After walking across the sun filled meadow, the coolness of the wood is like a balm...

Ducking under branches and hanging vines, you again catch a glimpse of moving green. You can't hear the sound of any other creature breaking through the undergrowth but yourself and wonder if you are chasing an illusion.

Then you hear the sound of laughter in your head. "Can't be an illusion if it laughs at me, right?" You speak aloud and then stop, for the forest has gone still and quiet.

A deep voice enters your head. "No traveler, I am not an illusion." You turn and find a large, graceful animal standing behind you. "I am Huron, the first of the Hirari to live in these woods, which makes me their guardian." As he watches you , you wonder if he will chase you if you run...

"You have no need to fear me, traveler. I am bonded to Dreamsmythe and will not harm those she has given leave to wander here. I was not aware of you until you entered the wood. I assured myself you would do no harm before I approached you. Would you like to meet the other residents of the wood?" You nod in disbelief, as he begins to walk away.

"At this time, we only have three residents within the wood, though all are bonded to Dreamsmythe. There is myself, Carden, a drigetti, and Merantha, a Mouga. We are all the first of our kind in these woods and have made it our responsibility to guard it. Ah, there is Merantha now..."

You start as the Mouga enters the clearing where Huron has stopped. She shyly stands near the edge of the brush, smiling but not saying anything. You hear Huron say, "You must give her leave before she will talk to you. She does not like to intrude."

You stare at Huron in wonder, then turn to Merantha, nodding your acceptance. A melodious voice fills you head. "Well met, vistor. Are you enjoying the woods?" You nod again, not quite yet able to speak.

Finally, you find your voice again. Looking from Huron to Merantha, you ask, "Where... do you come from? I've never seen anything like you before."

Merantha answers you. "We were raised by Myrror in Menajeria. Dreamsmythe bonded with us there. Perhaps if you visited, another of our cousins would find you worthy of bonding..."

As Merantha turns back into the wood, you and Huron continue on...

through the woods...

toward the sound of the river...

Bond with your own Hirari, Mouga, or even a Shiretal at Menajeria.

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