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Wild’s eyes flicked up to a cloud. It was thick and fluffy and moved across the sky in such a way that the hero almost saw the world turning. Warm sunlight bathed a small field of lush green grass. Tall wildflowers and thistles sprung up from the tangles and the champion’s eyes settled on a yellow butterfly dancing between a spring of tiny white flowers. He glanced down, spying Wolfie at his feet. The beast dozed lightly but as Wild let out a measured sigh, the wolf’s ears flicked and he raised his head.
Wild smiled slightly, scratching the animal just behind the ear. Wolfie’s backfoot kicked slightly. Wild let out a soft chuckle and sank from the mossy log to the grass, pulling Wolfie’s head into his lap. He sat there for a while in silence, hugging the beast around the neck. Wolfie was sometimes particular about being held too tightly, but he conceded for his cub.
Wild let go finally, leaning back on the log and fixing his hair with a long sigh. The shadows scattered from Wolfie and the rancher sat in the grass in the wolf’s place. Twilight kept a gentle smile on his face, but a touch of routine concern caught his eyes.
“You alright?” he asked Wild.
Wild nodded, leaning into Twilight. The rancher settled his arm over Wild and drew the champion into his side. Wild didn’t fight the touch–Twilight reminded him he wasn’t alone and the rancher’s warmth made him painfully aware he was still alive.
“I’m fine,” Wild sighed after a moment. “I just…”
Twilight hummed softly, fingers brushing through the champion’s hair. “You don’t gotta talk ‘bout it,” he offered softly.
Wild looked down fussing with a flower between his hands. He plucked the petals from a ball of dainty blossoms, mulling it over.
“How am I supposed to grieve people I can’t remember?” Wild asked finally, voice heavy. His ears reddened in shame. “So many people died because of me,” he mumbled. “And I knew some of them but I can’t remember them. Isn't it my responsibility?”
“No,” Twilight offered, pulling Wild into a squeeze. “It’s not your fault–”
“I couldn’t save them,” Wild said through a veneer of guilt, his voice hard.
He was angry. Angry at Ganon, angrier with himself . Zelda had suffered all those years for him and he couldn’t even recall the first time they met. She lived with him, she cared about him, and he had to wonder if she liked the old him better but he wasn’t brave enough to ask because he was too scared to hear her answer. He wondered too if she blamed him.
“You can’t save everyone,” Twilight hummed. His fingers quietly worked a braid into Wild’s hair.
“I couldn’t save anyone ,” Wild hissed, jerking his head away.
Twilight sighed, rubbing his cub’s shoulder. “That’s not true and you know it’s not,” he said softly. “You saved all those people when you woke up, didn’t you? And Zelda?”
Wild gave up a slight shrug. “I guess,” he muttered. He glanced up, frowning slightly. “I can’t mourn people I knew–people I probably loved once,” he said sadly. “I didn’t earn the right to grieve them but I’m still so…so…”
Wild bowed his head, burying his face in Twilight’s chest. Twilight held the champion in his lap, shushing him as Wild whimpered but refused to let himself cry. The rancher’s eyes flicked up, the man spying Time nearby. The eldest hero had crept up silently to check on the boys. He offered a sad frown, a brow raised in a question, but Twilight only shook his head softly.
Time returned a nod and left, joining the others at the camp they set nearby. The hero stewed for a while, arms folded, head turned down. Wars raised a brow but left the man alone. The other heroes passed back and forth. Sometimes they stole a glance but the eldest hero was still for a long, long while. Every so often he shook his head or hummed or muttered.
Finally, he had an idea.
“Who here can make a lantern?” Time asked suddenly.
The question drew the heroes from their thoughts as they maintained weapons or washed and mended clothes. Legend and Wind both raised their hands curiously.
Wars tipped his head. “Are you planning a night patrol?” he asked.
Time shook his head. “No–I’m planning a festival,” he said with a serious frown.
The camp slowly fell into a determined silence. They broke into small groups–Legend taught Hyrule and Four, Wind taught Wars, and Time taught Sky. Sticks were brought together, firewood trimmed into thin dowels. The heroes laid out thin fabrics and paper and used string to lash them together.
Wolfie padded into the clearing, Wild at the beast’s side with a hand in his fur. The champion’s eyes were settled on the ground, a plain sorrow in his face. Wolfie paused, batting his ears with a swift wag of his tail.
Whuff .
Time glanced up, offering a smile. “Right on time,” he offered.
