Fish Out of Water, ft Konungr [c]

[Deleted]

What an adventure! Séale had swum all along the coast from Zora's Domain to the little bay inlet on the east coast of the continent, and then fought the rapids of the rivers to find herself in quaint Kakariko village. The young Zora did not know why they had made the trek—herself and two armed guards—only that there was something special in this village that could not be obtained elsewhere. Her ventures away from Zora's Domain usually led her to Hyrule Castle Town, but if Séale was honest with herself, she preferred the journey to Kakariko much more. She could travel the whole way without stepping foot on land once, and she did not have to ride in an ox-pulled wagon where there may or may not be a covering to protect her from the ruthless sun overhead. Séale was not like most other Zoras, being more fish in nature, and so her skin dried out easily. She was much more content going the long route by waterway than the short route by wagon.

Plus it gave her a chance to slip away from her guards. Having an ancient bloodline that gave her a dorsal tail and webbed hands and feet also made her a proficient swimmer, one of the best in the realm. She was not usually one to disobey but the prospect of exploring a new village was too exciting for her to ignore, and she did not want to be watched under the eyes of her guards the whole time.

She had lost them in a particularly rough passage, where the water was white and the river fast. As they were struggling against the current, Séale climbed the falls with ease and swam as fast as she could the rest of the way. They would catch up with her eventually, but her excuse that she never knew she lost them and by the time she did she had already made it to the village's gates was easy enough to believe. At least, she hoped.

Well, she would deal with that when the time came. For now she was content roaming around town, dark eyes bright and wide as she surveyed the humble village's homes and shops. She was aware of the looks cast her way. No doubt Zoras were rare around this bend of the river—and her especially, being so strange—but she tried to walk with confidence and ignore their staring eyes. She did not think it had anything to do with her attire, which made her appear more like an exotic Gerudo than a modest handmaiden, but her people did like putting her ancient physique on display. Legend said her people once wore nothing at all, so a simple cloth wrap and veils were more than generous in Séale's mind.

But then, these people did not know who she was. Perhaps some did not even know what she was. They did not know she was just a simple handmaiden. She could have been an adventurer, a priestess, a princess! In Kakariko village, Séale could be anything she wanted. Her dark eyes lit up at the prospect of infinite possibilities. The young Zora stood straighter, squaring her shoulders as she roamed down the main street. Until she saw a mother give one look at her and usher a child inside a house. Oh, Séale supposed that also meant she could have been one of Ganondorf's minions. Shuffling away, Séale decided it was probably best not to flaunt herself, just take in the sights, and run if she had to.

Konungr of Hyrule

[Konungr of Hyrule]

All eyes were focused on the Zora intruder—highly skilled assassins stalking from the shadows, crowds, and rooftops all ready to handle this intruder if their reasons for being in the final bastion of Hyrule were anything from just. However, the Goron Chieftain made it clear: If any Zora came to their gates in need of help, give them the assistant they deserve; treat them no different than anyone else asking for their aid. It's common knowledge the Goron and Zora have never really saw eye to eye throughout history—in a few occasions they even engaged in skirmishes over certain landmarks and points of interest throughout their country. But ever since the Crowned Family has been exiled from their land, whatever petty indifference's the two races may have with one another has long since been forgotten; at least in theory; the silence between the two races taken place of their hostile actions towards one another.

But should the same treatment be given to the Zora that sneak into the city through the water systems? Konungr couldn't be reached—he was in his throne room recuperating from a grievous wound sustained within the deepest depths of Death Mountain. All decisions now rested on the wise and just judgement of Asta; his second-hand and Champion of his people. And with the well-hidden assassins, Asta already knew what needed to be done. She knew the girl came alone; at least she came this far alone. The way the refugees reacted to her and vice-versa showed she meant no harm—it almost seemed like the Zora was around just to explore and see new sights. But there was also something very strange felt by Asta and a few others, a feeling she recognized but couldn't pin-point the exact meaning behind such a sense. The meaning behind the feeling would remain unknown until destiny played its course, but the source of the sense came from the intruding Zora, and that intrigued Asta greatly. She ordered the other assassins to patrol the perimeter and waterway—figure out if this Zora came alone or not. While they did that, she'd approach the little thing, figure out why she is here and read her mannerisms; get to the bottom of if this Zora is good or not.

