Orpheous, when asked for another glass by Taint, got to work on preparing a second glass. Orpheous was ready to give it back to him, but it appeared the Zora was in a discussion. He held out the glass for Taint to take when ready. Then, turning back to Mr. Vore, he asked, "So, then, all we know is that the tree might be in Papara Desert?"

Denkou, who had been keeping an eye on everyone while keeping his mouth shut, was pretty obstinant when he, too, saw what his name was from now on. "Wait a second . . . Dummy? Can't I be, y'know, a cooler name? Like flashy or badass or something?" However, these angry thoughts were pushed out of his head upon the comments made by Taint. The Lightning thief took one look at the Zora and decided to give him a talk. "Hey, Gorgy," He called in a well-mannered joke, "Cool it, okay? If you run into any, well, impeding forces, we can stop them well enough from getting to ya. Orph is one of the best mages around Hyrule, and Me, Saber and Worru there aren't too bad in a fight, after all, I can control lightning, Saber is a master swordsman, and Worru is, well ... unique." He said confidently, before a hand popped out of nowhere and grabbed his shoulder.

It was Kasei, and he was looking down at Denkou with an evil eye, one that Worru would be familiar with; it's the same look Aria always gives him. "Why did you run off?" The old shiekahn demanded. "U-ugh ... i'm here, you see, giving my aid to this, uh, poor old man. Very honest, very good help, okay?" He said, hoping to escape at any second, he looked at the others for help.

Kasei payed him no mind, and let go, instead looking at the group assembled. "Hiya, all." He said, waving his hand, before turning to leave, not at all interested.

OOC: Sign him up anyway, he'll be braught back next post to replace Denkou if this has any stat-related battles.

(I haven't quite worked out Denkou's stats, and i'll need to ask about some things i'm unsure of.

Herbie's shirt collar started to darken a little--probably from sweat. "Hem, well, the seed was found in the bird, and the bird was found in Parapa! Therefore, it stands the test of logic that the seed probably grew in Parapa! Especially when you consider the fact that this bird was very young, and probably still couldn't fly well." Just then, he caught sight of the Rebel Flame walking away. "You!" He shouted, his chubby finger coming up to point directly at the blue-haired Grunt. "You look handy with a weapon, hem, quite! Why don't you come along? There will be rewards!" He turned away and began to write on his notepad again. "I hope..."

Turning back to face the group after jotting the last name down, he sniffed quite loudly. "Now then, I think we ought to get going." He jabbed one of the Gorons behind him with the pointy end of the rose. "Hem! Wake up now, we'll need to get those supplies out there soon!" As the Gorons slowly rose and began to load the wood on their shoulder, he surveyed the group. "Is everyone ready to leave? This is the last chance for any supplies or newcomers."

OOC: Sorry for the delay, we'll get this going soon. I just haven't seen Draug around in...well, over a week. Hope he didn't lose his computer...

Taiont wrapped his fingers around the cold glass of water and thanked Orpheous again. Gulping it down, slower this time than before, you could almost see him getting bluer. "Ahhhh, thats is goooooooood WATER!!!" He smiled, rejuvenated. "Thanks! Orpheous was it? If you ever need as favor, don't hesitate to ask! I owe you one. Two in fact!" He smiled. Before he could say anymore, a voice called out to him.

"Hey, Gorgy, Cool it, okay? If you run into any, well, impeding forces, we can stop them well enough from getting to ya. Orph is one of the best mages around Hyrule, and Me, Saber and Worru there aren't too bad in a fight, after all, I can control lightning, Saber is a master swordsman, and Worru is, well ... unique."

Taint blinked a few times. "Gorgy?..." Ignoring it, he nodded at the man. "Wow, thanks a million! I didn't know you were all so strong." He slyly smiled. heh heh... With all these guys here, I might never have to lift a finger. He was about to ask for the man's name, but another voice managed to interrupt him today.

Royal Guard wrote:"Now then, I think we ought to get going. Is everyone ready to leave? This is the last chance for any supplies or newcomers."

