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Chapter Text

Panic left Legend shaken, gasping for air, his heart pounding in his chest and palms sweaty. He sat on his knees, legs splayed in the deep powdery snow. His mind was reeling and still a step behind, his eyes were fixed on the hole in the ice, bubbles breaching the surface of the dark buried lake. Legend heard a scream behind him, sending a spike of adrenaline through his hands. He flicked his gaze up, aware of his breath on his lips as Wild threw himself at the hole only to be grabbed around the waist by Four and Wind and yanked back.

The champion hissed, spit and swore at the two as they clung to him tightly. Their knuckles turned white, their feet planted against the frozen ground. Wild clawed and pushed at them, screaming for them to let go.

Twilight’s eyes watched the sun above glittered across the lake's surface. The cold seized his body, paralyzing him in a frozen ache, and the water weighed down his layers. His breath was stolen from him the second the chill brushed across his thighs and it drifted up in bubbles to the surface. The icy grip of the dark water dragged him down further and further. His chest burned, his head ached. He tried to move, but could only twitch his fingers stiffly.

Time and Sky grabbed Wars’ arms, dragging the captain out of the water as he coughed and hacked. He held Twilight under the shoulders, the rancher unconscious in his grip. Four and Hyrule grabbed onto Sky and Time, hauling the others up into the snow.

Wars landed on his hands and knees, gasping for air. His face was scarlet, lips blue and eyes bloodshot. He’d torn off his outer layers to jump in after Twilight, and now the man shivered in his undershirt and pants. His teeth chattered, his breathing was uneven.

“Twi, Twi,” Sky said urgently, rolling the rancher onto his back. He patted the man’s face between his hands. “C’mon–wake up, get up,” the chosen hero hissed.

Twilight lurched, rolling over to spit up a mouthful of hot bile and water. He rasped, heaving as more and more came up from his stomach and lungs until he collapsed to his side weakly, shivering and shaking too hard to speak.

“Wild,” Time demanded, “is there a cave nearby?”

Wild looked between Time and Twilight, panic stalling his brain.

“Wild,” Wind said, pinching his arm.

The champion nodded finally. “Y-yes…yes, just over that ridge there.”

He pointed ahead of them. Time nodded, taking charge of the situation.

“Four and I will carry Twilight. Wild, you and Sky help the captain.”

Time and Four took Twilight under the shoulders. His head hung heavy, his clothes began to ice over in the frigid cold. His eyes were open, but it was obvious the man was not conscious. Sky and Wild took Wars between them. The captain could get his feet under him, hold up his weight, but his body was so taken with shivers he could hardly step.

“Ledge,” Hyrule said, pulling the veteran to his feet. “Use the fire rod–let’s clear the way.”

Legend nodded, guilt swallowing him whole as he activated the weapon. He used it to melt the ground, leaving wet earth and a clear path behind. It was easier for the others that way, rather than them having to wade through the snow. Wind drew out the wind waker, using it to fight against the gusts blowing at the chain, if only to preserve any warmth possible. Hyrule ran ahead to the cave, finding it just beneath the ridge through a hole in the ground.

It was clear this was someone’s, if not the champion’s, hideaway already. A fire ring had been dug into the center of the cave under a natural chimney, rocks lining the shallow hole. Old crates of dry ingredients were gathered in one corner of the oddly shaped chamber, and there were two thick bedrolls and blankets rolled up on top of them.

The others lowered the captain and rancher down into the cave. Hyrule already had a fire burning. The work began to warm the other two. 

Wars was easier to contend with. The fire brought back some color to his complexion, some movement in his fingers and toes and it melted his hair. He was able to strip out of his frosted undergarments and dress in his warmer clothing. His fingers and toes were turning blue, the nails nearly devoid of color, and his lips were chapped from the severe cold and frost and wind. The tips of his ears were blue and as he struggled to use his numb hands, his nose began to bleed. Wind helped the man undress and dress and when Wars sat next to the fire, the sailor draped a blanket across his shoulders and warmed a mug of water for him to drink. Wars accepted the warm water gratefully, but he felt sick to his stomach looking at it. Still, he made himself take in small sips and the drink warmed his throat and chest from the inside.