"Hello? You seem lost, may I offer you assistance, milady?"

Asta voiced with a soft sweet tone appearing practically out of thin air from behind the Zora. She was a full blooded Goron, but female Goron looked much more human than any male Goron ever did. She stood at a modest height of 05'09'', and had a very curvy yet athletic build. But don't let her modesty size be taken for granted—remember, there is a reason why she is the Goron Champion, her fighting prowess and mental fortitude rivals that of even Konungr's. She walks forward towards Séale, a big smile across her face as purple locks blew in the wind. Approaching the Zora, she got a very good look of the girl. "Oh, you're adorable!" She mused, clutching her hands to her chest yet again.

@seale !

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Séale attributed the feeling of eyes constantly on her back to the villagers of Kakariko, unaware that she was literally being stalked as she walked down the main thoroughfare. She did not know this was Goron controlled territory, and she did not know that she was seen as a threat. If she did, she might have taken better precaution ambling through town the way she was. As such, Séale trusted that she was viewed as nothing more than an exotic guest, one that meant no harm to the village and its residents and was only here to explore the town and perhaps purchase a few rare items.

And an exotic guest she was. Kakariko was vastly different from Hyrule Castle Town, which was mostly built of stone. Kakariko's buildings were built of wood with a few bricks and stones as foundations. Séale was not used to dry wood, especially dry wood used to erect such large structures. The most she had seen of its use were small kiosks in the marketplace, thin sticks used to hold up a cloth awning.

She ran her hand across one such dwelling, her webbed fingers tracing along the grooves of the wood. So different from stone. Smooth, not coarse. She pushed her hand against the wood, but it was not soft like driftwood. Leaning against the building, she gave a sniff. Nothing. Séale did not know why she had expected to smell salt.

"Hello? You seem lost, may I offer you assistance, milady?"

Séale started, the voice from behind catching her off guard. Turning quickly, her dorsal tail swinging, she gazed up in wide eyes at the Goron woman before her. Séale had never been this close to a Goron before, yet she had seen them in Hyrule Castle Town from afar. The young Zora stared with wide eyes, her mouth agape. She was at a loss for words.

"Oh, you're adorable!" the Goron woman said, bringing her hands to her chest.

That broke the spell. Séale blinked, a smile breaking her features and revealing sharp teeth. She giggled.

"Thank you!" she said, before remembering herself and giving a low curtsy, proper of a handmaiden. "I am a Zora, though my blood is old so I may appear different," she continued. Good, that should dispel any fears that Séale might be one of Ganondorf's minions. The Zoras had a long history of aiding the Royal Family and the three Goddesses, dating all the way back to the Hero of Time.

"I apologize if I seem lost. I have never encountered a building made of wood." Séale turned her attention back to the dwelling, resting her hand against its side and pressing her fingers within the grooves. "I am mostly used to stone, as they are built in Hyrule Castle Town."

She was forgetting herself, rambling on about inconsequential things while a Goron was standing before her. Jerking her hand away from the wood, Séale offered another curtsy and introduced herself properly.

"My name is Séale, the Zora Princess—" She hesitated. She could be anything here. Not just a lowly handmaiden. For all this Goron knew she was the Zora Princess herself. Séale's voice trailed off, the title lingering in the air. The young Zora's grin widened. Yes. In Kakariko village, she could be a princess. Her blood was old enough. Why shouldn't she be?


Konungr of Hyrule

[Konungr of Hyrule]

"Old blood, you say? I've always found Zora to be quite adorable, truth be told. Whereas my people have hard skin, yours have soft silky skin; albeit a little moist." Asta replied to the seemingly innocent Zora—a playful wink to conclude the Champions nice words. Asta, being a "Hybrid Goron"—a Goron with mixed blood consisting of Norse and Hyrule Goron, she possessed the ruthless spirit of Norse Goron while having the compassionate and caring nature of Hyrule Goron; the best of both worlds. It is extremely rare to see a full blood Goron within Hyrule these days, but that may be for the best—Hybrids are considered to be the ideal Goron. Asta positioned herself beside the Zora and smiled, examining the building alongside Séale; perhaps it was time to educate this curious soul?

