[FIN] The Desert Tortoise meets a Lake Turtle

[Jin Reno]

Jin laid there in the water floating on his back. The wrap he used to protect his face from the sands of the desert haphazardly stayed on his face, his shields helping him float a bit. His body felt sore all over but he really couldn't think of a good reason why. Nor could he figure out why he was currently floating in water, or why it felt so cool in the desert. He turned his head and saw green everywhere, and head a bit of an annoyed snapping noise. Pulling his bag onto his chest, he opened it up to see Sasha a bit annoyed and water logged.

"Sorry Sasha, let me fix that." He said, pouring out water while making sure the mini deku baba didn't stumble out of her small planter. The plant looked relieved, but not any happier as it bit Jin's hand. "Thats enough of that Sasha." He said, pulling his hand away and rolling over in the water, getting over to the shore with Sasha safely on his head. Back on land, he made sure to empty any access water he had gained before looking around him, surprised at all of the water and the green of nature.

It then hit him. He had made it over the plateau and was now at Lake Hylia. He had done it and now there was adventures to be had! But first, he needed to rest. He hurt for some reason. "Ouch... what happened... why am I so sore..."

[nestor]

Nestor had been doing what he loved to do most: resting. At the bed of Lake Hylia, he had his eyes closed and gave a deep sigh every so often. He should probably go back to the village and say hi, but he didn't, he had been away from them for so long they probably wouldn't remember him. However, his ears perked up when he heard someone on the lake, talking to his pouch. He watched the man with a small deku baba on his head make his way to shore and then rest.

Slowly he worked his way up and sauntered up to the unfamiliar face. When he reached there, he sat back down and smiled. He showed no fear in the presence of a deku baba, it seemed harmless enough, not that it could do much to the old tortoise.

"Hello young man. Enjoying the water?" He let out a light old man chuckle.

[Jin Reno]

What alerted him to the presence of another was when Sasha began to snap repeatedly to his side. Looking back, Jin stared at the stranger who had decided to make their way next to him. Unsure of how to react, Jin patted Sasha on her head to silent her, his hand larger then she small deku baba easily before pulling out a jar of insects. Instantly, she stopped snapping and opened her mouth wide for Jin, waiting.

He responded to the question after a bit of time. "I've never experienced so much water before..." He said, taking out a single bug and dropping into the waiting maw of Sasha, and the bug vanished. "Oh... sorry... hello to you too." Jin said, finding himself a little short on words. He couldn't really understand why he felt so nervous talking with someone, but he was. He didn't say more though, just lightly rubbed the top of Sasha's head with his pointer finger.

[nestor]

Nestor simply laid there, like he normally did.

"So much water, oh ho ho, you must be from the desert. Welcome to Lake Hylia. Not normal for one to travel out so far, and with a sapling deku baba no less. You're quite the adventurous sort." Nestor looked quite at peace, given the baba a few feet away and a complete stranger sitting near him. But that was just how he was, never really looking or feeling excited.

"It's been a long time since I've traveled far, young one. You must be tired. Please, rest on the shores to your heart's content."

[Jin Reno]

Jin didn't speak, he simply nodded when the.. man? said that he must of been from the desert. Now and then one could find an oasis in the desert, but never as much water as there was here at the lake. Though he did read about it from his books, but reading and experiencing was much to different, and he began to wonder what the rest of Hyrule was going to be like now. "I want to have adventures..." He said softly, petting the mini deku baba.

He looked back at the one next to him, his curiosity getting the best of him after a moment. "I... don't mean to be rude, but what are you?" Jin asked, looking at him slightly as Sasha playfully bit his finger. The small plant always made him feel a bit better, and now it helped out a bit more with him trying to not completely withdraw from this stranger.

[nestor]

"Hmm...don't tell me you've never met a Minish in the desert before? Oh ho...you're certainly a curious sort. I like you." He smiled again, watching the deku baba play with his finger.

"So you want to have adventures? A boy and his sapling? Well, you've come to the right place. I can help you get started. But I have to ask, are you looking for something? Very few simply travel, many travel with a purpose."

[Jin Reno]

Jin rubbed his head, feeling his cheeks flush a bit before he shook his head in agreement. In fact, he barely met anyone, and those he did where monsters aiming to get him in some way. "Um... you'd be the first living person I've met... and I've read about Minish before, in a book." Jin said softly, not looking over at them. He had seen a picture of a minish before, but it looked like a small fox of some sort.

Looking at the minish, Jin spoke, "I am 20 something years old, not quite a boy anymore... and I am doing a favor for a Poe who let me live in his home..." Jin couldn't forget his promise, but he didn't even know where to start looking for the man who he didn't even have a picture for. "Can you really help me?"

[nestor]

Nestor couldn't help but smile. "Twenty-something hmm? You having some trouble with your memory? Usually age is easy to keep track of. As for me, soon I'll be 50."

"You need help finding someone hmm?" He adjusted himself before slowly getting to his feet. "Many people have passed through Lake Hylia, and I've been here many years. I may know of whom you seek."

[Jin Reno]

Jin looked flushed again and found a very interesting spot on the top of Sasha's head, petting the plant as if he was trying to rub it off. He would like to know his exact age, but all he knew was that he was older then 20 but younger then 25. It was better then nothing, but it doesn't mean he couldn't complain either. He'd much rather know his age then guess it half the time, but for now it was all he had. Jin wished he hadn't said his age now, the way the.. turtle minish had responded.

With a sigh Jin shook his head. "I don't know what he looks like or how long ago he passed through here... I just know his name was Devon and he was an adventurer of sorts." Jin said. The truth of the matter was that upon getting the quest from the poe, he had only the name to go on, and while the name was a little peculiar, there wasn't enough for him to go on, though it didn't stop him. He would have his own adventures while looking for the betrayer on the side, but any info he could get now wouldn't be a bad thing to learn.

