Now Link realized that he had another problem. He had left Dameon behind to wander, and that soon caught the attention of Malon. She untied the leash of Adri and Adri immediately ran to Dameon.

They both sniffed each other and seemed to become very happy. Both of them panted and wagged their tails. Malon walked over and smiled.

“A stray dog?” Malon wondered. “Adri’s never acted like that around someone she didn’t know.”

Link pressed himself as close as he could against the house in fear of being seen. He ducked as low as he could without Malon noticing someone behind the crate.

Malon walked up to Adri and Dameon, showing a face of deep thought. Link knew that Malon was trying to remember who this dog was. Suddenly, she gasped. Link’s heart sank.

“Dameon?” Malon wondered. Dameon wagged his tail faster and took a step towards Malon, panting joyfully.

Malon smiled and went down to her knees. “Oh Dameon! You remembered Adri and I! I thought…”

Malon frowned. “I thought you were with… Link! You were with Link! Ugh! I can’t believe he abandoned you like that! How dare he! Even after he promised to take good care of you!”

Malon growled in rage, then looked at Dameon with a grin. “Unless…”

Link gripped the edges of the box so tightly with nervousness that he clumsily tipped it over. Malon immediately turned around and Link wished he were invisible again. He began to feel his face start to turn pink, but luckily it was too dark to see that, but Malon could easily recognize him.

“Link!” Malon said and ran up to him with a cheerful smile.

Link stood up, fixed his hat, and chuckled nervously. “Malon… So good to see you, again.”

Malon giggled. “Silly! What do you mean again? It has been like fifty years! Where in Hyrule have you been?”

“Actually, I think about seven,” he corrected. Malon waited for Link to answer her question and Link did so.

“Oh, you know, around. Mostly working at night.”

He said this half-truthfully, not wanting to show Malon that he was planning to steal her food.

Malon looked at Dameon. “I can’t believe how great Dameon looks. He’s been exercising a lot lately. That I can see.”

Malon patted Link on the shoulder and grinned. “Much like you have, Link.”

Link smiled. “He, he. Well it has been seven years and you’ve grown a lot lately since I first saw you.”

Malon blushed. Suddenly, Link heard Sheik calling, but it wasn’t a plea for help. Link became worried.

Malon was also worried, but not for the same exact reason. She rushed over to Sheik and Link, curious as he was, followed her.

Link was even more of a surprise when he found all of his friends, unconscious. Sheik stood there, panting. Blood dripped from wounds in his chest, legs, and face. Malon rushed over to Sheik.

“Oh my! Goddesses Sheik! Are you okay?” Malon asked and rushed to Sheik, who was totally exhausted.

“They… They were… tough…” Sheik panted in breaths.

Link wasn’t paying attention to Malon or Sheik, but was utterly speechless at what happened to his friends. His family…