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For Love of A Lynel

Chapter 1

"Link! Jinn sees it, over there!"

Icy-sharp gusts of bitter cold wind laced with pearl-white snow greedily forced their way through the thick Rito-down of Link's tunic. The endless white drifts and sharp crags of the Tabantha region gave way to jagged towers of rock that reigned on high between the tall peaks of Western Hyrule. If the young hylian had not known better, he would have believed that some great beast or monster of legend had hewn the imposing spires out of the very earth itself long ago.

Link barely stifled a shiver as the wind picked up speed, trying to remain stoic and steadfast as the towering stone monument that was home to the bird-like Rito people came into view. For he knew well that the air could become even less hospitable the higher you went, but it had not stopped him from taking to the skies with the Rito warrior Teba and subduing the massive mechanical Divine Beast Vah Medo. His training as a solider, which was now a distant memory of a life long past, had taught him that he had to adapt to his environment, to not let his resolve waver in the face of any challenge that presented itself.

More than that, weakness was something he dared not show to either of the companions that now shared his journey.

First of all, bothering Zelda with his own discomfort would be a bad idea. She had far too much on her plate already.

After the wave of elation and relief in the wake of Calamity Ganon's defeat had finally ebbed away, Zelda's stoic and mercurial side had re-asserted itself in full-force. As the only surviving member of the Royal Family, it was her duty to band together the various races and peoples of Hyrule and re-build what had been lost.

At first, it had all seemed so easy.

Their victory over Ganon had left her confidence at an all-time high, and her initial dialogues with representatives from each race had also gone well. Then, before she knew it, the embers of old mistrust and animosity began to fester throughout Hyrule like bubbles in a pot of simmering water. Some groups seemed determined to uphold their racial identity above all else and look out for their own interests over the needs of the greater good.

The Rito were one such race, and it had become Zelda's task to play the diplomat and convince them of the benefits of committing their depleted resources to the restoration effort. Teba, though agreeable to help in the fight against Ganon, was a practical bird at heart. He had not been shy about voicing his skepticism about Hylian leadership; a sentiment that the Rito's portly chief, Kaneli shared.

Link had already grown tired of Zelda quipping that her task might actually be harder than containing Ganon, and that all she had done was trade one hundred-year burden for another.

But, more than this, Link was driven by an anxiety that crawled around inside him like a colony of ants; one that had been with him for most of his quest to restore the divine beasts and defeat Calamity Ganon.

It was an insatiable desire to be strong for the massive creature on whose back he and Zelda now rode. The one who's soothing body heat and warm countenance made that cold bearable. The one who had become his ally, his comrade, his partner, and, dare he think it...his best friend?

Yet, some small part of him still could not believe that this person was actually a Lynel.

Jinn, despite her kind nature, valued strength above all else, and Link could not help but feel a twinge of fear seep through his veins every time he perceived himself showing weakness around her.

Of course, his fear was completely unfounded.

Such a display would only cause her motherly side to come out, and she would love him and care for him all the more.

Love...?

Link banished that thought from his mind instantly. He had spent many months trying to wrap his head around how such a thing was even possible, but any attempt to do so left him burnt out and frustrated.

---

Their first meeting had begun much like many other challenges Link had faced on his long, torturous quest.

There she had stood, on a wide mesa at near the peak of Ploymus mountain near Zora's Domain. She gave off the air of a proud predator: her thick, white mane and tail flowing like ribbons in the mountain breeze, her thick muscles rippling throughout her towering form like waves on the ocean, brow furrowed in concentration and her piercing green orbs constantly scanning her surroundings. Her massive claymore lay at her side, and her long bow rested over her shoulder as she staunchly patrolled her territory, ready to utterly obliterate any intruder that had the audacity to cross her path.

Unfortunately, Link had no choice but to intrude that day. For he had no hope of taming the Divine beast Vah Ruta without shock arrows, and the only supply available lay strewn about Jinn's plateau, remnants of many a foolhardy attempt to conquer her mountain by ambitious Zora warriors.

However, focused though he was on the task at hand, Link could not help but pause for a moment in his hiding place behind a large tree and stare in awe at her fearsome form. There was something almost admirable in the way she carried herself as a warrior. Fierce, yet also inherently feminine.

That was where the comedy of errors had begun.

Perhaps it was a result of Link's memory loss regarding lynels, or the fact that despite being 122 years old, Link was still a young man, entering his prime. Yet, there was something captivating about the swell of her ample breasts under her thin, animal-hide brassiere, or how the curves of her lower half--

The thunderous clop of hooves, and the ear-splitting roar bursting from the Jinn's lungs as she charged towards him reminded Link all too late of how fiercely territorial lynels were. He barely had enough time to dash out of the way before her massive metal weapon came down, cleaving his hiding tree in half.

Link had cursed his amnesia as he also seemed to forget how ferocious and tenacious lynels were in battle. He had only milliseconds of reprieve between each furious assault and no matter where he ran, she was constantly right on his heels. To make matters worse, her Lynel Crusher was far sturdier than any weapon he carried, and sword after spear after club shattered into thin air if it dared to clash with hers.

At last, he was left exhausted, bruised and on the verge of defeat. All he had left was a wooden ladle he had only used for tasting his breakfast that morning.

It turned out to be the only weapon he had ever needed.

With one furious burst from her bow, she had launched a volley of fireballs at him, but had mis-timed the attack, and Link's heart had leapt as he saw the opportunity in the updraft of air that now swirled up from the ground.

In one motion, he whipped out his paraglider, sailed high into the air above her head, and with a roar of righteous fury, brought his ladle down on her forehead. It was a desperate move, and he closed his eyes, half-expecting her to catch him in her arms and bring about his doom.

Yet, when his feet squished into the ground and he opened his eyes, he could barely believe what he saw...

There she was, sprawled on her side on the grass, out like a light.

He had barely been able to contain himself, leaping into the air in triumph, and rushing around the grassy plateau to collect his quarry.

But that was only the first act of the comedy.

As the adrenaline of battle wore off, every muscle in his body let loose its rage at him and his rational mind spoke up, reminding him he might not be able to make it back down the mountain in this state. As he reached into his pack to retrieve two filets of freshly-seasoned smoked Hylian bass, he noticed the female lynel stir as she lay on her side, a grimace of anguish on her face and a groan of pain escaping her lips.

To this day, he still had no idea why he had done it.

His rational mind had told him to leave her be and get on his way, yet there was something so innocent, so pathetic about the way she looked that his compassionate side had shoved its way to the surface, overriding all better judgment.

Everything inside him screamed not to approach her, yet his legs carried him over to her as if they were being manipulated by a puppeteer from on high.

Then, her stomach had led out a massive rumble, and Link's compassion-addled mind knew what to do, even though it was utterly insane.

Her nostrils flared at the thick, smoky sent of the fish as the filets hit the ground near her face. Then, suddenly, with a new surge of energy that nearly made Link jump out of his skin, the huge lynel wolfed them down her gullet in mere seconds.

Before Link knew what was happening, she was on her feet again, her massive form towering over him as he stood utterly helpless and terrified before her. Link's lips began to shake uncontrollably, and he silently cursed himself that he would meet such an undignified end because of a sudden attack of conscience.

Then, Link's blue eyes met her green, glowing eyes, and for a fleeting moment, a strange twinge of familiarity passed between them, one that Link could not quite articulate, but it was enough to set his mind reeling. He was so focused on how strange it felt that he barely noticed the loving crush of her massive arms around him, and the cool wetness of her tongue as it playfully lapped at his face. His mind remained in its trance even minutes later when she placed him back down on his feet.

He would never forget the smile on her face that day...

--

"Link? Jinn said she can see the bird-people village up ahead!" came a low, feminine voice from somewhere above him.

The young Hylian warrior was suddenly broken out of his stupor as he looked up at the lynel's wild visage as she turned her torso around and craned her neck over to look him in the eye.

"Link, are you alright?" Zelda asked, placing a hand on his shoulder.

"Huh...oh! Yes, I'm fine. Just...thinking..." said Link, returning to his senses.

Link turned back to Zelda, looking her in the eye with a frown of concern.

The princess' gaze softened for a moment as a long sigh blew lightly from her lips. Without saying a word, her gaze communicated to Link that she knew exactly what he was thinking about. Their years of trial, tribulation, misunderstanding and reconciliation had given each an inherent understanding of how the other's mind worked.

Jinn, on the other hand, was not so skilled in the ways of subtlety and innuendo. She was direct, uncomplicated, blunt in a way that almost made her seem naïve at times, though Link and Zelda knew better.

"What is Link thinking about?" Jinn asked, a quizzical look on her face.

"I don't know...just..." Link slowly looked back, searching desperately for an excuse for zoning out.

"I was just wondering what it's going to take to convince the Rito to help us. I know Teba. He's a good man, but...he's stubborn. I fear that all the talk in the world isn't going to convince him. He's a bird of action, we'll have to prove we can do what we say we're going to do. No offense, but I'm starting to wonder if Zelda's the best person to talk to him...he might see her as a symbol of how things went 100 years ago..."

"Pshh, that is what you're worried about? Silly Link!" Jinn laughed heartily.

"Princess Zelda is strong in many ways. She will handle herself, Link knows that!"

A smirk slithered onto Zelda's face as Link sighed in agreement.

"Why, thank you, Jinn. To think, here I am trying to re-build my kingdom, and I can get more loyalty from a lynel than from my own knight...er...no offense..."* Zelda said in mock-annoyance that quickly transmuted to apprehension when she realized what she had said.

Much to her relief, Jinn seemed to be unaffected, scoffing at Zelda with a smile.

"Jinn does not mind. Still, it does not sound like Link to be doubtful. Better leave diplomacy to Zelda and leave the fighting to us, yes?" Jinn chuckled, reaching her powerful arm behind her to pull link into a hug, smooshing his face between her massive bicep and her soft bust.

Zelda blushed for a moment at the unintentionally intimate gesture, while a soft smile formed on Link's face. Once upon a time, he had been embarrassed and put-off by the forcefulness and physicality of how the towering lynel showed affection. Now, after all they had been through, he was used to it and, dare he think it, actually enjoyed it.

Zelda's gaze remained locked on Link as he turned around to face their direction of travel, a concerned frown wrapping itself onto her face. Though Link's comment had reminded her of the insecurities of her past, which certainly stung, she had quickly seen through Link's act.

She knew well that Link had complete confidence in her ability to get her job done and that he was making conversation to appease the gentle behemoth that was his partner. However, Link's pre-occupation with Jinn had become her focus as well, and her mind began to reel as she wondered how long Link would allow it to eat at him.

As the trio approached the bridge that led to the village entrance, they looked upwards in awe as Rito of all sizes, ages and colors gathered at the railings of the rocky spire to observe the new arrivals. Several more groups of Rito observed from high overhead, held aloft on the thermal currents of the chasm below. Zelda sucked in a gasp of apprehension as their facial expressions became visible. While at least a few seemed genuinely excited to greet the newcomers, the princess struggled hard not to fixate on the anxious glances, scowls and stares and the overhanging pall of animosity that permeated the air around them.

Much to her disappointment, though not necessarily her surprise, her gut told her that their ire and fear was focused on a single member of their group.

Just as they reached the bridge, Zelda abruptly leapt off of Jinn's back, landing with a thud on the grass. The sudden change in weight gave the massive lynel pause for a moment, and she stopped in her tracks just short of the bridge as Zelda walked around to look her in the face.

"Jinn..." She started, unsure for a moment how to communicate her wishes to Jinn without betraying the reason.

"Would you...would you mind very much waiting for Link back near the stable we passed? Don't worry, he won't be long."

Jinn looked at Zelda quizzically for a moment, furrowing an eyebrow at the unusual command. Turning around, her eyes searched for clarity in Link's face, but he could provide no more than a shrug of confusion.

"Jinn is not sure why, but, as Zelda wishes," she said in an uncertain tone as Link leapt off the massive Lynel's back to join Zelda.

"Jinn wishes Zelda good luck with the bird people, may she make them see things her way," Jinn said forcefully, as she flashed Zelda a confident grin.

Zelda cringed internally for a moment at Jinn's bluntness, but could not help but smile herself at the sincerity and warmth of Jinn's words as she gave the fearsome Lynel a small bow.

"Thank you, Lady Jinn. I appreciate your support and protection and wish you a safe journey home."

Jinn pounded her chest with a fist in reply, her grin growing wider by the moment as Link came into view, standing alongside Zelda.

"Jinn will see Link soon," she said fondly, lowering her front legs to her knees and scooping the young Hylian into her arms for a massive hug, cradling him up against her cheek to nuzzle him.

Link was too caught up in Jinn's affection to notice, but Zelda's teeth ground together as a look of apprehension slithered onto her face. She looked around at the gathered multitude of Rito and hissed in embarrassment as she noticed more than a few of the anthro-birds gasp and retch in revulsion at the display before them.

"Come, Link," Zelda said curtly as Jinn placed him gently back on the ground and he walked purposefully away to join the princess.

As they crossed the final bridge before entering the village, Zelda looked furtively behind her to make sure that Jinn was out of earshot. Her anxiety reminded her that lynels had heightened senses of hearing compared to Hylians and she could take no chances of Jinn overhearing them, lest she hurt Jinn's feelings.

"I'm sorry, Link. I had to do it," she said flatly.

A sad frown loomed on Link's face as her words sunk in.

"I know. You don't have to apologize, it's not your fault, you know. Somehow I think she'll understand why eventually. If I were Rito, knowing what they lost at the hands of Lynels...maybe...I don't know..." Link trailed off.

"Two hundred Rito in a single year. That's saying nothing of all the other races they've ravaged over the years." Zelda added.

"But, she's not like that-"

"Perhaps to you...to us...but how do you know she wasn't a part of that legacy herself? Has she ever talked about her past? Has she ever told you how many Rito she killed before you two met?"

Link remained silent, his gaze hardening as the embers of anger began to fester in his gut at Zelda's harsh tone.

"I didn't think so. Think about it, Link, she'd never talk about that. She'd never risk losing you."

Zelda clenched her hands together as tears began to form at the corners of her eyes.

"Please don't misunderstand, Link. I like Jinn. You know that, right? And perhaps some of Hyrule might accept her, but...I have to think of the grand scheme, I have to think of our future. I know it's not fair but, for a princess to be riding around on a lynel is...unheard of.

"She's a wonderful lynel, but she's still a lynel. The looks on their faces, Link...I can't do anything that might give them reason to question my judgment. The fact that she helped you save Hyrule is...irrelevant to them. We're so close to realizing the future that all of Hyrule has hoped and yearned for. I can't jeopardize that now."

Link's gaze remained hard, piercing Zelda's blue eyes with his own for a long beat. Part of him did not want to believe her, but no matter how much he fought it, he could not deny that she was right.

Finally, he could take no more, closed his eyes and let out a sharp sigh of defeat as Zelda turned to see the portly Chief Kaneli and the slim, white-feathered warrior, Teba approach them.

Zelda turned to face them, her feet carrying her a few steps before suddenly stopping her in her tracks.

With a sad smile, she slowly turned to Link, regret laced into her tone.

"Do you remember what we talked about before, Link?"

Link closed his eyes for a moment, fighting against the miasma of remorse and indecision that was now clouding over his mind.

"I understand it's hard, believe me, I do. But...please don't take too long to decide, for your sake and for hers. I can see what it's doing to you, and...I can't stand seeing you this way. The choice is yours, Link. But please, don't cause yourself any more pain."

