Live Your Own Story in Hyrule

While the platform is being boarded, down the way, the guillotine continues its welcoming routine, raising and dropping its blade. Ice began to gather around the blade, seizing it for a brief moment before the mechanism managed to overcome it and drop the blade once again.

Irina hmphs.

_Gatu rides on the platform over to Irina and Link with Mipha, with the Revali Twins confirming they'll carefully fly across._
"From what I know and have seen with interactions with Impa and a few other Shiekah here and there is that they got their own skills. The only way we can probably see any traps or what not is by finding the Mirror of Truth somewhere inside here... Last I heard of it, it was stored down in a well somewhere, so I am curious how it ended up here to the Shadow Temple. Maybe it has some origin with the Sheikah Tribe somehow?"

Link calls out to the approaching people in a low whine, then barks.

Translation available: Wolf

Revali lifts off from the alcove and hovers next to the platform. He listens in on the charm and then looks ahead. "Apparently, there's a blade up ahead that drops down from above when trying to cross it. No doubt, it's what caught them when they crossed over before us," he shared with the remaining group. "So, be mindful when you disembark."

"Hmm." Mipha hums thoughtfully to herself. "Princess Zelda informed us of a mirror, but we weren't provided a name. I suppose it isn't unreasonable to believe this mirror we are looking for may be that. But, I find it strange she would leave off such a specific detail." She admits. "Part of our journey here is even determining if this mirror is present. If it is, it may help with the current issues plaguing Castle Town Market."

The platform slowly progresses through the dark and arrives at the other side, coming to a rest before a path that is framed with a gate and blade hanging above it. On the other side of it, two group members are present. Beneath the blade itself are tufts of fur and blood, a grim reminder of what took place here earlier.

Wolf Link whines, looking up at the blade. He barks again, warning Mipha and Gatu.

“Please be very careful!” Irina joins in warning.

Redvali could see the blade they were warned about as they approached the place. Up, up and down it went. "What were these Sheikah even thinking!?" Just what exactly needed to be kept inside here for this place to host something like this? "I can't wait until we can leave this place...." He whimpered aloud. "It's been terrible every step of the way."

"I don't think there is an effective word that can describe how disturbing this tool is." Mipha observed the blade on its up and down journey as she stepped off the path. Her attention immediately zeroed in on the tufts of fur on the ground. How could this have happened!? She can't help but think if she had been here, it might have been handled with a little more care.

She focuses back on the blade, attempting to get a sense of its timing and begins her crossover.

Translation available: Wolf

"I must be really out of current events since I've been away from Hyrule Castle and Castle Town... Hopefully we can find the Mirror of Truth here. And perhaps on the way there after the ordeal here, you guys could perhaps lend me one of those pendant broches for a bit that allow you to translate what Link is saying temporarily if I fail to create one myself the first go around. so I can replicate its magic." _Gatu requests politely._ "And if possible, catch me up on what has been going on since the end of the Flood. If I am to be of the most help to you guys, I need to be on the same page... As for that Guillotine Blade..."

_Gatu equips his Hylian Shield. If the ice holding it breaks, he's ready to stop it from coming down with the incredibly sturdy shield._ "If that ice holding it breaks, I can cover the rest of you guys to pass under safely while I hold it up with it before ducking away from getting cut myself. Sound good?"

Irina would typically wait for the group patiently, but the uncertainty and danger in this place brings much more urgency in her.

“He said to cross when it starts to retract upwards,” she translates, reaching out her hand to Mipha in an effort to bring her closer as soon as she crosses the blade.

"Tell you what, I'll think of a surprise and it'll be on the house." Fallon replies to Saria, jotting down 'surprise' and circling it. "Okay, that ought to take care of things and--" her head lowers to see her little one at the table. "Play? That is what you are offering after they have just arrived?" She smiles, giving way to the table so they can all take off. "Of course, they wouldn't say no to that offer."

She chuckles and clears the milk and water cups while she determines what would be good for them to eat. "Make sure you stay close by!!" She called out to them, ensuring her voice could be heard through and beyond the door.

"Okay, now what to feed to them... Perhaps some cuccoo tenders. I think that'll be good. Side of greenery and that ought to cover it."

That in mind, she quickly heads to the kitchen to drop off the glasses and put the order in. She then hustles towards the exit so she could watch them and wait for the order to finish.

"Okay Mommy!" Naomi says as she follows the other two, her brain immediately filing the instruction under 'Things that have been responded to and thus require no further thought'.

Out in the field, Naomi spreads her arms to the others. "So what should we play? How abouuuuuuuut" (points at Aio) "you're the heroic knight," (points at Saria) "you're the pretty princess," (points at self) "and I'M the ferocious dragon?" >:) Naomi raises her hands high like claws and stomps dramatically toward Saria. "IIIIII'M GOING TO EEEEAAAT YOOOOUUUUU!" >:O

Aio stares at Naomi blankly. He clearly didn't understand her. He wonders why this girl is threatening the other girl.

As he doesn't quite understand the rules of the game, he does the same and chases after Saria, holding his hands up like a dragon as well. He calls out "Raaawr!" and something unintelligible in his language.

