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Revali stared at the tower for a long time. He was certain he'd seen it before, but that couldn't be possible. He'd been trapped in Vah Medoh by the time the towers appeared, and this was the first time he'd been here since then.
"I recognize it, too," Mipha said softly.
Revali tried not to show how surprised he was to hear her, but wasn't sure he'd succeeded. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"I remember lending Link my healing," she continued anyway, her eyes on the base of the tower, the area littered with the remains of Guardians. "I wonder if he might have needed it here."
Revali could hear his own voice granting Link the use of his Gale, but...
Link was talking with Zelda and Urbosa, speaking with more energy than Revali had ever seen him use, his hands moving expansively.
"He used to be like this when he was a boy," Mipha said. When Revali glanced at her, she was smiling. "Drawing that sword... I know it saved us all, but sometimes, I think it was the worst thing that ever happened to him."
Revali didn't understand. That damn sword was the whole reason he was so respected and revered. The princess's sworn knight, the hero of legend. But it was true that, without the fate of the world on his shoulders, Link looked brighter. He laughed easily and often. He spoke, and not just the sign language Revali had become accustomed to.
"Only he could find reason to complain of such an honor," Revali muttered.
"You didn't find it isolating?" Mipha asked. "I always thought the two of you seemed lonely."
Revali bristled, but before he could snap back, Urbosa waved for Mipha to come over.
"Don't be a stranger, Revali. Everything else is already so strange now. We have a lot to adjust to."
Revali scoffed and turned back to the tower. He'd certainly seen it before.
Link stood beside him, but he didn't say anything. He looked up at the tower with him, his gaze far away.
"Did you use Mipha's ability here?" Revali heard himself ask.
Link nodded. "I did. That Guardian there on the right, I didn't see it, and it shot me on my climb up."
Revali shivered.
"I ended up coming back for it later, after you lent me your power." Link's face was relaxed. "Your Gale really is amazing, Revali. I'm sorry I never told you that before. I didn't realize it wasn't something all Rito could do. By the time I put that together... Well, I never had the time anyway."
Revali refused to look. His face felt hot underneath his feathers.
"Don't tell the others," Link said quietly, "but your power helped me the most."
Revali aimed for self-assured, but thought it might have only reached bluster. "Well of course. I'm the best at everything I set out to do."
Link smiled. "I know that now."
Revali shot him a narrow-eyed glare. "Shouldn't you be helping the princesses?"
Link shrugged. "I've already done my part. I don't understand politics, so I'm not going to be helpful. I understand maps, and I can make introductions, but otherwise..."
"Don't sell yourself short. Introductions are an important part of politics. It's more often about who you know than what you know." Revali scuffed one talon through the grass.
"Thanks, Revali."
He was silent for a long time. Revali frowned up at the tower. Was it really because Link called on his power? How often was this going to happen?
"Can I ask a favor?" Link asked.
Revali turned. Link was gazing at him earnestly. "You can ask."
"I don't have access to the Sheikah Slate anymore, since I returned it to Zelda, but I wanted to... I wanted to visit the Great Plateau. Only, since it's completely cut off now... I'd need to be able to fly to reach it." Link's expression turned beseeching. "Will you help me get there?"
"I'm not carrying you." Revali looked away. That expression was dangerous. He tapped his talon against the ground. "You still have your glider?"
"Yes," Link answered.
Revali heaved a sigh. "Okay. I'll help you. But we're doing it now, or else you have to find another Rito."
"Then let's go. It's just over there."
Revali glanced over. Sure enough, the cliff face was sheer and taller than anything could possibly climb. He followed Link. "You can get down on your own, I expect?"
"I can. Have you ever been to the Temple?"
"Can't say that I have." Revali wasn't sure why he was still talking to Link. Pity, probably. He must be desperate for company if he was talking to Revali.
"Even as run down as it is, it's rather impressive." Link's eyes were raised to the plateau. "There's an even older temple near Rito Village, actually. It's in the canyon."
"Are you a swordsman or an archaeologist?" Revali muttered.
Link shot him a smile. "Maybe both?" He shrugged. "There's this statue in the Gerudo Highlands that's really something to see, too. Not to mention the Leviathan bones..."
"Are you serious?" Revali scoffed. "The Leviathan are nothing more than a myth."
"You wanna bet?" Link asked. "There's a set of remains in Hebra. I'll take you there."
