with their companion's guts.

Heart racing, Link brought his shield down in front of him just as one of the creatures slammed into it. With a quick slash across the eye, he sent the creature screeching away.

"Behind you!" Navi yelled.

Link spun around, nearly tripping over a vine. Another larva collided with his shield, knocking itself senseless. Link thrust his sword into the creature's eye with a sickening squelch. He tried to yank his sword free, but it was lodged firmly into the parasite's carapace.

The other two gohma were bounding towards him. Abandoning his futile attempts to pull his sword free of the dead gohma, Link stepped back as his foes pounced towards him. They crashed into each other, landing in a screeching, angry heap between Link and his sword.

Thrusting a hand into his bag, Link pulled out his slingshot. Quickly putting a pebble to it, he pulled back on the rubber and stretched it taut. Link let the rock fly, striking the closest gohma in the eye. It fell into the stream with a screech and a splash.

Retrieving his blade, Link slew the remaining parasite while Navi checked on the one in the stream. It was nowhere in sight, with no telltale glow of its eye to be seen.

Resigning his search for the escaped gohma, Link traversed deeper into the cold, dank cavern, thick tentacles creeping across the ground. A wide fissure in the rocks up ahead, big enough for five Kokiri to stand side-by-side, led Link into yet another tunnel. This opened up into a spacious chamber where Navi's light brushed against the gnawed remains of ancient roots. Emerald green sap and fluid oozed from them, dripping into tiny puddles on the cavern floor. There were more vines here too, all converging on a point at the room's centre. There was something there- a puddle of bubbling black liquid, unlike anything Link had seen before. The smell coming from it was foul, worse than rotten eggs, and Link's eyes watered.

"I don't like the looks of this," Navi said. Link noticed the fear creeping into her voice. "Whatever is hurting the Great Deku Tree, it's very close."

A strange chill settled over Link. He thought he could hear the shallow breathing of something deep in sleep, but when he strained his ears to listen, he could hear nothing.

"Navi?" he whispered, tensing as every hair on his neck stood on end. "Do you get the feeling something is watching us?"

Drip. Drip. Drip.

Something wet trickled down the side of his face. He wiped it on his hand and examined the muck. It resembled the sticky resin of a tree root mixed with something else... Saliva?

He looked up. A single glowing red eye watched him, its steady gaze unwavering. Link took a few steps back. The creature's eye followed him, unblinking. Watching.

It was hard to tell exactly what he was looking at in the gloom, but Link could just make out the monster's silhouette, enough to know that it was enormous. He knew straight away that this was the owner of the nests he'd encountered. 

"Navi?" he whispered. "What is that?"

She never got a chance to answer.

With a frightful hiss, the monster launched itself off the ceiling and crashed to the cavern floor. The force of the impact knocked Link off his feet. Quickly scrambling back up, he came face to face with the largest gohma he'd seen yet. It was as big as his treehouse, if not bigger. With a low snarl, it brandished two jagged claw-like appendages, displaying pincers that could have crushed small rocks.

Link knew without a doubt that this was the gohma queen.

The monster screeched a deafening challenge and ran toward him. Her jaws opened wide to reveal rows of teeth within. At that moment, Link considered fleeing for the safety of the Great Deku Tree's meadow.

Instead, and without thinking, he threw his sword at her eye. The gohma blinked, not pausing her stride, and the sword bounced off the thick carapace of her eyelid. Still not giving any due thought to what he was doing, and with no time to do so, Link leapt for his sword and grabbed it. Growling, he slashed at her hide, his sword scraping uselessly against the chitinous armour.

"Link get back!" Navi exclaimed. "Don't get so close to her!"

Heeding Navi's warning, Link tried to dash to the side, but his foot caught on a vine and he stumbled. With a hideous screech, one of the giant parasite's legs struck him hard against the side with incredible force, knocking the wind clean out of him. He went flying, slamming into the cave wall opposite with a sickening crunch, and then flopped listlessly against the floor. He lay for several agonizing moments, too shocked, in too much pain to do anything. His head spun, his side ached and there was blood trickling down the side of his face. He had no idea which way was up or down, and for an instant wasn't even sure where he was.

