Alpha walked forward across the land, breathing calmly as he looked over the peaceful landscape. Yes, it had definitely been too long since he had actually been able to enjoy a day like this. Living a life like his…it had forced him to grow up much faster than he should have. He felt a slight rage start to build up in him, but remembered the incident in the bar and held it in check. ‘What’s passed is past. Nothing can change it.’ He smiled. He certainly had grown up; he wouldn’t have been nearly this wise without all his life’s experiences…

He turned to see a man emerging from the woods. An elderly man, he had long white hair and a short beard of the same color that masked almost all his features. His clothes consisted of a simple green cloak and black pants. He hunched over as he walked, probably due to his age, and his arms most likely rested behind his back or under the cloak—Alpha was unable to tell which. He looked around as if he was lost, then spotted Alpha in the clearing. “Well, ahoy there, young un!” he shouted at the Sheikah. “I don’t suppose ya could lend me a hand, could ya? Seems my sense a direction ain’t as keen as it used ta be. I’ma looking fer the Great Deku Tree. Know which way ta go ta find ‘im?” he asked with a pirate-like accent, walking over to where Alpha stood.

Alpha smiled at the man. As his master used to say, always respect your elders - chances are they’ve lived through whatever you’re going through, whether good or bad. “I’d be happy to help you, sir. Well, uh..." He stopped for a second. Alpha was still new to the area, and needed to get his barings before he answered. "I think he’s far to the east of here -”

“Whoa, whoa, slow down there, young un!” the man interrupted. “I’ve been searching these woods for the past couple a hours, that I ‘ave! ‘Ave ya got a map on ya anywhere? That’s somethin’ I could probably use! My eyes may be old, but they’re still good as ever!” Alpha laughed along with the man, then reached into his back pocket and grabbed the map residing there. He pulled it out and showed it to him, taking several minutes to point out exactly how to reach the Tree. The man took a bit longer, nodding towards one area on the map or another and asking various questions about each place. He never once used his hands. Alpha tried to answer as best he could, but constantly told the man that he himself had only recently returned to Hyrule, and didn’t know it that well yet. The man finally nodded. “I think I got it now, boy. Thank ya greatly!” he smiled at Alpha and ran off into the woods.

Alpha smiled after the old man and folded up the map. He went to put it back in his pocket—and froze. On the back of the map, in fresh ink, lay a symbol, one Alpha had not seen in…almost seven years. It was the Sheikah eye, but without the tear. Instead the eye was in the center of a shining sun. He realized that he was holding his breath in shock, and forced himself to breathe again.

He looked at the place where the man reentered the woods. There was only one man who could have drawn that symbol, much less drawn it without him noticing it. “Zaris…” he muttered, still surprised. Within a moment, Alpha was sprinting after the man, racing between the trees in an attempt to find him.



An hour later, after searching the entire forest, Alpha emerges from the woods. He has no success whatsoever in finding Zaris, yet seems more cheerful than ever before. “Master…so the rumors were true! You have returned to Hyrule as well.” With a laugh he realizes that he will certainly encounter his master later in future. And for the first time in years, he is actually content.

Sleeping in a tree above, Denning is awoken by laghter. He looks down to see Alpha, and a man leaving. Dennning faintly hears Alpha say the word Zaris. "Zaris? Hm, what or who is this?" Denning thinks. He goes back to napping, only to be awoken by someone coming out of the forest, he sees its Alpha. Denning can hear Alpha say master but that is all. "Zaris is his master? Like Marin? AH I dont care, im gonna sleep." Denning quietly drifts to sleep again.

"Hey Alpha!" malciore ran up to ALpha. "I heard laughing, so I came running. What's so funny?" Malciore asked him.

"Oh, nothing really," Alpha says sarcastically. "I just realized that my master has returned to Hyrule! The rumors of his return were true! Ha-ha!"