Why?

One foot, then the other.

Why?

Palms to the ground. And push.

Why?

Up he rose. Standing.

Why?

Zelgadis was surprised at his flexibility. Rock didn't bend. He shifted his weight so he could maintain a vertical position.

Strange. The stone of his skin added no weight on his body. He could still move freely, if not weakly for now.

But he couldn't get used to it. He still stared down at his body in disbelief. Still ran his hands over his chest, feeling through stone, not flesh. He still twirled a strand of hair about one finger. So stiff. So lifeless. So sad.

A nightmare. It was all a nightmare. Nothing more.

But the pain was still fresh in his mind. Still there to anguish his heart. And his grandfather. Rezo's face, strong in his mind.

Why?

The unanswered question. Why?

Why had Rezo done this? Why this form? Why had his grandfather come at all?

Was it only to torture him? Or was it just a joke?

What had Zelgadis done wrong? To make Rezo do this to him. His own family.

One foot in front of the other.

Step.

Next foot in front of the first.

Step.

His feet were bare but no twig, leaf or stone could injure them. He was making progress. He had to get home. Had to find Rezo. Had to be returned to normal.

Zelgadis faced towards the direction of home. Rezo's home, but still his own as well.

He had to find out. Why? He had to know why.

Sunlight caught the blade of his sword. Still imbedded in the fallen tree trunk, just as he had left it. And so he left it now. Untouched by any hands but those of a human boy. A saddened, but still human boy.