"Link, get up!"

Navi's scream penetrated the fog clouding his muddled thoughts and Link rolled, lying on his back. He became aware of a tremor pulsing through the earth, growing stronger with each reverberating thump.

Blinking, aware of the vines slithering beneath him, Link turned his head to see the lumbering monster coming towards him.

Navi yelled at him to move, and Link obeyed, wincing and gasping at the pain lancing through his battered body. It took every ounce of will that the young boy possessed to suck in a breath and get to his feet. He wavered unsteadily as the monstrous mass of chitinous armour stomped towards him, snarling its anger as it came within a few strides of him.

Head still dazed from the impact with the cave wall, certain he was about to be sick all over his boots, Link willed himself to run. Only he couldn't. With a stab of panic, he realised that a vine was now wrapped around one boot. The slimy wet tentacle slithered around his calf, trapping him.

Link hacked and thrashed, his sword cutting into the vine, black blood oozing from the wound. The tentacle let go, writhing, and Link slashed the other vine just before it could take hold.

By now, the gohma was on him, and there was nothing he could do to stop one of her pincers snapping towards him. Link turned and started to run, but it wasn't enough.

Flesh tore. A bloody line of pain seared down Link's leg as one of the gohma's pincers caught his leg. Only the tips of the claw-like appendage managed to snatch him, but it was enough to tear skin and flesh. Link slipped free, screaming in pain, his terror rising as the ghoma screeched her frustration. She rose one of her pincers, and Link barely had time to slash his way free of the next lot of vines that tried to trap him before it was slamming towards him, not to grab this time, but to crush. Link managed to throw himself to the side and the gohma's enormous claw missed, slamming into the rock beside him with enough force to split it in two.

She's going to kill me, Link thought.

The gargantuan parasite snarled, lunging forward, mouth opening to reveal rows of sharp, glistening teeth as both her long pincers snapped towards him. At the same time, Link's fingers closed around the cold surface of a rock, just as more vines reached for his hand. Link flung the stone hard towards the gohma's eye, and with mere feet separating him from those pincers, it struck.

With a screech of pain and outrage, the gohma jerked back with an angry snarl, her pincers cutting through the air just shy of Link. He found a second stone and threw it, harder this time. The gohma hissed again and started backing away. The vines kept coming, slithering towards Link like ravenous snakes, but he was too fixated on the gohma to notice.

The eye, he thought, her eye is vulnerable.

Snarling and hissing, the gohma queen moved out of range.

I have to strike its eye.

There was only one thing he could think of, and it was crazy. Standing up, body wracked with pain as every bruise and injury made themselves known, Link smacked away the vines that reached for him, holding his ground as the gohma overcame her irritation.

This is insane, he thought. This is really insane.

"Link, what-" Navi's startled cry was lost as Link unleashed a scream of defiance. "AAAHHHH!"

He ran towards the gohma queen, leaping over the tendrils that tried to foul his steps. Navi gave a horrified shriek; probably sure that Link had just lost his mind. Link kept running. His wounded leg begged him to stop, the pain pulsing with each step.

I'm going to die... I'm going to die.

Whatever the gohma queen was expecting Link to do, running full pelt towards her was not one of them. She froze, and just as she started to move, Link grabbed her thick eyelid, wrenching the lower lid down and plunging his sword straight into her eye.

The gohma lurched back with a horrible shriek of agony, nearly stepping in the pool of black liquid. Link held onto his sword for dear life, fearing she might dislodge him. He clawed at the beast's chitinous hide and then, holding on firmly, he wrenched his sword free with his other hand. He jumped to the ground, landing on his feet, gasping as blistering pain tore through his bloodied leg.

A foul goo was now oozing from the gohma's wound, and Link nearly retched at the sight of it. The monster was thrashing now, and Link retreated as fast as his injured leg would allow. The parasite snarled, stepping around the oozing muck and smashing blindly into the rocks behind her. With one final violent shudder, the monster fell.

