The Arrival


Sha'na'ra danced around through the meadows like his heart was on fire, and Jessica watched from nearby. She could see to the edge of the realm, the sun casting brilliant colors as dusk began to fall. She peered into the growing dark as something flashed in the distance. Beckoning the pah'llock weanling to her, she headed toward where the light had been. It was a random portal. But that type of thing wasn't a common occurance here.

A flash of memory about what happened to the pah'llock clans of Tir shocked through both minds, and the two readied themselves for anything. A dark figure appeared from the portal, which winked out of existence behind it. The sky darkened still more, beginning to obscure vision. The shadow creature approached slowly, as if injured or tired from journey.

Magic lept around from Jess to light the dimming area, and the creature entered the range of vision. Purple hide covering a slender body standing on four delicate legs. Feathers extending from each lower leg, a deep black mane and long, full tail, streaked with white. Antlers like that of a deer extend from behind delicate, swiveling ears, and tired blue eyes look back. It, or rather, she, for certainly it is a mare, seemed like an adult pah'llock, but things are so different.

Sha'na'ra moves forward to greet the strange mare.
"Haram salu. Yom Sha'na'ra."

Those same tired blue eyes now turned confused, the mare obviously not understanding. Jessica tried an English greeting then. A simple, "Hello."

Still no response. Then, in a low, sweet voice, the mare uttered a word that neither Sha'na'ra or Jessica understood.
"Nis'ri."

Whispering to the young pah'llock stallion, "Sha', I think that was a greeting."

Sha'na'ra nodded and repeated the word uttered by the mysterious mare. Her ears pricked up and she spoke again.
"Li ea Tara'Sereem."

Seeing again the confused looks on Jessica and Sha's faces, the strange mare said one other word.
"Rakish."

Jessica's eyes go wide, but Sha still seems confused.
"Oh, Sha, I know what she is. Tomorrow we must leave on a short journey. To see DragonFlight."

Jess touched the mare lightly on her side, and a quiver ran beneath the mare's hide.

The next morning, with a quick journey, Jessica, Sha'na'ra, and the mysterious mare arrived in the realm of the one called DragonFlight. Quickly leading them, Jess found her way to Willow Fields on Shadow Isle. There, was the last Tribe of Rakish known to exist after their home world collapsed. One of the mares of the Tribe stood on a grassy knoll, and shouted a greeting which brought the whole Tribe over to Jess are her companions. The unknown mare stood warily, until she saw the golden palamino with the fire red mane, Hala'Fythi.

The two embraced as old friends would, and they began to speak in the language Jessica and Sha'na'ra could not understand. Suddenly, DragonFlight seemed to appear behind everyone, and whistled low for a bit of silence to speak with Jessica.

"She is one that escaped the collapse of their world. But she has not wandered long. Her name is Tara'Sereem, meaning Rolling Thunder."

DragonFlight turns and asks a question of Tara'Sereem, who answers quietly.

"She would be glad to stay in your realm. She says it was the first that she enjoyed outside her own home."

This background was obtained from Darkhorse,at Tir'na'baine'gile'lair.