"Well. Looks like this is it. Departure." I wonder what I just got myself into... He thought looking around. Everyone was gathering their things, and getting ready. Taint had nothing. Nothing but the clothes on his back and his excuse for a weapon. He felt kind of out of place, and pretended not to notice anyone. His stomach rumbled once more. Most of these people don't know what it truly is to be hungry. He thought scornfully.

OOC: Kasei, do you want me to quote my signature?

IC: Saber sighed as the Rebel Flame's friend answered Taint's question for him. "Denkou, I would hardly call myself a master swordsman." His fingers played with the blade hilt at his side, knuckles rapping agains the pommel. "So then, I suppose it's about time to go. We've got a long trip if we're going all the way to Parapa. Don't we have a cart or anything? I know the Cartel doesn't travel out there, but you'd think if this was such a high-scale operation we would have some mode of transportation other than by foot." He waited for his companions to get ready as he turned his gaze to the sky.

OOC: ZV, don't even TRY to pull the hunger card around Saber >.>

Aiden had remained quiet, the crowd was getting rather large for her tastes. Silently she had slipped into the back of the crowd and waited, idly listening to the chatter. Soon she wasn't even listening to the chatter, or at least not paying attention to it. The words turned into jumbled sounds, while her mind wandered. She thought of music, to her each song told a story, even if there were not words. A faint sweet smile appeared on her lips, something shy and tender. In a flash it was gone as Herbie spoke. Her bright eyes darted to him, her grin returning, and she focused just in time to hear they were leaving. All of her body tingled with excitement and her grin grew, the light in her eyes danced and overly eager she slipped back into the crowd. Still unsure and not feeling overly safe she stuck herself beside Saber, he had been kind once before and she felt he would stick up for her if people were cruel.

OOC: Denkou can have a point, can't he?
And I take it to mean there is stats here, then?

IC: Kasei, who was almost a good ten feet from the company, stopped in mid-stride, and turned around. "Why would I help you out? What kind of excursion are you on, to need someone like me to help?" He asked, and Denkou ran over. "Well, gramps," He started, making Kasei frown, "We are making a trip into the middle of the dangerous, scorching-hot Parapa desert, so that we can search high and low for a single, special tree that may or may not be there, all because we found a seed in the belly of a birdie." The thief explained.

Kasei looked down at him, unconvinced. "Riiiiight. That is SO how I plan to spend the day, Denkou, i'll go do that now." He said sarcastically, and turned to walk away, just as the bartender from a nearby tavern appeared behind him. "Hey, Mr General fella, you owes me some money!" He demanded.

Kasei grabbed Denkou and forced the thief between himself and the angry barkeep, and ran as fast as he could towards the botonist. "Okay, journey to doom! Let's get out of here before that barkeeper catches me!"

After looking at a map of Ruto Town he had with him for reasons to miniscule to comprehend, the young boy held it out before Herbie. "Right there. The Hyrule Harlot. Ask anyone on the staff there. They think I'm old enough.", he said, before rolling it up and putting it away. "So, we leave soon? Alright.", he added, now leaning on the wood.

As soon as Luna saw the large group she knew she was in the right place. The funny looking old man fit the description given to her to the point where it was almost creepy.
Running to catch up, she called out, "Hey! Is this the group for the expedition? Something about a legendary seed and a desert of some sort?" As she neared the group she skidded to a stop and stood panting for a moment. Catching her breath, she exhaled, "Whoo, I hope I'm not late! I heard an expidition was leaving soon, and when the word 'rare' came to my ears I couldn't help but check it out." Looking around at the large group that was assembled, her spirits sank. "Do you, um, have room for one more?"
"Two more, you mean." A black fairy flew out from behind Luna and hovered over her shoulder. "She always seems to arrive late to important events, but I hope we're not too late this time."
"Me? Late? You're the one that told me to take that side street. I told you we were going the wrong way."
"Shut up, my intelligence is higher than yours," Kumori countered.
"Apparently your memory and sense of direction aren't," Luna shot back.
"Well you forgot to introduce us." The fairy grinned, knowing that Luna had no way to respond to that.
"Oh...." Her voice got quiet. Directing her attention to the group (and away from the annoying fairy), she announced, "Hi, I'm Luna. The fairy goes by Kumori, but feel free to call him mean names."
"Kumori works just fine, thank you very much." The fairy glared at his companion, daring her to make just one more joke at his expense.

