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bugcatcherwill · 8 months

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Rage Against The Calamity - Chapter 57: First Impressions

Bokoblins, Moblins, Lizalfos, and Wizzrobe. One of each has managed to break free from the Malice that binds them. With their tie to Ganon gone, these monsters must fight to survive in a world where everything wants them dead. Yet, things are not always what they seem. For as unforgiving a land as Hyrule, it will continue to surprise even the most hopeless hearts. This is the story of those four monsters, and all their unlikely allies...

I meant to post this way earlier but I forgor...so enjoy having another chapter posted here immediately tomorrow lol

Also on AO3

On most days, Rito Village is a cozy hub for both the local denizens and visitors. It's an envied vacation spot for Hylians with good reason. The open-wall houses ensure clean air and the fresh smell of pine - whose trees helped muffle any surrounding sound to create a homey feel unlike anywhere else in Hyrule. The beds are soft, the food is warm, and the surroundings picturesque. Thanks to their isolated archipelago, nearly every day was peace and quiet.

Today, however, was not one of those days.

The entire village could hear the echoed arguing of Link and Thrush before they even crossed the first bridge. The Hylian stayed firmly between the Rito Captain and Kobb - acting as its shield from an indignant Thrush. The Bokoblin wasn't faring too well, at the mercy of the other Rito guiding it as its hands were tied and its mouth gagged. It wouldn't be able to break its fall if it tripped, but Link was doing all he could to keep the attention on him and slow the brisk pace to a crawl.

Once the whole group entered the village proper, eyes and beaks turned towards Kobb. Walking up the winding staircase around the rock spire was especially nerve-wracking for the Bokoblin - Rito flying around on all sides to get a look. Monsters never even made it to the Hylian stable outside the village, so one being taken captive and brought into the heart of the Rito capital must be important. The path up to the Chieftain Rito also carried Link's and Thrush's shouting match through the main hub.

"You're not even listening!"

"Just because you are the Hylian Champion, that doesn't give you free range to do as you please!"

"I've talked with both Kaneli and Teba on this! They probably told you, but your head's so stuck in the snow you ignored them!"

"I think I would've remembered one of them telling me you were bringing a monster into our home, for I would have shot the idea down there as well!"

"And what gives you that authority?"

"Mind your tongue, Hylian. I've been the esteemed Captain of the Guard for mere weeks and already my name is known all around these parts."

"Oh, well excuse me for not kissing your talons as you tied up my friend!"

"Your 'friend' is a dangerous monster and will be treated as much!"

"What's Kobb done to warrant that treatment? It's done nothing but ride into the area with me!"

"Bah! We have every right to keep outsiders out of our village - especially monsters!"

"And here you are, bringing it in anyways! You're just mad it ruffled your feathers because you didn't expect it to know Hylian! And for the thousandth time, it's broken from the Malice. It's our ally."

"I’d sooner dive in the lake than fight alongside one of them!”

"By all means, jump if the splashdown will finally knock some sense into you!"

"Asking me to be sensible when you were caught red-handed like this…that's rich!"

"I can't believe it, you still haven't listened to a word I've said. Just take us to Kaneli, already!"

"Gladly!"

Despite the ringing in its ears from the cacophony around it, Kobb was impressed. It hadn't seen this much fire behind Link's words. Although it partially suspected he may have a vendetta for haughty, overconfident Ritos judging by Link's darkened eyes that hinted at a regrettable feeling of familiarity. Looking up at the other Rito guards guiding it across the boardwalks, they looked away from Kobb with a sour hesitancy. They clearly had their reservations about treating Kobb like this, trusting the word of Link much more than their superior, but there was not much they could do aside from play along.

Walking up to the third level, Link saw salvation in the form of a friend: the older Rito Warrior Teba walking from his usual perch over to the group. His grayish white feathers gently flowed in the mountain breeze while a signature scowl stretched across his beak. Link knew that Teba's intimidating frown was just how he looked most of the time, but for Kobb his stern glare was a very off-putting debut. Even worse, he walked right past Thrush, who had immediately shut up upon the other Rito's entrance, and went straight towards the Bokoblin.

"What are you doing, Teba! Stay away from the monster!" Thrush said, finding the gut to speak out, and was promptly ignored for his efforts. Even though he outranked Teba, everyone knew the Rito's lower position was only because he preferred to act at the front lines rather than lead. Had he wanted to, Teba could rise all the up the totem pole to the very top.

Kobb braced itself, flinching for any possible retribution, but was instead met with a calm kneeling to the ground with Teba's dexterous wings loosening the gag around its neck. The saliva-soaked cloth fell to the ground unceremoniously, leaving Kobb grateful but confused. Teba turned his head to Link, making a thumbs-up with his wing, which the Hylian returned with a half-smile.

