Fish Soup for a Zora's soul

Zech stood on a shallow pool of water. The water was only enough to cover the toes of his webbed feet. A tall dark Zora with a strong looking chin stood in front of Zech.  He had an earring at the top of his left ear and a tattoo of the Zora Sapphire on his right shoulder. The tall Zora also wore a choker with a Zora Sapphire design. Apparently many of the guards and warriors wore similar jewelry. This particular Zora’s name was Hrru Aigaba.
Zech looked up when the tall Zora spoke.
“Ok Zech! Stand very still, take a deep breath, close your eyes, and feel with all your senses. As a Zora warrior you have to learn to use all your senses. Feel with the senses you have available. With your eyes closed you have to learn to use the other senses. Attack me once you feel me moving towards you.” Hrru told him.
Zech did as he was told. With his eyes closed; he tried to use all other senses. He could hear Hrru’s voice as he gave him directions.  Zech was able to feel the ripples of the shallow water as Hrru took a step closer to him. He could smell the scent of pines in the air, Hrru always smelled of pines.
Yes he was moving towards him. At that Zech did a half turn and threw a calculated high kick towards where he felt Hrru was. Hrru blocked his kick.
“Good! Good!” Hrru said with a satisfied voice. “You can open your eyes now.” he added.
“That was great! Now tell me Zech; what senses did you use?” Hrru asked.
“I was able to hear your voice, smell you, and feel your step closer because you made ripples in the shallow water.” Zech answered proudly.

“Good! Now there is another sense a Zora, and only a Zora can use. Electricity is inside everyone and every living thing. We Zora can learn to feel this electricity using our lateral line. Some can even manipulate it.”

“You mean like the barrier shield?”

“That is right! However, not everyone has that much electricity flowing inside. But we can learn to sense electricity around us. It takes practice and skill but with proper training you will be able to feel when an attack is about to strike before it happens. A lateral line is very useful for the Zora Warrior.” Hrru explained.

Zech was excited to know all of this. Someday he was going to be a warrior. Not that there was a war brewing or anything. But if there was; he wanted to be there with his father.

“That will be enough for today. Your mother will be waiting for us at home.” Hrru said placing his hand on Zech’s spotted shoulder. They walked home together as the followed the cool stone path.

Soon the reached the second level of the Zora Domain. This was the area where most of the Zora locals lived. The homes here were cozy yet not extravagantly large like the ones on the first level where most of the wealthy Zora lived.  Soon they were at the front door of their home. There was a large red seashell on the door. The name “Zech” had been carved on the shell. Hrru opened the door and the two Zora walked inside.
“Why are you two so early?” Maigaka, Zech’s mother, said with her hands on her hips. She was a slender Zora lady with wavy arm fins and a back covered in countless tiny spots just like Zech did. She had a white flower adorning her head that filled the room with the aroma of jasmines.

“I thought we should stop training early today and surprise you.” Hrru said walking up to her, holding her from behind and wrapping her with his arms and tail. He nuzzled her neck taking in the scent of jasmine flowers. Maigaka had always loved jasmines.

“DAAAD!” Zech said shaking his head, his face red with embarrassment. He knew his parents loved each other but there were just some things he didn’t want to think about.  Hrru blushed and laughed at his son’s reaction.

Maigaka served dinner for them. She placed a plate of steamed oysters in front of the two Zora as well as one for herself. They didn’t say much while they ate but Hrru kept giving Maigaka playful smiles. Zech decided it was best if he went to bed.

Zech walked to his room leaving his parents and their sappy love chats. It had been a normal day so far. He closed the door of his room and crawled into bed after blowing out the light.  He woke up to the sound of his parents arguing. Had they not been all hugging in front of him earlier? He pretended to get up to drink some water so he could hear what was going on better.

“Please explain this to me. Make me understand why you would want to do this.” Hrru said with an obvious upset tone in his voice.

“There is nothing to understand. I just can't do it anymore!”

“Do what? You have everything you need here. What about Zech?”

"I don't know Hrru I don't know. I just can't. I know you are not his real father but still he loves you.”

“What does that have to do with anything? I care about him and YES he may as well be my son. I wish it was so. Are you taking him?”

“No, you can have him. I can't deal with things anymore.”

“Deal?  Deal with what? Life?”

Maigaka got up and went to the door. The sound of footsteps heading to the door made Zech run to his room.

It was so much information for the young boy.  Hrru was not his father? He had always looked up to him as a father. Why had he not told him? Tears started to pool inside his eyes.  He blinked and that caused the pool in his eyes to break and release the tears.  He suddenly stopped at the sound of the front door slamming shut.

