Squeek

The Sage of Wind, mastery over the air to rival that of the Great Rito Champion Revali, Tulin of the Rito, had a problem. This problem caused him to be kidnaped for several months when he was younger and It’s embarrassing. The sun was streaming across his eyes as his mom had pulled the blinds. He shifted, trying to hide from the sun, however, his mom had other ideas.

“Tulin, breakfast is ready.” He groaned, “We have visitors coming today.”

He remembered that Link was coming for their regular competition. Sitting up bleary eyed, his hammock rocking slightly, slowly his eyes adjusted to the brightness. After a moment he surveyed his surroundings, no one was around. He deemed it safe and hopped out. Out of nowhere his mother snatched him off the ground in a big hug. It happened again. He’s done it for as long as he could remember.

He squeaked.

“MOM!” He struggled, trying to free himself from his mother’s embrace, but she simply planted a motherly peck on his forehead before putting him down. She always embarrassed him.

His father came in from the walkway chuckling, “Get used to it,” it was all he ever said on the matter, ruffling feathers, his dad let him go about his business. He took his bow over to Harth who helped him look it over, checked the store, cleaning out the arrows as he does every morning, he even checked with Moli to see if she wanted anything, or if he could buy some more. He always needed more arrows when Link came over.

He wandered the village with no real goal, there really wasn’t much to do since the Deamon King issue was taken care of last year. Sure, his brother friend would find way to get them into trouble, but nothing was ever a real threat. He was loafing around Revali’s Landing when he was once again taken unawares.

He squeaked.

Really, what was he going to say if the Princess of Hyrule surprised him with random hugs, the other sages did it too. This time she had picked him up and had him dangling in her arms, a mildly sullen expression on his face.

“Aw, don’t sweat it Tulin.” Link ruffled the feathers on his head, “Revali squeaked too.”

Zelda rested her chin on top of his head, “And how would you know?” she pointedly asked him.

“I remember.” He spoke. There was something to his face, it was almost imperceptible. If he hadn’t spent so much time with Link, he would have missed it.

“That’s not what I asked,” her voice grew more pointed, “How do you know?”

“Um.” He looked nervous, “no particular reason.” She was advancing on him with Tulin in her arms. What happened next was a blur, he snatched Tulin from her arms. “Race you to the Flight Range.”

He loved this idea and took off immediately. “You get back here,” the princess was mad, but that was Link’s problem, not his. They were good at getting out of trouble anyway. Link, right behind him, caught in his wake.

They reached the Flight Range in no time, his father was there already, targets set up everywhere. “So, what are we shooting for today gentlemen?”

“A squeak, and a cute head tilt.” Link spoke up first.

“Hey, that’s two things from me.” He objected.

“In trouble already Link?” his dad commented, “That a record?”

“Na, Still haven’t beat the first time we met.“ his brother friend replied. His dad just laughed.

“I want you to stop mom and the Princess from making me squeak.” He was serious.

Both laughed, “I can try.” “Sure.”

“I want you two to clean a room.” They stared at his dad, then each other. They knew what he was talking about and neither wanted to deal with that. They had to take him seriously, he won last time, and that was a cold evening.

“I’ll go first.” With the horn, his father’s white wings blurred as he lifted into the air. Arrow after arrow from his Great Eagle Bow removing target after target. As his father’s arrows hit home, every time, the bow adjusted for range instead of speed or power.

He heard two thumps land behind him. “Don’t think you’re getting out of it that easy.” He snerked as his brother’s friend’s impulsiveness caught up with him. They all watched the display as his father finished all 40 targets. His time was better than the last time, he’s been practicing.

“Shit”, a nudge from Link tells him that he did not say that in his head.

“Don’t let your dad hear you talk like that.” Harth surprised him by ruffling his head feathers.

He turned to face the blue-grey Rito behind him, “Talk like what?” Tulin tensed as his dad landed right behind him.

“"Nothingimupbye" in a rush he bolted for the takeoff, his time started as he left the deck. Tulin’s Great Eagle Bow was tooled just for him and how the fired it. He was swift and efficient target to target went down. It was no time before all 40 were splintered.

He landed back on the deck, proud, beating his dad’s time by 2 tenths. He was proud, “I guess that means no more squeaking for me.” He sauntered back to the group.

Link didn’t say anything as he flipped off the deck, opening his glider, catching the updrafts, he lingered in the air a moment. As they watched Zelda’s voice could be heard from between them, “you guys know that time moved differently for him when he does this, right?” The pair glanced at her, her dreamy eyes trained on him dropping from his glider.

“So? I can fly.” They replied in unison, glancing in her direction.

