Five children, all aged 14 watched the now unconscious bear cub with disbelief. It had fallen to the ground like a sack of potatoes and it stayed there, unmoving. Snow was once again falling from the greyish sky, slowly covering the creature that saved them from a good beating. A blonde wavy haired boy raced towards the cub
“We have to get this guy out of here! He’ll freeze if we don’t.” exclaimed Link. A black haired boy woke up from his stupor and rushed towards Link to help him.
“But where?” Ren enquired. Heaving at the heavy bulk of the animal. Link growled in reply,
“Don’t care. Just somewhere where they’ll be no Hylian contact!” He heaved again and punched the sugar like snow in irritation. “How do we carry this guy? Endu help!” a freckle faced boy with glasses flinched. He hesitantly came over and helped, but to no avail. A brown haired girl, a twin to the black haired one suggested her idea.
“You have to hold it like you would a kitten. Carry it by its back, face up. It’s going to take three of you to do it.” After some urgent shuffling about, the three boys were able to lift the lifeless body of the bear.
“Now where do we take it?” huffed Endu. A ginger-eyed girl uncertainly said,
“I know just the place. Follow me.” She jogged through the piling snow, followed by her friends.
“Where are we going?” Link called, but Naia didn’t answer. She just silently lead the way through bulks of trees, series of clearings and bushes, taking a road only visible through her eyes. Suddenly, she stopped at a cliff face, over ruled by frozen ivy.
“Lisa. Help.” Together, the girls heaved onto a certain curtain of vegetation, revealing an opening. “Get in.” she urged. The boys and bear disappeared behind the natural draping, followed by Lisa and then Naia. She desperately hoped that no one found their trail, because if they did, she will have to pack and leave.

The four visitors just gawked at the unusual site. The cave walls were made completely out of hardened lava, the ceiling was made of earth, and several different kinds of herbs and plants dangled from it. The place was comfortably warm like a controlled oven. Makeshift wooden shelves were placed onto the walls with the help of strings and natural air holes. Bottles of different sizes and shapes contained pickled, jammed, potted, preserved fruits, vegies, and seeds. A basket of nuts rested close by. A fire in the middle of the cave lit the place, the smoke drifting through a whole in the clay ceiling. A metal pot rested in the flames. In the far corner, there was a pile of blankets made out of hay and in another, a pile of wooden pots and plates lay in good condition.
“Welcome to my winter home.” Naia declared. She shuffled over to the pile of blankets and took one. “Put the bear on this.” When the boys did what they were told, Naia looked closely at the bear. “It’ll be out cold for a few hours.” The visitors looked around in wonder. Naia knew what was in their minds, so decided to talk before they questioned. “This is where I live in winter. No one knows where it is. You guys are the first to come here.” She stepped towards the ivy and pulled at her makeshift door. “I’ll take you guys back to the school. I’m sure your families would be worried. I’ll take care of the bear.” Link frowned.
“I agree about going back, but I don’t agree on you taking the bear on yourself. You should know the most that these guys are dangerous before they hibernate. It should be hibernating now.” He argued. Naia crossed her arms and countered,
“Then what do you suggest?” Link hesitantly replied.
“I . . . I think I should stay the night here after I get permission from the hag. I know you don’t really want me . . . us . . . here, but I really think it’ll be safer.” Lisa cut in with a whoop.
“It’ll be like a slumber party!”
“I would very much like to stay the night here.” Hinted Ren
“This would give me the chance to learn to be brave!” hooted Endu. The four looked expectantly at Naia. She sighed in defeat, and raised her hands. “Fine be that way. But each of you will have to bring 6 fish, 3 extra blankets, or 2 lanterns.”
“I’ll bring the lanterns.” Said Link
“We’ll bring the extra blankets!” said Lisa
“Then I’ll bring the fish.” Stated Endu.
“Okay. C’mon. I’ll get you back to town.” In unison, they stepped out into the snowy evening, not being able to wait until dusk.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Like Link had suspected, the hag gave him permission to go and stay at a friend’s place for the night. She didn’t give a prune about who his friend was, where he/she lived and why he was staying there when a blizzard was about to rage. She just wanted him out of the house. Link wrapped two oil lamps into his blanket (which he was bringing in his own initiative) and his peasant clothes. He left a note that he’d be gone, and off he went into the night.

