Excerpt from Nysden DarkMoon's Journal - May 31 2002

Rising Star Stables has been my pride and joy since Miss Cayt asked me to manage it so many years ago. Each season has been better then the last and each new batch of yearlings seems to be stronger and better bred then the one before. Amazing what carefully watching over the breeding stock can do.

Yesterday was the start of yearling training and as usual it was something to marvel over. Pride of Geladine and Dark Star Rising's first clutch being among those being trained. Considering the parents were late starters that I wasn't positive would really work as mates but they surprised me. The colt and filly from that pair are my two shining stars this training session. The colt's name is Darcainian Peaks while the filly's name is Geladine's Northern Star. In two seasons I expect those two to tear up the Kindergarten tracks!

The Kindergarten racers to watch this season are Genesis of Geladine and Glorious Daybreak, both from a clutch by King's Praise and Blonde Dawn. I knew from the start that Praise would be a wonderful stud and these two will prove it to the rest of the racing industry.

Daybreak ... when she leaps into the air is just poetry in motion and Genesis is a feisty little thing for a colt but even Miss Cayt saw it in his eyes, that want to be in the air and ahead of everything else. I have a feeling I'll end up pairing him with Aurora when he starts racing because they both have the same spirit.

As a side note, any requests from the jockeys who originally resided in Geladine have been put on hold for going to visit Geladine due to a problem with our permanent portal. For some reason it started acting up. Rather strange but there is nothing we can do about it and Miss Cayt said she would speak with the magic users who created it. Also asked her to see if she couldn't round up Ayliana and Jon and send them back. I hate to end their vacation a week early but with the portal acting up and the training beginning in earnest I need them home.

Now it's time for the daily meeting with the jockeys, hopefully Sokoyo will be able to take the newly hired Vincent and Andrew under his wing because I certainly don't have the time to show them everything and if there is anyone here who knows the place better then myself it would be that Hishn. The Goddess knows he has as much patience as the Darcain Mountains are high.

It has been five days since my last entry but with all that has happened, Jonathon and I have been so busy that I haven't had a chance to take time to write.

We are still in Geladine and staying in what has become the capital city, Laerlyn, at the request of the crown princess and surprisingly enough at her expense. Of course it wasn't her who told us of the change in plans but Korvern the King's adviser.

I can only hope that we can return home soon because as beautiful as our homeland is, I prefer Rhydin and the Pegasi but until the problem with the portals is fixed there isn't anything we can do.

The last few days we've been seeing all that Laerlyn has to offer including the Temple for services. I've never seen such a lovely temple before but it did make me long for a stronger connection with the Goddess and asking Jonathon if perhaps we could spend more time in the city's library as well as the temple which he readily agreed to. At least our time here will be well spent.

Tonight we spend in the company of the King's adviser and his family. Rather nice of him to invite us though Jonathon says it was only him being polite since we've been inconvenienced. I don't mind, in fact I spent the day searching the shops for new attire just for tonight which now I must go change into! I promise to write more about the advisor's home later!

Sep. 20th, 2002

The pilgrimage to the ancient temple has begun.

As I write this, I sit beside the small fire I was able to create and listen to the sounds of the night. Predators of the forest all around me yet I am only vaguely aware of them. Much different then my last pilgrimage.

Every time before I was attune to exactly what was going on around me, the Goddess always there and guiding me. Now there is nothing but silence.

Will the other guardians have tales the same as my own? Or will I find out that the Goddess has indeed forsaken me alone and chosen another to serve her vision to the people of Geladine?

In six days I shall know. For now I will seek the Goddess yet again before finding my rest.