"You alright? Looked like you had a bit of trouble breathing there," he said in his coarse gravelly voice, "Sorry about the mess you got thrown into…"

Kobb took a deep breath, popped the joints in its neck, and smacked its lips before looking up to Teba with a hearty nod, which Teba returned.

"That is a lot better, thank you," it said, biting its tongue on any swift remark it had and instead opting to glare angrily at the Rito Captain.

"Heh. Guess we can get properly introduced once this all gets sorted out. But you must be Kobb, correct? Link's told me a bit about you already."

The Bokoblin nodded again, letting Teba give it a pat on the shoulder before standing back up to turn to Thrush.

"I must say, I'm looking forward to hearing Kaneli chew you out…" he said, hiding the slightest of smirks under his beak.

"W-we'll see about that, old crow!" Thrush shouted back, now severely less sure of himself, but he dug a hole too deep to climb out of at this point.

By the time the group got to the large open hut at the very top of the central spiral, Thrush's feathers were standing up on end. Still, he decided on doubling down - trying to salvage what was left of his damaged pride. He seized the hood of the robe Kobb was still wearing and threw the Bokoblin into the center of the room - forcing it to stumble just to prevent a tooth-chipping faceplant. Link immediately ran up and grabbed its shoulders before it got too far off balance, while Thrush huffed with his beak upturned.

"Kaneli, sir! We caught the 'esteemed' Hylian Champion Link attempting to smuggle in a Bokoblin!" he said, voice cracking now that he was face-to-face with the head honcho, "This is a dire overstep, a breach in security, and borderline treason!"

Kobb finally had a good chance to look at the Rito Chieftain. Kaneli was one of the largest Rito in all of Hyrule - nearly as wide as he was tall. His head was huge and fluffy, face like an owl, with tiny cute spectacles adorning his beak. His feathers were an oak brown, with individual gray ones speckling his down like pepper flakes. A large smooth wooden rocking chair was his seat of choice - swaying back and forth rhythmically like a grandfather clock. Despite the seemingly shocking news, Kaneli's face remained serene and sleepy, but eyes brimming with knowledge and ponder. Slowly he stroked his long braided white beard as his beak opened subconsciously.

"Oh? Is that what all the noise is about? Most odd…that doesn't quite match the report I received from Link a while ago…" he said, leaning over to pull a scrap of paper out from his desk.

Thrush's wings began to shake - mortified as he could do nothing but watch Kaneli unfold the paper in one quick flick. The Rito Elder spent a few agonizing moments adjusting his glasses and holding the sheet at different lengths - straining his eyes to get a good angle.

"Oh, hoo…forgive me, Link, but I still have trouble reading your penmanship!"

The Hylian clenched his teeth and blushed slightly. Link's handwriting was well known to be especially egregious at times.

"Ah-hah, there we go! Kaneli, The Calamity is weakening. Several monsters have broken free and have allied against Ganon. We can talk about this more when I find time to visit, but tell your guards if they see me traveling to Rito Village with a monster, we can be trusted. They're just trying to survive - same as us. Thanks again, Link."

Meticulously folding the report back up and putting it back in the drawer was pain incarnate for the deep green Rito across the room. It was even worse when Kaneli's eyes then turned to him in a snap. Thrush chirped in surprise and jumped to attention - feathers more ruffled than ever before.

"Thrush, untie the Bokoblin."

The Rito Guard Captain couldn't look his superior in the eye. Kaneli was not quick to anger, but he was not one you would want to make angry. Thrush would've preferred any foreign object chucked at his head than this silent but furious anger Kaneli was giving him. Hesitantly, he complied - kneeling down and cutting Kobb's bounds a little too forcefully. Cautiously Kobb massaged and stretched its wrists. There were slight rope burns and bruises, but otherwise it was okay. That wasn't enough to placate the Rito Chieftain. Thrush was still in the hot seat and Kaneli was tossing more coal into the fire.

"I am wondering how you possibly missed the memo, Thrush," Kaneli said softly but deliberately, almost incredulous at everything that led up to this, "Both myself and your predecessor filled you in on this. Was your head in the clouds? Too busy preening your feathers? Or maybe you heard and ignored orders, or didn't care? I certainly hope the last possibility isn't the truth, for your sake."

Kaneli's stern controlled rage was not reserved just for Thrush.

