Gerudo Never Get Caught

One of my other favorite past times with Rayne was to sneak out to go swimming in the lake. This was frowned down on since it was outside of our territory, and we were not welcome. Nabooru forbid any Gerudo to go swimming there. I didn't care.

One house resided on the side of the lake, and a small fishing hole gated off the opposite side. Zora patrolled the waters daily. It was impossible to keep guard at night because it was pitch dark under water. The guards and knights of Hyrule rarely ventured there. The only safe time for Rayne and I to go was at night, when it was warm and the moon was fullest. We conquered our fears in those waters, taught ourselves how to dive and swim. I loved to swim as deep and as far as possible, for as long as I could hold my breath. We always competed to see who could stay under water the longest. This was our escape from the duties of a Gerudo, because everyone needs a vacation once in a while.

We went swimming for years without incident, but after we almost got caught we never went back.

Our horses were securely tied within the woods, hidden in the shadows among the trees. Rayne and I crossed a wooden bridge to the island in the middle of the lake. The island only existed to conceal an old temple, so there was no shallow area around the edge. It was perfect to climb to the top of a tall tree and prepare to dive. I was mesmerized by the moon reflecting off the surface of the lake, as if it danced among the waves. I jumped and turned head first toward the water. I cut the surface of the water which broke my momentum. I can name no other sensation that reminds me of the way the water surrounded me with its cool comfort. Nothing can be compared to how majestic I felt gliding through the depths of the lake, as if I were a Zora.

We realized there was a problem when a horse snorted and we heard the unfamiliar voices of men on the breeze. We had just emerged from under the water, and immediately panicked. I cursed under my breath, and swam with Rayne back to shore. Have you ever experienced that fear of being caught, and you move as fast as always, but it's never fast enough? That was me in that moment.

It was when we rushed on shore and started through the woods that we heard the shouts.

"Who's there?" and "Get back here!" Two different voices, two men. "You're under arrest for trespassing!"

The protective shadows of the woods concealed us entirely, but they were on the pursuit. Rayne and I untied the horses and mounted as quickly as possible. I focused my mind and controlled my breathing. I was not afraid of being caught. I could kill the Hylians and dispose of their bodies in the wasteland if I needed to keep our secret. My heart pounded out of fear of Ganondorf's punishment. "We are going to be in deep shit," I informed Rayne, glaring at her like it was her fault. I wasn't the teacher's pet, so to speak, but I made it a habit to stay off his bad side. We galloped off toward home.

"Only if we get caught, and we never get caught. We are Gerudo," she reminded me, but her trembling voice betrayed her confidence.

"Yes, and you better hope they don't know that!"

I led Rayne through the trees, curving and winding our way through the woods so that we were impossible to follow. I completely avoided the worn path between the trees to make their pursuit more difficult. We crossed terrains quickly. I thought we had lost them when we neared the valley, so I slowed my horse to a trot, I heard their shouts and the beating of the horse's hooves.

"We are so done," I hissed with a scowl, and snapped the reins to force my horse back into a gallop.

We bounded toward the bridges, crossing the chasms to Gerudo Valley. I was never so happy to see that dry, brown terrain, the high mountains, and the sand. Before we could even cross the first bridge, a massive figure approached us. We might have been saved, but still in deep trouble.