Satrachi

Bipedal amphibian species native to eta/25 Tauri VIII. In HW they are described as "mud-colored warty-looking creatures like a cross between lizards and toads, but upright, and not nearly as pretty as a lizard or as helplessly homely as any toad." The unsympathetic description is almost certainly colored by Dairine's stressed-out state when she arrives at the Crossings. Nor is her state of mind due to be improved by the discovery that the Satrachi are in the Crossings hunting her. They and their tame deinonychi chase Dairine a long way through the terminal before she manages to escape with the assistance of a mysterious humanoid she runs into (literally) in one of the Crossings' bars.

Nita and Kit later discover that these Satrachi are a small paramilitary group which has been tasked by some representative of the Lone Power to find and kill Dairine -- or possibly (if they can't kill her) to drive her as far as possible from any source of help.

Satrachi have strange high fluting voices and a smell which at the time reminds Dairine strongly of old damp coffee grounds. (HW)