A thick black coil of anxiety wrapped around Link's brain, locking his legs in place. He could do nothing but look on as Zelda walked over towards Kaneli and Teba and began exchanging pleasantries.

Their words blurred over until they were a constant stream of dull background noise, his mind solidly focused on the events of last night.

Link had awoken in the middle of the night, relaxed and contented from a particularly good dream. He smiled to himself, good dreams had become much more frequent since first began spending his nights tucked under the arm of the massive lynel who now lay on her side, splayed out next to him. Zelda, however, was nowhere in sight and Link's eyes had frantically searched the landscape for her, fear beginning to course through his veins with every second of searching.

Fortunately, he did not have far to search, and, peering over a small hill, he found her, sitting in a sprawling field of green grass, gazing up at the countenance of the full moon.

"Can't sleep?" Link asked, walking softly behind her.

"Oh!" Zelda exclaimed, mildly startled before calming at the sight of her guardian and letting out a soft smile.

"No...I could never sleep before something like this," she said softly, looking down at the grass that was now shimmering under the light of the moon.

"Why do you think I fell asleep in Urbosa's arms that one night? I'd barely had a wink of sleep for three days before I went on that survey in the desert. I had to give everything to my training, because I had no idea how to make my power work."

"Just like..." Zelda began.

"I have faith Link, but, the Rito can be stubborn, as you know, and... you're the hero of Hyrule. You've helped them directly, you've won their hearts and minds while they barely know me. Do you...do you really think I'm the right person for this task...?"

Link smiled, sitting down on the grass next to Zelda and placing a hand on her shoulder.

"Of course I do," Link said warmly.

"No matter what year it is, or whatever else comes to pass, you will always be my Princess or...my Queen now, I suppose."

"Think about it, you scoured the entire land and worked tirelessly to bring together five champions who had almost nothing in common with each other and mold them into a team."

"...some good that did us," Zelda lamented, looking down at the ground.

"They all died...and my Father, my kingdom...almost everyone I cared about died with them-"

"Zelda, forgive me, but please don't give me that," Link interjected, determination burning in his eyes.

"The champions, the divine beasts, the guardians, saving Hyrule, none of it would have been possible if not for you. You gave us the shot we needed to be victorious. You think of yourself as a failure, but honestly...you were never a failure, especially not to me."

Zelda gasped, her heart genuinely touched by Link's comment. A wide smile formed on her face as a hint of rouge blossomed on her cheeks as she looked up at him again.

"Thank you, Link. I needed that."

"Hmm, I thought you might. But, I mean it, you're so much stronger than you give yourself credit for. Even Jinn thinks so."

"Oh...?" Zelda, her eyebrows shooting up in surprise at the mention of the fearsome Lynel.

"Oh, come on, you know Jinn never holds anything back. You think she didn't tell me about the little talk you two had back in Kakariko before we left?" Link chuckled.

"What about it?"

"Well, when we first met, she didn't really understand the difference between things like physical strength versus strength of character or determination or...heart. Hearing about you suppressing Ganon for a hundred years was hard for her to wrap her head around. It's because of you that she understands now, and she has great respect for you because of it."

Zelda's smile returned to her face for a moment as she felt her heart grow warmer. She was genuinely happy to hear about Jinn's personal growth, and against all better judgment, had begun to trust the gentle lynel. However, the smile faded just as quickly as a pressing thought invaded her psyche.

"Link...?"

"Yes, Zelda?"

"About Jinn..."

"Yes...?"

Link's brow furrowed at Zelda's awkward tone as a sense of foreboding washed over him.

"I know you two have traveled together for a while now, a-and I have a lot to thank her for, considering how she helped you...well, both of us defeat Ganon..."

"But...?" Link asked, his tone becoming harsher. Icy cold wisps of fear began to fester in his lungs at the direction this conversation was heading.

"...are you...I'm sorry Link, there's no easy way to ask this...are you sure it's wise to allow this to continue?"

"What are you saying?"

"I mean...ugh, for Goddess' sake, she's a lynel!"

Red-hot embers of rage suddenly appeared in Link's fought with everything he had to keep them from erupting into a flame. Fortunately Zelda cut him off before he could open his mouth.

"I'm sorry...I'm sorry, Link. That did not come out the way I had intended. Please...please hear me out before you say anything, Link."

Link sucked in a cleansing breath as he stilled his nerves well enough to listen.

"Let me be clear, while it is...unusual, the fact that you befriended a Lynel is not my concern. Honestly, it has warmed my heart to see the kind of friend she has become to you. To see the two of you in battle is breathtaking, you compliment each other so well. She treats you like one of her own kin, and she has put her heart and soul into caring for you."

"But...something tells me that it's not enough for her..."

"What?"

"Please, don't insult my intelligence, Link. I've seen the way she looks at you, how her face lights up at the sight of you, how she watches you when you're not looking. Even someone as dense as you should have noticed by now."

Link paused for a moment, unsure how to respond.

"Oh, and hearing her speak of 'rainbows and butterflies' back in Karariko was one of the most surreal experiences of my life! But...she was speaking of you..."

Link felt a twinge of amusement for a fleeting second, but it was soon lost in a maelstrom of other emotions that caused him to turn away from Zelda, looking down at the ground.

Zelda was right, of course.

He had noticed.

His mind flashed through dozens of awkward moments throughout their journey, many of which he had written off at the time as simple cross-cultural misunderstandings. Now that he had the time to look deeper, it became clearer why those moments had occurred in the first place, and why Jinn always seemed to have smile on her face in moments like those. He silently thanked the goddess that Zelda did not know the half of what she was talking about.

"I see..."

" 'I see'? is that all you have to say?"

"What do you want me to say?"

"Well, for starters, you can tell me how you feel about it, you idiot!" Zelda snapped, desperation seeping into her voice

"I..."

"Please, tell me! I can't compete with her Link! It's not fair..."

Panic began to set in to Link's soul as he searched his heart, desperate for a response to Zelda, but try as he might, he came up short. He had grown so attached to Jinn that it felt odd to be apart from her for too long, she was his right arm. But the thought of becoming something more...?

The thought had been the farthest thing from his mind, until now.

He had been so focused on his task of defeating Ganon up to that point, that he had shoved all other concerns to the back of his mind, promising himself that he would revisit them later.

Now that they had resurfaced, all that was left was doubt, along with utter shock at the princess' outburst.

"I'm sorry...I don't know...I never thought about it..." he said softly.

Zelda sucked in a long breath, looking away from him as she tried to compose herself.

"I'm sorry too."

She struggled mightily to soften her expression before she looked back at Link.

"I don't know, perhaps this is all coming from my own jealousy, but...you should find out how you feel, and soon. For, if you choose that path, I don't think I have to tell you how hard it will be for you two."

"What do you mean?"

Zelda let out a long sigh, frustration festering in her stomach as she wondered why Link still did not get her meaning.

"Look, I'm not ordering you to do anything, but...if it were to happen, I'd understand, the people of Karariko and Hateno would understand, Riju, Sidon, Yonboru and perhaps some of their people might understand, but there are many more in Hyrule who would not."

"These people have lived in fear for over a hundred years, when they see her, all they'll see is a Lynel, a monster. They will not want to get to know her like you as you and I have. Even if they did, they would never trust her, they would always be waiting for her to slip up, to show her dark side, to give them an excuse to confirm their worst fears."

Link's insides began to tie themselves into knots as the realization hit him. He silently prayed that the long pause that followed after Zelda stopped talking meant that she was finished, but just as he opened his mouth, she began her onslaught again.

"That's to say nothing of the impact on you. Even under the best of circumstances, people will always be looking at you, glaring, they won't be subtle about their distaste for seeing a Hylian and a lynel together. It might damage your standing as the hero of Hyrule. Some may even try to hurt the two of you because of it."

"They'd be suicidal to try..." Link scoffed, trying desperately to lighten the mood.

"That's not the point, Link! Think of the Yiga clan! You may have stopped them for now, but they're more tenacious than you realize. If they can't hurt you or her, they'll hurt others to try to get to you two. What will the people of Hyrule think of you then!?"

Link's gaze hardened again as he stared Zelda straight in the eye. The catastrophic thoughts in his mind were so thick and sour, he was on the verge of throwing up, and Zelda's hysterics were no help at all.

"Zelda!"

Zelda looked away, closing her eyes as hot tears streamed down her cheeks.

"I...I'm sorry...I suppose I'm taking my own insecurity out on you, and...you don't deserve it..." she said, her bottom lip shaking as she silently sobbed.

The sight hit link like a cold pick of ice through his heart, and he clenched his fists together, trying desperately to overcome his own grief. Finally, he could take no more, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her into a tight hug.

If he could not be strong for himself, he could at least be strong for her.

"It's alright, let it out. You don't have to shoulder it all, not anymore," he said as she returned the hug, pulling him tight towards her.

"Thank you...I truly don't deserve you, Link."

As he broke the hug, he reached up and wiped the tears from her cheeks, staring longingly, yet remorsefully into her eyes.

"To be honest, Zelda...the thought...of the two of us...did occur to me..."

Zelda's eyes went wide for a moment, fixing on Link's visage only to slowly lower down again as he slowly shook his head.

"But, I'm sorry, whatever I felt a hundred years ago...is lost to the past. Sometimes, I wish I could remember, but...every time I try to find it, I...I just can't."

Zelda remained silent for a long moment before looking down at the ground.

"I understand."

"But, even so...I want you in my life. That will never change."

"Thank you, Link...as do I."

Link felt a small, fleeting wave of peace wash over him as Zelda pulled him into another hug that was all-too-brief.

"Now, go back and get some sleep before Jinn before comes looking for you. I...just need a few more minutes, I'll be right behind you."

"Just...please think about what I've said Link..."

A frown returned to link's face for a moment before he curtly nodded and strode over the hill back to his companion. The sour, retching feeling returned to Link's stomach, and worse, he found that merely looking at the female Lynel was all it took to make it worse. Anxiety began to tighten its grip on his bones as he took his place, resting his head on her outstreched arm. It was all he could do to push those horrible thoughts to the back of his mind. They would be problems for tomorrow, for now, his job was to escort the princess to the Rito village above all else.

Unfortunately, the sudden change in pressure caused the massive lynel to stir, holding him tighter against her soft, warm bust.

"Link had to make water...?" she asked sleepily, her voice soft and gravelly.

"Yes..." Link lied, trying desperately to lose himself in the warmth of his companion.

Jinn's green eyes flashed open for a moment, scanning all about the darkness.

"Where is Princess Zelda?"

"Same thing. She's just over the hill, she'll be back in a moment."

"Hmm..." Jinn growled comfortably, nuzzling her dark-grey muzzle against Link's cheek before drifting off to sleep again.

For the first time in a long time, Link could not find comfort in her grasp, his mind racing with the speed of a hot-footed lizard as his mind ran through scenario after scenario. The worst part was, none of them brought him any closer to a conclusion about how he felt. He could not bear the thought of losing Jinn under any circumstances. But, the thought that scared him the most, was that it might come to pass no matter what he did.

He had built his reputation and self-esteem on his ability to think his way out of every situation.

Now, for the first time in a long time, he was lost.

Chapter 2

Many hours later, in the warmer air of central Hyrule, the unlikely pair of Hylian and lynel made their way home to Hateno Village as the sunset slowly passed away into the growing twilight. Zelda had chosen to remain in Tabantha until the talks were complete, and Teba had reassured Link that she would be returned home safely under the Rito warrior's protection.

The miles had ticked away too slowly for Jinn's taste as she strode along the winding dirt road, her Hylian companion silent on her back, as he had been for a long time. As she glanced behind her to check on him once again, she caught a glimpse of the glowing orange-red sun as it pierced the clouds and the growing darkness and painted the sky with brilliant waves of orange, pink and red.

Sunset.

It was one of a growing number of things that made her smile...besides Link, of course.

She could not help but be amazed at how the world had opened up for her since she had been with Link. Before him, life had been a constant struggle to protect herself, to survive to the next meal, to defeat all who threatened her; no more, no less. Now, she could take time to stop ponder the wonder and beauty of a sunset, to realize how much more their was to life and how rich and fulfilling it could be, especially in the company of another.

It was for this reason she had worn a confused frown for most of the way home.

The one person who had introduced her to these wonderful things was strangely aloof and distant. His usual fiery determination and zest for life had been replaced by a cold, drab, pensive expression.

It was not like him to be this way, and she did not like it at all.

It almost felt like he wasn't even there.

Though there was a time not so long ago where that feeling would not have bothered her at all, now she couldn't stand feeling as if she was by herself.

Then, a mischievous grin slithered on to her face as a thought crossed her mind.

Yes, maybe that would get a reaction out of him...

Glancing behind her, her eyes furrowed in confusion and she pricked her ears up to attention as she tried to make out the strange something that had entered her field of vision.

"Link...you see that?" She asked quizzically.

Link's head shook like a leaf as he did a double-take, breaking out of his doldrums. Keeping one hand on her torso, he craned his neck back to look behind them, scanning the landscape carefully for a sign of whatever Jinn was trying to point out. Link frowned in confusion when, after a thorough search, all he saw was the road and the landscape and the imposing figure of the Great Plateau behind them.

"See what? I'm not seeing anything back there, Jinn," Link replied, confusion beginning to lace his tone.

"Jinn thought she saw it...on the road just behind us, very close..."

"You sure?"

Link shifted his gaze lower, redoubling his efforts to see what Jinn was trying to point out.

Jinn grinned in triumph, her razor-sharp teeth glistening in the setting sun.

He had taken the bait.

Link's gaze continued to look venture lower and lower until finally, he suddenly stopped, his gaze fixated right where she wanted it to be. He unconsciously pressed against her lower torso to steady himself, and a deep sense of satisfaction swept through her as she felt his breathing quicken and his heartbeat begin to race. Her nostrils began to flare on their own as the sweet, musky scent of pheromones began to make their presence known.

There was only one thing that would make the moment complete, but Jinn knew it would only be a matter of time. She knew Link so well, she could predict when the time would come.

Jinn counted down in her head until...3...2...1...

A strange poking sensation prodded at the fine fur of her lower torso and grew stronger by the second before reaching its full intensity.

Bingo.

Jinn's thick white tail began to swish uncontrollably behind her as she giggled under her breath, no longer able to hide her amusement.

"Does Link see it now? It is dark and round and...[giggle]...very firm..."

Jinn's joke barely registered in Link's consciousness. He was already neck-deep in a miasma of conflict between relishing in his arousal and trying to keep it hidden from Jinn.

Though this was not the first time he had caught himself gawking at Jinn's anatomy, everything was complicated by anxious thoughts of where their relationship might go...or...should not be allowed to go...? He cursed himself for not knowing whether he should be ashamed to react to her like this. Especially if she wanted him to-

A grumble of frustration and embarrassment rattled out of his throat as Link turned back to face his companion, now fully aware that he had fallen for Jinn's trick.

"Jinn..."

"Haha! Link likes?" she laughed, swishing her tail into view again.

"Not funny..." Link said curtly, his cheek resting against one of his hands.

The female lynel chuckled, reaching an arm behind her to wrap around his back.

"Jinn only fools with Link. Link has not smiled this whole trip back, Jinn likes it better when Link smiles. Will Link smile for Jinn?" she cooed, with a strange strength to her voice that was both plaintive and forceful at the same time.

Link's heart hung heavy as he pondered what he had just allowed to happen. His thoughts set ablaze with bitter thoughts about the repercussions of his behavior.