"The Castle Town had the income and resources to build every wall with the ability to withstand sieging attacks from their enemies. We; the Gorons traded them the means to do so with our self-sustainable economy. This village however never received the same treatment. But our kind ruler Konungur of Hyrule sought to change this prior to the banishment of the Royal Family. We Gorons our inventors and architects, you see? The closer you get to Death Mountain, the more you will notice how we integrated our architectures with the buildings of this village. "

Asta concluded her little lesson with a big smile. When Séale introduced herself, the Goron Champion moved a slender hand through purple locks. She played off the fact Séale practically told of her true identity, or at least her position within the House of Zora. Asta knew she was no Zora Princess—the feeling she was getting for Séale indicated something other than royal blood. Perhaps a servant of the Princess; a retainer? If that was indeed true, Asta began to wonder where the Zora heiress could be hiding. Without dwelling on the Zora's words for too long, Asta figured it'd be wise to play dumb and ignore the fact Séale as indeed hiding something. "Oh, my! A cute name fitting for a cute servant of the Zora Heiress." Asta retorted, hands back up to her chest with another wink. "I am, Asta of Hyrule; Goron Champion," she continued, "but i'm curious, Séale. What really brings you here to the final bastion of Hyrule?" Asta inquired, leaning up against the side of the building with hazel hues leveled on the Zora she labels adorable.

@seale !

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Zoras do not blush the same way humans do, but by the way Séale's face seemed to take on a darker shade of blue and the subtle flips of her dorsal tail, that was exactly what she was doing. Séale was enjoying this Goron's kind words. Despite the tensions between their two races, the young Zora had no intention to bring up bad blood, especially with the way the world was heading from recent events. It pleased her that this Goron woman felt the same way.

And she was even treated to a story! Well, more a historical lesson, but it was always exciting for Séale to learn something new. Kakariko had always had a special place in the history books, always providing the Hero a place of sanctuary from the evils that stalked him. How kind of Konungr of Hyrule and the Gorons to lend their aid and services to such an important piece of Hyrule.

She turned to look towards the south end of town, towards Death Mountain, where the dwellings indeed took on a more stone appearance than the wooden structures Séale was amidst. With her attention elsewhere, she missed the subtle clues of the Goron woman's musings, unaware she was being scrutinized and dissected like some frog on a dish. That was, until the Goron spoke next.

"Oh, my! A cute name fitting for a cute servant of the Zora Heiress."

Séale's heart skipped a beat; her breath caught in her throat. She turned, just in time to see the Goron woman wink.

"I am, Asta of Hyrule; Goron Champion, but I'm curious, Séale. What really brings you here to the final bastion of Hyrule?

If Asta had meant to be disarming Séale did not see it that way. The color in the young Zora's face drained away, leaving her a sickly white shade. The corners of her mouth fell, the smile that had been frozen on her face melting into a grimace. A cute name fitting for a cute servant of the Zora Heiress.

She knew.

Oh, Séale had been a fool to think she could pass herself off as the Zora Princess. She realized now her mistakes. Her curtsies had been too low. What Princess curtsied to anyone? And naming herself as Séale? Séale was not the Zora Princess's name! Everyone who was anyone knew that!

What had she been thinking? What ridiculous, stupid notion had crossed her mind to pretend to be someone she was not? And then treat this Goron woman like some ignorant backwater fool. Not just any Goron woman. Asta of Hyrule; Goron Champion. Goron Champion!

Suddenly Séale wished she had not left her guardian escort behind. What were once kind compliments had now taken on a sinister hue. My people have hard skin . . . yours have soft silky skin. Séale tried to swallow, but all the moisture was gone from her mouth. Asta was going to kill her.