"But I am most disappointed…in all of you," he said, pointing to the Rito Guards stationed with Thrush, who immediately lowered their heads and looked away in shame, "any one of you could have been the one to point out that Thrush was acting insubordinate, but you didn't. Perhaps he was too intimidating to speak against - but then what kind of Rito Warrior is too afraid to do the right thing? Thrush, I…I must say I regret your sudden promotion. We will discuss further action later. Now, head back to the barracks."

"Y-yes, sir" the likely demoted Rito Captain said with a clenched beak - taking the time to give Kobb one more sneaky dirty glare before leaping into the sky.

The onlookers watched Thrush circle around the main rock spire twice before diving low and under the village, towards the guard stations tunneled into the rocks half-way between the water and solid ground. With a subtle wave from Kaneli, the rest of Thrush's squad took off as well in a similar manner - but not before giving Kobb a much more apologetic look. The Chieftain's open hut was now empty save for Link, Kobb and Kaneli, with Teba hanging out around the entrance butting-in between other onlookers.

"Now, I do believe an apology is in order from yours truly…" Kaneli said, easing out of his rocking chair and walking towards Kobb so that they could see more eye-to-eye.

"It is fine, really," Kobb said with as passive of a voice it could muster, trying not to make more of an unneeded racquet that it already had, "we all have come to expect that type of welcome."

The Bokoblins words turned Kaneli's eyes to an even more somber brown.

"No, this has been a whole mess of an afternoon. All of that could have easily been prevented, and yet it happened all the same. I truly am quite embarrassed at the treatment you've been given on your first visit to our humble village. I do hope this hasn't dampened your mood in coming here, ehhh?" he droned on, motioning to the Bokoblin to give him its name.

"Kobb."

"Kobb! Never forget names once I hear 'em! Hoo-hoooo. I've been told from Link about you and your monster brethren breaking free from The Calamity, but I didn't think we'd be meeting so soon. Alas, I was also not expecting the Hyrule Champion's lineage to persist even after The Calamity, but surprises are always around the corner, wouldn't you say?"

Link averted his eyes from Kaneli just slightly, overall deciding it wasn't worth the trouble to mention that he actually was the Hylian Champion that fell in battle 100 years ago - not his ancestor.

"But look at me, prattling on as always, hoo! I sense that you've come here more than just to get acquainted and sightsee, Kobb. You are on a quest of your own, and you need our help. I will gladly listen to any plea you have. We owe you that much, at least…" Kaneli said, placing a wing firmly on the Bokoblin's shoulder and then walking back to his chair - loudly chirping when the rocking chair made him fall back further than he anticipated. Humbly, he chuckled at the mishap while waiting Kobb's response, who cleared its throat softly and raised its chest up high and proud.

“Because Link has already told you about us, I will be quick,” Kobb said, looking back at the Hylian who gave an encouraging little wave, “Our deadline to defeat The Calamity is the next Blood Moon - four weeks from now. We have already spoken with Zora’s Domain and Goron City, with both granting us aid. We will all gather our forces to Kakariko, and strike together when the day arrives. Please…any help you can spare we will gladly take.”

When Kobb stopped speaking it was as if the whole world was muted. The commotion from earlier had grinded any productivity of the village to a halt - too enamored in the scene coming up the boardwalk. Now, there were Rito looking in from all over, the wall-less shelter not doing Kobb any favors. Glancing in any direction it could see a Rito eavesdropping from the trees or the rocks below, more focused than any Guardian’s sight. But the only Rito that currently mattered, the one sitting across from the Bokoblin, was unphased by this information. He was probably the only one there that had accepted this day would eventually come. Still, he had some unanswered questions.

“Is it still just the four of you, as I was informed earlier, or have you succeeded in freeing other monsters?” Kaneli asked, stroking his beard in deep thought.

“Yes. We found a newborn Wizzrobe, one that was never touched by Malice, and saved it from its fate. We also freed a Hinox just a few days ago.”

Kaneli raised his eyes and whistled a low coo. Kobb swallowed the lump in its throat as it approached the hardest request.

“There is a way to free more monsters, and we expect to have our own small numbers when the day comes. All we ask is your help in uniting what is left of Hyrule to finally end Ganon. So…so that us monsters will have our own place to call home. I understand that there will be tension between us and the rest of Hyrule. It would be foolish to think otherwise. But our actions will show that our old loyalty to Ganon was never a decision we were allowed to make, and only held together by the oppressive Malice. We were willing to fight and die for a better world as soon as we were given the gift of choice. Are you?”

The mountain wind blew past them, Kobb’s light-gray hood fluttering in the breeze. The swell arising within the Bokoblin’s entire being gave it the courage to remain standing as it faced judgment. All eyes turned to Kaneli, whose concentration remained unbroken through the entire speech. Link held his hand to his heart - gritting his teeth behind his lips. With one more nod, the Rito Chieftain leaned forward and slapped his thighs with conviction.