Yet, the pierce of her green eyes and the silly, toothy grin she wore triggered a reflex hidden deep down in his gut, one he could never hope to suppress.

She was utterly adorable, especially when she showed this side of herself. Thoughts of what might become were pushed to the side as she took on the air of an annoying, yet lovable big sister.

Eventually, he could take no more and a goofy, childlike grin wormed it's way onto his face, a small giggle hissing from his nose as he gave in to her cuteness.

"That's better," Jinn said with a grin, giving link a curt squeeze with her massive grey-furred arm.

"Jinn hopes you'll tell her what's on your mind soon, yes?"

Jinn turned back to look at the road, lapping contentedly at the warmth that flowed through her soul at seeing Link's smile. A small part of her reamined concerned at Link's melancholy as she sensed it resuming behind her. Nonetheless, it relieved her greatly that no matter how he felt in the moment, she could make him smile simply by being herself. Though, it also didn't hurt that she could get him hot and bothered by simply pointing out her own...features.

Link did not know it, but the massive lynel had been well aware of each and every time he had become aroused by her: all those times he had hardened while riding on her back, or the time he had offered to bathe her in the Sturnida Secret Hot Spring. Though she tried her best to understand the complexities of Hylian culture, she could not understand why he tried so hard to suppress his urges, to hide them from her. They were perfectly natural, something a lynel would never bother to hide, as much of lynel social behavior was direct, open, honest.

Still, she had come to know the young Hylian well enough to respect how he operated and not pump him for information this time. He was more deliberate, reserved, calculating than a lynel, only revealing what he wanted to reveal about himself...voluntarily anyway. It gave him an air of mystery, and Jinn was only too eager to peel back each of Link's layers and solve the mystery in time.

More than that, she longed to see him react like this, to show her that she was attractive.

It was the same way she reacted to him.

She could not decide exactly when or why she had become attracted to him in that way. He just looked so different, being a biped, and the way he acted puzzled and confused her to no end sometimes. She only knew the simple fact that he cared for her and made her feel good just by being who and what he was, and that was good enough for her.

Then, as they reached the ridge of a wide valley, a strange sound pierced Jinn's awareness and she screeched to a halt as her ears pricked up again, searching meticulously for the source. Her brow furrowed as her nostrils inhaled whiff after whiff of the calm spring air, hoping to catch any signs of life.

Link rolled his eyes in exasperation as he let out a groan. Being on the road in his anxious state was becoming excruciating, and he began to grow frustrated that Jinn was prolonging his suffering for the sake of a silly whim.

"Jinn..." Link whined.

"Come on, you've had your fun. The joke's over."

Suddenly, the lynel's head stopped its scanning, focusing across the valley at a ridge about a thousand yards from where they stood.

"Jinn?" Link asked, his brow furrowing and his stomach clenching as he began to realize Jinn might be serious.

"Jinn, what is it?"

Jinn glanced around to meet his gaze, a stern, focused expression on her face. The two locked eyes for a long beat, her fierce green orbs staring into his soul. Then, without warning, Link sucked in a short gasp of realization as a predatory smile flashed onto Jinn's face.

Link knew that smile anywhere.

Danger was not far away.

While Jinn was certainly slower to anger than most lynels and was not at all afraid to show her gentle side, Link knew well that at heart, she was a warrior, an instrument of strength, power and ferocity who lusted for battle. It excited her, thrilled her, and she very seldom passed up a chance to fight, especially in a situation like this where she would likely get the drop on her foe.

With a low growl, she gestured with her head towards the ridge.

He knew from their experience fighting together that that was her signal.

He had better hang on tight.

Before he knew what hit him, Jinn erupted into a gallop, barreling headlong off the road, into a field, towards a thick copse of trees that dotted the ridge. Link was barely able to get a hand on her torso to steady himself, his other hand grasping a handful of her thick, white mane as her lower torso jostled and slammed into his rear with every stride.

He considered himself an experienced horseman, but Jinn was far more intense than any horse. She was a force of nature, and he had to call upon all his experience to meet her intensity and prevent himself from being thrown each time they went into battle.

As they neared the copse, Jinn unsheathed her massive claymore from the scabbard at her side and, with a mighty blow, cleaved through two thick oak trees that stood in her way. Link barely had time to duck down as the massive trunks came crashing down behind them.

A few seconds later, as they cleared the copse, a bloodcurdling scream drew Link's attention back in front of them, and his hand instinctively gripped the Master Sword as he spotted Jinn's quarry.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!"

"RABIN, DON'T LOOK BACK, JUST RUN!"

Link frowned in concentration as he spotted two Hylian traders, one a tall, lanky blonde, the other a portly, mustachioed man, running for their lives from two tall, dark-grey moblins and a half-dozen bokoblins.

Link sighed as he watched the two heave their heavy backpacks at their attackers in desperation, both of which were easily dodged by the rampaging bokoblins.

But what he saw next caused his blood to run cold, so much so that he dared to chance breaking Jinn out of her focus to point out what he saw.

"Jinn, look!"

Jinn bared her white fangs with a sharp growl as she glanced back at Link. However, one look at his pointed finger returned her gaze forward, and she let out a roar of righteous fury as she saw what Link saw.

The unfortunate traders were headed right for a eighteen-foot tall hinox, who was napping in a grove that lay just out of their sight over another ridge at the other side of the valley.

By the time the two of them realized where they were headed, it would be too late.

Link whipped out his bow, readying an arrow as he steadied himself against Jinn's relentless advance.

He barely had time to think.

There were two main targets and only time for one shot. Should he go for a Moblin and take away the immediate threat, or should he wake the Hinox and draw it away from them before they ran into it?

Just as he was about to come to a decision, the heavy-set Hylian stumbled, crashing to the ground while his partner continued to run ahead. The fallen trader rolled over onto his back, his mustache-laden lips shaking in terror as the pursuing monsters closed in around him. Link growled in frustration, now it wouldn't matter who he hit, one of the traders would almost certainly die. But there was no time. He needed to decide, now!

"Jinn, the Hinox!" Link yelled, desperately searching for any clarity his lynel partner could provide.

"Link, prepare to fly!" Jinn roared back, she clearly had some sort of plan, but Jinn could be so impulsive that Link sometimes had to guess what she was thinking.

Link saw the moblin turn its head towards them, its bulging, monstrous eyes as wide as saucers at the sight of the charging lynel.

Link's muscles tightened like guitar strings as he turned himself around on her back, bending one knee and bracing his lead foot on the firm muscle of her posterior.

Wait for it...

A blast of wind nearly knocked Link aside as Jinn's massive arms brought her claymore back before she heaved it through the air with a massive swing. The moblin barely knew what hit it as Jinn's sword collided with its head, knocking it off-balance. But the onslaught was not over. In the same motion, Jinn planted her strong forelegs into the ground, using them as a pivot point as she spun her massive frame around and thrust her hind-legs into the moblin's head with a massive buck.

That was Link's cue.

Link carefully judged his moment, pushing off Jinn's back with his legs just as the momentum of her attack threw him high into the air. His breath caught in his lungs as in mid-air he quickly took aim, and loosed a shock arrow directly into the moblin's skull, just below it's horn.

But, Link had no time to pay attention to the monster's ear-piercing scream, glancing to his left at his other target. He felt his stomach bounce up into his mouth as he reached the peak of his climb, and he felt a blast of cold air hit his lungs as he saw the Hinox begin to stir. The towering pig-like monster's single, piercing eye opened from its lid as it rose to its feet. The second trader screeched to a halt at its feet, frozen with fear at the sight of the hideous harbinger of doom.

Link steadied his nerves as he quickly readied another arrow and took aim. He had a clear shot, and the Hinox was not yet awake enough to know he was there. A flash of confidence and determination propped up his resolve as he realized he had the upper hand.

Just as gravity began to win out and pull him earthwards, his arrow was loose, striking just to the left of the massive monster's eye. A high pitched squeal of pain erupted from the creature's mouth, a hand rushing over to remove the foreign object as the trader took advantage of the confusion and ran for the cover of a nearby thicket.

Link felt a rush of relief sweep through him as he whipped out his paraglider to arrest his fall. Unfortunately, as his feet squished into the ground, he found he had little time to recover as the shrill grunt of a bokoblin rang out to his left. The cool, wet grass was his only relief as he rolled out of the way to avoid the sharp club of wood and bone that tried to connect with his head.

Once the world righted itself and he felt his feet underneath him, Link instinctively countered with a slash of his sword, knocking the slobbering pig-like monster several yards and into a tree as it vanished into nothing. Finally finding a moment to assess the situation, his eyes went wide as he glimpsed two other bokoblins charging headlong at him, and the imposing figure of Jinn several yards further off, clashing with the other moblin.

A flash of realization lit up in his mind as he glimpsed their proximity to each other.

The set-up was perfect, and he was so attuned to Jinn that he knew she would pick up on it as well.

"Jinn! One-two!" Link called, catching the lynel's attention as she deflected another blow from her towering attacker.

Link wasted no time and forced all his strength into the hilt of his sword as he began to wind up his trademark spin attack. His muscles coiled up like springs as he waited for the monsters to bumble within range of his cold steel. Then, just as he could feel their rancid breath hit his nostrils, he unleashed his fury, spinning like a top as the blade of his sword connected once, twice, three times with both monsters' mid-sections.

The energy of the collision sent both bokoblins sailing away weightless in the air towards Jinn. Jinn's eyebrows went wide and a grin flashed onto her face as she spun around herself, readying her own weapon as the monsters hurtled towards her. Judging her moment perfectly, she drew her weapon back and with one titanic blow, batted the bokoblins away and directly into the head of the mobilin.

With a squeal of agony, the monsters vaporized into a cloud of black smoke, and the moblin followed suit a few moments later as its tall, lanky form toppled over and landed on a sharp rock that lay just off the path.

Link's lungs screamed for air as he struggled to regain his strength. His exhaustion was soon forgotten though as Jinn glanced over at him, a fierce grin of satisfaction and camaraderie on her face. The more he stared into her wild, beast-like face, a strange sense of pride and began to well up in his chest, and he returned her grin eagerly with a nod of his head.

"Nonononononono-AAAAAAGH! Put me downnnnn! Noooo!!!"

Link's thoughts were rudely interrupted as a piercing scream broke the silence. Jinn's ears pricked up again as she and Link whipped their gazes around toward the source of the noise, an audible gasp escaping both their lips as they looked in horror at what was about to happen.

The hinox, now recovered from its momentary distraction, had resumed its search for the second hylian and now held him by the legs betwixt two of its callused, crusty fingers. The young, blonde-haired man trembled with fear, thrashing about upside down as the dull-witted giant regarded him curiously, unsure of what to do with him.

Unfortunately, it only took one strong whiff from the giant's nostrils for it to remember what the hylian was good for.

The collective air was sucked instantly from Link and Jinn's lungs as the hinox's eye focused on the lanky blonde trader, thick ropes of saliva sliding out of its mouth as it licked its massive lips.

Link forced every ounce of energy he had into his thought process. He and Jinn were too far away for an effective arrow attack and Link doubted he had enough energy to be accurate even if they were. Even Jinn, as quick and powerful as she was, would not reach them in time. The unfortunate Hylian man would be well on his way down the hinox's gullet before she could land a single blow.

There was only one move left in Link's arsenal that stood a chance of saving the trader, one that had been passed down to him by another warrior-ess whom he had revered and respected long ago.

Still, Link could not help but stifle a growl as he hesitated for a moment.

It was risky, desperate move and one that had a very good chance of hitting the blonde hylian, or even Jinn.

But as Link looked back, his nerves snapped into overdrive as the hinox lifted the screaming man above its head, its putrid maw opening wide to greet him.

Link looked over at Jinn, raising his arm into the air and opposing his thumb and middle finger together, as if ready to snap them together.

"Should I do it!?" he yelled at Jinn, searching desperately for validation from his companion.

Realizing instantly what Link was proposing, Jinn quickly glanced in Link's direction, then back at the hinox, then back at Link. Finally, a expression of pure conviction and righteous fury adorned her face as she nodded at Link.

"Yes, do it!" She yelled back, reaching out with a massive, white furred arm and grabbing Link by the waist.

Before Link knew what happened, he was seated firmly on her back as she threw her weight forward and charged headlong at the hinox, her weapon held high in hand as she let out a roar.

Link could not help but scoff at his companion's sheer intelligence and forethought, at least she would avoid getting hit if she were at the center of his attack.

Link's teeth threatened to shatter against each other as he silently prayed to the goddess Hylia that he knew what he was doing.

Without another thought, he pushed his thumb against his finger, a resounding "snap" cracking through the air.

In a flash, the etheral specter of the long-dead Gerudo chief Urbosa flashed into sight, snapping her fingers in sync with the hylian hero as, in the clear blue sky, thunder began to crackle around them.

Link sucked in a gasp as he steadied himself against Jinn, the Lynel dashing out of the way just as a white-hot bolt of lightning ripped out of the sky and struck mere inches from her face.

The hinox, on the other hand was too focused on its potential snack to realize the danger it was in.

A massive crash of thunder threatened to shatter the ground just before another thick bolt struck the horn atop the giant's head, setting its body alight and causing every muscle to contract instantly.

Unfortunately, just as Link had feared, the attack had encompassed the blonde hylian as well and both predator and prey let out bloodcurdling screams of pain as electric shocks seared through them. The sheer force of the current caused the hinox's fingers to grip the man's leg like a vice, causing him to writhe like a worm on a hook.

Link had only time to react, blurting out the first strategy that came to his mind.

"Jinn, toss me, quickly!"

"What?!"

"Over there, towards that man, do it!"

Jinn took a split second to gauge the situation before a flash of realization set her into action.

"Get ready, Link!"

Jinn placed her weapon in one hand, reaching back with the other and grabbing link by the waist, still charging at the electrified hinox. Link focused squarely on the blonde hylian as Jinn brought her massive arm back like a hydraulic jack and launched link forward with a forceful grunt.

Weightless, Link braced his arms against his head, ploughing into the blonde hylian's side and knocking him from the Hinox's grip, both tumbling to the ground like ragdolls. The lanky Hylian tumbled for several yards before stopping on his back, while Link's feet found traction and rolled him upright, ready to assist Jinn.

But, in the back of his mind, Link already knew his massive companion had the situation well in hand.

Link's consciousness barely had time to register the hinox before Jinn slammed her claymore directly into its eye with a mighty blow. His ears strained against the air-splitting scream that burst from the monster's lungs as the hefty weapon penetrated deep into its skull.

Fortunately, the remnants of Ganon's magic prevented it from suffering further as, with a massive puff of black smoke, the monster disappeared into thin air, leaving only its belongings and various entrails strewn about the ground.

Hot breath shot from Jinn's nostrils as if from a locomotive as she recovered from the effort of slaying the pig-like leviathan. A fierce scowl lay on her face as she turned towards Link. Yet again, the bloodlust and fury that dominated her mind in battle was quickly forgotten as she gazed upon the proud grin that Link shot her way. She eagerly returned his sentiment with a grin of her own as a wave of relief swept through her that he was alright and they were victorious once again.

For a moment, a warm, powerful feeling passed between them, and Link and Jinn did not need words to express how they felt at that moment. They were in sync, they were extensions of each other, Link's precision complemented Jinn's brute force beautifully. At times, Link could have sworn he felt that Jinn was an extension of himself almost as if they were made to fight together. His anxiety momentarily forgotten, Link's heart swelled with pride that he had been allowed to fight at her side, and her smile assured him that she felt the same way.