Wild lifted his head, humming in thought. “What’s going on?” he asked, voice mild.
Time offered the champion a lantern. “It’s a holiday back home. The Parade of Spirits,” Time explained. “I’d completely forgotten until a while ago.”
The eldest hero glanced at the wolf. The animal returned a plain look, overly aware of the white lie. Time ignored the incredulous expression.
“Parade of Spirits?” Wild asked curiously.
The hero’s penchant for exploration overtook his sorrow. He squatted down by Time, carefully taking the crudely made lantern in his hands and observing the others.
“It’s an important observance for my time,” the eldest hero elaborated. “We eat special food and play music and then after dark, we light lanterns for all the people who’ve gone before us.” Time shrugged. “Even for people we don’t know. It’s just our way of saying ‘you existed’.”
Wild paused, his grip on the lanterns tightening. “You can light them for anyone?” he asked quietly.
Time nodded. “Ancestors, old friends, someone who left a mark in a tree centuries before your time– anyone . You can offer prayers along with it if you like or gratitude or even tears.”
Wild set the lantern down, a glimmer of raw emotion in his face. “Um so you…” Wild looked up. “What kinda foods? I’ll see what I can make.”
Work began again. Brushes were produced, ink pots dampened. The heroes took time to paint on their lanterns. Some painted letters, others painted flowers. Twilight held his lantern in his lap and quietly painted an Ordon ram on one panel and that strange lettering the others saw him leave on trees or rocks on another panel. Time painted a leaf on his own, his handwriting leaving a name the others couldn’t understand just beneath it. Legend painted a beautiful tropical flower, Hyrule dotted his with stars and clouds, and Sky painted feathers across his own.
Wild stood over the cooking pot, brewing up a few assorted snacks. He’d been to a festival in Kakariko Village once, so he did his best to replicate those foods–balls of seasoned and fried dough, grilled corn on the cob, and chicken skewers. The other heroes’ mouths watered over the smells and once the lanterns were ready, descended on the food.
Wild’s spirits lifted somewhat when he saw the others enjoying his cooking. The heroes traded stories and sang broken songs. Hyrule played a tune on his recorder which Time deftly replicated on his ocarina. The two began to challenge each other with more and more elaborate melodies and notes.
Four and Legend clapped along as Wars took Twilight into a dance against the rancher’s will. The captain was well practiced and Twilight stumbled through the movements until the two tripped over each other and landed on the ground in a pile of laughter.
Finally, the sun sank and the mood grew somber. Wild picked up his lantern in his hands, emotions brewing in his belly. Twilight stood still for a long while, almost basking in the dusk as the amber light faded into a lilac haze. As the moon rose over the horizon, Legend and Time gathered their lanterns with grim looks.
The others followed Time through the trees to a wide, shallow river. Time waded into the water. Halfway across the river it reached just above his knees. He raised his lantern as if offering it to the night and then he lit the wick inside. He placed it on the water with a bow of his head.
The others watched as the lantern drifted down the river and then slowly, it began to rise into the darkening sky. They turned, bewildered, when Sky let out a sob. The chosen hero’s face was red, his eyes wet and lip quivering.
Legend raised a brow. “You haven’t even lit yours,” he laughed.
Sky nodded, pawing at his face. “I know!” he whined. “I’m sorry! It’s just so…!”
“Aw c’mere, feathers,” Twilight said, pulling Sky into a tight hug.
Sky clutched the rancher tightly, trying to pull himself together. As Sky sniffled and wiped at his eyes, the others followed Time into the river. They lit their lanterns, each bowing their heads as they did and watching them sail downstream and then up into the sky with melancholy expressions. There wasn’t one among them who didn’t have someone to tribute. Hyrule and Legend leaned against each other, Wind took the captain’s hand and was greeted with a squeeze of his fingers. Four wiped his nose on his sleeve and Twilight helped Sky light his, keeping the boy company as his lantern took off into the night.
As Wild’s lantern ascended, the champion sank into a crouch, burying his face in his hands in a silent wail. His shoulders shook, he dug his nails into his forehead. Time crouched next to the champion and rubbed his back slowly, encouraging him to let it out.
“It’s alright,” Time said softly. “Cry for the ones who can’t.”
Wild fell into Time’s side, clinging to the eldest hero as he sobbed. Twilight stepped away and Wolfie returned, wading into the water and forcing his head into the boy’s lap. Wild gripped the wolf’s coat and soon he was surrounded by all the others. He wasn’t alone. He was alive. He was a hero.