OOC: They're just like siblings, aren't they?
Kumori will be my NPC, he'll sit out for the battles.

'. . . and they just don't seem to have the same sense about them as the first generation of adventurers did.'

Alpha lets loose a sigh at that thought; for at least an hour has he been contemplating about the differences between the present day adventurers and the ones who had been traveling about when he had first returned to Hyrule, and truth be told he could probably think up more details if he allowed himself to. But no, this is just a waste of time, he realizes as he finally finishes off the last crumbs of his cake and tosses the plate towards a nearby trash can. When it doesn't go as far as he wants, he just waves his hand and a quick burst of wind picks it up again, carrying it to its intended destination.

The Sheikah blinks as he considers what he has just done: a use of magic that was practically subconscious. 'Heh, I wonder if any of them could do something like that . . .' he thinks with a smirk, gazing back at the ever-growing group he's been observing for some time now. That smile, though, quickly transforms into a frown as he leans back, resting his chin upon a fist. 'Though, honestly, I don't know much about many of them . . . perhaps some of them are equally powerful?' Perhaps . . . doubtful, but the possibility is certainly worth looking into . . .

It goes completely against his style in the recent months to join up with a group, but still Alpha swiftly stands up and marches over to where they stand . . . and then comes to an abrupt halt about a meter away from them. Yes, his conduct of late has been more geared towards watching over the newer adventurers from the shadows, where his race is always most comfortable. He will follow; he will watch; he will aid them should the need arise and never before that time. His hood and cape are drawn around his head and frame; certainly those who know him very well could tell that it is him, but he doesn't believe that this group contains any such men and women.

. . . he may be wrong, but if that's the case then the feeling of friendship isn't exactly mutual . . .

OOC: So yeah, the group thing isn't exactly Alpha's style these days, but investigating such a group always is. He's in, even if Mr. Vore hasn't got him on his list . . . hope you don't mind, RG.

Not that you guys can't notice Alpha if you think it realistic for your character to recognize him.

Worru, becoming bored with waiting around for the group to go on with their job of finding the tree, had decided to greet the newcomers with nothing more than a wave, having never met a good lot of them. However, as his eyes wandered around in a search for his mother and daughter, they settled on a lone figure in a black cloak, standing some three feet from the group. Hey...Isn't that...him?, he thought, hesitating as he remembered all of the times he had seen this shady fellow before.

Finally, after a few moments of thought on the cloaked man, it occured to the hybrid just what this man was. Then, with a quick dash over, the boy had leapt onto the man's shoulders in a fruitless and futile attempt to restrain his movements. "Guards! Guards! Come quick! This guy's a stalker! A creepy one, too!", Worru followed his actions by yelling.

OOC: GAH! I'm growing fastly impatient! This reminds me that I need to post at STS.

IC: As Kasei waved, he felt a small amount pity towards the one he was waving to: Denkou, being pulled away by the earlier barkeep in a hilarious manner. ("HELP ME") Still, he had not the slightest clue what this group he was in was up to. As he turned, his mind clicked, and turned to look at a slightly shadowy figure. So, Alpha is alive, after all . . . Could've sworn that he went the same as Dogura. I just hope he's on our side in this. He thought to himself, ignoring Worru's odd screams.

"Hey, Mr scragly! Is what my moronic freind told me true? Are we heading to the desert?" He asked the disturbing leader of the search team. "If we are, don't you think it's better that some of the inexperienced members get prepared first?" He suggested.

OOC: Yes, Kasei knows what happened to Dogura. Just one of the many perks of being a servant of the gods.

OOC: . . . well, Worru, that's certainly not how I foresaw Alpha revealing himself . . . Tell me, did you foresee his response to such comments?

<center>WARNING! GOD-MODDING ALERT!!! WARNING!</center>
Bwah-hah-hah!

