Alpha and the rest of the group exit Parapa Desert in good time and make their way straight to the Thicket. Upon reaching the clearing that is famous for housing the Great Deku Tree. Everyone is anxious and ready to begin searching for the next clue that the mysterious person has hidden away from them.

However, this time their eagerness is proven to be pointless. A young Kokiri girl wearing the kind of green clothing her species is known for approaches them. Her bright blond hair is cut short, barely reaching down to her shoulders. Her form makes her look like she's only twelve or thirteen, though due to the fact that Kokiri remain children for their entire lives it is more likely that her age is several times this amount.

"You must Alpha, right?" At Alpha's surprised nod, she giggles. "Name's Irisos. I was told to give you this," she says as she holds out another note. She doesn't move even after Alpha has taken it from her and begun reading it:

'North from the wide roads that still do hold
A fairy shining as bright as pure gold,
Head to the chopping and sloshing of blue
Until you reach the trees, no more than two.'

With little more than a wrinkling of his brow, Grenada has the answer.

"The fairy referenced is most definitely the one in the crossroads, so head north to the ocean I suppose... But if I'm not mistaken there are several instances of such waters."

He turns his body to the northeast, and with the extension of his arm he asks:

"Shall we be off?"

Cloud came to the Great Deku Tree and saw the Kokiri girl give Alpha the next clue. He came and read it, but had no clue as to what it could mean.

Alpha, there is someone I want you to meet. Cloud stopped looking excited. This is Strato, my little brother, he wants to come along too. He's only 13, and i told him that it was up to you if he goes.

Strato came up behind Cloud. He said Hi, im Strato, and you must be Alpha... he put out his hand.

Cloud wispered to Alpha You should have seen what he did to a Mountain Behemoth! He has got to be my brother, my mother was very skilled in the Ancient Magicks too. He turned the monster to stone in one hit!

"I suppose so," Alpha replies, rather pleased with the Deku's brilliance. He had forgotten about the fairy at the Crossroads, though now that he thought about it, that was the only fairy he had seen in Hyrule...well, other than Sheera (OOC: We need more fairies! ).

As Cloud introduces his brother, Alpha calmly nods. He arches an eyebrow at the description of the boy's skill. "A pleasure to meet you, Strato," he says pleasantly. Then, following Grenada's lead, he turns with the rest of the group to head towards the Crossroads, and then straight north towards the sea.

_______________________


Irisos watches the group go, smiling inwardly. 'Wow!' she thinks. 'They got that one down in no time flat! And here I was thinking that was one of your harder riddles!'

'No riddle is difficult, provided one thinks logically and knowledgeably,' comes the telepathic response. 'I am already on my way out; the plan has succeeded. The only question is how long the last few clues hold them off. Once that group knows, our other friends -' the title of 'friends' drips in sarcasm, '- will find out soon after, and I intend to be untouchable before then.

'And you'd best get back to hiding as well.'

Irisos nods in agreement, and heads off to the Great Deku Tree. The guardian spirit will be pleased to hear of Alpha and friends' success, and of the leader's escape. And then, it will be time for her to disappear as well.

OOC: To Clue #7!