Seeing this, Link gripped his sword and limped toward the gohma. With difficulty, he hurled himself onto the monster's carapace and then drove his sword straight into her wounded eye. The anguished screech of the dying gohma queen disturbed him as he realized how much pain she was in, and suddenly his courage was buckling.

"I'm sorry," he said, surprised to find himself shaking and sobbing. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry..."

Link plunged his sword into the gohma's eye, again and again, just wanting that pitiful screeching to stop. Revulsion filled him, rattling Link to his core, souring his stomach and sending bile creeping up his throat. Flecks of blood now covered Link's tunic and body. So much. His hands were covered in it.

"I'm sorry," he repeated. He was sorry for killing the Gohma's young, however necessary that might have been, and he was even sorry for killing the skulltula. As a hunter, he'd always been taught to cause as little pain as possible, and even that had revolted him at first.

Finally, the gohma's hissing stopped, and she went still.

Link's legs buckled. He fell from the gohma queen's body and struck the rocks below. He lay there, gasping, dazed and hardly aware of the jarring pain in his left shoulder. He groaned, sitting up as Navi joined him. He barely noticed that the vines were no longer attacking him. They were limp, and the pool in the chamber's centre was gone. Where it had been,  only the vines remained, their ends severed.

"I... I can't believe you did that," Navi exclaimed as she reached him. "Are... are you okay?"

Still staring wide-eyed at the dead gohma, unable to believe what he'd just done and wracked with cold shivers, Link nodded mutely. Navi inspected him closely, noticing how he just kept staring at the dead gohma, his adrenaline now giving way to a strange sort of shock.

"Link?" Navi pressed him quietly. "Hey, it's okay. You did it. You killed the gohma... Link?"

She hovered against his cheek, trying to soothe him.

"I'm okay," Link said, swallowing thickly, feeling an intense urge to be sick. He managed to catch his breath at last and met Navi's gaze. He tried to move, but a spasm of pain shot up his injured leg.

Navi shrieked and Link looked down to see fresh blood pulsing sluggishly from the agitated wound.

"Link, why didn't you say it was that bad?" Navi exclaimed, almost on the verge of panic. "You'll have to bind it..." she paused, her attention drawn to one of the roots on the cavern wall. "Wait, I have an idea."

"What?" Link asked groggily.

"The Great Deku Tree's sap. It has healing properties," Navi exclaimed, beckoning him over to the roots. "When he said help won't be far away, that's what he meant! I'm sure of it! Here... can you reach it?"

"I think so," Link replied.

With an effort, and with gritted teeth, he clambered upon shaky feet and limped over to the fairy, noticing for the first time that the vines were shrivelling like leaves tossed in a fire. Dying. He eyed the sap leaking from the tree roots, noting the faint luminescence of the green liquid that oozed from the roots. Link smeared the sap onto his hand, and then at Navi's instruction, he dabbed it around the edges of the wound, wincing as he did so. It stung painfully, but even as he watched, the bloody gash began to close.

"It still hurts," he told Navi. The cut was now an angry red line extending down his calf. "It's not that bad, though."

"Just try not to put too much weight on it," Navi said as she inspected the mended wound. "Can you walk?"

"Yeah, I think so," Link said, taking one last look at the dead gohma queen. "Hey... Navi? Thanks. I couldn't have stopped that gohma without you."

Navi took a moment to return his smile. "I don't think I can take all the credit.... C'mon, let's not keep the Great Deku Tree waiting."

With that, they left the chamber and made their way back to the Great Deku Tree's meadow.

Next chapter

Reviews

FakeJake93 chapter 4 . Oct 19
I'm so glad Link's initial response to the first dungeon monster he faced was mortal terror, lol. That feels appropriate. "He had barely made it twenty feet into the Great Deku Tree and he was going to die." I chuckled, and honestly, that's kind of what it feels like starting out with 3 hearts.

"I think it's dead." I'm loving Navi's banter with Link. He feels very accurately pegged as a young boy trying to be a warrior. Also, your battle scene was incredibly engaging. Very strong work here, as that's not easy to do.

