There was one that came out a while back that I really enjoyed. I don't really want to go digging through my pile of old Crickets right now, but it was written by three different people, and then I think the contest was to finish the story. It was about a fairy whose people were fighting for nature against cities & pollution. Admins, maybe y'all remember what it's called?

I also like the folktales and folktale-type stories a lot, not only for the story but because the illustrations tend to be excellent. There was one called The Falcon and the Rose or something like that, from Russia, that I especially liked, and also the one about the tortoise maiden from a month or two ago.

Was it called "The Guardian Tree"? The progressive story appeared in the September 2003 Cricket and the Cricket League contest was to finish the story. Then I think the conclusion appeared in the December issue as a regular illustrated story.

And the other story you mention might be "Katerina and the Bright Falcon."

Old Cricket