Together, Wild, Time and Four undressed and dried Twilight. His breathing was shallow, his body slack. The fire melted the ice from his hair and lashes and returned color to his lips and fingers. The skin along his fingers and toes was cracked and blistered from the cold, the nails and tips dark blue. There was a cut along his face where the ice met his cheek when it collapsed, and his lips and nose were bloody. Hyrule saw to the physical wounds, but they could only treat the cold sickness with patience and warmth.

They dressed him in his spare clothing, light as it was, and rolled him into two blankets in a tight cocoon. Between the layers, Wild sandwiched fire jellies for warmth. They laid out one of the bed rolls left in the cave to put a barrier between the rancher and the ground, following Wars’ careful instructions. They propped his head slightly to keep him from choking on any more water, bile or blood, turning it to the side so it would spill out.

The champion sat next to Twilight against the wall, knees drawn to his chest. He hugged them, eyes fixed on the rancher like a hawk, watching his chest rise and fall beneath the blankets.

“Will he be okay?” Wind asked in worry, warming more water for Wars.

Time gave a smile, though it seemed uncertain. “Of course. The worst is over now. We just need to keep him dry and warm. Wars too.”

Wars glanced, licking his raw lips. “I’m fine,” he managed with a slight shiver. “You all worked fast. You should be proud of yourselves.”

“It’s my fault,” Legend said quietly.

The veteran sat cross-legged at the fire. Hyrule sat next to him, a hand on his back in support. The traveler was worried too, but there was little else that he could do or that could be done and it was obvious to the others that Legend was getting in his own head.

“I walked on the ice,” Legend said weakly, bowing his head.

“I told you to watch your step,” Wild hissed. “I said there were hidden lakes, I said there was ice under the snow–I warned you.”

“Wild,” Time said briskly, shutting the champion down.

The champion glared at Legend and shifted the look unto Time. The eldest hero held the mean look, hands on his hips sternly. Finally Wild huffed, blowing the others off to fret over Twilight.

“None of us could see it,” Four cut in. “It was under the snow and it cracked too fast. No amount of watching our steps would’ve changed anything.”

Still, the validation Wild gave the veteran’s thoughts held more stock in his mind than the reassurances. Wild had warned them, but he said all the same they would only find the hidden lakes on accident, and that the lakes changed with the snowmelt. If Legend had just been a touch more diligent, a little less distracted…Legend shuddered, burying his face in his hands. Time frowned softly, but gave the veteran his space, trusting Hyrule to look after him. For now, the hero positioned himself between Wild and the veteran. Time worried too. In fact, panicked was likely a better word for it. There was no telling how much damage the cold had done in that amount of time to Wars or Twilight.

“How’re your fingers?” Time asked, scrutinizing Wars.

The captain looked up and stretched his red fingers out to the fire. “Sore,” he offered, “but I can feel them and they’ve got color. My toes too. We can thank Wind for being so quick.”

The sailor felt a glimmer of pride at the praise. He, Sky and Four set out the men’s wet clothing to dry by the fire.

“Your breathing’s better,” Time noted in relief.

The captain nodded in agreement. “When I trained,” he offered, “rescue diving was part of it. We briefly touched on cold water diving. I’m just glad I retained any of it, to be honest.”

Time nodded, giving up a half-smile. “Me too. You likely saved Twilight and any of us who would’ve gone in after him.”

Wars nodded, glancing at Twilight. His smile fell. “He’ll be sick, likely,” the captain said honestly. “Cold does odd things to a man. We’ll be here for a while. There’s no way I’d allow him back out in that cold until he’s fully recovered.” Wars covered a rough cough into his elbow. “I’m going to lay down for a while. The cold drained my energy.”

“I’ll keep an eye on you,” Wind said immediately. “Just in case you catch a fever or something.”

“Thanks sailor,” Wars said warmly.