The Zora handmaiden took a step back, casting quick, furtive glances towards the north end of town, praying by Nayru's light that her guards had made it the rest of the way up the river and were on their way to her rescue right now. But there were no Zoras to be seen.

Asta's last question was still lingering in the air, the sudden tension between them warping the Goron's tone into one of dark suspicion and distrust. Séale did not know what to say. She did not think she could say anything. She had already been caught in a lie. A big one, no less. There was nothing she could say that would be taken as truth.

"I—I . . . I . . ." She had to flee, make a break for it, but the way Asta was leaning against the building like that, Séale's only escape towards the waterways was blocked.

By a huge imposing Goron Champion.

"Um . . ."

Throwing all caution to the wind, Séale turned towards Death Mountain and ran as fast as she could.


Konungr of Hyrule

[Konungr of Hyrule]

Asta read the signs—Séale was now cattle cornered by a hungry wolf. She began to get hung on her thoughts a lot more frequently; the blueish tint in her face now a sickly white. The Goron Champion cocked a single eyebrow, honestly surprised by this sudden change in attitude. Asta had a strong feeling Séale didn't harbor any ill-well towards this stronghold or her people, so why did the Zora begin to withdraw like a frightened turtle? Maybe it was the fact she was caught in her little lie? Asta was the furthest thing from upset, if anything, it only made Séale appear more adorable in the hazel hues of the Champion. However, it was obvious she was going to flee—Asta called each action leading to the escape moments before they happen; from the step backwards and the desperate dash to the base of Death Mountain. So, when Séale did the inevitable, Asta simply rose up her hood cream colored hood with a half-grin and took to the roofs, following behind the young Zora to ensure the girl wouldn't get herself hurt by the local beasts at the base of the Mountain. "I do hope you're ready for an unexpected guest, Folk."

The other Goron stationed around the Stronghold allowed Séale to run pass them without even attempting to stop her—the word long since been traveled throughout the village to bring no harm to the Zora; at least until Konungr got a moment to speak with her. 9^ft sentries clad in armor and steeled with Goron crafted weaponry simply turned their back to the little Zora as she fled. Some even brought their attention up to Asta gliding from rooftop to rooftop, questioning the Champions motives, but falling her orders to the bitter end. When Séale reached the gates leading to the base of the mountain, not a single sentry stood guard, allowing the Zora easy access for the time being. However, once she made it through the gate, the Goron's went back to their guard, acting as if nothing happened—saying nothing to the refugees in the process.

Whatever beast Séale may have came across would have been taken down with a single projectile aimed with extreme precision. The projectiles would be extremely sharp stone in the shape of throwing knifes, each stone-knife glowing and pulsating a purple color. These projectiles came from nowhere, so if Séale attempted to pinpoint the location, she'd be out of luck—for the time being she'd be the only one ascending the treacherous base. However long it took the little Zora to ascend the base leading to the village, Asta would be at the village entrance, waiting, perched on a rock with hazel hues on the path Séale would be taking leading up to the guarded gates.

"You're a pretty fast runner, Séale; I can only imagine how swift you are in the water. Buuuuuuut, if you wanted to see our village, all you had to do was ask. I would have escorted you up here, milady. It's pretty dangerous coming up and it relieves my heart to know you made it up here unscratched, Cutie."

Asta leaped from her stone, landing on two feet with the gracefulness of a Hylian mare."Lets go. There is much to see, Séale." She gestured for the Zora to follow, the truth now on the horizon.

@seale !

[Deleted]

As swift as Zoras were in the water, land was another matter, especially Séale with her ancient anatomy. Her dorsal tail, long and thick, made her top-heavy, and short, squat legs made running difficult. Her bare feet hurt against the dirt and pebbles of the main street, and the fins attached to her arms—what were so aerodynamic in water—were bulky and floppy as they failed to cut through the air.

Séale stumbled often in her flight, sheer fear and adrenaline keeping her going. It was obvious she was being toyed with. Every Goron sentry she passed turned their back to her, some raising their eyes to the rooftops. Séale only attempted to look for her pursuer once. Turning her head too far threw her dorsal tail off balance, and after spilling herself on the ground she could only pray they would let her reach the base of Death Mountain before descending upon her.