"Ughhh..."

"Jago!"

Link's awareness was rudely yanked back over his shoulder as the blonde hylian began to stir, his body recovering from the massive electrical shock. Rabin, limping slightly from a twisted ankle, joined him at his side, his body language well-nigh hysterical as he reached down to prop his companion's shoulders up. Jago's head lolled side to side as he tried to shake off the disorientation, his blue eyes opening as his surroundings slowly returned to his awareness.

A cold wave of apprehension swept over Link as he slowly strode over to the pair, unsure of how extensive the tall blonde hylians' injuries truly were.

"Are you both alright?" Link asked, a concerned look on his face.

The pair of Hylians flinched at Link's question, as if both were wound up at the end of a hair-trigger. Their eyes shot from Link's face, to Jinn's and back again to Link's as the color drained from their faces and their breathing came quick.

"Stay back! Don't come any closer!" Rabin yelled back, his lips beginning to shake as his eyes went wide as saucers.

The portly hylian's terror slowly seeped into Jago as well, his face contorting into a picture of fear as he struggled to get to his feet.

"Huh?" Link wondered, a frown coming to his face as he and Jinn looked at each other in confusion.

"It's alright, you're safe now, they're all de-"

"Get that thing away from us!" Jago screamed, his long, blonde locks falling over his face as he stood up, still clutching his portly companion in terror.

Link's eyebrows threatened to crush his eyes as his brain scrambled for traction. For a moment, he wondered if he and Jinn had missed a monster or two, but that could not be. Despite her best efforts to suppress them, small embers of Jinn's territorial past still remained. she could spot a potential intruder a mile away, just as she had done when she had found these two.

Then, a black pit formed in the hero's stomach as the realization dawned on him.

They were referring to Jinn.

They were terrified of her.

But why?

He understood they had been through a traumatic experience, and Lynels in general were fearsome creatures, but how could she still appear so threatening after what she had just done for them? It was so obvious, they would not be here if not for her, why couldn't they see that?

"What are you talking about? She just saved your lives."

"STAY BACK!" they screamed again, virtually in unision,

"I'm telling you, it's alright, she's a friend. Jinn, tell them."

Jinn strode a few steps closer to the pair, unintentionally flashing her sharp fangs as she opened her mouth to speak.

"Link is right, you are-"

"IT TALKS!? WHAT IN HYLIA'S NAME IS GOING ON HERE!?"

With a scream that Link was sure could be heard as far as the Akkala region, Jago and Rabin forgot all about their injuries and sprinted down the dusty road towards the copse, leaving their backpacks and wares behind.

Link's heart sank like a lead balloon as anxiety began to grip his muscles.

Perhaps it was their fear talking, or perhaps it was only the sheer trauma of a near-death experience that caused their hysterics.

Then again, perhaps it was just as Zelda had predicted.

Even owning Jinn her their lives had not been enough to override the fear that came with being this close to a lynel. The fear that Jinn's kind inspired was all they could think about, all they could focus on, despite evidence to the contrary.

Was this what would happen every time they saved someone from now on? Was this how the rest of Hyrule would see her?

The people of Hateno were used to her, for she had saved even their lives in the past, but it had taken a long time and even Zelda vouching for Jinn before that was even possible.

What did it say about him that he continued to travel with her, to even think about her as more than a monster?

Jinn, for her part, seemed a bit bemused, yet otherwise unaffected by the reaction of the two traders.

Link tentatively looked up at her, his eyes desperately searching for any signs that her feelings had been hurt. Despite her strength of character, he knew too well that her sensitive side had come to the fore since traveling with him, and he worried how she might react to what had just happened.

"Jinn never saw a fat man run so fast before..."Jinn mused as she stared in awe at the fleeing hylians.

"Are you ok, Jinn?"

"Hmm? Yes, Link, Jinn is fine. Why not?" Jinn replied, confusion lacing her tone.

"Well...I mean, I'm sorry about what they..." Link stammered, trying his best to be reassuring, but beginning to wonder if bringing up the subject would only make it worse.

"Huh? Why is Link sorry? No need to apologize for them. Jinn is used to it. Not first Hylians to be scared of Jinn. Besides, they are weak, not warriors like us. Too many monsters in one day is bound to make them scared."

A frown slithered further onto Link's face as confusion began to mix with the bitter taste of anxiety. His mind could not decide if Jinn was being nonchalant and burying her feelings, or if she genuinely did not care if they were scared of her or not. He had tried desperately throughout partnership to learn where her emotions went in different situations, and he thought he had known her long enough to predict how she would feel. This time, she was so hard to read that it sent Link into an agony of indecision about how to respond to her.

Fortunately, Jinn, in her own unwitting fashion, provided the perfect distraction just at that moment as her nostrils flared and a playful smile hit her face as she trotted over to one of the trader's discarded backpacks. Crouching down to her knees, she rummaged through the canvas sack, her huge hands searching blindly as some of the wood and metal contents of the sack clanked together. At last, her arm left the bag and she licked her lips in delight producing a heavily-salted flank of seared prime wolf-meat.

"Mmm, Jinn thought she smelled something good."

"Jinn, are you sure...? That isn't ours," Link said, his brow furrowing in skepticism.

"Why not? Who knows when those two be back, if at all? Meat will spoil by then. Better not let it go to waste," Jinn replied matter-of-factly.

A sliver of a grin formed on Link's face as he shook his head in mock-exasperation. His conscience was still unsure about the ethics of taking something from the people they had just saved, but he was nonetheless thankful that Jinn's antics had eased his mind, if only for a moment.

However, the ever-observant Lynel had taken notice of Link's reaction to her decision, and a particularly fond memory crossed her mind as a grin that was somewhere between devious and nurturing slithered onto her face.

She could not help but chuckle internally at her own ingenuity. She could put a smile on his face yet again, and get her own...enjoyment out of it as well. After all, he had done it many times, and seemed to enjoy it himself. It even got him...excited if she could believe his scent and the red tinge that adorned his cheeks when he did it.

"Put it in my pack, I'll cook it later when we've-"

Link gasped in surprise and confusion as he felt something cold and slimy hit his shoulder. Instinctively, he grabbed the object and turned around towards the direction it had fallen from. His brow furrowed even further as he realized Jinn had torn off a scrap of meat and thrown it at Link, placing the rest carefully into Link's travel pack that lay on the ground at the edge of the battlefield.

With the grin still adorning her face, Jinn sauntered over towards Link before settling down onto her knees just an arms-length away from him.

"Linnnnk, Jinn is hungry, will Link feed Jinn?" She cooed, motioning to the scrap of meat.

"Jinn wants her meat ~..."

Link slowly looked back and forth between the scrap of meat and Jinn's face as she tried to look as innocent as possible for Link's benefit. Link let a gasp of exasperation escape his mouth as he realized what Jinn was after.

He had often rewarded Jinn with generous chunks of meat following their many successful hunts as they survived in the wilds of Hyrule. Yet, on one occasion, Link had decided to feed Jinn by hand. It was a decision that proved awkward for the young hylian as Jinn had made the experience far more...intimate than Link had intended. As a result, Link had tried to refrain from doing so since then, lest things get out of hand.

Jinn, for her part, had thoroughly enjoyed the experience and believed it had strengthened her her attraction to the young hylian.

She would have her way again.

"Huh? This wasn't even a hunt," Link asked with a nervous chuckle, trying to find an escape to the situation.

"Yes it was. We hunt monsters, we get meat. What difference does it make where we get it from?" Jinn retorted with an insistence to her tone that Link could not help but find...dare he thing it...sultry?

Link's cheeks turned several different shades of crimson as Jinn began to open her mouth expectantly, her long, wet tongue slipping from her mouth and hanging below her face.

Link's heart began to race and he willed himself to stay in control as he felt his pants begin to tighten again. This was a situation that could easily get out of control if he was not careful, and his rational mind tried desperately to prevent him from indulging her.

Yet, the more he looked at her, the harder it became to deny that beyond her flirtatious behavior, she looked absolutely adorable like this. Plus, he reasoned, she had done the lion's share of the work in saving Rabin and Jago, and had thoroughly earned a treat, even at his expense.

"Heh, alright. Open wide," Link said, extending his arm towards Jinn's mouth.

Jinn's grin widened as far as it would go as she leaned her head in to accept the tasty morsel.

"Aaaaahhh..." she cooed, her mouth open wide as Link laid the scap down onto her wet tounge.

She allowed it to linger on her tongue just for a moment as her eyes went half-lidded. Subtly, she squeezed her arms against the sides of her breasts, pressing them together so that they were on full display for Link to see. She was determined to show Link her appreciation...in no uncertain terms.

Jinn let out a giggle, her own nether regions becoming decidedly warm as her nostrils caught the scent of Link's arousal yet again.

After a moment, she decided she had had her fun and gulped the prime meat down, licking her lips in delight.

"Thank you, Link. More later, perhaps?" Jinn said with a devious grin as she handed Link his travel pack.

"Perhaps..." Link replied tentatively, an embarrassed smile on his face as he ran his hands through the gray fur of Jinn's back, before hoisting himself up.

Without another word, Jinn rose to her full height and strode off down the path, collecting her claymore and depositing it in its sheath at her side.

Link could not help but chuckle to himself nervously as he returned to his thoughts. He could not escape the fact that despite his reservations, the bond he shared with Jinn was one that he would not find anywhere else if he tried for another 100 years, and they were stronger together than apart. What scared him was that he could also not deny that she was alluring, tempting in a way that excited him as much as any Hylian woman ever had, even Zelda.

To make matters worse, he was so aroused by her that he could not resist her charms even if he wanted to.

He knew that she would never mock him for the sake of mocking him, but did she know enough about Hylian culture to realize what she was doing to him?

Was he wrong to feel this way?

Did that make him some kind of deviant, some kind of freak?

What kind of person did that make him if he dared return her advances?

Was it wrong to even think about?

Chapter 3

A few hours later, the two travelers passed into thick black shadows that cast their presence on the two towering stone rock faces known as the Dueling Peaks. A thin sliver of moonlight pierced the cleft that separated the two mountains, mercifully lighting Jinn's way as she continued eastward. The soft babble of water flowing in the creek off to their right reverberated sweetly off of the canyon walls, uninterrupted by the screech of monsters. Ganon's defeat meant that the threat of Octoroks or Lizalfos was much less these days, and travelers could now take time to enjoy the calming ambience of nature as they passed through the imposing natural monument, before moving on to wherever their journeys would take them.

Link struggled to hold on to any thought whatsoever as his senses became dulled by fatigue. Though his anxieties about Jinn remained, he had little energy left to make sense of any cold flash of doubt or ray of hope that came into his psyche, and simply wished for a quick end to the day and a return home the following morning.

Jinn glanced back at her passenger, a motherly grin forming on her face as she watched her Hylian companion struggle to keep his eyes open. On the one hand, she remained conflicted about what had caused him to remain so melancholy and was growing frustrated by the fact that she had to hold herself back from confronting him about it. On the other hand, a warm sense of pride had begun to swell up in her heart as she remembered how fierce and powerful Link had been earlier.

Despite the fact that he had allowed her gentle side to flourish, she still valued strength above all else and was flattered and...more than a little aroused that he strove to prove himself worthy of her companionship, whether he knew it or not.

Still, the fact remained that he was a Hylian, a frail biped much much less sturdy and powerful than she was, and there were times that he needed her protection despite his strength. She was more than happy to hold him up when he felt weak. He had gone out of his way to do the same for her, at the risk of his own life, and she loved him for it. The oath she had sworn to him back then, to follow him forever; it was an expression of how she felt for him. It was the best decision she had ever made, and she had never doubted that conviction, not for a moment.

The silver light of the moon shone through as they cleared the cleft between the mountain, opening to a wide valley surrounded on all sides by mountains. Link's consciousness flickered back into focus as he looked to his left and spotted the Dueling Peaks Stables.

Link felt a sense of warmth and familiarity wash over him as he took in the wooden structure adorned with its life-size canvas and paper-maché tribute to the horse fairy, Malanya. The low bleat of goats in the enclosure behind the building and the bark of the stable's sheep-dog, reminded Link of a time early in his travels when the people who worked here had been warm and welcoming, and offered him shelter when he had very little to call his own. They had even gone out of their way to arrange a horse for Link, allowing him to reach Karariko Village and begin his quest to save Hyrule.

Since meeting Jinn, he had little need for utilizing their services; she was all the transport he would ever need. Still, several hours remained before they would reach their home village, and Jinn agreed that stopping for the night would be a wise move, if only for Link's sake.

As they rounded the pond that held the Ha Dahamar shrine and drew closer to the stable, a familiar feeling of unease permeated through the air, and Link groaned in disappointment as he began to notice the wide-eyed expressions of the stable's inhabitants. The sheep dog, who had been barking happily prior to smelling their approach, began to growl and whine, slinking back behind a bale of hay.

The young lad, Darton, short for a boy of his nine years, stopped tending to his horse and stared upward at the pair with a mixture of awe and timidity, nudging his twin brother, Shibo to pay attention as well. The young elixir-expert Sargessa barely stifled a scream of surprise as Link hopped down off of Jinn's back and approached the counter at the front of the stable.

The brothers Rensa and Tassaren, who had been lazily minding their jobs, suddenly flinched to attention at Link's approach, their padded brown hats nearly falling off in their surprise. A pair of apprehensive scowls screwed onto their faces as Link casually strode up to the counter. He wanted to ease the tension as much as possible, yet he felt he only had the energy do business with the two quickly and leave it at that.

"Master Link, it's...good to see you," Tassaren got out, trepidation lacing his voice.

"Likewise gentlemen," Link yawned with a polite smile.

"You look tired. Long journey?" Rensa asked, desperately trying to keep his cool.

"Well, let's just say it's a long way from Tabantha, I hope you have room for us for a night?"

The two mustachioed Hylians ignored the question, both of their eyes fixed directly on Jinn's imposing form as she waited patiently several yards away.

"I...uh...I see you brought your...lynel...eh?" Tassaren spluttered.

"We heard rumors you had...tamed a lynel, but...well, frankly we didn't think that was possible, even for a hero such as yourself," Rensa added.

"Thank you for the vote of confidence, gentlemen," Link said with no small degree of sarcasm. The embers of annoyance began to fester in his gut as he tried to ignore the sting of Jinn being referred to as a mere animal whom Link had tamed through the power of his will.

"But, as you can see, here she is, her name is Jinn, and we're both very tired. We'd like to impose on your hospitality for a night. I realize you may not have served someone her...size before, but perhaps we can put her up in one of the enclosures around the back, if it's alright?" Link asked as matter-of-factly as possible, hoping to get down to business and put the proprietors' fears to rest as much as possible.

"I...uh, don't think so, Master Link," Rensa said, his brow beginning to furrow as unease began to transmute into defensiveness.

"Yes, our stables and enclosures are uh, very full at the moment," Tessaren added, looking Link straight in the eye.

"Gentlemen, please, I'm sure we can work something out, can't we? I assure you, she will be no trouble at all. I'll have you know, it's partially thanks to her that Calamity Ganon was defeated at all. I trust her completely," Link said, looking fondly over his shoulder at his companion who flashed him a toothy grin and pounded her chest with a fist in solidarity.

Unfortunately, the gesture seemed to have the opposite effect on the two horsemen who flinched in shock at the sheer size of Jinn's muscular arms. They slowly exchanged a nervous glance at each other before returning their gaze to Link, Tessaren gesturing with his hand for Link to listen closely.

