The below is a record written by witnesses following the Yellow Bird of the Cerulean Coast, as she began her journey joining The Oracle's Chosen.
Harpies on the Track (Part I)
As the race begins a screen comes from the sky - Harpies attack. As the runners begin their journey, the rest of the town begins to defend themselves. Xan jumps on to Hippofilius’ back and they charge forward towards the harpies and through the race course.
As they reach the town square Xan leaps from Hippofilius, scanning the area. She puts herself in the harpies shoes and thinks how she would have attacked this town.
She remembers a small village in a port from an early year with the Messias, where they were on the hunt for a criminal. She remembers their tactics to corner and sneak attack the people living in the port.
When she has identified the strategy, she shouts to the teenagers to arm themselves and attach those advantage points. They obey.
When Xan realises the minotaurs have set off to catch the teens, she booms out across the crowd alerting them to the harpy attack, “If you do not save your village and these teens, there will be no teens left to work for you!”. The minotaurs begin to arm themselves and defend their village, though half the herd continues on their chase.
Hippofilius, while helping a stray teenager falls into a ravine. As Xan spots him and runs over to him, she is faced with a swarm of harpies surrounding Alke. Before Xan can jump into action, Braz leaps down and pulls them apart.
Xan reaches Hippofilius and pulls him to a safe space, and the four of them stand to face the remaining harpies.