They had decided to meet at the ‘no entering the woods’ sign at 6. When Link had arrived, the other three were already there, equipped with their fish and blankets and Naia was just coming out of the woods.
“Follow me.” That’s exactly what they did. After several minutes of walking, they were back in Naia’s winter home again, getting ready for dinner. Naia was instructing Endu how to skewer a fish onto a stick and the easiest way to cook them. Lisa, Ren and Link were piling their cotton and hay blankets, ready to be slept in when ever they pleased. “I suggest you use most of the blankets as mattresses. With the fire and all, this place will be warm as a spring day.” Naia warned.
“How does this place stay warm anyway? It’s like Din herself is heating it. It’s so cosy.” Link commented,
“Touch the wall.” Was her answer. When he did so, he felt heat seeping through, making him tremble with delight. “Lava flows through quite far off, the heat radiates through the walls, making the place warm. It keeps the place pretty dry, as you can see.” In minutes, the insides of the pot were ready, the fish were ready to be eaten, and the bedding was ready to be slept in. Lisa brought five wooden bowls and wooden spoons.
“What about that fish there?” Lisa pointed. One fish was left raw, lying in a patch of snow Ren had collected to keep the carcass fresh.
“For the bear.” Said Ren. He was already biting into his skewered fish, enjoying the juicy flesh with every bite he took. The others followed his example, and didn’t regret it. As they chomped through the well-cooked white meat (and choking on small bones and scales), they talked mostly of the bear. Why did it save them? Why wasn’t it hibernating? And most importantly, what were they going to do when it woke up?
“Hopefully it’ll be too tired to attack us.” Declared Link
“Link. It had hours of non stop sleep.” Pointed out Ren. “I think it’ll be refreshed enough to attack us no problem.”
“But how do we know it’s hibernating right now?” Endu suggested, “It’s been out cold for more then several hours, maybe it won’t wake up till spring.” Lisa’s face brightened up. She was starting to feel afraid with the bear in the same room as they were.
“Highly doubtful.” Naia affirmed. Lisa’s mood dampened in milliseconds. “Why?” she whimpered.
“To hibernate, you need enough energy to snooze through winter without dieing in your sleep. Bears fatten themselves as much as they can in autumn, almost up to twice their original or natural size. Take a closer look at that cub.” the Hylians inspected the cub carefully and found that it was rather small for its age. Almost skinny.
“I think I can see its rib cages.” Lisa shuddered,
“I’m guessing,” Naia continued, “That it got separated from its herd, somewhere near the middle of autumn. I don’t think it got as much food as it wanted.”
“Poor little guy.” Link sympathised.
“At least we left it a fish.” Ren commented.
“And we’re going to leave some of this for it too.” The four turned back at Naia in puzzlement. She was stirring the contents of the metal pot and she had already served out some for each of them. She placed an extra plate in front of the bear, right next to the still fresh cod. It gave out the sweetest, luxurious smell they had ever scented. She handed out the plates, “Enjoy.” They did so without hesitation.

All of them (except Naia) chocked on their food.

“Nayru’s love! This is amazing!” Lisa gasped
“Goddesses! What’s in it?” requested Link
“Milk, honey, pickled strawberries, crushed hazelnuts . . . ” Ren cut Naia’s explaining.
“No! Don’t say anything! I want this to make me full, not your words,” “But can you write down the recipe for us? This is just so damn good!” The four wordlessly dug into their food. Naia ate as well, but at a slower pace, dazed at their sudden praise.
They like it. They actually like it! The thought of the bear cub attacking them disappeared in that instant. In minutes their plates were empty, and the five sighed in contentment.
“You know?” Link sighed, “If the goddesses turned me into an acorn right now, I wouldn’t give a damn.” Lisa, Ren, Naia and Endu laughed their agreements. The five of them knew straight on, that they were going to be friends for life.