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It was supposed to be a normal day.
It had started off normal, with Link bidding Sidon goodbye before starting his journey to Hyrule Castle. He was officially retired from being Zelda's appointed knight now that the Calamity was done with and he was free to do whatever he pleased, but he'd still drop by every so-often just to check in. They were still very close friends, after all. 100 years of fighting (or sleeping, in Link's case) couldn't change that.
He was on foot, walking through the Lanayru Wetlands in his Champion's Tunic and other normal gear. It was the middle of the afternoon and sunny, perfect weather for adventuring. Link knew he could just warp to the castle with the sheika slate, which Zelda had allowed him to keep after their reunion, but he liked taking in the scenery of the various winding paths across Hyrule. Now that Ganon was gone, he could enjoy them even more than before.
Link stopped on a nearby “island” to check his map. If he continued going his current pace, he'd reach Wetland Stable by sundown. He'd stay the night there and take a horse the rest of the way to Hyrule Castle, which he should reach by tomorrow afternoon. He'd be there within just over 24 hours.
He took a seat on the ground, crossing his legs. He swiped through his slate's options until he go to his food supplies and selected an apple from his inventory. The fruit materialized in his right hand and he took a bite, he hadn't eaten since that morning and could feel hunger slowly beginning to creep its way into his stomach. He'd have a proper meal once he got to the stable, but for right now a single apple would be enough to keep him going.
He sighed before taking another bite, looking around at the wetlands. He closed his eyes, listening to the wind gently rustling the leaves of various bushes and trees that were nearby. He could also hear the water gently flowing all around him, the quiet buzz of nearby darners and butterflies flitting about. The sounds of nature were enough to put anyone at ease, Link thought. Or maybe he was just biased because he'd spent his entire life out here since waking up. Either way, it was peaceful.
Halfway through his apple, Link thought he heard something that wasn't a part of the usual quiet ambiance. He stopped chewing and listened, eyes darting across the surrounding area for any monsters. They were a rarity nowadays thanks to the blood moon being gone, but that unfortunately didn't mean they were gone forever.
After a few seconds, he heard it again. A high-pitched mewling sound, like some sort of creature. Link looked around again, but there was nothing to be seen.
He stood up, placing his slate back on his hip. He turned all the way around, but all he could see were a few ducks floating lazily on the water several feet away. They definitely hadn't been the ones making the sound.
Suddenly, Link heard a rustle in the bushes behind him. He turned around immediately, expecting to see a crane or a fox or maybe even a lizalfos, but instead he was met with the tiniest kitten he had ever seen.
The kitten's fur had gorgeous orange and gold stripes all along its top. A pale yellow underbelly similar in color to the stripes started at its bottom jaw and continued down. Its tail seemed unusually long for a kitten, bearing the same orange and gold pattern as its face and back. It gaped up at Link with big, pale jade-colored eyes as it crawled out of its hiding place beneath the bush, looking at him with what almost seemed like longing.
Link immediately stopped and stared at the little kitten, smiling softly. It meowed, confirming that it was the source of the sound he had heard. It sounded more like a squeak, now that he knew it was supposed to be a meow. It continued walking towards him, slightly wobbling on its tiny legs. It stopped when it was right beside Link's boot, meowing once again as it continued looking up at him.
Link crouched down to get a better look and the kitten immediately began rubbing its head against his leg. It was barely the size of Link's foot and all four of its paws were covered in mud and grime. Its fur, while still beautiful, was matted and caked with dirt along its sides. Given it had been hiding underneath a bush, Link figured that it had been wandering through the muddy wetlands for some time.
He slowly brought his free hand down to the kitten, stroking its head carefully. The creature immediately began rubbing its head against his fingers and purring, much to Link's surprise. He had expected it to run away once he made contact with it, but instead it did the exact opposite. He gently pushed it so that it was directly in front of him and the kitten circled around his hand, meowing loudly.
Link would be lying if he said the sight didn't melt his heart. It was so tiny and frail, yet it was so happy to see him. What was it doing all the way out here? How did it get here? Where was its mother? He didn't see a collar, did that mean it had no owner?
He set his half-eaten apple down on the ground and pulled out his slate. If the little guy had been wandering around Lanayru this entire time, it probably hadn't eaten in a while. He took a roasted bass out from his inventory and broke off a large chunk of it, setting it on the ground in front of him. The kitten immediately ran to it and began devouring the meat, purring happily.