“MAIGAKA!!” Hrru shouted.

Zech ran out of his room, almost tripping on his own feet, only to find Hrru standing by the door looking out.

“What is going on?” Zech asked. Pretending he knew nothing of the earlier argument.

Hrru walked over to Zech and held him tightly.

“She left; she said she won't come back. I'm so sorry Zech”

“Mother won't come back? But, why?” Zech asked.

“I wish I knew, Zech, I wish I knew.” Hrru said as he released Zech from his embrace and moved towards the kitchen. He sat down on the table that was next to the kitchen and just rested his forehead on the palms of his hands.

“I gave your mother everything she could ever want right? Was there something I missed? Something I didn’t do that made her leave us here? I don't understand.” The tall and strong looking Zora looked about ready to break down and weep.

Zech had no idea what to do. He was lost inside too. His mother had just left. Had she meant it? Would she never come back? And he had overheard the fact that Hrru was not even his real father. If he was not, who was it? Why had he abandoned him too? Zech had so many questions and no good answers to any of them.  Perhaps there was one that could be answered.
Zech sat next to Hrru.
“I overheard part of what happened before my mother left.” He stated. There was no emotion on his face.  Hrru looked up.

“I am sorry you had to hear us argue.” Hrru said shaking his head.

“Is it true?”

“I don’t know. She said she was not going to return.” Hrru said with a saddened look on his face.

“Not that. I have many questions, some; like, why mother left us? We don’t know. But there is one that can be answered. I…I overheard mother said you are not my father... is that, true?” Zech said. He was upset and frustrated.                                                                                                          

Hrru took a deep breath not knowing how Zech would react. “It’s true. I had not told you yet. I was waiting for a better time. Understand Zech, just because I'm not your biological father it doesn’t mean I care any less about you.”

Zech wanted to shout about how HE had been telling him "You have to tell the truth ALWAYS!"  and yet here he was telling him the biggest lies imaginable. But he didn’t. There was so much pain from other things. He stood up and went to the back of the kitchen and did the only thing he knew how to do.

He pulled out a cauldron and set over the fire in the kitchen.  He picked up a fish that was hanging by the wall and placed it on the counter. Zech moved to the back to get the barrel with fresh water. He poured some of the water into the cauldron.  Once that was done he went back to the counter to chop the large fish. He tossed the fish chunks into the cauldron, added spices for flavoring and chopped vegetables.

Cooking always took Zech’s mind away from problems.  Well they usually did. This time however, there was nothing that could take his mind out of “WHY DID YOU ABANDON US? WHY?” He had the same questions Hrru had.

Both Zech and Hrru remained awake for the rest of the night. They didn’t say much to each other. They just watched the pot cook the fish.

The next morning, before the sunlight started warming the Zora’s Domain, Hrru left to work. Zech remained at home. He sat at the table alone with his head filled with questions.

“Is my life all lies? Are they even my parents at all? If he is not my father who is? Why did my mother leave? Did I do something wrong that she left me with someone who is not even my father?”

He roamed his house all day until Hrru returned. Hrru just came in and sat down at the table and didn’t say much for a few minutes. Zech watched from the hallway but couldn’t think of what to say. Finally Hrru broke the silence.

“Zech! How are you feeling?” He asked.  Zech shook his head.
“I don't know what to tell you? I suppose you are heartbroken about your mother leaving as much as I am. We will get though this ok. I am sure of it!”

“How come you are staying with me? You are... well, you are not my real father, so why are you still here?” Zech asked stopping to take a deep breath to swallow his tears.

“Isn’t it obvious?” Hrru said with a half smile. “I can't leave you, you are my son. I may not have held you as an egg or stood there the day you hatched.  I did take care of you when you were little, brought you food, taught you how to be a proper young man, and did my best to be a father for you.” Hrru said with an obvious frog in his throat.

“What about my real father? Where is he? Why did he leave me?”

“He is dead Zech. Your mother said he died before you were born. He never knew you existed. I don’t know if he would have made a better father than I am. I also don’t know why or how he died. I just hope that doesn’t mean you don’t want me to be with you.”

“No! I…I was upset. I was mad that it was all lies. I don’t want to be alone! PLEASE don’t leave me! If you leave I won’t have anyone! I don't want to be alone.” His lower lip trembled as he spoke.

Hrru stood up and walked over to where the young boy stood with tears streaming down his spotted face. He wrapped his strong arms around the boy and held him tight.