Velociraptor mongoliensis. The name is one that seems to inspire fear and respect, evoking imagery of saurian predators as large as a man, hunting in packs and preying upon the unsuspecting populace of the prehistoric world. It is an image only fueled by the world of film, touting
mongoliensis as the ultimate predator; ruthless, intelligent, and lightning-fast.
In actuality, the Velociraptor was not nearly so impressive, physically. Two and a half feet tall, at the most, covered in feathers, and generally incapable of flight, the appearance of Velociraptor is nearly comical in comparison to the killing machine portrayed in film.
So when Tumenjin Batu, youngest son of the alpha of his tribe, describes himself as a 'proud scion of the raptor bloodline', it should be clarified as to what, exactly, he is.
What Batu
is, is a dark-skinned demi-human. His figure is lean, a sprinter's build, with powerful legs that end in digitigrade claws, one toe on each foot raised with a sickle-like blade so common to the dromaeosaur family. He has a tail, too, lined in a pattern of olive and emerald-colored feathers with a dark tan underside, the thick appendage ending in a tuft that fades to a light teal. The whole thing acts like a counterweight, strong and muscular to provide more mass to offset his own when running.
Further up, the trail of feathers continues up his back in a ridge, until it joins with a thick ruff of down around his upper chest and shoulders, the same colors as his tail, continuing down his arms, which end in clawed hands and colorful pinions, olive fading once more to teal.
Further up still, the ruff of feathers becomes downier still, a more hairlike texture coming from his skull, a series of bright blue-green feathers forming a crest along his crown. His face itself is adorned with more tribal markings, leading attention to bright blue eyes with a reptilian pupil structure. When he smiles, his teeth appear to be sharper than most, cluing one in to the fact that he is, in fact, a carnivore.
For clothing, he typically wears a simple wrap around his waist, for modesty's sake, a small knife belted at his waist.
He might, in fact, be almost imposing, from the way he carries himself. If only he didn't clock in at a
thoroughly intimidating two foot seven.
~~~
Batu has a tendency to have an attitude that is just slightly too large for his body. He blusters like the apex predator he's grown up to believe he is, and to be fair, when hunting as part of a pack, he'd certainly be quite dangerous.
But, here in the Hollow, he's not with his pack. He is very much alone, and very small in comparison to most. His presence here is an accident, to be sure, but while he's here, he's going to have to come to grips with the simple fact that while he's here, his position on the food chain... is rather closer to the bottom.
~~~
Oh look, a
Loxagn alt.