The legend of AB: Epona´s Filly, Hero´s apprentice.

"You sure this is a good idea, Link?" Zelda asked, her voice tinged with concern. Her eyes flickered between the Hero of Hyrule and the eager young Rito standing beside him.

"C'mon, Aunty Zelda, don't be like Dad!" Tulin, son of Teba—the valiant pilot of the divine beast Vah Medoh—chirped with a mix of impatience and excitement. The young fledgling fluffed his feathers indignantly, clearly not in the mood for yet another lecture about caution.

Today wasn’t just any day. Today marked a pivotal moment in Tulin’s life, the day he would embark on his first hunt to prove himself as a warrior, as dictated by ancient Rito tradition. His wide eyes gleamed with determination, though the nervous flutter of his wings betrayed his excitement.

By tradition, his father should have been the one to oversee this rite of passage. However, Teba, the Rito Chieftain, had recently been gravely injured defending their mountain village from a surprise Blood Moon raid. His left wing and foot were bound in sturdy casts, a testament to the ferocity of the attack. Unable to guide his son himself, Teba had sought out the only other person he trusted implicitly for such an important task—the Centurial Hero of Hyrule himself, Link.

When the chieftain made his request, Link had listened solemnly, his steady gaze conveying the weight of the responsibility.

"Does the exam have to follow any specific rules?" Link had asked in his typically calm manner, adjusting his well-worn gauntlets as he considered the task ahead.

"The rite varies depending on the examiner," Teba had explained, a faint smile curving his beak. "Traditions leave room for adaptation. As for Tulin… I know he’s thrilled that you will guide him. He’s spoken of little else since I told him."

Teba gestured toward his injured wing and foot, his expression softening with regret. "I had hoped to be there myself, but as you can see..." He sighed, his shoulders sagging briefly under the weight of his condition before straightening. "I am… indisposed. So, my friend, I must ask this of you. Do me this favor—not as a chieftain, but as a father."

Link had nodded, his blue eyes filled with quiet understanding. "I’ll make sure he’s ready."

Now, as Zelda’s concern lingered in the air, Tulin puffed up again, his youthful bravado on full display. "Besides," he added, his voice rising with excitement, "Dad always says that if anyone knows about survival and hunting, it’s you, Link!"

Zelda sighed but relented with a small smile. She placed a gentle hand on Tulin’s shoulder. "Just promise me you’ll listen to him, alright? No rushing ahead."

"I promise!" Tulin chirped, already bounding toward the edge of the village with his bow slung across his back. Link followed with a faint smile, adjusting his quiver and pausing only briefly to glance back at Zelda, his expression silently reassuring.

The day was bright, the sky clear—perfect conditions for a hunt. Tulin’s first step toward becoming a warrior had begun, and under Link’s watchful eye, it was sure to be an adventure worthy of song.

Or at least, that was what Tulin thought… until this.

"You want me to be a nanny?!" the young Rito screeched, his beak dropping open in utter disbelief.

Link’s lips curled into a mischievous smile, but the seriousness in his piercing blue eyes made it clear he wasn’t joking.

"You might see it that way," Link said calmly, his tone unshaken. "But this is your test. Your mission, if you will. After all, what better way to prove your survival potential than not only surviving yourself but also..."

His eyes shifted meaningfully to the small figure standing beside Tulin.

It was none other than Applebuck,, who was practically vibrating with excitement. She wore a green tunic that looked suspiciously similar to one of Link’s own, albeit modified for her equine frame. The sturdy leather reinforcements and neatly stitched seams spoke to both practicality and care. A small wooden sword hung by her side, bouncing as she shifted on her hooves, clearly eager for the challenge ahead.

"...also taking care of someone who can’t?" Link finished sagely.

Tulin sagged, his wings drooping in resignation. Try as he might, he couldn’t argue with the logic—frustrating as it was. The weight of the responsibility was already sinking in, and he felt his earlier bravado faltering.

"Exactly," Link said, clearly reading Tulin’s reaction. He chuckled softly but pressed on, his voice firm. "Your objective is simple in principle but difficult in execution: guide Applebuck from the entrance of the Shrine of Resurrection to the Sheikah shrine at the peak of the mountain. You can use whatever methods you deem necessary. However..."

He leaned forward, his tone sharpening like the edge of the Master Sword. "If Applebuck suffers a grave injury or if you lose sight of her for more than half an hour, you will fail the test. I will be nearby to supervise and step in if the situation exceeds your capabilities. Is that clear?"

Link’s military precision in delivering the instructions caught both of them off guard, but neither dared to question him.

"Yes, sir!" Tulin chirped, his feathers puffing up as he gave an enthusiastic salute.

"Yesh, shir!" Applebuck echoed, her thick southern drawl only adding to her endearing determination as she mimicked Tulin’s stance.

Link’s expression softened briefly at their sincerity. He pulled out the Sheikah Slate and swiftly entered the coordinates for their destination. The ancient device whirred softly, its blue light casting faint patterns across his face.

"Good luck," he said at last, his voice steady and reassuring. "And may Hylia watch over you both."

With that, he pressed a button on the Sheikah Slate and disappeared in a cascade of shimmering motes of light, leaving Tulin and Applebuck standing alone at the base of the mountain trail.

Tulin let out a low groan, running a wing over his face as Applebuck tilted her head, already bouncing in place.

"This is gonna be a long day..." he muttered under his breath.

"Don’t worry, Tulin! I’m tougher than I look!" Applebuck chirped cheerfully, trotting a few steps ahead. "C’mon, slowpoke—we got a mountain to climb!"

Tulin sighed, shouldering his bow as he trailed after her. "Hylia, give me strength..."