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 unsypathetic 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 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)