She laughed at that. “You two are so much like Revali in his pridefulness,” she didn’t take his eyes off him though. It was a flurry of arrows that left his Great Eagle Bow, tuned for speed, he easily shot the most arrows, blanketing the area, breaking all the targets. It was no time before he landed back on the deck with a bow. It was by 1 tenth.

They all checked again, “Ok gentlemen, operation Distract:”

Tulin sighed just before he was snatched off the ground.

He squeaked.

Link spun him around, hugging him from under his wings. Tulin, for his part put on his cutest smile and tilted his head, his dad vanished behind them. Link stood there with him suspended, just barely off the ground. Tulin folded his wings over his brother’s friend’s arms. Zelda took in the site for a moment before she squealed as she pulled out her Purah Pad and he heard the snap as it took a picture. “Don’t think this gets you out of an explanation mister.”

“Awwww.” Echoed from all 3 of them, only one did not snicker as well. She advanced on them, snatching him from Link’s arms.

He squeaked.

“Well, you remember that time when we were all going to Kara Kara to surprise Urbosa for her birthday?” Link’s ears had started going red. Tulin was always interested in storied about Champion Revali, “how he was really out of sorts.”

“Yes.” Her head has settled onto his again.

“Well, we were talking about it.” His ears were growing redder. Tulin was relishing his brother’s friend’s embarrassment. “Me and Mipha were debating on weather he got enough hugs when he was little.”

“You didn’t.,” her voice was mildly scandalous.

“Yep, everyone else went inside early to get out of the sun, caught him just before we went in,” Link winked at him, “Tackled hugged him, you remember those?” she nods against his head feathers, “And he squeaked.” He started to chuckle “he was so mad, threatened to kill me.” His brother friend paused thoughtfully, “I just told him he should be a little nicer and walked inside.”

“You mean THAT’S why he started letting up?” a bit of incredulousness to her voice.

“I far as I can remember.” he confirmed, looking over Tulin’s head, at her when his eyes squinted, “You didn’t seem that surprised when I mentioned it.” A finger began tapping his chin, “Almost like you knew,” he for real close, almost smishing Tulin between them, “how did you know,” there was no room for dispute in his voice.

“Iiii-“ she stretched out the syllable as she dropped him and took off running for the deck, “gottagobye.” With that she jumped into the updrafts of the Flight Range, opening her paraglider.

“Hey!” Link chased after her, glider opening as he jumped.

He heard Harth and his father laughing as they took off themselves, lazing their way back to the village. Tulin, not really having any plans himself, and monumentally bored spied the spare arrows on the table, figured he’d have some fun.

As he winged his way home, Bokoblin after Bokoblin sprouted feathers from their heads. He thought about taking out a Moblin, but they tended to throw things at him making them a bother. He mentally noted the locations of each one, and a Talus he noticed hiding near the Village, to tell Link later. His brother friend had a lot of fun with those things.

He drifted back past Revali’s Landing, landing silently inside the elder’s hit, Kaniel having gone on sabbatical to Eldin and the hot springs there. He contemplated ducking back out the hut and into the air, but the contest and fun back had made his wings stiff. He peaked his beak out the door, searching for specific ones who has a habit of…

He squeaked.

His mom found him, snatching him up once again. “Amali, is this not the most precious thing you have ever heard.”

“You’ve heard my daughters, right? But that’s close.” Amari giggled as she looked sympathetically at the captured sage. He began to struggle, but all he could to was wave his wings, and kick his legs as his mom snuggled him up and give him a little peck on the top of his head.

“Mom, I’m the Save of Wind, I’m a Full Fledge Rito Warrior.” He emphasized each word.

She gave him another peck on the top of his head. “You’re the most adorable warrior in the world.” He could not do anything other than sigh and dangle there.

“Saki, I think we should leave him to his day. I’m sure there are others who wish to get his attention.” Giggling, Amali calmly took him from his mother and set him down. “I need to talk with your mother for a bit, run while you can.”

He did not need to be told twice.

He ended up stopping near The Brazen Beak. He looked around, the walkway was strangely empty. “Where’s Kheel?” he mumbled. Shrugging, he continued past the shop.

A light thump struck him in the chest, holding him around the middle.

He squeaked.

He sighed, defeated.

“Why so sad, Tulin?” Kheel asked him, looking up at him.

“I’m a Rito warrior,” She was still looking at him. Why were his cheeks getting warm? “I’m the Sage of Wind,” his voice was losing it’s conviction. Were her eyes always this pretty? “I’m not supposed to squeak.” He finished distractedly.

“I think it’s cute.” She stated as she hugged him a little tighter.

He was suddenly very warm. He assumed it was because Kheel was hugging him. He was having problems trying to find the right words, any words, really. “Kay.” He replied softly and on impulse he wrapped his wings around her shoulders.

Maybe his squeaking isn’t so bad.