The forest here begins to thin and the lush ground covers give away to rougher grasses. The light here grows stronger as you mover East. To the North you can make out a range through the gaps in the trees. Using it as a landmark in the otherwise directionless surroundings you continue towards the brighter area ahead.

Now the trees are divided into clumps surrounded by golden grasses. Ahead, through the trees you can make out the beginnings of an open plain, a few creatures graze in the distance.

A movement catches the corner of your eyes and you turn on your heel to face it. Standing peacefully in the sunlight, watching you with amused green eyes, is a strawberry roan Mahnon Pah'llock mare. Allani Brokenhorn, Lorekeeper of the Tir Her thick, crimpy, flaxen mane is tattered in places but despite this you feel that it once was very silky and, perhaps, given a rest from being caught on branches and such, it could be again.

She bows her head in greetings and ambles over.

. "!nisrop tu k'zarti. Tain g'z k'zardon nbnevun'uit." She whickers, her voice merry.

When she sees your confused expression she shakes out her tangled mane with a light laugh. "Forgive me! I forget few are fluent in that tongue outside the Tir. I am Allani Brokenhorn." She turns her head to face you straight on and you realise one of her long, downwards curving horns, usually the pride of a Mahnon pah'llock, has been snapped off at the base. The barest hint of a splintered nub remains. Now that she is closer you also see her body is criss crossed with scars, most of them old and long healed though the mottled fur has not regrown over them, though there are a few small ones barely scabbed over.

Allani notices your gaze and sighs, swishing her thick tufted lion tail. "Souveniers of many a foolish escapade." She bobs her head to indicate her single horn. "And many are examples of human 'kindness'." She wrinkles her lip in distaste. "But enough showing of my trophys. I take it you are here to visit my kin." Her mood brightens once more and she shakes like a dog, her coat releasing a small cloud of dust, as if she is shaking her dark thoughts away.

"If you like I can show you the quickest way to the clans." She offers.

You nod thankfully and she grins, piroetting with the grace of a lipizzaner to stand beside you.

"The closest clan is that of the New Dawn." She says, beginning to walk forward through the trees, pacing herself to keep a speed comfortable for you. "They pasture just beyond this last part of the forest. However Sekhtirn, one of the council of seven, is currently over there in the forest. He can tell you the rules regarding Pah'llock fostering and whether there are any foals available."

She stops and sidesteps, indicating an object leaning up against a tree next to her. You step closer to get a better look.

A portal mirror. It is a tall mirror made from beaten silver. The surface seems to shimmer slightly, like water. The tarnished bronze frame is almost hidden by morning glories and climbing purple roses, river pearls threaded onto wire around the edge of the mirror glisten like dew.

"Aziroth spelled this for me, it forms a doorway to the rocky tors where Simahron and the Clan of the Black Dove graze. It saves a long hike up some unstable rocky screes and has proven worth it's weight in blue gold in emergencies." She gives it a fond look before turning back to you. "If you'd like to visit them you need only step through the mirror as though it is a doorway." She adds.

Looking around you notice the range is much closer now, a steep slope of stone reaches up towards the sky but you can see a cave, partially hidden by a thick cluster of cassia bushes.

"Whats in there?" You ask, indicating the cave. "Anything?"

Allani looks over her shoulder following your pointing finger to focus on the cave entrance. "Oh, it's where I keep the fostering records of all the creatures fostered out from the Tir and the new Mahnon Pah'llock clans which have been created outside our home world." She flicks her forelock out of her eyes. "I can show you if you like."

You shake your head. "Pehaps later."

She nods quite happy with your decision. "It's too nice a day to be trapped indoors. I've been stuck inside trying to organise the records for too long. Shall we head out to the plain?"

Not waiting for your reply she strides forwards with a long sweeping gait towards the grass lands, leaving you to decide if you wish to follow her or return to the forest.

All Pah'llocks are (c) to Darkhorse,as is the mirror. No theft please!!