And then what? Séale had no idea what she was supposed to do, if she could do anything. She was running away from the river ... towards a big giant rock that jutted a mile into the sky. Her only hope was that there was some hidden spring or aquifer that fed into the river. She could escape that way, she supposed, if they let her.

The whole thing was a mistake. Séale just kept digging herself deeper. There were no Gorons at the gate to the mountain, which made her sense of foreboding even worse. It was as if they were allowing her access to the mountain. Still, against all intuition, Séale passed through the gate, closing it behind her and watching the town from the other side of the bars. The Goron guards were minding their own business, as if a traitorous Zora had not just run through the town with her head cut off. Only the residents of Kakariko, the Hylians, spared her a glance through the gate. For some reason, Séale felt as if she had just locked herself away.

Well, whoever had been pursuing her had decided to let her go, or was sitting there waiting for her somewhere up the mountain. Taking a breather, the Zora hissed as she examined the wicked scrape at her shoulder. She made a note to just keep running forward next time. She did not have the time or energy to take another tumble.

The bruised Zora weighed her options. There was nothing left to do. Séale couldn't very well just turn around and go back the way she came. She knew the Gorons would not let her get away that easy, and even if she tried, they'd stop her before she could open the gate back up. Turning around, Séale looked up the path that led into Death Mountain. With a deep breath and a tightening of the lips, the Zora traitor steeled herself and started the climb.

She heard the tektite before it attacked, a chittering of noise she had never heard but reminded her of ominous crickets. A giant blue crab-like being landed before her, shuffling on six spindly legs before it threatened to pounce atop her. Séale screamed, her fins covering her head as she fell backward on her rump. She heard an inhuman shriek, and by the time she realized the tektite had not attacked, found the beast dead before her. Heart pounding, blood coursing through her veins, Séale examined the creature with a cautious air, until she found a glowing purple stone imbedded in its head. A thought of retrieving it for her own protection crossed her mind, but she was afraid of the purple glow, knowing it was magical and perhaps poisoned, and also an irrational fear that if she removed it from the monster it would come back to life. A quick scan over the mountainside produced nothing, and the young Zora was left with her own conclusion that she was still being followed. They wanted her to move on. She was being toyed with.

So be it.

Séale did not encounter another tektite, whether because there were no more stalking the mountain pass or the ones that were had been dispatched for her safe travel. She walked slow, careful with her footing and wary of ambush, but also letting her annoyance steep and brew into anger and indignation.

When Asta met her at the end of the pass Séale was not surprised. She had been expecting it.

"You're a pretty fast runner, Séale; I can only imagine how swift you are in the water. Buuuuuuut, if you wanted to see our village, all you had to do was ask. I would have escorted you up here, milady. It's pretty dangerous coming up and it relieves my heart to know you made it up here unscratched, Cutie."

The young Zora could not help but frown at her words. Obviously Asta had seen her, her awkward run, her stumble, so was the Goron Champion mocking her or just trying to make her feel better?

Séale sat down in the dirt, wrapping her arms about her knees. She was tired, and her shoulder ached. What was this talk about Asta's village? That had never been Séale's intent. Her business lay with Kakariko, which lay with the Hylians, right? Was Asta suggesting there was another village? A Goron village?

Asta seemed not to notice, or care of her distress. Instead she just leapt from her rock and bid Séale onward.

"Lets go. There is much to see, Séale," the Goron Champion said.

Séale sighed as she buried her head in her arms. She had to address the whale shark in the room before they could go on.

"I'm sorry … for lying. I did not mean to. It just came out! I don't know what I was thinking." Zoras did not cry, or at least, Séale's ancient blood did not. But her voice was sincere and the way she shuddered in her seat, it was clear what emotion the young Zora was feeling. When she spoke next, it was a mere whisper. "Please don't tell the Zora Guard. If they found out I was impersonating the Zora Princess…." She drew a shuddering breath, then looked up at Asta. A deep frown was set on her face, and her body trembled with every breath. "Please. Can you keep it a secret to everybody?"