Sasha snapped at a small fly that flew too close to her, but it moved out of the way quickly enough. The plant snapped at the fly angrily for a moment before laying its head in the soil, seemingly saddened by the failed hunt.

[nestor]

Nestor sat back down and thought. For a short time, he withdrew into his shell for personal time, so he may meditate. When he came out, his face was calm but not nearly as happy.

"I do not know of this Devon you speak of. However, if this Devon you speak of is in fact nearby, you should check at Hyrule Castle Town." He pointed towards Hyrule Field and the resulting town. "You'll want to go that way. Ask through the town, if your Devon exists, he has been there. If he is one of suspicious background, ask the guards."

[Jin Reno]

Jin sat there, waiting, looking at the minish as he thought for a while before the minish pulled himself into his shell. What now? Jin just sat there, petting Sasha as the mini deku baba kept its head on the soil of its planter. He kept quiet though, not wanting to actually go anywhere at the moment, but he was just a little bothered that the fact that the turtle was within his shell, hopefully thinking, not sleeping.

When he returned from within his shell, Jin now knew that he had information, though if it was good or not he was unsure. Apparently Devon was close, near Hyrule Castle, and that he should be able to go and ask about the town. "It would of been more then 20 years since the man left the desert... I don't think it'll be too easy to find him..."

[nestor]

Nestor smiled again. "I've been around a long time, and in 20 years I have not gone far. You'll find that many settle down after a long journey. Do not be surprised if he who you seek is close."

Nestor took a big yawn, and looked out towards the sun. "My how time seems to fly by nowadays. Yes, the days are getting shorter, I can feel it. The balance is shifting." He turned toward Jin once more, his face more serious.

"Take care on your travels. The roads have more than the occasional monster nowadays."

[Jin Reno]

Jin shook his head. "I don't think Devon is the type of person to settle down... he might have a house he goes back to now and then, but from what the poe said, he was more of a fighter." He said, looking at the Turtle Minish more. But what if he was right, what if the person he was looking for had settled down. Could he really avenge the man who saved his life by killing one who had left the life of an adventurer. He hoped he wouldn't have to do that, but it seemed like he didn't have much hope.

Following his eyes, Jin looked at the sky and wondered if it got as cold in the rest of Hyrule as it did in the desert. When he spoke about the balance shifting, Jin looked back at the man who had helped him and simply listened to what the Minish had to say. The balance was shifting? The days getting shorter. He had no idea what he might of meant, but it didn't sound good, in fact it sounded down right ominous.

"I won't have to many problems with monsters, I've been fighting them for the past two years... but thank you for your help and for your words of warning."

[nestor]

Nestor smiled again, amused by the man's apparent pessimism. But at least he fancied himself a strong warrior.

"20 years gives a man time to think, to reflect on his decisions. Even the strongest adventurer must rest after that long. Keep that in mind, young wanderer." He laid his head down and closed his eyes. However, he was still very much aware of his surroundings.

"Night is falling. I suggest you find a place to rest."

[Jin Reno]

Jin nodded his head, understanding what the wise old turtle minish said. The possibility that his target is no longer a warrior was in fact high, but would that stop him from fulfilling his promise to the poe who had saved him from death? Rubbing his head, Jin just knew that this was a headache waiting to happen, so he decided he would no longer think of this today. After all, the sun was almost down and soon the monsters would rise, or at least that was what he thought.

"I don't know, I don't think I should rest anywhere tonight." Jin said, looking to the side and putting Sasha into her bag. The plant didn't complain, and Jin looked at the friend he had made before pushing himself up to his feet. "I thank you for your help."

[nestor]

Nestor shook his head at the comment, but kept the calm smile on his face.

"No, you should rest soon. You won't be able to assist your poe friend if you don't relax and take a break." He pointed to the rushing river dumping water and the occasional Zora into Lake Hylia. "Go up the river. There you will the cabin of a hermit who left this world long ago. There you will find a restful night's slumber."

He then slowly made his way into the water and began to float there, his shell somehow causing natural buoyancy. That or he was slowly treading water.

[Jin Reno]

Jin looked at the old minish. He might of lived for a while and had experience in the world, but what did he actually know about Jin's life. The truth of the matter was that the weather was feeling even nicer then it ever did in the desert, so if he stayed and slept at night who knows how the day would be like. Jin just knew that it'd be better for him, at least tonight, to go and travel instead of stay in some cabin up the road.

As the turtle man made his way into the water, Jin watched him and wondered why he was simply heading into the water. "Thanks for the help, but I really can't say anywhere right now." He said, shaking his head. He got to his feet and and shook his legs and arms a bit before he sighed a bit. "I hope that you have a nice night."

[nestor]

Nestor looked back one more time. "Farewell then, mysterious traveler from the desert." He then dipped his head under the water and began to swim, swim back home so that he may rest some more. For the sun was setting, and Nestor didn't feel like pounding any monsters this night. Meeting one person made the old tortoise feel like taking a good nap, so he would when he got home. Then maybe he would read.

FIN

[Jin Reno]

Jin nodded his head toward the old turtle and began to walk along the path without any real destination, though something nagged at the back of his mind, something that would have been important. He rubbed his chin a bit and kept walking away before it hit him. He turned to see if he could find the old turtle, but he saw nothing. With a sigh, he shook his head and went back on his way. "I'll have to learn him name later... if we meet again."


FINISHED

[Azler Wilder]

This thread has been Officially Finished!

Jin and Nestor received a 20 Rupee Finisher Reward for completing the requirements!

Thank you~