"Master Link, I have no qualms about you staying with us, but I think it would be best if it left. Immediately."

Link's brow locked into place just above his eyes as the embers of annoyance suddenly combusted into a flame of anger.

"Really, that's your answer? After all I've done for you, after all she's-"

Tessaren raised his voice, cutting Link off and ensuring that both he and Jinn could here.

"If it wants, it can stay near he swamp, just as long as it's far away from here."

A long sigh escaped Jinn's nostrils as a frown of disappointment slithered onto her face.

"Jinn does not mind, Link is tired. Just make sure Link picks the soft bed so he can get his rest. Jinn will see link in the morning."

A sad smile adorned her face as she slowly strode off out of sight past the stable and into the open field toward the Ash Swamp and Blatchery Plain to the east.

A black pit formed in Link's stomach as he watched her walk off into the vast field of green grass that glimmered lightly under the moonlight. He felt as if he had been stabbed through the heart to see Jinn like this. He slowly turned back to the pair of horsemen, his expression well-on livid.

"Why you-"

"Master Link! We are grateful to you for saving Hyrule, but it does not change the fact we are trying to run a business here. I don't know what this...partnership with this pet lynel of yours is all about, but even you must see the effect she has on everyone here. I will not put my business in jeopardy to satisfy this...this whim of yours," Tessaren spat out, his tone becoming more hostile by the second.

Link said nothing, continuing to lock eyes with the tall horseman as he tried to take a calming breath. It was all Link could do to fight the urge to cock his fist back and deliver a left-hook to the man's jaw.

Just as Link thought he was beginning to get a handle on his rage, Rensa leaned in and interjected an opinion of his own.

"If you want my advice, Master Link, you should get as far away from that thing as possible. Thousands of people across Hyrule have suffered at the hands of her kind for hundreds of years, even before Ganon defeated the Champions. There's no such thing as a 'tame lynel'. You might think you've befriended her, but mark my words, she is a monster of Ganon. She will turn on you sooner or later and I wouldn't want to be responsible for the destruction that will follow when that happens..."

Link's fingernails threatened to pierce his palms as he balled his fists up, using everything he had to maintain his composure and keep from exploding in their faces. The nerve, the sheer effrontery that they showed him, the hero of Hyrule, was simply incomprehensible.

What in Hylia's name did they know of lynels beyond the stories their mother told them to bring them back inside at nightfall?

What did they know of who Jinn truly was?

That she was even a person?

Link sucked in a long, slow cleansing breath, closing his eyes and finally succeeding in extinguishing the flames his anger. As they abated in his gut, only a pall of disappointment and despair was left in their place.

It was just as Zelda had predicted.

Apparently, loyalty, even to the savior of their land, did not extend very far when Lynels were involved.

"So, that's how it's going to be, then?" Link asked in a low tone, refusing to meet the horsemens' gazes.

"I'm afraid so, Master Link. Either your lynel goes, or you both find somewhere else to sleep. As in, 'far away from here'."

In a moment of weakness, Link stopped to consider the his options. His legs ached, a soft bed would feel wonderful right now and Jinn could handle herself out there in the field. He would see her in the morning and they would be back on their way. Her thick fur would keep her warm against the cold wind, alone, by herself with only---

NO! NO! NO! NO! NO!

How could he even consider such a thing?

There was only one place he would be sleeping tonight, or any night for that matter, and that was by her side.

He could not help but scoff internally at his own carelessness, he had almost allowed the bigoted horsemen to bait him into making a poor decision, when in truth, there was no decision to be made.

"Good evening, gentlemen," Link said flatly as he strode purposefully around the stable and mustered the last of his strength to chase after Jinn, who by this time was a hundred yards into the field.

"Jinn, wait up!"

As the cooking fire began to diminish under the cool night air of the abandoned Bokoblin camp they now occupied, Jinn lazily lowered herself onto her knees, discarding her thick steel chest plate, white leggings and straps in a pile next to her. Link sat near the fire, his eyes mesmerized by the dance of the flame as she rolled onto her side, a contented grin on her face.

"Link is sure he prefers Jinn to a nice soft bed?" Jinn asked with her signature motherly grin.

"...any day," Link said flatly, his face expressionless but his heart warming at familiar tone Jinn was using.

A grin almost found its way onto his face, but was soon overpowered by thoughts of the evening's unpleasant events. A contrite expression adorned his face, and Jinn's brow furrowed in response, unnerved that something was bothering him.

"Jinn, are you sure you're ok about what happened back there? I won't lie, it really made me angry to see how they treated you."

Jinn scoffed, her face still concerned, but her grin widening as she bared her white teeth.

"Jinn understands, but as Jinn said, she is used to it. Hylians often fear what is stronger than them. So, just like a cornered wolf, they may growl and bite when faced with lynels. Hylians fear lynels, Jinn understands why. But, no reason to feel bad. Fear helps us survive sometimes. Jinn does not fear treatment from Hylians, because she defends Link. Link only hangs around people who are worth Link's time. If Link likes, Jinn likes. If Link does not like, Jinn does not like. Simple."

Link snorted in agreement, lightly shaking his head. Jinn's relative lack of experience with Hylian culture made her seem simple-minded at times. However, Link could not deny that she was very observant, and it was in moments like these that her true intelligence really showed. She was no mere beast, she was an astute, introspective woman and Link felt privileged to see that side of her had come out since they had been together.

Link stood up, walked over to Jinn and sat down beside her, just in front of her chest as she propped her head up with one arm. He felt most comfortable around Jinn in moments like this, and nothing, not even his own anxiety nor society's expectations were going to spoil this moment.

"I'm glad to hear that, Jinn. Still, I guess I could see how lynels wouldn't take kindly to Hylians being in their territory, if that's how Hylians view your kind. I want to know, was that why you fought me when we first met?"

"Well, not exactly. Hylians are...smaller than lynels, easy to dominate. But, lynels do not hold a grudge against Hylians, or any other creatures. No reason to hold grudge. Hylians are just like every other creature in nature, not superior, not inferior, but equal...just different. Territory is only thing Lynels can ever own, claim as theirs, no one else allowed in. That is why lynel will defend territory with their lives. It is all we have."

"...and how do you feel about that now, defending your territory, I mean?" Link said, his grin quickly becoming a full smile as he looked over his shoulder back into her green eyes.

A warm, playful smile blossomed on the lynel's face as a friendly growl escaped her lips. Lowering her torso to the ground, she reached back behind her, unstrapping the metal and leather bikini-like armor that covered her.

"The same as before," Jinn answered with a slightly mischievous tone, lifting her armored brassiere in one hand and allowing her soft, ample breasts to bounce free of their prison.

"Only Jinn has a different territory now. It is no longer a place, it is a person."

Without warning, Jinn reached a massive white-furred arm out, grabbing link by the chest and pulling him in close, a grunt of surprise escaping his lips as he slid along the dry earth for a few feet.

"And just as Jinn promised, she will defend that person with her life, until the end of her days," she said earnestly, squishing him against her breasts in a tight hug as she leaned her face in close to his.

Despite the intimacy of the gesture, Jinn did not try to force any intensity or innuendo into it. Link's familiarity with Jinn had taught him that this was simply her motherly side coming out, and he successfully shoved his hormones aside for a moment, letting out a laugh as he felt the warmth of her body envelop his smaller form.

"Heheheh, thanks. Are you sure I'm worth it, though? You sure you wouldn't happier defending another lynel?" Link asked half-jokingly.

"Never! Besides, most lynel hardly ever see one another, and even then, only to fight or mate."

Link sucked in a gasp of air as he suddenly became painfully aware of how soft and warm Jinn's bare mounds felt against his back at the mention of that word. Embarrassment began to course through him he felt his pants begin to tighten again and he desperately searched for a way off this topic.

"Come on, don't tell me there isn't at least one eligible lynel you're interested in?"

Jinn let out a hearty chuckle, her breasts jiggling even harder against his back as Link struggled to contain his arousal.

"Jinn does not think so. All male lynel think about is expanding their territory and showing off strength and prowess in battle. Jinn sometimes wonders if she was really a 'good lynel'. Link has shown Jinn that a true warrior is much more than that, and Jinn is very grateful."

Link felt the soft, fine fur of her cheek glide across his as she nuzzled him, her warm breath washing over the side of his face as she did so.

Link desperately held on to his grin as he tried to take comfort in her gesture.

Yet, his attempt to be light-hearted had left him feeling more conflicted than ever.

She had proven beyond the shadow of a doubt that to her, their relationship went beyond mere loyalty, mere friendship. She was not attracted to other lynels, nor would she be any time soon. She was focused solely on him, in mind and in soul.

It scared him to no end.

"Sleep, Link," Jinn growled comfortably as she propped link up on her arm.

"We return tomorrow, it will feel good to be home, yes?"

Link felt a wash of momentary relief sweep over him as the familiar warmth of Jinn's body banished all discomfort from his being. He had become so accustomed to sleeping next to her like this, he wondered if he would ever be comfortable sleeping anywhere else.

Unfortunately, his anxiety-addled brain quickly made a connection between that thought and another realization:

How much longer would he be able to be with her like this?

Her feelings for him were clearer than they had ever been, while he was still no closer to a conclusion about how he felt.

It was only a matter of time before she acted on her feelings.

What could he possibly say to her when that happened?

Chapter 4

The bright golden sun rose proudly above the rolling hills of the eastern seaboard, without a single cloud to dampen its brilliance. Link and Jinn's eyes threatened to snap closed against the glare as they slowly climbed the hill towards the entrance of the little village that lay below Symin and Purah's tech lab high on the hill.

The early morning light illuminated the white stone buildings on the main street as the proud lynel slowly trotted under the sign that marked the entrance to the village. Link glanced down the street, a sense of relief sweeping over him that their journey had finally concluded. As various denizens of the town began to emerge from their homes and open their shops for the day, a high-pitched voice at the entrance to the town caught the attention of all, including Link and Jinn.

The Lynel nearly reared up in surprise as a young, bespectacled lad named Teebo, pointed up at the two of them in sheer excitement.

"They're back! Everyone! Link and Jinn are back!"

As if on cue, the collective heads of all present on the main street turned to see what the commotion was. Fortunately, the weary heroes were met with little more than warm smiles and friendly waves as they scaled the long hill in the canyon of shops and houses.

Just as they reached the dye shop, a call from up the hill to the right caught Link's attention.

"Welcome back, Link. Lady Jinn."

Link let out a warm, yet exhausted grin as Reede, the village headman, strode purposefully down the hill from his home to greet them. Link's legs let out a cry of sweet relief as he leapt off of Jinn's back and strode past her up the hill to greet the headman.

He soon realized how timely his decision had been as a low, distant rumble reverberated through the ground as young Teebo caught up to them. Link frowned in confusion for a moment before rolling his eyes at Reede as he realized what was about to happen, the bearded, lanky chief giving Link a grin and a shrug of his shoulders in return. Off to his right, Link could just make out Senna and Reede's wife Clavia letting out a collective, "here we go again" from just inside the dye shop.

Suddenly, as let loose from a dam, the children of the village popped into view from every side street and barreled up the street towards the group.

Shrill, joyous cries of "Yay, it's Jinn!" reverberated across the stone buildings and windmills that made up the village as the tall lynel was suddenly accosted by a dozen playful smiles and warm hugs.

Jinn smiled broadly as she lost herself in the children's pure, unbridled joy and raw energy. As a lynel, any sense of adulation or praise of this sort had been completely foreign to her and it had taken a great deal of time to acclimate to the attention she received as a hero of the village. More than that, it had also been a struggle to figure out how to react to creatures so small they barely reached her knees.

Over time, however, the children had won her over with their purity and innocence; they accepted her for who she was. It did not matter that she was of another species, she had saved their village once before, and to them, that was enough. Plus, Link seemed to like them, and that was enough to for Jinn.

"Ha ha! Seeing all of you makes Jinn happy as well!" Jinn laughed, scooping two of the children, Karin and Nebb, off the ground and onto her strong shoulders.

Link followed Reede's gaze back behind him, a rush of warmth overcoming him to see her bonding with the children. For the life of him, he could not fully understand why she took to the children so well despite how kind he knew her to be. He had decided not to question it, as he himself began to get caught up in the children's energy as well. There were few things in the world that made him happier than seeing Jinn thoroughly enjoy herself like this.

"Karin, be careful!" called a voice from alongside Link.

Link glanced towards the noise and sucked in a short gasp as he glanced upon the nervous expression on Claria's face as she called out to her child.

"Do not worry, miss Claria. Karin is safe with Jinn. Jinn will protect her as she protects Link!"

"But she-"

"It's alright, dear. If Lady Jinn says so, our daughter will be safe, Link can vouch for that, right?"

Reede eyed Link expectantly, his own anxiety barely contained under his smile. Link followed suit with an awkward smile and nod of his own. His heart sank in disappointment as he eyed the village headman's expression. Despite the time Jinn had spent in the village and the amount of trust she had earned from the village's inhabitants, some were...still getting used to her.

"Of course," Link replied warmly, making eye contact with Claria.

A frown of concern remained on the Hylian woman's face as she backed off, still focused on the tall lynel as her children whooped in delight, perched high on her shoulders.

The awkward smile remained on Reede's face as he gestured towards Link to walk with him down the street.

"So, I take it princess Zelda reached her destination safely?" Reede asked, eager to change the subject.

"Yes. She hopes the negotiations will not take long, but...who knows? Sometimes I feel like putting Hyrule back together will be harder than defeating Calamity Ganon."

"Hmm, probably true. In this town, we've been fending off monsters all of my life and then some. It will be hard to change when all we have known is hardship. No matter. If I were you, I'd take the opportunity to rest while you can. In your position, you may not get too many of them."

Link nodded in agreement. In some ways, their journey to Tabantha had been just as strenuous and exhausting as any he had faced when fighting Calamity Ganon. It was almost like how he had felt after he had first taken to the broken roads of Hyrule, having just been awoken from his hundred-year slumber. Back then, his journey had been full of uncertainty and peril: Where would he find shelter? Where would his next meal come from? How long would it be before he faced a monster he could neither defeat nor flee from?

Then, along had come Jinn, and everything had changed. His task no longer seemed hopeless. As strong as he was, he had grown to rely on her to protect him, even against his own insecurities. As difficult as it had been to acclimate her to his culture, there were moments where he loved her antics so much, they had made him laugh heartily, for the first time since he could remember.

Now, he wasn't even sure of her anymore. He was emotionally exhausted from worrying about what she meant to him, and what he would do if he could not return her feelings, and he wished against all hope that he could leave things the way they were between them and carry on as they had.

A few yards away, Jinn lowered herself to her knees, a playful smile on her face as she extended her arms out to her sides. One by one, the Karin and Nebb slid off her shoulders, grabbing onto her biceps and using them as trapezes. Jinn giggled in delight as she flexed each of her biceps in turn, the children giving a collective scream of joy as the massive muscles jolted them higher into the air.

However, her new position lower to the ground gave her a view of something she might not have seen standing up. Turning her attention from the children for a moment, she glanced into the window of a nearby building and spotted something she had seen only a few times before.

Karson was strapping his tool belt to his waist, presumably about to leave for another job, when Sophie suddenly appeared, smiling at him. As he turned toward her and smiled back, she suddenly reached for him, wrapping her arms around his waist, closing her eyes and pressing her lips into his. Jinn frowned in puzzlement at the gesture at first, but felt a ray of pure warmth come over her when she noticed Karson closing his eyes and leaning into the kiss.