The eaten skulltula corpse, evil vines, and connection with the missing hounds really added a horror element, and you're right, the Deku Tree should be a very scary environment, everything considered. I'm thoroughly enjoying this! And I approve of making the temple more realistic, rather than following the game's design; makes it more engaging, increases the suspense, and is certainly easier/more fun to write that way. The puzzles would be tedious to capture.

Loved how easily he dispatched the smaller Gohmas (it felt well earned, given the beginning), and Navi's "Watch out"s getting more specific and helpful was a nice touch, too.

And phew, that battle with the Gohma Queen was brutal. Wow. As the "easiest" first boss, makes me wonder what the future fights will look like — something I look forward to.
 Local Minstrel chapter 4 . Nov 1, 2017
In the spirit of Halloween, I come to you with a pen in my hand, dripping red. Pray it ends quickly.

"...it (change "rose" to "raised") its fangs to strike." "Rose" is autonomic while "raised" is being acted upon. Example: "The spider 'rose' to its full height; The spider 'raised' its forelegs threateningly." See the difference?

"...she shouted, darting out (add "of") the way.

"Biting back (change "a remark of his own" to "his next retort")... Link rolled out (add "of") its way..."

"Just like the creature(delete apostrophe)s in the meadow..."

honeyeater... so we have a spider-and a big one at that-but no hummingbirds? On another note, lots of "spider"s all at once. Perhaps calling the spider "it" every so often will keep it from getting repetitive. Unless Pennywise objects?

"more giant(comma) creepy things."

"Okay. Be careful down there(comma) Link..."

"Don't worry. I'll make sure he stays out of trouble." [Navi called up reassuringly.] Link distinctly heard her murmur [afterward], "I hope."

Navi opened her mouth, trying to (add "get") a word in..."

"Link(delete apostrophe"s") wondered if he should intervene..."

"At the confused look the fairies gave him(comma) he added..."

"The same one in which the fairy in front of you died." Does Link often hear voices in his head like this?

"Navi trembled slightly, not answering. (No new paragraph)Link did not like her hesitation at all."

(Italicize "No, I have to do this,")

"...she zipped in front of Link, pausing only briefly to wait for (change "Link" to "him")."

"...stopping only to retrieve the arrows that had fallen from Link's quiver." As in they fell from his quiver as he was walking or was there an archery fight I didn't know about?

"Can trees feel pain? Link wondered... Navi murmured sounding just as pained by the idea... He knew that the Great Deku Tree must have been in a lot of pain..." Lots of "pain" here. Navi could be "agonized" by the idea. And maybe Link could decide that, yes, the Great Deku Tree could indeed feel pain, considering the scale of the damage.

"Small spiders scattered, [fleeing from Navi's light into the darkest corners of the tunnel]

"...in a mesh of thick, white(delete comma) webbing."

"Great. Now Navi probably thought he was stupid. (No new paragraph) He cut the webbing..."

"Not with (H)airy (L)egs back there."

"Finally trusting that he was no longer too badly injured to move (change comma to "and") having recovered..."

"Link winced at the scolding remark. [Defensively, he said, 'I didn't realize the tunnel was ending.'"]

"...spider's armor (delete comma) before flipping it..."

"...feeling ill at the sight of the gooey innards. (No new paragraph) Images of another monster..."

"(Delete "Hoping Navi was right") (H)e looked for another tunnel..."

"...to despair that neither Forenz (change "or" to "nor." I mean, come on! When are you going to get another chance to use such an archaic word?) anyone else..."

"A part of him was convinced that (delete comma) if he spoke too loud(ly)(delete comma) the larvae would hear him and hatch." Ah, another instance where fear overrides reason.

"Gohmas only eat plants(comma) right?" Link asked, (w)racking his brains..." Ha! You wish!

The gohmas have jaws?

"With a quick slash across the eye, (delete "piercing it") he sent..."

"The last gohma was nowhere in sight, [not even the telltale glow of its eye]."