IC:
Alpha had just been standing there peacefully. He wasn't even looking in the direction of the group; rather, his gaze had been focused on the area where the cake was being distributed, just like the eyes of so many other people no doubt had been. He'd been using his other senses to keep tabs on them, particularly his hearing.

Needless to say, he hadn't been expecting to hear some teenager shrieking about a stalker like a little girl. He also hadn't been expecting for this child to be referring to him, or for him to jump onto his shoulders.

Without hesitation, Alpha reaches up with both hands and grabs the kid's neck, then with a swift yank pulls Worru over his head and slams his back against the ground mercilessly, unsure if what he's heard were bones cracking or just the road they're standing on. In all of a second he snaps his fingers, igniting his entire arm in a Fire spell which he holds behind his back, pointing his fingers like an arrow ready to be shot out to pierce the boy's heart. And as if his captive has time to consider trying to escape, his left palm comes down hard on the ground, initiating his control over the Earth element. The ground seems to come alive as it wraps itself around Worru's arms and legs like a serpent, the dirt itself being used to hold the boy down.

Yet even amidst the shocked cries and the sound of flame whistling by his ear, Alpha can still make out the sound of Hylian Knights rallying to surround him. He glances away from the boy for a second, nodding at their efficiency . . . as well as at his own. "Only took four seconds to get you where you are now . . . nice to see I'm not too terribly out of practice."

In a moment he stands, allowing the dirt bindings to collapse as the flame dissipates into the air. He reaches up and throws back his hood, glaring with crimson eyes at any who raise their weapons towards him. "I am the Sheikah Alpha. I am known by King Harkinian II himself. If any of you would like to attack me, then - should you survive - I promise that he will be most displeased with you." He glances around at each one of the Knights in turn, casting a harsh glance at theirs as he waits for them to turn away. He ends his looking around by turning back to face Worru, giving him the same soul-piercing glare. Even Worru ought to realize that what he just did was quite possibly the stupidest thing he's done in his life.

After having the water snatched from him again, he bowed to Taint, who stated that he owed Orpheous two favors. He would probably need to pay Orpheous off more by the time this journey was over. Then, he noticed something. A silhouetted face, and ... a scar. The same scar as the infamous Sheikahn mage. As he prepared a telepathic message to send to him, as to not draw him attention, it was too late. Worru. That kid was too anxious and eager about everything.

In the next four seconds, Orpheous watched the most splendid block and return he ever saw in his life. He almost thought Alpha was going to choose to kill him. Luckily, it appeared as though he would spare the boy. Making eye contact to the mage, he spoke out a message, that would hopefully reach Alpha's mind, should it not have been blocked. With a slight nod, Alpha, nice to see you'll be joining us. Hope you're that good in all forms of combat. As for Worru, he deserved it. But as to make the others think he was greeting Alpha normally, he looked over at him, waved slightly, and asked a complete lie than what he thought. "Alpha, was that completely called for?" He stated this with his sly and cunning smile that won so many in return. Of course, he didn't expect Alpha to be a smile-returner on his account. Simply showing Alpha that his presence was enough to cheer them up.

Saber's eyes darted over to Aiden as she approached, and his muscles tensed a little. He wasn't that comfortable interacting with others, particularly women of considerable beauty. However, he could tell what was on her mind--she had grown silent, like she always did when strangers were around. She was intimidated. In his mind, he made it his mission to protect her--she was still new, and frail. Until she learned how to fend for herself in Hyrule, she would need watching over. She had potential--he had seen her agility. She was just...naive.

He looked away from the bard to observe the rest of the group, and he sighed in relief as Denkou seemed to be replaced with Kasei--he couldn't stand either one much, really, but he trusted the Rebel Flame in combat much more than his imbecile companion. He felt an odd tingling along the back of his neck suddenly--he wasn't quite sure what, until a certain child made everything clear. By the time Saber had turned around, Alpha was standing over the restrained hybrid, hood down and eyes boring into the child. "That's his trademark magical flair..." The mercenary says as he turns his head back, this time looking at Aiden. "You realize we're going to be in the desert, right? Do you have water?"