Eventually she notices your presence and nods in greeting, ceasing the ferocious exercise and slowly trotting on the spot to cool down, her russet and snow coat sheens with a thin coating of sweat.

She tosses her head. "I am Yivna, the warrioress for the Clan of the New Dawn, traditionally, before the Bulette, there was no need for there to be a warrior for the clan. The majiks which shielded the Tir were strong enough to keep us safe but they are no longer as reliable as they once were. Sa'nitha was the first warrioress. She has since returned to the Tir: Gen pah's khavi."

Now cooled down she stands still, resting a hindleg. "Her daughter, Rahl tahrni, is not far from here if you wish to visit her. Both Sanitha and I are of the Fire tribe. Though I am not, most Warriors tend to be of the Dance tribe: fighting requires an internal rhythm, one that differs from Song and one I must learn by rote rather than immediately knowing from my soul."

Tribes are actually of little importance outside tradition to us really but most people from outside the Tir seem fixated on them so I shall explain.

There are four main tribes, represented by the elements: Earth, Fire, Wind and Water. Each Mahnon Pah'llock chooses the tribe that they feel suits them best themself. In general the temperment, nature and sometimes the coat colour play a part in deciding the Tribe."

She nods to a dirt brown rock. "Earth, the most stable of the Tribes, steady and dependable, Mahnon of this tribe are usually patient and peacable creatures, prefering reason before action though once moving they are a force to be reckoned with: expecially strong in the defence of loved ones. Mahnon of this Tribe are generally blacks and browns: earthy colours."

She taps a bright amber stone "My tribe, sometimes fiery in temperment as well as in colouration Mahnon Pah'llock of the Fire Tribe tend to be extreme in their actions, whether it is fury or friendship. It is said that it is hardest to forge a friendship with one of the Fire Tribe but once you have a deep dragon can not break it. Of all the Tribes those of Fire are easiest to anger though they are also generally swift to forgive once a lesson has been taught. Those of the Fire Tribe tend to be bright and warm colours such as palaminos and red chesnut."

She indicates a piece of bluish coloured rubble. "Water, sometimes fickle and often extreme in their emotions (very gentle and calm or swiftly terrible and angry, like the seas moods) but in a different way from fire. Mahnon of Water ebb and flow like the tides, usually even tempered, once roused they can be fierce as a tidal wave. Their colourations tend towards cool greys, white and pale broken coloured coats: appaloosas and Pintos: like surf on a beach."

With her tail she flips a cloudy grey pebble over "Air, swift of foot as of mind and easy to humour. People tend to underestimate the intellect of those of the Air tribe: Their vague nature usually hides a keen mind" She grins. "Most I know are extremely good at mathmatics for some reason. Those of the Air Tribe are often capricious and loving but tend to get sidetracked by things. Their fighting ability is usually not so much in strength as in agility, swift strikes before darting from reach. They are usually greys but autumn colours are not uncommon."

"Alas, from what I have learned, from the Tomes in the Library and Allani herself, those of dance have the shortest lives of Pah'llocks. They live so very brightly, the rhythm coursing in their blood spurring them into life's dance, faster and more furiously than the rest of us, until, like a phoenix in it's final hours, they are consumed by their own flame."

She looks sorrowful and at the same time joyous in her memory of the golden warrioress. "Sanitha was like that. Goddess' silver whiskers but she was beatiful! Inside and outwards. Her every motion, word was with strength and grace but she was the first of the remaining Pah'llocks to return to the Tir. I always thought she would fall defending the Tir... her daughter, Rahl'tahrni, was her twelfth foal. Allanon blessed Sa'nitha with her I swear for no other Pah'llock has ever have more than eleven in a life time."
She shakes her head to clear her thoughts. "But I have wandered...

Dance were usually keepers of the Tir's traditions: marking the days of feasting and dancing the stories. Now, with so many of our traditions lost they act as defenders while trying to relearn the cerimonies and traditions lost when the Bulette killed our elders."

"Like those of the Dance tribe, Song is a rare gift. Tarben'anu, our spirit singer, is of Song. They are the closest we have to a "magic user" though they are more like what some call shamans. They sing protection for us, keeping us safe from bad spirits that might somehow get past Allanon's shields and some are seers. I have heard Tarben can sometimes see the future for those within the Tir but the view is always fogged with uncertainty.
Of all the clans those of Song are the most withdrawn and quiet. Sometimes they acted as the memory of a clan, recording tales and stories, storytelling. But this was always passed on to an apprentice by word of mouth. If those of the Dance tribe have the shortest lived then Song has the longer though some have argued this is because they 'live' less, usually 'somewhere else' in thought. Of all the six tribes these two hold the greates weight of resposibility. Pah'llocks of Dance and Song can be of any colour though Dance are usually warm hues and Song cool."

Yivna stretches her hind legs. "Mahnon Pah'llock means, in the elder tongue Allori, "Guardian Wild life-force". I learned from Allani that the six tribes began with the very first Pah'llocks, our kind were created by Allanon as Guardians to defend the Tir. Their names in themselves were words of power, now long forgotten. She didn't tell me much more about it... Perhaps one day I shall learn more. There are legends of a seventh tribe but there is no mention of what it is and I don't think there has been one since the Chaos Wars. Allani won't tell me about it..." She grins.

"I'll bet she knows something though! There is only ever one Lorekeeper at a time, Allani's mother, Sarabih, was before her. I was once told they remember *before* the Tir. I don't know how it works but I'm glad it isn't me!" She shudders. "Imagine remembering the lives of all the lorekeepers before you, and before that the war that destroyed a world! Looking at Allani you wouldn't think she holds all that in her mind. Though sometimes she goes very quiet..."

Yivna shakes out her mane and changes topics hastily. "But I ramble. I need to get on with my exercises. From here I can see Rah'ktich. You could visit her or head back to where Zimi's'tai grazes."