Jinn's brain went into overdrive and her heart followed suit, excitement beginning to swell up within her. Though she could not wrap her head around the full meaning of the gesture, her intuition told her that it was some strange sign of affection, and more importantly, that Hylian men liked it.

She also knew she was fed up with Link's doldrums, so much so that it was beginning to bring her down as well. Her teasing had failed to elicit a reaction from him for more than a few minutes, and she herself had been unable to sleep well because his anxiety had worried her just as much.

She hated feeling so off-balance and uncertain as she had felt over the past few days and needed to know why Link had let himself fall into such depression. Maybe this would help him feel better and help him get his feelings out in the open. More than that, it would help her express how she truly felt about him, on his terms.

Terms that he would most definitely understand.

It didn't look nearly as intimate as her usual gesture of affection, but she would have been lying if she'd said it didn't look like fun...

About a half-hour later, the children had finally exhausted themselves from playing so hard and their parents eagerly called them inside. Link and Jinn had back-tracked down the street, turning off to their left and down the narrow path over the wooden bridge toward the house they shared. A swell of pride pushed Link's anxiety aside as he gazed upon the newly-refurbished white facade and adjacent pond that were nestled under the towering form of the Ebon Mountain.

Link could still not recall where he had lived prior to being placed in the Shrine of Resurrection, perhaps somewhere in the castle town? But, it had made the moment when he had saved enough rupees to purchase the house from Bolson and his construction company all the more meaningful. It was solid proof that he could start fresh, build a new life for himself in this strange and uncertain world. He had worked tirelessly and almost singlehandedly to renovate the old building, to give it the ability to hold all of his necessities, plus a few luxuries on the side.

Then, as Jinn had become more accepted in the village, Link had worked even harder to make her home as well. Fortunately, by then he had the help of Bolson Construction who owed him a favor after he and Jinn had helped build Tarrey Town and had helped arrange the marriage of Bolson's senior apprentice, Hudson to the Gerudo woman, Rhondson.

Link let out a sigh of relief as he opened the front door and stepped inside into the cool, dry air of the house. Jinn trotted happily to the left side of the house, pulling a long cord that opened the massive garage door that allowed her inside to the main hall.

Link's pack strained against his back as he willed it upstairs to his loft while Jinn unstrapped her claymore and bow from her back, hanging both on the far wall that housed many of their most prized weapons, including the soup ladle that had brought them together.

Jinn glanced upstairs, a look of excitement and longing adorning her face as she watched Link toss his pack down next to his bed, before lazily removing his shirt and tossing it on the bed. Jinn's strong heart began to race and she felt a strange warmth building in her nether regions as her eyes ran up and down his relatively short frame. She had seen him like this many times before, but after what she had just seen in the village, her fervor for him had been amplified a hundred-fold. The strength in his toned muscles, the imperfections and battle scars adorning his light skin and the way he carried himself as a warrior; all of it enticed her, sending shockwaves down her spine.

The fact that he was not a lynel meant little to her. He would make a worthy mate, one that any lynel female would be lucky to have. While she had enjoyed teasing him, her instincts told her without a doubt that the time for play was over. She had to break him out of his funk and show her that she was worthy of him.

Link's mind, on the other hand, was far away from that subject as he pulled on another shirt and looked thoughtfully towards the railing to his left. Since their journey to Tabantha had begun, a thought had occurred to him to expand the upstairs area of the house, perhaps building an addition to the house to allow for more room, and an expanded set of stairs to...allow Jinn up?

He had wrestled with that question in his mind since his talk with Zelda.

Was it worth it?

Would she be around long enough to enjoy something like that, the way things were going?

Finally, he decided that if their relationship were going to fail, it would not be over something as trivial and silly as not having enough room in the house. He turned to lean over the railing and look down into the main area at Jinn, but his face contorted into a frown of confusion as he gazed into her green eyes. If it were possible for Jinn to blush, she would have been blushing profusely, her mouth hanging open slightly, and Link noticed her lower chest rise and fall as her breathing increased.

For a moment, Link began to grow anxious as to what was going through her mind, but Link somehow managed to push those thoughts aside and return to his thoughts about what Jinn might want for herself if they expanded the upstairs of the house.

"Hey, uh, Jinn, I know we just got back, but what do you think of talking to Mr. Bols-"

"Link..." Jinn started, her eyes wandering and her face uncertain.

Before Link knew what hit him, Jinn had closed the distance between them, standing up on her hind legs as she braced her front legs under the railing. Link's eyes shot open as wide as dinner plates as Jinn's face stood inches away from his own, her arms grasping the railing and pulling herself closer to him.

"Can...can Jinn try something with Link? Jinn was curious to know...how..."

Before he could open his mouth to object, her eyes slowly slid closed and the warm wetness of her thin, feline-like lips met his.

It was a small kiss, to be sure, and Jinn did not try to force any intensity into it, for fear of Link's reaction.

It was soft, deliberate, sweet.

It was the kiss of a Hylian.

The tall lynel lingered on the Hylian's lips for a long beat, becoming lost in his familiar taste.

Link, for his part, was too shocked to object, his breath stopped dead in his throat as his conscious mind ran off in a million directions at once. This was the moment he had dreaded their entire trip back, and he had hoped for some shred of clarity about what to do when it came. But, Jinn, as she often did, had taken him by surprise and had left him utterly lost as to what to do.

Yet, something about this felt...dare he think it...right? Natural?

What? No!

His anxiety told him here was nothing natural about this.

No lynel had ever attempted anything close to this with a Hylian or any other species since time immemorial.

Yet, did he care? This felt good, right? Should he end it now? Was this wrong?

Before Link could sort his thoughts out, Jinn broke the kiss, a tentative grin on her face as her eyes frantically darted about Link's visage, gauging his reaction. Her nostrils flared as she took in his scent, looking for signs of the arousal she so loved to savor. Yet, her eyebrows contorted up in confusion as, with another whiff, she tasted his arousal mixed with an overpowering miasma of anxiety and fear. Her sensitive ears caught every hitched, uneven breath escaping from his mouth as it hung open in front of her.

Jinn's heart began to plunge downward into her hooves and her own breath began to hitch as a overwhelming sense of dread and disappointment washed over her.

For the first time in her life, she was afraid, embarrassed.

After all they had been through, after all signals she had sensed from him, did Link truly not feel the same as she?

Had she made a terrible mistake?

"Jinn..." Link managed to get out.

"Link...Link does not like...?" Jinn stammered, her eyes darting over his even faster, looking for any shred of affirmation in his eyes.

Link tried desperately to articulate what he was feeling, but all that came out were a series of staccato "ah's" as the words utterly failed him. He was absolutely lost, and growing more fearful by the second as Jinn's expression became crestfallen.

Finally, after a long beat had passed, Jinn looked away from Link, down at the ground, a black pit beginning to form in her stomach as she glanced for a moment at the cord that opened the garage door.

"Jinn is...Jinn is sorry. Jinn did not want to scare Link..." Jinn trailed off, embarrassment coating her tone.

As Link's senses began to return, Jinn lowered herself down from the balcony and turned to the cord, the large wooden door opening with a resounding creak.

"Jinn, I-"

"Jinn...Jinn remembers she had to go do something for...Purah...right now," Jinn said as evenly as she could, yet Link could feel his heart shattering with the pall of disappointment in her tone.

"Jinn, wait!" Link yelled as the garage door slammed shut.

Link thundered downstairs and out the front door as the rumble of hoofbeats rang out further and further into the distance. Link's instincts began to take over as he broke into a sprint, following the sound of the hoofbeats up the mountain. However, on two legs he could not hope to keep up with the speedy Lynel, and by the time he crested the steep slope, Jinn was nowhere in sight.

"Jinn!"

Frantically, his eyes searched about the landscape for her as he called her name, yet no matter where he looked, he came up short.

His emotional energy now utterly gone, Link's body dropped like a sack of potatoes, first to his knees and then onto all fours as the hard, rocky ground pierced into his palms like a knife.

He had neither the energy nor the will to go anywhere now.

Exactly what Zelda had feared had come true.

Despite all he had done to build his relationship with his Lynel companion, he lacked the strength to truly reconcile how he felt about her.

It might have been easier if he had just let her down easy, but something in his mind, perhaps his own selfishness had prevented him from doing so. No, perhaps he had been right, perhaps it was his own curiosity about how far things could go, and what possibilities awaited him if he gave in to his feelings.

Now, he cursed himself profusely as he realized he might never get the chance to know for sure.

His own indecision had cost him his best friend, his partner, and an overpowering feeling of doom swept through him as he wondered if he would ever see her again.

---

Chapter 5

The hours had rolled away at snails pace as Link scoured the Necluda province for Jinn. His sense of loyalty had forbade him from letting things end like this, and had pried him off the mountaintop and back into the village. Unfortunately, no one in the village had seen the mighty lynel since she and Link had returned.

When Link reached Symin and Purah, they seemed too busy to notice any sort of commotion going on in the village, much to Link's lack of surprise. What did surprise him however was that they had denied having an engagement with Jinn, nor had they seen her at all, and Link had spent hours wracking his brain about where else she could have gone.

Now, as darkness descended on the eastern province, Link struggled to stave off a sense of utter futility.

He had searched from the Ginner Woods, across to Lake Sumac, as far east as Hateno beach and Mapla Point by the sea. Now, he found himself at the chilly peak of the Ebon Mountain, at the heart-shaped "Lovers' Pond", acting on a decidedly silly hunch that she might try to take comfort here, as she was well aware of the legend that surrounded the strange pond.

Yet, all he found was a pool of water and little else, and he silently chided himself for even considering that she would think of going somewhere so cliché.

His leg muscles began to scream out in protest as he slowly descended the mountain, but he paid them little mind as he wrestled with his inner turmoil yet again.

It seemed strange that only hours ago Link had been entertaining the thought breaking off their partnership because of the feelings he carried and that she was ready to return.

Now, there was no doubt.

He missed her more than anything; he would go to the ends of Hyrule to find her if he had to.

Finally, his legs could take no more, and Link settled down on a small plateau overlooking the village and his house, the countenance of the full moon bathing him in white light.

He had replayed the kiss over and over in his mind and no matter how many times he tried to convince himself that it was wrong, or unnatural, or deviant, he realized it was futile to try to think that way.

Being that way with Jinn felt right.

No, more than that, it felt wonderful.

Despite all his efforts to deny it, he wanted more.

He had grown exhausted from worrying about whether feeling this way was right or wrong, and his adventurous side was beginning to win out, pleading with him to take a chance.

But what if it didn't work out, what if he ended up hurting her or she him?

Then again, what if it did work, wasn't his happiness worth that risk?

If only she were here to help him work it out-

"Link..."

Link's heart was in his mouth as a familiar voice hit his ear. He closed his eyes in concentration for a moment, hoping against all hope that he was not imagining things. Slowly, he craned his head around over his shoulder, his eyes only opening half-way as the blinding light of the moon pierced them.

Then, as if by magic, there she was, standing proud and stoically before him as her ivory-white horns glistened in the pale moonlight.

Link's heart leapt as she slowly stepped towards him, her face expressionless and her tone even.

"Jinn wants to apologize. Jinn never meant to do anything that would make Link uncomfortabl-"

Jinn barely managed to get the words out as Link broke into a run and quickly closed the distance between them, wrapping his arms around one of her legs in a tight hug.

"I looked everywhere for you, you had me worried."

Jinn reluctantly allowed a small grin to slither onto her face as she felt a flash of reassurance in Link's touch. However, she soon remembered herself, a frown forming on her face again, as she looked downward at the ground, away from Link. With a sigh, the tall lynel stepped toward the edge of the plateau, her leg brushing Link aside.

"Jinn, are you ok?" Link asked, a black pit forming in his stomach as he looked at her body language.

"No, Jinn is not ok. Jinn feels...wrong, uncertain. It is like she is small, weak...Jinn is not sure she can feel the same again. Jinn did not want Link to see her that way, that is why she ran off," Jinn replied evenly.

"Jinn, don't say that, you're neither of those things. I'm the one who should be apologizing to you. You didn't do anything wrong. It's just that you-"

"Why did Link not like what Jinn did?" Jinn asked curtly, a hint of longing in her tone.

"I...I did like it," Link replied, trying to be as sincere as possible, though his words lacked conviction.

Jinn's face contorted into a scowl as she closed her eyes, kneeling down on the grass, facing away from the young Hylian.

"Jinn does not believe Link."

"What, why not?"

"Link says one thing, but his body says something else. Jinn only wanted to make you feel good, to show you what you mean to Jinn...like Hylians do. Jinn wanted to show how...how Jinn wishes to be Link's mate."

"But, all Jinn could sense when she did it was Link's fear. Link was so scared, it was overwhelming for Jinn. What is Jinn supposed to think? Does Link like Jinn, or is Link afraid of Jinn? Link must explain to Jinn why this is. Jinn must understand 'us'. "

"Jinn..."

Link's heart rate accelerated to a fever pitch as his mind scrambled to grasp the simplest thought. He cursed himself as again the words failed him, not a single explanation that crossed his mind would satisfy Jinn, and he knew it.

Then, like a bolt of white light, it all became perfectly clear.

He no longer cared about the consequences of what might be, nor what anyone else might think.

She was utterly beautiful to him in every way, she radiated strength, and warmth and security and cared for him as if he were the most precious thing in the world.

He would never find another like her if he looked for another hundred years, and he had almost lost her through sheer stupidity.

He would not make that mistake again.

Link suddenly felt the weight of his anxiety lift of his shoulders as he turned to face her with a smile.

"Jinn, I can't lie to you. If someone had told me when I awakened that I would have become comrades with a Lynel, that we'd defeat Calamity Ganon together, that we'd become this close, I would have thought they were crazy. And yet, there's no one else I'd rather have by my side. I don't think I could have saved Hyrule without you, and I don't want to try and rebuild Hyrule without you. You're the strongest, bravest, fiercest, most passionate and loving person I've ever known, and I'm at my strongest when you're by my side."

Jinn's frown vanished instantly as a mile-wide grin spread across her face and a wave of excitement and relief permeated throughout her.

"I've known you wanted to be my...mate...for a long time now and...I want that too. It's just..."

Jinn's breath caught in her throat as Link hesitated, her smile fading slightly as a cold bolt of worry shot through her spine.

"...to be completely honest, you were right, Jinn. I was scared. Not of you, not of being with you, but of what we'll have to face if we become mates. Our lives are going to be much harder if we go down this path. There are some in Hyrule who will understand, perhaps, but we're going to be much less welcome everywhere we go from now on. You saw it yourself when we saved those traders, and with those stable owners. There will be people who will ridicule us, even hate us for what we are doing. No matter what we say, or how much love we have, all they will see is a monster and a lunatic who are breaking the laws of nature."

Jinn sat still for a long beat, a pensive expression on her face as her eyes darted to the left and the right, trying to comprehend the weight of what Link had said.

Then, her wide grin returned slowly, and Link frowned in confusion as he thought he heard a murmur escape her mouth, then a giggle, then a chuckle, then a guffaw, then a belly-laugh that reverberated throughout the valley.

Link ground his teeth together in a nervous smile as he watched Jinn's whole body shake with amusement, her wild white tail thrashing about as she clutched her chest to steady herself.

"Hahahaha! Jinn has never laughed so hard! Link is so silly, Jinn cannot stand it!"

After what seemed like an eternity, Jinn caught her breath and scooted her large, muscular frame towards where Link sat, lowering her upper torso down to the ground on her hands and stopping close to Link's face, a warm and loving smile on her lips.

