Chapter 4

Ruto's head burst through the surface of the river that flowed from the Zora's domain and she looked around for the Barb. Riordan stood not far from the bank gazing up at the sky with his arms crossed. He'd changed out of the Zora tunic, and now, wore his usual maroon tunic with a gold design in the center. As she climbed out of the waters, She frowned at him, "Daydreaming?"

He didn't answer, but simply uncrossed his arms as he put two fingers to his mouth. His loud whistle made her clap her hands to her ear holes and yell, "WHAT IN NAYRU'S NAME . . . !"

His hands dropped from his mouth and he glanced over at her, "I've a friend who's up there," He gestured to a black speck in the sky, "And thought, I might be polite, and say hello."

She stalked over to him and glanced up at the speck, "Your going to say hello to a BIRD!" She threw her hands up in the air, "You're supposed to be helping me find this dragon roost mountain! Not spending time talking to the birds!"

Riordan merely raised an eyebrow at her and looked back up into the sky, "Patience is a virtue."

She glared at him and looked back up at the black speck, "And why is patience important?"

A frown creased her face as she saw the speck becoming larger and more distinguishable. The black speck grew and changed until it looked like some strange half bird half human. She looked at it intently as it landed in front of her and Riordan. The creature had the face and build of a human, but its nose and feet were those of a bird. As he, or at least she assumed it was male by its appearance, landed in front of them, Its wings seemed to wrap around his arms and vanish, 'And people think Zoras are strange creatures . . . ' She raised a finger to her chin and studied him, 'I wonder what it would be like to fly . . . '

The bird man nodded at Riordan, "Riordan."

Riordan returned the nod, "Darrti, What tidings come from the roost?"

Darrti's face grew grave, "It is of no concern of yours, for now."

Riordan grimaced and glanced at him, "So that is how things are, then?"

Ruto watched the bird man look Riordan over and nodded, "I must follow my cheiftain's command, " Darrti looked over at her and took her in at a glance, "And what strange creature is this that you've taken up with?"

Her hands clenched into fists and she glared at him, "I'm no stranger than you are! Just ask any Hylian!"

Riordan sighed and shook his head as he looked at her, "Your highness, The Rito don't come down from . . . "

She ignored him and continued to glare at the Rito, "I'm perfect for a Zora! There's nothing the least bit unusual about me!"

Darrti's eyes narrowed, "Zora? And where do you beasts live?"

She crossed her arms as her eyes darkened, "In the water, Bird creature."

His eyes flashed, but his face remained emotionless. Riordan cast a nervous look in his direction and look over at her, "Ruto . . . He's not the one you want to mess . . . "

Darrti looked over at Riordan with a stern look and the barb fell silent, "This female has all the vanity of a certain Rito prince."

She scowled at him and snarled, "I'm not vain, you half-blooded Hylian!"

The barb's eyes widened as The bird creature's eyes narrowed, "Ruto . . . "

She stamped her foot and glared at Riordan, "Quit calling me that! I am not your equal!"

Darrti frowned and spread his arms out wide so that his wings spread out, "Enough!" She shrank from him at theses words that were filled with authority, "I could not stand such insolence in our prince and neither shall I stand it in you, Zora!"

For the first time in her life, Ruto felt as if she'd gone too far and found herself backing away from the Rito. She could feel the waves of power that rolled over him and felt herself shudder at them. His eyes locked on hers and she found herself frozen in place. As she swallowed hard, Riordan laid a hand on Darrti's shoulder, "Please leave her alone. She doesn't understand . . . "

Darrti continued to stare at her and his voice seemed to thunder through her body, "She does not understand how to respect others and will not learn unless punished!"

Ruto found she could speak, "I can learn it! Just let me . . . "

The feeling of power grew around Darrti and he glared at her, "You will learn this lesson! But not in your current form!"

Out of the corner of her eye, She saw Riordan shrink away from Darrti, "She's not one of the Rito!"

Ruto felt power building around her body and begin to push upon it. A gasp escaped her lips as it felt as though her body was being softened. Darrti kept his power filled eyes on her, "She isn't one of us, but that does not mean she can't learn our lessons!"

She felt her form twist and change like some potter was remolding it, 'NO . . . !' Pain knocked her to her knees and she dug her fingers into the ground as her body continued its change. Her scalp itched as a prickling sensation raced over it, but the pain kept her in place. Ruto felt like she would go mad as the itching grew worse. The pain intensified and the feeling of change moved to her lungs and insides. She felt her gills close up and gasped for a moment before she began to breathe through her mouth and lungs.

Pain flared around her ear holes and she clapped her hands to them. Beneath her hand, she felt thing growing and soon realized she felt hair brush her fingers, 'WHAT'S HAPPENING TO ME!'

When she thought the pain could get no worse, It flared through her body like a bomb, only to die away to nothing. She heard her heart beating in a frantic manner inside of her chest as she gulped in air. Ruto glanced down at her arms and froze at the sight of pink skin, 'Where's my scales . . . ' Her eyes grew wide and she felt her chest tighten.

Ruto felt her body tremble as she looked at her body. She was now clothed in a white tunic over a blue shirt that had matched the color of her scales. Her fingers tentatively touched the soft fabric of her blue breeches. She was surprised to find wetness on her cheeks as she looked up at Darrti. Her mouth opened to speak, but no words came out. He folded his arms and looked down at her, "Learn to respect others and you will have your form back, if you wish it."

She gawked at him as he spread his wings and took off into the sky, 'HE turned me into a Hylian!' Her fist struck her leg, 'How dare he!'