For the next couple of days, Link spent the daylight hours out in the camp among the traders. He often found himself tailing Seeán, like he was a lost Lillipup looking for a Trainer. Link would have found it embarrassing if it wasn't for the fact that he didn't want to go off on his own. Only during his nighttime walks was he fine with being alone. There were obviously less people awake then, and it gave him less of a reason to worry.

Since Seeán worked with the camp's Pokémon, most of the time Link was with them as well as Seeán's friends. Hana and Iman only addressed Link when Seeán dragged him into the conversation, which he appreciated. At least the topics had to do with Pokémon in some form or another.

"Oh wow, so you really do have a Lucario," Hana said. "I've heard they can be difficult to work with since they can be so regimented. They're among some of the most sentient Pokémon in the kingdom, aren't they?"

While Link didn't know for sure if that was the answer, he would like to believe that it was so. Luce was leaps and bounds beyond something like a Slugma or a Pidgey, though that didn't devalue those Pokémon in Link's eyes. "She definitely has a schedule," he answered. "She always starts the day with meditation, it helps keep her calm."

"If I didn't already have to work as soon as I got up, I'd meditate," Seeán commented. "Your Lucario knows what's good." Link rolled his eyes at that. It was all he could do to keep his mounting worry for Luce at bay.

Bit by bit, Link found himself growing more accustomed to being around Seeán and the other Gerudo. This didn't stop him from leveling suspicion at everything he found strange. But nothing would happen. It was the complete opposite of what he'd faced when he dared to relax around Villia and Farrah, too good to be true, almost. He waited for something to happen because of that, ready to be blindsided and imprisoned.

He was proven wrong. Again.

Link was shocked that still nothing happened. Not only that, but the Gerudo weren't too fascinated by him in general. Like Hana and Iman, their interest died down once he established that he wouldn't share much information, and they were content afterwards, if only a tad curious at times. Besides the naturally-wary (according to Seeán) Uzma and Najam, Link was left alone. He even let Seeán drag him to another bonfire. Although he didn't participate this time, he stayed for a majority of the time until Najam's ever-present stare made him leave.

Aaira was nothing but pleased with how Link was getting out. According to her, Link could leave any day now, but she wanted to make sure he truly was okay since there might have been some lingering fragility. With how she had been nothing but kind from the start, Link decided to take a risk and be a bit more open with her. He was rewarded with nothing he found concerning. If anything, she seemed happier.

"It seems like you've been getting along decently with everyone," Aaira said one morning. "It's a shame you're leaving soon."

That really was the best way to describe things, since Link was more acting like his usual self around the Gerudo. "I just don't get it," he said. Aaira arched a brow, and he added, "I've treated ya like trash, Seeán too, but ya still haven't given up."

"Seeán of course has her own reasons, but I already told you mine. I'm a healer. As long as I can ensure lives are saved, it doesn't matter who or what they are." She smiled. "Do you really need me to say not everybody is the same, regardless of their heritage?"

Link shook his head, feeling like a child being talked down to.

"Suspicion is a healthy thing to have, but not in excess. Then again, it's not healthy to have anything in excess, even trust." Aaira nodded sagely. "It's all up to the individual to decide how much they want to have for anybody or anything. But always keep in mind that everyone has their own way of seeing things. A hundred people can witness an event, but not everyone will see it the same way."

Link didn't realize his expression had fallen slack until it did. He couldn't help but recall his talk with Zelda, when he'd revealed his past to her. It also brought up memories of his parents. His father always spoke positively of the Gerudo with little to nothing negative to say, while his mother had nothing but horrible things to say. Extreme trust and mistrust, neither was right. Not everybody was the same...

"I'll leave things there," Aaira said gently. Link didn't react, feeling numb as his thoughts overwhelmed him. He hardly realized Seeán had arrived moments later until she was trying to get his attention. At first didn't move or speak, blinking blanky as he stared at her. There was nothing but kindness and happiness behind her eyes. But instinct told him to move, so he did.

"We gotta pick up some stuff from storage before we head to the pond," Seeán rambled, like she hadn't even noticed that Link was quieter than usual. "I can show ya what that looks like also, so two Fletchling, one stone."

Link and Seeán made their way across the camp, passing Gerudo who waved and greeted them both. He'd acknowledged them with faint nods, feeling like he was in a dream as he did so.

They soon reached a pair of larger tents on the other side of the oasis. Seeán wasted no time entering one of them, and the shifting of crates and cloth could be heard from inside. Link peered inside to see Seeán searching through a stack of wooden crates, lightweight in build for easier transportation. They were each sealed with a lock, likely for thieves and curious wild Pokémon alike.

"Dammit, I forgot the key for this crate," Seeán huffed. She stood up, and Link moved aside so she could duck out of the tent. She wore an uncharacteristic frown as she glanced at him. "I'll be back in a sec, ya don't have to come with me." Link didn't mind that. He was happy, even. He needed a moment to think alone.

Once Seeán was out of sight, he released all the air in him in a heavy sigh that hurt his chest. It felt like everything was crashing down around him, that at any moment the ground would give way, and he'd find himself in the blackness with his thoughts.

Link didn't know how long he had been blankly staring at the ground when he felt the approaching aura. He shivered when he recognized it, and he turned to see Najam standing nearby. The two stared at each other for a time, Link still too confused to say anything while Najam seemed to be waiting for Link to act first. Finally, Najam spoke.