"Link, you have no idea how happy you make Jinn. Jinn is very pleased Link can be honest with her, but Link should not waste time with worry about such silly things. Jinn can understand Link's concerns, but..."

Link's expression softened as Jinn broke eye contact for moment, letting out a long sigh as she carefully chose the right words.

"..everyone treated Jinn like a monster before she met Link. Sometimes, Jinn did not believe she was anything more than a monster. But, that was alright for Jinn, because she was used to it; it was all Jinn knew. But, through Link, Jinn found the most wonderful people in Hyrule, the ones who are strong enough to see Jinn as a person, not a monster. They are the ones who truly matter to Jinn now."

Instinctively, Link stood up to meet Jinn's face so she did not have to bend over to reach him. Though, even with Link standing at his full height and Jinn on her knees, she still stood nearly a full head taller than him.

Link stared into Jinn's piercing green orbs in a strange trance of awe and wonder, his heart racing as he felt her warm breath wash over him, only inches from his face.

"It is all because of Link and his strength that this happened, and Jinn loves you for it. Jinn never wants to be apart from Link. Jinn will protect you and love you for the rest of her days...because...Jinn is also at her strongest when she is with Link..." Jinn trailed off, a hunger burning in her warm visage as she leaned in a few inches closer to Link.

A smile began to form on Link's astonished face as he and Jinn stood still and regarded each other for a long minute. An electric pall of anticipation hung in the air between them as Link scanned Jinn's body language. His heart was ready to burst as the weight of Jinn's words sunk in. However, Lynel courtship was so vastly different from his own culture, that for a moment, he was at a loss about what to do next.

Fortunately, he did not have to think long as another flash of clarity hit his mind and he decided to simply act on his instinct.

Slowly, as if on its own, his arm reached out to Jinn's face, and he slowly sunk his fingers into the fine, soft, gray fur of her chin. Jinn closed her eyes and let out a contented purr of happiness as Link began to scritch against her. The gesture was not new to either of them, though this time he intentionally lengthened and deepened his strokes, making the gesture much more sensual and intimate than ever before.

Link felt his breathing grow heavier and his pants tighter as his hand slowly meandered away from her chin and into the thicker, white fur of her cheek and mane. A purr became a growl as Jinn leaned into Link's touch, nuzzling against his hand as his fingers continued their ministrations.

Finally, Link's hand found purchase in her fur, and he cupped his palm against her cheek, slowly, yet forcefully drawing her face down to meet his.

Jinn, for her part, was completely lost in the throes of bliss at Link's tenderness. However, the the sudden change in Link's grasp, caused her to open her eyes slightly in surprise, a moan of confusion escaping her lips. Fortunately, the sensation was short lived and she let out a long groan of delight as she felt his moist, full, Hylian lips press firmly into hers.

Despite Link's strength of character, Jinn had half-expected Link to be tentative, timid, and hesitant because of what he had just revealed to her. Instead, there was fire, passion, strength behind his kiss, and, though she did not quite know what she was doing, she pushed back against him, meeting his touch as her muscular arms wrapped around him and pulled him into her soft chest.

The act of kissing was new to her, but she could sense through his touch that he was trying to show his own strength, to prove that he was worthy of her. The flames of passion that burned in her gut for him suddenly exploded into an inferno as she pushed even harder against him, her teeth occasionally clacking against his as her larger mouth threatened to envelop his lips.

Yes, this was even more fun than she thought it would be. It was so much fun she did not want it to end.

Presently, she hummed in confusion as she felt his wet tongue probe against her mouth, gliding almost expectantly against her thin, sticky lips. Jinn broke the kiss, sucking in a gasp of air as she eyed Link quizzically.

"What is Link doing?"

"It's ok, Jinn. Just open your mouth."

Jinn began to open her mouth wide before Link reached up to her cheek to stop her.

"Heh, no, not like that. Just try it when you feel me doing that again."

Jinn let out a tentative hum of approval as she closed her eyes and claimed Link's lips once again. This time, she opened her mouth eagerly and allowed Link's tongue entry. Jinn's whole body shivered in delight as Link's tongue found her broader, thicker tongue and she began to move with him, the two appendages beginning a slow, passionate dance.

Link felt virtually every muscle in his body relax as he felt Jinn begin to catch on to what he was doing. Her tongue felt hot in his mouth, her strange saliva was warm and exciting to partake of, and he began to feel his member strain against his trousers again as he felt the soft, plushness of her breasts press into his chest.

Jinn growled in pleasure as Link's lips met hers over and over again, her nether regions becoming warmer by the second as her heart began to race in pure ecstasy. However, after a few minutes, she decided she had her fill of the Hylian way and she took her chance as she felt Link's neck tilt slightly upwards for a split second. She freed her broad tongue from its prison inside her mouth and planted it on Link's neck, gliding upward along his jaw before stopping and lingering on his pointed ear for a long moment.

Link felt a surge of raw electricity sizzle through his body at the feeling of the long, wet appendage against his skin. He began to groan loudly, becoming uncomfortably hard as she drew her tongue back for another pass. Yet again, she pressed her chest into him wrapping her arms around him and picking him up off the ground, and he was reminded of how tantalizingly soft her breasts were. His hand instinctively reached downward, gliding along her fine fur before being stopped by her tight, bikini-like chest armor.

Link glided his hand slowly along her breast again and again as he tried in vain to reach her nipple, earning him a giggle of amusement from his lynel companion as she suddenly released him, placing him firmly on the ground.

With a hungry growl and half-lidded gaze, she flashed her fangs at him a she reached behind her with two massive arms and released her breasts from their prison. The luscious grey orbs jiggled in appreciation at their newfound freedom and Link sucked in a gasp as Jinn grabbed him by the arm, guiding him towards her dark-colored teats.

Slowly he worked his hand around the soft, sensitive flesh, feeling it begin to swell under his touch. Jinn let out a throaty groan of approval as her body responded to his ministrations, wrapping her arm around him and pulling him close again as he reached for her other breast with his free hand. Jinn, taking the initiative, lifted her other teat, bringing it up to his face and inviting him to suckle on her with a deep growl.

Though he felt a momentary flash of hesitation, Link's growing desire quickly overrode any other thoughts as closed his eyes in pleasure as he wrapped his lips around the firm flesh. He felt his tongue instinctively lash out to flick rapidly back and forth over her teat, Jinn's grasp tightening in response to each grasp.

Jinn wanted desperately to articulate how good Link was making her feel, but all she could manage were a collection of gasps, grunts and growls as she felt the flames of hot, wet desire roaring at her nether regions. She desperately wanted to reach around and touch herself, but a strange sense of self-preservation told her to be patient, the main event would come soon enough.

Jinn reached under Link's shirt with her other arm, raking her claws gently up and down Link's toned chest as she held him with her other hand, leaving him to grasp her left breast with both of his hands as he continued to suckle. She groaned again in satisfaction, marveling to herself at the wonderful, exotic feeling of his smooth skin under her palms. Link began to let out his own staggered moans at her contact, and his raw vocalizations further stoked the fire that was building within her.

To say Link was overwhelmed would have been a massive understatement. He was running almost entirely on instinct. Becoming intimate with Jinn almost felt like an out-of-body experience, as if he were watching someone else give the tall Lynel pleasure.

He tried desperately to lose himself in the cool, moist electricity of her tongue and the strange miasma of pleasure and pain that her claws created. However the fact remained that this was, in essence, his first real experience with intimacy. He lamented that now, when he needed it most, he could not recall another experience like this with a woman, Hylian or otherwise, and he grew worried about reaching a point where he would run out of ideas and fail to please his lynel lover.

As Jinn let out a yip of pleasure at Link's wonderful touch, she became lucid for just a moment and seemed to sense the conflict within Link. It was not nearly as potent as before and was not rooted in fear; more that he simply was unsure about what he was doing.

Fortunately, this only worked to further endear him to Jinn, and her heart warmed as she realized how truly adorable he was for trying to prove his prowess to her, without really knowing how.

Jinn let out another powerful growl of pleasure as Link's tongue gave a powerful flick across her teat, she reached her entire arm under his shirt, swiftly and deftly lifting it over his head before knew what hit him. Link barely had time to let out a cry of protest before Jinn brought her warm tongue to just above his navel, licking long and slow up his chest and eliciting a staggered gasp of pleasure from the young Hylian.

"Jinn..." Link gasped as his straining member threatened to burst at the seams from the contact.

"Heehee, it's ok, Link can relax. Jinn will be gentle...at first..." Jinn cooed as she swiftly swept Link off his feet and stood up to her full height, carrying him bridal-style over to a flat boulder that lay a few feet away.

Jinn pulled Link up closer to her face for a moment, letting out a near-feral growl into his ear before teasingly probing around its width with her tongue. Link shivered in ecstasy as Jinn carefully lowered him down to sit over the edge of the boulder, before, in an instant, her aggressive side took over, ripping link's trousers from his waist. His throbbing manhood practically let out a cry of joy as it burst free from its prison, and Jinn's eyes shot up in surprise for a moment, before her face contorted into a sly, half-lidded picture of pure hunger.

It was not the first time she had seen his manhood, but certainly the first time she had ever seen him this aroused. Though she had very little experience to compare it to anything else, Hylian, Lynel or otherwise, the sight of it only served to strengthen her conviction that Link was most definitely a fit specimen. He was a young buck in his prime, rife for the rutting.

Link, on the other hand, felt more like a little fawn in headlights as the lynel lustily spun around, teasingly removing her chest armor and white leg tights before reaching back for the two golden rings that held her tail fur. One by one they fell to the ground as Jinn swished her thick white tail out of the way, presenting her her now-dripping womanhood, her nether lips noticeably swollen and ready to greet him.

Link gulped in anticipation as Jinn sensually wiggled and shook her rippling, muscular posterior as she slowly backed toward him, squeezing one breast with her hand at the same time in a flowing, fluid mating dance. Every few moments, she added a new layer to the dance as she rolled her shoulders to the side around before lifting her arms over her head, and causing her rock-hard back muscles to become to become taught. Then she, turned to the side for a moment and brought her hands together in a tight fist as her pectoral muscles and biceps popped to attention.

Was she...flexing for him?

Then, she began the dance again as she continued to back towards him.

As his stared unwaveringly at her womanhood, Link's racing mind was unsure if such as thing was part of lynel mating behavior or if she simply found it intimate. Lynels did value strength after all...

Either way, he could not take his eyes off her as she presented herself to him, and a grin of triumph emerged on her face as she turned her upper torso around to look at him.

Then, much to his embarrassment, Link was reminded of an unfortunate truth as she backed tantalizingly closer to him: her womanhood was much larger than he anticipated. He was almost certain he could fit his whole arm inside her, possibly his whole head, not that he would ever try.

Either way, it was an inescapable fact that her genitals were designed to withstand the thrusts of an organ much longer and thicker than his, and he began to doubt his chances of even coming close to satisfying her. His doubts began to overwhelm his arousal as his mind began to generate images of a tree branch being thrown down a wide hallway.

Fortunately, Jinn had lost none of her hunger despite sensing Link's hesitation. She continued to growl and grunt in anticipation as she turned her body to face him, still moving in her slow, flowing fashion to continue her seduction.

"What is wrong Linnnnk~?" Jinn asked, licking her chops as she took obvious interest in his member.

"U-uhh...hehe..." Link stammered sheepishly, a spurt of nervous laughter escaping from his lips as Jinn lowered her front legs to her knees and sat her posterior completely down to the ground.

"Hmmm~?"

"It's just...I want to make sure you know what you're getting into. I'm not as...big as a Lyn-ahhh!"

Link was silenced instantly as Jinn's massive hand gripped his member, her claws lightly trailing along its length as she stroked him up and down for several long moments, her pressure tight, but not to the point of pain.

"What did Jinn tell Link earlier? No need to worry over silly things," Jinn chided lovingly as she quickened her pace, eliciting a cry of arousal from the young Hylian.

"Link is perfect for Jinn. Perrrrrrfect~..." she purred, releasing him from her grip as she lowered her wet tongue to his crotch. Slowly she drew the warm appendage up his entire length before moving upward to his stomach, his chest, his neck, and finally to his ear again.

"Ahhahhhahaa..." Link cried out as Jinn gave one tantalizingly slow lick after another over his whole body. His heart began to pound in his chest at the warm lavage and his body grew hotter by the second as it seemed Jinn knew exactly how to turn him on.

Jinn, for her part, was simply wrapped up in the exotic, musky scent that was now billowing from his every pore, and the smooth, salty texture and taste of his smooth skin under her tongue. But, suddenly she relented, looking lustily straight through his blue eyes and into his very soul.

"Soon, Link will put himself deep inside Jinn and breed her like the warrior he is. But, first..."

Jinn trailed off, lowering her head to the apex of his thighs yet again and slowly lowering her tongue from her mouth to wrap around the sensitive head of his engorged member. Link nearly jumped off the rock at the contact, but Jinn was undeterred, and his shrill cries soon gave way to lusty moans as she took his tip into her mouth in between her sharp, ivory fangs.

Fortunately, her lust was not quite potent enough to override her awareness of Link's well-being and she took great care to avoid scraping her teeth against his member, her tongue and saliva providing his manhood smooth, slippery passage into and out of her mouth.

Link's chest began to heave with labored breath as raw electricity shot from his rod through his whole body at her every touch. He was hard as a steel spike now, a fact that Jinn reveled in as she lowered her head further down his length, using her deep maw to envelop him completely.

Her nostrils flared over and over again as she fellated him, leaving not a single ounce of his pheromones untouched as she groaned in ecstasy with every forceful bob of her head.

Link tried in vain to find something to grip onto on his smooth, cool, rocky perch and his hips began to move on their own as Jinn gradually quickened her pace, her lust driving her on.

Link let out moan after tantalizing groan as he fought the urge to thrust upward into Jinn's mouth. He could feel a strange heat and tension building rapidly between his legs, and though his memory of past experiences continued to fail him, he knew he would not last long. As Jinn continued to suck him dry, the heat neared it's flash-point and Link screwed his eyes closed, letting out a strained groan as his nether regions threatened to explode.

"Jinn...I'm...I'm..."

"No, not yet."

Link was caught off guard as suddenly, the heat disappeared and he could feel himself begin to cool down and regain his breath. As he slowly opened his eyes, Jinn stood up and picked him up by the waist. Link wobbled for a moment as he felt his legs squish into the rock as Jinn stood him upright, giving him another long, slow lick on his cheek before turning completely around and presenting herself to him again.

Her flowing tail flicked against his face as she began to wiggle herself again, her thick gluteal muscles rippling like waves under her skin as she flexed and relaxed them. Her engorged clitoris winked in and out of her folds in anticipation, almost beckoning him to become one with her in pleasure.

Slowly, she backed herself up to align with him, her legs coming into contact with the side of the boulder as she flicked her tail out of the way one last time. The raw scent of her arousal was overwhelming and Link's eyes threatened to roll back in their sockets as her dripping womanhood stood mere inches from his member.

Link let out a sigh as a grin worked its way onto his face. Despite her body's resemblance to a beast that he'd had little need of after meeting Jinn, it no longer mattered in the slightest.

He realized that there was nothing about Jinn that was disgusting or revolting to him.

Her body excited him, aroused him, more than he ever thought possible. Her scent was exotic, captivating and not at all unpleasant. Her personality was strong and assertive, yet she had made every effort to ensure that he enjoyed every moment of their union.