The captain rolled out a bedroll, turning his back to the fire. Wind sat near his head anxiously. Time let out a breath. He needed to get them under control–get himself under control. The eldest hero began to boss the others a little, getting on them to dry the snow from their hair and faces and dry their clothes.

Chapter Text

The rancher was still weak. Three days had passed–the captain recovered his strength after the first and his mild fever broke after the second. In turns, the heroes went out to gather firewood except Wild always stayed at Twilight’s side and Wars was strictly forbidden from helping with the harder work though they couldn’t keep him from taking on the lighter tidying.

Twilight sat with his hands and feet wrapped in bandages, a salve Hyrule and Wild devised of fire jelly treating his frostbite underneath. He was cross-legged, fumbling to tie off a fishing lure for Wind which had taken his bumbling fingers most of the day to tie together. Even still, Twilight had little awareness of what had all occurred, and simply forgot all explanations since he regained consciousness.

“You should eat,” Time said, approaching Wild and Twilight.

Wild glanced at the fire with a nod. “I’ll go get us some. Was it good?”

“Very,” the eldest hero praised.

Wild got up, brushed himself off, and wandered over to the cooking pot of stew he’d cooked up. The others were washing out their dishes and scattering to their claimed corners of the cave to play music or cards or chat. The cave was admittedly boring and some of the more restless heroes were clawing at the walls to get out but Time disallowed any of them to go out before midday or after dark.

Time glanced down at Twilight. The rancher’s tongue poked out of his mouth, his gaze focused. He let out an exhausted sigh as he dropped the piece of cork he decorated. He leaned down to pick it up, fingers failing to pinch it as he struggled to curl them with any coordination. One of his eyes was red with a burst vessel, and he rubbed at it incessantly because it was blurry. Slowly, the vision in it cleared, but it only added to his struggles to grab anything with any accuracy. Beyond that, there was no grip in his strength.

“Here,” Time offered, sitting down and recovering the lure. “I’ll hold it.”

Twilight glanced up with a tired sigh. “Yeah thanks–”

The rancher glanced up, first at Time’s eye and then his left shoulder. Time’s stomach knotted. That look of confusion filled the rancher’s face for a moment, the man having to actively remember where he was at just then and with whom. There was still a slur in his words, his eyes were still a touch glassy, and he could hardly stand and walk to the fire without someone under either arm. Slowly his awareness came back to him, but when he worked through what little energy he had, it almost felt like he was looking through the others rather than at them.

“You alright?” Time asked instead, swallowing down his own emotion.

Twilight paused and then gave a slight nod. “I thought you was someone else,” he offered with an apologetic smile.

“Sorry,” Time offered.

Twilight shook his head. “Don’ be,” he offered vaguely as his attention turned back to the lure.

“Do I look like someone else?”

Twilight looked up again, brow folding in thought, trying to pick up the conversation again. “Not…not really I…” He paused, bending over as coughs rattled his body.

Time moved to the rancher’s side, patting his back. He helped the man sit upright again. Twilight wiped his chin on his hand with a slight grimace. Bloody mucus clung to his skin, tears beaded in his eyes.

“I’m tired,” he mumbled, through a rattled wheeze, rubbing his throat.

“I know,” Time said. “I want you to eat at least five bites tonight and then you can get some sleep, alright?”

Legend watched from across the cave. He shuffled a deck of cards between his hands absently. His thoughts were with the rancher, with his guilt over the rescue. Wild hadn’t spoken to him still, and when he caught the champion looking, the expression was icy to say the least. Wild didn’t need to say the words for the intent to be clear– it should’ve been you . Legend sighed, tossing the cards between his hands in a practiced shuffle. Beside him, Sky whittled as he chatted happily with Wind and further along the wall, Hyrule and Four finished up their evening on dish duty.

Wars reached over, pushing his hand through Legend’s hair, drawing the veteran’s attention. It wasn’t like Legend to be down or to stay down when knocked there. He felt responsible for both Wars and Twilight, even if the others did everything to convince him otherwise. The captain could hardly blame him–in the veteran’s position, Wars would’ve felt the same. All of them would, he assumed. Wars figured it would be easier to lift Legend’s spirits if it weren’t for Wild’s undivided ire, and that was the only reason Time and Wars let the champion neglect all else to dote on his mentor.

