Ihnala - Male, age 20

Though he is adept at using spears, bows and the like, Ihnala's favored weapons are long, straight katana blades. He is rarely found without his pair of them. The southern Warthog Kin supplied their group with these weapons when they arrived, and Ihnala enjoyed learning how to use them from one of their swordsmen. While he does hunt with them, he usually uses his crossbow or a spear to hunt with others. When he wants to show off, or spar, out come the katana.

If there was ever any doubt that Ihnala was a powered Kin, it would be dispelled if you were caught by his sharp and dangerously dark eyes. His ability to hypnotize and entrance is unusually strong when it comes to animal-life, but less so when confronting another sentient. He intentionally practices on others in the Tribe, to strengthen this ability. He has a bit of empathy, but often his personality tends to disregard what he senses in others.

Everyone knew what Utori was thinking. Ihnala sidled up to him, and nudged his shoulder. "You should let us all have a chance to think about 'flying' her dragon." He shot a caustic look at Temih, "don't even think that it won't happen - you know it will, and probably sooner than you want."

"It won't be until her dragon is matured," Ivo cautioned, and even the normally abrasive Ihnala slunk back to his crouched seat. They obviously still had much to learn.

Ihnala didn't much trust this Ivo, there was something odd about the kin-creature. He wasn't human enough to hate outright, he wasn't clearly Kin. Finally, in a lull while others were busy grooming or tossing out ideas about what they would do on a dragon's back, Ihnala approached the dark skinned kin-man.

"What are you?" Ihnala asked, pointedly. He was certain others were watching, listening in suddenly, but didn't care. If he got an answer, he would be happy. If not... He'd have to pry it out of Ivo.

The kin-man leaned back on the pile of soft pillows, and looked at the light colored Kin. "I'm ... well, it's best if I show you." Ivo then stood up, stretched, and...

Ihnala and the rest backed away from him. There was a cat - a cheetah - sitting where Ivo had been. Long legs, very dark fur - dark the same way that Ihfosa or Temih had, no hair...

Then, Ivo changed again, to a more Kinlike arrangement of black hair, muzzled face, furry skin, tail. He smiled, showing off fangs. "I am a Sanger, my family is given to shapeshifting."

"That is -" Temih stammered, but Ihnala interrupted.

"Can you teach me to do that?" He blurted out. "Do you hunt like that? What's it like? You can lose the tail? How would you turn without a tail?"

The questions suddenly poured out of the young Kin, so unlike him to be eager to see something new. He was normally so traditional!

Ivo only laughed. "No, I'm afraid that if you weren't born this way, you'd never be able to do it. It's genetic."

Disappointed, Ihnala slumped. "Oh. Well, that explains why you're so weird."

"Ihnala!" Omaciyu exclaimed, "be nice!"

"I don't have to be nice - he's not one of us, sorry!" Ihnala stomped out, down to the stream under the plateau.

He kicked at the loose pebbles, acting all childish. "Doesn't matter if I want to, I can't do it, that's that. Don't need to flipflop my shape. I like standing up. Running on all fours means I can't use my swords anyway."

"You sound so disappointed," a soft voice said behind him, "don't be. You are one of our best hunters already."

"Dijo." Ihnala said, "go pester someone else. I'm not in the mood for you."

"You are never in the mood for anything. Come on back in. Ivo is showing us the different worlds we can choose among, for our dragons."

"What if I don't want a dragon?" Ihnala said, but Dijo saw through that one immediately.

"We all do - and we all should try for one. Don't you think it would be grand? Flying against aliens and running the Humans off?"

"They should be frightened of us as we are."

"They are already, that is why they sent Kin to colonize, instead of doing it themselves." Dijo commented, placing his hand on Ihnala's warm shoulder. "And fear is why our own normal Kin sent us away. If we are meant to be out here, we may as well go all the way."

Ihnala tilted his head, ears cock-eyed. "I suppose so. And I guess we won't have any competition from you, if you pair up with a dragon huh?"

Dijo slyly laughed, "not that I would want to fly for her. We would make beautiful kittens, wouldn't we?" Dijo looked off into the distance with a plastered-on grin.

"What, you and Temih? You're crazy. Muddy fur, too long legs." Ihnala dismissed Dijo's laughter as they walked back to the den.

"Well my fur is darker than yours, closer to hers. And, I've got smaller feet!"

"Hah!" Ihnala laughed out loud, "Maybe we should all line up and have Temih choose based on our dainty little feet!"

Together they went back up the hillside, but even though Dijo went in, Ihnala turned and looked out at the horizon again. There, just south of the pond, was the great bronze-black Zkoth. His big curved wings were apparently distinct among their kind, a certain breed. His high crest, too. "Dragon's got big paws too," Ihnala chuckled to himself.

On the way in, Ihnala spotted a little vole. He ticked his tongue once, attracting its attention. Then, he exerted his will over it. It froze, breathing quickly but without bolting from its spot in a crevice. Ihnala picked it up, holding it gently.

"You'll make a nice little treat," he said. He would keep it alive through the whole day, absently stroking its brindled brown fur, attracting the curiosity of others. They knew he'd eventually eat it. But, he'd had the biggest share of the buck last night, so he was still not all that hungry.

He noticed Utori looking all worried that he'd give the vole off to Temih as a gift. Fah! That woman would have to earn her food! See if he'd share!

That wasn't fair, either. By the early evening, Ihnala watched Temih intently - she was growing fully into her heat, and even she now seemed to know it.

What would happen? Ihnala watched Ivo - he looked at the female with a lust that was incomperable. Recognizably, completely. Ihnala glanced to Omaciyu, who also clearly noticed this behavior.

With a small nod, Ihnala summoned Oma to his side. They conferred silently. Though Ihnala wasn't the greatest telepath, Oma was.

Do you think he will try and mate her? She is ready for it. Oma thought.

I do think so, and... I don't know if we should get in their way.

Omaciyu turned to look with concern at the younger Kin. What? Why not? She is our only female!

And he is a shapeshifter. And his line has this ability. He's still a cheetah Kin, somewhat. And what he's said is that even if we all pair off with dragons, it would take several years for a female to come to maturity enough for a mating flight. Any child he'd sire would be a toddler or older, by the time that happened.

And perhaps it would be female? Oma suggested, and Ihnala nodded back.

Omaciyu apparently then contacted Ihfosa. Between the two of them, they silently informed the rest of the tribe that if Ivo and Temih were to head off together - no one would stop them. The quickness of assent, after a brief heated explanation, kept the whole group waiting to see if that was going to happen or not.

Should I inform my rider that you are conspiring to have him Bred? Came a distant and foreign mind. Ihnala turned with wide eyes, but could not see Zkoth.

No, I would hope that you won't. It's not like we're trying - she's ours.

But you wish to see where it will lead?

That's... About right. Now please be silent. Ihnala tried exerting a bit of his control over the dragon, who seemed to either notice it and concede, or didn't even bother to argue.