“Alright, I accept!” he said with the slightest smile.

Kobb froze with a half-open mouth. It was so dumbfounded by the immediate and direct response, it almost found itself at a loss for words.

“I…I do not have to do anything?” it said, still hesitant there was some sort of catch.

Kaneli belly-laughed so hard he fell back into his chair.

“Oh-hoo-hoo! I wouldn’t be charity if I had you do something for me, now would it? Much of Hyrule has a ‘you preen my feathers I’ll preen yours’ ideal to it, but I think this land could go with some generosity in these trying times. Besides, I can see in your eyes that you have already proven your worth, Kobb. You have endured great hardships - all in the name of doing the right thing.”

Kobb solemnly lowered its head, knowing that feeling too well.

“To force an additional task upon you would be redundant, and an abuse of my power. This unfortunate mishap of your arrival was already more than you had any right to have thrust upon you. I do hope this will mend the rocky start you had with us!”

Butterflies in its stomach, Kobb bowed low to the Rito Chieftain with a lofty "Thank you." before turning around to leave the shelter. The same snow-white Rito from earlier, Teba, had a proud face, nodding up and down satisfied. Link gave the Bokoblin an elated smile with a thumbs up from the waist, however neither were able to take a single step before being interrupted.

“But!” Kaneli hooted, holding up a single finger and stopping Kobb in its tracks. It turned around regrettably, knowing there was no such thing as a free lunch.

“That said, it wouldn’t be right if this was all that made up your visit to our lovely village," Kaneli said, wings held open in a welcoming gesture, "While we have more than enough warriors to spare, I still need to discuss the logistics with my trusted ring. Should only take a few days, so why not get comfortable in the meantime before meeting the Rito brothers and sisters you will be fighting alongside?”

Kobb looked at Link for guidance again, but was met with the same wishy-washy face that it had. While they were on a time crunch, this whole outing was expected to last much longer, so they had time to spare. Besides, neither of them had the stomach to try and refuse Kaneli - especially while looking into his sagely brown eyes. There was also the fact that both of them really could use a day off after…everything.

"If it is a good chance to connect with the rest of the Rito, we will gladly stay." Kobb said, quickly realizing how weary its body was from the past few days of traveling.

"Splendid!" he cried, waving his wings in circles excitedly, "I'll make sure your board and meals are covered, and have Teba escort you around since he's one of our most trusted warriors! From the looks of things, Link, you've already brought him up to speed on all of this as well."

On-cue the gruff Rito entered the shelter with a small bow. Now that Kobb had a better chance to look at him, Teba was clearly the strong silent type but not by choice. His ever-present scowl didn't make for good nor second first impressions, but Kobb remembered well that just minutes ago Teba was the only one who didn't sit by idly and watch as Thrush went on his power trip. With a small smile, the Bokoblin looked him straight and confidently to his face and nodded. The frown on Teba's face stayed the same as always, but his bright eyes told a different story when he nodded back.

"Glad that all got sorted out nicely," he said in a deep voice, looking at Link who gave him a heavy sigh of relief, "Now should I show your friend, Kobb, the ropes? We're not used to having visitors that often, but there's enough around here, I'd say."

There was, however, one small holdup that still remained. Nervously, Kobb looked to its left and right, shuffling its feet in place, before biting the leather to ask the question.

"A quick problem. Where would I…empty my insides…" it asked, not finding a good spot anywhere thanks to the enclosed raised islands keeping Rito Village bubbled from the wilderness of Hyrule.

With another belly laugh, Kaneli pointed his wing downwards to one of the middle spires of Rito Village. There it saw a row of pinewood outhouses on a small rock outcropping directly above one of the farms. It was abundantly clear what the carved-out chutes were meant for…

The Bokoblin's nose curled up in horror just from looking at it. Kobb was already mortified at the Hylians for even having rooms to do business like that, but closing yourself into a box directly above the stuff was…unfathomable. Really, the Bokoblin wondered why everyone in Hyrule was so dead-set on doing their business so close to anything important. At least Akkala Lab had Robbie's souped-up Sheikah Tech Latrines, but that…Kobb considered risking the trek past the nearby Hylian stable on the outskirts of the lake just to find a nice private bush.

Cringing and biting its tongue, it looked to Link one more time who just laughed with morbid familiarity and patted Kobb on the shoulder.

"Welcome to Rito Village…"

#botw #botw fanfic #rage against the calamity #ratc #legend of zelda #loz #loz fanfic #link #totk fanfic #totk #tears of the kingdom #bokoblin

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