It really must've been hungry. Link thought as he watched it finish off the bass chunk in mere seconds. He broke off another piece and offered it to the tiny creature, who ate it straight from his hand this time. It even began licking his fingertips once it was done. Link giggled quietly as its bushy tongue lapped up any remaining bit of fish that may have lingered, purring the entire time. He couldn't help but wonder why it was being so affectionate to him, it certainly wasn't his cat. He'd heard somewhere that kittens were usually shy and scared around new people, so to have one run right up to him and take food from his hand was strange.
He looked up at the sky. The sun was still high, but much more time had passed than Link would have liked. He reached down and pet the kitten one last time before rising to his feet. He put the rest of the bass back in his slate and was about to continue walking when he felt something on his foot. He looked down only to see the kitten slowly crawling up his boot, digging its claws into the leather and meowing loudly. It looked at him again with those big, adorable eyes, as if it were trying to say “Wait! Don't go!”
Link smiled sadly and gently pushed the kitten down. He shook his head no. There was no way he could take this thing with him, he was in the middle of traveling. Plus, it probably had a home to go back to, there was no reason for it to be wandering through the wetlands like this. He figured it was just one of those outdoor cats that had wandered too far from home.
The kitten meowed again and tried to crawl up Link's boot again, but Link stepped away. He knew there was no way it could understand what he was saying, but he signed anyway;
‘You can't come with me. I'm sorry.’
The kitten seemed to meow in protest, waddling closer to him and rubbing its head against his ankle. Link sighed, frustrated. This creature was cute, he'd give it that, but there was no way. He was on the move almost constantly. Zora's Domain was far too wet for it to stay and Hyrule Castle was really crowded and noisy, he doubted it'd like it there either. He'd sold his house in Hateno to Beedle when he and Sidon had gotten more serious, so that wasn't an option either. He could give it to somebody else, but Link didn't know if he could travel all the way to Kakariko or Hateno or any village or town with this thing. As he was pondering it was running around his legs in circles, constantly rubbing its head against him and meowing loudly. It moved and made noise way too much for it to be comfortable on horseback, not to mention how his horses would feel about the feline. He doubted any of them would be comfortable with such a squirmy passenger on its saddle.
He nudged the kitten with his foot at gently as he possibly could and took a big step back from it.
‘I have to go. Don't follow.’ He signed. He mentally face-palmed. He was signing to an animal, for Hylia's sake. It wouldn't understand him if he talked, either, so what was the point?
The kitten once again meowed and tried to follow him, but Link took a giant step back. The kitten stopped when Link stopped, looking up at him expectantly. What for, he didn't know, but he took one last look at the little creature before turning around and continuing to walk the path.
Stay strong. He told himself. He was walking across one of the many bridges now. Stay strong. It’s just a cat. Its owner will probably come looking for it soon.
“Meow!”
Link turned with a start. The kitten was running after him, wobbly yet quick to follow. It paused at the wet portions of the bridge, but continued after it slowly dipped its little front paws into the water. It eventually caught up to him, continuing to meow loudly.
Link stared at it, dumbfounded. He watched as it made its way to his boot again, rubbing its head against his ankle again.
He took two steps back, still facing the kitten. It meowed and followed.
He took three steps back. It meowed and followed.
Link jogged back several feet. The kitten ran to catch up.
It didn't matter how much distance he tried to put between himself and the cat, it ended up following him the entire way out of the wetlands. Link got to dry land and looked behind him only to see the kitten running as fast as its little body could carry it across the final bridge. It struggled with its wobbly legs and wasn't very fast, but it was incredibly determined to keep up and began purring once it was finally by its favorite spot next to Link's foot once again.
Link stared down at the tiny creature, sighing heavily. It's never going to leave me alone, is it?
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Zelda hadn't seen her best friend for a very long time.
She was expecting him today, he'd said in his last letter that he would be dropping by for a visit very soon and she was excited. It had been a very long while since they'd last seen each other and she knew that something was bound to have changed. He always had a story to tell each time he saw her.
She didn't know what she'd been expecting, but it certainly wasn't this.