By simply being herself, she had ensured that doing so would bring them closer together, rather than drive them apart.

Only months ago, Link would have looked incredulously at anyone who would have suggested he would find anywhere near this much pleasure in such an obscene sexual union.

Now, it was all he wanted in the whole world, and every passing moment filled him with determination, and a raw, unbridled desire to make her feel as good as she had made him feel, regardless of their differences.

She was his mate, and he was hers, and he would prove it to her unequivocally.

Link's hand reached out probe into her hot, wet folds, gasping in astonishment as he sampled the inferno that now burned inside her. His fingers circled around her entrance and lingering one moment in curiosity at the small nub at the bottom that began to wink even faster.

Jinn let out a feral growl as hot, raw pleasure sizzled through her as he ran his digits over her most sensitive of spots, and she turned her head around giving him a roar of impatience, her body aching insatiably for his exotic Hylian member. Link flashed her a confident, toothy grin that caused her heart to soar for a moment as she sensed the surge of energy that ran through him, but it was not enough to quell her urgency.

The time for waiting was over, she wanted him inside her now!

"Inside~!"

Jinn cocked her hips forward to thrust back against Link just as he aligned himself with her entrance, drawing his hips back and thrusting forward as hard as he could.

"AHHHHH~!"

The ensuing crash of their hips shot a thick, hot, bolt of ecstasy between them and both let out a roar of approval that reverberated off of the rolling hills of the Necluda province. Jinn's breath staggered as Link drew himself back before grasping both her flanks with his hands and thrusting in again. Without thinking about what he was doing, he thrust his member so deep inside her that his pelvis threatened to enter her, and his chest tickled for a moment by the fine fur of her posterior as he hilted himself.

Link's breathing became labored again as his loins throbbed in astonishment at how unbelievably tight she was. It was almost as if her inner muscles were so strong that they had contracted enough to conform to his relatively smaller shape and he moaned loudly as he felt her thick, velvety walls grasp and grope at every inch of him.

Thought she had no doubts about Link's ability to satisfy her, Jinn could not help but be equally overwhelmed at how big Link felt inside her. Though she had never mated prior to meeting Link, the explosive tightening of her inner muscles made him feel as big as what she imagined a male lynel felt like. Never in her life had she felt so full, so satisfied, so connected to another being, and she took one of her breasts in her hands, massaging it to its fullest extent as she let out another roar of pleasure.

Suddenly, Jinn gasped in surprise as she felt Link grasp the base of her tail and pull forcefully, taking all of her hair in his hand as he did so.

"GRRRRRAAGGGHHHSSSS...yesss...Linnnnkk..." Jinn managed to get out as a sound somewhere between a growl and a hiss burst from her throat.

It was all she could do to try to put into words how good he was making her feel. But, just like before, she was reduced to a series of gasps, groans and roars as Link began to increase his pace, his hips smacking into her dripping posterior with resounding slaps.

Just when she thought she could not possibly feel any more turned on by the young Hylian, Jinn's eyes went as wide as saucers as he felt him caress her nub with one hand as he thrust into her with all his might.

Link began to roar with raw determination as he continued to increase his fervor, raw lust surging through him as he claimed her womanhood again and again. Link's rational mind was rudely shoved to the back of his consciousness as raw primal instinct urged him onward. Jinn screwed her eyes shut as she felt him roll his phallus around inside her depths, filling every last inch of her with every thrust.

He had never felt so utterly alive as he was with her right now. She was an inferno inside and growing more unbearably hot by the second as she gripped him tighter and tighter. Her body began to writhe against his as the heat began to overwhelm her too. Roar after roar of raw pleasure escaped her lips as she turned her upper torso around to look him in the eye.

"Linnnk! Linnnk!" She called out, flashing her teeth as the orgasm she craved loomed closer and closer, her muscles beginning to tense as tightly as guitar strings.

Despite his lack of experience, Link knew instinctively she was close as well.

Suddenly, he caught a brief moment of lucidity and met her gaze; his eyes entranced by her flowing white mane, her rock-hard abdominal muscles, her glistening horns, her broad shoulders, her thick white tail as it brushed against his face. She looked utterly wild and powerful, like the force of nature he knew her to be.

Yet, it only served to stoke the burning lust within him into a raging inferno, and with a growl, he grabbed onto her nub with one hand, while continuing to slam his hips into her with all his will.

Suddenly, Link sucked in a gasp as Jinn's hips bucked uncontrollably into the air, her front legs beginning to buckle as her whole body shook violently with one final thrust.

Linnnk...Jinn loves Link! Jinn loves Link!!! JINN LOVES LINNNNNK!!!! Jinn thundered as Link pushed her over the edge, her rear grinding up into Link on its own as her inner muscles clamped down on his member like a vice.

It was enough to send Link over as well and he let out his own roar of triumph, his body alight with raw pleasure as his thick Hylian spunk burst from his member and blasted into Jinn's hungry, waiting depths.

Both Jinn and Link gasped desperately for breath as Link's manhood threatened to burst at the seams. Jinn's velvety slick tunnel greedily pulsated against him, milking him for every last drop.

With a gutteral growl of satisfaction, Jinn's legs could finally take no more and she fell to her knees, Link's cock popping out from her depths as she rolled contentedly onto her side. A strange, almost goofy grin appeared on her face, and she purred loudly as she felt the warm breeze of security and contentment wash over her. She was thoroughly satisfied, and relished the feelings of fullness and closeness Link had given her as his essence seeped slowly out from her depths.

Link was beginning to languish in his own warm feelings, but wasted little time in leaping down from the rock and joining Jinn on the ground, lest his own legs give way.

Jinn lazily opened her eyes, throwing her massive arms open to greet him as he rolled onto the tall grass. The dampness of the dew caused his skin to glisten as he settled down on his back up against her, resting his head on her breasts.

"Linnnnk..." Jinn purred happily as she snatched him up to snuggle him, her muscular arms wrapping softly around his slender, short frame.

"Jinn...thank you."

"Hmm...? For what?"

"For...for being you. I made you worry because of my own foolishness and...I'm sorry for that. I want you to know that...I'm proud to be your mate."

Jinn chuckled loudly as a massive smile crept onto her face. She brought her head up to level with Link's, propping herself up on one arm and leaning in to nuzzle him.

Link hummed in contentment as the fine fur of her cheek brushed lightly along his. A muscular hand grazed lazily through his long, blonde locks as she

"Nothing to forgive, Link. We are mated now. Jinn has everything she needs in the whole world, thanks to you."

Link's eyes slipped lazily shut as he felt the warmth of her soft, grey fur ebb into his naked form, shielding him from the cold night. Truly, he also felt as if he had all he needed in the world, and the bliss of the afterglow had banished any shred of anxiety he might have still felt over the consequences of their union. In this moment, he had her and she had him, nothing else seemed to matter, or even register in his consciousness.

Link eagerly welcomed the forearm that Jinn slipped under his head, propping him up as he opened his eyes again and looked over her muscular form once more.

Peace reigned over her expression as her face remained fixed with a grin of contentment. Link felt every muscle in his body relax as her warm, sweet breath washed over his face. Her chest moved in a slow, meandering rhythm as it expanded against his, as if it were rocking him to sleep.

His eyes growing heavier by the moment, Link reached up to Jinn's cheek, pulling her in for a light kiss.

As he released her, the words that had been looming in his heart bubbled to the surface. This time, there was no anxiety, no second-thoughts, no rationality to hold them back. There was only passion, confidence and determination, and Link let them flow from his tongue without hesitation.

"I love you, Jinn."

Jinn, who was by now mostly asleep, purred loudly in response as her eyes fluttered open for a brief moment. Her heart felt like a feather drifting and soaring high above the clouds and she leaned in to return the kiss with a lick of her own over his cheek.

"...and Jinn loves Link. We are one."

Link felt his own heart swell, touched by Jinn's words, though again he was unsure if the last part was a lynel thing or just Jinn's way of sealing their bond.

In the end, it did not matter, and hundreds of stray thoughts attempting to enter Link's mind were easily banished as sleep wrapped itself around his consciousness, threatening to claim him.

However, one final thought managed to sneak its way in before Link finally succumbed, one that encircled his whole form like a blanket:

"Jinn?"

"Yes?"

"You once told me that lynels rarely meet except to fight or mate, right?"

"Mmmhmm..."

"So, to be mates for life, to be 'one'...that's a Hylian concept, isn't it?"

"Mmmmmmm...interesting..."

Though Link's logical mind fought to continue pondering, it was quickly overpowered by Jinn's soothing hum and sleep finally stole the young Hylian hero away.

Epilogue

"AAAAAAAAAHHHHH!!! Good Hylia in heaven!!!"

Link woke with a start at the sound of a scream from a few feet away. Any memories of the previous night were swiftly banished from his psyche as he frantically looked around, the morning sun beating down on the grassy plateau just below the Ebon Mountain.

After a moment, he found the source of the noise and frowned in confusion as he gazed up at the small, slender form of Ivee, the young villager who worked at the general store. Link stared in confusion as her eyes as wide as saucers and her lower lip trembled in horror.

"Huh...Ivee? What's wrong? What happened!? Link said, preparing to leap into action.

"...master Link...y-you're..." the young woman stammered, pointing at trembling finger downward towards Links mid-section.

Link's brow screwed into a frown as he struggled to comprehend what Ivee was talking about. Then, slowly his senses became aware of how the light morning breeze seemed colder than usual, how it seemed to be caressing all of...

Time seemed to slow down as Link's eyes drifted south to where Ivee was pointing, cold air blasting into his chest as the realization hit him like a ton of bricks.

He had slept with Jinn...out here on the plateau...all...night...

Link's hands flew to cover himself as he ran behind Jinn to hide his exposed nether regions.

"Huh...?" The commotion had stirred Jinn as well, and she let out a massive yawn before meeting Ivee's gaze as well.

"Ivee, this...is...well...it-"

"Never mind, I don't want to know!" Ivee screamed before racing at full-speed back down the hill towards town.

"Hmm...what wrong with her, Link?" Jinn asked groggily, pushing herself up onto one arm.

"I...uh...I think the town knows what we did last night."

"Oh. Well, why was she so scared? Jinn would think she would be excited that Hyrule's two strongest warriors are now mates. We should proclaim proudly to every-"

"I think they've already got the idea, Jinn. We can be proud, but we don't have to force it down everyone's throats either. You know what I mean?" Link explained nervously, hurriedly picking up the remains his clothes from the ground.

"Hmm...no, Jinn does not, but, if Link says so. Come, let us return home."

Before Link knew what was happening, Jinn scooped hip up off his feet and held him in her arms bridal-style as she strode down the hill following Ivee's path.

"Jinn, I can walk, you know."

"Yes, but Jinn enjoys having Link so close. Besides, this is customary for Hylians after mating ceremony, yes?"

Link rolled his eyes in mock-exasperation and amusement a chuckle escaping his lips as Jinn braced him against the uneven slope as they closed in on their home. She was nothing if not observant, and though she might not have grasped the full meaning of the gesture, she clearly had the gist of it.

Link relented and hummed his acceptance at being carried as he pulled his shirt over his waist to cover himself, the rest of his form sheltered by his mate's thick fur. Link's eyes slipped shut as he lost himself in the closeness and security of Jinn's muscular arms and chest. He barely noticed the bumps in the terrain as a wave of contentment enveloped him.

He regretted nothing from last night, and his consciousness barely registered the embarrassment of being found naked by a villager.

For the first time in a very long time, he found he could relax and be optimistic about the future that lay before him.

Jinn was here to stay, and it did not matter what anyone else thought, Link was her mate and she was his. Just as Jinn had said...

They were one.

---

Some time later, a rap was heard at the door of the little house at the foot of Ebon Mountain. Link, now fully dressed, lazily strode down the stairs to answer. A goofy grin remained on his face as he looked out the upstairs window to see Jinn working at a massive grindstone in their yard, sharpening her claymore. For a moment, they locked eyes and exchanged warm looks at each other before the rapping returned and Link slowly opened the door.

Link's eyes shot up in surprise as he gazed at the mustachioed face of his visitor.

"Master Link, uh, good morning."

"Reede?"

Wisps of anxiety began to race across his consciousness. Perhaps he would have to face the consequences of his tryst sooner than he thought. This would be where he found out how far the village's loyalty to Jinn really went.

"I.uh..." Reede started, his eyes darting about as he grabbed his hair with the back of his head in anxiety.

After a long beat, Reede took a calming breath and looked Link right in the eyes, an even expression on his face.

"I'm sorry but there's no easy way to say this, you gave Ms. Ivee quite a start earlier..."

"Oh, I'm...sorry...is she alright?" Link asked.

The awkward atmosphere thickened quickly between them as it became clear that Reede knew exactly what had happened.

"Yes, she'll be fine. Apparently she had just returned from Kakariko this morning and wanted to let you know the shop wouldn't be open again until noon. She didn't find you at home, but she saw you and Jinn lying on the ground and thought you two were...in trouble..."

"Ah...well, you see-"

Reede held up a hand, cutting Link off. It seemed as if the village headman had had enough of awkwardly beating about the bush, and a small grin appeared on his face as he spoke again.

"Listen, Master Link. I speak for the entire village when I say we're all happy that you and Jinn have...found each other in...that way...but..."

"But...?"

"I have to ask that you use a little more discretion about where you, express that love in the future, alright?"

"Oh?" Link responded, his face quickly contorting into a frown as the meaning of what Reede had said sunk in.

While he had no problem whatsoever with living in harmony with his neighbors, the thought of Reede dictating where and how they could express their love began to stir embers of anger in his belly.

Fortunately, Reede seemed to sense this and softened his expression, trying to put Link at ease.

"Look, master Link, if you and Miss Jinn wish to pursue this relationship, that is your business. I don't want to tell you what to do. But, the fact is, the entire village has gossiping all morning about the noise alone. I think it's safe to say the entire Necluda province heard you two last night."

"All I ask is that you be mindful of your neighbors the next time you...express yourselves in that way."

Link let out a sigh of relief as he began to fully grasp Reede's meaning. He had hardly been so caught up in Jinn, in body and in soul, that he had not considered how Lynel passion could have collateral effects as well.

Link opened his mouth to respond, but suddenly his attention was caught by a strange rumbling noise coming from the bottom of the long hill below town.

"What is that?" Reede asked, his attention shifting towards the bridge that connected the house to the main street of town.

Jinn's ears instantly pricked up, her face contorting into a frown as she stood up and purposefully walked over towards the pair.

"Miss Jinn?" Reede asked, unnerved by the stern look in the Lynel's eye.

"What is it, Jinn?" Link asked.

"Another Lynel, Jinn can smell her from here." Jinn said gruffly.

"Coming for the village?"

"Yes."

"But why?"

"Not sure. Get on!" Jinn barked, lowering herself down and allowing Link and Reede to scramble onto her back.

Her passengers secure, Jinn charged towards the main street of town, Reede letting out a yelp of alarm as he struggled to hang on.

As they passed the sign at the entrance to town, Link and Reede leapt off Jinn's back as she skidded to a halt, her teeth now bared and her face the picture of rage.

Finally, their would-be assailant cleared the trees and the trio gained a clear view of the approaching behemoth.

Link's face contorted in to confusion as he looked up at Jinn, there was a strange sense of familiarity about this Lynel.

"Jinn...?"

Jinn could only growl, her nostrils flaring as she let out loud huffs of fury.

"WHAT IS SHE DOING HERE...!?"

-The End?