Rafa

Rafa is one of the characters who appears in Chris Heimerdinger's ''Tennis Shoes Adventure Series. He serves as a supporting antagonist turned protagonist in Tower of Thunder and a supporting protagonist in Kingdoms and Conquerors, Sorcerors and Seers, and Drums of Desolation. ''He is a trained falcon who serves as a scouting sentry for one of the warriors of Shinar.

Tower of Thunder
Rafa first appears at the beginning of the book, where, after the warriors of Shinar win a battle with an opposing army, he helps seek out stragglers for the Shinar warriors to wipe out. While going about his duties, Rafa finds Harry and Steffanie Hawkins, who had been watching the battle unfold. Rafa exposes their position to the Shinar warriors, who then capture the Hawkinses.

Later, when Harry escapes the clutches of Nimrod, Rafa is among the warriors who goes after him. Rafa finds Harry and starts flying back to his master, but Harry throws a rock and knocks Rafa out of the air. Harry finds Rafa injured from the rock and takes pity on him. He takes Rafa with him as he heads for a time conduit that will take him to 73 A. D. While floating down the river, Harry feeds Rafa some chicken that he finds in Steffanie's backpack.

Rafa travels with Harry through the cave that will take him to the time conduit. After the two of them encounter a Mosasaurus and go through the time cave, they end up in 73 A. D, where Harry intends to intervene with past events where his Nephite friend Gidgiddonihah was killed by a Scythian Warrior. Although Rafa abandons him in this endeavor, he rejoins Harry when he ends up with a now-survived Gidgiddonihah.

Rafa goes alongside Harry, Gidgiddonihah, Micah, and Jesse as they return to 3000 B. C. to rescue Steffanie from Nimrod. While ascending the Tower of Babel, Rafa encounters his old master. Rafa's old master commands Rafa to attack Harry, but Rafa, now feeling more loyal to Harry, attacks his old master.

After the Tower of Babel is destroyed, Harry, Steffanie, Gidgiddonihah, Micah, Jesse, and Rafa reunite with Mary Symeon, Rebecca Plimpton, and Pagag. On hearing that Joshua has disappeared, Harry sends Rafa out to find him. Rafa finds Joshua, now captured by Akish, and reports it to Harry. Harry, Mary, Steffanie, Rebecca, Gidgiddonihah, Pagag, Micah, Jesse, and Rafa go to rescue Joshua, but Akish uses his sword to cut a rift in time and escape with Joshua. Rafa goes with the Hawkinses and their entourage as they find another time conduit that will take them to where they can find Joshua.

Kingdoms and Conquerors
Rafa, Harry, Gidgiddonihah, Steffanie, Pagag, Mary, Rebecca, Micah, and Jesse end up in ancient America, right before the Nephites and Lamanites' final battle at Cumorah. While Harry, Mary, Gidgiddonihah, Rebecca, Micah, and Jesse are captured by the Wolf Witches, Rafa escapes and helps Steffanie and Pagag track them down.