“You looked lost,” the captain joked when Legend glanced over curiously.

Legend gave a shrug over a frown. “I feel bad,” he sighed.

“I know,” Wars said. “But you don’t need to.”

“Yeah,” Wind agreed, “Twi’s getting a lot better already. And cap’s already better too.”

Legend glanced over at Wars. “Is that true?” he asked. “I haven’t seen you run any of your drills.”

“Well,” Wars hemmed and hawed, “I’m still tired and my breathing’s still not where I’d like it, but I’m fine. You should be worried about losing.”

“Losing?” Legend asked.

Four joined them, pointing at the cards. “Deal me in.”

Legend glanced up and then sighed heavily. “I dunno. I’m not in the mood. I might just sit this one out.”

Wind puffed his cheeks. “You’ve sat out every game since we got here. It’s not the same without you. I’m starting to get sick of winning.”

“I think it’d be a good distraction,” Wars encouraged. “And anyway, the old man’s not as good at the game as you are–”

“I heard that!” Time called from the other side of the cave.

Twilight glanced up. “Who’re you talkin’ to?” he asked his ancestor.

Time’s face fell and then he gave a sorry smile, ruffling Twilight’s hair. “No one, pup. Eat up.”

As Wild sat down with a bowl of stew to share with Twilight, Time got up and joined the others. He needed some space from Twilight, a chance to breathe before he lost his cool. His throat was tight, but he swallowed down his tears as he sat next to Wars, giving the captain a light knock on the head.

“Making threats you can’t uphold?” Time teased.

Wars shrugged. “You haven’t beat me,” he pestered.

Nothing escaped the captain, and he caught the emotion Time tried to smother. The rancher hadn’t been himself in a few days and likely wouldn’t be for a few more. The captain had to wonder if Time almost preferred Twilight being dead asleep 23 hours of the day if only because then he wouldn’t have the man mixing up where they were or who they were.

“Twi,” Wild said, distracting him from the fishing lure, “have a bite.”

Twilight glanced at the stew and gave a slight shake of his head. “Ain’ hungry.”

“I know you’re not,” the champion sighed tiredly, “but you need to have something. It’s warm, and I made it, so I promise it’s good.”

Twilight ignored him. It was anyone’s guess if it was intentional or just the fog the rancher still found himself in.

“I’m forgettin’ som’thin’,” Twilight mumbled as he fussed with the lure clumsily. Quietly he muttered a list of the steps in crafting a lure, but he lost the thread somewhere along the way and fell quiet again.

Wild cooled a spoonful of stew before he shoved it into Twilight’s face. Reflexively, the rancher took the bite once it touched his lips. He paused, expression lightening up somewhat over the warmth and flavor.

“Is it good?” Wild asked.

Twilight nodded, accepting another bite when it was pushed into his mouth. The rancher took in a handful of bites offered to him, and then refused anymore. His appetite still failed him, but it was the most he’d eaten since waking the first day in the cave, so Wild didn’t push the issue. But with a stomach full of stew and fighting to keep his concentration, the rancher tired quickly and soon, the champion tucked him into bed for the night as the others played a round of cards without Legend.

Chapter Text

For the first time in a week, Twilight stayed up later than Wild. The rancher sat by the fire, taking in its warmth. He still kept a blanket over his shoulders, but his color was back to normal, his hands beginning to heal. Wars put him through exercise after exercise to check for the feeling in his hands and feet, but they could rest easy in there being no permanent damage. His grip was still weak, and he still ate very little and needed to sleep longer and more often, but he could move around on his own and hold a conversation and recall the previous day.

Twilight quietly cut a few leather strips lengthwise, working on some minor repairs to normal wear on his bag. The work consumed every ounce of concentration he could muster and he had to do it slowly and carefully. He paused when a tin mug caught the corner of his eye. The rancher lifted his head, glancing at the cup offered to him. On the other side of it was the veteran holding his own mug.