"...into the cold, dank(delete comma) cavern."

"...big enough for five Kokiri to stand side(delete hyphen)by(delete hyphen)side..."

"He knew that(comma) without a doubt..."

"Link(comma) get back!" Navi exclaimed.

"He slammed into the cave wall opposite with a 'glancing' blow." I don't think it's "glancing" if he slammed into it full on. "Glancing" would be more of a nick to the shoulder.

"...Link grabbed her thick eyelid, wrenched it down..." as in her eyelid started from the bottom and closed upwards?

"Was the gohma queen(delete comma) and her young(delete comma) victims of some magic?"

"We did it," he repeated faintly(period) (H)e glanced down at his leg..."

And now, I retire to my lair to wash the red stains from my fingers and to bide my time until the next chapter... Happy Halloween! Mweh heh heh...
 SunPraiser31 chapter 4 . Aug 31, 2016
Great description of the Deku Tree dungeon, probably my favorite dungeon in the whole game. I do like how you cut out all of the unnecessary puzzle solving, though. That kind of thing is fun from a gameplay perspective, but reading about it, not so much.

I feel Link's pain, fighting those spiders for the first time lol. The boss fight was also very well done. Looking forward to seeing what comes next as Link leaves the forest.
 Barbacar chapter 4 . Aug 9, 2016
I remember this part from the game, and you did a good job at making it interesting
 Nox Demeter chapter 4 . May 10, 2016
This fight really reminded me of Arxane story. Very intense and emotional from link's injures to feeling sorry for having to kill goma. And that sense of feeling, knowing link my feel worse when he's confronted with the fact he has to kill ganondorf it's all very nostalgic for me. I'm really enjoying it
 acctdisabled chapter 4 . Mar 26, 2016
Another good chapter!

Temples/mini-dungeons are always a tough thing to tackle since you will never satisfy all the readers- some will want more, and yet others don’t want to be tied down by the tedious nuances and whatnot.

I thought you did a good job of handling the realism of the situation: you have a young boy with limited sword training going up against a massive arachnid. I also enjoyed the brief comedic moments you tied into fight, such as Navi’s sarcasm, which gave the reader insights on how the characters react during tense moments and evens out the tone. I got a kick out of Mido’s cowardice, and enjoyed the dynamics between Navi and Mori. You’ve put a lot of detail and characterization into Navi so far, which I really appreciate.

The only thing I had trouble with during the spider fight was when Link shoved the Kokiri Shield into the spider’s wound, and caused it pain. Normally that would make sense, but I think just as being wood shield probably wouldn’t harm the spider much. The Gohma fight had great imagery as well, and I really could feel the sense of panic and urgency within Link. The part where Link felt sorry for killing Gohma was a great character development moment, and shows the childlike innocence Link possesses and hints at a future struggle he may have with ‘killing.’

The imagery was pretty good in this chapter, and I could imagine the fighting as it continued on. The thought quotes were nice as well to drive Link’s characterization and see the fear and hesitation. Like last time, I would suggest scene breaks to increase the tension of what happened at the fight, especially given this was Link’s first battle. Perhaps the spider, then exploring the Deku Tree, and then Gohma’s fight.
 Cyan Quartz chapter 4 . Jun 20, 2015
Beautiful room description, and that was a good fight scene.
 Norkix chapter 4 . May 22, 2015
Nothing against your betas, but there are some odd things in this one grammarwise, much more noticeable than in previous chapters. Oddly structured sentences and awkward commas, mostly. Some things I would have phrased differently as well.

Overall, I really enjoyed your Deku Tree! QG's fight was exciting, more so, I thought, than my own, and I liked that you had the whole thing in the burrows it dug as opposed to inside a hollow tree. Very clever!

Onward!

-Norkix-
 4-Ever Inactive chapter 4 . Jul 19, 2014
Make another
 Lord Darth Yoda chapter 4 . Jul 18, 2014
I like when authors make the boring boss battles interesting and you did a good job here doing just that. And you made Navy a good character while you did it. Good job, can't wait for more!


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