Ichav had been sent to meet the group of refugees that had come up from the Swamp of Sog. His patrol consisted of six crystal skimmers, with a team of three each. They would be able to carry several extra gelflings and their supplies into the Crystal Desert where they would meet with one of the twelve Xerics. He believed it was his older brother Harkol's this time. As the group came into sight, Ichav climbed down from his skimmer, and readied to meet with leader, a Drenchen female, and one who looked Vapran. He would find out later that he was Grottan.

Ichav watched as the female Drenchen turned to the large male next to her and both stopped for a moment. The pale gelfling popped out of the long grass and went running away, he was soon followed by a smaller male Spriton, and a female, also a Spriton. Ichav caught the basket, full of small yellow berries, as the silvery male dashed by him and turned to watch as the Spritons hurried after the first male.

Ichav felt his blood run cold. The basket fell from his nerveless fingers, and there was a roaring in his ears that sounded nothing like the song of Thra he was able to hear. The female stopped and actually stepped back when she caught sight of him.

"Ichav?" Elta said in a very small voice. That did it, Ichav would never admit it, not with his pride, but he fainted at the sight of Elta in front of him. The last thing he heard, before everything went sideways on him, was her shouting for help.