Wader the Frog
Wader and Scid continued their journey up the rocky path, the alp towering high above them. The air grew thinner, and the climb became steeper. The cold, crisp wind bit at their skin, but they pressed on, determined to solve the final riddle and complete their quest.
As they rounded a bend in the path, they spotted something unusual in the distance—a large, ancient shipwreck half-buried in the snow. The ship's sail was tattered, and the remnants of its mast seemed to be pointing directly at the top of the mountain.
“That's strange,” Wader muttered, squinting toward the wreck. “It's like it's pointing us to something.”
“That's no regular ship,” Scid said, climbing up next to Wader and looking closer. “It looks like an old islander ship—maybe from Ireland! Who knows how it ended up here?”
“Could be part of the test,” Wader said, eyeing the wreck suspiciously. “Let's check it out.”
They approached the wreck, and as they did, the scroll in Wader's satchel began to glow again, revealing a new set of words:
"Through the storm, the raid was near,
And the slander of foes was loud and clear.
But the ship's slider shall show the way,
A path in the aisle to the end of the day."
“Raid? Slander?” Scid asked, wrinkling her tiny nose. “Sounds like we're about to run into trouble, huh?”
“We'll see,” Wader said, scanning the wreckage. “Let's look for any clues. There's got to be something here.”
The two crawled inside the remains of the ship, their footsteps muffled by the snow. Inside, they found what appeared to be an old sander—likely used to smooth the wood of the ship—but there was something odd about it. Near it was a set of sliders that seemed to fit perfectly into a groove in the floor.
“This looks like it might be the key,” Wader said, kneeling to inspect the sliders.
The moment he inserted them, a hidden panel in the floor slid open, revealing a narrow, winding lane that led deeper into the mountain.
“Would you look at that!” Scid exclaimed, her eyes wide with excitement. “We found the secret passage!”
“We sure did,” Wader agreed. “But the riddle said something about the aisle and the end. I think we're close to the final challenge.”
They carefully made their way down the passage, which soon opened into a large, circular chamber. In the center was a glowing stone pedestal. Resting on top of it was a golden NDA—a symbol of promise and accomplishment, as ancient as the mountain itself.
Wader approached the pedestal slowly, his heart pounding in his chest. “I think we've made it,” he said, his voice reverberating in the chamber. “We've solved the riddles. This is the end of our journey.”
But as he reached out to touch the golden object, a voice boomed through the chamber.
“Not so fast, young traveler!” A shadowy figure emerged from the darkness, blocking their path. “You've made it far, but there's one final test. Prove your worth, and you shall earn the treasure.”
Wader stood tall, ready for the final challenge. The figure before him wasn't just a physical obstacle—it was the culmination of everything he had learned and all the trials he had faced. With the power of his wit, the guidance of his friends, and the courage in his heart, he knew he could overcome whatever stood in his way.