"What are you planning?" he asked icily.

A baffled "huh?" slipped from Link's lips before he could stop it. This response sent a ripple of anger through Najam's aura, and he began moving closer to Link.

"Don't play dumb, we both know you've been planning something. What a coincidence that our Togekiss found you and brought you here. First you convinced vaba, then Seeán, and now everyone is used to you being here, all so you can turn on us." He jabbed a finger into Link's chest. "I don't know exactly what you want to do, but you obviously despise us."

The sharp jab snapped some of Link's senses back to him, and he frowned. "The hell're ya talkin' 'bout? I never meant to wind up 'ere," he said. "Your Togekiss found me, not the other way 'round."

Najam shook his head. "I don't believe you for one second. You Hylians shouldn't be trusted, never. Give them your trust, and they'll take advantage of it. Combine that with how you're a wanted criminal, and it's a recipe for disaster for us."

That sounded familiar. "I could say the same for all of ya," Link said.

"I'm sure everybody told you. But do you have an actual reason why? Because I do." Najam scowled, shoving Link hard. "You damn Hylians killed my parents!" he hissed. "A couple of your guards thought my parents cheated some people out of money, and they were killed for being 'desert scum thieves!'"

Shock struck Link to his core, reverberating through his entire being. In a second, the confusion and blankness was gone, replaced with a red-hot streak of fury. "I have a reason too!" Link retorted.

"Oh yeah?" Najam said dubiously, a clear brand of sarcasm in his voice. "A guard told your mom to be careful when she was being too daft? Your dad got mad when a shopkeeper charged a little too much for goods she spent hours crafting herself?"

It took Link all he had to not haul off and punch Najam in the face, a dangerous move since divine energy turned Link's blood blisteringly hot. Without thinking, he shouted, "Your guards killed my parents!"

Najam exhaled sharply, looking unimpressed. "Probably deserved it, damn accusers..." he muttered.

That was it. The next thing Najam uttered was a pained shout as Link's fist smashed into the side of the boy's jaw. "Shut up! Just shut up!" Link yelled. Najam was sent reeling from the blow, the force literally spinning him around, and he smacked his face again on the ground as he collapsed.

Link glowered down at Najam, fists clenched. No Courage had escaped him, so all the Gerudo had gotten was a standard blow. Link wanted to do more, kick Najam while he was down or something worse, but he reigned in his anger. It... wouldn't be right to beat this kid while he was down, even if he was a damn idiot. He gritted his teeth, cursing to himself when other auras began to approach. Their spat had attracted attention.

"Dear Hylia..!" Link recognized the voice as Rafae's, stern and demanding. "What happened here?"

"H-he... He attacked m-me..." Najam spluttered, pushing himself up onto his hands and knees.

Link couldn't dispute that. He'd done it, he'd punched Najam. But he desperately wanted to defend himself, and he didn't know how else he could when words obviously wouldn't be enough.

"My parents didn't deserve to die," he growled, just needing to say it as tears stung his eyes. "Ya have no damn clue what happened to 'em, what gives ya the right to—" He realized what he was saying, and he stopped himself, choking on his words. From the group of gathering Gerudo came Aaira, looking startled.

"Najam, did you antagonize him?" the healer asked.

The Gerudo male spat blood onto the ground, putting a hand to his busted lip. "Y-You're trusting him over me? Even as I'm bleeding?"

"Just answer the question," Aaira said, moving to Link's side. Najam scoffed and answered, not bothering to hide the truth.

"I pointed out the obvious. Hylians like him are always conspiring against us. I have no clue how you've been so lax around him, all of you." He gave the other Gerudo accusatory looks. Nobody said anything, though Link could see and feel how upset they were. It wasn't directed at him, however, but Najam. Aaira was outright appalled as she pulled her grandson to his feet.

"He isn't going to do anything to us, he's just as afraid of us as you are of him." Link grimaced, hating how that was true. "We all have fears of others, but that doesn't mean you should accuse someone of something they were never planning to do."

Najam gently pulled his arm away from Aaira, turning his glare to her. "So we could let our guard down and be taken advantage of or hurt? I'm worried about you, vaba. I don't want him to hurt you!"

"You think Vera or Stelle would allow that?" Aaira asked, frowning. "And this is the kind of thought that... that got your parents killed." Sorrow overtook her, and pity stabbed at Link. "We're all supposed to coexist and work together, not drive each other apart."

Najam grew more indignant, saying, "Then why can't they just understand that we've changed?"

Link could do nothing but watch this aftermath unfold. His anger remained, though shock rendered him silent. Shock over the situation and his own previous words. He finally understood why Zelda had said to give the Gerudo a chance, why Villia, Aaira, and Seeán had said it as well.

Although his mind stubbornly resisted the notion, the truth was there. Neither of them were right. Najam had no right to assume anything about Link for being a Hylian, and Link didn't have the right to judge Najam for being a Gerudo. But they felt they had the right to because of their experiences and the words of others. It felt like a heavy rock had settled in Link's gut. They had been convinced for so long...

Seeán nudged Link, giving him a comforting smile when she got his attention. "C'mon. Forget the key, the Pokémon are waitin' for us," she said. Link nodded and followed after her when she began to head to the other side of the oasis. He felt Najam's eyes on him as he walked, but he ignored it. He understood the Gerudo's anger, and he knew he needed to calm down. They both needed to.