Saria lets out a scream as both come after her and laughs, running. She looks at Aio and points at Naomi without stopping. "Attack HER, not me! We are the good guys! Dragon! Dragon! " She repeats, hoping to teach Aio a new word.

Aio begins chasing after Naomi, too, and calls her by what he thinks is probably her name, "Dragon! Dragon!"

Fallon opens the door and is immediately met with screaming and shouts of a dragon. She hurries outside, checking the sky and surroundings to see if one had suddenly popped up. Thankfully, there was no such creature and further processing allowed her to realize they were just playing out here. Of course, that's what they intended to do in the first place, but flashbacks of moldugas and spiders said otherwise. Briefly, anyway.

So, she heads back towards the walls of the inn and leans against them, watching them play and enjoy life for the time being. A refreshing change of scenery to what she knows lies beyond.

Naomi blinks at the swift derailment of her CAREFULLY CRAFTED FANTASY WORLD. o.O; At least Saria seems to get the idea and is trying to explain it to Aio -- but it looks like he still thinks _he's_ a dragon. Okay, well, maybe he can be a knight AND a dragon! Like some kind of...dragon man!

<https://i.redd.it/xcbi8yj0nhv81.jpg>

"Ummm...OHNOES IT IS THE DRAGONBORN! BUT YOU WILL NEVER DEFEAT ME UNLESS YOU FIND THE, ummm, MAGICAL HELMET OF RAINBOW FLAMES! IT IS IN, ummmmmmmmmm...aaaaaa SECRET PLACE THAT--THAT ONLY THE ROYAL FAMILY KNOWS ABOUT!" Yeah, Naomi is totally engaging in AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION and not dumping her DM responsibilities on Saria. n.n

Those were a lot of words and Aio understood none of them! He continues to chase Dragon and shouts her name. He giggles with excitement as the air and sun and open space combine to create a volatile reaction of fun.

As the screams of the children echo through the field outside of the Wolfos, a tall imposing Gerudo woman cuts the horizon perpendicularly. She holds a spear and walks in a relaxed pace but with a serious expression. The expression softens when she sees the children playing, particularly the boy.

She stops and observes them by the stables outside of the inn.

Saria laughs and nods, pointing at Noemi! "Yes! Catch the dragon!"

Seeing Risa arrive, Saria hmms, touching her chin with a finger. She approaches Risa and Fallon and brings her hands to her back. "Excuse me, I have a question."

"As you know, Aio is living in the Kokiri Forest now. Do you know of any grown-ups that may help us build a treehouse for him?"

Risa crouches down to become eye-level with the forest child. She rests her elbow on her knee and says, "A treehouse?" She thinks, and says, "Sweetie, I am from the desert. I don't know much about trees. But I will find someone who can help."

Fallon laughed to herself. Of all the things Naomi could've been, a dragon...born was not one she expected. Yet, she could appreciate her imagination. Those bedtime stories must've sounded far more spectacular to her than she'd thought.

Spotting movement in the distance, she looked towards it and found it was a friendly face upon closer inspection. She smiled as Risa approached, acknowledging her presence with a nod.

With Saria now approaching, she then pondered her question, "You need help with one, hm? Well, I'm not much of a builder, but I can assist in whatever way I can. I'll have to ask my husband if he has any suggestions or ideas. All else fails, I could just read about trees and houses and then attempt to replicate it."

Saria grins, her hands on her back while she listens to them. "You are big and strong women, so I knew you could help! Thank you." With this, she goes back to playing with her friends.

GUUUHHHH!!! &gt;_&lt;; Being a DM is so FRUSTRATING! You put in all this work to give the players an intricate world to interact with, and they just want to be MURDER HOBOS that solve every problem by charging at it swords waving! "Okay, fine! TAG, YOU'RE IT!" Naomi shouts to Aio. Then she turns and dashes away.

Saria runs after the Wolfos family with Link. When they arrive at the temple, the kokiri's interest switches from the animals to the building. She runs to it, touching the wall and looking for the door curiously. "What is this place? Have you been here before?" she asks Link.

Link shakes his head. "I haven't. And from the looks of these vines, it doesn't look like anybody has been here for a while." He looks up at the stone walls and tries to peer into an opening. "Let's explore it!"

Saria grabs one of the vines to make a small climb to one of the openings. "Hellooooo!" She looks inside and hmms. "I am so curious to see what is in there..." She follows you, wondering if you fit into the opening.

Link barely fits but he squeezes in, pushing past vines and other plants. There is a sudden drop but plenty of vines to hold onto. He climbs down. Some light filters in from other windows and a hole in the roof. He reaches a large central room and calls out to you.

Saria almost falls as well, and not as gracefully as Link. She grabs onto the vines, almost getting trapped in them, but climbs down after Link and looks around. "This is place is so mysterious! I wonder how long it has been empty. We should be careful; there might be some skulltullas and deku babas around."

_------+++++++++++++++------_

A certain Gerudo chef is examining the few fallen logs at the edge of the Woods, turning them over and disturbing the life within as her little troop begin the trek to Kokiri Forest proper.