Vareel

Vareel Storm's-Shadow is a haughty, aloof intellectual and, true to his lightning-bred heritage, a skilled tinkerer. He dreams of mountains (scare to be had where his clan makes its lair, in the depths of shadow) but contents himself by spending much of his time in the ancient forest's high canopy.

Vareel likes to make all kinds of clever small devices, some of which are useful and pleasing to his fellows. The string of electric lights with which he illuminates his lair by night are not among them, and his are the the only such devices in the territory. Most of his clanmates wonder why he wouldn't just use bio-luminescent fungus like everyone else does (it seems like a lot less trouble). Ri'il, progenitor of Persisting Shadow, permits them, provided they are kept minimal. It pleases her to keep a specimen of every other flight, carefully but distinctly subject to captivity and control of the Shadowbinder; Vareel's string of weak lights go well with the theme.

He and Jekandre were obtained as a breeding pair, whose offspring would bring strength, prestige and beauty to the clan. Natasza was sent to market to acquire them, and Vareel's earliest memory was being lifted by one hind paw and being stretched out so that his hide texture and markings could be compared to those of the older female hatchling, while she purred and exclaimed delightedly over his quality of pelt.

The two have never gotten along. While Jekandre is a bloodthirsty fighter and intent hunter, Vareel is bookish and careful---although, trained by Moss as relentlessly as any other hatchling, it would be a mistake to underestimate him in a fight. Perhaps this is why Jekandre so delights in them; if she can needle her (inevitable) mate into actual anger, the battle might be furious and last for hours. Their clanmates honestly enjoy these fights at least as much as any entertainment prepared carefully by the chorus (occasionally to the latter's supreme pique); Many a particularly choice dried mushroom has exchanged talons over wagers on the outcome of these 'storms of wind and lightning.'

Vareel is full of surly self-loathing for days after one of these fights, swearing that he will never again lower himself to such crass violence. In this mood, he might sulk off to Natasza's lair, curl up wordlessly at her feet, and accept skritches. It might seem odd, but he takes great comfort in her presence, though she makes him as nervous as she does everyone else.

He is extremely fond of his serthis, Garnet, and she of him.

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