As Link entered the quaint room Zelda called her study, the very first thing she noticed was the fuzzy orange creature fixed on his shoulder. At first glance, she thought it was some kind of baby fox or squirrel or something. But as the hero got closer, she realized what it was.
It was a kitten, a very young kitten by the looks of it, and it was currently batting at Link's blond ponytail as though it was the most entertaining thing in all of history.
‘Hello Zelda.’ Link signed nonchalantly.
Zelda blinked. “Hi.”
‘How have you been?’
He winced as the cat changed positions on his shoulder, continuing to play with his hair. Its claws must have poked his flesh beneath the fabric of his clothes.
She glanced from Link to the kitten, then back to Link. He was trying to hide a smile, a gleam of amusement in his eyes as he watched her confused and surprised expression. He wasn't saying anything about it on purpose, she could tell.
“I've been good. Busy, but good.” She replied She stepped closer and crossed her arms, nodding towards the tiny ball of fur. “Care to explain this… friend… of yours?”
Link laughed quietly. He lifted a hand up to pet the animal on the head, to which the kitten responded by rubbing its face into his palm. It began purring immediately, causing Zelda's heart to melt. It even seemed to be smiling.
He took his hand away to sign to Zelda, something the cat seemed to disapprove of based on its look of disappointment as the hand stopped petting it.
‘Found her in Lanayru. Didn't have a home to go back to and wouldn't stop following me, so I guess she's mine now.’ He explained.
Zelda smiled. “What an adorable little thing!” She said, stepping closer. She extended a hand towards the feline and, to her delight, it began nuzzling her fingers. She laughed, petting the tiny creature as Link watched with a warm smile.
“What was she doing in Lanayru? That place is far too wet for a cat! Especially a baby like this one, what happened to her mother?” She asked.
‘I don't know. I stumbled across her while I was checking my map. Tried to lose her at first, but she followed me the whole way out of the wetlands. No other cats in sight.’
Zelda nodded. “I see… how long have you had her?”
‘A day. Found her on my way here.’
“Really?!”
Link nodded. Zelda looked back at the cat with fascination. “But it's so friendly towards you… It's as if you've known each other for months!”
She continued petting the little thing for another minute before pulling her hand away, leaving the kitten to go back to her ferocious battle with Link's hair. She chuckled in amusement as she watched her tiny paws swipe at the loose strands of hair.
“What do you plan to do with her? You know you can't keep her, she won't like the Domain. It's wet there as well.”
‘That was the original plan. I was going to see if anybody at Wetland Stable recognized or wanted her. But I've actually found that she's a really good traveler.’ He explained. ‘She does surprisingly well on horseback and I don't mind carrying her since she's so tiny. Plus, she seems to like it on my shoulder.’
Zelda blinked. He wasn't serious, right?
“But… you know she's going to get bigger, right?”
‘Yes. But she likes walking, too. Really likes using my boots as a scratching post for some reason. Also really enjoys roasted bass and milk.’
He unbuttoned his cloak and carefully pulled the fabric and the cat off of his shoulder and away from his hair, which was now much frizzier than it had been before. He bawled the cloak up until just the hood was exposed and the kitten clumsily crawled her way into the hood. She snuggled into it and Link wrapped her up with the remaining fabric. He gently set the bundle on Zelda's desk, caressing her soft head once again before turning back to Zelda.
‘I've thought of everything, trust me. I wasn't planning on keeping her, but…’
He looked down at the ball of fluff, who was now massaging the cloak with her front paws. He smiled fondly at the kitty.
‘I think she's too attached to me.’
Zelda smirked. “Are you sure it's not the other way around?”
Link rolled his eyes, but still smiled. ‘Maybe. All I know for sure is that she doesn't want to leave my side for some reason.’
Zelda sighed. “Well, you better know what you're doing. Have you thought of any names yet?”
Link shrugged. ‘I was actually hoping you could help with that. I can't think of anything.’
Zelda hummed in thought. Between the two of them, she was always better with naming things. 100 years ago, when Link first saw a guardian, he'd called it a “blinky thingie” for several weeks before finally learning the real name for it.
“Hm… you said you found her in Lanayru, correct?”
Link nodded. Zelda squinted at the cat. “So… how about Rue? Short for Lanayru?”
Link stared at the kitten, contemplating. After a few seconds he nodded.
‘Yeah. I like Rue.’