Twilight took the warm milk with a smile. “You look happy to see me,” he remarked regarding the veteran’s grim expression.

Legend said nothing, sitting down nearby to stew. Twilight shrugged, figuring Legend would talk when he was ready. Clearly he had something to say. The rancher set his cup aside, pushing a thick needle through one of the threadless holes in the flap of his bag. The seam had come out some time before, likely lost along the road, and Twilight had little patience for sewing and every excuse not to fix it. But with the downtime and boredom the rancher found himself in, he’d finally gotten around to it.

He swore, his grip hardly strong enough to pull the leather thread through the small hole. He dropped the needle as soon as he pushed it through. Twilight let out a long sigh and in frustration, set the bag down.

“Here,” Legend offered, taking it.

Twilight watched as the veteran recovered the needle and threaded it. Quietly, deftly, Legend stitched up the seam in a snug whip stitch. It was only discernible from the older stitching because the new thread was in much better condition.

“You shoulda asked,” Legend said quietly, ignoring Twilight’s impressed expression.

Twilight smiled. “Didn’t wanna bother you any. Thanks for the milk.”

Legend lifted his eyes up before he turned them back to the bag with a shrug. “Hardly any bother. Besides, I owe you.”

“Owe me?” Twilight asked curiously, licking the milk from his upper lip.

“Yeah for…for…” Legend sighed, resting the bag in his lap. He shook his head, face heavy with regret. “You got sick because of me.”

Twilight tipped his head up in thought with a hum. “I don’t think I did…”

“Maybe you don’t remember it,” Legend sighed, “but I broke the ice and you threw me out of the way.”

“Time told me,” Twilight offered with a smile. “Wild too. And Wars scolded me about it–says I shoulda left it to someone who’s half decent at swimming. Oh, and that I had too many layers on and I’m supposed to hold my breath. He says next time I feel like taking a dip in liquid ice to ‘least give it enough thought to go in as Wolfie instead.”

“Right,” Legend sighed. “So it’s because of me–”

“Ledge,” Twilight said patiently, “I made a choice.”

The rancher reached over, setting a hand on Legend’s head.  He turned Legend’s head up to meet his eyes, giving the veteran a warm smile. Legend’s nose and eyes grew red, his eyes wetting as his lip quivered.

He bowed his head with a shuddering sob. “I’m so sorry,” he got out weakly. “You and captain got all messed up because of me.”

“You didn’t drag me into the water,” Twilight argued gently. “‘N I know you didn’t pull cap in neither. I made a choice to pull you out of the way. To be totally honest, ‘n don’t tell Time or Wars, my body moved ‘fore the rest of me,” Twilight offered sheepishly. “‘Sides, you’d’ve done the same.”

“Doesn’t mean it wasn’t my fault,” Legend hissed, wiping his face on his sleeves.

“Oh sorry,” Twilight said. “I forgot you’re the one that put the water and the ice and the snow there and you’re also the one that specifically stepped on it just ‘cuz you knew me ‘n cap would get cold from it.”

“I am the one who stepped on it–”

“And I’m the one who jumped in. I know I can’t make you stop blaming yourself, Ledge, but I don’t want you to be mad at yourself. Be mad at me all you want. Or Four or something, I dunno, just someone who ain’t you.”

Legend offered a weak laugh. “Why would I be mad at Four?”

“‘Cuz I said you could be mad at him,” Twilight offered with a smile.

Legend pawed at his eyes with a sniffle. “Yeah sure, I’ll get right on that.”

“C’mere,” Twilight sighed, reaching over.

He attempted to pull Legend into a hug, but his strength only got a tug on Legend’s shoulder. Normally, Legend would’ve pulled away, but he gave in and got up, sitting in front of Twilight so the rancher could hug him. The warm embrace broke whatever dam Legend built inside himself and the veteran clung to the rancher tightly, weeping into his chest as he was rocked gently.