Revali rolled his eyes. At the base of the cliff now, he summoned his Gale. Without thinking about it, he spiralled around Link, lifting them both up and up and up. At the peak of the Gale, Link pulled his glider, floating down to the plateau.
Revali swooped a moment longer, making sure there was nothing threatening nearby.
Everything was peaceful. Calm.
Revali landed beside Link. "So, where's this temple of yours?"
Link seemed surprised, but he nodded ahead of them and to the left. "Just over there."
They walked on in silence. Normally it would be oppressive, but for the first time, Link's silence felt companionable rather than disdainful.
"You know," Link said quietly when they reached what was once a road, "I always hoped we could be friends when everything was finally over. I think... Well, I always felt like we had a lot in common."
Revali rolled his eyes. "No one has anything in common with me."
Link's steps slowed. "Exactly."
Revali shot him a startled look, but Link didn't turn. His profile looked sad, though. Lonely, like Mipha had said.
Revali opened his beak, unsure what he was going to say when he finally looked ahead and saw the temple looming over them. His beak clicked shut. "That is rather impressive," he admitted.
"It's called the Temple of Time," Link explained. He looked up at it, and for a moment, he seemed like a completely different person. "I don't know why, but it's like... I was always meant to come here." He shook off whatever strangeness he was feeling. "When I woke up, it was just up that hill to the right."
"Woke up?" Revali didn't like the sound of that.
"I died, the same as all of you. I fell protecting Zelda. They rushed me here, and... It took 100 years to restore me." Link said this like it was simply a fact, no emotional impact whatsoever.
Revali had heard as much before, but... He hadn't really believed it. Link was always larger than life. He couldn't possibly have died. But then, Mipha's healing, the power she'd leant him, was only for otherwise fatal wounds, wasn't it?
"Do you remember..." Revali kept his eyes on the temple. "Do you remember how it felt?"
Link didn't need him to elaborate. "I try not to. It's... I still have nightmares of the cold."
Revali nodded. He didn't have it in him to say any more. "The others all have a place to live, relatives that will welcome them back," Revali noted, changing the subject, "but I'm sure my roost has been given to another by now. And it isn't like I left behind any family."
"You can always stay with me." Link lowered his voice as they approached the temple. "There's plenty of room for a hammock. Or a bed, if you'd prefer it."
Revali didn't know what to say, so he said nothing. He was too far out of his depth.
Link didn't seem bothered by his lack of response, approaching the large statue of the Goddess with quiet steps.
He stood beneath and bowed his head. Revali felt absurdly like the room was holding its breath, like it was listening.
"I came here to say thank you," Link said, his voice soft. "I don't know how you brought them back, but thank you. And thank you as well for your help. Without it, we might have lost after all."
For a moment, Revali could have sworn he heard a voice speaking a language he couldn't understand, but then the room was silent, and it was like nothing had happened.
Link turned. "Thanks again for bringing me up here. I could have done that at any statue, but... It felt right to do it here."
Revali, unsure of what to say, shrugged expansively. Link led the way back out with an easy smile. Revali turned back and offered the statue a brief bow. Revali's feathers ruffled; the statue glowed briefly.
When they were outside again, the wind was pleasantly cool, the air fresh.
Revali closed his eyes and tipped his head back. He was alive. He was alive, and he was free.
When he opened his eyes, Link was gazing off toward Dueling Peaks.
"I've never been to Hateno," Revali noted. "I never had any interest in traveling before."
Link didn't turn, but Revali could feel his attention like a physical touch.
"I'm not sure it would be worth putting myself at the mercy of Hylian hospitality."
Revali was expecting a scoff, or maybe some irritated noise to answer his challenge. Link laughed, bright like the summer sun.
"Sorry, sorry," Link said, still giggling. "It's just--That sounds like something one of my neighbors would say about the Rito."
"And you're inviting me to stay with you?"
"Does that mean you'll come home with me?"
Revali flushed, feathers ruffling in answer.
Link beamed. "They're not that bad. Just not used to outsiders. I won't let them bother you."
Revali kept his gaze averted. "Then I suppose I could submit myself to your dubious hospitality for a short while."
"Well then, we should probably start heading that way now." Link considered the position of the sun. "From here, it's about three days' ride."
"I could always meet you there."
Link shook his head. "You don't know where you're going. You'll just have to make the journey with me."
Revali heaved a beleaguered sigh. "Very well."
When he opened one eye, he let himself smirk to see Link smile again.
They walked to the edge of the plateau and leapt off it and toward a new horizon. Together.